Cooper Raiff and Dakota Johnson in ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
It’s not easy for a film to pull off being delightfully sweet and incredibly charming. The slightest misstep moves the needle into cloying territory. Fortunately, that line’s never crossed in the engaging dramedy Cha Cha Real Smooth.
Writer/director Cooper Raiff (Shithouse) takes the insecurities that come from entering your 20s without knowing what you’re meant to do and channels them into a playful tale of one man’s search for purpose. Raiff stars as the man without a plan, a 22-year-old named Andrew who winds up back at his parents’ house after college while trying to figure out his next step.
Andrew definitely doesn’t plan on earning a living in fast food for any longer than is necessary. He also doesn’t plan on growing old while sharing a room with his teenage brother, David (Evan Assante). Andrew loves the kid and he’s close with his mom (Leslie Mann) – not so much with his stepdad Greg (Brad Garrett) – but slinging wieners at Meat Sticks isn’t going to get him back together with his Fulbright scholar girlfriend who’s currently having a blast with some other guy in Barcelona.
Andrew doesn’t have many useful skills; however, he’s surprisingly good at getting people out of their chairs and onto the dance floor at parties. That particular skill set is put to good use when his little bro attends a bat mitzvah loaded with socially awkward teens. Could it be that Andrew’s born to be a party starter? Can he make a living persuading people to cut loose and have fun?
Apparently, the answer is yes.
A perk of the job is getting to spend time with single mom Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her daughter Lola (Vanessa Burghardt) who is autistic. Domino’s fiercely protective of her daughter but doesn’t smother the teen. Lola has her quirks and doesn’t connect to many people, but she and Andrew hit it off for some reason. And even though Domino has a fiancé, there’s undeniable chemistry between the party starter and the single mom.
So, Andrew’s got a sweet side gig, a burgeoning relationship with Domino, and a new friend in Lola. Is it possible nice guys can finish first?
Writer/director Raiff does a terrific job of fleshing out the key characters. These are flawed yet decent people, and Raiff avoided inserting an unnecessary protagonist just to spice things up. These are all authentic, complex people, and although Raiff’s Andrew is obviously who we’re rooting for, we’re not actively rooting against anyone. That’s both refreshing and unusual in a film that relies entirely on interpersonal relationships. Raiff resists the urge to toss in someone to stir the pot and trusts his impressive cast to pull in the audience through honest performances of relatable characters.
As for his cast, Dakota Johnson’s never been better. Johnson can play vulnerable and strong simultaneously, a tough combination to pull off. Raiff’s the perfect scene partner and has solid onscreen chemistry with Johnson. And Burghardt, who is on the autism spectrum, is a real scene-stealer in her first feature film role. Raiff’s script does an excellent job of addressing Lola’s feelings as someone with autism through natural conversations that allow Burghardt to show Lola is a three-dimensional character rather than the stereotypical representation of someone on the spectrum.
Cha Cha Real Smooth is uplifting and sincere. The characters aren’t just interesting; they’re actually likable. It’s not often you can root for an entire ensemble, but triple threat Raiff gives us plenty of reason to embrace the party starter, his supportive family, and assorted party people.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: R for language and some sexual content
Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes
Release Date: June 17, 2022
Distributor: Apple TV+
Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart star in ‘Hacks’ (Photograph by Anne Marie Fox/HBO Max)
HBO Max isn’t joking around when it comes to their award-winning comedy Hacks. The streaming service has officially announced the critically acclaimed series starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder has been renewed for a third season.
Season one premiered in May 2021 and earned Critics Choice, AFI, Directors Guild, Screen Actors Guild, Writers Guild, and Peabody awards. Season two’s May 2022 premiere increased viewership over the series premiere by 125%.
“We congratulate Hacks’ extraordinarily gifted executive producers and cast, and our partners at Universal Television. We are overjoyed at the audience and press response to the new season, and glad to give viewers more of this gorgeous, hilarious, moving show,” stated Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max.
In addition to Emmy and Critics Choice Awards winner Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, the cast includes Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Jane Adams, Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, and Poppy Liu. Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly, Joe Mande, Ally Maki, and Lorenza Izzo also star.
Laurie Metcalf, Martha Kelly, Ming-Na Wen, and Susie Essman joined the cast in season two as recurring guest stars.
“The first two seasons of Hacks — expertly crafted by Lucia, Paul, and Jen — gave us beloved, complex characters who make us laugh and feel deeply,” said Erin Underhill, President, Universal Television. “We’re thrilled that our HBO Max partners have renewed this standout series for a third season, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for Deborah, Ava, and the rest of our outstanding ensemble.”
Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky created the series and serve as showrunners. Downs, Aniello, Statsky, Michael Schur, David Miner, and Morgan Sackett executive produce.
HBO Max released the following description of season two:
“The dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and her young, entitled writer Ava (Einbinder) continues to evolve as the two travel across the country workshopping Deborah’s new stand-up act.”
The cool cat with the stylish footwear is down to his last life in the new trailer for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Oscar nominee Antonio Banderas returns to lend his voice to the title character and Oscar nominee Salma Hayek’s back as Kitty Soft Paws, Puss’ nemesis.
The voice cast also includes Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), Florence Pugh (Black Widow), John Mulaney (Big Mouth), and Wagner Moura (Narcos). Additional cast members include Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter), Ray Winstone (Black Widow), Samson Kayo (Sliced), Anthony Mendez (Jane the Virgin), and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Trolls World Tour).
Joel Crawford directs, Mark Swift produces, and Chris Meledandri executive produces.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish opens in theaters on December 21, 2022.
DreamWorks Animation’s official synopsis:
This fall, everyone’s favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline returns.
For the first time in more than a decade, DreamWorks Animation presents a new adventure in the Shrek universe as daring outlaw Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots on his grandest quest yet.
Banderas returns as the voice of the notorious PiB as he embarks on an epic journey into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star and restore his lost lives. But with only one life left, Puss will have to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis: the captivating Kitty Soft Paws (Hayek).
In their quest, Puss and Kitty will be aided — against their better judgment — by a ratty, chatty, relentlessly cheerful mutt, Perro (Guillén). Together, our trio of heroes will have to stay one step ahead of Goldilocks (Pugh) and the Three Bears Crime Family, “Big” Jack Horner (Mulaney) and terrifying bounty hunter, The Big Bad Wolf (Moura).
The teaser trailer for Paramount+’s upcoming drama Tulsa King begins with a voiceover by Sylvester Stallone. He describes his dream of becoming a gangster when he was 17, a dream he followed which led to 25 years in prison.
Joining Oscar nominee Sly Stallone in the first season are Andrea Savage (I’m Sorry), Martin Starr (Silicon Valley), Max Casella (The Tender Bar), and Domenick Lombardozzi (The Irishman). Vincent Piazza (Boardwalk Empire), Jay Will (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), A.C. Peterson (Superman & Lois), and Garrett Hedlund (The United States vs. Billie Holiday) also star.
Yellowstone‘s Taylor Sheridan created the series and executive produces with Emmy winner Terence Winter (The Sopranos). Additional executive producers include Stallone, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Allen Coulter, and Braden Aftergood.
Terence Winter guides the series as showrunner and writer.
Paramount+ has set a November 13, 2022 premiere date on the streaming service and will also launch the new drama on Paramount Network immediately following the season five premiere of Yellowstone. Tulsa King‘s second episode will also air on Paramount Network after Yellowstone season five episode two. Additional new episodes will air exclusively on Paramount+.
Sylvester Stallone as Dwight Manfredi in the Paramount+ original series ‘Tulsa King’ (Photo Cr: Brian Douglas / Paramount+)
Paramount+’s official plot description:
Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone), just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a “crew” from a group of unlikely characters, to help him establish a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet.
HBO Max is teasing PLL fans with the first official teaser trailer from Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. The one-minute teaser doesn’t give much away while showing photos of the key characters in the new series.
The trailer drop was accompanied by news the 10-episode first season will premiere on July 28, 2022 with the release of the first three episodes. Episodes four and five will arrive on August 4th followed by episodes six and seven on August 11th. The season wraps up on August 18th with the premiere of the final three episodes.
The cast includes Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles, and Maia Reficco as the new generation of Liars. Mallory Bechtel, Sharon Leal, Elena Goode, Lea Salonga, Eric Johnson, and Alex Aiono also star.
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) writes and executive produces. Co-executive producer Lindsay Calhoon Bring is also a writer. I. Marlene King (developer of the original Pretty Little Liars series), Michael Grassi, and Caroline Baron are involved as executive producers along with Alloy Entertainment’s Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo.
Based on Sara Shepard’s bestselling books, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin is a Muckle Man Productions and Alloy Entertainment production in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Malia Pyles, Zaria, and Maia Reficco in ‘Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin’ (Photograph by Karolina Wojtasik/HBO Max)
The Plot, Courtesy of HBO Max:
Twenty years ago, a series of tragic events almost ripped the blue-collar town of Millwood apart. Now, in present-day, a disparate group of teen girls — a brand-new set of Little Liars — find themselves tormented by an unknown Assailant and made to pay for the secret sin committed by their parents two decades ago…as well as their own. In the dark, coming-of-age, horror-tinged drama PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: ORIGINAL SIN, we find ourselves miles away from Rosewood, but within the existing Pretty Little Liars universe — in a brand-new town, with a new generation of Little Liars.
Vera Farmiga stars in ‘Five Days at Memorial’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
The limited series Five Days at Memorial and the comedy Bad Sisters will premiere in August on Apple TV+. The streaming service just confirmed the launch dates and released more details on both shows.
Five Days at Memorial reunites Bates Motel star Vera Farmiga with the series’ executive producer, co-creator, and writer Carlton Cuse. The new limited series from Cuse and Oscar winner John Ridley also stars Robert Pine (CHiPs), Cherry Jones (Succession), Julie Ann Emery (Better Call Saul), Cornelius Smith Jr. (Scandal), and Adepero Oduye (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier). Molly Hager (It’s Kind of a Funny Story), Michael Gaston (The Leftovers) and W. Earl Brown (Preacher) also star.
The eight-episode limited series premieres on August 12, 2022 with the release of the first three episodes. New episodes will arrive on Fridays.
Apple TV+ offers this description of the series which is based on true events and adapted from Sheri Fink’s book: “Five Days at Memorial chronicles the impact of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath on a local hospital. When the floodwaters rose, power failed, and heat soared, exhausted caregivers at a New Orleans hospital were forced to make decisions that would follow them for years to come.”
Eve Hewson, Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle and Sarah Greene in ‘Bad Sisters’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
The murder mystery Bad Sisters was created by and stars Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe). Set to premiere on August 19, 2022, the cast of the dark comedy includes Anne-Marie Duff (Suffragette), Eva Birthistle (The Last Kingdom), Sarah Greene (Frank of Ireland), and Eve Hewson (Behind her Eyes).
Claes Bang (The Northman), Brian Gleeson (Peaky Blinders), Daryl McCormack (Good Luck to you, Leo Grande), Assaad Bouab (Call My Agent), and Saise Quinn (Monster) also star.
Horgan stars in, writes, and executive produces. Brett Baer and Dave Finkel adapted the English language version from the Belgian series Clan. Karen Cogan, Ailbhe Keogan, Daniel Cullen, Perrie Balthazar, and Paul Howard are also writing the comedy, with executive producer Dearbhla Walsh, Josephine Bornebusch, and Rebecca Gatward directing.
Additional executive producers include Merman’s Faye Dorn and Clelia Mountford as well as Caviar’s Malin-Sarah Gozin (creator of Clan), Bert Hamelinck, and Michael Sagol.
Described as a delicious blend of both dark comedy and thriller set in the breath-taking coast of Ireland, the 10-episode series follows the lives of the Garvey sisters bound together by the premature death of their parents and a promise to always protect one another.
Amazon Studios’ first teaser trailer for the R-rated romantic drama My Policeman introduces the three players involved in an intense love triangle. The steamy trailer was accompanied by a poster featuring singer/actor Harry Styles.
Emmy nominee Emma Corrin (Princess Diana in The Crown) and David Dawson (The Last Kingdom, Ripper Street) play the other members of the love triangle. The cast also includes Gina McKee, Linus Roache, and Rupert Everett.
The drama arrives in theaters on October 21, 2022 followed by a release on Prime Video on November 4, 2022.
My Policeman is based on the book by Bethan Roberts and directed by Michael Grandage (2018’s Red). Ron Nyswaner adapted Roberts’ book for the screen and Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Robbie Rogers, Cora Palfrey, and Philip Herd served as producers. Grandage, Michael Riley McGrath, and Caroline Levy executive produced.
In addition to My Boyfriend, Harry Styles will soon be seen in Don’t Worry Darling directed by and co-starring Olivia Wilde (the actors made their off-screen relationship public in early 2021). His film credits include a cameo in Eternals and playing a soldier in Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed Dunkirk.
Poster for ‘My Policeman’ (Photo Credit: Amazon Studios)
Prime Video released the following synopsis:
“A beautifully crafted story of forbidden love and changing social conventions, My Policeman follows three young people – policeman Tom (Styles), teacher Marion (Corrin), and museum curator Patrick (Dawson) – as they embark on an emotional journey in 1950s Britain. Flashing forward to the 1990s, Tom (Roache), Marion (McKee), and Patrick (Everett) are still reeling with longing and regret, but now they have one last chance to repair the damage of the past.
Based on the book by Bethan Roberts, director Michael Grandage carves a visually transporting, heart-stopping portrait of three people caught up in the shifting tides of history, liberty, and forgiveness.”
Vincent Rocco Vargas, Gino Vento, Michael Irby, Joseph Lucero, Frankie Loyal and JD Pardo in ‘Mayans MC’ season 4 episode 10 (Photo: Prashant Gupta/FX)
FX’s Mayans M.C. season four episode 10 wraps up the season with one of the show’s all-time best episodes. The oversized season finale puts the audience through the full gamut of emotions while deftly touching on most of the season’s dangling storylines. There’s obviously still a lot of story left to be told, but season four’s finale was able to tie up some supporting characters’ arcs while also serving to launch EZ’s reign as Santo Padre President.
Season four episode 10 – “When the Breakdown Hit at Midnight” – begins with the club saying their final goodbyes to Coco. Gilly (Vincent Vargas) expertly folds the American flag on top of Coco’s casket and hands it to Letty (Emily Tosta). She cradles it as Coco’s coffin is lowered.
Absent from the group surrounding the coffin is Angel (Clayton Cardenas). He stands hundreds of feet away, smoking while observing – but not participating in – the funeral.
One by one Coco’s Mayan brothers step up to the coffin and sprinkle dirt. When it’s Letty’s turn, she grabs a handful of dirt and stares at Coco’s brothers. “You didn’t f**king deserve him. None of you did,” she says, voice trembling.
She adds, “You killed him and I’ll never forgive you.”
The action moves to the hospital where Terry’s recovering from multiple gunshots. Tig (welcome back Kim Coates!) pays him a visit and Terry apologizes for demanding Sons of Anarchy go to war with the Mayans. Tig reminds him his action brought back “the f**king demon” they thought was dead. Tig’s done with Terry and only fails to strangle him to death because of the arrival of a nurse.
Tig gently pokes Terry with a knife (but doesn’t draw blood) while confirming the devil is indeed returning to San Bernardino.
Clayton Cardenas as Angel Reyes and Carla Baratta as Adelita in ‘Mayans MC’ season 4 episode 10 (Photo: Prashant Gupta/FX)
Angel arrives home and immediately begins playing with his son. It’s apparent he loves his child and holding him allows the day’s somber activities to fade away. (Clayton Cardenas is absolutely killing it this season.)
Over at the clubhouse, confirmation arrives Yuma, Stockton, and Oakland are meeting without Santo Padre. Jess (Grace Rizzo) is cleaning the table and after EZ (JD Pardo) reveals the location (a cafe off highway 52), she steps outside and makes a call. Nestor (Gino Vento) notices her leave but doesn’t suspect what she’s doing.
A short while later EZ and Jay-Jay (Greg Serano) meet in secret, with EZ offering Jay-Jay $80k to kill himself. If he pulls the trigger, his family gets the $80k. If he doesn’t, they don’t. EZ’s all about tying up loose ends and Jay-Jay doesn’t appear to understand he really doesn’t have any choice.
Jay-Jay makes the wrong decision. EZ gets to keep his $80,000.
Manny (Manny Montana) and reps from Stockton and Oakland sit around a table at the cafe discussing the possibility EZ shot Canche. Manny argues against the Reyes brothers being capable of that, but they all know Santo Padre had it out for Canche. They want to take action and Manny’s coming around to their way of thinking when they’re ambushed by Sons. Manny’s captured and hauled out of the cafe.
Marcus (Emilio Rivera) meets one-on-one with Tig and admits he just doesn’t have the taste for war anymore. They disagree on going to war and Marcus – finally – learns why the Sons are after Santo Padre. Tig informs Marcus they know Santo Padre killed Montez and explains they found his cut on Mayan property. Marcus isn’t lying when he claims not to know anything about Montez’s death. (Taza hid the body in the barrel and didn’t tell anyone after Palo left Montez’s corpse in Santo Padre’s yard.)
Marcus admits he liked Montez while Tig describes himself as “impartial” to the man. Still, he didn’t want him dead. Neither man know who killed Montez but his death’s the cause of this war.
They discuss the past and Tig realizes Marcus has become a good man – which isn’t helpful in this world. Both men are aware their days are numbered.
Emilio Rivera as Marcus Alvarez and Kim Coates as Tig in ‘Mayans MC’ season 4 episode 10 (Photo: Prashant Gupta/FX)
Their reminiscing about the old days comes to an end and Tig will take what he’s learned from Marcus back to Chibs. Before he leaves, Tig drops the bombshell that Packer’s younger, psycho brother is back. And, he has it out for the Mayans. (It’s fantastic to have Kim Coates back as Tig, even if it’s just for a couple of short scenes.)
Meanwhile, Creeper (Joseph Raymond Lucero) meets with Kody/Kate (Stella Maeve) for the first time since she revealed she’s an undercover cop. They have him dead to rights and Kate runs down the list of all the crimes Creeper’s confessed to while under the impression they were dating and getting to know each other. He believes his life is over, but Kate offers him the opportunity to get out of this alive.
Kate also reveals someone inside Santo Padre is a rat! She doesn’t know who but that makes Creeper “second to the table.” Still, all he has to do is give them all the info he knows and most likely he’ll walk. “We don’t want an individual; we want the club,” explains Kate.
Creeper wonders why they chose him to set up and Kate confesses he was the best fit. The others were either too crazy, too old, or unreliable. Or, in the case of the Reyes brothers, the cops knew they couldn’t flip them on each other. Creeper was the right choice because he was isolated and vulnerable.
Elsewhere, Louie (Noel Gugliemi) shows up uninvited at Letty’s place and says he’s sorry about her dad. He loved the guy and knows Coco loved her. Louie gives her Coco’s ugly ass green Nova (her description, not mine!) because he knows Coco would want her to have it. Coco gave it to him in payment of a debt, but he thinks Letty should have it. Letty actually smiles and thanks him.
Back at the club, Marcus tells EZ he met with an old friend to try and end the war. EZ wants to keep killing Sons but Marcus wants to wrap this up. EZ also wants to make the deal with El Banquero’s sister, Soledad, to get the heroin and, again, Marcus shuts that down. EZ believes they need that deal to regain power, but Marcus doesn’t want anything to do with it. Marcus thinks this will keep his guys from dying while EZ’s certain not taking Soledad up on the offer will ultimately kill the charter.
EZ follows up his meeting with Marcus by paying Bishop (Michael Irby) a visit. He wants Marcus gone and believes they need Bishop back on top.
Over in Mexico, El Banquero emerges from underwater to find a maid holding a towel at the edge of the pool. Unfortunately for the cartel leader, this woman isn’t actually one of his servants. Adelita (Carla Baratta) bends down next to El Banquero when he requests a towel and whispers a message from Soledad in his ear.
“Say hello to mommy and daddy,” whispers Adelita right before slitting his throat.
As El Banquero slips underwater clutching his throat, Adelita walks a short distance away and stands with Soledad. “Now, shall we begin the future?” suggests Soledad.
Sarah Bolger as Emily Thomas in ‘Mayans MC’ season 4 episode 10 (Photo: Prashant Gupta/FX)
Emily (Sarah Bolger) is in the process of dying her hair black when her phone rings. She thinks it’s Erin finally returning her calls and texts since it’s Erin’s number, and she’s shocked when Miguel (Danny Pino) speaks. He says it’s time for her to return home and for them to be a family again. He puts the phone out for Cristobal to say hi to his mom and then pulls his son into him as he tells Emily it’s over. He forgives her and refuses to say what he did to Erin.
Emily hangs up and sinks to the floor, sobbing and screaming.
Meanwhile, EZ promised Sofia he’d take her for a ride and that she’d fall in love with motorcycles. They’re cruising down the road all smiles when a car speeds up behind them and starts shooting. EZ shoots back while weaving in and out of traffic. A semi’s caught up in the gunfight and flips, landing on the Sons’ car.
Sofia vomits while EZ heads over to the car and puts multiple bullets into his pursuers.
And now we come to one of the most disturbing/distressing scenes of the season four finale. Manny is on his knees and doused in gasoline by Packer’s younger brother who, it turns out, is Isaac (JR Bourne) – the freaky meth cult leader Coco got involved with.
Isaac warns Manny he’s down to just a couple of minutes left in his life. It’s all over except for one final burst of pain. Although she’s far away, Manny speaks out loud to his young daughter telling her he’ll see her again. He promises that if there’s an afterlife, he’ll get revenge on Isaac for making his daughter cry.
Isaac loves to hear himself talk and tortures Manny a bit with words before tossing a cigarette at his feet. Manny bursts into flames and screams as he dies.
Isaac allows one Mayan to live and return to his club to warn them the fire is coming.
Back in Santo Padre, Hope (Vanessa Giselle) is hanging with addicts and is just about to shoot up when Letty pulls up in her dad’s ugly ass green Nova. She pulls Hope away from the group after warning the others she’ll stab them if they try and interfere.
“You think that after all this you’re just going to abandon me too? That’s not f**king happening,” says Letty. She tells Hope that Coco wouldn’t want this for her – and neither does she. Hope stands up and leaves the drugs behind. She smiles as she says she’s going home.
Felipe (Edward James Olmos) is speaking to his dead wife, still very much in love and missing her, when Miguel shows up. Felipe doesn’t correct Miguel when he says his mother was murdered and that her death wasn’t suicide. Miguel demands to know why Felipe killed his mom and how he managed to turn Emily against him.
Felipe claims Emily wasn’t involved and that he alone is responsible for Miguel’s mother’s death. He won’t explain why but says he strangled her and then burned her body. He apologizes and Miguel thanks him for telling the truth. Miguel believes Felipe was present but there were two sets of motorcycle tracks by the body. He knows EZ and Angel were also there and knows they actually killed his mom.
“I can’t bring her back but I can let your sons know what it’s like to be orphaned. And let you leave this earth knowing your sons will join you soon,” says Miguel.
Felipe admits he owes Miguel his life but says he can’t hurt EZ or Angel. Miguel asks why he should show any mercy to the people who destroyed his family and Felipe replies, “Because they are your family. We are your family, son.”
Miguel’s eyes grow large as he attempts to understand this new twist.
JD Pardo as Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes in ‘Mayans MC’ season 4 episode 10 (Photo: Prashant Gupta/FX)
Santo Padre meet and Marcus reveals Charming didn’t sanction the hit on EZ. Apparently, a contingent has gone rogue. Marcus discusses his meeting with Tig (although he doesn’t mention him by name) and that he learned something disturbing about the group. Gilly’s tired of all this talk and wants action but Marcus says Chibs has agreed to peace between the clubs.
EZ asks about the Sons’ conditions for surrender and Marcus says it’s a cease-fire – not a surrender. EZ won’t accept that and if Marcus will, then Marcus needs to be booted as president. EZ’s done all the research on the club’s rules and calls for a kill switch, meaning Marcus can be ousted if that’s the group’s unanimous decision.
All members of Santo Padre vote to remove Marcus as president. Marcus is angered by the decision since he built the club and says he’s happy he’ll be gone and won’t be around to see it burn.
EZ tells Bishop he was unfairly stripped and they all know the leader he is. It sounds as though he’s going to restore Bishop as president…but he’s not. EZ will be taking over that job and wants Bishop as his VP. Even Angel looks incredibly shocked as EZ says he wants Bishop to help guide him through this next phase.
EZ takes the seat at the head of the table and gets down to business. Their strength lies in the club as a unit, not as any one individual. He wants to do away with Northern California vs Southern California and unite as California. The heroin will be their war chest as they control the streets and the prisons.
“This is our state…our nation…our world. You can either join us, kneel to us, or be crushed by us,” declares EZ.
He promises that as president he will bleed with them and lift the club to greatness. This is the dawn of a new chapter. “Every man for himself and Mayans against all,” says EZ as Gilly kicks off the pounding on the table followed by the rest of the club. Angel’s the last to join the pounding.
Marcus returns home, parks his bike in the garage, and takes off his cut for what’s likely the last time.
Jay-Jay’s wife and children show up at EZ’s trailer and Sofia answers the door. She demands to know where EZ is, explaining he was supposed to have met up with her husband the previous night. Sofia claims EZ was with her all night and never met up with Jay-Jay. She insists she has no idea where Jay-Jay is or what happened to him.
The guys have left the room when Angel rejoins EZ at the table and asks what his brother’s up to. EZ believes he’s doing what needs to be done for the club, and once again describes the warehouse-full of heroin. Angel reminds him it means they’re back in bed with Galindo but EZ doesn’t see it that way.
“How many bodies you gonna stand on till you realize there ain’t nobody f**king left?” asks Angel. Angel’s no longer sure who his brother is anymore.
EZ recalls breaking their dog’s neck when they were kids after she got hit by a car and was in incredible pain. Angel couldn’t do it, but he did it even though he loved her. EZ says he didn’t get to cry because he had to do what no one else would. That’s just who he is now – and who he’s always been.
EZ tells his brother he loves him and needs him, but he has to be sure he’s all in. If not, then he should just walk away or EZ will run over him. Angel asks if that’s a threat and EZ doesn’t reply. He simply places his hand on his brother’s shoulder before walking away.
Creeper’s made it to the police station and asks for Kate. Her boss says this is huge as they enter the interrogation room where Creeper’s already seated. Creeper agrees he’s there to provide intel on the Mayans, turns down an attorney, and proceeds to take credit for every murder associated with the club. He claims he’s the only one responsible; no one else was involved. He did it all without the club having any knowledge or participating.
Season four ends with EZ in bed, staring at the ceiling and looking satisfied as he cradles Sofia and Sally.
Simultaneously, a hooded figure sets fire to the heroin inside Soledad’s warehouse. The figure runs from the building and watches everything burn from outside.
Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, has added five new cast members as tributes and mentors. The just-announced cast includes Jerome Lance, Ashley Liao (Secret Society of Second Born Royals), Knox Gibson, Mackenzie Lansing (Mare of Easttown), and Aamer Husain (Hudson & Rex).
Per Lionsgate: “Lance will play Marcus, tribute from District 2; Liao will play Clemensia Dovecote, one of Coriolanus’s closest friends and mentor to a tribute from District 11; Knox Gibson will play Bobbin, tribute from District 8; Lansing will play Coral, tribute from District 4; and Husain will play Felix Ravinstill, mentor to a tribute from District 11.”
Tom Blyth (Billy the Kid) and Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) were previously announced to star as Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray Baird, respectively. The Hunger Games veteran Francis Lawrence returns to direct this prequel after having helmed Catching Fire (2013), Mockingjay Part 1 (2014), and Mockingjay Part 2 (2015).
The prequel is based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, with The Hunger Games author involved as an executive producer. Director Lawrence, Nina Jacobson, and Brad Simpson produce, and Tim Palen and Jim Miller are involved as executive producers.
The Plot:
“Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Blyth) is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler), the girl tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor.
Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy Gray’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.”
The gang’s back and on the case in the new season two trailer for Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. The trailer finds Charles, Mabel, and Oliver attempting to piece together new clues and keep Mabel out of jail while working on their podcast.
Season one debuted on August 31, 2021, and season two will launch on June 28, 2022 with the release of the first two episodes. New episodes arrive on subsequent Tuesdays.
Steve Martin and John Hoffman (Grace & Frankie) co-created the series and serve as writers and executive producers. Martin Short, Selena Gomez, This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman, and Jess Rosenthal also executive produce.
Hulu released the following synopsis of the upcoming season:
“Following the shocking death of Arconia Board President Bunny Folger, Charles, Oliver & Mabel race to unmask her killer. However, three (unfortunate) complications ensue – the trio is publicly implicated in Bunny’s homicide, they are now the subjects of a competing podcast, and they have to deal with a bunch of New York neighbors who all think they committed murder.”
