As the unsettling feeling that summer is ending creeps in, some promise of new media comes with it. Although there haven’t been many good choices at the theater, television and streaming has been picking up the slack. But with recently reports of some films are shifting from later 2023 to early 2024, the studio rumblings indicate they are bracing for impact as strikes loom over. I, for one, was disappointed at two movies leaving: Dune Part Two and the Zendeya-led tennis drama Challengers. No fear as some projects are still on the horizon. But before we get to those, a few shows premiered their next seasons.
Heartstopper took 2022 by complete surprise. Created by Alice Oseman from her graphic novel series, Nick and Charlie are back. Their ostensibly sweet romance makes up the driving force; we are given more glimpses into their friends’ connections and inner lives. The show is still as saccharine as ever, enough to create a toothache.
That being said, there are still some serious themes at play. Charlie is still trying to deal abuse from fellow classmates. Nick struggles with coming out. In a beautiful scene where we finally meet his father, Kit Conner’s expressions shift with such nuance. It is no wonder audiences latched onto him. Some hints at further conflicts are present but left unaddressed; just have to wait for next season. Truly, this is the most adorable show available now.
Nothing, however, is lovable about death; but Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez will do their best to keep us entertained. Only Murders in the Building has reached their third season, the point at which shows tend to drop off. With only four episodes in at deadline, I find it very hard to tell where I think we are going. Our core cast are being pulled in different directions, causing more of a rift in energies.
Short is given more a central focus this season. The death taking place in the theater world makes for wild possibilities as what the writers can do. This could be an ode to Broadway with theatre being shuttered so long, post lockdown. Here is hoping we get more of a backstage glimpse than the whiff we are partaken so far.
Too many guest stars this season seem to take focus away from our trio. Meryl Streep is a hoot, but not enough to hold up the supporting cast. A hilarious turn by Paul Rudd as the victim is great; the dead never stay silent in this series. My feeling is just keep watching as this team hasn’t failed us yet.
What We Do In The Shadows has been running for five years now, which is a surprise. One would think writers couldn’t keep up the momentum with such a simple premise. To be honest, I didn’t know what they would do the 2014 film. Nandor, Laszlo, Nadya and Guillermo have great comic timing and a brilliant dynamic. So why do I feel they are just spinning their wheels. Yes there are coherent through-lines like Guillermo still wanting to be a vampire.
However, you can only dip into the well of old vampires unaware of modern things for comedy before it becomes stale. Problems like this arise from long running shows. The writers have exhausted options to a point that in-jokes and references for long time viewers become the norm. Or they start to forget any plot thread that happened before, making the overall story not make sense. Having watched the Showtime comedy-drama Shameless over the summer; I found that once a show can get to this point, you have to pick a direction. That show had some wildly different plots as it went on. I suspect this series may do the same. Let’s raise a glass and toast that the vampires get a satisfying ending.
