REACHER: SEASON ONE Starring: Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald, Chris Webster, Maria Sten, Martin Roach, Currie Graham, and Bruce McGill Creator: Nick Santora QUENTIN Generally speaking, Reacher is a standard “solve the murder” show. However, the cast chemistry, literally bone-crunching fight scenes, and dry charisma of Alan Ritchson elevate the predictable story to something that is a lot more fun than it should be. Maybe I just had low expectations. I expected a series like Bosch , a show I always saw ads for while never meeting a person who actually watched it. But what I got was a show like Banshee , a brutal (yet still humorous) under-the-radar show that I can’t wait to turn people on to as we wait for next season. NICK As someone who remembers Alan Ritchson as blockhead linebacker Thad Castle from Blue Mountain State , his casting as Jack Reacher was quite a surprise. However, he manages to bring a stoic mercenary edge to the character that hearkens back to the heyday of 80s action films. This persona is matched with some hard-hitting violence that can come out of nowhere and hit you with a pure rush of adrenaline, but those scenes don’t come frequently enough. It’s almost The Punisher -lite. That said, it’s an easy watch that makes for some good shut-your-brain-off entertainment while doing the character justice.

FROM: SEASON TWO Starring: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Scott McCord, Ricky He, Chloe Van Landschoot, Pegah Ghafoori, Corteon Moore, Hannah Cheramy, Simon Webster, Avery Konrad, Elizabeth Moy, Deborah Grover, Angela Moore, Kaelen Ohm, A.J. Simmons, and Nathan D. Simmons Creator: John Griffin QUENTIN In my review of Season One, I called From the next Lost . For better or worse, that remains true in Season Two because, much like Lost , it’s starting to pile mysteries, lore, and new characters on top of each other without answering many questions. That’s not necessarily a bad thing if (big IF) they eventually pay off, but it certainly makes this season less propulsive than the first. A few character-driven subplots that aren’t developed enough and abandoned storylines from last season certainly don’t help either. That said, the finale once again sets up a compelling future for the series, and I remain fully engaged.

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 LOWDOWN: SEASON ONE Starring: Ethan Hawke, Keith David, Kaniehtiio Horn, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Kyle MacLachlan, Scott Shepherd, Macon Blair, Tim Blake Nelson, Tracy Letts, Killer Mike, Cody Lightning, Rafael Casal, Paul Sparks, Peter Dinklage, Graham Greene, Tisha Campbell, and Michael Hitchcock Creator: Sterlin Harjo QUENTIN Though not perfect, mostly due to a central mystery that often falls to the wayside, The Lowdown still works extremely well as a shaggy dog story, effortlessly coasting on a blend of dingy neo-noir vibes that recall Thomas Pynchon, Elmore Leonard, and The Coen Brothers. There are full-throated homages to Inherent Vice , Jackie Brown , and The Big Lebowski (among others), all of which are convincingly brought home by Ethan Hawke’s lived-in performance. The parade of quirky side characters — played by talents ranging from Killer Mike to Peter Dinklage — and the terrific 70s Americana soundtrack only add to the pulpy fun. ROBERT FX has a successful history of producing compelling crime comedies, starting with the underseen Terriers through the prolonged run of Fargo . The Lowdown is the latest, worthy addition to the portfolio, with Ethan Hawke channeling his best combination of The Dude mixed with Fletch as our protagonist investigator. He must deal with power hungry politicians, Southern Belle femme fatales, and encroaching step-parents as he struggles to prove that the truth matters above all else. The acting is superb, the soundtrack is intoxicating, and the visual tapestry of Oklahoman urban griminess adjacent to prairie stillness is striking. Forget it, Jake, it’s chicken-fried Chinatown . AMARÚ Ethan Hawke is having a helluva year playing charming sad sacks, but instead of the mesmerizingly sad lyricist in Blue Moon , he exemplifies the words that Killer Mike so eloquently put together in episode one of The Lowdown : “A white man who cares, the saddest of the bunch.” The show mirrors his character’s wild brand of sadness. Flawed, unpredictable, funny yet mind-blowingly confounding, socially charged, and chaotic, all of which makes for both an entertaining and cautionary tale. Hawke, alongside a star-studded “that person” cast, delivers on a tumultuously fun first season.

YOU: SEASON FIVE Starring: Penn Badgley, Charlotte Ritchie, Griffin Matthews, Anna Camp, Madeline Brewer, and Frankie DeMaio Creators: Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble QUENTIN With its fifth and final season, Netflix’s You delivers its best offering since Season Two. The fun, almost self-aware campiness pairs perfectly with the genuinely surprising twists and turns, all of which is held together by Penn Badgley’s terrific performance and even more captivating inner monologue (Anna Camp is great in a dual role, too). The showrunners also weave in relevant commentary on the internet’s romanticizing of Joe Goldberg (Badgley), gaslighting, and how influencer culture can sway public opinion. I won’t say it’s a perfect final season of television because there are some pacing issues, but it works perfectly for You ’s brand of addictive non-prestige prestige. ROBERT The final season of You sees protagonist Joe (Penn Badgley) returned to New York after jaunts in California and Europe, but it seems as if he couldn’t really go home again, not like in the first season. After so many deaths and changes of identities, the raindrops dodged in Season Five and the construct of how Joe manages his elusiveness is too far-fetched. Even within the single episodes, we see Joe go from master criminal, ala Walter White, to boneheaded, overly emotional loser and back again. If you like callbacks and Easter eggs, you will be delighted, but you will also find no rooting interest in any character by You ’s conclusion. Check out our reviews for Season Four HERE .

Previous Next January 8, 2025 WRITTEN BY: ADRIANO Another year has come to an end, and 2024, like most years, has been a year of highs and lows when it comes to cinema. For those who don’t ardently follow such things, I imagine many are trying to figure out what movies are worth catching up on, especially since awards season has thrown a bunch of movie titles at you. I’m assuming, more likely than not, you’ve seen the big blockbusters like Dune: Part Two and Wicked , and maybe you've even caught some buzzy hits like Longlegs and Challengers . As we speak, many of you are probably trying to get caught up on awards hopefuls like Anora and The Brutalist . However, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some films that, in my opinion, are easily amongst the year's best offerings while flying completely below the radar. So, here are ten underappreciated films from 2024 that everyone should watch. HOW TO HAVE SEX I saw How to Have Sex for the first time at TIFF 2023, and it has remained in my head ever since. I'm genuinely at a loss for words that it's Molly Manning Walker’s directorial debut, but that has made me excited for whatever she does next. Following three teenage girls on a week-long summer vacation to Malia, Greece, the film focuses primarily on Tara, played spectacularly by Mia McKenna-Bruce, as she seeks to lose her virginity. While the film begins as a somewhat familiar, albeit energetic, coming-of-age party film, it evolves into something much more profound, becoming a seething indictment on hook-up and party culture and how it pertains to women and consent. It's the kind of film I'd show my kids when they become teenagers, not just because it's so good, but because of how important it could be in shaping their minds on the subject. I SAW THE TV GLOW After their surreal previous film, We're All Going to the World's Fair , I was pretty intrigued by whatever writer-director Jane Schoenbrun cooked up next. I Saw the TV Glow validated that excitement big time, making them the upcoming filmmaker I'm most excited for. Something about Schoenbrun's way of exploring themes of finding individual freedom, especially for queer and trans people, via entertainment, esoteric horror, and colourful imagery that crawls under your skin is simply mesmerizing (not to mention the performances Schoenbrun got out of Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine). However, the best part of it is that, even once the credits rolled, it felt like it still hadn't ended, as the movie kept me pondering every scene and detail long after I left the theatre. Now, I'm not going to pretend I Saw the TV Glow is a film for everybody, but I still believe it's a film everyone should seek out and experience at least once. HIS THREE DAUGHTERS The power a good writer-director can capture in a single room for almost an entire movie’s runtime is something that I'll never understand. In Azazel Jacob's chamber piece His Three Daughters , we follow three adult sisters who resolve their broken relationship as their father is about to die. The biggest sell of this movie has been the central performances from Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and most notably, Natasha Lyonne. All three of them feel as lived in as possible, with every grievance and past trauma feeling very authentic. His Three Daughters shines as a devastating yet strangely endearing film of familial baggage and what grief can bring out of people. Simply put, it's a worthwhile tearjerker that should leave a long-lasting impact on any viewer. DÌDI I might as well throw another great coming-of-age movie in the mix with Dìdi . In the feature directorial debut of Sean Wang, Dìdi is about a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American kid named Chris, played amazingly by Izaac Wang, in the final month of summer vacation before beginning high school. The kicker: the film takes place in 2008, meaning the rise of the digital era plays a major role. As someone who came of age in this era, I can speak to the film's unflinching authenticity, from the performance of the entire ensemble of kids to the way they speak. Plus, the embarrassing and emotional beats the kids go through all felt very familiar, for better and for worse. However, the film's secret weapon lies in Joan Chen, who gives one of the year's best performances as the protagonist’s struggling mother. If you grew up in the 00s, you'll find something really special here, but even if you didn't, it's still a funny and heartwarming coming-of-age film. HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS A common accusation I hear whenever I speak ill of a superhero slopfest is that I "don't like fun." Thankfully, Hundreds of Beavers is here to prove that I do, in fact, love fun because it’s just a total blast. Directed by Mike Cheslik for just $150,000, the film follows a 19th-century applejack salesman who suddenly must survive a hoard of conniving, human-sized beavers. This movie is essentially a feature-length, live-action Looney Tunes cartoon, featuring slapstick that harkens back to the era of Charlie Chaplin and loads of laughter from its wild visual gags. The gags themselves genuinely make me wonder how they made this film with such a tiny budget. There is nothing about Hundreds of Beavers that is necessarily profound; it's just a sincerely silly movie that sucks you in with its pure mayhem. KILL Speaking of pure fun, let's talk about Kill . Directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, the film follows two commandos who are aboard a train that's been hijacked by bandits. Also, the two commandos seek revenge and justice after the bandits kill the girlfriend of one of the commandos. While there is an effective emotional throughline with the murder that really sets the plot in motion, if you're like me and just a kneejerk sucker for well-executed, hyper-gory hand-to-hand combat, this is the film for you. I was lucky enough to see this for the first time with a Midnight Madness crowd at TIFF, which was exciting enough as is, but subsequent viewings of the film have only affirmed just how radically exciting Kill is. SASQUATCH SUNSET No dialogue, just grunts and bodily fluids being chucked everywhere. That's Sasquatch Sunset for you. A bizarre film across the board, it tells the story of a family of sasquatches who venture across the wilderness. That's the essential plot of the film, but the movie offers much more under the surface. Directed by Nathan and David Zellner, Sasquatch Sunset gives us some incredible performance work from Jesse Eisenberg, Christophe Zajac-Denek, Nathan Zellner, and especially Riley Keough as they demonstrate absurd levels of humanity despite being trapped under several layers of prosthetics. But the thing about this film that is really special is its ability to give us a lovely tale of finding a connection to each other and to the earth. It shows that even at its most ridiculous and in the face of heavy hardships, life has a way of turning things around. Trust me when I say this one will make you laugh and possibly even cry. SNACK SHACK A running theme in this article seems to be that of the coming-of-age genre because I really want to talk about just how much I adored Snack Shack . Set in the 90s, the film follows two teenage boys who start running a concession stand at the local pool. Writer-director Adam Carter Rehmeier has stated that this film is semi-autobiographical, based on experiences from his own childhood, and that level of authenticity is apparent in nearly every scene. The movie has a lot of heart and plenty of laughs, and even at the film's most familiar beats, Snack Shack is just charming all the way through. A big part of that charm are the excellent lead performances from Connor Sherry and Gabriel LaBelle. There are not many people I wouldn't recommend this to. It's just too likable. THE ORDER If it was still the 90s, The Order would've been huge. A thriller about an FBI agent trying to take down a white supremacist terrorist group? It has everything a movie-goer would love… and it was just ignored. It has all the pulse-pounding thrills you'd want from an effective true-crime action-thriller, with great cinematography, engrossing storytelling, and an all-around amazing ensemble, including one of my favourite performances from Jude Law. It may seem like a tough watch due to its subject matter, but director Justin Kurzel crafted a timely yet enthralling film that can satisfy any audience. THE SHADOW STRAYS Whenever I hear that we don't get original, high-concept, action films anymore, I roll my eyes hard because they do exist, you just have to look deeper. For example, The Shadow Strays , a martial arts film by acclaimed director Timo Tjahjanto, is about a female ninja who sets out to rescue a child from human traffickers. I mean, what about that concept doesn't sound enticing? I'll admit, when I saw the film at a Midnight Madness screening on the 10th day of TIFF, I was tired and considered leaving before the film began. And then 15 minutes in, ninjas were shooting and slicing people up in stylized and gory ways, so I decided to stick around. Totally worth it. An unrelenting blast from start to finish with plenty of heart, it ends on a sequel set-up, which I usually get annoyed at; however, this time? I welcome it.

CULPRITS: SEASON ONE Starring: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Gemma Arterton, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Niamh Algar, Kamel El Basha, Tara Abboud, Karl Collins, Vincent Riotta, Amara Karan, Tom Mothersdale, Mark Field, and Laura Morgan Creator: J Blakeson QUENTIN The heist genre is maybe the most fun genre out there, and probably one of the hardest to truly mess up. With Culprits , series creator/writer/occasional director J Blakeson benefits from these two ideals because when it finally gets to heisting, it’s a fast-paced, violent, action-packed show. The problem is that it takes half the season to get there, and the early episodes, which lean heavily into a “before-and-after” storytelling structure, are a bit of a slog because the constant time-jumping kills the narrative momentum. Still, as a whole, if you can make it through the uneven start, there is enough stylized Reservoir Dogs -inspired goodness to entertain.

Previous Next With the highly anticipated release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, we figured it was the perfect time for the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Non-MCU Marvel Films/Series. Each writer ranks his or her top 15 releases in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. DEADPOOL After years of rumors, Ryan Reynolds (after leaking some test footage) finally got to properly bring Wade Wilson to the big screen, and it changed the superhero movie game in more ways than one. It showed that mainstream comic book movies could be successful while also being hella violent and raunchily R-rated. It’s also one of the first to demonstrate that major blockbusters can open in February, and, if we’re being honest, it kinda resurrected Reynolds’ career. Most of all, though, it gave studios permission to take risks when it comes to superhero content, especially when you stay true to the character. - Quentin 4. X2: X-MEN UNITED The first X-Men movie was quite a ride, but X2: X-Men United is the rare sequel that doubles down on what made the original so great while also introducing new ideas to help elevate the genre. Of course, the action and mutant shenanigans are on full display, but what makes X2 better than its predecessor is the surprisingly detailed character work that makes you genuinely connect. Many comic book sequels have come out since then, but X2 will always be the gold standard. - Adriano 3. SPIDER-MAN 2 Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 is not only considered one of the greatest comic book sequels of all time, but it’s also the ultimate live-action Spidey movie. Raimi is able to establish a tone that feels straight out of a comic book despite being real life. It’s a lighthearted film with dark themes that are executed in perfect balance, and the inner conflict of what it actually means to be Spider-Man still feels real and raw. Spider-Man 2 remains one of the ultimate non-MCU Marvel movies to swing onto the big screen. - Paige 2. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE When trailers for Into the Spider-Verse initially released, there was a general “uhh, sure” that was heard across Film Twitter. But then we all saw it, and it changed animation, comic book movies, and Spider-people forever. It’s heartfelt, action-packed, incredibly voice-acted, and all out pure awesomeness in every meaning of the word. From the Cage-iest Nic Cage you can find to the moving monologue by Miles’ dad (Bryan Tyree Henry) through the door, Spider-Verse fires on all cinematic cylinders. The best Spider-Man movie is animated, and it’s not even close. - Amarú 1. LOGAN This modern-day western is a bonafide masterpiece that shows the potential for what a superhero film can be, thanks to the maturity and grittiness that director James Mangold brought to the X-Men universe. Hugh Jackman (playing dual roles) manages to take his performance up yet another notch as he says goodbye to the longtime role (Deadpool 3 , notwithstanding), while Patrick Stewart returns as a painstakingly brittle Charles Xavier. And don't even get me started on the finale. This is truly exceptional filmmaking. - Nick HONORABLE MENTIONS X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST X-MEN: FIRST CLASS SPIDER-MAN (2002) DEADPOOL 2 BIG HERO 6 Photo Credits: Photo 1, 2, 5 - 20th Century Studios; Photo 3, 4 - Sony Pictures Releasing

Previous Next April 25, 2022 WRITTEN BY: QUENTIN It’s easy for one to look at Nic Cage’s eccentricities & spate of direct-to-VOD movies and not fully appreciate what the man has done over the course of his 40-year career. He has excelled as a rom-com lead, an action star, a horror hero, and a scene-stealing voice actor, all while boasting two Academy Award nominations (and one win) for his dramatic work. He is, quite possibly, the only actor that truly takes risks anymore, acting for genuine love of the craft more than anything else. Truth is, you never know what you’re going to get with a Cage performance. Will it be a gonzo tour-de-force or a meditative character study? Will you laugh, cheer, be moved, or be repulsed? Either way, you just know he is going to do something interesting with each and every role while giving nothing less than 100%. That intrigue, unpredictability, and commitment is what makes Nic Cage my favorite actor. Below, you’ll find a list of my favorite Cage movies. Please note that I said “favorite,” not “best.” The two words are not synonymous. While I respect that his performance in Leaving Las Vegas is sublime, it’s such a hard movie to watch. So, you won’t find it here. Same for Mandy . You also won’t find Into the Spider-verse because, despite him being arguably the highlight of that movie, I don’t consider it a Nic Cage movie as much as a movie that just happens to co-star Nic Cage. You won’t find The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent either because I literally just watched it like an hour ago. I need to marinate on it. I don’t want to be influenced by recency bias, and only time will tell if it eventually moves its way up the list. Instead, what you will find are the Cage movies that speak to me the most. Be it nostalgia, a relatable character, or simply a high rewatchability quotient, these are the Cage films that give me the warm and fuzzies. Lastly, I’m writing the article, so I make the rules. Shut up if you don’t like it. With that, it’s not exactly Mai Tais and Yahtzee out here, but let’s do it! 10. KISS OF DEATH (1995) Without Cage, Kiss of Death would likely be a forgettable 90s movie, found in the bargain bin next to titles like Striking Distance and Sudden Death . However, Cage single-handedly wills the film into something more as Little Junior, an asthmatic thug who carries himself with more bravado than Denzel Washington in Training Day . Plus, it’s one of the rare times in which Cage is allowed to lean into pure villainy, which is a treat in itself. 9. JOE (2013) Joe ’s story is nothing new: a loner ex-con becomes a reluctant mentor to an abused teenager; However, Cage plays the titular character with both a simmering brutality and poetic stillness that adds immeasurable depth to the oft-told tale. His chemistry with Tye Sheridan makes for a powerful bond, and it’s interesting to see Cage play a character who is constantly trying to hold back his innermost impulses when we know that, as an actor, that’s not where he tends to operate. 8. LORD OF WAR (2005) Lord of War , which could genuinely function as a Tony Stark prequel (without the MCU shine, of course) takes a hard look at the global and personal consequences of illegal gun running. Cage strikes an uneasy balance as a charming yet morally corrupt monster, the kind of character you can’t help but like even as you know you shouldn’t. Few people can walk that tightrope, but Cage delivers in this sharp satire. 7. WILLY'S WONDERLAND (2021) Despite being a ripoff of the Five Nights at Freddy’s video game franchise and one of Cage’s direct-to-VOD efforts, Willy’s Wonderland is an absolute blast! It’s a simple story, a nameless janitor (Cage) battles murderous Chuck E. Cheese-style animatronics, but Cage absolutely owns the screen whether he’s kicking ass, chugging grape soda, or playing pinball. On top of that, he does it all without uttering a single word. The 80s vibe reeks of tongue-in-cheek cheesiness, but it definitely works for this hidden horror gem. 6. GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS (2000) Despite the critical drubbing it took in 2000, I’m not sure what more you could ask for in a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced action flick about stealing cars. It’s got humor, car chases, a stellar supporting ensemble (including three Oscar winners), and, frankly, it’s just a whole lot of fun. Add in all-time great Cage character name Memphis Raines and the Shelby GT500 known as “Eleanor,” and you’ve got a movie that always stops me in my tracks when flipping channels. 5. RAISING ARIZONA (1987) Despite having starred in several comedies, romantic and otherwise, people tend to forget how funny Cage can be. The Coen Brothers’ Raising Arizona is an absurdist screwball comedy that only works if you have a lead with excellent comedic timing, charm, and charisma, which Cage delivers in spades (not to mention the terrific mustache and muttonchops). Raising Arizona is a 35-year-old comedy classic that put both the Coens and Cage on the map. If you need any more convincing, director Edgar Wright called it his favorite movie of all time. 4. PIG (2021) In the five years preceding Pig ’s release, Cage starred in no fewer than 20 direct-to-VOD movies. Given that, I can understand why some people seemed to have forgotten what the man is capable of. In this film-that-was-definitely-snubbed-for-a-Best-Picture-Nomination, Cage zigs when most assume he will zag, playing the meditative, soulful, and non-violent yin to John Wick’s yang. It’s a brilliant character study on love and loss for which he was completely jobbed for his third Best Actor nomination. 3. NATIONAL TREASURE (2004) & NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (2007) Playing out like Adult Goonies , National Treasure is a treasure hunt adventure that works for pretty much the entire family. While the historical aspects may be romanticized a bit, it’s a fun caper that probably birthed the Memefication of CageTM with one single quote: “I’m going to steal the Declaration of Independence.” It’s pure popcorn fun, but in all the best ways. Then they made a second one! 2. MATCHSTICK MEN (2003) In Matchstick Men , Cage plays a con man with OCD and Tourette’s. Can you honestly imagine a more interesting actor to play someone with Tourette’s? You can see the gonzo Nic Cage we all know and love just itching to break out through every twitchy tick. It’s like he combined the grounded approach of Leaving Las Vegas with the more eccentric choices he made in Vampire’s Kiss . With a twisty story that engages and a completely earned character arc for Cage’s Ray, Matchstick Men is one of Cage’s most overlooked movies. 1. THE YEAR OF CAGE: June 6, 1996 - July 27, 1997 Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking: “You can’t just give us a random timeframe, Q.” I absolutely can. I make the rules, remember? Besides, how does one even choose between The Rock , Con Air , and Face/Off , all of which were released within (nearly) a one-year span? All three are iconic, late-90s action films, with each one producing memorable one-liners, unforgettable action scenes, generational nostalgia, colorful characters, and a string of memes that are popular 25 years later. It’s genuinely one of the best three-film-stretches for any action star, and Cage delivered it in under 14 months. That’s remarkable. I’ll be damned if I’m going to be forced into a Sophie’s Choice situation with this trinity. Photo Credits: Photo 1, 6 - 20th Century Studios; Photo 2 - Roadside Attractions; Photo 3 - Lionsgate; Photo 4 - Screen Media Films; Photo 5, 8, 10 - Disney; Photo 7 - Neon; Photo 9 - Warner Bros; Photo 10 - Paramount Pictures

FARGO: SEASON FIVE Starring: Jon Hamm, Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joe Keery, David Rysdahl, Richa Moorjani, Sam Spruell, Sienna King, Dave Foley, Conrad Coates, and Lamorne Morris Creator: Noah Hawley QUENTIN After not loving its fourth season (I gave it a 2.5), Fargo is back with a vengeance, returning to all the things that made the first three seasons great: excellent characters, top-notch performances, and an engaging story that is equal parts violent, dramatic, suspenseful, absurd, and funny. Admittedly, some parts are unnecessary (Lamorne Morris’ character, for example), but the exploration of the power dynamics at play in America’s current culture, gender, and class war is extremely compelling and as relevant as ever. And it’s all carried by a terrific cadre of quirky side characters and subversive powerhouse performances from Jon Hamm and Juno Temple. PRESTON After watching Seasons Three and Four, I thought Fargo had peaked; however, Season Five brings it home as the closest offering to Seasons One and Two in terms of quality. Jon Hamm plays the bad guy so well that I hope the majority of his roles in the future will be villainous, while Juno Temple perfectly takes on the role of a sweet and unassuming, yet enigmatic, Midwesterner. The combination of writer/creator Noah Hawley’s genius, executive producers Joel and Ethan Coen’s unique humor and perspective, and a kick-ass cast operating against the backdrop of unbelievable but “true” events lead to solid entertainment.

OBITUARY: SEASON ONE Starring: Siobhán Cullen, Michael Smiley, Ronan Raftery, Danielle Galligan, David Ganly, and Michael Hough Creator: Ray Lawlor QUENTIN Hulu’s new Irish import, Obituary , isn’t particularly necessary viewing, but if you have the right mindset and sensibilities (read: dark and quirky), there is some entertainment value to be found in this highly bingeable six-episode season. The obvious comparison is Dexter (but less self-serious), but it also has shades of After Life and the macabre humor of Wednesday , all while reminding you of just about every show you’ve seen featuring small towns filled with peculiar characters and hidden secrets. With chuckles, mystery, a delightful Siobhán Cullen, and plenty of soothing Irish accents, Obituary makes for a charming and breezy (if somewhat disposable) viewing experience.

THE BROTHERS SUN: SEASON ONE Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Justin Chien, Sam Song Li, Joon Lee, and Highdee Kuan Creators: Byron Wu and Brad Falchuk QUENTIN If you can picture a Jackie Chan movie done in the style and tone of Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet , then you’ve got a pretty good idea of what The Brothers Sun is. It’s action-packed, with bone-cracking and bloody martial arts scenes, while also featuring a fun, comedic silliness, including a running joke about a legendary assassin from a Taipei Triad becoming obsessed with churros. Truth be told, it is just a lot of fun and super-bingeable. On top of that, you’ve got recent Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh giving a standout performance, which, if we’re being honest, just means she’s doing typical Michelle Yeoh things. AMARÚ I like a show that knows exactly how serious to take itself. While The Brothers Sun is fairly cheesy, it leans into it with a wholly realistic sincerity that makes the show an extremely fun watch. There are a few too many times where I figured out something that the characters stupidly did not, but the amazing action, honest moments of family tenderness, and nice balance of humor and mystery make the flaws easily roll off your shoulder. The Brothers Sun bangs as hard as its very eclectic soundtrack, and binging this show is an entertaining breeze. Plus, Michelle Yeoh. Need I say more?