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.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) D: Stephan Elliott. S: Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp, Bill Hunter, Sarah Chadwick, June Marie Bennett, Rebel Penfold-Russell. Popular Sydney drag queen Weaving up and takes a gig in the middle of nowhere, then invites Pearce and Stamp (playing a trans woman) along for the company (and gig). The often bickering trio makes the trek across the desert, far outside their less dangerous comfort zone. Funny, warm, sad, scary; excellent handily performances carry the uneven third act.

Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2023) D: Christopher Berkeley. S: David Giuntoli, Patrick Fabian, John DiMaggio, Karan Brar, Navid Negahban, Darin De Paul, Emily O’Brien. The gorgeous production design alone could carry this animated Batman adaptation, set in the Roaring Twenties and has the Caped Crusader battling Lovecraftian horrors. The third act is an objection lesson in committing too much to the bit. The rest is a disturbing delight. Giuntoli is quite good as Batman here, though that third act does him dirty.

Black Christmas (2019) D: Sophia Takal. S: Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O’Grady, Caleb Eberhardt, Cary Elwes, Simon Mead. Sort of remake, sort of occasional homage has sorority sisters again, but this time it’s all about the frat boys being creeps, rapists, and murderers. The first hour is basically just a zero humor SCREAM riff, getting worse as it goes. Good thing director Takal’s got a killer finale (no pun). It’s a long wait for the pay-off.

The Dark Crystal (1982) D: Frank Oz. S: Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, Brian Meehl. Beautifully puppeteering can’t make up for the rest of this deeply weird, entirely unpleasant fantasy picture. Two elves have to save their desolate planet from the gross vulture-men. There’s torture, and “essence-sucking.” Henson and Oz aren’t up to the directing tasks either. But the David Odell screenplay is the real villain. It’s just awful.

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2003) D: Kirk R. Thatcher. S: Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson, David Arquette, Joan Cusack, Whoopi Goldberg. Lackluster outing ends up being MUPPETS IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, but doesn’t have enough story for it so instead does a bunch of very contemporary references. Though it’s the best MOULIN ROUGE has ever been. Cusack and Arquette are bad as the main humans, but it’s really the writing and (lack of) budget. Some good laughs, of course.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) D: Brian Henson. S: Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, David Rudman, Don Austen. Delightful adaptation focuses on Caine as Scrooge; he just happens to be Scrooge in Muppet world. He’s utterly fantastic opposite the magic unfolding around him. Great writing, great songs (by Paul Williams), and a particularly good outing for Gonzo and Rizzo as the narrators. Henson’s strong direction also helps. Funny, dad, and scary at all the right moments.

Muppet Treasure Island (1996) D: Brian Henson. S: Tim Curry, Kevin Bishop, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, Kevin Clash, Bill Barretta. Superb production design and imaginative “Muppet-izing” make up for some second-act meanderings in this adaptation of the Stevenson adventure classic. And while Curry’s fine as Long John Silver, he’s far from transcendent. Lots of good Muppet gags, and the eventual love song montage helps put it over. Make sure to hang out for the credits.

Agatha All Along (2024) s01e04 “If I Can’t Reach You / Let My Song Teach You” D: Rachel Goldberg. S: Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Debra Jo Rupp, Patti LuPone, Aubrey Plaza. Fantastic performances make up for the “oh, another escape room” nature of the episode (and, perhaps, show?). It’s Ahn’s episode but it’s also where Plaza comes back in. Lots of charged banter between Plaza and Hahn. The enthusiasm makes up for the occasionally too obvious budget limitations. And LuPone’s just a delight, too.

Shrinking (2023) s02e02 “I Love Pain” [2024] D: Randall Keenan Winston. S: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Ted McGinley. Given how the stakes from last episode’s cliffhanger evaporate in this one almost immediately… Well, it actually does work but it’s kind of annoying. This episode ends with a much better sad montage. Lots of good acting, especially Ford and Williams. Even Segel is better than usual, maybe because someone calls him on his bullshit for once.

Shrinking (2023) s02e03 “Psychological Something-ism” [2024] D: Zach Braff. S: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller. Well, Segel getting called on his bullshit lasted all of one episode and now they’re back to his bullshit actually being okay with everyone. Not Williams, but only because they’re using it for banter. And giving affect incapable Miller an emotive arc is a miss. Maxwell and Ford easily do the best in an iffy episode.

Shrinking (2023) s02e04 “Made You Look” [2024] D: Zach Braff. S: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller. Schmaltzy to the point sincerity doesn’t even matter anymore is certainly something to behold. They’re setting everything up for big dramatic confrontations and so on (even having Ford expound over a montage), so it’s all intentional. But it’s also lost all grip on reality so the stakes are toast. Even Maxwell falls victim to it. It’s desperately empathetic.

Shrinking (2023) s02e05 “Honesty Era” [2024] D: Jamie Babbit. S: Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller. The schmaltz continues. Even as Segel gets called out again, all his amends are schmaltz. Without any stakes–Maxwell is still keeping her secrets, which ought to be the show, but is instead ignored–it’s hard to care. Worse, things are getting tied up, seemingly prematurely. It’s disappointing and unsurprising. Ford is still a delight. Ditto Williams.

Silo (2023) s02e05 “Descent” [2024] D: Bert. S: Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Chinaza Uche, Tim Robbins, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Steve Zahn. It’s a chase episode (which is a good way to follow-up last week’s big mistaken swing, like hold your best performers in the light, SILO). Anyway. The framed fugitives are trying to get back to the basement, lots of surprises as Common and Robbins (who’s just getting better) pursue. Also, low bar, but Glen’s best-ever SILO performance.

Silo (2023) s02e06 “Barricades” [2024] D: Michael Dinner. S: Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Rick Gomez, Tim Robbins, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner. More political drama, with Robbins and Common both starting to lose their grips, possibly because they’re relying on the wrong people. Lots of it is Uche deal-making so he can do the right thing. Then all the plotting of the mechanical workers, who might be ready to start the revolution. Also they might not.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) s05e08 “Upper Decks” [2024] D: Bob Suarez. S: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Dawnn Lewis, Gillian Vigman, Jerry O’Connell, Fred Tatasciore, Ben Rodgers. The bridge crew gets a spotlight episode to show off their A tier Starfleet adventures, and it’s a lot of fun. Maybe they should have done one a season or something. There’s an engineering issue, boring artsy endeavors, an invasion, and adorable space cows. Plus action, gore, and romance. It’s all over too soon.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) s05e09 “Fissure Quest” [2024] D: Brandon Williams. S: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Fred Tatasciore, Gabrielle Ruiz. Fantastic start to the finale, with an alternate universe adventure featuring Quaid and Newsome trying to stop the villain creating interdimensional rifts. They play it as a straight episode focused on the new crew, who are all alternate-universe versions of familiar TREK franchise characters. Lots of delight; lots of fun; the big swing tying it all together lands.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) s05e10 “The New Next Generation (2)” [2024] D: Megan Lloyd. S: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O’Connell, Fred Tatasciore. Unfortunately, after the banger setup and a solid first act, LOWER DECKS lurches into spacedock for its finale. No actual onscreen character development for Newsome and Quaid, Cordero’s got an obnoxious last subplot, and Wells is a bit of a punchline. There are some cute nods, and the pacing’s outstanding. No fan service cameos, either; they’d be too enthusiastic.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019) s06e10 “The Promotion” [2024] D: Kyle Newacheck. S: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Tim Heidecker, Andy Assaf. Some solid laughs for the penultimate SHADOWS, which wraps up the season’s two subplots. There’s some inkling of a setup, but nothing about it screams finale-building. Still, nothing about the subplot resolutions required them to run the whole season, especially not since they’re acting like the resolve does enough character development for Novak and Guillén. It does not.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019) s06e11 “The Finale” [2024] D: Yana Gorskaya. S: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Kristen Schaal, Andy Assaf. Just okay finish has some moments, and some good moments for the cast (though, actually, everyone but Berry who seems bored). But they introduce a bunch of things they could’ve used to better frame the season. Like, really obvious stuff. And some of the credited guest stars… don’t seem to be in the episode. One super cute gag, though.

Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021) D: Sam Liu. S: David Giuntoli, Mark Dacascos, Kelly Hu, Michael Jai White, James Hong, Jamie Chung, Chris Cox. Kickass animated Batman feature set in the 1970s, in a groovy, butt-kicking karate picture. It’s a team effort with Bats (Giuntoli, who’s fine) just a cog as he reunites with his (albeit mystical) dojo friends. Dacascos is Richard Dragon, Hu is Lady Shiva, White is Bronze Tiger. Hu’s legit great, Dasascos is solid, too. Fantastic action choreography.

Black Christmas (2006) Unrated Version D: Glen Morgan. S: Katie Cassidy, Kristen Cloke, Andrea Martin, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lacey Chabert. Atrocious remake has less than nothing going for it even after the big twists turn out to be incest, cannibalism, and misogyny. The gore’s terrible too, because Morgan’s a bad director and writer. The acting’s something awful too, with “lead” Cassidy and Martin coming out best. Choke, Winstead, and Trachenburg are profoundly bad. Avoid this CHRISTMAS.

Fantastic Four (2015) D: Josh Trank. S: Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, Reg E. Cathey, Tim Blake Nelson. Abysmal adaptation offers nothing but bad performances, worse writing, and reminders of other movies one could be watching. Jordan does the best in the main cast. Teller’s terrible, Mara’s bad, Nelson’s literally chewing, and Cathey… poor Cathey. Bell’s awful too but why wouldn’t he be? It’s so incompetent it’s not even embarrassing. And there’s something funny about the music.

The King (2019) D: David Michôd. S: Timothée Chalamet, Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Tom Glynn-Carney, Robert Pattinson, Ben Mendelsohn, Andrew Havill. Epic-sized telling of Prince Hal’s transformation into King Henry V. Chalamet’s a solid lead; Edgerton (who co-wrote with director Michôd, so presumably intentionally) steals the show as Falstaff. Everything’s fine until the reveal-heavy finale when Harris (as another advisor) can’t get away with being so slight. Mendelsohn’s awesome in his bit. Nicholas Britell’s music’s awesome, too.

Kneecap (2024) D: Rich Peppiatt. S: Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, DJ Próvaí, Josie Walker, Jessica Reynolds, Simone Kirby, Michael Fassbender. Pretty good “origin” story of Irish-language hip-hop trio, KNEECAP. The film’s fast and loose with the historicity of the sometimes fantastical events, and the third act’s a disaster, but the group’s sympathetic. Albeit not the best actors. But then there’s Fassbender in a bit part; he and Walker carry all the gravitas. Great photography, too (Ryan Kernaghan).

Man Push Cart (2006) D: Ramin Bahrani. S: Ahmad Razvi, Leticia Dolera, Charles Daniel Sandoval, Ali Reza, Farooq ‘Duke’ Muhammad, Panicker Upendran, Arun Lal. Rending tale of NYC breakfast cart vendor Razvi, who’s hustling to make as many bucks as possible, and how dangerous vulnerability can be in that situation. Writer, director, and editor Bahrani relies a little to heavily on melodrama (assuming DV can cover it; not with some of these actors), but Razvi’s so absurdly good it all works out.

They Cloned Tyrone (2023) D: Juel Taylor. S: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris, Kiefer Sutherland, David Alan Grier, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Tamberla Perry. Outstanding, exquisitely crafted semi-satire about Boyega, Foxx, and Parris’s unlikely trio finding themselves in the middle of a government conspiracy. There’s a moody, grainy seventies vibe, which director Taylor also brings to the sci-fi action. Taylor’s clanging genres–Blaxploitation and “urban”–for sparks, but everything’s character-driven. The leads are fantastic (and the occasional cameo’s always solid).

A Very Missing Person (1972) D: Russ Mayberry. S: Eve Arden, James Gregory, Julie Newmar, Ray Danton, Dennis Rucker, Pat Morita, Skye Aubrey. TV movie updating of the Hildegarde Withers franchise has Arden in the lead, tracking down an heiress who’s fallen in with some hippies. But are they sketchy yacht captain Danton’s hippies? It’s slight to be sure, but Arden’s got great timing with the one-liners. Gregory plays her cop pal, except (young) blond charmer Rucker drives her around everywhere.

Rivals (2024) s01e01 “Episode 1” D: Elliot Hegarty. S: David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Alex Hassell, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson, Claire Rushbrook. Little bit too horny British period (1986) show (airing on Disney+!) about nouveau riche Tennant’s rivalry (get it) with old money Hassell. Tennant’s a commercial TV producer, Hassell’s an MP. Turner is the newest addition to the neighborhood, a ringer for Tennant’s network. It’s well-produced, well-acted, just… a British prestige trash soap. Great eighties soundtrack, though.

Silo (2023) s02e04 “The Harmonium” [2024] D: Aric Avelino. S: Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Tim Robbins, Shane McRae, Tanya Moodie. Either SILO has something special in store, or it’s already peaked. The episode punts featured guest star Steve Zahn to get rid of the most dynamic actor on the show. Badly, too. They do a bad job of it. Some of the problem is Avelino’s direction, but everyone’s lost in a bad, protracted script. Except Uche; he’s doing fine.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) s05e05 “Star Base 80?!” [2024] D: Bob Suarez. S: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O’Connell, Fred Tatasciore. Newsome doesn’t want to return to the crappy starbase where she was wrongfully exiled a season or two ago, but the ship needs repairs. Upon arrival, she clashes with the station commander (Nicole Byer). It’s a good, weird, really full episode (lots of lore). Lewis and O’Connell have a great subplot together, which DECKS didn’t do often enough.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) s05e06 “Of Gods and Angles” [2024] D: Brandon Williams. S: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Dawnn Lewis, Gillian Vigman, Jerry O’Connell. Okay episode has Newsome mentoring a troublesome ensign (guest star Saba Homayoon) who’s descended from the TOS demigods. There’s a diplomatic thing to mess up and a whole mystery. Probably seemed better on paper. It’s funny but Homayoon’s not interesting. Quaid’s still on his alt-universe subplot, which has some highs but is also slight for final season arc.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) s05e07 “Fully Dilated” [2024] D: Megan Lloyd. S: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O’Connell, Fred Tatasciore. Brent Spiner guest stars (as Data, obviously) and spends the episode counseling Wells, who’s convinced she’s in a competition with Vulcan science pal Gabrielle Ruiz. They’re stranded on an away mission; Newsome spends her time trying to live undercover stranded away party life to the fullest, with mixed results. Lots of (good) tawdry jokes to cover the rush.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019) s06e07 “March Madness” [2024] D: Yana Gorskaya. S: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Anthony Atamanuik, Tim Heidecker. Proksch goes to work with Guillén to help him establish an identity while Berry and Novak try to save neighbor Atamanuik from a demon. Of course, that demon happens to be March Madness (when do SHADOWS creators think these episode air). Lots of great laughs in both plot lines, with Demetriou getting a particularly great recurring bit.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019) s06e08 “P.I. Undercover: New York” [2024] D: Kyle Newacheck. S: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Anthony Atamanuik, Andy Assaf. Novak and Berry try to foil a police procedural shooting in front of the house while Proksch and Demetriou go to his friend’s house for an uncomfortable dinner. Zach Woods guest stars as the friend, and Kim Quindlen plays his wife. Kevin Pollak plays the TV detective. It’s a weird, successful mashing of plots, often very funny.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019) s06e09 “Come Out and Play” [2024] D: DJ Stipsen. S: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Kristen Schaal, Doug Jones. Anticlimactic to the point of self-parody as the gang finds themselves again on the run from all the other vampires in the world. This time it’s not even a mistake. The stakes (no pun) are all over the place, the script feels like it’s crossing (yes pun) off outstanding business… The show’s coasting with this one. Two more.