Rose Byrne stars as Faith Brewster and Steve Carell as Gary Zimmer in ‘Irresistible’ (Credit: Daniel McFadden / Focus Features)
The United States’ warped political system is the focus of Jon Stewart’s 2020 comedy, Irresistible. Steve Carrell stars as washed-up D.C. Democratic political consultant Gary Zimmer who’s still trying to recover from his failure to help Hilary Clinton become the first woman U.S. President. When he’s shown a viral video of former Marine Colonel Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper), a widowed farmer in Wisconsin, defending the rights of undocumented workers at a town hall meeting, Gary believes he’s found the perfect candidate to strengthen the Democratic party.
Gary flies off to Deerlaken, Wisconsin, a town that’s teetering on the brink of economic ruin, to try to convince Hastings to run for mayor. Hastings is reluctant at first but ultimately agrees to run if Gary personally runs his campaign. Gary agrees and recruits as many local supporters as he can, including Jack’s loyal and loving daughter Diana (Mackenzie Davis), to volunteer to work to get Hastings elected as the town’s new mayor.
However, it’s not long before the local political race becomes national news and brings Gary’s nemesis, cut-throat Republican consultant Faith Brewster (Rose Byrne), to town to get the incumbent reelected. The two consultants begin to turn what was just a simple small-town race into an out-of-control, pull-no-punches fight.
Written and directed by Jon Stewart, Irresistible is an out-of-touch political satire that has zero laughs and wastes the talents of a strong cast. The film’s message about America’s electoral system depending far too much on money, polls, and skewed press coverage, is dated and hardly groundbreaking. It doesn’t help that we’re all suffering from politics fatigue at this point.
Steve Carrell returns to his comedy roots and delivers an all-too-familiar performance as Gary Zimmer, a character reminiscent of Carell’s Michael Scott in The Office. The only difference between the two is Zimmer is a political consultant instead of an office manager.
Rose Byrne is effective as the merciless Faith Brewster who’s hell-bent on beating Zimmer as well as bedding him. Unfortunately, the scenes between Byrne and Carrell fail due to the absence of sexual tension.
Chris Cooper delivers a low-key performance as Hastings, the former Marine Colonel and farmer interested in helping to save his dying town. Sadly, Cooper isn’t given much to do in the film except to stand around and represent the classic, solid, decent, quiet American Midwest farmer who might be in over his head in the political arena. It’s an absolute waste of an extremely talented actor.
Irresistible isn’t as funny as it is forgettable. This political satire fails to bring to the spotlight anything new or relevant in today’s political climate. It’s a total missed opportunity.
GRADE: C
MPAA Rating: R for language including sexual references
National Geographic Documentary Films has dropped the official trailer for the documentary Rebuilding Paradise from two-time Oscar winning director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind). The documentary explores the aftermath of the devastating Paradise, California fire and the town’s efforts to recover after Paradise was basically wiped out.
Rebuilding Paradise premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and is scheduled for the Edinburgh Film Festival prior to its July 31, 2020 theatrical and digital release. $1 of every ticket purchased during its release will go to support charities benefiting Paradise, CA.
“Now more than ever, we need to remember that when people come together for the greater good we can make a positive change on our shared future. The passion and commitment of the people of Paradise, to one another and to rebuilding their community, is a reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit,” stated director Ron Howard.
Howard produces along with Brian Grazer, Xan Parker, Sara Bernstein, and Justin Wilkes. Michael Rosenberg, Louisa Velis, Carolyn Bernstein, and Ryan Harrington served as executive producers.
Rebuilding Paradise Description, Courtesy of National Geographic:
On the morning of Nov. 8, 2018, a devastating firestorm engulfed the picturesque city of Paradise, California. By the time the Camp Fire was extinguished, it had killed 85 people, displaced 50,000 residents and destroyed 95% of local structures. It was the deadliest U.S. fire in 100 years — and the worst ever in California’s history.
As residents faced the damage to their lives, to their homes and to more than 150,000 acres in and around their 141-year-old town, they did something amazing: They worked together to heal. The community members went on to forge a bond stronger than what they had before the catastrophe, even as their hope and spirit were challenged by continued adversity: relocations, financial crises, government hurdles, water poisoning, grief and PTSD.
From the moment the crisis began, Oscar-winning director Ron Howard led a filmmaking team to the city and would go on to spend a year with Paradise residents, documenting their efforts to recover what was lost. The Camp Fire and its overwhelming aftermath became a de facto lesson in what we all must do: Protect our environment, help our neighbors, plan for future dangers and remember to preserve the traditions that unite us — just as these resilient citizens did when they began the important task of REBUILDING PARADISE.
Former child actor and star of Bill and Ted’s Excellent AdventureAlex Winter delves into the lives of other former child actors in the documentary Showbiz Kids. The film will premiere on HBO on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT and features interviews with actors about their experiences growing up in the spotlight.
“This is a story I’ve been wanting to tell for many years,” stated Winter. “Having grown up in the business I’ve never seen the experiences of a child actor, from their early career through to the transition into adulthood, told from the perspective of those involved. I’m honored that these talented actors trusted me with their very personal stories.”
Winter’s film provides a peek behind the curtain into the early careers of actors Henry Thomas (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), Mara Wilson (Mrs. Doubtfire), Todd Bridges (Diff’rent Strokes), and Milla Jovovich (The Night Train To Kathmandu). Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen), the late Cameron Boyce (Jessie) Jada Pinkett Smith (A Different World), Wil Wheaton (Stand by Me), and the late silent film star Diana Serra Cary (“Baby Peggy”) are also featured in Showbiz Kids.
Alex Winter wrote, directed, and produced Showbiz Kids. Glen Zipper also produces, and Bill Simmons, Nancy Abraham, and Lisa Heller executive produce.
Evan Rachel Wood in ‘Showbiz Kids’ (Photograph Courtesy of HBO)
Showbiz Kids Description, Courtesy of HBO:
Showbiz Kids offers an unvarnished look at the high risk, high reward business of working as a child actor in the entertainment industry. The film chronicles the personal and professional price of fame and failure on a child. Those who know the industry best, including several successful child actors and two aspiring hopefuls, unpack their own complicated experiences as they reconcile the hardships they’ve faced and sacrifices they’ve made on their way to finding success in show business.
Winter relies on the perspectives of many of his peers to explore the complexities of growing up under the glare of Hollywood’s spotlight, refusing to shy away from the more difficult truths about the industry. Winter’s commitment to creating an honest representation of a complicated industry stems from his own childhood in show business, beginning as a child actor on Broadway at the age of ten.
In contrast to the celebrity actors, the film also follows two aspiring young hopefuls: Demi Singleton, an up and coming teenage performer looking to book her next big Broadway show; and Marc Slater, a young unknown from Florida who moved to Los Angeles with his mother for pilot season. The young actors and their parents work tirelessly to break into the highly competitive business while struggling to balance the demands of auditioning, working and maintaining a healthy childhood with friends and family.
Through film footage, behind the scenes clips, and rare audition tapes, Showbiz Kids offers a glimpse into life on set for these young professionals. The actors discuss the challenges of navigating the industry at such a young age and the lasting effect that the public’s gaze has on self-esteem and feelings of isolation. Many also speak to the complicated relationships they have with their parents, the pressures of balancing grueling work schedules with life beyond set, and the disturbing prevalence of abuse and exploitation in the industry.
Showbiz Kids peels back Hollywood’s velvet curtain, shining a spotlight on the glamour and allure of working in the entertainment industry, while also affording a sobering window on the tolls that early success can take on young professionals.
Season two of The CW’s drama series Bulletproof continues with episode four airing on July 1, 2020. Dominic LeClerc directed the episode, which was written by Richard Zajdlic.
New episodes air on Wednesdays at 9pm ET/PT after final season episodes of The 100.
The season two cast is led by Noel Clarke as Bishop and Ashley Walters as Pike. The cast also includes Lee Ross as Richard Cockridge, Jason Maza as Officer Chris Munroe, Lindsey Coulson as Sarah Tanner, David Elliot as Tim’ Jonsey’ Jones, Olivia Chenery as Scarlett ‘Scooch’ Hailton, and Luci Shorthouse as Paige Pennington.
“Episode 4” Plot: GUN RUNNERS – Bishop (Clarke) and Pike (Walters) ramp up their investigation as Mikey (Ben Tavassoli) tasks them with overseeing the hostile takeover of a gun factory outside of London. Alex (Stavros Zalmas) regains control of the family after the fallout from Amsterdam.
Series Description, Courtesy of The CW:
Bulletproof is an action-packed cop drama that unites big, emotional stories with blood-pumping stunt sequences, as it follows two undercover cops who are best friends and bonded by the same moral code, despite their very different backgrounds.
Adrenalin-fueled and packed with compelling characters, Bulletproof follows partners Bishop (Clarke) and Pike (Walters) as they chase down hardened criminals in London’s East End. The series is both high-octane action and thrilling cases. On the surface, Bishop and Pike have a lot in common, they are cool, smart, unapologetically street-wise and tough; they share a deep, fraternal relationship and are always there for each other. Their personal motivations and emotional lives outside the police force differ, Pike is an aspirational family man, the son of a decorated police officer, determined to follow in his father’s footsteps, but not in his shadow. Bishop on the other hand, who never knew his father, grew up in foster care and on the streets.
Full of grit and sometimes gloss, Bulletproof is stylish and funny with riveting criminal cases in each episode, which feed into a bigger, season-long mystery. At its heart, though, it is a series about the meaning of family, as well as the fascinating relationship between best friends.
The CW’s The 100 star Lindsey Morgan steps behind the camera for the first time to direct an episode of the series with episode seven of season seven. Episode seven, “The Queen’s Gambit,” was written by Miranda Kwok and will air on July 1, 2020.
Season seven stars Eliza Taylor as Clarke, Bob Morley as Bellamy, Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia, Lindsey Morgan as Raven, and Richard Harmon as Murphy. Tasya Teles is Echo, Shannon Kook plays Jordan, JR Bourne is Russell Lightbourne VII, Shelby Flannery is Hope Diyoza, Ivana Milicevic is Diyoza, and Chuku Modu plays Dr. Gabriel Santiago.
“The Queen’s Gambit” Plot: Emori (guest star Luisa d’Oliveira) tries to heal Sanctum’s old familial wounds while Echo (Teles), Octavia (Avgeropoulos) and Diyoza (Milicevic) struggle with new ones.
A Look Back at Season 6, Courtesy of The CW:
For five seasons our heroes did whatever it took to survive on Earth…and nothing worked. Earth was unsurvivable, lost to them forever. What was not lost: hope. After 125 years in cryosleep, traveling through the stars, our heroes woke up to a new home, a final gift from dearly-departed friends. A place where they can try again. They’re given one simple task: do better. Be the good guys.
With this credo in mind Clarke and Bellamy lead a group down to this mysterious world, hoping to start anew, to finally find peace. But old habits die hard and when they stumble across an idyllic society, it quickly becomes clear that not everything on Sanctum is as perfect as it seems. Despite their determination to do better, threats both seen and unseen will once again force our heroes to fight for their lives and the future of humanity.
STXfilms just released the new trailer for the action-thriller Greenland starring Gerard Butler. The studio also unveiled the drama’s poster as well as three new photos from the 2020 release.
STXfilms is targeting an August 14, 2020 theatrical release, that is unless the Covid-19 pandemic forces the closure of any theaters that reopened after stay at home orders were lifted.
In addition to action veteran Gerard Butler (300, Den of Thieves), the cast includes Morena Baccarin (Gotham, Deadpool), Roger Dale Floyd (Doctor Sleep), Scott Glenn (Castle Rock), David Denman (13 Hours), Hope Davis (Strange Angel), Andrew Bachelor (King Bachelor’s Pad), and Joshua Mikel (The Walking Dead).
Ric Roman Waugh (Angel Has Fallen) directed from a screenplay by Chris Sparling and Mitchell LaFortune. Butler, Basil Iwanyk, and Alan Siegel served as producers.
The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Dana Gonzales, editor Gabriel Fleming, production designer Clay A. Griffith, and costume designer Kelli Jones.
The Plot:
“A family fights for survival as a planet-killing comet races to Earth. John Garrity (Butler), his estranged wife Allison (Baccarin), and young son Nathan make a perilous journey to their only hope for sanctuary. Amid terrifying news accounts of cities around the world being leveled by the comet’s fragments, the Garrity’s experience the best and worst in humanity.
As the countdown to global apocalypse approaches zero, their incredible trek culminates in a desperate and last-minute flight to a possible safe haven.”
Morena Baccarin, Roger Dale Floyd and Gerard Butler star in ‘Greenland’ (Photo Courtesy of STXfilms)Gerard Butler stars in STXfilms’ new disaster thriller (Photo Courtesy of STXfilms)A scene from ‘Greenland’ (Image Courtesy of STXfilms)
The first official trailer’s arrived for Apple TV+’s upcoming drama Little Voice. The new series comes from J.J. Abrams, Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles, and Jessie Nelson and is set to premiere on July 10, 2020.
The cast is led by Brittany O’Grady (Star, The Messengers) and includes Sean Teale (The Gifted), Colton Ryan (The Social One), and Shalini Bathina (underGRAD). Kevin Valdez, Phillip Johnson Richardson (Haunt), and Chuck Cooper (Power) also star in season one.
Abrams, Bareilles, Nelson, and Ben Stephenson serve as executive producers. Nelson is also the showrunner and wrote and directed the first episode.
The Plot, Courtesy of Apple TV+:
“Little Voice is a half-hour coming-of-age drama series that features new, original music from Grammy-winner and Emmy and Tony Award-nominee Sara Bareilles and marks her first foray into television.
A love letter to the diverse musicality of New York, Little Voice is a story about finding your authentic voice—and the courage to use it. The series follows Bess King (O’Grady), a uniquely talented performer struggling to fulfill her dreams while navigating rejection, love, and complicated family issues.”
Sean Teale and Brittany O’Grady star n ‘Little Voice’ (Photo Courtesy of Apple TV+)
2020 sucks but at least we have a new Muppets show to look forward to, right? Disney+ just released a one-minute trailer for the upcoming new series, Muppets Now, starring all of our favorite Muppet characters.
The new family-friendly series will make its debut on Disney+ on Friday, July 31, 2020. The series is produced by The Muppets Studio and Soapbox Films and will be available only to the streaming service’s subscribers.
Here’s the series’ description, courtesy of Disney:
In their first-ever unscripted series, the Muppets make their streaming debut in an all-new six-episode show starring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and the entire gang.
In a true first for the studio, Muppets Now is an unscripted series filled with improv comedy, off-the-cuff gags, and the Muppets’ celebrity friends. In the six-episode season, Scooter rushes to make his delivery deadlines and upload the brand-new Muppet series for streaming. They are due now, and he’ll need to navigate whatever obstacles, distractions, and complications the rest of the Muppets throws at him.
Overflowing with spontaneous lunacy, surprising guest stars and more frogs, pigs, bears (and whatevers) than legally allowed, the Muppets cut loose in Muppets Now with the kind of startling silliness and chaotic fun that made them famous. From zany experiments with Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker to lifestyle tips from the fabulous Miss Piggy, each episode is packed with hilarious segments, hosted by the Muppets showcasing what the Muppets do best.
Fozzie Bear in ‘Muppets Now’ (Photo Courtesy of Disney+)
Back to the Future‘s Lea Thompson directs season one episode seven of The CW’s Stargirl. Episode seven, “Shiv Part One,” is set to air on June 30, 2020.
Brec Bassinger (Bella and the Bulldogs, School of Rock) leads the cast as Courtney Whitmore / Stargirl. The season one cast also includes Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan, Amy Smart as Barbara Whitmore, Trae Romano as Mike Dugan, Yvette Monreal as Yolanda Montez, Neil Jackson as Jordan Mahkent, and Anjelika Washington as Beth Chapel. Christopher James Baker plays Henry King Sr, Jake Austin Walker is Henry King Jr, Meg DeLacy is Cindy Burman, Cameron Gellman is Rick Tyler, and Hunter Sansone plays Cameron.
“Shiv Part One” Plot: As Pat (Wilson) teaches Courtney (Bassinger), Yolanda (Monreal), Beth (Washington) and Rick (Gellman) the importance of teamwork, the ISA converge to figure out who is trying to take them down. Elsewhere, as the school prepares for homecoming, Cindy (DeLacy) lashes out against her father’s strict rules, while Barbara (Smart) accepts an offer from Jordan (Jackson).
Season 1 Description, Courtesy of The CW
When Courtney’s (Bassinger) seemingly perfect life in Los Angeles gets upended with a move to Blue Valley, Nebraska with her mother Barbara (Smart), stepfather Pat (Wilson) and stepbrother Mike (Romano), she finds herself struggling to adapt to her new town and high school. But when Courtney discovers that Pat is harboring a major secret about his past, she ultimately becomes the unlikely inspiration for a new generation of superheroes.
Ruth (Julia Garner) is being interrogated by Agent Trevor Evans (McKinley Belcher III) and Special Agent Maya Miller (Jessica Frances Dukes) about the men who were killed – and about Marty Byrde – as Netflix’s Ozark season three episode seven begins. Helen (Janet McTeer) is there to represent her. The agents ask about her relationship with Frank Jr. and Ruth tries to claim she barely talks to him, but Agent Miller jumps in saying that is not entirely true because she sees them at the casino talking quite a bit. Miller thinks they don’t seem to like each other.
Marty (Jason Bateman) and Frank Cosgrove meet up and it’s obvious Frank’s pissed and demands to know what’s going on. Marty informs him the cartel is involved in a war right now with another cartel. Frank seems to think it’s awfully suspicious that Ruth was able to walk away fine from what happened while three of his men died. Marty suggests he cool off and keep his head down.
Frank warns Marty he’s not a patient man.
Back at the Byrde home, Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) shows Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) the drone video of what took place. She asks if he’s shown it to their mom and dad, and he confesses he hasn’t because Ben told him not to. Ben doesn’t want Marty and Wendy to freak out that Jonah was there. He asks Charlotte if she thinks he should show it to their parents anyway. She tells him not to, concerned it will give them something else to argue about.
Ben (Tom Pelphrey) waits at the sheriff’s station for Ruth and is slowly losing his cool. Back in the interrogation room, Evans explains they found her tire tracks even though she continues to deny being there. Evans tries to get her by bringing up her loyalty to Marty and her father’s murder. She tells him she suspects a lot of people wanted her dad dead. He tries one last time and brings up her uncles as well. She and Helen have had enough and get up to leave.
As Ruth and Ben are walking out of the sheriff’s station, Ben tries to convince her to go on the run. She doesn’t feel as though she can just pick up and leave. After Ruth asks Ben if he’s okay, he questions her about what his sister has told her. He seems to convince her that Wendy left when she was 18 so she has no idea what he’s really like.
Helen visits the Byrde house to assure them the other cartel left town. Wendy, sarcastically, tells her she said that last time when they all knew that wasn’t true. Ben returns home angry and Wendy asks how Ruth’s doing. He replies, “How do you think she is doing?” before walking away.
Navarro calls Wendy but she doesn’t pick up. He calls Helen instead and she puts Wendy on the phone. He wants to know what she plans on doing with the FBI and he senses she’s still mad about what happened at the horse ranch. She lets him know that he messed with “their brand,” insisting they’re trying to do things in a legitimate way for his safety net. His stunt could mess with their brand. For the first time, he doesn’t have a response. He finally says, “The next time I call pick up.”
Good ol’ Sue (Marylouise Burke) pulls up in their driveway in a brand new, bright yellow sports car. Marty heads outside to see what’s going on and Sue explains she was worried about him and heard what happened. Marty tries to tell her it’s not a good time as he glances back at the house to find Helen and Wendy watching them. Sue won’t listen and says people are saying it’s the mob, but she thinks it’s the cartel.
Marty changes the subject by asking, “What the hell is this?” about the car. She informs him it’s a car and he jokes it’s a transformer. Helen and Wendy come outside to check out what’s going on and Sue says hi to Wendy before trying to leave. It appears she doesn’t know how to drive her fancy sports car yet.
Ben frantically packs up his stuff in the basement – he did not listen to Ruth at all! – while telling Charlotte and Jonah that Ruth is still probably on their radar. Jonah insists they don’t have to run because the cartel doesn’t know they were there. Ben’s not listening to anything they’re trying to tell him. The kids decide it’s time to tell their mom what happened.
Wendy attempts to calm down her brother by agreeing it’s a smart idea they leave. However, she thinks he should leave first and then they can send Ruth to him. He doesn’t believe her and brings up the fact she told Ruth he’s not taking his meds anymore. He insists he was going to tell her, but Wendy doesn’t believe him. Wendy confesses she’s worried about him and that Jonah informed her he took him to the money drop.
Ben claims he was trying to protect Ruth and she would be dead if it wasn’t for him. Wendy angrily says, “You put my son in danger!” Ben stops packing to look at her and replies, “I put your son in danger? Jonah and I just witnessed a massacre. How are we all not leaving right now? How is that boy walking around like there’s nothing wrong?”
It’s Marty’s turn to be interrogated and Evans asks if Tommy has ever worked for him. Marty tells him no. Evans shows him pictures captured from a surveillance video of Tommy on the casino boat that blew up and Helen realizes Tommy was working with Evans as an informant. Marty asks him what he’s being accused of. Evans reveals he believes Marty found out Tommy was working with the FBI and had him killed.
As Marty and Helen are leaving after the interview, Helen realizes Tommy was trying to work their kids and asks if they could have let anything slip. He insists they would not. Before going their separate ways, she tells Marty he and Wendy need to get new phones and Wendy should sweep the house for bugs.
An angry Frank Jr. drinks while waiting for Ruth at the casino bar. When he spots her, he begins to yell. He seems to think she had his friends killed. He knows his friend was a snitch and thinks Marty found out and had him killed, which means Ruth must have set them up.
Ruth’s shocked and has no clue what he’s talking about, but Frank Jr. doesn’t believe her. She says he’s drunk and needs to go home.
Agent Maya is watching the entire exchange.
Agent Miller walks up to Sam (Kevin L. Johnson) and requests a word with him. She explains she’s good at math and knows he’s lost $250,000, give or take. He’s more concerned that she doesn’t inform his girlfriend than he is about the loss itself. She assures him she won’t but will need to re-examine his financials including his bank statements and pay stubs.
Sam’s confused and after Miller walks away, he calls Marty slightly freaking out and wanting to know what to do. Marty tells him it’s okay and to take his chips and cash out. Sam, still confused, reminds Marty that Wendy said all of this is okay. Marty assures him that it is. Sam insists it doesn’t feel okay.
Ruth is leaving the casino late at night when Frank Jr. shows up and beats the crap out of her. The next scene shows Marty and Ben are waiting at the hospital when Wendy arrives. She asks how Ruth’s doing and Marty informs her she’s out of the operating room. (They had to operate because she had internal bleeding.) Three (Carson Holmes) tells Ben he can go back and see her now.
Wendy sits down with Marty and confirms she swept the house for bugs and it’s all clear. She asks Marty how he’s doing and he admits he’s tired. He returns the question and she says the same. Marty changes the subject, blaming the FBI for what happened to Ruth since they pointed Frank Jr. right at her. Wendy wonders if he’s talked to Frank Sr. and he reveals that’s his next stop. She then asks about Maya Miller. Marty seems to question if he can really turn her, realizing she’s an idealist. He thinks he’ll have to go to her bosses with the information he has.
Erin (Madison Thompson) asks her mom why the FBI is questioning Charlotte’s dad. Helen tells her they’re just trying to help any way they can. Helen adds that she thinks Erin should go back to Chicago. Erin doesn’t seem interested in that suggestion and asks if she can stay with her instead.
Three shows up at Darlene’s to talk to Wyatt (Charlie Tahan). He asks his brother if he got his text and when Wyatt confirms he did, Three wants to know why he didn’t come to the hospital. Wyatt reveals he didn’t think it was a good idea. Three wants to know what’s going on between him and Ruth, and Wyatt will only say it’s complicated. Three fills his brother in on how bad Ruth is and Wyatt only replies, “Thanks for letting me know.”
Marty and Frank Sr. meet and the first thing Frank says is, “The kid made a mistake.” The “kid,” of course, being his grown son. Marty’s baffled that he’s referring to what happened to Ruth as a mistake. Frank explains his son was upset that his friends died. Marty is not having it. “He’s not a f*cking kid. He’s a grown man and he beat the sh*t out of a girl half his size,” says Marty.
Frank continues using the excuse that the other men killed were like family. Marty reminds him one of the dead men was a snitch. Marty says that since he can’t control his kid and one of his men was an FBI informant, they are done. Frank questions if Marty really wants to do this. Before Marty gets in his car he warns Frank Sr., “The next time you come near me, my family, or Ruth, your son…he’s gonna be hanging from a bridge in Juarez. You got that?!”
Wendy meets with a man by the name of Andrew Wade (Brian Lafontaine) about her charity foundation and he asks for more information about it. She hopes to fund charities across the state. They’re forming an advisory board and she wants to know if that’s something he would be interested in. He admits he’s flattered but given the PR crisis they’re facing and her connections to Charles Wilkes – a die-hard conservative – he’s going to pass.
Wendy begins to work her magic and asks him what he has his sights set on. Before he can answer, she asks if he’s familiar with a company called Blink Check. (This is the information Marty tried to give Maya hoping she would take the bait.) He confirms he’s heard of the company and knows what the company did. Wendy explains they came across documents that could bring on another lawsuit. He takes the bait and says he thinks he can be of service.
Marty’s waiting outside Ruth’s hospital room when Miller shows up asking how Ruth’s doing. Marty’s obviously unhappy with the agent and responds, “Why? So you can interrogate her again?”
She asks what happened with the guys who were killed and he wonders whether she really thinks he was responsible. She admits she doesn’t know what to believe. However, her boss just received papers about Blink Check – the same papers he gave her. She doesn’t know what to think about him anymore. Marty turns the tables and says Agent Evans did that to Ruth and Miller sat there in that interrogation room and did nothing. He believes Miller might as well have beat the crap out of Ruth herself; she’s culpable for what took place.
Agent Miller warns Marty until he’s straight with her, she’s going to keep coming after him.
Darlene (Lisa Emery) asks Wyatt what really happened between him and Ruth. He confesses she killed his dad and his Uncle Boyd. Darlene wonders if maybe she had a good reason, and Wyatt confirms she did it to protect Marty. Darlene thinks in that case it’s actually Marty Byrde he has an issue with, not Ruth. She calls Marty a “disease.” Marty worms his way into people’s lives; she witnessed him doing just that to her husband. She nonchalantly adds, “And that’s why I had to kill him.”
Wyatt seems stunned by her admission. He says, “I thought you said he had a heart attack?” She admits he did, but it was not natural. Attempting to justify killing her husband, she explains it was only a matter of time before he turned his back on her because of the Byrdes.
Darlene asks if Wyatt wants to leave. He assures her he doesn’t, but it’s just a lot to take in. She says her point is it’s not too late for Ruth; she can change her course. Darlene insists he visits his cousin.
Sue is now on Helen’s radar, which isn’t good news for the therapist. Sue asks Helen questions including how long she’s been the Byrde family lawyer. Helen switches things up and questions Sue, asking how long she’s been their therapist. She reluctantly admits six months. Helen asks about her financial agreement with them and Sue replies, “Are you talking about the bribes they have been giving me behind each other’s backs or the lump sum Marty gave me?” Helen says both. Helen asks if she’s satisfied with the money. Poor Sue is signing her death warrant by stating she may have undervalued her services. Helen assures her she’ll make sure she’s taken care of.
Wendy is talking to Jonah in the garage about Ruth’s condition when Agent Miller shows up. Miller warns Wendy she’s losing patience with her husband and Wendy tells her to get in line. She urges Wendy to get Marty to take the deal and Wendy basically tells Miller thanks for stopping by.
Ruth wakes up and Ben’s with her. She’s confused about what’s going on and Ben explains she’s in the hospital. They found her in the casino parking lot and he wants her to know she’s safe now. He asks if Frank Jr. did this and she admits she didn’t get a good look. Changing the subject, she asks if Wyatt came to see her. Ben’s sorry to have to tell her he didn’t. She asks him to let Marty and Wendy know she needs to talk to them.
Nelson, the cartel muscle who’s always with Helen, goes to see Sue on the pretense of needing a therapy session – but we all know why he’s really there. After talking with him she asks what he does for a living. Nelson produces a gun in response.
The next scene shows a dead Sue, wrapped up in the hallway. He wipes all her records of any sign of Marty and Wendy ever being there.
As Marty and Wendy head into the hospital to visit Ruth, she reveals Agent Miller came to the house and told her about the deal. He lies and says he wasn’t going to take it. She says, “Yes, you were,” while angrily walking past him.
Wendy asks how Ruth feels, even though it’s obvious she feels like crap. Ruth wants to know if Marty knows Frank Jr. did this to her and Marty confirms he does. He also reveals they cut ties with the Kansas City mob and she will never have to work with him again. Ruth, not satisfied with that response, asks, “And?” She reminds Marty she was supposed to be untouchable and demands that Frank Jr. be killed. Marty insists he can’t do that and promises he’ll never touch her again. She angrily tells them that’s not good enough. Wendy admits this is the best they can do. Ruth wants to know best for who, adding that if it were Charlotte laying in this bed Frank Jr. would be dead.
After Wendy tries to assure her that’s not true, Ruth says, “You killed my dad and he barely touched your kid.” Ruth says fine, she’ll kill him herself. Marty tells her she will not and warns this ends right now.
As Helen and Nelson watch Sue’s car go into the lake, he admits Sue was a good listener. Helen asks if he ever gets tired of doing this and he claims he doesn’t. She’s happy with that response and tells him to keep his schedule open.
Ben brings Ruth home to her trailer, carrying her to the porch just as Wyatt shows up to talk to her. Ben gives them a few minutes and Wyatt asks Ruth who did this to her. She says it doesn’t matter. He apologizes for not going to the hospital. He figured the Byrdes would be there and he doesn’t want to see them. He admits he thinks he knew the truth about her killing his dad before she even said it and asks, “Why’d you have to say it out loud?” She admits she wanted him to hear it from her. She owed him that, at the very least.
“What do you call it…the Longmore curse?” she asks. Wyatt claims they aren’t so bad after all – it’s the Byrdes that curse everything. He thinks the minute they showed up everything got turned upside down. She insists she has changed and he agrees she has. He admits he wants to forgive her, but he’s not there yet.
The episode ends with Ruth watching Wyatt walk away after she asks him, “What now?” and he says, “I don’t know.”
