Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox share the screen with an adorable, scene-stealing, very good boy in Merv. The good boy is the titular character and the plot involves getting his happy vibe back.
The romantic comedy also stars Chris Redd and Patricia Heaton. Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10, 2025.
“When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Deschanel) and Russ (Cox) are forced into the world’s most awkward co-parenting arrangement. Hoping to shake Merv out of his funk, Russ takes him to Florida for a much-needed getaway—only for Anna to show up unexpectedly,” reads Prime Video’s synopsis. “As Merv slowly gets his groove back, turns out fixing their dog’s broken heart may lead to a few sparks of their own.”
Jessica Swale (Summerland) directs from a screenplay by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart. Matthew Baer and Roma Downey serve as producers.
It’s all about the nuns on season two, episode six of CBS’s Matlock. Episode six will air on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT.
Kathy Bates leads the cast as Madeline “Matty” Matlock. Skye P. Marshall stars as Olympia Lawrence, Jason Ritter plays Julian Markston, David Del Rio is Billy Martinez, Leah Lewis stars as Sarah Franklin, Sam Anderson is Edwin Kingston, and Aaron Harris is Alfie Kingston.
“Harm Reduction” Plot: Matty and Olympia continue to test the boundaries of their friendship while helping a group of nuns. Meanwhile, Olympia and Sarah become roped into secretive activities within the firm.
“Matlock stars Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates as Madeline ‘Matty’ Matlock, a brilliant septuagenarian who achieved success in her younger years and rejoins the workforce at a prestigious law firm with a hidden agenda, using her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases. Matty is assigned to Olympia (Marshall), a senior attorney and key rainmaker with a thirst for justice; Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Ritter), the son of the head of the firm, is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills.
As Matty endeavors to establish herself in her new high-stakes world, she works alongside the firm’s younger associates—the charismatic Billy (Del Rio) and the uber-ambitious Sarah (Lewis).”
Poster for ‘Outlander’ season 8 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz didn’t just confirm the eighth—and final—season premiere date for Outlander; the network also released a gorgeous new poster. The romantic time-traveling drama premiered way back in August 2014. Starz has set a March 6, 2026 launch date for the much-anticipated season eight.
Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan return as Claire and Jamie Fraser. Season eight also stars Sophie Skelton as Brianna MacKenzie, Richard Rankin as Roger MacKenzie, John Bell as Young Ian, David Berry as Lord John Grey, Charles Vandervaart as William Ransom, and Izzy Meikle-Small as Rachel Hunter.
Based on Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling books, Outlander is executive produced by Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries, Jim Kohlberg, Caitríona Balfe, and Sam Heughan.
Starz offers the following lengthy description of the upcoming final season:
Season seven of Outlander delivered an epic blend of history, heartache, and high-stakes drama as the Frasers found themselves swept into the turmoil of the American Revolution. The season ended with Jamie’s fateful decision to resign his Continental Army commission and return to Fraser’s Ridge with Claire. Meanwhile, after an emotional family reunion, the MacKenzies needed to decide where and when to settle next, and a haunting cliffhanger left fans questioning the true fate of Claire and Jamie’s first daughter, Faith.
As season eight begins, Jamie and Claire soon find the war has followed them home to Fraser’s Ridge, now a thriving settlement that has grown and flourished in their absence. With new arrivals and changes made during their years away, the Frasers are confronted with the question of what they are willing to sacrifice for the place they call home and, more importantly, what they would sacrifice to stay together. While the Frasers keep a united front against outside intruders, family secrets finally coming to light threaten to tear them apart from the inside. Although they’ve left the war for America’s freedom behind, their fight for Fraser’s Ridge has only just begun.
A scene from ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ (Cr. Courtesy of Netflix)
The Perfect Neighbor claimed top honors at the Tenth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, earning five wins, including Best Documentary Feature, Best Director (Geeta Gandbhir), Best Editing (Viridiana Lieberman), Best Archival Documentary, and Best True Crime Documentary. Additional winners of multiple awards included Mr. Scorsese, Ocean with David Attenborough, and Orwell: 2+2=5.
“Ten years in, and the art of documentary storytelling has never been more vital or vibrant,” stated Christopher Campbell, Vice President of Documentary at the Critics Choice Association. “This year’s filmmakers show, through their creativity and courage, just how powerful documentaries can be in shaping our view of the world.”
The 2025 Critics Choice Documentary Awards took place on November 9th, with Aasif Mandvi as host. In addition to the competitive awards, Ken Burns was honored with the Critics Choice Impact Award. The CCA describes the special honor as given to “documentarians whose work has illuminated our shared story, made complex issues accessible to broad audiences, and sparked meaningful dialogue that inspires reflection and action.”
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady were recognized with the CCA’s Pennebaker Award, which honors filmmakers “whose careers have made a profound and lasting contribution to the art of documentary storytelling.”
Josh O’Connor and Lily LaTorre in ‘Rebuilding’ (Photo Credit: Bleecker Street)
Writer/director Max Walker-Silverman’s second feature film, Rebuilding, is a deeply moving and ultimately hopeful drama that turns a devastating tragedy into a beautiful testament to the power of community and the resilience of the human spirit. The story springs from a terrible loss: a wildfire that destroys a Colorado rancher’s home and livelihood. But it quickly turns into a warm, life-affirming tale of new life emerging after a loss.
Rancher Dusty (Josh O’Connor) is one of many who’ve lost their homes in a recent wildfire. It’s not just the acres of ranchland and the house that generations of Dusty’s family have made their home that have gone up in flames. It’s the very core of what Dusty believes is important that’s been wiped away in one horrifying day. His livelihood is gone, along with all his possessions.
The one-room, bare-bones trailer FEMA provides as temporary housing isn’t much, but it’s better than couch surfing or sleeping in his truck. The trailer gives him a place to spend time with his daughter, Callie-Rose, at the suggestion of his ex-wife, Ruby (the always fantastic Meghann Fahy, Sirens). And it’s that bond with his young daughter that keeps Dusty’s spirits up. That, and the fellow occupants of the small makeshift FEMA housing community. This ragtag group, who’ve been thrust together due to circumstances beyond their control, provide what’s truly missing from his life – fellowship and a sense of belonging.
The temporary campsite is full of kind-hearted people who allow each other space to recover from trauma and shoulders to lean on as they come to terms with all that they’ve lost. Through shared meals and quiet conversations, the temporary community members begin the healing process and turn tragedy to hope.
Among the occupants is single mother Mila (Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country), who is not just picking up the pieces after the fire but mourning the death of her husband, who perished trying to protect their property. Mila’s determination to make the best of the situation gives Dusty the impetus to carry on.
Rebuilding is a beautiful illustration of the saying, “Home is where the heart is.” Dusty’s struggles are agonizingly relatable—a dispassionate banker telling him nothing will grow for a decade, the heartwrenching task of removing glow-in-the-dark stars that made his tiny trailer feel like home to Callie-Rose. These moments of hopelessness make the eventual turn toward community even more uplifting.
Max Walker-Silverman drew inspiration from his personal experience with loss to create this poignant portrayal of the bonds formed when individuals confront shared adversity. Rebuilding isn’t only about getting through tough times; it’s also about learning that sometimes the best things rise up out of the ashes.
Sydney Sweeney in ‘Christy’ (Photo Courtesy of Black Bear)
Christy delivers a solid, no-punches-pulled look at the turbulent rise of boxing phenomenon Christy Martin. The boxing biopic mixes the punishing world of professional fighting with an intensely personal drama unfolding outside the ring, with Sydney Sweeney’s transformative performance front and center.
Directed by David Michôd (Animal Kingdom), Christy begins by dropping us right into the emotional firestorm surrounding Christy’s life in small-town West Virginia. Her excitement over winning $300 is quickly eclipsed when her parents discover she has a girlfriend, Rosie, kicking off a major family crisis rooted in her sexual orientation. It’s this background of personal turmoil that pushes Christy toward an unlikely new career when a boxing promoter’s representative calls with a tempting offer: a $500 purse for a fight.
What follows is the familiar, yet mostly engaging, underdog narrative. Christy has an unorthodox style in the ring and a natural power that impresses promoter Larry Carrier. She quickly finds herself under the wing of trainer Jim Martin, a vile man who doesn’t respect female boxers and has a very rigid view of the world. Martin rules every aspect of Christy’s life, forcing her to demean herself for money. Under his thumb, Christy isn’t allowed to exhibit any signs of female solidarity. Their professional relationship—forged to keep Christy’s sexuality in the closet and out of any publicity—evolves into something much more disturbing and complex, driving the central conflict of the film.
Christy shines brightest in its depiction of the evolution of Christy’s fighting style and her personal sacrifices. Her climb from the unknown Coal Miner’s Daughter to a powerhouse champion fighting for Don King (Chad Coleman, The Orville) includes historic moments like being the first woman to fight on a Mike Tyson undercard and the first female boxer to grace a Sports Illustrated cover. The boxing sequences are remarkably effective and brutal, capturing the physical and emotional toll of the sport.
However, Christy moves at an uneven pace, covering significant ground quickly while occasionally lingering on less-developed subplots. Certain supporting characters, particularly her boxing team and opponents, are painted in broad strokes, in some cases so broad it’s difficult to tell who is who. Her controlling, chauvinistic trainer is slightly better developed; in large part, that’s due to Ben Foster’s performance.
Christy does not shy away from the dark side of success, including the abuse of power, jealousy, and financial exploitation that can plague the lives of star athletes. The film isn’t perfect but it is powerful.
Michôd’s first feature film since 2019’s The King is an intense examination of Christy Martin’s life and career, touching on difficult subjects including abuse, sexuality, and the struggle of women competing in male-dominated sports. (You could easily sub in basketball or soccer for boxing.) Sweeney’s riveting transformation into the trailblazing boxer helps the film over the rough spots. Even when the story lags, Sydney Sweeney’s performance keeps the audience engaged and invested.
GRADE: B-
Runtime: 135 minutes
Release Date: November 7, 2025
Rating: R for violence, bloody images, language, some drug use, and sexual material
Screenplay By: Mirrah Foulkes and David Michôd, story by Katherine Fugate
Distributor: Black Bear
Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Chad Coleman, Katy O’Brian, and Merritt Wever
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in ‘Landman’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller / Paramount+)
Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton returns to star in season two of Paramount+’s Landman, premiering on November 16, 2025. The new season picks up the action in the aftermath of Monty’s (played by Jon Hamm) death. The dynamic between Thornton’s Tommy Norris and Demi Moore’s Cami Miller has shifted, Andy Garcia returns as Galino to cause Tommy problems, and Sam Elliott joins the cast as Tommy’s father.
Paramount+ recently hosted press conferences with the cast, and the following are highlights from the Q&A with Billy Bob Thornton. The Oscar winner doesn’t just give yes or no answers, so buckle up and prepare for a lengthy discussion of all things Landman.
On Taylor Sheridan’s writing and their working relationship:
Billy Bob Thornton: “Taylor and I have a very good working relationship, and he wrote this series for me. I mean, specifically for me. Because I had done that cameo for him in 1883 and he said, ‘I think I have your voice. I think I know how to write for you.’ And sure enough, when I read the first script of season one, I was like, ‘Yeah, you kind of got it down.’
But he’s very lenient with me. I mean, he will allow me to ad-lib if I feel it, which I do quite often. And if he likes it, he keeps it. And if he doesn’t, he dumps it, which is very fair. But his writing is pretty tight. And I think the reason his writing appeals to a broad audience … because initially, we thought probably the middle of the country would like it, but maybe not the coasts … maybe not internationally. We didn’t really know. But I think the reason it has an international appeal is because he writes characters who are unabashedly themselves. They say what they feel, you know?
I’ll put it to you this way. We were doing a Q&A in New York last year and there was this lady. When you go, just like reading your wife or whatever, you can also read audiences. And also, I grew up in the music business, so as soon as you come on stage to do a concert, it’s like, ‘There’s the jealous musician. There’s the husband who came because his wife wanted him to come, and he hates being there.’ And so, there was this lady on the front row, and I knew when I got there, she’s the one who’s going to ask the creepy question. And sure enough, when they opened up questions to the audience, she raised her hand, and they picked her first. She said, ‘How do you justify the morality of doing a show about the oil business?’
I was like, well, I’ll put it to you like this. If they figure out a way to run everything on earth using water, the oil guys will get into the water business. It’s a corporation, like the pharmaceutical companies or tech companies, anybody. They’re moneymakers. And so, this show just shows you a peek behind the curtain of the oil business. It’s not a political thing. It’s like he’s not saying ‘yay oil’ or ‘boo oil.’ He’s just saying, ‘Here’s how it works.’ And I think because of that, people respond to it. Because it’s just showing you how it is.
I mean, if you make a movie about a serial killer and everybody goes, ‘Oh my god, you know Actor X was amazing playing the guy that eats people or whatever,’ and then he gets the Academy Award for it and stuff. But then for some reason, you’re doing a show about oil, and it’s like, ‘Well, oil is like…’ Yep, so you like serial killers? I don’t quite understand that, because our job as artists is to portray whoever we’re portraying in an honest way. He allows us to do that, and he writes it that way.”
Billy Bob Thornton in ‘Landman’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller / Paramount+)
On the oil business and his takeaway on those who work the fields:
Billy Bob Thornton: “One of the things that I learned, and I learned this on the first season, is I learned a lot about the people who actually work in the oil fields. I mean, the business part of it, I knew a little bit about already because I know some oil attorneys in Texas and stuff that I just happened to meet over the years. So, the business part I get.
What surprised me was how many people work in this very dangerous business because they’re mainly people who would never be able to make that much money in another business. Let’s say you’re a poor person; maybe you’ve been in prison, you grew up in a rough way, whatever it is, you can’t really get a job in any other place, but they’ll take people out there because the job is so dangerous. It’s not easy to get everybody to come do it. They’re willing to risk their lives or their limbs or whatever it is to take care of their families because they can’t get jobs anyplace else.
I didn’t realize how many people work in the oil fields who had either a criminal past or just a rough upbringing, or they’re destitute, have nowhere else to go. Because, you know, some of these people, they make $180,000 a year working these things and they could never do that anywhere else. I mean, they’d probably be working at a fast-food place, but they can actually make money for themselves and their families in this very dangerous job and they’re willing to do it. So, that was one of the things I learned.”
On working with Ali Larter who plays Tommy’s wife, Angela:
Billy Bob Thornton: “She’s not a whole heck of a lot different with me off screen. […] I’ve gotten to know her pretty well and so when we do scenes together, it really mirrors our life off-screen. So, it’s pretty easy to read. And I love those scenes with her. I really do. The great thing, I think, about the dynamic between those two characters is the fact that you know they love each other, even though they’re at each other constantly because they’ve been together a long time and know each other very well. They know each other’s tricks.
[…] We didn’t know each other before season one, but somehow, we just had this thing.”
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris and Ali Larter as Angela Norris in ‘Landman’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller / Paramount+)
On finding the truth in scenes, even when the dialogue is difficult to deliver:
Billy Bob Thornton: “[…] There’s an episode coming up when I read the scene and I was like, ‘You gotta be kidding me.’ Somehow, we made it real and we made it funny and we made it emotional. And it’s always dangerous with Ali, […] you never know when she’s going to hit me in the face. So yeah, sometimes I do see things and I wonder. It’s like, ‘How do we do this?’ What you have to do is you have to find a way to make it honest.
The thing about this show, and I think it may be why this show in particular has been the most successful show for Taylor, is because some of his shows, like Lioness is action, Yellowstone was drama. Landman has humor, it has absurdity, it has heavy drama, emotion, danger, all these different things. So, it kind of covers everything. And that’s the way the old movies were. You know, when we watched the movies of the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s, they always had all of that stuff. I think that’s why people respond to it.
I think one of the charming things about these characters, all of them, is that they say exactly what they say. There’s no holding back. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what art is really supposed to be? Isn’t it supposed to be, there are no rules. There are no fences here. You know, Taylor writes something because that’s what he feels. He made this relationship with Ali and myself, and that’s how they are with each other.
So yes, he says those things to her. Would I say that to my wife? No. My wife is half Mexican, half Irish. I never piss her off. [Laughing] Well, no, I can’t say I never do. I try not to.”
On the reaction of the real oil community and how Landman plays in Texas:
Billy Bob Thornton: “We haven’t really seen this since, remember the movie Giant with Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean? I mean, since Giant, we haven’t really had a real look at the oil business. They had the show Dallas but that was a nighttime soap. I think this is the first thing since Giant that actually did show a look at it. And I’m always interested to see another world. I mean, it doesn’t matter what it is.
Sometimes if they beat it to death, you get kind of sick of it, you know? I mean, how many more horror movies are we going to have where the daughter suddenly becomes possessed in some house they buy in Vermont? You see her down the hallway and she has a white face and makeup dripping down or whatever. But, you know, this oil industry is an interesting thing to look at. It doesn’t matter if you like it or don’t like it. It’s just, this is the way it is, and here’s a look at it. Here’s a look at what happens to the people involved, the people on the periphery of it.
The oil people are very fond of it. I mean, every now and then you get somebody who comes up to you and they say, ‘Well, you would have never used that X14 wrench. You would have used an E32.’ And it’s like, ‘Dude, I don’t write the stuff. I just say it.’
And obviously, when you do anything, you have to take artistic license and maybe heighten the reality of it some way for audiences. You know what I mean? So, if you made an actual movie about the oil business and saw what they do, you might get bored after a little while if you don’t throw in some spicy stuff.
[…] But when you’re looking at a world, it’s not always exactly what it is. Because a movie audience is not going to respond to it if you just show what actually happens every moment.
I had this friend years and years and years ago, he was a very well-known homicide detective in Los Angeles, worked some of the bigger cases, like the Hillside Strangler and different things like this. He was a technical advisor on a couple of movies I wrote, and he said, ‘Have you ever watched a movie about a homicide detective and they’re always chasing somebody down the alley with a .44 Magnum?’ I said, ‘Yeah, and it’s always action.’ He said, ‘Here’s what a homicide detective actually does. They stay in their office, they go through phone bills, they look through receipts, they go visit families and question them and stuff like that.’
He said, ‘In all my years as a homicide detective, I’ve had my gun out of my holster twice, both times to change holsters.’
So when you watch movies about homicide detectives, if there’s action, it’s not reality. But, I mean, the good thing about this particular show is that there actually is, when we show the action stuff, that stuff really does happen. So, you know, we don’t stretch it that far.”
On the joy of returning for a second season:
Billy Bob Thornton: “I just loved doing the show. And the way it ended last season, it ended with a bang. Andy Garcia and I have known each other for years and years and years. We’re old friends, but it’s the first time we’ve worked together. That last scene with Andy and me excited me to see where that was going to go. And we found out, and it’s pretty cool.
Sam Elliott as T.L. and Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy in ‘Landman’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller / Paramount+)
On developing the father-son relationship with series newcomer Sam Elliott:
Billy Bob Thornton: “Once again, Sam and I go back to 1986, and we’d done two things together, both times it was two scenes. We always wanted to have something where we could be together on a daily basis, and it was just one of the joys of my life. I love Sam; I used to tell people that if I were a woman, I would have married Sam Elliott.
Sam and I know each other so well, it’s literally just two guys talking to each other. And my relationship with my father was very difficult. He and I have talked about that at length, and whatever that scene is, we just do it. It comes natural to us. He’s amazing, and I love every minute with him.”
On the partnership between Tommy and Cami:
Billy Bob Thornton: “It’s a little bit strained. I mean, I’m the one who knows how to do this. It’s fallen in her lap because of her husband’s passing, and she has a lot to learn. And when she says to me, ‘Well, if I don’t do this, how am I going to learn if you’re doing everything?’ I said, ‘Trust me, I know these guys. They’re not going to respond to you. They’re going to respond to me. They’ll give you all the, you know, easy deals. The hard ones are going to come to me.’
That’s really our relationship is me trying to explain to her that you kind of need to listen to me because I’ve been doing this a long time. And I know that you were with your husband through this whole thing, and you’re a smart person. You can handle it, but you have to have the information before you can do it.”
On what sets Tommy apart from other roles and how much of himself is in the character:
Billy Bob Thornton: “Well, a lot of me is in it because if I were an oil guy, I’d probably be kind of like that because I’m sort of playing myself in the thing. I can’t take much credit, and Taylor wrote it in my voice. And, you know, I have played characters before. The hardest characters to play are the ones where you have to learn technical stuff. I had to learn a little technical stuff for the oils business. But when I did Armageddon, I had to learn how to be the head guy in NASA. You know, you gotta talk to people. You gotta learn what this stuff means.
When I did Pushing Tin, I went to air traffic control school in Toronto. Those are the harder ones. But when you’re just playing a guy, you know, you just go out there and do it.”
CBS’s Tracker season three, episode four finds Colter (Justin Hartley) spending a little downtime in New Mexico. He’s lost in memories of his dad when Randy (Chris Lee) calls with a potential case. A woman named Gracie is searching for her boyfriend, Trey, and needs help.
(The following is a recap of season three, episode four and there are spoilers.)
The case is a couple hours away in Fort Morris, Texas, and even though Trey has only been gone 15 hours, Gracie seemed scared when Randy spoke with her. Colter takes the case and learns Trey is a veterinarian who didn’t show up for work. Gracie (Chelle Ramos) hasn’t been able to reach him after he missed their date the previous meeting. It’s not like him to ghost her.
It’s obvious Gracie’s holding something back, and she confesses he had more money recently. He never told her where it came from. Colter is her only hope, and the $10,000 she’s offering is all she has.
Randy discovers Trey’s phone last pinged at Bellwood Lodge, which seems to be a place he stays a lot. Randy also confirms Trey’s been making big cash deposits recently.
Reenie’s new assistant, Mel (Cassady McClincy Zhang), is super interested in Colter, and Randy says he has an algorithm that tracks reward offers on missing persons cases. If Colter’s near one, then Randy sends him the details.
Reenie (Fiona Rene) arrives looking hungover and wearing the same clothes from yesterday.
Colter steals a key and investigates Trey’s hotel room. There’s a gift box with a tag that reads Maggie and blood on the floor. Colter’s just barely started his investigation when the maid comes in, and it’s obvious she knows Trey. She doesn’t want any trouble but confirms the “Maggie” on the tag is the sheriff’s wife. The hotel manager walks in, asks Colter what he’s doing, and dismisses the maid. When Colter leaves, the manager calls someone and tells them a man is looking for Trey.
Colter fills Gracie in on what he’s learned, revealing he also found out her name is Maggie Holt and she’s the sheriff’s wife. She apologizes for lying and Colter recommends that she stay away from her husband. Maggie isn’t sure if he had anything to do with Trey’s disappearance.
Two deputies pick up Colter right after his meeting with Maggie, claiming they’re taking him to see Sheriff Holt. He quickly realizes he’s being taken out of town to be disposed of. Colter makes his move from the backseat, grabbing one of the men’s guns, punching him, and then leaping from the truck. They pull over and chase Colter but give up too quickly, believing he’s dead.
Colter’s hurt and thirsty as he walks through the hills without any cell phone service. He takes a bite of a cactus before continuing his trek, spotting cattle and a ranch. There’s a horse outside a house and he borrows it to get back to town.
Colter rides through the center of town and straight to Sheriff Holt’s house. He gets the drop on Holt (Patrick Gallagher) using a gun he took from Holt’s cabinet. Holt says he thought his wife had ended the affair and claims not to know about Trey going missing or about the men who just tried to kill Colter.
Colter informs Holt there are dirty cops working for him, and Holt doesn’t seem shocked. He hands Holt back his gun and Holt confesses he’s been suspicious about some of his guys. Holt doesn’t have the resources to do a thorough investigation but is certain evidence has gone missing. His deputies have taken pay cuts, and that probably led to them finding other sources of income.
Neither Holt nor Colter thinks Trey was working with the dirty cops. Holt has Colter look through files on his officers to see if he recognizes anyone. He points out Wade (Mac Brandt) and Cody (Zelman Gabriel). Holt believes they’re both working for Alonzo Diaz, who’s dealing drugs, running guns, and trafficking women. Alonzo is careful and so far, Holt hasn’t been able to take him down. That’s probably because he’s got Wade and Cody tipping him off when Holt gets close.
Holt and Colter head to the last place that Wade’s phone pinged and follow Wade as he drives off in his truck. Cody isn’t with them, but Colter hopes he’s heading to where they’re holding Trey. Wade stops at Trey’s veterinary clinic and Colter and Holt spring into action. They enter the clinic, guns drawn, and Wade starts shooting. Colter fires back and hits him in the shoulder, demanding to know where they’re holding Trey. Wade won’t say.
Colter sees the alarm’s deactivated, and the horse tranquilizers are missing. Wade continues to swear he doesn’t know where Trey is; he hasn’t heard from Cody in hours. Colter forces him to confirm they both work for Diaz, but they didn’t do anything with Trey. He claims Trey works for Diaz and they took Colter because they thought he was a Fed trying to flip Trey.
Wade says Diaz has quarter horses that Trey fixes up. Diaz pays him to keep his mouth shut about anything he sees.
Colter calls Randy to get into the BBQ restaurant’s security cameras across from the veterinary clinic. They see Trey pull up with a guy they can’t identify, but the car’s license plate is registered to Jimmy Ferris who doesn’t have a record. He was, however, a witness in a murder case that was sealed. Colter asks him to see if Reenie can open that case.
Holt puts out an APB on Jimmy Ferris, a nice kid who moved to town a year ago. Reenie discovers that Jimmy lost his mom during a shooting in which she was an innocent victim. Alonzo Diaz was involved in the investigation. Colter puts the pieces together and thinks Jimmy was following Trey to get to Alonzo, because he wants revenge on Alonzo. He took horse tranquilizers from Trey to use on Alonzo’s horses.
Jimmy holds Trey at gunpoint as Trey drives onto Alonzo’s property. They make it past the armed guards by claiming Jimmy’s a vet tech there to help hold the horses.
Colter and Holt watch the property from a safe distance and spot Trey’s car out front. Cody pulls up as they’re watching and Holt believes Cody’s going to tell Alonzo that Trey flipped, which he didn’t. They don’t have time to come up with a plan.
Colter and Holt sneak around the ranch and find Trey tied up and gagged in the barn. Trey’s shocked to see Holt there too, but Holt assures him they’re there to help. They can discuss Maggie later. Trey confirms Jimmy has been trying to get to Alonzo for years.
Colter has Holt stay with Trey as he heads to the house. Colter sees Jimmy’s holding Alonzo at gunpoint and tries to convince him to walk away. Jimmy tells Alonzo that he killed his mom and he wants to make him pay, but Colter warns him that Alonzo’s men will come running if he pulls the trigger.
Jimmy doesn’t care if he dies; he wants revenge. Colter reminds him that killing Alonzo won’t bring his mom back. Jimmy’s lowering his weapon when one of Alonzo’s men shows up. Colter takes him out as Alonzo and Jimmy shoot each other. Jimmy’s hit and Colter helps him out, taking down multiple members of Diaz’s crew. Only Cody remains, and Holt takes care of him.
Trey immediately begins working on Jimmy’s injury, assuring him he won’t let him die.
Later, the place is crawling with cops as Colter tells Jimmy that he told the sheriff that he shot Alonzo in self-defense. Jimmy’s not sure where he goes from here, now that Alonzo’s dead. Colter shares that someone told him it’s better just to let things go. He believes Jimmy will be okay.
Maggie apologizes to Colter for getting him into this situation. She and Holt will be getting a divorce, and she hands over the reward and thanks him for not quitting on her. “You’re a good man, Colter Shaw,” says Maggie.
Holt tells Colter he’s not going to stand in the way of Maggie’s happiness. They both think Trey just got caught up in something and should be okay if he tells the DA the truth. Colter hands Holt cash to give to the owner of the horse he borrowed. There’s a mutual respect that’s quickly built up between Colter and Holt, and Colter tells him not to hesitate to call if he needs anything.
Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky and Hugh Dillon as Ian in ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ season 4 episode 3 (Credit: Dennis P. Mong Jr./Paramount +)
Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown season four, episode three opens with Mike (Jeremy Renner) arriving at Carney’s house, currently a busy crime scene. Over at the prison, Warden Hobbs (Edie Falco) tells the staff that Carney will be missed.
(The following is a recap of season four, episode three and contains spoilers.)
Kyle (Taylor Handley) is still suffering from the beating, barely able to stand up. Meanwhile, Cortez (Derek Rivera), the Colombian cartel member who shot Carney, is having a leisurely breakfast, and Robert (Hamish Allan-Headley) is cleaning his gun while drinking.
Mike and Ian (Hugh Dillon) watch as Carney’s dead body, eyes still open, is covered by a sheet. Mike leaves Carney’s place and visits his brother, informing him Carney was executed. Kyle’s shocked his lifeline within the prison just got whacked, but Mike tries to assure him it’s not connected to him. Mike doesn’t think Kyle has anything to worry about. Kyle confesses he’s never felt this helpless.
“Stay the course. We’ll get through this together,” says Mike. Next, Mike meets with prison guard Cindy Stephens (Laura Benanti) and tells her to forget everything they previously talked about. She needs to just keep her nose clean and put in the hours, like every other guard at the prison. Mike’s going to figure out another way to keep Kyle safe.
Bunny (Tobi Bamtefa) and Frank Moses (Lennie James) meet at a landfill, and Frank explains that he moves drugs through the trash carried away on trains. Government agencies don’t scan it or care about it. His drug business blends in with the garbage and no one is the wiser. Bunny’s impressed but wants to see every part of the operation before fully trusting Frank.
Their meeting is briefly interrupted with a call informing Bunny his guys on Grape St. took off this morning. Bunny wants them found ASAP.
Kyle’s in so much pain that he takes one of the pills Callahan smuggled to him.
Warden Hobbs’ right-hand man, David Torres (Clayton Cardenas), talks to Stevie (Derek Webster) and Ian about Carney’s murder, walking with them to Carney’s locker. Ian and Stevie obviously don’t like Torres, noting that he tries to look in Carney’s locker before they do. They dismiss him with a “f*ck off,” certain he’s fishing for details on Carney’s death and the investigation.
Carney’s locker is jampacked with junk, and Stevie finds drugs in his shoe. Ian tells Stevie to put it in his pocket as they pack up the rest of Carney’s belongings.
Tobi Bamtefa as Deverin “Bunny” Washington and Lennie James as Frank Moses in ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ season 4 episode 3 (Credit: Dennis P. Mong Jr./Paramount +)
Mike calls Bunny and asks if he or Raph had any side deals with Carney, informing him Carney was murdered. Bunny finally admits he has a guard (Kevin Jackson) inside and after Mike cusses about Bunny keeping that a secret, Mike demands a meeting with the guard. He needs to deal with the guard one-on-one, without Bunny as the middleman. After the call ends, Frank suggests that Bunny shouldn’t be worrying about the prison game anymore.
Bunny continues his tour of Frank’s operations, meeting with Frank’s guys in charge of different parts of Frank’s operations.
Mike, Ian, and Stevie meet at the diner, and it’s weird that they’re the last three of the group still walking around outside. (Robert’s basically on home confinement, Carney’s dead, and Kyle’s in prison.) They fill Mike in on what they found, including a burner phone in Carney’s locker. Plus, he had hash in his shoe. Mike thinks this is all a setup; Carney wasn’t organized or smart enough to keep this side business from them. Ian admits there’s something off about Torres, and Mike believes maybe he planted the stuff they found in Carney’s locker.
Mike is adamant that Carney wasn’t dealing drugs. He confesses he’s not sure what’s up with Warden Hobbs and asks Ian and Stevie to hold off on wrapping up the Carney investigation to make whoever did it sweat.
Later, Ian and Stevie call Mike from the Grape Street apartments, breaking the news that parts of Bunny’s guys were found in a meal delivery box. They believe it’s three bodies, but the heads and torsos are missing. Mike is certain the Colombian cartel is sending a message that they’re not satisfied with just the drug trade in prison; they want to be big players in Kingstown.
Ian and Stevie think Cortez, the Colombian cartel guy they let go, is staying put in his squat house or taking brief trips to the diner. (They’re unaware he killed Carney.) Mike thinks it’s time to bring in Bunny and let him take care of the situation. He calls Bunny and says it’s time for him to bring his hammer down.
Bunny tells Frank that the Colombians took out some of his guys.
Mike finds Shaver from the Aryan Brotherhood on the wrong side of town and beats him up while reminding him it’s not his territory. As if Mike doesn’t have enough on his plate, Rebecca calls to let him know Evelyn and Robert got into it at City Hall and there were witnesses. (Robert’s not supposed to go anywhere near the DA.)
Mike and Ian confront Robert at home, and Robert insists Evelyn spoke to him first. Robert makes the mistake of calling Kyle an incredibly derogatory term and Mike lets it slide, ordering Robert to stay at home and stop stalking Evelyn.
Basically, Kingstown is falling apart, Mike’s overwhelmed, and no one is safe at this point.
Kyle’s in the shower when Carol steps outside for a smoke. She briefly pauses by the guard, watching him before walking out.
Mike meets with Frank and Bunny, and Bunny declares that he’s going to kill the Colombians for chopping up his men. Frank insists he’ll get it done. He might have legitimate businesses, but he knows “how and when to get his hands dirty.” Frank’s right-hand man, LJ, confirms it’s true, but Bunny still wants to get his own revenge. Frank reminds him that as partners they are in this together, and he will avenge Bunny’s loss because it’s his loss, too.
Bunny sets up a meeting between Mike and his guard inside, Kevin Jackson (Denny Love), and Kevin confirms he will keep a close eye on Kyle at all times. Kevin promises to do his best, and Mike warns him they’re friendly-ish until he gives him a reason not to be. Kevin wonders if this is what got Carney killed and Mike says it’s not. Mike promises to look after him if he looks after Kyle.
Taylor Handley as Kyle McLusky in ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ season 4 episode 3 (Credit: Dennis P. Mong Jr./Paramount +)
Back in his cell, Kyle chats with Callahan (Richard Brake) about keeping his head down. Everything Callahan says is meant to make Kyle feel more comfortable confiding in him.
Mike shows up without an appointment to speak with Warden Hobbs, and Hobbs reminds him he needs to go through official channels from now on. Hobbs claims she’s sorry to hear about Carney’s death, but it has nothing to do with her prison. Mike lets her know the KPD investigation is ongoing and it may lead to Anchor. He watches for her reaction and warns her that Kingstown’s messy right now, which means that mess will come into the prison. Hobbs insists her prison is secure and as they talk, it’s obvious how much they dislike and distrust each other.
Ian catches up with Robert at the bar, and Robert’s already drunk, earlier than usual. Robert rants about Evelyn and how she’s taken everything from him. He also talks about how much he’s done for the McLuskys and how Mike doesn’t appreciate it.
Ian drives Robert home and learns that Robert’s wife left and took their kid. Robert’s been home alone, just drinking and sulking. Ian leaves when Robert passes out.
Frank asks if Bunny trusts him and chuckles when Bunny says he does, 60%.
The day ends and Torres tells Warden he believes “it’s contained now.” She claims she knows it is but then shakes while taking a few pills and making sure her gun is on the passenger seat of her car, readily available.
Kyle wakes and finds pills in a packet under his pillow.
Everyone gathers at the bar to pay tribute to Carney, and Carol takes a seat next to Mike. They toast to Kyle and Carney.
Season four episode three ends with two of Frank’s men pulling up outside the Colombian squat house, while inside the saws used to cut up Bunny’s guys are being cleaned in a bathtub. Cortez is in charge. Frank’s men head inside, shooting some cartel members and setting others (and the building) on fire. Dozens of men scurry out the back of the building.
Frank’s guys leave the building, and Cortez kills them. He stands and watches as they burn.
Two-time Emmy winner Tony Hale guest stars as a CEO on CBS’s Elsbeth season three, episode six. Directed by Nick Gomez, episode six—”Bunker Down”—will air on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT.
Carrie Preston returns to star as the titular character. Wendell Pierce is also back as Captain C.W. Wagner for the series’ third season.
“Bunker Down” Plot: When a crisis manager vanishes inside a billionaire’s panic room, Elsbeth unravels the highly equipped fortresses that blur the lines between security and paranoia. Meanwhile, Elsbeth meets the late Judge Crawford’s widow, Winnie (Henny Russell).
Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston returns as Elsbeth Tascioni, the cunning yet unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to track down New York’s most well-heeled murderers utilizing her unique intuitive insight. The critically acclaimed series enters its third season with fresh cases, new characters, and unexpected challenges for Elsbeth and the 11th Precinct, led by her boss, Captain C.W. Wagner (Pierce).
