​There are few things we love more in this world, then sitting down to dinner with friends. Simply because, there’s something special about settling in to enjoy a meal with people we care about and having powerful conversations and of course… eating amazing food is just divine. In fact, we love the experience so much, that we will live vicariously through others to get it. Which is why we often tune into shows about dining and cooking shows. To just feel as though we are there and able to take part in the moment and well, it just so happens that Freeform is about to be host to a series in that vein. 
 
For recently, Freeform announced that it will debut Chrissy & Dave Dine Out on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, and this show… is indeed about the dining experience and friends and all the majesty that comes from that. But in this instance, celebrity hosts Chrissy Teigen, David Chang, and Joel Kim Booster will invite celebrity guests out to dine with them and have conversations galore and well… let’s be honest… we’re already eager for it. Because it will clearly be a chance to learn more about people we admire and we will get to admire good food and well, since you’re undoubtedly curious about this series, here are all the details regarding this show, and a first-look teaser. To help you prepare for the feasts ahead.
 
‘“Chrissy & Dave Dine Out” will premiere onWednesday, Jan. 24, at 10:00 p.m. EST. Chrissy Teigen and David Chang are cracking the restaurant scene wide open alongside Joel Kim Booster with the new series. They will take viewers to must-try restaurants in Los Angeles that are unexpected and, at times, off the beaten path. While David gets his hands dirty in the back of house with the restaurant’s chef, Chrissy and Joel will hold court in the front of house, hosting an always loose, unexpected and entertaining dinner party with undeniably delicious food and great conversation.
 
Celebrity guests handpicked by Chrissy, David and Joel will bring laughs and unfiltered conversations, where no topic is off limits. The premiere episode will find them dining out at the wildly popular restaurant Pizzeria Bianco, where chef Chris Bianco serves up some of the best pizza in the country. Joining them as guests will be late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and his wife, writer/producer Molly McNearney. Later episodes will feature guests such as John Legend, Kumail Nanjiani, Regina Hall, Simu Liu and more. 
 
The show is executive produced by Alfred Street Industries’ Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, Michael Rucker and San Heng; Vox Media Studios’ Chad Mumm and Mark W. Olsen; Majordomo Media’s David Chang, Dave O’Connor, Chris Ying and Christopher Chen; Huntley Productions’ Chrissy Teigen and Tracy Stevens; and 3 Arts’ Luke Dillon. The show is directed by Anna Chai.’

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the special being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It is definitely safe to say that The Velveteen Rabbit is a genuinely timeless story. One that features incredible themes that we can all learn from in this life, and it is one that has seen multiple adaptations of the original book made for the silver and small screen. For so many creatives are eager to bring this magical story to life, and it just so happens that we are days away from another adaptation of this classic, one that will be hosted by a network that cherishes storytelling and classics such as this one.

For November 27th will see the debut of The Velveteen Rabbit on Apple TV+. An adaptation that will offer a brilliant mix of live-action and animation to tell this stunning tale, one that is also complete with an all-star cast and well… in anticipation of its arrival, Apple was kind enough… to release the trailer for this holiday special. To give everyone an idea of the respect the network has paid to this incredible story, and since you’re eager to see it… and eager to see how Apple has done this story justice, here is that trailer and updated details on the story, courtesy of Apple TV+.

‘Apple TV+ today released the trailer for the Apple Original special “The Velveteen Rabbit,” premiering globally on Wednesday, November 22. The new special based on the treasured, classic children’s book by Margery Williams, celebrates the magic of unconditional love. When seven-year-old William receives a new favorite toy for Christmas, he discovers a lifelong friend and unlocks a world of magic. 
 
Produced by Magic Light Pictures, the 40-minute special from Apple TV+ expertly mixes live-action and stunning animation to perfectly capture the imagination of a child and to lean into the timeless classic in a way you’ve always envisioned, but never seen before.
 
Featuring Phoenix Laroche (“The Royal Nanny”) as “William,” the all-star cast includes the voices of Alex Lawther (“Andor”) as “the Velveteen Rabbit,” Academy Award nominee Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown,” “Harry Potter”) as “Wise Horse,” Nicola Coughlan (“Bridgerton”) as “Playroom Fairy,” Bethany Antonia (“House of Dragon”) as “Female Rabbit,” Lois Chimimba (“Still Up”) as “Car,” Paterson Joseph (“Vigil”) as “King,” Clive Rowe (“So Awkward”) as “Lion,” Nathaniel Parker (“The Inspector Lynley Mysteries”) as “Male Rabbit,” Tilly Vosburgh (“Inside Man”) as “Momo,” as well as Samantha Colley (“Genius”) as “Mother” and Leonard Buckley (“The Great”) as “Father.” 

Magic Light Pictures co-founder Martin Pope produces (Academy Award nominee “The Gruffalo” and BAFTA & International Emmy winning “Revolting Rhymes”) with a screenplay by Tom Bidwell, creator of the BAFTA- and International Emmy-nominated “My Mad Fat Diary” and the Oscar-nominated short “Wish 143.”

Apple TV+’s all-age offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV+, include the BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Get Rolling with Otis,” Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends,” GLAAD Media Award nominated “Pinecone & Pony,” “Frog and Toad,” The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Harriet the Spy” and “Slumberkins,” Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award nominated “Snoopy in Space,” “The Snoopy Show,” and Scholastic’s “Eva the Owlet,” and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “Stillwater.” Live-action offerings include Bonnie Hunt’s DGA and WGA Award nominated “Amber Brown,” DGA Award winner "Best Foot Forward," “Surfside Girls,” WGA Award winner “Life By Ella,” Sesame Workshop’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.” 

Also included is “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times best-selling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including Emmy Award nominee “It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” “Lucy’s School,” Humanitas and Emmy Award nominee “To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” “One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” Emmy Award-winning “Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” and “For Auld Lang Syne.”  
 
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have earned 392 wins and 1,629 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
 
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $6.99 per month. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free. For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.

*New and qualified returning subscribers only. $6.99/month after free trial. Only one offer per Apple ID and only one offer per family if you’re part of a Family Sharing group, regardless of the number of devices you or your family purchases. This offer is not available if you or your Family have previously accepted an Apple TV+ three months free or one year free offer. Offer good for 3 months after eligible device activation. Plan automatically renews until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply.’

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It really is quite amazing the journey the Peanuts franchise has taken over the past few years. For this franchise, really was regaled to reruns of old specials and fond memories. But the desire of Apple TV+ to acquire the franchise and develop new stories from it, has given rise to some outright wonders. For not only have new shows sprung up, that perfectly capture the spirit of the saga, but powerful specials are hitting the digital airwaves. That outright explore modern topics and well, the majesty of this new era for the Peanuts franchise doesn’t end there.

For after all these years, new features are on the horizon as well. One of which, will take Charlie Brown and his friends, and his beloved beagle, Snoopy to new places. The Big Apple to be specific, wherein adventure will be had, and lessons will be learned and where the audience will enjoy another generational adventure with an iconic set of characters. And well, since you are undoubtedly curious as to what that new feature adventure will look like, here all the details on that upcoming movie, courtesy of Apple TV+.

‘Peanuts fans rejoice! Apple TV+, the official streaming destination for all things Peanuts, today announced a new, untitled Peanuts feature film from WildBrain and Peanuts Worldwide, following Snoopy and Charlie Brown as they face their biggest challenge yet. Slated to begin production in 2024 from WildBrain Studios, the new family film will see the Peanuts gang go on an epic adventure to the Big City, learning the true meaning of friendship, while meeting some surprising new friends along the way.
 
The screenplay is co-written by Karey Kirkpatrick, writer of such animated favorites as “Chicken Run,” “Smallfoot” and “Over the Hedge,” from an original story by co-writers Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz and Cornelius Uliano, the team that wrote the award winning “The Peanuts Movie”.
 
The feature will be directed by two-time Annie Award nominee Steve Martino (“Horton Hears a Who,” “Ice Age: Continental Drift”), director of the 2015 hit “The Peanuts Movie,” and is produced by two-time Academy Award nominee Bonnie Arnold (“How to Train Your Dragon” franchise, “Toy Story,” “Over the Hedge”).
 
“Fans of all ages have been enamored with Peanuts on Apple TV+,” said Tara Sorensen, Apple's head of children’s programming. “With our unmatched library of Peanuts titles, and award-winning collection of stories that bring kids and families together, Apple TV+ is the preeminent home for Snoopy and friends, and offers a world class selection of series and films featuring the most globally cherished animated characters. We can’t wait for everyone to experience this heartwarming new adventure with Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the gang in the Big City.”
 
"It is so special to carry on my father’s legacy with an original story from me, my son Bryan, and his writing partner Neil,” said Craig Schulz. “We are excited to be partnering with Apple TV+ and working with WildBrain Studios to bring audiences a brand-new Peanuts adventure, along with the talented Bonnie Arnold as producer and Steve Martino as director. Peanuts fans have been clamoring for another feature for years, and this film will bring joy to our millions of fans around the world.” 
 
Apple’s Peanuts feature is produced in partnership with WildBrain and Peanuts Worldwide, and marks the first three-way partnership between Apple TV+, Peanuts Worldwide and WildBrain on a feature film.
 
Apple TV+ is home to the largest library of original animated series and specials featuring the globally beloved Peanuts characters, including iconic holiday specials from Mendelson/Melendez Productions and Peanuts Worldwide “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” including a free window for viewing the special on November 18 and 19; and “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” including a free window for viewing the special on December 16 and 17, as well as scores of the other Classic specials always available to subscribers of Apple TV+.
 
The growing collection of Peanuts specials and original series on Apple TV+ includes Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy in Space,” a series of animated shorts featuring the Peanuts gang and Snoopy as he fulfills his dream of becoming a NASA astronaut; “The Snoopy Show,” featuring new adventures with Snoopy, along with his best pal, Woodstock, and the rest of the Peanuts gang. Apple TV+ is also home to the Emmy Award-winning Apple Original documentary “Who Are You, Charlie Brown?,” honoring “everyman” creator, Charles “Sparky” Schulz.
 
Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz and Cornelius Uliano were also Executive Producers on a range of new Peanuts family specials on Apple TV+, including the Emmy Award-nominated Earth Day special “Snoopy Presents: It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown”; “Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School,” an original special celebrating educators and based on the classic “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz; “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” which follows endearing introvert Marcie as she helps her friends in her own unique way; Humanitas and Emmy Award nominee “Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” a sweet Mother’s Day celebration of friendship and family featuring the beloved Peanuts gang; fan favorite “Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne”.
 
Apple recently launched the first SNOOPY face for Apple Watch with watchOS 10, now available to Apple Watch users globally. Additionally, Apple TV+ has expanded its partnership with WildBrain, welcoming more new originals, including upcoming new series “Camp Snoopy,” featuring Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts along with Charlie Brown and friends as they enjoy an adventure-filled summer outdoors, and the charming new “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin” special uncovering the origin story of one of Peanuts’ most beloved characters and how he ultimately makes friends with Charlie Brown and the gang. 
 
The award-winning slate of original films for kids and families now streaming on Apple TV+ also features this year’s Academy and BAFTA Award-winning animated short film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” and BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated animated film “Wolfwalkers.”
 
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have earned 392 wins and 1,629 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
 
About Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.*’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Finale of ‘Harry Wild’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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We like to believe, that murder is an act born out of specific motivations. For instance, passion and pain or revenge, or a desire to cause harm, and there’s merit to those lines of thinking. Because we consistently read about people who indeed struck out and took a life because of a broken heart or an emotional shattering of sorts. Plus, we’ve heard similar stories about people who felt murder was the only course available to them to have justice in this life or they did it… because they’re a damn monster and care little about human life. But the fact of the matter is… not everyone is violently killed for those reasons.

Sometimes, they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a victim of chance. Other times, a singular poor decision and a snap moment leads to the end for someone. If anything, those unfortunate truths about murder are top of mind today, because they were put on display in the season two finale of Harry Wild on Acorn TV. A feat that ‘He Could’ve Been a Contender Until They Chopped His Arms Off’ accomplished by giving Harry and Fergus what seemed to be a case grounded in those traditional thoughts. For a local boxing gym owner named Freddie, turned up dead in the nearby mountains, in pieces no less, hence that brutal title. Which of course, brought Fergus and Harry into the fold, and they immediately worked to uncover the who and the why. 

But nothing about Freddie’s death made sense. He was liked, he was kind, he went the extra mile for everyone he knew. Which meant, there was no motive present for his death here, and even the usual suspects on such matters, jilted lovers, and former wives… had no ill will toward Freddie. They just made moves in the spirit of Freddie, and for a time… it truly seemed as though this case was going to go unsolved. But in the end, there was a killer, and it happened to be Freddie’s brother. Who suffered from a great deal of PTSD and other psychological harm from serving his country and well, Freddie asked him for a dumb favor that challenged the concept of honor and that led to a breakdown moment, one that cost Freddie his life and led to his horrible end. 

All of which made it clear, that sometimes… murder is born from a moment, a decision, a split second where a choice to take a life is made and perhaps, we don’t spotlight that in storytelling all that often… because it’s too cruel a reality to face. For it would acknowledge that not everything that happens in this world happens for a reason, and well… this show deserves a hard round of applause for going that route. Because that’s the kind of discussions crime dramas should have, to remove the romantic nature this genre sometimes carries, and this proves, such discussions can be handled in a classy and powerful, and downright thoughtful fashion that doesn’t sully the crime drama or even the cozy mystery for that matter.

If anything, this was, a brilliant way to end a brilliant season. For it really put Harry and Fergus to the test and… it also featured more growth and closure for Fergus regarding his mother. Who revealed her true intentions were to take Fergus’ sister back to the states, and that did not sit right with the young man. For he wants unity in his family, and it will be interesting to see how Fergus handles bringing that to life in season three, and what kinds of new cases await this duo down the line. Because this show really is trying new things with its cases and sticking the landing every single time, and well… now all we can do… is sit and patiently wait for more adventures with a pair of private investigators that continue to impress us with their heroism and their humanity. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Premiere of ‘Planet Earth III’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the BBC America documentary series, Planet Earth, is perhaps one of, if not, the premier nature documentary. For this series not only set a new standard for how this type of story should be told on the small screen from a visual standpoint, but it has also taken the time to showcase how a nature documentary doesn’t have to be fluffy and joyous. It can in fact, show off the rough and tumble nature of the world and truly provide us with stunning insight as to what the world looks outside of our sheltered and comfortable world, and well… it’s done such a good job at telling incredible stories about our planet, that it is now on its third iteration.

For Planet Earth III made its debut on the network the other night, and as expected, it showcased another corner of our world that we don’t think to be all that wild, but actually is. Specifically, the coasts. For to humanity, the coasts represent peace, really. For we as a species go there to enjoy the tranquility of the waves crashing against the shores and look to the horizon as a symbol for a new beginning. So, to us, it really is a peaceful place, one where minds can be cleared and where calm can settle into one’s soul. But this episode made it clear, that the coasts are in fact, teeming with life, and feature the grand fight that wildlife goes through to survive and that made ‘Coasts’ quite the fascinating watch.

Since it really did surprise all of us by showcasing how the coastlines of the world can be a chaotic place where nature fights hard to survive. For instance, we came to learn that beneath the waters of the icy coasts of the north, micro life will battle heavily for the nutrient rich water that appears before them. To the point where survival of the fittest comes into play, shattering the calm image that we normally think of when we think of icy waters. Not to mention, there are shores where so many species clash at once. Since there are places where seals fight tooth and nail to avoid the teeth of the great whites that surround them. For their home is a true feeding ground, one where only the fittest will see tomorrow.

But the coasts aren’t always pure chaos through and through. For there is beauty to be found within their waters as well. After all, there are coasts where humpback whales travel to, to complete one thing and one thing alone… to give birth to a calf. Wherein they will nurture and love their little baby whale, and there are other coasts where life is teeming. Since turtles lay eggs on the coasts in a manner that give their young a fighting chance to swim into the waters. And of course, we’d be remiss to not point out that there are coastlines where flamingos build perfect nests to raise their young. Which were moments that us know that life thrives in these places, despite the adversity it sometimes faces.

After all, some of the chaos on display here, is a direct result of the changing of our climate. Something we have all had a large hand in creating, and that is indeed harming the flamingos and creating some of that feeding frenzy, and we must be cognizant of this and do as much as we can. But as we all continue to do our part, we can celebrate another incredible chapter in this tale. Simply because this episode really did showcase how our world is not the peaceful place, we always believe it to be. It is constantly in motion and so many species are constantly fighting for another tomorrow, and well, now that we’ve learned so much about our coasts, it will be fascinating to see what other lessons about Planet Earth await us, as this third journey around the globe continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘Power Book IV: Force’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It is definitely safe to say, that season two of Power Book IV: Force on STARZ, will be studied and admired as nothing short of a masterclass in building tension and laying down the foundation for a season finale. Because all season long, the tension has been rising through what is an outright chess game in the Windy City. For everyone that Tommy Egan has encountered in Chicago has an agenda and wants their plan to be the one that is followed to a tee. So, they can enjoy the spoils of power, powder, and respect and that’s slowly brought us toward an ending where clearly, everyone is going to try and fire off checkmate and own the city, and well… never was this more evident than during this week’s story. 

For ‘No Loose Ends’ saw a bevy of people in Chicago, work to begin to bring their plans to fruition, with fascinating results to say the least. For instance, Shanti and Claudia’s plans to rule the city took some interesting turns, mainly because… they went for broke in this story and tried to pull off their endgame. Claudia for instance, used her bad standing with Mirkovic to her advantage by working to seal a deal with the new supplier for the Serbian Mob, to have that power again and to propel herself to the seat at the table she craved, and she did indeed lock up a deal. One that Shanti thought she could use to her advantage in every way imaginable, by telling Tommy about the deal to get close to him… and kill him. But alas, that machination backfired. For Tommy shut her out of the business to sell the story on the streets that Shanti was handling business on her own, giving rise to a confused and angry Shanti that worked to reset her board.

Wherein she worked to sow doubt and confusion at CBI. Mainly through Jenard. Since she encouraged his desire to get closer and closer to his brother again after their divide. A move that at first, seemed kind and helpful. Since Jenard was able to help Diamond get a measure of revenge for what happened to Little Leon and of course… that did prompt Diamond to open up more. Which in turn pushed Shanti to ask Jenard to begin to sow doubt in Diamond’s mind about Tommy and the plan. All so there was a better chance they could get him to turn when the time was right and well, while there was no immediate response, this was indeed another power play and the beginning of a master plan on her part, and she of course… wasn’t the only one making moves in this story.

Because this is also when Tommy decided, CBI needed to step up and go after the gold medal in this town, by making Miguel look like an incompetent fool, and he had a lot of help in making that happen. For Mireya stood by Tommy and admitted her feelings for him, and she fed Tommy intelligence, the kind he used to his advantage when something terrible happened to Miguel. In that, a snitch on the take from Mirkovic, killed Miguel’s beloved mother in a car bomb explosion. Which led to a green light to bring down Mirkovic, and that… motivated him to go the extra mile here. Because if Tommy could in fact, bring down the boss of the Chicago Chapter of the Serbian Mafia before Miguel, he would be the hero. He would be loved by Ché and likely given direct access to everything he needed to run the city, so, another plan went into motion.

One that involved finding out who might betray Miguel. Which Mireya was happy to express would likely be Miguel’s driver. Whom Tommy followed to a tee to make sure that he was a snitch and of course… he was, and that let Tommy accomplish wonders in this story. Wherein he was able to kidnap the driver and badly torture him. A moment that served as a fine reminder of how hardcore Tommy Egan can be when he wants to be and how he will get what he wants whenever he wants it. Because the driver talked and revealed the plan, and that prompted Tommy to have the snitch, make the call to Mirkovic and save him mere minutes before the assault began. Which meant failure hung heavy over Miguel… to the point where Ché was quick to tear into him and to make matters worse, Tommy did indeed embarrass him.
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For he marched that snitch right in, explained that he helped Mirkoic escape, and looked quite the hero. In fact, Ché did indeed look on in admiration as Tommy left, and well, that allowed for Tommy to make another power play in this story. Specifically, finding his own rat. Because he knew something was up in his crew, and he handed out new burner phones he could trace to keep close tabs on their actions, and used his legal connections to help with that and well… that led to a shocker. In that, he finally learned that Vic Flynn was working with the state and the Feds, and that likely meant his apartment was compromised and his operation as well, and that… should lead to one hell of a showdown between both of these men come next week’s season two finale. 

Yet what was amazing about this particular episode, is that had more important moments to offer us than the beginning of the endgame for the season. For this is also a story that saw D-Mac lose his mind while away and reject the school that JP and Tommy immersed him within. So, that he could return home and lay low and well… that prompted JP to take quite the voyage in this tale. One where he decided he needed to be in charge of his family and its destiny, and that prompted him to do some bold things here. Such as finally do what everyone told him not to do, and offer Kate Egan forgiveness and agency, to try something different for a change. Plus, he asked his son for forgiveness and offered him fatherly love and promises to be there for him. Which included standing up to Tommy, and this was some big growth for JP and an important plot line in general, since it finally helps to give D-Mac’s arc, and the family arc a shot at closure.

But all agency aside for a father that has stood on the sidelines for too long, make no mistake about it… this was the start of something big. For so much was set into motion, and so much tension was built. All of which, set up what should be a powerhouse season two finale. One that will feature all-out war on the streets thanks to what Tommy set in motion between the Serbian Mob and the Cartel, and undoubtedly there will be more deaths on the streets beyond what comes from that war. Since Vic crossed the line, and so did Shanti, and they’re about to have Christmas cancelled, and really at this point, it is hard to say who will survive to see another season of this show. Because the stage really is set for one of the darkest finales this franchise has ever known, courtesy of a masterfully written season that carefully cast the deadly die that are about to land. Until next time.

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

November truly is a special time for cinephiles and fans of television. Simply because it is a transitional month for both. Since we’re not quite close enough to be immersed in holiday features, but we’re also not quite far enough removed to leave Halloween in our rearview mirror. Which means often times, what we tune into during this month… features the best of both worlds. Regular television and spooky stuff to help us properly transition into the heart of the Holiday season, and one particular network that is helping us with this transition is STARZ.

Since their November lineup will still treat us to the majesty that is Shining Vale, and all the homages and spooky and hilarious moments that show sends our way, alongside the final two episodes of season two of the powerhouse crime drama, Power Book IV: Force. Not to mention this month’s movies feature the arrival of a George Romero classic, alongside some powerful dramas and delightful comedies. Alongside a couple of holiday flicks. All of which will indeed serve as the perfect way to gently nudge us toward that holiday mindset and well, since you’re undoubtedly curious what kinds of treats await, here is STARZ’s November 2023 Programming Lineup.

‘STARZ announces its programming highlights for the month of November, featuring the season two finale of “Power Book IV: Force” and new episodes of “Shining Vale.”  On the film front, About My Father, The Outfit and Firestarter (2022) join the STARZ app this month, along with the Thanksgiving Day premiere of Ambulance. And gearing up for the holidays, the “Tis the Season” film collection includes Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Deck the Halls, among other holiday favorites.’

“Power Book IV: Force” concludes its second season with new episodes available November 3 and November 10 at midnight (ET) on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms. On linear, they will air on STARZ at 8:00PM ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada.
 
Tommy Egan is on a mission to avenge the death of Liliana, and with the Flynn organization weakened, he’s more determined than ever to take over the Chicago drug world. But with CBI split down the middle, Tommy and Diamond first must maintain their edge over Jenard. As their factions feud in the streets, Tommy capitalizes on another rivalry between the Serbs and Miguel Garcia, the most formidable drug lord in Chicago. After setting off a chain reaction of violence in pursuit of his ambition, Tommy must race to stay ahead of the men who are coming for what’s theirs, a federal task force that’s closing ranks, and a sadistic supplier with a direct line to the Cartel. All the while torn by the promise of a second chance with his blood family, Tommy must decide what he is willing to sacrifice to finally ascend the throne of a kingpin.
 

• Friday, November 3 “Power Book IV: Force”
• Episode 209, “No Loose Ends”
• Linear Premiere Friday, November 3 at 8:00 pm ET/PT, 7:00 CT
• Tommy and Diamond suspect a snitch and put their inner circle to the test as the war between Miguel and Mirković comes to a head.

 

• Friday, November 10 “Power Book IV: Force” **Season Two Finale
• Episode 210, “Power Powder Respect”
• Linear Premiere Friday, November 10 at 8:00 pm ET/PT, 7:00 CT
• Tommy must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice in pursuit of revenge and his long game to take over the Chicago drug game.

“Shining Vale” continues its second season with new episodes available all month long on Fridays at midnight ET on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms and on LIONSGATE+ streaming platform in the U.K. and Ireland. On linear, they will air on STARZ at 9PM ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada.
 
In season two of “Shining Vale,” Pat is released from the psychiatric hospital early when her insurance runs out. She returns home, determined to pick up the pieces of her broken family, but quickly finds out her children don’t need her, Terry doesn’t remember her and to make matters worse, Pat’s new neighbor Ruth looks exactly like Rosemary. Meanwhile, the house starts to reveal the shocking secrets of its dark past. Every mother feels like they live in an insane asylum, but Pat may be right!
 

• Friday, November 3 “Shining Vale”
• Episode 204: “Smile”
• Linear Premiere Friday, November 3 at 9:00 pm ET/PT, 8:00 CT
• In the midst of having scary new dreams about the house, Pat finally comes clean to Terry, and has to deal with the consequences.

 

• Friday, November 10 “Shining Vale”
• Episode 205: “The Miracle”
• Linear Premiere Friday, November 10 at 9:00 pm ET/PT, 8:00 CT
• The fractured family is brought back together by unexpected news while Terry embarks on a healthier lifestyle, Jake struggles to reconnect with an old friend in the house and Gaynor meets a sexy new friend.

 

• Friday, November 17 “Shining Vale”
• Episode 206: “What’s the Matter with Sandy”
• Linear Premiere Friday, November 17 at 9:00 pm ET/PT, 8:00 CT
• Pat becomes concerned about the readers of her new novel. Meanwhile, Terry’s addiction to testosterone has him striving to make his mark on the town.

 

• Friday, November 24 “Shining Vale”
• Episode 207: “Coven”
• Linear Premiere Friday, November 24 at 9:00 pm ET/PT, 8:00 CT
• Pat discovers new fears about her book. Terry has found renewed purpose in a major life change. Gaynor is ghosted by her boyfriend and Jake breaks out of his hideaway.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Loki’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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One thing that fans of the hit Disney+ series, Loki, can agree upon, is that no one had any idea where this week’s episode was going to take us and rightfully so. Simply because last week’s ending… completely and literally blew this story apart. For Victor Timely died horribly due to temporal radiation, and because of that, the Temporal Loom detonated and sent a massive shockwave of temporal energy toward the TVA and our heroes, undoubtedly destroying it and everyone within it. Leaving this story in undiscovered country for certain.

Well as it turned out, it’s hard to keep a good Loki down, and he wasn’t done with life or his mission to save all of time. For ‘Science/Fiction’ opened up mere moments after that horrible explosion, to reveal that Loki managed to survive the blast for reasons unbeknownst to us, and that he was once again slipping through time, with a twist. For his time slips kept bringing him to different iterations of his friends. O.B. for instance was now a struggling sci-fi writer in another timeline. Whereas Casey was a felon working to escape Alcatraz, and Hunter B-15? Well, she was a pediatrician, and of course… Mobius was selling jet skis under the name of Don, and well… this revelation left Loki in quite the confused place.

Because he didn’t know why there were still timelines that existed when the core of time was destroyed, nor did he understand why his friends were scattered to the temporal winds, nor did he have a clue as to what needed to happen next. Which prompted him to spend as much time with O.B. as possible, to ponder upon well… everything, and thankfully, he brought Loki great clarity. For this duo were able to figure out… that perhaps the strength of everyone’s temporal auras were calling to Loki, and if reunited, could bring forth salvation for all of time and the multiverse really. Provided of course, Loki could harness his powers and find a way to slip through time in a focused manner, since O.B. also figured out that it was more in Loki’s control than he knew and well, those revelations brought about quite the intimate quest.

Wherein Loki had to lower his guard and explain to old friends what they meant to him, and what they meant to the timestream, and that he needed them in his life because they were having a positive impact upon him. In fact, he even had to have that talk with Sylvie, who forced him to say it aloud before declining his offer to save all the things. But she too eventually relented and joined the club when the branched timeline she was hiding within, collapsed. Giving rise to hope and that hope was precisely what Loki needed. Because the end of everything caught up with them and obliterated the people that mattered most to Loki, and that finally informed him of how badly he wanted to save everyone and everything, especially people he’d come to care about… and that led to a miracle of sorts.

Wherein Loki figured out, how to intentionally traverse the timeline and that… brought him precisely where he wanted to be. Alongside his friends, mere moments before the Loom bid farewell to all of time, and well… that epic ending more or less focused the narrative for this season. In that, Loki is hunting for what he wanted to find before the whole mess with Kang came to life. Which is… redemption, peace, and a chance to do something good with the second chance he’s now been given. Making this a story of redemption, one that may potentially allow for a Loki to finally win the day, provided of course… he can properly change the course of time. Until next time.

Please enjoy this exclusive sneak peek, and synopsis of the Love After Lockup, which airs on WE tv later tonight!
 
Anthony confronts Sharae’s ex; Redd decides to give Joy a taste of her own medicine with an old flame. Bri and Kerok clash over priorities; Chelsea fears Mikey’s daughter won’t accept her; Melissa leaves Georgia as Donna tightens her apron strings.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Four Finale of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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Over the course of its illustrious fifty-plus year history, the Star Trek Universe really has accomplished some storytelling wonders. For instance, it’s posed the theory that with some real work and some understanding, humanity could in fact… unify and find its potential amongst the stars. Plus, it’s spoken deeply to how we could resolve some of the modern issues we face alongside offering powerful commentary on the human condition. Not to mention, this is that rare franchise that makes sure to spotlight now and again, the importance of taking care of our families, both the ones we are born into and the ones we choose. Because nurturing those connections and going the extra mile for them, are a big part of what makes life worth living and lays down the foundation… for a better tomorrow.

Because people see that, and are inspired by it and well, it just so happens that particular bit of wonder was featured in the season four finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks. A feat that ‘Old Friends, New Planets’ accomplished, by giving us… quite the epic and sweeping story. One that finally showcased what inspired Nick Locarno to create the accident that got him kicked out of the Academy, and how he didn’t learn a thing from it. If anything, it inspired him to just go his own way and create his own Starfleet, known as ‘Nova Fleet’. Which would roam the galaxy with its own agenda, one that was rogue and profitable for all involved, and he had indeed built that fleet and was ready to grow it further by calling out to the galaxy to invite anyone who hated authority to join him.

Which exposed how deep his disdain for Starfleet and structure went and well, it also exposed what a jerk he was. Since Mariner didn’t go along with his plan and called him and his stupid plan out on a galaxy wide broadcast. Not to mention, she stole his leverage, a black-market Genesis Device, and escaped into the void of his home star system. Which of course, put her at grave risk and that’s when the story shifted to the theme in question. For while Mariner fought and hid in the star system to keep Locarno’s plan to rattle and divide the galaxy at bay, a troubled mother and Mariner’s bestest friends in the whole wide universe, were not good with just letting her handle this on her own. Especially after Starfleet asked Captain Freeman to keep the Cerritos out of the fight for diplomatic reasons.

So, sacrifices were made. The kind that saw the crew swing by Orion to try and convince Tendi’s sister to provide the crew a battleship to penetrate the powerful shield that Locarno set up to prevent anyone from causing them harm, and in order to ensure that the crew had what they needed, to save Mariner and save the galaxy from a whiny man-child… Tendi offered her standing and role in the Orion syndicates in exchange for that battleship. Which D’Erika was happy to accept. Granted, she handed the crew a crappy battleship without any weapons or armaments, but a crew that was united under the banner of Cerritos Strong, wouldn’t let such a problem stand in their way. So, they found a way to make that ship work for them, and they even used a little Twaining to make that happen.
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Which brought forth, one epic ending to this tale. Wherein Lieutenant Bradward Boimler served as captain of the U.S.S. Cerritos, as Captain Freeman and her bridge crew used the Captain’s Yacht and one big ass battleship to rip open the shields and head for Mariner. Who, in a very Wrath of Khan style sequence (Perhaps Crisis Point III: The Wrath of Locarno?) squared off against Locarno and stalled him long enough to fire up the Genesis Device before being rescued. A move that cost Locarno his life but did give life to a stable planet and peace in the galaxy once again. Wherein the crew of the Cerritos was forgiven for their disobeying a direct order and where… Tendi did indeed say goodbye for the time being.

But what mattered most, is that this family, showcased the best parts of humanity. For when we band together like this, and value a life and their future, we truly are an amazing species. And if we did that now… we would be equally as amazing and could perhaps begin to sneak our way toward a future like this. All of which brought forth, an amazing season finale. One that neatly wrapped up a powerful arc now spanning decades in real-life and the STU, and of course, it also featured some epic cameos along the way. Since Shannon Fill returned to play Sito Jaxa, and of course, Robert Duncan McNeill was back as Locarno, and how you can go wrong with a Wil Wheaton cameo? The answer is… you cannot. Because Wesley Crusher rules. But alas, that aside, we have reached the end of season four, and sadly all we can do now is wait for season five and the brilliance it will send our way.

Also, hopefully year five features the return of Moopsy. Because we simply need more Moopsy. Until next time.