A&E’s true crime documentary series Accused: Guilty or Innocent? will return for its third season on Thursday, May 26, 2022. The premiere date announcement was accompanied by a short trailer highlighting some of the cases that will be followed in season three.
New episodes of the docuseries will air on Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT.
Season two reached 5.6 million viewers and was one of 2021’s top 10 true crime shows. Executive produced by Malcolm Brinkworth, Xander Brinkworth, and A&E’s Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro, and Brad Holcman, Accused: Guilty or Innocent? is produced by Brinkworth Productions.
A&E released the following description of season three:
“Accused: Guilty or Innocent? follows the dramatic inside stories – as they unfold – of people facing trial for serious crimes they are alleged to have committed. Each claims to be not guilty or that their actions were justifiable. The acclaimed true crime series offers an extraordinary and compelling account of what happens when someone is formally charged with a crime and sent to trial – all solely from the perspective of the accused, their legal team, and family members.
Each immersive episode follows the accused person’s journey through the planning of their legal defense, their appearances in court, and, ultimately, awaiting justice. As evidence mounts and the trial approaches, these riveting and emotional stories provide an unprecedented look at what happens when your freedom is on the line.
Among the cases this season are: a veteran finds a wanted fugitive on his land and shoots him in the back. Was it murder or self-defense? A woman wakes to find her son dead; days later her boyfriend is found hanged with his final message claiming the mother wasn’t to blame. Did she fail her child or was she an innocent mother? A bloody fight breaks out between friends during neighborhood drinks. Did he stab his neighbor or did he protect himself? A community is shocked when a man kills his partner of decades. Did he murder his wife or was he medically insane?”
NBC’s This Is Us season 6 episode 15 will reveal more about Miguel’s backstory and how/when he fell in love with Rebecca. We’ve learned pretty much everything there is to know about the Big Three, Rebecca, and Jack at this point, but Miguel’s remained more of a mystery despite the fact Jon Huertas has been part of the cast since 2016.
Episode 15, appropriately titled “Miguel,” will air on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT. The super-short episode description provided by NBC simply states: “Miguel over the years.”
The sixth and final season stars Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson, Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson, Sterling K. Brown as Randall, Chrissy Metz as Kate, Justin Hartley as Kevin, Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth Pearson, and Chris Sullivan as Toby.
The Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
Everyone has a family. And every family has a story. This Is Us chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their kids (the big three), Kevin (Hartley), Kate (Metz) and Randall (Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day along with Toby (Sullivan) and Beth (Kelechi Watson).
This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the tiniest events in our lives impact who we become, and how the connections we share with each other can transcend time, distance, and even death.
Jon Huertas as Miguel and Mandy Moore as Rebecca in ‘This Is Us’ season 6 episode 15 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Jon Huertas as Miguel and Wynn Everett as Shelly in season 6 episode 15 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Jon Huertas as Miguel and Mandy Moore as Rebecca in the “Miguel” episode (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Justin Hartley as Kevin, Chrissy Metz as Kate, Sterling K. Brown as Randall, and Jon Huertas as Miguel (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Jon Huertas as Miguel, Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Sterling K. Brown as Randall, Chrissy Metz as Kate, and Justin Hartley as Kevin in season 6 episode 15 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Paul Calderon as Risto, Jon Huertas as Miguel, and Eileen Galindo as Beatriz in season 6 episode 15 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)David DeLuise as Bill Lundy and Jon Huertas as Miguel (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
Netflix’s Ozark season four episode nine opens with Wendy (Laura Linney) and Marty (Jason Bateman) back in their hotel room trying to drink away the night’s events. (Episode eight ended with Ruth killing Javi and the Byrdes left to clean up). It’s no surprise Wendy immediately blames Marty for what went down.
They play the blame game with each other, and Marty feels he could have talked Ruth out of killing Javi. Wendy scoffs at that suggestion. She’s dumbfounded that Marty apologized to Ruth, and Marty reminds her that Ruth has lost her entire family because of them.
Marty, who actually seems remorseful, begins to shed some tears. It’s safe to say Wendy isn’t even on the verge of crying, which isn’t a big shocker at all. Although our opinion of Wendy doesn’t seem like it could get any worse, she proves us wrong and lowers the bar yet again after Marty says, “I’m just so sick of having blood on my hands, Wendy. It doesn’t bother you?” Wendy places all the blame squarely on Marty’s shoulders, saying he’s the one who suggested this life. He’s the one who knew better.
Marty admits he got them into this but no one talked her into it. She was excited about this life.
Marty asks how much Wendy wants and she says they had it five hours ago and he threw it all away. Marty thinks enough is enough but, of course, Wendy isn’t ready to give up. She’s not falling on her sword because Marty messed up. To get her point across she throws in, “If you love me you wouldn’t give up.”
Ruth (Julia Garner) returns home and when her cousin Three (Carson Holmes) asks if she did it, she simply replies yes.
Wendy is back at the Shaw building waiting for Clare when Clare’s bodyguard, Conner McVeigh (David A. MacDonald), informs her Clare isn’t there and she should just go home.
Private investigator Mel Sattem (Adan Rothenberg) is the bearer of bad news to Helen’s ex-husband. Mel explains Helen was working with the Mexican cartel and Helen’s husband reacts in disbelief. (How did he not know this after all these years?). Mel tells him he might be able to get more information but he believes she’s dead and she was murdered in the States. (We know that’s not true. She was shot in Mexico in season three.)
Their daughter Erin admits she already knows what happened and urges her dad not to look any further. She realizes that if the cartel is involved it could be dangerous for them to pursue the matter. Mel tries to push for the investigation while Erin begs her dad to let it go. Ultimately, Helen’s ex-husband listens to his daughter and excuses Mel with a thank you for all his work.
Meanwhile, Marty and Wendy are back home and Wendy’s mad because she assumes Jonah’s the one who told Ruth about Javi. However, one look at Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) and she realizes it wasn’t Jonah. Wendy yells at her daughter, asking why she would do such a thing. Charlotte tries to tell her she didn’t mean to.
Wendy’s anger toward Charlotte is put on hold when the FBI shows up.
Agent Hannah Clay (Tess Malis Kincaid) briefs them on Javi and explains he never showed up at the airport to return to Mexico. Plus, all his clothes are still in his hotel room. Agent Clay wonders if he told them his plans. Marty says no and Wendy mentions he was going to meet a former professor for dinner.
Marty jumps to the point and asks where their deal stands. Agent Clay explains that without Javi there isn’t any deal. She reminds them this will create problems in the Navarro cartel, and they were apparently the last people to see Javi alive. It doesn’t take a genius to know that doesn’t look good for the Byrdes.
Clay suggests that if they’re willing to testify against Omar Navarro, she can get them into the witness protection program. Wendy lets it be known they don’t want that and asks how they can get their deal back. Wendy suggests extraditing Navarro back to Mexico. Once he’s there he can most likely break out of prison and everything they agreed upon can move forward.
Agent Clay correctly points out Wendy’s reaching but Wendy doesn’t give up. Wendy thinks Omar was always the better choice because he’s stable and knows the cartel inside and out. Agent Clay points out that Navarro is on the SDN (Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) list which makes extradition impossible.
Marty picks up on Wendy’s plan and asks what it will take to convince Agent Clay’s bosses that Navarro’s still in control. Clay believes money combined with continuing seizures might work. Wendy wants to see Navarro in person and Clay attempts, once again, to talk them into entering witness protection.
Clare Shaw (Katrina Lenk) arrives home to find Javi’s lawyer and some of his men in her driveway. The lawyer asks if she’s seen Javi and Clare claims she spoke with him over the phone the night before about stock options but she didn’t see him. The lawyer tries to get her to change her story but Clare holds firm to her lie.
PI Mel receives a call for a new job and it appears he’s heading back to the Ozarks.
Ruth is loading up baby Zeke in the car when she spots the gun she used to kill Javi in the passenger seat of her truck. She throws it in the lake right in front of her trailer. (Ruth’s usually much smarter than this.)
Ruth heads over to the sheriff’s station with Zeke and gives her statement. Sheriff Guerrero (CC Castillo) wants to know where Ruth’s been the last 24 hours. Ruth doesn’t answer but instead tells the sheriff to do Zeke a favor and not give him to Wendy Byrde. The sheriff brings the questioning back to where Ruth’s been. Ruth lies and says after she found Wyatt and Darlene she took Zeke and then needed to clear her head. The sheriff confirms she’s aware they were in the drug business together and asks if the murders had to do with drugs. Ruth claims not to know anything.
Marty goes to see Agent Maya Miller (Jessica Frances Dukes) and says he’s now willing to take her deal. He’ll do jail time and will come work with the FBI after his time in prison. Maya reveals that not only does she not give a crap about him, she knows Wendy would never go for it. They would lose the casino and he’ll have a criminal record. Marty reminds her she didn’t have to arrest Navarro, basically suggesting this could be Maya’s fault his family’s in danger. Maya says the deal is long gone and he’s just another criminal in her eyes now.
Wendy gets her wish and is allowed to visit Omar Navarro (Felix Solis) in prison. She informs him that she spoke with the FBI and his nephew Javi has disappeared. They are assuming he’s dead and don’t know who’s responsible. Omar isn’t stupid and accuses Wendy of knowing what happened to Javi. She changes the subject and tells Omar the FBI can get him off the SDN list and extradite him back to Mexico. They just have to establish that Navarro is still in control.
Omar has had it with the Byrdes and warns Wendy that if he wasn’t handcuffed to a table right now, he would kill her. He also threatens to kill Marty and her children. Wendy, looking smug, reminds him he’s in solitary confinement and asks who does he think let her in there? She assures Omar that the FBI will listen to her.
Omar screams at Wendy to get out and warns her that he’ll find a way to kill her.
PI Mel’s return to the Ozarks was financed by none other than Nathan Davis (Richard Thomas), Wendy’s dear old dad. Nathan’s going to be actively involved in the search for Ben and shows up at the Lazy-O Motel with a bus full of his church friends. Mel warns him he might not find any good news.
Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) spots his grandpa and after they greet each other, Nathan explains he’s there to find Ben. Nathan thinks it’s weird Jonah’s at the hotel and Jonah says he lives at the Lazy-O now because he needed space.
Wendy calls Agent Clay and lies, telling her Navarro is interested in the new deal. Wendy wants the FBI to move Omar from solitary confinement to protected custody and that Navarro must know it was the Byrdes who got him moved. Clay agrees.
Wendy continues with this lie and tells Marty that Omar’s interested but angry.
Marty informs Wendy they have another problem; her dad is there to search for Ben. Nathan tells his daughter he hired a PI from Chicago and Marty asks if his name’s Mel. Nathan confirms it is. Wendy fills in a little backstory on Mel, telling her dad he’s an ex-cop who got caught stealing drugs out of an evidence locker and that he’s an addict. Nathan isn’t fazed by that development.
As Nathan gets up to leave, he shares his concern about his grandkids. He assures Wendy he’s not leaving until he knows what happened to Ben and that his grandkids are okay.
Marty visits Ruth because she’s not returning Harry’s calls on what to do with Wyatt’s body. Marty tells her he’ll handle it and she agrees to let him.
Wendy calls Clare again and it just wouldn’t be Wendy if she didn’t issue a threat. She leaves a voice message letting her know she would hate to tell their donors that Shaw Medical doesn’t make good on their promises.
Charlotte announces she’s going out to dinner with her grandpa. Wendy and Marty reluctantly decide to go to dinner with Nathan as well.
Nathan brings up that he spoke with the sheriff and she told him about the murder of Wyatt and Darlene. Charlotte confirms Wyatt was her friend and that his cousin was dating Ben. Nathan starts reminiscing about how Wendy ran away at 10 and brings up how Ben use to worship Wendy. Wendy’s had enough, makes an excuse about an early meeting, and leaves.
On the way home Wendy’s convinced her dad’s going to turn her kids against them. She admits they have done harm to their kids by dragging them through all of this. (You think?!) Marty takes this opportunity to tell Wendy he went to see Maya about the deal. He doesn’t lie and admits Maya turned him down.
Mel meets with Maya and explains he’s learned Wendy lied. The day Ben went missing Wendy rented a car. They agree to keep each other informed of any new developments.
Navarro is moved to the jail’s more open protected custody area. The first thing he does is make a phone call.
The day of Wyatt’s funeral arrives and Nathan shows up. He notices Wendy is absent and Marty claims she had to work.
Ruth leaves before she can bring herself to throw dirt on Wyatt’s casket.
Wendy comes home to find Omar’s right-hand man Nelson and his priest in her house. She assumes they’re there to kill her, but the priest wants to talk. He asks if she really believes she can get Omar out. She says she wants to try. He then asks if she believes in God. Wendy doesn’t know what his angle is and he claims Omar’s arrest is an opportunity for all of them. He promises Wendy he can help her find her way. Wendy assures the priest she doesn’t need him to save her.
Before he leaves, the priest tells her Navarro wants to see them tomorrow. After the men leave Wendy the Ice Maiden actually cries.
Navarro claims he can not run his operation from prison and Marty offers to go to Mexico for him. Marty believes he can represent Omar’s interests and can make sure the money is flowing. Navarro thinks they won’t just accept Marty but Marty wants to try. Navarro’s certain it won’t be easy and knows he must seem powerful to his people or they won’t respect his leadership. Navarro believes his men must think he’s the one who killed Javi. Marty will be the one to deliver that message to them.
In a strange turn of events, Clare and Conner make the trip to Ruth’s place. Clare explains she needs Ruth’s product since she’s the one who killed the guy she was in business with. Ruth wonders why she would ever help them out and Conner reminds her they have a video of her blowing a man’s head off. Ruth seems unfazed by that. She enters her trailer and returns with a shotgun, warning them it’s not smart to try and blackmail a woman they’ve just seen kill a man. Clare promises this is a deal that will be very lucrative to them both.
Maya and Mel meet up again. This time Maya has surveillance video from a store showing the police arriving and talking to Wendy and Ben.
Clare, surprisingly, answers Wendy’s call but it’s only to tell her their deal is over. Wendy warns Clare that her company won’t survive without them. “We’ll see about that,” replies Clare before hanging up on Wendy.
Ruth heads over to Darlene’s and retrieves the keys to the barn where the heroin’s being made.
Season four episode nine closes with Charlotte begging Marty not to go to Mexico. She’s worried he’ll get killed. Wendy attempts to tell her Marty’s doing this for the family. Charlotte says that’s not the case; he is doing it for her.
Iron Chef‘s host Alton Brown and Dacascos reunite for Netflix’s revival of Iron Chef, Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Kristen Kish (Top Chef) joins the duo for the upcoming cooking competition series debuting on June 15, 2022.
Season one will consist of eight 45-minute episodes.
Netflix’s premiere date and teaser trailer were accompanied by news the streaming service will be releasing Iron Chef Mexico and Iron Chef Brazil later this year.
The new installment in the franchise is produced by Keller Productions, in association with 3 Ball Productions. Eytan Keller, Daniel Calin, and Ross Weintraub are on board as executive producers.
Netflix released the following description of Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend:
“The legendary Iron Chef series is reborn with a supersized approach to the ground-breaking culinary competition that started it all. It’s been called the toughest culinary challenge a chef will ever experience. This is where world-class cuisine meets high-octane sports.
Five new trailblazing Iron Chefs will welcome brave Challenger Chefs to the reimagined Kitchen Stadium, where they’ll face off and be pushed to the limits of endurance and creativity, as they cook up extraordinary culinary creations. The competition’s most successful Challenger will return to battle in a grand finale for the chance to be named the first-ever ‘Iron Legend.'”
The team hunts for the murderer of a TSA agent on CBS’s FBI season four episode 20. Directed by Heather Cappiello from a script by Rick Eid and Joe Halpin, episode 20 – “Ghost from the Past” – will air on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT.
Episode 18 marked series star Missy Peregrym’s final season four episode before taking off on maternity leave. Peregrym has confirmed she’ll return for the fifth season.
In addition to Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, the season four cast includes Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan and Jeremy Sisto as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine. Alana De La Garza is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, John Boyd is Special Agent Stuart Scola, and Katherine Renee Turner is Special Agent Tiffany Wallace.
Recurring season four cast members include Taylor Anthony Miller, Vedette Lim, Shantel VanSanten, and James Chen.
“Ghost from the Past” Plot: The murder of a TSA agent leads the team to hunt down a killer who is using drug mules to exploit airport security checkpoints. Also, OA struggles to cope with the aftermath of the sarin gas exposure and the 10th anniversary of his army friend’s death in Afghanistan.
Hulu’s debuted a new trailer for The Valet, a romantic comedy that finds Samara Weaving (Nine Perfect Strangers) playing a major movie star who uses a valet as cover for an affair. Eugenio Derbez (CODA) stars as the valet who accidentally becomes part of Weaving’s life.
The cast includes Max Greenfield, Betsy Brandt, Carmen Salinas Lozano, Amaury Nolasco, and Marisol Nichols. Diany Rodriguez, Tiana Okoye, John Pirrucello, Ravi Patel, Noemí González, and Lunay also star.
Richard Wong (Come as You Are) directs from a screenplay by Bob Fisher and Rob Greenberg, based on the 2006 French film La doublure. Eugenio Derbez and Ben Odell produce.
The Valet will premiere on Hulu and Disney streaming services on May 20, 2022.
Poster for Hulu’s ‘The Valet’
The Valet Plot, Courtesy of Hulu:
In The Valet, world-famous movie star, Olivia (Weaving) faces a PR disaster when a paparazzi snaps a photo of her with her married lover, Vincent (Greenfield). The hard-working valet Antonio (Derbez) accidentally appears in the same photo and is enlisted to pose as Olivia’s new boyfriend as a cover-up. This ruse with Olivia thrusts Antonio into the spotlight and unexpected chaos.
In this fish out of water romantic comedy, two worlds and cultures collide as both Olivia and Antonio start to see themselves more clearly than ever before.
Warner Bros Pictures and New Line Cinema wowed the 2022 CinemaCon crowd with the debut of the Don’t Worry Darling trailer. Prepare for more awards buzz as the visually impressive trailer for the psychological thriller has just been released online.
I tweeted my reaction immediately after its CinemaCon debut, saying I believe it’s a film we’ll need to discuss and dissect every frame of. I stand by that description on the second (and third) viewing.
Florence Pugh (Little Women) and Harry Styles (Dunkirk) lead a cast that includes director Olivia Wilde (Booksmart), Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians), KiKi Layne (The Old Guard), and Chris Pine (All the Old Knives).
Olivia Wilde was on hand for the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at CinemaCon and said the film was inspired by The Truman Show, The Matrix, and Inception. Wilde described the film as ambitious and believes they’ve made something really special. “I want you to imagine a life you had everything you could possibly dream of,” said Wilde. “What would it take for you to give up that life, to do what’s right?”
Don’t Worry Darling opens in theaters on September 23, 2022.
Don’t Worry Darling Synopsis:
Alice (Pugh) and Jack (Styles) are lucky to be living in the idealized community of Victory, the experimental company town housing the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. The 1950s’ societal optimism espoused by their CEO, Frank (Pine)—equal parts corporate visionary and motivational life coach—anchors every aspect of daily life in the tight-knit desert utopia.
While the husbands spend every day inside the Victory Project Headquarters, working on the “development of progressive materials,” their wives — including Frank’s elegant partner, Shelley (Chan) — get to spend their time enjoying the beauty, luxury, and debauchery of their community. Life is perfect, with every resident’s needs met by the company. All they ask in return is discretion and unquestioning commitment to the Victory cause.
But when cracks in their idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something much more sinister lurking beneath the attractive façade, Alice can’t help questioning exactly what they’re doing in Victory, and why. Just how much is Alice willing to lose to expose what’s really going on in this paradise?
ABC’s The Rookie season four episode 21 is titled “Mother’s Day” and actually airs on Mother’s Day. Nice how that worked out, right? Episode 21 was directed by Lisa Demaine from a script by Diana Mendez Boucher and Fredrick Kotto and premieres on Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.
Season four stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, and Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey. Melissa O’Neil is Lucy Chen and Eric Winter stars as Tim Bradford.
Guest stars include Brent Huff as Officer Smitty, Angel Parker as Luna Grey, Jane Daly as Patrice Evers, Carsyn Rose as Lila Town, and Crystal Coney as Nurse Lisa.
“Mother’s Day” Plot: Sergeant Grey supports Officer Nolan’s desire to become a training officer and offers to ride with him for the day to get him ready. Meanwhile, Tim and Lucy must manage expectations in their respective relationships as they decide on their plans for Mother’s Day and a romantic vacation.
Nathan Fillion and John Wusah in ‘The Rookie’ season 4 episode 21 (ABC/Raymond Liu)Pauline Dyer and Shawn Ashmore in the “Mother’s Day” episode (ABC/Raymond Liu)Page Leong and Paul Yen in season 4 episode 21 (ABC/Raymond Liu)Roxanne Hart, Carsyn Rose and Mekia Cox in season 4 episode 21 (ABC/Raymond Liu)Paul Yen, Page Leong, Richard T Jones and Nathan Fillion in season 4 episode 21 (ABC/Raymond Liu)Alyssa Diaz and Shawn Ashmore in the “Mother’s Day” episode (ABC/Raymond Liu)Shawn Ashmore, Alyssa Diaz and Mekia Cox in season 4 episode 21 (ABC/Raymond Liu)
Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in ‘Outlander’ season 6 episode 8 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz’s Outlander season six comes to an end far too soon with episode eight, airing on May 1, 2022. And May 1st is a fitting date for such a pivotal episode. Fans of Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling books and the award-winning show know it’s James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser’s birthday.
The season six finale begins with what appears to be a brief trip to the ‘60s, with Claire and Bree (face hidden behind a menu) in a diner about to enjoy burgers and fries. That peaceful snippet fades into Richard Brown and his Committee of Safety demanding Jamie (Sam Heughan) hand over Claire. Jamie, of course, refuses while Claire (Caitriona Balfe) frantically tells Mrs. Bug to go get help.
Lizzie (Caitlin O’Ryan) and one of the Beardsleys emerge from the barn and see what’s going on. They race off before anyone (other than Jamie) spots them.
One of the Committee members makes it around back and into the Frasers’ home. Claire acts as though she’s about to hand over her rifle and instead uses her pistol to shoot him in the stomach. He runs off as out front Jamie fights with half a dozen men.
Richard’s about to shoot when Claire screams for Jamie to duck. The shot misses and Jamie runs into the house. They quickly move furniture in front of the doors and windows, incredibly outnumbered but unwilling to go down without a fight.
Jamie retrieves more weapons as bullets fly, destroying the interior of their home. Dishes shatter, chandeliers are ruined, and the walls are pockmarked with bullet holes.
Jamie and Claire take up strategic positions and are able to hold off Brown and his Committee. Unfortunately, they’re both aware it’s only a short reprieve.
Jamie knows Richard Brown doesn’t care about arresting Claire. He wants them both dead in retribution for his brother’s murder. “Malva’s death is but an excuse for revenge,” says Jamie.
Richard Brown waves a white flag and approaches the house. Jamie fires a warning shot, deliberately missing. Richard doesn’t stop walking toward the house while demanding the “murderous witch” surrender.
Richard claims they won’t hurt Claire. They plan on taking her to Salisbury where she’ll stand trial. Jamie shoots Richard’s hat out of his hand in reply.
Richard orders his men to hold their fire.
The sun’s setting as Richard and the Committee continue to surround the Frasers’ home. Jamie believes as soon as it gets dark, they’ll set the house on fire. He admits it’s what he’d do. Claire doesn’t understand how they could be burned alive this evening since the obituary said the house would go up in flames the Sabbath before January 21st. It’s May – so that doesn’t make any sense.
Jamie reminds her you can’t trust everything you read in “the broadsheets.” Still, that’s a four month difference so it’s unlikely what’s happening right now is what was referred to in the obituary.
Claire swears she’ll never go with Brown and Jamie replies, “I would never let you go.” However, he still hasn’t come up with a plan. Mrs. Bug will likely go for Arch but thus far no one has shown up to help. Arch would run for Kenny Lindsay and Lizzie will probably go find Ronnie.
Claire’s worried about Lizzie’s involvement and Jamie assures her Lizzie will be safe. “Dinna fash, mo nighean donn,” says Jamie. “She’ll be safe. She’s with her husband…well, one of them.”
Jamie’s mind turns to food and he suggests they eat. They’ll need strength for what’s to come.
While Jamie and Claire are pinned down and fighting for their lives, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger (Richard Rankin) are on the road, heading to Edenton Seminary. (Talk about your horrible timing! Why did they leave when things were so unstable on the Ridge?!) They discuss battles of the Revolutionary War and although Roger’s a historian, he’s happy they’re heading somewhere safe.
Bree and Roger also discuss how and when to break the news to Jemmy that they are time-travelers. Bree’s torn over whether her parents should have told her sooner. She understands Claire gave her word to Frank that she’d grow up believing he was her father. “I guess I don’t think she should have broken it,” says Bree.
Roger correctly points out that if they tell Jemmy early on, there’s no way he’ll keep it a secret. That could cause a lot of confusion among his friends. It appears they’ve landed on waiting until he’s old enough to understand why he can’t tell people.
Roger notes it’s possible that if they tell Jemmy he’ll decide to go through the stones at some point.
The family settle in for the night and Roger and Bree remember the time they drove her Mustang in the North Carolina mountains. Roger almost drove off the road at 75 mph thanks to Bree distracting him with a kiss. That was the same weekend they broke up which was then followed by Roger pursuing Bree through time to get back together.
Bree and Roger get naked and explore each other’s bodies, attempting to keep the noise down so as not to wake Jemmy while they make passionate love.
Back to the Ridge and Claire recalls the American tradition of allowing prisoners to choose their final meal. The episode’s opening scene makes sense as Claire says she’d choose a cheeseburger, fries, and a Coke from Carmi’s. That was she and Bree’s regular order at the diner.
Jamie would choose what he’s eating right now with his lovely wife in their home.
Claire’s concerned Ian hasn’t shown up yet but Jamie believes he’s out hunting. She asks about everyone else and Jamie confesses if they aren’t there by now, they’re not coming. Claire thinks that means they genuinely believe she killed Malva.
Aldo snacks on their leftovers as Jamie and Claire wake from a brief nap as the fisherfolk arrive. Hiram Crombie (Antony Byrne) appears to be leading the group and Jamie’s sure he won’t let Brown smoke them out or hang them.
Hiram asks Jamie and Claire to come out in order to avoid further bloodshed. He’s been asked by Richard to negotiate their surrender and he places himself between the Frasers and the Committee. Jamie and Claire agree to step outside but will do so while armed.
Jamie declares they’ll take Claire over his dead body and Mrs. McGregor replies, “Thou shall not suffer a witch to live!” and throws a heavy stone at Claire. Jamie continues to insist Claire is innocent and the crowd turns on him, suggesting maybe he’s the one who murdered Malva.
Claire, voice breaking, attempts to explain she tried to save Malva and the baby, but the crowd isn’t listening. Richard believes anyone accused of a crime is entitled to a trial and he wonders why Jamie would refuse that request if Claire’s innocent.
Hiram thinks that’s fair but Jamie tells the crowd he knows Claire will be killed if he hands her over to Richard Brown. “He would slaughter her out of hand for sake of revenge upon me,” says Jamie.
Allan Christie (Alexander Vlahos) speaks up and demands they take Jamie as well as Claire. Mrs. McGregor still believes Claire murdered Malva because only a witch would steal a baby from the womb.
Hiram suggests they take them both just as Jamie’s men arrive. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough of them and Jamie knows it would be a fight to the death. He whispers to Claire that their only choice is to go with Hiram. But he warns Hiram if they’re handed over to Richard and killed, their blood will be on his hands.
It’s at this tense moment that Tom Christie (Mark Lewis Jones) walks through the crowd and announces he’ll travel with them to ensure their safety. That appears to satisfy all parties, including the Frasers.
Lizzie rushes up and cries out, “No, Mr. Fraser!” and Jamie asks her to stand down.
Tom Christie says they’ll leave in the morning. “There’s no reason you and your wife should not rest in your own bed,” says Tom. Jamie thanks him for this act of kindness.
Once alone inside their home, Jamie promises Claire – with this life – this won’t be the last time they see the Ridge by moonlight.
Neither can sleep and Claire admits she’s scared. Jamie strokes her face and she strokes his in return. He gathers her hand in his and kisses it, and then they share a long, sweet kiss before making love for what could be the final time in the beautiful home they’ve made together. And if things go badly, they know this could also be the final time they’re able to cling to each other for comfort.
The following morning Richard assigns Oakes (Hunter Bishop) to keep an eye on Claire and Jamie after they’re placed in the back of a wagon. Richard warns the Frasers not to leave the wagon or there will be hell to pay.
Claire peeks out of the wagon at their home for what she obviously believes is the last time.
The group stop for a break and Claire wonders if she should tend to their wounds. Jamie points out she doesn’t owe these men anything.
Mark Lewis Jones in ‘Outlander’ season 6 episode 8 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Tom Christie gently hands Claire a bowl of food and Jamie tells her to eat because it was “kindly given.”
Richard Brown’s gone ahead of the group and has learned Salisbury no longer has a court. The sheriff quit and the town’s split on the question of independence. Richard decides they’ll travel to Wilmington which is 200 miles away. They can’t stop in Cross Creek because Jamie’s aunt lives near there and they won’t get a fair trial.
Richard confirms he’s an evil man by informing Jamie that he told the town of Salisbury about Claire. “Word’s spreading like wildfire now,” says Richard with barely hidden glee.
Back at Fraser’s Ridge, Lizzie races outside as Ian (John Bell) arrives in a wagon. She collapses to her knees, overcome with emotion.
The group is back on the road and Jamie points out to Claire that Richard’s losing control of his men. It’s apparent they never expected to be gone from their homes for any period of time and they’re getting tired.
Claire wonders why Tom volunteered for this trip. “Is he really protecting us only to see me hanged?” asks Claire.
They ride through a town and Oakes yells out, telling everyone they’re transporting the murderers to be hanged. The townsfolk have heard Claire’s a witch and they begin throwing stones at the wagon. Claire’s hit but she manages to punch one young man in the face.
Tom demands they stop this but Brown’s lost control. Tom fires his pistol and the townsfolk scatter.
Once more we go to Roger and Bree, and Bree’s getting antsy. She asks, “Are we there yet?” and Roger chuckles, reminding her Jemmy’s supposed to ask that. Roger’s apparently been waiting for just the right minute to show Bree what he received from Fergus. She picks up a newspaper – The New Bern Onion – and realizes it’s Fergus’ maiden effort. Fergus wrote a piece on why it’s called the Onion, and it has to do with onions being complex and having layers. Bree finishes reading Fergus’ explanation of the name: “A pungency and savor of the reasoned discourse always to be exercised herein.”
There’s also a Poet’s Corner and they think that was probably Marsali’s doing.
Jemmy crawls into Bree’s lap to say hi to his unborn sibling. His head’s itching and Bree discovers he has lice! They pause in their journey to cut off his hair and Bree discovers there’s a strange mole on his scalp. Roger corrects her and says it’s a nevus. He explains they show up when you’re two or three and they’re harmless. “I’ve had one just like it ever since I was a kid,” explains Roger.
He points his out and adds, “They’re hereditary.”
Bree and Roger realize at the exact same moment that this is confirmation Roger is in fact Jemmy’s biological father!
Roger takes off his hair tie and asks Bree to cut off his hair to match his son’s. And that concludes Roger and Bree’s story for season six. Now back to Jamie and Claire…
Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in ‘Outlander’ season 6 episode 8 (Photo Credit: Starz)
The group’s made camp for the night. Claire’s in pain from punching a man and she’s also “crabbit.” When Jamie points that out, Claire replies, “Oh, crabbit my arse!”
You can’t blame her one bit for being in a foul mood and Jamie attempts to lighten things up by describing how she had blood in her eye as she pounded on the lad in a fit of fury. He says he’ll always treasure the memory.
They discuss their current location and Jamie reveals they’ve stopped at a meat camp. It’s where hunters gather to dress their game. It’s a wild place and Jamie thinks Brown’s probably having second thoughts about spreading gossip about them since his group’s been caught up in the middle of stonings.
Jamie suggests Claire sleep and then gets up to urinate. He has a brief moment alone and Ian appears out of nowhere. Ian explains he’s not alone and will come out of the shadows when Jamie tells them to. Jamie doesn’t think it’s the right time but asks Ian to stay close.
Ian suggests Jamie and Claire make a run for it, but Jamie knows that’ll just turn them into hunted fugitives.
Ian confirms he’ll remain nearby and keep watch.
Morning arrives and they hit the road again. The man Claire shot in the gut finally dies and Richard orders his body strapped to his horse so they can continue.
The group stops at a well for a drink and Jamie’s allowed out to get water. He figures out too late that it’s a trap! Jamie’s grabbed as Claire’s wagon is driven away, with men in the back holding onto her so she can’t leap out.
They ride a short distance and stop, and Richard says it’s none of her business where they’re taking Jamie. She calls him a petty bastard but he claims he’s not doing this because of his brother. He’s only doing this because she murdered Malva and her unborn child.
Tom rides up and Claire shouts for him to go back to Jamie. Richard says Jamie’s not being harmed; he’s being sent home. Tom has a brief private conversation with Richard and then tells Claire that Jamie won’t be harmed. Brown gave Tom his word.
Tom won’t leave Claire’s side and will continue the journey with her, even though she wants him to check on Jamie. Reluctantly, Claire admits to herself that Tom’s right.
Claire hopes the news of her arrest will reach Roger and Brianna in Edenton. She worries about her future but can’t stop thinking of her beloved Jamie. She suspects Tom knows more than he said, and that Jamie is dead.
Claire’s group arrives in Wilmington and there’s evidence of a fight everywhere she looks. Windows are broken and there’s a man hanging in the town square.
Richard delivers her to The House of Correction for the County of New Hanover and she’s placed in a cell. When Richard steps away for a word with the sheriff, Tom secretly hands Claire a bag of coins. He also assures her Jamie is alive. “I would not have his death on my conscience, nor yours,” says Tom. He tells her to trust in God because he will deliver the righteous out of danger. He also commits to not leaving town.
Season six wraps up with Jamie on a beach tied to a massive pole. Oakes takes the bag off Jamie’s head and informs him the ship he sees in the distance will transport him back to Scotland. Oakes says he hopes Claire dies, and then Jamie’s made to stand up. Oakes delivers a gut punch and snarls, “You’ll never see your witch of a wife again.”
One of Jamie’s captors is about to knock him out when an arrow strikes its mark and kills him. Ian and his friends have arrived and easily dispatch the men holding Jamie. Oakes is the last man standing and Jamie warns them not to shoot. Oakes is the only person who knows where they’ve taken Claire. “So do we, Uncle,” says Ian as Chief Bird-Who-Sings-In-The-Morning (Glen Gould) shoots Oakes through his outstretched palm and into his eye.
Chief Bird has the final word of the season. “I told you I would fight with you, Bear Killer.”
The first batch of photos from NBC’s The Blacklist season nine episode 19 appear to confirm that Weecha (played by Diany Rodriguez) is in fact still alive. Episode 19 – “The Bear Mask” – will air on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT.
James Spader leads the cast as Raymond “Red” Reddington. The season nine cast also includes Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler, Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai, Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma, Laura Sohn as Alina Park, and Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper.
“The Bear Mask” Plot: Feeling the weight of recent pressures, Aram turns to an unusual outlet for release.
Season 9 Description, Courtesy of NBC:
“In the two years following the death of Elizabeth Keen, Raymond Reddington (Spader) and the members of the FBI Task Force have disbanded – their lives now changed in unexpected ways and with Reddington’s whereabouts unknown. Finding themselves each at a crossroads, a common purpose compels them to renew their original mission: to take down dangerous, vicious and eccentric Blacklisters. In the process, they begin to uncover lethal adversaries, unimaginable conspiracies and surprising betrayals that will threaten alliances and spur vengeance for the past, led by the most devious criminal of them all – Raymond Reddington.”
James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington and Diany Rodriguez as Weecha Xiu in ‘The Blacklist’ season 9 episode 19 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper and James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington in season 9 episode 19 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)A scene from “The Bear Mask” (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington in season 9 episode 19 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai in season 9 episode 19 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai in “The Bear Mask” episode (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)
