What I'm Watching: The Mosquito Coast (Season Premiere)

The Mosquito Coast: Season 2, Episode 1 “The Damage Done” (B)

I’m still genuinely surprised that this show got renewed for a second season, and even more startled that this episode finally addressed what happened to make Allie such a wanted man. The biggest revelation was that it was Margot who was actually responsible for killing an innocent person when that woman went back into the lab with her headphones in. That explains why it is that the two of them went on the run together, even if it’s Allie who appeared to be the primary target. This episode found him interacting with a lot more people than usual, displaying his typical lack of desire to be helpful, but he was also all about protecting Margot. It’s understandable that Allie didn’t want his software to be used for expressly the opposite purpose that he had developed it, and it didn’t take him much effort to lock those who wanted to abuse it out of it completely. Margot’s partner was more than happy to leave her behind when she tried to go back, and what could have been a tremendous destruction of property turned into something that does show why they need to have consequences for their actions which they’re not interested in facing. Dina was unimpressed with the story and why her mother had just dropped everything and gone with him, and it seems like they’re not going to get as much information as audiences did. While this episode was informative and answered some long-brewing questions, it didn’t give any indication of what comes next on this ever-meandering show.

What I'm Watching: Atlanta (Penultimate Episode)

Atlanta: Season 4, Episode 9 “Andrew Wyeth. Alfred's World.” (B)

I guess there’s something to be said about simplicity, which is what this second-to-last episode offered, just following Alfred on his “safe farm” as he fought nature and almost lost. I was amused to recognize the episode’s featured guest star, Steve Coulter, from the other very different role he’s had this season on “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” portraying Holden Holliway, Jen’s soulless new boss. Alfred didn’t seem sure what to think of him when he saw the “We don’t call the police” sign and then expressed that he knew Alfred was just going to buy what he needed from Amazon rather than waiting for him to order it, but ultimately he had some good advice that Alfred seemed determined not to follow. He didn’t want to talk about whether the feces were wet or not and laughed off the idea that he was going to have to kill the feral hogs before they killed him. Yet that’s precisely what happened, though Alfred may have been in more danger from the tractor that he struggled to fix and then finally did just long enough for it to nearly roll over on him and kill him. Escaping that fate and then having to contend with the hog lunging at him gave him exactly the adrenaline rush he needed to pretty much beat it to death. Earn’s phone call made things seem less intense, and ending with him laughing as they talked made it all feel a lot more serene and relaxed. My favorite line was Earn’s response to Alfred suggesting that Captain Phillips couldn’t get sunburnt when he very clearly meant the Somali pirate played by Barkhad Abdi and not Tom Hanks.

What I'm Watching: Ghosts

Ghosts: Season 2, Episode 6 “The Baby Bjorn” (B+)

Not that this show is meant to be taken literally, given that it’s about ghosts being stuck for centuries in the house where they died, but it does feel a bit convenient that all these people have access to family members nearby who have also died in pursuit of a reunion. Bjorn being two houses away and having to shout from a window - thanks Jay! - is a creative solution that enables them to bond but never to physically meet, and now that Bjorn is aware of it, Sam and Jay don’t need to go back over to the swingers’ home in order to facilitate conversation. Jay is right that he should have this power since it would be so helpful at nearly every turn, like when Henry’s dead mother commented on how much of a disappointment her son has been. It’s good that Isaac and Flower were able to talk Thor out of chewing out his son out upon meeting him for the first time, and I like that his conclusion is that he wasn’t able to teach him hate, something he can now do to show him that marrying a Dane was a horrific choice. Hetty convincing Trevor that friendship was more important than wealth was a humorous storyline, especially since she clarified that she was urging him to consider it for himself, but that she had already made the decision that, for her, wealth was definitely much more worthwhile. Alberta’s obsession with Jason Mamoa is an amusing subplot made all the funnier by her character having died long before Mamoa and movies were a thing.

What I’m Watching: The Capture (Season Premiere)

The Capture: Season 2, Episode 1 “Invisible Men” (B+)

I’m absolutely thrilled this show is back, and it’s the definitive early pandemic show that I remember watching and trying to recommend to as many people as possible, most of whom didn’t have Peacock. Given that season one was already premiering almost a year after the show’s UK debut, a second season didn’t seem guaranteed given production shutdowns and all that. But fortunately, just a few short months after its overseas debut on BBC One, season two is here. Like with season one, the whole thing is available all at once but I’ll definitely be spreading it out. That opening with the lights being triggered by an evidently present body and the lights going on and off as no one walked by was chilling, but the best surprise of all was saved for the very end, when Isaac Turner saw a new way of using the technology as he watched someone who looked and sounded just like him endorsing the very company he had no intention of endorsing on live television. I’m excited by the addition of Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu from “I May Destroy You” as Turner, along with Rob Yang from “Succession” as Yan, whose motives may not be as nefarious as he thought but definitely are not good. The new DC, Chloe, made an immediate impression, especially when Patrick mistook her for the Cantonese interpreter. But now he’s been shot, not dead yet but in critical condition, pulling Rachel back in to all this in a big way. I’m not sure how involved she’ll be as just as an interviewer speaking to someone over video, but I did recognize Indira Varma from “Human Target” and “Game of Thrones,” and I imagine she’ll have a bigger role in this surely engaging season.

Pilot Review: Blockbuster

I had the chance to review the new Netflix sitcom “Blockbuster” for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my take!

What I’m Watching: Big Sky

Big Sky: Season 3, Episode 7 “Come Get Me” (B)

I’ve been saying for a while now that Jenny and Beau are off investigating cases that feel completely unrelated to what’s going on at that campground, and now it’s finally all coming together following that unusually creepy opening with Denise getting rightfully scared about an intruder in the office who had left a very threatening message behind. I was excited to recognize Brad William Henke as the actor who played Joe Lucan, but I can’t find any confirmation that it was in fact the “Orange is the New Black” and “Manhunt: Deadly Games” actor playing the role (and nothing to contradict it either). I did think that it would make sense for him to have a meatier part, but the fact that he was able to identify Walter so that Cassie could make the connection was more important for the show’s overarching narrative. Luke thought that staying at the camp with Donno and Tonya coming back for him was a bad idea - and it was, considering the new kill order out on him - but then he went and ran into Paige in the woods, who was accompanied by none other than a bloodthirsty Walter. Things didn’t work out for Sunny and Buck with Mary’s body as they had hoped they would, but at least Emily found Mary in a moment that didn’t put her own life at risk. I remain intrigued about what Avery’s role in all of this and whether Carla or Beau is going to be angrier about it when they finally piece it all together.

What I’m Watching: Home Economics

Home Economics: Season 3, Episode 7 “Model Train Set, $150” (B+)

In the opening moments of this episode, I had forgotten the bombshell discovery from the previous installment that served as the reason that adults needed to get the kids to go to the playground. I enjoyed Connor bribing them with $20 each and commending Kevin on his entrepreneurial asks before realizing that he may have accidentally given him $400. There was no way this was going to come out easily, but both Tom and Sarah failed miserably in communicating what they needed to to their father before Connor just blurted it out. He didn’t seem all that startled but was intent on keeping it from his wife forever, something that wasn’t so easy when she found the script in the trash. Her response was most entertaining for how she phrased things with the words divorcing and separating, sending all three of her children into a miserable panic, and she was happy to admit to her own misdeeds after chastising her husband for his overzealous enthusiasm for giving money to celebrities who ask when they’re clearly not who they say they are. Marina’s desire to help Denise get things taken care of in her apartment nearly made it all much worse, but then they teamed up with their cookies and legal knowledge to successfully intimidate Denise’s landlord into getting to work on some major fixes for fear of a unionized rent strike. All they needed was to eat an entire stick of butter while they were doing it, the last time they’ll need to not pee during that process.

What I'm Watching: Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary: Season 2, Episode 7 “Attack Ad” (B+)

I feel like this show’s episodes often begin with its teachers hopelessly unaware of what is happening around them, not yet equipped for the latest new challenge but already annoyed to have to deal with it. Starting with Jacob’s iffy gossip given to Gregory during an intense game of Red Light, Green Light (though considerably less intense than the one featured on “Squid Game”) was a misdirect, and instead, each of them, Barbara aside, had their worst moment used against them in that condescending commercial. When even Ava is on the same side as the people who are good at their jobs, it’s clear there’s a crisis, though Melissa’s lawyer friend was initially ready to help before she realized that they had signed over all their rights and might even owe the camera crew $200. It’s amusing to have a brief acknowledgment of this show’s mockumentary nature, with everyone assuming that the camera crew had been their team and not Draemond getting ready to take down Abbott. His reverence for Barbara might have stopped him briefly, but he seems set on converting the place that didn’t help him get anywhere into the opposite of what all the teachers, Barbara included, want. It is fun to see Leslie Odom Jr. though, and I imagine he’ll be back after this. Tariq’s return was predictable, and it was good to see Janine made the right call on her own to cancel dinner, but lashing out at Gregory for interfering means that eventual relationship just gets kicked down the road even more.

What I’m Watching: Andor

Andor: Season 1, Episode 9 “Nobody’s Listening!” (B)

Things aren’t looking too good for Bix, who gets to choose how much torture she wants to endure before she gives up information to an unrelenting Meero that won’t actually be able to help her catch Andor at all since she knows nothing of his current fate. That situation is getting more and more miserable, as evidenced by the stress Kino is exhibiting as he’s learning that he’s not nearly as in charge as he thinks. The communal efforts to prop up their weakest member so that he didn’t get noticed as incompetent were affirming, but the doctor showed up to break the news not only that he had suffered a massive stroke but that there’s really no way out of this prison, even if you complete your shifts. I can’t imagine this season ends with Andor still behind bars in this cyclical environment, but he’s going to have to work to break out of there rather than to depend on someone to come save him. Mon might be able to effect some action, but currently she’s up against those who are only interested in the Empire while she’s speaking at the Senate and a questionable funneling of funds to the rebel cause that are sure to be traced back to her. I wasn’t sure what to make of her cousin’s unannounced visit, but the more noteworthy interaction she had that she wasn’t prepared for was when Syril tracked her down and expressed how his perception of their relationship and his value in it is radically different from hers.

What I’m Watching: The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale: Season 5, Episode 9 “Allegiance” (B+)

I had a feeling that something bad was going to happen since this felt like too much hope for this show. It’s not what I expected, since Hannah is both still alive and apparently aware of who she is, which is a good sign for the eventual reunion she might have with her real parents. Unfortunately, the mission was a disaster, resulting in the deaths of all the soldiers on board the planes, and a vigil in Toronto that was interrupted by gunfire during a passionate pledge of allegiance. Not being safe and welcome in Toronto means that June may feel like she has to go back to Gilead, without hoping for any sort of Bethlehem given how furious she was at him. It’s worth noting that Bradley Whitford directed this episode, which highlighted a very strong performance from a man who talks straight and often tries to find levity in situations but is grasping for that these days. Having Lydia by his side makes for an odd pairing given how much of a true believer she is, and she did a much better job of explaining Joseph’s very unromantic proposal to an entirely horrified Naomi Putnam. It does make some sense for the two of them to provide cover for each other, but Naomi seems both too distressed by the death of her husband and too aligned with Gilead’s mission to be a productive presence in his household. The news of Rose’s pregnancy certainly caught June by surprise, but she’s also going to soon experience how miserable it is to have a child who’s only meant to serve a great purpose in Gilead. Serena struggled to get Mrs. Wheeler and Mr. Wheeler to allow her to come to the event she had suggested, but she was just using it as an opportunity to escape, a dangerous gamble that will likely have her coming straight to the last person she would have ever thought of just a short time ago to help her.

What I’m Watching: Avenue 5

Avenue 5: Season 2, Episode 4 “How It Ends: As a Starter and a Main” (B+)

As usual, the level of incompetence is just jarring, and every time Ryan has the opportunity to handle something in the right way, he absolutely does not take it. The most humorous misunderstanding was Rav’s belief that red meant clear, and as a result that red meant not recording, hence her inability to turn the broadcast off when she checked in with Ryan to let him know that everyone was not aware of the presence of the cannibal. The way in which mob mentality can quickly take over was fully on display as they frantically searched for the cannibal, and Karen didn’t help matters at all by neglecting to share the important details she knew about his true identity. Frank had enough trouble convincing everyone that he was the host of his popular cooking show, and, as Rav put it, he was more willing to let a cannibal live than admit to being casually racist. Nathan ended up having a very therapeutic session with his group once he finally convinced them that he was telling the truth, an entertaining interaction that also featured Mia repeatedly apologizing to young Paloma for cursing. Doug didn’t have a much better time when he got his leg caught trying to run out of the airlock, and the man he was trapped with got mistakenly detained when they felt like he met the description of the cannibal. Ryan quickly realized he too could have been a suspect save for the important fact that he was the captain. Having Iris and Judd work together doesn’t result in good decisions either, like Judd voicing his TV character and spilling the beans on the lithium shortage in a way that, like on the ship, is sure to create a lot of panic.

Pilot Review: Inside Man

Check out my one-minute take on every new pilot, which is embedded below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.

What I’m Watching: The White Lotus (Season Premiere)

The White Lotus: Season 2, Episode 1 “Ciao” (B)

It’s crazy to think that this show only started just over a year ago, and that it took on such a tremendous popularity that it got renewed for a second season. I had the pleasure of speaking with nine of the cast members, and I hope to have the same opportunity with some of the new faces on this season. I went in not expecting to recognize almost anyone, but of course there’s Aubrey Plaza from “Parks and Recreation,” F. Murray Abraham from “Homeland,” Haley Lu Richardson from “Support the Girls,” Michael Imperioli from “The Sopranos,” and Theo James from “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge is back as Tanya, which makes some sense given how popular and funny she was, though of course it’s a questionable idea given that her role is different here and might not be able to live up to what season one delivered. Starting fresh might have made more sense, though this season already feels like something new given the staff speaking Italian and just generally being in a very different kind of environment. There’s a mystery related to a dead person again, and hopefully little time will be spent on just who that is, as was the case in season one. I’m most intrigued by Mia and Lucia, the two local women who are causing plenty of trouble for the already frazzled Valentina, who is less capable of exhibiting a friendly demeanor than Armond was. I’ll try not to compare the two seasons too much since that surely won’t be helpful, but we’ll see how episode two holds up to this one.

Pilot Review: The Devil's Hour

Check out my one-minute take on every new pilot, which is embedded below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.

What I’m Watching: Atlanta

Atlanta: Season 4, Episode 8 “The Goof Who Sat by the Door” (B-)

Compared with season three, every episode of this season has actually featured the show’s regular cast members, which has been a treat. There are only two more installments to go before this show signs off for good, and so I suppose that it’s fitting that there would be another return to the B.A.N. which made for a very popular season one episode. These just don’t quite resonate as much with me, and choosing to focus on a real behemoth - Disney - and a real character - Goofy - definitely made for an interesting if disorienting experience. I can appreciate the absurdity of someone getting voted into power because people didn’t realize they were selecting the wrong person with a similar name, and the less amusing piece of someone’s vision being completely corrupted. Disney movies are capable of having meaning and being vehicles for change, but all too often, ideas that could be monumentally influential and perception-changing are swept under the rug in favor of something that can be more widely-received and universally-beloved. I did do some brief post-episode researching on this episode’s influences and will admit that I’m not familiar with “The Spook Who Sat By the Door.” This series has covered a lot over the course of just four seasons, and it’s definitely adept at skewering socially-accepted norms that really shouldn’t be nearly as commonplace or accepted as they are. There’s also something bold and risky about not having series regulars appear as their normal characters across numerous episodes and seeing those installments receive tremendous acclaim.