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‘FBI’ Season 6 Episode 9 Preview: Photos, Cast and “Best Laid Plans” Promo

FBI: Most Wanted‘s Shantel VanSanten guest stars as Special Agent Nina Chase on CBS’s FBI season six episode nine. Directed by Alex Chapple from a script by Rick Eid and Joe Halpin, episode nine – “Best Laid Plans” – will air on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Season six stars Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, and Jeremy Sisto as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine. Alana De La Garza plays Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, John Boyd is Special Agent Stuart Scola, and Katherine Renee Kane stars as Special Agent Tiffany Wallace.

The network announced on April 9, 2024 that FBI has been renewed for three seasons, taking it through the 2026-2027 primetime season. FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International also earned single-season renewals as the FBI franchise continues to be a ratings winner for CBS.

“Best Laid Plans” Plot: When a retired FBI agent is tortured and killed while working a security job, Scola and Nina go undercover as a married couple deep in the diamond game as the team tries to find out who is responsible. During the course of his and Nina’s dangerous assignment, Scola is plagued by the possibility that their son Doug could end up parentless.

FBI Season 6 Episode 9
Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase and John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola in ‘FBI’ season 6 episode 9 (Photo: Bennett Raglin © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

The FBI Plot, Courtesy of CBS:

From Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf and the team behind the Law & Order brand, FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect, and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe.

Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI. Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, who operates under intense pressure and has undeniable command authority.

The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. The smart and outspoken Special Agent Tiffany Wallace, who spent six years with the NYPD, is partner to Special Agent Stuart Scola, an Ivy League-educated Wall Streeter-turned-FBI agent. These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime, and counterintelligence.

FBI Season 6 Episode 9
Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, Katherine Renee Kane as Special Agent Tiffany Wallace, and John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola in season 6 episode 9 (Photo: Bennett Raglin © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.)
FBI Season 6 Episode 9
Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan and Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell in season 6 episode 9 (Photo: Bennett Raglin © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI Season 6 Episode 9
Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola, and Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase in season 6 episode 9 (Photo: Bennett Raglin © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI Season 6 Episode 9
Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola, and Katherine Renee Kane as Special Agent Tiffany Wallace in season 6 episode 9 (Photo: Bennett Raglin © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.)
FBI Season 6 Episode 9
John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola, Katherine Renee Kane as Special Agent Tiffany Wallace, Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, and Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan in season 6 episode 9 (Photo: Bennett Raglin © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI Season 6 Episode 9
Katherine Renee Kane as Special Agent Tiffany Wallace, John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola, Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase and Michael Mastro as Samuel Jacobson in season 6 episode 9 (Photo: Bennett Raglin © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)




‘Sugar’ Episode 3 Recap: “Shibuya Crossing”

Sugar Episode Recap
Amy Ryan in ‘Sugar’ episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

Apple TV+’s Sugar packs a lot into episode three, “Shibuya Crossing,” including more teasers as to John Sugar’s real mission. The episode also introduces John’s associates.

Episode three opens with John (Colin Farrell) confessing he’s been having nightmares. Not even very good boy Wiley the dog’s presence can calm John’s turbulent thoughts. He wakes and checks in with Ruby (Kirby), reporting that Wiley snores and kicks in his sleep. Small talk complete, Ruby confirms she has had no updates about Olivia Siegel.

Ruby’s still against John taking on this case, and John doesn’t know why. He admits to himself that it might be because of his shaking hand and bad dreams. However, he continues to tell himself he’s fine.

Melanie Matthews (Amy Ryan) is also preparing for her day when Carmen Vasquez’s sister, Teresa, calls and says a man stopped by asking about her. (Carmen was murdered the night Olivia went missing.) Teresa sounds freaked out and Melanie assures her she’s on her way over to her apartment.

Melanie arrives at Teresa’s place and discovers it’s a trap. The man forced Teresa to make the call.

John had asked his associate Charlie (who he refers to as a “civilian”) to follow Melanie, and she calls John with Melanie’s location. John’s sure Melanie knows more about Olivia’s disappearance than she admits to, and he and Wiley head to Charlie’s location.

Charlie reports Melanie’s been in the apartment for eight minutes. John notices two F-150 trucks that look out of place in this neighborhood. He also notes there’s a man just sitting in the driver’s seat of one, not doing anything. John checks out the situation while Charlie sends the license plates to Ruby.

Inside the apartment, Melanie claims she doesn’t know where the man’s friend Clifford is but is aware he’s a wife-beater and murder suspect. The man doesn’t believe her and has one of this two associates bring over the blender. He threatens to put Teresa’s hand in it if Melanie isn’t more forthcoming with info on Clifford.

Meanwhile, John figures out which apartment Melanie’s visiting by connecting Vasquez on the doorbells to Carmen Vasquez. Carmen connects to Olivia and Olivia connects to Clifford and Melanie.

John heads around back to find a way in but must pause because of his arm spasming. He forces himself to pull it together and breaks into a backdoor of the complex. Teresa and Melanie are screaming when John knocks on the apartment door, ordering Teresa to open the door. He lies and says he’s a probation officer and he’s there to check on Teresa, who knows she’s supposed to open the door when he knocks.

John claims Child Protective Services is visiting in one hour and she needs to clean up the place right now. He attempts to force the three intruders to leave, but regrettably, the leader isn’t buying it. John’s dressed way too well to be a PO.

Before the situation can escalate, the lookout outside calls the leader and says his truck’s smoking. (Good work, Charlie.) Two of the intruders leave to check it out, and John easily disarms the one who remains behind.

Sugar Episode 3 Recap
Sydney Chandler in ‘Sugar’ episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

John hurries Teresa and her kids into Charlie’s van while he, Wiley, and Melanie hustle to his car. They make their getaway while the gangsters are examining the cause of the smoke. Once they’re safely away from the situation, Melanie confesses that she and Olivia were helping to get Carmen away from her abusive boyfriend.

Melanie reveals that Olivia got close to Carmen and was worried when Carmen wouldn’t return her calls. She went to Carmen’s place and found her dead on the floor. Olivia was calling the cops when she noticed a gun nearby. A man walked in carrying a body bag and Olivia was forced to shoot him to save herself.

Melanie explains Olivia called her for help and together they moved Clifford’s body. John’s certain the cops wouldn’t have arrested Olivia, but Melanie says Olivia refused to call them. She was worried about how a scandal might affect her family. Olivia was adamant that her family always came first.

The last time she saw Olivia was when they loaded Clifford’s body into Olivia’s trunk. Melanie loves her like a daughter and would do anything for her. John promises he’ll find Olivia.

Elsewhere, David Siegel’s bodyguard Kenny pays a visit to one of his lovers, National Security Agency Agent Everett Roberts, and asks him to look up John Sugar’s records. The records reveal John was born in Ohio and his father’s dead. His mom’s a retired teacher. John’s report cards indicate he’s smart and he was top of his class at Vassar. From college, he enrolled in an Army language school in Monterey. It’s a place where diplomats, military officers, and even spies learn languages quickly.

After school, John joined the Marines. He doesn’t have a wife or kids, and Everett suggests the best way to get more information is through John’s mom, Helen. Helen lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.

As Everett’s browsing through John’s records, Ruby receives an alert that an unauthorized individual is accessing John’s records. Ruby’s able to pinpoint the access to Everett Roberts.

Olivia’s dad, Bernie (Dennis Boutsikaris), speaks with his ex-wife Margit (Anna Gunn) about their son David. Margit’s certain David’s comeback film – a sequel to his only major hit as a child – will be a huge success. It’ll probably even earn him a Best Actor nomination. Bernie bursts Margit’s bubble when he admits one of David’s accusers might talk. Sugar’s investigating Olivia’s disappearance, and he’s incredibly good at his job which means he’ll probably discover David’s secrets.

John puts together what he’s learned thus far and believes Melanie is telling the truth. However, that doesn’t explain why Olivia hasn’t reached out to anyone since that night.

Sugar Episode Recap
Colin Farrell in ‘Sugar’ episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

John makes sure Wiley’s all set for the evening – water bowl full, dinner ordered from room service, and TV on to a classic movie – before heading out to the Societe Polyglotte Cosmopolitaine gathering. He doesn’t want to go, but realizes he needs to put in an appearance and catch up with old friends.

The party is at Ruby’s place and the room quiets as John enters. It’s obvious those in attendance are surprised but happy to see him. Everyone speaks multiple languages and Ruby opts for English, joking that she needs to practice the language of this country.

“Here we are again. We scatter, and we return. We got out into the world and we do our work, our essential work. The work we cannot fail to do. But tonight we return to one another,” says Ruby, addressing the group of 20+ individuals.

She’s happy they’re all safe and invites everyone to enjoy good food, drinks, and each other’s company. John tries to relax and enjoy the small talk, but he’s distracted by thoughts of his missing sister, Djen. Only his friend Henry (Jason Butler Harner), an anthropologist, can get John to take it easy for one night. John insists Henry needs to visit Shibuya Crossing in Japan. It’s the busiest intersection on the planet and perfect for people-watching.

John sat for hours just watching them. But then he corrects himself and says “feeling them.” Henry thinks it sounds beautiful.

They discuss difficulties sleeping, and Henry laughs when he says he bought a garlic press in the middle of the night. He was convinced he wanted it and needed it, even though he doesn’t like garlic.

Henry agrees with Ruby that John shouldn’t be involved in searching for Olivia. Henry warns his friend to be careful.

As they’re talking, people are shown in the background going upstairs escorted by Ruby and returning soon after. It’s finally John’s turn and he sits in what looks like an interrogation room across from Ruby. She looks through his journal, which is supposed to contain objective accounts of personal interactions as a result of his stated profession. Ruby isn’t impressed, not even with entries about watching people cross streets in Japan.

Ruby confronts John about his obsession with finding Olivia, noting that in his journal he keeps writing that he feels he needs to do it. She reminds them they are here to observe and not participate in people’s lives. He’s gotten far too close to this case. Ruby warns him to stay focused and never forget who he is.

It’s revealed he chose to be a private investigator because of Djen.

Ruby gives John a fresh journal as they both stare at a box on the table. John asks, “Have you heard from them?” and Ruby confirms she has. The mysterious ”them” has told Ruby they are counting on John and his associates.

Sugar Episode Recap
Kirby in ‘Sugar’ episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

The one-on-one is over but before John calls it a night, he asks Ruby if she found out anything on the trucks. Ruby learned the leader of the armed men is Byron Stallings and he has a police record. John asks that she continue to dig up whatever she can, and Ruby assures him she’s handling it. She also forces him to make an appointment to see Dr. Vickers.

David meets with his dad, Bernie, and shares his theory about John Sugar. He and Kenny believe the Societe Polyglotte Cosmopolitaine is a group of spies from all over the world who’ve gotten together to do something either good or bad. They’re not sure which. Either way, he and Kenny are planning a trip to Flagstaff to see John’s mother.

After John leaves, Ruby calls Dr. Vickers and tells him Sugar is on to Stalling. That means he’ll figure out the rest of what’s going on soon. Vickers orders Ruby to tell the others because they need to stop John before it’s too late. He also believes it’s time for Miller to know. (I don’t think we’ve met Miller yet.)

Ruby begins work on deleting all of Stallings’ criminal records from every database.

John drives back to his hotel and in a voiceover, he reveals he will not back off the case. He knows he’s missing something obvious, but not what. John takes a late-night swim while thinking about the case, certain something’s not right about the Siegels. He’s not sure who’s involved or why.

Ruby opens the case on the desk in the interrogation room and it’s a typewriter. She looks through a journal and begins typing.

Melanie shows up at her ex-husband Bernie’s door and he smiles as he lets her in.

Thunder rumbles and John stares up at the moon as he reminds himself to keep it together. The episode ends with John admitting that while everyone has secrets, he is hiding much more than the average person.




‘Young Woman and the Sea’ Trailer Starring Daisy Ridley

Daisy Ridley stars as Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel, in Disney’s Young Woman and the Sea. The official trailer for the inspirational drama shows a determined Trudy ready to face the elements (and jellyfish) despite the incredible danger.

The cast also includes Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia, Christopher Eccleston, and Glenn Fleshler. Jeff Nathanson adapted Glenn Stout’s Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World and Joachim Rønning (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) directed.

“Daisy Ridley stars as the accomplished swimmer who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905,” reads Disney’s synopsis. “Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the staggering achievement – a 21-mile trek from France to England.”

Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad Oman, and Jeff Nathanson serve as producers. Executive producers include Ridley, Rønning, and John G. Scotti.

Young Woman and the Sea will open in select theaters on May 31, 2024.

Young Woman and the Sea Poster
Poster for ‘Young Woman and the Sea’ (Photo © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc)




‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Scores Season 2 and Spin-Offs

Monarch Legacy of Monsters Episode 10 Recap
Mari Yamamoto and Kurt Russell in the ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ season 1 finale (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

Not only will sci-fi/Monsterverse fans get another season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Apple TV+ has announced multiple Monarch spinoffs are in the works. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has officially been renewed for season two but doesn’t yet have a targeted premiere date.

Apple TV+’s announcement did not provide details on the number of spinoffs or plots.

“Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has left an indelible imprint on the hearts, minds, and imaginations of audiences around the world, led by the brilliance of Chris, Matt, Kurt, Wyatt and the incredibly gifted talented cast and creative team,” stated Morgan Wandell, head of international development for Apple TV+. “We couldn’t be more excited for viewers to not only have the chance to experience even more thrills in season two but to embark on epic, new journeys in the franchise as we expand Legendary’s Monsterverse.”

Season one starred the father-and-son duo of Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell, playing Lee Shaw in different decades. The cast also included Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski. The 10-episode first season premiered on November 17, 2023.

Chris Black and Matt Fraction co-created the series and serve as season two showrunners and executive producers. Matt Shakman, Andrew Colville, Jen Roskind, and Safehouse Pictures’ Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell also executive produce. Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the owner of the Godzilla character.




‘SWAT’ Rises from the Dead and is Renewed for Season 8

SWAT Season 7 Episode 3
Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay and Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson in ‘SWAT’ season 7 episode 3 (Photo: Bill Inoshita / © Sony Pictures Television Inc.)

SWAT fans refused to give up hope and apparently their continued support has paid off. CBS confirmed the surprising good news that S.W.A.T. has been renewed for season eight. Viewers can expect the drama to stick around at least through the 2024-2025 primetime season.

“Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of S.W.A.T.!” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “The show continues to resonate with viewers thanks to our talented cast led by Shemar Moore and our amazing writers and producers who keep the show relevant and action-packed. We’re very pleased to renew it again and incredibly grateful to our partners at SONY, CBS Studios, and Shemar for working so closely with us to bring it back for next season.”

In addition to Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, season seven stars Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, David Lim as Victor Tan, Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle Carmichael, Anna Enger Ritch as Zoe Powell, and Patrick St. Esprit plays Robert ‘Bob’ Hicks. Kenny Johnson recurs as Dominique Luca and Alex Russell recurs as Jim Street.

“S.W.A.T. IS BACK! BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! I am so proud of this show and the people and variables it has taken to make this show what it is and has become,” said Moore. “I am so grateful to the fans around the world who have supported, watched, enjoyed and rooted for S.W.A.T.! It is entirely because of this support that S.W.A.T. will continue to shine! This is still a dream job for me … I love my S.W.A.T. crew, cast and writers and producers – we have made an incredible, fun, exciting, provocative, and heartwarming show for the world to enjoy. Thank you to CBS and SONY for believing in S.W.A.T. and giving us this opportunity to shine!”

Season seven, airing on Fridays at 8pm ET/PT, ranks 17th on the top 20 primetime broadcast drama list. The current season has been averaging 6.1 million viewers.

“It’s a privilege to get to deliver more S.W.A.T. stories to our incredible fans. This season eight pickup is a testament to our showrunner Andy Dettmann, Shemar Moore, the rest of our talented cast and our dedicated crew who continue to produce television that resonates with so many people,” said executive producer and co-showrunner Shawn Ryan. “We’re grateful to CBS, Sony Pictures Television and CBS Studios for the opportunity.”

“All of us at S.W.A.T. are thrilled by the news of a season eight. Shemar and I had many conversations throughout the production of season seven, confident that if we continued to tell great stories punctuated by SWAT’s signature action, our amazing fans would stay with us, giving us a good shot at another season,” said Andrew Dettmann, co-showrunner and executive producer. “At the end of the day, this is the well-deserved payoff for all the time, energy and effort put in by an incredible cast and crew working with the constant support of our partners at Sony Pictures Television and everyone at CBS. We look forward to an exciting season eight.”




‘Dark Matter’ Series Trailer Teases a World of Infinite Possibilities

Joel Edgerton stars as a man who isn’t sure if he’s going crazy or if there are in fact alternate realities in Apple TV+’s Dark Matter. The official trailer introduces Edgerton as a family man whose life is turned upside down when he’s kidnapped by a masked man while heading home from a bar.

Joel Edgerton stars as Jason Dessen and Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly plays his artist wife, Daniela. The cast of the sci-fi thriller also includes Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi, and Oakes Fegley.

Blake Crouch guides the series, based on his bestselling novel, as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Additional executive producers include Joel Edgerton and Matt Tolmach and David Manpearl for Matt Tolmach Productions.

Dark Matter TV series
Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly in ‘Dark Matter’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

“Hailed as one of the best sci-fi novels of the decade, Dark Matter is a story about the road not taken. The series will follow Jason Dessen, a physicist, professor, and family man who — one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago — is abducted into an alternate version of his life,” reads Apple TV+’s synopsis. “Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.”

The first two episodes of the nine-episode season will premiere on May 8, 2024. New episodes stream on Wednesdays leading up to the season finale on June 26, 2024.




Ron Howard’s Jim Henson Documentary Sets May Premiere Date

Jim Henson Idea Man Poster
Poster for ‘Jim Henson Idea Man’ (Photo Credit: Disney+)

Disney+ has set a May 31, 2024 premiere date for Jim Henson Idea Man, a documentary directed by two-time Oscar winner Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind). “If there was going to be a definitive documentary about Jim Henson, we had hoped it would be in the hands of an accomplished filmmaker. Ron Howard is both a creative and personality match for my father, unlike anyone else we could have contemplated,” stated Lisa Henson in an email to Vanity Fair.

“It was sort of anarchy on the outside, but underneath it, there was always a smart idea—a witty point to make, an observation about the world,” said Howard while discussing his impression of Jim Henson’s life with Vanity Fair. “To see that evolve through the medium of puppetry and television, and then on into movies, was so interesting to me. I felt like you could actually observe a lot about entertainment, what entertains us and why, through his journey.”

The documentary is produced by Imagine Documentaries, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Justin Wilkes, Mark Monroe, and Christopher St. John. Executive producers include Paul Crowder, Meredith Kaulfers, and Michael Rosenberg.

“Jim Henson Idea Man takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond,” reads Disney+’s synopsis. “Featuring unprecedented access to Jim’s personal archives, Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.”




‘Sting’ Review: A Worthy Addition to the Killer Spider Movie Subgenre

Sting Movie Review
A scene from ‘Sting’ (Photo Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment)

From Arachnophobia to Itsy Bitsy, from Tarantula to Abyssal Spider, killer spider movies have always been in style. But there’s something special about the newest eight-legged offering, Sting. Sting is everything that’s amazing about creature features.

Sting is about a young girl named Charlotte (Alyla Browne from the unfortunate Children of the Corn remake) who spends her time drawing comics and creeping into her neighbors’ apartments by crawling through the apartment building’s air ducts. One day while doing the latter, she comes across a cute little spider which she takes home and names Sting – not after the rock star or the wrestler, but after the short sword in The Hobbit. Yes, Charlotte is a dork.

But Sting isn’t a normal, run-of-the-mill spider. It’s an alien spider that crashed on Earth in a meteorite. First, Charlotte starts feeding Sting small things like cockroaches. But Sting starts growing (and growing and growing), and cockroaches don’t satisfy his voracious appetite for long.

Written and directed by Kiah Roche-Turner (who also did Wyrmwood: Apocalypse and Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead), Sting is a B-movie with A+ execution. It’s got the Roger Corman spirit with the Blumhouse slickness. Everything about it is laugh-out-loud fun. The little girl lead, the monstrous arachnid, the supporting cast of oddball characters, even the heavy-handedly foreshadowed final battle. It’s all a blast.

To his credit, Roche-Turner does throw some familial drama into the mix, with Charlotte’s mother and stepfather (played by Penelope Mitchell from Hemlock Grove and Ryan Corr from House of the Dragon, respectively) juggling the emotional needs of their pre-teen daughter with the priorities of their newborn son. This stepfamily dynamic gets a little awkward at times, but the situation itself is strained, so the awkwardness feels natural. And it does help build character so that when Sting starts wreaking havoc, the audience has something to care about.

The rest of the characters serve both as cannon fodder and comic relief. From the mean old aunt (Relic’s Robyn Nevin) whom viewers can’t wait to see die to the exterminator (Jermaine Fowler from The Blackening) who is as hilarious as he is heroic, from the upstairs neighbor biology student (Danny Kim from Born to Spy) who provides necessary technical exposition to Charlotte’s dementia-riddled grandmother (Candy’s Noni Hazlehurst) who has very little idea of what is happening, there’s no shortage of meat for the titular monster in Sting.

So now, let’s talk about Sting. This spider is a menace in the best possible way. Everything about Charlotte’s “adoption” of the creature has the viewer shaking their head. And that headshaking only gets more and more pronounced as the girl’s relationship with her new pet grows. It’s horror movie 101 – there has to be a bad decision somewhere. In Sting, that bad decision sets the whole movie in motion. So, we all have Charlotte to thank for our good time.

And it all leads up to a final battle that is part Alien and part It. But it’s all awesome. Sting is a bittersweet family drama in the clothing of a terrific monster movie. It’s heavy subject matter that’s given a hysterical treatment. More funny than scary, but Sting has still got all the chills that one can expect from a movie about a gigantic creepy-crawly.

There’s not much new in Sting, but that’s not the point of it. It does what it does well, and we’ve already established that killer spider movies will never go out of style. With a little luck, we’ll get a Sting sequel.

GRADE: A

MPAA Rating: R for bloody images, violent content, and language
Release Date: April 12, 2024
Running Time: 1 hour 31 minutes
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment




‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 Trailer and Photos Show Penelope’s Suitor

Netflix’s official trailer for Bridgerton season three delivers more sizzling scenes with Penelope and Luke (#Polin), and shows off our first good look at Penelope’s possible suitor Lord Debling.

The nearly three-minute trailer arrived along with a new poster and more gorgeous photos from the upcoming season.

Season three stars Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, and Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury. Ruth Gemmell stars as Violet Bridgerton, Lorraine Ashbourne is Mrs. Varley, Hannah Dodd is Francesca Bridgerton, Simone Ashley is Kate Sharma, and Jonathan Bailey is Anthony Bridgerton.

Harriet Cains stars as Philipa Featherington, Bessie Carter is Prudence Featherington, Jessica Madsen is Cressida Cowper, Florence Hunt is Hyacinth Bridgerton, Martins Imhangbe is Will Mondrich, and Will Tilston plays Gregory Bridgerton.

The ensemble also includes Polly Walker as Portia Featherington, Hugh Sachs as Brimsley, Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich, Kathryn Drysdale as Genevieve Delacroix, and Sam Phillips as Lord Debling. Julie Andrews returns as the voice of Lady Whistledown.

The season three four-episode part one premieres on May 16, 2024. The eight-episode season concludes with part two debuting on June 13, 2024.

Bridgerton Season 3
Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton in ‘Bridgerton’ season 3 (Photo: Liam Daniel / Netflix © 2024)

The Season 3 Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:

From Shondaland and new showrunner, Jess Brownell, Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly.

Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he’s disheartened to realize that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly.

Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.

Bridgerton Season 3
Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington and Sam Phillips as Lord Debling in season 3 (Photo Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024)
Bridgerton Season 3
Daniel Francis as Lord Anderson and Adjoa Andoh as Lady Agatha Danbury in season 3 (Photo Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024)
Bridgerton Season 3
Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, Polly Walker as Lady Portia Featherington, Harriet Cains as Philipa Featherington, Lorn Macdonald as Albion Finch, James Phoon as Harry Dankworth, and Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington in season 3 (Photo Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024)
Bridgerton Season 3
Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton, and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in season 3 (Photo Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024)
Bridgerton Season 3
Hugh Sachs as Brimsley and Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte in season 3 (Photo Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024)
Bridgerton Season 3
Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich and Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich in season 3 (Photo Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024)
Bridgerton Season 3
Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in season 3 (Photo Cr. Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix © 2024)
Bridgerton Season 3 Poster




‘Dark Winds’ Season 3 Adds Jenna Elfman and Bruce Greenwood

Dark Winds Season 3
Filming’s underway on ‘Dark Winds’ season 3 (Photo Credit: Michael Moriatis/AMC)

Jenna Elfman (Fear the Walking Dead) and Bruce Greenwood (The Fall of the House of Usher) will be guest starring on season three of AMC’s Dark Winds, currently filming in New Mexico. Zahn McClarnon (Fargo), Kiowa Gordon (Roswell, New Mexico), and Jessica Matten (Burden of Truth) return in starring roles for the new season of the critically acclaimed drama based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee book series.

Elfman is playing FBI Special Agent Sylvia Washington and Greenwood will play Tom Spenser. Additional season three guest stars include Raoul Max Trujillo (Mayans M.C.) as Budge, Tonantzin Carmelo (La Brea) as Border Patrol Agent Eleanda Garza, Alex Meraz (The Twilight Saga franchise) as Border Patrol Agent Ivan Muños, Terry Serpico (Yellowstone) as Border Patrol Senior Chief Ed Henry, and Derek Hinkey (American Primeval) as Shorty Bowlegs.

Phil Burke (Hell on Wheels) guests as Michael Halsey and Christopher Heyerdahl (Under the Banner of Heaven) is Dr Reynolds. Series regular Deanna Allison (Accused) returns as Emma Leaphorn and A. Martinez returns in the guest-starring role of Scarborough Police Department Acting Chief Gordo Sena.

“Season three picks up six months after the events of season two and follows Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Gordon) as they investigate the disappearance of two boys, with only an abandoned bicycle and blood-stained patch of ground left in their wake,” reads AMC and AMC+’s synopsis. “Meanwhile, Bernadette Manuelito (Matten) attempts to settle into her new life 500 miles from home with the Border Patrol, but stumbles across a conspiracy involving human and drug smuggling with far-reaching implications.”

Graham Roland (The Returned) created the noir thriller and executive produces. Showrunner John Wirth also executive produces along with McClarnon, Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Chris Eyre, Tina Elmo, Jim Chory, Vince Gerardis, and Anne Hillerman.

AMC’s targeting a 2025 premiere.




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