Paramount+ debuted the full official trailer for the much-anticipated sci-fi series Halo during the AFC Championship Game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs. (The Bengals won in overtime.) The new trailer introduces the key characters and shows off the world in which this adaptation of the popular Xbox game will exist.
The cast of the action thriller’s led by Pablo Schreiber (American Gods) as the Master Chief, Spartan-117; Natascha McElhone (Designated Survivor) as Dr. Halsey, the brilliant, conflicted and inscrutable creator of the Spartan super-soldiers; and Jen Taylor (Halo game series) as Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history, and potentially the key to the survival of the human race.
Season one also stars Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo), Shabana Azmi (Fire), Natasha Culzac (The Witcher), Olive Gray (Half Moon Investigations), and Yerin Ha (Reef Break). The cast also includes Bentley Kalu (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Kate Kennedy (Catastrophe), Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders), Danny Sapani (Penny Dreadful), Ryan McParland (6Degrees), Burn Gorman (The Expanse), and Fiona O’Shaughnessy (Nina Forever).
Paramount+ has set a March 24, 2022 premiere date.
Steven Kane executive produces along with Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank, and Justin Falvey for Amblin Television in partnership with 343 Industries; director Otto Bathurst and Toby Leslie for One Big Picture; and Kyle Killen and Scott Pennington for Chapter Eleven. 343 Industries’ Kiki Wolfkill, Frank O’Connor, and Bonnie Ross are also on board as executive producers.
As a live-action series exclusively for Paramount+, Halo will take place in the universe that first came to be in 2001, with the launch of Xbox®’s first “Halo” game. Dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, HALO the series will weave deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future.
We open Netflix’s Ozark season four episode five with Private Investigator Mel Sattem (Adam Rothenberg) visiting the evidence locker at a police station. He’s talking on the phone with someone while taking out a bag of drugs and snorting a line. Just then the light turns on and another officer catches him.
Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) is in the middle of taking her SATs when she gets up, rips up her paper, and walks out.
Wendy (Laura Linney) and Clare Shaw (Katrina Lenk) are at the casino and Clare’s not happy with the turn of events. Because Javi’s refusing to make opium deliveries, the Byrdes are now working with Ruth (again) and she’ll be the one supplying heroin to Clare’s company. Wendy assures her this is just a temporary solution.
Meanwhile, Ruth’s (Julia Garner) waiting for them with the heroin so that Clare’s trusty sidekick, Connor, can test the authenticity of the drugs. After he tests the drugs, Ruth asks if they have a deal.
Frank Cosgrove Jr. (Joseph Sikora) is getting out of his car when Darlene Snell (Lisa Emery) approaches. Naturally, he backs away after what she did to him in season three. Darlene cuts to the chase and reveals she’s aware he’s not happy his dad backed out of their distribution deal. She insinuates he’s an outsider within his own family and his dad’s now taken away his living.
Darlene’s full of insincere apologies this season and says she’s sorry she shot off his private parts. Of course, Frank Jr. declines to accept the apology. She gives him a sample of her drugs and lets him know she’s got lots of product available for him to sell.
Wendy receives a text from Senator Schafer requesting a meeting and assumes that’s a good thing. Suddenly Marty (Jason Bateman) pulls over and Wendy’s confused. “What did you expect, Wendy?” asks Marty, pointing out the dozens of missing person signs that have been put up in support of her brother, Ben.
The Byrdes are sitting down to dinner when Wendy accuses Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) of being responsible for the missing person posters. With a smirk on his face, he informs her he didn’t do it but admits Darlene did. Marty changes the subject – forever trying to play the peacemaker – and asks Charlotte how the SATs went. She confesses she left in the middle of taking them.
“What’s the point? I’m not going to go to college,” says Charlotte. Marty’s shocked but Wendy isn’t. Wendy says Charlotte’s turning 18 in a couple of months and can make her own decisions.
Marty abruptly gets up and asks Wendy if he can speak with her in the bedroom. They have a private discussion and Wendy reminds him not everyone goes to college. Sarcastically, Marty asks if she’s ever heard of a unified front, pointing out it’s Parenting 101. Wendy being Wendy turns it around on him and asks, “Since when did you become so collaborative, huh? I don’t recall you ever asking me if you could do a mammoth pharmaceutical drug deal with Ruth.”
Marty points out it’s saving their butts and it’s not the same thing as what’s going on with Charlotte. Marty uses this opportunity to point out her brother’s not missing; it might make her feel better to pretend otherwise but this is a problem that won’t go away.
Marty asks Charlotte if she can reach out to Wyatt and have him press Darlene to take those missing person posters down. She wonders if Wendy knows he’s asking her and Marty confirms she doesn’t. Marty hopes this can stay between them.
The following morning Wendy and Marty are discussing their plans for the day when their favorite PI shows up asking if they’ve heard anything from Helen yet. Marty tells him no and Wendy jumps in, adding they haven’t heard from Helen in over a month. To Marty’s shock, Mel asks if that’s because Helen’s dead. He lays out what he thinks happened: her brother killed Helen and the Byrdes are protecting Ben. Wendy wants to know why he would ever think that and Mel explains Helen got Ben tossed in a mental institution. When he got out he was probably upset – and now he’s missing and so is she.
Mel informs Wendy he just got back from North Carolina and spoke with her father, Nathan Davis. Her dad thinks Ben went down to Knoxville. Wendy abruptly ends the conversation and says she’s got to go to work.
Wendy and attorney Jim Rattelsdorf (Damian Young) sit down with Senator Schafer (Bruce Davison) and he asks about her foundation’s dealings with the FBI on corruption cases. Schafer explains he has a difficult family situation; it appears his son got tangled up in a federal wire-fraud net in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Jim rolls his eyes and interjects, “Your son – the federal judge.”
Schafer confesses his grandson, Liam, is caught up as well. Liam built voting machines with some proprietary tech and Schafer says some people “might” have found out about it in advance and made stock offerings. One of those people is his son.
Schafer wants to see the file. If his son’s a target of an investigation, he’s going to want to get out in front of it as privately as possible. Jim asks if this has anything to do with Schafer sitting on their board, and the senator says it’s hard for him to think about sitting anywhere with this hanging over his family. Wendy understands what helping Schafer means. She smiles and lets him know she’ll see what she can do.
After Schafer leaves, Wendy hands Jim the private investigator’s business card. Mel’s been sniffing around and Wendy needs Jim’s help digging up dirt on the PI.
Ruth shows up at the Snell farm for the heroin only to find it’s all gone. Darlene confirms she sold it to Frank Jr. an hour before Ruth got there. Ruth wonders when Darlene was going to inform her of this deal and Darlene’s suspicious of what Ruth was going to do with it. Ruth simply says it’s moot now anyway.
Marty, Clare, and sidekick Connor (David A. MacDonald) are waiting for Ruth, and Clare’s noticeably agitated because Ruth’s late. While they’re waiting Wendy calls Marty and asks him to get a file from Agent Maya Miller in Jefferson City. Marty reminds her he can’t because he’s in the middle of a drug deal. She then asks him to call Maya and have her put it aside; she’ll get it herself.
Ruth finally arrives and wants to talk to Marty alone but Clare won’t allow it. She gives them the bad news that Frank Jr. bought the heroin. Clare wants to know who that is and Marty simply says Kansas City Mob. “How many f**king heroin dealers do you people know?” asks Clare (giving Ozark fans a good chuckle.) Marty actually answers and says just three. Clare threatens to go back to the Tasmanians but Marty insists he’ll fix this.
Before taking off, Clare warns that if they bring down her family’s company she’ll drag him down with them.
Marty demands Ruth call Frank Jr. and, after some choice words, she confirms she already called him. Frank offloaded the drugs to two other buyers and Marty isn’t happy. Ruth points out she told him beforehand she had concerns about the deal. Marty decides to sweeten the deal and give Frank Jr. an extra $100,000 along with an extra $100,000 for each of the other buyers. Ruth wants $100,000 as well and Marty agrees to the new deal.
Wendy stops by Maya Miller’s (Jessica Frances Dukes) place to get the file she needs and Maya wonders what brings Wendy to Jefferson City. Wendy says she had a meeting at the Capital, but when Maya pushes for more Wendy simply smiles. “You like being a big fish in a small pond,” observes Maya.
Wendy switches topics and wants to know where the FBI stands on the Navarro case. Agent Miller reveals they like where it’s going but the key to her is whether or not he’ll agree to do real jail time. Maya offers Marty a job, again, and asks Wendy to let him know.
Wyatt (Charlie Tahan) receives a text message while setting up at the farmers market with Darlene. He excuses himself by claiming he’s getting something to eat.
Wyatt meets up with Charlotte and after some small talk, he apologizes for ghosting her. She apologizes too, confessing she knows her family messed up a lot of things and she’s sorry for that. Charlotte knows Darlene hates them but has a favor to ask anyway.
Marty and Ruth are at Buddy’s mausoleum (where the Byrdes stash their money) and Marty asks how Jonah’s doing. Ruth thinks he’s so good at laundering money at 14 that by the time he’s Marty’s age he’ll leave his dad in the dust.
Wendy looks at the row of missing person posters featuring her brother and has an idea. She pays a visit to the new sheriff (CC Castillo) and fills out an official missing person’s report on her brother. (Some viewers might be left wondering what kind of game she’s playing.) The sheriff’s glad she’s doing this and informs Wendy she even has some tips and possible sightings.
Of course the sheriff questions why Wendy didn’t do this sooner, and Wendy really lays it on thick – tears and all. She claims it was a family issue and they didn’t want to waste the department’s resources. She makes sure to add, “We just miss him so much,” through her tears.
As Wendy’s leaving the station, she calls Darlene and in the sweetest voice she can muster lets her know she’s calling to express her gratitude after Jonah informed her she’s the one who had the missing person posters put up all over town. Wendy claims she really appreciated the support.
“Oh…and also I just filed a missing person report over at the sheriff’s so fingers crossed,” adds Wendy as if it’s an afterthought. Darlene’s only response before hanging up is, “I’m happy to oblige.”
Ruth, Marty, and Connor make a smooth exchange of the heroin they need from the first man Frank Jr. sold it to.
PI Mel’s checking into the Lazy-O when Sam asks Mel how he heard about the place. Mel asks if Jonah Byrde works there, claiming he’s a friend of the family. Mel then asks what Jonah does around the motel and Sam nonchalantly says he handles their finances which, of course, earns him a puzzled look from Mel given that Jonah’s just 14 years old.
Ruth and the gang are waiting for the other guys to bring back the heroin when they pull up, don’t like what they see, and drive off. Frank Jr. calls and asks what’s going on and the man informs him his guys didn’t think it was legitimate. Frank Jr. points out the buyers are throwing in another hundred grand for his troubles, but the dealer thinks he’s sitting there with cops.
Ruth wants to go to the dealer’s house and get the drugs but Frank Jr reveals he can’t go. She insists she’ll go get it and informs him Marty’s also paying her $100,000. She can’t collect it unless she gets the heroin back. Jr.’s worried this will get back to his dad, but Ruth assures him everything will be fine.
Frank Jr. finally apologizes for roughing her up (in season three), saying, “You know, I shouldn’t have roughed you up like that. I’m sorry.” Ruth smiles and admits she probably shouldn’t have thrown him off the boat.
Wendy calls Marthy while he’s on the way to the drug dealer’s house and he’s forced to let her know they’ve hit a speed bump. They’re working on it but he probably won’t be home for dinner. Wendy informs him she gave Schafer the file and he seemed pleased. She also lets him know she got information on Mel and it turns out he’s a former detective who lost his badge due to a little coke problem. But, he was good at his job.
(As they discuss Mel we see the PI’s currently following Jonah.)
Darlene and Wyatt are packing up at the farmers market when Jonah shows up saying he has checks for her to sign. Darlene, abrasive as always, demands to know what Jonah told his mom about the signs. She then accuses him of telling his mother she was going to build the rehabs. Jonah insists he didn’t tell her about them. She begins to lay into him when Wyatt tries to intervene, reminding her Jonah’s just a kid. That just makes Darlene even madder and she threatens Jonah. Darlene questions his loyalty and asks Jonah what his parents did to the sheriff. He coughs up the news that they got rid of his body at the crematorium. She seems satisfied with that answer.
Marty, Ruth, and Connor show up at the second drug dealer’s place to attempt to get the heroin back. Connor volunteers to go in and shoot everyone. Marty nixes that; they aren’t going to kill anyone. Ruth says she’ll go in and Marty tries to protest but she knows he won’t do it himself.
Sidekick Connor jumps on the phone with Clare and attempts to get the go-ahead to go in guns blazing. (It must be the former Marine in him.) Marty demands to talk to Clare and gets Clare’s word she’ll give Ruth five more minutes before sending Connor in.
The drug dealer plays a video game while giving Ruth a hard time, obviously not convinced she isn’t a cop. He makes a ridiculous suggestion, telling her to leave the cash and come back in the morning for the drugs. She’s adamant she isn’t leaving without the drugs. She tries to throw around Omar Navarro’s name in an attempt to intimidate him but it doesn’t work.
Ruth continues to get lippy and he has one of his men slap her across the face.
Back at the car, Connor calls Clare and explains it’s been seven minutes. She gives him the okay to go in. In a last-ditch effort, Marty strips Connor of his gun and demands he remain at the car. It’s not in the least bit surprising that doesn’t work and Connor’s able to disarm Marty and hit him. Before things can escalate, Ruth comes back with the drugs.
Wendy and Jim meet with Senator Schafer who’s now in spirits. Schafer assures them he’s joining the Byrde Foundation board. Wendy can’t let it go and asks why she gets the feeling this is more than just stock trading. Wendy keeps probing and Schafer finally explains his grandson developed a state-of-the-art program and one of the engineers might have been considering spilling details about the technology. After Senator Schafer leaves, Wendy realizes the grandson’s technology can suppress votes.
Wyatt suggests to Darlene the missing person posters might be going too far and could be upsetting Ruth. She wants to know who’s asking him to confront her about the posters, even though she knows who’s behind it. She reminds Wyatt she only has one rule: never lie to her.
Ruth returns home and finds Mel on her doorstep. He asks about Helen and if Ben ever hit her because he has a drug problem. Upset, Ruth says Ben never had a drug problem.
Season four episode five ends with a shocking scene between the series’ two most vicious women. Darlene shows up at the Byrdes’ place and thinks she’s got the upper hand (and maybe once upon a time she did) by letting Wendy know her own boy ratted her out about the sheriff. Wendy plays dumb and thanks Darlene for letting them work with Ruth. Darlene has no clue what she’s talking about so Wendy fills her in on what transpired with her heroin. Darlene doesn’t respond to that bit of news and instead demands she keep Charlotte away from Wyatt. Wendy assures her she’ll do nothing of the kind.
As Darlene’s about to let Wendy really have it, Wendy gets in her face. Darlene collapses on the ground and appears to be having a heart attack. Wendy ghoulishly sits on the ground next to Darlene and watches her writhe in pain.
Paramount+ gave 1883 fans a two-week break to recuperate from the devastating events in episode five, returning on January 30, 2022 with season one episode six, “Boring The Devil.” The group is preparing to get on the move as the episode begins and Elsa (Isabel May) remains inconsolable, stretched out in the back of the family’s wagon and crying over the tragic death of her first love, Ennis.
In a voiceover, Elsa reveals her mother’s tried to assure her the pain will fade but at this point, the wound’s still too fresh to even think about going on with life without Ennis.
Shea (Sam Elliott), Thomas (LaMonica Garrett), and James (Tim McGraw) spot a group of cowboys working cattle and Thomas suggests they try and hire away some of the men as well as the cook. “You can’t mess with an outfit’s cook. You steal their cattle, they wouldn’t be madder,” replies Shea.
That said, Shea’s still determined to hire a cook and more men at their first opportunity.
Elsa discovers she’s started her period. She won’t be raising a baby on her own after all.
Elsa finds an unlikely shoulder to lean on in Shea. He knows how she feels and has been in her place not that long ago. Shea admits he struggles with going on with his life without his family, and every day he still considers why he should continue to exist.
Elsa wonders why he chooses to keep on living and he confesses his reasons are different from hers. At least she still has a family who loves her. He’s alone.
Shea lets Elsa in on his well-kept secret. He passes on wisdom delivered to him by an Apache scout, explaining he believes that when you love someone you trade pieces of your souls. When his wife died, he retained a piece of her within him. He’s heading to the ocean and when he arrives he’ll sit on the beach and allow her to see the ocean through his eyes. That was her dream; his dream is to see her again. (Absolutely fantastic writing and acting in this scene.)
Elsa’s obviously moved by Shea’s story and by this quiet conversation she’s shared with the usually gruff cowboy. As he walks away, he says the herd could really use its cowgirl back in her saddle.
Elsa looks to the heavens for a few moments and then fetches her horse. She’s ready to get back to work.
The group pauses to do business with traders, and Thomas offers to help Noemi (Gratiela Brancusi) sell her husband’s belongings. He doesn’t think she should deal with the traders and instead should remain behind to keep her children safe.
Noemi wants to sell her husband’s shotgun, but Thomas advises her she’ll need it. He also offers to teach her how to use it.
Margaret (Faith Hill) swaps places with James and joins Elsa watching over the herd. Elsa doesn’t want to leave her post, but Margaret asks her to accompany her to do business with the traders. Wade (James Landry Hébert) asks for a chocolate bar and Margaret assures him she’ll buy one if they have any for sale.
Mother and daughter receive plenty of stares from the mostly male traders as they ride through the marketplace. Elsa calls out one man who won’t stop staring and he makes a huge mistake by telling her she dresses like she enjoys the attention. She pulls out her pistol and aims for his head. Margaret calls out to James who’s nearby helping John find something to buy. He arrives just as the man has also pulled out his gun while taunting Elsa.
James places his pistol to the side of the man’s head and assures him he’s willing to use it. The man holsters his weapon and James warns he’ll be keeping an eye out for him in the future. The man claims he’s heading to Fort Worth and James suggests he get on his way immediately.
After the stranger rides off, James makes Elsa hand over her gun. He warns her never to point it at anyone unless she’s going to use it, and Elsa assures her dad she was going to shoot the obnoxious stranger. James sends her back to camp and, surprisingly, she rides off without saying another word.
Margaret enters a store and the proprietor, Carolyn – played by Rita Wilson (hubby Tom Hanks cameoed in episode 2) – witnessed the altercation. “Pretty short fuse on that girl,” she says. Margaret agrees and then reveals she’s the girl’s mom after the woman makes a rude comment about Elsa’s upbringing.
Carolyn offers to make up for her error with a free lemonade. Margaret turns it down but says yes to the follow-up offer of a whiskey punch. Margaret’s amazed to discover the woman has ice, and they toast each other before sipping their drinks.
Minutes later, they’re like old friends relaxing in chairs outside Carolyn’s store. They have fun chatting while drinking.
Elsa returns to the herd and Wade asks about the trading post. She claims it wasn’t worth going and Wade says they never are. According to Wade all a cowboy (or cowgirl) needs is stars for a blanket, the ground for a bed, a good horse, and open country.
Back at the trading post, Thomas attempts to hire a cook who has his own chuck wagon. Thomas promises once the journey’s done he’ll put the man and his wagon on a train and send him wherever he wants. The deal’s struck as long as Thomas guarantees they’ll play by the man’s rules when it comes to meals.
The freshly hired cook asks for $600 to stock up since he won’t have another opportunity to do so until they reach Wyoming. He visits Carolyn’s store and leaves with plenty of fresh supplies.
Thomas sells Noemi’s husband’s belongings for $35 and then tosses in his own $15 to purchase a beautiful mirror. (This really seems to be an unnecessary extravagance for a man who claims not to want to be in a relationship with the pretty widow.)
Thomas successfully hired a cook and Shea’s also successful at hiring a cowboy named Colton to assist with the cattle and with keeping the group safe. Although Colton was initially hesitant, he changed his tune when he spotted Elsa on horseback.
The newcomer knows Wade well and asks about Elsa. Wade explains she and Ennis were a couple until Ennis took a bullet during an attack by bandits. Wade assures Colton that Elsa “won’t be in the mood” for him, but he doesn’t listen to the warning.
Colton attempts to introduce himself and Elsa gives him the cold shoulder. It’s not until Colton reveals he was a friend of Ennis’ and is sorry to hear he was murdered that Elsa actually pays attention. Colton thought Ennis was a good man and offers to help in any way he can.
Colton returns to Wade and says, “They were more than paired up. She’s acting like a damn widow.” Wade agrees and says Elsa is a widow.
James rides up with John and Elsa barely reacts. He warns her not to go looking for trouble, but Elsa insists trouble found her; she wasn’t looking for it.
Shea needs James’ help and James attempts to pass off John to Elsa to take to her mom. However, Elsa shocks the men when she reveals Margaret hasn’t returned from the trading post. James and Shea ride back to the post and spot Margaret’s horse outside a building. James checks around inside and she’s not there. He’s becoming increasingly concerned by the minute until he hears laughter from nearby.
James finds his wife and Carolyn obviously drunk and having a good ol’ time. They’re nearly rolling on the floor with laughter but James remains serious as he announces he has to go study the river. He doesn’t even crack a smile as he walks away shaking his head.
Margaret’s so tipsy she falls out of her rocking chair while Carolyn laughs hysterically.
James, Shea, and Thomas check out the nearby river and it’s going to be another incredibly difficult crossing. James believes the best way to cross is if they handle the wagons themselves and then use the small rowboats currently resting on the bank to take the immigrants over one at a time. Shea’s upset this will be a two-day delay and after James walks away, Thomas reminds him he doesn’t need to do what James suggests. Shea admits he’s actually angry because James is right. If they do it any other way, it will result in multiple deaths.
James retrieves his passed-out wife and as they make their way back to camp, she tells him she’ll never forgive him for what this journey has cost Elsa. “I look in her eyes and the person staring back at me I don’t recognize,” says Margaret. James confesses he doesn’t forgive himself and then rides away.
That night James joins Elsa watching over the herd and shares the story of the first man he killed. James never speaks about his time in the Civil War but now he describes shooting a boy who was a flag bearer for the Union army. They always took out the flag bearer first to confuse the enemy, and James confesses the boy’s face was burned into his brain. However, by the time the battle was over he’d killed so many men he could no longer picture his face. He still can’t to this day.
“That man you shot was already dead,” says James. He assures her she isn’t a murderer; that man would have either been hung or bled out anyway.
Elsa listens carefully with tears in her eyes as her dad continues to pour his heart out in hopes of soothing her broken one. “The meanest thing you can do to yourself is hate somebody else. I know what it feels like to hate the world. You don’t want to feel it, honey,” says James. He assures her it’s okay to be sad and cry, but not to hate.
“You leave hating to me,” says James before riding back to camp.
Thomas pays a visit to Noemi and tells her he got $35 for her items. She offers him a tasty stew of rabbit and rattlesnake, revealing she figured out how to use the shotgun. Thomas hands her the mirror and she’s shocked he’s giving her a gift. Thomas claims he bought her a present because she’s scared and sad, but Noemi’s confused since he won’t marry her yet wants her happy and safe.
“Me letting you take care of me is not fear – it’s loving you back,” says Noemi.
Noemi removes her clothing and closes the gap between them. She assures Thomas he’s the scared one, not her. She leans in for a kiss and Thomas doesn’t pull away.
The following morning Elsa wakes from sleeping in the grass and recalls being with Ennis and loving everything about him. These memories of their short time together bring a sense of peace and in a voiceover she reveals she can see in color once again.
She rides up to Colton and introduces herself as Elsa after having refused to share her name the first time he asked. She warns him not to flirt with her and then steals Ennis’ line, teasing that Colton’s too pretty for her.
Margaret and James are still a little at odds in the morning, and she doesn’t immediately embrace his suggestion that she ride his horse across the river while he handles the wagon. James doesn’t care if she forgives him; he’s not willing to lose her to a river.
Margaret forgives him and the discussion’s over.
Shea and Elsa share another quiet conversation before the hectic day begins. He’s happy there’s a spring in her step again, and she confesses he’s the only one who talked to her about Ennis. She thanks him and gives him a sweet peck on the cheek while smiling.
Elsa’s horse loves the water and she rides out into the river while Shea watches her, obviously moved by the simple act of gratitude. It’s also obvious he sees his own deceased daughter in this fierce young lady.
The episode ends with Elsa’s voiceover explaining they’re about to leave Texas and enter Indian territory.
CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted made news during the break between season three episodes 11 and 12 with the announcement of a major casting change. Series star Julian McMahon announced he’s leaving the show, with his final episode as Special Agent Jess LaCroix set to air on March 8, 2022. Dylan McDermott will be joining the cast as a series regular beginning in April.
McMahon spoke to Deadline about his upcoming departure, saying, “Over the past few months, the producers of FBI: Most Wanted and I have had discussions about my departure from the show in favor of additional creative pursuits and the transition of my character Jess LaCroix. These ongoing conversations have given us an opportunity to orchestrate a seamless and productive way for me to leave the show.”
Season three episode 12 was directed by Ludovic Littee from a script by Wendy West. “El Pincho” will air on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.
The season three cast includes Alexa Davalos as Special Agent Kristin Gaines, YaYa Gosselin as Natalia “Tali” LaCroix, and Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes. Keisha Castle-Hughes plays Special Agent Hana Gibson and Miguel Gomez is Special Agent Ivan Ortiz.
Migs Govea, Stephen Rider, Ramón Franco, Molly Burnett, Ana Isabelle, and Tasha Lawrence guest star.
“El Píncho” Plot: The team searches for a notorious Colombian drug lord after he escapes from a U.S. prison. Also, Kristin begins to open up to her ex-husband about her past.
FBI: Most Wanted Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
From Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf and the team behind FBI and the Law & Order brand, FBI: Most Wanted is a high-stakes drama that focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, an elite unit that relentlessly pursues and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted list.
Led by Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix, an expert tracker and profiler with a complicated past, the team includes: Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, a former NYPD detective and forensics expert who is raising one child with her wife with another on the way; Special Agent Hana Gibson, a gifted millennial computer whiz with a sharp wit and mad hacking skills; and Special Agent Kenny Crosby, a young Army vet and brash Oklahoma farm boy who specializes in weapons and tactics; Special Agent Ivan Ortiz, a transplant from Los Angeles with a street cop’s instincts and a gift for undercover work; and their newest member, Special Agent Kristin Gaines, a Navy veteran who became a star in the FBI’s Miami Field Office as a result of her dogged pursuit of cold cases.
Always in the field and always on the run, FBI: Most Wanted is a weekly adrenaline shot about the thrill of the chase.
Pam (Lily James) and Tommy (Sebastian Stan) in ‘Pam & Tommy’ (Photo by: Erin Simkin/Hulu)
Hulu’s limited series Pam & Tommy examines the impact a stolen sex tape had on not just the personal lives of the tape’s subjects—model/actress Pamela Anderson and Motley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee—but also how the unauthorized release of their private moments affected the course of Pamela Anderson’s career. Adapted from a 2014 Rolling Stone article by Amanda Chicago Lewis and unfolding over eight riveting episodes, Pam & Tommy is the redemption story Anderson deserves given the horrific treatment she received at the hands of the judicial system and the media.
This wild and incredibly entertaining tale of the world’s first celebrity sex tape to hit the internet is filled with so many bizarre moments that the pause button gets a good workout to allow quick online fact-checking. Did Pamela Anderson (played by Lily James, Baby Driver) and Tommy Lee (played by Sebastian Stan, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) really marry after just 96 hours? Yes, they did. Did Tommy Lee really carry on a lengthy conversation with his talking penis? According to his memoir, he did. It’s also true that neither Pamela Anderson nor Tommy Lee ever intended for their private sex tape to be watched by strangers the world over. They didn’t leak the tape, although odds are most people assume they did for either publicity or financial gain.
The limited series’ third key player is the man responsible for putting Anderson and Lee…mostly Anderson…through hell. Seth Rogen plays Rand Gauthier, a contractor who plots revenge on Tommy Lee after the rocker fires him from a remodeling job at his mansion and adds insult to injury by refusing to pay for the work he’s completed. Rand leaves without taking his tools and when he returns to retrieve them, Tommy waves a shotgun in his face and orders him off the property without his tools.
Speaking of tools, Rand isn’t the sharpest one in the shed. Although he comes across as a good-natured rube, he latches onto the idea of getting even for the offense caused by Tommy Lee and won’t let it go. After stalking Tommy and Pamela for days and noting their movements in a journal, he devises an incredibly strange plan to get what he believes he’s owed. His ludicrous plan involves disguising himself as a dog, stealing a safe from Tommy’s garage, and escaping in a U-Haul. (And yes, Pam & Tommy’s depiction follows the real Gauthier’s recollection of events.)
The private sex tape shot by Tommy is, unfortunately, among the items inside the safe. Rand’s apparently dabbled in the porn industry and uses his contacts to figure out a way to make money off of this stolen video. He basically stumbles onto the idea of putting the video onto the internet, which was just in its infancy in the mid-90s when the theft occurred. (Remember when connecting to the internet involved dial-up modems that made funky sounds while logging on? Those were the days, am I right?)
Millions viewed the tape and Pamela Anderson attempted to fight back to no avail. The unauthorized release of the sex tape wreaked havoc on the couple’s personal lives and caused Anderson’s acting opportunities to plummet and her career to pretty much flatline.
Sebastian Stan is terrific as a rocker on the downside of his career, but it’s Lily James who steals the spotlight throughout Pam & Tommy. James disappears into character with help from the extraordinary hair and makeup team. So complete is her transformation that there’s never a single instance in the eight episodes in which James the actress is not fully Pamela Anderson. James’ performance is passionate and nuanced, and the awards buzz is well-deserved.
Best known for playing Lady Rose MacClare on the critically acclaimed Downton Abbey, James’ stunning transformation and complete commitment to being Pamela Anderson is her best work to date.
Lily James as Pam Anderson (Photo by: Erin Simkin/Hulu)
I may have caught an episode or two of Baywatch over the years, but never deliberately tuned into the series. I’ve also never been a fan of Motley Crue. Honestly, I’d put my interest in learning anything about either Pamela Anderson or Tommy Lee at right around zero prior to Pam & Tommy. It’s still close to zero for Lee, who comes off as an entitled jerk for most of the eight episodes. However, Pamela Anderson emerges from this series as a truly impressive—and surprisingly fierce—feminist.
Of course artistic license was taken in bringing the sordid tale of their stolen sex video to life. Yet much of what plays out over the course of the limited series is lifted from true events. If even half of what’s portrayed is actually real, then we all owe Pamela Anderson an apology for treating her as nothing more than a D-list celeb famous for her body rather than her talent or intellect.
It’s appalling that Pamela Anderson was treated like a slut, even though millions were privy to her very private moments against her will and without her permission. Had this theft occurred in recent years, Anderson would have been surrounded and embraced by her peers and other supporters, particularly those involved in the #MeToo movement. Anderson wasn’t afforded the benefit of the doubt and her story, although belatedly told in this limited series, is tragic and infuriating.
GRADE: A-
The first three episodes of Pam & Tommy premiere on Hulu on February 2, 2022. New episodes arrive on subsequent Fridays leading up to the limited series’ finale on March 9th.
Robert Siegel and DV DeVincentis wrote, executive produced, and served as co-showrunners. Craig Gillespie directed and also served as an executive producer along with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Chip Vucelich, Sarah Gubbins, Dave Franco, Dylan Sellers, Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle, and Ali Krug.
Pam & Tommy Cast: Lily James: Pamela Anderson
Sebastian Stan: Tommy Lee
Seth Rogen: Rand Gauthier
Nick Offerman: Uncle Miltie
Taylor Schilling: Erica
Andrew Dice Clay: Butchie
Pepi Sonuga: Melanie
Spencer Granese: Steve
Mozhan Marnò: Gail
Netflix’s upcoming documentary series RACE: Bubba Wallace shines the spotlight on the personal life and professional racing career of NASCAR’s only full-time Black driver. The just-released trailer features clips from Wallace’s career and highlights his activism within professional racing, including prompting NASCAR to ban Confederate flags from their events.
“This is unlike any project I’ve ever participated in; it’s a raw, emotional, and completely transparent account of the events that took place throughout the 2020 and 2021 NASCAR seasons. With me, what you see is what you get. You’ll witness the peaks and valleys of the sport and see how one’s actions off of the race track are just as important as the ones on it,” said Wallace. “One of the most compelling pieces of the series is the additional insight the viewers will gain by hearing from my peers, family and some of my partners that played a role in this monumental journey. Join me as we break down barriers, confront controversy, and welcome a new fan base to the sport of NASCAR.”
Erik Parker (L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later) directed the docuseries and serves as an executive producer along with NASCAR’s Matt Summers, Tim Clark, and Tally Hair. Executive producers also include 300 Studios’ Kevin Liles, Nolan Baynes, and Kelly G. Griffin as well as Boardwalk Pictures’ Andrew Fried, Dane Lillegard, Jordan Wynn, and Sarina Roma.
The six episode docuseries will premiere on February 22, 2022.
RACE: Bubba Wallace Synopsis, Courtesy of Netflix:
Both the personal and professional tracks of race car driver Bubba Wallace’s life are chronicled in this new docuseries. With exclusive access to Wallace during the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, his first with Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing, the series traces his rise to the elite ranks of NASCAR as the only full-time Black driver and the turbulent aftermath that followed his decision to speak out about racial injustice.
Over the course of six episodes Wallace reckons with who he is on and off the track, finding himself as both a driver and an activist. He confronts his mental health issues and permanently alters the notoriously white and conservative sport of racing by inspiring the ban on the Confederate flag. While dealing with the stress of competition and the public fallout both at the track and on social media from his stand, Wallace is supported in his efforts by his family and members of the racing community.
The series includes appearances by Bubba’s fiancée and family members, his team behind-the-scenes, 23XI Racing co-owner and top NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, fellow drivers Kyle Busch and Richard Petty, NASCAR executives, as well as commentators Michael Strahan, Jemele Hill, and W. Kamau Bell who help contextualize what it means to be the only Black individual in a white space.
The Vampire Diaries‘ Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson are teaming up once again for the supernatural drama Dead Day, based on the Aftershock comic book by Ryan Parrott. Peacock’s given the adaptation a straight-to-series order, with Plec and Williamson on board as co-showrunners.
Plec and Williamson are also writing and executive producing Dead Day, with comic book writer Parrott on board as a consulting producer.
“We have been looking for a project to do together and Dead Day has all the ingredients we love as storytellers. Love, death, thrills and tears — and we know Susan Rovner and her team at Peacock is the perfect fit for this project,” stated Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson.
The Universal Television and AfterShock Media production has Ben Fast, Emily Cummins, Lee Kramer, Jon Kramer, and David Sigurani also attached as executive producers.
“Dead Day combines an exciting, high-concept premise with relatable characters and real emotion,” said Lisa Katz, president scripted content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “We jumped at the opportunity to work with Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, who not only have tremendous individual track records with their high-quality storytelling, but have created magic together before.”
“We realized because of Dead Day‘s unique, universally appealing concept that this AfterShock Comic would capture the audience’s imagination worldwide. And none of this would be possible without this recognition from our amazing partners: Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson, Universal Television, Peacock and Ryan Parrott, the creator of Dead Day,” stated AfterShock Media’s Lee and Jon Kramer.
Julie Plec’s résumé includes The Vampire Diaries, Legacies, The Originals, The Tomorrow People, and Kyle XY. She’s currently working on Vampire Academy based on Richelle Mead’s bestselling novels and set up at Peacock. Plec co-created the series and serves as a co-showrunner.
Kevin Williamson created the Scream franchise as well as The Vampire Diaries, The Following, Stalker, Time After Time, and Tell Me a Story series.
Peacock released the following description of Dead Day:
Dead Day follows an ensemble of characters as they navigate the annual “dead day,” when for one night the dead come back to complete unfinished business — be that to celebrate a night back on earth or to torment the living. (The hit comic-book series was recently greenlit for Volume 2).
The official trailer for Netflix’s Space Force season two finds General Naird (Steve Carell) given just five months to turn things around or he’ll lose control of the force. The season two trailer also finds John Malkovich pulling off a prank, cucumbers munched, and astronauts reciting “whatever happens on the Moon, stays on the Moon.”
Season two regulars include Carell, Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Tawny Newsome, Diana Silvers, Jimmy O. Yang, and Don Lake. Carell, Howard Klein, Brent Forrester, Ken Kwapis, Greg Daniels, and Norm Hiscock executive produce, with Daniels and Hiscock serving as showrunners.
The seven-episode second season will premiere on February 18, 2022.
The Space Force Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
A decorated pilot with dreams of running the Air Force, four-star general Mark R. Naird (Carell) is thrown for a loop when he finds himself tapped to lead the newly formed sixth branch of the US Armed Forces: Space Force. Skeptical but dedicated, Mark uproots his family and moves to a remote base in Colorado where he and a colorful team of scientists and ‘Spacemen’ are tasked by the White House with getting American boots on the moon (again) in a hurry and achieving total space dominance.
Season 2 of Space Force picks up with General Naird and his underdog team having to prove their worth to a new administration while dealing with interpersonal challenges. Will the group come together or fall apart under the pressure…? Space Force is only human after all.
NBC’s This Is Us season six episode four filled in some gaps in Jack’s backstory by focusing on his relationship with his mother. Season six episode five appears to focus on Kevin’s relationship with Cassidy Sharp (played by returning guest star Jennifer Morrison, Once Upon a Time) and is set to air on Tuesdays, February 1, 2022.
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.
“Heart and Soul” Plot: Kevin visits the construction site. Malik and Deja share controversial news at dinner.
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 (Chrissy 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.
Jennifer Morrison as Cassidy and Justin Hartley as Kevin in ‘This Is Us’ season 6 episode 5 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Lyric Ross as Deja, Eris Baker as Tess, and Faithe Herman as Annie in season 6 episode 5 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Justin Hartley as Kevin and Caitlin Thompson as Madison in the “Heart and Soul” episode (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Griffin Dunne as Nicky and Justin Hartley as Kevin in season 6 episode 5 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Vanessa Bell Calloway as Edie in season 6 episode 5 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth and Sterling K. Brown as Randall in season 6 episode 5 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
Netflix’s Ozark season four episode four opens with Wendy (Laura Linney) speaking to the press about the Byrde Foundation and why the Byrde family decided to team up with Shaw Medical Solutions. As Wendy’s delivering her song and dance routine – once again attempting to pull at her audiences’ heartstrings by bringing up that her brother suffers from mental illness and addiction – Private Investigator Mel Sattem’s right there in his car listening to it all.
As Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) drops Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) off at school, she lets him know she’ll be helping their mom out at the office. He asks about her SAT prep, reminding her it’s important and that she shouldn’t skip it just to make their mom happy. She insists she’s not skipping it and says she’ll make it up.
Ruth (Julia Garner) calls Jonah and asks him to come over because they have too much cash and need to wash it. She’s forced to deal with an employee who’s stealing from people at the motel and complains to Jonah that she didn’t realize she would have to actually be in charge of the place. Jonah suggests she hire someone too stupid to understand what’s going on around there. A light bulb goes off in her head.
Cue clueless Sam Dermody (Kevin L. Johnson). The Byrdes have talked him into a lot of sketchy things over the past four seasons, and he now has a gambling addiction one could blame the Byrdes for. Ruth finds him gambling on horse races and offers him a manager position at the Lazy-O Motel.
Marty’s traveling with Javi Elizonndro (Alfonso Herrera) and has no choice but to listen in as Javi engages in a heated discussion on the phone. Marty plays dumb and asks if he needs to be worried about whatever Javi’s worried about. (Remember, in season four episode three Javi’s shipment of guns was seized by the FBI). Marty tries to downplay the situation saying it’s just a small percentage that was lost. Javi points out this was the third time it’s happened and normally it’s the DEA doing busts but this time it’s the FBI. Javi asks Marty to have his informant (Agent Miller) poke around. Marty says he’ll ask her but Javi decides he wants to do it himself and asks for her number. Marty refuses to hand it over, claiming she’ll only deal with him.
Marty and Javi show up to drop off opium to Clare Shaw’s pickup man. And at the same time, Wendy and Clare (Katrina Lenk) are wrapping up their meeting when Clare receives a text that the shipment is on the way. She lets Wendy know she’ll get her first installment payment in the morning.
Javi acts completely creepy and says Marty should have told Charlotte hello for him. Javi’s drinking and driving, and Marty wisely takes the flask and places it out of Javi’s reach.
Kerry Stone (Eric Ladin) turns up at the Lazy-O Motel and wants to take Ruth to the casino, even though Ruth’s on the no-admittance list.
Charlotte calls her dad and lets him know Ruth’s there with high rollers. He instructs her to let Ruth and the group in.
Ruth’s at the bar getting water when she sees Wendy on the news talking about her Ben. It’s obvious she’s furious at Wendy and her manipulative ways.
Marty and Wendy take a break from money laundering and drug cartels to discuss Ben while being domestic and washing dishes. Marty thinks it’s a really bad idea to talk about Ben during these press conferences. Apparently, Wendy doesn’t want to hear it and storms off.
Ruth, Kerry, and his friends party at the casino and gamble big bucks. The scene flips back and forth between Ruth playing craps and Kerry making frequent trips to the bathroom to snort heroin. He ODs and Ruth brings him back with a shot of naloxone.
Marty and Wendy show up as Kerry’s being taken to the ambulance. Ruth tells them Kerry Stone OD’d and Wendy asks where he got the heroin. Ruth claims not to know. Ruth attempts to turn it around on Wendy stating that’s all she cares about – how something affects her or her business, not the fact someone almost died tonight. Wendy correctly points out someone almost died tonight because of her.
Kerry’s driver takes Ruth to Darlene’s and Ruth’s forced to confess she messed up. Ruth explains what happened and assures Darlene she covered their tracks. Unfortunately, Kerry’s driver won’t stop talking and tries to blackmail Darlene. And that goes over just how we would anticipate; Darlene shoots him dead and tells Ruth which field’s best to use to bury him. With that, Darlene heads off to bed and leaves Ruth and Wyatt to deal with the dead driver.
Wyatt (Charlie Tahan) begins to cry after burying the body. Ruth says he can stay at the trailer if he wants.
PI Mel Sattem takes a road trip to see Wendy and Ben’s father, while Wendy tries to clean up the mess Ruth made at the casino by doing some PR. Wendy’s committed to continuing to tell sob stories about her brother, Ben. Marty listens to her phone call and warns her she can’t talk about Ben like that because it’s reckless.
Marty’s proven to be right when Wendy’s father, Nathan Davis (Richard Thomas), speaks to the PI and tells him he didn’t even know Ben was missing. Mel brings up Ben’s “drug problem” and Nathan’s taken aback by that statement. He claims his son didn’t have a drug problem. Mel informs him Wendy said he does and that she’s opening up drug treatment facilities to help other families deal with addiction. Nathan responds with, “Well, she lost the path a long time ago. I wouldn’t put much stock in what she says.”
Ruth wakes up to Sheriff Guerrero (CC Castillo) knocking on her door. Guerrero wants to know what she was doing at the Missouri Belle with Kerry Stone and appears suspicious that someone like her is hanging out with a celebrity chef. Guerrero also informs her they’re having trouble tracking down Kerry’s driver.
The sheriff also has questions for Marty and Wendy. She asks if they have ever had a drug problem at their casino before and wonders why Ruth doesn’t work for them anymore. Wendy takes this opportunity to point the sheriff in Ruth’s direction. “She quit, actually. Said she was looking for something bigger,” says Wendy.
That piques the sheriff’s interest and she asks what that bigger something is. Marty jumps in and informs her Ruth bought the Lazy-O Motel. As the sheriff wonders where Ruth got the money to buy that place, Wendy jumps back on the “make Ruth look suspicious” train and cuts Marty off. She supplies the information that Ruth said she was trying to work with her cousin Wyatt who lives with Darlene Snell. Wendy also suggests that maybe Darlene helped her out with an influx of cash.
After the sheriff leaves Marty asks Wendy what that was all about, correctly accessing the situation and fully aware Wendy was pointing her straight at Ruth. Wendy doesn’t think they have any reason to protect Ruth at this point. Marty reminds her their son’s working for Ruth and if she goes down so will he. Wendy cold-heartedly says, “Maybe it’s the best thing for him.”
Marty angrily demands she tell him she’s joking, but Wendy just responds that Jonah’s a juvenile. His record will be sealed when he’s 18.
Javi visits one of his drivers who got raided in jail and wants details on what happened. The driver informs him there were maybe three or four FBI agents, and Javi asks if any of them was a woman. The driver claims he didn’t see anyone’s face. Javi asks his lawyer if she can get the bodycam footage.
Wyatt and Ruth return to Darlene’s and she apologies to Wyatt about the previous evening. Darlene changes her tune toward Ruth and brings up Wendy being on the news and how she told an awful lie about Ruth’s boyfriend. “I’m sorry you had to hear all that nonsense. That snake of a woman is a goddamn curse,” says Ruth. Clearly, she has an angle here; Darlene apologizing is a strange thing to hear.
After Ruth leaves Darlene tells Wyatt she needs his help with something.
Kerry’s out of the hospital and checking out of the Lazy-O Motel when Ruth pulls up. Kerry lets her know he’s not coming back and they’re done. He’s not going to be involved in any future drug deals.
Wendy’s father calls her and, skipping right past the pleasantries, asks, “Were you planning on telling me that your brother is missing?” He seems to be more worried about how that made him look than hearing that his son’s missing from a stranger. Instead of answering, Wendy rips the phone out of the wall and walks away.
Javi hasn’t shown up at the opium drop-off and when Marty questions where he is, Javi reveals there’s a mole somewhere in the organization because Agent Maya Miller was at the raid. Marty asks if Javi thinks he’s the mole and points out that he doesn’t know where his drops are located. Javi explains that’s the only reason why Marty’s still alive right now.
The episode ends with Javi messing everything up by announcing he’s not making any further deliveries until he knows what’s going on. Marty calls Wendy while she’s sitting down having lunch with Clare Shaw and lets her know about the problem. Clare also receives a phone call that there hasn’t been a delivery. Wendy promises Clare they will fix this.
Wendy calls Navarro for help but he lets her know he can’t intervene; it would be too suspicious. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of him,” says an incredulous Wendy. She warns Navarro that if he wants to be free and clear he’s got to be ready to sacrifice someone.
Marty visits Ruth and apologies for being too harsh last night. He asks if she’s okay and then offers her a payday. Marty wants to buy all of her product and Ruth is dumbfounded. She says she’ll think about it.
