Showtime 2.1 - A New Chapter

Showtime - A New Chapter
Genre : Drama / Comedy / Sports
Showrunner: Steven Soderbergh
Writer : Chad Taylor & Mo Buck

Cast: Barry Keoghan, Joe Manganiello, Dacre Montgomery, Nick Offerman, Cooper Andrews, Paul Walter Hauser, Zoey Dutch, Anna Gunn, Clayne Crawford, Tom Hopper, Alan Ritchson, Paul Rust and Toby Huss

Plot: Diane Brown (Anna Gunn) puts the phone following her game-changing call with fellow promoter Paul Martin. She takes a deep breath and peeks out in the locker room. The wrestlers are still shocked by Santana’s departure and unsure how to react after Loto’s (Cooper Andrews) title win. She sees his manager “Loudmouth” Dicky Ray (Paul Rust) all smiles and taking in all the praise and applauses. She leaves her office and instantly gets the locker room attention. Brad Wolfe (Clayne Crawford) asks her what’s going on with TCW since Santana left and if she knew about it. Diane says she didn’t and gives a mean look to Dicky. She says she doesn’t know yet and perhaps she’ll know more tomorrow, she needs to process this. As she heads back to her office, she bites her lips, as she can’t believe she folded under the pressure and couldn’t tell the truth to her roster. Loto asks everyone to come with him to have a few drinks for Ricky. They probably despise him by now, but he was a loyal and respected member of this locker room and it would be a fitting end for his TCW career. The response is mixed, but everyone eventually agrees to go.

Ben Carr (Barry Keoghan) sits with veteran Bill Gundy (Nick Offerman) and asks him what Santana’s departure means for TCW and if he should try to find work elsewhere. Bill says he has been here a long time and this company has seen some dark times, but that was under the late Roy Browne’s leadership. The only thing worrying him is Diane. It’s a tough industry for women and it remains to be seen if she’s tough enough to dig TCW out of its hole. The Jackson brothers, Tom (Tom Hopper) and Don (Alan Ritchson) discuss with Wolfe about what’s next for them. While the Jacksons are sad to see Ricky go, Brad reminds them that TCW lost its figurehead and he can take that spot and they could climb in the ranks too. They say that’s a real possibility and it will be exciting to see what will happen. Thunderjack Haynes (Dacre Montgomery) and Sweet Tea (Zoey Deutch) debate whether they should go to Santana’s goodbye party or head home to celebrate his big win. Thunderjack desperately wants to go home as he thinks they’ll have more fun there, but Sweet Tea, who doesn’t have sex on mind, suggests to go to the bar with everyone else and perhaps he could get Santana’s blessing, allowing him to be his true successor. Avid of success, he accepts.

Everyone is at the bar, even Loto who doesn’t drink and Bill Gundy despite his bad experiences. Ricky (Joe Manganiello) tries to explain his decision, saying he’s sorry that he’s leaving them, but he saw the opportunity and he took it. He wants to be the best wrestler in the world and he’s not getting any younger. There’s no better way to do it than to go on the grandest stage of them all and that’s where he’s going. He jokes, saying he’ll think of them when he wins the APW Championship. Joking aside, he praises the incredible wrestlers in the locker rooms and recalls the matches he had with everyone of them, saying everyone made him better and helped him to achieve his dream. He’s leaving tomorrow and he doesn’t regret his decision. Dicky asks Ricky what does his wife think about the move and the look on Ricky’s face changes. He ends his speech abruptly and stays silent for a while.

As the get together is wrapping up, Ricky pulls Ben aside and congratulates him on his performance on the big stage. He tells him he sees big things in him. Looking on from afar, Thunderjack is seething in anger as he had been waiting for this moment all night. He complains to Tea, who tells him that at least the crowd thought he was the star. She looks affectionately from afar at Ben, who is clearly more humble than Thunderjack. Haynes says he is going grab that top spot, whether anyone else likes it or not. Wolfe overhears this and rolls his eyes.

24 Hours Later

Ricky's plane lands at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. He leaves first class to find Shirley (Sofia Black-D'Elia) seated further back in the plane. They leave the airport and take in the big city, the first time for the both of them. He says he better get to his meeting with Buck Gordon at the APW offices. She says she needs to start getting new sources for her newsletter so she'll be on her way as well. They kiss and part ways.

Ricky meets with Buck Gordon (Max Minghella), the hot-shot owner of APW. Buck gives his usual spiel about the company when welcoming new talent, talking about how his grandfather founded the company in the 30s and how it has been handed down to him. He's built it into the tri-state's most premiere wrestling promotion and America's as well. And now Ricky is on board. He tells him he has big plans in store for Santana. Ricky smiles and they shake hands.

Back in Houston, Diane tells the talent to meet at the arena early as she's got something big to tell them. At the meeting, everyone sits around nervously. Diane tells them not to be, these are exciting times (although her delivery isn't fully convincing).Before she can continue, the door slings open and Paul Martin (Toby Huss) enters. A lot of people are confused, while Ben knows his wrestling industry and whispers to the himself that that is Paul Martin, head of the Martin Wrestling Association out of Georgia. He apologizes for being late and he starts to make the announcement but she says that she wants to be the one who tells her roster. She announces that TCW has joined into an alliance with MWA and some other companies to fight back against the rising dominance of APW. The alliance will have one champion who will travel from territory to territory and to defend the belt. As such, the MWA's Heavyweight Champion will be arriving tomorrow along to join TCW and fight Loto in a unification match. Martin, a charismatic fella, makes a toast to bright days ahead. Meanwhile, everyone in the locker room are still unsure how to process this news. As they leave, Paul chides Diane for continuing to talk over him and tells him that that is not going to work in their new partnership. 

Showtime doesn't miss a beat as it picks up immediately where Season 2 left off. The season premiere is filled to the brim with conflict, effectively setting up the direction of the season.

Joe Manganiello's exit leaves a gaping hole in TCW's roster, but the dynamic world and environment writers Buck and Taylor were able to create is so interesting that you won't even know he's missing.

While the introductory episode of Showtime felt a little bland, the following episodes were amongst the best LRTV had to offer last season. This season premiere follows up on the previous season in a great way, setting up good things to come

The Controllers 1.1 - Control

The Controllers - Control

Genre: Sci-Fi

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

Writer: Jimmy Ellis

Cast: Lance Reddick, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonathan Majors, Chloe Sevigny, Mena Massoud, Graham McTavish, David Dastmalchian, Hector Elizondo, Ty Burrell and Natasha McElhone

Plot: Close up on Gideon’s (Lance Reddick) face, he says that he has retrieved the killer of Controller Antony, and has wiped the mind of Detective Janus. He says that he needs the ‘cleaners’ to come and move David Janus from his location. He adds that he will be returning to base after Janus is moved and wishes for a cell to be free for Calvin Minos (David Dastmalchian). He presses his ear and the conversation is over. 

Gideon looks to the ground at David Janus who is unconscious due to the mind wipe. As he does this Calvin Minos wakes from his unconscious state. He looks to Gideon and attempts to attack him, however the cleaners arrive and subdue him with some sort of chemicals knocking him out again. Gideon greets them and tasks them with their job, they must take Janus back to his house and into his room. Cleaner Frederick (Hector Elizondo) speaks up and says they know of their job they have been doing it for a very long time. Gideon says that’s all well and good but Janus is a different case, he says it’s the first case that the mind wiping did not work. He tells the cleaners to make sure the mind wipe worked this time. When they take him home, watch him for a while. Frederick looks at Cleaner Farah (Mena Massoud) and nods. They grab Janus and the three of them disappear. Gideon looks to Minos and grabs him, they disappear.

Gideon and Minos reappear in a white building, other men and women in gray suits walk through the corridors. Gideon is met straight away by Controller Abraham (Jonathon Majors), he tells Gideon that Director Vincent (Graham McTavish) is waiting for him with a huge task. Gideon hands Minos over to Abraham and walks through the halls to Vincent’s office.

Gideon knocks on the door and enters, Vincent sees Gideon and smiles, he says that he noticed Gideon corrected his mistake in wiping the detectives mind. Gideon nods and apologises. Vincent shakes his head and tells him not to worry, he has a brand new case for him. Vincent informs Gideon that Controller Wilson (Jackie Earle Haley) has gone rogue and needs capturing. Vincent plays a video for Gideon. In the year 2030, the president of the United States, Billy Evergreen (Ty Burrell), is speaking at a conference, suddenly he is shot in the head and assassinated, the assassin’s face is shown from another angle and is revealed to be Wilson. Gideon accepts the task and walks out of the room, Vincent calls out to him and tells him to be careful as the year 2030 is a dangerous place.

Meanwhile Abraham is escorting Minos to his cell. He walks past other controllers with other people much the same as himself. They reach the cell and Abraham throws Minos in. Abraham sits on a seat in the cell, and the lights go out. Abraham begins explaining to Minos that he is what they call an anomaly. His mind cannot be wiped properly, he will always remember fragments of the goings on at CONTROL. Abraham adds that the aging process has stopped now they are in CONTROL HQ, he states that they exist in between space and time. Minos looks up at Abraham with crazed eyes, he says that he will kill him and every last one of the grey freaks. Abraham stands up and tells Minos to enjoy his testings. Scientists are in the next room and they begin playing operatic music into Minos’ cell.

Frederick and Farah have finished watching Janus and have seen no evidence that he remembers. They disappear wanting to go to CONTROL, however they reappear somewhere different, somewhere unwanted. Controller Wilson walks out from the shadows. “Farah, Frederick, I need your help.”

Gideon walks up to a door titled, ‘The Architects’. He knocks on the door and a scanner pops up, he places his finger on the scanner it confirms him as Controller 2789. The door opens and he is transported to the ‘architects’. He talks with Veronica (Natasha McElhone), lead architect. She asks what she can do for him, he explains that he will be going to 2030 and needs the layout of Washington, where the assassination will take place. Veronica says that Washington in 2030 is extremely different than the one in 2020. The city is in ruins. Veronica shows some shots of Washington, there is rubble everywhere, the only building fully fit is the white house. Gideon is intrigued and thanks the architect. He has a job to do.

Gideon is transported back to CONTROL HQ where he meets up with Abraham, Abraham tells him that Minos is in his cell and the tests have started. Gideon offers for Abraham to help him with his task. Abraham says that it is a huge honor and accepts without even knowing what it is they will be doing. Gideon says however that they will need at least one more person, they both look at each other and say, “Jean”.

Controller Jean (Chloe Sevigny), the most badass of all controllers sits in her quarters. Abraham and Gideon arrive and knock on her door, she tells them to F*** off. She doesn’t want visitors. Gideon says that he has a task and he says that it’s to track down controller Wilson. The door swings open and Jean lets them in.

Gideon explains where Wilson is and Jean says she never liked him, she thought he was always ready to turn. She does however lament her frustrations when they realize when exactly they will be going to. She says that she once had a task in 2030 and barely made it out alive after completing it. Gideon says it will be different this time as all three of them will be ready. Jean, Abraham and Gideon all look at each other and let out a sly smile. Gideon says they should all get ready to go they will head to 2030 soon. 

As the three of them are about to depart, Vincent sees them one last time, he hands a small trinquet to Gideon, Gideon unsure of what it is asks, but Vincent says when the time comes he will know when to use it.

All three of them link arms as to not be separated, they disappear.

All three of them reappear again, they all look around and hear riots and gunshots. Abraham remarks that they are here. Gideon confirms it look at a watch on his arm. A big crowd of citizens come around the corner, with weapons in hand. Gideon, Jean and Abraham scurry away and hide in some of the ruins. Another crowd comes from the other direction. The camera goes to an overhead shot showing the two mobs colliding and fighting for an unknown reason.

While the talent involved isn't up to par with its film counterpart (that was an almost impossible task to achieve), The Controllers is still an entertaining sci-fi series that will please a certain crowd.

Comparisons to the film that made this possible were inevitable and it hurts The Controllers a bit. Dan Trachtenberg, although accustomed to sci-fi is no Denis Villeneuve and Jake Gyllenhaal's presence is lacking, but thankfully Jimmy Ellis' script keeps this entertaining. 

I seriously hope that you've seen Control before you watch this series, or else you will be completely lost and even I got a hard time to follow the story, so I had to go back and watch it again, but once I did, I was able to enjoy this entertaining sci-fi series.