The Flight Attendant (TV series)

The Flight Attendant is an American comedy-drama streaming television series based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian.[3][4] It stars Kaley Cuoco in the title role and premiered on HBO Max on November 26, 2020.[5] In December 2020, the series was renewed for a second season.[6]

The Flight Attendant
Genre
Based onThe Flight Attendant
by Chris Bohjalian
Developed bySteve Yockey
Starring
Music byBlake Neely
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Erika Kennair
  • Jennifer Lence
  • Raymond Quinlan
Cinematography
  • Brian Burgoyne
  • Adrian Peng Correia
  • Jay Feather
  • Hillary Spera
Editors
  • Heather Persons
  • Anthony Miller
  • Carol Stutz
  • Jean Crupper
Running time42–48 minutes
Production companies
Distributor
Release
Original networkHBO Max
Original releaseNovember 26, 2020 (2020-11-26) –
present (present)
External links
Website

Synopsis

American flight attendant Cassie Bowden is a reckless alcoholic who drinks during flights and spends her time off having sex with strangers, including her passengers. When she wakes up in a hotel room in Bangkok with a hangover from the night before, she discovers the dead body of a man who was on her last flight lying next to her, his throat slashed. Afraid to call the police, she cleans up the crime scene, then joins the other airline crew traveling to the airport. In New York City, she is met by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents who question her about the layover in Bangkok. Still unable to piece the night together, she begins to wonder who the killer could be.

Cast

Main

Recurring
  • Deniz Akdeniz as Max
  • Terry Serpico as Bill Briscoe
  • Jason Jones as Hank Bowden
  • Audrey Grace Marshall as young Cassie
  • Owen Asztalos as young Davey
  • Albert Frezza as Enrico
  • Bebe Neuwirth as Diana Carlisle
  • Yasha Jackson as Jada Harris
  • Isha Blaaker as Nate
  • Stephanie Koenig as Sabrina Oznowich
  • Ritchie Coster as Victor
  • Ann Magnuson as Janet Sokolov
  • Briana Cuoco as Cecilia
  • David Iacono as Eli Briscoe

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byTeleplay byOriginal air dateProd.
code
1"In Case of Emergency"Susanna FogelSteve YockeyNovember 26, 2020 (2020-11-26)[lower-alpha 1]U13.14051
Flight attendant Cassie is a reckless alcoholic who spends time between flights getting drunk and hooking up. She has a strained relationship with her brother and has flashbacks to trauma from her childhood. She often calls her best friend who is also a lawyer, Annie, and has a rocky relationship with her friend and co-worker, Megan. On a flight to Bangkok, she flirts with a handsome stranger, Alex Sokolov. When the flight lands, they go out partying and they both get drunk and end up having sex. She wakes up the next morning hungover and is horrified to find Alex dead in bed next to her, with his throat slit. Scared of being arrested, she cleans up the mess and leaves. She is unable to remember any events from the night, but over time she remembers it in flashes. She later realizes she lost her ID. After returning home to the United States, she is questioned by FBI Agents Van and Kim. She makes herself look suspicious by trying to run. She ultimately remembers that there was a third person with her and Alex the night he was murdered.
2"Rabbits"Susanna FogelSteve YockeyNovember 26, 2020 (2020-11-26)U13.14052
Cassie keeps having conversations with her vision of Alex, including one where she remembers that they met with Miranda, his business associate, in Bangkok. Instead of contacting Annie, Cassie goes to Alex's office hoping to find Miranda. The FBI contact her, wanting to question her further. She meets with Annie, tells her what happened, and stuns her with the revelation that she visited the office. She promises Annie she will not drink and will be on time for the FBI meeting, but gets drunk that night and sleeps with Buckley, a man she met in a nightclub. She also continues a strained relationship with Davey. Van and Kim learn that the hotel security footage is gone. In Bangkok, Miranda attempts to track down Cassie. The FBI have a photo of Cassie at Alex's office at Unisphere, so she reveals everything, but says Alex was still alive when she left. Megan trades a student drugs for a flashdrive. Miranda is in New York, watching Cassie, and with help from Sabrina, Cassie realizes that Miranda may be Alex's murderer.
3"Funeralia"Tom VaughanKara Lee Corthron & Ryan Jennifer JonesNovember 26, 2020 (2020-11-26)U13.14053
Cassie learns that Miranda broke into her house and is frightened, needing answers. She flashes back to when her drinking began as a child at her father's funeral. Annie learns that the FBI has found the murder weapon and are testing for prints. She confronts Sabrina about having drinks with Cassie and what she knows about Miranda; however, Sabrina denies ever having drinks with Cassie. Megan is entangled in corporate espionage with her husband's company, stealing blueprints from his computer for another business. Cassie thinks Alex dated Miranda, so she attends his funeral looking for answers. Annie's hacker boyfriend, Max, learns that Unisphere is owned by the dangerous Sokolovs and that they are using it to launder money. Cassie learns Alex did not date Miranda, but later hears Alex's mother and father talking about Miranda and destroying documents from a company called Lionfish. Cassie steals the documents and on her way home she is approached by Miranda.
4"Conspiracy Theories"John StricklandIan WeinreichDecember 3, 2020 (2020-12-03)U13.14054
Cassie escapes Miranda. Buckley continues to pursue Cassie. Annie is informed by her boss that she now owes the firm's client for getting Cassie out the funeral unharmed. Megan's husband grows suspicious of her espionage as she continues handing files to the Korean government. Cassie follows the trail of the documents she stole and with Max's help learns that Lionfish and the Sokolovs flew a plane from Teterboro, NJ to Portland, ME once a week with a very short layover. She gets herself on the plane with Nate's help, but learns that there are never passengers on it and that the pilots pretend they saw passengers. She learns the plane is transporting missile parts. Miranda is taken off investigating Cassie and retrieving a missing item. She later approaches Sabrina, who promises Miranda she did not say anything or share information. Cassie's visit with Davey goes badly as he thinks she is drunk when she is not and he's jealous of her childhood. Angry, she has sex with Buckley. She realizes Sabrina may know about the missiles and the plane, and goes to speak with her. Outside her building, she is horrified when Sabrina's dead body falls from her apartment window.
5"Other People's Houses"Glen WinterTicona S. JoyDecember 3, 2020 (2020-12-03)U13.14055
Cassie and Max decide to investigate Alex's apartment to look for evidence proving the Sokolovs are dirty and to clear her with the FBI after Sabrina's murder. Van expects Sabrina really did commit suicide, while Kim believes her to be murdered. Annie is called in to pay her debts by a mysterious and dangerous client and is tasked with giving an inmate a message that his family will be taken care of, she wishes not to go through with it, but has no choice from her boss. There, she is horrified to have to give the inmate pills that will kill him. Miranda is ordered to return home by her boss. Megan's husband grows suspicious. Buckley mysteriously runs into Cassie. Cassie and Max investigate Alex's apartment where she learns that he was not the person she thought he was, with an inappropriate collection of porn and a lot of drugs. They find an address for Lionfish and go to investigate, where they find an empty and abandoned building. Inside, they find Lionfish and Sokolov servers which contain mysterious passports of people who have been murdered, including Cassie's missing one. They realize someone knows they are there and flee. On the run out, someone intentionally runs Max over with a car.
6"After Dark"Batan SilvaJess MeyerDecember 10, 2020 (2020-12-10)U13.14056
Max survives, but is badly injured, much to Annie's chagrin. Cassie thinks that the flash drive will prove she and Max were doing good work, however, it is missing from Max's pants pocket. Annie tells Cassie they are done, which sends her into a drinking depression. Cassie calls Buckley and they hookup and then go on a bender together. Van and Kim have an agent tailing Cassie, which Cassie notices, forcing him to leave. He is murdered by an unknown assailant. Megan learns that she left Cassie a voicemail of her talking to the Koreans and deletes it from Cassie's phone while she is in a bar drunk. Cassie and Alex deduce in her head that her childhood wasn't how she remembered it and that Davey was treated badly. Cassie tearfully tries to makeup with Annie, who refuses as she points out that they really don't know who each other are and their friendship doesn't work. Cassie, deflated, tells her she'll be sorry when she ends up dead. Annie quits her job at the firm. Cassie and Buckley are arrested and Cassie apologies to Davey as they emotionally mend fences. Megan's husband is called into work due to a computer issue. Someone attempts to murder Miranda, who posts Cassie's bail and approaches her with a gun, telling her they need to talk.
7"Hitchcock Double"Marcos SiegaMeredith Lavender & Marcie UlinDecember 10, 2020 (2020-12-10)U13.14057
Miranda learns that Cassie is not the killer and does not have the money she is looking for. She shares with Cassie that Victor must have hired his enforcer, Felix, to kill them and he is the one who has killed Alex for his money and others. Cassie and Davey make up. Cassie also mends fences with Annie, but decides it is better for her and Miranda to go on the run rather than to involve Annie. Flashbacks reveal Cassie feels she is at fault for her father's death as they were both drinking while he was driving and she has kept this a secret. Annie tells Max she loves him. Megan's husband is suspected to be involved with North Korean espionage and he realizes that Megan is the true culprit. Cassie realizes she has a drinking problem and these revelations help her remember where Alex had located the money encryption key. She and Miranda go to retrieve it and are followed by Felix, causing them to run. They must jump to the roof of the next building and Miranda loses the book. However, Cassie sees that Felix is really Buckley. She and Miranda make a plan to use herself as bait and catch a killer.
8"Arrivals & Departures"Marcos SiegaSteve YockeyDecember 17, 2020 (2020-12-17)U13.14058
Cassie's fingerprints are found on the bottle leading. Miranda learns of Victor's location and confronts him, before killing him and taking the money. This causes her to miss the flight to Rome. Buckley follows Cassie to Rome and attempts to kidnap her. He later knocks out Miranda. Cassie escapes and obtains a gun from Enrico. Annie turns over the flashdrive to Van and Kim, exonerating Cassie, as they all realize Buckley is the killer. Megan and Cassie share their secrets with each other as Megan goes on the run. Cassie kisses Alex goodbye in her head. Cassie is confronted by Buckley, who divulges that he has been stalking her since Bangkok. Buckley attempts to kill Cassie and Enrico, but they are both saved by Shane, who arrests Buckley. Shane reveals he has been working with the CIA undercover investigating Megan. Miranda disappears but gives Cassie the book. Back home, Cassie reunites with Davey, promising him she will be different from now on. Cassie vows to remain sober to Davey and Annie. Shane tells Cassie that the CIA is interested in her becoming a human asset. Cassie reflects on her journey and the scenarios in her mind as she closes the dark part of her life for good and smiles, happy for the future.

Production

Development

On October 27, 2017, it was announced that Kaley Cuoco's production company, Yes, Norman Productions, had optioned the rights to the novel, The Flight Attendant. The novel would be developed into what was reported to be a limited television series with Cuoco to executive produce.[3][4] On July 1, 2019, it was announced that Greg Berlanti had joined the series as an executive producer through Berlanti Productions.[8][9] On July 1, 2019, it was announced that the series would join WarnerMedia's new streaming service, HBO Max.[8][10] On December 18, 2020, HBO Max renewed the series for a second season.[6]

Casting

Upon the series development announcement, Cuoco was also cast to star in the series.[3] In September 2019, Sonoya Mizuno was cast to star alongside Cuoco.[11] In October, Michiel Huisman, Colin Woodell, Rosie Perez, and Zosia Mamet joined the cast of the series.[12][13][14][15] In November 2019, Merle Dandridge, Griffin Matthews, and T. R. Knight joined the cast of the series.[16][17][18] In December 2019, Nolan Gerard Funk joined the cast.[19] Bebe Neuwirth was added in a recurring role in February 2020.[20] In August 2020, Michelle Gomez joined the cast of the series, replacing Mizuno.[21] In October 2020, Yasha Jackson joined the cast in a recurring role.[22]

Filming

Filming began in November 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, before continuing in White Plains, New York, in December.[23] On March 12, 2020, Warner Bros. Television shut down production on the series due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] Production on the season's remaining two episodes resumed on August 31, 2020, in New York.[25][26]

Soundtrack

Sia's "Angel by the Wings" was featured on the season 1 finale ("Arrivals and Departures").[27]

Release

The series premiered on November 26, 2020 with the first three episodes available.[5] On October 20, 2020, an official trailer for the series and the rollout plan of episodes after the premiere were released; two episodes released on December 3, followed by two more episodes on December 10, and then the season finale on December 17.[28][29]

Reception

Critical response

For the series, review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes stated that 98% of 56 critics gave a positive review, with an average rating of 7.56/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Kaley Cuoco shines as a hot mess in The Flight Attendant, an addictively intriguing slice of stylish pulp that will bring mystery aficionados to Cloud Nine."[30] According to Metacritic, which calculated a weighted average score of 76 out of 100 based on 20 critic reviews, the series received "generally favorable reviews".[31]

Reviewing the series for Rolling Stone, Alan Sepinwall gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars and said, "Cuoco is sharp and likable throughout, two necessary ingredients for playing a character who makes a scene wherever she goes."[32]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2021
 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Comedy Series The Flight Attendant Pending [33]
Best Actress in a Comedy Series Kaley Cuoco Pending
Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy The Flight Attendant Pending [34]
Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Kaley Cuoco Pending
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Kaley Cuoco, Merle Dandridge, Nolan Gerard Funk, Michelle Gomez, Michiel Huisman, Yasha Jackson, Jason Jones, T.R. Knight, Zosia Mamet, Audrey Grace Marshall, Griffin Matthews, Rosie Perez, Terry Serpico and Colin Woodell Pending [35]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Kaley Cuoco Pending
Writers Guild of America Awards New Series Kara Lee Corthron, Michael Foley, Ryan Jennifer Jones, Ticona S. Joy, Meredith Lavender, Jess Meyer, Daniele Nathanson, Marcie Ulin, Ian Weinreich and Steve Yockey Pending [36]

Notes
  1. The first episode of The Flight Attendant was available to stream for free on HBO Max starting on November 18, 2020, ahead of its premiere.[7]

References
  1. Framke, Caroline (November 20, 2020). "'The Flight Attendant' Throws Kaley Cuoco Into a Glossy, Twisty, Energetic Murder Mystery: TV Review". Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  2. Fienberg, Daniel (November 18, 2020). "'The Flight Attendant': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  3. Andreeva, Nellie (October 27, 2017). "Kaley Cuoco Launches Company, Inks Pod Deal With Warner Bros. TV & Set First Project – Limited Series She Would Star In". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  4. Villarreal, Yvonne (May 4, 2018). "The stars of 'The Big Bang Theory' are overachievers in their extra curricular activities". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  5. Iannucci, Rebecca (October 19, 2020). "Kaley Cuoco's Flight Attendant Gets HBO Max Launch Date, Perilous Poster". TVLine. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  6. D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 18, 2020). "'The Flight Attendant' Renewed For Season 2 As More Of HBO Max's Kaley Cuoco Series Cleared For Takeoff". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  7. Petski, Denise (November 18, 2020). "'The Flight Attendant': HBO Max Makes Premiere Episode Available To Stream For Free". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  8. Andreeva, Nellie (July 1, 2019). "Kaley Cuoco To Star In The Flight Attendant Drama Series Picked Up By WarnerMedia Streamer, Inks New Deal With Warner Bros. TV". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  9. Schwartz, Ryan (July 1, 2019). "Kaley Cuoco's Flight Attendant Lands on WarnerMedia Streaming Service". TVLine. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  10. Hayes, Dade; Andreeva, Nellie (July 9, 2019). "WarnerMedia Streaming Service Named HBO Max, Will Include 'Friends' Library, Greg Berlanti & Reese Witherspoon Films, CW Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  11. Porter, Rick (September 30, 2019). "'Crazy Rich Asians' Actress Joins Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 30, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (October 7, 2019). "Michiel Huisman To Star In Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Series 'The Flight Attendant'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  13. Petski, Denise (October 10, 2019). "Colin Woodell Joins Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Series 'The Flight Attendant'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  14. Petski, Denise (October 21, 2019). "Rosie Perez Joins Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Series 'The Flight Attendant'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  15. Petski, Denise (October 23, 2019). "Zosia Mamet Joins Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Series 'The Flight Attendant'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  16. Petski, Denise (November 4, 2019). "'The Flight Attendant': Merle Dandridge Joins Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  17. Pedersen, Erik (November 8, 2019). "'The Flight Attendant': Griffin Matthews Joins Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  18. Andreeva, Nellie (November 12, 2019). "'The Flight Attendant': T.R. Knight Joins Cast Of HBO Max Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  19. Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019). "Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Thriller Adds 'Awkward' Alum (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  20. Petski, Denise (February 20, 2020). "'The Flight Attendant': Bebe Neuwirth Set To Recur In HBO Max Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  21. Petski, Denise (August 4, 2020). "'The Flight Attendant': Michelle Gomez Joins Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  22. Petski, Denise (October 14, 2020). "'The Flight Attendant': Yasha Jackson To Recur On HBO Max Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  23. Clark, Heather (November 20, 2019). "HBO show 'The Flight Attendant' starring Kaley Cuoco, Rosie Perez to film in White Plains". The Journal News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  24. Goldberg, Lesley (March 12, 2020). "Coronavirus Impact: Netflix Shuts Down Film, TV Work in U.S. and Canada as Production Nears Standstill". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 15, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  25. Andreeva, Nellie (August 31, 2020). "ABC's 'For Life' & HBO Max's 'The Flight Attendant' Start Production In New York". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  26. Andreeva, Nellie; D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 3, 2020). "'Shameless' Starts Filming Final Season, WarnerMedia's Ann Sarnoff Reveals, Talks COVID-19 Impact On TV Production & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  27. "Every Song In The Flight Attendant Season 1". ScreenRant. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  28. Mitovich, Matt Webb (October 20, 2020). "Kaley Cuoco's Flight Attendant Has a Toxic Hookup in HBO Max Trailer". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  29. "HBO Max's The Flight Attendant- Official Trailer". WarnerMedia (Press release). October 20, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  30. "The Flight Attendant: Miniseries (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  31. "The Flight Attendant". Metacritic. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  32. Sepinwall, Alan (November 23, 2020). "'The Flight Attendant': Kaley Cuoco Reaches New Heights". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  33. Schneider, Michael (January 18, 2021). "'Ozark,' 'The Crown' and Netflix Lead 26th Annual Critics' Choice Awards TV Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  34. Oganesyan & Moreau, Natalie & Jordan (February 3, 2021). "Golden Globes 2021: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  35. France, Lisa Respers (February 4, 2021). "SAG Award 2021: See the full list of nominees". CNN. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  36. Schneider, Michael (February 3, 2021). "Writers Guild Unveils 2021 TV Award Nominees". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
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