Topic Brings the Finale to THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on the streaming service Topic from writer/director Arian Moayed are the last four episodes of the amazing series THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF.

Katie (Kelli O’Hara) is still in search of the woman named Tala. The woman who called begging for help sending Katie on a whirlwind of family drama, people chasing her and ending up in dark places. Husband Brad (Mike Doyle) is making her personal life difficult and now, he has told everyone that Katie has been kidnapped.

Katie’s mom Nancy (Judith Ivey) is keeping granddaughter Mary safe as she waits with anxiety to find out where her own daughter is. What they all do not know is that Katie is with T (Marsha Blake) and they are getting help from the most unlikely person. They are still running and exhausted but they are so close to the answers.

The story unfolds and begins to piece together how Katie became involved, what T’s role in all of this is, who is helping her find answers and, most of all, will Tala ever be found?

O’Hara as Katie is on the run with T but with each step she takes, the answers slowly start to come. The change in this character from season one to season three is a woman who no longer allows people to dictate to her, that includes her husband and father-in-law. Both of these men want to use the situation to their political advantage instead of believing that Katie has pure motives to now help T and still find Tala. I have enjoyed watching O’Hara take her character and give her everything strong and empowered.

Blake as T might not have been able to talk but her emotions are very clear. From a bit of fear to standing up for Katie, there was no mistaking her own strength in wanting to bring to the attention of the world what has happened not only to her, but other women as well.

Ivey as Nancy is another female character that starts off with a mass number of insecurities and anger, but when Katie is being lied about and used, Mama bear comes out fighting. I love when she takes on Brad and his father because that’s exactly what I would do.

Doyle as husband Brad is about to discover that the wife he once had is gone. Trying to control the situation, he soon discovers he is in control of nothing. Doyle gives his character narcissism that is brought on by the way he was raised because, like father like son.

Other cast includes Bisserate Tseggai, Michael Chernus, Hend Ayoub, Aasif Mandvi, Zainab Jah, Joe Mantello, Frank Wood, Paul Sparks, Judith Light, James Naughton and Sahr Ngaujah.

Season 3 includes the episodes Found, Hand in Hand, Future of Angels and The Last Gate.

Topic is the boundary-pushing streaming service for thrillers, mysteries, dramas and documentaries from around the world, serving viewers who crave entertainment beyond the mainstream. Whether it’s a Nordic-noir crime thriller (The Killing), a back-stabbing, an Italian political drama (The Miracle), or a mind-blowing supernatural mystery from Russia (Dead Mountain), Topic expands your view of the world. For more of what Topic has to offer please visit www.topic.com.

Executive producer Damon Owlia says of the series, “In all its versions, THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF has been rendered with empathy, gratitude, and a belief that there’s a way to keep building deepening this story. Season 3 continues in this tradition through the generosity and resilience of a special community of artists. Central to all of this happening is Arian’s preternatural ability as a storyteller to allow human beings to feel seen, heard and understood.”

The wrap up of THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF is so good on many levels. Not only does it tell the story we didn’t know from the beginning, but it allows us to see Katie finally proves to everyone that there was a call for help and that more than just Talla needed that help. So many reached out along the way because they believed she could help.

Katie is a character that starts out very insecure and believing she was not good enough for her own husband let alone be a good mother. Brad continually pushed those beliefs on Katie, she could never have imagined that one phone call would change her life in such a drastic way.

Best of all, this story is wrapped up in a way that is full of twists that I just loved. THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF is truly a series worth binging now that they are all available on Topic. Follow Katie and T on the journey to answers and especially the question of who is Talla?

In the end – she is the accidental wolf!

I’M YOUR WOMAN

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Amazon Prime Video from writer/director Julia Hart and Jordan Horowitz comes the story of when you discover life has been a lie with I’M YOUR WOMAN.

Jean (Rachel Brosnahan) is a housewife living in the 1970’s suburb trying to keep herself occupied. That is until husband Eddie (Bill Heck) brings home a bundle of joy named Harry and Jean finds someone to think of more than herself while Eddie keeps busy with business. That is until one day when a friend barges into the house and tells Jean she must pack a quick bag and leave.

Outside waiting is Cal (Arinze Kene) who quickly takes Jean and Harry away and, on their trip, she is told to contact no one and make friends with no one. She learns that Eddie has done something bad, but Cal will not tell her any more details. All she knows is that he is gone, and people want to hurt her and the baby.

Settling in a safe house, Jean tries to settle in a little taking care of Harry and trying to cook eggs while waiting for Eddie or Cal. When she hears a knock at the door, it is an elderly woman named Evelyn (Marceline Hugot) who feels the need to help Jean. Feeling a bit more comfortable is short lived when Jean hears someone in the house. Making a call and running to Evelyn’s, she realizes that they have been found.

Cal takes them to a far-off cabin that no one would think to look for. No phones and no other contact, Jean tries again to settle into cabin life. She is shocked when Teri (Marsha Blake), Art (Frankie Faison) and young Paul (De’Mauri Parks) arrive. They too are on the run and became separated from Cal.

Jean begins to feel glad she has some company but both she and Teri are anxious when Cal does not show up. Sharing their stories, both women decide they are going back to find him. Teri turns to Mike (James McMenamin) for help and it soon turns out that everyone is in on finding Eddie. That means they are turning to everyone who knew him and if they do not talk – they die.

As Jean learns more about her husband, the stronger she becomes knowing that Harry needs his mother and not to live with the Eddie’s lies and all she believed to be true.

Brosnahan as Jean is a young woman with lots of time on her hands and a husband who takes care of her. So much so that when Harry comes into her life, Jean begins to change her own thinking of what is important. Once she is on the run, not a minute goes by that she does not learn something new about the man she is married to. Brosnahan gives her character a believable naivete that makes one feel sorry for her but at the same time her strength of character grows frame by frame.

Kene as Cal just shows up, says little but lets Jean know that this is no game. There are people who have no problem taking her and Harry’s life because of Eddie. Kene gives us a reserve that feels loaded with information and as it comes out in pieces, we know that he is going to do what ever it takes to take care of Jean and her son. Whether out of care or loyalty, it does not matter because Kene gives it his all and it pays off.

Blake as Teri is like Jean in many respects although a lot wiser in the ways of what is happening to them both. She knows how it works and tries to share with Jean what she can without giving to much away, just in case. Blake gives us the eyes of someone jaded in the life she keeps trying to run away from for the sake of her own young son.

Heck as Eddie has a short role but the impact of it reverberates through the entire film. Hugot as Evelyn is a sweet neighbor who wants to help, stay home with your lasagna next time Evelyn! Faison as Art knows that Jean isn’t savvy in the ways of the real world and tries to give her a push or two toward what can help her even if it’s even more dangerous.

Shout out to McMenamin as Mike, I mean with enemies like this who needs…wait…what?

Other cast include: James as Justin Charles as Harry and Jarrod DiGiorgi as Jimmy.

Amazon Prime offers television shows and original content included in its Amazon Prime subscription. Original programs such as CARNIVAL ROW, THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL are hit shows. Coming soon is the next series with GOLIATH starring Billy Bob Thornton and it promises to another successful and intense series.

I’M YOUR WOMAN is actually a tale of twists, turns, action, emotion and I love it! This is not a fast-paced film which I am fine with because with every bomb that is dropped, I kind of need a minute to absorb the exquisite madness of it all. Having it set in the 70’s, the music, cars, costuming is all just a colorful illusion to the underworld that Jean had no idea about.

Step by step she is brought in deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole and if her life was not in danger to begin with, it is almost worthless to those looking for Eddie now. The growth of Jean is stunning and fantastic at the same time. Brosnahan takes us on the ride of her life – literally!

In the end – she is going to stop running!