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National Treasure: Edge of History Episode 3 (Disney+): Hopefully this season’s big heist moment hasn’t passed because attempting to break into Graceland is not necessarily as exciting or big as attempting to steal the Declaration of Independence. That’s not to say that it has to be, however if this is the biggest set piece moment of the show, there is a lot of time left in the show without major events. Some of the ideas around the Graceland heist are appealing, however the “Disney Channel Original Series-ness” of the show bleeds through as it looks like an attempt to look expensive when the budget is not nearly what they’re obviously trying for.
Willow Episode 5 (Disney+): At least there has been some exploration of Kit and Jade’s relationships which has been desperately lacking over the course of the first four, especially considering how early on this was portrayed to be the most important aspect of the show. Since the first episode, the two characters have been kind of isolated from each other and they do need a chance to play off each other to give the viewer a sense of the central conflict without it just being said. That said, the stakes still don’t feel real but this will be the last time this is mentioned because it’s just beating a dead horse at this point because it is unlikely that with two episodes to go the budget and choreography are going to drastically change to address this problem.
Doom Patrol Episode 4 (HBOMax): This episode is not necessarily about the core Doom Patrol members themselves but about the characters more closely related to Niles Caulder and the issues that come from dealing with that relationship. Introducing Casey is a great add-on and sticking to the origin (well, a variation of it) that came from the comics is always a welcome addition. The commitment to the weird while telling personal character stories from Doom Patrol continue to make it an entertaining watch week in and week out.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix): After a brief theatrical stint, the long-awaited sequel to 2019’s Knives Out hits streaming. Much like the first, Glass Onion takes a standard murder mystery, tinges it with a level of political intrigue, and executes it with a fantastic cast and great comedic moments. The production design and cinematography are also top notch and elevate it above and beyond other films like it. In a year with multiple movies in this genre, Glass Onion stands apart from the competition as the best whodunit of the year. For a full review, click here.
Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount+): Following an impressive run at the box office with a chart-topping $1.488 billion earned worldwide, Top Gun: Maverick finally hits streaming at Paramount+. As a sequel to the original, this movie does an excellent job of developing both Maverick and the supporting cast into feeling like real characters who experience real emotions and vulnerability. If there is a complaint to be had, beyond the fact that the movie is still entirely military propaganda, it is that the film probably could have ended earlier which, for viewers who have not seen the movie yet, should not be spoiled but should be fairly obvious. For a full review, click here.
