It appears we’ve just given up and given in to celebrating the winter holidays prior to Thanksgiving. HBO Max’s the latest to jump on the early winter holiday bandwagon, releasing trailers for three upcoming original holiday films – two of which will arrive on the streaming service on November 24, 2022.
Holiday Harmony starring Annelise Cepero and Jeremy Sumpter and A Christmas Mystery with Eddie Cibrian and Violet McGraw premiere on Thanksgiving. A Hollywood Christmas about a filmmaker who makes Christmas movies will debut on December 1st.
The streaming service also released details on the three ho-ho-ho holiday films:
Holiday Harmony
Singer/songwriter Gail (Annelise Cepero) lands an opportunity to compete for a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the big time, and heads cross country—only getting as far as Harmony Springs, Oklahoma when her ride, her budget, and all her hopes are stalled. With just two weeks to get to the iHeartRadio Christmas Eve performance of her dreams, she takes the advice of local Jack-of-all-trades, Jeremy (Jeremy Sumpter), and takes on a group of misfit kids hoping to perform in a Christmas Eve Gala of their own. Gail and Jeremy grow close, but if she’s going to fulfill her lifelong dream, she may have to leave him and the town she’s grown to love behind.
A Christmas Mystery
One-hundred years ago, a strip of Santa’s magical jingle bells were discovered by a young boy in Pleasant Bay, Oregon, bringing about a century of prosperity and peace for the small town. Now, just days before Christmas, the bells – the lifeblood of the town – are missing, and it’s up to a group of intrepid kids to solve the case, find the bells and restore the Christmas magic to Pleasant Bay and its citizens.
A Hollywood Christmas
Jessica (Jessika Van) is a young, up-and-coming filmmaker in Hollywood who has made a name for herself directing Christmas movies. But when handsome network executive Christopher (Josh Swickard) shows up threatening to halt production on her latest movie, Jessica’s assistant, Reena (Anissa Borrego), points out the irony: Jessica isn’t just trying to save her Christmas movie, she’s actually living in one! Jessica must now juggle all the classic tropes—actors falling in and out of love, a wayward elf dog, and her own stirring romantic feelings for her perceived nemesis—in order to get her movie and her life to their happy endings.
Is there enough Christmas magic to pull it off? In Hollywood? In July? The film also stars Riley Dandy, Zak Steiner, Tom Williamson, and Missi Pyle.
Chris Hemsworth’s immense charm and willingness to poke fun at himself are put to good use in Disney+ and National Geographic’s Limitless with Chris Hemsworth. The six-part documentary series finds Chris Hemsworth attempting to battle time and take on the aging process through a series of intense physical challenges.
Each obstacle tossed his way helps Hemsworth in his journey to understand how human bodies can combat illnesses and perform better, even as we age. Nearly all the incredible acts of strength and endurance showcased in Limitless with Chris Hemsworth are beyond what most humans are capable of. (There’s a legitimate reason why Hemsworth perfectly inhabits the role of Thor, Marvel’s ripped God of Thunder.) But even though we normal mortals might not be able to climb a 100-foot rope or walk across a crane 900 feet above the ground, the goal of each episode is to be able to take the lessons Hemsworth learns and incorporate them into our everyday lives. The extreme challenges are merely a way of entertaining while educating.
The six one-hour-ish episodes each focus on a specific human condition that can be addressed to combat aging. Filmed over the course of a year, Hemsworth’s a good sport about each of the challenges, but it’s also obvious he’s very serious about doing what it takes to live a longer, healthier life. Hemsworth makes clear he’s doing this for his family, and in fact, his brothers and spouse, actor Elsa Pataky, even join Chris in a few of the episodes.
The “Stress-Proof” episode is not for the faint of heart and will have the exact opposite effort of battling stress for those who are acrophobic. My fear of heights is so intense that I avoid sitting in upper decks in stadiums and avoid looking out hotel windows above the sixth floor. I had a visceral reaction to watching Hemsworth, who also admits to a dislike of heights, prepare for and then actually attempt to walk across a suspended beam outside of a skyscraper. That said, the lesson of combating the vicious circle of stress leading to more stress sunk in. Learning to face stressors head-on helps your body resist its fight-or-flight impulses.
“Shock” features Chris Hemsworth, who hates the cold, putting his body through the rigors of a freezing open water swim in the Arctic. The episode’s meant to explore how embracing extreme heat and extreme cold might add years to your life. And, again, it shows Hemsworth’s not above admitting to his weaknesses.
“Fasting” provides a lesson in how our bodies react to going without food, and how a four-day fast can basically reboot our bodies and stimulate the repair of damaged cells. And the “Strength” episode challenges the incredibly fit actor to climb a 100’ rope dangling over a canyon – and confirms Hemsworth can fail, just like the rest of us.
Chris Hemsworth and Alua Arthur discuss accepting death in ‘Limitless with Chris Hemsworth’ (National Geographic for Disney+/Craig Parry)
It’s not necessary to watch Limitless with Chris Hemsworth in any order, except for “Acceptance.” Keep that one aside until you’ve watched the others. “Acceptance” differs in that it’s much more of a mental and emotional challenge than necessarily physical. Stuffed inside an age simulator suit that weighs him down and restricts his movements, Hemsworth actually experiences how old age feels over three days at a retirement village.
Surprisingly, “Acceptance” is the episode that shows Chris Hemsworth at his most vulnerable. It’s also the episode that will likely have the greatest impact on how viewers think about the elderly and growing old. Don’t be shocked if you get a little teary-eyed doing so.
The goal of Limitless with Chris Hemsworth is to offer suggestions for lifestyle changes that can be put into place now to prepare for the future. Each episode features an expert on a specific topic who assists Hemsworth and suggests relatively simple tweaks in our day-to-day lives that can make huge differences as we age.
Hemsworth also makes a point at the conclusion of each episode to explain how he’ll incorporate what he’s learned into his life, and his suggestions are items that most people are capable of accomplishing.
Limitless with Chris Hemsworth takes a thoughtful, professional approach to the subject of aging. Although the challenges are extreme, the science behind them is explained in detail, allowing viewers the opportunity to understand how to better their lives. And best of all, Chris Hemsworth proves to be the perfect narrator on this entertaining and educational journey.
GRADE: B+
The series was created by Darren Aronofsky and produced by Protozoa and Jane Root’s Nutopia. Limitless with Chris Hemsworth premieres on Disney+ on November 16, 2022.
CBS will introduce the new drama True Lies, inspired by James Cameron’s 1994 film, on Thursday, February 23, 2023. The premiere date announcement came as the network revealed its 2022-2023 midseason lineup which will also include the new game show Lingo hosted by RuPaul Charles.
Season four of Tough as Nails hosted by The Amazing Race‘s Phil Keoghan kicks off on January 4, 2023 with a special two-hour episode. CBS also confirmed season one of Fire Country will pick back up on January 29th, and the first-ever NCIS three series crossover event will help welcome in the new year on January 2nd.
CBS January – March 2023 Midseason Schedule:
Monday, Jan. 2 – Special NCIS Crossover Event
8:00 PM NCIS
9:00 PM NCIS: HAWAI’I (special time)
10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES (special night and time)
Tuesday, Jan. 3
8:00 PM FBI
9:00 PM FBI: INTERNATIONAL
10:00 PM FBI: MOST WANTED
Wednesday, Jan. 4
8:00 PM THE PRICE IS RIGHT AT NIGHT
9:00-11:00 PM TOUGH AS NAILS (special two-hour premiere)
Thursday, Jan. 5
8:00 PM YOUNG SHELDON
8:30 PM GHOSTS
9:00 PM SO HELP ME TODD
10:00 PM CSI: VEGAS
Friday, Jan. 6
8:00 PM S.W.A.T.
9:00 PM FIRE COUNTRY
10:00 PM BLUE BLOODS
Sunday, Jan. 8 (doubleheader football game)
7:30 PM, ET/7:00 PM, PT 60 MINUTES
8:30 PM, ET/8:00 PM, PT EAST NEW YORK
9:30 PM, ET/9:00 PM, PT NCIS: LOS ANGELES
Wednesday, Jan. 11
8:00 PM THE PRICE IS RIGHT AT NIGHT
9:00 PM LINGO (series premiere)
10:00 PM TOUGH AS NAILS (regular time period)
Monday, Jan. 16
8:00 PM THE NEIGHBORHOOD
8:30 PM BOB HEARTS ABISHOLA
9:00 PM NCIS
10:00 PM NCIS: HAWAI’I
Sunday, Jan. 29
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
10:00-11:00 PM, ET/7:00-8:00 PM, PT FIRE COUNTRY (special episode, approx. start time, live to all time zones)
Sunday, Feb. 5
8:00-11:30 PM, ET/5:00-8:30 PM, PT THE 65TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS (live to all time zones)
Wednesday, March 1
8:00-10:00 PM SURVIVOR (special two-hour season premiere)
10:00 PM TRUE LIES (regular time-period)
LINGO is a new, supercharged adaptation of the word-twisting, fast-thinking game show. Host RuPaul Charles brings his one-of-a-kind personality to this clever, competitive, and unpredictable game where teams of two face off in fast-paced puzzle rounds to guess letters that reveal seemingly simple words. At the end of each one-hour episode, packed with witty commentary and gameplay, the two winning teams will make it through to a nerve-racking final showdown where one team will walk away with an additional big cash prize.
TRUE LIES, inspired by James Cameron’s hit action-comedy film of the same name, follows Harry (Steve Howey), a first-class international spy for U.S. intelligence agency Omega Sector, and his wife, Helen (Ginger Gonzaga), a language professor bored with her daily routine, who makes the shocking discovery that her seemingly ordinary husband is leading an extraordinary double life. With the secret out, Omega recruits Helen, who impresses everyone with her formidable skills (thanks to Tae Bo and yoga), and she joins Harry and his team of top-notch operatives, embarking on covert missions around the globe and an exhilarating life of danger and adventure … all while keeping their adventures a secret from their three teenage children.
The renewed bond between them adds much-needed sizzle to the Taskers’ emotionally distant marriage and upends the top-secret world of Omega Sector. But, as Harry says, if you’re going to save the world, you might as well do it for the ones you love.
Disney+ celebrates the phenomenon that is Elton John with Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium. The three-hour concert event will feature appearances by Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee, and Brandi Carlile who join Elton for his final North American concert at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium.
Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium concert event will be livestreamed on Sunday, November 20, at 11pm ET/8pm PT on Disney+. Prior to the actual concert, Disney+ will air “Countdown to Elton Live” with Elton John’s famous friends as well as interviews with Sir Elton and David Furnish.
The musical event is produced by Fulwell 73 Productions and Rocket Entertainment. Fulwell 73 Productions’ Gabe Turner, Ben Winston, Emma Conway, and Sally Wood executive produce, with Wood also serving as showrunner. Rocket Entertainment’s Elton John, David Furnish, and Luke Lloyd Davies also executive produce along with RJ Cutler.
Disney+ offered the following description of Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium:
Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium will showcase Elton John as audiences have never seen him before, honoring the icon and the seminal moment in 1975 that cemented his global success.
As part of Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, presented by Alliance for Lifetime Income, Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium will spotlight the music icon as 50,000+ fans in person and countless admirers worldwide virtually cheer him on. The experience features special guests and performances of unparalleled global hits spanning decades, in one of the greatest send-offs in music history. The concert will be the culmination of his Disney Original Documentary, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and The Years that Made His Legend.
Having collaborated with many chart-topping artists throughout the decades, Elton John made headlines around the globe in 2021. He returned to the recorded music charts when he teamed up with Dua Lipa on their recent smash hit Cold Heart (PNAU REMIX), which hit #7 on Billboard’s Hot 100, #1 on its Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and #1 on the UK singles chart upon its release. The song has been streamed over 1 billion times on Spotify worldwide and most recently won Top Dance/Electronic Song at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. Cold Heart (PNAU REMIX), is a combination of Elton John’s most iconic tracks, including Sacrifice and Rocket Man.
Kiki Dee and Elton John made waves nearly 50 years ago with their number-one song Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, which marked his third stand-alone single after Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and Philadelphia Freedom.
Brandi Carlile has been a fan of the international legend since she was 11 years old and hosted his 30th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. The two have formed a life-long friendship and in 2021 released Simple Things, which was part of Elton John’s The Lockdown Sessions album.
To amplify the excitement, the hourlong special “iHeartRadio Presents Elton John’s Thank you to America: The Final Song,” will broadcast across over 320 stations nationwide on Sunday, November 20 at 10pm PT /1am ET. The special will feature legendary moments from Elton John’s career and include a live simulcast of Elton John’s final song and closing remarks during his last performance in North America at Dodger Stadium.
Good Night Oppy, the moving story of the Mars rover that outlasted all expectations, was named Best Documentary Feature at the 2022 Critics Choice Documentary Awards. The film also earned Best Director (Ryan White), Best Score (Blake Neely), Best Narration (written by Helen Kearns and Ryan White, performed by Angela Bassett), and Best Science/Nature Documentary awards.
The Seventh Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards selected David Siev’s Bad Axe as the Best First Documentary Feature and The Beatles: Get Back scored the Best Music Documentary award.
The CCDAs, hosted by Wyatt Cenac, took place on November 13, 2022 in New York City. This year marked the first time documentary fans were able to view the awards show live via the official Critics Choice Association’s website.
“Tonight was a whole new Doc Awards – hosting the ceremony in a new, bigger venue in Manhattan and streaming it live for the first time. We are thrilled to continue the celebration of so many groundbreaking and thought-provoking films while highlighting the works of so many brilliant filmmakers,” stated Christopher Campbell, Co-President of the Critics Choice Association’s Documentary Branch.
2022 CRITICS CHOICE DOCUMENTARY AWARDS NOMINEES:
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Aftershock (Hulu)
The Automat (A Slice of Pie Productions)
Descendant (Netflix)
Fire of Love (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)
Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down (Briarcliff Entertainment) WINNER:Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)
The Janes (HBO)
Moonage Daydream (HBO/Neon)
Navalny (HBO/CNN/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Sidney (Apple TV+)
BEST DIRECTOR
Judd Apatow, Michael Bonfiglio – George Carlin’s American Dream (HBO)
Margaret Brown – Descendant (Netflix)
Sara Dosa – Fire of Love (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)
Reginald Hudlin – Sidney (Apple TV+)
Brett Morgen – Moonage Daydream (HBO/Neon)
Laura Poitras – All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (HBO/Neon)
Daniel Roher – Navalny (HBO/CNN/Warner Bros. Pictures) WINNER: Ryan White – Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)
BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Andrea Arnold – Cow (IFC Films)
Lisa Hurwitz – The Automat (A Slice of Pie Productions)
Jono McLeod – My Old School (Magnolia Pictures)
Amy Poehler – Lucy and Desi (Amazon Studios)
Alex Pritz – The Territory (National Geographic Documentary Films) WINNER: David Siev – Bad Axe (IFC Films)
Bianca Stigter – Three Minutes: A Lengthening (Neon)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Benjamin Bernhard, Riju Das – All That Breathes (HBO)
Magda Kowalczyk – Cow (IFC Films)
Lucas Tucknott – McEnroe (Showtime)
Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman, Sam Holling – Nuisance Bear (The New Yorker) WINNER: The Cinematography Team – Our Great National Parks (Netflix)
Alex Pritz, Tangãi Uru-eu-wau-wau – The Territory (National Geographic Documentary Films)
BEST EDITING
Jabez Olssen – The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)
Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput – Fire of Love (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)
Joe Beshenkovsky – George Carlin’s American Dream (HBO)
Helen Kearns, Rejh Cabrera – Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios) WINNER: Brett Morgen – Moonage Daydream (HBO/Neon)
Langdon Page, Maya Daisy Hawke – Navalny (HBO/CNN/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Katharina Wartena – Three Minutes: A Lengthening (Neon)
BEST SCORE
Hummie Mann – The Automat (A Slice of Pie Productions)
Nicolas Godin – Fire of Love (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon) WINNER: Blake Neely – Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)
Max Avery Lichtenstein – The Janes (HBO)
David Schwartz – Lucy and Desi (Amazon Studios)
Marius de Vries, Matt Robertson – Navalny (HBO/CNN/Warner Bros. Pictures)
BEST NARRATION
Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story (Fin and Fur Films)
Written by Ben Masters
Performed by Matthew McConaughey
Fire of Love (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)
Written by Shane Boris, Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput, Sara Dosa
Performed by Miranda July
WINNER: Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)
Written by Helen Kearns, Ryan White
Performed by Angela Bassett
Our Great National Parks (Netflix)
Performed by Barack Obama
Riotsville, U.S.A. (Magnolia Pictures)
Written by Tobi Haslett
Performed by Charlene Modeste
Three Minutes: A Lengthening (Neon)
Written by Bianca Stigter
Performed by Helena Bonham Carter
BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+) WINNER: Fire of Love (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)
Moonage Daydream (HBO/Neon)
Nothing Compares (Showtime)
Riotsville, U.S.A. (Magnolia Pictures)
Three Minutes: A Lengthening (Neon)
BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
The Automat (A Slice of Pie Productions) WINNER: Descendant (Netflix)
The Janes (HBO)
Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power (Peacock)
Still Working 9 to 5 (Mighty Fine Entertainment)
Three Minutes: A Lengthening (Neon)
The U.S. and the Holocaust (PBS)
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
George Carlin’s American Dream (HBO)
The Last Movie Stars (HBO Max)
Lucy and Desi (Amazon Studios)
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (Peacock)
Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams (Sony Pictures Classics) WINNER: Sidney (Apple TV+)
Sr. (Netflix)
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY WINNER: The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song (Sony Pictures Classics)
If These Walls Could Sing (Disney Original Documentary)
Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (Apple TV+)
Moonage Daydream (HBO/Neon)
Nothing Compares (Showtime)
The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile (Sony Pictures Classics)
BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
Aftershock (Hulu)
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (HBO/Neon)
Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down (Briarcliff Entertainment)
The Janes (HBO) WINNER: Navalny (HBO/CNN/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Retrograde (National Geographic Documentary Films)
Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom (Netflix)
BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
All That Breathes (HBO)
Cow (IFC Films)
Fire of Love (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon) WINNER: Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)
Nuisance Bear (The New Yorker)
Return to Space (Netflix)
The Territory (National Geographic Documentary Films)
BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY WINNER (Tie): Citizen Ashe (Magnolia/HBO)
Hockeyland (Greenwich Entertainment)
Kaepernick & America (Dark Star Pictures)
McEnroe (Showtime)
The Redeem Team (Netflix) WINNER (Tie):Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
38 at the Garden (HBO)
Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices From a Plantation Prison (MTV Documentary Films)
The Flagmakers (National Geographic Documentary Films)
Four Seasons Total Documentary (MSNBC)
My Disability Roadmap (The New York Times Op Docs) WINNER: Nuisance Bear (The New Yorker)
Stranger at the Gate (The New Yorker)
BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES WINNER: The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)
Hostages (HBO)
The Last Movie Stars (HBO Max)
The Lincoln Project (Showtime)
Our Great National Parks (Netflix)
The U.S. and the Holocaust (PBS)
We Need to Talk About Cosby (Showtime)
BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES WINNER: 30 for 30 (ESPN)
American Masters (PBS)
Cheer (Netflix)
The Circus (Showtime)
Unsolved Mysteries (Netflix)
Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)
The Pennebaker Award
Barbara Kopple, presented by Kopple’s producing partner and wife, Chris Hegedus
Kopple, a director of documentaries, narrative TV, and film, is a two-time Academy Award winner and ten-time Emmy Award nominee. Her most recent project is the forthcoming documentary Gumbo Coalition, which premieres at DOC NYC as the Centerpiece Presentation in November 2022.
Kopple produced and directed Harlan County USA and American Dream, both winners of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Her other films include Miss Sharon Jones!, Desert One, The House of Steinbrenner, Woodstock: Now and Then, Shut Up and Sing, Havoc, A Conversation with Gregory Peck, My Generation, Wild Man Blues, Running From Crazy, Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson, This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous, and many more.
The 2022 American Music Awards will feature a tribute to 17-time AMA winner Lionel Richie, and P!nk will honor 10-time AMA winner Olivia Newton-John with a special performance of one of Newton-John’s most popular songs. Olivia Newton-John passed away on August 8, 2022 after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
Two-time AMA winner Stevie Wonder and two-time AMA nominee Charlie Puth will perform a medley of Richie’s songs. Singer/songwriter Ari Lennox will also take part in the tribute to this year’s Icon Award recipient.
Additional just-announced performers include Anitta, David Guetta, Dove Cameron, GloRilla, and Lil Baby. Carrie Underwood, Imagine Dragons, J.I.D, Yola, and house DJ D-Nice were previously confirmed to take the stage during the 50th anniversary of the American Music Awards.
GloRilla will make her AMAs performance debut just days after the release of her new EP, Anyways, Life’s Great…. AMA winner David Guetta and two-time nominee Bebe Rexha will team up to perform their #1 Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs hit “I’m Good (Blue).” New Artist of the Year nominee Dove Cameron will perform “Boyfriend” during the broadcast, marking her American Music Awards debut. Favorite Female Latin Artist nominee Anitta is set to perform “Lobby” and “Envolver.” And Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist nominee Lil Baby is confirmed to perform a medley of “California Breeze” and “In a Minute.”
Wayne Brady has been tapped to host this year’s awards show airing live on ABC on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT (tape-delayed on the West Coast).
McCall finds herself in the hot seat on CBS’s The Equalizer season three episode six, “A Time to Kill.” Directed by Chris Fisher from a script by Melissa R. Byer and Treena Hancock, episode six will air on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 8:30pm ET/PT.
Queen Latifah leads the cast as Robyn McCall. Season three also stars Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg as Harry Keshegian, Liza Lapira as Melody “Mel” Bayani, and Laya DeLeon Hayes as Delilah. Lorraine Toussaint returns as Viola “Vi” Marsette. Brett Dalton, Gabriel Sloyer, Chris Vance, and Stephen Bishop recur.
Eddie McGee, Lee Aaron Rosen, Natalie Roy, Tony Naumovski, and Georgi James guest star.
“A Time to Kill” Plot: After a teen girl dies from fentanyl-laced pills, a vigilante goes on a killing spree and McCall becomes a suspect.
The Equalizer is a reimagining of the classic series starring Academy Award® nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to turn. McCall presents to most as an average single mom who is quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she is The Equalizer – an anonymous guardian angel and defender of the downtrodden, who’s also dogged in her pursuit of personal redemption.
Robyn’s clandestine work and her personal life collide when her smart and observant daughter, Delilah, and her aunt Vi, who lives with Robyn to help her balance life as a working mother, discover her secret career as a vigilante. While Robyn contends with uncertainty at home, she is joined in her pursuit of justice by Melody “Mel” Bayani, an edgy bar owner and sniper from Robyn’s past; and Harry Keshegian, a paranoid and brilliant white-hat hacker.
As Robyn aids the oppressed and exploited, she sometimes works with Marcus Dante, an NYPD detective who once sought to uncover her identity, but now respects the need for Robyn’s type of justice even as he often questions her methods.
Kevin Costner stars as John Dutton in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Paramount Network’s Yellowstone season five episode two opens with the heartbreaking and devastating scene of Monica and Tate’s car accident. An injured Tate was the only person who wasn’t ejected when Monica’s car and a stranger’s truck ran into a buffalo that wandered onto the road.
Monica (Kelsey Asbille) is in horrible pain as she yells for Tate (Brecken Merrill) to call an ambulance. Tate, who’s already endured so much trauma in his young life, makes the call as Monica screams.
The credits lead into a scene at Kayce’s place, with Kayce (Luke Grimes) gently holding his sleeping wife in bed. He quietly rises to drive Tate somewhere, assuring his son that they’ll be okay but it will take a while to mend. They’ve lost a son and brother, but Monica’s lost a part of herself so her healing will be much more difficult.
Tate wonders if they’ll try again and lets his dad know he liked having a brother, even if it was just for an hour.
Over at the Yellowstone Ranch, Rip (Cole Hauser) orders Carter to saddle up John’s horse. John’s not around but the horse needs to get out, so Carter’s going to be subbing in for the big boss. Carter moves a little too slowly for Rip’s taste and Rip says, “God didn’t add extra daylight to Tuesday, Carter!”
Lloyd (Forrie J Smith) joins Rip, and they watch Carter methodically work on saddling the horse. Rip finally loses his patience and takes off with the wranglers, leaving Lloyd to supervise. Carter’s nervous since he’s never done this for himself, and he pretty much forgets everything he normally does when getting the horses ready in the morning.
Lloyd has the patience of a saint and walks him through each step.
John (Kevin Costner) goes over his schedule with his assistant, Clara Brewer (Lilli Kay), and is stunned to learn just how many meetings he has to sit through in one day. He’s also frustrated when he hears about a talk he’s supposed to give the following day in Butte to promote one of his educational programs…a program he’s never heard of.
His patience is as short as Rip’s and he calls for his Chief of Staff Jim Roberts to be brought into this morning’s meeting. (Jamie, Beth, and Lynelle are already in attendance.) John’s savvy enough to know Jim’s friendship with someone who benefits from this new educational initiative is the reason it’s been approved.
Poor Jim…he’s barely made it into the meeting when he’s replaced by Beth as CoS and ordered to leave.
Beth (Kelly Reilly) doesn’t want the position but John insists that since she got him into this job, she has no choice but to get him through the next four years. Beth looks at her dad’s schedule and Lynelle explains what his next meeting’s about. (John’s clearly a fish out of water with exactly zero you-know-whats to give about being governor if it doesn’t concern his family’s ranch.)
Lynelle reminds him that as governor he needs to shake hands, pose for photos, and basically play nice. John, who’s already said he’s a one-term governor, doesn’t plan on doing any of that.
Jamie (Wes Bentley) is next up to explain what the legal process will be like if he calls off the funding for the airport and other Market Equities projects. Market Equities will just get funding elsewhere. Also, John can’t just cancel the lease or he’ll be sued. And Jamie’s certain if they sue, Market Equities will win.
“Revoke the funding, order an environmental review, and cancel the lease,” says John, not budging one iota from his position despite the legal consequences.
Jamie and Lynelle argue that Market Equities will ultimately wind up owning the ranch if John continues down this path. Beth points out the Yellowstone’s zoned as agricultural. That leads to – at least on the surface level – a civil discussion with Jamie about approvals and use of the land for purposes outside its zoning.
Jamie says that statute is waved by the governor’s office all the time, and Beth fires back. “Well, not this time.”
Beth has Clara set a meetup for drinks for her and John with Ronny and Kyle from the Park County Commissioners’ office today. John also has Clara clear any meetings from his schedule with groups that have “alliance” in their title.
Beth’s ready to wrap up the morning’s meeting after telling Clara to pack a bag, she’ll need it for their evening with the commissioners. But John has one more item to discuss. He orders Jamie to have the paperwork complete and on his desk in one hour. Jamie requests a private meeting with John, and Beth tells him to just go do his f*cking job.
Kelly Reilly and Wes Bentley in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
After Jamie and Beth leave, Lynelle looks over John’s schedule and explains the game to him once again. It’s all about exchanging favors. First, he gives them and then he can ask for favors in return. She’ll fill in on as many of his meetings as she can, but he must agree to some meetings. She also reminds him that if he alienates everyone by insisting he’s not in it for the long haul, his supporters will desert him. And he’ll need them to help fight off Market Equities. It’s unlikely they’ll just slink away quietly into the night.
If Market Equities learns they only need to wait four years, they’ll wait. He’ll have to change laws while he’s in office if he wants to permanently hold them off. The Land Board has five officers – the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor, and Public Interest Superintendent. Lynelle believes Jamie was smart to sign the lease in the first place, and if he hadn’t then the Land Board would have voted to allow the State to own the Yellowstone Ranch.
When John cancels the lease, it’ll go back in front of the Land Board and they could still turn over Yellowstone to the State – if John refuses to play the game. (He should listen – Lynelle understands exactly how this all works.)
Jamie ignores Beth when she follows him and keeps saying, “Hey,” slamming his office door behind him in her face. Undeterred, she barges in and slams the door even harder behind her. (She has to one-up him on every single thing!)
She warns her brother never to contradict John again, but Jamie patiently explains why he spoke up. Beth claims she wants to believe he’s doing what’s best for the family but then she reminds herself that John’s not his dad and this isn’t his family. She also brings up that he shot his own father (without saying those actual words).
Beth wants him to do as he’s told until Market Equities gives up. After that, he can leave. Beth confirms she views him as unredeemable.
“Your political career was over the moment you chose your father over mine,” says Beth. He had best not forget he’s her prisoner now unless he wants to go to jail. And, since he’s sold his ranch, she wants him home on weekends so she can keep an eye on him. (I’ve always been #TeamBeth but not loving this extreme version of a vengeance-driven Beth right now.)
Home alone, Monica makes it to the bathroom and stares at herself in the mirror. She touches her stomach and takes a deep breath before joining Kayce outside. He’s taken the day off work in case she needs anything, and Monica confesses she’d like to hold a very private funeral for the baby. Kayce blames himself and Monica warns him they’re not going to do that. It’s no one’s fault.
Monica wants to bury the baby at Yellowstone, and Kayce says he’ll ask John but already knows the answer’s yes.
Monica asks the question on all our minds. Is this what Kayce meant when he said he saw “the end of us”? He admits it isn’t; he never saw this coming.
“This won’t be the end of us,” says Kayce. He adds that he had to choose the end of us, and he will never choose that.
Kayce brings up that Tate wants a brother and Monica says she wanted him to have one. The couple holds each other tight as Monica sobs.
The wranglers work the cattle and come upon a dead momma cow. Rip and Lloyd believe that wolves did it, but Ryan (Ian Bohen) disagrees. Wolves might have eaten it, but something else killed it. He wants to call in Kayce, but Rip wants to leave Kayce out of it, given what he’s going through right now. Plus, they don’t need a State hunter on Yellowstone just a couple of days into John’s term.
They’ll deal with it themselves after they get a permit. Rip puts Ryan and Colby (Denim Richards) in charge of killing the wolves.
Episode two’s halfway done when one of season two’s new big baddies, Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), puts in her first appearance. Sarah’s a heavy-hitter called in by Market Equities CEO Caroline Warner (Jacki Weaver) to handle the Dutton situation.
Sarah joins Caroline and the Market Equities team to watch a press conference called by Governor John Dutton.
Meanwhile, Jamie delivers the paperwork John requested squashing the permit and funding. Jamie warns his dad that he’s basically declaring war by signing this order, and John says they’re already at war.
John delivers a speech about the meaning of the word freedom. Allowing a city to be built in the middle of the pristine wilderness strips Montanians from their freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water. The development would also strain hospitals and key infrastructure. Plus, it will ultimately raise their taxes and make it harder to remain in Montana.
He signs an executive order to revoke Market Equities’ permits and cease all funding. John doesn’t take any questions and quickly leaves the press conference.
Caroline wants a cease & desist order filed along with a lawsuit over breach of contract. She wants them to throw in any other charges they can think of.
Sarah points out that Jamie doesn’t look up to the fight. He’ll be her first target.
Finn Little in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Back at the ranch, Lloyd’s impressed with Carter’s first real day of cowboying and sends him off to round up two nearby cows. Suddenly, his horse trips in a hole and falls, with Carter injuring his arm. However, that’s not the worst of it. The horse won’t be able to recover from this injury and Rip’s forced to put him down. (Remember, this is John’s horse.)
Rip dispassionately orders everyone back to work as Carter apologizes. Rip tells Carter to carry the bridle and saddle back to the barn, after reminding him to always have one eye on the ground and one eye on the cattle in the future.
Beth arrives early for the evening’s meeting over drinks, and a man unwisely chooses to hit on her at the bar. She pegs him as a professor with grown kids and a wife who left him. She shatters his ego by describing what she thinks is his way of life, sending him off to nurse his wounds after calling him a pencil d*ck.
The meeting begins and the men aren’t happy John just stripped the county of hundreds of millions in tax revenue. John points out they don’t have anywhere to spend hundreds of millions anyway, so it doesn’t really matter.
John promises to increase their tax revenue by doubling property tax on non-residents. Ronny Meyers (J Downing) and Kyle Fremont (James Remar) don’t think it’ll work but Beth attempts to sway them to John’s side. They cut to the chase and ask what John wants, and he asks them to turn down the request to rezone Yellowstone Ranch.
A discussion ensues and John promises there won’t be any litigation. And he promises they’ll remain in office if they take his side. Plus, when the rezoning request is denied he plans on placing the ranch in a “conservation easement” so there will be nothing to litigate.
This takes Beth completely by surprise. It’s also all it takes to convince Ronny and Kyle to promise to deny the rezoning request.
Beth warns her dad that if he makes that move, they won’t be able to cover their losses or taxes. They can’t sell off or develop any of the ranches, and will likely lose the whole ranch.
“But it will be whole, honey,” replies John. “It will be whole. That matters more than any name on a deed.”
Beth did not see this move coming.
John arrives back at the ranch and Rip fills him in on what’s going on. Carter broke his arm when John’s horse stepped in a badger hole and shattered his leg. He apologizes to John and says it was his fault. John understands and doesn’t hold it against Rip or Carter.
Rip’s happy to have his wife back, even if it is just for eight hours. Beth promises they’ll cram a week’s worth of loving into one night.
Night’s fallen, and Colby and Ryan follow Rip’s orders and shoot the wolves eating their cattle. It’s not until after they’re dead that the guys realize these are protected wolves from the park. They’re each wearing collars that track their movements and if they remain still for 12 hours, dozens of game wardens will come looking for them.
People love these wolves and follow their movements. They even have their own Facebook pages, and some supporters wear T-shirts with their faces. If they learn the wolves have been killed, all hell will break loose.
Ryan thinks they need to take off the collars until he can figure out what to do.
It’s only after the wolves are dead that Ryan admits they didn’t get the necessary permits to kill them. (What’s with all the animal deaths in this episode?!)
A flashback shows a young John Dutton (welcome back, Josh Lucas) and a ranch hand discovering dead fish, a calf, and a dead elk. There’s something in the water that’s poisoned the animals and fish, and John looks for the cause from a helicopter. He discovers a construction site and punches the foreman, Dick Weller (Elijah Mahar). He holds up his Livestock Agent badge and pulls out his gun, to show he means business.
One of the men explains they’ve been spraying a chemical to kill off weeds. Dick claims they’re licensed to spray it and doesn’t care the chemical’s made its way into the creek. The EPA approved it while they’re working on putting up a cell tower for the phone company.
Because they have a permit, they won’t stop using the chemical. John will have to speak directly with the phone company.
That night, a teenage Rip and other ranch hands destroy the construction site and the equipment. They also spray the chemical all around the foreman’s property and knock the man out when he confronts them.
The vegetation quickly dies along with birds and any other wildlife in the area. The foreman howls in the shower as he tries to wash off the chemicals after laying outside, unconscious, all night covered in poison.
Back to current events and Ryan and Colby are forced to call Rip about the dead wolves. He rides out in the middle of the night and instructs them to remove the collars. They’ll need to move like wolves as they ride back to the park.
They place the collars semi-loosely on pieces of wood and toss them in the river. Rip warns them never to shoot wolves with GPS tracking devices again (that’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?) and never to tell anyone what they’ve done.
Morning arrives on the ranch and Clara’s overwhelmed by the view. She can’t imagine what it takes to maintain the Yellowstone and John admits it takes everything they’ve got.
The episode ends with one of the pieces of wood, tracker still attached, getting snagged on a tree limb that’s fallen into the river.
Kevin Costner stars as John Dutton in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Season four of Paramount Network’s Yellowstone ended with Beth forcing Jamie’s hand and compelling him to murder his biological father. Of course, that means Beth now owns Jamie, which is incredibly good timing given John’s decision to run for governor—a position Jamie lusted after and assumed would be his for the taking. Kayce told Monica he saw “the end of us” after his vision quest and, in case you forgot, Monica is pregnant. Plus, Beth’s now a married woman with a bullseye painted on her back courtesy of Market Equities’ CEO.
And now for a recap of Yellowstone season five episode one, airing on November 13, 2022:
Episode one picks up the story on election day with John (Kevin Costner) winning the gubernatorial race. After calling John to congratulate him, Scott McMullen makes a concession speech that Jamie, Beth, outgoing Governor Lynelle Perry, and John’s supporters watch and savor from John’s campaign headquarters.
Jamie (Wes Bentley) has a quiet moment alone to take in the news.
As John’s about to deliver his first speech as governor-elect, Jamie requests the honor of introducing him as well as newly elected Montana Senator Lynell (Wendy Moniz) to their constituents. Beth (Kelly Reilly) knows Jamie’s only doing it to get on the stage. Whatever his motivations, Jamie does a fantastic job of selling his enthusiasm for both his dad and Lynelle’s victories.
John confirms they have a lot of work to do and a lot to undo. He’s determined not to allow Montana to become “the rich man’s plaything.” His goal as governor will be to preserve what sets Montana apart and be a faithful steward of the land and its people.
Jamie and Beth engage in a staring contest (a battle of wills) as the balloons fall and the crowd cheers.
Over at the casino, Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) concedes John’s election will be good for the land. However, it will kill a potential income stream for the tribe.
Market Equities CEO Caroline Warner (Jacki Weaver) smashes a glass as John’s win is announced, certain it spells the death of the airport and resort. But her associate, Ellis Steele, points out how glum and depressed Jamie looks on stage as the celebration continues. He’s the weak link, and Caroline instructs Ellis to bring in Sarah Atwood. The gloves are off and Caroline’s done playing around.
We’re treated to a brief flashback of a teenage Beth taunting a hard-working Rip, who promises that someday he’ll be top hand. She’s about to leave for college and asks if he wants to go on a date on her last night in town.
Rip agrees, and the bunkhouse boys give him a hard time as he leaves for his date. Beth continues to tease him as they head to the bar in town, and when they get there, Rip admits he’s never been there before. (He adds that he’s never been anywhere before.)
Rip’s also never had a martini before and settles for water while Beth gives the bartender a peek down her shirt when he requests her ID. Beth and Rip’s discussion turns serious as Beth explains she can either be a victim of how men look at her or benefit from it. She chooses the latter, and she claims men are the weaker sex.
Rip’s not in the mood for this discussion, and it’s obvious he’s incredibly uncomfortable. He suggests they leave, but Beth wants to stay. Rip leaves, alone, since Beth’s clearly not changing her mind.
Outside, the guys from the ranch are just pulling up and offer him one of their trucks so he can make it safely back to the Yellowstone.
Hours later, Rip’s waiting outside the barn as Beth and the wranglers return from the bar. Beth kisses one of the men and then slips into the backseat for a quickie. Rip looks devastated.
It turns out this unpleasant stroll down memory lane leads the Beth we now know and love into apologizing to her husband. Rip (Cole Hauser) doesn’t understand why she’s sorry, and she explains it’s nothing recent that’s making her feel the need to atone.
“This is a sort of blanket apology to generally cover the past,” says Beth. “Everything before right now…that’s what I’m sorry for.”
Beth admits she was awful to him when they were younger, but she claims she was worse on herself. Rip believes her brain is almost as big as her heart. He also thinks he’s the only one who truly understands just how big her heart is.
Beth becomes emotional as she expresses how much she regrets robbing them of years they could have spent together. Rip assures her he’s incredibly happy and doesn’t need anything, including those lost years—or anything else that time took from them. (Rip’s such a decent man and exactly who Beth needs in her life.)
Rip suggests she find someone new to fight so that she stops fighting herself. With a smile, Rip finally agrees she did put him through hell. Now, he just wants her to let herself be happy. She promises she will.
The ranch is buzzing as preparations for John’s party celebrating his win get underway. Rip’s angry about all the hoopla (he calls it a sh*tshow) and orders the wranglers to concentrate on the work at hand. Today that means looking for calves.
Meanwhile, Lynelle and John have a quiet chat at the capitol before John meets with his staff. John points out that the breakfast buffet could feed the poor, and Lynelle explains his staff will eat it while trying to figure out what issues deserve his attention. She also assures him he doesn’t have any friends in this building.
John teases that he blames her for his election, and she reminds him she wanted Jamie as governor because she could have controlled him. That’s not the case with John. They share a joke about their sexual relationship and confirm it’s going to be an interesting four years.
John isn’t going to run for reelection, and Lynelle suggests that he concentrate on that. He doesn’t need to compromise and can get things done without worrying about offending any potential 2026 backers.
We finally catch up with Kayce (Luke Grimes) half an hour into the season five premiere. He’s still Livestock Commissioner and has joined his men in pursuit of horse thieves. The thieves are attempting to drive the horses through the river and over to the Canadian side of the border, where Canadian police are waiting to arrest them. (Canada’s legal system doesn’t scare them as much as America’s does.)
Kayce manages to get the thieves back on American soil, but the horses have made it to Canada. Kayce touched Canadian soil while turning around the thieves and the Canadian police aren’t happy about that or that he’s snagged the thieves they were hoping to apprehend.
Kayce’s able to convince the Canadian cops to return the horses and to allow the thieves to be arrested in America since the U.S. justice system is much harsher. Kayce gets his way and also gets in a final jab at Canada by inferring the cops are sheep when they claim Canada’s more civilized.
Meanwhile at the capitol, a crowd of supporters and the media have gathered to watch John being sworn in as governor. John takes an extraordinarily long pause before stating his name as instructed while being sworn in. In fact, Beth has to prompt him to recite the oath of office.
Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, and Wes Bentley in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Governor Dutton dons his cowboy hat, and after a brief acknowledgement of applause, he delivers another speech. He reconfirms he didn’t want this job; he just wants to preserve what makes Montana special. He announces his first official action is to cancel the funding for the Paradise Valley Airport Project and the surrounding commercial developments.
John lists additional actions he’s going to take, all of which will financially impact non-residents. “We are not your playground. We are not your haven from the pollution and traffic and mismanagement of your home states,” declares John, as Jamie can barely contain his exasperation with his dad’s actions.
Jamie asks Beth if she knew about John’s plan. He’s certain it will set the state back 30 years. Beth assures him the plan is to actually set it back 100 years. Jamie’s concerned John’s proposals aren’t legal, and Beth doesn’t care. She’s going to work her brother like a “rented mule” and force him to ram John’s proposals through the courts.
It’s only John, Beth, Jamie, and the driver in the car as they leave the capitol, and Beth refuses to pour Jamie a whiskey—even when John tells her to. Jamie suggests John reconsider canceling the airport funding since it’ll bring in $5 million annually to the ranch. The ranch is currently losing $3 million a year as it is.
Jamie and Beth get into an argument over her use of campaign funds to pay for the party at the Yellowstone Ranch, and Jamie’s certain they’re all going to prison. John finally tells them to shut up but then starts the argument up again when he blames Jamie for the fact he’s now governor. John didn’t want the job, and all parties agree Jamie could have won the election. But, John asks, what would happen then? He couldn’t depend on Jamie to do right by the land.
John blames himself for the mess he made of his family and thinks they’re an embarrassment to the family’s legacy. John orders Jamie to sacrifice his ambition and sacrifice his “weak, self-loathing heart” and become strong. Jamie’s also ordered to do everything John says exactly as he says to do it.
John warns them every decision will be made for the good of the ranch. That is first and foremost in his mind as they move forward.
John reminds his driver that everything said between the family stays within the family. The driver earns himself a permanent role with Governor Dutton by agreeing he’d do exactly what John’s doing if he owned the Yellowstone.
The bunkhouse boys play poker and drink while discussing what to wear for the party. There’s a lot of lighthearted ribbing about the possibility of Jake wearing a dress and Teeter shocks everyone by revealing she owns a couple of dresses.
Rip arrives to warn them not to get drunk before the party. When he asks what they’re laughing about and learns Jake wants to wear a dress, Rip orders him not to even think about it. Rip’s serious as a heart attack, but the guys and Teeter are still chuckling. (Poor Jake, he’s in trouble and none of this is his doing!)
A short while later the party gets underway with Shane Smith & The Saints performing on stage. The ranch hands are wearing their dress shirts, but they’re still engaging in a lot of teasing as they discover there’s an open bar. The Bar M cowboys arrive and Lloyd suggests all the wranglers enjoy themselves away from the formal party.
A massive tent’s set up for dinner and applause greets John Dutton and Lynelle as they walk through the crowd and shake hands. They eventually arrive at the head table and Beth says her goodbyes; she’d rather be with Rip.
John complains to Lynelle that it’s the first time he’s been at the ranch in a month. This year marks the first time he’s ever spent the night away from his home. (I guess the nights spent in the hospital recovering from being shot don’t count.)
Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
The cowboys are having a blast roping each other in the arena while pretty female party guests (including Lainey Wilson playing a Country singer named Abby) watch from the sidelines. The roping leads to dancing with the guests, and everyone enjoys themselves while Rip watches, relaxing on a nearby hill. Beth joins him and Rip says he’s just keeping an eye on things. He admits when he looks at this party, the future—which he normally never worries about—seems uncertain. Rip compares this whole affair to Nero playing the fiddle as Rome burned.
“He’s going to lose this place,” says Rip, calmly. He gives Beth a kiss and then heads home. Beth continues to sit on the hill and watch the party after he leaves.
Night’s falling as the stolen horses are corralled and waiting to be picked up. Kayce rings up Monica (Kelsey Asbille) to fill her in on what’s happening, and she appears to be ready to give birth any minute. He has to take the horses to Billings, and Monica reveals she probably needs to meet him there. It’s three weeks before her due date but she’s having painful cramps that seem to be getting worse.
Kayce’s worried about her driving and says he’ll have an ambulance meet her on the road.
Kayce leaves Steve Hendon (James Jordan) in charge of the horses and heads out to meet Monica at the hospital.
Monica’s continuing to experience bad cramping as she drives with Tate in the passenger seat. The cramps are almost debilitating, but she won’t pull over and Tate’s too young to drive. The car weaves all over the road.
A truck is heading in Monica’s direction with a driver who’s distracted by food. Suddenly, a buffalo appears on the road in between Monica’s car and the truck. We’re spared the moment of impact, but the sound of shattering glass confirms something horrible’s taken place!
It’s a peaceful morning at the Yellowstone Ranch when Carter (Finn Little), who’s really sprouted since season four, greets John at the barn. John doesn’t have time for a ride and Carter admits he misses their rides. John promises they’ll do them again and then orders Carter to stop growing because it freaks him out.
“You’re a living reminder of how much time I don’t have,” says John to a completely confused Carter. John tosses in a warning that if he grows a beard, he’s fired.
Jamie meets John at the car and informs him their plans have changed and they need to go to Billings. Beth’s with them as they arrive at the hospital and find Tate outside his mom’s room. Tate’s banged up but okay. The same can’t be said of Monica. She lost the baby and Tate tells his grandfather that he had a brother for an hour. Tate reveals his mom and dad named the baby John.
John enters Monica’s room and stands silently by the bed as Kayce lies in bed next to his unconscious wife.
Paramount+ just released the first teaser trailer for the Yellowstone prequel, 1923. The latest addition to the Yellowstone franchise stars Oscar winner Helen Mirren and Oscar nominee Harrison Ford as John Dutton’s ancestors, Jacob and Cara. The 30-second teaser, along with a batch of five photos from the upcoming drama, provides our first good look at Mirren and Ford in character.
1923 will premiere on Paramount+ on Sunday, December 18, 2022. The first episode will also be available on Paramount Network on December 18th after a new Yellowstone episode.
Joining Ford and Mirren to bring the early days of the Duttons in Montana to life are Darren Mann (Animal Kingdom), Michelle Randolph (A Snow White Christmas), James Badge Dale (Hightown), Marley Shelton (Scream), Brian Geraghty (Big Sky), Aminah Nieves (Blueberry), and Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones).
Taylor Sheridan created the series and serves as executive producer along with John Linson, Art Linson, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, and Ben Richardson. 1923‘s produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, and Bosque Ranch Productions.
Paramount+ released the following description of 1923:
1923, the next installment of the Dutton family origin story, will introduce a new generation of Duttons, led by patriarch Jacob (Ford) and matriarch Cara (Mirren). The series will explore the early 20th century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition, and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west, and the Duttons who call it home.
Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton and Helen MIrren as Cara Dutton in ‘1923’ (Photo Credit: James Minchin III/Paramount+)
1923 Cast and Characters:
• Harrison Ford will play Jacob Dutton, the patriarch of the Yellowstone ranch, husband to Cara Dutton and brother of James Dutton (1883‘s Tim McGraw).
• Helen Mirren will play Cara Dutton, the wife to Jacob Dutton and family matriarch.
• Darren Mann will play Jack Dutton, John Dutton Sr.’s son and great-nephew to Jacob Dutton. He is a dedicated rancher who is deeply loyal to his family.
• Michelle Randolph will play Elizabeth Strafford, a feisty and capable young woman set to marry into the Dutton family.
• James Badge Dale will play John Dutton Sr., the oldest nephew and right-hand man of Jacob Dutton.
• Marley Shelton will play Emma Dutton, the dutiful wife of John Dutton Sr. and the mother of Jack Dutton.
• Brian Geraghty will play Zane, a fiercely loyal ranch foreman.
• Aminah Nieves will play Teonna Rainwater, a young woman at a government residential boarding school.
• Julia Schlaepfer will play Alexandra, a British woman who meets one of the Duttons abroad.
Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton in ‘1923’ (Photo Credit: James Minchin III/Paramount+)Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton in ‘1923’ (Photo Credit: James Minchin III/Paramount+)Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton in ‘1923’ (Photo Credit: James Minchin III/Paramount+)Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton in ‘1923’ (Photo Credit: James Minchin III/Paramount+)