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.

Alien: Earth (2025) s01e01 “Neverland” D: Noah Hawley. S: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, Adarsh Gourav, Timothy Olyphant. The ALIEN franchise gets a Disney-fied horror, action, sci-fi Prestige Format television show, set just before the first movie. Creator, teleplay writer, and showrunner and (this episode’s) director Hawley’s take is homage-heavy, but all very thoughtfully done. There are a handful of plotlines (and characters for each), which will inevitably congeal as the season progresses.

Alien: Earth (2025) s01e02 “Mr. October” D: Dana Gonzales. S: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, Adarsh Gourav, Timothy Olyphant. Not many surprises–until cliffhanger’s “ALIEN monster acts differently than ever before”–but solidly okay. The acting helps–Chandler and Olyphant are outstanding as the main synthetics, while writer Noah Hawley hovers between deft (the main cast isn’t ALIEN food) and safe (Hawley’s very deliberately focusing the audience’s concern). But is it much ado about nothing?

Alien: Earth (2025) s01e03 “Metamorphosis” D: Dana Gonzales. S: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, Adarsh Gourav, Timothy Olyphant. After resolving the cliffhanger (with more new ALIEN behavior), the episode deemphasizes Chandler and wanders amongst the characters, recovering from their adventure. On one hand, Lawther is also deemphasized and he’s–politely–ineffectual. Impolitely, he might crash the show with his performance. Olyphant’s great. It seems early for a bridging episode, especially such an inert one. Where’s the show?

All Creatures Great & Small (2020) s05e01 “To All Our Boys” [2024] D: Brian Percival. S: Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Rachel Shenton, James Anthony-Rose, Patricia Hodge. The war’s still on, but things at home are finding a new normal, especially with a baby and a baby vet around. Meanwhile, Ralph’s adventures are either stranger than fiction or just very well-threaded fiction. Madeley’s subplot about getting more involved with the war effort–and her identity as a (war not animal) vet–is outstanding stuff.

The Gilded Age (2022) s03e05 “A Different World” [2025] D: Deborah Kampmeier. S: Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Cynthia Nixon, Christine Baranski. Lots happens–presumably setting up the second half of the season–with Spector’s business dealings getting rockier, Farmiga’s introduction to England flopping, and Benton making an unpleasant re-acquaintance. Richardson also gets a bunch, and various supporting cast members check in for the subplots. It’s good stuff, but the finish leaves Coon in an all-too-easy villain position.

The Gilded Age (2022) s03e06 “If You Want to Cook an Omelette” [2025] D: Deborah Kampmeier. S: Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Cynthia Nixon, Christine Baranski. Inordinately soapy episode–almost all the subplots have an element, except Coon’s trip to England to support Farmiga. That subplot works out fantastic thanks to the acting and Coon not having a villainous demeanor. Lots of commotion for Jacobson and Benton; we’ll see on the Jacobson story, but the Benton one already delivers. Good episode for Nixon, in particular.

The Gilded Age (2022) s03e07 “Ex-Communicated” [2025] D: Salli Richardson-Whitfield. S: Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Cynthia Nixon, Christine Baranski. Excellent episode puts all the soap to good effect, with various storylines getting new developments with some big surprises. Great episode for most of the cast, in particular Coon, Nixon, and Jacobson. Blake Ritson gets more showcasing than usual (to excellent effect) before disappearing from the very busy second half. Great direction from Richardson-Whitfield, as usual.

The Gilded Age (2022) s03e08 “My Mind Is Made Up” [2025] D: Salli Richardson-Whitfield. S: Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Cynthia Nixon, Christine Baranski. Great season finale resolves a bunch of season threads (and themes) while setting the table for a rather eventful nest season. Baranski finally gets some growth instead of gags, Benton’s got a phenomenal episode, Coon and Spector, too. It keeps the soap suds but they’ve got all sorts of heft. And the gowns are, of course, spectacular.

My Life Is Murder (2019) s05e01 “Gimme An M” [2025] D: . S: Lucy Lawless, Ebony Vagulans, Dean O’Gorman, Iana Grace, Eden Hart, Sally Stockwell, Evander Brown. Lawless and Vagulans are back and investigating the death of a fitness influencer and how his cheerleader girlfriend figures in. Over enthusiastic (character not performance, performance is delightful) Louise Jiang’s cheerleader teammate is trying to undercover the truth. It’s mostly Lawless irritating the suspects, without a lot of outside activity. But great locations and solidly engaging as ever.

My Life Is Murder (2019) s05e02 “Catfish” [2025] D: . S: Lucy Lawless, Ebony Vagulans, Martin Henderson, Jackson Gallagher, Yvie Harvie-Salter, Mike Edward, Xana Tang. Complicated solution to a dead aquarium manager (who ended up in one of the tanks), which includes Lawless considering romancing the prime suspect (studly marine biologist Edward). Martin Henderson’s back–and down on his luck, as usual–as Lawless’s brother, setting up his season arc. Lots of fun with the investigation, too, both surf and turf.

My Life Is Murder (2019) s05e03 “For The Love of Dog” [2025] D: . S: Lucy Lawless, Ebony Vagulans. This episode’s mystery is so complicated Lawless even comments on it. It starts being about dogs, then is about a millionaire dating club, then ends as combination of the two. Vagulans gets a strange arc (as much as anyone gets an arc). It’s okay enough, but the pay-off’s not worth the (intentionally) convoluted trek.

Resident Alien (2021) s04e08 “Mine Town” [2025] D: Nastaran Dibai. S: Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Elizabeth Bowen, Meredith Garretson. All sorts of plot threads tie together as various revelations have repercussions. Tudyk gets a scene with pretty much everyone, usually to outstanding effect. Good episode for Tomko and Wetterlund, too, but–again–it’d help to lean harder on a Capracorn angle. Oh, and a great episode for Reynolds, who gets a new partner (of sorts).

Resident Alien (2021) s04e09 “Tunnel Vision” [2025] D: Robert Duncan McNeill. S: Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Elizabeth Bowen, Meredith Garretson. Superb penultimate episode opens with a large set piece conclusion to last episode’s cliffhanger, then reveals this episode’s stakes, which do increase as things progress. McNeill’s direction’s absurdly good, letting the episode get away with gravitas from performances deservedly and not. Gary Farmer’s got a phenomenal showcase. Everything’s beautifully set for next time and the grand finale. Cool.

Resident Alien (2021) s04e10 “The End Is Here” [2025] D: Robert Duncan McNeill. S: Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Elizabeth Bowen, Meredith Garretson. Okay (enough) series finale gins up a bunch of apparently easily resolvable, somewhat deep-cut conflicts to get away from just doing a farewell episode. But Tudyk and Tomko are both planning on leaving, so there definitely could’ve been more goodbyes than red herrings. Reynolds’s send-off is particularly pat. It doesn’t flop, but doesn’t do much either.

The Adventures of Hercules (1985) D: Luigi Cozzi. S: Lou Ferrigno, Milly Carlucci, Sonia Viviani, William Berger, Carla Ferrigno, Claudio Cassinelli, Maria Rosaria Omaggio. Weird but not in a good way sequel has Ferrigno trying to find Zeus’s missing thunderbolts. Despite truly bewildering set pieces and narrative decisions, it’s just too cheap, too poorly made, and too sedate to offer any amusement. Even when it hits extremes. Presumably a Cannon production but the boys left their names off it for some reason.

Blood Quantum (2019) D: Jeff Barnaby. S: Michael Greyeyes, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Forrest Goodluck, Kiowa Gordon, Olivia Scriven, Stonehorse Lone Goeman, Gary Farmer. Not bad idea for a zombie picture–an Indigenous tribe is immune to the zombie plague but everyone (and everything else) is not. Unfortunately, writer, director, and, unfortunately, editor Barnaby can’t make it happen on the dirt-cheap budget. Greyeyes is fine as the “dad” hero (and Goeman’s a hoot as his dad), but otherwise the acting’s… prosumer.

Death to Smoochy (2002) D: Danny DeVito. S: Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener, Danny DeVito, Jon Stewart, Pam Ferris, Michael Rispoli. Delightfully strange “black comedy” version of a Frank Capra with earnest children’s show host Norton taking over for scuzball Williams. Williams goes after Norton, who’s also navigating the mob-backed children’s television industry. Great performances (Williams, Norton, Keener, Ferris), some mid-miscasts, and bewilderingly inept direction from DeVito (who goes for zany). Williams and Norton go all out.

The Fantastic 4: First Steps (2025) D: Matt Shakman. S: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne. Narratively rushed, visually spectacular FIRST (fifth, but who’s counting) outing for the Marvel Comics characters. Fine performances from the quartet and frantic enthusiasm keep the ship afloat until the action kicks in to higher and higher gear. Set in the 1960s in an alternate reality (to the Marvel movie universe), there’s no continuity, for better and worse.

Hard Truths (2024) D: Mike Leigh. S: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, David Webber, Tuwaine Barrett, Ani Nelson, Sophia Brown, Jonathan Livingstone. Absurdly well-acted family drama about Jean-Baptiste’s detoriating mental state. She’s fantastic but showy, while Austin (as her sister) alternates between frustration, confusion, and devastation. Leigh’s intentionality about showing and not telling maintains an intensity throughout, but then the third act calls too much into question without that same thoughtfulness. But peerless acting from the cast. Beautifully done.

Moonlight (2016) D: Barry Jenkins. S: Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders, Alex R. Hibbert, Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali. Wrenching, trending, exhilarating tale of a gay Black man at three stages of life; two childhood, one adult. Fantastic performances all around, with Ali (as a father figure) and Harris (as the troubled mother) inhabiting. Hibbert, Sanders, and Rhodes are outstanding in the lead, with some beautiful character work progressing through. Truly exceptional filmmaking from writer-director Jenkins.

Murder in Greenwich Village (1937) D: Albert S. Rogell. S: Richard Arlen, Fay Wray, Raymond Walburn, Wyn Cahoon, Scott Kolk, Thurston Hall, Marc Lawrence. Murder mystery about society girl Wray getting mixed up with VILLAGE (commercial) artist Arlen. Most of the picture plays like screwball romantic comedy with red herrings instead of gags. Wray and Arlen are game and the production is solid, the script’s just not interested in the actual MURDER. Rogell’s direction could be a lot better, too. But generally fine.

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939) D: William Clemens. S: Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, John Litel, Frank Orth, Renie Riano, Vera Lewis, Louise Carter. Final entry in the series adapts the first novel (HIDDEN STAIRCASE), but it’s a lackluster effort. Litel’s barely around, Orth’s back and around way too much. And the stakes are all off (Granville’s ego is keeping old ladies terrified). She and Thomas are still charming, with Thomas getting to do more of the slapstick again. But an inglorious finish.

Nancy Drew… Reporter (1939) D: William Clemens. S: Bonita Granville, John Litel, Frankie Thomas, Dickie Jones, Mary Lee, Larry Williams, Betty Amann. Granville’s competing for a young newspaper reporter award and finds herself a murder investigation to cover. Except then she draws the attention of mysterious character Perry (who’s bewilderingly uncredited despite being the heavy). Thomas, with his great comic timing, reluctantly aids Granville’s investigation. Annoying younger kids Jones and Lee get old fast (and never go away). It’s fine.

Nancy Drew… Trouble Shooter (1939) D: William Clemens. S: Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, John Litel, Aldrich Bowker, Charlotte Wynters, Edgar Edwards, Willie Best. When family friend Bowker is falsely accused, lawyer Litel heads to the county to represent him. Litel inexplicably brings Granville, thinking she won’t investigate. She does, but Litel’s too busy romancing Wynters to care. At least until the danger’s too great. It’d be a lot better if Litel weren’t so mean, and there wasn’t the racism directed at Best.

Nancy Drew… Detective (1938) D: William Clemens. S: Bonita Granville, John Litel, James Stephenson, Frankie Thomas, Frank Orth, Helena Phillips Evans, Renie Riano. Engaging outing for Granville (as NANCY) and her faithful sidekick Thomas as they try to discover the whereabouts of mysteriously missing rich lady Evans. Light on actual DETECTIVE work (the bad guys have their own story arc), enthusiasm, Thomas’s well-timed slapstick, and tenacity carry it through. Litel’s good as Granville’s dad, Orth’s distinct (positively?) as the local copper.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972) D: Ronald Neame. S: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters. Reasonably compelling disaster picture about a capsized ocean liner and the assorted survivors trying to make it to the surface. Dynamite pyrotechniques and production design. Hackman’s renegade preacher (with the personality of a drill instructor) is the leader, bickering constantly with cop Borgnine. Nice support from Winters, Buttons, and Stevens, in particular. The end’s just a tad too flat.

The Survivors (1983) D: Michael Ritchie. S: Robin Williams, Walter Matthau, Jerry Reed, James Wainwright, Kristen Vigard, Joseph Carberry, Anne Pitoniak. Not bad odd couple buddy comedy about yuppie Williams becoming a gun nut, with new pal Matthau unwillingly along for the ride. The third wheel is hit man Reed, who can’t decide if he should kill the duo or befriend them. Even though Reed’s shoehorned in, he helps. Williams can’t handle the second half acting. Matthau saves the day.