The Devil’s Hour (2022) s02e01 “DI Chambers” [2024] D: Johnny Allan. S: Jessica Raine, Peter Capaldi, Nikesh Patel, Benjamin Chivers. Given season one was a timey-wimey, multiverse of madness, it’s a little weird to see season two start with a straightforward detective procedural for Raine and Patel. Things do start getting strange and Capaldi does eventually figure in, but it takes almost the entire episode to even hint at what’s coming. We’ll see what comes.

The Devil’s Hour (2022) s02e02 “Red Lines” [2024] D: Johnny Allan. S: Jessica Raine, Peter Capaldi, Nikesh Patel, Benjamin Chivers. Profoundly confusing approach has Raine living in two realities, one a direct sequel to season one, the other a sequel to last episode. Except there’s a jump ahead in both universes to allow for cheap narrative reveals. It’s a bewildering episode, and still entirely unclear what the season is going to be doing. Capaldi’s delightful as ever, obviously.

The Devil’s Hour (2022) s02e03 “Something Beginning with D” [2024] D: Shaun James Grant. S: Jessica Raine, Peter Capaldi, Nikesh Patel, Benjamin Chivers. Turns out some of the drag this season has been Patel. He’s around but far less, barely with Raine, who does better without him. Though the show’s obviously missing the inciting incident for Raine’s “awakening” to the multiverse. Chivers all of a sudden has a subplot for it. Plus Capaldi gets to be charming, which is always nice.

The Devil’s Hour (2022) s02e04 “Far Away” [2024] D: Shaun James Grant. S: Jessica Raine, Peter Capaldi, Nikesh Patel, Benjamin Chivers. Some genuine surprises–and a nice arc for Patel–often because it doesn’t seem like they’ve only got one episode left. At first, it seems like they’re going to introduce an entirely new, important character, but it’s just a red herring. In other words, it could be messier with this very messy show. Can’t wait for the finale….

The Devil’s Hour (2022) s02e05 “Birth of a Tragedy” [2024] D: Johnny Allan. S: Jessica Raine, Peter Capaldi, Nikesh Patel, Benjamin Chivers. Outstanding finale manages to fit in the teensiest bits of series mythology (for the season one into two bingers) while delivering a fine thriller. In hindsight, it ends up being a rather thankless part for Raine, who got multiple character development arcs in circles. And Patel emerges practically the protagonist. Still very messy, but a worthwhile unravel.

FROM (2022) s03e05 “The Light of Day” [2024] D: Alexandra La Roche. S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Scott McCord, Ricky He, Chloe Van Landschoot. The townsfolk are confused why Moreno’s back (and why she didn’t bring help with her); they take it out on Perrineau. Then the episode becomes an object lesson on common sense and measured planning. Meanwhile, McCloud is trying to avoid guest star Robert Joy (his dad, come to town forty years late). Nothing really happens, but it’s fine FROM.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e09 “Escape from Planet Klongo” [2024] D: Jamie Babbit. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Jane Lynch, Jin Ha, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd. Penultimate–but doesn’t feel like it considering all the character development twists and turns in what was at one point a spoof of procedurals–episode features whiskey, A-list guest stars, and secrets. The trio has a series of eventually soulful awkward events, leading to a fantastic third act. Also turns out… Gomez might be playing a Pynchon protagonist.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e06 “Navigator” [2024] D: David Semel. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Vincent Piazza, Tatiana Zappardino, Garrett Hedlund. After threatening something finally happening maybe five times this episode, something finally happens at the cliffhanger. Sure, it’s a season and three episodes late or whatever, but something. Most of the episode involves Stallone sitting down with guest star Frank Grillo for mob talk. HEAT it ain’t. The rest is keeping the other subplots warm. Until the end, anyway.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019) s06e01 “The Return of Jerry” [2024] D: Kyle Newacheck. S: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Kristen Schaal, Michael Patrick O’Brien. SHADOWS kicks off its last season introducing a long lost resident of the house no one ever mentioned until now, played by O’Brien. After a reunion with the vampires, O’Brien starts wondering why they aren’t trying to conquer the world anymore. A reused season one plot. And Guillén has sort of moved out. Sadly, but unsurprisingly, just okay.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019) s06e02 “Headhunting” [2024] D: Kyle Newacheck. S: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Tim Heidecker, Andy Assaf. After promising a Berry and Proksch team-up, their plot way too quickly shuffles Berry off. It might be fine except the show’s doing a FRANKENSTEIN bit (who?), and so they’re making a monster. The monster’s not funny; sinks the episode. Demetriou and Novak messing with Guillén at his “day” job is more successful overall, just not initially hilarious.

Agatha All Along (2024) s01e02 “Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate” D: Jac Schaeffer. S: Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Patti LuPone, David Payton, Debra Jo Rupp. Oh, so the show’s going to be about a misfit coven of witches risking life and limb to get their magical powers back? In what feels like the actual pilot, Hahn and Locke form the coven, trying to outrace bad guys after Hahn. Hahn’s great, LuPone’s delightful, everyone’s solid plus. Maybe now the show will get started.

Agatha All Along (2024) s01e03 “Through Many Miles / Of Tricks and Trials” D: Rachel Goldberg. S: Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Patti LuPone, Debra Jo Rupp. A strange episode–it’s not a good episode for Hahn; she’s the butt of the joke more often than not–but it’s a rather good episode. The rest of the coven–Zamata, Ahn, Lupone, Rupp–get one good showcase or another. Locke’s still support but growing. And it’s the easy best episode. Goldberg’s direction is excellent.

FROM (2022) s03e04 “There and Back Again” [2024] D: . S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Scott McCord, Ricky He. While there are a couple surprises this episode–including a mythology one–it’s mostly just water treading. Moreno is almost back to town, but the normies won’t listen to her about the monsters. And, McCord’s decided it’s time to learn his origin story. Plus Perrineau is trying to do intel for his offensive. A few moments, but eh, padding.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e07 “Valley of the Dolls” [2024] D: Robert Pulcini. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria. Fantastic episode has the trio hiding out in the burbs with guest star Melissa McCarthy. Gomez is trying to work on the case while Short is imploding his romance with Streep and Martin’s being obtuse. Great episode for Short, and McCarthy’s outstanding. The movie stars also get some solid “helping” material. And Creighton, of course. Real good stuff.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e08 “Lifeboat” [2024] D: Robert Pulcini. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, Richard Kind. Maybe the strongest “movie-themed” episode of the season, with guest star Griffin Dunne revealing the prime suspects’ origin stories. All while the actors crash the trio’s investigation, leading to some great classic Martin physical humor. And Galifianakis gets a strong subplot to work through. Funny but with more range. Dunne’s real good. Excellent cliffhanger. Darn good show.

Shrinking (2023) s02e01 “Jimmying” [2024] D: Randall Keenan Winston. S: Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Harrison Ford, Ted McGinley. Very season premiere season premiere sets up most of the regulars and recurring characters’ new plots. Everyone but Segel remains a delight while he saps the energy. Especially given where his season appears to be headed. Ford holds it all together effortlessly with Williams keeping things afloat on her side. It’s charming enough, just a tad mechanical.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e06 “Hello Goodbye” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Hugo Weaving, Jonathan Pryce, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar. I was a dirty bird–HORSES is just fine. And by fine, excellent. Transcendent. Completely delivering on all its moves, even the exaggerated ones. Weaving is still terrible, however. Wonder why Tommy Lee Jones didn’t want to do it. Anyway. Stellar finish. It’s the action. It’s just so well executed. The timing is impeccable.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e05 “Tilting at Windmills” [2024] D: David Semel. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Tatiana Zappardino, Annabella Sciorra, Garrett Hedlund. It’s a truly bad episode in many parts, including Stallone complaining about the woke schools (in Oklahoma, sure, Jan). But there’s also bad Neal McDonough, resentfully bored Starr, and Will continuing to lack character. Sciorra has some fun, though. The big action sequence is awful, and not just because the accompanying song stinks. At least it’s a short episode.

The Adventures of Tintin (2011) D: Steven Spielberg. S: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Daniel Mays, Gad Elmaleh. Precious (rather than exquisite) adaptation of the Hergé comic. It’s CGI on top of motion capture, which apparently causes composite problems. But it’s computers so just fix it. Also, the character designs might be a dealbreaker. Craig’s ineffectual as the villain, Bell gets upstaged by the dog, Serkis is an absolute delight. The third act’s just too dang boring.

Local Hero (1983) D: Bill Forsyth. S: Burt Lancaster, Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Fulton Mackay, Peter Capaldi, Jennifer Black, Jenny Seagrove. Often charming, gentle fish-out-of-water comedy about American oil up-and-comer Riegert going to Scotland to buy up a town. Throw in Lancaster as the eccentric CEO and a town of lovable, idiosyncratic Scots, and it’s a movie. At least until the third act when writer-director Forsyth runs out of ideas. Gorgeous Chris Menges photography.

The Rundown (2003) D: Peter Berg. S: Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson, Christopher Walken, Ewen Bremner, Jon Gries, Ernie Reyes Jr.. Occasionally amusing but profoundly poorly directed action picture mixing ROMANCING THE STONE and MIDNIGHT RUN. Johnson’s a leg-breaking bounty hunter, Scott’s an amateur archeologist lost in the Brazillian jungle. Walkan’s the villain, Dawson’s Scott’s local lady friend (no, Dawson doesn’t maintain her accent), and Bremner’s cashing the quirky Scottish check. Terrible CGI. Also, Harry Gregson-Williams’s score’s awful.

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (2024) D: Tina Mabry. S: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sanaa Lathan, Uzo Aduba, Mekhi Phifer, Kyanna Simone Simpson, Tati Gabrielle, Abigail Achiri. Wonderfully acted best friends forever tearjerker about Ellis-Taylor, Lathan, and Aduba. The younger versions–Simpson, Gabrielle, Achiri–get the initial spotlight (Simpson’s awesome) to set up future reveals and such. Though with many buried ledes, which often provide some really good comedy drama scenes. Nice direction, well-paced script, and some particularly good editing.

Thelma (2024) D: Josh Margolin. S: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, Nicole Byer. Delightful comedy thriller about scammed nonagenarian grandma Squibb who decides she’s righting wrongs. Much to the dismay of listless grandson Hechinger, who’s supposed to be keeping an eye on her. Along the way, Squibb teams up with old friend Roundtree. Squibb’s great, she and Roundtree are terrific together, and the script’s got more moments than not.

Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite (1939) D: Noel M. Smith. S: Jane Wyman, Allen Jenkins, Tom Kennedy, Sheila Bromley, Joe Cunningham, Eddie Marr, Edgar Dearing. Lackluster final TORCHY picture has new leads–Wyman and Jenkins–and a script rehashing bits from previous entries. Wyman’s better than everything else, but she and Jenkins have zero chemistry (appropriate since he’s old enough to be her dad). They’re trying to catch gangster Marr through his moll, Bromley. Kennedy’s still fun. Smith’s direction is rather bad, too.

The Verdict (1982) D: Sidney Lumet. S: Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O’Shea, Roxanne Hart, Joe Seneca. Peerless character study in legal drama trappings about alcoholic hasbeen lawyer Newman rediscovering his humanity. He’s got a case he just needs settle to score, only he goes up against super-lawyer Mason. Newman’s enthralling; he and director Lumet create one hell of a motion picture. Mason’s superb. Everyone’s superb. Fantastic performances. Great direction from Lumet. Exceptional all around.

American Gothic (1995) s01e22 “Requiem” [1996] D: Lou Antonio. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Busy but bland finale has Black breaking bad. Bakke’s trying to encourage it, Turco snd Searcy are trying to stop it. Black’s not very good as the problem child variant. Paulsen gets the biggest diss? The women all get bad endings but Paulsen’s is particularly thankless. GOTHIC creator Shaun Cassidy scripted this finish; feels like he wasn’t watching anymore.

FROM (2022) s03e03 “Mouse Trap” [2024] D: . S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Scott McCord, Ricky He. Things go from bad to worse (as usual), except this time it’s also because Pegah Ghafoori gets a subplot. She hasn’t improved any. Guest star Robert Joy is still a delight (as far as things go) but his arc with Moreno clunks out. It’s a bridging episode (or a treading water one), and reasonably compelling. Most of the time.

Grantchester (2014) s09e07 “Episode 7” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. Best episode for Ainsworth in ages. She gets to puzzle through her season subplot with Peake-Jones (who isn’t getting one of her own). Meanwhile, Nair has his first murder case related to his personal life, and Weaver’s getting sick of whatever woo Dimsdale has going on. It’s a good episode, but hurried. And too full of plot.

Grantchester (2014) s09e08 “Episode 8” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. Turns out everything in the season is connected and there’s a threat lurking. An obvious one, but still; there’s a full on action sequence (as far as GRANTCHESTER goes), with some real stakes. There’s a little too much whinging from some quarters, but it’s a nice enough season finale. Nair and Green have easily found their buddy vibe.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e06 “Blow-Up” [2024] D: Jessica Yu. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Zach Galifianakis, Richard Kind. Major investigation developments–eventually–this episode but until then it’s a concept episode. The directors of the ONLY MURDERS movie in the show do a found footage thing, with some narrative tricks to contextualize it. There are some good moments, but only Short and Creighton really thrive in the format. As a concept, it makes sense. Just doesn’t play.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e05 “Grave Danger” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, Hugo Weaving, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar. All the concerning plot developments hinted last episode return here in stereo. And Weaving (who seems like he’s going to get better but does not) is just a supervillain international terrorist. It’s SLOW HORSES VS. SPECTRE. Lots of it is excellent, including Lowden getting some animation from Ruth Bradley (too knowingly playing her character’s bad job decision?). Asterisked good.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e04 “Heroes and Villains” [2024] D: Joshua Marston. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Tatiana Zappardino, Annabella Sciorra, Garrett Hedlund. As usual, lots going on with little going on. Stallone’s got a great scene where he has too many pot edibles, someone thinks Starr hasn’t gotten to look unenthusiastic about being in the show enough lately, and guest star Frank Grillo plots his revenge. And other season villain Neal McDonough goes cartoonish, which doesn’t fit the vibe.

The Adventures of Tintin (2011) D: Steven Spielberg. S: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Daniel Mays, Gad Elmaleh.

Local Hero (1983) D: Bill Forsyth. S: Burt Lancaster, Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Fulton Mackay, Peter Capaldi, Jennifer Black, Jenny Seagrove.

The Rundown (2003) D: Peter Berg. S: Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson, Christopher Walken, Ewen Bremner, Jon Gries, Ernie Reyes Jr..

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (2024) D: Tina Mabry. S: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sanaa Lathan, Uzo Aduba, Mekhi Phifer, Kyanna Simone Simpson, Tati Gabrielle, Abigail Achiri.

Thelma (2024) D: Josh Margolin. S: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, Nicole Byer.

Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite (1939) D: Noel M. Smith. S: Jane Wyman, Allen Jenkins, Tom Kennedy, Sheila Bromley, Joe Cunningham, Eddie Marr, Edgar Dearing. Lackluster final TORCHY picture has new leads–Wyman and Jenkins–and a script rehashing bits from previous entries. Wyman’s better than everything else, but she and Jenkins have zero chemistry (appropriate since he’s old enough to be her dad). They’re trying to catch gangster Marr through his moll, Bromley. Kennedy’s still fun. Smith’s direction is rather bad, too.

The Verdict (1982) D: Sidney Lumet. S: Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O’Shea, Roxanne Hart, Joe Seneca.

American Gothic (1995) s01e19 “Strangler” [1998] D: Doug Lefler. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Cole and Paulson go full magical in the opening, resulting in Cole hiring the ghost of the Boston Strangler (Gareth Williams) to take Paulson out. Ghosts can kill ghosts. Williams tries to bring her out by befriending Black. Williams is pretty dang evil, and it’s a great episode for Searcy, but there’s a lot wrong. Especially the direction.

American Gothic (1995) s01e20 “Triangle” [1996] D: James Frawley. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Icky episode about Cole mind controlling Turco and Bakke into needing him over self. Except it started as a showcase for Turco until she completely disappears for the finish. And Mese gets a bunch. It has occasional moments but it’s got a bad vibe. And the special effects are all either bad or ugly. It’s a sharp decline.

American Gothic (1995) s01e21 “The Buck Stops Here” [1996] D: Lou Antonio. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Lots of problems with the episode, but considering how more mythology they get into the one episode… It’s impressive. They do a fine job getting the show to a finale. Too bad the budget’s gone (it looks very daytime soap), and all the ideas for Black are bad. But guest star Brent Jenning does get one surprisingly outstanding scene.

FROM (2022) s03e02 “When We Go” [2024] D: . S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Ricky He, Chloe Van Landschoot, Avery Konrad. The monsters have finally killed someone everyone likes, so we get a rather affecting episode. Lots of mourning, lots of anger, lots of bad ideas. We’ve also got guest star Robert Joy bringing a level of humanity to the show we don’t often get. Really good episode for Perrineau, He, and Van Landschoot. The cliffhanger’s dirt cheap, though.

Grantchester (2014) s09e05 “Episode 5” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. There’s been a murder at Ainsworth and Green’s daughter Skye Lucia Degruttola’s office. It’s a little about the family, a little about the murder, a lot about the sexism women faced and face in the workplace. Degruttola is around but doesn’t get much; Johns gets a deserved spotlight. And Nair’s in a bad mood thanks to unexpected news.

Grantchester (2014) s09e06 “Episode 6” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. The mystery this episode’s a showy affair involving archeologists and fraud. The meat of the episode is Nair breaking bad (turns out he’s a GRANTCHESTER vicar, after all), Weaver (who directed too, quite nicely) finding out Dimsdale’s keeping secrets, and Ainsworth being stoned on housewife’s helper. Nair’s arc mostly just reminds his character is still too unsubstatial.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e03 “Oklahoma v. Manfredi” [2024] D: Joshua Marston. S: Sylvester Stallone, Jay Will, Max Casella, Annabella Sciorra, Neal McDonough, Frank Grillo, Andrea Savage. It’s the trial episode, something the show wastes no time with. Stallone does a good job with it, though when he questions ex-girlfriend, Savage… it reminds of a more charming era. Grillo shows up to talk tough with Stallone; also fine. The episode’s usually better than fine, rarely worse. McDonough’s just a lousy season villain is all. Eh.

Agatha All Along (2024) s01e01 “Seekest Thou the Road” D: Jac Schaeffer. S: Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Debra Jo Rupp, Aubrey Plaza, Emma Caulfield Ford, David Payton, David Lengel. Direct(ish) sequel to WANDAVISION has Hahn playing a prestige series detective, except her latest case starts throwing her. There’s Plaza’s FBI agent, come to help, only Hahn can’t quite remember their history. And then suspect Locke is pretty sure he knows Hahn’s secrets too. Shame she doesn’t herself. Hahn’s good, Plaza’s good, good production, but it drags.

FROM (2022) s03e01 “Shatter” [2024] D: . S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, Hannah Cheramy, Pegah Ghafoori, Elizabeth Moy, Simon Webster. Okay season premiere has some excellent work from Perrineau. He’s trying to hold things together as the survivors run out of food (and the monsters notice). Meanwhile, Sandino Moreno is on the outside trying to figure out what to do next. Some decent mythology building, but still lots of bad acting. Bailey’s better than usual, ditto He.

Grantchester (2014) s09e04 “Episode 4” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth, Skye Lucia Degruttola. New vicar Nair goes to a fancy party with some racists and hot-to-trot rich ladies, but a murder spoils any subplots for him. He does get to play detective and bond–ever so briefly–with Peake-Jones. Green gets the more involved family subplot, and Weaver’s got one spinning up. It’s a solid episode.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e04 “The Stunt Man” [2024] D: Chris Koch. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Molly Shannon, Richard Kind, Paul Rudd. Spectacular episode has the trio solving part of the mystery just to discover there’s even more to it. And with a returning guest star (Rudd, in his series best), plus some character development for Creighton. It’s a particularly good episode for Gomez, who gets a couple breathers from the boys. But will they pull off the latest reveal….

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e05 “Adaptation” [2024] D: Jessica Yu. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd. After a lackluster, if significant, resolution to the cliffhanger, the trio figures out how to filter down an increasing suspect pool. Along the way, they pick up a sidekick (Jin Ha), who just happens to be the screenwriter. And helpful for their process. There’s some great comic stuff from Short. The slow start pays off by the finish.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e03 “Penny for Your Thoughts” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Jonathan Pryce. Lots of reveals this episode, along with a dynamite thrill sequence. While Lowden slowly figures out his French predicament (including angry villagers), Oldman plays with a deteriorating Pryce’s fate. Oh, and James Callis–out of nowhere with the agency, no pun–all of a sudden decides to start snooping on MI-5 corruption. Bet it figures in. Stellar stuff.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e04 “Returns” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, Hugo Weaving, Saskia Reeves, James Callis. There are two unexpected uh ohs this episode. First, Weaving as the big bad. He’s a parody of a parody. And, wow, that “Yank” accent work. So that part’s concerning. Also concerning is the apparent final reveal, which doesn’t get explained just implied. It’s all of a sudden a soap opera. Thomas’s stuff’s the highlight. The rest flounders.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e02 “Kansas City Blues” [2024] D: Craig Zisk. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Tatiana Zappardino, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany. Tiring episode setting up Stallone’s court case. He’s representing himself, only he doesn’t know season villain Neal McDonough is out to get him already. And then Frank Grillo’s also planning on attacking. Meanwhile, Stallone can’t even go to his hotel because of the reporters. It’s high wire drama. The finale features a truly desperate, utterly charmless cameo slot. Groan.

Grantchester (2014) s09e01 “Episode 1” [2024] D: Katherine Churcher. S: Robson Green, Tom Brittney, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth, Charlotte Ritchie, Bradley Hall. GRANTCHESTER makes no bones about the vicar change of the season. Brittney goes from not wanting a new job to everything in the latest case trying into an analogy. It must be fate. Or contracts. Green oscillates between seeming upset about change to obvious about it. It’s all well enough done, they’re just dragging out a lame duck.

Grantchester (2014) s09e02 “Episode 2” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. Exit Brittney, who outlasted the lead he replaced. GRANTCHESTER just can’t have a married vicar as lead, which the episode unintentionally showcases. There’s so much history with Brittney’s character and the rest of the cast, the episode has to pick and choose who gets a proper farewell. There’s also a murder to keep things busier. It’s solid; Green’s fantastic.

Grantchester (2014) s09e03 “Episode 3” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. Hot new vicar Nair comes to town and causes an immediate stir due to his skin color and Imperial origin. In other words, he’s of Indian descent and they’re all bigots. Ish. Meanwhile, Green is in need of a new vicar Watson and has to convince the new guy. It’s a pretty good intro, giving Nair a bunch too.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014) s11e22 “September 8, 2024: School Lunch Programs” [2024] D: . S: John Oliver. Funny “news of the week” segments–Trump and Vance are such good punchlines (for now)–and then a great feature on universal school lunches. Oliver gets some real big applause for the controversial position of not letting kids go hungry. But then the dessert’s just forced (Halloween-related) blah. Also: they ought to make the talking Reagan action figure.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e03 “Two for the Road” [2024] D: Chris Koch. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria. Excellent episode has the trio splitting up to hang out with their movie star counterparts. Longoria’s annoying Gomez, Levy’s fawning over Martin, and Galifinksnis can’t stand Short. They all go investigating together to some very, very funny results. Often involving the other guest stars, but the slightly off chemistry between the pairings is the key. Superb acting throughout.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e02 “A Stranger Comes to Town” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas. It’s a particularly great episode for Scott Thomas and a decent or better one for everyone else. Oldman’s still early in the first act; Scott Thomas and Lowden are finishing it up. HORSES isn’t wasting any time tying the big arcs–they’re fused. And involve a big name guest star. Real good overall, if overly deliberate.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e01 “Back in the Saddle” [2024] D: Craig Zisk. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany. The show immediately cops out of the cliffhanger with Stallone spending a night in jail before getting bail. He then spends the rest of the episode planning on going even more legit than he has been in the era of legal weed. It’s a middling episode and a bad season premiere. Some solid acting throughout; all very professional.

Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) D: John Landis. S: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Hector Elizondo, Timothy Carhart, John Saxon, Theresa Randle, Stephen McHattie. Dismal sequel has Murphy returning to Beverly Hills in pursuit of another killer–Carhart, who’s atrocious–this time at a theme park. Murphy teams up with Reinhold again (John Ashton wisely sat this one out, with Elizondo filling in). Truly terrible direction from Landis would sink it even without the lousy Steven E. DeSouza script and many bad performances.

Blondes at Work (1938) D: Frank McDonald. S: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, Rosella Towne, Donald Briggs, John Ridgely, Thomas E. Jackson. For their latest case, reporter Farrell and her copper boyfriend MacLane are working apart. Police captain Frank Shannon wants Farrell off the crime beat and is forcing MacLane to comply. So MacLane investigates with sidekick Jackson while Farrell snoops and sneaks. While the setup’s messy and the second act’s slow, it mostly works. The racism and bullying stink, though.

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) D: Kevin Reynolds. S: Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Richard Harris, James Frain, Dagmara Dominczyk, Michael Wincott, Luis Guzmán. Well-mounted, poorly written misfire of a Dumas adaptation has an international cast playing French to cover hero Caviezel’s non-accent. He’s a good-hearted lad imprisoned because of his bad best friend, Pearce. Caviezel breaks bad, learns swords, and avenges himself. Caviezel ranges from woefully miscast to quite good (albeit as Dracula). Pearce stinks; so does Reynold’s swashbuckling.

Torchy Blane in Chinatown (1939) D: William Beaudine. S: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, Henry O’Neill, Patric Knowles, James Stephenson, Anderson Lawler. Profound racism abounds, but at least Farrell doesn’t hang out in CHINATOWN. And the racism is part of the story? Subtlety. MacLane’s tasked with protecting American graverobber Lawler from Chinese threats (they’re mad he’s looting jade); somehow, it will also involve senator O’Neill. Strong mystery, with good moments for Kennedy in particular, but ick. Also, they’re back in NYC?

Torchy Blane in Panama (1938) D: William Clemens. S: Lola Lane, Paul Kelly, Tom Kennedy, Anthony Averill, Larry Williams, Betty Compson, Hugh O’Connell. Lacking outing has Lane and Kelly taking over the lead roles as TORCHY and her copper boyfriend, respectively. They don’t have any chemistry; in fact, Kelly spends most of the movie lecturing Lane about her outfit and general lack of usefulness (sexist much?). Suspect Averill’s solid, Williams is lousy as a rival reporter, and Kennedy’s stuck holding it all together.

Torchy Gets Her Man (1938) D: William Beaudine. S: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, Willard Robertson, Thomas E. Jackson, George Guhl, Frank Reicher. Farrell and MacLane return after their bewildering recast. When they get a moment, they have chemistry. They have few moments. Most of the time is either master counterfeiter Robertson outwitting the cops or Farrell trying to crack the case. Lots of familiar faces playing different characters. And for some reason they’re in San Francisco now (previously NYC). Good enough.

Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939) D: Ray McCarey. S: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, John Miljan, Frank Shannon, Joe Cunningham, George Guhl. In their final outing (but not the last TORCHY), Farrell and MacLane find themselves at opposite ends of an issue. Farrell’s out to reveal political boss Miljan, while MacLane’s a cog in the machine. It’s a very slight story, without much drama or mystery. Milan’s a fine villain; Farrell and MacLsne just don’t get enough to do.