What a time to be a sci-fi nerd. But it’s an even better time, maybe, to be Hanelle M. Culpepper, the director who holds the distinction of being the only filmmaker (yet) to have worked across both the “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” TV franchises.
Matlock Season 2, Episode 14, “Day One,” addresses the catbird (for the lack of an elephant) in the room as a new phase of healing begins for Matty and Edwin. This episode, written by Jenny Raftery & Katie Wech and directed by Hanelle Culpepper, has wall-to-wall legal action and revelatory emotional depth.
“Exodus” is an unmissable episode of television, showcasing the medium at its most ambitious and unforgettable. A year’s wait for the final season feels long, but given how Paradise has grown from its first to its second season, it is more than worth it. From its relentless twists to its extraordinary performances, Season 2 cements Paradise as one of the most thrilling, intelligent, and emotionally resonant shows on television today.
The Final Countdown is a triumph, ending on a cliffhanger that will leave viewers thinking of little else in the week that follows. If any episode deserves an awards push, this is it.
For a show with so much machismo energy, NCIS: Origins does a fantastic job of balancing it with sincere displays of emotion.
“That was the hardest secret to keep all this time, because everyone wants to know stuff,” Culpepper laughed. “I was so excited that I got to work with Yoda, but I was not able to say anything. Once that scene finally aired — literally once the credits rolled — I was like, ‘Finally, I can post now!’”
Director Hanelle M. Culpepper is particularly deserving of praise, whose episodes titled “Teach/Corrupt” and “The Acolyte” are the standouts of the series. These episodes not only have the best direction by far, but highlight the performances of the actors.
Visually, Hanelle M. Culpepper’s direction is stupendous. “Teach/Corrupt” is a more methodically paced episode of The Acolyte, and Culpepper turns this into a strength.