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Cruel Intentions: Zeta (2024)
Plot twist.
In Episode 6 of Cruel Intentions, Lucien is taken out of the sorority house and thrown into the pool as part of his birthday celebrations. Caroline, Lucien's friend, is there to sabotage his bet on winning over Annie. Blaise, who has become a jerk due to his power as the leader, drifts apart from Scott. Blaise's tuition fees are unpaid, putting him in a difficult position. Beatrice agrees to get him the transcripts in exchange for access to their dorm and scandalous details. Blaise invites Beatrice to a party, but it's a way to get her in with the crowd. Annie speaks to Caroline before the party, and she decides to be careful not to push on with any rebounds. This blocks Lucien's chances, but he joins her as they volunteer at an old people's home. They get locked in the hallway, but Lucien opens up to Annie about his feelings for her, including jealousy surrounding her and Scott. They kiss, but she pulls away, believing they need to take some time to think things over. Lucien, a character in the show, leaves a party after a disagreement with Annie, who is left alone. Meanwhile, Cece is engrossed in discussing the professor, and Caroline decides to sleep with him to clear her system. Chadwick admits he likes her but doesn't want to act on their feelings, as she needs to graduate first. Lucien confronts Caroline, accusing her of sabotaging his chances. He decides to break the rules and confronts Annie, who apologizes for her actions. Lucien reveals that his mother killed herself and lashed out at Scott, who is gay. The pair fight, and the party is busted. The episode continues the gameplaying between the central trio, but there is no chemistry between the cast. There's no innocence or breaking down boundaries, as seen in the movie with Lucien. Beatrice gives a statement to the police, claiming the situation is Delta Phi's problem. In summary, the episode continues the gameplaying between the central trio, but lacks chemistry and innocence. Lucien remains the same character, but he is more unhinged.
Cruel Intentions: Delta (2024)
Love this show
In Episode 4 of Cruel Intentions, Lucien overhears Annie sleeping and discovers they did not have sex. The news spreads across campus, and Cece reveals this to Caroline. Annie wakes up to receive a letter inviting her to Delta Phi's event, Heaven. Annie is upset over Lucien leaving early and contemplates whether to message him. Caroline visits Lucien, who is playing mah-jong with the older ladies. Annie visits Beatrice, who is humiliated by the endeavor and shuts the door in her face. Annie is ghosted by Lucien, and Caroline pushes her to show up at the mixer.
The episode revolves around drama involving Scott and Blandsman at the Sorority, with Blaise playing a crucial role. Caroline discusses her past and Annie's virginity, leading to a passionate kiss between them. Caroline reveals her brother's damage and Annie's disappointment with Lucien's sudden departure. She advises Annie to think carefully about who she loses her virginity to and warms towards Scott while snubbing Lucien.
The episode highlights the distorted nature of the story, with Lucien sleeping with the book author, a nod to the film adaptation. The editing is poor, with redundant scenes and a focus on male leadership. The world feels like busywork to flesh out, with characters like Annie and Lucien being distorted for the worst.
Cruel Intentions: Gamma (2024)
Gamma
In Episode 3 of Cruel Intentions, the group cleans up trash after the President Night disaster, and the newspaper reports on the party's events. Annie, involved in an anti-Greek group, believes the movement is getting momentum. Caroline reminds the group to improve their image and remain proud. Caroline suggests Scott should be the next Alpha Gamma president, which causes drama among students, especially Blandsman. Blaise seeks Caroline's help in exposing his shortcomings. Cece seduces Scott, intending to get blackmail material, and snaps photos after a snow job to drop out of the race. Beatrice is abuzz with the newspaper articles, but Annie is unsure if this is working. Online comments paint her as a nepo baby and piggyback on her parents' success. Lucien believes he has a serious chance with Annie and continues to work towards getting into her pants. Caroline wants the lowdown on his thoughts, and there's a genuinely good moment where the pair are seducing one another, which feels like Cruel Intentions. Lucien's tactic shifts slightly after questioning Annie's moral compass, as her mother was in the Sorority and going after her mother's principles rattles her. Lucien convinces her to score some booze and break the rules, leaving the Secret Service and heading to the swimming pool. The pair get along well, but when the alarms blare, they are forced to leave. The New Political Society shows up at the Sorority House to protest, but Caroline welcomes them and allows them to mix at the party. Beatrice is unhappy about it and acts toxic all night, claiming it's tied to her three-year attempt to get into the sorority. Beatrice leaves after calling Caroline evil, but everyone else is happy to mingle and hang out. Lucien speaks to Caroline privately, reminding her that things are looking up. She sees Lucien and Annie together and smirks. Cecille's character is butchered, used as a tool to seduce Blandsman and given power. The situation involving the different Sorority Houses and the political movement flipping from bad to good in the blink of an eye is annoying, as Caroline is seen as a ray of sunshine, despite her actions destroying a woman's phone and snubing numerous women at the mixer.
Cruel Intentions: Beta (2024)
Delta Beta..
Episode 2 of Cruel Intentions begins at the Delta Phi sorority house, where a vote is being held for members to receive invitations to the Delta Phi President Night. The group, dressed as nuns, cycle through women, eventually leading to Annie Grover, who is considered the winner. Caroline receives a call from her mother about the Rourke situation, which affects her business and leads to Rourke's father and half the constituency withdrawing from her work event. Caroline is shaken and takes a bump after revealing cocaine inside her neck. Annie supports her choices but is reminded of her privileged power and the "New Political Society" children who have negative opinions about the Greeks. Caroline uses Lucien to bolster her image at President's Night, with the end goal of gaining Annie's support. They agree to go national with the scandal surrounding the college's hazing and favoritism. Caroline and Annie strike a deal, with the car on the line and flirting before Lucien gets to work. Lucien is trying to find who has been talking to Annie Grover during President's Night, but the event is dominated by Cece and Caroline. Caroline wants to avoid damaging her reputation by hanging with the best of course. Lucien gives Annie a fake ID under the name Cassidy Featherstone to clear the air and start a conversation. They show up together at the event, but it turns out that Lucien is joining the activist cause with Annie and marching with disgruntled students pushing for anti-hazing measures at the House. Caroline is unhappy and vows that this is not over as the event ends abruptly. The most glaring problem with this adaptation is the characters themselves. Caroline is rude and nasty in public and private, devaluing her character. The movie and book balance this by showing her hoodwink the public into thinking she is an upstanding woman with no flaws. The adaptation becomes more about the bet and straightforward seduction than deeper character ties and more intriguing journeys into love and seduction. The most telling part of this is an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where the creators reveal that they didn't want to cast someone who automatically looked at and thought was a villain.
Cruel Intentions: Alpha (2024)
Very Interesting, and creative
Episode 1 of Cruel Intentions begins at Manchester College, where Caroline, a member of Delta Phi sorority, is ruled over by her boyfriend Rourke. Caroline is concerned about a scandal involving hazing and a student named Scott Russell, who is injured during the Spring Formal. Caroline is on the verge of becoming President, but her assistant Cece is investigating the situation. The investigation into Scott's injuries is ongoing, and Caroline's step-brother, Sebastian's stepmother Claudia, flirts with him in the car. Caroline has a proposition for her step-brother, Lucien, who wants to preserve their power by seducing the Vice President's daughter, Annie Grover. Caroline agrees to let Lucien sleep with Annie for up to an hour in exchange for her pledge for Delta Phi. The story highlights the importance of balancing power and personal relationships in the face of adversity. Caroline's relationship with her step-brother, Claudia, is also explored, as she navigates the complexities of the school environment and the complexities of hazing. Annie arrives on campus, while Blaise talks to Rourke about his plan to get back with Caroline, believing she's eating out his hand. Cece meets Professor Chadwick, who she's going to be the TA for, and they discuss her story, including a rhinoplasty and her internship struggles. Eventually, he concedes, setting their affair up for the future. Lucien tries to try his hand with Annie, but she quickly has her defenses up. Their conversation is interrupted by subplots, including a frat party where Caroline calls out Rourke for the Scott incident and a newspaper headline about the Sorority House. The movie loses its sultry, seductive tone and dangerous nature, instead focusing on a sanitized, Gossip Girl-esque drama. Cece is the biggest character assassination, as she becomes a sorority sister with a lot of power and needs to be moulded. The editing is also poor, with Annie and Lucien's conversation being broken up with subplot breaks that detract from the story's main plot. The character of Cece was the embodiment of geeky innocence in the book/movie.
Drugstore June (2024)
I Love This Movie.
Drugstore June is a film that explores the frustration and annoyance of June, a woman who is a source of frustration and annoyance to everyone in her life. The movie is built around the viewer spending 91 minutes with June, which generates laughs at a joke level but also allows the audience to identify with the poor, exasperated souls conversing with her. The director Nicholaus Goossen, who wrote the script with Esther Povitsky, uses the camera, music, and performances to create a cohesive atmosphere that is indie-comedy quirky but specific enough to allow for some intentional playfulness. The storyworld is somewhat off-kilter, but June is strange by their standards. The film's structure means that her scene partners often determine whether things are working, and mileage may vary significantly. The best moments either have a strong narrative frame or feature characters that collide with June's energy in an interesting way. Some of the best moments include interrogations by two detectives after Bill's pharmacy is robbed, a hostile encounter with her old boss, and delightful back-and-forth with Owen and his friends over pancakes. Beverly D'Angelo as June's mother is also a standout, making the most of every moment she's onscreen. However, the sibling dynamic between June and her brother Jonathan works less well, and the full family scenes generally aren't as engaging as June's investigation of the robbery. Drugstore June is a comedy that showcases the limitations of its director, June. The character's development arc is a highlight, but the filming lacks sincerity. The film is a comedic construct, making it difficult to expect real change from June. Despite this, June learns from the inconsistencies and the film is still funny. It creatively approaches a deceptively ambitious setup without overstaying its welcome. While some ideas feel like raw versions of what could be refined in future films, Drugstore June is a worthwhile watch in an uninspiring month for new theatrical movies.
Citadel: Secrets in Night Need Early Rains (2023)
The cliffhanger why..
Citadel Season 1 Episode 6, "Secrets in Night Need Early Rains," is an underwhelming finale due to its pacing issues and prioritization of past over present storylines, characters, and relationships. With only six episodes, the show has not had enough time to develop enough storylines, characters, and relationships, resulting in a lack of invested characters. Additionally, the show mishandles plot devices and characters, such as Mason's memory loss. The show never explores the nuances of Mason's memory loss, instead waiting until the last second to reveal that Mason betrayed Citadel instead of using it to explore his relationship with Nadia vs. Kyle's relationship with her. There could have been more compelling reasons for Mason's determination to restore his memories, such as how Kyle/Mason's helplessness affected him. However, the show aims to give Richard Madden his action moments, ignoring the fact that being backstopped doesn't take away muscle memory. The most interesting part of Mason Kane's hiding of secrets is his reaction when he remembers the truth, which is not due to the time spent with Mason in the flashbacks. The Citadel spy show, which had the potential to be a great show, has been renewed for a second season and reveals that a new series, Citadel: Diana, is set to release next year. The show has been praised for its handling of the Celeste situation and has been renewed for a second season, despite Mason's alleged lie about the train debacle eight years ago. The season finale of the first season of Citadel has arrived, and the writers have made sure to deliver a mix of action and heightened drama. The episode concludes with the revelation that Citadel was betrayed by one of its own agents, and the evil Manticore organization was able to destroy Citadel with the help of someone inside. The writers not only reveal the mole inside Citadel but also add another surprise and reveal why the person did what they did. Season one concludes with Nadia and Mason Kane (Richard Madden) forced to work for Manticore, who have kidnapped Mason and Nadia's daughter. They must gain control of five Russian nuclear warheads for Manticore, and only Mason's biometrics can access the weapons. The pair has the help of Citadel colleague Carter (Osy Ikhile) and Manticore henchman Davik (Roland Moller). Mason must remember his skills more as he must skydive onto a Russian sub to get to the nukes, just as he had to do to give Citadel control of them in the first place. The hand-to-hand combat is a strong feature of the show, and Nadia is deactivating the nuclear cores of the weapons under a strict time limit. The episode lays the groundwork for character development and could bode well for season 2.
Citadel: Time Renders Us Enemies (2023)
Time has come
In Citadel season 1 episode 5, titled "Time Renders Us Enemies," the relationships between characters become more complex, leading to intense emotions and surprising discoveries. The story is shaped by love, betrayal, and hidden motives, keeping viewers engaged and intrigued. The actor's captivating performances and fast-paced plot make this episode an exciting viewing experience. Nadia, nine years ago, was deeply in love with Mason and wanted to marry her. Mason made a mistake by erasing Celeste's memories without talking to Nadia about it. Nadia confronts Bernard, who revealed that Bernard was involved in the murder of Celeste. Nadia decides to destroy the Oz Key to protect herself. Mason assumed Nadia was hiding from someone and became a spy, but he never asked her about it. Nadia tells him she can love anyone except Mason. Unfortunately, Nadia is pregnant with Mason's child and seeks help from Rahi Gambhir, who is known to be involved with Manticore, a dangerous organization. The complex world of Citadel is explored as characters face the consequences of their choices and confront their enemies. Bernard, a prisoner of Dahlia, is freed from her captivity and is tasked with obtaining a passkey to nuclear weapons. Dahlia threatens to bomb Bernard and Kane's families if he doesn't comply. She also mentions a man named Thomas, who is taking away military weapons and forces, particularly targeting Citadel. Dahlia's plan is to destroy Wyoming and send Bernard to Brazil for other purposes. Dahlia informs Bernard's brother Davik about Bernard's supposed death and intercepts messages between Nadia and Rahi, unaware of the involvement of Nadia's child. In the present day, Mason and Nadia attempt to save Carter, but he believes Nadia is the spy and doesn't want to leave with her. They escape together as Manticore agents arrive. Carter questions Nadia, accusing her of being the spy. Mason, now known as Kyle, also starts doubting Nadia's behavior. The episode is a thrilling and emotional rollercoaster, driven by love, betrayal, and hidden motives. The writers skillfully create complex relationships and secrets, while the actor performances bring the characters to life. The chemistry between Mason and Nadia is strong, making their troubled relationship even more heartwrenching. The plot moves quickly, maintaining tension, and the pregnancy storyline adds an interesting element. Overall, the episode keeps viewers captivated with its intricate plot, compelling characters, and high-stakes situations.
Citadel: Tell Her Everything (2023)
The spy, The Lies
The spy series Citadel, featuring a talented cast including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Richard Madden, Stanley Tucci, and Lesley Manville, is set to release its fourth episode, "Tell Her Everything." The episode follows Mason and Nadia, who go to a dangerous prison called Manticore in Morocco to save their fellow spy, Carter. However, Carter discovers that his rescuers are Mason's former wife, Abby, who was actually a spy for Citadel. Mason suspects Abby of betraying Citadel and suggests erasing her memories to protect the company's secrets. However, the biggest surprise is when Mason uses Abby as a distraction to keep Nadia safe, revealing that Nadia was involved in secret activities related to an important key, possibly working against Citadel. Carter confronts Mason about this revelation, accusing him of using Abby to protect Nadia, even if it meant working against Manticore. Mason's true intentions remain unclear, leaving viewers unsure of his motives. The story returns to the Manticore prison in Morocco, and Carter clarifies that his anger was directed at Nadia, not Mason. The fourth episode of Citadel features an exciting action scene with impressive fighting moves, with Chopra's character taking on a group of bad guys. Ashleigh Cummings' character, Abby, gets a lot of attention in this episode, with her mysterious past adding intrigue to the story. Abby is one of the most interesting characters in the series, alongside Chopra's Nadia, due to the secrets surrounding her. The episode serves as a necessary part of the larger story, with twists and turns keeping viewers engaged. However, it spends most of its time in a flashback, with the overall story revolving around suspicion on Nadia. There isn't much forward movement and the undercover mission is standard. The little of Mason and Nadia's relationship doesn't spark more interest. The episode's average plot becomes overbearing, with the Oz Key being oversimplified and the Oz Key's grandeur making it feel fake. There is no sign of romance, thrilling action, intriguing missions, or Stanley Tucci. Overall, Citadel's average plot becomes overbearing, with no sign of romance, thrilling action, or intriguing missions.
Citadel: Infinite Shadows (2023)
Secrets
Citadel, Amazon Prime Video's latest action thriller, continues to gain momentum with its fast-paced action and engaging storyline. The third episode of the show follows Nadia and Mason, who struggle with their relationship and their team's efforts to prevent Dahlia from accessing Citadel's computer system. The episode takes a trip down memory lane, where Nadia and Mason are agents in the past, competing against each other on rescue missions. However, they later become allies and work together. In the present time, Dahlia captures Bernard to access Citadel's AI system, but he doesn't give them the password. Dahlia brings in Anders, a cruel enforcer played by Roland Møller, to get the necessary information. Bernard tells Anders that his wife, whom he believed was dead, is alive. To save himself, he suggests taking Anders to his wife. Nadia and Mason hide out in Spain, discussing their situation. Nadia advises Mason to go home to his family, but he refuses and asks her to train him to protect them. Meanwhile, he meets a crime boss in Morocco who questions Nadia's loyalty. When Mason confronts Nadia, she denies the accusations, but their relationship becomes uncertain. Infinite Shadows is a spy thriller that follows the story of Nadia, a woman suspected of betraying Citadel, and her relationship with Abby. The plot is predictable and predictable, with the characters being stereotypical spies rather than fleshed-out human beings. The romance between Nadia and Mason feels like it was shown on fast forward, and the camera's swiveling over 180 degrees feels awkward and misplaced. Despite these criticisms, the show is enjoyable due to its crisp and tightly edited episodes, which keep the viewer interested. The polished actors, including Chopra and Tucci, brave impossible situations, making it a pleasing watch. Despite the criticisms, the show's average pace and polished performances make it a satisfying watch. Overall, Infinite Shadows is a standard spy thriller that offers a satisfying watch with its twists and turns.
Citadel: Spies Appear in Night Time (2023)
Citadel is a hit show
The new series Citadel, created by Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh, and David Weil, has released its second episode, "Spies Appear In Night Time." The show stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Citadel agents Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, respectively, and stars Stanley Tucci and Lesley Manville. The series has garnered mixed reviews from critics, but it offers a thrilling storyline with four more episodes in the first season. In the second episode, Nadia's backstory is revealed, and she calls Bernard for help. However, Bernard refuses to help and erases her memory. Nadia escapes and finds herself attacked by a man. Mason agrees to retrieve the briefcase from the Manticore group to keep his daughter and family alive. However, when the Manticore men inform Dahila that the case has been stolen, she orders them to bring it back safely. Bernard reveals an injection containing all his memories, which if injected into Mason's neck, will revive his old memories. Mason escapes and locates Nadia using the briefcase. They collide at a restaurant, where Mason asks her about the Citadel. Nadia refuses to recognize him and denies remembering anything from the past. Mason opens the briefcase with Nadia's help and finds her name mentioned. In the second episode of Citadel, Nadia is asked to take an injection to regain her memories, but she refuses. The Manticore men attack her at a restaurant, and Nadia takes the injection in her neck, regaining all her memories and power. She counter-attacks the Manticore men and manages to get rid of them. Mason and Nadia run away, while Davik follows them. Bernard is revealed to be alive and captured by Dahila, who is interrogating him for the codes and case. The episode ends with Mason and Nadia on the run from Davik, while Bernard is in the hands of Dahila. Season 1 episode 2 was action-packed and full of suspense, providing insight into Nadia's backstory and connection to Mason and Bernard. The introduction of the Manticore group added a new layer of complexity to the storyline, as they are willing to use violence to achieve their goals. The car chase and fight scene in the restaurant were particularly thrilling and well-executed. The cliffhanger ending leaves viewers eager to see what will happen next. The second episode of Citadel has left audiences on the edge of their seats, with tensions rising between the various characters. The relationship between Nadia, Bernard, and Mason has been a focal point of the series, with Nadia still alive and in danger. As the Manticore men close in on them, Bernard reveals a shocking secret to Mason: an injection that can restore all his old memories. The tension between the characters reaches new heights when the car they are traveling in is attacked and Bernard is seemingly killed.
Citadel: The Human Enigma (2023)
Full of Twists and Turns
Citadel is a spy drama series on Amazon Prime Video, focusing on action and adventure. The show features Nadia Sinh, a secret agent with Citadel, and her former partner Mason Kane on a mission to follow someone carrying uranium. The plot becomes chaotic when they discover a trap set by rival spy agency Manticore. The target reveals that Manticore is in the final stages of destroying Citadel. A bomb explodes, derailing the train, and eight years later, Kane is living a peaceful life with his wife and daughter. He keeps having flashbacks of the train incident and wants to uncover the truth about his past. Meanwhile, Dahlia Archer, a Manticore agent, is trying to obtain Citadel's lost intelligence. Bernard Orlick, Sinh and Kane's handler, tortures Manticore agents for information. When Kane's DNA test triggers a ping, Orlick kidnaps him, his wife, and their child, revealing the truth about Citadel, Manticore, and Kane's former partner. Orlick wants Kane's help in retrieving nuclear codes stolen by the Silje brothers, promising to protect Kane's family and help him uncover his past. The episode ends with a flashback of Sinh emerging from a lake amidst the burning wreckage of the train. The premiere episode of Citadel is a thrilling and action-packed introduction to the series, introducing the main characters, their relationships, and the premise of the show. The pacing is well-done, with intense fight scenes showcasing the skills and abilities of various agents. The characters are intriguing, with Nadia Sinh and Mason Kane working together to uncover the truth about Citadel and Manticore. Dahlia Archer and Bernard Orlick add additional layers to the story, each with their own agendas and motivations. The first episode establishes Citadel as a distinct spy thriller, featuring charismatic leads, sleek action sequences, cool spy tech, evil politicians, and a story that jumps from city to city across the world. The story is expected to be full of twists, turns, and conspiracies, with a focus on spies, actions, and world-destroying nuclear codes. If the series continues to be thrilling, it will be a fantastic, audience-pulling series.
Dark Matter: Entanglement (2024)
Amazing Season Finale
The episode continues with Rogue Jason finding Jason2 in the basement after Daniela pushed him down the stairs. The episode is satisfying to see Jason2 getting beat up and suffering, as he has gone through similar experiences as the original Jason. However, the show loses its effectiveness in the finale, as it becomes too much and out of hand. The story is about Jason vs. Jason2, and the nonexistent showdown and conclusion between them is disappointing. By the time Jason2 arrives at the home Jason, Daniela, and Charlie are taking refuge in, he is remorseful and apologetic for the mess and hurt he created for himself, Daniela, and Charlie. As we saw in previous episodes, Jason has kind of understood how Jason2 could bring it upon himself to take his life and even hurt another version of himself. The showdown and conclusion between Jason and Jason2 go nowhere, and the book the sci-fi drama is based on does not have a more satisfying conclusion. However, Charlie gets a punch in, which is satisfying. Overall, the show's focus on Jason vs. Jason2 and the lack of a satisfying conclusion leaves the audience feeling unsatisfied with the story. The anticipation of the Dessen family's escape from the dangerous world is quickly dashed, and Jason2 helps them escape. Initially blocked by the Jasons at the Box, they decide to listen to the Jason that has hurt them all. The plot holes in the episode include the violence and rationality of the Jasons, and the idea that multiples of this Jason should have appeared. Some positive aspects of Dark Matter episode 9 include the slowdown of the story, the quiet, intimate moments between Jason, Daniela, and Charlie, and the lack of unnecessary tension between Jason and Daniela. However, the episode as a whole and the ending are not as impressed, as everything dies down quickly and it is made easy for the family to escape. After all the Jasons let them through, they get into the Box and are headed to a new reality that Charlie chooses. The intriguing ending is intriguing, but the lack of open-ended endings and lingering questions about Leighton, Amanda, and another version of Ryan meeting make it frustrating. Overall, the Dark Matter story is a unique and interesting one, but there are lingering questions and lingering questions that need to be addressed.
Dark Matter: Jupiter (2024)
Wait... What, and I did not see this coming.
In Dark Matter episode 8, Jason returns to his reality and reunites with Daniela and Charlie. Jason2 is now aware of the situation, and he kills a version of himself who is believed to be Jason. This scene highlights the two possible reality versions of Jason, one wanting revenge on Jason2 and the other being a version of Jason who kills another version of himself. Another version of Jason, who first appears at a bar, discusses the multiverse phenomenon. Jason2 kills another version of himself in the bathroom, proving his desperateness to hold onto the stolen reality. However, his actions ultimately crumble. Daniela is suspicious of the man she thinks is her husband, but she starts to piece the puzzle pieces together. It is revealed that the Ryan Jason2 brought back is another version who is a mechanic in his world. Jason2 manages to hurt him in any reality, but he has no warm feelings towards Ryan in their reality. In summary, Dark Matter episode 8 is the most interesting and best episode so far of the season, with the finale set for June 26, 2024. The storyline highlights the dangers of Jason2's desperate attempts to hold onto the stolen reality, as well as the mystery surrounding the identity of the mysterious Ryan. In the Dark Matter episode "Jupiter," Daniela discovers pictures of herself, Charlie, and Jason on a phone and money in different currencies. She is called to bail out Jason, who is her husband, who got arrested on purpose to talk to her without Jason2 knowing. They are reunited, and Daniela is a bit freaked out. Jason2 is frazzled after the University of Chicago incident and wants to flee. Daniela and Charlie push him down the stairs in the basement, leaving him with Charlie. There are apparently another two Jasons around, and the story continues. Daniela and Charlie manage to make it to the Bean, and Jason gives his son a relieved hug. "Jupiter" has been my favorite episode so far, as it is exciting, filled with nerves and adrenaline, and moves the story along. The episode has been filled with reveals and surprises, making it a thrilling and emotional experience for the audience. In "Episode Eight," the story of Dark Matter is revealed to be a clone, revealing that the real story has been elsewhere. The Android's jealousy of the rival robot seems to be at odds with her normal lack of emotion, and her anomalous feelings seem to be a victim of the memory wipe. This revelation raises questions about the character's special qualities beyond just servicing the ship. One, who emerged from the Transfer Transit pod with a different body, is revealed to be a wealthy CEO of a multi-planetary mega-corporation, possibly seeking revenge on the accused killer of his wife, Three. This new dimension adds to the obnoxious banter from previous episodes between One and Three. The transfer tech concept is a brilliant concept that has never been used in a sci-fi show, as it allows consciousness to be sent into a disposable clone and retain its memories as long as it returns to its creche in time. The general, Six's revenge target, is only present as a clone, creating a genuine conflict building for Six. The transfer tech is a brilliant concept that has never been used before in a sci-fi show, offering an array of possibilities for the story. Dark Matter is a series of characters and storylines that are carefully crafted by the authors. Four, who takes a chance at the space station to call his usurper brother, is expected to face a battle soon. One, who has secret healing powers, is also a character that is not yet fully understood. The writers of Dark Matter are known for their deliberate and methodical approach to creating characters and storylines. The galactic politics are slow to take shape, and the world-building feels small. However, the characters continue to provide clues to their past and the stories that brought them to the Raza, satisfying the reader's appetite. The storyline is set to continue, with the characters offering tantalizing clues to their past and the stories behind their arrival.
Dark Matter: In the Fires of Dead Stars (2024)
Phenomenal
Jason2 is a character who is trying to take over another Jason's life, but he is not sure what he is doing. Daniela and Charlie are upset with him for forgetting about Charlie's nut allergy. Detective Mason is looking for Ryan, leading him to break the door of the sealed Box and bring in another Ryan from a different reality. This gives Jason the opportunity to get back home. Daniela tells her husband that they have become strangers, and things are getting more suspicious. Jason2 tells Daniela the ampule she found is something he has been testing on himself for his research. However, Daniela is smart and isn't happy with his decisions. Amanda mentions that they have been traveling to other realities and in the Box for 29 days, and they deserve a break. Adam takes them to an almost perfect world where she decides to stay. She asks Jason if he would stay with her, knowing his answer would be a "no." He asks if he is abandoning him, and the connection between Jason and Amanda is evident. They have an emotional goodbye and kiss, and Jason leaves. Jason travels to a world where he and Daniela's son Max is alive, and he sees another Jason with Daniela sleeping in their bed. For a moment, he could connect with Jason2 and his motives. However, Jason needs to get back home and is determined. With one ampule left, he thinks about the first time he met Daniela and finally makes it back home. He gets mace and a knife when Jason2 walks into the same store and finds out Jason is back. After a mind trip, Five discovers that she has accomplished her mission to find the key to the vault. She runs down the halls of the Raza like Paul Revere, and Four seems unimpressed by her revelation. In Two's room, she showers with her quarters door unlocked, as she is Two. One enters to give a status report, and Two is shocked to see her covered in only a towel. He updates her on the ship's status and their rapidly draining resources..One also mentions that The Android is trying to ensure their access to drinking water via the recycling system. Two thanks One for taking this rapid healing secret to the extreme and wearing it even while she's alone in her room. When Two is clothed, One tells her that they have a damaged relationship, which is not entirely accurate. He tries to explain that their relationship is over, but Two insists that it is her version of flirting. He then assumes that her actions are flirting and tries to kiss her, but she shuts down his advances. Six, who is part cheetah, comes to tell them about Five's discovery but is happy to let them continue their conversation. Before moving on to the rest of the episode, I would like to address the One and Two situation. While Melissa and Marc have great chemistry, I believe this is not the ideal time for a relationship story to fit into the overall story. In Season 2, the characters will be better equipped to understand their lives and embrace a relationship. Until then, I enjoy their awkward interactions and the way One gets shy in regards to Two.
Dark Matter: Superposition (2024)
I want to read the book.
In "Episode Six," the main problem in Dark Matter is the hunt for resources, but new backstory and questions are introduced that enhance the enjoyment of the series. The concept of selling the ship is tied to last week's failure, as food and resources are running low on the Raza. The ship's leader, Two, is still wearing her bandage, hiding her healed wound from her shipmates. Using her memory exploration device, Five discovers details about her own past, that of Four, and a little bit about One. Three is left out this week, as it provides a break from him. Four's past is fleshed out as a frame-up for murder, surprising Four when he is told about it. He and Five can learn a lot from each other, as they counsel each other to control their emotions while in the dream state. The story also explores how a prince on the run meets up with a freedom-fighting terrorist like Six, who is the only one who gets to see his own memories when he is sent to retrieve Five from whatever memory she's stuck in. This parallels Roger Cross' character on Continuum, a terrorist intent on taking down corporations. Stealing from the Galactic Authority seems to fit with Six's present personality as well, but Five can't trust him as she states at the end of the episode. One is briefly mentioned, as Five lives in his idyllic childhood memories on a farm. It's not surprising that One is a rural mama's boy, but Five is only in his past to retreat from her own memories as a pickpocket ne'er-do-well who stole the important "pocket universe" key. The dead boy was a stowaway on the Raza, a close friend and only survivor of her band of wayward youth. The protagonist is eager to discover the missing passcode for the big door, Maplethorpe, and is eager to continue the journey of discovery. Dark Matter has used a non-flashback method to explore the crew's memories, hoping for interesting adventures to finish out the second half of the season. Team Raza, keep up the excellent job and hope it pays off soon. Jason2 is unable to fully understand the other Jason's life with Daniela and Charlie, as they have 15 years of history and marriage. Daniela notices strange changes in Jason2, such as flossing his teeth and taking off his shoes. The biggest mistake Jason2 made is not remembering their son's nut allergy. Daniela also notices needle marks on Jason2's arm, making her suspicious of his drug use. Daniela takes action to address her suspicions and follows Jason2 to a storage unit. She finds one of the ampoules used to travel through the Box and takes Ryan to a "kinder and more progressive" version of Chicago. However, Jason2 leaves Ryan there to keep his secret, revealing that taking over the other Jason's life has been harder than he thought and is considering leaving. The episode's focus on Jason2 is initially nervous, but it becomes more interesting as things unravel. Daniela catches on to something being off about her husband, and he is now tipping her off. The episode's focus on Jason2 makes it more interesting and challenging for Jason to return to his world.
Dark Matter: Worldless (2024)
Worldless
Dark Matter's "Episode Five" effectively explores the trope of a derelict ship containing a deadly virus. The show's success is attributed to the subtle puzzle pieces it presents to the audience. The most significant aspect of the episode is the infection and recovery of Two, a crew member who is infected with the deadly pathogen. The ship was destroyed during a research facility's attempt to create an immortality drug from long-lived trees' cell structure. The crew is turned into cannabalistic zombies when Two fails to show symptoms. The mysterious circuit board, shared only with the Android, could be part of a machine used to access inter-dimensional space. This raises questions about the heroes' parallel universe and the two Jase Corsos, which could explain their immunity and accelerated healing. The show's focus on raising these questions fuels viewer interest, with questions about the crew's overbearing employer, played by Stargate alum David Hewlett, and the secret vault's alphanumeric password. The show's strength lies in its ability to explore the mysteries and challenges it presents, highlighting the intriguing details of the season. The crew is considering the vault as a potential source of valuable resources, a concept that has been successful in previous games like Battlestar Galactica and Stargate Universe. With another failed mission, they may resort to piracy, as suggested by Three. The show's relationships and characters have strengthened, and mysteries are building on top. Dark Matter is heading in the right direction, and even One has decided not to be pushed around by Three knowing his secret. In this episode, Jason1 and Amanda find themselves on a snow planet, a flooded world, and another decimated by a pandemic. They discover that their subconscious plays a role in their choices, and they are forced to be specific in their search for the location. They land in an abandoned Velocity lab, which has former Box pilot Blair as its guide. Blair is worse for wear and chooses to stay in a world plagued by giant bees rather than enter The Box again. She gives them her field notebook to help them in their travels. Jason1 arrives in a ravaged Chicago, where he wishes he hadn't. He discovers that a virus has claimed Charlie's life and a wan Danela is also dead. They reminisce about a favorite family vacation before he injects her with morphine to put her out of her misery. Jason1 calms Amanda when she questions why her Jason, Jason2, hasn't chosen to tell the other pilots what he had learned. He explains that he chose a simpler life with a family, while her Jason was more driven to prove his theory worked. This episode also features a Jason imprisoned for an unspecified crime that Daniela had divorced. Jason1 and Amanda are adjusting to their new relationship despite challenges. Daniela, a woman who has been criticizing Jason2, is now recognizing that Jason is not her meek but loving Jason. Leighton2, a driven man, seeks excitement in his indolent trust-fund life and is interested in jumping among dimensions. Jason2 provides Leighton1 with a taste of visiting similar but different dimensions, creating a round-the-multiverse trip for the rich and bored. Jason2 offers Leighton1 $1 million per ampule, but he lacks necessary guidance. Jason2 is the only person who has a complete handle on operating The Box, and he warns Leighton2 not to pay too much attention to his new toy. He is soon lost in the multiverse. The technician Mara puts Jason1 and Amanda in danger after catching up with him during his quick return to his dimension to requisition more ampules. As Jason1 and Amanda learn slowly and Jason2 becomes aware of their travels, things may be coming to a head soon.
Dark Matter: The Corridor (2024)
Dark Matter
In Dark Matter (2024) Season 1 Episode 4, Jason1 and Amanda gain a better understanding of the dimension-hopping process and Jason's motivations for switching places with Jason1. The Corridor, a comprehensible corridor, makes traveling through the multiverse more believable for viewers. However, it is crucial to be cautious when using the corridor. Jason2 is the only person who understands exactly how The Box works, while Jason1 is a family man and college professor who lacks the necessary knowledge for survival. Jason1 attempts to plan his work and break their task into parts. Amanda, who had trained the test Box pilots at Velocity, crashes on her first flight and ends up stranded in the snow dimension. However, once they locate and dig down to The Box, Jason1 can control what world is behind the door. During their time together, they also uncover other revelations. Amanda realizes that Jason1 shares similar mannerisms to her own Jason, which may be why she chose to rescue him in the third episode. Jason2 and Amanda, Jason2's lovers, decide to replace Jason1 in order to have the family with Daniela, which he had denied himself in his dimension. Jason2 confirms that he came to the world to "fix something" and is on his way to being discovered as an imposter in Jason1's world. On Charlie's 16th birthday, Jason2 doesn't do much research when choosing which Jason to swap with, as he was busy taking a sledgehammer to Jason1's life. Jason2, a scientific celebrity in his world, could not tolerate the indifferent physics students for long. His final class and departure were social-media ages, which is out of character for the meek Jason Dessen. Jason2's disappearance for a year seems more like a break from his former life in research. Leighton1, an old college friend, arrives unexpectedly, surprising Jason2. He is a layabout trust-fund baby with money to burn, having invested in Ryan's venture, which Jason2 declined to participate in. Jason2's head is filled with speculation about a deeper scheme for Leighton1, who has turned homicidal. Jason2 arrives home late with flowers for Daniela and a car for Charlie, who complained about the family vehicle's condition. Daniela is unhappy with not being included in his impulsive decision.
Dark Matter: The Box (2024)
This show is so confusing
Dark Matter, a popular space sci-fi series, has the brains behind Stargate and stars like Roger Cross, Zoie Palmer, and Jodelle Ferland. However, the latest installment of the series has disappointed many with its lack of potential. The plot is slow and stilted, with some plot elements being sidelined for future episodes. The characters are getting more depth, and the idea of a saboteur placing everyone's memories in the young girl's subconscious is a novel concept. However, the compelling story arc comes to a halt when the android questions each crew member about their knowledge of how their memories were wiped.
The ship's emergency is opaque, with no outward sign of danger. The clandestine nature of Two's earlier solicitation of the android's services initially led the audience to believe that the ship's leader was creating an invented emergency to bring them closer together. The abrupt drop from FTL and the "faster-than-light" travel to the nearest space station were the only signs of danger. Overall, Dark Matter falls short of its potential and fails to deliver a satisfying experience for viewers. The author is unsure if the android's story is true, as it only narrates the danger from gamma radiation and electrical discharge. The robot's rescue is not visually exciting, and the author agrees with Three and Four that it isn't worth the risk due to the unendearing character of Zoie Palmer. The android is becoming the author's least favorite character, and Three's delivery fails to achieve the inquisitiveness of other artificial humans. The voice of Zoie Palmer is also unappealing. The author expresses disappointment with the dialogue and static conflict in Dark Matter, comparing it to Four's approach to the mysterious cargo hold. The author questions whether Three can open the door, but Four responds, "No," and walks away. The third episode, "The Box," revolves around the story of Jason, who is brought back to Velocity after being killed by Dawn. The plot is about the dangers of the company and the need to protect themselves from police investigation. Jason2 has been gone for over a year, and there are others who tried entering the Box but never returned. Leighton discovers that this Jason is not "their" Jason. Interrogation ensues, and Leighton is desperate to understand the Box's workings. No one knows except Jason2, who is ambitious and has put a lot of work into making it work. However, his tactics are less than moral. Jason tries to cooperate to get shown the special Box and is shown security footage of Jason2 going into the Box and himself coming out. The possibility of someone traveling to another reality doesn't quite hit him, and he starts to question whether he has lost his mind. Joel Edgerton delivers an impressive performance as Jason2, showcasing his emotional acting skills and subtly arrogant nature.
Dark Matter: Trip of a Lifetime (2024)
The Cliffhanger....
Dark Matter Episode 2 follows Jason 1 (Joel Edgerton) as he runs through the alley behind his and Amanda's house, hiding behind a dumpster. He enters the Village Tap, where he was once with Ryan (Jimmi Simpson), but is not recognized by bartender Matt (William Smillie). After a brief conversation, Matt kicks Jason out of the bar and takes him to the hospital. Jason is diagnosed with a psychoactive compound in his toxicity screen, and he is given an MRI. Jason 2 wakes up with Daniela (Jennifer Connelly) and kisses her before getting dressed and checking on Charlie (Oakes Fegley). In the other world, Jason 1 is resting in a hospital bed and is given a psychoactive compound in his toxicity screen. He asks the doctor to find his family, but the doctor tells him no one named Daniela or Charlie Dessen lives in Chicago. Jason 2 goes to Lakemont College to give his first lecture, but finds his students distracted and not paying attention. He asks them if they are comfortable not paying attention and never getting further than a middle management job they hate. In the other world, Amanda calls around trying to find Jason, but Leighton tells her they know he left before they arrived. Jason goes to Daniela's art show, where he is denied entry until he gives his name. He chooses door #2 and enters the exhibit, where he sees paintings of himself on the walls. In Dark Matter Episode 2, Jason meets Daniela and they embrace, discussing Charlie's whereabouts. Ryan has an awkward conversation with Daniela at the bar before inviting them to a party at her place. Jason 2 asks Daniela about the exhibit in Los Angeles and invites them to make a trip out of it. Charlie comes downstairs before dinner and asks to go to the skate park with Brooke, Drew, Adam, and Michelle. Daniela suggests telling Brooke she likes her, but Jason tells him to play it close to the vest. Jason goes to the party at Daniela's apartment and asks her where he's been all this time. He accidentally reveals his current predicament to Daniela and Ryan, who don't believe him. In the other world, Jason 2 brushes his teeth and Daniela asks why he's using her toothbrush. Daniela lays out a bed for Jason 1 and asks what was wrong with him at the hospital. She tells him to get some sleep, and Jason makes himself a makeshift wedding ring out of a small piece of twine. Back in the other world, Daniela is about to go for a run, and Jason 2 kisses her. He then calls Ryan, gives him a stern no to the job, and apologizes for overstepping and calling Daniela. Amanda is exercising when she gets a call from Jason, who tells her he's about to walk into a mental hospital, and she leaves to find him.
Dark Matter: Are You Happy in Your Life? (2024)
This has very high potential
Dark Matter Episode 1 begins with Jason, a professor at Lakemont College, working with his son Charlie on trigonometry. He is interrupted by his old friend Ryan Holder, who informs him that he won the Pavia prize and wants to celebrate. Jason then moves to Daniela's art gallery, where he talks to her friend Blaire about family drama. A mysterious man enters a storage unit filled with cash, cell phones, and other unidentifiable equipment, stalking and taking notes on his family's daily life. Back home, the Dessen family enjoys dinner and drinking wine. Ryan asks Jason to come out for a drink, but Daniela insists he meets him. Jason leaves, walks down to the Village Tap, embraces Ryan, and orders a bottle of scotch. Ryan introduces Jason to his friends and shares a touching moment. He reveals that he has $100 million in his "war chest" and wants Jason to join his new neurotech company. Jason is intrigued but turns down Ryan's offer, as the company is in San Francisco. Jason is robbed at gunpoint by a man who steals his wallet and phone, demanding he get in a nearby car. The mugger threatens Jason to drive if he doesn't comply, and points the gun at the back of Jason's head and says, "Drive." In the episode "The Dark Knight," Jason is kidnapped by a robber who knows his passcode and unlocks it to see texts from Daniela. Jason tells Ryan about his job offer and they arrive at the same warehouse where the robber is hiding. Jason is ordered to take off his clothes and move further into the warehouse, but his mugger injects him with an unknown substance. The robber tells Jason to open the bag and get dressed, as he will be unconscious soon. He asks Jason if he's happy with his life and if he's ever wondered about what could have been. Jason passes out, and he wakes up unsure of his current situation. He wakes up in a bed, locked in his room, and meets Amanda (Alice Braga), who tells him he's been gone for 14 months and 10 days. Amanda tells Jason that he has a panic attack and that he doesn't know who anyone is. Jason attempts to escape, hops a tall fence, and runs through the forest to Chicago. He gets a cab to his house, which is revealed to be an alternate version of Jason who kidnapped himself and stole his counterpart's life. In the kitchen, Jason finds Daniela standing at the sink, revealing that he is the only one who has returned from the box. The story highlights the dangers of being kidnapped and the importance of understanding the consequences of one's actions. Daniela is upset with Jason 2 for not answering his phone and hugs her from behind. He tells her about Ryan's job offer and asks if she remembers what he said to her at the end of his life. She forgives him. Jason 1 asks Amanda how she got into his house, and she tells him they live together. Jason calls out for Daniela and Charlie, but they are nowhere to be found. He enters his son's room and finds an office with a Pavia prize plaque with his name engraved on it. Amanda asks who Daniela is, and Jason tells her she's his wife. Amanda tells Jason he doesn't have a wife, but he is in denial and runs out the back of the house into the alley. Jason 2 and Daniela make their way into the bedroom, and she notices a cut bandaged on his arm. He says the same thing to her as he did to Jason 1 earlier in the episode. Dark Matter Episode 1 is a remarkably similar recreation of Crouch's novel, with some deviations. Ryan and Jason are closer in the book, and Jason and Amanda do not live together in the book. Leighton in the book is more of a doctor and heavily involved in Jason's medical care, while his show counterpart is more of a businessman. The premiere of Dark Matter is riveting, paying homage to the source material while tweaking several things to keep the audience on their toes.
Hustlers (2019)
JLo steals the screen.
Hustlers is a slick, flashy, and seductively entertaining film that premiered at the Toronto film festival before a mid-September release. Based on an acclaimed long-read feature by Jessica Pressler, the story follows Destiny (Constance Wu) as she discovers the life of a stripper in 2007 as not as glamorous or lucrative as she thought. The competition is fierce, the clientele is either creepy or racist, and the money is barely adequate. Desire (Constance Wu) meets Ramona (Jennifer Lopez), who is in control of her sexuality, business, and the men she tries to impress. They become fast, financially fruitful friends, working together and earning more than ever before. However, the recession makes Destiny largely unemployable and she returns to the strip club she knows best. She learns about fishing, which involves leaving the four walls of the strip club and bringing in guys from outside, fooling them into thinking they're genuinely interested before drugging them, stealing their account details, and racking up exorbitant credit card bills. The intricate framework of Hustlers is housed by writer-director Lorene Scafaria, who views the strip club like any other workplace, filled with internal politics and an ever-changing hierarchy of power. While it can be intimidating, there's also a genuine camaraderie between a group of women who realize that combining their talents makes them more powerful. Hustlers is a giddy, gaudy blast of a movie that offers many immediate pleasures and vicarious thrills, but it's easy to forget the intricate framework which houses it. Scafaria's approach to the strip club, focusing on internal politics and an ever-changing hierarchy of power, creates a unique and engaging experience for viewers. Hustlers is a captivating film that explores the world of women who steal money from society. The film follows the story of Cardi B teaching Wu to lap dance and Lopez trying to pay for a luxury car with dollar bills. Scafaria's subgenre of true crime tales is smooth on the up, but the film has a rougher time on the down, as the mechanics of the story aren't cinematic enough. The rhythm becomes fractured and there's an overreliance on emotional angles. However, the film gets back on track in time to wrestle with the knotty issue of morality, questioning whether society owed the women something they were stealing from elsewhere. J-Lo's performance in Hustlers is particularly effective, as she switches between vulnerability and manipulation. The film truly belongs to J-Lo, who delivers a memorable entrance and slinks through the film with deceptive ease. Lopez's performance is reliant on her rare, intoxicating magnetism, making her a true movie star.
Slow Horses: Hello Goodbye (2024)
Beautifully Written, Acting is phenomenal and Gary Oldman steals the season.
In the finale of the show, River's attachment to the Slow Horses of Slough House and the sewage farm is what makes the show's most emotional yet. Jack Lowden's performance showcases River's vulnerability and the glib, funny, and ironic nature of his response to his dad's sales pitch. He also shows flashes of River's loneliness, craving Frank's approval despite his hatred. An abandoned boy is present in the episode's touching but perfectly underplayed final moment. Jackson Lamb, played by Gary Oldman, invites River to stay and have a drink with him, as long as he gets his own and doesn't say a word. Drinking silently side by side, River couldn't help but smile. He has one psycho dad in the wind and has just checked another into a retirement home, but one is still there, stinking up the place. The brilliant thing about the bundled-up, barbed character of Jackson Lamb is that we never know if he invited River to sit next to him for that drink because of fellow-feeling or simply to block a draught from a nearby window. Slow Horses shows remarkable restraint in keeping the character's emotions under wraps and his mystery alive. In the finale of Slow Horses, Lamb discovers Bad Sam's body and demonstrates his heart, expressing it through a minimalist approach. He leaves Sam's flight fund intact to take his whisky bottle, demonstrating his care for the Longridge family. Lamb's well-aimed throw at Patrice's neck saves Shirley from seeing Marcus' body and gives her an emotional moment with the line "He loved you and he wanted you to love yourself." Patrice was begging for death after being run over, shot, knifed, scalded by a boiling kettle, coshed with a bottle of cheap whisky, and raised by a father who didn't give him second thought. Coe put Patrice out of his misery with a professional 'two to the chest and one to the head', saving Shirley the trauma and giving the finale its other truly emotional moment with the line: "He loved you and he wanted you to love yourself." Marcus gets off on action-hero stuff, going out in a blaze of gory glory. The gambling addict bet twice in the finale, winning big the first time and losing big on his final punt. He still died trying to protect his ramshackle colleagues. Slough House's response to its armed intruder is mostly handled like any of us might - with yelling, swearing, running around, and dropping things. A joy of Slow Horses is that its characters have always been human idiots first, cool spies second. Louisa bungles a grenade out of River's coat hood before lobbering it into Regent's Canal, causing a dramatic explosion. River leaves his enraged grandfather at the Sunny Times Retirement Home, feeling more human than ever. The care of ageing loved ones isn't one of the problems the Slow Horses go through, but David's dementia storyline takes this show's humans-first approach even further, making it the most affecting series we've had.
Slow Horses: Grave Danger (2024)
The Story revolves around the Harkness boys
The story revolves around the Harkness boys, Pat and Yves, who rebel against their father, Daddy Harkness. Yves was supposed to kill someone in the Westacres car park but instead took 23 civilians with him, starting the 'kill Cartwright Sr and Chapman' clean-up and providing season four with a plot. River's fate now depends on whether he is taken towards Frank or away from him. Daddy Harkness was not entirely correct when he told Patrice that he and he were the only ones left. Yoda is currently in the boot of a hijacked car, having witnessed his half-brother eliminate four Dogs while giving Emma Flyte a headache.
The Slow Horses season finale is approaching, and the show is almost over. Molly Doran, the archive empress, nearly kicking the can this episode. She held her nerve against Evil Frank but fell for Frank's impersonation of an ex-colleague and led Bertrand to David's bathtub. Molly prepared herself for a gunshot, but her loss wouldn't hurt as much as that of a Shirley or Standish. Molly's visit to her artily decorated home was interrupted by Hugo Weaving grinding his teeth and chewing up the scenery. Weaving's performance doesn't quite fit in Slow Horses, as there's no discernible irony. Every other main character in the show is as good comedically as they are dramatically, but Weaving gives generic bad guys without quirks or grounding. The Harknesses are a family with a complex history, with Yves referring to his "brothers" in a suicide video and Frank referring to the kind of envelopes he received. Five envelopes are now sitting on Molly's bureau, addressed to Mike Peterson, Jim Lanford, Claude Whelan, Jean Fraser, and Natalie Hensley. Whelan's route out of First Desk was plotted with Ho's discovery that he is a fancier of "Winchester Geese." Whelan's triple-A promise turned out to be a triple load of Arse, as he banished Moira to Slough House to cover up his kerb-crawling habit and was all for doing a Watergate on Park records. James Callis is excellent casting for Slow Horses, and Tom Brooke's Coe is proving to be good fun. The most important business of "Grave Danger" happened at a graveside, where Jackson pushed David's buttons by taking him to his dead wife's burial plot. The young woman for whom Bad Sam Chapman traded a carful of fake IDs, cash, and explosives was actually Isobel Cartwright, David's daughter and River's mother (Anna Wilson-Jones). Now that Jackson has all the pieces of the genealogy puzzle, fingers are crossed that he and his "D-list unit with no sense of purpose" are as hard to beat as River says.
Slow Horses: Returns (2024)
Return or revenge?
Bad Sam, the former head Dog, is two steps away from visiting the great safe house in the sky. If Lamb doesn't rescue him for a second time, it's curtains for Chapman. In the past, Cartwright turned a Volvo Estate into a crime piñata by stuffing it with cash, guns, explosives, and MI5-issued fake IDs. Cartwright had Sam hand it over to Frank Harkness in Les Arbres to buy a girl, who slapped him. Harkness traded her, a member of his harem, like chattel, in exchange for all those illicit goodies. The smart money says she was David Cartwright's daughter and River's mother. River had fixated on a nursery mural at Les Arbres because he recognized the handiwork of the artist, the same one whose hand-painted birthday cards he'd received as a child. It looks like River's daddy is an abusive, murderous, conscienceless mercenary who tortures his injured sons for cash, as provided by any questionable regime paying. The 23 deaths caused by the Westacres bomb are an unfortunate hiccup caused by "a weak link in his organization,". Meaning one of the sons he bred like puppies and brainwashed. Episode four introduces Harkness, who is shaping up to be Slow Horses' most cartoonish antagonist yet. Hugo Weaving is just a fluffy white cat short of being a Bond villain. Harkness aimed for charm but it's clear that he's a spherical Bad man, as observed from any angle. David Cartwright is now in the custody of Slough House, thanks to Sam and Standish's entertaining double-act. He is on Harkness'. Kill by Midnight Or Else' list, but the éminence grise of the service is also in the back of Jackson Lamb's cab. Last season, Lamb took out two trained killers using a tube of Pringles, so if anybody can protect Cartwright, it's him. Unless Lamb decides to ruin the whole thing off, delivers Cartwright to Taverner, and goes for a curry, which would be equally likely from our hard-to-pin-down lead. Standish wouldn't stand for that, but Lamb got his own way with Catherine, allowing her to get her protest out of her system. She's back in the fold, sitting in on debriefings and rolling her eyes whenever Lamb cruelly pours her a drink. The question is, will Whelan last beyond the season finale, or is Taverner stuck with him? The open-hostilities double-act is always a highlight, and season four could do with much more of it. It feels almost criminal that there are only two episodes to go and we haven't seen nearly enough of Lamb. Oldman's character is a rare commodity and rightly used sparingly, but it's hard not to wish for eight episodes instead of six per season. We are seeing much more of Jack Lowden's River, to whom this season really belongs. His chase through St Pancras revisited this show's very first scene, in which River ran hell-for-leather through Stansted Airport on his failed training mission. This time though, he made it out, only to fall at Emma Flyte's last hurdle.