alexzalben

[alexzalben]

Here's my full review of Ironheart, which has 10 great minutes (they stream next week) while the rest is a sporadically intriguing mess

[alexzalben]

Ironheart is a jumbled mess, meanders, has no real ending, and makes some really, really weird choices. But! At least it has too many ideas it doesn’t know what to do with versus no ideas? There are also some solid dramatic scenes and acting, and one excellent action scene. But yeah. Mostly a mess.

[alexzalben]

Jurassic World Rebirth is totally fine! It’s nowhere near as bad as the Pratt trilogy, but lacks the creativity of the best of the originals, though Gareth Edwards puts some interesting framing on a few of the dino jump scares. Tries REAL hard to put some very forced emotion in there too. Rebirth is also very beholden to the original, down to repeated shots and beats, which I wish would stop in general. It’s okay to make a new movie! But, you know, dinosaurs are cool so whatever.

[alexzalben]

WE WERE LIARS hits Prime Video tomorrow, and it misses the mark on almost everything that was fun about the book, unfortunately, due to a few miscast roles and meandering subplots (Emily Alyn Lind is very good, though). But it does feature one of the more bonkers final moments on TV in a long time, so there is that!

[alexzalben]

Been waiting weeks to say this:

Predator: Killer of Killers absolutely rules, and is NOT what they are saying it is. The second-best Predator movie, ever, and Dan Trachtenberg is now two for two with this franchise. Cannot wait for Badlands.

[alexzalben]

All i know is i better see ghost van palmer visiting adult tai in season 4. Don’t care if its teen van or adult van doesn’t matter but i need to see it.

I know what you're talking about but I thought for a second you were talking about a ghost van, like a big vehicle that was a ghost. That's all!

[alexzalben]

PARAMOUNT+ WITH SHOWTIME GREENLIGHTS SEASON FOUR OF YELLOWJACKETS

Release follows - interesting to note it IS a Season 4 renewal, not a "fourth and final season" or whatever.

Season Three Set Record as the Most Watched and Most Engaged on Social

Production Dates to be Announced Shortly

May 20, 2025 – "Yellowjackets has become a cultural juggernaut; with season three shattering all previous records, we are thrilled to announce its renewal for a season four on Paramount+," said Chris McCarthy, Co-CEO of Paramount Global and President of SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios. "Ashley and Bart have masterfully crafted an utterly singular, genre-defying phenomenon: a perfect alchemy of psychological horror, survival thriller and coming-of-age drama that continues to captivate audiences worldwide, brought to life by our extraordinarily talented and beloved cast."

Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, Yellowjackets is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls' soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. Equal parts survival epic, psychological horror and coming-of-age drama, the series chronicles their descent from a complicated yet thriving team to savage clans while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later. It proves that the past is never really the past and what began in the wilderness is far from over.

Season three marks the most-watched season ever, with the April finale becoming the most-streamed Yellowjackets episode in series history. On social, season three stands as the most-engaged season ever for the show.

Yellowjackets season three stars Emmy nominee and Critics Choice Award winner Melanie Lynskey, Emmy® nominee Christina Ricci, Tawny Cypress, Emmy nominee Lauren Ambrose, Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher, Samantha Hanratty, Courtney Eaton, Liv Hewson, Steven Krueger, Warren Kole, Kevin Alves, Sarah Desjardins and Simone Kessell, with Elijah Wood in a recurring role. Two-time Academy Award®-winning actress Hilary Swank guest stars this season along with Joel McHale and Ashley Sutton.

YELLOWJACKETS season three is executive produced by Lyle, Nickerson and fellow showrunner Jonathan Lisco. Drew Comins of Creative Engine also serves as executive producer along with Jeff W. Byrd, Sarah L. Thompson, Ameni Rozsa and Brad Van Arragon. The series is produced for SHOWTIME® by Lionsgate Television. 

Yellowjackets is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. All previous seasons of Yellowjackets are available to watch now on streaming and on demand on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.

[alexzalben]

Do you think Yellowjackets is getting cancelled?

I’d be surprised if it does? I’d imagine it’s taking a while since they’re working on budgets/deals more than anything. This is a hunch based on zero info but I would not be surprised if paramount wants to do a final season but the Yellowjackets folks want to do two seasons or a supersized final season to match their original plan, so they’re negotiating whatever it will end up being.

But random speculation aside I think it’ll likely be picked up, the question is when.

[alexzalben]

I unfortunately found Apple TV+'s MURDERBOT to be a mishmash of tones that don't quite work, flat humor, muddy plot, bland direction, and interchangeable performances that don't connect. The exception is an excellent David Dastmalchian, who gets the most to do and the clearest emotional arc. Sorry!

[alexzalben]

The NEA has terminated the grant for 826NYC, which is an incredible resource for kids to write, read, and stretch their creativity. It's also a great place for kids to go after school with supportive, fun, knowledgeable staff.

If you can support them, please do:

[alexzalben]

I always feel strongly that people should be allowed to ship whatever they want to ship, as long as it's not hurting anyone.

However, to that previous point, it's important to be aware that many folks believe Yelena Belova is asexual, or hope that she is, so if you're shipping her with anyone in Thunderbolts -- let's say Bob, random example here -- I'd say be respectful of those who look at her through that lens.

That's it! Off my soapbox. My two cents.

[alexzalben]

I've seen the first 10 (of 12) episodes of Poker Face Season 2 and looooved it. Maybe even more than the first season? The guest stars are fantastic, the cases are a ton of fun, and the done-in-one mysteries are mixed with Charlie Cale's overall emotional arc to perfection.

[alexzalben]

Despite a game and enigmatic performance as usual by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Dead City Season 2 is the weakest mini-season of TWD we've gotten so far.

[alexzalben]

You’re probably going to hear a lot about how Thunderbolts* is all about mental health. But Thunderbolts* is only about mental health to the extent that me writing the words “mental health” four times is about mental health.

Sorry, wanted to like it more! My review, above. Or below. I don't know how this works.

Thunderbolts* isn't the Frankenstein's monster of Captain America: Brave New World. But like a lot of more recent MCU movies, it's only just good enough to get the job done. Read our review to find out more.

[alexzalben]

Hi I was wondering if you got to watch thunderbolts? And if you did, did they keep Yelena as aromantic or did she get a love interest? On a side note was the yelena and ghost friendship funny/cute?

Nothing romantic for Yelena, and everyone has back and forth, including Ghost and Yelena - it's not the main (teammate) relationship for her, though.

[alexzalben]

Thunderbolts is perfectly fine! A bunch of charming actors, some solid action, and a good thematic base often gets mired in dialogue repetition that feels like it’s built for audiences scrolling their phones, and an aggressive need to hurry up and get on to the next couple of movies. Oh well!

[alexzalben]

Extremely weird of Paramount to send out a press release trumpeting how Yellowjackets Season 3 was the most watched season ever on Paramount+, but also not renew it yet for Season 4?

I assume this is a marketing thing to get the show past whatever arbitrary threshold they need to justify a Season 4 renewal. Or alternately, maybe they're still working out budget/one or two season renewal/number of episodes/etc? Regardless: weird.

Anyway here's the release:

********

Yellowjackets Sets Record with Most Watched Season in Series History on Paramount+ with Showtime

Finale Scores 3 Million Global Cross-Platform Viewers Up +19% Vs. Season Two

Social Engagement Buzzes Past Season Two by +186%

April 24, 2025 – “Yellowjackets is a fiercely original, genre-bending phenomenon – an electrifying blend of psychological horror, survival thriller and coming-of-age drama from the brilliant minds of Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson and brought to life by our stellar cast," said Chris McCarthy, Co-CEO of Paramount Global and President of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “Season three drove record numbers and was key to maintaining Paramount+’s ranking as a top three SVOD for original series’ minutes, proving the power of our differentiated strategy with fewer, bigger, breakthrough series.”  

Key highlights:

Total viewership for the entire season is up +3% compared to season two.

Season three marks the most-watched season ever, with the finale becoming the most-streamed Yellowjackets episode ever.

The series is now the number two most-streamed global Showtime® original ever (only behind Dexter®: Original Sin).

The season three finale delivered 3 million global viewers over seven days on Paramount+ with Showtime, up +19% compared to last season’s finale and up + 54% compared to the season two finale on streaming alone.

On social, season three stands as the most viewed and most engaged season ever for the series, with 10 million engagements, up +186% compared to season two, and with 115 million total views, up +114% compared to season two.

Created by Lyle and Nickerson, Yellowjackets is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls' soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness.

Equal parts survival, epic psychological horror and coming-of-age drama, the series chronicles their descent from a complicated yet thriving team to savage clans – while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later. It proves that the past is never really the past and what began in the wilderness is far from over.

In season three, as summer arrives, the Yellowjackets face a fragile victory – the brutal winter that nearly claimed them is finally behind them, but distrust in leadership and tension within the team jeopardize their chances of being rescued. In the present, long-buried secrets from their pasts begin to surface. As the women fight to keep their lives from unraveling, they must confront a chilling question: who are they really, and what dark truths are they hiding from each other and themselves?

In the finale, things turn frigid as bloody new alliances are formed and spilled. Lottie’s hit the floor, Misty finally gets some answers, Tai wants to leave nothing to chance, Natalie tries living on the edge and Shauna confronts the loneliness of real sacrifice. It’s our time, right now, down here in the new Queen’s court. Eat up, drink deep and descend. 

Yellowjackets stars Emmy nominee and Critics Choice Award winner Melanie Lynskey, Emmy® nominee Christina Ricci, Tawny Cypress, Emmy nominee Lauren Ambrose, Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher, Samantha Hanratty, Courtney Eaton, Liv Hewson, Steven Krueger, Warren Kole, Kevin Alves, Sarah Desjardins and Simone Kessell, with Elijah Wood in a recurring role. Two-time Academy Award®-winning actress Hilary Swank guest stars this season along with Joel McHale and Ashley Sutton.

Yellowjackets is executive produced by Lyle, Nickerson and fellow showrunner Jonathan Lisco. Drew Comins of Creative Engine also serves as executive producer along with Jeff W. Byrd, Sarah L. Thompson, Ameni Rozsa and Brad Van Arragon. The series is produced for SHOWTIME® by Lionsgate Television. 

Yellowjackets is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. All previous seasons of Yellowjackets are available to watch now on streaming and on demand on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.