CBS’s SWAT season eight episode 13 finds Powell and Gamble dealing with a cartel. Directed by Garry A. Brown from a script by Kent Rotherham, episode 13 – “High Ground” – will air on Friday, February 28, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT.
Season eight stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Anna Enger Ritch as Zoe Powell. Annie Ilonzeh is Devin Gamble and Niko Pepaj plays Miguel “Miko” Alfaro.
“High Ground” Plot: During a hiking trip, Powell and Gamble stumble upon an illegal weed farm and find themselves taking on a dangerous cartel.
Niko Pepaj as Miguel Alfaro and Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay in ‘SWAT’ season 8 episode 13 (Photo Credit: Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS Broadcasting Inc.)
SWAT Description, Courtesy of CBS:
S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a former Marine and locally born and raised SWAT sergeant tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson strives to bridge the divide between his two worlds.
Committed to the job, Hondo is equally devoted to his marriage and fatherhood. The other members of Hondo’s elite S.W.A.T. unit include David “Deacon” Kay, an experienced S.W.A.T. officer and dedicated family man who always puts the team first; Victor Tan, who started in the LAPD Hollywood Division and uses his confidential informants in the community to help the team; Zoe Powell, a tough and loyal team member trying to reconnect with the son she gave up for adoption as a teen; and Miguel “Miko” Alfaro, a headstrong officer who overcame a troubled childhood, and is now a trusted 20-Squad addition following a rocky transfer to Los Angeles S.W.A.T.
Responsible for the management of all Metro Division S.W.A.T. units is Commander Robert Hicks, a senior LAPD official with the Special Operations Bureau. With Hondo leading the charge, these dedicated men and women bravely put themselves at risk to protect their community and save lives.
Annie Ilonzeh as Devin Gamble and Anna Enger Ritch as Zoe Powell in season 8 episode 13 (Photo Credit: Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS Broadcasting Inc.)Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson and Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay in season 8 episode 13 (Photo Credit: Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS Broadcasting Inc)Anna Enger Ritch as Zoe Powell in season 8 episode 13 (Photo Credit: Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS Broadcasting Inc)Anna Enger Ritch as Zoe Powell in season 8 episode 13 (Photo Credit: Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS Broadcasting Inc.)
Mikey Madison as Ani and Mark Eydelshteyn as Ivan in ‘Anora’ (Courtesy of NEON)
Anora continues to pick up speed heading into the Oscars, scoring Critics Choice Awards and DGA wins and snagging a Best Feature win at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Anora also captured Best Director (Sean Baker) and Best Lead Performance (Mikey Madison) wins. A Real Pain and Didi each earned two awards during the February 22, 2025 Spirit Awards ceremony hosted by Aidy Bryant.
On the television side, Baby Reindeer dominated with three wins. The critically acclaimed limited series took home the Best Lead Performance (Richard Gadd), Best Supporting Performance (Nava Mau), and Best Breakthrough Performance (Jessica Gunning) wins. Other television winners included Shogun and How to Die Alone.
2025 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS NOMINEES and WINNERS
BEST FEATURE
WINNER: Anora
Producers: Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan
I Saw the TV Glow
Producers: Ali Herting, Sam Intili, Dave McCary, Emma Stone, Sarah Winshall
Nickel Boys
Producers: Joslyn Barnes, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Levine
Sing Sing
Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Monique Walton
The Substance
Producers: Tim Bevan, Coralie Fargeat, Eric Fellner
BEST FIRST FEATURE
WINNER: Dìdi
Director/Producer: Sean Wang
Producers: Valerie Bush, Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters
In the Summers
Director: Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio
Producers: Janek Ambros, Lynette Coll, Alexander Dinelaris, Cynthia Fernandez De La Cruz, Cristóbal Güell, Sergio Alberto Lira, Rob Quadrino, Jan Suter, Daniel Tantalean, Nando Vila, Slava Vladimirov, Stephanie Yankwitt
Janet Planet
Director/Producer: Annie Baker
Producers: Andrew Goldman, Dan Janvey, Derrick Tseng
The Piano Lesson
Director: Malcolm Washington
Producers: Todd Black, Denzel Washington
Problemista
Director/Producer: Julio Torres
Producers: Ali Herting, Dave McCary, Emma Stone
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000 (Award given to the writer, director and producer)
Big Boys
Writer/Director/Producer: Corey Sherman
Producer: Allison Tate
Ghostlight
Writer/Director: Kelly O’Sullivan
Director/Producer: Alex Thompson
Producers: Pierce Cravens, Ian Keiser, Chelsea Krant, Eddie Linker, Alex Wilson
WINNER: Girls Will Be Girls
Writer/Director/Producer: Shuchi Talati
Producers: Richa Chadha, Claire Chassagne
Jazzy
Writer/Director/Producer: Morrisa Maltz
Writer/Producer: Lainey Shangreaux
Writers: Andrew Hajek, Vanara Taing
Producers: Miranda Bailey, Tommy Heitkamp, John Way, Natalie Whalen, Elliott Whitton
The People’s Joker
Writer/Director: Vera Drew
Writer: Bri LeRose
Producer: Joey Lyons
Olivier Bugge Coutté, Olivia Neergaard-Holm
The Apprentice
Anne McCabe
Nightbitch
WINNER: Hansjörg Weissbrich
September 5
Arielle Zakowski
Dìdi
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast
His Three Daughters
Director: Azazel Jacobs
Casting Director: Nicole Arbusto
Ensemble Cast: Jovan Adepo, Jasmine Bracey, Carrie Coon, Jose Febus, Rudy Galvan, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Randy Ramos Jr., Jay O. Sanders
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Gaucho Gaucho
Directors/Producers: Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw
Producers: Christos Konstantakopoulos, Cameron O’Reilly, Matthew Perniciaro
Hummingbirds
Directors: Silvia Del Carmen Castaños, Estefanía “Beba” Contreras
Co-Directors/Producers: Miguel Drake-McLaughlin, Diane Ng, Ana Rodriguez-Falco, Jillian Schlesinger
Producers: Leslie Benavides, Rivkah Beth Medow
WINNER: No Other Land
Directors/Producers: Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor
Producers: Fabien Greenberg, Bård Kjøge Rønning
Patrice: The Movie
Director: Ted Passon
Producers: Kyla Harris, Innbo Shim, Emily Spivack
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Director: Johan Grimonprez
Producers: Rémi Grellety, Daan Milius
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
All We Imagine as Light
France, India, Netherlands, Luxembourg
Director: Payal Kapadia
Black Dog
China
Director: Guan Hu
WINNER: Flow
Latvia, France, Belgium
Director: Gints Zilbalodis
Green Border
Poland, France, Czech Republic, Belgium
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Hard Truths
United Kingdom
Director: Mike Leigh
PRODUCERS AWARD presented by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey – The Producers Award, now in its 28th year, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films.
Alex Coco
WINNER: Sarah Winshall
Zoë Worth
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The Someone to Watch Award, now in its 31st year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.
Nicholas Colia
Director of Griffin in Summer
WINNER: Sarah Friedland
Director of Familiar Touch
Pham Thien An
Director of Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The Truer Than Fiction Award, now in its 30th year, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.
Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie
Directors of Sugarcane
Carla Gutiérrez
Director of Frida
WINNER: Rachel Elizabeth Seed
Director of A Photographic Memory
BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color
Executive Producers: Idris Elba, Johanna Woolford Gibbon, Jamilla Dumbuya, Jos Cushing, Khaled Gad, Matt Robins, Chris Muckle, Sean David Johnson, Simon Raikes
Co-Executive Producer: Annabel Hobley
WINNER: Hollywood Black
Executive Producers: Shayla Harris, Dave Sirulnick, Stacey Reiss, Jon Kamen, Justin Simien, Kyle Laursen, Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Jeffrey Schwarz, Amy Goodman Kass, Michael Wright, Jill Burkhart
Co-Executive Producers: David C. Brown, Laurens Grant
Photographer
Executive Producers: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Pagan Harleman, Betsy Forhan
Co-Executive Producers: Anna Barnes, Brent Kunkle
Ren Faire
Executive Producers: Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Eli Bush, Dani Bernfeld, Lance Oppenheim, David Gauvey Herbert, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
Co-Executive Producers: Abigail Rowe, Christian Vasquez, Max Allman
Social Studies
Creator/Executive Producer: Lauren Greenfield
Executive Producers: Wallis Annenberg, Regina K. Scully, Andrea van Beuren, Frank Evers, Caryn Capotosto
BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Baby Reindeer
Creator/Executive Producer: Richard Gadd
Executive Producers: Wim De Greef, Petra Fried, Matt Jarvis, Ed Macdonald
Diarra From Detroit
Creator/Executive Producer: Diarra Kilpatrick
Executive Producers: Kenya Barris, Miles Orion Feldsott, Darren Goldberg
Co-Executive Producers: Ester Lou, Mark Ganek
English Teacher
Creator/Executive Producer: Brian Jordan Alvarez
Executive Producers: Paul Simms, Jonathan Krisel, Dave King
Co-Executive Producers: Kathryn Dean, Jake Bender, Zach Dunn
Fantasmas
Creator/Executive Producer: Julio Torres
Executive Producers: Emma Stone, Dave McCary, Olivia Gerke, Alex Bach, Daniel Powell
Co-Executive Producer: Ali Herting
WINNER: Shōgun
Creators/Executive Producers: Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks
Executive Producers: Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, Michaela Clavell
Co-Executive Producers: Shannon Goss, Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Brian Jordan Alvarez
English Teacher
WINNER: Richard Gadd
Baby Reindeer
Lily Gladstone
Under the Bridge
Kathryn Hahn
Agatha All Along
Cristin Milioti
The Penguin
Julianne Moore
Mary & George
Hiroyuki Sanada
Shōgun
Anna Sawai
Shōgun
Andrew Scott
Ripley
Julio Torres
Fantasmas
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Tadanobu Asano
Shōgun
Enrico Colantoni
English Teacher
Betty Gilpin
Three Women
Chloe Guidry
Under the Bridge
Moeka Hoshi
Shōgun
Stephanie Koenig
English Teacher
Patti LuPone
Agatha All Along
WINNER: Nava Mau
Baby Reindeer
Ruth Negga
Presumed Innocent
Brian Tee
Expats
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
WINNER: Jessica Gunning
Baby Reindeer
Diarra Kilpatrick
Diarra From Detroit
Joe Locke
Agatha All Along
Megan Stott
Penelope
Hoa Xuande
The Sympathizer
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
How to Die Alone
Ensemble Cast: Melissa DuPrey, Jaylee Hamidi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Arkie Kandola, Elle Lorraine, Michelle McLeod, Chris “CP” Powell, Conrad Ricamora, Natasha Rothwell, Jocko Sims
CBS’s Tracker season two episode 10 takes the action to Wolf Creek, Minnesota, and finds Colter dealing with a biker gang. And in episode 10, Colter teams up with someone who has a similar unconventional background, leading to a comparable special skill set.
Spoilers ahead – you’ve been warned!
Episode 10 opens with Angie (Sydney Scotia) finishing her set and collecting her pay from a bar’s manager, Ramona. Ramona warns her to watch out because her #1 fan is lurking nearby, but Angie thinks her pepper spray will keep her safe. She leaves the bar, and the man follows close behind.
The following day, Velma (Abby McEnany) calls Colter (Justin Hartley) with details on Angie’s kidnapping. A $50,000 reward’s been offered on the case. Four men heard her scream after she exited the bar, and three of them wound up dead. Two of the dead were members of a biker gang, and the third was an off-duty cop. The survivor ID’ed the killer as Benjamin Kinderson.
The suspect’s grandmother, Ava, put up the reward so Colter makes her home his first stop. Ava’s on edge because bikers have been threatening to kill her grandson. She’s certain Ben didn’t kill anyone and didn’t kidnap Angie. Ava believes her grandson’s a gentleman; violence isn’t in his DNA.
Ben works as a security guard at the oil fields and only stops by Wolf Creek to clear his head. If the cops find him before Colter, Ava’s concerned Ben will kill the cops. Ben’s mother died young, and his father raised him in the woods. He was taught survival skills and to fight anyone who threatened them. (Sounds just like Colter’s childhood!) When his dad died, Ben joined the military and served two tours in Afghanistan. He’s been trained to defend himself. However, if he did kill three men and take Angie, Ava wants him brought to justice.
Colter takes the case and heads to the Wolf Creek bar. Ramona didn’t see what happened once Angie stepped outside the bar, but she believes Ben took Angie. Colter asks about the security video and learns the sheriff beat him to it. The biker gang shows up while Colter’s still there, and their sergeant-in-arms, Ricky, isn’t happy to hear Colter is working for Ben’s grandmother. Colter tries to leave and Ricky reacts by pushing him. Colter takes the gang on, but the fight comes to an end when the club’s president, Cropper, steps in and breaks it up. Cropper apologizes for Ricky and claims they want to find Ben, too.
Ricky walks Colter through what happened last night, and his explanation doesn’t match the evidence. Ricky admits he got knocked out and didn’t see everything. Colter steps into the taped-off crime scene and determines the fight happened out back, not where Ricky said it started. The sheriff arrives as Colter’s in the restricted area, and she boots the biker club to speak privately with Colter. She asks him to leave, but Colter points out her officers are looking in the woods – in the opposite direction Ben went. There are blood spots and boot prints that indicate Ben was probably carrying Angie away from the fight.
If Ben left on foot and either he or Angie was injured, they couldn’t have gone more than 15 miles. That is unless they had a car somewhere. The sheriff asks Colter to ride with her so they can continue talking, and Colter explains he believes the bikers lied about where the fight took place. He also believes the bikers picked a fight with Ben and weren’t prepared for Ben to fight back so hard. The cop stepped in and was killed. But he doesn’t know why Ben would take Angie.
The sheriff was serious about not wanting Colter to be involved in the case. She drops him off a fair distance from the bar and informs him she had his truck towed. He’ll have to hike 12 miles to retrieve it.
The sheriff claims there are things about the case Colter can’t be looped in on. She’ll solve this without his help. (We’ve heard that before, right?)
Colter’s still walking when night falls. He encounters a man with car problems and offers to help in exchange for a ride to the tow yard. Vic says the impound yard’s closed, so Colter asks for a ride back to the bar instead. Vic warns Colter to leave the case alone. The sheriff and the bikers are in cahoots, so getting involved is dangerous. Colter’s not leaving, and Vic says if he needs something, to call him.
Colter calls Randy, who’s taking over for Bobby, while Bobby deals with family stuff. Bobby filled him in on the case, and Colter asks what he discovered about Ben and Angie. Kinderson doesn’t have much of a criminal history and was a loner. Angie was traveling the country alone. Randy can’t find any prior connection between Ben and Angie.
Colter heads into the woods outside the bar, tracking Ben’s steps. He finds booby traps and a trip wire, and weird carvings hanging from trees. Suddenly, he hears strange noises and a woman’s scream and follows it to Angie. Before Angie says anything, Ben hits him from behind.
Colter comes to in Ben’s shelter and says he’s impressed. Ben (9-1-1: Lone Star’s Jim Parrack) is carving a death whistle (the noise Colter heard in the woods) and Colter’s aware just how difficult they are to make. He informs Ben that his grandmother hired him and is worried.
Ben claims three men were hurting Angie and he stopped them. He left them injured but not dead. Angie confirms that’s the truth and that Ben saved her. Ben frees Colter from his restraints as Angie confesses she saw the bikers kill the cop when she stepped outside the bar. She heard them call the dead cop a snitch and noticed that the cop’s truck was full of guns. Angie tried to run and that’s when Ben saved her from the bikers.
The bikers are running guns, and the cops are in on it. They can’t trust the police.
Ben wonders how Colter found him, and Colter explains he followed the one clean print he left behind. He pieced together other clues and arrived at the shelter. Ben insists he can take care of Angie, and Colter tells Ben that his father also raised him to be a survivalist. Colter and Ben have a lot in common besides being loners. But Colter believes there are more good people out there than bad, while Ben doesn’t. Ben doesn’t trust anyone.
Colter informs Ben that the sheriff has video footage proving what happened. As they talk, they hear one of Ben’s traps going off. They race back to Angie, and Colter wants to leave, while Ben thinks the traps will take out the cops trying to find them. Ben will take care of anyone who makes it through. Colter believes that’s the wrong decision, and instead, they should work on clearing Ben’s name.
They make it back to Angie’s van and Colter reveals his plan. They’ll break into the evidence locker at the police station and get the footage while the cops search the woods. Colter calls Vic to see if he can keep Angie safe while they get the tape. Vic agrees.
Colter and Ben incapacitate a cop and Colter retrieves the tape. The sheriff discovers them and Ben disarms her. She warns them they have cameras, too, but Colter’s one step ahead of her. He grabbed that footage and noticed she’s got $80,000 in the evidence locker. He suggests they pretend today didn’t happen. The sheriff claims Colter’s just taken her first real evidence against the bikers. She was trying to take them down and wasn’t working with them.
A deputy walks in while the intense discussion’s going on, and the sheriff convinces him that Kinderson wasn’t involved in their colleague’s death.
Colter calls Vic and learns someone informed the bikers that Angie was at his house. He and Angie have been taken to the bar. The biker gang president, Cropper, takes over Vic’s phone and tells Colter he wants the video footage. He’ll trade Angie for it. When Ben yells a threat over the phone, Cropper shoots Vic in the forehead.
If Colter and Ben don’t come to the bar and do the trade, he’ll kill Angie.
Ben and Colter watch the footage in the van and confirm Angie saw the bikers kill the cop. The footage also shows the gang’s president killing his fellow bikers after Ben rescued Angie and left the scene.
The bikers exit the bar when Angie’s van pulls up. Ben’s death whistle provides an eerie background noise as the gang checks out the van. Ben and Colter have traps set up in the nearby woods and while Ben’s outside, Colter enters the bar. He spots Angie and she’s able to scream a warning as gunfire breaks out.
Colter shoots one of the two bikers still in the bar, and he and Angie injure Cropper. Unfortunately, Ben’s not faring as well. Ricky steps inside the bar, holding Ben at gunpoint. If they don’t hand over the video, then Ben’s dead. Colter informs Ricky that he has it all wrong; Ben didn’t kill the two biker prospects. The club president killed them. The gang’s leader confesses he did it because the prospects were weak. Ricky kills Cropper and lets Ben go, fleeing the scene when sirens fill the air.
Colter says his goodbyes the next day, even handing over Angie’s guitar that he tracked down in the local pawn shop. And in a fitting turn of events, Ben’s going on tour with Angie as her roadie. He and Colter shake hands, and Ben believes in a different world he and Colter would be friends.
Ben’s grandmother thanks Colter and hands over the $50,000 reward, noting that Colter and Ben are a lot alike. “Whatever happened to you … or whoever … they must have done something right,” says Ava.
Episode 10 ends with the sheriff catching up with Colter and apologizing for stranding him in the middle of nowhere. Kinderson’s been cleared and the case against the bikers is strong now, thanks to Colter.
Constance Zimmer (Big Sky, UnREAL) guest stars as Vince’s ex on CBS’s Fire Country season three episode 13, “My Team.” Episode 13, directed by Kate Phelan from a script by Barbara Kaye Friend, will air on Friday, February 28, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT.
Max Thieriot stars as Bode, Billy Burke plays Vince, Kevin Alejandro is Manny, and Diane Farr is Sharon. Stephanie Arcila plays Gabriela, Jordan Calloway is Jake, Jules Latimer is Eve, and Leven Rambin guest stars as Audrey James.
“My Team” Plot: Station 42 responds to a fire in the dugout before the annual county clash baseball rivalry game. Meanwhile, Vince’s ex-girlfriend (Constance Zimmer) returns. Michael Trucco reprises his role as Luke Leone.
Fire Country stars Max Thieriot as Bode Leone, a young convict seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California, where he and other inmates are partnered with elite firefighters to extinguish massive, unpredictable wildfires across the region. It’s a high-risk, high-reward assignment, and the heat is turned up when Bode is assigned to the program in his rural hometown, where he was once a golden all-American son until his troubles began.
Years ago, Bode burned down everything in his life, leaving town with a big secret. Now he’s back, with the rap sheet of a criminal and the audacity to believe in a chance for redemption with Cal Fire.
Helen Mirren as Cara and Harrison Ford as Jacob in ‘1923’ season 2 episode 1 (Photo credit: Trae Patton/Paramount+)
Paramount+’s 1923 season two episode one arrives two years after the first season’s finale. Season one followed three distinct storylines, but season two expands that to four, spending time separately with Spencer and his new bride, Alexandra. The first season ended with Cara and Jacob Dutton desperate for Spencer to return home and help save the ranch from ruthless tycoon Donald Whitfield. Meanwhile, Spencer was booted off a ship after a deadly encounter with Alex’s jealous ex, Arthur. Forcefully separated, Alex vowed to find a way to follow him to America.
The third storyline followed Teonna Rainwater who’s was on the run from Father Renaud and Marshal Kent after murdering abusive nuns (who deserved it) at a Catholic school. The first episode of season two checks in on all four storylines, and the following recap—spoiler alert!—is structured into sections that track each key character’s journey.
Winter Arrives at the Yellowstone
Cara (Helen Mirren) writes to Spencer, knowing it’s more an exercise in journaling her thoughts than a true attempt at communication. She notes they’ve had to sell all but four bulls and 100 heifers. She hopes that will be enough to rebuild the ranch once they defeat Whitfield and his thugs. It’s a brutal winter, and the ranch is cut off by the snow.
Food, other than what they can hunt, is scarce. They get by on stews and stale bread. “Like the bear, we hibernate, impatiently awaiting spring and your return,” writes Cara.
Even with a blizzard on the way, Jacob (Harrison Ford) needs to go to town. Cara warns him not to try to make it back home if the weather’s too dangerous. He promises today will not be the last time he sees her face.
A mountain lion is right by the front door as Jacob steps outside, but it runs off before he needs to shoot it. Cara joins him and he points out the tracks. Jacob believes it wasn’t hunting humans, but it lingers in the field rather than running off to the mountains.
Jacob, Jack (Darren Mann), and three cowboys head to Bozeman and spend a little downtime in the local speakeasy under the hotel. Sheriff McDowell (Robert Patrick) drinks at the bar, and Jacob pulls up a stool. They discuss the matter that brought Jacob to Bozeman: Zane’s marriage to an Asian woman, which is against the law. Zane’s in custody after a vicious beating, and his wife and children are being held prisoner.
Judge Garrett, who will hear the case, is married to a Crow woman, and Jacob can’t believe it’s okay to marry one race and not another. McDowell confirms that Zane’s marriage is void and that the preacher who performed will be arrested. Zane’s wife won’t say who officiated it, so she’s still being held in jail.
Jacob and McDowell are certain this is all Whitfield’s doing. (Whitfield’s undertaking a death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach to break the Duttons.) McDowell warns Jacob that he better figure out a way to pay next year’s taxes quickly, or Whitfield will scoop up the Yellowstone.
Back at the ranch, Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) is ecstatic to see the sun shining through the windows. She steps onto the porch and comes face-to-face with the mountain lion. Cara sees her frozen in place and grabs her shotgun, killing the mountain lion.
1923 brings 1883’s Elsa (Isabel May) in to provide a voice-over describing Montana’s harsh winters. Elsa calls winter the killing season and says only the strongest survive.
Wolves howl, filling the air as a worried Cara steps outside.
Brandon Sklenar as Spencer in season 2, episode 1 of ‘1923’ (Photo credit: Lauren Smith/Paramount+)
Spencer Finds Passage to Galveston
Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) is working his way to Galveston, Texas, shoveling coal in a ship’s boiler room. coal. He befriends Luca (Andy Dispensa) from Palermo, Sicily, and notices a man staring at him in the mess hall. That night, Spencer stops Luca from being raped, ripping the man from the dining room off him and beating him to a pulp when he pulls a knife. The ruckus gets the attention of the ship’s captain, who shoots the rapist. Spencer isn’t disciplined but does have to clean up the blood.
The following day, Spencer finishes his shift and discovers two letters on his bunk. He finds Luca sitting on the ship’s railing, prepared to jump. Luca confesses the man’s been raping him since they left port. Spencer assures him it’s not his fault and shouldn’t throw away his life because of it. He needs to think about his family and how his mother would feel learning he committed suicide.
Luca says one of the letters he wrote is to his mother. Spencer doesn’t speak Italian, so Luca explains the other letter is a thank you for saving him. Spencer should look for his cousins Salvatore and Rosario Maceo once the ship docks. They run Galveston and will pay Spencer for saving him. Spencer points out that if he jumps, he didn’t save him. Luca admits he didn’t think of that and allows Spencer to help him off the railing.
Spencer throws away the letters and suggests they get back to work.
Later, Spencer and Luca talk about their homes. Spencer explains he’s heading to Montana to help his family and needs money to get there. Luca thinks Spencer can make a lot by fighting, but Spencer dislikes fighting for money. He believes you should only fight for survival, not sport. Luca suggests that if Spencer’s returning home because his family’s in danger, then fighting for money is for survival.
Spencer agrees, and Luca gets things organized during dinner. Bets are placed on either the lion hunter or the giant for a one-round fight without any rules. Spencer wins within seconds. His next fight lasts slightly longer, and Spencer gets bruised and bloodied before biting his opponent’s neck and then delivering a series of punishing blows.
The night ends with Spencer earning $420. He heads to the bow to smoke and distance himself from anyone looking to steal his earnings. Galveston’s lights come into view as he looks out over the ocean.
Aminah Nieves as Teonna in ‘1923’ season 2 episode 1 (Photo credit: Ryan Green/Paramount+)
Teonna Makes Camp in Texas
Marshal Kent (Jamie McShane), Father Renaud (Sebastian Roché), and Marshal Thomas (Ross Crain) shoot multiple members of the Comanche tribe while searching for Teonna. Kent holds a small child at gunpoint, and even after they claim not to have seen Teonna, he kills the child by running him down with his horse.
Teonna (Aminah Nieves), her father Runs His Horse (Michael Spears), and Pete Plenty Clouds (Jeremy Guana) have made camp and believe they’re far enough ahead of Father Renaud to relax a bit. Runs His Horse provides a lesson on woodworking, explaining their people have lost much of what their forefathers knew because of the white man. Trading and getting supplies rather than making them has made the indigenous people into beggars at the white man’s fort. Which is precisely what the white man wants.
The relationship between Teonna and Pete is blossoming, and her father suggests she wait until after the ceremony to lose her virginity. However, he admits he didn’t wait – no one waits. Teonna takes matters into her own hands, joining Pete away from camp on his deer hunt. She removes her shirt and smiles, and Pete takes a big gulp before smiling back. He races across the creek when she removes her pants, now only covered by a blanket.
They’ve only made it as far as kissing when they spot a man on horseback nearby. Pete runs and grabs her clothes, quickly covering their footprints. The man’s right behind Pete when he turns around, and, fortunately, he’s friendly. It turns out they’re camping on the JA Ranch in Texas and missed Oklahoma by 100 miles.
Comanche used to own this land but have moved on to Vernon. However, the ranch owner, Mr. Goodnight, is a friend of Quanah Parker (the last chief of the Kwahadi band of Comanches) and does not mind Comanches camping on his land.
Julia Schlaepfer as Alexandra in ‘1923’ season 2 episode 1 (Photo credit: Lauren Smith/Paramount+.)
Alexandra Sets Off to America
Sussex, England. Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) is wasting away, mourning the absence of Spencer and ignoring her health. She needs to get to America as soon as possible and has no one to help her besides her best friend Jennifer (Jo Ellen Pellman). Alex doesn’t have time to waste because she’s pregnant! She’s afraid her family’s punishment will worsen once Arthur, Sr. finds out she’s pregnant. They’ve already been banned from London.
Alex convinces Jennifer to sell her jewelry and book her 2nd class passage on the first ship sailing to America. Jennifer also agrees to tell Alex’s parents she’s taking her to Oxford to see friends.
Alex pens a letter to Spencer, explaining she will enter America via the port in New York. From there, she’ll travel by train to Montana.
Jennifer couldn’t book 2nd class, so Alex will be traveling in tourist class, which Jennifer describes as full of thieves and beggars. She couldn’t sell the jewelry for as much as Alex would have liked since no one of repute would buy them. Before Alex boards the ship, Jennifer places her expensive bracelet on Alex’s wrist. If she doesn’t return it, Jennifer will understand that she needed the money.
They hug, and Alex boards the ship in good spirits, calling out, “I’m off on the next adventure!”
Fast and Furious‘ Jordana Brewster guest stars as a lifestyle consultant on CBS’s Elsbeth season two episode 13, “Tearjerker.” Episode 13, directed by Peter Sollett and written by Leah Nanako Winkler, will air on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT.
Carrie Preston stars as Elsbeth Tascioni, Wendell Pierce stars as Captain C.W. Wagner, and Carra Patterson is back as Officer Kaya Blanke. Robert King, Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, and Jonathan Tolins serve as executive producers.
“Tearjerker” Plot: While investigating the death of a wealthy real estate developer, Elsbeth is led to the last person to see him alive, a lifestyle consultant named Chloe (Jordana Brewster) who is usually found on the arms of residents of New York City’s Billionaires’ Row.
Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston is back as Elsbeth Tascioni, the astute but unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to catch New York’s most well-heeled murderers utilizing her unique point of view. Season two of the critically acclaimed series brings new cases and challenges when mistakes of the past come back to haunt Elsbeth, her boss Captain Wagner (Pierce), and detective in training Officer Kaya Blanke (Patterson).
Scandal‘s Scott Foley and Vanderpump Rules‘ Ariana Madix guest star on ABC’s Will Trent season three episode eight. “Abigail B.” will air on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT.
Ramón Rodríguez leads the cast as the titular character. Erika Christensen stars as Angie Polaski, Iantha Richardson is Faith Mitchell, Jake McLaughlin is Michael Ormewood, and Sonja Sohn is Amanda Wagner. Gina Rodriguez joins the cast as Marion Alba for season three.
“Abigail B.” Plot: Will teams up with Marion to investigate a chilling child trafficking case, uncovering dark secrets along the way. Meanwhile, Ormewood assists Ariana Madix with personal security, until a seemingly routine intervention escalates into violence.
Gina Rodriguez and Ramon Rodriguez in ‘Will Trent’ season 3 episode 8 (Disney/Zac Popik)
Will Trent Series Description, Courtesy of ABC:
Based on Karin Slaughter’s New York Times bestselling Will Trent series, Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. Now, Will uses his unique point of view in the pursuit of justice and has the highest clearance rate in the GBI.
Ariana Madix and Jake McLaughlin in season 3 episode 8 (Disney/Wilford Harewood)Erika Christensen in season 3 episode 8 (Disney/Wilford Harewood)Jake McLaughlin and Ariana Madix in season 3 episode 8 (Disney/Wilford Harewood)Ramon Rodriguez and Iantha Richardson in season 3 episode 8 (Disney/Zac Popik)Ramon Rodriguez and Gina Rodriguez in season 3 episode 8 (Disney/Zac Popik)
Fox’s The Quiz with Balls will return for season two, with Jay Pharoah (SNL) back as host. Season one premiered in May 2024 and earned the #1 spot among new series last summer. The network didn’t confirm a launch date for season two.
“During its first season, The Quiz with Balls really broke through, thanks to a mix of engaging playability, comedic physical stakes, and our terrific host Jay Pharoah, who artfully invites viewers into the fun,” stated Michael Thorn, President of FOX Television Network. “Not to mention, our long-time production partners at Talpa and Eureka have a few new tricks up their sleeves for Season Two, which made renewing this popular game show a must.”
Anthony Carbone is the showrunner and executive produces. Additional executive producers include John de Mol, Maarten Meijs, Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Wes Dening, and Judy Smart.
“We’re incredibly proud that The Quiz with Balls is returning for a second season with FOX,” said John de Mol, owner of Talpa Studios. “The show’s success in the Netherlands has been tremendous, and we were excited to see how well it worked in the U.S. over the summer. This time around, we’re picking up the pace and adding more play-along moments, giving viewers an even more engaging and exciting experience.”
Fox offered this description of the series:
“Standing on a high platform over a glistening pool, teams must work together as they face a multiple-choice quiz where each answer is allocated to a spot with a giant ball positioned up behind it. If the correct answer is chosen, the ball rolls down and stops just before colliding with the player… if the answer is wrong, the massive ball rapidly descends and mercilessly whacks them into the pool below.
The more players each team loses, the harder the questions get. The longer they last, the more money they bank, until one ‘dry’ family member plays the final round for The Quiz with Balls’ $100,000 Grand Prize.”
Folks, this is not a drill! CBS’s Ghosts season four episode 14 dives into Isaac’s dislike of Alexander Hamilton, with Nat Faxon guest starring as Hamilton. Episode 14, directed by Richie Keen and written by John Blickstead and Trey Kolmer, airs on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 8:30pm ET/PT.
Rose McIver stars as Sam, Utkarsh Ambudkar is Jay, Brandon Scott Jones is Isaac, and Richie Moriarty plays Pete. Danielle Pinnock is Alberta, Asher Grodman is Trevor, Román Zaragoza stars as Sasappis, Rebecca Wisocky plays Hetty, Devan Chandler Long is Thorfinn, and Sheila Carrasco is Flower. Tristan D. Lalla guest stars as Mark.
“Alexander Hamilton and the Ruffle Kerfuffle” Plot: When Jay becomes obsessed with the success of a fellow chef, Isaac serves up a cautionary tale about his own rivalry with Alexander Hamilton. Also, Elias Woodstone (Matt Walsh) returns from hell with a limited-time offer for the ghosts.
Ghosts is a single-camera comedy about Samantha and Jay, a cheerful freelance journalist and up-and-coming chef from the city, respectively, who threw both caution and money to the wind when they decided to convert Woodstone Mansion, which Sam inherited, into a bed & breakfast – only to find it was inhabited by the many spirits of deceased residents who now call it home.
The departed souls are a close-knit, eclectic group that includes a saucy Prohibition-era lounge singer (Danielle Pinnock); a pompous 18th-century militiaman (Brandon Scott Jones); a ‘60s hippie fond of hallucinogens (Sheila Carrasco); an overly upbeat ‘80s scout troop leader (Richie Moriarty); a cod-obsessed Viking explorer from 1009 (Devon Chandler Long); a slick ‘90s finance bro (Asher Grodman); a sarcastic and witty native from the 16th-century (Román Zaragoza); and a society woman and wife of a 19th-century robber baron who is Sam’s ancestor (Rebecca Wisocky), to name a few. The opening of the B&B has been a source of intrigue, anxiety, and curiosity among the spirits, but they will gladly put up with the commotion as long as they can continue to interact with a living inhabitant.
Theo James stars in ‘The Monkey’ (Photo Credit: Neon)
There is probably no author in modern history whose work has been adapted into film more than Stephen King. His horrifying short stories, novellas, and books have been made into countless movies. It seemed like only a matter of time before new wave horror maestro Osgood Perkins (Longlegs) got his shot at a King story. That time is now, and that story is The Monkey.
The Monkey is about a man named Hal (Theo James from The White Lotus) who, as a child (played in the movie by Cocaine Bear’s Christian Convery), had a toy organ grinder monkey. But this was a special organ grinder monkey. When its key was wound, it would play its drums, and someone would die. Hal learned this early on and did his best to get rid of the monkey. However, with Hal now an adult, the monkey has found its way back to him. And it’s up to its old tricks.
As a Stephen King adaptation, The Monkey is as loose as they come without being The Lawnmower Man. Perkins’ script basically grabs onto the supernatural killer monkey aspect of the original story and takes it to completely unexpected places. Those unexpected places allow The Monkey to be more of a madcap comedy than a bone-chilling horror movie. And while that may disappoint some die-hard King fright fans, it will make horror comedy fans squeal with delight.
Because, as a whole, The Monkey is more funny than it is scary. Even the deaths that are caused by the monkey are comical in how over-the-top they are. These aren’t just run-of-the-mill killings; these are the kind of absurd, ultra-violent fatalities that shouldn’t be funny but are, each going through a Rube Goldberg, Final Destination-type of process that ultimately pays off in the bloodiest and most brutal of fashions. It’s the kind of thing that has audiences laughing and cheering.
The absurdity doesn’t stop with the carnage, though. That’s just the beginning. The situations in the movie get more and more ridiculous as it goes on, to the point where as the bodies in town pile up, a group of cheerleaders (with pom poms and all) show up at the scenes to root on the police (“They’re bringing out the body! They’re bringing out the body!”). This humor is not only appreciated, but it actually drives the movie as other parts start to falter. And falter they do, especially in the later sections of the movie where it seems as if Perkins writes himself into a few corners.
The Monkey plays a bit fast and loose with its tone. It’s never sure of how serious a movie it wants to be. Sometimes that works in its favor – the actors being completely serious while slapstick death happens all around them is, admittedly, pretty hysterical. But other times, it just seems a bit off. It never feels completely like a suspenseful horror flick, but sometimes it doesn’t really feel like a comedy either. It just exists in this middle ground that gives off an awkward vibe. It sometimes feels like an unintentional low-budget rip-off, even though that B-movie tone is completely intentional on Perkins’ part.
Overall, The Monkey does what it sets out to do. It’s a fresh and unique horror comedy when it works, and even when it doesn’t, it’s entertaining enough. Mostly, it just feels like Osgood Perkins having fun with his story. Does The Monkey rank up there with the great Stephen King movies like Carrie, Christine, or The Shining? No. It doesn’t. But it’s better than The Lawnmower Man.
GRADE: B-
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, gore, some sexual references, and strong violent content
