Starring Brittany Snow (“Almost Family”) as Sophie O’Neil, a relative newcomer to a cozy East Texas town, the series follows Sophie as she settles into her new, slower life and gains entry to a glamorous local social circle. New friends spice up Sophie’s quiet new life, but they also bring something dark close to her — it is a thriller, after all. Someone will die and someone in the town is responsible for their death.
Leaving behind an established career in Chicago in hopes of leading a more family-centric life with her husband, Graham (Evan Jonigkeit, “Archive 81”), and young son, Jack (Emmett Moss, “Hazard,” 2024), Sophie said goodbye to magazine publishing in the big city and hello to the kind of family stability that she craved growing up.
After the charm of her new hometown and her abundance of free time become less exciting and more routine, Sophie finds a new source of entertainment — the social media feed of one of the town’s splashiest residents.
The Banks family is a generationally wealthy dynasty that amassed its riches in the East Texas oil boom. Socialite Margo
lavish galas, looking down her nose at her many admirers and generally living a fully staffed life of luxury.
Margo’s social feed catches Sophie’s eye, and that ambition that got her into the lifestyle magazine industry awakens. Soon enough, Sophie is plotting to use her connections to get closer to this bewitching woman who stands out against the monotony of small town Texas life.
“The Hunting Wives” also stars Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us”) as dedicated churchgoer and mother to a teenage girl, Starr; Jaime Ray Newman (“Little Fires Everywhere”) as Margo’s best friend, Callie; Katie Lowes (“Scandal”) as another mom friend of Margo’s, Jill; George Ferrier (“One of Us Is Lying”) as Brad, Jill’s doted-on son; Karen Rodriguez (“Swarm”) as Deputy Sheriff Wanda Salazar; Michael Aaron Milligan (“Outer Banks”) as Kyle; and Hunter Emery (“Orange Is the New Black”) as Deputy Walter Flynn.
Netflix is keeping details of the show under wraps for now, but the novel itself gives us something to go on in the meantime. After getting her first, coveted invite to one of Margo’s fabulous parties hosted at her in-laws’ estate, Sophie dances
night shooting club.
Her number is added to the titular hunting wives’ group text chain and suddenly Sophie is entrusted with the knowledge of their get-togethers. What starts as skeet shooting at dusk on Margo’s lake house property turns into the ladies patronizing an out-of-the-way bar to all but cheat on their husbands.
They all have their reasons for finding solace in cowboys on the dance floor, whether it be revenge or boredom, and keeping Friday night shooting club a secret is just the price of admission to the hunting wives’ exclusive status. With everyone incriminated, the hunting wives’ private lives are as good as confidential, even Margo’s dalliances, which tend to push the boundaries of what they all get up to away from home.
With barely concealed secrets, affairs and grudges hanging in the humid Texas air, it is no surprise that the weight of it all will cause someone to snap. Last April, Snow spoke to MovieWeb while filming the upcoming series in North Carolina, saying, “I think that people are going to be really surprised at how silky and salacious and sexy this show is.”
New Streaming Movies & Shows
ARIES
This week, you’ll feel the need to act and engage in discussions. You’ll spend hours talking about a thousand subjects to better understand your surroundings. You’ll be eager to discover new things and absorb everything around you.
TAURUS Despite some confusion, you’ll stay the course and confidently forge ahead. You’ll find the resources you need to start your own business or treat yourself to a well-deserved dream vacation.
GEMINI
This week, you’ll yearn for more action as you strengthen existing relationships and form new friendships. Prepare for a flurry of activities. The new moon may bring some confusion to your thoughts.
CANCER
Your lack of sleep may finally catch up with you this week. With several colleagues on vacation, you may see your workload increase tenfold. You’ll need to put in extra effort to manage everything.
LEO
Work on optimizing your social media accounts. This will help you communicate more effectively. A trip or getaway with loved ones could be on the horizon, allowing you to create unforgettable memories and live fully in the moment.
VIRGO
You may come across some interesting real estate opportunities this week, prompting you to think about purchasing an investment property or undertaking renovations to boost your property’s value. Your accomplishments will fill you with pride. Someone close to you will suggest an exciting activity.
LIBRA
You’ll soon go on an adventure that will provoke a desire for self-discovery. Whether through a pilgrimage or a spiritual practice, you’ll feel the need to refocus your thoughts. You’ll incorporate new meditation techniques into your daily routine.
SCORPIO
Take control of your emotions by addressing your feelings or responding to the needs of a loved one. Your generosity will be appreciated. However, remember to prioritize your own well-being. Fatigue and stress can impact your mood.
SAGITTARIUS
As the new moon approaches, work on creating harmony in your life. A professional opportunity may present itself during the summer. You’ll have to choose between two interesting proposals.
CAPRICORN
Your vacation is almost here! However, you’ll want to finish everything on your todo list before relaxing. At home, you’ll be proud of completing a deep-clean or personal design project. Someone close to you will need your help.
AQUARIUS
Self-esteem is a key part of growth. You’ll achieve a feat that will fill you with pride and earn you recognition. If you’re single, your newfound confidence will help you attract more attention.
PISCES
You don’t need to travel far to have a great vacation. Spending quality time at home with family can be just as rewarding. With proper planning, you’ll reconnect with loved ones you haven’t seen in a while.
stakes courtroom drama, as she and her expert legal team recreate the trials from notorious cases where the letter of the law dictates that “justice” doesn’t always feel “just.” In every episode, Judge Sheindlin plays the lower court judge, while her “Tribunal Justice” judges Tanya Acker, Patricia DiMango and Adam Levy preside over all appeals court cases.
Word Search
“Smurfs: The Lost Village” (July 20) In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette (Demi Lovato) and her best friends Brainy (Danny Pudi), Clumsy (Jack McBrayer) and Hefty (Joe Manganiello) on a thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel (Rainn Wilson) does. Embarking on a roller-coaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!
Where all the top choices can be found in one place!
“Trainwreck: P.I. Moms” (July 22)
In 2010, Lifetime Channel commissions a reality TV series about a private investigation agency staffed by soccer moms. Everyone is convinced they have the next big hit on their hands, until the production crew starts to notice something is off. The moms’ investigations keep falling apart, leading to allegations of sabotage. At the same time, a mysterious informant accuses the agency’s boss of running an illegal drug operation on the side, abetted by a corrupt cop. For both the TV series and the criminals dealing drugs, it is only a matter of time before things fall disastrously apart.
BY JAY BOBBIN
“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+”Season 1 (July 22)
A continuation of the beloved, Emmy Awardwinning original series, “Clubhouse+” welcomes the next generation of preschoolers and their families to the clubhouse for all-new, plussedup adventures with Mickey, Minnie and their pals. Filled with songs, laughs and fun surprises, the new series introduces Little Helper, a handy helping friend; Duffy the Disney Bear, Mickey’s trusted teddy; and amusing additions to the clubhouse like the Laughing Loft and the Wacky Tube.
Q: What ever happened to Wentworth Miller from “Prison Break”?
A: After going from near-obscurity to being one of the biggest stars on TV, Wentworth Miller (“Underworld,” 2003) branched out a little, then did more “Prison Break,” then settled into a long-running role in a whole new universe. But “Prison Break” still won’t quite let him go.
His role as Michael Scofield, a building engineer who essentially breaks into prison to help his brother break out, brought the young Miller to fame in 2005. When it initially ended in 2009, Miller leapt at the chance to try new things.
For example, he starred in the hit horror-action film “Resident Evil: Afterlife” in 2010, and then branched out into writing and producing with the award-winning 2013 indie film “Stoker.” Soon after, Miller took on the role of Leonard Snart, also known as Captain Cold, in the DC Comics series “The Flash” on The CW. He kept that up while also appearing, in the same role, in the sister series “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” part of the wider DC universe that CW had going on.
Roger Moore knew how to ‘Live’ as James Bond
BY JAY BOBBIN
“Live and Let Die” marked a turning point in the James Bond movie franchise, in a number of ways.
One of several adventures in the series that MGM+ presents on Saturday, July 26, Roger Moore’s first turn as Agent 007 obviously marked a switch of actor in the part, following six appearances in the role by Sean Connery and one by George Lazenby. The 1973 caper adjusted the Bond persona to suit Moore’s lighter touch, already popularized by the performer in the television series “The Saint” and “The Persuaders!”.
The overall tone of the picture also changed up the Bond formula by adding more overt humor, though director Guy Hamilton already had started that shift in the preceding chapter, the Connery-starring “Diamonds Are Forever.” The plot of “Live and Let Die” sends Bond to such locales as New York, New Orleans and an island called San Monique to investigate the deaths of several fellow agents, and he discovers a mass-heroin-addiction plot and a big surprise involving one of the island’s diplomats in the process.
For any and all of the story details, the film’s biggest mission was to establish Moore as a credible new Bond. It’s said that for many people, their favorite actor in the role is the first one they saw, and Moore certainly built his own following apart from the rougher-edged Connery. He gets a few moments to play tough, as with his interrogation of a supposed ally (Gloria Hendry) who actually might be working against him ... but in general, producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman simply allowed Moore
to turn on his ample charm in making 007 his own.
Yaphet Kotto is intriguing in what amounts to a dual role as a major target of Bond’s probe, and Jane Seymour memorably attained international stardom as Solitaire, a medium whose attraction to our hero could spell her doom.
The part of Bond’s CIA pal Felix Leiter has been played by a number of actors over the life of the series, but here, David Hedison (“Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea”) brings particular personality to the character; he would reprise it years later, opposite Timothy Dalton’s incarnation of Bond, in “Licence to Kill.” And Bernard Lee and Lois Maxwell are held over from the Connery features as M and Miss Moneypenny (sorry, no Q this time).
“Live and Let Die” also boasts a memorable title song, courtesy of Paul McCartney and Wings – part of a score under the supervision of celebrated Beatles producer George Martin. The music helps drive many sequences quite well, a standout being a pursuit at an aviation school that puts Bond in a cockpit along with an elderly student who’s quite shocked by the spy’s technique behind the steering wheel.
Moore’s tenure as Bond had varied results, with “The Spy Who Loved Me” generally acknowledged as the best of the efforts. Still, “Live and Let Die” launched his run nicely, providing the desired proof that 007’s number wasn’t up quite yet. And it still isn’t: Amazon MGM Studios, which now controls the rights, is planning another iteration.
Best CHER MOVIES MOVIES
BY JAY BOBBIN
“Good Times” (1967): Director William Friedkin’s (“The French Connection”) first feature film had Cher and her then-husband, Sonny Bono, playing themselves while satirizing various movie genres in ideas suggested by Sonny.
“Come Back to the 5 & Dime
Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” (1982): After a long break from film work, Cher returned to the screen as a member of a fan club devoted to memorializing actor James Dean. Robert Altman directed the adaptation of the stage play by Ed Graczyk, which also gave Kathy Bates one of her first major movie roles.
“Silkwood” (1983): Cher began to accrue sizable critical acclaim for her acting with her Oscar-nominated performance as a housemate of the title character, nuclear-industry whistleblower Karen Silkwood (played by Meryl Streep), in director Mike Nichols’s factinspired drama.
“Mask” (1985): Peter Bogdanovich directed this true drama about a young man (Eric Stoltz), whose biker-gangmember mother (Cher) battles to give him a normal existence despite the genetic disorder that has altered his physical appearance. The film won an Oscar for the makeup that Stoltz sports.
“The Witches of Eastwick” (1987): The adaptation of John Updike’s bestseller casts Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer as New England friends who don’t realize they are sorceresses, until a devilish newcomer (Jack Nicholson) begins working his wiles on all of them.
“Moonstruck” (1987): In her Oscar-winning role, Cher plays a widow who is unsettled by her attraction to the younger brother (Nicolas Cage) of her fiance (Danny Aiello). Norman Jewison directed John Patrick Shanley’s Academy Award-honored script, which also earned an Oscar for co-star Olympia Dukakis as the Cher character’s mother. Turner Classic Movies shows the romantic comedy on Tuesday, July 22, as part of the channel’s tribute to “’80s Ladies” on the screen.
“Mermaids” (1990): Cher and Winona Ryder depict an affecting mother-daughter relationship in this comedy-drama, directed by actor Richard Benjamin, about the women’s development individually and together after they move from Oklahoma to Massachusetts. Many fans of the film cite it as being particularly influential on them.
“If These Walls Could Talk” (TV, 1996): Cher directed as well as starred in a segment of this HBO project, focusing on several women who have connections to the subject of abortion.
The Cher-involving story is the most contemporary of the three tales, set in the mid-1990s and casting her as a doctor who advises a pregnant college student (Anne Heche).
“Burlesque” (2010): Cher gets musical as well as dramatic in this drama that also showcases fellow singeractress Christina Aguilera as an aspiring talent who lands work at the lounge owned by Cher’s character.
Making ‘Washington Black’: Edugyan novel gets adaptation on Hulu
BY DANA SIMPSON
Esi Edugyan’s work resonates. By envisioning a 1960s-era Ghanaian civil servant who birthed an African American settlement in Amber Valley, Alberta, after he inherited land in her debut novel “The Second Life of Samuel Tyne,” Edugyan paved the way for the breadth of humanity she would go on to cover in her later works.
Fourteen years later in 2018, the Calgary, Alberta, native’s literary world expanded beyond that of her own home province as the epic tale of young George Washington Black led her from Barbados to Nova Scotia and along the Underground Railroad to a new life. Hailed by Kirkus Reviews as “a thoughtful, boldly imagined ripsnorter that broadens inventive possibilities for the antebellum novel,” “Washington Black” — the name of the character and his story — now becomes a television series.
Designed as an eight-part limited series, “Washington Black” premieres Wednesday, July 23, on Hulu.
The story of George Washington Black’s life is a harrowing one, described by the Library Journal as “a life so circumscribed that he’s not even allowed to end it.” Beginning in 1830s Barbados, readers — and now viewers — are introduced to their main character: Washington Black (Ernest
Kingsley Junior, “War of the Worlds”), also known simply as “Wash,” an 11-year-old boy born and raised on a sugar plantation and quite literally dying for freedom at his young age.
When he meets the estate owner’s nephew, Christopher “Titch” Wilde (played in the series by “Lucifer’s” Tom Ellis), a sudden traumatic incident forces Wash to flee his imposed routine of hard labor to seek both adventure and education by way of his new connections. For a decade, Wash accepts all the luck, generosity and kindness bestowed upon him, but even years later as he looks back upon the events of his life, Wash wonders why, of all the slaves on Titch’s uncle’s plantation, he was selected to lead a free and fulfilling life.
“As he navigates uncharted lands and impossible odds,” the show’s official description reads, “Wash finds the courage to imagine a future beyond the confines of society.”
Co-showrun and executive produced by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds (“The Twilight Zone”) and Kimberly Ann Harrison (“The Crossover”), “Washington Black” also counts “This Is Us” star Sterling K. Brown among its many executive producers. Interviews to promote the show clearly illustrate Brown’s pride to be a part of the series behind the scenes, although Brown hopes his onscreen role as Medwin Harris also inspires “belief and hope for modern audiences” (per USA Today).
View from the Couch
“FINAL DESTINATION
BLOODLINES”
The horror franchise about people who supposedly have cheated death — though it continues to chase them — is revived in this latest chapter, which attracted established fans of the series, driving the picture’s box-office take considerably. Young people typically have been at the heart of the saga’s terrors, and that’s the case again as a college student (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) is the latest to try to break the curse that delays victims’ demises; she gets some possible assistance from her grandmother (played by Gabrielle Rose in the present day and Brec Bassinger in flashbacks).
The film is bittersweet for the appearance by the late Tony Todd,
Family fueds: ‘Welcome to Plathville’ returns, exploring new relationships and old wounds
BY CAROLINE COLLACUTT
Change is the name of the game during Season 7 of “Welcome to Plathville,” premiering Tuesday, July 22, on TLC.
be featured on camera. With a family in the midst of turmoil, many fans were eager to see what came next for the once tight-knit Plaths.
As the “de facto mayor” of Halifax’s Black community, Harris “relishes his role in creating community, knowing that there is safety in numbers,” Brown said in an email statement to USA Today, adding that “through his relationship with this young man [Wash], he [Harris] learns that being safe and being free aren’t necessarily the same thing. And while he tries to teach Wash what is necessary to survive, Wash winds up showing him what it means to truly live.”
“Washington Black” also stars Eddie Karanja (“The Sandman”) as young Wash; Iola Evans (“Choose or Die,” 2022) as Wash’s biracial love interest, Tanna Goff; Julian Rhind-Tutt (“Green Wing”) as Erasmus Wilde; Charles Dance (“Game of Thrones”) as James Wilde; Rupert Graves (“Sherlock”) as Tanna’s father, G.M. Goff; Edward Bluemel (“We Might Regret This”) as Billy McGee; Sharon Duncan-Brewster (“Dune: Part One,” 2021) as Miss Angie; Shaunette Renée Wilson (“The Resident”) as Big Kit; and Billy Boyd (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” 2001) and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (“The Lincoln Lawyer”) as Willard and Gaius, respectively.
BY JAY BOBBIN
in his last round as the mysterious figure whose presence signals that peril isn’t far away. The cast also includes Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner and Rya Kihlstedt. DVD extras: three “making-of” documentaries; audio commentary by directors Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky. *** (R: AS, P, GV) (Also on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and Digital)
“RUST”
Long prominent in news stories for reasons that its makers would have opted not to have, this Western casts Alec Baldwin in the title role of an outlaw who becomes a major influence on his grandson (Patrick Scott McDermott) after the latter gets into accidental but sizable trouble. As the two of them flee together, they’re pursued by bounty hunters, a posse leader (Josh Hopkins) and assorted others. Jake Busey, Frances Fisher and Travis Fimmel also are members of the cast, with screenwriter-director Joel Souza having to replace several of the actors when circumstances put production on hold for about a year-and-a-half. Baldwin helped conceive the story and also was one of the picture’s producers. ***
(Not rated: AS, P, V)
“WALKING WITH DINOSAURS”
One of the most popular series in the history of England’s BBC has
been revisited in this new version, currently airing in America on PBS. Narrated by actor Bertie Carvel (“The Crown”), the six-part program profiles various species of prehistoric creatures, using state-of-the-art special effects to detail the stories of how such beings as a Triceratops and a Spinosaurus came to be. Experts discuss how new information about such ancient icons continues to be uncovered ... and as much as battles between dinosaurs have been featured in fictional movies over many years, some of them are re-created here in a manner that goes for optimum realism. ****
(Not rated: V) (Also on Blu-ray)
“CARNAL KNOWLEDGE”
Written by Jules Feiffer, who initially intended it to be a stage play, director Mike Nichols’s long-acclaimed 1971 comedy-drama joins The Criterion Collection in new Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD editions. Jack Nicholson and Art Garfunkel play college roommates who share an interest in another pupil (Candice Bergen). She later weds the Garfunkel character, while Nicholson’s alter ego has a troubled relationship with a woman portrayed by Ann-Margret (who earned an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Award here). The emotional connections among all of them steadily erode; co-star Rita Moreno also makes her mark, entering late
Making their television debut in 2019, the Plath family — composed of parents Kim and Barry Plath alongside their nine children — has been allowing faithful viewers to learn more about their life in smalltown Georgia long enough for fans to bond with their blond-haired, blue-eyed brood. While the series once revolved around the family’s dedication to its religion, its old fashioned ideals and to making music, much has changed since TLC first introduced us to the bunch.
As Season 6 came to a close in October 2024, many were keen to notice that relationships within the Plath family were changing episode to episode, especially as Kim and Barry navigated their divorce and ongoing duty as co-parents. Meanwhile, Ethan Plath — the family’s eldest son — ended his tumultuous marriage to Olivia after years of apparent struggle, and younger brother Micah brought forth relationship drama of his own with his new girlfriend, Veronica, who wasn’t keen to
in the story as a prostitute. Cynthia O’Neal and Carol Kane also appear. The special features include comments by Feiffer and a 2011 chat between Nichols and fellow filmmaker Jason Reitman. **** (R: AS, N. P)
“KNIGHT RIDER: THE COMPLETE SERIES”
One of the top action shows of the 1980s makes its way to 4K Ultra HD, as the 1982-86 NBC adventure casts David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, a police detective saved from near-death through the efforts of a billionaire (played by pilot-episode guest star Richard Basehart) who sets up a private crime-fighting organization. Knight is given a supercar called KITT (which famously has the voice of William Daniels) that he drives to various locales to right wrongs. Edward Mulhare also stars as Knight’s immediate boss, with Patricia McPherson and (during the second of the show’s four seasons) Rebecca Holden as technicians who take care of KITT. Special features include audio commentary by Hasselhoff and the “Knight Rider 2000” TV movie that had been intended to relaunch the franchise at the time. ***(Not rated: AS, V)
“YOU CAN COUNT ON ME”
Writer-director Kenneth Lonergan’s 2000 drama, a new Criterion Collection offering on Blu-ray and
According to TLC, this upcoming season is set to follow the family as its members continue to navigate past relationship conflicts, all while introducing new tensions — including the ongoing divorce proceedings between Barry and Kim, Micah and Veronica’s rocky romance and daughter Lydia’s impending nuptials to fiancé Zac.
As Collider explained, “In a family with nine siblings, many of them are at different stages of dating and courtship. But it seems each time a new addition joins the family, trouble soon follows.”
Additionally, Season 7 will also explore the ever-changing dynamics between the growing Plath children and their parents, as some wish to rebuild and rekindle their relationships with both Kim and Barry, while other children prove themselves dedicated to forging new paths forward.
Sure to be a season filled with drama, relationship woes and new frontiers, “Welcome to Plathville” returns to TLC Tuesday, July 22.
4K Ultra HD, earned wide acclaim and gave major boosts to the careers of Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo. They play siblings who have become estranged in the years after their parents’ car-accident deaths, and when the brother comes for a visit, his pronounced differences from his sister come into sharp focus ‘— threatening to destroy what semblance of a relationship they have left. Rory Culkin also does notable work as Linney’s young son, and Jon Tenney, Josh Lucas and Gaby Hoffmann are featured as well. Lonergan (who also contributes audio commentary), Linney, Ruffalo and co-star Matthew Broderick are featured in new interviews done for this edition. **** (R: AS, P)
