This week was packed with incredible TV and yet another massive offering from Marvel. It’s only been a day since its release and Doctor Strange in the Universe of Madness is already killing it at the box office—so it makes a lot of sense that not much else is hitting theaters this week. Who would want to compete with that? And if you already have your tickets to see it, trust us, you’re in for quite a ride, and don’t forget to read our review and our interview with Benedict Cumberbatch after you watch it. If tickets for Doctor Strange 2 are sold out by you, check out A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once, which is back on IMAX as of last week. It is simply one of those movies you don’t want to miss.
Disney+’s Moon Knight came to an end this week so we have a recap of the miniseries’ season finale, which might just be the finale for the series since there is no promise of a second season. Better Call Saul and Atlanta are both in full swing and we’ve given you our take of this week’s episodes, which just get better and better with each passing week. Netflix’s The Circle is back with its fourth season, and after you’re done watching all the quality entertainment we’ve mentioned below and just need something to pass the time, let that be your go-to this weekend. Check out our choices for this week’s entries for our What to Watch column, and come back for more next Friday.
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness'
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When: Friday, May 6
Where: In theaters
After six long years, Doctor Strange has finally gotten his second solo film in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and man, was it worth the wait. The film—starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Wong, Xochitl Gomez, and more—finds Strange literally tumbling through Marvel’s multiverse as he embarks on a quest to defeat a dark magic power that far exceeds his own. On his journey, we get introduced to several different characters from various universes that reflect different sides of the MCU’s history in a film that seamlessly blends Marvel’s past, present, and future.
Fan-service and hype aside, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is actually a good watch. The Disney+ series WandaVision is definitely a must-watch beforehand just so you’re able to follow along with the story completely, but besides that, the film is stuffed with fun easter eggs, amazing CGI effects, and a story that makes Doctor Strange a more compelling character beyond just being the master of the mystic arts. Despite the promotional material for the film revealing a lot before it was released, there are still a ton of surprises and cameos that make Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness a must-watch in theaters in order to get the full multiversal experience. The implications this film has for the MCU’s future are immense, so it’s worth getting acquainted with Strange now. — Jordan Rose
‘Moon Knight’ Episode 6
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When: Wednesday, May 4
Where: Disney+
The finale of Moon Knight, “Gods and Monsters,” (and perhaps, the final episode, as the creatives behind the series have made it clear they’re unsure if the show will continue for a second season), summarized both the good and the frustrating parts of the series in equal measure. In the wake of last week’s episode, Marc and Steven (Oscar Isaac) return from the Egyptian afterlife in just enough time to help Layla (May Calamawy) save the day against the combined forces of Harrow (Ethan Hawke) and Ammit.
Anchoring the finale rock-solid performance by Isaac and Calamawy, the latter especially gets to play with some incredible physicality as she submits to becoming the avatar for Tawaret and getting her own superhero persona as a re-imagined version of the Scarlet Scarab—and the MCU’s first Egyptian hero. And, having joined the two halves of his personality, Isaac (clearly) has a blast switching back and forth between Marc and Steven as the two battle against Harrow for the fate of the world while two giant Egyptian gods battle out in the sky like kaiju.
There’s a lot to like in “Gods in Monsters,” but I find it hard to love it entirely; the breakneck pace in which the events unfold doesn’t provide enough time for a lot of moments to land before rushing onto the next beat. But perhaps the most damning thing of all is a deeply compelling—and dark!—post-credits which finally introduces the third personality in the Moon Knight triumvirate, Jake Lockley. Putting Lockley at the end is equally exciting (it’s a deliciously juicy tease!) and frustrating (why did we wait until a post-credits to get him?!). I suppose it’s a move befitting the stark duality at the heart of the series, where one part worked better than another. I sincerely hope all involved get another shot to improve upon the fascinating—yet flawed—foundation. —William Goodman
'Better Call Saul’ Episode 4
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When: Monday, May 2
Where: AMC and AMC+
After an extremely busy cartel installment last week, the Rhea Seehorn-directed fourth episode of Better Call Saul—titled “Hit and Run”—pivots back to the legal world of Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) and Kim (Seehorn) for a quieter, yet no less impactful, episode. After the ABQ deputy district attorney righty sniffed out that Jimmy was representing Lalo, and Jimmy rejected ratting, the man who will be Saul finds himself without friends at the courthouse to buddy up to a whole swath of clients looking to keep a friend of the cartel on retainer. Without a doubt, this is the closest we’ve seen Jimmy come to the Saul Goodman we know from Breaking Bad; all that’s left is the car, the inflatable on top of his office (which he’s a contract away from signing at the end of “Hit and Run”), and the return of Francesca.
Under normal circumstances, Jimmy’s willingness to embrace his new status might have annoyed Kim but in the wake of this week’s revelation—Mike (Jonathan Banks) visiting Kim at the El Camino diner to tell her Lalo is still alive—causes her to be (rightfully) fearful of what comes next for them both. Despite Mike’s assurances that Lalo won’t go after her and Jimmy and that she’s made of “sterner stuff,” Kim can’t help but literally look over her shoulder for a potential boogeyman who might linger behind every turn.
In their respective ways, both Jimmy and Kim are in deep now. It’s quite the hole they’ve dug for themselves. The question we’re left to ponder is this: Is it just a hole? Or might it be a grave? —WG
'Atlanta' Episode 8
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When: Thursday, May 5
Where: FX and Hulu
Atlanta was back this week with another episode, titled “New Jazz,” of the crew exploring Europe. This time around Al (Brian Tyree Henry) and Darius (LaKeith Stanfield) are on an adventure alone around Amsterdam after eating “Nepalese space cakes,” which they believe are likely mixed with weed and some sort of “hallucinogenic honey.” So what could go wrong, right? In the midst of their trip, Al loses Darius, leaving Al to explore his high and the city by himself. It also causes him to face the realities of his transactional relationships with Earn and Darius, his finances, and his career. Al meets a woman named Lorraine (Ava Gray) who helps guide him and takes him to a bar called Cancel Club. Inside he meets Liam Neeson, who plays himself, and they discuss previous racist comments the Taken actor made about wanting to hurt Black people after his friend was raped by a Black man years ago.
“I went up and down areas with a cosh, hoping I’d be approached by somebody—I’m ashamed to say that—and I did it for maybe a week, hoping some ‘Black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could...kill him,” Neeson told The Independent in an interview in 2019. People reacted to the interview but his comments ultimately did nothing to hurt his career. The actor apologized in the episode only “if he hurt people.” When Al asks if he learned from the situation, Neeson says: “I can’t stand the lot of you. Now, I feel that way because you tried to ruin my career—didn’t succeed, mind you. I’m sure one day I’ll get over it, but until then, we are mortal enemies.” Adding: “The best and worst part about being white is we don’t have to learn about anything if we don’t want to.”
It’s a feat to have gotten the actor to appear on the show as himself but to add this last bit about how cancel culture doesn’t really do much to hurt white people’s lives? That’s real, and that conversation needed to be explored, and Atlanta is the show to do it. Toward the end, Al realizes that Earn does care about his well-being outside of his Paper Boi persona, and he also finds out he has been asleep for 10 hours. So was the Cancel Club all a dream? Did he really meet Neeson? Is that how the actor truly feels or was it all for TV? I guess we’ll never know, but the episode is definitely worth a watch. —Karla Rodriguez
'The Circle'
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When: Wednesday, May 4
Where: Netflix
Netflix’s competition series The Circle is back for its fourth season. If for some reason you have missed the first three, don’t worry, it’s never too late to have mindless fun. The reality competition show is all about being strategic. The players enter a game, but never meet their competition face to face and only communicate with them via a chat called The Circle. They must choose whether to go into the game being themselves or catfish their opponents by pretending to be other people. The whole point is to win over the rest of the players, and the most popular player eventually wins a cash prize. It’s a lot more complicated with plenty of exciting and hilarious loopholes than it sounds. This season will also bring on two Spice Girls—Mel B. and Emma Bunton—to compete as catfishes, and that’s only scratching the surface of the kind of surprises each season holds. Binge-watch all four seasons if you haven’t yet, and trust me, you’re in for a good time. —KR
