The TVLine Performer of the Week: Alexandra Breckenridge
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THE PERFORMER | Alexandra Breckenridge
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THE SHOW | Virgin River
THE EPISODE | “From the Ashes” (Sept. 7, 2023)
THE PERFORMANCE | Netflix’s wildly popular small town drama has always been regarded as a feel-good show. But it became a feel-everything show in its fifth season, which pushed several of its characters — no one more than Breckenridge’s Mel Monroe — to their breaking points. And beyond.
Mel’s miscarriage midway through the season was as devastating as it was unexpected; after everything she and Jack have been through to reach this point, losing their baby was the last thing any viewer saw coming. One thing that caught absolutely no one by surprise, however, was the powerful performance Breckenridge delivered in her character’s darkest hour.
After watching breathlessly as she performed that fateful ultrasound on herself in Episode 5, then collapsing into Jack’s arms as she struggled to relay the unspeakable news in Episode 6, we didn’t think there was any part of us left for Breckenridge to destroy. Then came Episode 7, which forced Mel to face the reality of her situation in the wake of the wildfire.
This heartbreaking performance subtly honored both sides of Breckenridge’s character — Mel the nurse practitioner, who can robotically recite the specifics of a routine post-miscarriage procedure, and Mel the human being, who can’t believe that this procedure is being done to her. Again.
One of Breckenridge’s greatest qualities as a performer is her infectious exuberance, so to see that inner glow completely snuffed out completely shifted the tone of the show. It’s like someone flipped off Mel’s light switch, and Breckenridge made it look just as effortless.
In the aftermath of their personal tragedy, Jack tells Mell that he’s astounded by her bravery, and we can’t help but share the sentiment about Breckenridge.
Scroll down to see who scored Honorable Mention shout-outs this week…
HONORABLE MENTION: Paulina Alexis
Reservation Dogs’ Willie Jack has done a lot of growing these past three seasons and so has her portrayer, Paulina Alexis. When the kids went on one of their signature heists to reunite Maximus with the dying Fixico, the actress instilled her character with wisdom far beyond her years. Sure, she recited her lovable street slang to our absolute delight, but it was the tender moments that made magic. Alexis’ eyes spoke volumes as Willie Jack communicated worry for Fixico and undying love for her “bro” Elora. And later, while trying to convince Maximus to visit his cousin-brother one last time, the actress’ pained expressions made us feel her character’s lost hope and bereavement… which is exactly how we’re going to feel once the Rez Dogs sign off for good.
HONORABLE MENTION: Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is not the first celebrity who’s been asked to play a heightened version of himself on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, and we doubt he’ll be the last — but he was the first to relish in the opportunity to make a complete and total ass of himself, and the result was golden. He only lasted a day as The Constable, but what a glorious day it was as we watched him drive Oliver to the brink of insanity. The two-time Tony winner made us squirm when he detailed his problematic approach to method acting (“For my role in Election, I started teaching high school and dating students”) and made us guffaw when he suddenly decided to speak in the third person (“Ferris Bueller may take a day off, but Matthew Broderick does not”). The only thing funnier than that was the blank stare on his face when Oliver and Charles showed him the door. Talk about making the most of a guest role!
HONORABLE MENTION: Hayden Christensen
There was no way we were going to let Hayden Christensen’s performance in this week’s Ahsoka go unnoticed. Sure, the lightsaber duels between master and apprentice made us giddy — and we loved seeing the actor do his signature backspin — but his scenes during those Clones Wars flashbacks reiterated that no one else can play live-action Anakin but him. As the famed Jedi explained to his Padawan the cost of war, Christensen’s stern yet boyish demeanor drove home the horrifying reality that Anakin was just a teenager teaching a child soldier to survive war. Later, as the actor channeled Revenge of the Sith-era Anakin, we were blown away by his ability to seamlessly shift between the various interpretations of the character and still deliver a unified performance. The animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series might be a completed story, but after Christensen’s stellar work in “Shadow Warrior,” we’d give anything to revisit that tale with him in a live-action setting.
Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments!
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