The Stop Button

Daredevil: Born Again (2025) s01e01 “Episode 1” D: Aaron Moorhead. S: Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Margarita Levieva, Nikki M. James, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, Ayelet Zurer. After making some big cast changes and punting some other decisions down the line, the show gets going with D’Onofrio returning to New York to run for mayor. A more battle-scarred than usual Cox isn’t thrilled at the news and tries to suss out D’Onofrio’s true intentions. Some season setup, some series setup, and some good acting. Nice.

Daredevil: Born Again (2025) s01e02 “Episode 2” D: Michael Cuesta. S: Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Margarita Levieva, Nikki M. James, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, Ayelet Zurer. For its first “normal” episode, BORN AGAIN immediately introduces a trial-of-the-week format… only to reveal a conspiracy, which will need multiple parts. Well played. While Cox is lawyering, Fisk is busy trying to play nice with the cops and estranged wife Zurer. Some surprises, some contrivances, and some lovely acting. Cox and D’Onofrio are real good.

Paradise (2025) s01e01 “Wildcat Is Down” D: John Requa. S: Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin, Percy Daggs IV, James Marsden, Jon Beavers. Brown’s the Secret Service Agent in Charge (or whatever) of ex-president Marsden. The episode opens with Brown discovering Marsden dead, with flashbacks setting up the ground situation. Mystery and surprises, along with a big finale reveal; Brown’s so good and so in command of the show, it weathers everything. Including Marden’s limp prez.

Paradise (2025) s01e02 “Sinatra” D: John Requa. S: Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Aliyah Mastin, James Marsden, Krys Marshall. Lots more flashbacks–this time to Nicholson’s specific tragedy and character motivation–juxtaposed against fall out affecting Brown’s plans to investigate. Shahi shows up for a scene or two (plus flashback duty) as the town shrink who’ll probably end up helping Brown, but not this episode–they’re still setting up the underground town stuff. Brown puts it over mid.

Paradise (2025) s01e03 “The Architect of Social Well-Being” D: Gandja Monteiro. S: Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi. There’s a bunch of Krys Marshall’s investigation (weird they’re only paying her guest star money) and Nicholson’s undue influence on it. Then Brown and Shahi go on a walking meet-cute around town, only it’s mostly flashbacks of Brown and his dad (Glynn Turman!). Maybe if Nicholson weren’t so one note and the town tour had been a tour.

Severance (2022) s02e05 “Trojan’s Horse” [2025] D: Sam Donovan. S: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, John Turturro. The season passes the halfway point with almost everything leftover from last season’s cliffhanger resolved. There are some more surprise reveals, some unexpected (and expected) character developments, and fantastic acting from the entire cast. Tillman and Lower get the best material, but Scott and Cherry are also very good. It’s an office bickering episode, with mysterious and rewarding stakes.

Severance (2022) s02e06 “Attila” [2025] D: Uta Briesewitz. S: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, John Turturro, Christopher Walken. Rather good episode–even if Briesewitz’s direction is… a bit extra. And not even with all the “sharing vessels” (this episode is very horny), just everything. It’ll eventually lead to some obvious tropes, but it’s a fine ride there. Great performances from Lower, Tillman, Cherry, and Scott. Turturro and Walken are “back,” but it’s something else. Lots afoot.

Severance (2022) s02e07 “Chikhai Bardo” [2025] D: Jessica Lee Gagné. S: Adam Scott, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, Robby Benson. Surprise, Lachman is the main character. She gets a great showcase as a recovering but unconscious Scott remembers the way they were. Entirely coincidentally, Lachman’s thinking about it too, as she goes about a hellish, And mysterious existence. But their backstory is mid and reductive; plus, Scott’s flashback performance is off. Exquisitely directed, just an average mythology reveal script.