THE PERFORMER | Alan Cumming
THE SHOW | Peacock’s The Traitors
THE EPISODE | “The Grand Finale” (Jan. 12, 2023)
THE PERFORMANCE | It’s a rarity that we’re honoring a actuality TV host as this week’s high performer, however then once more, most actuality hosts aren’t the fabulous Cumming.
In Peacock’s new competitors collection, the actor took on a stunning persona as he lead the gamers by a treacherous sport of lies and deceit. Cumming served up his greatest “homicide thriller ceremonial dinner host,” a personality that was equal elements unbothered spectator and cheeky commentator. His laissez-faire angle and witty one-liners had been the whipped topping and cherry positioned upon his performative sundae, as he transcended mere internet hosting duties. Make no mistake: He got here to entertain.
Within the excessive stakes finale, the actor put his West Finish and Broadway expertise to work, including heaps of aptitude and delicate comedic timing to his function. Donned within the snazziest of Scottish style — which included conventional kilts, berets and extra — Cumming puppet-mastered the sport’s last roundtable and ceremonies like a modern-day Willy Wonka. Each line he uttered (Julius Caesar, anybody?) and gesture he proffered was over-the-top, welcoming camp and theatrics at each flip. From monologues delivered tongue absolutely in cheek to setting the stage for the sport’s last, fire-lit eliminations, the actor turned heel from melodramatic thrives to a gravely critical demeanor. In spite of everything, in the long run, a quarter-million-dollar giveaway was no laughing matter to the present’s contestants.
The collection may’ve employed anybody to emcee this Traitor-ous affair, however using an actor of Cumming’s caliber was a daring alternative that paid off in spades. Not solely did he seemingly have a blast galavanting across the Nineteenth-century citadel that was his stage, however his power was each riveting and contagious. And we definitely couldn’t say that about simply any TV host.
HONORABLE MENTION | In simply roughly half an hour of display time in The Final of Us’ premiere, Nico Parker totally captured our hearts… after which broke them into smithereens. The younger actress has admitted to feeling the stress of expectation whereas filming her a part of the HBO collection, which is comprehensible: Sarah, Joel’s doomed daughter, is beloved amongst those that’ve performed the online game on which the present is predicated. However Parker needn’t have anxious. Within the house of some scenes, she simply established Sarah as a sunny, self-reliant teen who deeply cherished her dad. And when Outbreak Day hit, her wide-eyed stare and haltingly delivered dialogue made clear the character’s mounting concern and horror at every little thing that was unfolding (and exploding!) round her. By the point she clutched at co-star Pedro Pascal’s shirt, crying and howling in ache from Sarah’s deadly wound, it grew to become official: Parker is a star within the making.
HONORABLE MENTION | It seems like a lifetime in the past that Dr. Randolph Bell was The Resident‘s cocky, intimidating Massive Dangerous — and but, within the succesful fingers of Bruce Greenwood, this now-compassionate, tender model of the character stays each bit as compelling as he was throughout these villainous days. Throughout Tuesday’s (collection?) finale, Greenwood confirmed us fairly a number of completely different Bells: a distraught grandfather, terrified that his younger granddaughter’s most cancers had returned; a no-nonsense surgeon, livid to be taught {that a} colleague has been working whereas on medicine; and a cautiously optimistic a number of sclerosis affected person, pressured to ponder the following stage of life with a continual sickness. Greenwood switched emotional gears with ease, permitting us to marvel as soon as extra at how far Bell has come, and the way superbly Greenwood has portrayed his redemption.
HONORABLE MENTION | Right here’s the factor about Brian Dietzen and Katrina Legislation‘s big scene on NCIS: All of us knew the place it was going. An earlier trade had made clear that Jimmy was quietly fighting having Jess share a film night time with him and his daughter. And but Dietzen and Legislation — who’ve imbued this relationship with a lot sweetness and sincerity — took that rote materials and elevated it, made it achingly actual. Jess is so robust that when Legislation’s chin begins to quiver whereas broaching the “final bridge” widower Jimmy should cross, the one that may “harm essentially the most,” you knew performing magic was coming. Dietzen in flip did a lot with Jimmy’s reactions, and perhaps had you pondering he’d preserve an excellent sport face. However when Jimmy spoke, Dietzen’s voice breaking as he nodded “it’s simply so exhausting,” all bets had been off. And all the tears got here.
Which efficiency(s) knocked your socks off this week? Inform us in Feedback!
