Category: TV

“Last Samurai Standing”: Season 1 (2025) starring Jun’ichi Okada and Hideaki Itô / Z-View

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Last Samurai Standing: Season 1 (2025)

Creative Director: Jun’ichi Okada

Directed by:

  • Michihito Fujii (eps. 1-2; 6)
  • Kento Yamaguchi (ep. 3; 5)
  • Toru Yamamoto (ep. 4)

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1-6) Kento Yamaguchi & Michihito Fujii; based on Last Samurai Standing by Shogo Imamura and drawn by  Katsumi Tatsuzawa

Stars: Jun’ichi Okada, Masahiro Higashide, Yûya Endô, Hideaki Itô, Gaku Hamada, Arata Iura and Nobi Nakanishi.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

The year is 1878.  A cholera epidemic rages through Japan.  Shujiro Saga’s baby daughter died from the disease.  Now Saga’s wife has fallen ill.  Saga is a former samurai. Samurai were outlawed ten years prior.  With epidemic raging, survival is hard.

Flyers begin showing up everywhere advertising a martial arts tournament in Kyoto that has a grand prize of ¥100,000.  Shujiro Saga sees this as an opportunity for his family and goes.

Martial artists from all over Japan have come to enter the tournament.  They are gathered in a fortress-like setting.  An official tells them that if they do not want to be in the tournament they are to leave now.  They will have 30 seconds to decide.  Once in the game, there is no quitting.  He begins counting down.

Some people yell out they want to know what the game will be.  The official continues to count.  Around the perimeter of the fortress armed guards stand ready to fire.  The official reaches zero.  Soldiers rush out and give each person a numbered tag.  They are now participants.

The official says that the tag must stay on their person.  If it is away from their body for more than 10 seconds they will be killed.  The goal is to pass seven checkpoints on the Tōkaidō Road from Kyoto to Tokyo.  They will have one month to arrive in Tokyo.  Points will be needed to pass each checkpoint.  They earn points by taking other participants tags.  They can do this by any means necessary.  Anything goes. The official concludes by saying, “The game begins at the end of this countdown… 10…”

When the game begins, it is mass chaos.  Nearly 300 martial artists go to war.  There are samurai, archers, brutes, knife fighters, and more. Across the way Shujiro Saga sees Futaba Katsuki, a young girl frozen with fear.  She will be easy pickins.  Saga rushes to her aide.

Kyojin Tsuge recognizes Saga as the former samurai known as The Manslayer.  Tsuge says that he has calculated that the points needed to finish in Tokyo allow for up to nine combatants to win.  Tsuge proposes that Saga, Futaba and he form an alliance.  Saga agrees and they head out.

The giant swordsman Bukotsu Kanjiya who loves to kill wants to end Saga The Manslayer‘s life.  Bukotsu has a bloodlust and murders any in his path.  Other teams have formed with each plotting to survive.

It will be a long road.  Not all will survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Last Samurai Standing is based on a 2022 historical fiction graphic novel written by Shogo Imamura and drawn by  Katsumi Tatsuzawa.  Although the characters and tournament are fiction, real-life historical figures and events add to the backstory.

Junichi Okada who served as producer and stars in the series is a charismatic lead.

Hideaki Itô is awesome and frightening as the giant swordsman.

Last Samurai Standing gets my highest recommendation.  Bring on Season 2.

Last Samurai Standing: Season 1 (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Red Eye”: Season 1 (2024) starring Jing Lusi & Richard Armitage / Z-View

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Red Eye (2024)

Created by: Peter A Dowling

Directed by:

  • Kieron Hawkes (eps. 1-6)

Teleplay by:

  • Peter A Dowling (eps. 1-3; 5-6)
  • Jingan Young (ep. 4)

Stars: Jing Lusi, Richard Armitage, Lesley Sharp, Jemma Moore, Dan Li, Thomas Chaanhing and Robert Gilbert.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Dr. Matthew Nolan and colleagues have been at a medical conference in Beijing.  On their last night there, Nolan meets an attractive woman named Shen Zhào.  They end up in a nightclub and from there Nolan’s memory gets hazy.

He knows he was in an altercation.  He has a stab wound to prove it.  Nolan remembers escaping and not much else.  He’s glad to arrive back in England after an all-night flight back.  His joy is shortlived.  Nolan is detained and told he must return to Beijing where he will stand trial for the murder of Shen Zhào.  To make matters worse, his colleagues must also return.

MI5 Director-General Madeline Delaney reluctantly agrees to allow Nolan’s extradition, despite his claim of innocence.  Agent Hana Li is assigned to escort Nolan back.  Nolan is adamant in his claims that he has been set up and he didn’t kill anyone.

When it becomes clear that someone on the plane is planing to murder Nolan before they arrive, Agent Li finds herself wondering who she can trust.

Trapped on a plane heading to Beijing, the bodies begin to pile up.  Odds are Nolan and Agent Li will be dead before the plane lands.

Buckle your seatbelts we’re in for a bumpy ride.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Red Eye ramps up the tension with each passing episode.  Trust no one.

Red Eye (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (2025) starring Charlie Hunnam and Laurie Metcalf / Z-View

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Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025)

Created by: Ian Brennan

Directed by:

  • Max Winkler (eps. 1-3; 6-8)
  • Ian Brennan (eps. 4-5)

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1-8) Ian Brennan

Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Suzanna Son, Vicky Krieps, Laurie Metcalf, Tom Hollander.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Ed Gein was a murderer and grave robber.  In 1957, when a sheriff’s deputy, following up on a missing person’s case went to Gein’s farm he discovered the missing woman’s decapitated body in a shed.  The partial corpse was hung upside down and mutilated.  In Gein’s house some of what authorities found included:

  • Whole human bones and fragments
  • A wastebasket made of human skin
  • Human skin covering several chairs
  • Human skulls mounted on bedposts
  • Bowls made from human skulls
  • A corset made from a female torso skinned from shoulders to waist
  • Leggings made from human leg skin
  • Masks made from the skin of female heads
  • A victim’s face made into a mask in a paper bag
  • A victim’s entire head in a burlap sack
  • A victim’s heart in a plastic bag
  • A belt made from female human nipples
  • A pair of lips on a window shade drawstring
  • A lampshade made from the skin of a human face
  • more

Gein was determined to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.  He was sentenced to a State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, where he lived until his death in 1984.  Ed Gein’s murders and depravity inspired the novel (and later movie) Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and more.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Charlie Hunnam is almost unrecognizable as Ed Gein.  Kudos to him for taking on such a challenging role.  Laurie Metcalf is perfect as Gein’s mother.

I wish Monster: The Ed Gein Story stuck closer to actual events.  Liberties are taken that I feel weaken the story.  For example, Gein never had a love interest.  Gein never chased down and killed lost hunters with a chain saw.  Gein never had contact with Christine Jorgensen, an American actress famous for being known as the first transexual widely known in the United States.

Because of these fictional additions, it makes me question things when other real life personalitites, like Anthony Perkins and Alfred Hitchcock show up.  I realize Monster: The Ed Gein Story isn’t a documentary.  But it is supposed to be Gein’s story and that was creepy enough.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Good Night and Good Luck” (2025) starring George Clooney / Z-View

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Good Night, and Good Luck (2025)

Director: Micah Bickham, David Cromer

Screenplay: George Clooney, Grant Heslov

Stars: George Clooney, Mac Brandt, Will Dagger, Christopher Denham, Glenn Fleshler, Joe Forbrich, Jennifer Morris, Michael Nathanson, Andrew Polk, Aaron Roman Weiner and Fran Kranz.

Tagline: We will not walk in fear, one of another

The Plot…

U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy leads investigations into individual citizens’ private lives in an effort to route out communists and get them blacklisted.  CBS journalist and broadcaster, Edward R. Murrow, arguably the most popular newsman of his time, takes a stand against McCarthy despite the problems and dangers it could cause him and others around him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Good Night, and Good Luck first appeared as feature film directed by George Clooney.  In the film, Clooney played Fred Friendly.  David Strathairn took the role of Edward R. Murrow.  Clooney said the reason he didn’t take the lead in the movie was, “Murrow had a gravitas to him that at 42 years old I wasn’t able to pull off”.

Good Night, and Good Luck was the first ever live televised global broadcast of a Broadway play.

It’s ironic how events in the 1950s echo current events.

Good Night, and Good Luck (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Loudermilk” Season 3 (2020) / Z-View

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“Loudermilk”: Season 3 (2020)

Created by: Peter Farrelly & Bobby Mort

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1; 10) Bobby Mort & Peter Farrelly
  • (ep. 2) John Jordan & Thomas Jordan
  • (ep. 3) Bobby Mort
  • (ep. 4) Jackie Flynn, Jimmy Dunn & Peter Farrelly
  • (ep. 5) Laura Streicher & Kate Schriver
  • (ep. 6) Dave Connaughton & John Trozak
  • (ep. 7) Ricky Blitt
  • (ep. 8) Danny Smith
  • (ep. 9) Yassir Lester & Peter Farrelly

Directed by:

  • Bobby Farrelly (eps. 1-3, 5, 7-8, 10)
  • Peter Farrelly (eps. 4, 6, 9)

Stars: Ron Livingston, Will Sasso, Anja Savcic, Brian Regan, Jackie Flynn, Timothy Webber,
Ricky Blitt, Tyler Layton-Olson, Viv Leacock, Sam Bob, Laura Mennell and Eric Keenleyside.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Sam Loudermilk was once a popular music critic.  Now Sam is a recovering alcoholic and substance-abuse group leader.  Sam has a good heart, but an acid tongue.  He doesn’t hesitate to give his opinions on the absurd things/people he comes in contact with.  Sam’s best friends are his roomate, Ben (also a recovering alcoholic) and the regulars that attend his group sessions.

In season three Sam deals with…

  • being forced to “parent” his baby brother
  • Ben’s talents as a chef
  • Ben starting a food truck
  • the legal fallout from golfing with friends from the support group
  • the ramifications of an honest review
  • Roger getting a courage reward for being himself
  • someone using his credit card
  • the UNEXPECTED return of…
  • making amends for a past wrong
  • and more.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I just discovered Loudermilk this year.  The series is funny and has heart.  The supporting cast is a hoot.  If you enjoy a fun 30 minute sitcom, give Loudermilk a shot.

“Loudermilk’: Season 3 (2020) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Loudermilk”: Season 2 (2018) / Z-View

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“Loudermilk: Season 1” (2018)

Created by: Peter Farrelly & Bobby Mort

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1; 10) Bobby Mort & Peter Farrelly
  • (ep. 2) Bobby Mort
  • (ep. 3) Jimmy Dunn, Jackie Flynn & Peter Farrelly
  • (eps. 4-5) Dave Connaughton & John Trozak
  • (ep. 6) Ricky Blitt
  • (ep. 7) Danny Smith
  • (ep. 8) Kate Schriver & Laura Streicher
  • (ep. 9) Jim Freeman & Brian Jarvis

Directed by:

  • Peter Farrelly (eps. 1-3)
  • Bobby Farrelly (eps. 4-10)

Stars: Ron Livingston, Will Sasso, Anja Savcic, Brian Regan, Jackie Flynn, Timothy Webber,
Ricky Blitt, Tyler Layton-Olson, Viv Leacock, Sam Bob, Laura Mennell and Eric Keenleyside.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Sam Loudermilk was once a popular music critic.  Now Sam is a recovering alcoholic and substance-abuse group leader.  Sam has a good heart, but an acid tongue.  He doesn’t hesitate to give his opinions on the absurd things/people he comes in contact with.  Sam’s best friends are his roomate, Ben (also a recovering alcoholic) and the regulars that attend his group sessions.

In season two Sam deals with…

  • finding a new group meeting space
  • Ben returns after marrying Loudermilk’s ex-wife
  • Tony, a bookie, starts using the group to take bets
  • Mugsy falls off the wagon and shows up to a meeting with a dart in his head
  • Ben hits a homeless man’s golf cart and finds himself indebted to the man
  • Loudermilk accidentally becomes a social media hit
  • New guy tells one group member his deepest secret: he’s still a virgin
  • New guy falls for a little person which leads to a love-triangle fight fundraiser
  • Claire learns that her dad has died; Sam learns that his dad has died
  • Sam’s dad impregnated a waitress in a one-night stand and now Sam has a baby brother

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I just discovered Loudermilk this year.  The series is funny and has heart.  The supporting cast is a hoot.  If you enjoy a fun 30 minute sitcom, give Loudermilk a shot.

“Loudermilk: Season 2” (2018) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“The Twilight Zone” Alt Print by Al Abbazia!

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The Twilight Zone is one of my all-time favorite shows.  It raised the bar for what good television could be.

Al Abbazia is a fan as well.  Abbazia created the poster above.  I’m sure it would make Rod Serling proud.  It’s cool that my two favorite TZ episodes got the top two spots on Abbazia’s print.    You can see more of Al Abbazia’s art here.

“Task” Season One (2025) starring Mark Ruffalo / Z-View

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“Task: Season 1” (2017)

Created by: Brad Ingelsby

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1-3; 7) Brad Ingelsby
  • (ep. 4-6) Brad Ingelsby; story by  Brad Ingelsby & Dave Obzud

Directed by:

  • Jeremiah Zagar (eps. 1-2; 5; 7)
  • Salli Richardson Whitfield (eps. 3-4; 6)

Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Emilia Jones, Fabien Frankel, Thuso Mbedu, Silvia Dionicio, Ben Lewis Doherty, Tom Pelphrey, Alison Oliver, Sam Keeley, Martha Plimpton, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Raúl Castillo and Jamie McShane.

Tagline: Every force has its equal.

The Plot…

Tom Brandis hasn’t fully recovered from his wife’s murder at the hands of their adopted son. When a series of violent drug house robberies continue, Tom is called back to duty. Tom will lead a cross-agency task force made up of county Detective Anthony Grasso, State Trooper Lizzie Stover and city detective Aleah Clinton.  What Brandis doesn’t know is there is a traitor among them.

The drug houses taken down are run by the Dark Hearts biker gang.  The Dark Hearts are notorious for their brutality. Perry Dorazo, the Dark Hearts Chapter President is getting heat because of the robberies.  Dorazo wants the thieves caught so he can make an example of them.

Unknown to either Brandis’ task force or the Dark Hearts, the robberies are the work of Robbie Prendergrast and his friend Cliff Broward. Robbie’s wife left him a year ago. Before he started the robberies.  Robbie needs the cash to support his two young children as well as his dead brother’s daughter. Robbie and Cliff aren’t criminal masterminds.  They’ve been lucky with inside information.

Then their luck runs out.

During a drug house robbery, an unexpected biker shows up.  A gunfight ensues.  Robbie and Cliff survive.  A friend they brought along to assist is killed.  So are three Dark Hearts.  Robbie and Cliff are about to leave with the cash when the young son of one of the murdered bikers walks in.  Refusing to kill a child, they take the kid, the drugs and the cash.

The murders and kidnapping are all over the news.  The heat is on Brandis’ task force to resolve the case.  The Dark Hearts have made finding Robbie and Cliff top priority.  Robbie and Cliff know their time is running out.  They need to fence the drugs.  They’ll then use the cash to get far away with the kids.

It’s now a race.  Will Robbie and Cliff escape?  If they Dark Hearts get to them first, they will suffer a slow tortuous death.  If the task force captures them, it’ll be prison and the Dark Hearts will still get to them.

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Task is well done.  It’s got interesting subplots and twists that will keep the viewer on edge.

Mark Ruffalo has never been better.  Jamie McShane is always excellent.

I look forward to season 2.

“Task: Season 1” (2025) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Loudermilk: Season 1” (2017) directed by Peter Farrelly; starring Ron Livingston / Z-View

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“Loudermilk: Season 1” (2017)

Created by: Peter Farrelly & Bobby Mort

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1-2; 7; 10) Bobby Mort & Peter Farrelly
  • (ep. 3) Danny Smith
  • (ep. 4) Dave Connaughton & John Trozak
  • (eps. 5-6) Dave Connaughton, John Trozak & Peter Farrelly
  • (ep. 8) Shira Hoffman & Peter Farrelly
  • (ep. 9) Ricky Blitt

Directed by:

  • Peter Farrelly (eps. 1-10)

Stars: Ron Livingston, Will Sasso, Anja Savcic, Brian Regan, Jackie Flynn, Timothy Webber,
Ricky Blitt, Tyler Layton-Olson, Viv Leacock, Sam Bob, Laura Mennell, Eric Keenleyside and Danny Wattley.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Sam Loudermilk was once a popular music critic.  Now Sam is a recovering alcoholic and substance-abuse group leader.  Sam has a good heart, but an acid tongue.  He doesn’t hesitate to give his opinions on the absurd things/people he comes in contact with.  Sam’s best friends are his roomate, Ben (also a recovering alcoholic) and the regulars that attend his group sessions.

In season one Sam deals with…

  • the possibility that he’ll lose his group meeting space
  • dealing with a young substance abuser with a rich mother
  • an unexpected roommate
  • a hot neighbor
  • a group member’s attempts to connect with his kids
  • a group member’s chance to cash in on his band’s past popularity, but it means “selling out”
  • a new group member there under false pretenses
  • the return of Loudermilk’s own father who loves the ladies (and even more the women who aren’t)
  • the discovery of his roomate’s two darkest secret
  • his ex-wife getting married to someone else despite Sam’s feelings for her

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I just discovered Loudermilk this year.  I don’t know how it flew under the radar.  The series is funny and has heart.  The supporting cast is a hoot.  If you enjoy a fun 30 minute sitcom, give Loudermilk a shot.

“Loudermilk: Season 1” (2017) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Untamed” (2025) starring Eric Bana / Z-View

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“Untamed” (2025)

Created by: Mark L. Smith & Elle Smith

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1-6) Mark L. Smith & Elle Smith

Directed by:

  • Thomas Bezucha (eps. 1-2)
  • Nick Murphy  (eps. 3-4)
  • Neasa Hardiman (eps. 5-6)

Stars: Eric Bana, Sam Neill, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lily Santiago, Wilson Bethel, Josh Randall, Joe Holt, Iris Quinn, Jonathan Whitesell, J.D. Pardo and Raoul Max Trujillo.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Kyle Turner, a Special Agent for the National Parks Investigative Services Branch is called to look into the death of a woman who fell or was thrown off El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.  Turner’s head is in a bad space.  He’s still dealing with his divorce caused by a tragedy involving his young son.  Although good at his job, Turner’s social skills have suffered since the incident.  So his pairing with a rookie on the murder investigation is the last thing he wanted.

Or so he thought.

The clues in the murder lead to the possibility of a serial killer working in Yosemite and an unsolved case that has tormented Turner for years.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lily Santiago is excellent in her role as the rookie investigator.  J.D. Pardo shows up in a small but impactful part.

Kudos to Eric Bana for playing a character who is often a jerk because of how he’s dealing with a personal tragedy.  Most stars would want their character to be more likeable.

I enjoyed Untamed and look forward to season 2.

“Untamed” (2025) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“The Last Samurai Standing” – The Poster, the Trailer and the Teaser are Here!

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The Last Samurai Standing – The Poster, the Trailer and the Teaser are Here!

Deal me in!

One point per life.

The curtain rises on an epic battle royale between brave warriors who lived through an uncertain era.

In the late 19th century during the Meiji period, 292 warriors, including Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada), gather at Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto at nightfall, lured by the promise of a huge cash prize. Each given a wooden tag, they join a vicious game in which they must steal the tags of their fellow participants and reach Tokyo to win the prize money. Under the veil of night, the temple grounds are filled with unease and the presence of bloodthirsy warriors. When the signal is given to begin the game, the combatants launch into their relentless battle for survival.

“You fools who live without meaning: kill each other, until just one remains.”

The Netflix Series “Last Samurai Standing” starts streaming on Thursday, November 13, 2025, only on Netflix.

 

“Landman” Season 2 starring Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Demi Moore, Andy Garcia and Sam Elliott – The Final Poster and Trailer are Here!

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“Landman” Season 2 starring Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Demi Moore, Andy Garcia and Sam Elliott – The Final Poster and Trailer are Here!

“You think you understand how this business works, but you don’t.”

Things are heating up in the final Landman trailer. Season 2 premieres November 16, 2025, only on Paramount+.

#Landman #ParamountPlus

Set in the boomtowns of Texas, Landman (starring Billy Bob Thornton) is a modern tale of fortune seeking amongst roughnecks and billionaires in the world of oil.

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Demi Moore, Andy Garcia and Sam Elliott

“Duster” (2025) created by J.J. Abrams & LaToya Morgan; starring Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson and Keith David / Z-View

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“Duster” (2025)

Created by: J. J. Abrams, LaToya Morgan

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1; 3) J. J. Abrams & LaToya Morgan
  • (ep. 2) LaToya Morgan & J. J. Abrams
  • (ep. 4) Sue Chung
  • (ep. 5) Lucas Brown Eyes
  • (ep. 6) Matt Lambert
  • (ep. 7) Michael Horowitz
  • (ep. 8) LaToya Morgan

Directed by:

  • Steph Green (eps. 1-2; 5-6)
  • Darren Grant  (eps. 3-4; 7-8)

Stars: Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson, Asivak Koostachin, Sydney Elisabeth Smith, Benjamin Charles Watson, Camille Guaty, Adriana Aluna Martinez, Greg Grunberg, Evan Jones, Sofia Vassilieva, Jonathan Dixon, Corbin Bernsen, Kevin Chamberlin, Matt Lauria, Gail O’Grady and Keith David.

Tagline: Everyone needs an inside man.

The Plot…

The year is 1972.  Nina Hayes, the F.B.I.’s first Black female agent is assigned to the Phoenix, Arizona office.  There she is expected to keep a low profile and not rock the boat as she works on the Ezra Saxton case.  Saxton is a Black crime kingpin for the area.  Nina thinks she may have an “in” by turning Jim Ellis, Saxton’s getaway driver.

Jim is a trusted family friend of Saxon’s.  In fact Jim’s older brother worked for Saxon as well.  Saxon loved his brother like a son.  When Jim’s brother was murdered, Jim took his spot in the organization.  There’s no way Jim would betray Saxton.

When Nina shares evidence with Jim that Saxton may have been behind his brother’s murder, all bets are off.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Duster is a fun ride.  Josh Holloway is perfect as Jim Ellis. I’m surprised we don’t see Holloway more often in big productions.  Duster was a great, uh, vehicle for his talents.

I’d never seen Rachel Hilson before.  She’s wonderful as the young, outsider set to solve a case.  Hilson and Holloway had great on-screen chemistry.

Keith David is always good.  He’s perfectly cast as Saxon.

Duster features one of the coolest openings before each episode.  Watch for slight changes as the season progresses.  Very clever.  Very fun.

It’s unfortuante that Duster wasn’t renewed for Season 2.  It currently has a 7.2 rating on IMDb.  At Rotten Tomatoes it currently sits with 93% from reviewers and 85% from users of the site.  So people did enjoy Duster.  Sadly, not enough tuned in when it premiered for the greenlight for a second season.

If you haven’t seen Duster, you should give it a try.

“Duster” (2025) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Alien: Earth” Season 1 (2025) created by Noah Hawley / Z-View

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“Alien: Earth” Season 1 (2025)

Created by: Noah Hawley; Based on Alien by Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1-2; 5) Noah Hawley
  • (ep. 3) Noah Hawley and Bob DeLaurentis
  • (ep. 4) Noah Hawley and Bobak Esfarjani
  • (ep. 6) Noah Hawley and Lisa Long
  • (ep. 7) Noah Hawley and Maria Melnik
  • (ep. 8) Noah Hawley & Migizi Pensoneau

Directed by:

  • Noah Hawley (eps. 1; 5)
  • Dana Gonzales  (eps. 2-3; 7-8)
  • Ugla Hauksdóttir (eps. 4; 6)

Stars: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, Adarsh Gourav, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Jonathan Ajayi, David Rysdahl, Diêm Camille, Moe Bar-El, Adrian Edmondson and Timothy Olyphant.

Tagline: Fear takes new forms.

The Plot…

The year is 2120.  Five companies control the planet and colonized outposts in the solar system.  The USCSS Maginot, a spacecraft owned by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation is returning from a successful mission in space to retrieve alien life forms.  When the ship crash lands into a city owned by the Prodigy Corportation, the race is on to secure the alien specimens.

Prodigy is owned by Boy Kavalier.  The world’s youngest trillionaire and a genius to boot.  Kavalier created the world’s first first human-synthetic hybrids by placing the minds of terminally ill children in adult synthetic bodies.  These hybrids were mentored by a synth named Kirsh.  Wendy, one of the hybrids, was given AI intelligence making her even smarter than Boy Kavalier.

The Weyland-Yutani Corporation sends notice that they want the “cargo” of their crashed ship. Boy Kavalier responds that any incursion into Prodigy territory will be seen as an act of war.  Kavalier then sends Kirsh, Wendy and the four other hybrids on a mission to the crash site to retrieve the alien specimens.

At the same time a city rescue team arrives at the crash site.  They are unaware what the craft was carrying or that a Xenomorph has escaped.  Worse still, there are other creatures on the ship equally as dangerous.  As tensions mount, lives are lost and it becomes clear that the shipwreck wasn’t accidental.

It could be “we were safer in space”.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Alien: Earth has a lot going on.  There’s several different dangerous alien life forms, synthetic beings, human-syn hybrids, a boy genius with plans of his own, corporate intrigue, betryals and more.  On one hand, I’m not sure eight episodes was enough to get into everything. I wanted more with the escaped alien specimens.  Also, I wasn’t sold on the “relationship” between Wendy and the Xenomorph.

That’s not to say that I didn’t like Alien: Earth.  I did.  But not as much as I had hoped.  Still, I hope we get a season two.

“Alien: Earth” Season 1 (2025) earns 3 of 5 stars.