Cruel Summer
SimilarBaywatch Nights,
HIStory Nine: Nine Time Travels, The Twilight Zone, Twin Peaks,
In its first season, Cruel Summer was a roller coaster of a television show. It offered a new twist, loop, or drop around every corner. Cruel Summer Season 2, by contrast, feels more like the Slingshot. For one, the journey is much easier to understand and anticipate. Of course, there are still thrills to be hand. Still, it lacks a certain gonzo quality. As a result, this season is better and more logically plotted, but also significantly less likely to leave a viewer’s head spinning. Continue Reading →
The Watchful Eye
SimilarThreshold,
StudioABC Signature,
Creating an engaging plot-driven primetime soap is a delicate process, despite how big and loud such shows tend to be. Burn through too many storylines too early, and you end up with, well, a Ryan Murphy series. On the other hand, take too much time to toss out the red meat, and the audience drifts, tired of potential with no execution. Continue Reading →
Alone Together
Remember the early days of the pandemic? The times in March 2020 when the world was in denial of the catastrophe heading our way? That’s the setting of Alone Together, Katie Holmes’s newest film, which she wrote and directed in addition to starring in. It’s a strong second directorial feature from Holmes, even if her script leans on some overused rom-com tropes. Continue Reading →