📺 The universe is basically an animal
Happy October! If you haven’t had a chance to check out our top 10 shows and movies to get you in the mood for fall, head on over to last week’s Double Take Podcast episode.
In today’s edition:
Hocus Pocus 2
The Empress
Rick and Morty (Season 6)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Season 5)
— Jenni Cullen and Jess Spoll
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Listen to the Double Take Podcast: Spotify / Apple
Our thoughts on brand new shows that we watched, and where you can watch them.
Hocus Pocus 2
Keywords: Halloween, witches, child-friendly
Watch if you like: Hocus Pocus, The Witches, Casper, Halloweentown
Jess’s Rating: B-
It’s sort of hard to give a rating to Hocus Pocus 2, because I know that my feelings are fully influenced by my nostalgic-driven appreciation for the original. If you’ve never seen Hocus Pocus, and you’re an adult, then you probably missed the boat on appreciating either the original or this sequel. But if you like campy fun, then maybe give them both a try anyway.
The sequel is set on Halloween in present day, when the Sanderson sisters return to Salem after a couple of teenagers unknowingly summon them back. Realizing what they’ve done, the teens then set out on a mission to stop the evil witches from their murderous reign of terror. Although the sisters are evil and child-hungry, the movie, like the original, is very much kid-friendly.
I was skeptical that there was any need for this sequel to be made — why mess with a classic? — but it has a better storyline than I’d expected. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, reprise their roles excellently, truly embodying the spirits of the original characters. The plot is a bit derivative of the original, but that’s not really a complaint, because the repackaged moments gave me warm and fuzzy sentimental feelings. If you’re a fan of the original, then you won’t be mad at this sequel. But time will tell if it joins my yearly spooky season rotation.
— Jess
Length: 96-min runtime
Watch on: Disney+
The Empress (Die Kaiserin)
Keywords: period piece, political drama, romance
Watch if you like: Becoming Elizabeth, The Great, Bridgerton
Jenni’s Rating: B
A (somewhat) historically accurate fairytale with plots of insurrection and games of political chess woven throughout? Count me all the way in.
The series begins in the 1850s when Elisabeth, a rebellious 16-year-old Bavarian duchess, falls for her sister's intended fiancé, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. Franz is just as enchanted, and when she becomes his unlikely bride, she is thrust into the tensions and intrigue of the Viennese court. If you’re a fan of historical costume dramas, like me, you’ll want to make time for this beautifully shot show. All the details down to the clothing and gorgeous scenery are absolutely splendid — watching truly transports you to another time and place.
I will say, The Empress is a bit of a slow build — it uses its first episode mostly for setup — but when all the ceremony and politeness gives way, the unearthed rivalries and relationships are fodder for a lot of great, intriguing storylines. Also, I know this is the second German show that I’ve recommended in as many weeks, but Netflix makes it really easy to watch with subtitles or dubbed into English if that’s your thing.
— Jenni
Length: 60-min runtime, 1 season / 6 episodes
Watch on: Netflix
These popular shows came back with new episodes. Here’s what we thought, how they compared to previous seasons, and where you can watch them.
The Handmaid’s Tale (Season 5)
Keywords: dystopian, disturbing, drama
Jess’s Rating: C+
🚨🚨🚨 SPOILERS AHEAD FOR SEASONS 1-4🚨🚨🚨
I’ve defended the last few seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale to the naysayers. Yes, it’s overwhelmingly melancholic and no, we didn’t really NEED more than two seasons of this show, but why not watch when they’re still interesting? But I fear that we’ve passed the point where I can defend it any longer.
This season should have a different feel from the past seasons, since the action takes place almost entirely outside Gilead. I’d always wondered what the rest of the world’s reaction to the Gilead takeover was, and how people were feeling outside of the totalitarian “country” that we were firmly rooted in for the first 3 seasons. Well, we finally get to see what the anti-Gilead sentiment looks like in other countries, along with getting a glimpse of the greater Mayday workings. And yet, for some reason, all of the focus is still on the Serena v. June showdown. I want to know how people are working to free the other enslaved women in Gilead! Enough of June!
Besides that main grievance, this season so far feels like it lacks direction. I’ve watched the 5 available episodes, and there’s not a single plot that feels compelling. The show almost feels like a parody of itself at this point; it’s tonally one-note (depressing), and there are way too many close-ups of Elisabeth Moss’s face. I think this is the kind of show where the question of “what comes after?” should have been left to our imaginations.
— Jess
Length: ~45-min runtime, 5 episodes available in Season 5 so far with a new episode each Wednesday
Watch on: Hulu
Rick and Morty (Season 6)
Keywords: adult cartoon, comedy, sci-fi
Jenni’s Rating: A-
If you know nothing about Rick and Morty, here’s the gist: Rick Sanchez, a sociopathic scientist, moves in with his daughter’s family and begins using the garage as his personal laboratory. With the help of a “portal gun”, he takes his grandchildren, Morty and Summer, on adventures across the universe.
It’s a ridiculously funny show with endless creativity, striking social commentary, and a lot of zany bits. It’s hard to explain just how entertaining and brilliant the series is, it sort of just needs to be experienced.
While the fifth season was was maybe a little more lackluster than the previous four (though still good!), Season 6 of Rick and Morty seems to have gotten its groove back. I don’t want to spoil too much, but a new limitation on the characters has made for some more interesting storylines and given the showrunners some space to play in a new way.
— Jenni
Length: 20-min runtime, 5 episodes out in Season 6 so far with new ones on Sundays
Watch on: Adult Swim, HBO Max (Seasons 1-5)
Your shows, returned:
Grey’s Anatomy, Season 19: Premieres October 6 on ABC
Station 19, Season 6: Premieres October 6 on ABC
Walker, Season 3: Premieres October 6 on The CW
Pennyworth, Season 3: Premieres October 6 on HBO Max
Derry Girls, Season 3: Premieres October 7 on Netflix
The Problem with Jon Stewart, Season 2: Premieres October 7 on Apple TV+
S.W.A.T., Season 6: Premieres October 7 on CBS
Blue Bloods, Season 13: Premieres October 7 on CBS
Wahl Street, Season 2: Premieres October 8 on HBO Max
The Real Housewives of Potomac, Season 7: Premieres October 9 on Bravo
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, Season 2: Premieres October 8 on CNN
NCIS: Los Angeles, Season 14: Premieres October 8 on CBS
All American, Season 5: Premieres October 10 on The CW
All Amercian: Homecoming, Season 2: Premieres October 10 on The CW
Avenue 5, Season 2: Premieres October 10 on HBO Max
Upcoming new releases:
Alaska Daily: Premieres October 6 on ABC
A Friend of the Family: Premieres October 6 on Peacock
Walker: Independence: Premieres October 6 on The CW
The Midnight Club: Premieres October 7 on Netflix
Let the Right One In: Premieres October 7 on Showtime
Fire Country: Premieres October 7 on CBS
Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes: Premieres October 7 on Netflix
The Winchesters: Premieres October 11 on The CW
The Professionals: Premieres October 11 on The CW
The Watcher: Premieres October 13 on Netflix