The Stop Button

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014) s11e10 “May 5, 2024: Public Libraries” [2024] D: Paul Pennolino. S: John Oliver. It’s another crowd pleaser episode with the feature covering attacks on public libraries throughout the United States. Well, maybe not throughout. Lots of solid jokes, and some good running bits. The news of the week covers students protesting Israeli’s attack on Palestinians, which gets fairly heavy. The library feature gives Oliver something where civic involvement still has a chance.

Black Mirror (2011) s03e02 “Playtest” [2016] D: Dan Trachtenberg. S: Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Wunmi Mosaku, Ken Yamamura, Elizabeth Moynihan, Jamie Paul. Appealing performance from Russell doesn’t make up for the rest of the episode, which is a “plug-the-brain-into-the-computer and not know reality anymore” story. Charlie Brooker’s script doesn’t bring anything to the genre. John-Kamen is good as Russell’s love interest, Mosaku as the technician talking him through the “experience.” The performances deserved better writing.

Beacon 23 (2023) s02e05 “Song of Sorrow” [2024] D: Ayoka Chenzira. S: Stephan James, Natasha Mumba, Noah Lamanna, Ellen Wong, David Tompa, Tenika Davis, Dylan Taylor. Did BEACON 23 just jump the shark? Maybe. After bringing in guest star Tompa, who doesn’t appear to be a professional actor, James and Wong find themselves contending with even more unexpected horse guests. It’s an exceptionally weird episode. Including major world building exposition dumps, which terrify because the show’s awful with those devices. Wong’s great, James looks bored.

The Big Door Prize (2023) s02e02 “Visions” [2024] D: Steven K. Tsuchida. S: Chris O’Dowd, Gabrielle Dennis, Josh Segarra, Sammy Fourlas, Djouliet Amara, Damon Gupton, Ally Maki. Ish episode about O’Dowd and Dennis deciding to go ahead with their “don’t call it a” separation. Plus awkward social moment comedy, the fortune telling machine actually being magic, and not much else. Either they’re all too one dimensional or it’s a LOST situation. Seems like the former. Good Gupton performance. He’s the only standout. Again, concerning.

Crashing (2016) s01e03 “Episode 3” D: George Kane. S: Damien Molony, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jonathan Bailey, Louise Ford, Julie Dray, Adrian Scarborough, Amit Shah. Best episode so far about an extremely uncomfortable dinner party for the regular cast. Molony’s making multiple curries, Waller-Bridge’s getting drunk, Ford’s getting embarrassed, and Bailey’s getting jealous. Very intricate cringe humor–Waller-Bridge’s script this time is phenomenal–and some good laughs as well. Excellent performances, pacing, timing, all the things. It’s an exceptional half hour.

My Life Is Murder (2019) s04e02 “Tough Love” [2024] D: Michael Hurst. S: Lucy Lawless, Ebony Vagulans, Rawiri Jobe, Joseph Naufahu, Lisa Chappell, Chelsie Preston Crayford, Anna-Maree Thomas. It’s murder at the country club when a jerkhole tennis pro (Jonno Roberts) ends up dead on the court–killed by his own tennis ball machine. Likable supporting cast of suspects (prick victim helps) gives everyone a nice featured scene or two. Lawless gets to have fun messing with fellow private investigator Chappell. They’ve got their formula down.

My Life Is Murder (2019) s04e01 “To Dye For” [2024] D: Michael Hurst. S: Lucy Lawless, Ebony Vagulans, Rawiri Jobe, Joseph Naufahu, Erik Thomson, Albert Cho, Albert Cho,Sia Trokenheim. Lawless and Vagulans are back with a straightforward murder mystery episode–a wellness influencer washes up on a beach, only she’s been drowned with champagne, not water. And she left her estate to her cat. The investigation quickly focuses on Thomson’s hair salon and rising star Cho. Lots of twists and turns to fill the runtime, but it’s swell.