What I'm Watching This Week - 4/7

Week 2 of this series where I write about all the things I watched the previous week. The White Lotus Finale is of course the headliner - but I was able to get caught up on a few more shows as well. Show heavy this week, but will have more time for movies now that I've finished up some shows. Without further ado:

The White Lotus - Season Finale (Max)

This is my pre-finale note - I'm going to do a longer blog about the season as a whole later in the week doing my "Post-Season Awards". This will be finale-only thoughts, i.e. will include all the spoilers, so don't read this one until you have watched the episode.

Okay kids, let's dive into this finale. First and foremost - I liked this season, but not as much as S1. I think it's on-par with S2 and people are holding S2 on a pedestal a little bit. I'd probably rank them S1, S3, S2 in terms of enjoyment.

The finale itself did the job for me. It was just nice to see lots of things happening after a very dense middle portion of episodes. The season as a whole should've been 6 eps not 8. (Same with S2 - should've been 6 not 7). And even if I didn't love the direction they went with every single character/group - this show isn't trying to please the crowd with every story, and I'm glad they at least (for the most part) give each storyline a conclusion. I do think there were some bad moves along the way, I think the drama should've been much better in the finale but was carried out in weird ways, but even in an off-year this is better than 90% of shows on air. Character-specific storyline thoughts from the finale are below:

• Rick and Chelsea: gotta start here obviously. I had overall problems with both characters (more Rick than Chelsea), but thought the finale was fitting for both. Rick wanted to leave his demons behind him but couldn't, Chelsea wanted him to choose a better path despite this, and they both wound up dead because of it. Knew Chelsea was gone from like Ep 3, so I wasn't shocked, but the manner in which it happened was unexpected. If only that therapist would have talked to Rick first, all of it could've been avoided.

• The Ratliff's: Real mixed bag with this family of freaks. I get Tim's motivation for the pina-colada-group-sui, I just think it was a little blatant and obvious. But it was hilarious watching him panic quit the plan and knock the drink out of Saxon's hand. Tim not rinsing out the blender, and Lochlan not rinsing it the next day is gross and too easy to see coming. And the fact they did a 2nd red herring to make us think Lochy died was disingenuous in my opinion. Saxon + Victoria were characters I liked, Tim + Lochlan were ones I really didn't, and Piper was kind of just there.

• Belinda and Zion: Credit to them for chasing the bag, but Belinda was my least favorite storyline of the season. Was just boring - everything took too long to get to the finale with her story. Not compelled. And I didn't really like Zion's character much either. It is telling that Mike White wrote her story to mimic what Tanya did to her in Season 1 - promises of opening a spa, then leaves, just as she does to Pornchai. Money blinds all morality.

• Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie: Probably my favorite conclusion for any of these groups of people. Everyone has friends like this I feel like, maybe not to these extremes but still. Laurie's speech at dinner really tied everything together, even if I felt Kate/Jaclyn's speeches weren't very genuine. Sometimes we make excuses for our friends because, even when it might be easier to cut ties, when you've spent that much time with someone, the meaningfulness of that can't be underestimated. The least consequential storyline, but a good one to me.

• Mook and Gaitok: Enough of that positivity BS. I wanted to love both of these characters, but it never happened. Gaitok is compelling but sad - his ending didn't make me happy for him it was disappointing to see. He had to go against his beliefs to get what he truly wanted - Mook - but it cost him much more. Mook is just a selfish, manipulative person taking advantage of a person we want to like. It never worked for me with Gaitok, and it never would with Mook.

• Valentin and co: Was simply never a true resolution with this plot - but wasn't my favorite anyways.

• Fabian: him screaming and falling in the water gave me life

• Sritala and Jim: fitting end for that shitty father Jim, Sritala had her moments but I never cared about what happened to her character.

• Frank: the real MVP of the series. His monologue alone earlier in the season, but he was just a fun addition to this wacky world of White Lotus.

The Studio - episodes 2 & 3 (Apple TV+)

Follow-up to the Pilot episode in last week's blog -- this show is a certified banger. I was intrigued by the premise and the massive amount of stars in the cast, but it has a whole lot more going for it than just cameos and Apple TV+ money. Episode-specific thoughts below, but just over-arching takeaways from the first 3 eps -- it's shot very well, is really funny, star-studded, ironic, and exciting. Three very different episodes that still feel connected - excited to see more. Overall enjoyment will stem from how much of an inside-movie fan you are, but as a someone tries to be tapped into the industry, the show works great for me.

I've watched the 2nd episode 3 times. Generally - it's hysterical, chaotic, frenetically-paced, and shot beautifully. The premise of the episode is Matt (Rogen) wanting to be on set for the big "oner" in Sarah Polley's new movie (a scene where there is no camera-cut, just keeps rolling and moves with the actors). Matt - thinking he's helping - is detrimental to the production. They have a small window to get this shot, but no one can say no to him as studio head when he makes suggestions. First, he thinks Greta Lee (star of the film) should walk with a joint that goes out and causes a reset. Then he can't stop talking behind the camera with a PA. Then he's wearing a character's wardrobe change. Then he distracts Greta, then stops a scene exiting the bathroom, then bloodies up the set tripping and falling. FINALLY they get everything under control, film the oner, it's going perfect, right up until... Matt's car is blocking the driveway Greta needs to drive off on. Unreal. So stressful, but so funny and creative.

The 3rd episode revolved around a new Ron Howard movie - Alphabet City, starring Anthony Mackie and Dave Franco. Matt and his team watch a screening and LOVE it - except for the 45 minute ending at a motel with a creepy ghost kid. Matt has to give him a note that he needs to cut the ending, but Howard's motivation for the scene was a dead relative he wanted to honor. And as we know, Matt already doesn't want to give any celeb a reason to hate him. And everyone around Howard keeps telling him how incredible the ending is, making it even harder. But after a marketing meeting (shoutout Kathryn Hahn who is doing God's work as the marketing director) where Howard reveals an embarrassing story about Matt giving him a terrible note for A Beautiful Mind years prior, Matt doesn't care anymore and puts some extra anger behind that note. The marketing meeting scene was incredible beginning to end, and while it may not have cleared ep 1 or 2 for me, I still thought it was a terrific episode of TV.

St. Denis Medical - 1st Season (Peacock)

Have been watching this one for awhile in incremental doses, but finally finished the debut season of this new Peacock/NBC sitcom and it was really good! Not trying to reinvent the wheel - same creators as the show Superstore - which I never watched but has crossover casting. This is a very funny, cute, simple, low-stakes series with a lot of heart and a fun cast set in a Portland Hospital. Not many big names in the cast, but some recognizable faces and no unlikable characters. There are some great LOL moments throughout the 1st season, heartfelt moments like all the great sitcoms have, and the most important component that all the great workplace comedies have -- a great boss character in Wendi McClendon-Covey (RENO 9-1-1, Bridesmaids). Similar to the next show on this list, it's a really easy show to watch that will make you laugh and smile. Who doesn't love that kind of show?

Abbott Elementary - 4th Season (Hulu)

Finished out the last 8-ish episodes for the newest season of Abbott over the weekend, and it just affirmed it's THE best sitcom on TV. They threw a big wrinkle in toward the end of the season -- if you don't want to know that wrinkle yet, stop reading now -- but in the 3rd to last episode we saw the school district come in and find the golf course's donations (not allowed) and they fire Ava. Ava is my (and probably many people's) favorite character, so I was pretty worried about this. Luckily, she's still involved in the next 2 eps and there's hope in the finale she'll be back.

As for the latter half of S4 as a whole, I was very impressed. Show continues to find ways to make me laugh - whether it's Tariq scolding the librarian for removing the "Sassy Wizard Kid" book, or Jacob singing "Last Resort" at faculty karaoke, or student's dressing as Barb on the 100th day of school thinking she's 100 years old. I think the big winners from Season 4 were Jacob and Barbara, but Janine/Gregory always rock, Mr. Johnson and Tariq are always great in smaller doses, and I'm just a Melissa hater, I'm sure most will like her too.

Reacher - Season 3, episodes 1 and 2 (Prime Video)

Reacher season 1 was a surprising and awesome show I stumbled upon a few years back, and I've been hooked ever since. While I liked the first season a whole lot more than the 2nd, it was still a worthwhile watch in my opinion. And it didn't make me any less excited for Season 3 - which has admittedly been out for awhile and I've been pushing it off for Severance and White Lotus. The 3rd season kicks off in typical Reacher-fashion - with a badass fight scene leading to our main character being in quite the predicament (or so it seems). Alan Ritchson could play this role forever and I'd be happy - personifies the character perfectly. The show can be cheesy at times, loses focus on the exciting storyline for the less exciting more than I'd like, and isn't the best acting you'll ever see. But it's a ton of fun, action-packed, funny, exciting, clever, and knows how to do a fight scene. There's also an element of mystery that I enjoy.

NCAA Men's Final Four

Was this the best Final Four of all time? It's certainly in contention, as we saw two incredible games on Saturday night with Florida outlasting Auburn and Houston pulling off a miraculous comeback beating Duke. This sets up a Monday night Championship between Florida (hasn't won a title since going back to back in 06-07) and Houston (who has NEVER won a title).

Florida/Auburn kicked things off, and it looked like Auburn had learned from their home loss to the Gators earlier in the year. Johni Broome looked healthy and was scoring at will, leading by 8 at half. Then Florida quickly closed that gap with 3 triples early in the 2nd, leading to a back and forth battle until UF claimed the final lead and held on. Walter Clayton continues to look like the best guard in CBB - his 2nd consecutive 30 point game, dropping 34 on 5/8 3pt shooting.

Houston/Duke went about how I expected for the first 32 minutes or so. Duke didn't look good offensively, but Knueppel was making shots and they held a comfortable lead in the 1st half (wound up being 6 before the break). Duke extended their lead to 14 with about 8 minutes to play, but that's when Houston cracked down and turned up the defensive intensity. They brought it all the way back before a technical foul on Tugler seemingly crushed their comeback hopes - but Tugler shook it off and made big plays down the stretch. Sharp's triple to get within 3, Tugler tips the inbound pass, they shoot another, and Tug puts it back with a dunk. Say what you want about the over-the-back call (I don't think it was a foul) but Houston won by out-working and out-classing Duke the last 8 minutes of the game.

So who wins the Title? I'm leaning Florida because of their size and how hot Walter Clayton has been lately. But I thought Houston didn't have a prayer against Duke before and during that game. They defend unlike anyone in the country, and I have to imagine Kelvin Sampson is going to throw looks at Clayton that will make him uncomfortable. But Auburn didn't defend him poorly - he's just an elite shot-maker. Should be an excellent game, and I'd love to see Sampson win one finally, so I'll roll with the Cougars.

See you next week for "What I'm Watching" -- and see you later this week for The White Lotus Post-Season Awards, potentially a NCAA Championship and Tournament Recap, and much more.

If you've been watching The Pitt on Max - come back next week. Through 7 episodes so far and it's terrific.