As 2025 comes to an end and we reflect on the credits rolling, television remains lively and vibrant, eagerly preparing us for exciting things ahead this week.
With 2025 officially in the rearview mirror and 2026 just beginning, this final edition of TV Corner Notes proves that great TV doesn’t stop for the holidays. This week, I’m sharing quick thoughts on Landman. This episode turns an omelette into an unexpectedly meaningful symbol, and I am revisiting my review of Red Eye Season 1 ahead of its Season 2 premiere. It’s a reminder that even as one year ends, there’s always another story ready to pull us in.
Landman "Future in a Instant"
Tommy and Angela start the day on shaky ground after an awkward hotel moment, but time with T.L. helps reset Tommy’s perspective. Over lunch, T.L. offers gentle wisdom about slowing down and appreciating the present, a message that quietly shapes the episode.
Elsewhere, Cooper pulls off a heartfelt (if no longer surprising) proposal to Ariana using his mother’s engagement ring, proving that sincerity beats spectacle every time. Meanwhile, Rebecca uncovers troubling numbers on Cami’s offshore plan, just a 10% chance of success, and finds herself entangled in workplace politics when her connection to geologist Charlie raises red flags.
The hour comes full circle during a warm “Taco Night,” where Tommy and Angela reconnect over an omelette and shared laughter, ending the episode on a note of intimacy and calm.
“Forever Is an Instant” is a charming, reflective installment that reminds us to savor life’s small moments amid the chaos. Rating: 8/10.
Check out the full recap and review
Red Eye Season 1: A High-Altitude Political Thriller
This week, Hulu will release the second season of Red Eye on Thursday. Here's my review of the first season.
The show centers on a high-stakes overnight flight from London to Beijing that quickly spirals into an international crisis. Blending classic British suspense with modern geopolitical intrigue, it’s a captivating watch, though its six-hour runtime occasionally feels stretched.
The story follows Dr. Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage), a British doctor who is suddenly arrested at Heathrow and extradited to China. He is accused of manslaughter after a colleague's death in a car crash in Beijing, a crime he adamantly denies.
Tasked with escorting him is Detective Hana Li (Jing Lusi). However, the simple extradition turns into a nightmare when Nolan’s colleagues on the flight begin dying under mysterious circumstances. What starts as a "whodunit" in the clouds deftly evolves into a massive political conspiracy involving the US, the UK, and China.
While some of the plot twists require a leap of logic, the fast pace and claustrophobic setting of the plane keep the tension high. It is the perfect "binge-a-thon" for fans of series like Hijack or Vigil. With a solid performance, Richard Armitage portrays Nolan as both a victim of circumstance and a suspicious figure, delivering a grounded portrayal. Jing Lusi shines as Detective Hana Li, evolving from a skeptical officer into Nolan’s only ally, forming the show’s emotional core. Lesley Sharp brings gravitas as Madeline Delaney, MI5 head, navigating diplomatic fallout. Red Eye is a solid, suspenseful thriller that uses its restricted setting to maximize drama. Despite a few pacing lulls, the payoff is well worth the flight. Overall, I give season one an 8/10.
Red Eye Season 1 is available on Hulu now, with Season 2 premiering this Thursday.
Top 5 Anticipated Shows in January
1. The Pitt Season 2 (January 8th on HBO Max):
After a stunning 15-episode debut that swept the Emmys (including Outstanding Drama Series and a Lead Actor win for Noah Wyle), the real-time medical drama is back. Season 2 picks up 10 months after the finale, set against the chaotic backdrop of the Fourth of July. Expect the same heart-pounding urgency that made Season 1 a masterpiece.
2. PONIES (January 15th on Peacock):
This stylish spy thriller has "hit" written all over it. Set in 1977 Moscow, Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson star as two embassy secretaries—deemed "persons of no interest" (PONIES)—who are thrust into the world of CIA espionage after their husbands are murdered. The trailer promises a perfect mix of tension and '70s flair.
3. Best Medicine (January 4th on FOX):
Fans of Doc Martin have been waiting for this American reimagining. Josh Charles stars as Dr. Martin Best, a brilliant but socially abrasive surgeon who trades his high-powered Boston career for a small practice in a quirky fishing village. With a stellar supporting cast including Abigail Spencer and Annie Potts, this promises to be the "comfort watch" of the winter.
4. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (January 15th on Paramount+):
.jpeg)
Whether you're a lifelong Trekkie or a newcomer, the star power here is undeniable. Holly Hunter leads the academy as Captain Nahla Ake, with Paul Giamatti serving as a formidable new villain. While it explores a younger generation of cadets, the return of legacy favorites like Robert Picardo’s "The Doctor" adds a layer of nostalgia that bridges the gap for all fans.
5. Red Eye Season 2 (January 1st on Hulu):
What better way to start the year than with a high-stakes thriller? Season 2 shifts the action from the air to the ground as DS Hana Li (Jing Lusi) finds herself trapped in a US Embassy lockdown in London. With Martin Compston joining the cast, the "propulsive" mystery that defined Season 1 looks to be even more intense this time around.
What to Watch This Week
Monday, Dec. 29
Member's Only: Palm Beach (Netflix, eight-episode binge): A group of socialites navigate the drama and decadence of Palm Beach, where the parties are lavish, and the gossip is endless.
Midsomer Murders Season 25 finale (Acorn TV)
9/8c Critical Incident (HBO Documentary): The film revisits the 2010 death of Anastasio Hernandez-Rojas, an undocumented Mexican immigrant who died while in custody at the border.
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Wolf (AMC+ and Shudder): Based on Mo Hayder's Jack Caffery novels, the crime thriller follows a detective (Ukweli Roach) plagued by nightmares and obsessed with the neighbor he believes murdered his 10-year-old brother in the 90s.
Ricky Gervais: Mortality (Netflix comedy special)
Wednesday, Dec. 31
8/7c New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash (CBS): Jason Alden, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, CeCe Winans and the Risk Jubilee Singers, Dierks Bentley, Brooks and Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Riley Green, Marcus King, Megan Moroney, Zach Topp, Keith Irban, Gretchen Wilson, and Stephen Wilson, Jr.; Bert Kresicher and HARDY host.
8/7c New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Any Cohen (CNN): Robyn, Shakira, Brandy and Monica, Bryan Adams, Florence + The Machine, and RAYE perform.
8/7c Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest (ABC)
8/7c Stranger Things Series Finale (Netflix)
10:30/9:30c A Toast to 2025 (NBC): Joined by a wide-ranging lineup of actors, athletes, comedians, TV personalities, and NBC News talent, Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager will look back at the most unforgettable, buzziest, and inspiring moments of 2025.
Thursday, Jan. 1
Red Eye Season 2 (Hulu, six-episode binge)
Run Away (Netflix, eight-episode binge): James Nesbitt stars in this Harlan Coben thriller as a father whose search for his runaway daughter draws him into a dangerous criminal underworld and exposes secrets that threaten to tear his family apart.
Shetland Season 10 (BritBox)
11/10am 137th Rose Parade (NBC, Peacock)
8/7c Hell's Kitchen returns (Fox, next day on Hulu)
Barron's Cove (Paramount+)
8/7c I'm Chevy Chase And You're Not (CNN Documentary): The film charts Chase's rise from breakout Saturday Night Live phenomenon to box-office royalty, thoughtfully examining the complexities and challenges that have shaped his legacy; talking heads include Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Beverly D'Angelo, Goldie Hawn, Lorne Michaels, Ryan Reynolds, and Martin Short.
Friday, Jan. 2
8/7c RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18 (MTV)
10/9c It's Florida, Man Season 2 finale (HBO)
Saturday, Jan. 3
4:30/3:30c Monday Night Football Season 56 finale (ABC and ESPN, two games)
From contemplative moments in West Texas to the exhilarating tension at 30,000 feet, this week’s picks showcase how television continues to offer us comfort, intrigue, and surprises, all year round. As we look forward to 2026, there’s so much to anticipate, discuss, and enjoy binge-watching. Thank you for joining us this year, and here’s to even more wonderful stories in the year ahead! What are you kicking off the new year with? Leave a comment.
Until next time,
Adam
No comments:
Post a Comment