The Stop Button

Doctor Who (2024) s00e05 “Joy to the World” D: Alex Pillai. S: Ncuti Gatwa, Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Aris, Joel Fry, Peter Benedict, Julia Watson. Ultimately disappointing Christmas special has Gatwa stumbling into a hotel mystery. Complicating factors is the hotel being a time travel tourism location so there are plenty of trips to various periods (always at Christmas). Ostensibly mooning over departed companion Millie Gibson, Gatwa tries out Coughlan, de Whaley, and Fry, with varying results. The third-ish act sinks it.

Shrinking (2023) s02e06 “In a Lonely Place” [2024] D: Randall Keenan Winston. S: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller. Better–mostly because guest star Brett Goldstein keeps up with Maxwell in their big scene, and it’s a lot. But still on very shaky ground as far as schmaltzy. As some of the outstanding personal conflicts are solved (thanks to talk therapy), we get hints at forthcoming ones. Segel’s such a limp noodle opposite Ford, too. His timing’s broken.

Shrinking (2023) s02e07 “Get in the Sea” [2024] D: Randall Keenan Winston. S: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Ted McGinley. As painfully foreshadowed, the shits start hitting the fan. It leads to McGinley’s first real scene on the show ever and… well, it’s unsuccessful. But two multi-episode crises resolve with hugs and whatnot. Actually, it’s like fifty-fifty. Also, people unironically wear jean jackets in the show. Maybe it wouldn’t be so shallow if they weren’t healthcare professionals.

Shrinking (2023) s02e08 “Last Drink” [2024] D: James Ponsoldt. S: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Ted McGinley. Well, McGinley gets to have a pretty good episode even with a thin script because they’re relying on Segel to act and he hasn’t got it in him. Maxwell continues to be the show’s easy best performance, though Ford gets a few moments to shine as well; at least SHRINKING appreciates when he’s funny. But it’s afterschool special obvious.

Shrinking (2023) s02e09 “Full Grown Dude Face” [2024] D: Anu Valia. S: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller. The show remembers it’s a comedy so there are actual laughs. Maxwell and Ford continue their inglorious competence–Williams isn’t bad she’s just lost, ditto Tennie–but there are some actual bad performances. Especially with the comedy flexing. Though Segel didn’t bump his head on his action calling, which is a pleasant turn. Zero stakes.

Shrinking (2023) s02e10 “Changing Patterns” [2024] D: James Ponsoldt. S: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Ted McGinley. How’s the show going completely post-reality? Less than zero stakes (it’s literally just looping back to plot lines on hold), but still some decent and better performances. Until the soft cliffhanger, Segel’s doing fairly well. Because he’s either the butt of the joke or better than new guest star love interest Cobie Smulders. It’s too often exasperating.

Silo (2023) s02e07 “The Dive” [2024] D: Michael Dinner. S: Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Tim Robbins, Shane McRae, Steve Zahn. In addition to other disappointments, SILO is also not Zahn’s renaissance so he and Ferguson doing little but bickering for their art is tiring. The political machinations and such with Robbins and Common are fine. Uche continues to have nothing to do and excelling. Some actual plot surprises keeps things moving. It’s a very weird season. Ferguson’s barely around.