Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear charts Space Ranger Buzz’s adventures before he teamed up with Woody in the Toy Story franchise. The second official trailer reveals more of his time in space and much more info on his companions including Sox, his robot cat sidekick.
The new trailer arrived along with just-released stills and a poster for the animated sci-fi action-adventure comedy etc. etc. etc.
Chris Evans leads the voice cast as Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear. (Tim Allen voiced the character in the Toy Story films). The cast also includes Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi (a man who apparently never sleeps), and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison, and Darby Steel. James Brolin brings Zorg to life and Mary McDonald-Lewis is the onboard computer I.V.A.N.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. voices Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez is Airman Diaz, and Keira Hairston is Young Izzy.
Finding Dory co-director Angus MacLane helms the much-anticipated Toy Story prequel. Galyn Susman (Toy Story That Time Forgot) produces and award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (The Batman, Up) composed the score.
Lightyear will fly into theaters on June 17, 2022.
Disney and Pixar released the following synopsis of the animated prequel:
The definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, Lightyear follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he’s joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox.
Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.
Paramount Pictures is delving into the fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) world with the upcoming feature film adaptation of Hasbro’s incredibly popular Dungeons & Dragons. The studio released a short video announcement revealing the D&D film, which has already wrapped up production, is now officially titled Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Paramount also confirmed they’re sticking with the March 3, 2023 theatrical release date.
Cast members include Chris Pine (All the Old Knives), Michelle Rodriguez (the Fast and Furious franchise), Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton), Justice Smith (Detective Pikachu), Sophia Lillis (I Am Not Okay With This), Chloe Coleman (Upload), and Hugh Grant (The Undoing). Game Night filmmakers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley directed and also wrote the screenplay with Michael Gilio (story by Gilio and Chris McKay).
Jeremy Latcham, Brian Goldner, and Nick Meyer produced, with Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Chris Pine, Zev Foreman, Greg Mooradian, and Denis L. Stewart executive producing.
Paramount’s title announcement didn’t include any specific information on the plot.
This isn’t the first time Hollywood’s attempted to adapt D&D into a feature film. Courtney Solomon directed 2000’s disastrous version of the RPG starring Jeremy Irons, Thora Birch, and Marlon Wayans. That film earned a rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with only 10% of the critics awarding it a positive review. The New Line Cinema release grossed just $33 million during its theatrical run and failed to recoup its $45 million budget.
It seems the staff won’t just be looking for their missing colleagues on NBC’s New Amsterdam season four episode 17. The promo teases Helen is in trouble too, but doesn’t give away what’s wrong. Episode 17 – “Unfinished Business” – will air on April 26, 2022.
The cast of season four is led by Ryan Eggold as Medical Director Max Goodwin. Janet Montgomery returns as Dr. Lauren Bloom, Freema Agyeman stars as Dr. Helen Sharpe, Jocko Sims plays Dr. Floyd Reynolds, and Tyler Labine is Dr. Iggy Frome. Michelle Forbes guest stars as Dr. Fuentes.
“Unfinished Business” Plot: The New Amsterdam team continues to deal with the consequences of their big night out. Max and Helen discuss options for their future. Martin finally learns Iggy’s secret. Bloom helps Leyla avoid a life-changing situation. Reynolds and Dr. Malvo define their relationship going forward.
The Season 4 Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
After a turbulent year of sacrifice and hardship, Medical Director Max Goodwin and the team at New Amsterdam begin a well-deserved new chapter in their lives. The opening episode, titled “More Joy,” reflects both the drive of characters and the tone of season four. More joy: How can we find it, and how can we hold on to it?
For Max that means acknowledging and surrendering to his long-simmering feelings towards Dr. Helen Sharpe. While this new relationship brings its own set of challenges, Max continues his optimistic – and quixotic – quest to improve our nation’s healthcare system.
Continuing to navigate their own personal journeys – including Dr. Bloom’s relationship with Dr. Leyla Shinwari, who is now her resident, Dr. Frome’s new career and Dr. Reynolds’ personal entanglements – the doctors will strive to embrace the joy and successes in their lives.
But there is a surprise in store for our heroes. Dr. Veronica Fuentes is joining the New Amsterdam team to help turn around the overburdened and underfunded hospital. Her first order of business will be to tear down every progressive program Max has erected. Max will have his work cut out for him if he is going to outwit this calm, poised and fearless fixer.
Freema Agyeman as Dr. Helen Sharpe and Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin in ‘New Amsterdam’ season 4 episode 17 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Adam Rose as Chad the Bartender and Sandra Mae Frank as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder in season 4 episode 17 (Photo by: Zach Dilgard/NBC)Debra Monk as Karen Brantley and Conner Marx as Ben in season 4 episode 17 (Photo by: Zach Dilgard/NBC)Mike Doyle as Martin McIntyre and Tyler Labine as Dr. Iggy Frome in season 4 episode 17 (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)Freema Agyeman as Dr. Helen Sharpe, Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin, and Matthew Jeffers as Resident Walsh in season 4 episode 17 (Photo by: Michael Greenberg/NBC)Genevieve Angelson as Dr. Mia Castries and Jocko Sims as Dr. Floyd Reynolds in season 4 episode 17 (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
Owen seeks help for his anger issues on Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season three episode 15. “Down To Clown” will air on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
Season three stars Rob Lowe as Owen Strand, Gina Torres as Tommy Vega, Ronen Rubinstein as T.K. Strand, Sierra McClain as Grace Ryder, and Jim Parrack as Judd Ryder. Natacha Karam plays Marjan Marwani, Brian Michael Smith is Paul Strickland, Rafael Silva is Carlos Reyes, Julian Works is Mateo Chavez, and Brianna Baker plays Nancy Gillian.
“Down to Clown” Plot: Facing his anger management issues, Owen has a breakthrough in therapy. Then, after a particularly devastating emergency call, Grace reaches out to a co-worker, but regrets when Judd offers more than she was planning. Also, a clown has an emergency at a young boy’s birthday party and Tommy, T.K. and Nancy race to help a survivalist who has a painful encounter with a reptile.
The Season 3 Plot:
In the third season, a slight time-jump takes place after the events of the previous season finale found the 126 shut down and the crew dispersed across the city. In the multi-episode opening storyline, a massive and unexpected arctic front hits Austin. As the ice storm causes widespread chaos, Owen and Tommy must not only save the city but find a way to resurrect and reunite the former 126.
EPIX and Blumhouse Television just unveiled a new trailer for Torn Hearts, a twisted horror film set in the world of Country music. Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy) plays a reclusive Country music legend who seems to harbor a dark side that’s been kept from the public.
The thriller also stars Alexxis Lemire, Abby Quinn, Joshua Leonard, and Shiloh Fernandez. Brea Grant (12 Hour Shift) directed from a screenplay by Rachel Koller Croft. John Ierardi, Jeremy Gold, Chris McCumber, and Jason Blum executive produced.
Torn Hearts will be released on digital on May 20, 2022.
The Torn Hearts Plot:
Blumhouse Television and EPIX present the cautionary tale of a rise to stardom set in the iconic Nashville Country Music scene. Two friends, rising artists on the brink of a big break, will do just about anything to realize their dream – including a pilgrimage to the legendary and reclusive Harper Dutch’s (Sagal) mansion in the hopes she’ll record a song with them. While their lifelong idol seems intent on helping, the visit devolves into a twisted series of mental and physical torment as the pair discover Harper – and each other – may have other motives.
With no other choice and desperate to record a song, the duo must go to dangerous lengths to prove their dedication to their dream of becoming Nashville’s next country music stars.
Fox’s 9-1-1 season five episode 15 appears to take its title from Maddie’s fear of missing out on milestones in Jee-Yun’s life. “FOMO” is set to air on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT.
Executive producers Angela Bassett and Peter Krause return to lead the cast as Athena Grant and Bobby Nash. Jennifer Love Hewitt plays Maddie Kendall, Oliver Stark is Evan “Buck” Buckley, Aisha Hinds is Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, and Kenneth Choi is Howie “Chimney” Han. Ryan Guzman plays Eddie Diaz, Rockmond Dunbar is Michael Grant, Corinne Massiah is May Grant, Marcanthonee Jon Reis is Harry Grant, Gavin McHugh is Christopher Diaz, and John Harlan Kim plays Albert Han.
Arielle Kebbel (Ballers, Midnight, Texas) guest stars as Lucy Donato.
“FOMO” Plot: The members of the 118 race to the rescue of a social media influencer when she has an accident in a sauna, then to an emergency at a reality show wedding, and finally a tragedy when a mother and her daughter go hiking. Meanwhile, Maddie worries she has missed too many firsts with Jee-Yun, May questions Athena’s career path, and Hen and Karen attempt to recapture the fun in their relationship.
Writer/director Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse, The Witch) takes Shakespeare’s classic tale Hamlet and sets it in the time of the Vikings in his third feature film, The Northman.
The film opens with young Amleth (Oscar Novak) welcoming home his father – Aurvandil War-Raven (Ethan Hawke), King of the Vikings – home from war. The reunited father and son spend time with Heimir the Fool (Willem Dafoe) who prophecies that Amleth’s fate is set and he will not be able to escape it.
The following day while out hunting, Amleth witnesses his father being assassinated by his own brother, Fjölnir (Claes Bang), who desires both the kingdom and Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman) for himself. Amleth runs away and escapes the hunting assassins, and as he rows off into the ocean he declares, “I will avenge you, father. I will save you, mother. I will kill you, Fjolnir!”
Two decades pass and Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard) is now a strong Viking raider highly skilled at attacking Slavic villages. After a successful raid, Amleth meets a mysterious woman who reminds him of his promise to avenge his father’s murder.
Amleth sneaks aboard a boat delivering slaves to Fjölnir and meets Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), a cunning beauty who he’s drawn to and has an almost immediate connection with. Upon arrival, he and Olga team up and begin making plans on exacting revenge on Fjolnir and saving his mother.
Blood-soaked and bizarre, The Northman is a loud, violent, and visually stunning film that suffers from too many one-dimensional characters and uneven, over-the-top performances. It’s a reworking of Hamlet with a brooding, grunting, and bloodthirsty Viking prince in the place of the melancholy Dane.
Alexander Skarsgard delivers a one-note performance as Amleth, the Viking prince out to avenge his father’s murder. Although extremely fit and physically intimidating, Skarsgard portrays Amleth as a hulking, all-brawn little-brain prince who depends greatly on visions he has about his future in determining how and when to kill his enemies. Skarsgard has zero chemistry with anyone onscreen, even Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga – Amleth’s only true ally.
Willem Defoe’s entertaining and extremely over-the-top performance as the King’s jester Heimir is one of the high points of the film. Unfortunately, he’s only in two scenes and, sadly, his talents are wasted.
Nicole Kidman’s performance feels staged and even forced as Queen Gudrún, Amleth’s mother who doesn’t appear to want to be rescued from Fjölnir after making a life with her new king. Kidman seems uncomfortable in the role and at times unsure of her character’s motivation and temperament.
Anya Taylor-Joy delivers the best performance in the film as Olga, Amleth’s friend, eventual lover, and co-conspirator in the plan to kill his uncle. Taylor-Joy portrays Olga not just as a tough and beautiful imprisoned slave whose defiant spirit won’t be broken but as a devious and manipulative woman fully capable of escaping from her captors and making a life with Amleth.
Claes Bang delivers a strong performance as Fjölnir, Amleth’s murderous uncle who’s enjoying reigning over his land and men until Amleth begins his slow and stealthy acts of revenge. Bang plays Fjölnir as a man to be reckoned with even as he also slowly starts to fear losing his family and land to an unknown enemy.
The direction, cinematography, and sets bring the dark and mud-soaked world of the Viking era to new realistic heights. The audience is immersed in the period and transported back to a time long gone from existence.
Ruthless and outlandish, The Northman is a brutal but ultimately hollow revamping of a Shakespeare classic.
GRADE: C
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence, some sexual content, and nudity
Running Time: 2 hours 17 minutes
Release Date: April 22, 2022
Studio: Focus Features
The new trailer for Apple TV+’s five-night natural history event series Prehistoric Planet features a dinosaur narrator Sir David Attenborough describes as magnificent, monstrous, and misunderstood – the Tyrannosaurus Rex. In the two-minute trailer Sir Attenborough promises the series will take viewers on a story we’ve never heard on a scale we’ve never witnessed.
The new trailer features two new species of tyrannosaur: Qianzhousaurus and Nanuqsaurus. The trailer also features what Apple TV+ says is a more accurate version of Velociraptors. Contrary to popular opinion, these lethal dinos were closer in size to a big turkey than the large creature previously depicted.
Prehistoric Planet will air over a one-week period, beginning on Monday, May 23, 2022 and concluding on Friday, May 27.
Jon Favreau, Mike Gunton, and BBC Studios Natural History Unit (Planet Earth) executive produced and Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, Anze Rozman, and Kara Talve for Bleeding Fingers Music composed the score.
Poster for Apple TV+’s ‘Prehistoric Planet’
Apple TV+ offered the following description of the event series:
The highly-anticipated nature docuseries Prehistoric Planet will transport viewers over 66 million years in the past to discover our world – and the dinosaurs that roamed it. Prehistoric Planet features real-life footage taken from icy mountains, dense forests, arid deserts, freshwater regions, and expansive coastlines all over the world to bring audiences to uncharted territory, up close with new species of dinosaurs.
Rolling out with one new episode per day, the series combines award-winning wildlife filmmaking, the latest paleontology learnings and state-of-the-art technology to unveil the spectacular habitats and inhabitants of ancient Earth for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience. Prehistoric Planet presents little-known and surprising facts of dinosaur life set against the backdrop of the environments of Cretaceous times, including coasts, deserts, freshwater, ice worlds and forests. From revealing eye-opening parenting techniques of Tyrannosaurus rex to exploring the mysterious depths of the oceans and the deadly dangers in the sky, Prehistoric Planet brings Earth’s history to life like never before.
JD Pardo as EZ Reyes in ‘Mayans M.C.’ episode 4 (Photo Credit: Prashant Gupta/FX)
FX’s Mayans M.C. season four episode two opens on a much more peaceful note than the season’s premiere. The action picks up four months after the brutal battle that only came to an end when Marcus Alvarez showed up and proclaimed he’s taking back the Santo Padre charter. If it weren’t for his sudden, unexpected appearance, Yuma’s president would have probably given the order to execute the few surviving Santo Padre members. (I’m betting he would have saved EZ for last so that he’d be forced to watch everyone – including his brother – die.)
Fortunately, we’ll never know if that was Canche’s plan.
“Hymn Among the Ruins” begins with EZ (JD Pardo) exercising and Angel (Clayton Cardenas) settling into domestic life. Nails (Justina Adorno) is really showing now and seems happy with how things are going. Angel also appears to be handling this new situation fairly well, although his quick glance at photos of Adelita’s ultrasound and his missing and presumably deceased (Potter claims he’s alive) baby boy shows his ex is still very much in his thoughts.
Coco (Richard Cabral) is also doing better and looking more like his old self rather than a creepy meth-head version.
Bishop (Michael Irby) arrives at the clubhouse and, based on the number of motorcycles out front, it’s meeting day. And, yes, the place is packed. And no, Bishop doesn’t stop and make small talk with anyone. He heads directly to the table and takes a seat but not in his customary spot at the head of the table. He lovingly touches his old chair before sitting down in the VP’s seat.
Marcus (Emilio Rivera) sits at the head, gaveling the meeting to order. Guys from Yuma are at the meeting and although there’s obviously still bad blood between the charters, they’re civil enough to do business. Canche’s turning record profits, but Santo Padre points out buyers are ODing on fentanyl. Yuma reps claim a few dead junkies is just the price of doing business.
EZ wonders what happened to Galindo and his family, and Tranq (Frankie Loyal) doesn’t sugarcoat it. He thinks they’re dead. Lobos Nueva Generación (LNG) wouldn’t have allowed Galindo to live. (EZ’s still unaware that Emily didn’t flee with Miguel to Mexico.)
Marcus gets the meeting back on track. “Galindo is dead. LNG, Canche, and the Yuma pipeline – that’s the new world order,” says Marcus.
Taza (Raoul Max Trujillo), who shouldn’t even have a seat at the table after sitting around drinking while his brothers fought Yuma, wants to know why Santo Padre’s being starved out. The entire table gets riled up again and it’s a miracle guns aren’t drawn resulting in a few more dead Mayans.
Marcus bangs the gavel and tells everyone to get the f**k out.
The Yuma guys hang around the clubhouse and watch as Bishop hits on Treenie while she serves him a drink. They can’t believe Santo Padre killed Gaeta and now Bishop’s trying to get with his widow.
Apparently, the guy EZ fought with on the roof didn’t die from his stab wounds. He tries to introduce himself but EZ’s not into this reunion. Still, the guy doesn’t give up and hints that they’re actually both on the same team, just marking time until someone comes along to kill off their mutual enemy. He equates it to the indigenous tribes hating the Aztecs and not realizing that after Cortez and the Spaniards slaughtered their mutual enemy, they’d turn their attention to slaughtering all indigenous tribes. The Mayans charters are the indigenous tribes, fighting amongst themselves and not keeping an eye out for their version of Cortez.
The other Santo Padre members sit and watch as the Yuma guys make themselves at home in their clubhouse. Bishop takes a seat between Angel and EZ, pissed off and ready to wipe out Yuma. “Think they can come into our house. That’s right, f**king idiot, underestimate us. Stab you in your f**king sleep,” says Bishop. He’s not taking Santo Padre – or his own – defeat well.
Bishop’s hatred of the other charters hasn’t lessened in the four months since the fight. Santo Padre members pledge to have his back with EZ saying he’ll do whatever the club needs. Tranq’s the last to respond and only offers to do “whatever’s best.”
EZ leaves the clubhouse and refuses to acknowledge his dad when he shows up unexpectedly outside his trailer.
The action moves to a Sons of Anarchy meeting. Chibs is mentioned but not seen – bummer! – as they discuss what’s going on with Happy. Happy got into trouble with some girl and Chibs wants him in Charming. They also discuss the Mayans and if there will be a war since they crossed into SOA territory without permission. The San Bernardino SOA (SAMDINO) president doesn’t think it’s necessary since Santo Padre’s on its last legs and the Mayans in general are in sorry shape. He suggests they should let them eat each other and stay out of it.
It’s also revealed Packer’s sick and currently at UC Davis.
Clayton Cardenas as Angel Reyes in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 4 (Photo Credit: Prashant Gupta/FX)
Angel visits his little bro in his trailer and tries to hand him a note their dad left tucked in the door. EZ won’t take it and warns Angel to stay out of it. Angel helps himself to a beer and plops down on the couch, complaining about how moody the rest of the club is these days.
They talk about Nails, the baby, and EZ’s sorry ass trailer, and Angel decides even the guys in the bar are more fun than his brother right now.
Meanwhile, Coco and Gilly (Vincent Vargas) are doing grunt work to get back in good with the club. They’re repairing the shot-up clubhouse and Coco’s ordering Gilly around like a construction foreman. Gilly finally has enough of Coco and stalks off, but Coco reminds him he needs to get back in good with the club. The amount of you know what’s Gilly has left to give currently registers at zero. He’s tired of getting punished for covering for Coco.
Angel had jokingly suggested EZ get a dog or a goldfish, and EZ seems to have taken the suggestion to heart. He makes his way down a row of kennels at an animal shelter and finds the perfect adoptable dog. She’s withdrawn and quiet, confused as to why her family left her at this place. A staff member says the dog’s shut off and shut down but will forgive humans if given the chance.
A short while later it’s confirmed EZ went through with the adoption. He arrives back at his trailer with his new furry family member, Sally. (Thanks, Angel, for inadvertently saving a homeless dog!)
Bishop’s still drinking in the clubhouse when Taza informs him he has his back. “Alvarez, Canche…they don’t have this chapter’s best interest in mind,” says Taza. Bishop doesn’t react for a minute and then makes it clear Taza’s dead to him. Bishop says Taza’s still breathing only because of his misguided sense of loyalty.
Two Yuma jerks give Jess (Grace Rizzo) a hard time in the clubhouse, calling her Justin Bieber and wondering what guys would ever want to get with her. She grabs her bag from behind the bar and leaves. While she’s walking through the lot butterflies begin to appear around her heading toward a barrel. She follows them, opens it up, and gasps in shock.
Meanwhile, the SOA San Bernardino VP won’t let the whole thing with the Mayans go. He wants war even if their president doesn’t.
Jess arrives at her sister’s place late at night, upset about what she found in the barrel. Whatever it is smells terrible and her sister gags and then chokes out, “Jesus Fucking Christ! Where did you get that?”
Tranq shows up at Marcus’ home and apologizes for such a late visit. He fills Marcus in on where everyone stands and if they’re all still loyal to Bishop. Without actually saying it, Tranq confirms Bishop is riling them up against the other charters.
“The club…they’re in a lot of pain. We need you to lead us back to being whole again,” says Tranq. It’s obvious he means well but playing both sides is never a smart move.
EZ finally reads the note his dad left in the door and has a flashback to his time in prison. He recalls being trained to be ready for war at any time and any place. He was also warned the enemy is everyone. His new dog can sense he’s getting worked up and barks, snapping EZ out of his flashback.
And now with about 10 minutes remaining Emily’s location is finally revealed. She’s currently working as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant and taking the bus to and from work while living in a tiny apartment. Her life has taken quite the turn since she decided not to hop on the helicopter and accompany Miguel when he fled to Mexico. Is she happy? No, she’s all alone without even her son to keep her company.
Taza stands before a fire pit and performs a ritual of some sort. He places a photo of Riz in the flames and then uses his knife to cut his hair.
Nails is sound asleep while Angel’s wide awake. He quietly gets out of bed and enters the bathroom where he looks at the photo of his and Adelita’s baby once more before hitting delete. He then looks at the sonogram but can’t bring himself to delete that photo.
Season four episode two ends with Jess and her sister showing up at the bar where the SAMDINO VP is drinking. Jess’s sister is in some sort of relationship with the VP and she makes Jess show him what she found in the barrel. Jess holds up a Sons of Anarchy jacket. (Remember, Palo left Allesandro Montez’s dead body on top of a motorcycle outside Santo Padre’s clubhouse in season 3 episode 4. Taza got rid of the body without informing the club.)
JD Pardo as EZ Reyes in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 4 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Prashant Gupta/FX)
FX’s Mayans M.C. season four episode one picks up seconds after the season three finale, with the Santo Padre charter under attack by men they once considered brothers. After a brief recap of key season three events – Galindo’s escape, Angel’s engagement, Taza’s confession, Coco’s descent into meth hell, and, most importantly, Bishop’s failed attempt to take down the other kings (Ramos and Canche) – episode one finds our guys in dire straits. Yuma, Oakland, and other Mayans charters are armed to the teeth, and with Canche very much alive and leading the attack, the odds are definitely not in Santo Padre’s favor.
Unlike other fight scenes and gun battles, Mayans M.C. writer, director, and executive producer Elgin James decided to make fans squirm (panic, stress out, and become slightly nauseated also apply) by stretching out the fight for the entire episode. By the time it was over I needed a stiff drink and a warm bath. Seriously, how is it possible my stomach muscles hurt when I only watched the mayhem from the safety of my living room?
And now onto the “Cleansing of the Temple” recap…
EZ (JD Pardo) is the first to realize the clubhouse is under attack. Angel (Clayton Cardenas) grabs his bro and races into the clubhouse just as the bullets begin to fly. It’s quickly apparent Santo Padre’s in no way ready for this fight; their gun cabinet’s basically empty of weapons and ammunition.
Ravi is the first to fall as the guys attempt to get into positions to return fire. EZ scrambles up onto the roof and spots Canche (Jimmy Gonzales) – the Yuma president he thought he’d killed in an explosion (in the season three finale). EZ’s able to take out a few Mayans before being spotted.
Canche yells, “I saw you EZ! I’m coming for you, you motherf**ker!”
Tranq (Frankie Loyal) joins EZ on the roof and they come under fire, with Tranq taking a bullet in the leg before they manage to get back inside the building. EZ breaks the news Canche’s alive and well – and out for revenge.
(Just to make it easier to keep track, I’m going to call all of the charters working with Canche “Yuma” while describing the gunfight.)
Tables are moved to block windows and doors, and EZ orders everyone to keep shooting. Yuma disables the lights and Santo Padre’s suddenly plunged into darkness. Candles and flashlights are grabbed but it’s tough to figure out what to shoot when you can’t see any targets.
Bishop (Michael Irby) calls for his guys to figure out how much ammo they have left. They’re stunned to see how little they have to protect themselves with. EZ thinks they need to grab the generator from the other building but there are not enough bullets to provide adequate cover fire. Fortunately, they’ve got plenty of alcohol and can make Molotov cocktails to hold off Yuma.
Only Creeper (Joseph Raymond Lucero) and Angel volunteer to help EZ with the generator retrieval, but Nails (Justina Adorno) doesn’t want her baby daddy to go. Creeper asks for more volunteers and no one steps up – cowards! – so it’s all up to him and EZ.
EZ makes it back onto the roof and immediately gets into a life-or-death fight with a guy who’s somehow gotten on the roof. EZ’s nearly killed but manages to stab his attacker and toss him off the roof.
EZ launches the first Molotov cocktail and Creeper makes it to the outbuilding.
Angel continues to shoot out one of the windows and kills a guy just as he’s climbing over the fence. The dead man is caught on something and dangles in death.
EZ’s pinned down after tossing a couple of Molotov cocktails while Creeper manages to get the generator and heads back to retrieve gas cans. Inside, one of the girls trapped with Santo Padre panics and Bishop gets angry. Nails tells him they’re all scared, calling him a motherf**ker for not understanding their panic.
“We’re going to f**king be all right!” screams Bishop, although there’s absolutely no way they’re all going to be all right.
Meanwhile on the roof, EZ catches fire and one of the more helpful women trapped with the guys puts it out. (She’s also the one who suggested Molotov cocktails in the first place.) Unfortunately, while EZ’s busy trying to stop from being burned to death a Mayan makes it into the building to hunt Creeper. Fortunately, Creeper’s able to take him down but while doing so he attracts more attention.
With the fire out, EZ gets back to work providing cover for Creeper. Creeper makes it to the truck by the gate and pushes the vehicle into the fence, pinning someone’s arm. It’s pretty much a last-ditch effort to keep Yuma out of their yard and it doesn’t work – but at least he tried.
Creeper becomes Yuma’s primary target and he’s hit numerous times, including taking one in the neck, before making it back to the porch. His guys are able to pull him inside.
And suddenly we’re out of the battle and into the peace and relative calm of a truck’s cab. Gilly (Vincent Vargas) has Coco (Richard Cabral) in the passenger seat and is heading to the clubhouse when they come under fire outside the gates. Coco had no idea what went down when he was busy getting high with the meth-heads at the cult camp, and Gilly says by way of explanation, “We blew up Yuma.”
Gilly sends Coco to the nearby van which has half of Santo Padre’s guns and ammunition. Coco doesn’t want to go and Gilly reminds him, “I just saved your ass from a tribe of crackhead murder hippies!”
Coco’s able to get inside but is forced to make a run for it when Yuma launches a Molotov cocktail through the front window. So much for retrieving any firepower!
Back into the middle of the battle we go and Bishop’s ordering his men to shoot only when they have to. They’re almost out of ammo and their odds of survival are decreasing by the minute.
Creeper knows he’s going to bleed out and asks for his neck wound to be cauterized. The screams and sounds of sizzling flesh that follow are why I included nauseating in paragraph two.
The guys have trouble getting the generator to work and Angel doesn’t help matters when he informs everyone Yuma’s getting closer. EZ finally gets the generator to turn on and they set up two spotlights. Bishop tells them to flip the switch on his count but the panicky girl picks the worst time to decide to flee the building. The countdown stops as her body’s riddled with bullets. She flops down in the mud, dying but, regretfully, still conscious and screaming.
Taza, who’s been absolutely useless just drinking himself into oblivion, picks this moment to chime in. “I warned you. I f**king warned all of you.”
Bishop tells him to shut up and Taza (Raoul Max Trujillo) points out Bishop should have just killed him when he had the chance. EZ interrupts their argument, telling both to shut up because he hears footsteps on the roof.
They listen carefully as whoever’s up there makes it to the door. The guys gather at the base of the stairs, ready to shoot. Gilly is one trigger pull away from death as he makes his way down the stairs with Coco.
As they’re describing how they made it through enemy lines, Yuma approaches the front of the building. The generator’s finally put into action, the lights are flipped on, and Santo Padre mows down a line of Mayans.
They’ve succeeded in briefly stalling the charge, however, they’re now down to their last few bullets. Bishop and Taza get into it again and Angel tells them to stop. He’s got too much to live for – and too much to die for.
Michael Irby as Obispo “Bishop” Losa in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 4 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Prashant Gupta/FX)
Bishop admits he has no idea what to do next. Coco tries to rally the gang but Bishop isn’t ready to allow Coco to take on the role of cheer captain. Bishop demands to know where Coco’s been and Coco throws his daughter under the bus. He doesn’t take any of the blame and claims Gilly was with him helping to save his daughter. (Coco needs to come clean but this probably isn’t the time or the place for true confessions.)
The clubhouse quiets as Canche begins yelling outside. “EZ, I f**king saw you. You f**king missed, now you’re going to f**king die,” screams Canche. All those gathered around him begin chanting “Mayans,” punctuated with rhythmic pounding.
A short while later the chanting continues and the remaining Santo Padre guys appear to have come to terms with their imminent deaths. Angel promises Nails that if he makes it through, he’ll never leave her or the baby. He hands her his gun with one bullet and begs her not to let them hurt the baby.
Tranq makes what he believes could be his final phone call to his mom. Creeper attempts to stay alive, Taza’s passed out, Gilly checks out his gun, and EZ looks around the room. He asks Bishop what they’re doing and Bishop says the plan is to take out as many as possible when they come through the door. After all, this is what they signed up for.
Gilly correctly assesses they have enough left to kill a dozen or so.
EZ’s worried about Nails and the baby. They shouldn’t have to pay the price for Santo Padre’s sins.
EZ places his gun on the floor and yells out for Canche. He’ll give himself up if Canche will let the rest go. Canche reminds EZ he doesn’t have any leverage and confirms he wants to kill them all. EZ says there are innocent people inside and Canche’s quick to respond his son was innocent yet EZ blew up the building while he was inside.
EZ shoulders all the blame and asks for his blood to be the last spilled.
EZ walks outside and stands in front of Canche and the surviving Yuma, Oakland, Stockton, and Portland Mayans gathered behind him. EZ, again, asks for everyone else to be let go.
Before Canche can answer, Angel joins his brother outside. The remaining Santo Padre members, including Bishop, also line up beside EZ.
They engage in an uncomfortable stare-off that ends with Canche saying, “Isn’t this f**king quaint,” and then knocking EZ out.
EZ comes to and is forced to kneel next to his Santo Padre brothers. Canche delivers an emotional monologue about the bombing and how it stole his son’s sight. Canche describes those who were injured and killed in the explosion and demands to know if Santo Padre celebrated after the attack.
Canche laughs as he confirms Ibarra’s wife will need to have a closed casket funeral for her husband. He adds so will all of the families of the Santo Padre men kneeling in front of him. His statement’s punctuated by the execution of the man directly to EZ’s left.
Canche reminds Bishop and his men Ramos only wanted what was best for the club and yet Santo Padre shot him in the face. Canche describes Santo Padre as rabid animals that need to be put down, and then bends down to EZ’s level. He places his gun under EZ’s chin but then takes it away and puts it under Angel’s. “You came at my family. Now I come after yours,” snarls Canche.
Canche orders EZ to look at his brother as he kills him, but it’s actually a different Mayan who falls dead.
Canche stands as Marcus Alvarez (Emilio Rivera) appears out of nowhere and asks what he’s done. Marcus calmly walks through the group and hits one man who seems ready to shoot him. “You going to point a gun at me, mother**ker?!” (Stupid move, man. Very stupid move.)
Canche explains he didn’t start this fight and Marcus briefly looks at Angel and EZ before addressing Bishop. He asks Bishop what he’s done and then yells, “This is my f**king club. You f**king hear me? You f**king hear me?! THIS IS MY F**KING CLUB!”
Mayans M.C. season four episode one ends with a dedication to “our brother, Roel Navarro.” Navarro played Pavia in eight episodes including the season three finale.
