Cristin Milioti is enjoying a significant moment in her acting career. Currently, she stars in the highly anticipated Max neo-noir thriller The Penguin, alongside Colin Farrell. The show is a continuation of the acclaimed DC Comics film The Batman, and Milioti’s performance has captured much attention.
In the show, she portrays Sofia Falcone, the dangerous daughter of former mob boss Carmine Falcone. Her character’s secret alias, The Hangman, places her in a notorious comic book role, making her the standout performer in the series.
Before The Penguin, Milioti had already established herself in television, taking on various prominent roles. Her first big break came when she appeared in David Chase’s hit series The Sopranos. However, many fans recognize her most from her memorable role as the mother in How I Met Your Mother.
Besides that, she played significant parts in Fargo Season 2 and HBO Max’s Made for Love, though the latter was unfortunately short-lived. Despite these successes, Milioti’s most underrated performance comes from her role in Peacock’s time-traveling mystery series The Resort.
In The Resort, Milioti plays Emma Reed, a woman struggling with emotional pain. Emma, along with her husband Noah (played by William Jackson Harper), goes on vacation to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. The couple’s relationship is strained, but during their trip to the Mayan Riviera, they unexpectedly find themselves drawn back together.
After crashing a dirt bike, Emma stumbles upon an old Razor phone in the jungle. This discovery leads Emma and Noah on a quest to solve the mystery of a college student, Sam (Skyler Gisondo), who went missing 15 years ago during a hurricane, along with another girl, Violet (Nina Bloomgarden). Their investigation forms the heart of the show as they uncover deeper secrets surrounding the disappearance.
The show cleverly weaves together different timelines. It frequently jumps back to 2007, providing flashbacks of Sam and Violet’s vacation in the days leading up to the hurricane and their disappearance. These flashbacks also introduce Nick Offerman as Murray Thompson, Violet’s father and a vulnerable widower, adding emotional depth to the story.
The flashbacks continue to reveal more pieces of the puzzle, including the unstable former resort owner (played by Ben Sinclair), and Baltasar Frías (Luis Gerardo Méndez), a former resort employee turned detective who helps Emma and Noah in the present-day investigation.
Still from the movie (Peacock)
Cristin Milioti’s portrayal of Emma is one of the show’s strongest aspects. In The Resort, Emma battles her own grief while becoming an amateur detective during the couple’s vacation. Her character is driven by a deep need to find the missing kids, but this search also helps her confront her own inner turmoil. The show mixes genres, blending mystery, romance, drama, and even screwball comedy.
Milioti shines as a versatile actress, balancing humor, action, and emotional complexity. In one of the show’s standout scenes, she rides a dirt bike through the jungle while hungover crawls through narrow tunnels, and gets involved in physical stunts, showcasing her comedic talents and dedication to the role.
The series also offers many lighthearted moments. Milioti’s character and Noah engage in detective work that often parodies the noir genre. In one particularly funny scene, they chase down leads while drinking tequila and eating tacos during their stakeouts. These comedic moments give the series a unique charm, but beneath the humor lies a deeper message about pain and loss.
As Emma and Noah go deeper into the mystery of the missing children, Emma’s story becomes more than just a quest for answers. It becomes clear that her obsession with the case reflects her struggle with grief. Throughout the series, Emma grapples with the emotional pain of a miscarriage she experienced in the past, which is symbolized by a persistent toothache she refuses to address.
This toothache serves as a metaphor for the pain she has been avoiding, and in a pivotal moment, she pulls out the tooth in a brutal and darkly comedic scene in the jungle. This act symbolizes her need to confront her grief head-on and marks a turning point for her character.
Milioti’s portrayal of Emma’s emotional journey is both raw and powerful. Her performance stands out as one of the best in the series, as she brings vulnerability, strength, and humor to the role. The physicality of her acting is particularly notable; from quietly staring into a pool to sprinting through the jungle with raw emotion, she uses her entire body to convey the weight of her grief.
Emma’s pain remains a constant presence throughout the show, even after she physically removes the tooth. It becomes clear that her journey is not just about finding the missing children but also about coming to terms with her own emotional scars.
The Resort goes beyond being a typical mystery series. It incorporates philosophical themes and uses time travel as a metaphor for grief and the danger of living in the past. The series begins with a thought-provoking quote: “The pursuit to capture your past is a waste of time. The past lives in the past and is therefore non-existent in the present. Time travel has not been invented.”
This quote sets the tone for the entire show, emphasizing how holding onto painful memories can prevent people from moving forward in life. Violet and Sam’s disappearance becomes a symbol of how people can lose themselves by becoming too focused on the past.
While The Resort includes elements of time travel, it is less about the sci-fi mechanics and more about how the past shapes people’s present. Emma’s relentless pursuit of answers reflects her struggle to let go of the pain she has been carrying.
As she digs deeper into the mystery, she begins to heal, not just by finding the missing children but by coming to terms with her own loss. The show highlights how the process of grief is not something that can be easily fixed or forgotten, but rather, it is something that stays with people and shapes who they become.
Still from the movie (Peacock)
As the series progresses, it also deals with the complexity of Emma and Noah’s marriage. While their relationship is strained at the beginning, their shared investigation into the disappearance brings them closer. Through their adventure, they begin to reconnect, and Emma’s emotional walls start to come down. Milioti’s performance is layered, showing how Emma’s personal growth ties into her healing and the rekindling of her bond with Noah.
The show’s other characters also contribute to its emotional depth. Nick Offerman gives one of his most vulnerable performances as Violet’s grieving father, and Luis Gerardo Méndez adds a touch of humor and intrigue as Baltasar, who helps guide Emma and Noah on their journey. Each character has their own connection to the theme of grief, loss, and healing, making The Resort not just a mystery but a thoughtful finding of human emotions.
Beyond the emotional storylines, The Resort also keeps viewers engaged with its suspenseful plot twists and beautiful cinematography. The lush setting of the Mayan Riviera adds to the show’s atmosphere, creating a sense of adventure and mystery. The show’s time-jumping narrative keeps viewers guessing, and the mix of comedy, drama, and action makes it a unique viewing experience.
While The Resort did not receive the same level of attention as some of Milioti’s other projects, it remains one of her best performances. The show’s ability to blend different genres, along with its deep philosophical themes and emotional complexity, makes it a standout series. For fans of Milioti, her role as Emma Reed is a must-watch. She brings depth, humor, and heart to the character, making Emma’s journey one that is both relatable and deeply moving.
More than 25 years ago, Sarah Michelle Gellar took on the role of Helen Shivers in I Know What You Did Last Summer. Helen was a beauty queen and one of several high school students who got caught up in a dark secret that eventually led to their deaths.
In the movie, Helen met a violent end at the hands (or rather, the hook) of a masked killer. This intense scene has remained memorable for fans, who often bring up Helen’s tragic fate when discussing the most shocking moments in 90s horror films.
With a reboot of the popular slasher film on the way, fans are curious if there’s a chance Helen could return, especially since Gellar’s husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., who starred in the original, is reprising his role. Some fans are even hoping that Gellar and Prinze might once again share the screen. But Gellar has already shut down any hope of her character’s comeback.
In a recent conversation with People, Gellar made it clear that Helen Shivers is not coming back. “I am dead,” Gellar said, leaving no room for doubt about her character’s fate. While her character may not be returning, Gellar still has a connection to the reboot.
Not only is her husband involved, but the film’s director, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, is one of Gellar’s close friends. The two have previously worked together on the 2022 film Do Revenge, further strengthening their bond.
“My best friend [Jennifer Kaytin Robinson] is directing it, so we joke that I have an unofficial job, which is I am continuity,” Gellar shared. She went on to explain that she often helps her friend by making sure the details in the movie remain consistent with the original story.
Still from the movie (Peacock)
“I’m always the one telling her, ‘Well, that would happen, or that wouldn’t happen with those characters,’ so I do have kind of an unofficial job title,” she explained. Even though Helen won’t be returning, Gellar is fully supportive of the new film and plans to be involved behind the scenes. She said she would be there for her husband and her best friend every step of the way.
Gellar is excited for the film’s release and has already confirmed that she’ll be attending the premiere. “My husband is in the movie, my best friend wrote and directed it, [so] I think there’s a pretty good chance I will go to that premiere,” she said with a smile.
The reboot is described as part sequel, part reboot, and will introduce a new chapter in the slasher film series. The original movie was directed by Danny Cannon, and while specific plot details for the reboot haven’t been shared, it’s confirmed that Prinze’s character will return.
There’s also speculation that Jennifer Love Hewitt, another original star, could possibly make an appearance. Even though nothing has been confirmed about her involvement, the film will tie back to the original story in some way.
The cast for the upcoming movie includes several rising stars, such as Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid), Chase Sui Wonders (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), Sarah Pidgeon (The Wilds), and Tyriq Withers (Atlanta). Gellar had nothing but praise for the young cast and is looking forward to seeing their performances.
“Jen’s put together such an amazing cast, and I’m so happy and excited for all of them. I will be there with moral support behind the camera,” she said, showing her full support for the project.
The reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer is set to hit theaters on July 18, 2025. Until then, fans can rewatch the original film on Peacock and enjoy the nostalgia as they await the new installment.
