Paramount+’s SEAL Team season five returns after a month-long winter break with episode 11, “Violence of Action.” New photos and the official plot description have arrived in support of episode 11’s Sunday, January 2, 2022 release, directed by Ruben Garcia from a script by Tom Mularz and Teresa Huang.
David Boreanaz returns to lead the cast as Jason Hayes. Max Thieriot plays Clay Spenser, Neil Brown Jr. is Ray Perry, AJ Buckley is Sonny Quinn, Toni Trucks is Lisa Davis, and Justin Melnick stars as Brock.
“Violence Of Action” Plot: Bravo Team is still on the ground in South America working against the Iranian nuclear project. Multiple high stakes missions only make the team’s interpersonal problems more obvious to all.
SEAL Team Description, Courtesy of CBS:
SEAL Team is a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them. Jason Hayes is the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warrior’s existence.
His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry, the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand; Sonny Quinn, an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies; and Clay Spenser, a young, multilingual, second-generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication.
Vital to the team’s success is Ensign Lisa Davis, a no-nonsense, take-charge officer. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Caitriona Balfe stars as “Ma” and Jamie Dornan stars as “Pa” in director Sir Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ (Photo Credit: Rob Youngson / Focus Features)
Thanks to Covid-19, 2021 – or 2020 Part 2 as I call it – was another bizarre year at the movies. Theaters eventually opened but the general public remained, justifiably, leery of sitting in a room with strangers. Studios shifted release dates, sent films straight to streaming, and altered their plans to accommodate public safety concerns. Yet even with the delays and changes in release plans, 2021 turned out to be an interesting year for feature films.
My list of 2021’s best movies expanded from the planned 10 to 15, and even with the five extra spots it was difficult to narrow down the field. Two gorgeous black and white dramas – Belfast and C’mon C’mon – made the cut along with Mass, an intimate drama about the impact of school shootings. Dune surpassed all expectations by making the iconic sci-fi novel accessible to all audiences, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home proved comic book-inspired films should not be looked down upon as lesser entertainment.
Nicolas Cage demonstrated why he’s an Oscar winner with his stunning performance in Pig. And speaking of farm animals, Lamb focused on one of the most bizarre families to grace the screen in 2021.
Natalie Morales and Mark Duplass delivered an uplifting two-hander with Language Lessons, while the large ensemble cast of Nightmare Alley brought Guillermo del Toro’s brilliant neo-noir psychological thriller alive on the screen.
Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up skewered climate change deniers and politicians who put their careers over the lives of their constituents. Limbo gave us an unusual take on immigrants that was hysterical, emotionally engaging, and heart-wrenching. Also making the cut is CODA, a boundary-breaking drama that delivered an original take on the standard coming-of-age story.
Penelope Cruz reunited with writer/director Pedro Almodóvar for Parallel Mothers, a powerful and moving exploration of motherhood. Andrew Garfield’s fascinating portrayal of Jonathan Larson in tick, tick…Boom! made Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut a compelling, must-see biopic. And Jane Campion returned to filmmaking after a 12-year absence with the powerful and unsettling The Power of the Dog, a Western that demands repeat viewing.
My annual disclaimer: This ‘Best Of’ list, with main cast lists and official plot descriptions, represents my personal favorite films of the year. Since it’s a matter of personal taste, your list will most likely be very different from mine. Each of the movies on my Top 15 list sparked conversations or debates, and many introduced a new talent either in front of or behind the camera.
Penelope Cruz stars in ‘Parallel Mothers’ (Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Classics)
15. PARALLEL MOTHERS starring Penélope Cruz, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Milena Smit, Israel Elejalde, Julieta Serrano, and Rossy de Palma
The Plot: Two women, Janis and Ana, coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident. Janis, middle-aged, doesn’t regret it and she is exultant. The other, Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant and traumatized. Janis tries to encourage her while they move like sleepwalkers along the hospital corridors. The few words they exchange in these hours will create a very close link between the two, which by chance develops and complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way.
14. tick, tick…Boom! starring Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Mj Rodriguez, Bradley Whitford, Tariq Trotter, Judith Light, and Vanessa Hudgens
The Plot: Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda makes his feature directorial debut with tick, tick…BOOM!, an adaptation of the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, who revolutionized theater as the creator of Rent. The film follows Jon, a young theater composer who’s waiting tables at a New York City diner in 1990 while writing what he hopes will be the next great American musical.
Days before he’s due to showcase his work in a make-or-break performance, Jon is feeling the pressure from everywhere: from his girlfriend Susan, who dreams of an artistic life beyond New York City; from his friend Michael, who has moved on from his dream to a life of financial security; amidst an artistic community being ravaged by the AIDS epidemic. With the clock ticking, Jon is at a crossroads and faces the question everyone must reckon with: What are we meant to do with the time we have?
The Plot: A truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped.
Mark Duplass and Natalie Morales in ‘Language Lessons’ (Photo Credit: Shout! Studios)
12. LANGUAGE LESSONS starring Mark Duplass and Natalie Morales
The Plot: When Adam’s husband surprises him with weekly Spanish lessons, he’s unsure about where or how this new element will fit into his already structured life. But when tragedy strikes, his Spanish teacher, Cariño, becomes a lifeline he didn’t know he needed. Adam develops an unexpected and complicated emotional bond with Cariño — but do you really know someone just because you’ve experienced a traumatic moment with them?
Noomi Rapace and Hilmir Snær Guðnason star in A24’s ‘Lamb’
11. LAMB starring Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, and Ingvar E. Sigurðsson
The Plot: A childless couple in rural Iceland make an alarming discovery one day in their sheep barn. They soon face the consequences of defying the will of nature, in this dark and atmospheric folktale.
Emilia Jones and Marlee Matlin in ‘CODA’ (Photo Courtesy of Apple)
10. CODA starring Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, Amy Forsyth, and Kevin Chapman
The Plot: Seventeen-year-old Ruby is the sole hearing member of a deaf family – a CODA, child of deaf adults. Her life revolves around acting as interpreter for her parents and working on the family’s struggling fishing boat every day before school with her father and older brother. But when Ruby joins her high school’s choir club, she discovers a gift for singing and soon finds herself drawn to her duet partner Miles.
Encouraged by her enthusiastic, tough-love choirmaster to apply to a prestigious music school, Ruby finds herself torn between the obligations she feels to her family and the pursuit of her own dreams.
Amir El-Masry, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Owuso-Ansah, and Vikash Bhai in ‘Limbo’ (Photo Courtesy of Focus Features)
9. LIMBO starring Amir El-Masry, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, and Vikash Bhai
The Plot: An offbeat observation of the refugee experience. On a fictional remote Scottish island, a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. Among them is Omar, a young Syrian musician burdened by the weight of his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland.
8. DON’T LOOK UP starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Chiklis, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Rob Morgan, Tyler Perry, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi, Himesh Patel, Melanie Lynskey, and Tomer Sisley
The Plot: Kate Dibiasky, an astronomy grad student, and her professor Dr. Randall Mindy make an astounding discovery of a comet orbiting within the solar system. The problem — it’s on a direct collision course with Earth. The other problem? No one really seems to care. Turns out warning mankind about a planet-killer the size of Mount Everest is an inconvenient fact to navigate.
With the help of Dr. Oglethorpe, Kate and Randall embark on a media tour that takes them from the office of an indifferent President Orlean and her sycophantic son and Chief of Staff, Jason, to the airwaves of The Daily Rip, an upbeat morning show hosted by Brie and Jack. With only six months until the comet makes impact, managing the 24-hour news cycle and gaining the attention of the social media-obsessed public before it’s too late proves shockingly comical — what will it take to get the world to just look up?!
Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman in ‘C’mon C’mon’ (Photo Courtesy of A24)
The Plot: Johnny and his young nephew forge a tenuous but transformational relationship when they are unexpectedly thrown together in this delicate and deeply moving story about the connections between adults and children, the past and the future, from writer-director Mike Mills.
6. NIGHTMARE ALLEY starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Ron Perlman, Richard Jenkins, and David Strathairn
The Plot: In Nightmare Alley, an ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is.
5. SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, and Marisa Tomei
The Plot: For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero’s identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange’s help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who’ve ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.
4. THE POWER OF THE DOG starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie, Frances Conroy, Keith Carradine, Peter Carroll, and Adam Beach
The Plot: Severe, pale-eyed, handsome, Phil Burbank is brutally beguiling. All of Phil’s romance, power and fragility is trapped in the past and in the land: He can castrate a bull calf with two swift slashes of his knife; he swims naked in the river, smearing his body with mud. He is a cowboy as raw as his hides.
The year is 1925. The Burbank brothers are wealthy ranchers in Montana. At the Red Mill restaurant on their way to market, the brothers meet Rose, the widowed proprietress, and her impressionable son Peter. Phil behaves so cruelly he drives them both to tears, reveling in their hurt and rousing his fellow cowhands to laughter – all except his brother George, who comforts Rose then returns to marry her.
As Phil swings between fury and cunning, his taunting of Rose takes an eerie form – he hovers at the edges of her vision, whistling a tune she can no longer play. His mockery of her son is more overt, amplified by the cheering of Phil’s cowhand disciples. Then Phil appears to take the boy under his wing. Is this latest gesture a softening that leaves Phil exposed, or a plot twisting further into menace?
3. DUNE starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Chang Chen, David Dastmalchian, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem
The Plot: A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence — a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential — only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Reed Birney, and Ann Dowd in ‘Mass’ (Photo Credit: Bleecker Street)
2. MASS starring Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Reed Birney, and Ann Dowd
The Plot: Years after an unspeakable tragedy tore their lives apart, two sets of parents agree to talk privately in an attempt to move forward. In Fran Kranz’s writing and directing debut, he thoughtfully examines their journey of grief, anger and acceptance by coming face-to-face with the ones who have been left behind.
Caitriona Balfe stars as “Ma” and Jamie Dornan stars as “Pa” in director Sir Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ (Photo Credit: Rob Youngson / Focus Features)
1. BELFAST starring Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Jude Hill, Ciaran Hinds, and Judi Dench
The Plot:Belfast is a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s.
Honorable Mentions:Saint Maud, I’m Your Man, Drive My Car, Flee, and King Richard.
CBS has set a January 5, 2022 premiere date for their new one-hour medical drama Good Sam. The series follows father and daughter doctors played by Harry Potter‘s Jason Isaacs and Love, Victor‘s Sophia Bush, and during a recent CBS press day Bush revealed her childhood dream was to become a doctor.
“For me, the irony of all of this is that my plan as a kid…I don’t know if it’s growing up the daughter of an immigrant or what…but your options are really like you’re a doctor or a lawyer, or a lawyer or a doctor. So as a young person, I said I wanted to be a doctor,” explained Bush. “And I was particularly fascinated with heart surgery, considered it as a specialty. And then my high school drama teacher got in the way and helped put me up in my first play. You can imagine the shock when I told my parents I wasn’t going to med school, I was going to go study theater and learn how to do costume makeup. So, it really feels full circle.”
In addition to Sophia Bush as Dr. Sam Griffith and Jason Isaacs as Dr. Rob “Griff” Griffith, the season one cast includes Skye P. Marshall as Dr. Lex Trulie, Michael Stahl-David as Dr. Caleb Tucker, and Omar Maskati as Dr. Isan M. Shah. Davi Santos stars as Dr. Joey Costa, Wendy Crewson is Vivian Katz, and Edwin Hodge plays Malcolm A. Kingsley.
The series is executive produced by Katie Wech, Jennie Snyder Urman, Joanna Klein, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber.
CBS released the following description of season one:
“Good Sam stars Sophia Bush and Jason Isaacs in a drama about Dr. Sam Griffith, a gifted heart surgeon who excels in her new leadership role as chief of surgery after her renowned boss falls into a coma. When her former boss wakes up months later demanding to resume his duties, Sam is tasked with supervising this egotistical expert with a scalpel who never acknowledged her stellar talent. Complicating matters, the caustic and arrogant Dr. Rob “Griff” Griffith also happens to be her father. As Griff defies Sam’s authority and challenges her medical expertise, the big question becomes whether this father and daughter will ever be able to mend their own relationship as expertly as they heal the hearts of their patients.”
Fox’s new comedy Pivoting is set to premiere on January 9, 2022 with Maggie Q (Designated Survivor, Nikita) Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time, Why Women Kill), and Eliza Coupe (Future Man, Happy Endings) in starring role. The series will move to its regular Thursdays at 9:30pm ET/PT time slot on January 13th and will air following new episodes of Call Me Kat season two.
In addition to Maggie Q as Sarah, Ginnifer Goodwin as Jodie, and Eliza Coupe as Amy, season one’s cast includes Tommy Dewey as Henry, JT Neal as Matt, and Marcello Reyes as Luke.
The single-camera comedy comes from writer, executive producer, and showrunner Liz Astrof (The Conners, 2 Broke Girls). Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor, and Tristram Shapeero are also involved as executive producers on the Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment production.
The series was inspired by the death of one of Astrof’s longtime friends at the age of 40. The friend passed from lung cancer and while at her funeral Astrof suddenly realized she didn’t have her entire life in front of her. That epiphany led to the creation of Pivoting.
“Fox has been the perfect partner in making this provocative, edgy, messy, raw, buddy comedy we haven’t seen on network TV and the cast has been incredible; their chemistry and ease with each other, off the charts,” stated Astrof.
Fox released the following detailed description of the first season:
Set in a small, middle-class town in Long Island, NY, Pivoting follows three women – and close-knit childhood friends – as they cope with the death of the fourth member of their group. When faced with the reality that life is short, these women pivot and alter their current paths by way of a series of impulsive, ill-advised, and self-indulgent decisions. These pivots will strengthen their bond and prove it’s never too late to screw up your life in the pursuit of happiness.
For Amy (Coupe), the fearless producer of a local cooking show, managing many employees comes easily. Yet, when it comes to caring for her own children – a seven-year-old boy, Luke (Reyes), and an 18-month-old girl – she’s absolutely terrified. Despite her lack of maternal instincts, her husband, Henry (Dewey), a contractor who never loses his cool, perfectly counter-balances Amy in all of her flaws. Her pivot is to be a more active, present mother.
Jodie (Goodwin) is a stay-at-home mom of three in a loveless marriage. Her husband is a controlling, finance-obsessed jerk, but Jodie has never even considered that the grass might be greener anywhere else. When she does, her pivot means getting in shape…and maybe more with her hot 27-year-old trainer, Matt (Neal), who gives her the attention and excitement she didn’t realize she had been craving for years.
Sarah (Q) is a successful doctor — an M.D. and Ph.D., as she will readily let anyone know. For Sarah, the loss of their friend is compounded by the recent divorce from her wife. After a life filled with stress, Sarah is sent into a tailspin that launches her pivot to a simpler, and thus happier life — working as a grocery store employee.
For all three of these women, the untimely and heartbreaking death of their friend serves as the wake-up call they didn’t know they needed. It forces them to look at their lives and ask themselves, is this as good as it gets? Is this where I thought I’d be at 40? Am I happy? Is anyone happy? What is happy? And is it too late to do it all differently? To press the “reset” button?
Disney+’s new The Book of Boba Fett featurette begins with a voice-over by Temuera Morrison as the legendary bounty hunter. “Left for dead on the sands of Tatooine – I am Boba Fett,” declares the series’ lead character.
The one-minute video features Morrison, Dave Filoni, and Robert Rodriguez discussing the new series. “Temuera Morrison is an incredible actor. He’s an incredible presence. What he brings to the performance of Boba is just awesome,” says Filoni. “I think the audience is gonna be surprised just how likable this character is because of Tem,” adds Rodriguez.
“It was an exciting comeback. It’s wearing that armor that gives you a sense of power,” says Morrison, commenting on slipping into the character once again for the live-action series. “Hey, I’m just one part. Another little, small cog in the machine. And it’s all adding up to magic.”
The Book of Boba Fett premieres today on Disney+, with new episodes dropping on Wednesdays.
In addition to Temuera Morrison, the series stars Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand. Filoni, Rodriguez, Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, and Colin Wilson serve as executive producers.
Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen in ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ (Photo Courtesy of Disney+)
The Plot, Courtesy of Disney+
The Book of Boba Fett, a thrilling Star Wars adventure teased in a surprise end-credit sequence following the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian, finds legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand navigating the galaxy’s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate.
Atticus Woodward, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Jaylen Barron in ‘Blindspotting’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
2021 was a fairly impressive year for new shows, although the major broadcast networks were once again woefully behind streamers and subscription services when it came to launching quality series. In fact, there were so many entertaining new series that kept us occupied throughout a very weird year that in order to put together a Top 10 list, it was necessary to considerably restrict those in contention. Multi-part documentaries and limited series had to be booted from the list…sorry Midnight Mass, Colin in Black & White, WandaVision, The Underground Railroad, and Maid.
The shows that made the cut represent my personal favorites, and, obviously, you have every right to disagree. Opinions are like…well, you know how that saying goes…and this Top 10 list reflects shows that kept me engaged throughout their first seasons.
12-time Emmy nominee Sandra Oh (Killing Eve, Grey’s Anatomy) stars as Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim, the newly installed Chair of Pembroke University’s English department in the short first season of Netflix’s The Chair. Ji-Yoon is the first woman to chair the department. However, it’s not exactly a coveted position as enrollments have tanked, and the majority of the English department’s faculty are viewed as lumbering dinosaurs by the powers that be (and the students). Still, Ji-Yoon’s determined to resurrect the failing department despite the fact her fellow professors aren’t sold on the prospect of moving the department into the 21st century.
The six-episode season finds Ji-Yoon not only struggling with her new position at the university but also with her feelings toward Professor Bill Dobson (Jay Duplass). Add in a misinterpreted gesture that sends the student body into protest mode, and Ji-Yoon’s professional life – not to mention her personal life – becomes incredibly complicated.
Sandra Oh’s perfectly cast as the well-meaning but overwhelmed English department chair whose high hopes and good intentions are constantly challenged by her friends, fellow professors, and the school’s dean. With support from a stellar cast that includes Holland Taylor, Nana Mensah, and Bob Balaban, Oh’s comedic timing is put to good use in this amusing glimpse at the behind-the-scenes maneuverings of a university’s English department attempting to prove its relevancy.
iZombie‘s Rose McIver and Never Have I Ever‘s Utkarsh Ambudkar lead the cast of CBS’s Ghosts, based on the popular BBC series of the same name. McIver and Ambudkar star as Samantha and Jay, a young couple who inherit a rundown mansion and pour all their time, energy, and money into fixing it up with the goal of transforming it into a bed and breakfast. The estate’s weird collection of ghosts initially plot to scare the new homeowners away, but that changes once a minor accident leaves Sam with the ability to interact with the spirit world.
Season one of the original Ghosts provided this American version with a plethora of comedy bits to use as storyline fodder. Although it took a couple of episodes to do so, the new Ghosts has found its footing and is equally as entertaining as the original series.
Christina Ricci as Misty, Steven Krueger as Ben Scott, Samantha Hanratty as Teen Misty, Tawny Cypress as Taissa, Jasmin Savoy Brown as Teen Taissa, Juliette Lewis as Natalie, Sophie Thatcher as Teen Natalie, Melanie Lynskey as Shauna, Sophie Nélisse as Shauna, Ella Purnell as Teen Jackie and Warren Kole as Jeff Sadecki in ‘Yellowjackets’ (Photo credit: Brendan Meadows/SHOWTIME)
8. Yellowjackets
A high school soccer team’s plane crashes on the way to a tournament, and the players are forced to do whatever it takes to survive in Showtime’s riveting drama, Yellowjackets. The series, which has been favorably compared to Lord of the Flies, gives audiences so much to unpack in the first season, including trying to figure out what went down during the team’s nearly 20-month ordeal in the Ontario wilderness.
Season one alternates between filling in the events that transpired in the woods and catching up with the survivors as the 25th anniversary of the plane crash nears. The survivors swore to never tell what happened during those horrific days in the middle of nowhere, but as the anniversary approaches, their ability to keep their survival stories a secret is challenged.
Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Christina Ricci, and Juliette Lewis star as the adult survivors, while Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sammi Hanratty, and Sophie Thatcher play the younger versions of the same key characters. The casting is spot-on and the writers take their time doling out clues, allowing each of the characters to be slowly fleshed out as the pieces of the puzzle come together.
The God of Mischief got his own series on Disney+ in 2021 and Tom Hiddleston spent season one charming the pants off audiences. The relationship between Loki‘s dynamic duo of Hiddleston and Owen Wilson was so much fun to watch evolve that it hardly mattered the series’ overall goal was to reinvent the MCU.
Season one catches up with Loki after the events in Avengers: Endgame and finds the charismatic character learning all about the Time Variance Authority and variants (different versions of a person who populate different timelines). Loki encounters various versions of himself, including an alligator Loki, and even falls in love with one of the variants. Played by Sophia Di Martino, Sylvie (aka Lady Loki) is every bit as capable as Loki of causing chaos and is a perfect match for Hiddleston’s Loki. Their relationship, although short-lived, changes Loki and helps him evolve in unexpected ways.
The character’s always been a fan-favorite villain and in Loki he’s finally allowed to fully transition to reluctant antihero status.
Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart star in ‘Hacks’ (Photograph by Anne Marie Fox/HBO Max)
6. Hacks
HBO Max’s Hacks had me at “Jean Smart playing a legendary Las Vegas comedian.” Seriously, the four-time Emmy Award winner can do no wrong in my book and, fortunately, Hacks is a vehicle worthy of her talent.
Season one focused on the dysfunctional relationship between Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance, a comedian on the downside of her career, and Hannah Einbinder’s Ava, an up-and-coming writer who found out the hard way what it’s like to be canceled on social media. Smart and Einbinder are terrific scene partners, and Hacks is at its best when these two extraordinary actors square off.
Paulina Alexis, Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, and Lane Factor star in ‘Reservation Dogs’ (Photo Credit: Shane Brown/FX)
5. Reservation Dogs
FX on Hulu’s Reservation Dogs is the first series to star Indigenous actors and feature a behind-the-scenes team of Indigenous directors and writing staff. Season one is set in Oklahoma and focuses on four Native American teenagers – played Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor, and Paulina Alexis – who are attempting to figure out a way to honor their dead friend, raise enough money (by any means possible) to leave the reservation, and move to California.
Reservation Dogs, created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, isn’t just a groundbreaking representation of a marginalized group in front of and behind the camera, it’s also incredibly entertaining. Clever writing, terrific chemistry between the four young leads, and a fresh take on coming-of-age comedies make this one of the best new comedies of 2021.
A scene from ‘Squid Game’ season 1 (Photo Credit: Noh Juhan / Netflix)
4. Squid Game
Netflix’s Squid Game is a truly twisted binge-worthy series that pits 456 competitors, each desperately in need of money, against each other in a brutal competition in which only one can emerge alive (and wealthy). Simple childhood games like Red Light, Green Light are transformed into battlegrounds where only the most adept players leave the field still breathing.
The blood flows and the body count rises as this disturbing thriller weaves biting social commentary into horrific scenes displaying the absolute worst of human nature. Lee Jung-jae leads the massive ensemble cast as G-hun, a simple man who’s recruited/forced into the competition and who, despite being tested in unimaginable ways, transcends his circumstances and becomes a better human being as the season goes on.
Squid Game‘s a difficult watch for the squeamish but the season finale makes it well worth the effort.
Faith Omole as Bisma, Sarah Kameela Impey as Saira, Juliette Motamed as Ayesha, Anjana Vasan as Amina, and Lucie Shorthouse as Momtaz in ‘We Are Lady Parts’ (Photo by: Saima Khalid/Peacock)
3. We Are Lady Parts
Peacock’s We Are Lady Parts is one of the smartest, funniest, and most relevant comedies to emerge in the past few years. The series follows the ups and downs of an all-female, all-Muslim punk rock group, with the band’s newest member – talented guitarist Amina Hussain (Anjana Vasan) – serving as the audience’s entry into the group. Amina’s more likely to toss her cookies than complete an actual song in front of an audience, yet the part-time guitarist/full-time microbiology PhD student refuses to give up on her dream of becoming a musician. Her journey to tackle her nerves and channel her inner rock star provides plenty of relatable moments and laugh-out-loud scenes.
Vasan and her incredibly talented co-stars Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, Faith Omole, Lucie Shorthouse, Zaqi Ismail, and Aiysha Hart make this wild and witty series a must-see.
Mabel (Selena Gomez), Oliver (Martin Short), and Charles (Steve Martin) in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ (Photo by Craig Blankenhorn / Hulu)
2. Only Murders in the Building
If you weren’t already into true crime podcasts before watching Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, it’s likely by the end of season one this hilarious comedy will have convinced you to check out a few.
Real-life friends Steve Martin and Martin Short star alongside Selena Gomez as residents of an Upper West Side apartment whose obsession with a true crime podcast prompts them to create their own following the death of a fellow resident. The unlikely trio of amateur investigators attempt to figure out the identity of the murderer and, in the process, reveal closely kept secrets about the building’s inhabitants as well as themselves.
Smart writing, strong chemistry between the three leads, and a story that kept viewers guessing add up to a killer first season.
Janelle (Candace Nicholas-Lippman), Sean (Atticus Woodward), and Ashley (Jasmine Cephas Jones) in ‘Blindspotting’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
1. Blindspotting
Season one of Starz’s riveting genre-bending series Blindspotting sits at a perfect 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The series, based on the 2018 film of the same name, was created by the movie’s writers/stars Daveed Diggs (“Collin”) and Rafael Casal (“Miles”) and although it features some of the same key characters, it also works on its own.
The show approaches the story from a female perspective, with season one told from Ashley’s (once again played by the absolutely terrific Jasmine Cephas Jones) point of view. Ashley’s dealing with life as a single mom while Miles is incarcerated, and much of the first season consists of simple, relatable stories told in innovative ways.
Blindspotting‘s filled with flawed characters just trying to make it through each day, and we can understand and appreciate their struggles.
Honorable Mentions:Lupin, The White Lotus, Starstruck,, and Made for Love.
Netflix’s Cheer returns for its second season on January 12, 2022, once again focusing on the Navarro Cheer team as they train and compete amid Covid-19 and legal scandals. The new trailer reveals some of what the squad will be up against as they deal with personal issues while preparing to take on their rival, Trinity Valley Community College.
Season two will consist of nine episodes directed by Emmy winner Greg Whiteley. The One Potato Productions, Boardwalk Pictures, and Caviar production is executive produced by Whiteley, Andrew Fried, Dane Lillegard, Jasper Thomlinson, and Bert Hamelinck.
“I am a huge believer in the power of stories and telling them honestly. I believe the story is going to ultimately be the best version of itself when you are honoring what is true, and you’re not running from it. This season covers events as they unfolded, beginning in January 2020 through April 2021, following Navarro College and their rival Trinity Valley Community College on their journeys to the national championship,” explained director/executive producer Greg Whiteley.
Whiteley continued: “The new episodes also tackle extremely difficult moments, including the impact of COVID-19 and criminal charges against one of Navarro’s former team members. It was inspiring, heartbreaking, sometimes frustrating, and ultimately moving to be a part of their lives. Flying home from our last day of shooting in Daytona, I thought, ‘I cannot believe we saw what we just saw, we experienced what we just experienced.’ If we do our job right, we’re able to take the audience on that same ride.”
Season two features Coach Monica Aldama, Lexi Brumback, Gabi Butler, Morgan Simianer, Brooke Morosca,and Faith Gatlin.
The Emmy-winning breakout sensation is back and the stakes have never been higher. As Season 2 opens and the buzz around their newfound stardom threatens to alter the dynamic of Navarro Cheer, the team finds no amount of press frenzy could compare to the challenges they must face when COVID-19 upends the 2020 cheer season and a serious criminal accusation is levied at one of their teammates.
Against that dramatic backdrop, the 9-episode season expands to showcase Navarro’s fiercest rival: Trinity Valley Community College. As with the Navarro team, TVCC has a charismatic coach and breakout stars whose struggles, triumphs and stories extend far beyond the mat. As both teams push for the 2021 championship in Daytona, familiar faces take compelling detours and new contenders make a name for themselves.
Ralph Fiennes and Harris Dickinson star in ‘The King’s Man’ (Photo Credit: 20th Century Studios)
The build up to World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the birth of the secret intelligence agency run out of a Saville Row tailor shop in London are the focus of the latest installment of the Kingsman franchise, The King’s Man. The prequel explores the origins of the secret spy organization and takes the action back to the early 20th century.
The King’s Man opens in 1902 in South Africa and introduces Duke Orlando Oxford (Ralph Fiennes) as he witnesses the untimely death of his wife. Devastated but determined, he’s left to raise their only son, Conrad (Harris Dickinson), alone. Orlando becomes increasingly overprotective and constantly concerned about Conrad being in any kind of danger.
Fast-forward several years later and young Conrad’s now almost a legal adult. He yearns for adventure and is anxious to enlist and fight on the front lines in World War I.
Conrad’s dreams are put on hold when he and his dad are selected to protect Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (Ron Cook) from assassination attempts. Despite their best and bravest efforts, Ferdinand’s killed by an assassin who works for a mysterious evil mastermind. Following the failure of their mission, Conrad enlists in the British army on his birthday, anxious to be part of the great campaign – much to his father’s disapproval.
Shocking events lead Orlando, his most trusted housekeeper/spy-in-disguise Polly (Gemma Arterton), and his right-hand-man Shola (Djimon Hounsou) to go all out to find the identity of the criminal bigwig who’s trying to ignite an even bigger war and stop him before he succeeds.
Even with a great cast, The King’s Man can’t escape its uneven tone and vulgar humor which ruins what could – and should – have been a rousing comical adventure. Ralph Fiennes shines in the role of Orlando Oxford, a man who only wants to protect his son from the horrors of the world. Ralph portrays Oxford with charm, grace, and as a gentleman’s gentleman. It’s reminiscent of his performance as John Steed in the 1998 big-screen version of the hit British television show The Avengers. He also brings depth and real emotion to the role in the more shocking and disturbing scenes. This is never more evident than in the opening sequence with the tragic killing of his wife. It’s heartbreaking to watch as he clutches her lifeless body and looks at his six-year-old son while trying to hold back tears.
Gemma Arterton and Djimon Hounsou are solid as Polly and Shola, Orlando’s loyal comrades in arms who are highly skilled in battle and espionage. The film’s at its best when Arterton, Hounsou, and Fiennes are working together during the third act.
But even with these above-average performances, The King’s Man cannot escape its uneven tone, awful dialogue, and painfully silly villains. Going back and forth from deadly serious and even tragic scenes to juvenile and tasteless humor gives the film a lost and disjointed feel. It’s almost as though the filmmakers tried to blend together the Austin Powers films with 1917 and Gallipoli. The result is a jumbled, erratic mess of a film with tasteless humor, ridiculous action, and over-the-top melodrama.
GRADE: D+
MPAA Rating: R for some sexual material, language, and strong bloody violence
Grammy winner Lyle Lovett reprises his role as Texas Ranger Major Waylon Gates on CBS’s Blue Bloods season 12 episode 10, “Old Friends.” Directed by Jackeline Tejada from a script by Ian Biederman, episode 10 is set to air on Friday, January 7, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.
Tom Selleck leads the cast as Frank Reagan, with Donnie Wahlberg back as Danny Reagan and Bridget Moynahan returning as Erin Reagan. Will Estes plays Jamie Reagan, Len Cariou is Henry Reagan, Sami Gayle is Nicky Reagan-Boyle, Marisa Ramirez is Det. Maria Baez, and Vanessa Ray plays Officer Eddie Janko.
Recurring season 12 cast members include Abigail Hawk, Gregory Jbara, Robert Clohessy, Steven Schirripa, Andrew Terraciano, and Dylan Walsh.
“Old Friends” Plot: An illegal drug shipment arriving in New York City forces Danny to partner up with his Texas Ranger associate, Major Waylon Gates (Lovett), to find the narcotics before they flood the streets. Also, Jamie makes a concerning discovery about a former mentor as he helps a neighbor handle a gambling debt, and Frank receives pushback from Mayor Chase over his handling of a brawl between demonstrators and police officers at a protest.
Blue Bloods is a drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement. Frank Reagan is the New York Police Commissioner, and heads both the police force and the Reagan brood. He runs his department as diplomatically as he runs his family, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry, during his stint as Chief. A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son, Danny, a seasoned detective, family man and Iraq War vet who on occasion uses dubious tactics to solve cases with his partner, Detective Maria Baez. Erin, the middle daughter, is a New York Assistant D.A. who serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father.
Jamie is the youngest Reagan, a Harvard Law graduate and the family’s “golden boy.” Unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie decided to give up a lucrative future in law and follow in the family footsteps as a cop. He’s found a friend and ally in his wife, Eddie, who keeps him on his toes, and has very different reasons than the Reagans for joining the police force.
When CBS’s Magnum P.I. returns from its winter break it’ll be with an episode that finds Higgins hiding a romantic dream she had about Magnum. Season four episode 10 was directed by Avi Youabian from a script by David Wolkove and will air on Friday, January 7, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
Jay Hernandez returns to lead the cast as Thomas Magnum. Season four also stars Perdita Weeks as Juliet Higgins, Zachary Knighton as Orville “Rick” Wright, Stephen Hill as Theodore “TC” Calvin, Tim Kang as Det. Gordon Katsumoto, and Amy Hill as Kumu.
The episode’s guest cast includes Michael Camp, Kelly Mumme, Brooke Nevin, Logan Donovan, Nathan Hurd, and Josh Stamberg.
“Dream Lover” Plot: When a woman hires Magnum and Higgins to locate a man she met briefly at a coffee shop and felt a spark with, they learn that he is hiding a big secret. Also, Higgins keeps a secret of her own after she has a romantic dream about Magnum.
Magnum P.I. is a modern take on the classic series centering on Thomas Magnum, a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. A charming rogue, an American hero and a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan, Magnum lives in a guest cottage on Robin’s Nest, the luxurious estate where he works as a security consultant to supplement his P.I. business.
The “majordomo” of the property is Juliet Higgins, a beautiful and commanding disavowed MI:6 agent whose second job is to keep Magnum in line, with the help of her two Dobermans. When Magnum needs back-up on a job, he turns to his trusted buddies and fellow POW survivors, Theodore “TC” Calvin, a former Marine chopper pilot who runs Island Hoppers, a helicopter tour business, and Orville “Rick” Wright, a former Marine door-gunner-turned-impresario of Oahu’s coolest nightclub and the most connected man on the island.
Suspicious of Magnum’s casual attitude and presence at his crime scenes, Detective Gordon Katsumoto finds that he and Magnum are more alike than either of them care to admit. One of Magnum’s biggest supporters is Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta, the unofficial “House Mom” and cultural curator of Robin’s Nest. With keys to a vintage Ferrari in one hand, aviator sunglasses in the other, and an Old Düsseldorf longneck chilling in the fridge, Thomas Magnum is back on the case!
