ABC’s hit show, The Rookie has returned for its fifth season followed by the highly anticipated spin off series, The Rookie: Feds starring Niecy Nash-Betts who will be reprising her role as Simone Clark.
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The Walking Dead returns with two explosive episodes to kick off the final half of season 11
The last time The Walking Dead graced our screens was nearly six months ago. Now the wait is over to see where the story is heading after that cliffhanger from episode 16.
The beginning of one of these episodes have some of the best stunt choreography i’ve seen on The Walking Dead in ages. before I get there, I have to say that based on the two episodes I saw, the rest of the seasons will open with narration monologues from Judith with video compilations of past scenes to set up the plot of each episode. It is something different so I welcome it.
Now back to the action. I was on the edge of my seat when the battles took place between team family vs. The Commonwealth soldiers. This started with a plan in which Negan had to participate since Lance never saw him before. I wish I can give further detail, but the plan works Speaking of Lance, he is more blood thirsty than ever before. He is doing everything he can in these two episodes to make it known that he is the ringleader even though Pamela does not approve. Josh Hamilton is fantastic with his delivery in each scene that he is in.
Two people that I never thought of having a scene together is Negan and Mercer. I will not say what they talked about, but it is something to keep in mind for the rest of the season. Also, Negan finally drops an F-bomb in one of the episodes. As much as I wanted this to happen for years since the character was introduced in season 6, when it happens, it is not for comedy. It is used on a serious manner.
Over at The Commonwealth, there is a huge protest going on due to the story Connie put out on the newspaper. I do wish that it was not resolved this quick, but I have a feeling that a full scale riot is brewing. Also, watch out for Carol’s big knife and Jerry protecting the children! There is also a scene that I like between Carol and Negan as they are both now working together to solve an issue for the time being.
I did not forget the walkers. There are two scenes that stood out as the gore involving them is disgusting, but great to look at. Be on the lookout for those moments.
Of the characters that I like for these two episodes, it will go to Eugene, Daryl, Negan, Jerry, Rosita, and Yumiko. They all had stand out performances that kept my attention. I will not spoil a major sequence in these two episodes, but it happens after a wrestling match (Note, I know the two independent wrestlers that were on this scene). And finally, there is a major character death on one of the episodes. It is so huge that it deviated from the comic book series.
Overall, I enjoyed “Lockdown” and “”A New Deal” as i personally think these two were better than the opening episodes of 11A and 11B. Where will this all lead to on The Walking Dead? We will see in the weeks to come!
Tackling present day topics in media is an often used method to break down and understand perspective in a better manner, however it’s easy to get the message lost in insincerity. Many have attempted to tackle the Covid pandemic in recent media and often are met with lukewarm feelings. It always boils down to sincerity and a feeling of genuineness. Especially with a topic that the world is actively facing still. Offside Productions is the recent contender to the challenge, with the upcoming anthology series Normal Ain’t Normal, co-produced by BuzzFeed and activist & actress Rosario Dawson. The series presents the realities of social injustice and economic disparity in America that became more prevalent during the height of the early stages of the pandemic.
Helmed by director Yvan Iturriaga and co-writers Josh Healey, Reem Assil, Tommy Orange, and Reyna Amaya, the 4 episode series will be available to stream on BuzzFeedVideo on YouTube and Facebook starting September 27th, 2022. The digital short series tackles our current pandemic landscape in a fresh manner by realistically pulling in raw humor and diverse storytelling to reflect the local community’s experience. Who better to share the realities the Bay Area, specifically Oakland, faced during the pandemic than an Oakland creative team. Each episode involved different members of the team and pulled from personal experiences from their professional, health, and racial experiences during the pandemic and it’s immediate aftermath. With mixes of fantasy, emotional monologues, and humor, each episode of Normal Ain’t Normal reminds the audience of what’s truly important: community and our fellow humankind.
Featured cast included actors and debut acting from Reem Assil, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Martin Sensmeier, Tristan Cunningham, Sal Lopez, and Rosario Dawson. The Knockturnal had the opportunity to speak with Director and co-creator Yvan Iturriaga and writer/actor Reem Assil about their experiences with the series.
How do you go about telling a story on a topic that is still actively going on right now? Film is typically an escape, so how do you tackle keeping it fresh and pull viewers in?
Iturriaga: “It is our intention, me and Josh (Healey), and our passion to work on films that is very relevant to our lives. Sadly the pandemic is still relevant these years later, however the story really focuses on the working class community. We knew the impact of the pandemic, even after the vaccine would carry on for a long time. The pandemic made a lot of people realize, things are going to change. What was “normal” wasn’t okay, and things that were taken for granted needed to shift. We live in a society that doesn’t value workers and their stories need to be heard the loudest.”
As a director, did you come across any areas of opposing vision while working with the writers for each episode?
Iturriaga: We didn’t have any conflicts. There’s a lot of trust, we often shared guides and drafts to each other to ensure strong collaboration amongst us. My job as a director and directing what others wrote, is to actually trust the writers. I always went back to them, especially with Tommy (Orange) as there’s a story very specific to him, and who am I to tell a Native American story. I need his validation and guidance to tell it right. For us, writers are very key and we need to follow them.
Reem Assil, Oakland based chef and writer shared similar sentiments in her journey in writing out an episode for the series.
Assil: “For me, the most healing thing is to take people on my journey with me. Makes you more vulnerable which has its drawbacks and I certainly grapple with that in my episode. But at the end of the day, it allows others to not see you as this two dimensional person. My identity is inter-sectional, I’m a Palestinian woman but I’m also a restaurateur and a worker. All of these identities play into how I see the world. The pandemic made that perspective for me much clearer, and in the series we really zoned in on that experience. What I want is justice, I don’t want to be a cog stuck in the wheel or be a token for the outside world to create their own story.”
Assil had opened her restaurant mere days before the California lock-down, and grappled with the realities of taking care of her employees and livelihood during an unknown time. The crucial value that helped everyone carry forward strongly through the pandemic was always community and caring for each other. Assil often mentioned that the label of chef is not for her, as it has a connotation of a “one man show” but behind every success is the hard work of an entire staff and team. These feelings of vulnerability, community, and facing the unknown are prevalent throughout the writing of the series, allowing viewers to remind themselves of the raw emotions that many people faced in the height of the pandemic. But the series educates viewers through four characters perspectives stemming from diverse backgrounds to highlight the diversity of Oakland’s community is a strong point and should not be forgotten. The cinematography tactics used weaved elements of spoken poetry and speeches to add emotion through the camera, making the acting extremely human. Iturriaga’s direction and art style behind the camera really highlighted each actors strong suits, whether that be facial expression, body language, stunts, or more. His direction really pulled together the synergy of each script to relay messages in a succinct and impactful manner.
The select audience that night were privy to a full screening of all four episodes of the digital series, and a panel discussion touching on all the sociopolitical topics highlighted within the series. Oakland gentrification, tech boom, Covid medical bills, the fluctuating financial landscape, these are some of the ongoing realities for many in the Bay and the pandemic was quite isolating. The team aimed and succeeded in bringing to light those realities and using storytelling as a tool to remind others, you are not alone. In the words of co-creator and writer Josh Healey, “Normal is what got us into this sh*t in the first place”, so it’s beyond time for us to re-define our “normal”. Society is always stronger together, and change can only come from community care and action. The premiere was held at the Oakland Museum of California, and the theater was filled with laughter, acknowledgement, and a silent reminiscence as we were taken through a journey of emotions many of us have reflected on privately in the last few years.
Co-creators Iturriaga and Josh Healey have worked with Offside Productions before, as well as co-producer Rosario Dawson, and the production house focuses on digital projects to amplify grassroots’ movements. A goal held dear to the cast and crew for Normal Ain’t Normal, and a message ringing clear to all who watch; communities hurting to live is not a normal meant to be upheld. The partnership between Offside, Iturriaga and Healey remains dynamic and robust. With the inclusion of Dawson, the powerhouse team brings to life a poignant commentary on the pandemic, without being insensitive to those of us still processing the trauma of a worldwide event. A quick to consume series that all should see, with beautiful direction, powerful acting, and genuine writing allowing the heart of the series to resonate in viewers’ for time to come.
The Knockturnal had the privilege of attending The Creative Coalition’s Television Humanitarian Awards. The event was hosted in Beverly Hills by Variety’s Marc Malkin during Emmy’s weekend. The Humanitarian Awards honor a special cohort of talented actors that use their publicity for social good. Among this year’s winners were Emmy nominees James Cromwell, Colman Domingo, Samantha Hanratty, Cheryl Hines, and several more. Once the actors were presented with their award, they had the opportunity to speak about the cause they support. The notorious James Cromwell in Succession delivered an impactful speech that described how all of this planet’s issues are intertwined, especially when it comes to climate change. Cromwell stated he is ‘not afraid to get arrested’, and his involvement in the civil rights movement up until his recent public displays of activism demonstrate his commitment to leaving this world a better place than he found it. Following Cromwell was Emmy winner Colman Domingo accepting his Humanitarian Award for the work he has done with the Legal Defense Fund. Domingo emphasized the responsibility celebrities have to spread awareness, especially being on a show like Euphoria. His on-screen and in-person charm leads us to believe it is only the beginning for Domingo (but no, he couldn’t give us any spoilers to Euphoria season 4). Next up was Yellow Jacket’s Samantha Hanratty accepting an award for the Mac Pac Foundation which supports individuals with HBSL. Hanratty credited her commitment to the cause to her best friend who lives with HBSL. Finally, Curb Your Enthusiam’s Cheryl Hines accepted her Humanitarian Award for her involvement with United Cerebral Palsy. Hines’ heart opened to UCP when her nephew was born with Cerebral Palsy and her work is never-ending. Hines meets with Congress to advocate for the protection of medicaid to ensure care for individuals living with disabilities. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Creative Coalition served salmon paired with white wine. The Television Humanitarian Awards was situated in-between Emmy’s weekends and served as a reminder that there is more to life than who won or lost. The event encapsulated how important the arts are to cultivate creativity and spread awareness to inspire social change.
After watching this week’s finale of Tales of The Walking Dead, I am convinced that this series has no identity.
In a nutshell, Alma died suddenly in the house, leaving Eric and Idalia to take refuge there after her death. The crucifixes on the wall begin to animate and attack Idalia, and she hears voices. As a result, Idalia feels guilty over taking advantage of the woman’s house. It takes Eric a while to accept the mysterious energy of the house, but it doesn’t last for very long as by the end, they are both dead.
Sounds familiar? It is because we just saw this nonsense on episode 2 of Tales of The Walking Dead in a familiar structure.With awful writing and unrealistic supernatural elements that do not contribute to the plot, I felt as if I was watching the same episode over and over again.
It does not help that the talented actors were given a terrible script to act out the lines that did not sound natural. Such a waste!
Tales’ first season felt like a chore to watch rather than a coherent story. Sure it is an anthology format, but that did not work for this season as five of the six episodes’ writing and directing took a step back in quality as each week progressed. “Dee” is the best episode of the first season which outclassed all the other episodes this season. There are many shows that does the anthology format much better than this show and there should not be an excuse to why the quality of Tales is awful.
I hope that the next season goes away from the repeated tropes of the supernatural, hallucinations, and random characters that nobody cares about. Tales of The Walking Dead had potential, but it is not good as a show. And please, can each episode for the next season take place in different filming locations other than the woods, a cabin, and a basement? We see this across the three other shows. Why did it need to happen here?
This week’s edition of Power Book III: Raising Kanan is the best episode of the season.
It was highlighted with phenomenal acting performances by Mekia Curtus, Patina Miller, Joey Bada$$, and Malcom Mays all added extra layers of flavor in their scenes that moved the plot forward. It was a slow build episode, but the pacing was perfect.
We got our first glimpse into the original Power’s Kanan through the eyes of his younger self. Not only did he get the money back that the thugs stolen from him, he also taught the guy a lesson. I love everything about that scene since it has been a long time coming to see the start of the Kanan that we all know. It is too bad that this lead to Famous getting detained as they were running outside the house. Not even his rap lyrics entertained the prisoners there.
Perhaps the biggest scene in the episode is when Lou-Lou killed Crown. Lou-Lou wanted to make it known that he is in control of Bullet Proof Records and he did that by taking out his biggest threat which was Crown. It makes me wonder if he will do the same with Zisa since he is the only person who saw him do this. Wherever this will lead to, I am intrigued.
With Unique being involved with Raquel’s business, it is a matter of time before this will backfire for Raquel. I also sense that Unique and Worell are plotting against her behind the scenes.
With Raising Kanan taking a two week break, it left us with a cliffhanger that will be addressed when it returns. Awesome episode all around as I believe it is the beginning of Kanan’s rise.
When AFC Richmond legend Roy Kent returns to the pitch in Season 2 of “Ted Lasso,” he is enveloped by a raucous cheer. The experience is perhaps not unlike the Microsoft Theater audience celebrating a 2022 Emmy win, multiplied by the many viewers watching at home. That re-entry onto the field was Brett Goldstein’s favorite to film in Season 2. And the most challenging? “Dealing with Phoebe’s breath because she’s a method actor,” Goldstein shared with The Knockturnal in the Emmy Press Room.
STARZ is excited to unveil a sneak peek clip from episode six of “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” season two.
On Sunday, September 18 at midnight, the episode will debut on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms, and on the STARZPLAY streaming platform internationally. As for linear television, “The Serpent Queen” will debut on STARZ in the U.S. and Canada at 8:00pm ET/PT, followed by “Raising Kanan” at 9:00pm ET/PT. In “It’s A Business, Man,” Kanan (MeKai Curtis) assumes greater responsibility within his family’s business, but things quickly spiral out of control. In his partnership with Crown (Quincy Brown), Lou (Malcolm Mays) feels the pressure.
Set in the early 1990’s, the third series in the “Power” Universe tells the origin story of fan favorite character, “Kanan Stark,” and follows his coming of age in South Jamaica, Queens.
Raised by a single mother, who ruthlessly runs the family’s emerging criminal empire, Kanan charts out a path through some of the city’s most volatile streets while, at the same time, navigating his way through adolescence, which has its own dangers and pitfalls.
Be sure to catch our review of the episode this Sunday!