Henry Golding plays Snake Eyes in ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.
Paramount’s released the first official photos from the upcoming action thriller, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, hitting theaters this summer. The new photos arrived along with a Snake Eyes poster and a confirmation the teaser trailer will premiere on Sunday, May 16th.
The first batch of photos feature Snake Eyes stars Henry Golding in the title role, Andrew Koji as Storm Shadow, Úrsula Corberó as The Baroness, Samara Weaving as Scarlett, and Haruka Abe as Akiko. The cast of the thriller also includes Tahehiro Hira as Kenta and Iko Uwais as Hard Master.
Robert Schwentke (Insurgent, Allegiant) directed from a screenplay by Evan Spiliotopoulos, Anna Waterhouse, and Joe Shrapnel. Brian Goldner, Erik Howsam, and Lorenzo di Bonaventura produce, with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Jeff G. Waxman, and Greg Mooradian executive producing.
Paramount Pictures has set a July 23, 2021 release in theaters, Dolby Cinema, and IMAX.
The Plot:
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins stars Henry Golding as Snake Eyes, a tenacious loner who is welcomed into an ancient Japanese clan called the Arashikage after saving the life of their heir apparent. Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach Snake Eyes the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing something he’s been longing for: a home. But, when secrets from his past are revealed, Snake Eyes’ honor and allegiance will be tested – even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him.
Henry Golding plays Snake Eyes in ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.Henry Golding on the set of ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.Henry Golding plays Snake Eyes in ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.Haruka Abe plays Akiko in ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.Andrew Koji plays Tommy in ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.Samara Weaving plays Scarlett in ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.Ursula Corbero plays The Baroness in ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ from Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Skydance.
Lea and Shaun will be dealing with the devastating reality of losing their baby on ABC’s The Good Doctor season four episode 17. Directed by James Genn from a script by Doris Egan, episode 17 – “Letting Go” – will air on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT.
The cast of season four includes Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Browne, Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews, and Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman. Christina Chang plays Dr. Audrey Lim, Fiona Gubelmann is Dr. Morgan Reznick, Will Yun Lee is Dr. Alex Park, and Paige Spara stars as Lea Dilallo.
Episode 17 guest stars include Bria Samoné Henderson, Elfina Luk, Cynthia Stevenson, Hiro Kanagawa, Asif Ali, Derek McGrath,l and Pete Graham.
“Letting Go” Plot: Dr. Claire Brown and the team must face hard truths about what lines they are willing to cross when one of Claire’s idols becomes her patient.
Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, continues to use his extraordinary medical gifts at St. Bonaventure Hospital’s surgical unit. As his friendships deepen, Shaun tackles the world of dating for the first time and continues to work harder than he ever has before, navigating his environment to prove to his colleagues that his talents as a surgeon will save lives.
Paige Spara in ‘The Good Doctor’ season 4 episode 17 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Freddie Highmore and Richard Schiff in season 4 episode 17 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Paige Spara in the “Letting Go” episode (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Antonia Thomas and Cynthia Stevenson in season 4 episode 17 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Hill Harper, Hiro Kanagawa, and Will Yun Lee in season 4 episode 17 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Hill Harper and Freddie Highmore in season 4 episode 17 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)
‘Ordinary Joe’ Key Art (Photo by: NBC Entertainment)
NBC’s adding three new dramas – Ordinary Joe, La Brea, and Law & Order: For the Defense – to their 2021-2022 fall primetime schedule. The newbies will be joined by a new The Voice season with Ariana Grande, season four of New Amsterdam, and its Wednesday lineup of Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D..
Thursdays will become an all Law & Order evening, with the new series Law & Order: For the Defense leading into season 23 of Law & Order: SVU and season two of Law & Order: Organized Crime. The Blacklist will return to its Friday night spot for season nine.
NBC FALL 2021-22 SCHEDULE
MONDAY
8-10 P.M. — The Voice
10-11 P.M. — Ordinary Joe
TUESDAY
8-9 P.M. — The Voice
9-10 P.M. — La Brea
10-11 P.M. — New Amsterdam
WEDNESDAY
8-9 P.M. — Chicago Med
9-10 P.M. — Chicago Fire
10-11 P.M. — Chicago P.D.
THURSDAY
8-9 P.M. — Law & Order: For the Defense
9-10 P.M. — Law & Order: SVU
10-11 P.M. — Law & Order: Organized Crime
SUNDAY
7-8:20 P.M. — Football Night in America
8:20-11 P.M. — NBC Sunday Night Football
The network’s midseason lineup will include season six of This Is Us, with the upcoming season recently announced as the series’ final. NBC’s midseason schedule will also include American Auto and Grand Crew comedies as well as The Thing About Pam true-crime series with Renee Zellweger.
Brooklyn Nine Nine completes its final season run as part of NBC’s 2021-2022 midseason schedule. Kenan, Mr. Mayor, and Young Rock will also return midseason.
NBC’s fall schedule announcement indicated Debris, Ellen’s Game of Games, Good Girls, Manifest, and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist have not been either renewed or canceled yet.
LA BREA Details: An epic adventure begins when a massive sinkhole opens in the middle of Los Angeles, pulling hundreds of people and buildings into its depths. Those who fell in find themselves in a mysterious and dangerous primeval land, where they have no choice but to band together to survive. Meanwhile, the rest of the world desperately seeks to understand what happened. In the search for answers, one family torn apart by this disaster will have to unlock the secrets of this inexplicable event to find a way back to each other.
The cast includes Natalie Zea, Eoin Macken, Jon Seda, Nicholas Gonzalez, Chiké Okonkwo, Karina Logue, Zyra Gorecki, Jack Martin, Veronica St. Clair, Rohan Mirchandaney, Lily Santiago, Josh McKenzie and Chloe De Los Santos.
ORDINARY JOE Synopsis: Life is all about the choices you make – and sometimes what you do in a single moment can change everything. This new heartfelt, life-affirming drama follows Joe Kimbreau, who faces one of these decisions at his college graduation. The three parallel stories that diverge from that night find Joe and the people around him with different careers, relationships and family lives, showing the unexpected ways that things change – and stay the same. But when it comes down to it, there is no “right” choice; no matter what happens, Joe’s life is always messy, exciting, tough, unpredictable … and beautiful.
The cast includes James Wolk, Natalie Martinez, Elizabeth Lail, and Charlie Barnett.
LAW & ORDER: FOR THE DEFENSE Description: In its 30-year history as the most successful brand in television, Law and Order has only ever explored the perspective of its iconic prosecutors … until now. From legendary executive producer Dick Wolf comes Law & Order: For the Defense, the newest entry in the beloved franchise that takes an unflinching look inside a criminal defense firm. Every week, the series will put the lawyers – and the criminal justice system – under the microscope like only Law & Order can, delivering hard-hitting, ripped-from-the-headlines stories that provide a new vantage point on justice.
Holly Taylor as Angelina Meyer, Athena Karkanis as Grace Stone, and Josh Dallas as Ben Stone in ‘Manifest’ season 3 episode 9 (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)
A new calling and a turning point for a major character are at the heart of season three episode nine of NBC’s Manifest. The episode begins at Eureka with Saanvi (Parveen Kaur) and Troy (Ed Herbstman) using simulated dark lightning on the piece of wood they believe is from Noah’s Ark.
Meanwhile, Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) and Zeke (Matt Long) are planning a dinner party with Jared (J.R. Ramirez) and Sarah (Lauren Norvelle) when Michaela has a calling featuring dark stormy skies. She calls Ben (Josh Dallas) and tells him about it, learning he hasn’t had a similar calling. Before getting off the phone Ben teases his sister about the awkward dinner party she’s about to host.
At the Stone home, Angelina (Holly Taylor) helps Grace (Athena Karkanis) with the baby and suggests ideas for the new restaurant. Olive (Luna Blaise) notices their conversation and seems a little uncomfortable as she receives an unexpected text from Levi.
Ben yells for Grace to come down to the basement and asks her to turn off the washing machine because it’s leaking. He’s attempting to stop the water from coming through when Grace reveals she doesn’t see any water; he’s experiencing a calling. Ben turns and sees the same dark clouds Michaela saw. The doorbell rings and Ben finds a soaking wet Eagan Tehrani (Ali Lopez-Sohaili) on his doorstep. “What is going on, professor?” asks Eagan.
Eagan tells Ben and Olive that he had the same calling, but he also saw a lion in the rain. Ben instructs Olive to go to the campus and look up any mythology involving a lion and rain.
Angelina greets Eagan as Grace asks to speak to Ben in private for a minute. After they step away, Eagan tricks Angelina into showing him around the house.
The dinner party’s going well when Michaela experiences another calling and sees blood dripping from her eyes when she looks in a mirror.
Back at the Stone house, Grace confesses to Ben she doesn’t trust Eagan and wants him out of her house and out of their lives. Ben insists he needs to work with Eagan because the callings want them to.
Ben catches Eagan in the garage with Angelina admiring all his Flight 828 work and connections. Grace tells Angelina to come with her and they leave Ben and Eagan together in the garage.
Michaela calls and tells Ben about her new calling. Eagan notices Saanvi’s photo on Ben’s 828 wall is the only photo that’s wet. Ben, Eagan, and Michaela simultaneously realize Saanvi is in trouble and that the calling must be about her. Eagan wants to visit her but Ben knows they’ll will never get into Eureka. Michaela is still on the phone and says she’ll go and get Vance to let her in.
At Eureka, Saanvi and Troy try the experiment on the piece of Noah’s Ark again but it doesn’t seem to have any effect on the wood. Saanvi takes off her protective face mask and Troy’s shocked her eyes are bleeding.
Michaela arrives at Eureka and Vance (Daryl Edwards) does let her in, hoping she might know what’s going on with Saanvi.
Back at the Stone home Ben and Eagan experience another calling and see a lion crying blood. It truly scares Eagan but Ben’s convinced the calling is tied to what’s happening to Saanvi.
Olive and Levi combine forces at the campus and work together to look through images of floods and lions in history and mythology. Levi suggests they go get dinner and Olive teases him for trying to ask her out. Levi and Olive flirt a little and then they kiss.
Ben calls Olive to bring her up to speed on Michaela and Saanvi.
Michaela witnesses Saanvi’s tears of blood and then checks in with Ben. He explains Olive found a story of a Buddhist myth of a lion’s eyes bleeding and that it foreshadows a flood. Ben, Eagan, and Michaela believe the storm clouds in the calling are a warning about something happening at Eureka.
Michaela barges back into Saanvi’s room and tells everyone she needs to speak with her alone. Saanvi reveals she’s been working on the wood and its connection to Noah’s Ark. Michaela asks if she was working on it when her eyes began bleeding. She says yes but adds that she’s been working on it for weeks.
At the dinner party Sarah helps Beverly after she ends up making a mess of herself at dinner. Confused, Bev thinks Sarah is Michaela.
Once more to the Stone house we go and Ben and Eagan see water rising slowly from the floor of the garage along with a bright glowing light. Ben bends down and picks up the light which is coming from the journal. Michaela calls Ben about Saanvi and Noah’s Ark, believing it’s connected.
Michaela confronts Vance about holding back information, warning him she’s done with him keeping secrets. She has yet another calling of dark stormy clouds and hears a code blue. Vance says it’s Saanvi.
Olive returns home and finds Angelina dying her hair black to look like her. Olive calls Angelina out about her behavior and about trying to be like her with the baby and with Grace. Angelina apologizes and says she feels lucky to be with them and just wants to fit in. Olive turns mean, declaring they are just pitying her. Angelina leaves, upset.
Over at the dinner party, Zeke gets a read on Jared and Sarah and thanks Sarah for helping out with Bev.
Ben and Eagan continue to go over the clues they’ve come up with and Eagan notices a drawing in the journal of a bunch of people in a lifeboat, one of whom looks like Saanvi. Ben thinks it might mean Saanvi may have damaged their “lifeboat.”
Parveen Kaur as Saanvi Bahl and Ed Herbstman as Troy Davis in ‘Manifest’ season 3 episode 9 (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)
At Eureka, Saanvi refuses to be incubated. Michaela pleads with her to tell her what she’s hiding. Saanvi demands everyone else get out and once they’re alone, Saanvi finally tells Michaela that she killed the Major. Almost instantly Saanvi’s eyes stop bleeding and her vitals stabilize.
In the garage at the Stone home, Ben and Eagan notice the water is gone. Michaela calls Ben with the update on Saanvi.
Eagan’s about to leave when Ben admits they need to work together on the callings if they’re going to save everyone, including themselves. Eagan says okay but that he needs Ben to tell him everything he knows. While Ben’s getting notes to show him, Eagan swipes his computer drive.
Olive tells Grace about Angelina trying to be like her and how she thinks it’s disturbing. Grace believes Angelina’s just idolizing Olive because Olive has so much going for her.
Back at Eureka, Saanvi apologizes for lying and fears she has sunk the lifeboat for everyone on Flight 828. Michaela tells her that both she and Zeke took a life, and they were both redeemed. Zeke survived his death date because he followed the callings. Michaela believes Saanvi confessing to the murder is her first step toward redemption.
Saanvi wants Michaela to arrest her, but Michaela refuses and suggests she heal and rest first, and then they can talk about it. Saanvi asks Michaela not to tell Ben so she can tell him herself. Michaela agrees and adds, “828 – ride or die.”
Angelina heads back to see Levi on the campus and wants him to comfort her. Levi comforts Angelina and she moves in for a kiss, but he backs up. Olive sees what’s going on and yells at Angelina to leave.
Zeke’s cleaning up after the party and Bev tells him, in a confused and wide-eyed state, Michaela thought he only had one day to live and what he has with her doesn’t hold up to 12 years with Jared. Zeke suspects she can feel what he’s thinking and feeling.
Grace visits the garage to talk to Ben and he explains he believes they need to fix the lifeboat for the passengers of Flight 828 and for themselves. He shows her a drawing in the journal indicating some of the men jumped ship for the greater good. Grace suggests they could have been pushed out and fears the callings are telling him to push another person out of the lifeboat. “There’s got to be another way,” responds Ben.
At Eureka, Saanvi tells Vance and Dr. Gupta she thought she could help find answers to what happened to the Ark and Flight 828. Dr. Gupta believes the experiment wasn’t a failure and for 37 milliseconds at 7:44pm the piece of Noah’s Ark vanished and then reappeared. It was all caught on video!
At the same time, Troy and his colleague discuss a cluster of tiny tremors that happened right under Eureka at 7:44pm.
Gillian Anderson in season 2 of ‘The Great’ (Photo Courtesy of Hulu)
Gillian Anderson (The Crown, The X-Files) is officially part of Hulu’s The Great season two. The streaming service announced Anderson has committed to playing the mother of Catherine (Elle Fanning) in a two-episode arc.
Hulu released the following description of Anderson’s character, Joanna: “Joanna is a glamorous socialite from Germany, sometimes also known as the ‘maestro of marriage’ for her abilities to arrange high-profile partnerships for her daughters. She has heard rumors of her daughter’s coup and come to Russia to see it for herself. Though the apple of Catherine’s eye and a doting mother, it soon becomes clear Johanna has more sinister intentions to save her family’s reputation.”
In addition to Elle Fanning and Gillian Anderson, the season two cast includes Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, and Gwilym Lee. Charity Wakefield, Douglas Hodge, Sacha Dhawan, Bayo Gbadamosi, and Belinda Bromilow also star in season two.
Oscar nominee Tony McNamara (The Favourite) created the series and serves as writer and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Marian Macgowan, Thruline’s Josh Kesselman and Ron West, Echo Lake’s Brittany Kahan Ward, Doug Mankoff, and Andrew Spaulding, Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Mark Winemaker, and Matt Shakman.
The Great Synopsis, Courtesy of Hulu:
“The Great is a satirical, comedic drama about the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest-reigning female ruler in Russia’s history. Season one is a fictionalized, fun and anachronistic story of an idealistic, romantic young girl, who arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to the mercurial Emperor Peter. Hoping for love and sunshine, she finds instead a dangerous, depraved, backward world that she resolves to change. All she has to do is kill her husband, beat the church, baffle the military and get the court onside. A very modern story about the past which encompasses the many roles she played over her lifetime as lover, teacher, ruler, friend, and fighter.
In season two, Catherine becomes both a mother to Russia and a child.”
Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars in ‘Kate’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Netflix just shared the first three photos of Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the action thriller, Kate. The official synopsis describes Winstead’s character as a ruthless criminal operative who has less than 24 hours to exact revenge on her enemies and in the process forms an unexpected bond with the daughter of one of her past victims.
Winstead’s joined in the cast by Tadanobu Asano, Miyavi, Michiel Huisman, Miku Martineau, Jun Kunimura, and Woody Harrelson.
Cedric Nicolas-Troyan (The Huntsman: Winter’s War) directed from a screenplay by Umair Aleem. Bryan Unkeless, Kelly McCormick, and Patrick Newall produced.
Netflix is targeting a fall 2021 release.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s recent film credits include Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, Gemini Man, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and Kill the Messenger. Winstead also recently starred opposite Ewan McGregor and Carrie Coon in season three of FX’s critically acclaimed series, Fargo.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Miku Martineau in a scene from ‘Kate’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)Mary Elizabeth Winstead in a scene from Netflix’s ‘Kate’
Fox’s The Resident season four comes to an end with an episode that welcomes an addition to Nic and Conrad’s family. Season four episode 14 – “Past, Present, Future” – will air on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season four stars Matt Czuchry as Dr. Conrad Hawkins, Emily VanCamp as Nurse Practitioner Nicolette Nevin, Manish Dayal as Dr. Devon Pravesh, and Bruce Greenwood as Dr. Randolph Bell. Shaunette Renee Wilson plays Dr. Mina Okafor, Jane Leeves is Dr. Kit Voss, Malcolm-Jamal Warner is Dr. AJ Austin, and Morris Chestnut is R. Barrett Cain.
How to Get Away with Murder‘s Conrad Ricamora continues his guest-starring role.
“Past, Present, Future” Plot: The wait is over as Conrad and Nic welcome the arrival of their baby girl. Meanwhile, Raptor’s life begins to fall apart and he is forced to turn to Cain for help. Also, Devon and Bell work together on a complicated surgery that may allow them to save multiple lives. Then, Kit tries to deal with the moral repercussions of financially saving Chastain.
The Official Season 4 Description, Courtesy of Fox:
Entering its fourth season, The Resident will shine a light on the daily heroism of our health care workers. The provocative medical drama follows the doctors and nurses at Chastain Memorial Hospital, as they face personal and professional challenges and fight for their patients’ health.
This season, a glimpse at the harrowing nightmare that was COVID-19’s relentless grip on urban hospitals will give way, as the series jumps forward to sunnier days. With black-hearted Red Rock Mountain Medical figurehead Logan Kim ousted, the rudderless hospital finds its new CEO in star orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kit Voss, when she spearheads Chastain’s transition from private to public hospital. Now, after three seasons of bucking the system, the doctors have a seat at the table – and will fight to fix the broken machine from the inside.
Reeling from an earth-shattering loss, Dr. Devon Pravesh begins suffering from an identity crisis, as he blames the flawed public hospital model, of which he is now a part. After their challenging year, Dr. Conrad Hawkins and Nurse Practioner Nicolette Nevin tie the knot in an intimate and beautiful wedding, strengthening their already powerful bond. But shortly thereafter, Nic suffers a horrifying experience, the fallout of which will plague her for years. With support from both Conrad and Nic’s oldest friend, the unpredictable, sharp-tongued nurse Billie Ramos, Nic battles her trauma head-on to get back in the ring for her patients.
When Chastain’s public status and slashed payroll budget costs them their top surgeons, Dr. Randolph Bell finds himself mining his own past to find his estranged former stepson, elite plastic surgeon Dr. Jake Wong (guest star Conrad Ricamora). Bell attempts to bring Dr. Wong to Chastain to increase the number of world-class surgeries at the hospital and to repair their complicated past.
Overqualified Surgical Resident Dr. Mina Okafor world is upended when she discovers her immigration status has been threatened in a way that even her brilliant, braggadocious mentor, Dr. AJ Austin may not be able to help her with. Dr. Barrett Cain is blindsided by karma and a colleague, in a cataclysmic event that costs him nearly everything. Upon recovery, he chooses vengeance, the ramifications of which threaten to tear the heart out of his colleagues and Chastain itself.
There’s a potential shooter in the ICU plus lots of personal issues to deal with on Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season two episode 13. “One Day” will air on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT, with the season finale – “Dust to Dust” – set for May 24th.
Season two’s cast is led by Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe (The West Wing) as Owen Strand. Gina Torres is Tommy Vega, Ronen Rubinstein plays T.K. Strand, Sierra Aylina McClain is Grace Ryder, and Jim Parrack stars as Judd Ryder. Natacha Karam returns as Marjan Marwani, Brian Michael Smith is Paul Strickland, Rafael L. Silva plays Carlos Reyes, and Julian Works is Mateo Chavez.
“One Day” Plot: Owen helps Tommy through a personal emergency.
The 126 welcomes new Paramedic Captain TOMMY VEGA (Torres) to the crew. Tommy was at the top of her game when she hung up her uniform eight years ago to raise her twin daughters. When her husband’s restaurant went under due to the devastation of the pandemic, she has no choice but to re-enter the workforce to support her family. Though it breaks her heart to be apart from her little girls, Tommy will show the world that no matter how much time has passed, when she puts on that uniform, she’s still a boss.
Additionally, Owen is reunited with his ex-wife and T.K.’s mother, GWYNETH (guest star Lisa Edelstein), and the former couple re-discover the spark they once shared. As Owen finds out his cancer is in remission, he receives news that could change his life forever.
Series star David Boreanaz steps behind the camera to direct CBS’s SEAL Team season four episode 15. (The episode marks Boreanaz’s fourth time directing SEAL Team.) Written by Spencer Hudnut and Mark H. Semos, episode 15 – “Nightmare of My Choice” – will air on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT.
David Boreanaz leads the cast as Jason Hayes, Max Thieriot plays Clay Spenser, and Neil Brown Jr. stars as Ray Perry. AJ Buckley is Sonny Quinn and Toni Trucks is Lisa Davis. Recurring cast members include Justin Melnick as Brock Reynolds, Tyler Grey as Trent Sawyer, Scott Foxx as Full Metal, and Judd Lormand as Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn.
Episode 15 guest stars include Philip Shahbaz, Shiva Negar, Jason Dohring, David Bianchi, Rob Parks, Andy Taylor Kim, and Miracle Laurie.
“Nightmare of My Choice” Plot: Bravo joins forces with Alpha team to protect a crucial Nigerian pipeline that is under attack by Boko Haram. But when a team member is injured and Jason and Clay fight to save his life, Bravo discovers that an even more dangerous enemy is attacking them.
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.
Chris Rock stars in ‘Spiral: From the Book of Saw’ (Photo Credit: Brooke Palmer /Lionsgate)
Spiral: From the Book of Saw has the honor of being the first film screened for San Diego critics since Covid-19 forced theaters to close and critics to rely on streaming links or DVDs. Being back in a theater along with a socially distanced, mask-wearing group of about 10 people felt so incredibly normal that even if Spiral sucked it would have been worth sitting through the screening.
Fortunately, Spiral doesn’t suck. It’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect from an entry in the Saw franchise. I’ll admit I had higher hopes than I should have, given the pedigree of its cast. I, quite wrongfully, assumed this addition to the franchise would be a little more arty/cerebral than its predecessors. I was dead wrong.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw isn’t a distant cousin of the disturbing horror franchise. It’s a gory bloodfest full of horrifying traps that result in the detachment of multiple body parts from those unfortunate enough to be targeted by a Jigsaw-inspired killer. In other words, it has everything a Saw fan demands plus the added bonus of an outstanding lead performance by an award-winning big-name actor.
The film focuses on Detective Zeke Banks (Chris Rock), a cop who’s deeply disliked by his fellow officers for turning in his corrupt partner. Zeke’s assigned William Schenk (Max Minghella) to train, and William’s eager to learn and unaffected by the level of hatred aimed at Zeke. William seems like a straight shooter, the sort of detective you’d want backing you up if you were hunting down a twisted killer.
Captain Angie Garza (Riverdale’s Marisol Nichols) allows Zeke to head up the investigation, and bloody parts begin showing up along with messages confirming why the killer’s out for cop blood.
Zeke initially reluctantly accepts having to hang with this newbie, but begrudgingly grows to appreciate William’s work ethic. The fact William’s willing to dive into the investigation of a Jigsaw copycat targeting dirty cops also works in his favor in winning over Zeke.
The bodies pile up, Zeke’s intimate circle is threatened, and the killer (complete with a grotesque pig-headed puppet) seems to be able to get to anyone at any time. Zeke’s forced to consider all options in order to put a stop to the slaughter of dirty cops.
While Chris Rock might not be the first actor that pops into mind when you consider casting a Saw film (given he’s not usually associated with the genre), he’s actually the perfect choice. Rock isn’t merely a fan of the Saw film franchise. Darren Lynn Bousman – director of Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, and Spiral – describes the Emmy winner as a “true connoisseur” of the franchise.
Spiral exists because Rock expressed his desire to be part of a new chapter in the Saw saga. His love of the franchise is obvious in his performance and his character fits snugly in the world of Saw protagonists. Jigsaw screenwriters Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger took advantage of Rock’s timing and delivery to incorporate a good deal of dark humor, yet Rock never winks or plays Zeke as anything less than a time-hardened detective dedicated to his profession.
Spiral’s R rating is well deserved and the traps were equally as terrifying and disturbing as any in previous Saw films. I’m estimating I watched 30% of the nasty kills with my hands in front of my face. (Why does that work? You still see what’s happening on screen but through a curtain of fingers.) You’d think by the ninth film of the franchise coming up with unique methods of torturing/mutilating victims would be difficult and the shock factor would lessen. Spiral affirms there’s no shortage of twisted minds behind the camera capable of delivering horrifying images on screen.
GRADE: B-
MPAA Rating: R for grisly bloody violence, brief drug use, pervasive language, some sexual references, and torture
Running Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Release Date: May 14, 2021
Studio: Lionsgate
Cast: Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Samuel L. Jackson, Marisol Nichols, Richard Zeppieri, Edie Inksetter, Morgan David Jones, and Dan Petronijevic
