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 .

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: SEASON FOUR Starring: Aidan Gallagher, Elliot Page, Robert Sheehan, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Ritu Arya, Justin H. Min, Emmy Raver-Lampman, and Colm Feore Creator: Steve Blackman PAIGE You will enjoy the final season of The Umbrella Academy if you watch it for the Hargreeves siblings antics. However, given the season's overall story and character choices made throughout, it's difficult for me to reconcile where the series ends. With the number of episodes reduced from ten to six, there is simply too much going on and not enough time to develop everything adequately. I found the whole plot to be rushed and lacking a satisfying resolution. Maybe I would have been more forgiving of the season's weaker moments if the finale had been more rewarding, but we'll never know.

Previous Next With the upcoming release of Bullet Train, the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Assassin Films. Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films 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. COLLATERAL While Heat is rightfully considered director Michael Mann’s best movie, Collateral makes a strong case for the number two spot behind its propulsive story, the stylishly gritty direction, Tom Cruise playing against type as a silver-foxed assassin, and an Oscar-nominated performance from Jamie Foxx. In some ways, it feels like a spiritual sequel to Heat , as if it exists in the same world as that masterpiece. And, you know, I’m not sure I can give a bigger compliment than that. - Quentin 4. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM You can’t discuss assassins without mentioning Jason Bourne (the character, not the movie). Featuring one of the best assassins cinema has ever seen, the Bourne series has been so influential that you can see its fingerprints all over Daniel Craig's iteration of the even more iconic James Bond. With The Bourne Ultimatum , we see the rare occasion when the third entry in a franchise is also the best. At the time, it was the perfect way to wrap up such an amazing trilogy. - Nick 3. PULP FICTION Director Quentin Tarantino’s (arguably) best film is considered as such because it is so many different things while still being so singular. I genuinely didn’t even realize that it would fall into the assassin movie category until I stopped and thought about it, and any time you stop to think about Pulp Fiction ’s greatness, it’s a beautiful thing. - Amarú 2. JOHN WICK John Wick is a miracle of a movie, both for itself and action cinema. For years, action movies were in dire straits, but that all changed when Keanu Reeves was resurrected by directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski as a vengeful boogeyman with a knack for headshots. The “gun-fu” in John Wick birthed a renewed vitality in action cinema, and its precision-based choreography remains a staple of action filmmaking to this day. What an awesome ride. - Jacob 1. KILL BILL Writer/director Quentin Tarantino created a stylish masterpiece with Kill Bill , a love letter to other classics that also leaves its own bloody mark on them. Uma Thurman gives an incredible performance as the ‘The Bride’ (aka Black Mamba), a betrayed assassin seeking vengeance on her former hit squad, the DiVAS (Deadly Viper Assassination Squad). And who doesn’t love a good revenge tale? She is all righteous fury in this bloody affair that is amongst Tarantino’s best work. - Paige HONORABLE MENTIONS TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY LOOPER CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER IN BRUGES THE TERMINATOR Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Dreamworks Pictures; Photo 2 - Universal Pictures; Photo 3, 5 - Miramax Films; Photo 4 - Lionsgate

Previous Next As Dungeons & Dragons is the latest installment to try and break the "game movie trend", the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Childhood Game Movies. Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films 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. GAME NIGHT Game Night is the kind of studio comedy that we need to see more often, in that it’s truly funny, is filled to the brim with dark comedy, and is unique in its concept and execution. The film offers plenty of twists and turns as we watch the fun cast of characters have a game night to remember. It’s the kind of movie that has so many creative choices and visual gags that you’ll want to see it in the most crowded theatre you can find in order to experience the infectious laughter. - Adriano 4. READY PLAYER ONE Ready Player One is a nostalgic thrill ride directed by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Steven Spielberg. This book adaptation is sprinkled with countless cameos from some of our favorite fictional characters, and you can’t help but to fall into a trance with this flick. The tremendous visual effects make The OASIS feel incredibly real, leaving us to wish that we could take the leap into that virtual reality world and experience the video game for ourselves. - Paige 3. TRON Whether your introduction to The Grid was 1982’s Tron or 2010’s Tron: Legacy , there is no denying that these films are amongst the few to truly make viewers feel like they are inside a video game. Story excellence aside, both films were groundbreaking in terms of special effects. Tron pioneered the use of CGI (fun fact: Tron wasn’t nominated for the Best Special Effects Oscar because The Academy thought the filmmakers “cheated” by using computers), and Legacy is one of the first films to fully embrace de-aging technology. They walked…while absolutely killing it in the process…so your favorite movies of the last 40 years could run. - Quentin 2. CLUE I wish I had been old enough to see Clue in theaters enough times to catch each alternate ending, then argue with my friends about which one was the right one. Instead, I grew up singing along with that bop of a melody as the titles explained over and over how the killer was Colonel… no Prof Pl… no Ms. Pea… well, nevermind. This hilarious, exquisitely paced, well-crafted, and never-endingly quotable whodunit is too good to spoil, even if it is older than me. So, instead, I think I’ll just go home and sleep with my wife. - Amarú 1. JUMANJI For me, there was never a question as to what deserved to be at the top of this list. Jumanji uses Robin Williams' enigmatic energy alongside some fantastic practical effects to create a memorable adventure. Be it the beating of the drum, the lion's tail sweeping across the piano, or David Alan Grier's distressed screams, this film is timeless. Knowing this, the sequels have flipped the script by showing you the inside of the game and the jungle itself instead of a rehash. This has let the sequels standalone while playing tribute to the original. - Nick HONORABLE MENTIONS WRECK-IT RALPH READY OR NOT SONIC THE HEDGEHOG FREE GUY MORTAL KOMBAT (1995) Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Sony Pictures Releasing; Photo 2 - Paramount Pictures; Photo 3 - Disney; Photo 4, 5 - Warner Bros.

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB Starring: Iman Benson, Igby Rigney, Ruth Codd, Annarah Cymone, William Chris Sumpter, Adia, Aya Furukawa, Sauriyan Sapkota, Matt Biedel, Samantha Sloyan, Zach Gilford, and Heather Langenkamp Creators: Mike Flanagan and Leah Fong PAIGE Mike Flanagan, “The King of Death and Loss,” has once again earned that title with The Midnight Club . That said, this show left me feeling less satisfied than I have with his previous works. I enjoyed the journey we take with these dying teens, who are dealing with the horrors that life presents them and the desires they want despite them…and, wow, the young cast gives such powerful performances…but the series is a little rough around the edges, especially when it comes to its storytelling. These storylines needed to be fleshed out more to leave a more content viewer at the end of it all. QUENTIN The first word that comes to mind about The Midnight Club is disjointed because both the tone and narrative are very inconsistent. At times, it plays like an R-rated Mike Flanagan series, but at others, it’s a cheesy YA show more befitting The CW. Meanwhile, the story vacillates between being a horror anthology and the core story of a possibly haunted hospice. These constant shifts make it difficult to lose oneself in the series. Flanagan can still orchestrate an effective scare, but this is easily his weakest Netflix offering thus far, not to mention the sappy and lazy cliffhanger ending that can fuck right off. Q ⅗

WINNING TIME: THE RISE OF THE LAKERS DYNASTY: SEASON TWO Starring: John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Jason Clarke, Adrien Brody, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Newton Mayenge, Spencer Garrett, Brett Cullen, Gillian Jacobs, Thomas Mann, McCabe Slye, and Michael Chiklis Creators: Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht AMARÚ Winning Time is pure entertainment. If Season One was the initial ascent in the Lakers rollercoaster of a dynasty, Season Two is that first exhilarating drop. This series shows how exceptional direction (especially from Salli Richardson-Whitfield) can use a stacked cast to their absolute fullest. From big names like John C. Reilly and Adrien Brody, to newcomers Quincy Isaiah and Hadley Robinson, this ensemble is top-notch, highlighted by Jason Clarke’s magnificently hot-headed portrayal of Jerry West. If Season Two is indeed the end, there’s no other way to salute this amazing show than with two words… “FUCK BOSTON!” ADRIANO It feels weird talking about the second season of Winning Time now knowing that it’s the series' last. With that, the season, and by extent the series, ends on such a dour note for a show called Winning Time . I can’t blame showrunners Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, as they clearly had more seasons planned before HBO abruptly canceled it, and while the ending is disappointing, the season still offers a fascinating look at the Showtime Lakers, featuring tons of style, pizzazz, and an outstanding cast (Quincy Isaiah and Jason Segel stand out again). Fingers crossed HBO reverses this decision. QUENTIN In its second and final season (HBO abruptly announced the series’ cancellation the day after the finale), Winning Time continues to deliver on everything that made Season One a success. The cast is largely the same, so the performances are still top-notch (Jason Segel and Jason Clarke, especially), while the stylistic flourishes bring the same crackling energy as before. But more importantly, the story carries more drama this season as it navigates ego, rivalries, and self v. team in the locker room. Sadly, despite the rushed codas to make it appear as a planned series finale (which it wasn’t), it ends on an incomplete, sour note.

THE TERMINAL LIST: DARK WOLF: SEASON ONE Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Tom Hopper, Dar Salim, Luke Hemsworth, Robert Wisdom, Rona-Lee Shimon, Shiraz Tzarfati, and Chris Pratt Creators: Jack Carr and David DiGilio QUENTIN Considering I didn’t care for The Terminal List (like, at all…see my review HERE ), I’m not entirely sure why I even tuned in for its prequel, Dark Wolf . I suppose I thought Taylor Kitsch would be better at the brooding badass than Chris Pratt, which, to be fair, he very much is; however, this series is so overly serious, even more serious than before. There is zero levity or excitement, and every character is so damn dour that it’s borderline depressing to watch. The plentiful action sequences and gunfights simply don’t crackle, which makes the generic Black Ops narrative all the more bland.

THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME: SEASON TWO Starring:Jennifer Garner, Angourie Rice, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, David Morse, Josh Hamilton, Augusto Aguilera, Michael Hyatt, Judy Greer, Luke Kirby, and John Noble Creators: Laura Dave and Josh Singer NICK In 2023, The Last Thing He Told Me was a nice surprise. In 2026, it's an unnecessary follow-up that becomes much more convoluted than it needs to be. The budding mother/daughter dynamic of Hannah (Jennifer Garner) and Bailey (Angourie Rice), which was so pivotal to Season One, has devolved into something much less interesting, especially with the return of Owen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). New additions Judy Greer, John Noble, and Luke Kirby try to justify this continuation but they don’t stop Season Two from being a big step down. It leaves an opening for future seasons, but this should be the last. Check out our reviews for Season One HERE .

EARTH ABIDES Starring: Alexander Ludwig, Jessica Frances Dukes, Aaron Tveit, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, Elyse Levesque, Luisa d’Oliveira, Birkett Turton, Hilary McCormack, and Jenna Berman Creator: Todd Komarnicki QUENTIN Earth Abides isn’t a bad miniseries, per se, but it’s not necessary viewing either. Its biggest problem is that it feels like so many other movies and series, recalling nearly every post-apocalyptic piece of content you’ve ever seen, from the Fox sitcom The Last Man on Earth to a zombieless The Walking Dead . Plus, the story is incredibly rushed (for reference, the first four episodes span 17 years), which prohibits any sort of meaningful character development, and frankly, there just isn’t much engaging drama or suspense. It’s watchable enough in a “what would I do in this situation?” way, but it’s also very skippable.

PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: SEASON ONE Starring: Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Charlie Bushnell, Virginia Kull, Adam Copeland, and Glynn Turman Creators: Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg AMARÚ They did it y’all. They fucking did it. Those horrible Percy Jackson movies are in the rear view because Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri are officially the new young-adult trio we’re gonna watch grow up. This show is excellent, and what’s most satisfying is the fact that for an action-packed YA franchise, the best parts are its world-building, pacing, and acting. My only wish is that next season (or four!!) lets the big moments breathe more to cut down on the anticlimactic reveals. Otherwise, this is an honest, entertaining, and beautifully structured adaptation that kept a huge smile on my face. NICK I’ve never read the Percy Jackson books (nor was I a fan of the Logan Lerman-led films), but my fellow writer Amarú's love for the book series led to me checking this series out. Honestly, what a blast! Due to its similarities, it’s bound to be measured against the Harry Potter franchise, but the world-building and eclectic cast of supporting characters (Adam Copeland is terrific) are on the same playing field. These aspects set the new leads up for success, and I expect them to only get stronger as they grow within these characters. I’ll definitely stick with this pleasant surprise of a series. CALEB Someone should’ve handed out Red Bulls on set because Percy Jackson and the Olympians is critically low on energy. The three leads basically sleepwalk through every scene, offering no charisma or chemistry whatsoever. The cinematography is expressionless, the effects look cheap, and the scripts are perplexingly dry. There were moments where it felt like the writers were going through the book scene by scene and systematically removing any and all tension they could find. The Percy Jackson books are just about as fun as young adult novels come, so there’s absolutely no excuse for an adaptation this boring. For shame, Disney… for shame.