The Stop Button

The Gilded Age (2022) s03e01 “Who Is in Charge Here?” [2025] D: Michael Engler. S: Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Cynthia Nixon, Christine Baranski. Reliably excellent season opener focuses on changes since last season for Nixon and Baranski, as Nixon’s now the one with the money. Meanwhile, Coon keeps trying to queen-make daughter Farmiga, with everyone hoping Spector gets home in time to stop her. Plus, developments in the standing subplots. Staggeringly good acting from Nixon and Coon in particular.

Poker Face (2023) s02e07 “One Last Job” [2025] D: Adam Arkin. S: Natasha Lyonne, Sam Richardson, Corey Hawkins, James Ransone. Kevin Smith-esque heist homage episode has HEAT DIE HARD (wokka wokka) Richardson finding himself in his own crime thriller, costarring Ransone as a new scuzbag pal. Meanwhile, Lyonne finds herself in a romcom, which the episode intentionally devalues as a genre to serve the masculine. But Ransone’s a singular actor, and Lyonne and Hawkins are very cute together.

Poker Face (2023) s02e08 “The Sleazy Georgian” [2025] D: Mimi Cave. S: Natasha Lyonne, Melanie Lynskey, GaTa, John Cho, Brendan Sexton III, Eric Satterberg, Joel Marsh Garland. Probably series-best episode has Lyonne falling in with con man Cho and his crew, which the audience has already seen maybe fleece nice lady Lynskey. At what point does the con become too dangerous? Great performances all around (Lynskey has a strong spotlight). Cave’s direction and the script (credited to Megan Amram) are stellar as well. It’s sublime.

Poker Face (2023) s02e09 “A New Lease on Death” [2025] D: Adamma Ebo. S: Natasha Lyonne, Awkwafina, Lauren Tom, Alia Shawkat. Well-acted but otherwise strangely light episode has Lyonne trying to suss out what’s going on with new pal Awkwafina’s grandma Tom’s new girlfriend, Shawkat. Shawkat’s great, but there’s nothing to the part. Tom and Awkwafina have an awesome family vibe, it’s just not part of the episode. Maybe it’s just the lackluster finish.

Resident Alien (2021) s04e01 “Prisoners” [2025] D: Alan Tudyk. S: Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Elizabeth Bowen, Meredith Garretson. Pretty good (and, more importantly, successful) season premiere has Tudyk wearing three hats–acting twice, plus directing. The directing shows he knows the cast’s strengths, even as they’re however many years older since the show last filmed. Some very solid laughs and an awesome Tudyk episode. Reynolds is great, too. But there are just too many characters.

Resident Alien (2021) s04e02 “The Lonely Man” [2025] D: Alan Tudyk. S: Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Elizabeth Bowen, Meredith Garretson. Solid enough episode gives Tudyk some great showcases while trying to sort through the dozen or so characters it’s juggling. Lots of back and forth to keep the subplots going while getting one of the guest stars out of the picture. Again, solid, with hints at the season to come. Great episode for Reynolds and Bowen, too.

Resident Alien (2021) s04e03 “Ties That Bind” [2025] D: Brennan Shroff. S: Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Elizabeth Bowen, Meredith Garretson. Based on returning guest star Linda Hamilton’s subplot, it sure looks like ALIEN is going to safely wind everything down this season. Hamilton gets her series best episode as she discovers it’s not so easy to change the past (oddly no TERMINATOR jokes). Otherwise, lots going on, with Gracelyn Awad Rinke and Reynolds getting some great material.