You Don't Get To Rush This

And here's a brief catch up on some of the shows I've been watching the last few weeks.

9-1-1: Oh god, the second half of this season was going pretty well, in terms of stories. You had Maddie dealing with a serial kidnapper, Bobby reuniting with his mother, Eddie rebuilding his family in Texas, Buck/Tommy hooking up, Hen's birthday, Chimney's excitement for fatherhood again, Athena taking another boat trip and Ravi popping up again. Then a contagion two parter aired and with it, possibly the most short sighted decision the show has ever done. Yup, they killed Bobby Nash and there's three episodes left. How the fallout from this plays out will determine if the show has true staying power.

Daredevil: Born Again: I'll admit that for the most part I have enjoyed Disney+ revival of this show but at the same time, something feels missing and it's not just Karen and Foggy. The handling of the Muse story in particular was bad, Fisk really reverted to form too quickly (though Vanessa has emerged as a more complex character) and the Matt/Heather relationship just fizzled out. I did however like the Daredevil/Punisher team up in the finale and Bullseye on the loose does have potential for next season.

The Last Of Us: Two episodes into the show's second season and they went for the most controversial moment out of the gate. Then again, given Pedro Pascal's increasingly full dance card, perhaps sooner was better than later for that scene to happen. Hats off to Pedro , Kaitlyn Dever and Bella Ramsey because the scene where Abby killed Joel and Ellie couldn't prevent it was easily one of the most brutal death scenes in 2025. With five episodes left, it's going to be interesting to see if the show can sustain the momentum now that they've played their biggest hand. The show has been renewed for a third season. 

The White Lotus: The second half of the third season proved a few things. You can't escape financial ruin, some friendships are a mystery, brothers shouldn't be that physically intimate with one another, good people aren't above taking bribes from bad people and the two graves saying about revenge is true. All of these things came to pass in those final few episodes and they made for some of the best and most shocking moments. Season 3 might have taken a bit longer to find it's footing but it got there and I cannot wait for next season.

Toxic Town: While everyone everywhere was hyping Adolescence, there was another Jack Thorne Netflix miniseries that had been released two weeks beforehand and with less fanfare. Featuring a cast that had Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, Karla Crome, Claudia Jessie, Brendan Coyle and Robert Carlyle to name but a few. The four part miniseries took a good look into the Corby toxic waste case. I can see why this might have gotten lost in the shuffle but you should check it out if you've already seen Thorne's other miniseries that has stirred such debate.

Yellowjackets: Season 3 hasn't quite hit the heights of the first season but it's not been without it's shocking moments. There was the resolution to Lottie's murder and then Van got killed by Melissa in the present day. Hillary Swank is going to have quite the task on her hand next season getting audience to like Melissa next season. Add some more appearances from Jackie, Shauna showing her awful side in both timelines along with her own family, Taissa and Misty being done with her and that Natalie scene in the picture above, where else can this show go? It should end next season.

• Chris O'Donnell and Jessica Capshaw will lead upcoming series, 9-1-1: Nashville for ABC this autumn. 9-1-1 itself was renewed for a ninth season
• Grey's Anatomy has been renewed for twenty second season on ABC.
• Wednesday Season 2 will be released on Netflix in two parts - Episodes 1-4 from August 6th and Episodes 5-8 from September 3rd respectively.
• Heartstopper will conclude with a movie for Netflix, based on Alice Oseman's upcoming sixth volume. Joe Locke and Kit Connor will be executive producers.
• Sarah Michelle Gellar has signed up for upcoming series, Bad Summer People.
• Dexter: Original Sin has been renewed for a second season by Showtime/Paramount+. Dexter: Resurrection will premiere in June.
• Tom Ellis has signed up as the lead for FBI: CIA for CBS.
• Will Sharpe and Ayo Edebiri will lead upcoming Apple TV+ romantic comedy series Prodigies. 
• Amazon have We Were Liars for June 18th.
• Season 3 of And Just Like That will premiere on Max from May 29th. The Gilded Age Season 3 will on HBO in June. Both feature Cynthia Nixon.
• Stranger Things will be getting an animated spin off titled, Stranger Things: Tales from 85. 
• Outlander: Blood Of My Blood will air from August 8th on Starz.
• Lindsay Logan will star in Count My Lies for Hulu.

Off To Thailand, Back To Hell's Kitchen Or The Wilderness

Yup, a lot of shows have popped up in the last few weeks with at least one ending for good and others getting their latest seasons in full swing.

9-1-1: Lone Star: Those last three episodes really came and went by so fast, didn't they? While it's baffling that FOX axed the show after five seasons, I'm glad the show went out on a strong note. TK and Carlos adopted the former's half brother, Owen went to New York, Tommy survived, Marjan got married and Judd took over the fire house. Not to mention some crazy antics involving an asteroid. At least the main show will still be around for the foreseeable future.

Daredevil: Born Again: It's felt like an eternity since the announcement of this show and the massive retooling that happened between filming but yesterday, Disney+ released the first two episodes and the reviews were a bit more mixed compared to its Netflix predecessor. Personally, I liked both episodes though I'm over the show trying to find ways of keeping Charlie Cox out of his costume more than that spoiled death. Still, I am enjoying Matt's new dynamic with various new characters as well as the mayoral story with Wilson Fisk and the White Tiger story. So far, I think the good outweighs the bad here.

Dexter: Original Sin: I'm genuinely impressed with how this prequel series has managed to become as entertaining as the original. I'm also impressed with how Patrick Gibson has embodied the role of Dexter Morgan as well as Michael C. Hall back in the day (and again this summer). Hiring Patrick Dempsey to play the main villain so depraved he'd mutilate his own child was also a clever move along with the death of Laura in flashbacks and arrival of Brian Moser in the current day. The Deb plot did falter a bit but I loved her scenes with Tanya and Maria in the penultimate episode.

Prime Target: Have you ever sat through an entire season of a show and not had a bloody clue why you bothered? Apple TV+ attempts of a conspiracy show with Leo Woodall as gay mathemacian Edward could have been a thrilling show or even mildly entertaining if it leaned a bit sillier but sadly, it took itself too seriously, was very dull and plodding and wasted a lot of talented actors like David Morrissey, Martha Plimpton, Harry Lloyd, Stephen Rea and so on. The finale tried to inject a bit of edge into it but it was a case of too little and too late. I'll be surprised if this gets a second season.

The White Lotus: It's been over two years since we've had this show dominating the conversation and trading Sicily for Thailand, we've got the returning Belinda from the first season and a slew of new characters. There's the very rich and very dodgy Ratliffs, with some sexually inappropriate siblings while age gap couple Rick and Chelsea spent most of their time getting bitten by snakes, interacting with other age gap couples and one of them taking an overt interest in Sritala (the manager). I am loving the bitchy friend trio - Jaclyn, Kate and Laurie but the staff haven't been as dynamic as some of the past ones. As usual, there's the mystery of a dead body and right now, it could be any of them. 

Towards Zero: Over the last few years, there's been a mixed reception towards the BBC's adaptations of Agatha Christie books. Usually some complain because the casting has been more diverse than in the past or because the person adaptating usually changes too many elements from the source material. Of course, there's no exception with the same criticisms but honestly, it's a pretty decent take on the novel. You've got a disgraced tennis star with both his former and current wives, a bed ridden matriarch, estranged family members, a sympathetic lawyer, a world weary detective, beleaguered staff and a murder where you probably guessed the killer and motive without having read the book. I do think these adaptations should be done as 90 minute TV movies than three hour long episodes but it's a decent if slowish take on the classic novel.

Yellowjackets: Season 3 so far has been entertaining but it's also raised the question of how much gas is left in the tank for this show. In the present day, Natalie's death barely had time to register when Lottie also ended up being dead. Shauna and Misty clashed while Taissa and Van had some better news and both Callie, Jeff and Walter had their moments. In the flashbacks, there was the girls setting up camp outdoors, Ben's trial and Shauna getting closer to Melissa and becoming more antagonistic towards everyone else along with some more screentime for Mari. It's a solid start but I'm still waiting for the likes of Joel McHale and Hilary Swank to show up. 

• Drew Starkey and Anya Taylor-Joy will play a married couple in upcoming Apple TV+ series, Lucky.
• The Recruit has been cancelled after two seasons by Netflix.
• Uma Thurman, Peter Dinklage, Krysten Ritter and Neil Patrick Harris will appear in Dexter: Resurrection, which will premiere in June on Showtime/Paramount+.
• Harry Lawtey won't be returning for the fourth season of Industry but Kit Harrrington will and Max Minghella has also joined the HBO/BBC series.
• The second season of The Last Of Us will premiere on HBO from April 13th.
• This month on ABC will see a crossover event between 9-1-1 and Doctor Odyssey, factoring Angela Bassett's Athena Grant.
• 9-1-1: Nashville will be the new spin off and will premiere on ABC in the autumn. Expect casting news very soon.
• Mid-Century Modern will premiere all ten episodes on Hulu from March 28th.
• Filming for the second season of Daredevil: Born Again has begun while Vision has added Ruairidh Mollica in an undisclosed role to its cast.
• James Norton has been cast as Ormund Hightower for the third season of House Of The Dragon. Lucas Aurelia has also been cast in an undisclosed role.
• The fate of Heartstopper on Netflix is currently unknown. 
• Netflix have ordered limited series Vladimir, which will start Rachel Weisz as a woman who becomes obsessed with her new colleague.
• The fourth season of The Bear is currently in production and will premiere on FX/Hulu during the summer.

Detecting BS, Royalty Early Days And Pop Starlets

Yes, it's been that kind of a month with the shows I've been playing catch up with.

Poker Face: The last decade has been great with streaming reminding us all how talented Natasha Lyonne really is as an actor. She was excellent in both Orange Is The New Black and Russian Doll but with this show, Knives Out creator Rian Johnson has brought out some of her best performances yet as cocktail waitress/human lie detector Charlie Cale with each episode putting her in a different location with a different cast while solving whatever the murde of the week happens to be. That being said, Charlie does have a tendency to attract chaos in her wake too.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story: With the main show due for release on Netflix later this year, the arrival of this prequel series had a lot to live up. The love story of Queen Charlotte and King George was the anchor for this show and both India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest absolutely delivered in their respective roles along with Arsema Thomas as the younger Lady Danbury. Add a secondary love between younger versions of Brimsely and Reynolds and moments where the show updated viewers on the current versions of Charlotte, Agatha and Violet and this was a winner. 

The Flash: After seeing the movie, there was also the remaining episodes of the show and the Cobalt Blue arc was not only a nice way to bring back Eddie Thawne, several other villainous Speedsters but it provided a solid ending to the series nonetheless. Barry and Iris finally became parents, Khione restored Caitlin and new Speedsters were created. The show hasn't been perfect and nine seasons might have been too long but overall, this was a good ending for the show.

Yellowjackets: I had watched the first season almost in a vacuum that I tried to give myself some breathing room before I started the second season. At least two weeks. Then I watched the second season and that too was like a vacuum. Now I agree it's not as strong as the first season and it seemed like certain plots were halted in favour getting Shauna, Misty, Natalie and Taissa to that centre to face off with Lottie and also reunite with Van too. Saying that, I liked new characters such as Lisa and Walter (Matt, not so much) while Callie and Jeff stepped up as characters and that finale death provided an interesting conundrum for next season. Not to mention learning more of Ben's relationship with Paul in flashbacks, the gory way Jackie's corpse was dealt with and the harrowing episode where Shauna gave birth. Actually I liked this season a lot.

The Idol: If there a show this year that can be summed by the following words "great premise, questionable execution" then the latest vanity project from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and The Weeknd (who cannot act to save his life) would be it. On the surface this show wants to say interesting things about mental health and sexual exploitation and tries to do that with struggling pop starlet Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp). Two episodes in and some of the trashiest sex scenes committed to cable television, it's failing on every level. You'll feel for Jocelyn as a character but you'll also feel exhausted watching this series as well.

• The CW have gone on a spate of cancellations where even the likes of The Winchesters and Walker Independence were not spared.
• Jenna Ortega will have a producer role for the second season of Wednesday.
• Loki Season 2 will premiere from October 6th on Disney+ while the entire season of Echo will be released from November 29th.
• Filming for Agatha: Coven Of Chaos has wrapped while filming for Daredevil: Born Again has been halted until the writers strike concludes.
• The second season of House Of The Dragon has added Freddie Fox, Simon Russell Beale, Gayle Rankin and Abubakar Salim to the cast.
• Amazon have renewed Citadel for a second season.
• Kim Cattral has filmed a cameo scene for the second season of And Just Like That. 
• Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story will be the follow to Dahmer and will premiere on Netflix in 2024.
• The second season of The Last Of Us will air on HBO in 2025.
• 911 has been renewed for a seventh season but will air on ABC while 911: Lone Star will remain on FOX for its fifth season.

Out In The Wilderness

Something of a shorter blog compared to others, here's a look at some of the things I've been watching over the last month.

Secrets Of The Chippendales Murders: With Disney+ having streamed Welcome To Chippendales back in January, it was the BBC's chance to air this for part documentary, giving some more details on what really transpired. Throughout the four episodes we got details from various people, including former Chippendales dancers themselves on the tense relationship between Steve Banerjee and Nick De Noia as well as the global impact of the brand itself. If you've seen Welcome To Chppendales you'll know nearly every revelation that comes from this documentary but it's a worthy watch nonetheless.

The Flash: After a promising start with the Red Death arc, these last three episodes have meandered into pointless filler, that if anything really does drive the fact home that this show needed to end. I didn't mind the adventure with Iris and Nia but the sixth and eighth episodes were just dire to watch with Barry and Iris literally going nowhere forward (in spite of the latter's pregnancy). Fortunately though, it does look like the next episode will actually be something worth watching.

Yellowjackets: Right now, Showtime/Paramount+ are halfway through the second season of this highly addictive show. As for me, it took a few days but I managed to blitz through the first season and it's one of the best shows I've ever seen. In 1996 a girls soccer team crashed into the wilderness in Canada and have been doing everything in their power to survive. In 2021, the remaining survivors are dealing with those messy lives, each other and a blackmailer far closer to home for one of them. As characters, watching the likes of Shauna, Misty, Taissa, Natalie, Jackie, Ben, Laura Lee, Lottie, Jeff, Travis and Van to name a few in both timelines made for riveting television. Easily the best show for me so far this year and I'll be catching up with the second season from next week onwards.

• Russell Tovey will appear in the second season of Feud, which has recently wrapped filming.
• Alanis Morissette has covered the theme for the second season of Yellowjackets.
• Harry Potter will now be a decade long series for Max (soon to be formerly HBO Max)
• Max are also developing a series for The Conjuring universe.
• Welcome To Derry's cast will include Chris Chalk, Madeleine Stowe, James Remar, Taylour Page, Jovan Adepo and Stephen Rider.
• Jodie Whittaker, Yael  Stone and Nicole da Silva will head up the upcoming Paramount+ series One Night. Whittaker will also lead the second series of BBC prison drama, Time with Bella Ramsay and Siobhan Finneran.
• David Tennant and Danny Dyer will star in upcoming Disney+ series, Rivals.
• You will end with it's fifth season, according to Netflix.
• Production has begun for the second season of House Of The Dragon. Mark Stobbart has been cast as Cheese.
• Amazon has in development potential series for the likes of Legally Blonde, Stargate, Fame and Robocop to name a few.
• An Anne Rice spin off series set in Talamasca is in development at AMC.
• Ben Daniels has joined the cast of Interview With The Vampire for it's second season.
• Paramount+ have a Galaxy Quest series in development.