Warning: This review contains spoilers forThe Studioepisode 5.
Quinn wages war against Sal in another hilarious episode ofThe Studiothat’s more interested in having fun with the characters’ hijinks than satirizing the ins and outs of the movie business. In episode 5, “The War,” Quinn and Sal both bring competing low-budget slashers to Matt’s attention, and since he doesn’t want to develop two at the same time, he forces them to work together. Their polar-opposite tastes and sensibilities clash as they try to figure out a direction for the project. Quinn wants to make an artsy horror film; Sal just wants to make aSmilerip-off.
So far, everyepisode ofThe Studiohas lampooned one specific aspect of the modern film industry, whether it’s big-budget blockbusters based on corporate brands, studio executives interfering in the creative process, or auteurs demanding to shoot on film. But in “The War,”the Hollywood satire takes a backseat andThe Studiobecomes more of a straightforward workplace comedyabout tensions in the office. And as a standard sitcom episode, it’s pretty darn good.
“The War” usesthe classic sitcom storytelling trick of introducing a conflict, then constantly escalating that conflictwith increasingly farcical twists and turns. It’s the same winning formula we saw when Frasier and Niles tried to open a restaurant inFrasier, and when Michael and Jan threw a dinner party inThe Office. Quinn and Sal’s battle of wits starts with them simply undermining each other in a meeting with Matt, but it escalates to Quinn blocking Sal’s parking space with a golf cart and Sal hurling a burrito.
The Studio Episode 5 Brings More Depth & Development To Quinn & Sal
Seth Rogen Gives His Supporting Players A Chance To Shine
Seth Rogen’s Mattis on the periphery this week. He’s been the focal point of every other episode so far, but“The War” puts the focus squarely on Quinn and Sal. Matt only shows up to facilitate plot points in their storyline. When he said he was leaving to have “lunch-tinis” with Chris Hemsworth, I was really hoping we’d get a Hemsworth cameo (but if that was the case, we probably would’ve seen it in the trailers). Matt has been a great lead character to follow up to this point, but Quinn and Sal seize their chance to shine.
The episoderounds out Quinn and Sal’s personal lives outside the studioa bit more. We get a glimpse into Quinn’s relationship; she’s singularly focused on her career even when she’s having sex. We see that Sal has a pair of teenage daughters who are glued to their phones and have no interest in spending time with him. They frustrate him to no end, but he also desperately wants to connect with them. He’s the same kind of somewhat sincere deadbeat dad thatIke Barinholtz played inBlockers, and he plays the part equally brilliantly here.
The Studioreleases new episodes on Apple TV+ every Wednesday.
The bickering between Quinn and Salyields some ofThe Studio’s funniest lines to date. As they’re arguing about whether to take a gamble on Quinn’s elevated horror pitch or stick to Sal’s safe, formulaic rip-off, an enraged Sal calls Quinn a “D-girl.” She hilariously points out that he ripped off that insult from Christopher Moltisanti inThe Sopranos— not even his burns are original.
The Studio’s Absent Cast Members Are Sorely Missed
Nevertheless, Quinn & Sal Make For A Compelling Comic Duo
It’s a bit disappointing that some main cast members are absent for entire episodes;Catherine O’Hara’s Pattyand Kathryn Hahn’s Maya are both sorely missed. Nevertheless, Quinn and Sal make for a compelling comic duo, and“The War” has some huge slapstick laughs with Sal’s antics, from the chili tray that gets spilled all over his suit to the thrown burrito that starts a chain reaction that destroys a film set. “The War” might beThe Studio’s least satirically focused episode yet, but it’s also one of the show’s funniest installments.
The Studio Episode 5
The Studio is a comedy-drama film set in the high-stakes world of Continental Studios. It follows a newly appointed studio head and his executive team as they navigate corporate demands and creative challenges, aiming to maintain relevance in the movie industry. Released on June 17, 2025.
