Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Three Premiere of ‘Happy Valley’. This article also contains discussions regarding domestic violence and abuse, which may be triggering to some individuals.
More often than not, the final season premiere of any particular show, tends to be quite epic and foreboding in nature. Mainly because… this is it. The grand finale. So why not go big from the get-go and lead to something quite epic and quite explosive? That way the audience gets to enjoy quite the ride and it sets the stage for quite the farewell tour, and truly, audiences enjoy this and have no qualms with it. But every now and then, you run into a show that is eager to mix things up and offer an opening chapter to a goodbye season that is simply not the norm. All so a different kind of story can be told, a more intimate one if you will, and that’s precisely why the season three premiere of Happy Valley is of note. Simply because, it wasn’t full of bombastic moments and epic revelations that dropped our jaw, it was just a story… about a police officer preparing to bid farewell to their own career. For when we catch up with Sergeant Catherine Cawood in this story, years have passed since the harrowing events of the second season and well… she’s nearing retirement and truly thinking about the wonders that await her in that next phase of her life. To the point where she bought a truck that will let her tour the Himalayas so she can hike up there and be one with nature and life was also fine at home. After all, Ryan, was enjoying a normal life… one filled with all the ups and downs that a teenager endures and that really did help Catherine to believe that she could just walk away and live her life. In fact, even the big case she was working on in this tale… was a touch lower key than we’ve seen on this series. Since she encountered a strange drug ring courtesy of an annoying coach that struggled to get along with Ryan. Since that coach… had a broken family life of his own doing. Because Rob was abusive toward his wife Joanna in every way imaginable, to the point where bruises were visible and to where… she was doing everything to check out of her daily life. Courtesy of a nearby neighbor who was also a pharmacist, named Faisal, and well… he was simply working to sell drugs on the side to make a little more money and that of course… brought trouble to his life since there are gangsters that want in on the action and because… Rob opted to call the cops when he discovered his wife had drugs in hand. Giving rise to a rough ride for Faisal, one that has put him on a collision course with Catherine. But with this being a final season… there was an epic setup that took place, one that was of a far more intimate manner though. Simply because… this universe isn’t done with Tommy Lee Royce. Since there was the discovery of a body that was tied to him, bringing him back into the fold to uncover more of his crimes and going that route and properly reintroducing us to him was a stroke of genius.. Simply because his return and another surprise, raised the stakes for Catherine in a unique manner, since we also came to learn… that Ryan finally took the time to visit his father in jail. A revelation that stunned Catherine to no end and will obviously force her to grapple with the reality that there’s no escaping Tommy and one way or another… she will have to reconcile that which she attempted to lock away. Which seems to imply, that the final season of this brilliant show is going to focus heavily on wrapping up the emotional arc that started back in 2014. One that has haunted Catherine for ages on end, and that is going to make a for a powerful final season of storytelling. One that will force Catherine and her family to grapple with the reality that perhaps they cannot keep Ryan from interacting with the monster that is his father and how one reconciles that and the pain of the past. All of which, fits perfectly with the dynamic of this series and this premiere. Because this has always been a different kind of police serial, one that finds a way to offer depth and what better way to bring it to a close… than with a story that forces the past and the present to collide as one chapter of Catherine’s life comes to a close. Until next time.
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Written by John Edward Betancourt Truly, fans of the Power Universe were gifted quite the treat early last year when at long last… Tommy Egan was given his own show and his own corner of the universe to explore via the STARZ series, Power Book IV: Force. Because that story let Tommy do this thing and cancel Christmas as he saw fit, and thanks to that freedom and some fine writing regarding his adventures in Chicago, fans really did enjoy one epic spin-off. One that shattered viewing records at the time and left all of us eager for more of Tommy’s adventures in the Windy City and his quest to come out from Ghost’s shadow and build his own empire. Thankfully, STARZ wanted more as well and commissioned a second season of the show and at long last… we now have an idea of when we are returning to Chi-town to spend more time with Tommy and his new friends and new enemies. For earlier today, STARZ released the premiere date for season two of Force, and as an added bonus, they even dropped a teaser trailer for the fans to enjoy, and since you’re here to learn about that date and see that trailer, here they are, alongside a synopsis for season two (courtesy of STARZ), as we start the countdown to the return of Tommy F*cking Egan. ‘STARZ announced today the second season of “Power Book IV: Force'' starring Joseph Sikora (“Power,” “Ozark”) as fan-favorite Tommy Egan will premiere on Friday, September 1 at midnight ET on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms and internationally on the LIONSGATE+ premium streaming platform across Brazil, Spanish-speaking Latin America, the UK and Ireland. On linear, it will debut on STARZ at 8 PM ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada. The network also revealed a first look photo and new teaser of Tommy as he is more determined than ever to conquer Chicago’s drug world and must face the consequences. After cutting ties in New York, Tommy Egan’s newfound family and ruthless drug game enticed him to stay in Chicago. The explosive second season begins with Tommy on a mission to avenge the death of Lilliana, his former nemesis turned business partner. With Diamond (Isaac Keys) and Jenard (Kris D. Lofton) at odds, the Flynn organization weakened, and a new connect on the scene, Tommy is more determined than ever to take over the Chicago drug world. Season two of Force stars Joseph Sikora (“Power,” “Ozark”) as “Tommy Egan,” Isaac Keys (“Get Shorty,” “The Oath”) as “Diamond Sampson,” Lili Simmons (“Banshee,” “Ray Donovan”) as “Claudia Flynn,” Shane Harper (“Hightown,” “A Teacher”) as “Vic Flynn,” Kris D. Lofton (“Ballers,” “Snowfall”) as “Jenard Sampson,” Carmela Zumbado (“You,” “Chicago PD”) as “Mireya Garcia,” Manuel Eduardo Ramirez (“Snowfall,” “Queen of the South”) as “Miguel Garcia,” Miriam A. Hyman (“The Chi,” “The Laundromat”) as “US Attorney Stacy Marks,” Adrienne Walker (“Law & Order: Organized Crime,” “FBI”) as “Shanti ‘Showstopper’ Page,” Anthony Fleming III (“Prison Break,” “The Beast”) as “JP,” Lucien Cambric (“Chicago P.D.,” “The Chi”) as “D-Mac,” and Tommy Flanagan (“Sons of Anarchy,” Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) as “Walter Flynn.” “Power Book IV: Force” is the third series in the expanded “Power” Universe franchise. Gary Lennon (“Power,” “Euphoria”) serves as showrunner and executive producer for season two. The “Power” Universe series is executive produced by the creator and showrunner of the original “Power,” Courtney A. Kemp through her production company End of Episode, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson through G-Unit Film and Television, and Mark Canton through Atmosphere Entertainment MM. Terri Kopp and Chris Selak also serve as executive producers. Lionsgate Television produces the series for STARZ. ABOUT “POWER BOOK IV: FORCE” – SEASON 2 Tommy Egan is on a mission to avenge the death of Liliana, and with the Flynn organization weakened, he’s more determined than ever to take over the Chicago drug world. But with CBI split down the middle, Tommy and Diamond first must maintain their edge over Jenard. As their factions feud in the streets, Tommy capitalizes on another rivalry between the Serbs and Miguel Garcia, the most formidable drug lord in Chicago. After setting off a chain reaction of violence in pursuit of his ambition, Tommy must race to stay ahead of the men who are coming for what’s theirs, a federal task force that’s closing ranks, and a sadistic supplier with a direct line to the Cartel. All the while torn by the promise of a second chance with his blood family, Tommy must decide what he is willing to sacrifice to finally ascend the throne of a kingpin. FOLLOW “POWER BOOK IV: FORCE” ON SOCIAL Twitter: @ForceStarz Instagram: @ForceStarz Facebook: @ForceStarz Join the conversation with #PowerForce #PowerTV and #STARZ About STARZ STARZ (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company, is a leading global media streaming platform committed to delivering premium content that amplifies narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences. STARZ is home to the highly rated and first-of-its-kind STARZ app that offers the ability to stream or download STARZ premium content, as well as the flagship domestic STARZ® service, including STARZ ENCORE, 17 premium pay TV channels, and the associated on-demand and online services. In 2018, STARZ launched its international premium streaming platform STARZPLAY, now LIONSGATE+, to provide subscribers access to bold, curated storytelling. LIONSGATE+, coupled with the STARZPLAY ARABIA joint venture in MENA and Lionsgate Play in South and Southeast Asia, has a footprint that extends across the globe. STARZ and LIONSGATE+ are available across digital OTT platforms and multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies around the world. In February 2021, STARZ launched #TakeTheLead, a multi-faceted and innovative inclusion initiative expanding its existing efforts to improve representation on screen, behind the camera and throughout the company. About Lionsgate Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company's film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by an 18,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.’ Written by John Edward Betancourt It is definitely safe to say, that season one of the STARZ series, Run the World, was an absolute breath of fresh air when it the hit the airwaves in 2021. For this is a show that offered up a supremely unique and revolutionary look at life in the big city. After all, that perspective was seen through the eyes of Black women, eager to take on the world and obtain whatever their hearts desired and that brought forth… an incredible season of storytelling. The kind that was relatable, since so much of what these characters went through had a familiar feel and was also unabashedly honest, and fun, courtesy of some comedic elements. But above all, it drew us in and engaged us and of course… it offered up representation, which we need more of right now. If anything, all of those incredible elements made this show a hit, and an easy renewal decision on STARZ’s part. But alas, fans of this show have been patiently waiting for more of this series since summer of 2021, and thankfully, that wait is about to come to its end. Simply because Friday will see the debut of season two of this highly anticipated show. Allowing for us to finally learn more about what comes next for these close friends following the epic season one finale and we here at Nerds That Geek had the chance to see season two early and thought it would be worthwhile to offer up a spoiler-free preview of what you can expect from the new season of this magnificent series and well… the first bit of good news we can send your way, is that you are going to get more of what you love from this show. Which is a huge deal, since it is no secret that sometimes a sophomore season inspires reinvention or the decision to do something massive to wow the audience. But instead, the writer’s room of this series knew that sticking with what the audience loves was critical to making season two work. Which is why you will find more of the incredible dynamic between these friends on display. Complete with the raw honesty and support each of them provided to one another in season one, and of course… the challenges that life throws our way are still present here as is the wondrous comedy that permeated the first season of this show. So that no moment is ever overwhelming in the slightest and that allows for you, the viewer, to comfortably return to this world and feel as though it’s only been a week or two since the last episode. But make no mistake about it, this writer’s room also understood the fact that in order to make a second season truly worthwhile, there did need to be more than just the basics. Which is why… this season explores some powerful concepts that we learn in life as we move forward through it. That means, this is a season that explores the consequences of our actions, and how sometimes the path we are on will get harder as we continue to forge ahead. Plus, there are moments that explore the difficult nature of change, and how that too can test us, even though we desire it in our lives. All of which makes for another incredible season of storytelling, the kind that remains relatable and moving and above all, compelling. Since we simply must know how these incredible women are going to handle everything life sends their way. If anything, all of these elements, elevate this story to new heights in season two. Since we are privy to explorations of moments in life that we don’t talk about all that often or give much agency to when they mean the world to us. Which makes this a stunning season of storytelling, one that is also elevated by some dynamic performances from the cast, since they sell those moments through and through and the best news of all, is that you don’t have to wait that much longer to enjoy the new wonders this season has to offer. For season two of this show arrives on STARZ on 5/26/23, and we cannot wait for you to see what it has to offer, and to geek out about it with all of you, and to share more pre-release coverage with you as well. Courtesy of our interviews with series stars: Amber Stevens West (Whitney Green), Bresha Webb (Renee Ross), Corbin Reid (Sondi Hill), Erika Alexander (Barb), Tosin Morohunfola (Olabisi ‘Ola’ Adeyemo), and Jay Walker (Jason), as we continue our countdown to the return of this magnificent and important series. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Citadel’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
When we last settled in to discuss the delightful and fun Prime Video series, Citadel, we talked at length about how… there appeared to be some darkness surrounding Nadia. After all, a botched attempt to secure the all-powerful Oz Key combined with the fall of Citadel, alongside some hard decisions made by Mason to keep her safe… really made it appear as though, she was the mole. The person that was fine with letting Citadel and world peace fall and was willing to embrace the ugliness of this new world. Leaving all of us to wonder… if that was truly the case and if so, what kind of blow back would come out of that, and well, it just so happens that the next episode of this wildly engaging and entertaining show, took the time to answer whether or not Nadia was the mole. But not before ‘Time Renders Us Enemies’ only added fuel to the fire of our concerns. For following the events of the last episode, we saw… some strange behavior take place in the past regarding Nadia. Because shortly after she came to learn that Celeste was in fact, shipped off to a happy ending without a memory of her time with Citadel, from the man she was deeply falling in love with, she broke things off with Mason and well... disappeared. In fact, she went to hang out with a notorious criminal and that… was everything that Carter needed to fully believe that she was the mole in Citadel and well… he didn’t appear to be wrong. Since all of that spoke to a spy that felt betrayed and broken and ready to do something drastic to feel whole again. But that is when the story surprised us through and through and revealed, that Nadia was not in fact, the mole. For instead… she was struggling with the fact that Mason had become hardcore Citadel. A true spy, one that would lie and deceive and do everything needed for the mission. Which yes, that is the job, but she loved him, and she wanted him to be more than just another perfect spy. She wanted him… to be the good man that she fell for… so that their daughter would have the right kind of role model. For it turned out she wasn’t leaving to betray anyone or to cause trouble, but to give birth to their child and she wanted privacy for that and she also… wanted that criminal to be the one entrusted with her baby’s care since he was Nadia’s father. All of which brought forth a sigh of relief for both Mason and the audience, alongside a gasp of surprise since Mason is a dad twice over now. However, while it is wonderful to know that Nadia isn’t the monster that brought about collapse, this story does have a monster ready to act and she… more or less made a big move here to execute her plans for world domination in this tale. Because sadly, Bernard was not able to entice Anders to release him in time, leading to Anders’ death at Archer’s hand since he thought twice about his loyalties to Manticore. Which allowed for Archer to get the codes she has desperately sought from Bernard and once that was task was complete, she gave the order… to kidnap Mason and Nadia’s little girl. All to get Mason to go along with the plan and use his special Citadel access to unleash nuclear fire upon the world, which in turn, set the stage for one incredible finale. One where Mason will have to ignore every concern, he has about his past to save the future and save his family, and those are some high stakes. The kind that will push him to his limits and force him to find skills he didn’t know he had. But while we wait to see how Mason rises to the occasion and who will stand with him with Citadel in tatters, we can celebrate, one surprising tale. One that finally absolved Nadia of any evil or wrong-doing and that’s wonderful. Because there’s a lot to like about Nadia and having her be the heavy of this story would have felt cheap and silly. Instead, she too has something big to fight for and well, all we can do now, is count down the minutes and days to the season one finale of this delightful and refreshingly fun spy series. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 207 of ‘Blindspotting’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
We are taught from a very early age, to give our mistakes as little agency as possible, and there is plenty of merit to that particular lesson. Simply because, we are going to make a lot of mistakes in this life, the kind that tend to be unimportant in nature, and giving those little, insignificant goofs power… can be devastating when we let them get into our head and rattle us and our decision making. But while that is great advice, it is something we tend to apply to every mistake we make, and that is problematic. Because there are missteps, we are going to make, that can change the course of our careers and the course of our lives, and we don’t give them much thought until the consequences arrive. But if we took a moment to think about our actions… and the consequences that might come forth… we could avoid those ugly mistakes, and tend to learn that lesson, after we screw up big. But even then, we are going to make critical mistakes, for reasons we don’t fully understand when we make them. Since those are the goofs that are often made in the heat of a moment, where emotions or progressive problems have mounted. And they will indeed haunt us and bring forth trouble. Which means… regardless of how much we want to avoid our mistakes and pay them no mind… we need to be ready to handle them when they happen, and the consequences they bring forth. If anything, that harsh reality regarding our mistakes is top of mind today, simply because that’s the lesson that Ashley was reminded of in the next episode of Blindspotting on STARZ. A feat that ‘Meatfest’ accomplished, by having her biggest mistake thus far in life, come back to haunt her. For it wasn’t that long ago that she let months of depression and repressed emotions help her to make a mistake, courtesy of a stolen kiss with another man. A mistake she clearly worked to just treat as nothing special or nothing of concern. But it was a huge deal, as evidenced by how Trish responded, when she found out about it in this story. Because the guy that Ashley kissed, was one of Earl’s many roommates, and the earring that she lost on that night, he kept as a pseudo-reminder of their momentary connection. Which Trish discovered and that of course… motivated her to make this the big deal that it was, by telling Rainey about her find at the all-important Meatfest that shared the namesake of this episode. A festival of meats that came about from infidelity. Of course, the possibility of having the truth about that night come out, from Trish no less, put the fear of every God to ever exist into Ashley and at first… she did what anyone would do. She doubled down on the mistake out of the fear of losing so much, even going so far as to threaten to spill the beans about Trish’s Captain Hook Sabotage plan. Which brought forth a stalemate and also allowed for Ashley to begin to understand… the lesson at hand. Because of course, others came to learn the truth about what happened that day, because Earl CANNOT keep a secret and that forced Ashley to finally realize… she had let her depression get the better of her, and that trying to be the rock when support surrounded her was a failure on her part to do right by Miles, and that led to the low point and the mistake and this day. One where she had to own up to her mistake, and the consequences to come, of which there would be many and well… that led to a stunning moment at the house. Wherein Trish headed off any chance at a counter punch by coming clean about her own bad form in making a leader of the Lost Boys fight a good man and by getting the truth out in the open. Wherein Ashley did indeed own up to it, and her actions and the steps that led up to it, and she felt her shame and she also… inadvertently knocked out two birds with one stone. Because Miles was home, for reasons we don’t know yet, but he was home, and he heard her confession and well… just like that… life in the house will never be the same and Ashley will indeed have to face the consequences for breaking the ‘Ride or Die’ edict she swore to Miles on their wedding day. Which made this, a bittersweet episode for certain. Because in between the tough stuff and the emotions, was some fine comedy. The kind that saw Earl work to seize the preying mantes that Sean had let loose in the house while declaring his neutrality. And the comedy featured a running gag regarding the questionable ethnicity of a man that Rainey was seeing. If anything, it was probably designed to soften the blow of watching the heroine of our story stumble and fall and risk it all and well… that’s a hell of a way to set up the season two finale. For now, it is up to Ashley to find redemption and a way forward with someone she deeply loves, and for a show about life, it doesn’t get more realistic than that. Since we’ve all faced infidelity in some form or fashion, and the fallout of our own foolish and heartbreaking mistakes, and truly, it will be interesting to see how Miles and the family and Ashley handle this devastating mistake, when season two wraps up next week. Until then. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 309 of ‘Power Book II: Ghost’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous STARZ series, Power Book II: Ghost, we talked at length about how the show dug deep into the notion of how the universe pays out what we put in, and rightfully so. Because all the dark machinations that Tariq St. Patrick and Monet Tejada have been playing around with for the past two seasons, finally exploded in that tale. To the point where arrests were made, and a life was lost. But what’s incredible about that particular lesson… is that the story wasn’t quite done exploring how negative karma works in this life. For the next episode of this brilliant series, took the time to teach these characters that karma isn’t a one and done concept. It can and will turn into a flood, and sometimes all it takes to release that viscous slop into our lives en masse… is the will of a single individual. Which in the case of ‘A Last Gift’, turned out to be the late Cooper Saxe. For he knew his time was up and that he’d finally crossed too many lines and well, that was why… he mailed out a bevy of unique letters, the kind designed to garner justice. One of which went to Monet Tejada and spoke to how Tariq was working with the Feds on bringing down everyone. Which of course, prompted Monet to ask her daughter to investigate Tariq and make sure that wasn’t the case before they did something ugly and well… she did and that started to let the darkness ooze out. Because she found Zeke’s file in Tariq’s room. Something he was hiding away to keep Davis away from any oversight or concern from the law and the information regarding her father’s involvement in Zeke’s death, concerned her and well… it wasn’t long before that concern grew. Because in order to keep the heat off of the Tejada family, drastic measures had to be resorted to in order to keep Dru safe and to keep a war from brewing. So… Dru and Cane straight up poisoned the rest of Gordo’s family with exhaust fumes after locking them into their place of business. But while they were cleaning up, once again… hints of what Lorenzo did and what Monet did… echoed about and that opened the floodgates of negative karma. To the point where the truth came out about what happened in the family and who killed who and that led to a powerful confrontation in the Tejada home, where all was out in the open and where a mother that has indeed resorted to dark acts often in the name of keeping her children safe… now found herself alone and aching. A fine reminder of how negative karma can explode and how a little nudge can help that happen.
Of course, sometimes, the karma is so bad and so toxic, the blowback happens more or less on its own, and it can force people to take part in incredible acts to bring balance to that karma. Which was the case with the whole Weston Holdings mess in this story. Since Councilman Tate knew in his gut something was up with that place, and upon learning that his predecessor was being bought off to keep their Ponzi scheme a secret, he used that to his advantage as a politician and that brought the Weston family within an inch of collapse. That prompted Brayden to go hard in this tale and confront his uncle Lucas and do his best to try and get Lucas to back off before things spiraled out of control. But alas, he did not relent, in fact… he doubled down and that forced Brayden to do what was seemingly impossible and toss Lucas off of a ledge to keep the family safe and bring order to chaos… and make his uncle pay for the ugly he put into the world.
But while those were fascinating lessons regarding how negative actions can explode in our faces and wash over and surprise us… there was one more lesson regarding this, waiting for us in this tale. In that, what makes this so dangerous and so scary… is that it can come to harm the ones we love, as evidenced by Tariq’s journey in this tale. For Cooper sent out some letters to people that were very eager to learn where Tasha has been hiding all this time, and that forced Tariq to give up a great deal to get the location of his family, only to learn… that he was too late in stopping any trouble from finding them. For a familiar blue Mustang rolled up in the finale of this tale, the one driven by none other than Tommy Egan himself and well… it would seem his long-standing promise of revenge will soon be fulfilled. But while we wait to see what will become of Tasha now that Tommy has found her, we can in fact, revel in one powerful and intense tale. One that really did hammer home how the negativity we put into the universe doesn’t just quickly clap back and we move on. We get payment in full, sometimes with interest and wow did everyone pay the piper here mightily. For the Tejada family is shattered and broken, Weston Holdings and the family rep is in tatters and of course… Tariq may lose everything to the man he once called Uncle. All of which sets the stage for a powerhouse season three finale, one that will undoubtedly be as bold and as thrilling as the rest of this season has been, and well… it is safe to say we will be counting down the minutes to Friday’s finale… nervously. Simply because… all bets are off at this point, and chaos reigns supreme, and that means this finale could be a game changer, one that will alter lives and leave us with our jaws agape and eyes wide open with shock and awe. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Drops of God’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
One particular tradition that is alive and well and embraced by many in our modern world, is having children follow in their parent’s footsteps from a career standpoint. Because there is something quite powerful about having a child grow up and embrace that which sustained them. And it is equally as powerful to see them take the reins when they are ready and guide a legacy and guide something that matters to the family deeply, and well, it happens every day around the world, and everyone rejoices and offers nothing but respect to those who do indeed take up the family business. But of course… this isn’t a concept embraced by everyone. Because some children, simply don’t want to do what their parents took part in. For some, it just doesn’t appeal to them in the slightest and they want to go another route. But sometimes, there are deeper reasons a child wishes to leave the family legacy behind and those were explored in great detail in the next episode of Drops of God on Apple TV+. For ‘Legacy’ featured an important leg of the contest for Issei and Camille since they needed to figure out what wine was in the painting and while they investigated that, we explored that reality. In fact, Issei’s journey here offered up a supremely unique angle regarding this truth. Since in many ways… he was forced to follow the legacy, his father laid out for him, and the lies from dad and his own mother, and demands made of him, left him in a unique place in this story, but more on that in a moment. For we need to talk about Camille’s journey. Since she and Lorenzo traveled to Italy to learn find that wine and dealt with some tough roadblocks in uncovering it. Since no one wanted to talk to them or help them, and that prompted Camille to flex and use the Léger name to get the results she needed. Which did indeed allow her to eventually come to taste the wine in question and get everything she needed to win the test. Which she did, but in the most unique manner possible. Largely because Issei came within an inch of winning the entire contest. After all, he was so busy trying to find his stepdad and reconciling the truth that he didn’t get the chance to study, but having his father’s notes handy, and his new love’s keen eye in the same room at the same time, helped him to have the answer. But he declined to take the inheritance so easily. Partly because, that would have been cheating but also… because of how things went in this tale. Because Issei really seemed concerned about how his life was being dictated by others and that could mean he may want a different path of his own accord, speaking volumes to how finding our own path is very important to us and how much it means to feel that in our soul and Camille… well after winning the contest, she made it known… she wasn’t good with following in her father’s footsteps regarding the guide. Just because… her father inspired fear, for that was what she saw amongst those who heard the name invoked and she wanted a different path and well… that offered up a different reason as to why some would walk away from a family legacy. For if it inspires negativity and darkness, why would one want to ever be part of that? But of course, these decisions were not without consequences. After all, Issei is a man at a crossroads right now and unsure of what his heart wants and that could cost him everything, and of course… Camille is on her own now. Since she (and we) now know that she was nothing more than a pawn in business machinations and that will make the final test quite harrowing for both individuals. For everything is now riding on their knowledge and what their heart wants and that’s tough, because this contest has brought them nothing but hardships and grief and forced them to deeply think about Alexandre’s legacy and actions. And it will be interesting to see what they decide about their future and how they handle the final test as season one of this magnificent story comes to a close. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Silo’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
Over the course of the past few weeks, a fascinating pattern from a storytelling perspective, is making itself apparent in the new Apple TV+ series, Silo. In that, the series is eager to offer up fascinating balance with the stories it tells. For every single episode to date, takes the time to explore what humanity could and would lose by having what makes it enriching, removed from our daily lives, all while exploring the world of the Silo and the strange events and darkness that seems to be surrounding the last vestiges of humanity and that has made for some fascinating storytelling. The kind that prompts us to cherish what we have while captivating us, and the series won’t be deviating from that anytime soon… as evidenced by this week’s episode. For ‘Truth’ took the time to focus on Juliette’s first days as Sheriff of the Silo, and in doing so… allowed for us to explore her backstory and come to understand why she’s so big on cherishing life and saving lives and all of it relates to a tale as old as humanity itself. In that, she herself has suffered through great loss. For when she was young, she lost her brother and her mother and that left just her and dear old dad to function and move forward and that… dug into the exploration of what we would lose in a society under this kind of control. Because all that her father cared about, was getting stuff out of the house as quickly as possible for the good of the Silo, and he was also eager to make sure that what was left of this family unit, just moved on. Because that was the mantra in this place hidden within the Earth itself and Juliette struggled with that. Because in essence… she was unable to grieve. She was just told to suck it up and get back to everyday life. Which is something that perhaps… humanity didn’t completely lose in this universe since we tend to view grief in that negative light in our modern world. But we must grieve and regardless of what anyone says, we must do it on our own time and our own terms and to be denied that… brings trouble. For it pushed a divide between father and daughter and motivated her to head down into the mechanical levels, wherein she buried her grief and never dealt with it, and instead used it to fuel a push to keep people safe and bring justice to the dead when no one would grieve for them. Which does indeed explain her motivations and offered up a stark understanding of how much humanity we would lose in a world where restrictions upon our spirit exist.
But of course, there was mention that the story in present day advanced as well and that too was quite fascinating and engaging. Because the new Sheriff was treated as a pariah in her own world when she arrived. For her assistant was downright rude and felt the need to lecture and sass over helping in the slightest. Plus, the executive branch, primarily led by Bernard, the now de facto mayor, also expressed his disdain over having her wear the shield. In fact, the resistance to her new title was so strong that it led to one powerfully terrifying moment in this story. Wherein we came to learn that Bernard has a dark side and a temper, as evidenced by his intimidation tactics regarding a transgression between Mechanical and IT back in the day. But shockingly, Juliette handled such problems with grace and went to work on solving the murder of a lover and of the former mayor.
Which went… pretty badly. Simply because getting hold of George’s file was an impossible task. For it no longer existed, adding great suspicion to Juliette’s mind and soul, and… solving the mayor’s murder was also an impossible task. In part because of the lack of clues, but also because… Marnes was emotionally compromised because of her passing. To the point where he decided to forgo decorum and investigation procedure to handle interrogations and clues with drunken might and drunken fists. Which made no one willing to talk to the police and kept possible real suspects at bay. Making it clear that the situation in the Silo was precarious and delicate and that Juliette has her work cut out for her. But her investigations weren’t a total loss. Since Holston did leave her a gift in her new quarters. Specifically… George’s file. If anything, this was just… an engaging episode through and through. One that sought to accomplish balance and succeeded in doing so. For we really did get the right mix of commentary/observations on what a controlled society loses all while the story advanced the plot and the chaos that is seemingly brewing within the barren walls of the Silo and of course… such matters engaged us all the way. Since we learned so much about Juliette and care about her even more, now that we know she is someone that is desperately trying to heal and of course… our curiosity about the Silo only grew here. Because clearly, something is very off about this place and there is a dark undercurrent beneath the pomp and circumstance, and it will be fascinating to learn what that is… as this incredible series continues along. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt There was a time where television pretty much slowed to a halt during the summer season. For outside of baseball and Saturday morning cartoons, there was little new to see or enjoy, and that was related to the fact that how we consume media was vastly different then and the mantra was just to be outside and lazing about. But as the years have rolled on, we now consume media differently, and because there is a demand for year-round television… that has all changed… for the better really. Since now we can arrange our lives around a binge watch, or our favorite shows and parents can now… keep learning going through family entertainment that arrives in the summer. Because that too has grown and evolved over the years… to the point where the programs are impactful and laden with powerful lessons that start conversations that help everyone in the home learn and grow and one particular network that continues to the lead the charge regarding this kind of programming is Apple TV+. For they continue to put forth intelligent and thoughtful, and entertaining, family-themed programming and with summer around the corner and school being out… they’re preparing to help children and parents be entertained and engaged on those hot days where a few hours of television is preferable to sunburn. For they recently announced their summer family programming lineup, and it is going to be quite the delight. For it will feature plenty of Peanuts themed programming to entertain and dazzle and it will also feature tributes to nature and the trademark lessons we love, allowing for parents to carefully plan out learning time alongside outdoor activities and well, without further ado… here is that summer lineup (and beyond for some of the Peanuts programming) to help you set up what your summer viewing with your family is going to look like, courtesy of Apple TV+. ‘Apple TV+ today announced a kids and family summer slate stacked with all-new Peanuts programming, alongside beloved and acclaimed returning series. The new original Peanuts content coming to Apple TV+ this summer includes new special “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” following endearing introvert Marcie as she helps her friends in her own unique way, premiering August 18, and the third season of “The Snoopy Show,” premiering June 9. Apple will also expand its partnership with WildBrain, welcoming two new originals including new series “Camp Snoopy,” featuring Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts along with Charlie Brown and friends as they enjoy an adventure-filled summer outdoors, and the charming new “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin” special uncovering the origin story of one of Peanuts’ most beloved characters and how he ultimately makes friends with Charlie Brown and the gang. Plus, even more classic Peanuts titles will be made available to fans, many for the first time in decades. This summer, families can also look forward to the return of their favorite animal friends, with new seasons of the BAFTA Award-winning live-action animated hybrid series “Lovely Little Farm” premiering June 16 and “Duck & Goose," the preschool animated series inspired by The New York Times bestselling books by Tad Hills, premiering July 7. Ahead of its second season, a new “Duck & Goose” special titled “When Duck Met Goose” will also debut on June 9. Additionally, to celebrate International Owl Awareness Day on August 4, four new “Eva the Owlet” shorts will debut on the platform that same day.’ New Peanuts Programming From Wildbrain“The Snoopy Show” - Season Three |
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