Grammy and Emmy Award winner Queen Latifah has signed on to host the 52nd American Music Awards set for Monday, May 25, 2026. The AMAs will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas and will be broadcast live on CBS beginning at 5pm PT/8pm ET.
The 2026 AMAs will mark Queen Latifah’s return as host after serving as a co-host for the 1995 awards show.
“I am so excited to return to the American Music Awards stage to host this year,” stated Latifah. “It’s been an incredible year for music and there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.”
The 52nd American Music Awards nominees will be announced on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Voting begins on April 14 and wraps on May 8.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Queen Latifah back as host of the American Music Awards,” said Jay Penske, CEO, Dick Clark Productions. “A true powerhouse and trailblazer, she brings a dynamic presence and deep connection to both fans and fellow artists, making her the perfect choice to lead a night celebrating the biggest names and most defining moments in music.”
Queen Latifah earned an Oscar nomination for Chicago, a Screen Actors Guild award for Life Support, and was the first hip-hop artist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Latifah’s film credits include Jungle Fever, Set It Off, Bringing Down the House, Hairspray, and Hustle. She starred in and executive produced The Equalizer which ran for five seasons on CBS.
Mickey’s determined to find a serial killer who’s murdered nine women on CBS’s Sheriff Country episode 14. Directed by Ruben Garcia, episode 14 will air on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 8pm ET/PT.
“Show of Force” Plot: During Edgewater’s Blood Moon Festival, Sheriff Mickey races to stop a suspected serial killer targeting young women. Meanwhile, a shocking discovery propels Deputy Cassidy into the crosshairs of the case.
Morena Baccarin leads the cast as Mickey Fox, Matt Lauria plays Nathan Boone, W. Earl Brown is Wes Fox, Michele Weaver plays Cassidy Campbell, and Christopher Gorham stars as Travis Fraley. Executive producers include Fire Country star Max Thieriot, Tony Phelan, Joan Rater, Matt Lopez, Jerry Bruckheimer, and KristieAnne Reed.
Morena Baccarin stars as straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone (Diane Farr of Fire Country). She investigates criminal activity while she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater, contending with her ex-con father, Wes (W. Earl Brown), who is an off-the-grid marijuana grower, and a mysterious incident involving her wayward daughter.
What do a skill saw, a camboy, an editor, and a kids’ soccer game have in common? Apple TV’s teaser for Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed includes all of them. The thriller, starring She-Hulk‘s Tatiana Maslany, premieres on May 20, 2026 with the release of the first two episodes.
New episodes of the 10-episode season will stream on Wednesdays.
In addition to Maslany, the series stars Jake Johnson (New Girl), Brandon Flynn (13 Reasons Why), Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus), Jessy Hodges (Barry), Jon Michael Hill (Elementary), and Charlie Hall (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story). Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg (Invasion), Nola Wallace (The Strangers: Chapter 2), and Dolly De Leon (Nine Perfect Strangers) round out the ensemble.
Tatiana Maslany in ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Apple TV’s synopsis reads, “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed follows newly divorced mom Paula (Maslany) as she falls down a dangerous rabbit hole of blackmail, murder, and youth soccer. Convinced she witnessed a crime—while simultaneously struggling through a custody battle and an identity crisis—Paula begins her own investigation, one that could unravel a greater conspiracy while also holding the keys to rebuilding her family and sense of self.”
David Rosen (Sugar) created the series and serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. David Gordon Green (The Righteous Gemstones) directs and executive produces. Additional executive producers include Simon Kinberg, Audrey Chon, Bard Dorros, Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns, and Elise Henderson.
Guest star Beanie Feldstein (Monica Lewinsky in Ryan Murphy’s Impeachment: American Crime Story) plays the BFF of a murdered bride in season three, episode 15 of Elsbeth. Episode 15, “Otherwise Enraged,” will air on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 10pm ET/PT on CBS.
“Otherwise Enraged” Plot: When a serial bride is found bludgeoned in her apartment, Elsbeth investigates the victim’s best friend (Feldstein), a particularly experienced (and bitter) bridesmaid. Leah Nanako Winkler wrote the episode and Lionel Coleman directed.
Carrie Preston returns to star as the titular character. Wendell Pierce is also back as Captain C.W. Wagner for the series’ third season.
Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston returns as Elsbeth Tascioni, the cunning yet unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to track down New York’s most well-heeled murderers utilizing her unique intuitive insight. The critically acclaimed series enters its third season with fresh cases, new characters, and unexpected challenges for Elsbeth and the 11th Precinct, led by her boss, Captain C.W. Wagner (Pierce).
Netflix’s official trailer for Lord of the Flies reveals just how close the adaptation is to William Golding’s brilliant dystopian novel. The trailer reveals the series won’t hold back on the brutality and madness in Golding’s 1954 novel, which remains required reading in many high schools – in states where it’s not banned.
Emmy-winner Jack Thorne, co-creator of Adolescence, adapted the novel, and Marc Munden (National Treasure, The Sympathizer) directed the four-episode limited series. Netflix has set a May 4, 2026 streaming release.
A scene from ‘Lord of the Flies’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
“Innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways in the first television adaptation of William Golding’s landmark dystopian classic,” reads Netflix’s synopsis.
Winston Sawyers stars as Ralph, Lox Pratt plays Jack, David McKenna is Piggy, and Ike Talbut plays Simon. Thomas Connor is Roger, Cornelius Brandreth is Maurice, Tom Page-Turner is Bill, and Noah and Cassius Flemyng play twins Sam and Eric.
Joel Wilson, Jamie Campbell, Jack Thorne, and Marc Munden serve as executive producers. Hans Zimmer, Kara Talve, and Cristobal Tapia de Veer provided the music. Lord of the Flies is an Eleven and One Shoe Films production backed by Sony Pictures Television.
CBS’s Tracker season three, episode 15 takes the action to Minneapolis. Simon Boyce steps outside, looking worried. He hides as a truck drives slowly past. Simon’s forced to take a few steps back when his ankle bracelet goes off, and he apologizes to the person monitoring him and promises not to let it happen again.
(The following is a recap of season three, episode 15 – “No Good Deed” – and there are spoilers.)
Simon (Matt Murray), the case of the week, is one of Randy’s best friends and he’s gone missing. Reenie (Fiona Rene) explains that Simon was under house arrest for cyber hacking and taking money from an insurance company to give to their clients. Mel (Cassady McClincy Zhang) likens him to Robin Hood, and Reenie announces she’s going to join Randy and Colter in Minneapolis to help find him.
Randy (Chris Lee) fills Colter (Justin Hartley) in on what he knows at Simon’s house, including the fact the ankle monitor is still active on Simon’s property, but he can’t find it. Simon’s been offline by court order and Randy found his phone and credit card. He points out Simon’s car’s still parked outside.
Simon’s mom is also there and reveals that she called him this morning and he didn’t answer. She hasn’t called the police because of her son’s legal situation. Simon’s supposed to be in court tomorrow, and she admits he’s had a difficult time dealing with not being able to get online.
Both Randy and Simon’s mom describe Simon as a good person.
Colter looks around Simon’s house and doesn’t see anything unusual. He and Randy step outside, and Colter notices that Simon had marked the perimeter so he’d know how far his ankle monitor could go.
Colter looks in a bush and finds the ankle monitor, which was cut without activating the alarm. Randy examines it and realizes Simon would have had 10 seconds to take it off and reconnect it before it went off. Also, the chip in the monitor isn’t one Simon could have made.
Randy discovers a part and batch number on the chip which tracks to a BJH Industries. They head there, and the building has a lot of security cameras. Randy hacks into them and turns them off, and Colter heads into the warehouse, gun drawn. There’s only one guy inside and Randy recognizes him as Simon’s old roommate, Bill Henderson (Reggie Watkins). Bill admits he gave Simon the chip that allowed him to break out of the ankle monitor.
Bill shows them the letter Simon wrote with a list of items he needed. Most of the items are for a drone, and after leaving Bill’s place Randy explains the drone didn’t need Wi-Fi to operate. The company that made the drone backs up to the cloud so Randy and Colter can watch what Simon filmed.
Simon was so bored that he used it to spy on his neighbors. They look at Simon’s video and spot the man with the truck taking an unconscious woman out of the bed. The man shot at the drone.
Randy and Colter inform Reenie that Simon saw a kidnapping and made an anonymous call to the cops, but the cops didn’t find anything. That man may have taken Simon, or Simon might have taken off his monitor to help the woman.
Colter and Randy park near where Simon saw the kidnapping go down. Colter breaks into a house, which is for sale, and Randy does his own snooping around. He finds parts of the drone on the ground, and a neighbor reveals he took the drone into his house. The neighbor lets him have the parts.
Colter finds the drone controller on a table and activates it. He sees Randy looking into the camera and heads outside to look for him.
Randy asks about the truck Simon saw, and the neighbor claims he’s seen it too but doesn’t know who owns it. As they’re talking, another man walks quietly up behind Randy. Fortunately, Colter walks in just as the man is about to shoot Randy!
Colter knocks him out and confirms Randy’s okay. Randy ties up the man while Colter questions the neighbor. The man admits they had the woman and that she bit him, so his partner, Stone, stabbed her in the leg. The neighbor said the woman, Bruna, escaped, but they had been keeping her in the basement.
He insists it was Stone’s idea and that this isn’t even his place. The neighbor had no idea Stone wanted to stash a woman there. Stone told him Bruna’s husband is rich and was going to pay a ransom. However, the husband didn’t pay and the bed where she slept has a large blood stain.
Bruna escaped this morning, and Colter notices the room’s lock was broken from the outside. Simon must have helped her. The neighbor claims they saw the drone outside this morning and then it crashed into their tree. When he went to look, Bruna escaped.
Randy finds a video of Bruna pleading with her husband to pay on Stone’s phone. The message was sent to a burner phone and the husband texted back, “Go ahead and kill her.” The burner’s gone dead so it can’t be traced.
The scene switches to show that Simon is helping Bruna (Leah Gibson), who refuses to go to a hospital. She’s lost a lot of blood but refuses to get treatment. Simon needs to get home, but she begs him to stay with her.
Simon texted Bill and he shows up, informing him that Randy’s looking for him. Bill thinks they should call an ambulance and Bruna shoots and kills him when he tries to make the call. She turns the gun on Simon and warns him he needs to do what she says.
Randy and Colter call Reenie with the woman’s name and she confirms the kidnap victim is married to Leon Pryor, a huge fentanyl dealer who the DEA has been chasing for years. It would make sense then that Bruna is hiding from the cops, too.
Reenie sends them info on the Pryors’ stash house that was raided, and Randy finds the address.
Bruna warned Simon not to text anyone and he did, and she blames Simon for Bill’s death. Simon begs to go home but she won’t let him and threatens to shoot him if he does anything stupid. Her phone buzzes and she says it’s time to meet her husband.
Randy and Simon head to the apartment building and Colter kicks in the door. They find Bill dead on the floor and his phone confirms that Simon sent him a text asking for help. Bill’s keys are gone, which means they stole his car.
Bruna holds a gun to Simon’s head as he drives. She’s furious at her husband for not paying her ransom and admits letting her die is cheaper than a divorce. She’s only keeping Simon alive because he saved her.
Randy tracks Bill’s car and they follow it to a warehouse near the airport owned by the same people as the stash house.
Bruna knocks out Simon when she sees Leon outside the warehouse. She shoots Leon’s bodyguard and then exchanges gunfire with Leon. Colter and Randy arrive while the shooting is going on, and Colter watches Leon shoot Bruna once and threaten to shoot her again. Colter shoots Leon before he can pull the trigger. Bruna’s still alive and Colter disarms her.
Randy checks on Simon and he’s injured but okay.
Back at Simon’s place Randy gives his friend a hard time about spying on his neighbors. Simon admits he was bored but will think twice before doing any more good deeds. He can’t believe Randy went to these lengths to help him.
Simon’s mom tries to pay Colter, but he refuses to accept it. “A friend of Randy’s is a friend of mine, so it’s on the house,” says Colter. He says goodbye to Simon and warns him to stay out of trouble. Randy promises to find a way to repay him for saving both his and Simon’s lives, but Colter says they’re good.
Colter waits for Reenie at the courthouse and learns Simon’s court date is postponed since he helped take down the Pryors. Plus, they may offer him a plea deal. Reenie knows Colter didn’t need to come to the courthouse and accuses him of checking in on her. He confesses people are worried about her and she seems preoccupied. Colter asks if she’s okay, and she claims she’s fine.
Colter invites her to go for a walk to a diner he saw down the road. Reenie agrees.
As the anniversary of Monica’s death approaches, CBS’s Marshals episode six begins with a flashback to the day of her death. We’re not shown her body, which is covered by a sheet, but it appears she passed away at home in her bed, attended by the loves of her life—Tate and Kayce.
(The following is a recap of episode six, “Out of the Shadows,” and there are spoilers.)
The flashback ends with Kayce (Luke Grimes) taking target practice. Tate (Brecken Merrill) rides up, and Kayce’s forced to admit they haven’t found Hayley yet. Over at the office, Andrea (Ash Santos) takes out her frustration on a punching bag. Bledsoe and his men are dead, but the FBI hasn’t been forthcoming with any new info.
Cal (Logan Marshall-Green) reminds Miles (Tatanka Means) that he’s past due on informing Ava’s family of her death. Miles wants to wait for more info on the other girls and is still angry at Kayce for letting Hayley go.
Belle (Arielle Kebbel) discovers Bledsoe stopped by mechanic Elijah Craig’s shop right before they caught up to the camper. It’s possible the girls were dropped off there. Cal divides them up, taking Miles to the rez for a death notification while Kayce tries to find the identities of the nine girls traveling with Hayley. Belle and Andrea will dive into the machinic connection.
Ava’s mom, Sera, works for Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater and they’ll have to notify her at work. Miles isn’t happy about admitting to Rainwater that he failed, but Cal knows that Miles needs to be there because Sera should hear it from someone who cares.
Belle’s research shows Bledsoe wasn’t at the mechanic’s long enough to make arrangements for the girls. It’s possible that Craig is part of the trafficking operation and didn’t need much time to pass the girls along. There’s a security camera across from Craig’s shop and they hope one camera caught something important.
Thomas (Gil Birmingham) wonders why Miles and Cal’s are on the rez, and they confirm they want to speak with Ava’s mom. Miles reveals it was Hayley who told them Ava was murdered. He adds that Kayce let Hayley go. Miles is handling this situation badly, and Cal explains Kayce’s reasoning.
Kayce learns 43 girls have gone missing from Montana reservations in the past two years. Of those, 14 had contact with “greeneyes44.” Kayce’s stunned by the number.
Thomas and Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) join Cal and Miles to make the death notification. Sera pleads with them, hoping it’s a mistake. Thomas does his best to comfort her.
The security footage shows Bledsoe’s RV pulling up to Craig’s shop two days ago. Another van pulled up less than five minutes later, and both vehicles left at the same time. Belle notices the van’s driver is wearing an Iron Sentinels motorcycle gang vest, which means the girls are with violent criminals.
A short while later, the team learns Craig’s in custody but has a lawyer and won’t talk. Belle fills Cal in on the Iron Sentinels, describing them as true 1%ers. Their main income is drugs and guns, but if they can make a profit from something, they’ll do it.
Their clubhouse is a biker bar, and Cal orders the place surveilled. Kayce, Miles, and Andrea stake out the clubhouse, and Miles confesses he choked while notifying Ava’s mom. There’s no action around the place and they decide to force the bikers out by lighting their bikes on fire. Kayce spreads gas on the bikes and starts a fire, giving Andrea and Miles time inside without being noticed.
The girls aren’t inside but Andrea’s able to copy a biker’s phone before rushing back outside. Back at the office, Andrea gets info from it indicating the girls are likely at the huge Iron Sentinels rally. Keith “Brimstone” Stelton is bringing the “entertainment,” and Miles is sure that means the girls. Brimstone is a nomad, and Belle describes nomads as a combo of the club’s fixers and enforcers. He has a lengthy rap sheet but nothing on trafficking.
Cal needs them to find a connection to the girls, and that’s impossible so far. He’s worried about his boss and Andrea says if the girls aren’t at the rally, then there’s nowhere else to look. Cal agrees that if they can get local support to back them up, then they’ll hit the rally.
Kayce returns home to find Thomas and Mo waiting inside. Tate invited them to help with the ceremony, but he’s not there. Thomas admits time and their hopes for a positive outcome on the missing girls are running out. Kayce confesses he’s been beating himself up for letting Hayley go. Thomas suggests that finding the girls will bring closure. And if Kayce finds the men preying on the girls, Thomas wants him to slaughter them all.
Federal and local assets aren’t available, and Cal knows their five-person team is too small to take on the rally. Belle thinks if they can infiltrate the rally, they can convince other agencies to help. She ran a sting against this club a few years ago and took down most of the leadership. Belle wants to reactivate her cover and attend the rally. Of course, she’ll need the meth they confiscated as a reason for being there.
Cal will give the go-ahead if Belle can confirm her old contact will be there.
Kayce finds Tate at the spot Monica picked out for them when they want to talk to her. Kayce confesses Monica left a hole in his heart, and Tate’s sure his mom led them to Hayley. He’s sad they can’t find her and reminds his dad it’s important to be at the memorial tomorrow to honor Monica’s memory.
Kayce heads to the office and Cal warns him to stop stepping outside the law. Burning the bikes helped get results, but stunts like that could cost them their badges.
Belle’s contact will be at the rally and she’s bringing 15 kilos of meth as cover. Cal’s not happy about sending her in alone, but Belle is adamant she needs to do this for the girls. Kayce and Andrea will set up a mobile HQ and Miles is ordered to grab all the hard armor and rifles.
The team’s set up in a mobile home and Belle slips into her biker babe leather attire. Andrea places a necklace with a mic on Belle before she walks out into the rally. She spots her contact, Squirrel, and he’s shocked to see her. He thinks she helped set up the cops who raided the crew, but she insists she was serving time and that’s why she ghosted him.
Belle shows him what she’s got, and he takes her to see Brimstone, and his presence confirms the girls are there. She says she has 15 kilos for him to move, and Brimstone wants to consummate their partnership later—wondering why she would ever get with Squirrel. He mentions a run to Calgary later, and the team knows it’s a distribution center. If the girls are taken there, they’ll be split up and sold.
Belle’s alone when a biker recognizes her from a few weeks back at a blackjack table. Things get rough and Kayce leaves the motorhome to help her. He knocks out a biker, steals his vest and hat, and walks through the crowd. Belle’s managed to hold her attacker at gunpoint and demands to know where Brimstone is holding his cargo.
Squirrel walks in and Belle claims the guy attacked her. She quickly takes care of Squirrel just as the attacker comes at her with a knife. Kayce comes in shooting, which gets the attention of everyone outside.
They’re in trouble now and Belle warns Kayce that the girls are about to be on the move. Kayce beats Squirrel until he reveals how Brimstone’s moving the girls. Brimstone has a box truck out back.
Cal, Miles, and Andrea march through the crowd, ordering everyone to clear out. They’re vastly outnumbered and probably outarmed.
Belle spots Brimstone by the truck and calls out. It looks like she may distract him, but then her cover’s blown and Brimstone starts shooting. Kayce and Belle shoot back just as Cal, Andrea, and Miles make their way to them. Miles kills Brimstone, clearing the way for them to look through the truck. The girls are in barrels inside, and Kayce tells Hayley it was her clue that helped lead them to the bikers. (Strangely, once the team gets to the truck, all the gunfire stops and no bikers approach.)
Back at the office, Cal confirms all the girls have been reunited with their families. Thomas Rainwater sent his thanks. It got dicey, but Cal says this sort of situation is what the team is meant for.
Kayce heads home to give Tate the good news about Hayley and the girls. They watch Monica’s wild mustang together, and Tate says finding the girls was Kayce’s way of honoring her memory.
Andrea stamps “Found” on the missing posters of the girls they rescued. But then she glances at the board, covered with girls still out there.
Kayce goes with Tate to the rez, and Tate’s thankful he’s there. Monica’s dad is also happy that Kayce’s come, as are Thomas and Mo. “Finding Hayley and those girls was the cure we all needed,” says Kayce.
Thomas recalls telling Monica she made a difference, and now he thinks maybe she learned that from Kayce.
Kayce’s team is also there, and he appreciates their presence. Members of the tribe thank Miles and tell him they’re proud he’s there. He decides he’s not going to move off the rez after all.
Miles apologizes to Sera for letting her and Ava down, and Sera says it’s thanks to him she can now grieve. Sera hugs Miles and Kayce as Thomas welcomes everyone to the remembrance ceremony for those who died this past year. Tate and his grandfather stand for Monica, and other family members stand for their lost ones.
Kayce walks up and stands next to Tate, handing him Monica’s necklace that Tate’s been searching for. Kayce confesses it wasn’t lost; he’s been clinging to it since her death.
Kayce stares at a framed photo of Monica as the ceremony begins.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson in ‘The Drama’ (Photo Credit: A24)
There’s little doubt that Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are two of the biggest stars of their generation. And both can be counted on to make interesting choices in projects, whether it’s a summer blockbuster or a quirky indie. So, what do you get when they team up with Dream Scenario director Kristoffer Borgli with the added bonus of backing from A24? You get The Drama.
The Drama stars Zendaya and Pattinson as Emma and Charlie, a couple who are very much in love and are in the process of planning their wedding. While wine-and-food tasting with their Best Man and Maid of Honor (Mamoudou Athie and Alana Haim, respectively), the drunken group decides to each tell the worst thing they’ve ever done. And it’s all fun and games…until they get to Emma. Emma’s confession rocks the group to its core. It derails the wedding planning and even makes Charlie question whether Emma is the person he thinks she is.
Talking or writing about The Drama is difficult because Emma’s secret is both a huge spoiler and a massive plot point. It’s something that should be learned organically by seeing the movie instead of hearing about it second-hand, but it also drives everything in the movie after it’s revealed. So, if this review sounds like it’s tiptoeing around a bit, that’s why.
On a related note, the marketing for The Drama has, so far, been brilliant. It makes the potential viewer want to see the movie without giving up any of its secrets. Well done, A24.
Now, on to the movie. What Kristoffer Borgli has done is essentially take a fairly common occurrence – the planning of a wedding – and inject a high level of drama and unpredictability into it. And this goes beyond simple catering issues or no-show photographers. Borgli takes the viewer on a roller coaster of will-they-or-wont-they that seems to run through every emotion imaginable. The film’s purpose seems to be to make the audience uncomfortable. There’s anger, anxiety, hurt, and betrayal, all wrapped up in the sheep’s clothing of a romantic comedy.
And yes, it is a comedy. Although Emma’s secret is not in the slightest bit funny, Borgli has a way of making it so absurd that the audience can’t help but laugh. It’s uncomfortable laughter, but laughter, nonetheless. Using flashbacks and imagination sequences, Borgli pushes the boundary of linear storytelling in a way that manages to be both confusing and eye-opening. The rapid-fire editing has the viewer questioning what is real and what is not, but only for a second. Borgli lets them off the hook soon enough. There’s no deception, only surreal glimpses into the characters’ minds.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson inject life into Borgli’s script. Both turn in memorable performances individually, but more importantly, their chemistry really helps to sell the movie. Whether they’re fighting or loving, both characters are relatable and sympathetic. Also of note is the performance of Alana Haim, whose character is anything but sympathetic, but she makes for the closest thing The Drama has to a physical antagonist. She makes the audience feel sympathy for Mamoudou Athie, her husband in the film, who is just trying to keep the peace (usually unsuccessfully).
In addition to being a dark-as-night comedy, The Drama is also a thinker. This movie will stay with you after the credits roll, but in a more optimistic and hopeful way than one might think. It is sometimes a difficult film, and it may even be triggering for some audiences. There are different levels and layers, and while it does have its flaws, the good vastly outweighs the bad. In the end, the levels and layers are effective at doing what Borgli seemingly has set out to do, which is start a conversation. What that conversation is about will be completely up to the viewer.
See The Drama while you can still see it fresh, for a couple of reasons. First, to avoid the major plot device being spoiled. And second, it’s just a timely movie. It has a lot to say, and it says it very well.
GRADE: B+
Rating: R
Release Date: April 3, 2026
Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes
Trevor’s dead, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of HR’s reach on CBS’s Ghosts season five, episode 15. Christopher Jackson (Hamilton, Bull) guest stars as Anthony, the HR rep, on episode 15 airing on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 8:30pm ET/PT.
“Michael Jackson Goes to HR” Plot: Trevor lands himself in trouble when an inappropriate gift to a co‑worker forces him into an HR meeting only Jay can handle. Meanwhile, Pete unintentionally sparks drama with Alberta after casually mentioning a surprise visit to his ex.
Josh Malmuth wrote the episode and series star Utkarsh Ambudkar directs.
Season five stars Rose McIver as Sam, Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay, Brandon Scott Jones as Isaac, and Richie Moriarty as 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 plays Flower.
Ghosts is a single-camera comedy about Samantha and Jay, a cheerful freelance journalist and 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 (Pinnock); a pompous 18th-century militiaman (Scott Jones); a ‘60s hippie fond of hallucinogens (Carrasco); an overly upbeat ‘80s scout troop leader (Moriarty); a cod-obsessed Viking explorer from 1009 (Chandler Long); a slick ‘90s finance bro (Grodman); a sarcastic and witty native from the 16th century (Zaragoza); and a society woman and wife of a 19th-century robber baron who is Sam’s ancestor (Wisocky), to name a few.
The opening of the B&B and Jay’s new restaurant are 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.
Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in ‘Outlander’ season 8 episode 5 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Claire’s beekeeping and Jamie’s busy eating as Starz’s Outlander season eight, episode five opens. Buck’s keeping the kids busy, and Jamie confesses he told him about Frank’s book and Buck pledged to fight alongside him. Jamie confirms he didn’t tell him they killed his dad or that Claire killed his mom.
(The following is a recap of season eight, episode five – “Send for the Devil” – and there are spoilers.)
Buck (Diarmaid Murtagh) hears a noise in the woods and sends the children into the house. Aaron Whitaker (Tomisin Ajani), husband of the pregnant woman Claire recently saved, emerges from the woods and asks if Jamie (Sam Heughan) knows Captain Cunningham. He warns Jamie that Cunningham’s coming for him.
Whitaker reveals Cunningham’s men spoke to some Cherokee and invited them to join the loyalist militia. They let it be known that Cunningham would soon be in charge of Fraser’s Ridge. Whitaker overheard them discuss a redcoat named Ferguson who’s been arresting rebels and is putting together loyalist militias. Cunningham will attack Jamie in a few days, capture him, and turn him over to Ferguson for a public hanging. But this won’t happen until Partland and his militia from ninety-six arrive.
Jamie’s incredibly grateful for the warning.
Jamie, Buck, and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) try to figure out where Cunningham will launch his attack. It won’t be at their home since Jamie has the upper hand. Jamie believes it will be outside the lodge after a meeting. Right now, Jamie’s own militia isn’t trained to fight off an attack. He realizes they need to cut off the ninety-six before they arrive. To do that, he has to make a deal with “the devil.”
Jamie sends Josiah (Paul Gorman) off with a letter for Benjamin Cleveland (Turlough Convery), aka the “devil.”
Jamie doesn’t think she or the kids are in danger, but Claire wants to play it safe so she sends them to Lizzie’s. It’s worrying that they haven’t heard from Josiah, and Jamie’s forced to prepare without knowing if he’ll have backup. He reminds Claire they have a plan and that Cunningham doesn’t know that he knows what’s going on. His Ardsmuir men will be at the lodge, and Buck and Kezzie will be on the lookout for the ninety-six. But if it all goes bad, he’ll fight like mad to return to her.
Claire prepares her instruments in case there are wounded to treat.
The lodge meeting begins and Jamie and Cunningham (Kieran Bew) are civil toward each other. Jamie keeps an eye on Cunningham while the meeting is underway. He watches a few of Cunningham’s men leave the meeting but doesn’t react.
While this is happening, Elspeth Cunningham visits Claire, and Claire admits she knows what’s about to take place. Elspeth suggests they pray together.
Cunningham speaks about loyalty and announces they all must be loyal to king and country. Even though they aren’t supposed to talk about politics, Cunningham and Jamie speak their minds, with Jamie declaring, as long as 100 are alive “never shall we, on any conditions, be brought under English rule.”
Jamie reminds them they’re fighting for freedom, and if they need to lay down their lives, they will. Jamie quietly leaves during the closing prayer. When Cunningham finally looks up, he’s stunned that Jamie’s no longer there.
Antony Byrne and Kieran Bew in ‘Outlander’ season 8 episode 5 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Cunningham and his men hurry outside and search for Jamie, who’s grabbed a pistol that Lizzie hid for him. (Guns aren’t allowed inside the lodge.) Buck and Kezzie join them and report that they haven’t spotted either Josiah or the ninety-six. More men join Jamie as they prepare for a fight. Jamie instructs them not to shoot to kill and to keep track of names so he’ll know who wants him dead after the fight.
Night falls and a storm threatens as Mrs. Cunningham and Claire can only wait to learn the outcome. Elspeth Cunningham believes her son will survive and that Jamie has earned his death.
Jamie knocks out Hiram Crombie and looks around the trading post. Cunningham walks in, places his gun on the floor, and asks to talk. Jamie orders him to leave Fraser’s Ridge and if he has to kill him, he will. Cunningham believes he’s still got five years left, according to what his dying son said, so he’s not worried about Jamie’s threats. He attacks Jamie with a knife and manages to stab him (not deeply) in the chest. Jamie continues to fight and gets the upper hand when Cunningham tries to choke him with a rope.
The fight continues and Jamie kicks Cunningham out the front door. Unfortunately, Cunningham still has a pistol while Jamie only has a knife. Jamie reveals he knows Cunningham was supposed to deliver him alive to Ferguson. Cunningham thinks killing Jamie will be easier at this point.
Buck ends the standoff with a gunshot to Cunningham’s back.
Jamie returns home with an injured Cunningham who can move his fingers but not his feet. Claire works on him while Fanny works on Jamie’s chest wound. Cunningham might live, but he won’t be able to walk.
The next morning, the men have breakfast at Jamie’s as Claire tends to her hubby’s wound. Jamie admits he thought he was dead but then realized Buck shot Cunningham. Cunningham’s men were stripped of their weapons and sent home. Jamie recites a list of names of men who fought against him, and if he dies, Claire needs to get rid of them all.
Suddenly, a group of men ride up and Jamie’s men take up positions to fight them off. Claire stands next to Jamie on the porch, rifle cocked, and only relaxes once they see Josiah riding in front. Josiah brought the Overmountain Men led by Benjamin Cleveland, who admits he can’t resist a fight against the Tories.
His men stand down as Jamie invites Cleveland in for a whiskey.
Roger Rankin and Sophie Skelton in ‘Outlander’ season 8 episode 5 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Roger Fights and William Has a Surprise Reunion
Bree (Sophie Skelton) paints Amaranthus (Carla Woodcock) and the baby, and William (Charles Vandervaart) compliments Bree’s work. Cannon fire can be heard in the distance, and Bree confesses she’s worried about Roger. Amaranthus takes a break, giving Bree and William time to talk about Jamie. William had no idea that Bree didn’t learn Jamie was her father until she was 19. Bree admits she even told Claire that she should have died, not Frank, after being lied to for years. She only overcame it after getting to know Jamie.
Roger (Richard Rankin) writes a letter to Bree explaining he can’t just watch younger men take part in a battle without him. He hopes he’ll see her and the children soon and ends the letter, “For now and always, I am your husband, Roger.”
He practices with a sword and assures the young drummer boy that God is with them as the men prepare to march to battle.
Bree realizes a battle is underway as dishes rattle and the sound of cannons and gunfire move closer. William joins her and explains the rebels are attacking from the south through the marshes. Bree confesses Roger went to the Continental Army’s camp but claims he was there just as a minister.
Lord John needs to stay at headquarters, but he gave William a union flag to hang in the window if the Continental Army makes it into the city. It should keep Bree safe.
Roger is in the thick of the battle but takes time to hear a dying soldier, Private Winslow Carver (Christy O’Donnell), pass on a request to tell Mary he loves her. Men are falling around Roger, but he refuses to leave Winslow’s side until he passes.
Roger spots the young drummer boy (Lemuel Ariel Adou) unconscious and races through the trees carrying him to the makeshift hospital. The doctor happens to be Denzell Hunter (Joey Phillips) and Roger begs him not to let the child die. (Roger and Denzell have never met before, and don’t know their shared connections.)
Roger heads back into the thick of the battle and is about to help another injured soldier when a cannon ball explodes in front of him.
William informs Bree that Lord John wrote to the continental camp for news about Roger. But Bree refuses to wait and William volunteers to go with her in the morning.
William sits outside with Amaranthus and confesses his feelings. He thinks they should get married and if they have a son, they can give him his title. Amaranthus agrees that they should have a child but not necessarily get married so soon. She believes they can enjoy trying to have children, for now. William wants to get married and Amaranthus accepts.
Morning arrives and Roger says prayers over the dead soldiers’ bodies. Bree arrives and Roger rushes to embrace her, slightly injured but alive. Bree shoves him, angry because he scared her so much. Roger apologizes and holds her close.
Denzell walks up and Roger introduces him to Bree, now aware that he’s Rachel’s brother. Denzell’s happy to meet her and says he knows Claire and Jamie well. William joins them and Denzell gives him a hug.
William’s going to stay at the camp a while with Denzell, and Bree jokes, “You know, for a loyalist, you sure have a lot of rebel friends.”
Denzell informs William that Rachel and Ian had a baby, and William claims he’s glad for them. Denzell takes a minute to hand over a book of casualties to an officer and William is shocked when Ben emerges from the tent, wearing a rebel uniform. William punches him in the face.
