The Stop Button

Alien: Earth (2025) s01e04 “Observation” D: Ugla Hauksdóttir. S: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, Adarsh Gourav, Timothy Olyphant. Strong comeback kicks off the science, espionage, manipulation, deceit, and danger arcs, all entwined and engaging. It also reveals it doesn’t matter if Lawther can’t deliver: Chandler, Olyphant, and Davis are giving the only real performances. Everyone else is tediously mid. It’s fine as long as the one of the trio’s there, however. EARTH’s Michael Crichton’s ALIENS, but sure.

Alien: Earth (2025) s01e05 “In Space, No One…” D: Noah Hawley. S: Babou Ceesay. Hawley’s back directing (and writing) with a breathtaking homage to the 1979 ALIEN, albeit far more STAR WARS-aware than the original. It’s also Ceesay’s profile episode; we find out his tragic backstory, which has multiple reveals, as the flashback reveals what happened aboard the crashing ship before it crashes. Very smart, very well-directed, very safe.

All Creatures Great & Small (2020) s05e02 “Holding the Baby” [2024] D: Brian Percival. S: Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Rachel Shenton, James Anthony-Rose, Imogen Clawson, Tony Pitts. Everyone gets something to do–Ralph tries to learn how to be a dad while on a vet call (with Anthony-Rose along), Shenton and sister Clawson catch up (with dad Pitts about), and West and Madeley run into complications with her Home Guard supervisor, guest star Jeremy Swift. Shenton’s arc’s maybe the best, but they’re all real good.

All Creatures Great & Small (2020) s05e03 “Homecoming” [2024] D: Stewart Svaasand. S: Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Rachel Shenton, Callum Woodhouse, Imogen Clawson, Tony Pitts. The show has to resolve one of its great unresolved plot threads, and does so with aplomb. Amidst that additional chaos, the household is already preparing for Ralph and Shenton’s baby’s christening, which has brought family in town. Shenton and mother-in-law Gabriel Quigley have an awkward time together. Plus a couple fun, gentle veterinary cases.

All Creatures Great & Small (2020) s05e04 “Uninvited Guests” [2024] D: Stewart Svaasand. S: Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Rachel Shenton, Callum Woodhouse, James Anthony-Rose, Patricia Hodge. Woodhouse is trying to adjust to being back home and isn’t particularly pleased brother West is indifferent to his discomfort sharing his room with Anthony-Rose. But, first, snake-hunting. Meanwhile, Ralph’s having his own adjustment as people keep asking about his medical discharge. Great episode for Woodhouse. Hodge also figures in with a nice arc. Excellent episode.

My Life Is Murder (2019) s05e04 “Top Two Inches” [2025] D: . S: Lucy Lawless, Ebony Vagulans. Awesome–season best, in the series best–episode has Lawless and Vagulans crashing a trivia night for the Auckland elite. The intrigue plays out not quite real-time but tightly consecutively, involves a returning pest (Benedict Wall), and gives guest star Marta Dusseldorp an excellent part. Especially when opposite Lawless. Great performances all around. The format really works.

My Life Is Murder (2019) s05e05 “Thirteen O’Clock” [2025] D: . S: Lucy Lawless, Ebony Vagulans. Very fun, often cute episode has Lawless and Vagulans investigating a mysterious death at a mysterious party at a toy maker’s mysterious mansion. The investigation is all about unraveling an unrelated secret, so there are lots of hijinks. There’s also a creepy doll, a romantic subplot for Vagulans, and… well, not much else. It’s briskly and assuredly executed.