Sunday Service ( better late than never)

Contrary to the forecast, it is officially fall. My favorite time of year includes my birthday, sweater weather, and new TV shows to cozy up next to. As we bid farewell to summer, say hello to my most anticipated titles to close 2024.

Fall TV Preview

Starting in my birthday month, the TV gods have gifted me several new and returning series. Below are my most anticipated in chronological order.

• 10/2 Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries Vol. 5

• 10/3 NBC’s surprise freshman hit, Found, takes L&O: OC’s for its second season. Visit last week’s Service for more details.

• 10/8 ABC’s smash-hit comedy, Abbott Elementary, is back in session for a full season

• 10/11 Apple TV’s Disclaimer with Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline premieres

• 10/17 Joining Maddie on Thursdays is the quirky gumshoe Elsebeth for its second season

• 10/18 Netflix explores a new anime with Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance

• 10/31 Keri Russell returns in Netflix’s political thriller The Diplomat

• 11/12 NBC gets funny with mockumentary

• 11/14 Prime Video’s first season of Cross with Aldis Hodge arrives

• 11/9 Netflix’s Aracne begins its three-part conclusion

• 11/28 Thanksgiving brings Colman Domingo in Netflix’s The Madness

• 12/3 Star Wars goes Goonies with Skeleton Crew

• 12/26 The international Emmy-winner, Squid Game, plays for the second time

Backstabbers [spoilers for Industry S3E7 ahead]

Industry’s penultimate episode simmered to an explosive conclusion, setting up some terrifying predicaments for our protagonists. Once again, Harper’s ambition lands her in hot water when she reveals how she got said information to Petra. And it saddles her with a free trip to the Muck estate.

Meanwhile, Yasmin is placed between a rock and a hard place by her father’s company, which may have been complicit in his criminal activity. She’s left spiraling until someone hands her a risky lifeboat.

Post-Robert’s public hanging, he seems to be in a better place after an interview with a company in the States. He describes a feeling of anticipation again, something he’s lost during his time at Pierpoint. I wonder if he’ll depart the series, fulfilling my theory that we’ll lose a prominent character each season as they realize the institution isn’t worth their mental wealth.

The episode its climactic peak with Eric’s ultimate betrayal, saving himself and Pierpoint from total collapse. I was gagged by the depths he maneuvered in catapulting Bill to pasture, positioning himself as the company man. After chastising Harper for being a monster, he forgot who taught her the ropes.

The third season finale of Industry arrives tonight at 9 p.m. on MAX and 10 p.m. on HBO.

This Ain’t Your Grandma’s Matlock

Over on network television, CBS reintroduced viewers to Matlock. Kathy Bates repurposes the name in a series that experienced the Andy Griffith character in real time. Madeline “Maddie” Matlock is a senior lawyer, seeking to return to law after a 30-year gap. She openly auditions for a prestigious firm that takes on high-profile cases.

The show is exactly what many expected. Maddie proves her worth to colleagues and viewers with her quick wit, wealth of knowledge, ease with witnesses, and motherly demeanor. By the episode’s end, the client’s victory is secured along with Maddie’s employment. But the last 15 minutes deliver a juggernaut twist that makes this reimagining worth your time.

The special preview pilot is available for free on YouTube. Matlock returns on its regular night - Thursday - October 17 on CBS.

How to Go to Jail Alone

Hulu’s How to Die Alone ended its first season on Friday. The delightful dramedy from Insecure’s Natasha Rothwell was the weekly therapy session I didn’t know I needed. The last two episodes delivered a satisfyingly realistic conclusion to Mel’s journey to loving herself. One that has to continue in season two! Renew this, please! Everyone binge the eight episodes to see what happens to our beloved TraxAssist employee.

Trailers

Thunderbolts, hoooooooooo!

Marvel is gradually reclaiming my time with the first public look at the upcoming ensemble film, Thunderbolts* set to drop in May next year. Following Sam Wilson’s Brave New World, Florence Pugh’s Yelena leads a brawling group of past MCU villains assembled by Julie Louis-Dreyfuss’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Initial thoughts were of course Marvel’s take on the Suicide Squad, but something much more sinister feels afoot.

Trailers are meant to be good to sell the complete package. But this one is pretty damn good. I’m hoping for a cinematic slam dunk from Kevin and the gang.

For all have sinned

Since Marvel is taking their precious time with their Black vampire movie, Micahel B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler filmed their take on the bloodsuckers with Sinners. Set in the South, the period piece finds Jordan as a set of twins escaping their misdeeds only to meet a killer threat haunting a small community.

Jordan playing dual roles could be his greatest feat yet, but I trust he and Coogler — and a stellar cast — can deliver a solid horror venture come March 7, 2025.

Apple’s big little lie

Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline star in Alfonso Cuarón’s seven-part event, Disclaimer*. The psychological thriller received a rousing reception at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year. Blanchett is a doting mother and wife whose life unglues after a novel of fiction casts a shadow of truth. From the trailer alone, it appears forbidden lust led to a devious deed that went unknown, until now. The limited series arrives on AppleTV+ on October 11.