TV Shows To Watch This Weekend: 'The Curse,' 'Pact of Silence' and 'Everyone Else Burns'

We live in a day and age of television where you can get some of your favorite themes packaged in so many different ways. You can find a dramedy like Succession that has humor that beats out many sitcoms, or a show like The Bear which, if you had to pick, would likely be considered a comedy but with serious layers.

It’s best to know, however, what a show is like prior to viewing it considering genre tags may not be enough to give you a full scope of what something excels at. That’s where we can step in to help.

On LAist 89.3’s AirTalk, we're joined by television critics each week to give you a rundown of shows that are fresh out of the oven. I’ll also give you some added insight into shows we’ve talked about.

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This week, AirTalk’s Larry Mantle talked about the latest on television and streaming with Danette Chavez, editor-in-chief at Primetimer, and TV critic for the New Yorker, Inkoo Kang.

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Today’s shows include:

• The Curse (Showtime & Paramount+)
• For All Mankind [Season 4] (Apple TV+)
• Fellow Travelers (Showtime & Paramount+)
• Pact of Silence (Netflix)
• Everyone Else Burns (CW & CW App)
• Colin From Accounts (Paramount+)

The Curse

Streaming on Paramount+ and airing on Showtime

First Impression: A newlywed couple moves to Española, New Mexico to pursue a passion for bettering their community through a home-flipping show. In the process, the couple’s love is tested as the TV producer they work with further complicates their life’s work.

Lasting Impression: I think what makes the show interesting is how it has Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder playing characters straight in the same way any reality TV folks would. In some ways, you think their naivety can be endearing, particularly since both have great comedic timing.

The social commentary that Safdie’s character brings to the fold will also have folks thinking a lot more about how reality television production can work.

Who's behind it: The show’s creators are Benny Safdie and Nathan Fielder. Most folks might know Safdie from his filmmaking credits on Uncut Gems and Good Time, but in the last year or so he’s taken a step into acting with this show and other projects (i.e. Oppenheimer and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret). Fielder’s most well-known project comes through the TV program Nathan For You, shot all over Los Angeles County, and his recent hit for HBO The Rehearsal.

When and where: Episode 1 is now streaming on Paramount+, it’ll air on Showtime on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 10 p.m.

Pact of Silence

Streaming on Netflix

First Impression: A woman, abandoned as a baby, seeks revenge on her biological mother and their friends. She schemes her way into their lives, attempting to befriend them and find the answer as to why they ditched her.

Lasting Impression: This show is a telenovela that shares a lot of the elements children of Latino descent may have seen growing up, although it's a bit different than what you would’ve watched with your mom. Pact of Silence employs more modern-day cinematography and editing tactics.

The biggest thing that puts me off is how overly-played telenovela tropes are. There’s always a set of characters meant to be antagonists that the show feels the need to make unequivocally bad. That said, it's still quite entertaining and humorous too.

Who's behind it: The show’s creator is José Vicente Spataro, whose previous work has been in telenovelas with writing credits on Relaciones Peligrosas and Minas de pasión.

When and where: All 18 episodes are now streaming on Netflix.

Everyone Else Burns

Streaming on the CW App

First impression: A family that's part of a puritanical Christian church is preparing for the end of the world to arrive and save themselves from damnation. As the show progresses, you begin to see more discontent and dysfunction within the family.

Lasting Impression: This show is such a breath of fresh air, not only because of its witty comedy, but with how it plays with its subject matter, and it gets into the “my way or highway” aspect of religion. It isn’t as flashy as Max's The Righteous Gemstones, but I would broadly group them together as worthwhile comedies whose premise is a critique of this idea, although Everyone Else Burns is definitely staying true to deadpan humor you’ll find in British comedies.

Who's behind it: The show’s creators are Dillon Mapletoft and Oliver Taylor.

When and where: Episodes 1-3 are now available on the CW App