We’re becoming people who watch Kirsten Dunst in On Becoming A God In Central Florida
TV Lists What's On Tonight
Here’s what’s happening in the world of television for Sunday, August 25. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
On Becoming A God In Central Florida (Showtime, 10 p.m, series premiere): Here’s our own Danette Chavez on this Sunday’s pick at the top of the pyramid—a series about, among many other things, the great American pyramid scheme:
A riveting black comedy with hairpin turns in tone, On Becoming A God follows Krystal [Kirsten Dunst] as she navigates disappointment, trauma, and new motherhood, all of which appear downright manageable compared to the nigh-impenetrable multi-level marketing scheme that is Founders American Merchandise, or FAM. While that acronym corresponds neatly with Amway, the series, from creators Robert Funke and Matt Lutsky, scales pyramid schemes more generally, sending up their American dream-touting, worker-exploiting ways: Be your own boss (and that of your “downline”)! You’re a millionaire in training (but also lining the pockets of billionaires)!
Now roll one heck of a trailer:
This week’s Succession looks unsurprisingly great, The Affair is returning for its final season, and there’s a lot to recommend both Preacher and The Righteous Gemstones, but holy crap, are we ever here for this Dunst turn (and for Alexander Skarsgård’s mullet wig). Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya will recap weekly.
Regular coverage
Succession (HBO, 9 p.m)
The Affair (Showtime, 9 p.m., fifth-season premiere)
Preacher (AMC, 10 p.m.)
The Righteous Gemstones (HBO, 10 p.m)
Wild card
Instinct (CBS, 9 p.m., series finale): It was never at the top of our lists, but we’ll be tuning in for the last episode of the Alan Cumming-starring Instinct, a procedural that was particularly noteworthy for featuring an openly gay character as its lead—still an infrequent occurrence. (It was also noteworthy for Bones-related reasons, but that’s another story.)
R.I.P. Instinct. But hey, maybe now Eli Gold can appear on The Good Fight?
18 Comments
I watched 2.5 movies this week, and I loved all of it.So yeah, I watched Dora And The Lost City of Gold. It is the best Indiana Jones film never made. Sure, it does have an annoying Nickelodeon ending, but as someone who knew the basics of the Dora Explorer lore, this is a fun film that manages to be more enjoyable than both National Treasure films IMO. There is a reason why it has a 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I think it’s a justified fresh rating for a Nickelodeon Kid’s Film. But why did it have a Midnight Screening only in my country confuses me.I also saw Parasite. Yeah, it’s the best Asian film of the year. It really knows how to maintain a sense of unpredictability especially since it’s not a Hollywood film as it allows to block out what you think are cliches associated with these movies. What I love is how it says a lot about Korean class warfare, and every shot can be written into a 20 page essay for film studies and film theory. It’s the type of film you can have screenings with a group of friends. I consider it Bong-Joon Ho’s second best film after Memories of Murder.And here’s my story with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I was in the middle of watching this film in theatres when I got into a fight with an Italian man who can’t shut the fuck up about his chair issues. He completely ruined my enjoyment of the film and I had to walk out of the theatre after the Pitt-Lee flashback because he kept being noisy as fuck. This is why I prefer watching Quentin Tarantino movies at home rather than at the cinema. Yes, I know that QT wants to retain the “authentic cinema experience” but when you have noisy Italian assholes causing ruckuses in the theatre, he should really give up on retaining that experience. I’m hoping to watch the film again today and I’m hoping for a better cinematic experience in an afternoon viewing. Fuck, man.I’m also enjoying Mindhunter S2 and I’m hoping to check out Episode 5 after watching Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Fingers crossed for a better cinema experience today.
Loved Mother, glad you recommend this! I’ve watched a few Korean horror films, which I adore, for some reason.Ugh…should have told management about that asshole. Get free tickets for another screening, and get that assclown kicked out of the viewing. It’s a two-fer!I always go to matinees (I work second shift, anyway). There’s usually only a handful of other people, who are going for the same reason I do: it’s quiet. And matinee pricing, to boot! My whole experience is something like $3 / ticket, with $1 popcorn and soda, no tax is $5 flat.
Well thank god I had a good experience today and I loved the film as a result.
Well, I’ve finished Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Went to a better theatre with much better seating and enjoyed the hell out of it.Holy shit I fucking loved how Tarantino portrays the events of August 8th. It’s hard to explain why the film is so fucking great without spoiling the film, but I’d say that you HAVE to watch the film because of Tarantino’s interpretation of the Tate murders. You will leave the theatres satisfied.Also, I seriously want to live in 1960s Hollywood. Tarantino literally sold me on why I should move to California. It’s the best California tourism commercial ever made. Maybe I should do my masters in California? What’s the cheapest California university to do a Masters or PhD in Political Science?
Glad you enjoyed it! Haven’t seen it yet myself, but is the Tate Murders portion the “horror movie” shit Tarantino was talking about? Because between that and the aftermath I read about in Helter Skelter, I’m kinda excited to see it. I’m not going to definitely see it because of the Tate Murders (although I’m curious to see if he brings Manson’s relationship with Brian Wilson into it), but having watched Resevoir Dogs when I was 5 or 6, then religiously watching everything Tarantino’s come out with since (and also, True Romance), I kinda feel like I need to watch it…y’know?Given today’s news about the astronaut committing identity theft from the ISS, I’m hoping he does a Star Trek revolving around a handful of Voyager staffers involved in a crime ring involving smuggling a golden briefcase, and that Samuel L. Jackson’s Data makes some reference to “BAD MOTHER FUCKER.”
Oh man, it’s like NOTHING you’ll ever see.You have to watch it to believe it.
I’m not going to definitely see it because of the Tate Murders (although I’m curious to see if he brings Manson’s relationship with Brian Wilson into it)It was Dennis Wilson, not Brian.In any event, no Beach Boys were harmed during the making of this film.
I thought it was Brian Wilson that cut Manson’s album, and Manson subsequently had a vendetta against…no?
Dealing with rude people at the theater is fairly commonplace, but the gentleman’s race that you felt compelled to mention twice has nothing to do with it. “Noisy Italian assholes” isn’t helping your case.
We’re Asians living in an Asian country. When In Rome, etc.
Oh, bravo.
I am so ready for the final season of The Affair, which sounds absolutely bonkers and stupid and I’m gonna love it.
I watched the first episode of Succession yesterday and everyone on the show seemed to have aged 5+ years. I’m not sure if it was shot on some insane HD camera, or my tv being different since I watched the first season, or it just being the director’s choice in a ‘this business will wear you down’ type deal, but it was definitely a thing. Or maybe I’m just going a little nutty. *shrugs*
I was able to catch the first two episodes of On Becoming A God In Central Florida as a free preview on my local cable and, so far, it’s pretty fantastic. For me, Kirsten Dunst is becoming one of the actors who I will watch in anything she’s cast in. Shame she doesn’t work more often.
Hollywood probably thinks she’s too old.
I’ve had a crush on her for 20 years.
Yeeeeees, I would LOVE Eli to show up in The Good Fight. Though, his presence might over shadow Marisa’s.
Instinct may be showing the best marriage on television right now. Dylan and Andy bicker, squabble, keep unnecessary secrets, and otherwise annoy the crap out of each other, but they also listen, take each other into account, and generally do their best to accommodate the irritating person they live with, because they also happen to love them. I’ll be missing them, even if the plots were mediocre and the character of the female lead wildly inconsistent.
Plus, Naveen Andrews on a regular basis is not a bad thing for TV.