Entertainment Roundup: Killer Reinventions and High-Stakes Sci-Fi Returns
A New Chapter for Joe Goldberg
Part one of the hit thriller is officially streaming, and the man we used to know as Joe Goldberg has skipped town. He traded Madre Linda for a quiet life across the pond, reinventing himself as Jonathan Moore, an English professor in London. The notoriously well-read sociopath is hitting the reset button. He is absolutely determined to avoid matters of the heart this time around—whether that means stealing them or stopping them from beating.
Penn Badgley insists his character isn’t just playing dress-up. According to the actor, Joe is choosing to hide in plain sight, carving out a quiet, honest existence in a corner of the world where nobody knows his name. Showrunner Sera Gamble backs this up. She notes that Joe isn’t hunting for love or willing to bulldoze anyone who gets in his way right now. He is carrying a lot of heartbreak and loss, finally realizing the weight of his past actions, and genuinely trying to turn over a new leaf.
But can a guy like Joe actually be “better”? The premiere definitely makes you wonder. We meet a fresh batch of ultra-rich elites, including Lady Phoebe, a well-meaning socialite who casually serves Joe absinthe before bothering to explain what it is. Then there’s Adam, her walking red flag of a boyfriend. We also get introduced to Rhys, an author and prominent public figure who happens to be one of the rare new faces Joe actually tolerates.
Historically, Joe would have a field day making sure these one-percenters met gruesome ends. Gamble points out that in past seasons, fans got a dark thrill out of watching privileged jerks get their comeuppance. This time around, the writers flipped the script. Now, Joe is forced to protect these people instead of giving in to his usual killer instincts.
Take his entry into the exclusive Sundry House, for instance. He only gets through the door because he rescues his coworker Malcolm’s girlfriend, Kate, from a mugging. Honestly, it’s the least he could do after creeping on her from a distance while she pleasured herself. It’s a clever nod to Joe’s old voyeuristic habits outside Beck’s window back in the first season. Naturally, Joe and Kate end up spending a lot more time together as the story unfolds, and the onscreen chemistry is undeniable. Gamble describes their dynamic as classic “enemies to lovers,” a trope she’s thrilled to explore since it is entirely fresh territory for the show.
Interstellar Corporate Drama Heats Up
While Joe navigates London’s elite, the critically acclaimed sci-fi series The Expanse is also making a massive comeback, continuing its free-TV run on Tele 5 with fresh interstellar drama.
The previous finale was packed with tension and emotion, leaving fans eagerly waiting for the story to continue. The new episodes pick up exactly where things left off. A massive economic clash and fierce resource competition between the Belters, Earth, and Mars is imminent, promising serious financial shake-ups across the galaxy. As the stakes get higher, the show is bringing in some heavy hitters to complicate the corporate dynamics.
Anna Hopkins steps into the role of Monica, a sharp and deeply charming journalist. She has a real knack for getting people to drop their guard and spill their most valuable secrets. She shows up midway through the current run, hired to carefully document how Holden runs things aboard the Rocinante.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Mitchell joins the cast to offer a totally new spiritual perspective to the crew’s ongoing journey. David Strathairn is also stepping into a major role, bringing a highly significant and complex character arc to the table. Rounding out the new additions is Nadine Nicole, who plays a seemingly modest electromechanic on another ship. She is brilliant and fiercely driven, but there is a major catch. She operates with a hidden agenda and is clearly fueled by a dark, closely guarded secret.
