Don’t Worry Darling is The Stepford Wives on acid with a shot of Busby Berkeley as a chaser. Whatever issues star Florence Pugh and director/co-star Olivia Wilde had off-screen, both absolutely nail it onscreen. Pugh pulls off a performance that legitimately earns the accolade of elevating material just by her presence.
Remember when women didn’t know better than to smoke like a chimney and drink like a fish while pregnant? Remember when women dressed to the nines just to stay home and dust? No? Neither do I. However, that’s the throwback world the characters inhabit when they’re introduced in Don’t Worry Darling.
The setting is the ’50s in the idyllic company town of Victory, California. All the men who reside in Victory work for a company run by a Svengali named Jack (played by Chris Pine). All the women cook, clean, shop, and take dance classes.
Wives do not work in Victory. They also do not ask questions, and no one ever leaves town under any circumstances.
Every aspect of their lives feels staged, orchestrated, and manipulated. Yet the women are content exchanging gossip, whipping up delicious meals, and servicing their husbands in the bedroom. (This is a sexed-up version of The Stepford Wives.)
It’s hinted that the work being done by the nine-to-fivers has to do with developing weapons. But if so, the wives are oblivious and only hope their hubbies continue to earn promotions from Jack.
Jack, meanwhile, likes to wax philosophical. He urges the citizens of his cozy little community to tap into their unbridled potential, emphasizing that chaos is the foe of innovation. He assures his flock of feckless sheep that they’re changing the world.
But how? Why? And what’s with the warning sign posted on Victory’s in-town trolley? It has a distinctly Vegas “what happens here, stays here” vibe but reads much more ominously.
Weird, disjointed visions of a different life invade Alice Chambers’ head as she attempts to go about her daily life of being the best wife she can be. Alice tries to push these intrusive thoughts away but fails. And she’s not the only wife who thinks there’s something freaky going on in Victory. Alice’s neighbor, Margaret (KiKi Layne), is the first among the close-knit friends to experience a disconnect with her structured daily life.
Alice’s handsome husband – and the only Brit of the bunch – Jack (Harry Styles), provides emotional support and a shoulder to lean on as she tries to reconcile what she’s seeing in her head and what she’s told is reality.
As Alice’s detachment advances, cracks appear in Victory’s perfect little social order.
I couldn’t care less about who said what when and what the hell was going on behind the scenes. What happened between the stars and the director isn’t on the screen. That’s what matters. The shenanigans taking place during filming are fodder for tabloids and clickbait headlines. That turmoil, if it existed, is never visible onscreen.
Florence Pugh’s Alice goes from vivacious and fun to vulnerable and quite possibly psychotic. There’s a lot of juicy territory for Pugh to cover and every choice she makes, every little nuance or head tilt, effectively communicates the swarm of mangled thoughts flowing through Alice’s brain.
Harry Styles does a good job of infusing Jack with a sort of naivete and earnestness in the first two acts that helps the twist in the third act work. Pugh and Styles have enough chemistry to sell the relationship. However, it’s a little hard to accept Pugh’s Alice ever being a follower to Charlie as the leader, which screws with the relationship’s dynamic. Fortunately, that weird juxtaposition is ultimately explained by the film’s end.
The supporting cast – Chris Pine, KiKi Layne, Gemma Chan, Nick Kroll, Kate Berlant, and Wilde – wander in and out of the story, basically serving to provide a backdrop for Florence Pugh and Harry Styles’ characters to bounce off. They’re all terrific, especially Pine, who doesn’t often get to channel his charming persona into such a twisted, narcissistic character.
Olivia Wilde proves Booksmart wasn’t a fluke and that her skill as a director is the real deal. And Don’t Worry Darling is one of the most beautiful films of 2022. The lighting and sets are sumptuous, and the costumes are just stunning. Enough cannot be said of cinematographer Matthew Libatique’s work; so much of what we need to know about Victory is communicated through his exquisite lensing.
The third act is, to put it bluntly, messy. If ever a film cried out to be a limited series, it’s Don’t Worry Darling. Audiences who don’t mind not having all their questions answered will embrace how screenwriter Katie Silberman wraps up this bizarre mystery. I don’t mind being left to guess how certain elements of day-to-day life in Victory actually worked, but it’s a legitimate complaint to say the ending doesn’t live up to the setup.
Still, Don’t Worry Darling is so loaded with outstanding performances that being left to do some of the heavy lifting at the end is a small price to pay.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: R for sexuality, language, and violent content
Season one of Monarch, Fox’s new Country music-driven drama, premiered on September 11, 2022 and drew in more than 10 million viewers. The show’s first episode stands as 2022’s top scripted new drama, and it also now sits as the most-watched fall scripted premiere on Fox since Prodigal Son debuted back in September 2019.
The first season continues with episode two, “There Can Only Be One Queen,” airing on September 20, 2022 and guest starring Country star Shania Twain. Episode two marks the series’ regular Tuesday at 9pm ET/PT time period premiere.
Monarch stars Susan Sarandon as Dottie Cantrell Roman, Anna Friel as Nicolette “Nicky” Roman, Trace Adkins as Albie Roman, and Beth Ditto as Gigi Tucker-Roman. Joshua Sasse plays Luke Roman, Meagan Holder is Kayla Taylor-Roman, Inigo Pascual is Ace Grayson, Martha Higareda is Catt Phoenix, and Emma Milani plays Ana Phoenix.
“There Can Only Be One Queen” Plot: The Romans rally together after tragedy strikes. Nicky and Gigi grow even more competitive when the press dub Gigi “The New Queen.” Meanwhile, sparks fly between Nicky and Wade; and Kayla discovers some shocking news.
In Monarch, the Roman family is headed by the insanely talented, but tough-as-nails Queen of Country Music DOTTIE CANTRELL ROMAN (Sarandon) and her beloved husband, ‘Texas Truthteller’ ALBIE ROMAN (Adkins). Dottie and Albie have created a country music dynasty. But even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie. And when their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown NICOLETTE “NICKY” ROMAN (Friel) will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom.
Middle child LUKE ROMAN (Sasse) is the CEO of the family’s business, Monarch Entertainment. Luke is the apple of his mother’s eye, but he has a troubled relationship with his father, whose approval he can never get, no matter how hard he tries. Youngest daughter GIGI TUCKER-ROMAN (Ditto) is very close to her older brother and sister, but in a family of superstars, Gigi has always felt like a bit of an outcast, in spite of her incredible singing voice.
Gigi is married to KAYLA ROMAN-TUCKER (Holder), a successful music manager who keeps turning down Luke’s offers to join forces with the family company. Outside business, Kayla’s relationships with the Romans reflect a complicated history, and a secret she is keeping could destroy her marriage to Gigi. ACE GRAYSON (Inigo Pascual) also is part of the family. He is a talented and sensitive 18-year-old who was adopted from an orphanage by Nicky and her husband, struggling British actor CLIVE GRAYSON (guest star Adam Croasdell).
Ace is a phenomenal singer with real swagger on stage, and dreams of being a country star like his Grandpa Albie. And just when the Romans’ world couldn’t get more chaotic, enter CATT PHOENIX (Higareda), the stunning and unpredictable mother of 17-year-old ANA PHOENIX (Emma Milani), a talented, wide-eyed young singer who is trying to get signed to the Roman family’s record label.”
Paddy Considine, Steve Toussaint, and Eve Best in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 1 episode 5 (Photograph by Ollie Upton / HBO)
HBO’s House of the Dragon season one episode five featured its own mini version of the Red Wedding. Only one person died so the bloodshed doesn’t compare to Game of Thrones’ season three episode nine, but the fates of everyone in attendance have been forever altered by the events. (Never cross Ser Criston.) Episode five also killed off a character we heard about but never got to know (RIP Lady Rhea Royce) and said goodbye to – at least for now – the ex-Hand of the King Ser Otto Hightower.
Most importantly, Queen Alicent has begun rallying those loyal to House Hightower.
Episode five begins with Lady Rhea Royce (Rachel Redford) out hunting deer when her ride is interrupted by the appearance of a cloaked man who turns out to be her husband, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith). She wonders why he’s returned to the Vale and suggests it might be to finally consummate their marriage. Maybe their sheep would be willing since according to Daemon, they are prettier than the Vale’s women.
She taunts him for being tossed aside for his niece. Only after asking if he plans on murdering Rhaenyra does she realize her own life is in danger. As she goes to draw her bow from its pouch, her horse rears up and crushes her. (We don’t see what Daemon does, but he’s obviously responsible.) She’s not dead but she has been paralyzed. Daemon finishes the job with a large rock.
Queen Alicent (Emily Carey) catches her father Ser Otto (Rhys Ifans) before he leaves King’s Landing. He reminds her she’s the one who told Rhaenyra what he said, and Alicent’s certain his informer was wrong. She blames her dad for his unrelenting desire to have Aegon named heir.
Ser Otto is certain King Viserys won’t live to be an old man. He’s also certain there will be war if Rhaenyra is crowned Queen. If she remains the heir, she’ll kill Alicent’s children. Otto warns his daughter that Rhaenyra won’t have a choice but to do so to secure her claim.
“You know it,” growls Ser Otto. “You are no fool and yet you choose not to see it.”
Ser Otto sees only two paths forward: Aegon is named heir or Alicent will need to plead for Rhaenyra’s mercy.
He pulls his sobbing daughter in for a hug before riding off in the pouring rain.
Alicent visits the godswood and has company in Larys Strong (also known as Larys Clubfoot). They discuss flowers and nature, and he suddenly blurts out it’s a dark day for the realm with the departure of Ser Otto. Larys’ father is the new Hand of the King, and Larys offers himself as an ally – should she need one. He hints that Princess Rhaenyra is unwell and reveals a tea was delivered to her by the Grand Maester at the King’s direction the night Ser Otto was dismissed.
Larys is quite the conniving gossip. Alicent realizes her friend lied to her, and her father was unjustly dismissed.
Elsewhere, King Viserys (Paddy Considine) is suffering from seasickness – among other illnesses – as the ocean tosses his ship around. The new Hand of the King Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes), Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) are handling it well, but Viserys looks close to death.
Viserys is still looking ill as he and Princess Rhaenyra arrive by carriage at Lord Corlys Velaryon’s castle, High Tide. It’s a gloomy day and Lord Corlys has not shown his face to welcome them. Lord Strong takes this as an insult to the King and demands to know why Lord Corlys isn’t there to greet them.
Lady Laena Velaryon (Savannah Steyn) explains her father’s tired from a long journey and is waiting for them in the Hall of the Nine.
Once inside High Tide, Lady Laena takes Princess Rhaenyra to the dining room while King Viserys and Lord Strong meet with Lord Corlys in the Hall of the Nine. Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) is delayed a bit in bending the knee but does as Viserys coughs.
Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) joins them and seems happy to greet her cousin, the King. When she takes his hands, she realizes from his pained grunt and gloved hand that he’s suffering from a disease that’s caused him to lose fingers.
Lord Corlys and Rhaenys inform Viserys that Prince Daemon’s wife died in a hunting accident, even though she had impressive horseback skills. Talk of the lack of heirs prompts Viserys to change the subject. He proposes a marriage between his daughter and their son, suggesting it’s past time for their Houses to be united.
Lord Corlys doesn’t immediately accept and instead needs details clarified. He asks about the succession and King Viserys confirms that Rhaenyra is his heir and she will rule upon his death. Plus, she’ll receive his titles. If Ser Laenor and Rhaenyra marry and have children, their firstborn will inherit the throne.
Corlys asks if their children will be born Velaryons, and Viserys replies, “Surely, Lord Corlys, you are not proposing the Targaryen dynasty end with my daughter simply because she is a woman?”
Viserys coughs and is sweaty when he says the children will take their father’s name, Velaryon, but when their firstborn ascends the throne, they will take the name Targaryen. That will ensure dragons rule for the next 100 years, just as they’ve done the last.
Lord Corlys and Lady Rhaenys agree this is a workable solution.
King Viserys excuses himself, appearing to be on death’s door.
Milly Alcock and Theo Nate in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 1 episode 5 (Photograph by Ollie Upton / HBO)
Princess Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor (Theo Nate) go for a stroll on the beach, and she confesses that if she’s forced to marry anyone, she’s glad it’s him. She realizes it’s not what he wants since she’s not to his taste. They use eating goose as a metaphor when discussing what they prefer. (Both Laenor and Rhaenyra prefer men.)
Rhaenyra offers a solution. They marry and then after they’ve done their duty to the realm, they each “dine” as they see fit.
Ser Laenor smiles.
Back at High Tide, Viserys heads off to rest for a while. Lady Rhaenys suggests to her husband that it was undignified for Viserys to come during such a bad storm to beg for Ser Laenor’s hand. Lord Corlys thinks he might have pushed the King too hard.
Lord Corlys hopes Ser Laenor will be taken with Princess Rhaenyra since she’s grown to be quite a beauty. Lady Rhaenys reminds him he knows full well what his son’s preferences are when it comes to romance. Lord Corlys hopes his son will outgrow it since bedding a woman is the highest pleasure in the world.
Princess Rhaenys believes that since the birth of Prince Aegon, Rhaenyra’s right to rule has been challenged. That means they’re placing their son in danger by allowing him to marry her. (No one understands better than Rhaenys about the rightful heir being passed over because she’s a woman.)
Lord Corlys is certain that since the Velaryons control the navy and half the dragons in existence, no one will challenge Rhaenyra’s right to the throne.
Ser Laenor is comforted by his lover, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth (the Knight of Kisses), who’s pleased to learn Rhaenyra will allow their relationship to continue after Laenor’s married. He pledges to be Laenor’s sworn protector once Laenor is named King Consort.
They kiss and Joffrey confesses this is better than they could have hoped for.
They wonder who Princess Rhaenyra is sleeping with.
Lovers Rhaenyra and Ser Criston are on board the ship, quietly chatting. Criston speaks of their time together over the years, and he wonders if she truly loathes her position and being forced to marry by her father. He knows she didn’t choose Laenor, and she agrees.
Criston has a plan for their future that doesn’t include Rhaenyra on the throne. Before he was part of the Kingsguard, he was a knight of the Stormlands. He’s always wanted to sail away and wants her to come with him, away from all the burdens and rules.
“Let us leave it all behind and see the world together,” says Criston. “We will be nameless and free – free to go where we like, to love as we like.”
She could marry him instead, and it would be a marriage for love – not for the crown.
She doesn’t immediately answer and appears to briefly consider it. She finally says that although she chafes at the duties, she would never choose to flee over her duty. She is the Crown. (He didn’t really believe she’d give up her destiny for him, did he?)
Rhaenyra confesses her marriage doesn’t have to be the end of their relationship. She and Laenor will pursue their own romantic interests even after they’re married.
“You want me to be your whore?” asks Criston, stricken by her response.
Rhaenyra assures Criston she views him as her white knight, and he reminds her of his oath. He’s broken it for her, and he becomes emotional as he tries to get her to understand that oath was the only thing he has to his name, and now it’s soiled.
If they married, he could restore his name. Rhaenyra believes the Iron Throne is larger than anyone.
Ser Criston storms off, unwilling to listen anymore.
King Viserys’ group returns to King’s Landing and he’s out of breath as he exits the carriage. Queen Alicent watches as he faints and the Grand Maester summons leeches.
Ser Criston is summoned by Queen Alicent shortly after their arrival. She apologizes for questioning him on a delicate matter and asks about the night Rhaenyra was out with Daemon. Criston doesn’t confirm what she did with Daemon but confesses he slept with Rhaenyra. She instigated it but he knows that’s not an excuse.
He broke his oath and dishonored himself. However, if she pities him, he would prefer she sentence him to death rather than being gelded.
Queen Alicent turns her back and struggles to control her emotions. She thanks him for his honesty and dismisses him. Criston looks confused since he didn’t receive any punishment and pauses before leaving.
King Viserys is struggling to breathe as Grand Maester Mellos suggests he rest; the leeches are on their way to his bedchamber. Mellos turns down the use of herbal poultices suggested by another maester, believing leechings work best.
Lord Strong’s given a potion by the maester to help Viserys sleep. Viserys asks about the Queen’s whereabouts and Lord Strong says she’s occupied before offering him the potion.
He wonders if he’ll be written about as a good king since he hasn’t done anything truly noteworthy other than keeping the peace. His rule won’t make for a good song to be sung at future feasts. Lord Strong believes he’s done well by King Jaehaerys’ legacy and the realm has remained strong.
Viserys confesses he sometimes wishes he’d been tested to see if he would have emerged a different man. “Tis perhaps best not to know,” he says before drifting off.
Dozens of ships arrive at King’s Landing for the start of the royal wedding celebration. Lord Commander Ser Harrold Westerling (Graham McTavish) announces the lords as they arrive, including Lord Jason Lannister who enters with a royal entourage that includes his twin brother. House Hightower’s Lord Hobert (Steffan Rhodri) is next.
The feast is massive, and Lord Jason congratulates King Viserys for the match he’s made for Princess Rhaenyra. Jason compliments the spread and Viserys says he wanted this to be a wedding for the histories since his daughter is the future queen.
Queen Alicent is noticeably absent, and Jason makes a joke about women always running late. Rhaenyra looks ready to stab him.
Ser Gerold Royce, a cousin of Lady Rhea Royce, speaks with the King, and Viserys expresses his sorrow at Rhea’s death. Their chat is interrupted by the arrival of House Velaryon and the future King Consort.
All rise and applaud as the Velaryons make their way toward the head table. Rhaenyra leaves her seat and Laenor kisses her hand in front of the attendees to more applause.
Criston looks ready to scream out his secrets as all this is taking place.
Prince Daemon arrives next, and the crowd falls momentarily silent. Whispers are heard as Daemon approaches King Viserys, and Viserys motions for a chair to be added to the head table.
Viserys welcomes everyone to the start of the celebration as House Targaryen honors House Velaryon, their fiercest ally. He stops mid-speech as Queen Alicent enters. She walks the length of the hall, and the attendees belatedly rise. Viserys just stares at the Queen.
It’s an insult for her to enter while he’s delivering his speech. Larys Strong whispers to a friend, asking if he knows what color the beacon on the Hightower glows when Oldtown calls its banners to war. The answer is green.
Queen Alicent is wearing a green gown.
The Queen moves to her place beside King Viserys and congratulates her stepdaughter, without a hint of emotion in her voice. Viserys continues his speech and expresses his hope to herald in a Second Age of Dragons in Westeros. He jokes about this “small affair” and confirms there will be seven days of feasting followed by the royal wedding.
Daemon stares at his niece as applause greets Viserys’ speech.
Laenor and Rhaenyra take to the floor for a dance. Criston meets her eyes without a smile. Alicent is also stone-faced.
Laenor’s lover, Joffrey, notices Criston’s reaction and you can see the wheels turning as he figures out who Rhaenyra’s lover is.
Queen Alicent meets with her uncle Lord Hobert and thanks him for coming. He confirms Oldtown stands with her and is glad to see she’s standing tall, even after her father’s dismissal.
Ser Gerold Royce of Runestone tells Daemon that in the Vale even Targaryens must be made to pay for their crimes. Gerold approaches Daemon, explaining he’s a cousin to Daemon’s late wife. Daemon insincerely says he’s bereft at this tragic accident and Gerold claims her death wasn’t an accident. Daemon wonders if he’s confessing a crime and Gerold assures him he’s making an accusation.
“In King’s Landing men are made to answer for their slanders, even old bronze c*nts like you,” says Daemon. (Bronze refers to the House Royce armor.) He then wishes to speak about his inheritance and believes everything – including Runestone – now belongs to him. He’s going to visit there after the wedding to get what’s his.
Viserys says nothing but overheard the entire conversation.
Daemon and Lady Laena exchange looks, and he follows her onto the dance floor. He asks if anyone’s told her she’s nearly as pretty as her brother.
Ser Joffrey whispers to Laenor that Ser Criston Cole is Rhaenyra’s lover. Joffrey thinks Criston took Rhaenyra’s virginity, and this is a good secret to possess.
Ser Joffrey approaches Criston and notes Rhaenyra and Laenor make a handsome match. Joffrey explains Laenor is quite dear to him…as Rhaenyra is to Criston. They should swear to guard each other’s secrets. Criston doesn’t respond.
Matt Smith, Gavin Spokes, Emily Carey, Paddy Considine, Milly Alcock, Theo Nate, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Wil Johnson, and Savannah Steyn in ‘House of the Dragon’ episode 5 (Photograph by Ollie Upton / HBO)
The dancing continues and Daemon has maneuvered himself into being Rhaenyra’s partner. She looks upset as he asks if this is what she wants, sure Laenor will bore her senseless. She reminds him of his words, that marriage is just a political arrangement, and he explains his marriage has been “dissolved.”
She taunts him, suggesting he marry her now before she weds Laenor. He should cut his way through the Kingsguard and take her to Dragonstone as his wife. Alicent and Viserys watch this, with Viserys growing increasingly angry.
Daemon clasps Rhaenyra’s face and suddenly there’s a commotion. It’s hard to see what’s happening and Rhaenyra cries out for Laenor. She’s pushed to the ground in the commotion as Ser Criston punches and kicks Laenor’s lover. He also punches Laenor in the face before turning his attention back to Joffrey. Joffrey pulls a knife, but Ser Criston is a much better fighter.
Viserys is worried about his daughter and Lord Strong motions for his son, Ser Harwin (nicknamed “Breakbones,” the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms), to fetch her. The fighting spreads as blood from Viserys’ nose drips to the ground in a steady flow.
Ser Harwin locates Rhaenyra and carries her over his shoulder, away from the melee.
Ser Criston’s like a wild animal beating Joffrey until he’s unrecognizable, caving in his face. (It’s disgusting.)
The fighting stops and Ser Criston rises, leaving the room along with most of the crowd.
Laenor is still on the ground and crawls to his dead lover.
The royal celebration week is over as soon as it began. The wedding ceremony is held with only the immediate families in attendance, with the bloody floor and scattered food as decorations.
Laenor and Rhaenyra exchange vows, reciting, “I’m yours and you’re mine, whatever may come.”
Viserys falls to the ground, his crown tumbling from his head, as the ceremony ends.
Ser Criston drags his cloak on the ground as he enters the godswood. He kneels and places his sword on the ground. Criston takes his knife and is about to plunge it into his stomach when Queen Alicent appears and says his name.
Inside the great hall, a rat laps at the blood on the floor.
Amanda Warren (NCIS: New Orleans) and Emmy Award-winner Jimmy Smits (LA Law) star in CBS’s new police drama East New York premiering on October 2, 2022. The new drama comes from the executive producers of NYPD Blue and focuses on the 74th Precinct in East New York. Season one episode one, directed by Mike Robin from a script by William Finkelstein and Mike Flynn, will air at 9:30pm ET/PT.
The series moves to its regular Sundays at 9pm timeslot on October 9th.
Amanda Warren stars as Deputy Inspector Regina Haywood, Jimmy Smits plays Chief John Suarez, Ruben Santiago-Hudson is Officer Marvin Sandeford, and Kevin Rankin plays Detective Tommy Killian. The season one cast also includes Richard Kind as Captain Stan Yenko, Elizabeth Rodriguez as Detective Crystal Morales, Olivia Luccardi as Officer Brandy Quinlan, and Lavel Schley as Officer Andre Bentley.
Episode one features guest stars Darien Sills-Evans, C.S. Lee, Caitlin Mehner, Michael Potts, and Ben Michael Brown.
The “Pilot” Plot: Amanda Warren stars as Deputy Inspector Regina Haywood, the newly promoted boss of the 74th Precinct in East New York – a working-class neighborhood on the edge of Brooklyn in the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification. With family ties to the area, Haywood is determined to deploy creative methods to protect her beloved community with the help of her officers and detectives.
But first, she has the daunting task of getting them on board, as some are skeptical of her promotion, and others resist the changes she is desperate to make. Her team includes her mentor, shrewd veteran two-star Chief John Suarez; Marvin Sandeford, a highly respected training officer and expert on the neighborhood; Tommy Killian, a detective with some old-school approaches to policing; Capt. Stan Yenko, Haywood’s gregarious and efficient right hand; Crystal Morales, an intuitive detective who can’t be intimidated; Andre Bentley, a trainee from an upper-middle-class background; and ambitious patrol officer Brandy Quinlan, the sole volunteer to live in a local housing project as part of Haywood’s plan to bridge the gap between police and community.
Regina Haywood has a vision: she and the squad of the 74th Precinct will not only serve their community – they’ll also become part of it.
Why is Evan Peters so good at playing crazy? The new trailer for Netflix’s limited series DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story showcases Peters’ extraordinary ability to get into truly psycho characters.
“I was very scared about all of the things that Dahmer did, and trying to commit to [playing this character] was absolutely going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life,” stated Peters in an interview with Netflix’s Queue. “It was so jaw-dropping that it all really happened. It felt important to be respectful to the victims and to the victims’ families to try to tell the story as authentically as we could.”
The 10-episode limited series also stars Richard Jenkins as Lionel Dahmer, Molly Ringwald as Shari Dahmer, Michael Learned as Catherine Dahmer, and Niecy Nash as Glenda Cleveland. Guest stars include Penelope Ann Miller, Michael Beach, Colby French, Shaun J. Brown, Mac Brandt, and Grant Harvey.
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan created the series and serve as executive producers. Evan Peters, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, and Janet Mock also executive produce.
The limited series premieres on September 21, 2022.
Between 1978 and 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer gruesomely took the lives of seventeen innocent victims. DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a series that exposes these unconscionable crimes, centered around the underserved victims and their communities impacted by the systemic racism and institutional failures of the police that allowed one of America’s most notorious serial killers to continue his murderous spree in plain sight for over a decade.
The CW’s Walker prequel, Walker Independence, is set to premiere on October 6, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT. The new series takes place in the 1800s but shares a character – and actor – with the original show. Matt Barr stars in Walker Independence as Hoyt Rawlins, an ancestor of the Hoyt Rawlins he plays in Walker.
Speaking to TVLine, Barr described his Walker Independence character as made of the same DNA and heart as Walker‘s Hoyt. “But [Walker‘s] Hoyt was more of a talker, and this guy is a man of action. He’s a little more dangerous,” said Barr.
Katherine McNamara stars as Abby Walker, Justin Johnson Cortez plays Calian, and Katie Findlay is Kate Carver. Lawrence Kao is Kai, Philemon Chambers stars as Augustus, and Greg Hovanessian is Sheriff Tom Davidson.
Season one episode one was written by Seamus Kevin Fahey and directed by Larry Teng.
The “Pilot” Plot: In the late 1800s, Abby Walker, an affluent and tough-minded Bostonian, embarks on a journey out west with her husband Liam (guest star Brandon Sklenar), when her husband is murdered before her eyes. After crossing paths with Calian, a curious Apache tracker, Abby arrives in the town of Independence, Texas, where she encounters diverse and eclectic residents running from their pasts, chasing their dreams, and keeping their own secrets, including Kate Carver, an idiosyncratic burlesque dancer with perhaps too keen an interest in Abby’s origins, and Kai, a soulful Chinese immigrant who runs a local restaurant/laundry and offers Abby friendship without agenda.
Abby also literally runs into Hoyt Rawlins, a slippery rogue, thief and con artist with a dented heart of gold who quickly eyes Abby as a mark, until she turns the tables on him. In seeking justice for her husband, Abby encounters Independence’s noble deputy sheriff, Augustus, and his new boss, Sheriff Tom Davidson, who she has reason to believe is a very bad man indeed.
Abby and Hoyt soon find themselves precariously aligned, both seeking to uncover the truth about the identity of Abby’s husband’s killer, and vow to save Independence – a frontier boomtown where nothing is what it seems.
12 singles are set to board a Princess Cruises ship hoping to make a love connection on season one of CBS’s The Real Love Boat. Real-life couple Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romijn play host to the first batch of participants as they embark on a cruise to ports including Rome, Athens, and Barcelona.
O’Connell and Romijn also sing the original Love Boat‘s iconic theme song for the dating competition’s opening credits.
Season one will feature Captain Paolo Arrigo, bartender Ezra Freeman, and cruise director Matt Mitcham. The three crew members have more than 40 years of combined experience working in the cruise industry and will use their expertise to help guide the singles’ adventures.
The Real Love Boat premieres on CBS on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. New season one episodes air on Wednesdays at 9pm ET/PT after Survivor and before The Amazing Race.
The Season 1 Plot and 12 Singles:
Singles experienced in the ups and downs of romance come together on THE REAL LOVE BOAT to find a true love connection while visiting and competing in some of the world’s most beautiful cities, including Barcelona, Marseille, Rome, Santorini, Athens and more. A shoe designer, firefighter, nurse, teacher and landscape architect are among the men and women setting sail on the romantic adventure. From divorce and broken engagements to terrible online dating experiences, being unlucky in love has not discouraged these Singles from seeking true romance.
Throughout the season, Singles embark on destination dates and compete in challenges to test couples’ compatibility and chemistry, while earning valuable rewards. The romantic waters will be tested when new Singles come aboard, and those who don’t find a match will “Shove Off” and be left behind at port. After nearly one month at sea, one winning couple will dock in the final port and take home a cash prize plus a once-in-a-lifetime trip courtesy of Princess Cruises, the series’ exclusive cruise line partner.
Name: Alisa Shah
Age: 24
Home: San Diego, Calif.
Name: Brett De Laura
Age: 36
Home: Dana Point, Calif.
Name: Brooke White
Age: 34
Home: Los Angeles, Calif.
Name: Daniel Cooper
Age: 25
Home: Atlanta, Ga.
Name: Emily Stone
Age: 24
Home: Colgate, Wis.
Name: Forrest Jones
Age: 30
Home: Houston, Texas
Name: Jordan Malabanan
Age: 26
Home: Windsor, Ontario
Name: Marty Hassett
Age: 33
Home: Charlotte, N.C.
Name: Michael Gonzalez
Age: 35
Home: New York, N.Y. / Los Angeles, Calif.
Netflix has set a November 16, 2022 premiere date for The Wonder, a psychological thriller starring Florence Pugh. The film, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and Telluride, also just released a new poster and photos.
In addition to Florence Pugh, the cast includes Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, Elaine Cassidy, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Toby Jones, and Ciarán Hinds. Dermot Crowley, Brían F. O’Byrne, and David Wilmot also star.
Sebastián Lelio and Alice Birch adapted Emma Donoghue’s 2018 novel, with Lelio also directing. Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Ed Guiney, and Andrew Lowe produced.
The Plot: The Irish Midlands, 1862 – a young girl stops eating but remains miraculously alive and well. English nurse Lib Wright is brought to a tiny village to observe eleven-year-old Anna O’Donnell. Tourists and pilgrims mass to witness the girl who is said to have survived without food for months. Is the village harboring a saint ‘surviving on manna from heaven’ or are there more ominous motives at work?
Callie on season 1 of ‘Alone: Frozen’ (Photo Credit: The History Channel)
The History Channel’s Alone: Frozen season one episode six moves the countdown clock forward to 24 days left, meaning the three remaining survivalists have made it past the halfway point. Season one began with six Alone veterans and three – all female – remain in the running for a share of the $500,000 prize.
Episode six, “On Thin Ice,” finds the three survivalists dealing with fresh snow, freezing temperatures, and a shortage of food.
Callie Russell, Age 34, Montana – Season 7, Survived 89 Days
30 Days Left: When we last saw Callie, she was incredibly sick but she’s sticking it out. She’s dehydrated from vomiting and plans on taking time for some self-care. She’s proud of herself for pushing through the wall of sickness and is indulging in a smoke bath from spruce boughs to cleanse her system.
She lost both of her brothers when she was younger and now her mission is to celebrate and enjoy life. Many of her life choices are in honor of her brothers. “Losing them makes me want to never take a day for granted,” says Callie.
28 Days Left: It’s super windy and was windy all the previous night. Still, it’s time to check the trapline. She can’t eat the mussels after they made her sick and is depending on another protein source to stay in the competition. Her body’s getting weaker, but she remains hopeful. It’s getting harder to keep her toes warm because of the lack of calories.
The first trap’s empty but she continues checking her snares. Finally, she scores a win! She’s snared a red squirrel and is thankful for the food. However, she’s sad about taking a life even though it’s necessary.
As a teen, she was angry at the world for taking her two brothers. (One died in a car accident and the other committed suicide.) She was also angry at how we treat animals and the planet, and that anger drove her down a path of self-destruction. It was thinking about her brothers that got her to snap out of it and live her life to the fullest. She now embraces all challenges.
She case skins the squirrel to keep the pelt intact. The intact pelt can be sewn up in a few places and used as a pouch.
Callie decides to cook and eat the squirrel in one sitting. She hopes for one squirrel a day to remain in the competition.
26 Days Left: Callie’s like a little kid when she shows off fresh snow. It’ll help her be able to spot animal tracks.
She sets out to check her traplines and comes up empty. She’s only had mussels and a squirrel over the past 10 days, and she hopes everyone else is fine and staying safe. Callie thinks Michelle is probably doing well since she normally lives on the coast. She also wishes Woniya well, calling Michelle and Woniya her “survival sisters.”
Callie is hoping to show girls and women that women can live off the land successfully. She believes women communicate and flow with nature in a different way than men.
She cooks up some broth while giving a short but sweet tour of her shelter that she’s named Driftwood Castle. Her heart is there and she wants to stay, but food remains an issue.
25 Days Left: Callie wonders what to do. She’s not getting any food but she wants to stay. She asks the fire what to do and, of course, it doesn’t answer.
She decides to sleep under the stars tonight, even though there’s snow on the ground. It’ll be colder but worth it. The wilderness heals her and gives her nuggets of wisdom and truth.
Callie moves her sleeping bag outside her shelter and is going to spend the day reflecting on her experience.
8:30pm: The stars are amazing, but the temperature’s dropped to just 9 degrees.
24 Days Left: Morning arrives, and she’s frosted up while she watches the stars fade from the sky. She’s come to the conclusion that she’ll stay if there’s an animal in the trapline. If not, she’ll leave. She really hopes she’s caught something because she truly wants to stay.
She’s asking too much of her body to keep going without any food. So, it’s up to the land. If there’s an animal or a fish, she can stay.
Woniya in season 1 of The History Channel’s ‘Alone: Frozen’
Woniya Thibeault, Age 45, California – Season 6, Survived 73 Days
30 Days Left: The tide’s low enough to harvest more mussels. Her mussel farm only has one remaining mussel meal in it, and she believes mussels are the key to surviving here. Today’s her mom’s birthday and she plans on honoring her at supper, which is why she really wants to harvest a lot of mussels today.
Her single mom raised her to respect nature, and she doesn’t remember any time in her life when she “wasn’t deeply engaging with the natural world.”
She manages to harvest a full pot of mussels and replenishes her mussel farm.
She takes off for an exploration of her area and gathers some blueberries as she starts her hike. Woniya concentrates on looking for signs of a bear or fox.
This has been a much more difficult season than Alone season six and she can’t stop thinking about home and her sweetheart. She thinks the area wants her to be there, but it’s a daily chore to convince herself to stay because of her homesickness. She admits she wasn’t mentally prepared for missing home this time.
27 Days Left: She makes an ancestor offering and says a short prayer. Afterward, she checks out her mussel farm and hunts for more mussels. She’s hoping for six pots of mussels, and Alone informs us she’s burning 300 calories per hour while digging them up.
She’s excited about finding two sea urchins and plans on having a midday feast.
A short while later, she’s harvested four pots of mussels and three insanely delicious urchins. She shows off the five lengths of roe from one urchin, and Alone tells us she’s actually displaying the urchin’s uni which produces the roe. It has a creamy consistency, and she eats it raw before getting back to work harvesting more mussels.
She locates what she calls the sea urchin jackpot and is excited about it being an important source of fat. This is a real morale boost.
26 Days Left: Woniya points out the landscape’s changing and it’s getting much colder. There aren’t any tracks near camp so she plans on looking for tracks closer to her snares.
It’ll be harder to get firewood and other supplies, but easier to track with the snow. She’s also thinking about her fellow survivalists and wishing them well. She guesses that Mark got a bear and hopes Callie has gotten a porcupine.
She makes it to her last trap and finds she’s snared a rabbit. It’s her second one this season and she’s super excited. It’s part white and part brown so it was in the middle of molting.
Woniya wishes everyone could experience what it feels like to get food after going without for a while. It feels like an incredible gift.
That evening she cooks up her rabbit and is ready for a serious feast. She’s going to eat three urchins, some mussels, and her rabbit.
Woniya confesses she didn’t feel like she deserved to be a winner her first time out. Since then, she’s worked on shifting her mental state and getting rid of that lingering feeling of doubt about herself. This time she believes she’s worthy.
Michelle in season 1 of The History Channel’s ‘Alone: Frozen’
Michelle Finn, Age 47, Maine – Season 8, Survived 21 Days
29 Days Left: 21 days in is a big milestone for Michelle because she tapped out after 21 days on season eight. She’s lost 14 pounds but doesn’t think this weight loss compares to what she did in Alone season eight. (She’d lost 21 pounds at this point in season eight and was down to just 98 pounds.)
Michelle isn’t sure she can make it the remaining days but hopes to if she gets more in her snares.
She sets off with her bow to check her traps. As she walks, she thinks about people who’ve inspired her – her grandmothers. She spots a grouse and takes a shot. Michelle hits it and is happy that she heard multiple birds, meaning there are more to hunt in her area.
She gets it back to her campsite and cleans it to make a stew. She shows off her pants, noting they’re still fitting well. Michelle confesses she’s always struggled with not feeling good enough and suffered from anorexia because of it. Fortunately, she’s in a good place now, mentally. Going into the woods and healing with nature really helped.
She sees a jay while cooking, takes a shot, and misses.
26 Days Left: Michelle’s decided to carve a chess set to fill her downtime at night. She hopes her fellow survivalists are cozy, enjoying the fire, and eating something delicious. She also hopes they’re safe and having the time of their lives.
She shows off a little bear she carved and hopes she’s an inspiration to others. “Representation does matter,” says Michelle. Women aren’t necessarily encouraged in this community, but these opportunities should be open to everyone.
“We need more people of all different backgrounds, of all different interests, and all different skills to break down some of those barriers,” says Michelle, adding, “The more voices out there, the better.”
Hot on the heels of their Flowers in the Attic: The Origin limited series, Lifetime’s dipping back into the V.C. Andrews well for a movie event based on the bestselling Dawn Cutler series. Stargirl‘s Brec Bassinger is confirmed to star as Dawn and Emmy Award winner Donna Mills (General Hospital) has signed on to star as Lillian Cutler.
The cast also includes Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) as Michael Sutton, Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives) as Ormand Longchamp, Khobe Clarke (Yellowjackets) as Jimmy Longchamp, and Fran Drescher (Indebted) as Agnes Morris.
Linda-Lisa Hayter will direct the first two films of the movie event series: Dawn and Secrets of the Morning. Jacquie Gould is set to direct Twilights Child and Midnight Whispers, with Georgy Small and Richard Blaney attached as writers. Small and Blaney will also adapt Twilights Child and Allison Lea Bingeman is adapting Midnight Whispers.
Lifetime released the following description of Dawn:
The first movie in the series, Dawn, follows the story of Dawn Longchamp (Bassinger), who after growing up in humble surroundings with a very hardworking and loving family suddenly has everything she loves ripped away from her when she is thrust into a new family whose dark and twisted secrets change the course of her life forever. As Dawn struggles to fit in, her wicked grandmother Lillian Cutler (Mills) rules her life with an iron fist and inflicts cruel punishments when Dawn does not follow her strict orders.
When Dawn finds herself entrenched in the mysteries surrounding the family, it becomes clear that a dark and unescapable curse looms over the Cutlers.
McIntyre stars as Dawn’s infamous singing teacher and Broadway star, Michael Sutton, while Drescher stars as Agnes Morris, the out-of-work actress and overly made-up drama queen who is the house mother at the performing arts school where Dawn resides. Metcalfe stars as Ormand Longchamp, Dawn’s adoptive father, while Clarke stars as Dawn’s adoptive brother Jimmy Longchamp.
Jason Cermak plays Dawn’s father Randolph Cutler and Miranda Frigon is Dawn’s mother, Laura Jean Cutler. Elyse Maloway and Dane Schioler are Dawn’s siblings Clara Jean and Philip Cutler. Corey Woods plays Dawn’s boarding school roommate, Tricia. And Helena Marie plays Sally Longchamp, Dawn’s adoptive mother.
