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THE BOYS: SEASON THREE Starring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Laz Alonso, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Jessie T. Usher, Chace Crawford, Colby Minifie, Claudia Doumit, Laurie Holden, and Jensen Ackles Creator: Eric Kripke NICK The argument could be made that this season of The Boys is the best yet, which is quite the feat considering it’s the series’ third season. The entire cast is electric. While Antony Starr's Homelander leads the charge as one of the more enthralling characters on television, Karen Fukuhara is the true season MVP for her layered portrayal of Kimiko. The writers ensure the plot never stagnates with their evolution of the racial themes from last year, and the violence and gore remain both creative and unforgettable. Not only is The Boys the best series of the year, it’s showing no signs of slowing down. JACOB As unusual as this is to say about almost any major streaming show past its first outing, The Boys may well have just wrapped its best season yet. While there are some individual issues within specific episodes, Season Three combines the best aspects of the previous two seasons by digging deeper into its characters and elevating its stakes in horrifyingly organic fashion. Everyone dials their performances way up for round three, but the standouts are, without a doubt, Laz Alonso, Antony Starr, and Jensen Ackles (Starr, in particular, is overdue an Emmy nod). Wherever season four wants to go, I’ll be there. ADRIANO After a third consecutive perfect season, I’m starting to think The Boys is a pretty damn good show. The cast is once again top notch, and I will personally become Homelander if Antony Starr misses an Emmy nod again.The show’s bonkers and extreme nature go above and beyond this season, but it never gets in the way of the characters or the brilliant satire at the show's core. That final scene literally scared the bejeezus out of me because of how real it is, not to mention its implications for future seasons. All in all, it was the best and most diabolical season yet. QUENTIN In a media landscape teeming with superheroes, The Boys ’ third season may have cemented the series as the only must-watch in an overstuffed genre. While the very-hard-R-rated shenanigans get most of the press (Herogasm, anyone?), the fact is that it’s an incredibly well-written and hilarious satire on politics, capitalism, and celebrity that features some truly award-worthy performances (Antony Starr, especially). One tiny criticism is that some of the satire could be more subtle, but that’s barely a complaint worth mentioning. And if you don’t care about the razor sharp commentary, it’s also a rowdy action ride that will leave you saying “holy shit!” repeatedly.

ARCANE: SEASON TWO Starring: Ella Purnell, Katie Leung, Hailee Steinfeld, Kevin Alejandro, Harry Lloyd, Toks Olagundoye, Ellen Thomas, Brett Tucker, JB Blanc, Reed Shannon, and Jason Spisak Creators: Christian Linke and Alex Yee PRESTON Yes, I play League of Legends , but I think anyone would enjoy this adult-themed, animated adaptation, even without the easter eggs and character background knowledge of the computer game. Arcane is simply the most visually stunning animated show I have ever seen. The stylized world mixes fantasy with steam-punk aesthetics before punching your ear holes with some seriously rad music and sound design. Season Two gets a little lost with its pacing and storytelling, but it’s still too badass to care! I implore everyone to at least watch Season One, which was even better than this latest batch of episodes.

YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS: SEASON ONE Starring: Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Mark Tallman, Hoon Lee, Lena Hall, Aimee Carrero, Isabel Gravitt, and Donovan Colan Creator: Jonathan Tropper QUENTIN Your Friends and Neighbors is a flawed show that is kept afloat by Jon Hamm's excellent performance and a surprising amount of humor. Yes, stories about affluent white men turning to crime have been done before (and better), several of the characters and subplots are entirely unnecessary and underwritten (Coop's (Hamm) sister, Ali (Lena Hall), in particular), and the family aspects can get a little soapy at times; however, I was fully invested in Coop's situation from the jump because Hamm makes it all so damn compelling, both through his presence on screen and his Dexter -like narration, especially in the back half of the season.

PERRY MASON: SEASON TWO Starring: Matthew Rhys, Juliet Rylance, Chris Chalk, Justin Kirk, Diarra Kilpatrick, Eric Lange, and Katherine Waterston Creators: Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald ADRIANO As much as I enjoyed the first season, Perry Mason’s second season fixes its errors, making for a much more engaging season of television. The first season’s issues were mostly due to the narrative structure and story, which Season Two fixes by becoming tighter and more focused. As a result, I now have a better understanding of Perry, once again played to perfection by Matthew Rhys, and the characters around him. The plotting is more intense too, and it perfectly matches the grimy noir vibe the creators have crafted. If this show continues improving, I can see it becoming must-watch television in the future.

COBRA KAI: SEASON SIX Starring: William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Martin Kove, Vanessa Rubio, Peyton List, and Thomas Ian Griffith Creators: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg ROBERT Cobra Kai morphed from an intriguing character piece from an old 1980s villain’s perspective into a teen soap opera built around trying to lend credence to any reference ever made in The Karate Kid film franchise. However, Season Six, despite going completely international, brings us back to the beginning, and especially does so in the final five episodes, where it really shines. If you left by the fourth or fifth seasons given the contrivances, attempt to come back, just as Johnny (William Zabka) and Daniel (Ralph Macchio) do. Even though the show is done, Cobra Kai never dies! BRYAN Cobra Kai should have never worked, yet here we are after a wonderful six-season run. Everything fans could’ve wanted is present in this final season…emotional character moments, epic fights…the whole nine. A beautiful cumulation of not only what this series has built to this point, but also 1984's The Karate Kid . Nothing is more wonderful than when a television show ends on top (and on its own accord), perfectly balanced. The Emmy campaign for William Zabka starts now, ladies and gentlemen. I'm sad to say goodbye, but Cobra Kai never dies.

Previous Next April 24, 2025

Previous Next October 22, 2025 WRITTEN BY: NICK Before I dive into my slate for this year's Toronto After Dark Film Festival, I want to take a second to acknowledge its founder, Adam Lopez. After a public and relentless battle with cancer, Adam passed away earlier this year. He was a man with a level of optimism rarely seen, and someone I always enjoyed speaking with as his energy was infectious. Although he's no longer with us, his spirit lives on through this festival and the newly christened Adam Lopez Audience Award. He will be missed. After a year-long hiatus, Toronto After Dark has returned with a collection of genre titles destined for Shudder, as well as offerings from the likes of Paramount Pictures and Lionsgate. Beyond its features, however, the festival boasts a range of short films from both Canadian and International creators. Although I love short films, I often find them difficult to review because of their brief runtimes. The fact that many aren't available outside of these festivals also makes it a bit less fun because there isn’t a real conversation to be had if I’m the only one who has seen them. That said, this year's standout was Meat Crayon , a film I would love to see turned into a feature at some point. But there was also Clown Song , which plays like an elaborate music video that keeps getting stuck in my head. Overall, I saw 18 shorts, and even though you may have never heard of some of them, they're worth seeking out once they land on YouTube (especially my Top 5). Without further ado, here's my ranking… 18. SEISMIC BRAIN IMPLOSION - Director: Alistair Quak 17. DID YOU KNOW THERE’S A BLACK HOLE IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR? - Director: Leonard Farr 16. CREEPING CHARLIE - Director: Briana Templeton 15. BATH BOMB - Director: Colin G. Cooper 14. GIANT SKELETON - Director: Austin Birtch 13. WINDOW TO THE SKIES - Director: Martin Berthiaume 12. SOMETHING BAD THAT HAPPENED IN MY PAST - Director: Mike Mildon 11. DAMSEL IN GEEKSTRESS - Director: Renaud Parra 10. FOR SALE - Director: Christopher Schrack 9. GHOST THEFT AUTO - Director: Kyle Dunbar 8. PIMPLE (BORBULHA) - Director: Fernando Alle 7. PANDORA, INC. - Director: Joe Lueben 6. STRIP MALL - Director: Andrew Appelle 5. CADABRA - Director: Tiffany Wice 4. LOUD - Director: Adam Azimov 3. OUTSIDE NOISE - Director: Ethan Evans 2. CLOWN SONG - Director: Brady Dowad 1. MEAT CRAYON - Director: Richard Rotter And now for the features… 4. HOLD THE FORT How far can a single run-on joke about Homeowners Associations (HOA) take a film? Just over an hour, apparently, as that happens to be the runtime of Hold the Fort . There are other jokes littered throughout, but the ridiculous premise surrounding an HOA is what carries this thing. It’s just old-fashioned, dumb humour that never tries to be anything more. There’s a bit of a disconnect with Chris Mayers’ portrayal of Lucas, and the budgetary limitations are obvious at times; however, for what it is, Hold the Fort is entertaining. Maybe not in the laugh-out-loud sense, but it made me snicker. It’s just… very, very stupid. 3. SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE Your enjoyment of Sisu: Road to Revenge will be based almost entirely on your ability to suspend disbelief because there are Fast & Furious -levels of ridiculousness here. The sequel strips away some of what made the first film work in exchange for cartoon violence that is uneven yet entertaining, even when it dips into feeling like a live action Looney Tunes episode. I thought the first film was fine, and this one is very similar. Stephen Lang's moustache-twirling villain is a highlight, but otherwise, there isn’t much that separates the two films. I certainly don’t need any more Sisu movies, but I’d watch. 2 . THIS IS NOT A TEST Much like The Walking Dead: World Beyond , This Is Not a Test looks at the zombie apocalypse through the eyes of adolescents. Thankfully, it doesn't pull any punches on the level of blood and guts while also tackling some surprisingly mature themes, but it does tend to feel like a YA film. That said, although it hits a bit of a lull at the midway point (it relies too heavily on melodrama), the characters pull it through. It's like Lord of the Flies but with the undead. If that sounds tonally uneven, it is. But it maintains entertainment value throughout. 1. PRIMATE With all due respect to the creative team, Primate is so much better than it has any right to be. Its influences are clear and prominent throughout the film, but it still offers something new to pair with the homages. There are horror hallmarks, including highly effective jump scares and gruesome kills, but there’s also a story about family and relationships that strengthens both the characters and the film’s foundation. If you’ve been underwhelmed by some of the more recent creature features ( Coyotes , Death of a Unicorn , Dangerous Animals ), Primate is exactly what the doctor ordered.

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY: SEASON FOUR Starring: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and William Stanford Davis Creator: Quinta Brunson AMARÚ Y’all keep coming back here like my opinion is going to change on Abbott Elementary . I think it’s officially time to declare what we all already know: this show belongs amongst the all-time great television comedies. Yes, being a Black teacher helps, but isn’t connection what fuels the love for entertainment? I will say, I’m not a big fan of mockumentaries, so the fact that Abbott continues to make me laugh, cry, and feel warm and fuzzy while teaching life lessons along the way is astounding. At this rate, I’m guessing my Season Five review will only be five words. I’ll let you ponder that one. KATIE I loved the first three seasons of Abbott Elementary, but this season is definitely the weakest so far. I still love the characters and the cast is faultless, but the humour was very hit or miss, and I found the focus on guest stars frustrating. It meandered until the last few episodes of the season, which managed to recapture its previous heart-warming charm; however, overall, I can count the episodes I found memorable on one hand. I’m glad that it left things on a high, but I really hope the next season is stronger and more consistent. Check out our reviews for Season Three HERE .

THE FRANCHISE: SEASON ONE Starring: Himesh Patel, Aya Cash, Daniel Brühl, Billy Magnussen, Richard E. Grant, Lolly Adefope, Jessica Hynes, Darren Goldstein, and Isaac Powell Creator: Jon Brown QUENTIN Much like Veep , which also boasted Armando Iannucci as a writer and executive producer, The Franchise has a premise — the on-set shenanigans that occur during the production of a shared-universe superhero movie — that is ripe for parody. Also (again, much like Veep ), there are tremendously quirky characters, sharp satire galore, and hilariously caustic one-liners. So, I’m puzzled as to why I don’t exactly love this series in the way I loved Veep . It can be emptily entertaining, sure, but for some reason, there is a disconnect that prevents me from fully giving myself over to it. Richard E. Grant is fantastic, though. AMARÚ The Franchise takes everything you have ever seen about the rise and supposed death of the superhero genre, makes a bit out of it, then cranks the sarcasm to 11. Initially, it’s a bit off-putting to make every reddit bro, ignorant executive, diva actor, exasperated fandom, and on-set disaster so dramatically ridiculous, but with the short episode runtime and cast’s impeccable timing, it keeps getting funnier with each ensuing episode. Binge-watching the series works better than waiting a week for the next 20 minutes, so catching the series now could be a nice and easy two-hour laugh fest on a weekend afternoon.

POKER FACE: SEASON ONE Starring: Natasha Lyonne Creator: Rian Johnson AMARÚ Rian Johnson must be one of the best directors to work with because he got every celebrity and their mama to bring audiences back to a Columbo -style procedural. Poker Face is nothing more than your weekly whodunit, but without the mystery. They unveil that part quickly, then recap it through the lie-detecting Charlie’s (Natasha Lyonne) eyes alongside your special guest(s) of the week. It’s a simple show with an underused overarching story, but damn, it was entertaining. I loved watching every week, eyes glued while hoping that just once Charlie would turn around and say, “just one more thing.” JACOB There’s no denying that Rian Johnson’s Poker Face is imperfect. For one, the color grading lacks a certain pop, and your patience for it really depends on how much you enjoy Natasha Lyonne, which will either carry you through the show’s narrative missteps or won’t. Personally, I can’t help but get sucked into the week-to-week mysteries as written by Johnson or shot by cinematographer Steve Yedlin, whose work is quickly becoming some of my favorite to watch as it evolves. The macro story of the season isn’t as well-woven as the micro stuff, but damn this show has undeniable charm. QUENTIN To me, Natasha Lyonne is the definition of “a little goes a long way,” and Poker Face is A LOT of Lyonne doing her schtick while solving mysteries. The “case of the week” is never all that interesting either since we see the crime happen to start each episode, so the real mystery is in how Charlie (Lyonne) discovers a truth that we already know. After a few episodes, it grows tiresome and repetitive, with the only real draw being the major guest stars. Lastly, the central hook of Charlie always knowing when someone is lying because…of reasons?… is silly, quite frankly. PAIGE Rian Johnson’s new series, Poker Face, positions Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) as the Benoit Blanc of this specific whodunit universe. It’s an episodic, case-of-the-week show that’s clever while also delivering classic detective work. By having the crimes played out in front of you first, then having Charlie piece together the puzzle to solve the mystery really sucks you in to see what next week’s crime has in store. That said, the series can’t maintain its tension, and it relies too heavily on its revolving guest stars to keep its recipe fresh instead of adding to Charlie’s overall story. ADRIANO Poker Face proves my long-held theory: director Rian Johnson is a maddening genius. Weekly, he’s able to take us on a ride with his Columbo -style, mystery-of-the-week thriller that’s funny while constantly pulling the rug out from underneath us. With a different cast of characters surrounding the infectious Natasha Lyonne every week, this easily could’ve gotten repetitive…and maybe binge-watching would have made it feel that way…but I couldn’t get enough of this show from the first episode to the shocking finale. I will be there on Day One for Season Two.

THEM: THE SCARE Starring: Deborah Ayorinde, Pam Grier, Luke James, Joshua J. Williams, and Jeremy Bobb Creator: Little Marvin QUENTIN Them: The Scare is a good example of why it’s hard for me to give up on seasonal anthologies. When each season has a different story, cast, and writers, you never really know what you may get in terms of quality. That said, while The Scare is an improvement over Covenant (Season One), it’s not perfect. The performances, atmosphere, and direction work together really well to create genuinely effective scares and creepy imagery, but they are in service of a lackluster narrative. Still, it’s a big step in the right direction for a potential third season, and horror-heads should be more than satisfied.

THE MOSQUITO COAST: SEASON TWO Starring: Justin Theroux, Melissa George, Logan Polish, Gabriel Bateman, Ian Hart, Ariyon Bakare, and Natalia Cordova-Buckley Creators: Neil Cross and Tom Bissell QUENTIN After a first season that was a tense story about a family on the run for mysterious reasons, The Mosquito Coast ’s second season goes off the rails. For one, they mostly sideline Justin Theroux, who was easily the most compelling part of Season One. Second, they focus more on his character’s family, especially the kids, which has been the downfall of many a show better than this one. Lastly, and probably most importantly, it seems the writers didn’t really know where to go next, so they slowed the pace and threw everything at the wall to see what stuck. Sadly, not much of anything did.