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We’ve reached a fresh milestone: our initial episode without Renee Rapp’s character Leighton. We’ve got some flirting and significant alterations to explore, so let’s jump straight in. First things first, the new roommate, Kacey. She enrolled at Essex to be with her boyfriend she’s been with since 7th grade. (It’s a pity you couldn’t get into a school without a math program, but you managed to get into Duke?) Just like me, Bela finds it hard to believe they’ve been together for so long and that Kacey is flaunting a promise ring – something I thought had fallen out of fashion in 2008, but it seems everything old is new again! She swiftly criticizes our group, and then disappears to class while Bela, Whitney, and Kimberly try to regroup. “Were we the only ones who found her overly friendly yet somewhat rude?” No, you weren’t alone, ladies!

In every action-oriented spy thriller, it’s crucial to have captivating action scenes. Black Doves, for instance, offers some intense close combat, but much of the violence is more personal and less spectacular, so it’s delightful to witness an extravagant display of Grand Guignol violence. The opening scene, with its bright, eye-catching colors, feels like a festive greeting as Sam, Williams, and Eleanor stylishly dismantle Hector Newman’s club lair. This action sequence is irresistible to me, and I especially appreciate their creative use of Johnny Cash’s “Little Drummer Boy,” a fitting choice that becomes even more poignant on repeat viewings. The three assassins in this scene resemble the Three Wise Men, with the repeated “pa-rum-pum-pum” sounding like gunfire, and their gifts – guns, knives, and a small bomb – are intended for Hector, who was nearly an infant the last time Sam pursued him. Now, Hector sees himself as the young king of South London.

What is … something new and something blue?

This season, Meredith hasn’t contributed significantly to the storyline. To put it simply, she hasn’t made much impact, overall. Although we’re aware that she and Seth are going through marital troubles again, these issues have mostly been hinted at, with only a brief mention in Palm Springs. The start of this season suggested that Meredith’s significant event would be her Bat Mitzvah. While the episode about her journey certainly respected Meredith’s experiences, which I believe many can relate to when it comes to connecting with ancestry and faith, it was neither her week nor her party in a more substantial sense.

Originally published on December 6, 2018, this tale gets a fresh look during the holidays, similar to how Santa updates his list of naughty and nice children. We carefully consider which movies deserve a place on our list.

To begin with, let’s address the matter at hand: Sam’s initial job as an assassin was to eliminate his own father, a man who had previously worked as a hitman himself. This situation raises some questions. Was it possible that Lenny understood she was sending Sam on a kind of twisted Oedipus mission? Given how troubling this act is, it seems Sam never shares the peculiar details surrounding this event, not even with Helen. I suspect Lenny did indeed know what she was asking of Sam. This could be indicative of a pattern that shows her tendency to conceal information from Sam, which helps to avoid potential disagreements and encourages him to carry out tasks as given once he’s fully engaged. Moreover, this tactic allows Lenny to shield herself from the backlash of any negative consequences, such as when Sam hesitated to kill the four Newman brothers in 2017 because he was unexpectedly faced with a terrified child instead of adults. Lenny claimed she didn’t have a photo of Hector, and this sudden change of circumstance clearly disconcerted Sam.

Barry Jenkins, acclaimed director of “Moonlight,” can’t help but wonder aloud: “In what universe would I, the creator of ‘Moonlight’, be crafting a prequel to ‘The Lion King’?” Despite the buzz surrounding his recent meal at Manuela, a restaurant near the production site for the upcoming Disney film titled “Mufasa,” Jenkins remains skeptical. Since 2020, this photorealistic animated project has been underway, with October 2024 marking its pencils-down phase. Jenkins has spent much of the past week reviewing final renderings from his team and requesting minor adjustments, as the whole thing needs to be finalized by November. He’s optimistic about the project’s progress, but even his confidence won’t silence the doubters.

As a special bonus, let’s delve into the backstory of “The Little Black Dove”. If you weren’t already captivated by Helen and Sam’s playful relationship in the series debut, this episode offers a glimpse into their initial encounter in 2014. From the start, they clashed and vied for dominance, eventually finding a common ground that blossomed into genuine camaraderie and affection. This installment marks significant firsts for both characters: it’s Helen’s first mission where she meets Wallace, her future husband, and it’s also the night Reed informs Sam that he’s being handed over to someone called Lenny, who will be his mentor as a hitman, marking his initiation into this dangerous profession. Time truly flies when you’re growing up!

Greetings at Black Doves! Here, the renowned actress Keira Knightley portrays a historical figure’s fiercely independent woman, while Ben Whishaw lends his voice to the ever-polite Paddington Bear. In this series, they play Helen, a politically married woman skilled in knife work, and her friend Sam, a retired assassin drawn back for one final mission to safeguard Helen. This swift-moving, genre-defying show, which I’ll call Banter & Bullets, was renewed for a second season even before its Netflix debut, so you’re welcome to delve into the characters’ lives and their struggle to survive and seek vengeance against London’s most dangerous, clandestine villains.

Since his debut in Kathryn Bigelow’s 1982 biker drama, “The Loveless“, Willem Dafoe has consistently avoided being a “Oh, I know that guy!” type actor whose name you might need to search up. His distinctive lean and sharp-featured face is instantly recognizable. Similarly, his deep, gravelly voice is unmistakable and has been utilized in various roles, from the compassionate Jesus and the introspective Vietnam War soldier to the troubled Vincent van Gogh and the chaotic Green Goblin villain.