The best prequels are the ones that have clear ties to an existing world we know and love, but ultimately have a separate identity... and that's something the new HBO Max series The Seduction has achieved effortlessly.
Starring Diane Kruger, Anamaria Vartolomei, Lucas Bravo and Vincent Lacoste, we follow Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil's (Vartolomei) rise to power in the French cultural elite. If you think you've heard that name before, it's the character Glenn Close played in the 1988 movie Dangerous Liaisons (based on the book of the same name).
Therefore, it tracks that Vicomte de Valmont (Lacoste) was played by John Malkovich, with Madame de Rosemonde (Kruger), the old lady who frequently regaled on opulent couches with judging eyes. It took me the entirety of episode 1 to make this connection, and that's to The Seduction's huge credit.
We can see the lore links as the series continues (including to Michelle Pfeiffer's character Madame Tourvel), but the HBO prequel feels like an entirely different beast. Sure, all of the sex and scandal is still there, but it's much more calculated and considered this time around.
As far as legacy prequels go, The Seduction on HBO Max impressed me
Anybody who has an issue watching foreign language shows and movies is going to need to get off their high horse for this one. With all six episodes solely in French, The Seduction takes the drama of 16th century France all the way back to its native language and location, and I think the overarching story is a lot richer for it.
Enemies-to-friends Isabelle and Rosemonde are navigating a man's world, and finding out how to hold power within it. The result? Risky alliances, illicit affairs and plans that could bring entirely families crashing down with one wrong move.
All of our characters are enigmas, proving incredibly difficult to read. Isabelle hides her vulnerability to everyone around her, orchestrating multiple schemes at once to make up for the fact she doesn't trust a soul. Rosemonde has her own agenda, and that threatens in the only genuine friendship she has in her live at every turn.
Then we've got the boys. Valmont starts off causing the biggest betrayal of Isabelle's life, and that's ammunition against him for years to come. Positioned as an elitist playboy, it's difficult to tell whether his feelings for Isabelle are every genuine or not (and to be honest, I still don't buy them).
Gercourt (Lucas Bravo) is presented as our evil pantomime villain. However, I think it's a case of honesty – he isn't actually the most malicious, he's just not cloak and dagger about it. Regardless, he's the embodiment of the worst patriarchal traits in human form.
Between the four, personal vendettas make way for rich and intimate drama. Truthfully, this loses impact as the series reaches its conclusion, but the build-up is so well structured and dynamic that any lulls are easy to overlook.
Lucas Bravo is the real hero in The Seduction, and I'm thrilled for him
Lucas Bravo is Gercourt in The Seduction. (Image credit: HBO)
I've always had a sneaking suspicion that Lucas Bravo isn't the biggest fan of Emily in Paris – and every interview with him in the lead-up to Emily in Paris season 5 all but confirms that. He's existed under the Netflix character's shadow on a global scale for years now, but his performance in The Seduction comes with night and day difference.
Everything that constrains him in Emily in Paris (namely having to fit the on-off romantic interest TV mould) isn't present in The Seduction, leaving him free to play with stereotype and identity. Bravo is a ridiculously good villain, both vindictive and charming in a single breath. He acts solely on selfish whims, but yet he's weirdly not the worst of the bunch.
For me, he's the standout performance of the series. Perhaps that purely because I'm so thrilled that he's been given a chance to do something so different, but it's equally clear that he's been underused in previous roles. Vartolomei is the other clear standout, and if the Wonder Woman rumors surrounding her are true, I think she's more than proved her craft here.
Given that period drama could so easily fall into a safe TV series blueprint, The Seduction has pushed the boundaries. And don't get it twisted – there's sex in what feels like every other scene, and while it's always explicit, it's never gratuitous.
The Seduction premieres on HBO Max on November 14, with episodes airing weekly until December 19.
With Halloween coming up soon, now is the perfect time for fans to watch It: Welcome to Derry. Anyone who has read Stephen King's huge novel, titled 'It', will know just how much ground it covers, so there's plenty of scope to dive even deeper – and this new HBO Max show does exactly that.
While King's novel spans 27 years, focusing on the late 1950s and mid-1980s, documenting the periods of time where the evil entity 'It' awakens to terrorize Derry, the series focuses on the 60s, so it covers an era we haven't yet seen explored.
In a similar vein to the iconic Georgie scene from the 2017 movie It Chapter One, It: Welcome to Derry starts with the disappearance of a young boy. This prompts some other children in the town to try and figure out what happened, as well as getting to the bottom of why they're experiencing disturbing visions.
Meanwhile, a young Black soldier, called Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), arrives in Derry as part of a mysterious military mission, alongside his wife Charlotte (Taylour Paige). The town of Derry is largely white, too, which provides some important narrative around civil rights issues at the time.
At the time of writing, only the pilot has aired on HBO Max with the second episode arriving on Halloween (fittingly) in the US. I've seen the first five episodes and I can confidently say this is a solid pilot, which sets up the rest of the series, but fans may have some frustrations with one major decision.
While Derry and its residents are all integral to the It storyline, fans will no doubt be keen to see Bill Skarsgård back as Pennywise. He delivered a great performance in It Chapter One and its sequel IT Chapter Two, but he has been used sparingly so far in the TV series. But who knows what the future will hold?
Having said that, the suspense is fun and I haven't seen the final three episodes, so it's very likely we'll get to see more of him as the show progresses. Considering Andy and Barbara Muschietti are once again at It's helm, following on from their movies, I'm confident they'll take the show in the direction it needs to go.
(Image credit: HBO)
It feels like we've needed a show like IT: Welcome to Derry for a while now. According to a post on Threads as seen by MovieWeb, even Stephen King himself was impressed with it. That's high praise from an author who has famously hated some adaptations of his work, so if you don't take my word for it, listen to King.
From my perspective, it was great to be transported to Derry at a slower pace than what a movie can deliver. Pacing the story across eight episodes means we get to see more characters, more scenarios, and take our time exploring a town we really wish we could leave, because it's so fascinating.
The show also sets up some great relationships, too. I can't spoil exactly what, but I did find myself invested in certain dynamics and fearful for what might happen to characters I've already grown to love.
There's plenty of easter eggs for Stephen King fans to enjoy including connections to The Shining, and I think it's well worth people sticking around to watch the second episode and beyond as there's plenty to horrify and delight in equal measure coming up.
Expect some jumpy moments, body horror and plenty of surprises. You're in for a good time if you're already a fan of It and if you're new, then maybe this series will encourage you to seek out the book and the original movies too.
Light spoilers follow for Peacemaker season 2 episodes 1 through 5. Full spoilers also follow for Peacemaker season 1 and The Suicide Squad.
It's incredibly rare to see a C-tier comic book anti-hero star in his own show. It's even less likely that such an individual, who's now arguably one of DC Comics' hottest commodities, would be positioned as the most important cog in a nascent cinematic franchise.
Few eyebrows are being raised about Peacemaker being that person, though. With season 1 of the titular character's TV series receiving critical and commercial acclaim in early 2022, it was a case of when, not if, a sophomore outing would arrive.
Over three years later, Peacemaker season 2 is not only ready to be unleashed, but also become a core component of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe (DCU). The fact that this chaotic tragicomedy's next installment is as super as its first, and sets the stage for future DCU and DCU-adjacent projects, proves they made the right decision to use it as a key building block for their burgeoning shared universe.
Hero to zero
Whether it's saving the world or being grilled by school kids, Chris Smith can't catch a break (Image credit: HBO Max)
Set a few months after Gunn's Superman movie, Peacemaker season 2 reunites us with Chris Smith (John Cena), aka the eponymous anti-hero, as he continues to struggle with reconciling his past.
Things aren't much better in the present, either. A failed job interview to join The Justice Gang, the corporately owned team of metahumans introduced in Superman, coupled with Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) continually rejecting his romantic advances, leaves Smith longing for a better life.
I really got a kick out of Cena plumbing the depths of Smith's inner turmoil
As fate would have it, such an opportunity presents itself to Smith via the secret Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC), an inter-dimensional location outside of normal space that exists in the home of his deceased father, Auggie Smith (Robert Patrick). Inebriated one night, Smith stumbles onto a parallel world where his dead dad and brother are alive, and the Peacemaker of this world is a celebrated hero who's in a relationship with this universe's Harcourt. Hypnotized by this idyllic reality, Smith is drawn to it time and again – but, as the saying goes, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
If the hit HBO Max show's second season sounds like it's putting a multiversal spin on introspective movies like It's a Wonderful Life with a Sliding Doors-style narrative, that's intentional.
Indeed, if season 1 trained its lens on Smith's superhuman alter-ego and his attempts to redeem the 'Peacemaker' name, its sequel is all about the man himself reflecting on the choices he's made and, if he had a do-over, how he'd handle things differently. I really got a kick out of Cena plumbing the depths of Smith's inner turmoil and, despite Smith's efforts to deal with them more maturely, his deeply flawed approach to handling his demons with external vices and increasingly regular trips to an alternate dimension that allow him to live a double life.
Harcourt and Smith's relationship is put through the wringer this season (Image credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/Max)
Parallels can be drawn between Smith's methodology and that of his perennial love interest, Harcourt. Harcourt's sense of self is rattled after she's fired by ARGUS and blacklisted by every US intelligence agency for apparently helping to expose former ARGUS chief Amanda Waller's role in Project Butterfly and Task Force X last season.
Two sides of the same coin, this impulsive pair uses physical pleasure and pain to numb themselves to their deep-seated trauma, and continues the show's exploration of the nature versus nurture debate in engrossing fashion through their individual arcs. Meanwhile, surprise-laden flashbacks to events that occur after 2021's The Suicide Squad, but before season 1, add a fascinating extra layer of complexity to their dynamic.
John Economos' (left) loyalties are split between his job and his friends this season (Image credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/Max)
The rest of Peacemaker's primary ensemble – who, alongside Smith and Harcourt, are collectively known as the 11th Street Kids – also face similar soul-searching experiences as part of their season 2 arcs.
Indeed, the six-month time jump between Smith chancing upon another universe and this season's main storyline is sufficient enough to show how Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), John Economos (Steve Agee), and Adrian Chase/Vigilante's (Freddie Stroma) lives have changed.
The fascinating regression of some friendships... gives Peacemaker 2 a more pronounced soap opera edge than its forebear.
There's a greater emphasis on what makes each character tick and how they deal with setbacks, too, through their more substantial individual arcs this season. The pleasing progression of certain core dynamics and nascent character pairings gives rise to new kinds of awkward, albeit heart-warming, camaraderie. Equally, the fascinating regression of some friendships adds more than a pinch of melodrama, giving Peacemaker 2 a more pronounced soap opera edge than its forebear.
Admittedly, some characters get more to do than others. I was pleased to see the often underappreciated Agee shine in a much bigger role this season, and even Eagly, Smith's rambunctious White Eagle pet/sidekick, gets a funny, though quickly resolved, subplot this time around. However, I wish Stroma's scene-stealing sociopath wasn't relegated to the sidelines as much as he is. Hopefully, season 2 will rectify this glaring oversight in its final three episodes.
Careful what you wish for
Langston Fleury and Sasha Bordeaux are two of numerous new additions to Peacemaker's cast (Image credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/HBO Max)
With numerous supporting cast members killed off in season 1, there are plenty of vacancies to fill on its follow-up's roster.
So, how do they fare in the DCU Chapter One show? They're all terrific, but Tim Meadows' Langston Fleury and Michael Rooker's Red St. Wild are the pick of the bunch. The former – a greasy, smug, and misogynistic sycophant – picks up the cocksure slack that Cena's Smith discards this season, while the latter plays to Rooker's character strengths as a delightfully unhinged individual who's drafted in by ARGUS director Rick Flag Sr (Frank Grillo) and his deputy Sasha Bordeaux (Sol Rodriguez) to track down Eagly for reasons I won't spoil.
Frank Grillo returns as Rick Flag Sr after appearing in Superman and Creature Commandos season 1 (Image credit: Jessica Miglio/Max)
Like Stroma's Chase, I was initially disappointed over the use of Grillo's Flag Sr. Apart from a couple of scenes, including one of the flashbacks I mentioned earlier, Waller's recently-installed replacement – he was hired by ARGUS eight months before season 2's primary story begins – mostly takes a backseat in this season's first four episodes.
Like Stroma's Chase, I was initially disappointed over the use of Grillo's Flag Sr
Okay, Grillo's active role in proceedings is dictated by how the plot unfolds. However, considering Grillo told me that Flag Sr would be "on a mission" for justice in Peacemaker 2 – remember, the titular anti-hero killed his son in The Suicide Squad – I'd hope this storyline would've featured more heavily in earlier entries. Thankfully, once season 2 refocuses its efforts on the Flag Sr portion of the plot, the full weight and impact of Peacemaker's actions in that 2021 Gunn-directed film reverberate through episode 5 and, hopefully, in its final three chapters.
Leota Adebayo and Adrian Chase spend more time together this season compared to its predecessor (Image credit: HBO Max)
While we're on the topic of The Suicide Squad, season 2 does a mostly good job of confirming what parts of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), i.e., Warner Bros' previous superhero-packed cinematic franchise, are officially canon in the DCU.
Ever since Gunn confirmed Peacemaker's second season would be part of his new-look shared universe, fans have wondered how it would handle this. Season 1 and The Suicide Squad were technically part of the DCEU – learn more about it via my DC movies in order guide – before Gunn and Safran's reboot. Smith's surprising but crowd-pleasing cameo in Superman, as well as Peacemaker season 2's official trailer, did little to answer fans' biggest questions. Fortunately, all is revealed through a handy 'previously on...' segment just minutes into this season's premiere. No spoilers, but I think the vast majority of fans will be pleased with the way that Gunn humorously retcons a particular scene from last season's finale – one that was the biggest canonical headache for many.
Michael Rooker's Red St. Wild is the primary antagonist of this season's Eagly-led subplot (Image credit: HBO Max)
Expected though they are, it's marvellous to see events and characters from the wider DCU play active roles in Peacemaker 2. Whether it's references to Superman's story, or episode 1's brilliantly dysfunctional interview scene involving The Justice Gang, I was heartened to see these narrative yarns spun out further and prove that, unlike Marvel's cinematic juggernaut, events on the big screen can and should be felt keenly in their small screen counterparts.
I'll admit season 2's new title sequence steadily grew on me to the point where I was actively singing along to it
And what of the most anticipated part of the show's return – i.e., this season's new title sequence. Last season's opening credits went viral in early 2022, with Gunn telling Entertainment Weekly it was watched four billion times on TikTok. No pressure, then, to make it as good, if not better.
Initially, I wasn't a fan of season 2's glam-rock-inspired dance number. With each episode that passed, though, I'll admit it steadily grew on me to the point where I was actively singing along to 'Oh Lord' by Foxy Shazam, aka the licensed song this season's ambitious choreographed sequence is set to. Don't be surprised if you feel the same way after re-watching it multiple times.
My verdict
Peacemaker season 2 is an impressive, entertaining, and startlingly thought-provoking continuation of its predecessor. A series packed with the usual trappings of a James Gunn project – dark and awkward humor, heart-wrenching moments, action-heavy sequences, a banging soundtrack, reams of melodrama, and broken characters you can't help but adore – it's must-see TV for DC comic book devotees, nascent DCU fans, and casual observers alike.
There are blemishes, some of which I've outlined above and others, like the occasionally jarring tonal shift, ruin its chances of earning a better rating. However, those flaws are comparatively minor in the grand scheme of things.
As I mentioned up top, not many DC Comics characters could carry their own series and be an integral part of the DCU storytelling machine. And yet, Peacemaker proves that, with the right cast and crew, and a creator who understands the material, anything is possible. If Chris Smith existed in the real world, I'm convinced the high regard he's held in by viewers would finally help him to *ahem* make peace with his past.
Peacemaker's second season launches with a two-episode premiere on August 21 (North and South America) and August 22 (everywhere else). Read my dedicated guide for Peacemaker season 2 before it arrives.
Mild spoilers follow for The Last of Us season 2 episode 1.
The Last of Us season 2 has a lot to live up to. Its predecessor set a high bar for HBO's TV adaptation of Naughty Dog's popular video game franchise. So, the pressure on season 2 to reach the heady heights of the hit series' first season and authentically adapt the story told in The Last of Us Part II couldn't be greater.
Based on this season's opening episode, 'Future Days', it seems The Last of Us' sophomore season will be a largely faithful take on its gaming namesake. However, future episodes will need to ratchet up the tension, melodrama, and horror-infused action if season 2 wants to be talked about as glowingly as its forebear.
The dark side of us
Some years have passed since we last saw Ellie (left), pictured here with Joel's brother Tommy (right) (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)
Like The Last of Us Part II game, episode 1 of the hit HBO series' second season reunites us with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) after a time jump. Indeed, five years have passed since the explosive season 1 finale where Joel massacred numerous Fireflies to save Ellie's life.
Remember, she's immune to the Cordyceps virus because the Fireflies' doctors believe the fungus has been growing in her brain since she was born. So, they were going to use Ellie's brain to create a vaccine, which would kill Ellie in the process. Cue a furious Joel going on a bloodthirsty rampage to rescue Ellie, seemingly consigning humanity to its fate with no cure to combat the virus, and then lying to Ellie about what actually happened at the Fireflies camp.
I was already convinced that Dever would be a vengeance-fuelled tour de force
One push of the fast-forward button later, and the pair have grown accustomed to life in Jackson, the now-bustling Wyoming town that's become a safe haven from the life-threatening, global scourge that's decimated humanity.
Before we catch up with our intrepid duo, there's the small matter of addressing Joel's murder spree and the deceased Fireflies' devastated relatives left to pick up the pieces. That includes Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, The Last of Us Part II's divisive deuteragonist, whose father is among the people Joel mercilessly gunned down.
What's immediately apparent about Dever's Abby is that she's not as physically imposing as her video-game counterpart. Loathed as Abby is by some The Last of Us fans for events in the game that I won't spoil here, I suspect those same devotees will be vexed over what they perceive to be an unnecessary tweak to her build.
I've no doubt that Dever will deliver a powerful portrayal of Abby in HBO's TV adaptation (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)
Honestly, though, I don't mind this minor, if controversial, change. Yes, Abby's physicality is a large part of her identity, so the decision to downgrade this part of her character is one reason why fans expressed concern for Dever's welfare in the lead-up to season 2's release.
Nonetheless, based on her portrayal of tough and complex yet empathetic characters in other projects, I was already convinced that Dever would be a vengeance-fuelled tour de force in HBO's small-screen adaptation. My confidence has only grown after witnessing the emotional gravitas she imbues Abby with during her limited screentime in 'Future Days', and I can't wait to see how she builds on the character in Part II in future episodes.
Season 2 isn't afraid to show how Joel and Ellie's once-strong bond has deteriorated
By and large, though, this is still the Ellie and Joel show, and the critically acclaimed Max series isn't afraid to show how their once-strong bond has deteriorated in the time since we last saw them.
A major part of the heartbreaking shift in their relationship is down to Ellie's growth as a person. She's still the oft-amusing, impulsive, and reckless individual we came to adore in The Last of Us season 1, but an animalistic fury – one born out of traumatic events she's endured – now courses through her veins. That means she's not only physically older and more world-weary than last season's Ellie, but also far more temperamental and destructive than before.
Pascal's emotionally rich performance in 'Future Days' tugs at the heartstrings (Image credit: HBO)
Unfortunately for Joel, he bears the brunt of the highly charged verbal torpedoes Ellie lets loose. This is more than a normal teen rebelling against a parent, biological or otherwise, though. Indeed, it's a surrogate father-daughter bond on the verge of total collapse.
A clear animosity has developed between them since The Last of Us TV show's season 1 finale. That much is clear in the plot exposition woven into a conversation between Joel and Isabela Merced's season 2 newcomer Dina, who's an utter delight as Ellie's bestie and Joel's surrogate daughter substitute for Ellie.
Fans of Naughty Dog's games aside, I don't think anyone will be prepared for the breakdown in their relationship – hostilities that'll only grow when thathuge showdown between Joel and Ellie occurs. In fact, I'd go as far as to say some viewers will be stunned by this development, especially as they spent little time apart in season 1. Like The Last of Us Part II, 'Future Days' keeps interactions between them to a minimum, which serves to make the brief scenes they share all the more heart-shattering.
Support structures
Merced's Dina is a perfect foil to Ramsey's Ellie in more ways than one (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)
There's more to one of the best Max shows' return than this season's tritagonists in Joel, Ellie, and Abby, though.
The return of characters from season 1, including Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and Maria (Rutina Wesley), plus the addition of new characters like Merced's Dina, Young Mazino's Jesse, plus Abby's strike team (read more about them in my season 2 cast guide) help to populate this universe with fascinating, complex characters whose relationships will be impacted by the actions of the aforementioned trio. That each new actor fits their character like a glove only makes them more likable and/or intriguing to watch, too.
That each new actor fits their character like a glove only makes them more likable and/or intriguing to watch, too
There's also a largely gratifying expansion of the narrative depicted in Part II. Most are minor narrative improvements that flesh out its story or refine the tale Naughty Dog originally told, but the odd one or two additions might frustrate long-time fans wanting a beat-for-beat re-tread of the game series' latest entry.
One change that won't irk fans is the addition of Gail (Catherine O'Hara), a psychotherapist whose complex relationship with Joel is already a season highlight of mine after season 2's opening episode. I reveled in seeing these powerhouse actors, whose emotion-wracked performances speak louder than words ever could, go toe-to-toe. I really hope we're treated to more similarly intense interactions between them over the course of this season.
O'Hara's Gail is one new addition to HBO's interpretation that builds on its video game counterpart (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)
The premiere's near-hour-long runtime allows for brief moments of levity to shine through the post-apocalyptic melodrama, too.
Much of that comes by way of Ellie and Dina's endearing puppy love-style dynamic. Ramsey and Merced clearly revel in egging each other on as their respective characters; their playful exchanges punctuating the sobering yet dangerous world they inhabit.
Even though I know what happens in Part II, I'm still keen to see how their relationship evolves.
Ramsey and Merced clearly revel in egging each other on as their respective characters
'Future Days' has already set up fascinating threads for this dynamic with the fallout from their romantically charged dance, Ellie's physical run-in with a new version of the Infected (aka the Stalker), and the ominous, double-headed nature of how this season's premiere ends all set to change the duo's perceptions of, and loyalty to, each other. That's before we even get to that absolutely soul-crushing moment from Part II (if you know, you know) that'll severely impact their friendship.
If there's one criticism I have of 'Future Days', it's that it's the epitome of a calm before the storm-style episode.
Okay, it's supposed to serve as a slow-paced reintroduction to this universe that moves the requisite chess board pieces into place for more heart-pounding, shocking, and revelatory events to come. Still, there are moments of thrilling action and/or location-based exploration in Part II's first few hours of gameplaythat, while they can't be directly translated for television, could've been substituted for other suspense-filled storytelling beats.
My verdict
'Future Days' is a purposeful and methodically paced reintroduction to HBO's retelling of The Last of Us, and one I mostly enjoyed. As a catch-up episode, it didn't need to employ a gung-ho storytelling approach. I was also largely satisfied with its near-perfect authentic take on Naughty Dog's source material.
That said, compared to season 1's action-heavy and emotionally devastating opener, it felt somewhat underwhelming in its design. Part II's most heart-rending moment notwithstanding, more thrills and tragedy-laced incidents will be required in future episodes – in season 2 and The Last of Us' recently confirmed third season, both of which cover the story told in Part II – to recapture the infectious magic of its predecessor.
The Last of Us season 2 episode 1 is out now on Max (US and Australia) and Sky Atlantic (UK).
