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When actress Quincy Tyler Bernstine is mentioned, it may be hard to visualize her. She has worked in her craft since 2004. Bernstine is celebrated for her stage performances in Off-Broadway theatres in New York City, in which she won the Obie Award in 2019. She had roles in movies like Manchester by the Sea, Rachel Getting Married, and The Tender Bar. In addition, Bernstine played in the miniseries Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. Also, she had small roles in Starz hit series Power and Power: Book II. Picking her out of an acting lineup may be difficult, and unfortunately, she is not a “household name” – until now. As FBI agent Nora Washington in Hulu’s critically acclaimed series, Furious, Bernstine's performance is magnetic, bulldozing her into the spotlight of actors we must know.
Although the series has two other strong female leads, Bernstine’s performance stands out just a little bit more. She brings a unique quality to a role that viewers see routinely in a crime series. Subtle at times, in your face at other times, crass, and profane to keep others off-kilter. Bernstine turns what is expected on its head, like wearing a Hawaiian shirt and singing karaoke (badly), and is unapologetic to anyone who is listening, even though she is amid a hunt for a serial killer. From her facial expressions or just the way she delivers her lines, if it were music, it would be on the downbeat, not the upbeat. Forcing the audience into her rhythm and appreciation of the character's sculpting before their eyes.
Never mind that her character is an alcoholic who hides it, but truthfully does not care who finds out. Beat down by the organization that she spent years serving, Bernstine matter-of-factly displays her character. “What you see is what you get.” Giving hard-to-hear advice as a mentor to agent Alice Black, brilliantly played by Emmy Rossum. Dedicated but stuck in the reality of the system that she works for, she constantly displays her discontentment with a sarcastic attitude and cunning.
The interaction between Bernstine and Danny McCarthy, who plays ASAC Ed George, is uncomfortably funny yet has undercurrents of indignation. Brilliant, as she torments her former supervisor, who has conned his way to the top of the organization, showing his power or dominance by making comments that make her uncomfortable to emphasize that she did not get her job on her own merits. In turn, Nora would say things like “slap her on the titty for that” as a form of disciplinary action instead of “slapping her on the hand”. She goes from subordinate to superior as she tells her former supervisor, “I own you now,” Threatening to expose his corruption within the bureau.
This is not to downplay the performances of female counterparts, Lola Petticrew and Emmie Rossum. Petticrew’s portrayal of a serial killer is masterful. Dainty and unassuming, but she strikes viciously like a cobra. She makes the audience feel sorry for her and want her to get closure, but are horrified by the way she goes about it. Emmy Rossum is a consummate professional. She can make the viewer cry when she cries, laugh with her, and at her at the same time. Seducing the audience with her eyes, the queen of close-ups, she has outstanding expressions. There is absolute truth in her eyes.
In this must-see series, Furious, the camera cannot help but love Bernstine’s performance as Nora Washington. Even when her character is upstage, her facial expressions are unavoidable. Like an entertainment nuisance that cannot be avoided, Bernstine somehow steals the scene even when the focus is on someone else. Similar to a bloody knife on the floor in a murder scene or the naked dancers in the background of a downtown mafia sit-down, she demands attention without saying a word. Embracing or engulfing this character was no problem for Bernstein. During her runs in Off-Broadway plays, audiences loved her raw energy and her ability to adapt emotionally to any character and make complex characters relatable. She has been here for a while, but “Baby, you have arrived!”
SPOTLIGHT: Quincy Tyler Bernstine
Known for her role as Fiona Gallagher, Lip and Carl’s big sister in Shameless, she takes on a new role in Hulu’s Furious as FBI agent Alice Black. Far removed from the crazy schemes and shameless situations that caught audiences’ attention for nine seasons, she portrays a bit more subdued role. Not as overtly unapologetic as the storylines of Showtime's hit comedy, Furious takes the viewers on a journey of darkness and discovery. Its appeal is its offset pace – it builds up, then stops, stops again, then dangles the carrot in front of the viewers to unravel more. It’s like listening to jazz. The melodies and rhythms do not always have to be in sync, but what it produces is fluid, yet unpredictable.
Lola Petticrew portrays Catherine, a serial killer, being tracked by FBI agent Black. It seems she is out to right the wrong of past injustices. While Black tracks her prey, the more she learns, the more the lines between wrong and right blur. Choices must be made to achieve justice, but the choices that are made force Black to ask what justice actually means.
Furious is an edgy thriller that will have viewers hooked after the first episode. Petticrew portrays Catherine as meek and tiny, but innocent and timid; she is not. She is fiercely authentic, reminiscent of La Femme Nikita. Rossum’s character has baggage of her own. Damaged, certainly, but drives her as a former detective, now an FBI agent. She has chinks, or kinks, maybe a better terminology, in her armor. Fascinating and gripping, Furious will certainly draw you in.
FIRST LOOK: Furious - Hulu
After six years, one of the best serial dramas to appear on television screens for millions of viewers came to an end in December 2024. Much to the fans’ dismay, after five seasons, the award-winning series Yellowstone officially ended. But as fans came to appreciate, the Duttons were survivalists. Now, two years later, Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser reprise their roles as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler in a new series -- The Dutton Ranch. People say that when that hot burning flame is extinguished, it is hard to recapture. In comparison, it is certainly not Yellowstone, but with new characters and the addition of two acting legends, the nine-part Paramount+ series captures the feeling and nostalgia Taylor Sheridan masterfully created, which forced fans to tune in Sunday nights at 8 pm.
After leaving Yellowstone, Rip and Beth purchase 7,000 acres outside of Dillon, Montana. Unfortunately, all their land is destroyed by wildfire caused by a lightning strike. The cost of rebuilding in Montana was too much, so they decided to buy property in Paloma, Texas. But lightning strikes again when a sick cow they bought at an auction infects their cattle, forcing them to destroy the herd. They come up with a plan to work for the competition to learn as much as they can, but it puts everything in jeopardy, including their most cherished asset – their family.
Rip and Beth headline the show. To put it more distinctly, they are the show. The strong bond of deep comprehension and trusting one another is the heart and soul of the show. Beth showing up for Rip in those rare but cultivated tender moments, and Rip showing up for Beth in those not-so-tender moments when some “head needs to roll” as her protector, continues their relationship from Yellowstone. And just like in season 2, “Resurrection Day”, their bond is unmatched in any circumstance.
Annette Benning brings her versatility to adapt to any role as Beulah, the ranch matriarch of the 10 Petal ranch. At the same time, Ed Harris delivers his grit and subtlety as Everett, a Navy Vietnam Veteran and the town’s veterinarian. They are strong complements to Beth and Rip as complex characters with a multitude of layers to unfold. Beulah and Everett have an entangled bond spanning over decades that started as teenagers but never could come completely to fruition because of circumstances that were not completely within their control.
The relationship between Carter (Fin Little), Beth and Rip’s adopted son, and Benning’s granddaughter, Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind), has promise. This must have been the way Beth and Rip’s romance started when they were teenagers. Oreana is just as fierce and free as Beth, rebellious “to a tee”, and Carter tries to find his way in the life of a cowboy (but really a ranch hand). His sense of loss and not belonging is hard for him to overcome, but he has a tender heart and is loyal to a fault.
The Dutton Ranch captures familiar themes of survival, resilience, and rebuilding love and relationships that fans came to love in its predecessor, Yellowstone; instead of a cast consisting of Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, and Jefferson White, The Dutton Ranch stars Reilly, Hauser, Harris, and Benning. The main cast is formidable, if not better. The other cast members need a bit of seasoning to increase the show's dynamic, but certainly time will be its problem solver. With its incredible writing and storylines, the show has long-term potential. Like Yellowstone, The Dutton Ranch relies on stunning cinematography and authentic western appeal, encompassing hard-hitting ranching and cowboy culture. Lastly, the sensationalism keeps audiences wanting more.
The Dutton Ranch - Paramount +
Spider-Noir - Amazon Prime
Nicolas Cage as the superhero Spider-man? Unrealistic? But does Superman Lives starring Cage ring a bell? No? That is because although he was cast in the Warner Brothers film in 1996, the movie never came to fruition. But he did grace the screen in a cameo as the character in the 2023 film, Flash. Somebody somewhere must believe in his vision as a superhero. And in Spider-Noir, Cage plays not a freelance photographer for The Daily Bugle, but a greymuzzle gumshoe in the surprising Prime Video hit. This breakout series is not only masterfully crafted, but Cage’s performance is a perfect fit.
It is a different take on the graphic novel. So, take heed. Cage plays Ben Reilly, a private investigator, who, after a personal tragedy, sets the Spidey suit aside. Cantankerous drinker only cares for himself; he is forced back into the suit because he cannot continue to rest while the innocent in New York suffers. And his infatuation with a lounge singer, Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), under a Megalomaniac’s thumb, melts even the hardest of hearts. Slivermane (Brandon Gleeson) and his band of supermen with powers like The Spider to take over the city in a quest for total dominance.
The origin of Cage’s character changes the arc of Spider-Man or “The Spider.” Unfamiliarity with this version of the web-slinging superhero makes him more intriguing and unpredictable. He is not in a red-and-blue suit, but rather dressed in black with a trench coat and hat. Yes, but remember, it is the 1930s, and The Spider is “fly.”
Great acting by Cage, Morris, and Karen Rodriguez, who plays his secretary, Janet Ruiz. The setting is dark, reminiscent of Sin City. It is a throwback to the “dirty thirties.” It is an older Spider-Man whose skills have deteriorated, and now his web-slinging resembles William Katt's in The Greatest American Hero. (If you do not have any idea of who or what this is, then this version of Spider-Man may not be for you.)
Spider-Noir has the feel of a vintage 1930s Dick Tracy serial. An array of characters that the audience can immerse themselves in. Phenomenal acting with a fresh new take on a character we have loved for over 60 years. It is not another exploitation of a parallel universe. Spider-Noir is binge-worthy.
I Will Find You - Netflix
Who doesn’t love snuggling with a favorite blanket and significant other, or alone with a beloved pet? Lights dimmed, you grab the remote and get ready to watch a favorite show’s new season or an anticipated new show. Binge-watching became popular in 2013, primarily due to Netflix's success in creating series that kept audiences engaged. To the point that they would watch an eight- or ten-part series in a day. With average run time of eight hours, shows like Stranger Things, Wednesday, Adolescence, and Bridgerton have made Netflix a must-watch streaming service. A true dive into the abyss of binging, not coming up for air (just to eat, drink, use the bathroom, and shower, which is optional) until viewing is finished. Their largest digital series of 2026 (to date), I Will Find You, is on par with the above-mentioned.
I Will Find You has a star-studded lineup featuring Sam Worthington (Avatar), Britt Lower (Severance), Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us), and Logan Browning (Dear White People), just to name a few. Worthington plays a father who is convicted of murdering his son. But it seems that his son may be alive. Lower plays his sister-in-law, who comes to his defense. Pulling this thread of intrigue unravels the deception and lies, revealing the ties that affect everyone involved.
The series is reminiscent of network television, Fox’s Prison Break or 24. It has breaks between scenes that usually indicate a commercial break follows. It is not necessarily a bad thing; it is just different. The feeling is not that of a Netflix-produced series. It weaves in and out of storylines, building momentum after each episode, keeping the viewer guessing to the end. The problem solved in one episode leads to a different problem in the next. Scratching through answers formulated by hypothesis when the realization of being constantly wrong is evident.
The pace is steady, full of action and intrigue. Smartly done, it keeps the viewer hooked until the end — perhaps with too many hooks. In the end, as situations are resolved and answers are found, a straighter path would have been better, with fewer twists and turns. Some circumstances felt included for their own sake rather than to serve the main story.
The Boroughs - Netflix
What if you could go back in time and still be as adventurous as you were 40 years ago? A wide-eyed prepubescent, the adolescent feeling is just that—a feeling captured in your Generation X body. Its exploits may be fun, but they might kill you in the end. In the comedy/sci-fi Netflix series The Boroughs, a misfit band of five senior citizens proves that agism in both cinema and episodic television is prevalent, and it is certainly relevant in this funny, action-packed sci-fi series.
In The Boroughs, a group of retirees lives in a community that, on the surface, appears to be the perfect place: serene, beautiful homes, great food, and staff that seem to care. But it is in the middle of nowhere in the New Mexico desert, alien territory. It’s a place where the fountain of youth has been found through an extraterrestrial being whom they call mother. Using the resident’s brain fluid to stay forever young, a dedicated group of the elderly is The Borough's only hope.
The 8-part series stars Alfred Modina (Spider-Man 2), Alfre Woodard, and Gena Davis (The Long Kiss Good Night). The series is funny but intelligent enough to avoid becoming goofy or campy. It captures the feeling of Steven Spielberg’s classic, The Goonies, if they were grandparents instead of kids. Each adventurer has a distinct role in the expedition. Modina’s engineer is the smart one, and his grief over his recently deceased wife makes him a bit antisocial. Alfre Woodwood is the extrovert who will do anything to solve the problem, partly seeking revenge for the death of her lover. Then there is her enlightened cannabis chemist husband, Clarke (Art Daniels), who searches for meaning each morning, looking for adventure in the desert. Lastly, Renee (Davis) is the badass of the group. When courage is needed, she gives the group Popeye-like strength.
No, there is no hidden treasure at the end, but there are plenty of tunnels and caves, and things that will kill you, and a vast desert littered with other oddities to be concerned with. The Boroughs definitely induce binge-watching. All episodes are about 45–50 minutes long. Easy night of watching. Gather your treats, make sure you are hydrated, and enjoy. It is definitely a Netflix-and-take-it-easy night.
Earth Abides -MGM+
After watching the seasoning ending of the psychological suspense horror series From, I discovered another jewel from MGM+ that television series watchers may not have had a chance to check out. The sci-fi drama series is Earth Abides, a series that creates a paradoxical conundrum. I was pleasantly surprised and disappointed at the same time due to the finality of it all. But maybe this is the future of episodic television. A limited series with finality after the six, eight, or ten episodes; no cliffhanger for the following season because there is not one. Maybe it is for the best, then we can get on with our lives without wondering or anticipating when the series will come back the following year or two years from the last episode. Let’s explore.
Earth Abides star Alexander Ludwig (Cato from the Hunger Games), Jessica Frances Dukes (special agent Maya Miller from Ozark), and Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll. After Earth has succumbed to a mysterious virus, Ish (Ludwig) wakes up to a world of desolation and isolation. Trying to find any resemblance of humanity, he meets Emma (Dukes), a woman who has lost a great deal, but somehow, they form a relationship that gives humanity hope. Still, as the title implies, the Earth will tolerate and remain stable or fixed.
Although this series is filled with tension, it is not your typical Apocalyptic series with dead zombies trying to consume everyone they encounter. It strives to deal with the drama or reality of starting over, not knowing where to begin, who to trust, or the uncertainties of the future. Unfortunately, it is only six episodes and could have been a series of many seasons. Truthfully, each episode could have been made into a six-series season. Because of this, although intriguing, the storylines felt rushed, leaving out details that could have enhanced the series, getting viewers more involved in its characters and content.
But on the flip side, is there something refreshing and rewarding about knowing that the series is over at the end of the season? Viewers do not have to be disappointed by one season not living up to the next, characters being killed off, or actors leaving the series due to boredom of playing the same roles after several years. Or new writers that change the essence of the series. Do not get me wrong, I like several seasons, not just one, but somewhere in the back of my mind, deep into my streaming essences of subconsciousness, it was kind of fulfilling knowing that I did not have to worry about the next season. But what if the series was not enjoyable or had an insufficient or fragmentary finale? What then?