Minority Mindset

I’ve been following the buzz around Wild Horse Nine, and the first photos released in Vanity Fair are really intriguing. It’s set in the early 70s, and everyone – Malkovich, Rockwell, the whole cast – is rocking some fantastic vintage looks. One shot, in particular, caught my eye: Malkovich, gun drawn, standing in front of these massive moai statues at night. It definitely hints at some serious, high-stakes action where his character, an older CIA agent, is in real danger. But apparently, it’s not all grim stuff. Malkovich actually described the script as very funny, though with a dark edge. He put it really well, actually – he said life is full of regret and sadness, and even if you can laugh about it, things don’t necessarily get better, and ultimately, life usually ends badly. Sounds like a compelling mix of humor and melancholy!

This show follows a familiar pattern: a group of wealthy women pretending to be friends while secretly undermining each other, leading to their own downfall. Everyone is struggling, the men are all problematic, and no relationship is healthy. The characters are constantly envious of others. While other shows in this vein, like The Better Sister and All Her Fault, offered compelling characters or surprising twists, this one feels predictable. Imperfect Women reveals the core mystery halfway through, but then continues on without any real surprises, making it feel drawn out and uninspired.

So, I was reading about the scrapped Buffy reboot pilot, and apparently, it didn’t go well at all. Word leaked to Variety that the issues weren’t the story, but how Chloé Zhao directed it – they said it felt too… minimal. Variety specifically said it was ‘undershot’ – meaning not enough camera angles – and the acting felt a bit lost because of it. They also barely showed Buffy herself! The showrunners, Lilla and Nora Zuckerman, were trying to fix it with rewrites, but it was no use. Apparently, someone decided that even reshoots wouldn’t save it, so they just canceled the whole thing. It’s funny, because the original Buffy pilot needed a lot of work too – they had to recast Willow with Alyson Hannigan and reshoot a bunch of stuff!

The show first ran weekly from 1989 to 1996, pitting everyday athletes against professional strongmen and women in challenges of strength and quickness. It was then revived for two seasons on NBC in 2008, with Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali as hosts. Now, the competition is back for another reboot.

Based on Araminta Hall’s novel and adapted for television by Annie Weisman (known for shows like Physical and Based on a True Story), Imperfect Women is a gripping series that will keep you on the edge of your seat and eager to see what happens next.