📺 The Media Guide S5E16

Welcome back to your favorite Monday newsletter that covers tv, music, movies, and comics! If that very specific statement isn't true then we are definitely doing something wrong.

The NBA Playoffs continue as Detroit just upset NY in game two, but that doesn't mean we are going to leave you hanging as there is a bunch of great stuff this week including some killer albums and movies. And Andor is back!

Lastly, we are giving the whole social media thing a go again, so maybe go give us a follow on Instagram if you are so inclined...

📺 New Shows

🚀 Andor S2 (Disney) — 22 Apr

The best show to come out of the Disney+ era has returned for another season—which will also (most likely) be it's last. Season one was admittedly a slow burn at first—I had fallen off after an episode or two before diving back in and devouring it—and I hope for much the same with this season.

🔪 You S5 (Netflix) — 24 Apr

I don't watch You, but my wife does and loves Penn Badgley—apparently. I believe this is also the final season so we can all finally say goodbye to this one for good as the whole season drops on Thursday.

📝 What Else?

• WondLa S2 (Apple) — 24 Apr

Tuesday

• The Studio (Apple) 1:6
• Government Cheese (Apple) 1:5
• Andor (Disney) 2:1-3

Wednesday

• Dope Thief (Apple) 1:8

Thursday

• Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple) 1:4
• Hacks (HBO) 4:4

Sunday

• Last Week Tonight (HBO) 12:9
• Righteous Gemstones (HBO) 4:8
• MobLand (Paramount) 1:5
• Lazarus (Adult Swim) 1:4
• The Last of Us (HBO) 2:3

💽 Release of this Week

🏄‍♂️ Do What Ya Wanna by Beddy Rays

I'm not sure it's quite as good as their last record as they fell into a common trap for second albums where you over popify a bit. While first full-length had a gritty, grungy feel, here they feel like they are grasping for a catchy hook a bit. Still, it's a fun summer alt-rock album that I wouldn't mind throwing on at anytime.

Current Favorite Track: Red Lights

🏃 Runner-ups

🕳️ The Pit by Arcy Drive

After listening to Louie, I though Arcy Drive was about to deliver exactly what I wanted from Beddy Rays on their follow-up. In the end, while The Pit is a big fun alternative record, it feels like they recorded 12 songs and just decided that was it without workshopping or looking for extra tunes that might work better as a whole together.

CFT: Louie

🔥 You Can't Put out This Fire by The Bennies

What a magnificent piece of punk/ska/party/stoner/alternative. There is just so much energy throughout this album that it's impossible to dislike. And it's far from being a one-note kind of punk ska record as they explore different sounds and forms throughout to make something wholly unique.

CFT: Cocaine

⚡ Thee Black Boltz by Tunde Adebimpe

And I had to mention the first solo album from the TV on the Radio frontman. I'm honestly not sure why this is a solo album and not a band album because it doesn't sound all that different... Still, it's enjoyable with the way rock and electronic come together here.

CFT: Pinstack

📝 What Else?

• Like Cartoon Vampires by The Convenience
• I Heard That Noise by quickly, quickly
• Send a Prayer My Way by Julien Baker and TORRES

Really struggling to find noteworthy new comics to talk about again this week... plus there were some delays last week so we've got some repeats in the What Else? section...

🦸 No. 1's

🐐 Arcana Royale (Dark Horse)

New one from Cullen Bunn and AC Zamudio that's billed as a supernatural thriller—The Sandman meets Rounders—which, honestly, is an awesome comp. I've never been a huge Bunn fan, but he's been putting out a ton lately, and when he hits, he really hits and I actually have good feelings about this one.

🛡️ Medieval Spawn (Image)

And then Rory McConville launches the new Spawn book with artist Marco Itri.

📝 What Else?

• Minor Arcana #6 (Boom)
• Nullhunter #7 (Image)
• The Power Fantasy #8 (Image)
• Assorted Crisis Events #2 (Image)
• Absolute Martian Manhunter #2 (DC)
• Epitaphs From the Abyss #10 (Oni)
• Black Hammer: Spiral City #5 (Dark Horse)
• The Mummy #2 (Image)

🎥 New Movies

🐒 The Legend of Ochi

A24 does The Goonies in this one that looks exactly what that sounds like—and honestly, I'm here for it. It's an adventure movie with a little monkey critter and it has Willem Dafoe! This is the first feature from Isaiah Saxon as writer and director after tackling some music videos and shorts before this. Would be really fun to see if A24 can find some success with this one in a similar manner to Everything Everywhere All At Once.

🔫 Havoc (Netflix)

I feel like I've been talking about Havoc for half a decade at this point. It was on my most anticipated list for 2023. But it's finally here from writer/director/action choreographer of The Raid movies, Gareth Evans. And it stars Tom Hardy, who is having a bit of a moment right now after being stuck as Venom for the last decade (or at least that's how it feels...)

🍄 Cheech and Chong's Last Movie

And I feel like the title for this one is self-explanatory.

📝 What Else?

• The Accountant 2
• The Trouble with Jessica (Limited)
• On Swift Horses (Limited)
• April (Limited)

🛍️ To Rent/Buy

• Ash
• Freaky Tales