Around 2019, the Hallmark Channel started integrating Hanukkah into their Countdown to Christmas line-up to celebrate how others celebrate the holidays.

While the previous movies were terrific, there is something special about Hanukkah on the Rocks, and part of that is the cast. Stacey Farber (Virgin River) and Daren Kagasoff (The Villiage) star in this holiday film.

Farber was in A Season For Family in 2023, but this is Kagasoff’s Hallmark debut, and they had instant chemistry.

Farber plays Tory, a corporate lawyer who gets laid off right before the holidays. Kagasoff portrays Jay, a radiologist, who returns home to try and convince his grandfather Sam to retire in Florida.

The importance of traditions and family relationships makes Hanukkah on the Rocks unique. Sam and Jay’s close bond and Tory’s relationship with her Bubby (grandmother) take center stage and are often paralleled.

That’s what kicks off the film. Sam and Bubby want a set of Cohen candles for their menorah and send their grandchildren to find it, who are clueless about the difference between candles.

Naturally, since this is Hallmark, Jay and Tory meet at the store and debate over the last set of available candles.

Farber and Kagasoff Feature an Instant Connection That Lures Viewers In

I was hooked as soon as Tory (Farber) and Jay (Kagasoff) bumped into each other at the party store with an adorable meet-cute.

Hallmark is known for cheesy holiday rom-coms, but they’ve expanded on that to build character arcs with substance.

• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick
• 27 Christmas Movies to Watch When You Need a Break from Holiday Cheer
  by Lisa Babick
• Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff Lead a Charming Cast and Bring Joyful Humor to Hanukkah on the Rocks
  by Laura Nowak

In some ways, Tory feels lost since she got laid off from her first career job, and she doesn’t know how to tell anyone. Jay is similar because he recently ended a long-term relationship before coming home.

Initially, Jay is wary when his grandfather offers Tory a job at Rocky’s to fill in as a bartender through Hanukkah, but soon, he admits she fits in with the rest of them.

It’s almost amusing watching Tory and Jay fight their feelings as Sam, Tory’s family, and Rocky’s regulars are teaming up to intervene.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Hallmark Channel film without some pesky secrets hindering their relationship, but you’ll have to watch to see how things turn out.

The Family Relationships are the Heart of Hanukkah on the Rocks

Sam and Jay’s relationship and Bubby and Tory’s bond are the heart of Hanukkah on the Rocks. The film did a fantastic job of paralleling the relationships, especially near the beginning, when explaining Jewish traditions or dating values.

Even though Jay swears he came home to help his grandfather, Sam knows him well and thinks he’s running from something.

While Kagasoff is an excellent leading man, he excels in family scenes. When he’s opposite Marc Summers (Sam), it’s reminiscent of him on The Village. Jay genuinely wants to help Sam but doesn’t always know how.

Bubby (Marina Stephenson Kerr) also has a strong relationship with Tory. She’s the only one who senses that Tory isn’t happy and that Tory makes time for when she’s working nonstop.

Tory is terrified to tell her family that she lost her job since her family’s approval and support mean everything, and she needs to learn that sometimes you can make new dreams.

The Quirky Characters and Hanukkah Traditions Supplement the Charming Film

We don’t want to spoil too much, but we’d love to hang out at Rocky’s Bar. Hallmark excels at creating entertaining bars with memorable characters, and Rocky’s takes the win.

Tory is lucky when she follows Jay into Rocky’s since she meets many new friends, and they alter each other’s lives. The head chef, Lottie (Lauren Cochrane), is Sam’s partner in crime, but she is initially afraid to try riskier recipes.

Anthony, one of the regulars, is in love with Lottie but stumbles over showing her. Then there’s Stacy-Lynn, an aspiring actress better at assisting Tory in planning events.

In fact, Stacy-Lynn names Tory’s inspired Hanukkah celebration Hanukkah on the Rocks. It starts with a themed drink and lights the menorah each night, then moves on to Hanukkah games, happy hour, and Jewish speed dating.

• Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff Lead a Charming Cast and Bring Joyful Humor to Hanukkah on the Rocks
  by Laura Nowak
• Tis the Season to be Irish: Sparks Fly Between Fiona Gubelmann and Eoin Macken Over a Historic Cottage
  by Laura Nowak
• Lake Mungo: This 2008 Aussie Mockumentary Might Be the Best Horror Film of Its Decade
  by Tyler Johnson

Sam’s love of the holiday and Tory’s party-planning skills bring joy to this film as the community comes together to celebrate. The group scenes are some of the best in the movie.

Sam is the heart of Rocky’s Bar, and no one wants him to retire to Florida, which means Jay has a fight on his hands. Will he see the appeal of this quirky bar where everyone loves his grandfather?

Hanukkah on the Rocks Features a Talented Cast and Crew

Sam (Marc Summers) is the film’s MVP. Summers typically hosts game shows, but his humor shines through as he acts opposite Kagasoff and Farber.

It quickly becomes apparent that Sam wants to match his grandson and Tory, and he’s one of those older men who says whatever he thinks.

Another fun treat was that Hanukkah on the Rocks reunited Stacey Farber and Cora Matheson, who guest starred on The Spencer Sisters.

This time, she portrays Tory’s older sister, Becca, and they are familiar as they banter.

The ultimate treat was that Julie Sherman Wolfe wrote the script.

She’s like Hallmark Channel royalty and has written numerous films, including Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.

In 2022, she also penned Hanukkah on Rye, so she is versed in combining these traditions with family relationships and blossoming romance.

Hanukkah on the Rocks is about finding new possibilities when life tries to take you down. After you watch the film, please comment here or on social media with your thoughts.

Hanukkah on the Rocks premieres on the Hallmark Channel on Friday, December 13 at 8/7c.

The post Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff Lead a Charming Cast and Bring Joyful Humor to Hanukkah on the Rocks appeared first on TV Fanatic.

But not everyone enjoys the holidays. Some people have bad memories of Christmas, while others would rather mope at home alone.

Some TV characters love the holidays, turning them into a winter wonderland, while others hibernate until January and forget Christmas exists.

We’ve examined which characters have the most and least holiday spirit for this list.

This list may have you reconsider some of your holiday traditions.

The Most Festive TV Characters

These TV characters are the essence of the holiday spirit. They carry on family traditions and bring warmth, laughter, and love to their everyday lives.

Some of them love planning elaborate gatherings, while others prefer sharing joy.

Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Lorelai Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls has an abundance of holiday spirit. She’d be a delight to spend the holidays with.

Lorelai loves snow and had the uncanny ability to smell the first snowflakes as snow as they began to fall.

Since she ran an inn for years with Sookie, she also excelled at planning events, so Lorelai would be the ideal candidate for planning a holiday dinner or a winter carnival with snow sculpting and ice skating.

• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick
• 27 Christmas Movies to Watch When You Need a Break from Holiday Cheer
  by Lisa Babick
• Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff Lead a Charming Cast and Bring Joyful Humor to Hanukkah on the Rocks
  by Laura Nowak

In fact, Lorelai and Sookie hosted a Victorian-themed holiday dinner for all of their Stars Hollow friends and family when snow stopped the original guests from attending. That was Lorelai in her element.

With Lorelai around, the holidays would consist of outdoor winter fun and watching holiday movies with hot chocolate. It would be the best of both worlds.

Watch Gilmore Girls Online

Cassie Nightingale (Good Witch)

Cassie Nightingale from Good Witch possesses the ideal amount of magic and cheer to make the holidays perfect.

Cassie’s gifts and magic would come in handy near the holidays when it’s the perfect time to pamper yourself or repair relationships — two of Cassie’s specialties.

She always had that extraordinary intuition, which often kicked in harder when it was a loved one like Grace or Abigail.

Grey House would be the ideal place to visit for the holidays since Cassie would go out of her way to make you feel special, and there would often be holiday chocolates or homemade treats.

She made it a point to open her family home to others and carry on essential traditions.

Watch Good Witch Online

Jack Pearson (This is Us)

Many traditions would be missing without Jack Pearson from This is Us. He was the essence of family and holiday spirit.

Jack Pearson’s love of family traditions and stories would be crucial in having three children, from passing on the baton of Pilgrim Rick to teaching them how to show kindness and include others in their family dinner.

He inspired his family and friends by enjoying the simple things in life and spending time with those he loved.

While more significant gifts like jewelry were appreciated, they were memories that people would remember for longer.

Watch This is Us Online

Georgia Miller (Ginny & Georgia)

Who wouldn’t want to celebrate the holidays with a Southern belle like Georgia Miller from Ginny & Georgia? First and foremost, she’s a mom who strives to make the holidays magical for her children.

Georgia never experienced a loving home life, making her more determined to provide one for Ginny and Austin. While she partly worked for Paul to maintain the perfect image, working for the mayor had perks.

• Days of Our Lives’ Doug Sendoff Reminds Viewers How Good This Soap Used To Be…And Can Be Again
  by Jack Ori
• The Blue Bloods Family Dinners: A Labor Of Love for Viewers and the Cast; Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg In Tears on The Talk
  by Jack Ori
• Dream or Delusion? How TV Shapes Our Vision of the American Dream
  by Lisa Babick

It allowed her to use her planning skills to host a winter festival and use the proceeds for other needy families. After everything she had been through, she wanted to give back.

Georgia would be so fun to hang out with for the holidays because she understands the balance of sexy fun and family traditions needed to spice them up.

Watch Ginny and Georgia Online

DJ Tanner-Fuller (Fuller House)

There is something heartwarming about spending Christmas with a mom. Most go out to please their children, but DJ Tanner from Fuller House learned from her dad, Danny Tanner, the master of going overboard.

Like her dad, DJ would have her work cut out from wrangling children and the family dog to pose for holiday photos when they would instead do anything but that.

It’s often difficult to keep the magic alive as children grow older, especially as they miss a parent or nostalgic traditions.

DJ knew that one well and understood when it was time to let go of elaborate holiday plans and instead watch home movies and give thanks for the blessings they did have.

She was the type of mom who tried to instill this kind of gratitude all year long.

Watch Fuller House Online

The Least Festive TV Characters

Some of these TV characters may despise the holidays, while others prefer hibernating inside, away from others, to forget the season existed. We all know someone like that.

Then, a few characters began mean or evil but reformed, like Ebenezer Scrooge. We hope you’ll find these selections enlightening.

Regina Mills (Once Upon a Time)

Regina Mills from Once Upon a Time embodies Ebenezer Scrooge. She was downright deliciously evil and wished everyone to be as miserable as she was.

For years, the holidays were probably lonely because she pushed everyone away. She was estranged from her mother, and her father could only do so much.

Adopting Henry helped some because then she had a child to shower love on and spoil, but it wasn’t until Henry was kidnapped that Regina truly reformed.

Even after she got Henry back, Regina remained a loner because she was known as the “Evil Queen.” It was still challenging for her to socialize and be part of an extended family.

Watch Once Upon a Time Online

Will Trent (Will Trent)

Will Trent was the first of several characters who would probably prefer to be left alone than join an office holiday party.

Even though he considers his colleagues his found family, it doesn’t mean he wants to exchange gifts with them or toast them.

• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick
• The Unhinged Christmas Wish List: Gifts Only TV Characters Would Ask For
  by Thomas Godwin
• 27 Christmas Movies to Watch When You Need a Break from Holiday Cheer
  by Lisa Babick

Will would prefer to stay home with Betty on Christmas Eve. He has no holiday traditions since he was bounced around from foster home to foster home.

This holiday season may be worse than usual since he doesn’t even have Angie.

Watch Will Trent Online

Gil Grissom (CSI/CSI: Vegas)

Gil Grissom from CSI was an anti-social workaholic. While he occasionally joined his team for breakfast at the local diner, he avoided formal celebrations.

He rarely gave anyone on his team holiday gifts except Sara, and even then, it was often a book about bugs, something he was interested in.

Gil Grissom didn’t like the holidays, partly because his dad died when he was young, and his mom continued to buy his father gifts.

While he understood that obsession, it wasn’t easy on him. It made it easier to avoid significant dates like holidays and birthdays.

Watch CSI Crime Scene Investigation Online

Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory has always been intelligent and intellectual and never saw the need for something as frivolous as Christmas.

He’d much rather hang out with his buddies and play Dungeon and Dragons or Magic of the Gathering. He’s like my husband in that way.

Like many of these other characters, Sheldon lost someone he loved as a child, his grandfather. When Santa Claus failed to return his grandfather, Sheldon stopped believing in the magical holiday.

It’s challenging to believe when you see the world in black and white and facts like Sheldon does. He likes predictability and has been steadfast in his hate of Christmas.

Watch The Big Bang Theory Online

Frank Costanza (Seinfeld)

Frank Costanza from Seinfeld is an oldie but a goodie. Holiday shopping has always been chaotic and frustrating, and it overwhelmed Frank so much that he got into a fight with another customer.

Nowadays, that would be a common occurrence on Black Friday, but it angered Frank, and he gave up on the holidays.

• Grosse Pointe Garden Society: Everything We Know About NBC’s Upcoming Thrilling New Drama
  by Lisa Babick
• Reacher Season 3: Teaser, Premiere Date & Everything Else We Know
  by TV Fanatic Staff
• Yellowjackets Season 3: Teaser, First-Look Photos, Cast and Everything Else We Know
  by TV Fanatic Staff

There are times I wouldn’t blame him. People are rude when they are shoving for the best toy.

Frank Costanza created Festivus, where guests discussed their grievances and yelled at each other instead of counting their blessings. A modern Scrooge, indeed.

Watch seinfeld Online

Severus Snape (Harry Potter)

Severus Snape was one of the most complex characters in the Harry Potter franchise. He often wanted to make everyone as miserable as he was by being necessarily cruel to his students, especially Harry and his friends.

While Snape is the villain, he often despises Harry because he reminds him of James, his rival for Lily’s affections.

For many years, Snape would have let Lord Voldemort kill and torture anyone but Lily. It was only in his final moments that he realized his ways.

He’s also the essence of Scrooge in that he realizes the error of way almost too late. While Harry named one of his children after Snape, there was no natural way to make peace.

Watch harry potter and the deathly hallows part 2 Online

Over to you, TV Fanatics.

Which TV characters have the most or least festive holiday spirit?

Let us know in the comments below.

The post Holiday Spirit or Total Scrooge? Ranking TV’s Most Festive (and Least Festive) Characters appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 11 seemed to tie up Carol’s connection to Alison and her marital issues with Morris. Dr. Wolf and Dr. Nichols disagreed about whether an old patient of Wolf’s should have brain surgery to remove his Tourette’s tics.

Also, Van and Jacob’s competition over Ericka intensified, and she hated feeling like a pawn in a chess game.

Alison’s Need for Attention Almost Cost Carol Her Career

Affair stories on TV shows are a dime a dozen. However, Brilliant Minds expanded this one so that Alison and Carol both wanted to know about “the other woman.”

While Carol was typically fierce, she crumbled when Alison overdosed and worried her decisions drove Alison to the edge.

It was questionable to see Alison get more information about Morris’s affair, but Alison wanted information about Carol, too. Oliver comforted Carol, telling her she needed to move on and be grateful that Alison was alive.

Initially, it was challenging to be grateful for that since Alison acted like the villain by blaming the staff or harassing the staff to discharge her.

Carol: Alison, I wish things were different, too, but here we are

It almost seemed like Alison wanted to ruin Carol’s life because she assumed Carol’s life was charmingly perfect.

However, Carol used to struggle with post-partum depression after having Maya and was a high-strung and nervous first-time parent. She wasn’t always poised and calm.

Alison finally admitted her family history, leading her to fear being alone. She fit Carol’s diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. While her arc led to some interesting character development for Carol, I’m relieved to be done with it.

• Days of Our Lives’ Doug Sendoff Reminds Viewers How Good This Soap Used To Be…And Can Be Again
  by Jack Ori
• The Blue Bloods Family Dinners: A Labor Of Love for Viewers and the Cast; Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg In Tears on The Talk
  by Jack Ori
• Dream or Delusion? How TV Shapes Our Vision of the American Dream
  by Lisa Babick

With the Truth Out, Carol Makes a Decision About Her Marriage

When the truth came out, Carol had to decide about her marriage. As noted in Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 4, teens notice things even when you don’t want them to.

As soon Carol rushed home to talk to Morris privately, Maya suspected something was off, enough to bring her mom lunch so they could talk.

It’s always rough when a teenager realizes their parents’ marriage is over, even worse when a teen realizes one of her parents cheated.

Teenage girls worship their fathers often, so it was devastating to learn he hurt her mother and their family. While Carol tried to stay impartial and say she and Morris were both to blame, Maya didn’t buy the excuse.

After the flashback of a younger Morris promising never to hurt Carol or baby Maya, neither did Carol anymore. She was ready to move on and wanted a divorce.

While she loved Morris, she couldn’t forgive him after she did everything for him and her family. This episode belonged to Tamberla Perry and Kaci Walfall, who rocked both versions of Carol Pierce.

Oliver and Josh Disagree On How To Treat a Patient

The weekly promo made Oliver and Josh’s disagreement look worse than it was. Oliver was correct in saying that they see things differently in their professions.

I felt for Ezra. I have a physical disability, and everyone stares and treats me differently the minute they realize I’m different.

Oliver made a valid point that society is mean, and it’s not Ezra’s responsibility to fit into this world. However, Josh was also correct that if brain surgery could reduce his tics and help him adapt to this world, shouldn’t they give that to him?

Josh: Ezra, this is your choice. I agree with Dr. Wolf. There is nothing wrong with tics. There is also nothing wrong with wanting to make a change

Oliver has discussed his face blindness more readily, admitting how he adapted to it and accepting it as part of him, so he wouldn’t want surgery to fix it.

It’s disheartening that Ezra didn’t want to let Oliver down by having the surgery, and Josh felt insecure, wondering if Oliver felt neurosurgery wasn’t as good as neurology.

While that fight hurt, Oliver realized that Josh had some valid points. I loved that he admitted if some treatment would have helped his dad’s depression and bipolar, he would have done it in a heartbeat.

Things grew more lighthearted as soon as Oliver admitted he saw Josh as an equal, and that’s why he could argue with him.

I think Oliver and Josh are in for the long haul. They now respect each other’s differences and care deeply about each other.

• Grosse Pointe Garden Society: Everything We Know About NBC’s Upcoming Thrilling New Drama
  by Lisa Babick
• Reacher Season 3: Teaser, Premiere Date & Everything Else We Know
  by TV Fanatic Staff
• Yellowjackets Season 3: Teaser, First-Look Photos, Cast and Everything Else We Know
  by TV Fanatic Staff

The Competition Between Jacob and Van Intensifies

Jacob figured out that Van was Ericka’s late-night visitor the other night, and the two started a bet to see who could win “the game.” The game entailed discharging as many patients as possible that day.

Van: May the best man win.

Jacob: May the best man win.

While most people think Jacob only cares about competing, he has demonstrated he cares about his patients. Jacob probably saved Mike’s life when he noticed his voice changed and noticed his stumbling pattern.

Mike had Myasthenia gravis, which I’d heard of on Days of Our Lives. It affects nerves and muscles. Even Dr. Wolf was impressed that Jacob had given up on the competition and had thought of caring for his patient first.

For once, Van stayed petty and rubbed in Jacob’s face that Ericka picked him. They acted like they were back in high school. She’s not a prize to be won, so Jacob dropped that Van had a kid to cause trouble.

They behaved like idiots, yet none looked good, even Ericka cause she used Van. However, no one expected what happened when she went home to cool off.

That cliffhanger. So many shows do scenes of residents getting stuck in an elevator, but this is one of their own, and the building collapsed on top of it.

I hate that the series is making us wait for the final two episodes of the season in January, though that scene will pull people back in.

Every doctor on staff will fight for Ericka, and we want to see it.

So, Brilliant Minds Fanatics, what did you think of the fall finale? Are you relieved Alison’s story arc is over? Were you expecting a more immense fallout from Oliver and Josh’s fight?

Who do you think will rescue Ericka?

Let us know in the comments below.

Watch Brilliant Minds Online

The post Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 11 Leaves [Spoiler’s] Life Hanging In the Balance with Shocking Cliffhanger appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Will Trent Season 2 ended with some major cliffhangers, and it appears the third season will have another time jump to account for the long break between seasons.

For the previous two seasons, the series has featured mainly the same core cast and characters. Two new characters have been added to shake up the relationship dynamics.

Revealing Will Trent’s State of Mind

These long hiatuses have affected primetime so much that time jumps have been written into the scripts.

At the end of Will Trent Season 2, Will disappeared, and Amanda and Faith hadn’t heard from him since.

Initially, viewers assumed he left town because of his heartbreaking breakup, but now it’s possible he could have gone undercover again.

The newest promo suggests that Amanda has to entice Will home with a critical case that affects someone he knows.

Will has been on his own for a while. Now wasn’t the best time to make him play nice with new people. He needed some time to decompress with Betty before jumping back in.

Of course, the real world doesn’t work like that, and he’ll need to save people. Marion Alba (Gina Rodriguez) is part of the new team. He just met her at the wrong time.

Adding Two New Characters Spices Up An Already Complicated Situation

As much as I like Gina Rodriguez and am excited to see her play a lawyer, I expect some backlash about her character, Marion Alba.

The Angie and Will fans are still heartbroken that their couple broke up and were hoping for reconciliation. They won’t be thrilled to see Will with another woman so soon.

• Days of Our Lives’ Doug Sendoff Reminds Viewers How Good This Soap Used To Be…And Can Be Again
  by Jack Ori
• The Blue Bloods Family Dinners: A Labor Of Love for Viewers and the Cast; Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg In Tears on The Talk
  by Jack Ori
• Dream or Delusion? How TV Shapes Our Vision of the American Dream
  by Lisa Babick

However, the book diehards hoped the series would cast Sara Linton once Angie and Will broke up. Instead, they brought on this feisty and beautiful attorney for Will to butt heads with.

That’s some mess she’s walking into. On set, Gina Rodriguez appears to have become fast friends with her co-workers and fits right in with the close-knit cast.

It’ll be interesting to see how Marion and Will mesh on screen. He doesn’t often like working with others, and getting comfortable working with Faith took him a long time.

From the promo, Marion seems fun and keeps things low-key and flexible. Will, on the other hand, likes to stick to a routine, partly because of his neurodivergence, OCD, and dyslexia.

Then, there’s Dr. Seth McDale (Scott Foley) as Angie’s new love interest. She likely meets him on a case since he’s the head of emergency medicine at a local hospital.

This almost seems like a repeat of when Faith met a doctor and potential love interest when she was diagnosed with diabetes back in Will Trent Season 1.

Hopefully, the series does a better job of introducing Dr. McDale and integrating him into Angie’s life. I never imagined Angie with a doctor, but maybe he’ll be laidback enough to appreciate her fierceness and quirkiness.

She deserves a chance to be happy after everything that happened, though I fully expect chaos when the two new couples meet for the first time.

How Will Angie’s Freedom Alter Things with Will and the GBI?

The latest Will Trent promo teased Angie working with Det. Ormewood again. That could mean that Angie received a light sentence and already served during the time jump or that she was found not guilty.

Likely the second since a convicted felon wouldn’t be a detective. While it’s disappointing that the series jumped over the drama, it makes sense the third season is kicking off with a clean slate.

Erika Christensen could have rocked a darker Angie, so hopefully, there will be some flashbacks of the aftermath, and it’s not entirely glossed over.

Angie and Michael always made a delightful, dynamic duo. However, what will happen with the joint cases with the GBI now that Will has arrested Angie and ultimately wrecked their relationship?

Angie and Will have known each other since they were young. Even when they weren’t dating, they had one another’s backs. But this betrayal hurt and may hinder group cases and those entertaining scenes we’ve gotten used to.

• Tracker Season 2 Midseason Report Card: Lots of Thrills & Room to Grow
  by Whitney Evans
• The Irrational Season 2 Midseason Report Card: This Show Deserves More Attention Despite Some Hiccups
  by Jack Ori
• Accused Season 2 Report Card: Flashes of Brilliance in a Sea of Mediocrity
  by Jasmine Blu

I suspect the APD and GBI will work separately at the beginning. Things will likely be messy with Amanda and Faith siding with Will and Ormewood and the rest of the APD with Angie.

That’s disheartening since Amanda had asked Angie to join the GBI, and they had made such progress in Will Trent Season 2.

Marion will initially assist the GBI with Atlanta gang cases, so she’ll be part of team GBI. Hopefully, she’ll help the APD later, and we can see her in scenes with the rest of the cast.

Perhaps, later in the season, Angie and Will can reconcile and return to being friends or swap partners.

Will Trent Season 3 could shake things up, develop a romantic quadrangle, and feature some intriguing cases. We can’t wait!

Over to you, Will Trent Fanatics. Do you think the new characters will shake things up and add drama?

Will Trent returns to ABC on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 8/7c. You can binge the first two seasons on Hulu.

Watch Will Trent Online

The post Will Trent Is About To Shake Things Up With Two New Characters For Season 3 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Murder in a Small Town Season 1 had its ups and downs as it tried to find its footing and establish itself as a murder mystery procedural.

While we think the series would have benefited from more episodes, it only had eight, so it’s time to rank and review its most memorable and least satisfying series moments.

Best Episode: Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 1

Maybe selecting Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 1 was a cop-out. However, having an extra thirty minutes helped flesh out the stories and introduce viewers to the heart of the series: Karl and Cassandra’s romance.

Within minutes, there was a murder, but it interspersed with the police chief and the local librarian meeting on a blind date. Not many police procedurals keep a romance near the forefront.

The premiere also worked because James Cromwell gave a layered performance as George Wilcox. You suspected he killed his neighbor almost immediately, but the motive was unclear.

As EP Jeff Wachtel shared, Cromwell gave an eerie performance as he hid the evidence. You almost felt sorry for Wilcox because he watched his stepfather abuse his mom and sister, so he wanted to save his sister from her abusive husband, and he failed again.

It also demonstrated that these cases weren’t black and white. Most of these suspects weren’t evil serial killers but the product of their childhood, which made them react.

Worst Episode: Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 6

Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 6 was the most disappointing episode, and it wasn’t only because it wasn’t based on L. R. Wright’s material. I believe Ian Weir and his team knew the main characters.

It bothered me that the series made the psychiatrist, Dr. Lewis, evil. They wasted a real opportunity to go old-school and have her and Det. Alberg team up to analyze Shane and realize why he killed the politician.

• Landman Season 1 Episode 6 Balances Brutality and Heart, Making It Hard to Look Away
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 Wrapped Up A 14-Year Run With A Reminder Of Everything That Makes This Cancelation Hurt
  by Jack Ori
• Fire Country Season 3 Episode 8 Review: Zombie Fires Take Control
  by Sara Trimble

Instead, it was all about power, control, and having him do her dirty work.

Watching her play mind games with Karl was painful, even if she was partly right about Cassandra.

That made it hurt worse. Even though Karl was a good man, Cassandra genuinely needed a break to heal after her abduction.

Best Karl & Cassandra Moment: They Realize They Want Each Other

There were many moments when Karl and Cassandra were together since they got together quickly, and the series pulled them apart.

However, the best was when they realized they both wanted their relationship to work out. Cassandra was right. They tended to overthink things, and that often got in the way. Karl would always be a cop, and she would always speak her mind.

They either needed to accept those quirks or not. I loved that they gave in to their sizzling chemistry.

Kristin Kreuk and Rossif Sutherland naturally play off each other’s banter, and she makes him loosen up more.

While we’re relieved they ended the season together, we need a second season to see where this relationship evolves.

Best Supporting Character: Sergeant Sid Sokolowski

It was a toss-up between Sergeant Sid and Corporal Yen because they both go the extra mile, but Sid has become more of a fan favorite.

His presence has helped the other characters, from guiding Karl as a father to improving Corporal Yen’s self-esteem on the job.

But nothing was as good as watching Sid jump into a burning in Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 3. He would have risked everything to save Karl’s life.

The cases sometimes affected Sid deeply as we learned about his late sister’s drug problem. His compassion made him a better cop.

Worst Supporting Character: Andy Kendrick

It often felt like Fritzy Klevans-Destine was wasted as Andy Kendrick. He tried hard, but he often seemed to mess up, whether missing some evidence or flirting with a witness.

As Sid mentioned, Kendrick survived on his charm. That grew tiresome after a while.

• Tracker Season 2 Midseason Report Card: Lots of Thrills & Room to Grow
  by Whitney Evans
• The Irrational Season 2 Midseason Report Card: This Show Deserves More Attention Despite Some Hiccups
  by Jack Ori
• Accused Season 2 Report Card: Flashes of Brilliance in a Sea of Mediocrity
  by Jasmine Blu

The best part about him was his blossoming friendship with Corporal Yen, but she was more interesting to watch.

He redeemed himself by saving Karl’s life, but I’m unsure how much more they can do with him.

Best Guest Star: Erica Durance as Emma O’Brea

Murder in a Small Town featured many guest stars, but reuniting Smallville’s Erica Durance and Kristin Kreuk was a special treat.

The ladies had wanted to do a project together, and this one allowed them to showcase their real-life friendship as childhood friends in the series.

They likely had more layered scenes as Durance played an agitated wife worried about her missing husband.

Murder in a Small Town took advantage of Durance’s talents, giving the episode a Gone Girl vibe. It was one of the best episodes, partly because of Durance and Kreuk’s connection.

Overall Grade: B

It’s challenging to adapt mysteries and thrillers, and condensing one novel into an episode didn’t always work for this series.

The case-of-the-week format worked for the most part. However, some cases would have worked better if they had longer to breathe. This is why the series premiere and two-part season finale played the best.

However, Murder in a Small Town included several positives. In addition to Karl and Cassandra’s relationship, the series boasted a strong supporting cast and excelling guest stars.

Aaron Douglas and Mya Lowe could carry scenes when Sergeant Sid or Corporal Yen featured their character arcs. We can’t wait to learn more about them.

The series pulled from famous actors for guest arcs, starting with James Cromwell, but Stana Katic, Erica Durance, and Noah Reid were popular choices, too.

If the series gets renewed and a few tweaks are made, it could have a better second season.

Over to you, TV Fanatics. How would you rate Murder in a Small Town Season 1?

Let us know in the comments.

Watch Murder in a Small Town 2024 Online

The post Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Report Card: Best Episode, Best Karl & Cassandra Moment, & More appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 10 introduces us to two patients on the opposite end of the pain spectrum. Finn Kemp was a 10-year-old autistic boy who didn’t feel pain, while Katie, a paramedic, felt too much pain.

Two action-packed cases would have been typically enough, but viewers barely had time to breathe in this episode. It also included many examples of emotional pain and relationship drama.

Besides the case, the biggest draw was watching how Dr. Wolf and Carol have always been there for each other. We even saw flashbacks of them in college.

Both cases affected the interns and their relationships, too, so let’s begin.

A Single Dad’s Cry for Help Brings Interesting Results

As someone who has worked with children with autism, I found Finn Kemp’s case fascinating. Many autistic children have meltdowns and headbangs, but that wasn’t the case here.

Mr. Kemp feared that his son would hurt him and called for help. This was the first time we saw Katie, the paramedic. She put Finn at ease, and we saw his special gift: knowledge of cars.

Finn didn’t even flinch when Van accidentally tore his IV out, which made Ericka suspect Finn had CIPA, a rare genetic nerve disorder, preventing him from feeling pain.

It’s why he couldn’t feel anything from burning himself to a simple splinter.

While there was no cure, Dr. Wolf tried an experimental treatment to improve Finn’s sensitivity to pain and recondition him to situations. Watching Van with him and showing him what cold ice felt like was priceless.

• The Irrational Season 2 Episode 7 Sneak Peek: An Unwelcome Change For Marisa While Alec Gets A Fascinating New Case
  by Jack Ori
• Brilliant Minds Sneak Peek: Dr. Wolf Tells Dr. Pierce That He’s Dating Josh
  by Laura Nowak
• Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 8 Exclusive Clip & Spoilers: How is the Art Teacher Involved?
  by Laura Nowak

Those Who Help Others Have Difficulty Asking For It

Paramedic Katie Rodriguez was like so many of us. She worked hard so she wouldn’t have to think about her own pain. She would have been lost without her career.

Dr. Wolf’s facial blindness probably saved her life. He recognized her by how many winces she did, and he recognized she looked like she was in pain right before she fainted.

She was stubborn and tried to check herself out, but she passed out again. What a devastating blow. She had caught meningitis from an elderly patient she’d recently helped.

Katie was the type of paramedic you wanted. She connected with each patient, whether it was an elderly man, an autistic child, or a suicidal teen.

It affected Dr. Wolf, Dana, and Jacob to see one of their own worsening, and Jacob thought of searching the ambulance for clues on why she wasn’t improving. They never dreamed they’d find something illegal.

Chronic pain is an invisible disease. Anyone who struggles with migraines or fibromyalgia understands that. Poor Katie suffered a gunshot wound, but the pain never disappeared.

Like the younger Wolf, the longer she was home alone, the more depressed she got, so she returned to work but took steroids to numb the pain. However, they interfered with her immune system.

Dr. Wolf and Dana understood Katie’s predicament and determined to help her.

Wolf and Carol Always Had Each Other’s Backs

Not every series casts younger versions well, but Brilliant Minds found fantastic actors to portray the college-age versions of Oliver Wolf and Carol Pierce.

The flashbacks showed that those two always had been there for each other when someone hurt the other one. It also showed why Oliver struggled to let other people in.

A guy in college had stood him up, reminding Oliver that he couldn’t count on people. Seeing Carol find him drunk and passed out from depression hit home.

She was angry that he would have almost killed himself, but what Oliver said also struck a nerve. He had been disappointed too often and spent too much time alone with bad thoughts, leading him not to want to live.

Carol saved his life that time, and they saved each other many times.

While I love Carol, she should have rejected Alison as a client much sooner. Alison has been playing dangerous games, affecting Carol’s career and family.

• Tracker Season 2 Midseason Report Card: Lots of Thrills & Room to Grow
  by Whitney Evans
• The Irrational Season 2 Midseason Report Card: This Show Deserves More Attention Despite Some Hiccups
  by Jack Ori
• Accused Season 2 Report Card: Flashes of Brilliance in a Sea of Mediocrity
  by Jasmine Blu

Morris would have kept begging Carol for another chance if Wolf hadn’t kicked him out of Carol’s office and rushed to comfort her.

Wolf and Nichols Went Public

I knew Wolf had a reason to reveal his relationship to Carol, but I never guessed it was because she wanted to set Nichols up with someone else. Are she and Nichols that kind of friends?

Nichols seemed offended that Carol didn’t know about their relationship yet. While he wanted to keep the ball in Wolf’s court, he also wanted to define their relationship.

He seemed proud of being with Wolf and wanted the essential people to know.

That prompted Wolf to tell his best friend, who told him to be careful since they worked together and couldn’t avoid each other if they broke up.

Both Wolf and Nichols had baggage from previous relationships. Nichols was more of a player, while Wolf had difficulty trusting others from being hurt previously.

Nichols was right, though. It was time to let that go and look towards the future.

The Love Triangle Heats Up

Who else thought they were done after Ericka and Van’s awkward talk in Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 9?

Imagine my surprise when Ericka discreetly invited him over again. They acted like a couple with secret looks on the job.

This won’t end well since Ericka doesn’t want children, and Van has a son she doesn’t know about. Van was meant to have children. He put Finn and his dad at ease better than anyone else.

We all know how something as fundamental as having children can make or break a couple, especially since cuddly Van probably sees them as long-term, and Ericka only wants to have fun. I don’t want to see him get hurt.

Unfortunately, Jacob probably got hurt, too. He tried to put Ericka first and bring her favorite ice cream. He was ready to confess his feelings, but he had awful timing.

Did he know those red shoes were Vans’s? Will this destroy the interns’ fun vibes? The love triangle just got even messier.

• Days of Our Lives Spoilers For The Week of 12-16-24: Could There Be ANOTHER Twist In The Philip/Xander War?
  by Jack Ori
• Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 Spoilers: Michael Emerson Makes The Switch From Evil To Elsbeth
  by Joshua Pleming
• Fire Country Season 3 Episode 8 Spoilers: Zombies Come to Edgewater
  by Sara Trimble

Dana Gets a Wingman to Help Her Claim Her Love Interest

Dana and Katie were adorable. They were like kindred spirits because they understood chronic emotional pain and wanted to give up. Katie needed someone in her corner to help inspire her.

I loved that Dana and Jacob were there to cheer Katie on as she began therapy in the cold plunge pool. There was subtle flirting between them, but Dana thought Katie had a partner.

Those cute scenes between Dana and Jacob must have been the ones Aury Krebs teased in the Brilliant Minds intern interview when she said we’d see an unexpected friendship soon.

It was sweet but unexpected how they cheered each other on. Hopefully, we’ll see more of Dana and Katie’s relationship evolve in the season’s final episodes. Dana deserves happiness, too.

Over to you, Brilliant Minds Fanatics. What was your favorite part of the episode? What about that cliffhanger? Can Carol get herself out of another mess?

Did you enjoy seeing Dana with a love interest? What did you think of the younger versions of Wolf and Carol?

Let us know in the comments.

Watch Brilliant Minds Online

The post Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 10 Review: The First Responder appeared first on TV Fanatic.

At the end of Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 8, the two men discussed their relationship and decided to try it for real, despite warnings from Oliver’s mom.

As you’ll see in this clip exclusive to TV Fanatic, Dr. Wolf tells Dr. Carol Pierce that he’s dating Dr. Nichols. This is a massive step for him because he’s always avoided serious relationships previously.

This is a big deal because Carol has known Wolf since college and is aware of his dating life or lack thereof.

Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 10 looks drama-filled for Wolf and Carol. It seems that Wolf and Nichols grew even closer when Nichols returned from his conference.

In the exclusive sneak peek below, we get our first taste of Carol’s reaction to her best friend having his first serious relationship.

As you’ll see, Wolf is shocked by her reaction. Carol’s drama must be getting to her.

Wolf and Nichols’s relationship has been an essential part of the series. Even when rivals, they had a grudging respect for one another. In time, that grew into friendship and then more.

They’ve both been scared to jump into anything serious, Wolf especially. Carol has told him for years that he should lower his walls to allow someone to see him.

After he complained about Nichols, she was bound to be surprised by this turnaround.

In his exclusive interview with TV Fanatic, Teddy Sears teased that “there is attraction, attention, and deep respect, a firm foundation for something substantial, not just fleeting. We’re going to explore that going forward.”

He also teased that their relationship will be tested later this season when they disagree on how to treat an ailing patient, but they will learn to work together.

As Wolf and Nichols grow closer, Carol’s marriage falls further apart, which is probably why she doesn’t want to comment on other people’s relationships.

• Tracker Season 2 Midseason Report Card: Lots of Thrills & Room to Grow
  by Whitney Evans
• Revenge Plots, Breakups, and Drama: The Best TV Shows for Spilling the Tea
  by Whitney Evans
• 9-1-1 Season 8 Midseason Report Card: Heart-Pounding Highs & Missed Opportunities
  by Whitney Evans

After Brilliant Minds Season 1 Episode 9‘s cliffhanger and Carol finding her car vandalized, it makes sense why she’s on edge.

Typically, Carol thrives on giving advice, but psychiatrists often have difficulty taking their own advice. She counseled her husband’s mistress and now questions Morris’s loyalty.

With only a few episodes left of Brilliant Minds Season 1, will the series have the two reconcile or separate them so that Carol is fierce and single in a potential second season?

Outside of that, the team treats an unexpected patient who crashes into Bronx General with life-threatening symptoms.

Most of these cases always affect one of the doctors, and this one affects a first responder and a child, so it’ll be interesting to see who it affects.

Only a few doctors have children, and we’d love to see more development on that other dangling cliffhanger thread.

Brilliant Minds has excelled at featuring both unique cases and crafting genuine chemistry among the relationships.

Check out the clip above, and share your predictions about how Wolf and Nichols’s relationship will evolve now that it is public.

What do you hope to see?

As always, we’ll return after the episode airs with our in-depth review, so be sure to return Monday night for our thoughts on the episode.

Brilliant Minds airs at 10/9c on NBC on Mondays and streams on Peacock on the next day.

Brilliant Minds

The post Brilliant Minds Sneak Peek: Dr. Wolf Tells Dr. Pierce That He’s Dating Josh appeared first on TV Fanatic.

While Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin headlined the series, DeWanda Wise and Gabrielle Creevy also gave powerful performances.

Since its beginning, Three Women has kept viewers engrossed with Lina, Sloane, Maggie, and Gia’s relationship journeys and sexual awakenings. This series features quality writing, impressive acting, and beautiful cinematography.

It was challenging to create this report card because so much of the season was well done. However, after careful consideration, I’m happy with these results.

Best Episode — “Three Women” — Three Women Season 1 Episode 1

While I enjoyed some of the centrics better, Three Women Season 1 Episode 1 laid a fantastic foundation and introduced us to all four complicated women.

Most viewers were intrigued by the end and wanted to learn more about these three women because of the emotional storytelling.

There had never been a series about their needs and desires from the female perspective.

While Lina’s experience of being in a loveless marriage was the most relatable, all of these women needed to be free and take back their power, something many others resonated with.

It was the only one of three episodes that included all of the women’s journeys and featured them the best.

• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick
• The Unhinged Christmas Wish List: Gifts Only TV Characters Would Ask For
  by Thomas Godwin
• 27 Christmas Movies to Watch When You Need a Break from Holiday Cheer
  by Lisa Babick

Worst Episode — “Climax” — Three Women Season 1 Episode 6

Since the episodes were well-written, worst doesn’t necessarily mean bad. The content was some of the best in Three Women Season 1 Episode 6.

Sloane and Will’s relationship heated up, leaving her torn, and Lina finally felt cherished after being with Aidan.

The problem was the pacing.

While showing parallel scenes sometimes works, in this case, it felt awkward and choppy, and it didn’t allow viewers to get emotionally invested in the emotional connection or the hot sex scene before jumping back to another couple.

Maggie’s arc didn’t fit with the other two women who experienced hot orgasms. There was nothing sexy about Maggie’s teacher giving her an orgasm.

This might have worked better if it had been shown in 20-minute increments of each woman’s story, as the series did in Three Women Season 1 Episode 1.

Best Cinematography — “Sex on Drugs” — Three Women Season 1 Episode 9

Sloane’s scenes often had the best cinematography. While the glistening snowy hill in Three Women Season 1 Episode 6 looked like a magical winter wonderland, nothing topped the sex scenes on shrooms later in the season.

Seeing the foursome high on mushrooms in Three Women, Season 1 Episode 9, turned Lily’s greenhouse into the Garden of Eden.

The plants looked even greener, and Richard and Will appeared to be almost flying through the air at one point.

It was difficult to discern which scenes were natural and which were imagined, of the sexy dancing, passionate kissing, and exploding orgasms.

Tripping on mushrooms will make you see weird things, and they portrayed that perfectly through blurred images and different perspectives.

Best Character Arc — Maggie’s Taking Back Her Voice After Her Sexual Grooming

Maggie’s character arc was strong and essential, and Gabrielle Creevy was so talented. It’s disheartening that many sexual grooming and statutory rape cases still blame the victim and if they flirted with the adult.

Mr. Knodel was the adult. He should have stayed professional and never admitted he had feelings for a student, let alone let it get physical.

It was heartbreaking that everyone believed him and even gave him his job back with back pay. So many people acted like Maggie ruined his life instead.

She wanted to tell Gia her side and get the truth without variances. Maggie was brave and bold and needed other survivors to stand up for themselves. She felt she couldn’t work in social work unless she took a stand.

• Tracker Season 2 Midseason Report Card: Lots of Thrills & Room to Grow
  by Whitney Evans
• The Irrational Season 2 Midseason Report Card: This Show Deserves More Attention Despite Some Hiccups
  by Jack Ori
• Accused Season 2 Report Card: Flashes of Brilliance in a Sea of Mediocrity
  by Jasmine Blu

Most Disappointing Character Arc — Gia Kept Running Away

In many ways, Gia dealt with the most trauma, and I understood that, but she needed to allow herself to be loved.

It was frustrating that she ran from Jack every time she learned something, usually that she feared about her health.

She never liked hearing the brutal, honest advice that Lina or Sloane offered, and by the end of the series, it was unclear if either was still talking to her.

While I never liked that she left Jack, I never approved of his calling her crazy. She needed time to adapt to her new normal.

Gia commented that she tried her best, but her storyline arc had the most loose ends. Did she conquer cancer and live to raise her daughter?

Worst Scene — Sloane Degrades Herself and Begs in Three Women Season 1 Episode 10

Sloane messed up by sleeping with Will and should make amends for it, but no woman should get on her knees and beg for forgiveness, and seeing her beg in Three Women Season 1 Episode 10 still bothers me.

It’s degrading, and that scene bothered me. There were other ways to win Richard back.

Sloane was a goddess, and DeWanda Wise portrayed her beautifully. I was relieved when she stood up for herself, reminding him she wasn’t a slut, and used her feminine wiles to win her husband back.

While I believed Sloane needed her freedom to fly, I’m also happy she worked things out with Richard. Hopefully, he truly forgave her and doesn’t hold the affair over her head.

Best Sexy Couple — Sloane and Will

Sloane came alive when she met Will in Three Women Season 1 Episode 1. Neither did well in proper atmospheres, even though Sloane tried to act in that mold.

She longed to be free, so Will appealed to her. Blair Redford often portrays sexy bad boys, and Will wasn’t even a rebellious character. He was just a hard-working oysterman and boatman and not the elite.

He was off-limits, and there was something sexy about their affair. Those kisses were hot, and their smoldering glances were full of longing.

Every so often, they’d share a meaningful conversation, and you’d wonder if Sloane would throw away years of marriage for this illicit affair.

It seemed like Will almost gave up Lily for Sloane. Until the sex on mushrooms night, it was difficult to discern if it was heading somewhere real or if it was an addiction.

• Days of Our Lives’ Doug Sendoff Reminds Viewers How Good This Soap Used To Be…And Can Be Again
  by Jack Ori
• The Blue Bloods Family Dinners: A Labor Of Love for Viewers and the Cast; Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg In Tears on The Talk
  by Jack Ori
• Dream or Delusion? How TV Shapes Our Vision of the American Dream
  by Lisa Babick

Best Performance –Shailene Woodley in “Gia” — Three Women Season 1 Episode 5

Shailene Woodley deserves an Emmy for her work as Gia, who loses the baby she never knew she wanted. Gia has never been good in relationships and has lost everyone she loves, so she feared getting attached to Jack and the baby.

Woodley broke our hearts as Gia broke down on the hotel bathroom floor as she lost the baby in Three Women Season 1 Episode 5.

While the miscarriage scene was brutal, watching Gia discard the bloody linens and leave again was powerful.

It was also meaningful that Gia appeared strong, but she broke down when confiding in Lina. Gia was the closest to Lina, and it often seemed that Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin shared a genuine connection.

It was the first time Gia felt hopeful that someone she loved might survive.

Honorable Mention — Betty Gilpin in “Lina — Three Women Season 1 Episode 2

Betty Gilpin lit up the screen in Three Women Season 1 Episode 2, giving a layered performance as a dutiful wife torn between breaking her vows and thinking of herself for the first time.

Lina needed to feel confident again, and seeing the waiter join her instead of laughing at her increased her confidence enough to take the plunge with Aidan.

After being in a loveless and nearly celibate marriage, Lina longed for passion, and with Aidan, she finally got raw, honest, and sensual lovemaking.

Betty Gilpin showed such an emotional range as she tried to leave her biblical values behind and leap towards happiness. However, she chose a married man, and that came with complications.

What was your favorite part of Three Women? Do you think they adapted Lisa Taddeo’s book well?

Are you satisfied with the limited series, or do you want any of the journeys explored further?

Let us know in the comments below.

The post Three Women Season 1 Report Card: Dissecting The Emotional and Sexy Starz Drama appeared first on TV Fanatic.

That was smart, leaving the door open for a potential Season 2. We talked to executive producer Jeff Wachtel, an expert on blue-sky procedurals since he’s helmed many like Monk and Suits.

Wachtel shared his thoughts on the best of Murder in a Small Town Season 1, including Karl and Cassandra’s relationship and James Cromwell’s performance as George Wilcox.

He also discussed the challenges of adapting a long-running book series to television, casting guest stars, and some teasers for a potential Season 2.

Check out the interview below.

The finale ended by solving the murders but left a few stories open for the main characters. What are the chances of a second season?

It’s from your lips. The ratings have been excellent and on the upswing. Everybody was slightly nervous about the three-week hiatus for the World Series and the election.

We returned pretty strong, and it was even better the following week. The L7s were particularly strong for Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 6.

People who missed it live wanted to catch up. It’s up to the network. We think a show that is a co-production with a much lower price point than some of their other series performs better than most, and it’s building a loyal audience base.

 Not every show finds its rhythm in the first season. I think this show found its rhythm in the first scene in the café. I read the script, saw the dead body and a beautiful location, and then read this incredible dating scene on page four.

That’s not a typical show. This was a relationship we could root for. Then we cast Rossif, who has this beautiful, warm, shaggy but a bit of an internal sensibility.

• Landman Season 1 Episode 6 Balances Brutality and Heart, Making It Hard to Look Away
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 Wrapped Up A 14-Year Run With A Reminder Of Everything That Makes This Cancelation Hurt
  by Jack Ori
• Fire Country Season 3 Episode 8 Review: Zombie Fires Take Control
  by Sara Trimble

He doesn’t like to rush into the room with a macho fervor. He plays it close to the vest. He has some damage but approaches the world with kindness and thoughtfulness.

It’s all Zoom these days for chemistry reads. Kristin poked him in the right way. He read with a few actresses before her, and, you know, he was on the script and doing his thing, and it was all fine.

When Kristin Kreuk came in and started jabbing, you saw him stand up and look up from his script, which changed things. 

She wasn’t going along and getting along. She was her own fully realized character and the heart and soul of the show. I think you think the heart and soul of the show is their relationship.

Oh, I do. So, do you think Karl and Cassandra’s relationship helped to promote the series, then?

It is terrific in many ways. It’s a beautiful blue-sky closed-ended, well-executed, well-acted, well-written procedural. He will probably get to the root of the crime with the help of his trusty band of intelligent people.

But I don’t know what will happen with the two of them. They’re fully dimensional adults with exciting stories about which we will learn more.

 If we get Season 2, we’ll learn more about what a spectacularly gorgeous, incredibly well-educated woman is doing in a little resort town. We’ll also learn more about Karl and his mother, whom he may have idealized in some ways but who was damaged.

Cassandra will have a legitimate career arc; the political aspect we mentioned in the finale plays out more.

Those are excellent teasers. If we get a Season 2, will we see more of Sid and Corporal Yen? Because we’ve only touched the surface of their backstories, and they are also fan favorites.

100%. We teased Isabella, too, with her application to law school, and that’s an open door she will walk through. Many things that were just mentioned will be more dimensional.

 Corporal Yen had a phenomenal scene in episode 6, where she confessed to Cassandra that she feels real guilt about having been selected as the face of solving a crime she doesn’t feel like she earned. She will have to work through those demons as well as her personal life.

We were happy with our guest and supporting casting on this show. Mya was somebody I saw on Yellowjackets, and then I learned that she was Canadian and wanted to work in Vancouver.

We were between some dates and other things she was doing, and she was a guest. I think she’s incredible. We don’t have a deal with her for the second season yet, but we hope and intend to bring her back.

Aaron Douglas is another. I love the character actors, Laura. Long-time character actors, you’re usually in excellent hands when you give them the reins and let them run.

It started for me with Monk and Tony Shalhoub. Tony Shalhoub had never played a lead when we cast him as Monk. But everybody knew how brilliant he was, and he was an incredible career character actor who was ready for his moment.

So that’s what you want. You want a show with amazing chemistry between the two principals. You can write a scene for Aaron and Mya and not worry about the audience’s attention drifting because they’re also great.

• New Teaser be Damned: Who Cares About the Duttons’ Land Battle in 1923 With Yellowstone’s Looming Unhappy Ending?
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Prison Break Reboot From Mayans M.C. Boss Receives Pilot Order at Hulu
  by TV Fanatic Staff
• Friday Night Lights Reboot Lands at Peacock (But It Will Never Recapture the Magic of the Original Series)
  by Tyler Johnson

I think Yen and Isabella are two characters who have found each other. We wish we had more real estate to write about in the first season. In the second season, we will write about their relationship. They had excellent chemistry in the scene where they were together at the gym.

I can’t wait. I enjoy their friendship. So, since you think you will probably get a second season, how will you tackle that if there are only three books left of material?

We never thought we would live in the books forever. In one of your columns, you made a good point about the difficulty of adapting and jamming a novel into a 60-minute format.

What we could do with the first one was originally a two-hour that we cut back to an hour and a half to be more expensive with that one.

 In general, we don’t need them. We know who the character is. We always knew that we had a limited runway with the novels on the long-running series.

Ian Weir is spectacular at adapting and bringing texture and other things to books. I haven’t read all the books, but I read a couple of them, which don’t mirror the episode.

 As an astute viewer, you will have seen that the last two episodes were a book, but the network wanted to have some resolution to the second to Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 7.

They did not want to do a two-parter because they were concerned about audience retention. The story in the gym is an invented story that we did to ensure closure. If you know the book, it’s about the high school teacher and the serial killer.

But an audience that may only want to watch it as a closed-ended has a resolution. It’s a murder. It’s a dad protecting his kid, and it resolves. And by the way, I think we’re dealing with a serial killer. So, there’s a bit of a continuation.

The short answer is that we’re fine. I don’t even know if we’re using those last three books. I’m not sure where Ian is. I know where we are in the first four episodes of Story Break, but I don’t know if he’s used any of the novels in the potential Season 2.

We’re feeling just fine. We have established all of the characters and the place. And we will continue to be faithful to the world that she created. But we don’t need more novels to take us down that path.

So, what would you say to diehard fans complaining that the series is not exactly like the books? I like it the way it is, but I still have people complaining in my articles that it’s not like the books.

Anybody doing what we do for a living must walk a tightrope between honoring the diehard fans of existing material and creating a world open to new viewers and people. Denis Villeneuve needed to do it with Dune, and we needed to do it with Murder in a Small Town.

It’s a tightrope that we carefully walk, honoring the long legacy of these books and the people who were the most in love with them.

We have also introduced an entirely new audience who does not have to have read the books to fall in love with them, especially because the core audience of the books is pretty small relative to the millions of people experiencing them on Fox.

So, yes, we’re honoring that. We understand that the true diehards will question things, and hopefully, they’ll know that creating a television series means serving a much bigger audience and a different rhythm of storytelling.

• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick
• The Unhinged Christmas Wish List: Gifts Only TV Characters Would Ask For
  by Thomas Godwin
• 27 Christmas Movies to Watch When You Need a Break from Holiday Cheer
  by Lisa Babick

As you’ve already noted, it’s kind of tough to take a 250-page book and cram it into 42 minutes of television.

I also think it’s harder to do thrillers. I’ve also written articles on Will Trent, which is a murder thriller series that was turned into a TV series.

Liz Heldens is an old friend; I think she’s done excellent work on the show. Of course, each network has its sensibility. Fox is a bit more literal about things than ABC, which tends to have a bit more of a wink at the audience, maybe with High Potential.

You’re trying to create great work and serve the audience you think you should be serving. And then, three, it’s a business. The network is the project’s primary licensee.

They are the most critical investors in it as the primary exhibition, and you have to listen to them. They have many thoughts about storytelling, too.

Totally. I’ve read some of the books, and I think they keep the heart of it in it when it’s developed for TV.

That’s probably the best word for it. If you want to keep the heart of it, then some of the limbs might be slightly different. You try to retain that as long as you have the heart and soul.

Is there anything you wish had been done differently this season?

I think we exceeded expectations. We have a smaller budget than some other shows.

To a casual or dedicated viewer, you can’t compare an episode of our show to any of the other shows on the network that cost 50% more, and nobody will say this is the bargain basement version. We are punching above our weight creatively and with production.

It would be nice to have a little bit more money. I want to explore some other locations in Season 2. There’s a little bit of that Murder She Wrote convenience—a whole lot of murders that are happening in a pretty small area.

We hope the audience was with us for the first part of the journey. We’re aware that you can’t do that forever. One of the places that we’re going in Season 2 has an expanded purview.

 I would have liked to have been more free-ranging, traveling 100 miles north or entering Vancouver or the big city. We’re already figuring out other places to go in the second season.

Are you dreaming of big Canadian guest stars for next season, too?

As someone who has been very kind to the show and a fan of what we’ve done so far, I want to retain and do better. The movie was written 30 years ago, and Donald Sutherland was attached to star in the lead role as Alberg. The movie never came together.

When I saw the script two years ago, Donald played George Wilcox in the two-hour pilot.

Then he got older, and his health was failing, and he couldn’t do it. He wanted to do it after we cast Rossif, which was a fun coincidence. They were very close. But his health was failing, and he couldn’t.

 So, we made our wish list, and at the top of my dream list was James Cromwell. I had an excellent relationship with his fantastic agent, Chris Schmidt. She said Cromwell responds to material, so I sent her the script.

He loved it, and he was spectacular to work with. He was an 85-year-old shooting at two in the morning, schlepping a rowboat up a hill.

That one scene, which is one of my favorites in the season, where he’s doing the memory piece about how he failed his sister and feels complicit in his parents’ death just by the fact that he wished them dead.

• Exclusive Interview With Matlock’s David Del Rio: The Actor Takes Fans Behind The Scenes To The Heart of Matlock
  by Joshua Pleming
• Jacob Lofland on Cooper’s Journey in Landman: “It’s Not Going to Be Easy”
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Hallmark Hits the Field: Tyler Hynes and Hunter King Tease the Chiefs’ Christmas Romance
  by Carissa Pavlica

 We’re going to try to get him an Emmy nomination. I think it’s at that level. So that set the tone. By the way, Fox was on board. We couldn’t afford him within our budget, so they stepped up. He’s a world-class actor.

Different people want different things. Stana Katic was essential to Fox because she brought that Castle audience. I was in love with having Noah Reid from Schitt’s Creek because he’s such an outstanding actor and only known as the sweet, good boyfriend.

I thought no one was going to believe he was a serial killer. I thought that was a tremendous gift. He’s not a super famous guy, but that’s the level of guest cast that we will continue to reach for. Sometimes, you want it. Then, there’s the reunion episode.

Erica and Kristin. I was a huge Smallville fan. I liked that one.

So that was another. We were able to make some hay with that on the promotion.

Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 2 was about the two brothers, the rooked construction guy, and the reunion. That one didn’t call for a high-end guest star. There were three or four crucial characters.

So, we spent our money not getting regular day players but stepping up to the level of actors. None of the characters were featured here.

But every scene was significant, and there were a bunch of scenes that did not involve Karl and Cassandra. We better have some excellent actors. So that’s where we put our money. So, it’ll always be about like that.

Well, I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. My fans are going to love this article.

Hopefully, we’ll have good news for them sooner than March. We have a unique production schedule and need to take advantage of Gibson.

We hope to be back in production in the spring and hope for good news. If it does happen, it won’t be as late as March.

Murder in a Small Town currently streams on Hulu.

Watch Murder in a Small Town 2024 Online

The post Murder in a Small Town EP Jeff Wachtel Shares the Best of Season 1 and Teases Potential Season 2 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The series worked hard to provide closure to cases, and Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 8 showed how sometimes judgment is wrong, and even good people are serial killers.

Some cases hit harder than others, significantly affecting the team. The locals started to doubt Karl, and we finally learned more about Sid’s family history.

Identifying Jane Doe Leads the Cops to Roger

Murder in a Small Town excels at parallel scenes and twists and turns, and the season finale was no different.

At the same time Roger saw the news with Jane Doe’s photo, her agent identified her as Sally Dublin. The icing the cake was that her agent worked with Roger too and knew that Roger and Sally were friends.

Sally’s murder hit everyone hard because she had turned her life around. While she used drugs previously, she hadn’t in months, and that affected Sid the most.

Roger looked guilty because of circumstantial evidence and keeping his life private, which was partly understandable. But he looked suspicious for borrowing and denting Cassandra’s car without telling her and asking her to lie about his whereabouts.

He didn’t want to admit to that he was scoring drugs for him and his sister because they couldn’t cope with their mom’s impending death.

That was an embarrassing family secret. As Karl said, Roger could be a creep, but he was not a murderer.

That plot point was used to throw viewers off track of the actual murderer.

• Landman Season 1 Episode 6 Balances Brutality and Heart, Making It Hard to Look Away
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 Wrapped Up A 14-Year Run With A Reminder Of Everything That Makes This Cancelation Hurt
  by Jack Ori
• Fire Country Season 3 Episode 8 Review: Zombie Fires Take Control
  by Sara Trimble

What Really Happened to Devon?

It’s a fine line sometimes between mentoring and grooming, especially when a teenage girl admires and crushes on a teacher.

Devon had become Mr. Cummin’s apprentice, helping him to prepare for his art show. While they celebrated his success, some of their scenes bordered on sexual grooming she impulsively hugged him, and he told she was the best.

Trusting a teenager with a juicy secret that he helped the cops with the painting that identified the murder victim was asking for trouble.

It was also scary that Devon stated that she could die happy if she was as talented as Cummins was. That felt like foreshadowing, especially with Devon terrified in the woods soon after.

That was likely an editing choice since she showed up at Holly’s in the middle of the night. But we’re still wondering if something happened to her beyond her throwing herself at Mr. Cummins.

Did he behave inappropriately and she was embarrassed to admit it?

Since Devon disappeared while women were being killed, she scared her mother, who in turn, blamed Karl for not protecting the town.

Artwork Leads the Cops to the Real Killer

It almost seemed like Mr. Cummins was proud of his work since he kept dropping hints, such as he couldn’t paint anything he hadn’t seen.

Karl started becoming suspicious, but what tipped the scales was seeing a beautiful portrait of Clyde, the Hingle’s dog who’d just been murdered.

That scene hurt because Callum and Mary loved their dog, and like Sally Dublin, Callum Hingle had turned his life around. Someone else wanted him to suffer or put the blame on him.

Initially, I had pegged Jesse for a jerk, but perhaps it took one to know one. Maybe he was the only person who saw through Mr. Cummin’s facade enough to call him out on it. No matter the circumstances, a teacher should never hit a student.

Sid was also right that using a civilian to view their crimes was a horrible idea, and Karl finally realized that each crime scene matched one of Cummin’s paintings.

• Days of Our Lives’ Doug Sendoff Reminds Viewers How Good This Soap Used To Be…And Can Be Again
  by Jack Ori
• The Blue Bloods Family Dinners: A Labor Of Love for Viewers and the Cast; Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg In Tears on The Talk
  by Jack Ori
• Dream or Delusion? How TV Shapes Our Vision of the American Dream
  by Lisa Babick

Devon noticed this too, while in Cummin’s private studio, while her life was in danger. This was one of the highest stakes case since Cummins tried to taunt Karl with Holly being in danger while holding a knife to Devon’s throat.

That was the hardest moment since he’s both a father and a cop, and I’m glad they’ve explored both aspects of his personality and that his team showed up to rescue him.

What stuck with me was how Cummins thought it was intimate to watch someone die. Generally, looking someone in the eye is personal, but that was creepy.

Returning to the Heart of the Series

The last few episodes weren’t the same, with Karl and Cassandra apart. While she needed time to process her abduction, we’re relieved she finally came to terms with dating a police chief.

It’s infuriating when everyone in town recognized that she was in love with Karl, even Roger. At least they finally talked about it or decided that too much talking and thinking got them into trouble.

That was the best way to end the season finale with a passionate make-up kiss.

Hopefully, Fox will renew the series soon because we need more Karl and Cassandra adventures. Murder in a Small Town is entertaining because it highlights their romance and cozy murder mysteries.

Many Unfinished Character Arcs Give Hope for a Second Season

While the murder was solved, we didn’t learn essential information about some characters until the last few episodes. We want that fixed if Murder in a Small Town gets a second season.

We never knew Sid had a sister, let alone that she died because she was an addict, until this episode.

He’s a kind soul who wants to help people, so it’s understandable it affected him that Sally died after becoming clean, and he tried to save Gail Galbraith from becoming her own worst enemy.

• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick
• The Unhinged Christmas Wish List: Gifts Only TV Characters Would Ask For
  by Thomas Godwin
• 27 Christmas Movies to Watch When You Need a Break from Holiday Cheer
  by Lisa Babick

Sid doesn’t often become emotional with witnesses, and if there is a second season, hopefully, they’ll explore more about his past.

The series only recently explored Corporal Yen’s past career and how she felt guilty for being recognized for solving a crime that wasn’t her doing. However, she’s excelled at Gibsons police, so hopefully, they’ll explore her personal and professional POV.

Even Cassandra needs more flashing out. Hopefully, the series will follow up on her bid for the town council, and she will get the money to expand the library. While Karl and Cassandra are the series’ hearts, she still needs to have her arc.

Over to you, TV Fanatics. Were you satisfied with the Murder in a Small Town finale?

What else would you have liked to see? Do you want a Season 2?

Let us know in the comments.

Come back tomorrow for our exclusive interview with EP Jeff Wachtel as he dissects Season 1 and teases a potential Season 2!

Watch Murder in a Small Town 2024 Online

The post Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 8: An Intimate Crime Hits Close to Home appeared first on TV Fanatic.