Black Panther director Ryan Coogler steps into the world of horror with Sinners and as both a horror enthusiast and a fan of Mr. Coogler’s work, this was easily one of my most anticipated films of the year. After catching it in theaters over opening weekend, I’m thrilled to share my (spoiler free) thoughts because this one absolutely delivered. Here's my Ryan Coogler, Sinners 2025 review.... Right out of the gate from the opening sequence, it's clear that Coogler made the right move in crafting an original story rather than relying on existing IP ( Black Panther ) or true events ( Fruitvale Station ). Coogler stated Sinners is deeply personal and it is evident through the film. Sinners showcases his artistic vision in a way we haven’t seen before in the best possible way. The production design is phenomenal, immersing us in the 1930s Deep South with incredible attention to detail. The period setting is brought to life through authentic set pieces and striking costume design (teaming up with Oscar winner Ruth E. Carter again), both of which elevate the film’s power. I also appreciated the use of practical effects over CGI as it transports the audience to Mississippi offering a realism that seems lost in other films. Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw (her second collaboration with Coogler) delivers her finest work to date. The cinematography is breathtaking and you can tell how each frame was carefully constructed to enhance both atmosphere and storytelling. Kudos to Arkapaw who helped solidify Coogler as a gifted filmmaker. The film’s music, composed by another frequent collaborator of Coogler's, Ludwig Göransson, is another standout element. One particularly memorable scene involves the main character playing guitar, which moves between musical styles across cultures and eras. It’s a powerful moment that cements Göransson as one of today’s most versatile and exciting composers. This score easily ranks among his best and that is saying something. The cast is packed with talent. Michael B. Jordan is excellent in dual roles as the twin brothers Stacks and Smoke, while Jack O’Connell shines as a sinister villain but ends up being funny in his own unique way. As I said, music plays a big part in this film and O'Connell offers something to chew on in that respect for the viewer as well. Hailee Steinfeld delivers her best performance since True Grit , and the supporting cast, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Delroy Lindo, and Li Jun Li are all terrific. However, the true breakout is newcomer Miles Caton, who centers the film with an unforgettable debut performance. He brings a quiet intensity to the protagonist that makes his journey captivating from beginning to end from his first line to his last. What I loved most about Sinners is its unique blend of genres. Vampires, Southern Gothic atmosphere, African-American history and culture, it’s all woven into an epic, genre-bending story. At times, the film reminded me of From Dusk Till Dawn (a comparison being used heavily, but its true) and, interestingly enough, even Shaun of the Dead in the way it combines horror with character and tone. As far as location, while much of the action takes place in a single area, a juke joint the twins plan to open, the film never feels confined. This is all thanks to the world Coogler has crafted brilliantly. If I had one critique, it’s that the film could’ve been trimmed slightly. There were a few scenes that dragged a bit, and tighter editing in those moments might have made the pacing a little sharper. That said, I was never bored, and the overall flow of the story keeps you engaged. Sinners is Ryan Coogler’s most ambitious and artistically satisfying film to date. It feels like his “blank check” movie, an original, passionate, and genre-blending story that’s unafraid to take risks. From the stellar cast to the incredible visuals, ghostly score, and immersive worldbuilding, this is a film that not only entertains but leaves a lasting impression. If you haven’t seen Sinners yet, I highly recommend checking it out and forming your own opinion. And if you have let’s talk! I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop a comment down below. Rating: 5/5 stars | 10/10

Time for a new episode for all you gardening fans out there. Grosse Pointe Garden Society The Cup, gives a pivotal turn in the drama-filled world of upscale gardening competitions. Who knew that planting seeds would cause all this trouble? This episode doesn’t just plant seeds, it pulls up the emotional weeds. The main event in “The Cup”   is the Southeastern Michigan Gardening Cup which feels like we have been waiting to happen forever. Our crew Birdie, Catherine, Brett, and Alice have spent weeks perfecting their garden design. But their dream of winning is crushed when rival Bloomfield Hills takes the crown. You suck Bloomfield Hills.  The judges take away eight points for cultural appropriation due to the inclusion of Easter Island-inspired statues in their display. I feel like McGonagall was there “eight points from Gryffindor House.” I do appreciate the judges looking out for cultural appropriation though.  One of the emotional setups of “The Cup”  is in the confrontation between Doug and Alice. Doug discovers Alice’s writing project, “The Monster-in-Law Diaries,”  which paints a damning portrait of his parents. Doug’s reaction is predictable but he wants to go public with the book, knowing it could humiliate his family. We spoke to Alexander Hodge about this season. Check out our interview here .  This scene highlights Alice’s ambitions and Doug’s lingering loyalty to his family. While Doug distances himself from his parents, Keith and Patty make a genuine, if awkward, attempt to rebuild bridges. Keith’s efforts feel earnest, but Doug remains emotionally unavailable, choosing to immerse himself in work rather than deal with family tension. How many of us can relate to that? That’s what makes this show real and appealing. It's a classic case of image vs. intimacy which is an ongoing theme in the show. GROSSE POINTE GARDEN SOCIETY -- "The Cup" Episode 109 -- Pictured: (l-r) Nancy Travis as Patty, AnnaSophia Robb as Alice -- (Photo by: Mark Hill/NBC) With her romantic interest, Ford, ghosting her Birdie’s storyline takes a quieter, yet equally powerful, emotional plot. Feeling isolated and underappreciated, she turns to her house helpers for companionship. A game of cards becomes much more. Birdie’s emotional arc is one of the most relatable in the show. Her desire to feel seen and included especially as she battles loneliness under a surface of wealth and social performance, it is felt.  Once again, the episode sprinkles in flash-forwards to the infamous gala fight, building on that suspense for the rest of the season. From Doug and Alice’s relationship turmoil to Birdie’s emotional breakdown and the team’s painful loss, “The Cup” digs deep, both literally and figuratively. What did you think of “The Cup” ? Were the judges fair? Is Alice going too far, or is she finally telling her truth? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Beyond The Gates The Duprees Nicole and Anita get ready for Kat’s party, heavy product placement here with Febreze. I do not mind this, but don't overdo it in the scene by being heavy handed. Nicole reflects on the rocky time before their miracle child, while Ted was off hanging with the boys. Vernon shows up for Dani when she needs him most. He speaks on surviving a rough decade and his early activist years. Paul “Cheeks” Dupree, founder of Fairmont Crest, built it as a safe space—but folks questioned if Vernon was about the cause or just living cushy behind the gates. Vernon encourages Dani, telling her there’s no shame in needing help and that Bill will one day realize his mistake. She opens up about the kiss and how she’s finally seeing that Bill really loves Hayley. Karla is really good in these scenes. Anita sings at the piano when Naomi visits. They talk Bill—Naomi says she’s proud of herself for walking away. They plan a night out at The Uptown for Dani. Dani’s Passion Dani, clearly headed toward her second vice—Andre—gets drunk before he even arrives. When she wakes up hungover next to him, he’s had enough. He tells her she’s got red flags, and she hits back with sarcasm. Despite everything, Andre tries to be there, reminding her she fell for Bill when she was a kid and it’s time to reevaluate. He suggests therapy or a life coach to help her rediscover her fire. Pam, her self proclaimed true ride-or-die, arrives and helps launch “Operation Gemstone” to get Dani shining again. Dani admits the last time she felt her spark was when she modeled. They head to the club to brainstorm. Later, Dani lies about drinking when Pam stops by. Pam pushes her to be real—Dani admits she’s been knocked down and is just trying to get back up. Pam suggests starting a modeling agency, and Dani’s in. She’s soon invited out to a night out on the town. It is Naomi set it up with Anita to be a surprise for Dani. However, she tells Dani that it is a surprise celebration for Anita to uplift her spirits. Naomi senses that she misses the days when she was singing. The Richardsons & Leslie Tomas gives Kat a birthday cupcake and necklace, which she doesn’t like until he explains the meaning—then she melts. Leslie wants to picnic with Eva, but Eva’s still upset. Leslie’s jealous of her bond with Ted and Nicole. When Leslie gets petty, Eva warns her the truth will come out and Kat might be right after all. Leslie fishes to see if Eva’s upset over Tomas, which causes Eva to storm out. Eva goes to get her coat from Ted and Nicole's. Kat's party is happening. Eva looks on with jealousy, not at the things that she has but at the family and acceptance that she has. She is offered cake but feels left out, especially when Kat is nasty to her. Ted comforts her after. Later, Leslie tries to play nice with a cake, even though Eva's birthday isn’t for two weeks. Oh wow, Turtleneck Ted had two women pregnant at the same time and those children are just two weeks apart. That is nasty work. Oh Ted, how you have fallen. Nicole gets a call from Andre while Ted flashes back to his confession. Andre wants to do a video tribute to Nicole for their anniversary, but Nicole says it has to show the whole picture, not just the happy moments. She blames herself for their rough patch, and Ted snaps—he’s clearly struggling with the weight of his secrets. Martin’s Crusade Against Bullying Martin sees the viral photo of Tyrell. Tyrell downplays it, asking his parents not to interfere. But Martin meets with the principal anyway. Smitty finds out and confronts Martin. He’s tired of being left out and treated like a child. Martin’s heavy-handed tactics only escalate things. When Tyrell finds out, he asks “What did you do?”—because things have gotten worse. Martin brushes it off as an overreaction. He makes it all about himself, per usual. Honestly, he’s controlling, bordering on narcissistic, and rarely listens. I struggle to like him. Future Moguls Kat and Chelsea attempt a dance challenge—Kat is adorably off-beat. Samantha barges in, saying she dropped out of school for modeling. Thankfully, she was joking. Still, she's eager to join the brand. They will incorporate her slowly, allowing her to gain experience and build her brand. Kat and Chelsea brainstorm how to integrate Samantha. Kat suggests Dani for head of marketing. Chelsea pushes back—Dani makes her feel small, even when it was for her own good. Legal Battle: Father vs Daughter Naomi visits Bill, accusing him of stalling. He mentions a doctor visit, and she insists on taking him herself. He may be using her concern to wedge back in. She tells Bill she’s off the case. Her soror will take over pro bono. Bill taunts her, saying she backed out because she knew he’d win. Naomi finally admits it’s personal—she still loves him too much to let the fight ruin what time they have left. Bill later fires Mike, who threatens to sue. Mike nearly calls Naomi a name, and Bill shuts it down quickly. Naomi and Jacob eat ice cream in bed (a Tide ad moment), and Naomi reflects on how hard it is to have a father you respect. The slang? “It’s pretty lit.” is out of place, please fix the slang usage. Naomi meets her clients at The Uptown. She explains why she left the case, but they want her back to help with new settlement terms. The Country Club Vanessa runs into Diego. He wants a hookup—she declines. Meanwhile, Doug is working overtime to manage his gambling addiction. Hayley is being iced out at the country club. Dani ends up helping her out. Dani and Pam chat with Hayley. Dani tells her Bill loves her and offers advice. Hayley, being Hayley, gets rude when Dani doesn’t fawn. Dani and Pam laugh it off.  Bill later thanks Dani for helping Hayley—hmm. Garland Memorial Andre’s files are corrupted. Randy, likely working for Joey, shows up under false pretenses. Doug opens up, admitting he’s trying to quit gambling. But Joey wants Doug back in the game, and Randy is the bait. Doug even tries betting on making a paper basket. Meanwhile, Shanice expresses concern about him. Joey's using Vanessa and her business to launder money, but Vanessa’s too smitten to see clearly. Nicole calls it like it is, but Vanessa doesn’t listen. Doug later confronts Shanice about talking to Vanessa. She’s honest—she’s just worried. Hmm, since we all know that Vanessa will end up in Joey’s orbit, could Doug heal with Shanice? A nice chemistry there. Weekly Highlights and Thoughts on The Week Highlights/Hits Vernon and Dani’s close relationship continues to shine. I love their father daughter moments. Dani realizes that Bill does love Hayley. This inspires hope that she will finally let go. Ted confessing to his cheating ways. Kat and Chelsea’s siblings like best friend cousins relationship. I really would like to see more of them. Eva and Leslie, Ambyr does such a wonderful job portraying Eva’s vulnerability. Trisha Mann is masterful as Lesle/Dani/Etc. She is a villain but so easy to love. She may be the only villain I wanted to see redeemed. Highlights/Misses Martin’s story, as I said he needs to be humbled but with the latest casting news, that day could be coming sooner than later. Samantha, Samantha should have been Chelsea’s friend who left modeling due to an eating disorder. In scenes with Chelsea and Kat she looks to fit better with that group than the high school group. The lawsuit, I am quite disappointed that we will not see the courtroom drama that this story promised to provide. Viewers invested in that story only to have Naomi back down because she is concerned about her father’s health. Nevermind that he is duplicitous. The fallout could have led to weeks of drama but it was wrapped in an all too tidy bow. This is a big miss writers. You hooked us with drama that needs to continue. Soap vets are running this show, they know how it goes and how to keep fans invested. Filler week, this week felt like a filler week. I understand that when you have a serial that runs daily, filler episodes are necessary. However, I would rather have filler days than a full week of filler. Please consider this, no one week should just be filler. Especially when some stories need movement and the younger set isn’t being utilized to its full potential. Telling and not showing. We are still getting a lot of exposition, after two months it is not quite as necessary. An example is bullying, we should see more and be told less. Another example is Martin’s story. We do not see any campaign offices, nothing but blurred headlights when it comes to his nightmares. This show is great, and I want it around for decades. Hopefully the feedback viewers have been giving is being considered. What a week on Beyond the Gates. We cannot wait for next week.

If you’ve been riding the emotional rollercoaster that is Fire Country  Season 3 then Episode 18 titled "Eyes and Ears Everywhere" is one you won’t want to miss.  Let's dive into the 'Fire Country' Season 3, Episode 18 Recap. Fire Country , "Eyes and Ears Everywhere" opens with what appears to be a standard house fire call. But in true Fire Country  fashion, things spiral fast. Any fire the team faces is unpredictable,  testing their training, courage, and loyalty. The action is fast-paced but has an emotional element that keeps viewers on edge. This episode does a great job of offering suspense with character development, beating us over the head with the reminder that in Fire Country , no fire is ever "routine." So of course there is Bode, who receives news that his parole hearing is just 60 days away. Throughout the episode, we see him caught between the hope of freedom and the fear of leaving behind a team and identity that has defined him. Why it matters: Bode's journey has been the emotional core of the series. His upcoming parole hearing raises big questions: Will he be released? And if so, what kind of life will he return to? Pictured: Billy Burke as Vince Leone and Max Thieriot as Bode Leone. Photo: Sergei Bachlakov/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Meanwhile there is Manny’s decision to turn down a lucrative offer from Faye Stone, CEO of Nozzle Fire Suppression. This was a crossroads moment, career advancement or loyalty to the Station crew. The crew always comes first, right? Manny chooses the latter, like we been knew.  Let’s keep an eye on Manny. This choice, though noble, might have long-term consequences, especially if leadership at Station 42 starts to shift. After the recent bombshell that Jake was wrongfully accused of arson, the fallout is heavy. Jake has fractured trust with the team as he wrestles with feelings of betrayal and isolation. Real Talk: This subplot is good. Jake's storyline isn’t just about clearing his name as it’s about learning who really has his back. If you’re into character-driven storytelling, Jake’s arc this season has been one of the most compelling. I’m expecting more tension and possibly redemption in the final episodes. What would Fire Country  be without its signature rescue scenes? I love the suspenseful sequences this season, proving once again that the show knows how to keep the adrenaline flowing while never losing sight of its characters. Fun Fact: Behind-the-scenes tea spills are saying that this episode used real controlled burns to simulate fire conditions, giving a “real” to the scenes. While Fire Country  Season 3 has had its ups and downs, Episode 18 is one of my favorites. "Eyes and Ears Everywhere" isn’t just a strong episode, it’s “that one” due to Bode’s parole in sight, Manny’s loyalty confirmed, and Jake’s trust shattered, the groundwork is laid for an explosive conclusion to Fire Country  Season 3. Have thoughts on Episode 18? Drop them in the comments or let us know your predictions for the season finale. Will Bode walk free? Will Station 42 survive the shake-ups? We want to hear from you!

From rugged landscapes to tangled romances, Netflix's Ransom Canyon  aims to rope in audiences with Texas charm and family drama. Poised to challenge the #1 Western on TV right now, Yellowstone. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s get into this Ransom Canyon review.  In the lineup of streaming originals, Ransom Canyon  is Netflix’s latest contender for Western drama and is already enjoying being #1 for the streamer since premiering on April 17th. The series is based on Jodi Thomas’s best-selling romance novel series, taking place in the raw and romantic terrain of rural Texas. But Ransom Canyon  is more than just another western love story. It’s a show packed with multi-generational drama, land disputes, star-crossed lovers, and cinematic landscapes, all wrapped up in the dusty, emotional drama of the American West. So, saddle up, we’re heading to Texas. Set in the small town of Ransom Canyon, Texas, the series follows three interconnected ranching families whose lives intertwine through love, loss, rivalry, and redemption. At the heart of the show is Staten Kirkland (played by Josh Duhamel), a widowed rancher wrestling with both personal grief and pressure to maintain his family’s land legacy. Opposite him is Quinn O’Grady (played by Minka Kelly), a reclusive former pianist who returns home, bringing her own secrets and sorrows. Their rekindled connection sets off a chain of events that affect the entire community. Rounding out the cast is Cap Fuller (played by James Brolin): The town’s patriarch, whose unexpected death shocks the town, Yancy Grey (played by Jack Schumacher) a troubled youth seeking redemption, Lauren (played by Lizzy Greene) and Lucas (played by Garrett Wareing) the younger generation caught in old rivalries. Each subplot feeds into the central themes of the show which are family, forgiveness, and finding one’s place in a world shaped by tradition and change. Josh Duhamel delivers a grounded and emotionally resonant performance. He brings a believable stoicism to Staten’s grief while showing subtle vulnerability in romantic scenes. While Minka Kelly is arguably the heart of the show. Kelly plays Quinn with quiet strength and wounded elegance. Her character could’ve been cliché but feels authentic. Brolin’s portrayal is commanding, and his early-season presence helps set the show’s tone. His character’s surprise exit in episode 9 is a pivotal turning point. The ensemble includes Lizzy Greene, Eoin Macken, and Marianly Tejada, who round out the community with compelling subplots. While some performances are hit-or-miss from the supporting cast, the younger cast members however, shine. If there’s one thing Ransom Canyon  does without notes, it’s capturing the beautifulness of West Texas. Filmed on location near Lubbock County, the show’s visual style leans into wide-angle canyon shots, golden hour lighting, and atmospheric scenes that makes this Northern girl want to take a trip down South. For fans of shows like Yellowstone  or Virgin River , the visuals of Ransom Canyon  are a major draw. So what doesn’t work for the series? Some plotlines feel predictable or overly familiar and the dialogue occasionally leans into melodrama while the pacing is slow in episodes 3–5 but somehow there still is not enough screentime for certain breakout characters. Overall, Ransom Canyon  doesn’t reinvent the western romance genre, but it executes it well enough. It’s a comforting, engaging, and emotional wild ride. Netflix has yet to officially announce a second season, but rumors suggest strong viewership numbers and increased interest in Jodi Thomas’s book series could lead to a renewal. Based on the books if there is a season two, some storylines could include, Quinn’s mysterious past, Staten’s evolving role in the town, new love triangles and generational feuds and flashbacks revealing more about Cap Fuller’s life. Netflix’s Ransom Canyon  manages to entertain and offer a series between romance and realism. While not without its flaws, the series offers enough to justify a weekend binge and perhaps a second season. For fans of the books, the adaptation is faithful enough to satisfy. For newcomers, it’s a warm, welcome ride through the emotional terrain of love, loss, and the land. What did you think of Staten and Quinn’s storyline? Should Netflix greenlight Season 2? Drop a comment.

Grey’s Anatomy “Bust Your Windows” took the title a little seriously this episode. We were treated to a window washer (Trevor Donovan, 90210 ) who comes twice a year dressed as a superhero for the kids, that ended up busting through the window due to high winds and landed on Ndugu and Millin’s operating table. Really a tragic moment for the kids to see. His wife later shows up and Nudgu mistakes her for his mother due to their age difference.  While performing the surgery, Millin questions Nudgu’s strategy but only because she has never seen the procedures he was doing. She is clearly crushing on him and later takes him on the roof to help him overcome his fear of heights. We then see some moments of him giving her the “look” and I believe I predicted this a few episodes back. You know who else caught the vibes between them? Richard…who tells Nudgu very subtly to be careful.  The hospital no longer has the rules about staff dating right, so I don’t see the big deal between two consenting adults doing whatever they want, even if he is her boss. I think we have moved past that on this show. It keeps happening. Plus I think Nudgu and Millin are cute. "But you need to be careful. Never know what could happen up there." ADELAIDE KANE, ANTHONY HILL (Disney/Anne Marie Fox) Meanwhile, Lucas has a shot to get back in his intern class by working with Catherine. They have a patient, a young 14 year old girl who is having issues with her period. She is shy around Lucas and does not want him to perform the surgery as in her eyes and Catherine’s word he is just “another cute boy.” This is a big surgery for Lucas and a chance to prove himself to Catherine but he passes on the surgery to respect his patient. He impressed Catherine with his decision and she is allowing him to remain in his class meaning he won’t have to repeat his intern year.  Elsewhere, Simone and Blue have been butting heads like siblings (mirroring their patients). After Richard kicks Blue out he and Simone bury the hatchet and agree to work on getting on each other's nerves and being better roommates. Simone had decided she wanted to ask Lucas to move in but when they catch up, Lucas rambles about them spending all their time together and maybe moving to New York after residency and it freaks her out to the point she doesn’t ask him to move in. Trouble in paradise is definitely on the horizon (enter Trevor Jackson’s character). Ben spent the episode trying to make friends with Helm, the only other resident on the show currently. She is feeling the loss of Levy so the two decide to study for the boards together. It's clear Ben will become chief resident at some point. Since Grey’s has been renewed for season 22 already, we need some fresh blood and new doctors.  Overall Grey’s Anatomy “Bust Your Windows” was a solid episode even if it felt more like a filler one. What did you think? Drop a comment, we would love to hear from you.

As if we could ever forget Cher Horowitz! Nearly 30 years after Cher became immortalized as the fashion-forward, big-hearted Beverly Hills teen in Clueless , Alicia Silverstone returns for ‘Clueless’ sequel series from Peacock officially. This isn’t just a reboot or a remake, it’s a true continuation of the original 1995 classic. Few films define the 1990s like Clueless which is loosely based on Jane Austen’s Emma , the movie brought us unforgettable characters, era-defining fashion, and a perfect blend of satire and sincerity. Alicia Silverstone’s Cher Horowitz became a cultural icon, a matchmaker with a heart of gold, navigating high school with her own unique brand of Valley Girl wisdom. Now, nearly three decades later, the Clueless  sequel promises to revisit Cher in a modern-day setting, giving fans a rare chance to catch up with a character who’s been cemented in pop culture history. Fans will recall, we already had a Clueless  tv series that aired in 1996 starring Rachel Blanchard as Cher. Silverstone declined the offer at the time wanting to focus on her film career. She did go on to play Batgirl alongside Chris O’Donnell and George Clooney. According to reports from People , the actress has signed on not only to star in the sequel series but also to serve as an executive producer. That means she’ll have creative input into the direction of Cher’s new story. “It’s so lovely to see how people still love that movie,” Silverstone recently said in an interview. “People talk about a sequel all the time. Now it’s finally happening.” This Clueless  sequel is being developed as a series for Peacock. While exact plot details are hush hush, the series is intended to continue the story of Cher Horowitz as an adult, presumably navigating modern-day life with the same wit, optimism, and flair for fashion. Law Roach is probably her stylist now.  As of now, only Alicia Silverstone has been confirmed. However, fans are already campaigning for the return of Cher’s main crew. We have Cher’s best friend forever Stacey Dash (Dionne Davenport), her step-brother turned love interest Paul Rudd (Josh Lucas), her friend Breckin Meyer (Travis Birkenstock), her frenemy Elisa Donovan (Amber) and  Dionne’s boyfriend Donald Faison (Murray). Of course the character of Tai Frasier was played by Brittany Murphy who unfortunately died in 2009. The new series may include a reference to her character, hopefully honoring her. She was truly gone too soon.  Whether you're watching for the fashion, the nostalgia, or to see how Cher has grown up in today’s world, one thing’s for sure: this sequel will be anything but a bummer.

Wow what an amazing end to an amazing first season of the CBS hit legal drama Matlock starring Kathy Bates and Skye P. Marshall. These two ladies have been powerhouses this season and have earned Performer of the Week each at least once during the season from us here at The TV Cave.  The two part season finale gave us everything we needed and even more. Let’s start with Sarah getting to work her own case and crushing it, with the help of the team. Her client (guest star David Fumero, One Life to Live) was accused of murdering his business partner and things were not looking good after Sarah took him on as a client behind Olivia’s back and wrote that cease and desist letter that was way over the top. There was a hilarious scene with Billy trying to get the drawer opened and knocking her tooth out. I appreciated the comedy thrown in these episodes that were full of tension.  When Sarah gets her client off for a murder he did not commit, all seems well except her number one hater who Billy had to let down gently that he was not ready for a relationship, is out for her blood questioning her client on how he met Sarah. If it is found out that Sarah took a client without Olympia’s permission, she could be fired. Speaking of Billy he has been seeing his ex (never a good sign) and now she is pregnant! My goodness, what does next season hold for these two, who are still out of the loop on Maddy’s deception. Pictured (L-R): Leah Lewis as “Sarah Franklin”. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nice segway into what Maddy and Olympia had going on these two episodes. The back and forth was amazing. I loved the mess. Olympia struggled because Maddy hurt her so badly but she understood why she did it to Maddy teaching Olympia how to get over on people and then thinking Olympia used her own tactics against her. Mind blown.  Then we had Maddy and Edwin fighting because he is ready to get back to their old lives but Maddy has had a taste of what she wants to do in her golden years and they are butting heads. I hate when they fight because it is like watching your grandparents go at it but it does make for good television.  The real gut punch comes when Olympia finds the missing documents in Julian’s safety deposit box and they have it out in the vault. Julian trying to justify his actions and Olympia trying to understand how he could do something so illegal and unethical. Will she help him cover it up or keep her promise to Maddy? Only next season knows the answer.  The final moments left my jaw on the floor, Maddy opens the door and its Alfie’s father. Alfie found him and to his credit he was trying to warn them first. Maddy does the right thing and invites him in but what does this mean? Will he fight for custody? So many unanswered questions. Notable moments: Olympia tricking Julian's mother (it was great to be introduced to that character). Julian and Senior having it out and seeing just how damaged that relationship is. What did you think of the season finale and the season as a whole? Leave a comment and vote in our poll below.

If the rest of The Rookie  season is anything like this latest episode, then we will be alright. This week’s new episode titled Mad About Murder  had just the right pacing to keep me engaged start to finish. Hooray! No more storytelling whiplash!  As someone who loves to listen to True Crime podcasts, I could understand Lucy’s obsession with it. It’s a good thing too because after listening to a preview for a future episode, Lucy informed Celina that this particular host was working on a story based on the case of her murdered sister. It was frustrating to see Celina’s mom, who at one point couldn’t even leave the house, volunteer this information for the world to hear.  While shutting down her (and her mother’s) involvement in that podcast, Celina along with Lucy gets confronted by Taylor, a young woman looking for her missing pregnant sister, Aria. A deep dive into Aria’s secret social media led them to a woman named Greta, who was offering services to pregnant women in need of help. Believing that this would be a solid lead, both Celina and Lucy pay her a visit only to discover something is a bit off with her. She didn’t let them see into her home and signs showed that there was definitely a baby with her. Thankfully, they had the gut instinct to investigate further because Greta? That woman has completely lost her mind.  Celina enters the home while Lucy distracts her. When her efforts fail, Celina finds herself being pushed into the basement by Greta where, get this, she was keeping Aria hostage post delivery. The ads about wanting to help pregnant women was just a disguise as her way to take a baby for her own. Knowing that at this point she is basically caught, Greta thought it would be a great idea to just kill the baby (and then maybe herself? Madness). Good on Lucy doing what she had to do (crashing herself through the window was so badass of her) to save the baby.  JULIA ROSE GRUENBERG, LISSETH CHAVEZ (Disney/Mike Taing) I like that Celina quickly put an end to any involvement with that podcast episode (and rightfully so). Truthfully, I don’t believe Celina is at a point where she’s okay to even begin to talk about the impact her sister’s murder has had on her. While watching Taylor and Arias reunion at the hospital, she was emotional. Despite telling Lucy she was okay, the look she had on her face broke my heart. It’s as if she was saying “Blanca, I’m sorry I didn’t fight hard enough to save you like this sister did” (No? Am I the only one who saw that?). Seeing the sisters reunite, though, seems like a great start to healing that wound.  Tim’s cyberstalking storyline bringing us closure with Malvado was both satisfying and frustrating. Satisfying because the writers are finally connecting stories back to people we’ve previously met which made it interesting to see. What was extremely frustrating was that killing Malvado off so quickly felt like an abrupt end to an imminent threat to John and Bailey (if anyone found out about Bailey’s involvement in her ex-husband’s, Jason, murder).  Did anyone else catch that the FBI still doesn’t know who sent Tim the message? I have some theories about that but I’ll keep it to myself for now.  Lucy truly stood out to me in this episode. For the most part, it felt like she was the one who took care of everyone else and she didn’t come off too confident, but not this time around. She took the lead in the case against Taylor and her missing sister (loved how she had Heather Marie, the podcast host, escorted out of the precinct when Taylor thought she was there to help) and I have to bring up that window crash again. There was no second guessing herself and there was no asking for outside advice on what to do – this was her  case (I know Celina was there to help too, but let's be real).  It also brought us a nice Chenford moment at the hospital. This was my favorite moment of theirs this season so far, and it’s because I could see just how much the both of them have grown separately which to me means we’re closer to a reunion (I may be delulu - who knows, but stay with me). Lucy didn’t need Tim there, but you can see she was relieved to see him. When Tim got a call on an update on his own case, she didn’t attach herself to it (per usual because she always wants to help). I know what I’m about to say may seem like a reach, but notice how there wasn’t a question of “which case are you talking about?” happening in that scene. They definitely still reach out to each other, off screen, which means they are definitely  still each other’s person. That, coupled with Angela’s conversation with Tim, makes me believe that things are finally moving with Tim and Lucy.  Ending the episode with a friendly competitive game of flag football between LAPD and LAFD was great (because if it was another Bailan scene I would’ve screamed). What’d you think of the latest episode? Share your thoughts about the episode and our The Rookie review.

The season finale of Abbott Elementary is here and it was a fitting closing to a great season. The Please Touch Museum is the end of the year trip, a tradition now for Abbott Elementary I think to close out the season. Lots of things always go down on the field trips and this was no exception. Janine is finally going to properly meet Gregory’s father (Martin Eddie), played by Orlando Jones, who has volunteered as a chaperone for the trip. Janine wants to make a great first impression so she changes her personality to better align with Martin’s. While Martin is impressed, Gregory can’t stand it because it is the complete opposite and not the woman he fell in love with. When one of Janine’s students falls and hurts herself, Janine can no longer hold up the act and confesses to Martin that she is not some serious person but she’s silly because she teaches little children. To the surprise of Gregory, Martin is understanding and spends the rest of the field trip being silly. He is a little resentful because he did not see that side of his father so Janine suggests talking to him about it. Gregory takes that advice and he and his father have a heartfelt conversation and Martin tells Gregory that Janine reminds him of Gregory’s mother.  “And, son, guys like us do pretty well with partners like her.” It was really great to see Gregory and his father finally have a nice bonding moment. Gregory has had some good character growth this season.  TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS, ORLANDO JONES (Disney/Gilles Mingasson) Meanwhile Jacob’s eighth graders are too old for The Please Touch Museum and are not having a great time despite Jacob’s best efforts. An employee steps in and suggests the students put on a play about the teachers. The kids have the teachers play each other in a hilarious moment where Jacob is Barbara, Barbara is Melissa, Melissa is Jacob and Mr. Johnson is Mr. Johnson. They all play over the top versions of each other. Later when Janine and Gregory join playing each other it just adds to the hilarity.  Elsewhere in the episode Ava was given ugly earrings from O’Shon but does not want to hurt his feelings. Very unlike Ava of her. When she takes them off and O’Shon notices, she has to tell them the truth and they have a very sweet moment, solidifying their relationship.  MATTHEW LAW, JANELLE JAMES (Disney/Gilles Mingasson) Overall the episode was fun with the focus being more on the students and how the eight graders will be gone next year. The kid actors do an amazing job on the show and I'm going to miss seeing the older kids. That does give the opportunity for new kids and new stories next season.  What did you think? Vote in our poll and leave a comment.

Detective Elliott Stabler is back for a brand new season of Law & Order: Organized Crime in the season five premiere. There is no hold bar when it comes to storytelling action and acting from the cast. Elliot is given the task of going undercover with a dangerous crew who poses as a trucking company by day, but also pimps girls at night. There's kidnapping, there’s murder and there’s an even bigger crew, a more dangerous crew that the trucking company works for and Elliot is right in the middle of all of it. I mean, that’s the job right?  Spoilers Ahead…. According to the official logline of the season, “Season five explores the dangerous worlds of cross-border smuggling, high-tech domestic terrorism and a crime family intent on repaying Stabler for the injury he did them in Rome. As his worlds collide, Stabler will put everything on the line to protect the vulnerable and fight for justice.”  What I love about this show in particular this season is that this is a different Stabler that fans are used to when we would watch him on Law and order SVU. His years on the police force have definitely changed him. He’s not as rough around the edges as he was in the beginning . This is an entirely different version of a character that we are so used to seeing. That doesn’t mean that Stabler still won’t hurt you when need be, in fact it’s the complete opposite. Yes, he is all about organized crime and stopping these people but if you throw in a vulnerable person like a young woman or a young girl, that SVU detective will definitely jump out and handle business. The supporting cast is also very strong on this show. I love getting to see Elliott‘s son and his journey and what he wants his career to be and what he wants his family to be. Seeing Elliot‘s family, his brother and mother, humanizes Elliot in a way that we really didn't  get a chance to dive deep into during SVU. This is his story his way and it’s working. The season opener sets up perfectly for a beautiful and thrilling arc for the remainder of the season. Whenever a cop goes undercover, there’s always some risk and whenever you join forces with another organization, that isn’t your own, someone always has secrets. That first episode in the last few moments will leave you on the edge of your seat. When we get to the second episode, we see the return of fan favorite and matriarch of the Law and Order franchise Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). I won’t give away her role in the second episode, but it sure was wonderful to see her and Stabler together again. There is a cute scene between her and Elliot's brother that made me chuckle. Back to Stabler, who even hurt is on the job but he does push himself too far. I am never a fan of the dream sequence in the hospital scenes. For me it's an overused way for a character to work through their issues. Is there no other way to achieve character development? There has to be, we’ve seen it before.  Pictured: (l-r) Dean Norris as Randall Stabler, Danielle Moné Truitt as Sgt. Ayanna Bell, Mariska Hargitay as Capt. Olivia Benson -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/PEACOCK) The second episode turns into Stabler trying to locate the girls that worked the truck stop. This episode really gives truck drivers a bad name, my goodness. Stopping a bunch of truck drivers that kill women and dump them on the highway, classic Law & Order however. There is a really emotional and touching scene between Stabler and his mother that brings on the waterworks. It makes you appreciate what the family members of first responders go through. I hope we get a lot more of these two throughout the season. Stabler being haunted by Bunny would also make an interesting arc for him. The one he could not save.  The move from broadcast NBC to streaming on Peacock was a good move in my opinion. The show is allowed to be more real and raw with the storytelling (i.e. the language). I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the first two episodes.  What did you think? Leave a comment and remember to vote in our poll below fans!

Amazon Prime Video’s ambitious Citadel universe hoped to expand with international spin-offs that reimagined the spy thriller genre through unique cultural lenses. Following the modest success of the original Citadel  series starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden, the franchise branched out with Citadel: Honey Bunny  in India and Citadel: Diana  in Italy. Each series offers a localized, high-stakes narrative while tying into the overarching world of espionage and betrayal that defines the Citadel  brand. Unfortunately, Prime has canceled Citadel: Honey Bunny and Citadel: Diana.   Citadel: Honey Bunny  is the Indian installment of the franchise, from creators Raj & DK. Starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the series served as a prequel to the main Citadel storyline, telling the origin story of Nadia Sinh’s parents, Honey and Bunny, played by Dhawan and Prabhu.   Citadel: Diana  brings an Italian story to the franchise. Set in Milan in the year 2030, the series stars Matilda De Angelis as Diana Cavalieri, a fiercely intelligent and morally conflicted spy embedded within the evil organization Manticore.   The Russo Brothers, serving as executive producers, envisioned a narrative web stretching across continents, languages, and cultures. However, after lukewarm performance of the flagship series and underwhelming response to its spin-offs, the cracks began to show and Prime Video finally made the decision to cancel the spinoffs.   Critics pointed out that each series had its own identity but lacked a cohesive thread that linked them meaningfully to the main storyline. There were multiple production delays and casting challenges as well for Honey Bunny, while Diana struggled with pacing and storytelling execution. Despite big names and international settings, neither spin-off created the kind of buzz or fan engagement seen in successful global franchises like Doctor Who and Star Trek for example. Granted those are sci-fi shows but you have your Jack Ryan and of course James Bond if you want to stick in the genre. With Honey Bunny  and Diana officially shelved, Amazon appears to be reassessing its global strategy. While no further cancellations have been announced, the future of other spin-offs remains uncertain. It’s likely that the studio will now refocus on the core Citadel storyline or reimagine its approach to interconnected global narratives. For fans, the cancellations are disappointing but serve as a reminder that star power and global settings alone can’t guarantee success. In the ever-competitive streaming landscape, story and audience connection remain king. What do you think of the news? Drop a comment.