Emily Cooper isn’t packing her bags anytime soon. Netflix has officially renewed Emily in Paris  for Season 6 , proving once again that questionable fashion choices, chaotic romance, and glossy European backdrops remain a winning formula whether the internet loves it, hates it, or love-hates it while watching every single episode anyway. The renewal comes hot on the heels of Season 5’s release, a season that doubled down on what the show does best: extravagant visuals, impulsive decisions, and Emily bouncing between cities and men like it’s part of her job description. Ratings stayed strong, social media stayed loud, and Netflix did what Netflix always does when a show keeps people talking it hit the renew button without hesitation. Season 5 pushed the series beyond its original Parisian playground, teasing a more nomadic future for Emily as her career ambitions and romantic misadventures continued to collide. Rome entered the chat in a bigger way, the workplace drama at Agence Grateau stayed deliciously messy, and the finale made it very clear that Emily’s personal and professional lives are still nowhere near “figured out.” If anything, they’re messier and the show thrives in that chaos. What makes Emily in Paris  such a durable Netflix staple isn’t realism and it never has been. It’s aspirational escapism wrapped in couture and filtered through influencer logic. Darren Star’s glossy dramedy knows exactly what it is: a bingeable fantasy that doesn’t apologize for being extra. And while critics have spent years side-eyeing Emily’s cultural blind spots and relentless optimism, audiences keep showing up for the vibes, the wardrobe, and the romantic roulette wheel. Season 6 is expected to continue expanding Emily’s European orbit, leaning even harder into the jet-set lifestyle the show has slowly embraced. Whether that means deeper roots in Italy, more Parisian power plays, or another surprise city entirely, the series seems content evolving without ever truly growing up and that’s kind of the point. For Netflix, renewing Emily in Paris  is a no-brainer. It’s globally popular, endlessly meme-able, and reliably sparks conversation the moment it drops. For fans, it means more escapism, more love triangles, and more outfits that defy workplace HR policies everywhere. Love it or roll your eyes through it, Emily in Paris  remains one of Netflix’s most watchable guilty pleasures. Season 6 is officially on the way, and Emily Cooper’s European adventure is far from over whether Paris is ready for her or not.

BET’s long-running hit is heading into its tenth season with major cast changes, fresh story energy, and a trailer that makes it very clear: nobody is safe, emotionally or otherwise. The new season premieres Wednesday, January 7 at 9 p.m. ET , so fans can mark their calendars for the drama that’s about to unfold. After nine seasons of friendships, betrayals, questionable romantic decisions, and cliffhangers designed to raise everyone’s blood pressure, Sistas  is officially entering a new era. Two original cast members are stepping away as series regulars, while two new additions are ready to stir the pot and judging by the trailer, that pot is already boiling over. Saying Goodbye to Two Originals Season 10 marks the exit of Ebony Obsidian  (Karen Mott) and Novi Brown  (Sabrina Hollins) as series regulars. Both actresses have been part of Sistas  since the beginning, and their departures signal one of the biggest cast shakeups the show has seen to date. Karen’s rollercoaster love life and Sabrina’s complicated personal journey have long been central to the series, making their exits feel less like a quiet fade-out and more like a dramatic pivot. Whether their characters are written out permanently or left open for future appearances remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Sistas  is not interested in playing it safe as it hits double digits. Enter the New Energy Stepping into the Sistas  universe are Jordan Coleman  and Tunde Oyeneyin , both joining Season 10 as new series regulars. Coleman plays Cheyenne Barnes, a bold, layered hairstylist whose presence immediately disrupts the existing group dynamic. Oyeneyin takes on the role of Madison Truitt, a driven entrepreneur who looks poised to challenge both personal and professional boundaries. Translation: expect new alliances, fresh rivalries, and at least one heated argument that goes on a little longer than necessary because it’s Sistas . The Trailer Promises Maximum Mess The newly released Season 10 trailer wastes no time reminding viewers why this show remains appointment television. Picking up after the explosive Season 9 finale, the teaser leans hard into high-stakes drama, emotional fallout, and secrets that refuse to stay buried. The vibe is tense, glossy, and unapologetically over-the-top, exactly the way fans like it. A Bold Reset for a Milestone Season With cast exits, new faces, and a trailer that screams “brace yourselves,” Tyler Perry’s Sistas  Season 10 is shaping up to be less of a victory lap and more of a dramatic reset. The show is recalibrating, raising the stakes, and daring viewers to keep up. Premiere Alert:  Tune in Wednesday, January 7 at 9 p.m. ET on BET  to see how the drama unfolds, because if the trailer is any indication, Season 10 will have fans talking, theorizing, and yelling at their screens from the very first episode.

Kingstown is finally closing its gates and this time, it’s official. After years of moral gray zones, prison politics, and Jeremy Renner carrying the emotional weight of an entire broken town on his back, Mayor of Kingstown  is gearing up for its final chapter. Paramount+ has confirmed that the Taylor Sheridan drama will end with Season 5 , giving fans a clear runway toward an actual ending instead of a quiet streaming-era disappearance. Yes, if you’ve seen the phrase “mayor of kingstwon to end with season 5”  floating around your feeds (typos and all), the message is still correct: the end is coming and frankly, it’s overdue in the best possible way. Since its debut, Mayor of Kingstown  has thrived on tension. The series carved out its own brutal niche in the prestige TV landscape, exploring the economics of incarceration, corruption dressed up as order, and the exhausting cost of being the guy who keeps the wheels from flying off. Mike McLusky was never a hero; he was a human pressure valve. That ambiguity became the show’s signature and its burden. Season 4 made it clear the series was circling the endgame. Storylines grew tighter, patience thinner, and consequences finally stopped waiting in line. Rather than dragging the narrative through endless escalation, the decision to end with Season 5 feels intentional. Rare, even. In a TV climate where “renewed” doesn’t always mean “planned,” Mayor of Kingstown  gets the luxury of closure. Paramount+ has reportedly ordered an eight-episode fifth and final season, signaling a focused conclusion instead of a bloated victory lap. That’s good news. Sheridan’s worlds work best when pressure builds, not when stories sprawl. A shorter final season suggests resolution, reckoning, and maybe just maybe accountability. From a storytelling perspective, ending now protects the show’s legacy. Mayor of Kingstown  was never meant to be comfort television. It’s bleak, exhausting, and confrontational by design. Letting it bow out before repetition sets in keeps it sharp, memorable, and debatably more powerful than if it lingered too long. For fans, the announcement lands as bittersweet but satisfying. The show gets to end on its own terms, and viewers get what streaming audiences so rarely receive: an ending that’s actually planned. Season 5 now carries the weight of wrapping up Mike McLusky’s complicated reign and answering whether Kingstown can survive without constantly being held together by threats and favors. Whatever the outcome, the series exits as one of Paramount+’s boldest dramas uncompromising to the end. Kingstown may never find peace, but at least the story gets a proper goodbye. And in today’s TV landscape, that’s a win worth locking up. Are you upset to see it end? Let us know in the comments!

The newly released trailer for The Beauty  has arrived, and it’s exactly the kind of glossy nightmare fuel you’d expect from the Murphy-verse, only shinier, meaner, and packed with famous faces. Front and center is Ashton Kutcher, stepping into prestige-TV villain mode as the face of a beauty revolution that’s way more cursed than curated. Based on the cult-favorite comic series by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, The Beauty  imagines a world where physical perfection can be transmitted like a disease. Yes, really. The FX series leans hard into body horror, social satire, and Murphy’s favorite pastime: exposing the rot beneath aspirational lifestyles. The trailer wastes no time making that clear, cutting between impossibly beautiful people, sterile labs, and flashes of violence that suggest perfection always comes at a price. Kutcher plays a powerful figure tied to the miracle behind this beauty epidemic, projecting charm with just enough menace to make you uneasy. Alongside him, Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall appear poised to ground the series in something resembling emotional reality before, presumably, everything goes off the rails. It’s FX, it’s Ryan Murphy, and subtlety was never invited to this party. Visually, The Beauty  looks expensive and unsettling, with a sleek aesthetic that mirrors the show’s fixation on surface-level perfection. The trailer promises a story that skewers influencer culture, wellness trends, and society’s relentless pursuit of youth, all while reveling in grotesque twists that feel tailor-made for late-night Twitter discourse. FX and Hulu clearly see this as a buzzy, conversation-starting series, and the trailer does its job by making it very hard to look away. For FX, The Beauty  continues its streak of genre-bending originals that blur the line between prestige drama and pulp horror. For Hulu, it’s another high-profile exclusive that screams “watch me first.” And for viewers? It’s shaping up to be one of the most talked-about TV experiments of the upcoming season. With its bold premise, stacked cast, and Ryan Murphy’s signature maximalist flair, The Beauty  already feels primed to divide audiences and that’s half the fun. Whether it becomes your next obsession or your favorite show to hate-watch, FX and Hulu’s The Beauty  is ready to infect the pop culture bloodstream. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Welcome back to The TV Cave , where your remote control comes with opinions. Whether you’re up at an ungodly hour bingeing mysteries, settling in for primetime chaos, or riding the emotional rollercoaster of reality TV, tonight’s lineup has range . Let’s break down what’s worth your time on January 5 — from season premieres to finales and full-on drama detonations. 🌙 Late-Night & Early-Morning Streaming Pick My Life Is Murder 3:00 AM ET | Acorn TVSeason 5 Premiere If you’re the type who starts their day with murder (fictional, obviously), Alexa Crowe is back on the case. This season kicks off with a very modern mystery when a fitness influencer drops dead mid-livestream. The investigation pulls Alexa into the hyper-competitive world of elite cheerleading, where smiles are big and secrets are bigger. Cozy mystery vibes, but make it 2025. 🏀 Primetime Sports Takeover NBA Monday 7:00 PM ET | Peacock Clear your schedule — it’s a triple-header kind of night. 7:00 PM:  New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons 8:30 PM:  Denver Nuggets vs. Philadelphia 76ers 10:00 PM:  Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers Whether you’re watching for the playoff implications or just here for the drama on the court, Peacock is basically your couch-side arena tonight. 📺 8:00 PM ET: Choose Your Fighter (or Baker, or Yacht Crew) Antiques Roadshow PBS Season 30 Premiere Thirty seasons in and still finding treasures in attics. Tonight’s finds include early 20th-century German candy containers, a stunning Donegal Arts & Crafts carpet, and a first U.K. edition of The Hobbit  that collectors will definitely be yelling about at their TVs. Baking Championship: Next Gen Food Network Series Premiere Tiny bakers. Big pressure. Twelve sibling teams aged 8–14 go head-to-head for a $25,000 prize, with Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown keeping a watchful (and judgmental) eye. Equal parts adorable and impressive — and yes, you will feel wildly unaccomplished. Below Deck Mediterranean Bravo Just when you think the seas couldn’t get choppier, a betrayal rocks the yacht, confrontations explode, and one major breakup flips the crew dynamic upside down. Also: two deckhands absolutely lose it. Maritime law would not  approve. Name That Tune FOX Season 5 Finale It’s brains vs. buzzers as a web administrator and a public health educator battle it out, followed by a government attorney facing off against an exercise science student. Someone’s walking away with bragging rights — and hopefully a very strong playlist. St. Denis Medical NBC Ron and Matt attempt to convince a child to get his shot (good luck), Alex jumps into wedding-planning mode with Joyce, and Bruce and Serena clash over Matt. Hospital chaos, but make it personal. 🎯 9:00 PM ET: High Stakes Return The Wall NBC Season 6 Premiere The Wall is back, and it’s starting with heart. Steven, an off-duty police officer who helped evacuate the Pentagon during 9/11, teams up with his son Seth for a shot at life-changing money. Emotional, intense, and nerve-wracking — just how fans like it. 🧠 10:00 PM ET: Emotional Heavy Hitter Brilliant Minds NBC Dr. Wolf and the team are pushed to their limits as one of their own fights for their life. Expect raw performances, tough decisions, and the kind of episode that leaves you staring at the credits in silence. 📌 Final Verdict From antiques with jaw-dropping price tags to reality TV implosions and emotional network dramas, January 5 is stacked. Whether you’re in the mood to laugh, cry, yell at contestants, or clutch your pearls over yacht drama, tonight’s TV understood the assignment. Stay tuned to The TV Cave  for more daily guides, recaps, and all the TV tea worth spilling. Remote in hand — we’ll see you on the couch.

The TV landscape may be crowded with reboots and recycled ideas, but Drops of God  on Apple TV continues to stand out like a perfectly aged bottle hiding in a grocery-store wine aisle. With Season 2 ready to swirl, sniff, and emotionally devastate audiences all over again, producer Klaus Zimmermann sat down with The TV Cave to unpack the magic behind the show’s ambitious new chapter. Spoiler: the man can make wine, family trauma, and multilingual chaos sound downright poetic. Zimmermann was hooked from the start—not by the plot mechanics, but by the emotional depth embedded in the world of wine. “Smell and taste carry emotions,” he told us, describing wine not as a drink but a communication system crafted “from humans to humans.” In the Drops of God  universe, wine becomes more than a competitive sport; it’s a memory capsule, a vessel for identity, and a bridge between the past and present. Zimmermann was especially drawn to the softness and lyricism in the story—an aesthetic not often explored in a high-stakes, globetrotting series. Of course, capturing that global feel wasn’t exactly a walk in the vineyard. The show’s signature blend of French, Japanese, and English is seamless on screen, but behind the scenes? Try multilingual Sudoku with a side of jet lag. Zimmermann admitted the process is “super complicated,” noting that their Israeli director spoke neither French nor Japanese. Filming in Japan and Georgia required translators, cultural mediators, and a production team patient enough to navigate everything from linguistic nuance to etiquette differences. Most productions would run screaming—but Zimmermann and company embraced the challenge. Authenticity wasn’t just a goal; it was a non-negotiable. This commitment to cultural accuracy pays off in the emotional layers of the series. Zimmermann spoke about the natural fascination between French and Japanese cultures—an admiration the show leans into and explores with care. Watching characters navigate foreign territories, both literal and emotional, gives the series its distinctive soul. And as for subtitles, he couldn’t have been less concerned. “We didn’t really think about that,” he said, pointing out that audiences today are far more subtitle-friendly than studios assume. Season 2 shifts the emotional focus squarely onto Camille and Issei, whose Season 1 revelation as half-siblings blew their world (and ours) wide open. Now bound by a shared mission handed down by their late father, the duo must figure out whether to trust each other, tolerate each other, or implode magnificently. Zimmermann describes this season as an emotional roller coaster centered on their evolving relationship. Family, after all, can be a disaster or a cure—sometimes on the same day. If Season 1 explored inheritance and legacy, Season 2 digs into loyalty, identity, and the messy truth of belonging. There’s tension, warmth, friction, and the kind of vulnerability that makes great TV… and great wine metaphors. Judging by Zimmermann’s enthusiasm, fans can expect a richer, deeper, and maybe even spikier season than before. As Drops of God  returns, Zimmermann’s dedication to authenticity, culture, and emotionally resonant storytelling keeps the series firmly among Apple TV’s standout offerings. And if this new chapter delivers everything he hints at, viewers might want to pour a generous glass before pressing play—the emotional hangover will be worth savoring. Drops of God season 2 premieres Wednesday, January 21st on AppleTV.

The Critics Choice Awards have never pretended to be subtle, and the 2026 Critics Choice Awards winners list  continues that proud tradition. Equal parts taste-maker and chaos agent, this year’s ceremony leaned hard into ambitious filmmaking, prestige television, and a few gloriously unexpected curveballs. If awards season is a long chess match, Critics Choice just knocked over the board, declared checkmate, and dared everyone else to keep up. With major wins for One Battle After Another , Sinners , Frankenstein , and breakout TV hits like The Pitt  and Adolescence , the 2026 Critics Choice winners list reads like a roadmap for where awards season momentum is heading—whether the Oscars and Emmys like it or not. Film: Prestige Reigns, but Not Without Personality The night’s biggest victor was Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another , which claimed Best Picture , Best Director , and Best Adapted Screenplay . Critics Choice clearly fell hard for Anderson’s latest, positioning it as the thinking person’s epic and a serious heavyweight for the rest of awards season. Subtle? No. Effective? Absolutely. Timothée Chalamet’s Best Actor win for Marty Supreme  confirms what Hollywood already knows: the man cannot miss. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley’s Best Actress victory for Hamnet  is the kind of inspired choice that reminds everyone why Critics Choice still matters—bold, literary, and emotionally devastating in the best way. The supporting categories delivered some of the night’s buzziest moments. Jacob Elordi’s win for Frankenstein  continues his evolution from heartthrob to capital-A Actor, while Amy Madigan’s turn in Weapons  earned her a well-deserved spotlight (and yes, her name appeared twice on the ballot, but once was plenty). Genre films also had a very good night. Frankenstein  dominated the technical categories, winning Production Design , Costume Design , and Hair and Makeup , while James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash  predictably crushed Best Visual Effects . No surprises there—Pandora remains undefeated. On the music side, Ludwig Göransson’s score for Sinners  and the infectious “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters  show Critics Choice embracing both gravitas and pop-forward storytelling. Balance is possible. Who knew? Television: The Critics Pick Their Favorites—and Stick With Them If one show defined the television side of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards winners list , it was HBO Max’s The Pitt . Winning Best Drama Series , along with acting honors for Noah Wyle  and Katherine LaNasa , the series emerged as the year’s prestige darling—smart, heavy, and exactly the kind of show critics love to champion early. Apple TV also cleaned up nicely. The Studio  snagged Best Comedy Series , with Seth Rogen  and Ike Barinholtz  picking up acting wins, while Rhea Seehorn’s victory for Pluribus  further cemented Apple’s reputation for adult, actor-driven storytelling. Netflix made its biggest TV statement with Adolescence , which won Best Limited Series  and swept nearly every acting category it touched. It’s the kind of clean sweep that screams “future awards staple,” whether audiences are emotionally ready or not. Elsewhere, Jean Smart’s continued reign for Hacks  proves that some queens never abdicate, South Park  reminded everyone it’s still standing (and swinging) with Best Animated Series , and Squid Game  remains the global juggernaut no one has managed to dethrone. What the 2026 Critics Choice Winners Tell Us The Critics Choice Awards 2026 winners list  reflects a voting body that values ambition, strong authorship, and performances that don’t play it safe. This was not a year for coasting or comfort picks. The winners skewed bold, sometimes divisive, but rarely boring—exactly what a critics’ awards show should aim for. As awards season barrels forward, these wins will shape narratives, boost campaigns, and fuel endless debates across Film Twitter and group chats everywhere. Whether you agree with every choice or not, one thing’s certain: the Critics Choice Awards once again made themselves impossible to ignore. See the full list below: 🎬 2026 Critics Choice Awards Winners — Motion Pictures Category Winner Project Studio / Network Best Picture — One Battle After Another Warner Bros. Best Actor Timothée Chalamet Marty Supreme A24 Best Actress Jessie Buckley Hamnet Focus Features Best Director Paul Thomas Anderson One Battle After Another Warner Bros. Best Original Screenplay Ryan Coogler Sinners Warner Bros. Best Adapted Screenplay Paul Thomas Anderson One Battle After Another Warner Bros. Best Supporting Actor Jacob Elordi Frankenstein Netflix Best Supporting Actress Amy Madigan Weapons Warner Bros. Best Casting and Ensemble Francine Maisler Sinners Warner Bros. Best Foreign Language Film — The Secret Agent Neon Best Animated Feature — KPop Demon Hunters Netflix Best Comedy — The Naked Gun Paramount Best Production Design Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau Frankenstein Netflix Best Editing Stephen Mirrione F1 Apple Original Films Best Costume Design Kate Hawley Frankenstein Netflix Best Hair and Makeup Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey Frankenstein Netflix Best Visual Effects Joe Letteri et al. Avatar: Fire and Ash 20th Century Studios Best Sound Al Nelson et al. F1 Apple Original Films Best Cinematography Adolpho Veloso Train Dreams Netflix Best Song Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy “Golden” ( KPop Demon Hunters ) Netflix Best Score Ludwig Göransson Sinners Warner Bros. Best Stunt Design Wade Eastwood Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Paramount Pictures Best Young Actor / Actress Miles Caton Sinners Warner Bros. 📺 2026 Critics Choice Awards Winners — Television Category Winner Series Network Best Drama Series — The Pitt HBO Max Best Comedy Series — The Studio Apple TV Best Actress in a Drama Series Rhea Seehorn Pluribus Apple TV Best Actor in a Drama Series Noah Wyle The Pitt HBO Max Best Actress in a Comedy Series Jean Smart Hacks HBO Max Best Actor in a Comedy Series Seth Rogen The Studio Apple TV Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Tramell Tillman Severance Apple TV Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Katherine LaNasa The Pitt HBO Max Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Ike Barinholtz The Studio Apple TV Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Janelle James Abbott Elementary ABC Best Limited Series — Adolescence Netflix Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Sarah Snook All Her Fault Peacock Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Stephen Graham Adolescence Netflix Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Owen Cooper Adolescence Netflix Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Erin Doherty Adolescence Netflix Best Movie Made for Television — Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Peacock Best Animated Series — South Park Comedy Central Best Foreign Language Series — Squid Game Netflix Best Talk Show — Jimmy Kimmel Live! ABC Best Variety Series — Last Week Tonight with John Oliver HBO Max Best Comedy Special — SNL50: The Anniversary Special NBC What did you think of the winners? Were the critics spot-on—or wildly off-base? Sound off, argue respectfully (or not), and keep it locked to The TV Cave  for more awards-season chaos, clarity, and commentary.

FOX has never met a cozy small-town drama it didn’t want to unpack, and Best Medicine  is its latest attempt to turn charming dysfunction into must-watch television. Season 1 Episode 1, titled “Docked,” introduces viewers to a brilliant but abrasive surgeon trading city prestige for seaside simplicity. On paper, it sounds like a recipe for success. In execution, it landed with all the excitement of a waiting room magazine from 2009. The pilot episode of Best Medicine  leans hard into familiar territory: the big-shot doctor with a terrible bedside manner, the quirky coastal town full of locals who don’t know what to make of him and an obvious romantic setup that you can see coming from miles away. If this sounds like something FOX has done before, that’s because it has and Docked  does little to justify why this version needed to exist. Dr. Martin Best arrives in town carrying emotional baggage, professional burnout, and a personality that screams “I don’t like people.” That alone could have worked. The twist is that he also can’t stand the sight of blood, which is… an interesting choice for a medical show. While the irony is clearly meant to fuel the comedy, the joke wears thin fast. Instead of feeling sharp or inventive, the humor feels muted and overly reliant on awkward silences and social discomfort. There’s a certain Murder in a Small Town  vibe baked into Best Medicine , that picturesque setting masking a show that never quite clicks if you’re not already on board with the formula. For viewers who enjoy quaint medical dramas with eccentric townsfolk and gentle humor, this might be comforting. For others, it’s a slow march through predictable beats that never spark to life. Or for viewers that enjoyed the original series Doc Martin from the UK, this one may be for you as Best Medicine is the US version. The cast, on the other hand, is undeniably strong. FOX assembled a group of actors who should, in theory, elevate the material. Unfortunately, Docked  gives them little to work with. Performances feel restrained, almost as if everyone is waiting for the show to find its rhythm. Chemistry is hinted at, especially in the clearly telegraphed romantic arc, but nothing feels earned yet. Instead, it comes off as another checkbox on the “small-town TV starter pack.” That’s perhaps the biggest issue with Best Medicine  Season 1 Episode 1: it doesn’t offer anything new. The premise promises chaos, but the pilot plays it remarkably safe. Every conflict, every joke, every emotional beat feels pre-approved by a network template. Even the comedy, which is clearly intentional and carefully placed never quite lands if this isn’t already your style of humor. By the end of “Docked,” it’s clear exactly where Best Medicine  is headed. There will be clashing personalities, gradual softening of the gruff lead, heartfelt moments with townspeople and a slow-burn romance that’s about as subtle as a lighthouse. None of that is inherently bad. It’s just painfully familiar and familiarity alone doesn’t make for compelling television. L-R: Michael Potts and Josh Charles OX. © 2026 Fox Media LLC. CR: Francisco Roman/FOX. As a season opener, Docked  struggles to hold attention. The pacing drags, the laughs are sparse and the emotional hooks fail to sink in. While the show may find an audience looking for low-stakes comfort viewing, this pilot didn’t do enough to justify sticking around for the long haul. Best Medicine  clearly wants to be warm, witty and charming. Instead, Season 1 Episode 1 feels like a well-lit waiting room where time moves slowly and nothing urgent ever happens. For viewers craving something fresh or bold, this prescription may not be the cure. Still, television has a way of surprising us, and FOX has seen shows grow beyond shaky starts before. Whether Best Medicine  can evolve beyond its overly familiar pilot remains to be seen. For now, “Docked” serves as a reminder that a strong cast and a proven premise aren’t always enough to keep viewers from checking their watch.

Life’s a gamble — none more so than when spending any time in the chaotic world of Tommy Norris, the oil company crisis manager in Paramount+’s, Landman , now in its second season. If you have spent any time watching this series, you know that every day he wakes up under the West Texas sun, it’s a crapshoot on what kind of day Tommy Norris, played by Emmy Award nominee Billy Bob Thorton, is going to have.  As we delve into the latest episode of the hit oil drama from Taylor Sheridan that explores this theme, we uncover not just the thrill of risk, but also the profound truths about chance, consequence, and the choices that define the world we live in. In an industry where every decision can lead to fortune or ruin, it's clear that life itself is the ultimate gamble, one that reveals the depths of human resilience and the greater ability to adapt.  On this day, Tommy wakes to another hot one in the Permian Basin when he finds his aging father has fallen and cannot get up and out of the shallow end of the family pool. It seems a misstep and a bad hip have left the elder Norris clinging to the side waiting for a life line to safety. That comes unexpectedly from his adult son as the only one, it seems, in a house bursting with other able-bodied adults who cannot ever seem to hear another’s cries for help. But I digress. Out of the pool and back on solid ground, the often gruff T.L., played by the incomparable Sam Elliott, softens considerably, offering his son a show of gratitude with an impromptu hug — a surprise to all involved, including us as small screen voyeurs. Sunrise rescue aside, Tommy is now on the road to impending mayhem with a scheduled early morning meet-up with his son, Cooper, (Jacob Lofland), fresh off a successful marriage proposal himself with his girlfriend-now fiance Ariana, played by Paulina Chavez, in episode 7. Not two minutes out of the neighborhood, Tommy gets a FaceTime call from his own bombshell of an ex-wife -now fiance, Angela, played by Ali Larter. A crass compliment, I’m sure, if it were not steeped in truth as she greets her husband in the stringiest of bikinis to ask for some mad money to take her nursing home friends to a casino for the day. You read that right. Stay with me, it gets better.  Now $10,000 lighter, Tommy makes an unscheduled stop on the way to meet his son, to arrange for some so-called private duty physical therapy for his father. Never mind that he is searching for this expertise in a strip club from a dancer, ahem therapist, whose regular “patients” pay in ones. When you consider how much stretching is needed in this line of work, it does start to make perfect sense as a pseudo therapy. Finally at the man-camp, Tommy informs his oilfield crew that M Tex Oil has taken over Cooper’s spec wells. With his son’s success with the recent promising discoveries, Tommy names Cooper as project manager to continue to work them, much to the team’s chagrin, given this abrupt reversal of hierarchy. Remember, Cooper was working on this very crew as a “worm,” read newbie, not but a few months before. But, hey, hit with six wells in row, and you, too can call the shots.  Now, to really get the day started, Tommy finds himself at the tarmac ready to jump on a private jet headed back to Fort Worth, this time with attorney Rebecca (Kayla Wallace) and her new geologist bestie-come-bed buddy Charlie (Guy Burnet), brought in to explain the drilling odds on the off-shore well to Cami Miller, the new head of M Tex Oil who is hell-bent on making good on the insurance claim payout. Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in Landman episode 8, season 2, streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+ While one may feel Cami is way out of her league as the oil exec widow whose found her way to the corner office to pick up where her dead husband left off, Demi Moore as the actress portraying her is not. Moore continues to showcase her maturity of talent for embodying characters with depth and sophistication. With her captivating presence, she conveys the complexity and nuance of the high-life as the Fort Worth socialite thrust into the fire with her husband’s untimely death, seamlessly balancing elegance with vulnerability. Her ability to exude confidence and grace allows us to believe in her status, while her emotional range brings authenticity to the character's struggles — both with the loss of her husband and her subsequent new role at the helm of M Tex Oil. Moore's expressive facial features and command of her familiar scotch-and-soda voice enhances her performance, capturing the dynamics of social power and relationships. She navigates the subtleties of her dialogue and body language, portraying the intricate layers of the socialite's persona—whether it’s the façade of perfection, the pressure of expectations, or the underlying personal conflicts. This blend of charisma and emotional depth enables Moore to establish Cami as a character that is relatable, even if her lifestyle feels unattainable. Her only character flaw is that we do not get to see more of Cami’s life play out on screen.  On the road to New Mexico, the odds prove to be forever in Angela’s favor as her gamble of taking her band of octogenarians to the casino to play with Norris house money pays off. Despite the residents getting sauced on in-flight frozen margaritas on the drive, Angela’s lessons to both her charges and the dealer on the best bets at the Roulette tables marks the day as a rather lucrative success. And for anyone who’s wondering — you always bet on black.  In downtown Fort Worth, the meeting with Cami convenes with Tommy, Rebecca and Charlie in tow, and Nate radioing in via Zoom. Charlie does his best to walk Cami through the history and probabilities of retrieving gas from the damaged well off the Texas Gulf. Just when Tommy and the two attorneys think they have Cami convinced to choose the path of least of resistance with taking their chances on litigation with the insurance company, Charlie drops a knowledge bomb on the discussion suggesting that he can find the larger gas field surrounding the well. Abandoning her deference to the other experts in the room, Cami globs onto following Charlie’s hunch. She greenlights the drill. Yes, you could almost feel the oxygen evaporate from the room.  Believe me, if looks could kill, no doubit, it would be daggers through the heart for the handsome geologist. Needless to say, Charlie going off script in the meeting seems to have done more damage to his personal relationship than his credibility, imploding the burgeoning situationship with Rebecca. Believe me, if looks could kill, no doubt, it would be daggers through the heart for the handsome geologist . Rebecca was less than impressed. Harsh words shared between the two on the way out the door and again on the plane merit that out.  Guy Burnet as Charlie in Landman episode 8, season 2, streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+ Before heading back to the plane, himself, Tommy makes another unscheduled stop at the office of Danny Morell, played by Andy Garcia. Having come to Danny for assistance, Tommy asks the drug cartel boss-turned-oil executive to cancel funding of Cami’s dream to drill off shore, explaining that the gamble could have him losing his upfront dollars. Little does Tommy know, Danny signed on with Cami not just to be her drilling fairy godfather, but more so an angel investor in Monty Miller’s former company. Cami secured the loans to drill as royalties. For Danny, that’s a win-win. For Tommy, the thorn in his side has just gone deeper.  Back in Midland, Tommy’s gamble of the pole dancer moonlighting as a “physical therapist” for T.L.  pays off in spades. Initially skeptical of the beautiful young lady come to offer him aqua-therapy, T.L. buys in, recognizing both the medicinal and mental benefits of her services. When Tommy arrives home to find the success of his handiwork, he knows he’s done a good thing. The day was not a total loss.  The pound of money sitting on the coffee table from his wife’s gambling acumen certainly raised the stakes on that truth, as well. Co-created by Christian Wallace, and also starring Michelle Randolph, Colm Feore, James Jordan, and Mark Collie, only two more episodes remain in season 2 of Landman. Streaming now on Paramount.+

The National Society of Film Critics just dropped its 2025 winners, and if you thought the Oscars would be a snooze fest this year, think again. Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling epic, One Battle After Another , has stormed the NSFC awards, taking home Best Picture, Best Director, and both supporting acting nods. Critics clearly aren’t messing around, and neither should you if you haven’t seen it yet. Every year, the NSFC, a group of over 60 top-tier film critics makes the call on the year’s most noteworthy films. Founded in 1966, the Society has a reputation for sidestepping the obvious crowd-pleasers and shining a light on the cinematic gems that might otherwise get lost in the Oscars hype. And this year, they’ve made it clear: One Battle After Another  is the one to beat. Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest isn’t just a box-office darling, grossing over $205 million worldwide, it’s also a critical knockout. Alongside Best Picture and Best Director, Teyana Taylor snagged Best Supporting Actress, and Benicio del Toro took Best Supporting Actor. Clearly, Anderson knows how to assemble a cast that critics can’t resist. Ethan Hawke was recognized for his work in Blue Moon  with Best Actor, while Kathleen Chalfant earned Best Actress for Familiar Touch . Jafar Panahi’s sharp screenplay for It Was Just an Accident  nabbed Best Screenplay, proving that storytelling still reigns supreme. Meanwhile, international cinema made its mark. The Secret Agent  was awarded Best Film Not in the English Language, and Lucrecia Martel’s Landmarks  received a special nod for awaiting U.S. distribution. Nonfiction fans weren’t left out either: My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow  claimed Best Nonfiction Film. Experimental cinema wasn’t ignored either. Basma al-Sharif’s Morning Circle  won Best Experimental Film, while the Film Heritage Awards highlighted vital institutions like Cinema Tropical and The Film Desk for keeping global and avant-garde cinema alive in the U.S. Full List of 2025 NSFC Winners Category Winner Runners-Up Best Picture One Battle After Another Sinners , The Secret Agent Best Director Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident ; Richard Linklater, Blue Moon  and Nouvelle Vague Best Actor Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent ; Michael B. Jordan, Sinners Best Actress Kathleen Chalfant, Familiar Touch Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You ; Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value Best Supporting Actor Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another Delroy Lindo, Sinners ; Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value Best Supporting Actress Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value ; Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners Best Screenplay Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident Robert Kaplow, Blue Moon ; Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent Best Film Not in English The Secret Agent It Was Just an Accident , Sentimental Value Best Nonfiction Film My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow The Perfect Neighbor , Orwell: 2+2=5 Best Cinematography Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners Adolpho Veloso, Train Dreams ; Michael Bauman, One Battle After Another Best Experimental Film Morning Circle , Basma al-Sharif — Special Award (Film Awaiting U.S. Distribution) Landmarks , Lucrecia Martel — Film Heritage Awards Cinema Tropical; The Film Desk; Ken and Flo Jacobs — If you’re mapping out your 2026 movie nights, the NSFC winners are your ultimate cheat sheet. One Battle After Another  dominates for a reason, but don’t sleep on the runners-up from international gems to indie dramas and experimental provocations, there’s a cinematic buffet waiting. Whether you’re a box-office loyalist or a film festival diehard, 2025’s NSFC awards show that critics are rewarding vision, courage, and performances that linger long after the credits roll.

If there was ever an episode designed to remind viewers that hope is a dangerous thing in Capua, Spartacus: House of Ashur  Season 1 Episode 6, “Empty Things,” is it. Sitting firmly in the middle of the season, this chapter trades spectacle for something far more effective: consequence. Ambition rises, relationships fracture and the cost of power finally comes due with interest. “Empty Things” feels like the moment where the show stops warming up and starts swinging. Ashur’s climb through Roman society continues but the shine is wearing thin. Victories feel hollow, promises dissolve and the episode makes it painfully clear that in this world, progress often comes paired with loss. Ashur has never lacked confidence but Episode 6 shows how dangerously close that confidence is to arrogance. His influence in Capua is growing and he’s clearly enjoying the shift in how Roman elites treat him. The problem? Ashur still believes he can outmaneuver everyone and this episode quietly starts proving him wrong. His decisions here are driven less by strategy and more by fear of losing control. That tension bubbles beneath nearly every scene he’s in, giving the episode a slow, uneasy momentum. Ashur isn’t failing yet, but the warning signs are flashing bright red. His manipulation in trying to become Virdia's husband, I fear will backfire. He is playing too close to the fire. The writing however, continues to make me feel sorry for a character I love to hate. The humilation he suffered when Cornelia made his disrobe was harsh. I cannot wait for someone to put Cornelia in her place. Achillia suffers a serious injury that becomes the emotional pivot of the episode. She is delirious and weak from her wounds, and a medicus warns that she may require amputation to survive. Ashur, driven by panic and frustration, reacts violently, throwing the medicus off a cliff rather than allow him to operate. When Korris secures Opiter's medicus to save her hand and her life, thru her dreams, we see Achillia's journey and what has driven her all season. We definitely need more of her story. She is truly the heart of the show. "He perished, during conflict with mad Thracian. Carry my greetings." Achillia's journey may be the emotional pivot but Korris is a close second. The grizzled Doctore has spent his life enforcing brutality and for once, the door to something softer appears to crack open. His relationship with Opiter offers a rare glimpse of a future untouched by blood and sand and for a brief moment, the show lets that dream breathe. It’s a smart move. By allowing viewers to believe escape might be possible, the episode deepens the eventual blow. This is Spartacus , after all. Happiness is temporary. Peace is borrowed time. Ashur’s involvement in Korris’ potential freedom complicates things further. What should be a clean deal becomes tangled in ego, impatience and poor judgment. The longer Ashur hesitates, the clearer it becomes that good intentions mean very little in Capua. When the episode turns violent, it does so without the usual arena spectacle. The attack on Opiter’s household is swift, brutal and deliberately unceremonious. There’s no honor, no pageantry, just destruction. The Brothers Ferox prove that chaos doesn’t always announce itself with roaring crowds. Sometimes it arrives quietly and leaves nothing behind. The aftermath is devastating. Any chance of escape evaporates. Ashur just talks too much for his own good. Courtesy of Starz Nick E. Tarabay (“ASHUR”) This episode succeeds because it resists excess. There’s restraint in the storytelling, confidence in the pacing and a willingness to let consequences linger. Instead of resetting the board, “Empty Things” rearranges it, leaving scars that will absolutely matter going forward. It also reinforces what House of Ashur  does best: turning personal ambition into tragedy. Power isn’t portrayed as triumphant. It’s isolating, corrosive and often fueled by fear. Ashur may still be standing at the end of the hour, but he’s lost something intangible along the way and the season makes it clear he’s not done paying for it. “Empty Things” is a standout episode because it understands restraint, character and consequence. It’s not the loudest hour of the season, but it might be the most impactful. By stripping away illusions of control and escape, Spartacus: House of Ashur  sharpens its edge and raises the emotional stakes heading into the back half of Season 1. Capua remains unforgiving. Ambition remains dangerous. And as Episode 6 makes painfully clear, some victories leave nothing behind but ashes. What did you think? Drop a comment and vote in our poll below.

New year, new TV obsessions. Whether you’re up way too early, parked on the couch all afternoon, or planning a prime-time marathon, January 4 is packed with premieres, finales, awards, football drama, and comfort-TV classics. Let’s break it all down. 🌙 For the Night Owls 3:00 AM ET — Landman Paramount+ If you’re burning the midnight oil (or just couldn’t sleep), Landman  delivers the drama. Tommy brings in backup for his struggling father, Rebecca and Charlie butt heads, and Cami makes a bold move she probably shouldn’t. Late night chaos hits differently. 📼 Sunday Afternoon Comfort TV 2:00–6:00 PM ET — Aaron Spelling Sundays MeTV (Four-Hour Block) MeTV rolls out a nostalgia-packed lineup celebrating one of TV’s most iconic producers. It’s wall-to-wall classics, and honestly? Still hits. 2:00 PM — Charlie’s Angels 3:00 PM — Hart to Hart 4:00 PM — Fantasy Island 5:00 PM — The Love Boat Perfect background viewing—or full-on binge if you’re in your retro era. 😂 Early Evening Crowd-Pleasers 7:00 PM ET — America’s Funniest Home Videos ABC Sibling rivalries, chaotic pets, and humans making questionable choices. Some things never change, and that’s kind of the point. Cozy, silly, and low-stakes TV at its finest. 7:00 PM ET — Critics Choice Awards E! & USA Network (Three Hours) Awards season officially kicks into gear with Chelsea Handler hosting live from Santa Monica. Expect big wins, bigger speeches, and at least one moment Twitter won’t stop talking about. 🔥 Prime Time Is STACKED 8:00 PM ET — Best Medicine  (Series Premiere) FOX Special Night & Time Josh Charles stars as a high-powered surgeon who trades Boston money for small-town Maine medicine. Fresh start, fish-out-of-water vibes, and plenty of heart. Consider this your new comfort drama. 8:00 PM ET — When Calls the Heart  (Season 13 Premiere) Hallmark Channel Hope Valley is buzzing as the town gears up for a big park opening. Familiar faces return home—but is this a quick visit or something more? Hearties, your wait is over. 8:00 PM ET — Worst Cooks in America  (Season 30 Premiere) Food Network Celebrity edition chaos is back. Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry attempt the impossible: turning famous faces into kitchen contenders. Expect burnt dishes, wild confidence, and total culinary confusion. 8:20 PM ET — Sunday Night Football  (Season Finale) NBC Ravens vs. Steelers. Enough said. The season wraps with one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries, live from Acrisure Stadium. Whether you’re here for the game or the commercials, it’s must-watch. 🎬 Late Prime-Time Animation 9:00 PM ET — Krapopolis  (Season 3 Finale) FOX An invasion shakes things up, the gods get messy, and Deliria’s bluff is officially called. Big finale energy as the season comes to a close. 9:30 PM ET — The Simpsons FOX Special Time Homer stumbles into a mysterious new job with a not-so-innocent agenda. Because if anyone should work at a secretive company, it’s definitely Homer Simpson. 🛋️ Final Take from The TV Cave January 4 is doing the most—in the best way. Between award show glamour, heartfelt premieres, reality TV disasters, animated finales, and football rivalries, there’s no wrong choice. Just clear your schedule and keep the remote close. Check back with The TV Cave  daily for what to watch, what to skip, and what everyone will be talking about tomorrow.