The Stop Button

FROM (2022) s03e09 “Revelations: Chapter One” [2024] D: Jack Bender. S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Scott McCord, Ricky He. Penultimate episode of the season and the cliffhanger reveal is something from last season, unaddressed until now. Or it’s new. It’s impossible to tell without paying too much attention… or binging. Everyone tries being extra nice to one another this episode, which is a vibe. Maybe if cartoonishly annoying Pegah Ghafoori weren’t the one in danger, it’d work better.

FROM (2022) s03e10 “Revelations: Chapter Two” [2024] D: Jack Bender. S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Scott McCord, Ricky He. They go all in on the mythology explanations–and whether or not Perrineau is going to (possibly pointlessly) sacrifice his humanity for Pegah Ghafoori. It’s probably Avery Konrad’s best performance in the entire series. While the reveals are quick, they also pretty much explain or imply everything to date, right before the season finale ends on a big “twist.”

Silo (2023) s02e01 “The Engineer” [2024] D: Michael Dinner. S: Rebecca Ferguson, Harriet Walter, Amelie Child-Villiers. Eventually incredible tense season premiere sets up a second silo for Ferguson to explore. Since she’s mostly silent, there are lots of flashbacks to her childhood. Kid version Child-Villiers is fine, playing better off Walter than Ferguson usually did. Things get very good about halfway through then the cliffhanger is a little too basic.

Silo (2023) s02e02 “Order” [2024] D: Michael Dinner. S: Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Rick Gomez, Tim Robbins, Shane McRae. All last season it seemed weird judge Tanya Moodie didn’t figure in more. Now she’s figuring in, with Robbins going to her for help (see, should’ve been Susan Sarandon). The episode’s all about what happens in the regular SILO during last episode. Decent–some of Robbins best acting on the show, ditto Common and Walter.

Silo (2023) s02e03 “Solo” [2024] D: Michael Dinner. S: Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Chinaza Uche, Tim Robbins, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Steve Zahn. Wait, is SILO finally going to deliver Steve Zahn his part? The episode’s often middling, too busy split between “back home” and Ferguson and Zahn bonding. There’s some real good acting (Tanya Moodie’s delivering), but some of it drags. Especially Robbins mulling and Common brooding. Then the finish sets Zahn up for something bigger… and I’m here for it?

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) s05e03 “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel” [2024] D: Brandon Williams. S: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O’Connell, Gabrielle Ruiz. Amusing but just okay episode about Newsome breaking up with thought-she-was-already-ex Lauren Lapkus. But it’s unnecessary character development. Meanwhile, Quaid is convinced O’Connell is going to get him maimed (intentionally) on an undercover mission. So lots of silliness for Quaid. Then the supporting cast, you know, supports. Nice plot reveals at the end.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) s05e04 “A Farewell to Farms” [2024] D: Megan Lloyd. S: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O’Connell, Jon Curry. Strange and good episode set on the Klingon homeworld with returning guest Curry. He’s a disgraced ex-captain, now booze farmer with his goofy brother. Until Newsome and Quaid show up with a proposition. Then back on the ship, there’s a standard, amusing subplot about snooty avian aliens being obnoxious to the crew. Klingon stuff’s real good.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e09 “Triad” [2024] D: Craig Zisk. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Vincent Piazza, Annabella Sciorra, Dana Delany. KING takes care of business, GODFATHER-style, and… it’s no loss Stallone didn’t get to do GODFATHER TRE. (Well, maybe 3D). It’s a short episode, with some pseudo-big developments but also no more stakes because everyone’s all in on the diverse (not inclusive) mob. Then there’s a strange, earnest attempt at sincere empathy. But it’s still a miss.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e10 “Reconstruction” [2024] D: Craig Zisk. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Annabella Sciorra, Domenick Lombardozzi, Garrett Hedlund. After a facile wrap of outstanding business with a series of bows (including a hilarious scene where Hedlund talks about not being able to act, which seems cruel), the show sets up next season. Apparently ripping off FAST AND THE FURIOUS (no joke). It’s a dismal, inglorious shark jumping (with Stallone getting a cowriting credit). A dismally bad program.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019) s06e06 “Laszlo’s Father” [2024] D: Yana Gorskaya. S: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Kristen Schaal, Andy Assaf. Proksch goes to work with Guillén to help him establish an identity while Berry and Novak try to save neighbor Anthony Atamanuik from a demon. Of course, that demon happens to be March Madness (when do SHADOWS creators think these episode air). Lots of great laughs in both plot lines, with Demetriou getting a particularly great recurring bit.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019) s06e07 “March Madness” [2024] D: Yana Gorskaya. S: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Anthony Atamanuik, Andy Assaf. Novak and Berry try to foil a police procedural shooting in front of the house while Proksch and Demetriou go to his friend’s house for an uncomfortable dinner. Zach Woods guest stars as the friend, and Kim Quindlen plays his wife. Kevin Pollak plays the TV detective (maybe uncredited?). It’s a weird, successful mashing of plots, often very funny.