TV – Swan Song Apocalypse

You Make My Aliens Come True

Recently, Time Magazine published an article regarding the status of government information regarding UFOs…um…UAPs. Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena is being used now, more inclusive as it covers unidentified objects which are seen underwater, in space, or on land.

The rationale to the acronym change is driven by “UFO” creating images of little green men and flying saucers, and the thinking is military personnel, airline pilots, etc. might feel a bit more at ease – and more likely – to report strangeness if it isn’t associated with those “prior” images.

I have never seen a UFO or a UAP, but I do believe there are other life forms “out there.” Of course, many of these reports are likely explainable in a real-world way other than an outer-world way, but the article also notes remarks from former President Obama in an interview earlier this year when asked if extraterrestrial life exists…

“They’re real, but I haven’t seen them. They’re not being kept at Area 51. There’s no underground facility – unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the President of the United States.”

I think a lot of folks still haven’t ruled out that conspiracy part. Time reported in a recent poll only 21% surveyed trust the federal government is telling the whole truth about what all they know. 89% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats polled said they want more info on UFOs…

“You could be a single-issue candidate running in the U.S. That issue could be UAP transparency, and you could get elected just based on that.” – Jordan Flowers, Executive Director, Disclosure Foundation

We are starting to see a handful of alleged reports, testimonies, videos, etc. on previous, still-unexplained activity, some of which is mentioned in the Time feature. One thing I found most interesting in the article was projecting the big “what if.” What if – like Steven Spielberg’s recent film Disclosure Day – we actually had to process an official announcement we have in fact been visited by aliens from other worlds? Some of the populace would certainly develop mental health issues as their anxiety levels rose about what all might happen next, but what of spiritual health? How does life outside of us reconcile with the beliefs of various religions around the world? I don’t know how to reconcile religious beliefs I have with my belief there is intelligent life elsewhere. One thing I do know for certain is my interest in Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, and the possibility our politicians have buried information on them, began with a groundbreaking television show called…The X-Files.

I was scrolling through my cable system programming guide early in 2023 when I discovered a channel called Comet. One of the shows they had in heavy rerun rotation at that time was The X-Files. My wife and I started watching them off and on late at night…and eventually watched more on than off. We also watched the show religiously when it first aired, but like a lot of folks walked away from it as the seasons rolled on. At this point, I can’t tell you how many times I have seen each X-Files episode, but what I can tell you is I have a much greater appreciation for how special the series was/is. While I still think the government conspiracies on the show eventually over time became way more unbelievable than those little green men themselves, many of the stand-alone, “monster of the week” episodes make for excellent television. I particularly like those times when David Duchovny’s Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson’s Dana Scully were placed in off-beat, even comedic situations. Several times when they stepped away from the show’s clunky government conspiracy mythology, I thought the cast and crew stepped up their performances and made some of their most enjoyable episodes.

FYI, if you love The X-Files or know someone who does, a great Christmas gift would be the book Monsters Of The Week: The Complete Critical Companion to The X-Files. TV critics Zack Handlen and Emily Todd VanDerWerff compiled a great book several years back which examines what made the series so groundbreaking. It features reviews of every episode—including the tenth and eleventh seasons – as well as both major motion pictures. The forward is written by series creator Chris Carter.

The following is my Top 15 X-Files MOTW episodes I find the most entertaining in order of likeability, without any regard for potentially being graded as great television…

Bad Blood, Season 5 –Mulder and Scully try to get their stories straight before filing their respective reports after Mulder kills a teenager he swears was a vampire. Needless to say, their recollections are quite different…and quite funny. Luke Wilson guest stars.
How The Ghosts Stole Christmas, Season 6 – On Christmas Eve, Mulder and Scully are trapped inside a haunted mansion where two spirits show them just how isolated and lonely their lives are…together. This episode is a gift any time of year. Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin guest star.
Je Souhaite, Season 7 – Mulder and Scully investigate a cynical genie who gives humans exactly what they ask for with disastrous results…because humans simply don’t know HOW to properly ask a genie for a wish.
Jose Chung’s From Outer Space, Season 3 – A sci-fi novelist writes an account of the alien abduction of two teens. Mulder and Scully have an interest in the case as well. There are several bizarre moments here, including a car backing up perfectly into a garage from the street at full speed. Charles Nelson Reilly, Jesse Ventura, and Alex Trebek guest star.
War Of The Coprophages, Season 3 – Mulder sets out to investigate a small town being terrorized by super-cockroaches. Scully eventually joins him there…finally getting to meet Mulder’s new female friend “Dr. Bambi.”
Rm9sbG93ZXJz, Season 11 – In a show with very few words, Mulder and Scully become targets of a less-than-robust AI network after a visit to a robot sushi restaurant. It makes you rethink stiffing anyone -or anything – on a tip. A foreshadowing, cautionary tale of AI being in our lives 24/7.
Arcadia, Season 6 – Mulder and Scully go undercover as a married couple to investigate disappearances in a too-nice-to-be-true planned community. Mulder really gets into the roleplaying, as well as hissing off the very odd community leader.
Audrey Pauley, Season 9 – Agent Reyes is severely injured in a car crash, and now finds herself in a coma…as well as a flying, alternate-universe hospital. Agent Doggett fights to solve her dilemma while also keeping the organ donors at bay.
Redrum, Season 8 – Scully and Agent Doggett try to help a prosecutor accused of killing his wife, a man who is also experiencing his last days in reverse. The clock is running out on him…backwards. Joe Morton and Danny Trejo guest star.
The Unnatural, Season 6 – An elderly man recounts a story to Mulder about an old-time star baseball player who also happened to be an alien. A loving nod to the book and novel The Natural. M. Emmet Walsh and Jessie L. Martin guest star.
X-Cops, Season 7 – Mulder and Scully work alongside a reality television crew while chasing an entity that preys on people’s fears. Turns out they are naturals when it comes to being on TV.
Kill Switch, Season 5 – A rogue AI program is hunting and killing those who brought it to life. Mulder winds up being trapped within it. Another series episode which is far ahead of its time. Your shining example of AI becoming a big-time weapon.
Field Trip, Season 6 – Mulder and Scully investigate a case of bodies rapidly decomposing, and come into contact with what is causing it. Hallucinations ensue. You think the case is solved…but wait a minute…why are their faces melting again?
The Lost Art Of Forehead Sweat, Season 11- Mulder and Scully encounter a man named Reggie, who claims mass memory manipulation is erasing his storied history as Mulder’s prior partner…which for sure nobody seems to remember.
Pilot, Season 1 – The very first episode of the series, where we first get to meet our heroes. Their meet-cute set the stage for everything thereafter. This is actually considered part of the show’s mythology and not a MOTW episode because it introduces the themes for the government conspiracy narrative to come, but this is my blog so here we are.

And, we now go from a show that features aliens…to a show that features aliens.

At the beginning of August, I had already assembled a mental checklist of reasons not to bother watching the new series Lanterns on HBO:

DC Studios – They have struggled mightily operating in the shadow of Marvel Studios when it comes to superhero entertainment, and their recent projects under alleged saviors James Gunn and Peter Safran have been less than impressive.

The 2011 Green Lantern Movie w/Ryan Reynolds – It was a tough watch. I don’t think it was the worst superhero movie ever made, but if it was the last time we ever saw the character I would have been ok.

Setting Lanterns In Rural Nebraska – I have never been to Nebraska. I probably would love parts of Nebraska. However, DC had a show on The CW recently called Superman & Lois which portrayed and shot Smallville, Kansas as so freaking small it was completely absurd. I envisioned seeing Lanterns having all of its “action” set in a town with a dozen buildings and two dozen residents.

Reports Lanterns Was More Of A Detective Drama – The idea of the Green Lantern character solving crimes in a police-like procedural fashion had zero appeal.

And then I decided to watch the first episode because…you know…Bruce and his superheroes (sigh).

Well, let me tell you…HBO’s Lanterns is one superhero show that doesn’t feel or look like one, and that’s a great thing. It is a grounded, Earth-based, complex, twisty, mystery that features perhaps the most awkwardly assembled pair of partners ever…who nonetheless share great chemistry.

I have read a lot of Lanterns reviews where critics mention prior television shows in an attempt to explain how different this project is from what your expectations might be of a series that revolves around an intergalactic law enforcement agency ensuring aliens stay in their lane…

“It’s a mystery that has a tone more resembling Yellowstone than it does a superhero adventure.” – Mike Ryan, The Hard Pass

Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) plays the current Green Lantern. Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge) plays the Green Lantern in-waiting. Their contentious relationship, opposing endgame goals, and immediate shared objectives are the real heart and soul of the show. Lanterns proves a successful superhero project doesn’t require great spectacle, when it instead has solid characters and fantastic storylines. There’s an absence of wall-to-wall blockbuster action here, just blockbuster performances and writing.

I never saw Friday Night Lights (but Bruce, you love football…how could you not have watched that show?), but I have seen him in other projects and enjoyed his work. He is perfect for the role of aging Green Lantern Hal Jordan, and strikes the perfect balance of jealousy and duty while mentoring his apparent replacement. Aaron Pierre plays that trainee role with just the right amount of respect and ambition. It’s a perfect combo, folks.

After watching the premiere, I was counting the days until the next episode. That anticipation has continued to grow each week as Lanterns has just passed its mid-point.

If you have access to HBO, I recommend you give Lanterns a try. I know with all that Marvel success came superhero fatigue for some (many) of you, but this is such a refreshing take on the whole genre. DC Studios made themselves a slightly-bigger town…and a massive global hit.

Pictures Courtesy SeeRoswell/Fox/HBO

Subtle (And Less Subtle) Signs Of Autumn (And Snoopy)

I mentioned my blogging sidekick Ficus in a post from almost a year ago as another plant who is always able to figure things out, including when our seasons are about to shift. The very first thing I notice which makes me feel Autumn is on its way is how the sunlight subtly shifts as it gently enters two windows on either side of Ficus, who stoically resides adjacent to my desk. The sun enters that area at a slightly different angle, moves away just a little quicker, and Ficus ultimately spends a bit more time in the shadows during the afternoon. Each year this happens…it just creeps up on me out of nowhere until one day when I finally recognize what is happening. (I have no doubt Ficus wonders why it still takes me so long to pick up on this…)

Once the sun has started to begin its subtle adjustment, our neighbor’s tree is where the next noticeable change takes place. I don’t know what kind of tree it is, and each Spring it looks healthy enough, but around mid-August it sheds all of its leaves in three weeks. With the heat of the summer still at work, we wind up with a Fall-like street setting of crunchy, golden-brown leaves to admire well before Labor Day…leaves which due to the jet stream will eventually be in our yard to admire more intimately. It is another reminder Autumn (and its leaves) is not far behind.

I subscribe to a number of podcasts. Podcasts became a big deal to me when I started a walking exercise program in the second half of last year. I keep track of steps on my iPhone, and as I walk from Point A to Point B and back again, I like to listen to them (when not listening to live sports). The subjects of these podcasts? TV show rewatches, the NBA, College Basketball, College Football…and NFL Fantasy Football. I can easily see a scenario where after hearing the basics of how Fantasy Football is played, those unfamiliar with it would conclude success is more about luck than skill. Google AI spit out most analysts and experienced players estimate season-long Fantasy Football is 50-70% luck. I would concur when we’re talking about actually winning a league championship. I know Autumn is approaching when the velocity of Fantasy Football podcasts subtly ramps up as training camps get into full swing. My wife and I have been playing Fantasy Football together since 1998. It’s fun for both of us (except when we’re playing each other), and it makes watching any pro football game more interesting as each one has meaning…not just the ones our Eagles are playing in.

Dunkin’s Fall 2026 menu is scheduled to launch this week. Starbucks debuts their menu next week. Two in-your-face signs Autumn is soon upon us. Pumpkin Spice everything, baby. I have come to believe Pumpkin Spice is something you either hate or love. I happen to love it. Now, one not-so-little twist this year when it comes to Fall beverages is in addition to that walking program I initiated, I stopped drinking coffee completely several months ago. My morning drinks since that time have primarily been Iced Chai Lattes. I would very much like to re-introduce coffee to my diet when these Autumnal menus arrive, but I think the days of ordering large Pumpkin Spice Cream Cold Brews are over. I just have to figure out how to say the word s-m-a-l-l. (I have been practicing…)

I walked into the local grocery store yesterday and there it was, a fully-stocked, filled-to-the-sky Halloween section with costume accessories, home decorations…and of course, candy. Boxes and boxes of bags and bags. I will admit we do buy candy for the neighborhood ahead of time, but not this much ahead of time. We get about 100-125 visitors to the front door each Halloween. It is a night where the community is united in having a good time. This too-early appearance of the grocery store Halloween section is another sign Autumn…and the camaraderie of Halloween Night (meet-and-greet skeleton included!) is not far off.

ADDENDUM…A New Peanuts Adventure

I have no idea how young I was when I read my first Charlie Brown comic. It just naturally and organically became a part of my youth, and I read it in the newspaper every single day. Television specials and movies followed, and I have been there for all of it.

Autumn always found Charlie Brown once again being convinced to run up and kick a football by his holding “pal” Lucy.

Apple TV recently announced a new Peanuts movie will hit their platform in 2027. And, it sounds like a movie for all of us to pal around with. The title: Snoopy Unleashed.

The set-up…Charlie Brown’s long-time pen pal, a wheelchair-bound girl from London named Mia, makes a surprise visit to Charlie in the States. Charlie Brown now is faced with trying to live up to the “larger” version of himself he promoted in their letters. Snoopy picks up on this newcomer taking over Charlie Brown’s main focus, and decides to run off to the big city. Charlie and the Peanuts gang, plus Mia of course, all set out to find the wayward doggie. In the interim, while navigating the urban landscape Snoopy befriends a stray mutt who is way more comfortable with city life. We don’t know the stray’s name, but he becomes Snoopy’s opposites-attract pal…just like Mia and Charlie Brown.

The script for this 80-minute feature was written by Craig Schulz, Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz’s son – and his own son, Bryan Schulz – along with Cornelius Uliano and Karey Kirkpatrick. It is directed by Steve Martino, who directed The Peanuts Movie (2015).

Peanuts continues to thrive – long after its final comic strip ran back in February of 2000 – and this film will certainly add to its historic legacy.

Pictures Courtesy Recraft/Threads/Apple TV

Christmas In July – A Trio Of Entertaining Gifts

Sizing Up The Odyssey

A lot of the entertainment news these days is about Christopher Nolan’s new film, The Odyssey. It is making a bunch of money, and to be sure a decent chunk of that coin is due to folks driving far and wide to see the movie in the largest format possible. The Odyssey is the first film to be completely filmed in IMAX 70 mm. There has been some pushback on the elitist nature of making the movie that way, in that there are only a handful of theatres around the world who can actually show the movie in the format it was filmed in.

We are lucky to live all of five miles from a theatre who has the ability to show a movie in IMAX Digital. The next best thing if you are a movie buff. As my wife and I were taking that brief commute to the theatre at 7:30 Saturday morning to see The Odyssey, we pondered whether or not we really needed to see the movie with a sellout audience…since we wouldn’t be seeing the “true” film anyway. To be sure, we have seen (and heard) a lot of IMAX presentations in our time. And, we get it…it is a fabulous way to present a movie.

We ultimately decided to opt for a show in the standard definition format we all usually see movies in that had four…FOUR…people in the audience. Our goal was to really focus in on this film, and it surely would be a better atmosphere for that with the entire theatre basically to ourselves…as well as reclining seats. Ironically, the higher-priced IMAX theatre has rigid, fixed seating. That morning, it also had a packed house which would inevitably be distracting getting up and moving about during a movie near three hours long. I don’t mind seeing a movie with a crowd, but then there’s crowded. The decision to opt for a “lesser” viewing experience wasn’t as easy as which size popcorn to buy (large), but it was pretty close.

The result? For me, The Odyssey might…might be Christopher Nolan’s finest film of his distinguished career. The direction, acting, locations, sound, and editing are all masterclass. As you know from my prior post, I am not an awards guy. Still, I would be remiss in not reporting I would be shocked if the movie isn’t represented in each Oscar category it is eligible for.

A true cinematic gift, worthy of a view on any size screen.

Doomsday Is Almost Here, But Are MCU Fans Here For It

San Diego hosted the traditional Comic-Con this weekend at its Convention Center. The highlight for many attendees was when Marvel took over Hall H Saturday night for their panel and presentation with regard to their December release of the movie Avengers: Doomsday. Earlier in the week, Marvel released its latest trailer for the film, which was underwhelming to some of us.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a rocky go of it since their Infinity Saga of films concluded with Avengers: Endgame in 2019. That film featured a ton of superheroes, all with quality film appearances on their resume before appearing in Endgame. The movie became the highest-grossing film of all-time at the time it was released.

I always felt that after Endgame, Marvel needed to introduce their next set of Avengers in a linear manner, with three or four of them in each film. No origin stories, just a series of movies allowing the audience to get to see them a couple of times each at minimum before even considering taking on the task of a mega-multi-hero movie like Endgame. The trailer that was released is stuffed with mostly new Avengers we’ve barely seen on screen…and some X-Men heroes we’ve never seen in the MCU.

So, with that sinking feeling of a rushed attempt to try and “save” Marvel, along came news Saturday night that at least some of the approximately 7,500 in attendance at the Marvel event felt the “extended footage” shown in Hall H should have been in the trailer released days earlier. It was better. It gave Marvel fans the gift of hope this will be a decent comic book hero experience. Certainly not The Odyssey…but after the journeys Marvel has taken us on recently I’d just settle for a good, entertaining time at the movies.

I’m such a huge fan of Marvel’s earlier films I will be there on Opening Day for Doomsday. As for my expectations, they remain low…but I’ve moved them up a little bit with some hopeful news. As for my hopes, they remain high.

Chilling With Hallmark

Sunday morning, we put on the Hallmark Channel to get some Christmas In July vibes going in the house. I swear the temperature went down a few degrees, a real gift in the sizzling summertime. When these Hallmark Christmas films arrive in July, it provides me a reset of sorts. I am less interested in marking the fact the year is half over. I am more interested in marking the fact the second half is getting started.

My “Holy Trinity” of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas is that much closer now, bringing with it cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, and the traditional food and drink of Fall and Winter.

The second half of a year re-energizes me, but I certainly know it isn’t for everyone. I just prefer cold to heat, and to be sure each one of these Holiday seasons have deep meaning to me for both happy and not-as-happy reasons…just like a Hallmark Christmas movie.

And below, five of their films I always carve out time for since they first aired, even if it isn’t always turkey-carving time just yet.

An Unexpected Christmas (2021, Starring Bethany Joy Lenz, Tyler Hynes)

Christmas By Starlight (2020, Starring Kimberly Sustad, Paul Campbell)

Crashing Through The Snow (2021, Starring Amy Acker, Brooke Nevin, Warren Christie)

Debbie Macomber’s Trading Christmas (2011, Starring Faith Ford, Tom Cavanagh, Gil Bellows)

The Nine Lives Of Christmas (2014, Starring Kimberly Sustad, Brandon Routh)

Picture Courtesy Universal Pictures

Movies At The Mid-Year Mark

Hello, everyone. Very nice to be back on WP again…and very nice to see you here. It has been great visiting and commenting on your sites once more. WordPress people are the best kind of people.

Assuming you’re all still people, of course. With artificial intelligence, these days you’re not exactly sure whom or what you are chatting with at any given moment….!

You may recall Mrs. B and I are big movie-theatregoers. Since the calendar has been flipped into the second half of the year, I thought it would be fun to mention the films we’ve seen at the cineplex during the first six months of 2026. We have taken in a couple other theatrical movies released this year on the small screen, but for me I prefer commenting on (and ranking) films I made a commitment to see on the big screen.

I offer a disclaimer when it comes to reviewing, ranking, and awarding creative, artistic endeavors in general. It may come across as a weird, odd take from someone who loves movies as much as I do, and perhaps its genesis was film studies back in college a zillion years ago, but nonetheless here we are. I admit I watch all of the major entertainment award shows…Grammys, Emmys, Oscars, etc. But, I do so only to celebrate the respective industries involved and stargaze at all the talent assembled under one roof.

While I love reading reviews, which often introduce me to very different perspectives of a creative project I may not have perceived on my own…and I also love reading rankings of artistic endeavors based on the critic’s personal enjoyment of them…I have never felt said endeavors should then be voted upon and elevated to a select few on these various award shows. Then, a handful are actually named the “best.”

Movies are certainly subjective. Deservedly, common-sense so. You and I will see the same film and, on many occasions, have significantly different takeaways. Personal “bias” is front and center, with our opinions based on our universal likes and dislikes, our prior life experiences…all the way down the checklist to what kind of mood we happened to be in when we saw the movie. Giving out Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes, and Oscars implies objectivity and universal agreement that simply doesn’t appeal to me. I may be a bit of a cinematic snob in this aspect, but for me it is a bit more snobbery to actually go forth and herald any performance or any movie the “best.”

That being said, I find critic reviews and rankings quite interesting because not only do they give me a little bit of a window into the reviewer themselves, they often lead me to watching a film I passed on initially, or pondering scenarios, aspects, or angles I did not take away from my watch.

I know some of you don’t go to movie theatres these days. Many are frustrated with Hollywood leaning so much into sequels and franchises. Less originality. More of an emphasis on built-in audiences and merchandise sales. Theatres are certainly operated with varying degrees of professionalism, and audiences can sometimes be just as challenging to deal with. Moviegoing is fairly expensive. However, going to a movie theatre will always be a part of my life. Just in the DNA.

That being said, I was pretty much underwhelmed by most of the seventeen films I saw in the theatre halfway through 2026. I think I’ll take a pause on actually ranking this batch in terms of enjoyment…saving that for a year-end ranking of all 2026 films seen. Here are the films seen (alphabetically) with a few comments thrown in:

Backrooms, Cold Storage, Crime 101, Disclosure Day, Good Luck Have Fun Don’t Die, Greenland 2 Migration, Hoppers, How To Make A Killing, Mercy, Minions & Monsters, Project Hail Mary, Ready Or Not 2 Here I Come, Scream 7, Star Wars The Mandalorian & Grogu, Supergirl, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Sheep Detectives

I will freely admit I have never grown up, so it tracks two of my faves from this bunch are very family-friendly films, Hoppers and The Sheep Detectives. That being said, it would be a disservice to call them kids movies. I think all ages get a kick out of these two films. Crafted with great care…and nice, inspiring messages within.

Crime 101 features a gritty, noir-like storyline executed by a stellar cast. I definitely recommend stealing a few moments to check out this “ultimate heist” tale.

Two movies you may not have heard of…Good Luck Have Fun Don’t Die is a mind-bending, time-travel, sci-fi journey, while Cold Storage is more of a “stay-in-one-place” sci-fi adventure. Both have comedic moments sprinkled in throughout their R-rated action. Recommended if you are looking for something quirky.

Minions & Monsters was great fun (again, for all ages), and a nice love letter to Hollywood back in the day. I just wish the filmmakers would have restrained themselves at least this one time from the frantic, chaotic final act Minions films always seem to require.

I am a huge fan of Steven Spielberg’s exceptional career in moviemaking, but I was disappointed in Disclosure Day. Yet, if you have never seen one of his mega-hits from years ago, you may enjoy this film. For me, it was pretty much a mash-up of concepts and scenes from prior winners of his, and I was admittedly hoping for more “newness” from him this time around.

This once-enthusiastic supporter of Marvel and DC continues to be underwhelmed by the superhero fare these days, with Supergirl continuing a rough stretch for our comic book crusaders. The depressing, dystopian, one-note origin story here didn’t work for me. While I didn’t mind the anti-hero lead character the studio crafted, the movie only soared for me when Krypto the Superdog was on-screen…and he wasn’t around nearly enough.

Finally, a word about Backrooms, a “creepypasta” horror film brought to the screen by 21-year-old YouTuber Kane Parsons. It has received positive reviews, and while I think Parsons is worth keeping an eye on in the future, Mrs. B and I came away feeling Backrooms was much more mood than movie. I think some enjoyed the concept so much perhaps they overlooked whether or not an entertaining film was produced. I must say in the run-up to seeing it I was also enthralled with its premise. Didn’t find it absorbing, and Backrooms serves as a great example of the absolute subjectivity of film I alluded to earlier. Many folks enjoyed it. Another YouTuber, Curry Barker, released another horror film within just a couple of weeks of Backrooms…a film titled Obsession. It too has gotten good reviews, and because of the YouTube success between Parsons and Barker…and the box office success both films have done…the two films and filmmakers are often mentioned in the same breath. That being said, we’re going to await Obsession’s arrival on the small screen. A knee-jerk reaction based on the great disappointment in Backrooms? Perhaps.

Before concluding, I want to call out four small screen series I recommend for those who have access to them that either had new seasons drop in the first six months of the year or made their debut…Daredevil Born Again, Paradise, and Widow’s Bay. Currently watching Pluribus…and I do love what I’ve seen from seven of its nine episodes so far…but to be sure it is very much a slow, s-l-o-w burn of a show.

I look forward to any thoughts or reactions you have regarding movies or series watched recently. Recommendations are always welcome. Happy viewing to all for the second half of 2026.

Picture Courtesy Disney

There Is So Much Good In Evil

I subscribe to several Entertainment news feeds, which makes perfect sense for someone who is so into shows and movies as myself. This week, I was pleased to see it was reported by multiple sources CBS has given a series order to Robert and Michelle King’s legal drama Cupertino for the 2026-27 season. I now have at least one new show to look forward to on “traditional” television come next season.

If you are not familiar with the Kings, they are responsible for the current CBS hit Elsbeth, as well as other shows such as Happy Face, Evil, BrainDead, The Good Fight, and their monster hit The Good Wife. This new project reunites them with Mike Colter, who was one of the stars of Evil, and worked with them on the two “Good” series.

Cupertino is named after the city in California that is home to Apple. The series is billed as a David vs. Goliath legal drama set in the heart of Silicon Valley, following a lawyer (Colter) who is cheated by his former employer, a tech startup. He then teams up with another recently fired attorney to represent those taken advantage of by the tech industry elites.

The Kings have worked with CBS Studios for over fifteen years now, and will executive produce Cupertino, lead its writing room, and serve as co-showrunners. Robert will also direct the series premiere. They always have their hands on most aspects of their projects, and this new show’s back -office structure sounds much the same. They are used to working on more than one show at a time, which will be good news to fans of Elsbeth in terms of maintaining the quality of that series.

Let us discuss BrainDead for a moment – a show I recommend you sample if you have access to it, and are looking for something quirky. BrainDead was a one-season-and-done series…but to be honest based on its premise I think the Kings constructed it as such. It was extremely “out there” for network television. Still, if you have never seen it, you are in for a treat, especially if you are a fan of shows that parody politics. If that does not draw you in, the show’s premise is a comedy-thriller where alien insects take over the minds of politicians in Washington. Oh, and it also features one of the most intrusive earworms ever unleashed.

The Kings have said the 2013 government shutdown inspired them to create the “Body Snatcher” government scenario. Acting legend Tony Shalhoub plays a Senator who is one of the very first pols infected…and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is just wonderful in the lead role, returning to D.C. to work for her Senator brother…navigating the strangeness and trying to figure out why some staff and Congress members are acting so…weird.

Speaking of weird, it is weird Evil was cancelled last year. In a June 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Robert King had a stronger feeling:

“I don’t f***ing understand why Evil was canceled, I still can’t. I lay awake at night wondering why it was canceled, and it all seems to come back to the new streaming model which is, “We have enough. We don’t need more. There’s no place for your show. What can you say except that it was stupid. And I think the business is stupid.”

Evil ran for four seasons before its series finale on August 22, 2024.

I happen to listen to a podcast where the host always asks his guest as the last question, ‘What hill are you most willing to die on?” It might be the drink or dish they swear by, their favorite movie or album…you get the idea. Something you will swear to everyone you meet…it is worth the taste, the watch, the listen.

I am willing to die on the hill of the television series Evil. There is so much good…in Evil.

Several of you know how I feel about this series (and are muttering to yourself “Evil…again?”). My wife and I started watching Evil in September 2019, when it debuted on CBS. Thirteen episodes later, Mrs. B was not quite sure how she felt about watching it going forward. I definitely wanted to see what was next, especially when it was announced the show was shifting from CBS over to Paramount+.

The Kings were now being given a much bigger canvas to paint upon. The broadcast censorship reins were completely taken off, and their characters could now live more realistic lives when it came to having no subject being off limits, using foul language, expressions of physical intimacy…as well as depicting more…pure…evil.

The show’s premise is easy to digest. Three diverse personalities come together to form a “dream team” of sorts investigating extraordinary events. The goal – to determine if there is a rational, scientific explanation behind the events…or not. A prospective priest wrestling with his career path, a cynical psychologist juggling work while serving as both parents for her children, and a no-nonsense contractor who offers an “earthly” reason for all he encounters.

That decision to move to a streaming service and engage with the full velocity of the Kings’ creative storytelling skill set paid off handsomely. I am sure you have heard this line from friends and relatives about their favorite TV series… “There is nothing like it.” Well, there is nothing like it.

God vs. Satan battle on cerebral and hand-to-hand levels alike. The show questions and challenges beliefs in religion, relationships…and reality. Twists and turns exist along the way. Sudden shocks and jump scares, but other frights proceed at a slow burn. Yet, there are guardrails built into the scripts which also ensure a balance between at least two…but often three…viewpoints on whether events, possessions, demons, miracles, etc. have explanations that are faith-based, science-based, or somewhere “in between.”

Several critics have compared it to The X-Files. I think that is fine if you are trying to give people familiar with that show a general idea of what the structure is, but there are more layers to the characters in Evil…as well as more protagonists.

Season 1 does start very slowly, and there is some real weirdness which will absolutely have you questioning your decision to even give it a go. If you do start watching Evil, give it time to produce a return on your investment. Get to Season 2.

The writing, editing, score, and direction are all top-shelf. The cast is stellar. In addition to the afore-mentioned Colter, there is Katja Herbers (The Leftovers, Westworld), Aasif Mandvi (The Proposal, Million Dollar Arm), Michael Emerson (Lost, Person Of Interest), Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope), Kurt Fuller (Psych), and Andrea Martin (My Big Fat Greek Wedding).

Colter, Herbers, and Mandvi come together to investigate, debate, and navigate all kinds of crazy. Consider one episode where the primary mystery revolves around answering an eternal question…”How much does a soul weigh?”

Emerson’s portrayal of forensic psychologist Leland Townsend remains a candidate for the most vile, evil television villain ever. Yet, this show also provides its fair share of laughs…especially with a family whose well-meaning kids have a habit of all talking at the same time. They are hilarious.

I encourage everyone to check out Evil if they have access to it. And, keep an eye out for Cupertino on CBS/Paramount+ in 2026. It won’t be insanely off-the-wall, outside-the-box gonzo as Evil, but based on the consistent viewing quality the Kings have produced for television recently it will likely be another wonderful watch.

Picture Courtesy Paramount+

Stranger Things – Finishing Up The Upside Down

(This comes with Upside Down Marshmallows, so did you really expect me to pass it up?)

Stranger Things Season 5 – its final season – is a triple-date release. Four episodes will be released on November 26, three more on December 25, and the series finale on December 31^st. I am more than frustrated the Netflix brass and those Duffer Brothers apparently have collective egos so massive they decided to not only stretch out the final season in this three-way manner, but they took direct aim at America’s beloved holidays. The resulting Stranger Things Fear Of Missing Out will disrupt seasonal plans, sending family members dashing to their screens, all as spoilers race across social media. It’s downright sacrilegious if you ask me…as if the Upside Down infected Netflix.

Runtimes for the first four episodes of Season 5 were announced recently:

Episode 1 – One hour, eight minutes.

Episode 2 – Fifty-four minutes.

Episode 3 – One hour, six minutes.

Episode 4 – One hour, twenty-three minutes. (Mid-season “break”)

These are thankfully more in line with the first three seasons. Runtimes are of interest to me. Do they influence you when making a decision on whether to see a new film you might be unsure of, or do you ponder episode lengths… or even the number of episodes when you are considering giving a new show a chance? I know when I am proposing to go see a film she hasn’t heard of before, the first thing Mrs. B asks after who is in it…how long is it? I sometimes will look up how many episodes a show has or will have, as well as how long its episodes are or expected to be. Sometimes, I weigh that potential investment of time if I’m on the fence about viewing.

The Season 4 finale of Stranger Things was two hours, nineteen minutes long. That’s a movie to me, folks. And to be sure, Season 5 is having money lavished on it like its eight episodes will all resemble movies if only in their appearance. The reported budget those Duffer twins have been working with since production on Season 5 began back in January is $50-60 million per EPISODE.

Executive Producer and frequent ST Director Shawn Levy was quoted by Time Magazine recently on the scope of this final season:

“The sets were no less ambitious than the ones I used with Marvel.”

“It happens to be a television series, but it’s epic storytelling by any metric.”

It is.

(They have red filling in them…!)

The first season of Season 1 was released in its entirety back on July 15, 2016, but Mrs. B and I came to visit Hawkins, Indiana much later. It was the summer of 2020 when we decided to start watching it…after the first three seasons of the show had already been released. I can’t really explain why we ignored it until that time…but I recall having discussions it just didn’t sound like we’d be a good match for it. We were wrong…and I respectfully submit if you have never watched Stranger Things because it just didn’t sound like your kind of show, you’re probably wrong as well.

Interestingly enough, each night that summer we alternated watching Stranger Things from its beginning with another series that had just completed its third season…Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina. Sabrina was a show we had a better heads-up on in terms of style and storytelling as it was from the same creator who was responsible for The CW’s Riverdale, a show we were already watching.

(If you want some more things stranger, we recommend Sabrina. It is funny, edgy, sexy, and dark. It ain’t always easy being a teenage witch, and trying to juggle being on the good side of darkness with staying on the good side of your friends does not always end in your favor. Kiernan Shipka – Sally Draper on Mad Men – portrays the transition of Sabrina Spellman to young adult perfectly)

We love Stranger Things pretty much for the same reasons others do…the 80’s culture and nostalgia, the different genres it touches upon, fully-developed characters, and a deeply-talented cast. It looks good, it sounds good, and it tells epic good stories. I think for the most part the series moved along at a decent clip, but more lengthy run times in Season 4 had me noticing moments and scenes alike that should have been more tightly edited in my opinion. Bigger is not always better.

Time also mentioned the process the Duffer Brothers use to write the show…seated across from each other with headphones on…working and editing the same Google document. It is referred to as their “hive mind.” Fans of Stranger Things can certainly identify with that description of their creative mentality.

Here’s hoping that process leads to Season 5 being tightly-edited, fast-paced, and loaded with more meaningful, memorable moments as the kids and adults of Hawkins try to shut down the Upside Down…once and for all.