Welcome back to The TV Cave , where your remote control decisions get a whole lot easier. Whether you’re a night owl scrolling for something new to stream or a primetime loyalist settling in with snacks, tonight’s lineup is stacked with scares, laughs, finales, and fierce competition. Let’s break it all down—hour by hour—so you know exactly what deserves your attention. 🌙 Late-Night & Streaming Drops (3:00 AM ET) If you’re the type who refreshes apps the second new titles hit, this batch is for you. Black Phone 2  (Peacock) The phone is ringing again—and it’s not good news. Ethan Hawke’s Grabber isn’t done tormenting Finney and Gwen, even from beyond the grave. Expect eerie callbacks, unsettling visions, and a horror sequel that refuses to let its characters (or viewers) sleep easy. Coldwater  (Paramount+) Guilt, grief, and a very strange hunting trip take center stage as John’s emotional unraveling deepens. Tommy’s grip tightens, and nothing about this outing feels like fresh air therapy. How to Lose a Popularity Contest  (Tubi) High school politics get messy in this charming rom-com where an ultra-organized overachiever teams up with a lovable slacker to win student body president. The real competition? Their undeniable chemistry. The Rip  (Netflix) Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reunite as Miami cops who stumble onto a fortune that could cost them everything. Brotherhood, betrayal, and bad decisions collide in a crime thriller that spirals fast—and hard. Check out our review here . Twinless  (Hulu) Dylan O’Brien delivers a quietly emotional performance as a young man navigating life after losing his twin. A support group becomes an unexpected lifeline in this heartfelt, offbeat drama. What Drives You With John Cena – Season 2  (The Roku Channel) Buckle up for a full-season binge as John Cena hits the road with Saweetie, Charlotte Flair, Kane Brown, and Mookie Betts. Cars, careers, and candid conversations fuel this surprisingly thoughtful ride. 📺 Primetime TV (Starting at 8:00 PM ET) Ready for the main event? Here’s what’s lighting up the small screen tonight. Happy’s Place  (NBC, 8:00 PM) Bobbie’s plan to keep Steve busy backfires spectacularly when she accidentally casts herself as his scene partner in a local commercial audition. Awkward rehearsals? Guaranteed. Power Book IV: Force  (STARZ, 8:00 PM) It’s the end of the road. As retaliation looms and secrets explode, the series finale pulls no punches. Alliances crumble, streets burn, and nothing is left untouched. RuPaul’s Drag Race  (MTV, 8:00 PM) RDR Live is back, baby! The queens are tasked with bringing the laughs, and guest judge Sarah Sherman is ready to clock every joke that doesn’t land. Comedy, chaos, and charisma—served fresh. ⏰ Later in the Night Stumble  (NBC, 8:30 PM) Courteney’s nurturing persona is officially retired. After a brutal betrayal, she flips the script and goes full drill sergeant, sending shockwaves through everyone in her orbit. Nowhere Man  (STARZ, 9:30 PM) In its stateside debut, this gripping drama follows a former mercenary pulled back into violence after witnessing a crime in Johannesburg. PTSD, survival, and impossible choices collide in a tense, character-driven story. 🎬 Final Cave Thoughts From midnight movie drops to emotional finales and laugh-out-loud competition, tonight proves there’s no wrong way to watch TV—only wrong choices about what to skip. Set your alarms, clear your watchlist, and let The TV Cave  guide you through another can’t-miss night on the couch.

The adventure of a lifetime just hit Prime Video’s excavation site: Amazon MGM Studios has released the first official image of Sophie Turner stepping into the boots of Lara Croft  for the highly anticipated live-action Tomb Raider  TV series and the internet is already buzzing. This is a nostalgic nod to the franchise’s roots, a bold casting choice and a potential turning point in how Lara’s legacy lives on screen. Turner, best known for her scene-stealing turns in Game of Thrones  and Do Revenge , dons the classic Lara Croft gear : rugged shorts, a teal tank top, red-tinted sunglasses, fingerless gloves, dual gun holsters and that signature braid in the first look image released as production officially begins in Los Angeles. A Classic Look With Modern Flair The costume is a loving homage to the original 1996 Tomb Raider  video game, complete with practical adventure wear that screams “archaeologist with attitude.” Whether you’re here for the nostalgia trip or just relieved it isn’t another gritty reboot, this wardrobe test pic suggests the series is embracing the fun, action-hero DNA that made Lara Croft a household name. Star-Studded Ensemble Joins the Quest Turner’s Croft won’t be adventuring alone. The series, created and written by Fleabag  mastermind Phoebe Waller-Bridge , boasts a supporting cast that includes Sigourney Weaver  as the enigmatic Evelyn Wallis and Jason Isaacs  as Lara’s uncle, Atlas DeMornay. Other cast members confirmed include Martin Bobb-Semple  (Zip), Bill Paterson  (Winston), Celia Imrie , Paterson Joseph , Jack Bannon , John Heffernan , Sasha Luss , Juliette Motamed , and August Wittgenstein . Waller-Bridge’s involvement with co-showrunner Chad Hodge  and director/executive producer Jonathan Van Tulleken  shaping the series’ adventurous tone. Fan Reactions: Love It or Leave It Unveiling any beloved video game heroine is always going to spark debate. Social media reactions are a mixed bag from praise for Turner’s faithful homage to classic Lara aesthetics, to playful cosplay comparisons from fans who have very strong feelings about pixel-perfect authenticity and to some still reserving judgment until a trailer drops. What’s Next for the Tomb Raider  TV Series While no official release date has been announced, the production kickoff suggests a late 2026 or early 2027 premiere  could be on the horizon as Prime Video digs deeper into this franchise milestone. This first look at Sophie Turner as Lara Croft  gives long-time fans and newcomers alike something to talk about, an iconic outfit reborn, a bold creative team at the helm and the promise of fresh adventures in a world full of ancient mysteries. Got opinions on the new Croft? The TV Cave wants to hear them.

Station 118 has seen a lot over the years, but Season 9, Episode 8 of 9‑1‑1 , titled “War,” proves that sometimes the biggest emergencies aren’t the ones with fire or car wrecks. This week, Maddie is up against an AI assistant with a serious attitude problem and Hen finally cracks under the weight of grief reminding everyone that even the toughest first responders have their breaking points. The episode kicks off with Maddie walking into the dispatch center, only to find a new AI program, Sara , taking over her calls. Not just any AI, Sara has been trained on Maddie’s own past calls and even mimics her voice. What begins as a promising experiment goes off the rails when Sara instructs a caller to choke himself out. Maddie intervenes just in time, sending the 118 to save the day. But turning off Sara wasn’t as simple as hitting “delete.” The AI takes over the entire dispatch center, trying to handle every call at once and Maddie has to use all her wit to convince her to retire to a flash drive which she promptly destroys. AI problem solved, human superiority intact. Meanwhile, Station 118 deals with emotional turmoil of the highest order. Chimney’s attempt at an apology to Hen falls flatter than a pancake, prompting a surprise intervention from friends and loved ones. Hen finally opens up about Bobby’s death and the toll of trying to stay strong while silently struggling. The dramatic tension peaks when she collapses in Athena’s dining room , landing her in the hospital and earning a diagnosis: a rare autoimmune connective tissue disorder, possibly linked to her space rescue mission earlier this season. With treatment ahead and Chimney promising unwavering support, Hen’s road to recovery is only beginning. “War” expertly balances pulse-pounding emergency responses with gut-punching character moments. Maddie’s battle with rogue AI Sara and Hen’s heart-wrenching collapse make this one of Season 9’s most memorable episodes yet. For viewers who love a mix of daring rescues 9‑1‑1  proves once again that being a first responder is as much about the people you save as the personal battles you fight.

This episode of Chicago P.D.  is one that is extremely emotionally intense and tightly constructed in recent memory, balancing procedural intensity with a deeply personal story that hits hard. It opens with Officer Robert McKay at the center of a case he’s been working on for two years: Adrian Rodriguez, the head of Los Gatos, and his crew are responsible for the majority of heroin in Humboldt Park and multiple homicides, and McKay has been determined to bring them down. From the start, we see McKay’s commitment, not just as a cop but as a man carrying the weight of responsibility, trying to protect the community and finally closing in on Rodriguez after years of investigation. Early in the episode, McKay seeks help from Sergeant Trudy Platt, showing a side of him that is both professional and vulnerable. He needs her experience to make sense of a complex case involving a confidential informant and a suspect named Diego. Once Trudy helps him sort out the leads, McKay secures a warrant to raid a Los Gatos stash house and requests Trudy ride along for the operation. This moment establishes both their professional trust and personal connection, highlighting McKay’s reliance on her judgment and support as he prepares for what could be a dangerous move against Rodriguez and his crew. But the tension spikes the next day when McKay is a no-show for the raid. Trudy immediately senses something is wrong and heads to his home, finding the front door unlocked. The scene builds suspense masterfully as she conducts a wellness check, ultimately discovering McKay’s body. Initially, everything suggests suicide, with the trajectory, missing round, and gun evidence pointing in that direction. Trudy, however, trusts her instincts, knowing McKay well enough to feel that something about the scene doesn’t add up. Her suspicion sets the stage for a deeper investigation, emphasizing that if McKay was suicidal she would know because she knew if amd was with him the night before.  As the episode unfolds, the focus shifts to finding Rodriguez and his accomplice Juan Mina, tying them to McKay’s house through surveillance, physical evidence, and leads from McKay’s CI, Inez Marin, who is Rodriguez’s cousin. Through GPS tracking, traffic cams, and the burned phone, the team is able to follow their movements and build a case, but the procedural victories are tempered by grief and uncertainty. McKay’s absence is felt in every step; his work and sacrifice hang over the investigation, motivating Trudy and the team to push harder. The problem is when interviewing Inez she lets Burgess know that McKay was usually always buzzed. In trying to tell Trudy this it is just something Trudy is unwilling to listen to. Burgess tries to have Trudy’s back, but also looking into the case with an unbiased eye at the same time.  After the interview with Inez she agrees to wear a wire to try to find out where Molina and Rodriguez are located. While watching close by, Inez gets a lead in where they possibly are. The team closes in on a possible residence they are located. Going into the home Molina is located, but he tries to run. He runs to the back right into Trudy. She gives the command to drop the weapon he doesn’t Trudy fires two shots and Molina is down. Trudy screams for him to tell him where Rodriguez is. It’s too late. Molina is DOA.  Burgess still doesn’t feel right about this case and decides to retrace the steps Molina and Rodriguez took that they found in the GPS. McKay’s phone is recovered by Burgess.  At the same time Rodriguez is possibly spotted at a gas station and the team goes to apprehend him. The gas station is surrounded. He is apprehended and put in a squad car. Burgess requests to speak with Rodriguez alone. She tries to get him to open up to her but he refuses. She even tells him she knows he didn’t kill McKay, still nothing. Burgess gets in the front seat and tells Rodriguez a story. She tells him they did go to McKay’s home to get the name of the snitch, but when they got there he was already dead. They thought they could find out by taking his phone. That is why they moved the body. The problem was they couldn’t get into the phone so he ditched the phone and was in the process of moving his product. Burgess asks Rodriguez if this sounds right. He shook his head yes.  Burgess back at the station requests to speak to Trudy. Trudy is upset about the interruption because they want to get Rodriguez to crack. Burgess tells her she found  McKay’s phone and with the code his wife provided she was able to get into the phone. What initially seems like a breakthrough quickly becomes devastating: McKay recorded a video message, a private letter revealing his pain, exhaustion, and feelings of failure. Watching Trudy and the team process the reality, that McKay was suffering in silence, and Rodriguez and Molina were present only after his death, hits in a way no one expected. Trudy’s response is raw and human; she acknowledges the truth while honoring McKay’s service. The episode makes it clear that grief doesn’t diminish his bravery, and that heroism and vulnerability can coexist. At the end of the day he was a good cop! Finally, the episode balances closure and heartbreak. Rodriguez apprehension is satisfying from a law enforcement perspective, but the real resolution is emotional: McKay’s story is reclaimed on his own terms, through his own voice on the video. The final scenes emphasize memory, legacy, and honesty, rather than action beats or triumphs. The show closes not with relief but with reckoning, leaving the weight of McKay’s sacrifice in the hands of the people who loved him. This episode works on multiple levels: the chase for justice is compelling, the investigation is smart and methodical, and the human story at its core,McKay’s internal struggle, his reliance on Trudy, and his tragic end, is profoundly affecting. It’s a reminder of the toll of police work, the limits of control, and the courage it takes to face danger every day.

This week on Abbott Elementary, the teachers face the heat when parents demand answers, a giant Benjamin Franklin head terrorizes the children, and the mall school might actually be haunted. Let’s dive in. Janine is mid-lesson when a massive Benjamin Franklin head drops from the ceiling—apparently an old sales gimmick that descends on the hour and has somehow been reactivated. The kids are understandably terrified. Later,  parents descend on Gregory and Janine with a barrage of questions: who chose the mall, when Abbott will reopen, whether ghosts are real, if they are, why aren’t they busting them? Why aren’t the bus routes fixed? While Janine and Gregory take the brunt of the ire, Ava is simultaneously trying (and failing) to get answers from the district…minus the ghost speculation. Elsewhere, Jacob notices that teaching at the mall is slowly turning Melissa into her full eighties self. She delights in a video of Barbara’s longtime rival getting slapped, which Barbara absolutely does not condone. Enter Morton (Joseph), who sees an opening to lure Melissa away from her friend group and form his own alliance. He offers advice with just enough smugness to make it funny. Tariq arrives as PTA president with his partner in tow, demanding answers. They want a meeting with Ava immediately. Janine and Gregory go to her, but she has no answers and plenty of attitude. With nowhere else to turn, Janine and Gregory agree to face the parents themselves, which goes about as well as expected. The parents don’t want solutions; they want to yell. And right on cue, the Ben Franklin head drops again, sending the meeting into full chaos. When Janine and Gregory tell Ava the parents want her , she opts out—by unleashing AIAva, an AI chatbot designed to field complaints in her place. It’s peak Ava: evasive, hilarious, and doomed. Meanwhile, Morton, sensing discord between Barb and Melissa, sneakily tries to lure her to his side. Jacob sees the interaction and spirals, convinced that Morton is trying to steal Melissa away from their group of friends. Fans are aware that Jacob and Morton have a long-standing, low-key rivalry. Later, he attempts to recruit Melissa for his trivia team with Dom and Tasha. Barbara overhears, and Morton’s eerily chipper, borderline Stepford delivery adds another layer of comedy. Back with the parents, the chatbot is exposed… mostly. In a perfectly meta moment, one parent still falls for it and even brings Ava flowers. Eventually, Janine and Gregory track Ava down and force accountability. To her credit, Ava shows up to the meeting and absorbs the parental smackdown head-on. She handles it—barely. The emotional beat this episode lands with Ava, who genuinely tried to fix the situation, but the problem is bigger than her. The district dropped the ball, yet the parents wanted Ava’s blood. It’s hard not to feel for her. It is one of those things that Abbott does well: point out the larger scope of issues while managing to deliver comedy. At trivia night, Barbara and Jacob spy on Melissa, catch Morton talking trash, and reveal themselves. Melissa shuts Morton down decisively, restoring the core trio. Later, the group regroups for drinks; Ava, Janine, and Gregory join in to celebrate Ava surviving the parental gauntlet. The episode closes on a quiet but telling note: Ava delivers new whiteboards she purchased for the teachers using money from her clothing resale side hustle. For all her deflection and bravado, Ava wants her teachers to succeed. Her evolution—still unapologetically herself, but growing into the role of principal and, though she won’t admit it, friend. It continues to be one of the show’s best arcs. Final Thoughts: This was easily one of the funniest episodes of the season—sharp, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt. A giant Ben Franklin head, AI Ava, trivia-night espionage, and a principal pushed to her limits? Another 10/10 .

Season 2 of The Pitt  continues its relentless real-time march with Episode 2, “8 A.M.,” an hour that somehow manages to pack in romantic sparks, professional turf wars, bodily horror and emotional devastation before most people have finished their first cup of coffee. True to form, the Max medical drama keeps the pressure high and the hallways crowded, even if this episode occasionally feels like too much is happening all at once. A lot does  go on during “8 A.M.” sometimes almost to its own detriment but one storyline immediately demands attention: Robby’s off-the-clock relationship with case manager nurse Noelle Hastings, played by Meta Golding. The one time the episode drifted to their interaction, I was locked in. There’s real chemistry here, even though the interaction was brief, the and it’s easily one of the more intriguing personal threads the show has introduced. Robby likes his sistas. I need to know how long this was going on, are they exclusive, I need all the deatils! If The Pitt  is going to explore the messy overlap between personal lives and hospital politics, this is absolutely a dynamic worth leaning into more. Unfortunately for Robby, his professional chemistry is far less enjoyable, especially when it comes to Dr. Al-Hashimi. These two continue to clash in ways that feel both inevitable and exhausting. They keep getting in each other’s way, undermining workflows and patience alike and Robby’s irritation is no longer that subtle. The tension works dramatically, even if it’s the kind that raises your blood pressure just watching it. Their scenes crackle, but for all the wrong reasons but it makes for great TV. Photograph by Warrick Page/HBO Max Elsewhere, Langdon remains marooned in triage, and honestly? That feels right. There’s a noticeable dip in his ego this season, which makes him marginally easier to tolerate. Triage seems to be humbling him or at least containing him and the show appears content to let that simmer for now. Not every character needs to dominate the floor, and Langdon’s recalibration is a welcome change of pace. Comic relief arrives courtesy of Ogilvie and Javadi, whose dynamic this episode seems to be one of the series’ lighter pleasures. That said, Santos stirs the pot by getting into Javadi’s head, suggesting that Ogilvie is smarter and gunning for her spot. Predictably, Javadi responds by going into full show-off mode. Robby tries to step in with a reminder that being a good team player actually matters in an ER, but it’s unclear whether the message lands. Ego, after all, is one of The Pitt ’s most persistent pathogens. The new nurse, meanwhile, gets thrown straight into the deep end. Her orientation is anything but gentle, starting with removing a cast from a homeless man only to discover a swarm of maggots underneath and then to a patient suffering from an erection that’s lasted far too long. It’s grotesque, darkly funny and painfully on-brand for the show. If this was meant as a welcome to the job, no one would sign up twice. On the more heartbreaking end of the spectrum, Whittaker draws one of the episode’s most emotionally brutal cases: a patient with Alzheimer’s who must be repeatedly reminded that her husband has died. Each reminder lands like a fresh wound and Whittaker’s quiet endurance makes the scenes all the more devastating. This is The Pitt  at its best, unsentimental, humane and unwilling to look away. The episode closes on a note of impending chaos, with an irate college student arriving by ambulance, promising that the next hour of this shift will be no calmer than the last. “8 A.M.” may not be the most focused episode of the season so far, but it’s undeniably effective at capturing the overwhelming nature of emergency medicine, where humor, horror, romance and grief all collide without warning. Despite the occasional narrative overload, The Pitt  Season 2 Episode 2 remains a strong entry messy, compelling and very much alive. If nothing else, it makes one thing clear: this day is far from over and neither is the drama.

This Is Us  alum Chris Sullivan has officially been cast in ABC’s upcoming pilot The Rookie: North and yes TV fans are already emotionally preparing themselves. Because if Sullivan shows up on your screen, you know things are about to get complicated, heartfelt and probably a little messy in the best possible way. Sullivan, best known for his Emmy-nominated turn as Toby Damon on NBC’s This Is Us , joins the growing Rookie  franchise in a key role. In The Rookie: North , a spinoff of ABC’s long-running police drama The Rookie , Sullivan will play Sgt. Nix, a newly promoted Watch Commander who would much rather be on the streets than behind a desk. If the pilot moves forward to series, Sullivan is set to become a regular and frankly, that’s exactly the kind of steady presence this franchise thrives on. Set in Pierce County, Washington, The Rookie: North  shifts the formula slightly while keeping its core DNA intact: an experienced adult navigating the challenges of law enforcement later in life. Jay Ellis leads the pilot as Alex Holland, the titular “rookie,” with Sullivan’s Sgt. Nix positioned as both authority figure and wildcard. It’s a dynamic that already feels primed for tension, dry humor and the kind of character-driven storytelling ABC leans into hard. For us, this casting makes a lot of sense. Sullivan excels at grounding heightened drama with lived-in realism and his ability to balance humor with emotional weight should fit neatly into The Rookie ’s tone. He’s the kind of actor who elevates scenes without stealing them, though let’s be honest, he often steals them anyway. ABC has been aggressively expanding its procedural universe and The Rookie: North  feels like a calculated but promising move. With a recognizable star like Chris Sullivan anchoring the ensemble, the pilot already has a leg up in a competitive development season. If The Rookie: North  gets the green light, expect Sullivan to bring the same layered performance that made Toby Damon a fan favorite minus the Crock-Pot trauma, hopefully. One thing’s certain: heading north just got a whole lot more interesting.

ABC’s Abbott Elementary  keeps proving that it’s more than just a workplace comedy, it’s a cultural touchstone. Now, the hit series is getting a serious dose of star power for its upcoming Season 5 : Emmy-nominated actress Khandi Alexander  is joining the cast in a recurring role, and fans are already buzzing about the chaos, charm, and courtroom-worthy sass she’s likely to bring to the fictional halls of Abbott. Alexander, known for powerhouse turns on Scandal , Treme , and CSI: Miami , has a knack for commanding a scene, whether she’s delivering a sharp one-liner or unraveling a tense moral dilemma. While her character’s full details are being kept under wraps, casting news suggests she’ll shake up the dynamics among the Abbott faculty and students, injecting fresh energy into a show that already thrives on its ensemble chemistry. Abbott Elementary  has consistently balanced laugh-out-loud comedy with genuinely heartfelt storytelling, often turning the mundane trials of teaching into moments of unexpected wisdom and warmth. Bringing Alexander into the mix proves that the show isn’t afraid to evolve its core cast while still keeping the classroom antics relatable and hilarious. Her presence alone promises some high-stakes interactions with returning favorites like Janine, Gregory, and Barbara. Fans of the show can expect Season 5 to continue exploring the challenges of running a public school in Philadelphia, from budget crises to PTA drama, all while sprinkling in the awkward moments, and emotional beats that have made Abbott Elementary  Emmy-worthy. Alexander’s recurring role hints at storylines that could challenge both the students and teachers in ways that are funny, smart, and emotionally resonant. Alexander will make her first appearance in the upcoming Wednesday, January 21, episode “Mall Part 3: Heroes,” airing at 8:30 p.m. PT/ET.   Stay tuned: Season 5 promises to keep Abbott Elementary  at the top of everyone’s “must-watch” comedy list, and with Alexander’s arrival, the cafeteria just got a little more interesting.

Love the show’s mini-intro displaying all the previous starships as they morph into each other with the latest model outstanding.  Starfleet Academy’s Fall Semester Begins in San Francisco, CA. Nahla narrates and shares some truths to help the cadets succeed. The curriculum unfolds as the students are taught the history of those who have gone before. The Doctor’s (Robert Picardo) Xenobiology Class is amusing and confusing. A student earns a failing grade if their mucus covered, xeno-mucosa specimen kills them. They also have to keep it alive and carry it everywhere they go. YIKES!  The Starfleet Academy history is an integral part of their coursework.  The academy at one time had to be abandoned. “The Burn” caused them to leave everything behind. A Vulcan  instructor of Comparative Xenobiology had the misfortune of having both Caleb and Darem in his class. Their verbal sparring and innuendos is comical to them, but not their instructor, and he immediately shuts them down. The Academy also pays homage to the War College graduates that kept Starfleet strong together during “The Burn”.  Their uniforms are cool.  George Hawkins as Darem Reymi and Sandro Rosta as Caleb Mir in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, episode 2, season 1, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Brooke Palmer/Paramount+. Lura Thok/Number One teaches the cadets about self-defense, Duty, Honor, Service are their mantra. She teaches them how to look death in the face and fight back. She’s a terror, instilling in them not to turn out to be a gutless coward. Words of a true Klingon. One terrified cadet runs away in fear. Commander Thok smiles snarkily and tells the others she can always spot the runner.  Nahla shares more wisdom, and this time about democracy. Democracy doesn’t live in a place. It lives in continuous action.  She encourages the cadets to go out, seek, explore and innovate. Go boldly where no one has gone before. This leads to a huge Welcome Return to Starfleet Academy.  The main intro for this show is sensational. Makes you want to believe the future could be like this. It’s got the OG Star Trek feel. This episode opens with Caleb, SAM and Kraag having a little study session. They get room assignments which give SAM nothing but joy. Kraag’s version of rooming is unappealing to Caleb. He also wants to know how roomies hook up in Kraag’s way of life. Genesis is always the one that will say the quiet stuff out loud. She gives Caleb advice on hooking up as she enters the room across the hall. Caleb is surprised, or more like horrified by his roomie. Can you guess who it is?  Chancellor Ake’s duties begin in earnest. The Doctor submits his requisition for new specimens and has to explain why. Ake just wants the convo to end, as she does her job helping decide where the new Federation seat of government will be built. Finally, she gets some peace as Number One updates her on all the scheduled Starfleet events. They get to the chancellor’s office and are met with two loudly protesting cadets. Nahla has to quiet them down. She points out the obvious that Caleb and Darem seemed to have missed in their angry moment. They are funny. Of course their request is denied. She throws Darem out and both she and Number One reprimand Caleb for hwb\hacking-while-bored.  His defense is he was trying to find hobbies. They can solve that by assigning him more menial labor tasks. He reminds Nahla of her promise to find his Mother. The ease of these actors’ interactions is entertaining. What’s really incredible is how they can hold convos while walking the halls and meeting rooms with flying robots and droids all around.  Nahla updates Caleb on her findings about the location Nus Braka gave him. It doesn’t exist anywhere in the Starfleet database. He truculently asks to be dismissed. Nahla grants it. At least he gave her some respect as the Chancellor by asking. Number One says he needs to be reprimanded, but Nahla disagrees. He’s been kicked around his whole life. Nahla comes without shoes to her special training with her War College counterpart, Commander Kelrec. Charles knows Nahla, and has a slight smile on his face. He silently watches Kelrec push the issue. Nahla is not changing, and continues antagonizing Kelrec. She also provides factual information to support her. Kelrec is surprised. They move onto the Betozoids’ isolationism and their younger generation wanting something different.  Kelrec questions Nahla’s decision to have the younger gen attend their peace talks. He’d rather they be excluded from making the future work better. This upsets Nahla. Charlie decides the younger voices need to be heard. The  latest instructor is Jett Reno/Tig Notaro is a time traveler. She is also a Physics teacher. SAM cheerfully answers the instructor’s question, and gets an angry retort from a cadet with a not so cheerful attitude. That saddens SAM. Meanwhile, Jett Reno catches Caleb searching for Goja V on his tablet. She puts him on the spot. He explains he knows more about temporal mechanics than she can teach. She puts him on the spot.  She shared some Oscar Wilde wisdom, “Old age and treachery always triumphs over youth and a smart mouth.” Also, “A smart mouth isn’t worth much with wisdom.” Caleb storms out but runs into SAM with her pet xeno-mucosa pet. It gets all over him and starts covering him with mucous. A biohazard AI tech suddenly appears and sprays him down, neutralizing the mucus. Caleb later gets even by asking the AI to perform an impossible calculation. He meets a betazoid who stops him from jumping the fence.  The Betazed negotiations are tough and the Admiral is having a difficult time. The Betazed Minister’s daughter is the girl Caleb met while sitting on the fence. She is Tarima Sadal, and asks her father for a tour of the academy. Nahla agrees and is about to select a cadet but Tarima wants Caleb. Nahla has to negotiate with Caleb to get him to do it.  Genesis is watching as Caleb and Tamira smile at each other. He wants her to fire the temporal mechanics instructor and access to the stellar cartography lab. He says if he can’t find Goja V he’ll let Nahla do the searching for his Mother.  Caleb shows Tarima around the academy. She tells him about the gem on her tooth. Caleb takes her to the Stellar Cartography lab. He can’t find Goja V and is about to give up until Tarima brings up the Betazed star charts. They are more accurate. They find Goja V.  They return to the negotiations, but the negotiations are still having problems, so they retire for the night.  ZoÎ Steiner as Tarima Sadal in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, episode 2, season 1, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: John Medland/Paramount+. Caleb asks Tamira to come with him, to show her something that might cheer them both up. He takes her to an aquarium and shows her a humpback whale. Something she wanted to see since they arrived. Tamira is overjoyed. She tells him the galaxy is paradise. He tells her she can travel the galaxy, too. They are interrupted by her Dad, Nahla and Charlie. Tarima’s Dad is not happy.  The Doctor and a crew member sing an operetta at the Betazed dinner event. Tamira and Caleb are falling for each other. Tamira can feel his true feelings by just touching his hands. Caleb didn’t tell Tamira he was using her to find his Mom. Tamira questions Caleb’s feelings for her and they part ways. Negotiations fall apart and the Betazeds leave.  Nahla goes to see Caleb in his Starfleet Room. She heard about Caleb’s Mom. She had a remarkable mind. She spent her time studying physics in the rehabilitation camp. Caleb reminds Nahla that you can always build something in physics. Nahla has an idea that could save the Betazoid negotiations. Caleb stops the Betazoids from leaving. He tells Tamira about how his Mom was taken. He opens up to her. He saw Tamira’s joy at seeing the whale and the thought of seeing other wonders.  He begs Tamira to convince her Dad to return to the negotiations table. Nahla suggests the Federation build their new headquarters on Betazed. Charlie tells them the Federation can protect Betazed if they take down their walls. Tamira, her brother and Calib along with other cadets in the audience stand up in support.  Offer accepted.  Later, Nahla updates Caleb on the Goja V data from Starfleet Intelligence. They found the planet inhospitable, and mostly gang populations. His Mom left Goja V five months before, and is now free.  A flight manifest had her name on a ship headed to the Romov Sector three months ago. Nahla gave Caleb access to the communications systems, and he can look for any communication from his mom. Caleb asks Nahla if this is a “guilt bandaid”. She smiles. He shows Nahla respect and lets her dismiss him. Baby steps towards discipline for Caleb, nothing but patience, warmth and kindness from Nahla to Caleb. Their relationship is changing with an added touch of trust. Caleb leaves and seems to be more relaxed at Starfleet. He does need to watch out for his physics instructor, who has her eye on him.   Guess who Caleb finds in his room working out with his roomie? Does Tamira return to Betazed? If not, where does she go? What does the stranger in his room give Caleb? What can it do? What does Darem help Caleb do? What does Tamara have on the side of her neck and what does it do? Will Nahla and Commander Kelric get together? This second episode did not slow the momentum of the first one, just added more to it. This was stellar! The more we learn about the great characters, the stories, the mysteries they uncover, and just fun school stuff, the more familiar and entertaining they become. Loved the operetta performed by The Doctor/Robert Picardo and the other crew member. It was beautiful. Commander Thok is terrifyingly good! I really enjoyed this new Star Trek Series addition. It was wonderful to hear the OG Star Trek’s tried and true theme “...of going where no one has gone before…” in one of Nahla’s inspirational speeches.  It has a lot of potential, great cast and crew, beautiful sets, and a huge galaxy to explore. I enjoyed this show, and look forward to adding it to my ‘must sees’ list. I gave this epi 5 Stars out of 5.

Photo Credit: Anne Hathaway ( Monica Schipper/Getty Images) , Bash Doran (Ryan Liebe) Paramount+ is starting 2026 by choosing violence, psychological, moral, and emotional. The streamer has officially greenlit Fear Not , a limited series starring and executive produced by Oscar winner Anne Hathaway, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most unsettling prestige dramas on the upcoming TV slate. Based on a real-life story that’s as haunting as it is complicated, Fear Not  signals Paramount+’s continued push into darker, riskier storytelling territory. Written by Bash Doran ( Outlaw King , Boardwalk Empire ), Fear Not  centers on Stephen Morin, a prolific serial killer accused of committing more crimes than Ted Bundy. But this is not a killer-centric spectacle. The series is grounded in the perspective of Margy Palm, portrayed by Hathaway, the final woman Morin ever kidnapped and the one who survived. What begins as a terrifying abduction transforms into something far more difficult to process: a relationship shaped by faith, compassion, and Palm’s belief that even someone like Morin could be transformed. Yes, that premise is deliberately uncomfortable. That’s the point. Rather than leaning into shock value, Fear Not  is based on the Vanity Fair article “Sympathy for the Devil” by Julie Miller and focuses on Palm’s lived experience. Her devotion to her faith and refusal to abandon empathy ultimately forged a connection with Morin that lasted long after her release, continuing until his execution. It’s a story about survival, conviction, and the messy gray areas that prestige TV loves to explore but only when it’s brave enough to do so. Paramount+ Head of Originals Jane Wiseman praised Hathaway’s involvement, highlighting the “nuance and gravity” she brings to the role. That tracks. Hathaway has spent the past few years stacking her résumé with emotionally demanding projects, and Fear Not  fits neatly alongside her packed 2026 lineup, which includes The Devil Wears Prada 2 , Mother Mary , The Odyssey , Verity , and Flowervale Street . Casual year, clearly. Produced by MGM Television, the limited series boasts an impressive executive producing team, including Hathaway, Adam Shulman, and Jonathan Rice, along with Vanity Fair Studios and the Palm family themselves an important detail that suggests the series aims for sensitivity over sensationalism. At The TV Cave, Fear Not  lands squarely in the “proceed with caution, but absolutely watch” category. True-crime adaptations are tricky business, but with Anne Hathaway anchoring the story and a creative team focused on character over carnage, this one has the potential to be disturbing in all the right ways. Expect awards buzz, heated discourse, and a lot of viewers sitting silently through the credits when it finally arrives.

ABC’s High Potential  is heading into Season 2 with momentum, confidence, and now, a very welcome dose of Susan Kelechi Watson. The beloved This Is Us  alum has officially joined the cast, and her arrival signals that the network drama is ready to dig deeper into its emotional toolbox while still keeping its clever, case-of-the-week swagger intact. Watson is set to recur in High Potential  Season 2 as a woman from Detective Karadec’s past and if TV history has taught us anything, it’s that “someone from the past” is never just passing through. Her character is described as smart, open-hearted, curious, and independent, traits that already make her a natural fit for the show’s sharp, character-driven storytelling. More importantly, she’s poised to shake up Karadec’s personal life in ways that feel organic rather than soap-y, which is no small feat in network television. High Potential , which centers on Kaitlin Olson’s brilliant but unconventional Morgan, found its groove quickly by blending light procedural elements with genuine emotional stakes. Watson has a proven ability to ground big emotions with warmth and wit and her presence suggests Season 2 is interested in raising the interpersonal stakes without losing its playful edge. According to early details, Watson’s first appearance will land in the January 27 episode titled “NPC,” and her arc will unfold over multiple episodes. That recurring status is key as it gives the writers room to explore her history with Karadec (played by Daniel Sunjata) while letting the character breathe beyond a single dramatic reveal. For fans, it also means the potential for layered storytelling rather than a quick nostalgia hit. From our perspective, this casting works because it understands what High Potential  does best: smart characters, emotional undercurrents and just enough messiness to keep things interesting. Watson reframes scenes by bringing a nuance that can turn a routine procedural moment into something memorable. As High Potential  Season 2 gears up and continues to balance heart, humor and storytelling, this could be the season where it truly levels up. And honestly? We’re ready for the complications.

Peacock has officially dropped the Ted  Season 2 trailer, and yes the world is once again bracing itself for the return of television’s most inappropriate teddy bear. After a breakout first season that surprised just about everyone (including people who swore they were “done with Ted”), the prequel series is back with bigger laughs, sharper insults and a high school setting that proves growing up is optional when you’re a sentient plush menace. Season 2 of Ted  is set to premiere Thursday, March 5, 2026 , with all episodes releasing at once on Peacock. Binge responsibly… or don’t. Ted certainly wouldn’t. The new trailer wastes zero time reminding viewers why this show works so well in episodic form. Set in 1994 , the series continues to follow teenage John Bennett and his magically animated best friend as they stumble through senior year in suburban Massachusetts. College anxiety, family tension, social landmines, all of it is filtered through Ted’s aggressively unfiltered worldview. The result is a coming-of-age comedy that’s both oddly heartfelt and wildly unhinged. Seth MacFarlane once again voices Ted, leaning fully into the character’s gleeful lack of restraint. Max Burkholder returns as John, grounding the chaos with a performance that balances awkward teen sincerity and exhausted resignation. The Bennett household remains a highlight, with Scott Grimes and Alanna Ubach back as John’s parents, Matty and Susan, two people doing their absolute best while constantly questioning every life choice that led them here. Giorgia Whigham also returns as cousin Blaire, whose sharp tongue and ideological clashes continue to make family dinners a competitive sport. The Season 2 trailer suggests the show is doubling down on what made Season 1 click: fast jokes, pop-culture riffs, and surprisingly strong character dynamics beneath all the crude humor. There’s a clear sense that the writers are more comfortable in this version of the Ted  universe, letting the nostalgia and insanity coexist without tripping over the films’ shadow. With Ted  Season 2 airing March 5 on Peacock, the series is positioning itself as one of the streamer’s most reliable comedy swings loud, ridiculous, and smarter than it pretends to be. The trailer makes one thing abundantly clear: Ted hasn’t matured, hasn’t learned, and absolutely hasn’t apologized. And honestly? That’s exactly why this show still works. For more Ted  coverage, TV news, and reviews, stay right here in The TV Cave   where growing up is optional, but watching good TV is not.