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Over here at Complex Pop, we're never not watching, but we're also never not recommending fire. This week, as per usual, is like every other week: we've peeped the best movies and TV to hit this week, and we're back with a healthy dose of both for your eyeholes.
This week, we find two series we've followed all season coming to an end, while the schism another series is building is coming to a head. Finally, we've got a documentary about one of the greatest acts to impact the world of music, ever. Is that hyperbole? It feels like it, but cue up "Sabotage" and tell me it doesn't feel like the whole entire world's gonna collapse. Riot music.
All of that said, you know the routine; we've got our picks of the best in television and film for you, and you mark your calendars accordingly. Everybody wins.
The Plot Against America - "Part 6"
Where to Watch: HBO Now
After five episodes of a slow-motion look into the simmering development of fascist America, the series finale jumps right into the full-blown chaos that the characters and viewers alike have feared. “Part 6” is a staggering finish to a series that has followed the Levin family during an Anti-Semitic America. We’ve seen each of them forever molded by the two year Lindbergh reign that has sought to diminish their Jewish identity from America’s landscape.
The episode jumps into September of 1942, halfway through Lindbergh’s presidential term. Radio personality Walter Winchell is still on the campaign trail but is met with hate crimes at nearly every stop he makes. Meanwhile, the Levins are nervous of even looking out their window, as the crimes get closer to home. The Rabbi implores the First Lady to speak with the president and disavow the hate crimes—a plea that we know won’t go anywhere.
Alvin is recruited by a group of international intelligence to throw Lindbergh out of office. Winchell gets assassinated and a mass funeral is held in New York. Mayor La Guardia makes a speech asking where Lindbergh is, who hasn’t made a presence in the midst of national violence. The crowd chants in hopes of some change.
The telephone scene with Bess comforting Seldon when he fears that his mother is dead is one of the most stunning moments in the series. Bess and Seldon both implicitly know that his mother is likely dead and Seldon is home without a family, or anyone really, in Kentucky. When she tries to comfort him as she hears gunshots outside of her house, it’s the moment that encapsulates the terror that they have now fully pervaded all parts of the country.
We finally get the confrontation that’s been brewing all season between Evelyn and Bess. After the Rabbit is arrested, Evelyn begs Bess to take her in out of fear that the FBI is coming for her. Bess is amazed with Evelyn’s selfishness considering how she tried to relocate Bess’ family to Kentucky through the involuntary Homestead 42 program. Evelyn then reveals the truth: that Hitler kidnapped Lindbergh’s baby from years ago, believed to have been murdered. It was instead part of a larger scheme by manipulating Lindbergh to run for president and simultaneously bring Nazism to America, all while raising the baby in Nazi Germany as a “model Hitler youth.” Bess, unsympathetic to her sister’s pleas, tells her that she will always love Evelyn but never wants to see her again. It’s not the most original dialogue but it’s enough to still pack a punch, and it’s a shame that we didn’t see their dynamic more throughout the series.
It’s not clear in the series whether it’s actually true or whether it’s a conspiracy theory developed by Rabbi Bengelsdorf that trickled down to Evelyn as they try to liberate themselves from the FBI. The same premise exists in the novel however is left to more ambiguity in the series, almost using it as a plot device to suggest the uselessness of trying to share the truth in an era of fascist propaganda.
We also see the biggest confrontation between Alvin and Herman, which feels…unnecessary? Alvin has finally found a stable job and a fiancé and starting to enjoy the new life of stability, which upsets Herman to see that he isn’t visibly affected by all of the larger things going on. However, Alvin does make the point that he fought in the army specifically to protect the rights of Jewish Americans. They throw punches and shed blood, but for what reason? Maybe it’s to show their internal traumas from Lindbergh’s political decisions that they can’t take out on anyone except towards the ones closest to them.
The episode concludes with the First Lady making a speech on the radio as we see shots of shops and streets in Newark vandalized. She calls for a re-election and for government forces to act lawfully. We see the election roll out as Frank Sinatra’s “That’s America To Me” plays while voters get turned out and ballot boxes are burned. The Levins are back in their home as they tune into the radio to hear the election results. They announce “some conflicting results early on” as the episode ends – but we’re too familiar with these cycles to know that, even if Roosevelt wins, there’s still an uphill battle for America. —Andie Park
'Insecure' - "Lowkey Distant" (Season 4, Episode 2)
Where to Watch: HBO Now
In this season of Insecure, we’re all paying attention to the friendship between Issa and Molly. We’re keenly tuning in for hints or subtle digs that could possibly attribute to the relationship’s eventual fracture. This is the breakup season and we’re preparing ourselves for the pain (and possible growth) that’s ahead.
Molly and Andrew are still going out, a good sign considering that Molly was feeling weird about Andrew dating other people. But, at the end of the last episode, she secretly opens up and tells him about her serious feelings for him. So to see them working things out is a sigh of relief that Molly might finally get things going in the right direction.
Meanwhile, Condola and Issa continue their work partnership as they work on launching the block party. Things go well and the vibes are high but get a bit awkward when Condola hints at taking a weekend trip with Lawrence. But they quickly address the elephant in the room and handle it maturely. Whatever tension did exist immediately evaporates, which also concerns Lawrence who freaks out at the thought of his ex and his current girlfriend getting too close for comfort. The scene with him talking to Chad (also, very happy to see Chad back) is one of the funniest moments in the episode. He, too, handles the situation maturely and clearly tells Issa to keep things as separate as possible given the circumstances. The scene where they both talk on the phone and Lawrence says to just hang-up is a side of Lawrence that needs to be seen—a funnier, snappier version who exists on the show in his own right, and not simply as a love interest.
Inevitably, we do see Molly finding an issue with Andrew and his inability to open up, we’re right to feel a little skeptical about whether she’s “looking for an issue” or whether it’s legitimate. But she explains how he never tells her about the actual parts of his life—work, friends, family—and fears that it’ll just end up as another bitter hookup situation. The way that he walked out shows that she was onto something, even if everyone is telling her otherwise. The most hurtful comment came from Issa, who basically echoes Andrew’s sentiment that Molly is just looking for drama and unwilling to be happy, which ultimately makes Molly’s concerns feel illegitimate.
The episode’s final shot of Molly keeping to herself while she looks on at the view of the city is a bittersweet one. On one hand, we’re seeing Molly and Andrew patiently working through things and turn into something real. But, on the other, she no longer feels like she can confide in Issa in the way that she used to. And we see why—she was right to be concerned about Andrew not opening up and Issa’s response was dismissive masked under the tone of wanting Molly to just let things go and be happy. Yes, we’ve seen Molly be picky to the point of self-sabotage in the past but she also doesn’t need to lower her standards completely. The connection that existed for them in the past is starting to dim. —Andie Park
'Better Call Saul' - "Something Unforgiveable" (Season 5, Episode 10)
Where to Watch: AMC
It's been interesting seeing the responses to Better Call Saul's Season 5 finale. While everyone and their mother thought Kim Wexler was going to get 86'd, the Saul squad had another trick up their sleeves: Kim had a plan to get Jimmy to help her in sinking Howard Hamlin, once and for all. It's an intriguing schism, as it shows her getting to the next level of "breaking bad" in her own way. We've seen her dabble in the scam arts throughout the series, primarily as a rush and a way to get closer to Jimmy, but this might be the biggest scheme she's cooked up...and the homey Jimmy ain't really having it, although he namely has other, larger, deadlier fish to fry. Or avoid.
We may not have gotten the death we feel is coming but we don't want to see, but we did get Lalo, Terminator wreaking havoc on anyone who tested him in that house. He's got a feeling that something is off with how Saul acquired the $7 million, and he's right—the question is, how will Slippin' Jimmy get out of this one? And who will get taken out while he does it?
At the end of the day, the Season 5 finale might've underdelivered for those who swore Kim was gonna get got, but it surely set up the sixth (and final!) season's end game. Who the hell even knows how things will end up?! I know one thing: anyone sleeping has the rest of 2020 to figure out how to binge the series (note: it's on Netflix) and catch TF up. You're welcome. —khal
'Beastie Boys Story'
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
What do you do when you drop an amazing book and do an amazing live show about the four-decade friendship between three guys that birthed one of the most iconic bands of all time? Why you turn it into a "live documentary" like Beastie Boys Story, which finds surviving Beastie Boys members Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond taking it back (way back) into their history, highlighting how Adam Yauch assembled this motley crew and turned it into a force to be reckoned with. It's witty, it's heartfelt, and at times it can be very sad, but all-in-all, the documentary (which is directed by longtime friend and collaborator Spike Jonze) showcases all of the passion and love for each other and music that turned this goofy group of rowdy teens into the Beastie Boys. If you're a diehard, I hope you already watched; if you're a new jack, turn this on and learn something. —khal