A struggling singer’s music career takes off when she witnesses a tragic incident, but she soon realizes that her recognition comes at a steep cost.

A variation on the well-worn ‘be careful what you wish for’ trope, David Weil’s story (screenplay by Emily Chang and Sara Amini) manages to say something new about the dangers of fame, and it’s cinematically directed by Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home at Night).

When popster Fiji (Sky Ferreira, Twin Peaks) is hounded by fans, she hands a medallion to street musician Jasmine (Jurnee Smollett, Birds of Prey) before walking in front of a bus. Performing at a shrine for Fiji, Jasmine gains an appreciative crowd and is propelled to stardom on pop talent show Ovation. It’s everything she’s ever wanted, and people just can’t stop applauding her.

Loving the initial fame, Jasmine is concerned that she’s even applauded for poor performances. In fact, her chauffeur takes his hands of the wheel to clap, and surgeons stop operating to show their support – even the anaesthetised patient sits up mid-operation to clap! The talisman is as much a curse as a gift, and is it just a matter of throwing it away to break the spell? It might not be the ending you expect, reminding you that the Twilight Zone can be a dark place.

Verdict: Another strong episode in this impressive run, you might think you’ve got it all worked out… you might be wrong. 8/10

Nick Joy