One big reason that the AMC series, The Walking Dead, has enjoyed such longevity on the small screen, is that this is a show that is quite versatile in how it tells its stories. For this is a saga that can go from being a violent and gory horror story… to an outright dramatic piece. One that takes the time to grow and/or study its characters or it can take the time to explore a unique aspect of the human condition. Allowing for this series to surprise on a consistent basis, since we simply don’t know what kind of story we are going to be treated to when we settle in to enjoy another chapter in this harrowing journey of survival. But what’s truly impressive about this particular show, is that now and again… it actually manages to blend all of those fascinating storytelling elements together in a single tale, and for proof… look no further than the season two finale of this gory saga.
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For ‘Beside the Dying Fire’ is a story that managed to shift back and forth between all of those elements, a feat that it accomplished… by having the Greene farm be overrun by the living dead. For in the opening moments of this tale, the super-herd that had been slowly amassing since the Grimes Group left Atlanta, finally descended upon the farm after hearing Carl’s gunshot ring out and well… that led to complete and utter disaster. For the desperate attempt by the group to either draw the dead away or thin their numbers failed miserably, and it brought about a great deal of horrendous death for the Greene family. For Jimmy was bum rushed and torn apart after saving Carl and Rick from a certain and fiery doom and Patricia was torn to pieces during the evacuation and Andrea was separated from the group as well.

But worst of all, the safe heaven that the group was prepared to call home, was gone forever, overrun by the living death that had already claimed so many corners of the world and that left the group despondent and broken and that’s when the story shifted gears to a dramatic character study. Since this brief downtime allowed for the story to explore how fear can change us on a moment’s notice. For suddenly, a terrified and broken group were eager to project their fears upon Rick and challenge him at every turn and this was just heartbreaking to watch. In part because we’d never seen this brave group fall to pieces in this manner, but also because… this wouldn’t be the last time they would feel this kind of fear and be uncertain of their future or what to do with themselves. Allowing for this sequence to serve as a final reminder, that this was going to be a tough journey going forward. 

However, while both of those twists and turns could have carried this episode through and through, in true dynamic fashion… this finale also made sure to offer up one last surprise. In that, it set up a lot for the future. For the revelation that everyone in this world is infected with whatever causes resurrection, would bring about some fascinating explorations of the nature of the living dead in season three, and it would fundamentally change how the group approaches death in the future and Rick’s decision to be a hard leader would teach him some important lessons about being at the top and how to properly guide people in the apocalypse. But our glimpses as to what comes next… didn’t end there. Courtesy of the fact that Andrea ran into a mysterious stranger with quite the escort and of course… Michonne would turn out to be a critical character to the group’s safety and survival in years to come.

Plus, this episode also gave us a haunting preview… of the West Georgia Correctional Facility, a destination that would feature some powerful and heartbreaking and pivotal moments for the group and well, in the end… this really was quite the breathtaking finale when all is said and done. Because the battle of the farm was a true adrenaline ride, one filled to the brim with a genuine sense of danger through and through. And of course, all of the revelations and surprises at the end of this tale are still jaw dropping and epic in nature and well… what truly makes this finale so impressive, is that it managed to wrap up a long and winding adventure in a satisfying manner. All so that our minds were clear and ready for the horror that lie ahead, specifically… a megalomaniacal madman named Philip Blake, who loved to be called: The Governor. Until next time.

It has often been said that few things in this world are more dangerous than men with nothing to lose and well… there’s good reason as to why we speak those words often. Because they are in fact, one hundred percent true. For time and time again, on the news or in our everyday lives, we’ve seen men that have reached rock bottom or believe that the world has abandoned them. Putting them in a desperate mindset where they need to act out violently or irrationally to matter or find purpose, and when that occurs… all we do is feel pity, remember those all-important words, and wait for the cleanup or healing to begin. For we fortunately live in a world where emergency services and others can step in and prevent or minimize the damage when a broken man lashes out and that gives us quite the sense of safety when the whole mess is done. 

But while we do indeed sleep better at night, knowing that there are people that stop those kinds of men from completely unleashing their fury on the world, there is always that part of us that wonders how bad things might get if guardians weren’t standing at the proverbial gates. Which is a thought we quickly squash down deep into the recesses of our minds. But some, mostly creative types, cannot let that kind of thought go and they’re eager to explore it in fiction and it just so happens, that the penultimate episode of season two of The Walking Dead, took the time to explore that pondering in a powerful and heartbreaking manner. For ‘Better Angels’ saw Rick Grimes opt to relinquish Shane of his ‘right hand man’ standing in the group and hand that over to Daryl and well… that move, and Lori’s apology, finally forced Shane to face some unfortunate facts.

Because Shane came to realize after being set aside, that he really had little in this world. In fact, he more or less lived vicariously through Rick and enjoyed the rush of being a cop and never gave much thought to his lack of impact on the world or his legacy. But that all changed when the dead came back to life, since he was sprung into the role of true hero and lover and father and that gave him a rush he never thought would be rivaled. So, to be cast down from heaven in what he viewed as a thoughtless and cruel manner… was the last straw, and in that moment… he had nothing to lose and everything to gain and that’s where the grand exploration got underway and well… what we came to learn about how it might go when a desperate man lets loose in a world without protectors was quite frightening to say the least.

For Shane operated with impunity and was able to get Randall out of his makeshift cell and use guile and fury to lead him into woods to promptly murder him and his evil didn’t end there. Since he harmed himself and used those wounds to fool the group into thinking trouble was on the loose. All in the hopes that he could isolate Rick and kill him and sell lies to the group before resuming what he thought was his rightful role as the leader of this ragtag group of survivors. Which really did make for quite the scary sequence, one that hammered home the reality that if left unchecked, men like Shane would do horrific damage to the world around them when they reach their breaking point. But thankfully, there was a line of defense here. For once Rick realized what Shane had planned, he was able to gain a sliver of trust from his fallen friend and use that to put him down instead, for the betterment of the group and thanks to his son’s concern, he was also spared from having to deal with the flesh-eating iteration of his friend and well, in the end, this episode was nothing more than a grand tragedy.

One that saw a broken man fall to pieces right before our eyes in a heartbreaking manner. Since we knew what Rick knew. In that, if Shane had found some semblance of purpose, he might have been a valuable member of the group. But instead, he got inside his own head and let his own fears consume him and the end result, is another casualty to the end to the world and another reminder that anyone on this show can die at any time and well, now that this grand exploration into a dark and dreary corner of the human condition has come to a close, it’s time we turn our attention to a different kind of episode. One that is devoid of deeper commentary and instead works to remind us of how powerful a force the walking dead are. For just over the horizon, a grand herd of the dead are on their way to investigate all that gunfire and their arrival, will change everything for the Greene family and Grimes Group as well. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Jakob’s Wife’.

One particular type of story that audiences love to partake in, are stories that feature an awakening. Wherein a good character that is buried beneath tough circumstances… comes to discover their self-worth or their true talent and in doing so, realizes that this not the reality they have to function within. Which in turn, motivates them to leave their life behind and embrace a brand new one and audiences love this type of story for one reason and one reason alone… because it is ridiculously inspiring. Because so many people out there can relate to feeling trapped in life or underwhelmed by where they are. So, seeing or reading a story that reminds us to dig deep and ask ourselves if we are doing enough to find fulfillment or our true north, resonates with us on a fundamental level and in some cases, offers us our own awakening.
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But while these stories do indeed put a smile on our faces and give us a little serotonin boost in our day, they do come with quite the flaw. In that, they sometimes don’t resonate with the right people. For they keep it broad and fluffy and well, that’s problematic because so many people use storytelling to find meaning and direction in life, and deserve a story that caters to their unique situation. But as popular culture continues to evolve and grow, storytellers are starting to understand the need for more diverse and inclusive entertainment and oddly enough, horror is leading the charge in this matter. As evidenced by a brand-new horror film that just arrived on Shudder this week, since Jakob’s Wife is a motion picture that offers up a female perspective on the awakening process, in quite the unique and intelligent manner.

Now, in this particular film, we are introduced to a husband and wife named Jakob and Anne Fedder who seemingly have it all. For Jakob is the town’s minister and being at the center of his town’s faith, allows for he and Anne to live wholesome lives. The kind where they are able to help others and share in big life moments with their congregation and of course, they have a nice home to live in and food on the table and God’s love in their hearts to go along with their love of one another. But there’s just one problem in regard to this life… in that, Anne is freakin’ miserable. For she is nothing more than Jakob’s Wife and has no dreams of her own or hobbies or joy outside of serving the Lord and her husband. But a chance encounter with a vampire, changes all of that. For ‘The Master’s’ bite gives Anne a new perspective on life, alongside some new abilities and well… now that she is undead and free, there are going to be some changes in her household, and time will tell if they will be good or bad for Jakob.

If anything, that’s simply a brilliant and original plot, one that truly speaks to topics that are timely and relevant. Because women’s rights in the 21st Century are being discussed often, and the role of a woman in the home and in the modern world is being revisited and revised on a daily basis and Anne’s journey reflects all of those discussions and evaluations. For she represents all the women out there who are yearning for more but are still being told by an ancient and silly patriarchy that they are best seen and not heard, and that dreams and careers are only for men. Which makes Anne’s transition into vampirism so incredibly satisfying and powerful. Since death and resurrection serve as a metaphor for her awakening and understanding that she is enough, and that she is more than her husband or those dated notions view to her to be, and it really is quite inspirational to see her come to that particular realization and embrace it through and through. But what’s equally as amazing, is that there is additional commentary to be found within the framework of this film. 
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Because this is a motion picture that really takes the time to look at a key root cause as to why the modern world struggles to view women as the equals that they are, and it turns out… that religion plays a big part in that. For its outmoded views and common belief that it is an end all, be all guide to modern life… allows for stupid concepts to thrive. Such as the husband being the only breadwinner and having command over his spouse and it is quite refreshing to see a film point out that we need to let go of the past, whilst toying around a little with the hypocrisy that accompanies religion, and yet the film still manages to go deeper with its commentary. Since it also takes the time to examine the nature of toxic relationships and what allows for them to thrive since there are some genuinely unhealthy aspects to Anne and Jakob’s marriage.

But of course, what is a horror film without gore and chilling moments and thankfully those are present here as well. Because the mysterious Master that lurks in the shadows, brings forth some eerie moments for certain and of course, the gore is simply top notch. For when these vampires feed, they do so with a voracity that is uncomfortable and unsettling and that allows for the blood to flow like wine and well, in the end… all of these elements make this movie required viewing. Simply because you cannot go wrong with a horror flick that has so much depth and relevance to offer its viewers and it doesn’t hurt that it features some phenomenal performances as well. For Larry Fessenden is simply electric as Jakob and well, it is definitely safe to say that Barbara Crampton delivers the finest performance of her career to date here. Which is saying something considering she’s a horror icon. So, if you’re looking for an intelligent horror film to sink your teeth (or fangs) into, one that stays with you for a long time, courtesy of its powerful commentary on feminism and equality and the need for the patriarchy to go away… then swing by Shudder and give this magnificent motion picture a look.

Everybody has questions as to whether or not ghosts really exist and hopefully someday we will get some cut and dry evidence that they do. Wanting to know what happens after we die is something that is on everybody’s mind and if we are filled with energy like some people believe, then that energy would just transfer to a different plane and our soul would continue on living. When there are soft spots between these planes, that is where the ‘ghosts’ show themselves and interact with the living. While there are so many questions surrounding this, let’s just hope that somehow science is able to prove it and we can get everyone on the same page.
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Wanting to find out if an old plantation house in Louisiana is haunted by the ghost of the notorious Madame LaLaurie, four amateur ghost hunters have been sent in to investigate. With all of the history surrounding the murderous Madame, Paul, Madison, Ryan and Tim have no idea what could be hidden in the walls of the old house. Not being allowed to leave the house until dawn the next day, the group enters the house to find a falling chandelier is waiting to greet them. Feeling uneasy already, the group finds all sorts of cold spots as they start to look around but have no idea what the house has in store for them.

Asking the house to treat them as guests and nothing more, Madison, the psychic, knows that there is someone following them around the house. Trying not to freak everyone out by what she is feeling, the group gets their gear all set up and start to move around to prove whether or not the house is haunted. Moving throughout the house, the group starts to see doors open on their own, but not having the cameras rolling, the group quickly finds out that there is definitely something strange going on around them. After finding a mummified doll hidden in a wall, the group moves up to the attic only to find that the spirit in the house does not want them there.

Reviewing the footage of a chair being flung across the room, everybody is visibly shaken, but they have achieved what they were supposed to do, prove that the house is in fact, haunted. With plenty more to do around the house, the group goes back to the hunt and witness more things happening around them.  Wanting to contact the ghost that is lurking in the shadows, the group holds a séance only to find that the ghost knows Madison personally. While she does not understand how this could be, the group starts to get tormented by the restless spirit who is looking to make them a fixture in the house. Needing to perform a cleansing of the house before they can leave, the group splits up to cover more ground, but with no one to keep an eye on each other, the spirit will feast upon them one by one.

When it comes to telling a good ghost story, you have to know what happened in the past and this movie did just that. With the chilling history of Madame LaLaurie being put front and center in the opening, you really get a feeling of what kind of woman she was and what she was willing to do to anyone in the house. The group conversations throughout were pretty fun, especially when the fear of being alone started to come into play. I liked the ghostly occurrences throughout the house as they started off as being directed at individuals, then intensified when everyone headed out on their own. With a creepy old mansion, a troublesome history, jump scares, a killer ghost and a Madame who loved to torture her employees, this is just a fun ghost story that will leave you wondering how things could go so wrong. Stay Scared.

Something that we all believe is paramount to the human condition and a healthy and happy life… is growth. Because we collectively know and understand that without it, we go nowhere in life, and we learn little and we even find ourselves emotionally stunted without it. Which is why we work to get out there and live life to the fullest, so we can experience moments that help us to grow and change into something more. But what is fascinating about this particular mantra and collective understanding, is that we often see growth through rose colored glasses when in fact… it is actually a painful and powerful process. One that is genuinely forged through tough moments. Because we cannot grow without being challenged and we cannot figure out who we are and we what we stand for, without the gravity of strife or the power of pain.
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For those elements give us a clarity we will rarely experience in life and well, the tougher side to growth, is top of mind today because it served as the focal theme of the next episode of The Walking Dead. A feat that ‘Judge, Jury, Executioner’ accomplished, by putting the group at quite the crossroads. Because once it was discovered that Randall’s group was heavily armed and nearby and eager to divide and conquer any property and people, they encountered, Rick began to ponder upon potentially putting Randall down to keep the group safe. An idea that quickly caught on with just about everyone in the group, considering the losses and dangers they’d recently suffered and endured. But Dale remained the only outlier on the matter, to the point where he asked Rick for time to convince the others to perhaps change their vote on the matter. A request that Rick granted and one that became quite futile in nature.

Because the fear was real in the group and they were eager to have some semblance of safety and if that meant that Randall died to achieve that, so be it. Which is a decision that allowed for Dale to open up like never before and truly question what the group stood for and what its future looked like and while at first at seemed as though they were indeed headed down a dark path regardless of his words, a powerful and poignant and painful moment, changed their course. Because mere moments before Rick pulled the trigger and ended Randall’s life… Carl stepped into the picture and shocked his father. For he encouraged this execution and seeing his son indulge in a blood lust… made Rick realize that Dale was right. That the group had to do better and change course before they became no better than Randall’s death and destruction squad. But before Rick could celebrate coming to understand a better way and his own personal growth… more dark tragedy befell the group.

For dearest Dale was wandering out in the darkness and trying to reconcile a future where he was surrounded by people giving into their cruelest desires and while he was out and about… he encountered quite the sight. For the living dead struck and consumed one of Hershel’s cows and once that voracious walker was done with the cow, it turned its rotten sight toward another fresh meal… Dale. Which brought about a heartbreaking moment, one that saw Dale be ripped open by one of the greatest threats to this intrepid group and just like that… another member of their ranks was lost to the horrors of the land of the dead. And while his death was devastating and heartbreaking in that moment, Dale did not die in vain. For his passing would help to cement what Rick learned with the rest of the group and that powerful lesson and their growth would guide them to be a force of good in this world for years to come. 

In the end, this was simply a powerful episode through and through. One that held nothing back in its exploration as to how our lowest and darkest moments are how we grow, and it also deserves credit for revealing an extremely important reality to the viewers. In that, this world is quite dangerous and not every character is safe from its ravages. Which was as bold a statement back then as it is now, since series regulars usually exit a show on their own terms instead of the story’s and well, the show definitely lived up to that statement in the years to follow and even the episode following this one. For clearly Shane was beyond reproach over Rick’s decision to let Randall live another day and that anger would bring about quite the stunning moment in season two’s penultimate tale, and it is a showdown for the ages between two best friends that will take the center stage in our next Retro Recap of this stunning series. Until then.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Slasher: Flesh & Blood’.
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It is definitely safe to say our understanding of evil and its origins is the best it’s ever been. For now, we know that evil is something that simply isn’t born into this world or created through a force of nature. No instead, we now know that evil is something that mankind forges itself, often times through tough childhoods filled with abuse and/or tough moments in an individual’s life that motivates them to turn their back on humanity and punish the rest of us accordingly. But while these discoveries have helped us to better understand evil and help us to root it out, our grand exploration into its origins is also beginning to turn up another interesting way in which it is created. Specifically, by way of manipulation.
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Because there are some individuals out there, who are already evil in nature… that thoroughly enjoy corrupting souls through gaslighting and threats and carefully crafted words that engenders guilt and a desire from their target to placate their emotional master, and this is one of the scariest ways that evil is born. Because through the right words, bad deeds can be performed in the name of trust and that can corrupt a soul without them even knowing. If anything, this particularly diabolical origin of evil is top of mind today, simply because it served as the focal exploration of the next episode of Slasher: Flesh & Blood. For ‘In Trust’ saw the family reeling from Jayden’s death and the supremely difficult reality that they weren’t escaping the island with the boats gone. And that problem, combined with the fact that a killer was on the loose as well, forced Seamus to take inventory of his life.

For he simply could not believe that this is where his life had brought him and the more, he pondered upon the moment, the more he began to ponder upon the past and in doing so… he came to realize that he was not a good guy in the slightest. Mainly because he came to realize that Spencer found a way to push him toward darkness, since he was indeed a master manipulator. One that was so skilled at pushing the right buttons that he motivated Seamus to ignore properly exploring who he is sexually to live a life that his father wanted, and Spencer’s evil machinations didn’t end there. After all, he used the power of guilt to ensure that Liv was buried in the shadows and shamed long after she was born by Seamus himself, since Spencer couldn’t handle the fact that Seamus was her father and speaking of fatherhood… it took Seamus’ desire to adopt Aphra to bring his corruption around full circle. Since more maneuvering on Spencer’s part allowed for Seamus to lose his seat on the board to Jayden. Giving him reason to indulge in the darkness that resides within all men and exact the revenge he did upon Jayden during the first competition. 

If anything, this made for a fascinating exploration on how evil can be born in a more subtle manner and it made Seamus’ journey quite tragic in nature. In large part because it was obvious that he might finally have regrets about the path he’s taken and also because of how this episode ended. But we’ll leave that part out for the moment in case you haven’t watched it, so we don’t spoil that part of the story. Instead, it’s best we take a quick moment and pivot and discuss the wondrous horror and slasher aspects of this story as well. Because once again, the kills in this tale are simply unrivaled and magnificent since they continue to hold nothing back regarding the gore or the savagery. Plus, this episode deserves serious credit for also taking the time to show how the pressure of this weekend is starting to break the family and bring out their worst instincts, as evidenced by the pair of sequences involving the ultra-weird and always twisted Florence. 

In the end however, this was simply another brilliant episode through and through. One that made it inherently clear that this new season of Slasher is going to be its most cerebral and celebrated to date. Simply because this series really is doing a phenomenal job of exploring the darkest corners of our souls and how we bring evil to the surface of our minds, and the celebration will come about from the fact that this is also a solid horror story as well. One full of dynamic scares and gore and the mystery here keeps you coming back for more. Because we simply must know exactly who is behind the mask and why they are so eager to cause harm to a family that is slowly ripping themselves to pieces from within and of course, we are equally as curious to see who will survive the worst family weekend getaway on record. And well… now that this fascinating and twisted chapter in this dark adventure has ended, we’re back to counting down the minutes to next week’s tale… to see what other dark corners of the human condition this unsettling and compelling story is going to explore next. Until then.     

Well fellow zombie fans, this is it. We’ve reached the final reveal in AMC’s 11 weeks of 11 reveals for The Walking Dead and that can only mean one thing… the final season premiere is upon us. For Sunday marks the beginning of the end for this storied franchise and well… that makes today’s reveal quite fitting.
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For earlier today, AMC revealed a sliver of the opening moments of ‘Acheron: Part I’ and well, let’s waste zero time today and let you enjoy this taste of the final season premiere before it airs on AMC on Sunday, August 22nd at 9 p.m. EST (or you can watch it right now on AMC+) and we look forward to geeking out with all of you about this incredible premiere come Monday after everyone’s had a chance to soak it all in!

In the vastness of space, it is hard to believe that we are the only things living in it and looking up at the stars, I often wonder who or what is out there. If there are aliens living on their own planets, what do they look like, what do they eat, what do they breathe? We may never know if aliens actually exist until a UFO sets down and they say, ‘take me to your leader’, but until that day comes, we will have to continue to sit back and wonder.

Getting an early morning call from Jessa Gwilliams, Vic Singe is none too happy, but she says that she has seen a UFO and being part of The Civilian Department of Ufology, he will need to find a way to respond. Getting teamed up with a rookie, Skot Wimby, the two are able to make their way out to Jessa’s house and quickly see that the woman has been drinking. Making sure that she understands the importance of the situation, Vic puts his foot down to get any evidence that there really is a UFO stalking her but is not willing to accept that all of the pictures she has are real, especially when he finds a picture of an elephant in the pile. Believing that the woman is off her rocker, the two investigators decide to stay the night and on schedule, something strange happens.

Hearing a scream in the early morning, Skot runs to Jenna’s room to see her floating above her bed.  Breaking her out of the hold that the beings have on her, she is visibly shaken and Skot has it all on tape. Reviewing it later and seeing an alien in the window, he knows that there is something strange surrounding the woman, but his partner Vic is less than convinced as to what is going on and continues to be a hardcore skeptic. As the new day moves on, the new partners hear gun shots outside and rush out only to find Jenna taking shots at the sky. Seeing the UFO again, she is trying to keep it away and out of her life. Taking an accidental shot at her new roommates sends them packing, but while on the road, they spot the same UFO from Jenna’s pictures and know that they are on to something great.

Coming back to the house and finding Jenna passed out, Vic wakes up his new client to make sure she understands that they are there to help. As the days start to go by with nothing happening, Vic’s special charm takes over and he is able to land himself a new girlfriend. Knowing that this is unprofessional, there is nothing that Skot can do about the relationship, and the things that are now going bump in the night are Vic and Jenna. But there is something else happening around the household when Skot is awakened to find an orb flying above Vic and Jenna. Seeing now that they are on the investigation of a lifetime, Vic and Skot must also find a way to keep Jenna safe from her extraterrestrial stalkers at any cost.

If you are a fan of abduction movies, this is really a good one to check out. Exploring everything about alien abductions, from orbs to tracking chips, everything that I knew about aliens was touched upon in this movie in fantastic fashion. The interactions between the characters are what makes this movie special, well that and Vic dropping F-Bombs like they are going out of style, to the point where even the aliens want to know what is going on in his mind. Skot is just very interested in what is happening and wants to see an alien with his own two eyes, and he might get his wish. I felt bad for Jenna throughout, having to put up with the aliens stalking her and being made fun of by everyone on this planet, she is just in a no-win situation. With a ton of humor, visitors, abductions, a love story, drawings of strange places and plenty of air guitar, this movie seems to cover everything that an abduction story needs, including abductions. Stay Scared.

One unfortunate fact about everyday life that we don’t like to deal with, but must, is that sometimes… we won’t see eye to eye with our closest friends. Which is bothersome because the close ones are extended family and having disagreements with them, hurts us on a fundamental level. Because we expect there to be nothing but peace between us and our chosen family and well, when this happens… we know there is only one way to get our friendship out of the quagmire. In that, we have to confront the problem at hand and hash it out with those we love and while that may be quite the ugly process, it’s usually quite worthwhile since we get our negative feelings out in the open and find a way forward and well, this particular process is of note today, simply because it played out in the next episode of season two of The Walking Dead.
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For ’18 Miles Out’ saw Rick Grimes and Shane Walsh take a little road trip with their prisoner in tow, in the hopes of dropping him off far enough away from the farm where he could cause no harm. But while they were on the way there… Rick took the opportunity and the isolation to try and resolve the differences that were growing between he and Shane. For he was fully aware of the fact that Shane was threatened by Rick’s return to the group and the hope here, was that some honest words and admissions about Shane’s importance to the group, would finally end the bad blood between the two of them. But alas, Rick’s words were lost to the wind thanks to Shane’s anger and eventually… it boiled over at the worst possible time. Because the dead were everywhere at their final destination and that forced both men to fight for survival in an effort to return home to the farm. 

Which thankfully, they eventually did, with Randall in tow once again simply because he knew about Maggie and the Greene family, meaning a plan B needed to come into play. But what matters more about this harrowing segment and the big fight between Rick and Shane, is that this tale of confrontation became a grand exploration on the unfortunate side of friendship. One that served to remind us that sometimes, close friends grow apart and begin to see the world and the future in a different light. And when that happens, confrontation and attempts to resolve one another’s differences becomes an exercise in futility and sadly… that’s exactly the scenario that played out here. For in the closing moments of this tale, Shane truly came to believe that Rick’s way was the wrong and weak-willed way and doing anything outside of fighting for survival at any cost was wrong and well… only bad things can come out of that.

But while that plot line alone could have carried this episode from beginning to end, there was another aspect of confrontation that played out in this tale, one that was supremely unique in nature. Because while Rick and Shane were trading blows at the outpost they discovered, Beth was grappling with taking her own life. For she really believed this world to be hopeless and awful in nature and believed that perhaps her end would be the best thing possible. Which brought about great debate between Maggie and Lori and Andrea as to how best approach her feelings and prevent her end and well, in Andrea’s eyes… the best way to make that happen… was to face death head on, just as she did. Which is why she gave Beth a choice and a chance to end her life and while in the end Beth decided to live, this was one hell of a way to confront dark feelings and desires for self-harm. Because it could have ended in disaster and well, all of this spoke to something far greater in the end.

In that, the group is at quite the crossroads right now. One where they need to decide, what lies ahead. Because they are unsure of who are they are and who they want to be and what they stand for and that’s a dangerous place to be at the end of the world. For this can be a tipping point for people… the kind that allows for them to slip into something far darker or lose themselves completely and well, that’s one heck of a way to set up what comes next. Because we know what kind of people Rick and his group are and we know what they stand for, which means that the next couple of episodes are key to the formation of their mantra and behavior and desires, and that this is the genesis point of bringing that decision to life. And it will indeed be quite interesting to see the formation of who they will become, play out a second time around… when they make a powerful decision and suffer through more loss, in the next chapter of this harrowing tale. Until next time.    

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’.
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One thing that each and every one of us can agree upon, is that karma is quite the frustrating concept. Because it simply takes its time in dishing out its unique brand of universal justice and well, we are often left wondering exactly why it takes so long to bring negative acts around full circle to their instigator, since that allows for them to operate with impunity. But while karma is indeed about as fast as a sloth, there is a rhyme and a reason for its molasses-like machinations, in that… it is simply biding its time. For it knows that the right moment is everything in this life and it will indeed bring everything home when the stars align and the lesson in question will provide the perfect teachable moment and well, this is a time-tested pattern that applies to General Sarah Alder’s journey.
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Because for centuries now, she’s made sour and questionable and consequential calls with impunity, leaving the witches she serves with to wonder when and if karma will ever come her way. But after two years of her toughest stretch as supreme commander of the Witch Army on Motherland: Fort Salem, and centuries of morally ambiguous calls, karma finally caught up with her during last night’s episode. For ‘Mother of All, Mother of None’ saw Nicte Batan and Sarah Alder come face to face after decades of death and attrition and it did not go well for Sarah in the slightest. For the President of the United States swung by to oversee an interrogation that outright revealed the truth about Sarah’s sorted past with Nicte and how the general’s actions led to the creation of the Spree and well… that brought about a day of incredible reckoning for the long-standing commander.

One where the president ordered Alder to take the win here and step away from the Army shortly after Batan was dealt with via Witch Law and well, this was quite the satisfying moment. Since it finally allowed for Alder to pay the piper for her actions and her desire to keep war going and what was quite amazing about this move, is that it changed a great deal for the future of the army. For Petra Bellweather would take Alder’s place and that allowed for some big changes to happen behind the scenes. Such as promoting Abigail to an officer so she could lead the good fight against the Camarilla because of her experience in dropping one of their cells and really, it was just quite nice to see the war effort begin to turn its efforts on the real enemy instead of other witches and that particular concern was expanded upon further in this tale by both Tally and Raelle.

For Tally made a point to stop the infighting at Nicte’s execution by saving her life and forcing the truth to come to out since the army needed to be a unit, one laser focused on honesty and fighting a real enemy and Raelle backed up her actions. Mainly because she finally had the chance to learn about how the Mycelium that flowed through her veins, was in fact… powerful witch energy. One that had been building since the day that Fort Salem was founded as part of a collective, afterlife effort from the fallen. All so that the right solider could use their combined power to teach the Camarilla the lesson they so deserve and that too… required this army to come together as one and focus upon the bad surrounding them and well, it’s a good thing that this unity has arrived at last. Because in the closing seconds of this tale, the Camarilla brought the fight to Fort Salem in a horrifying and stunning manner and well… it will be quite interesting to see how this particular battle goes since no one has ever dared to attack the army on its home base.

But while we wait to see how this long-awaited battle between two old foes plays out during next week’s season two finale, we can revel in the majesty of one satisfying tale. Because at long last, Sarah Alder reaped what she sowed, and she was finally taught a lesson about grounding oneself in their humanity above all else and to top it off… the underlying commentary in this tale was impressive as well. Since discussions of infighting and harming one another instead of fighting the real enemy has some serious relevance in America right now… since we ourselves are doing just that. But all of that aside, the time has indeed come for the showdown to end all showdowns and it will be fascinating to see who will live and who will die when the Army goes on the offensive come next week. Until then.