Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Lopez vs Lopez’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of its first couple of episodes, the NBC series, Lopez vs Lopez, has done a phenomenal job offering up storytelling balance when it comes to its commentary on modern family problems and the Latino and Latinx experience. A move that is likely designed to make the series open to all, which makes sense. After all, viewers are the name of the game and if a series can appeal to everyone and keep them hooked, so much the better since we will get more seasons of what we love. But this is series is so bold and understands the grand opportunity in front of it to bring Latinx culture into the limelight, that the next episode of this series, opted to dive into a complex cultural problem that Latinos face often.
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Specifically, having to prove one’s worth… as a Latino. Which might sound silly, since why would anyone from any race have to prove something akin to that? But it is something that permeates Latino culture, for there is an outstanding belief that all corners of it must be properly honored and displayed proudly. Which makes sense, because why not be proud of one’s heritage and the rich culture that surrounds that? But what makes this so problematic is the sheer fact, that there is a toxicity that comes with this concept. Because sadly, if a Latino isn’t quite Latino enough in the eyes of their peers, there is heat that the individual takes, the kind that makes one uncomfortable in a manner that can impact their mental health and that was explored in this tale… courtesy of a revelation on Mayan’s part, in ‘Lopez vs Español’.

In that, she didn’t speak Spanish fluently. Not from a lack of disdain for the language or because she wanted to disrespect her roots. No instead, the opportunity to learn it in depth never arose and she kept this a secret to keep her father proud of her and happy, since he was of the old school opinion that a Latino that cannot speak Spanish, surely cannot be a Latino. But alas, despite her best efforts to keep this secret thriving, life was beginning to pressure her to use Spanish more often, and that led to quite the uncomfortable moment for Mayan. For she took the time to help her dad with his moving company, and he just so happened to put her in charge of a crew where no one spoke English but her. Which led to some misunderstandings with both the workers and the client, and eventually… a showdown about this outdated concept when George learned the truth, and a valuable lesson about this belief.

In that, it is just plain silly. For not speaking Spanish doesn’t make a Latino individual any less Latino. It just means, they don’t speak Spanish and it is really another one of those, old school ways of thinking. The kind that no longer fit into the modern world and the lives of modern Latinos. Because not every Latino growing up in America is going to speak Spanish and that is something that will undoubtedly become commonplace as generation after generation is born here. Which is commentary that makes this… a brilliant and powerful episode when all is said and done. Simply because, this is the kind of stuff that isn’t talked about in Latino culture, much less on the small screen and it takes some serious bravery to do so, but this show handled it in a manner that was classy for certain, and complete with its trademark humor. 

Courtesy of the charming subplot involving Chance and Rosie, since his Abeula worked hard to find a way to inspire him to want to learn the language. Which she did through the wonder that is the Novela. And perhaps that is the solve to enticing non-Spanish speaking Latinos to dive in and learn it; make it enticing and romantic. So that one cannot resist learning its wonder. But that aside, make no mistake about it, this might be the finest episode of this series to date and that’s saying something. Since it has already established itself to be a cerebral and classy comedy, and it really does deserve a round of applause for going for it and addressing some fascinating issues from the Latinx community, and truly it will be fascinating to see what other commentary it is going to offer us regarding Latino culture as season one continues along. Until next time. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 303 of ‘Jack Ryan’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are a great many reasons to love the Prime Video series, Jack Ryan. For not only is this show a delightful iteration of a character that could easily be considered to be America’s version of James Bond, but it features fine acting and wondrous action and plots that consistently engage us and leave us on the edge of our seat. But of the many reasons we tune in, there is one above all that truly keeps us eager for more. In that, this is that rare action and adventure and espionage series, that is brave in nature. For this show isn’t keen to just follow formula and give us a by the numbers problem for Jack to solve on the fly. It will in fact, offer up bold stories that are unconventional in nature, as evidenced by the show’s next episode.
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For ‘Running With Wolves’ is a story that should have seen Jack Ryan assembling deep data and intel and perhaps an Army to bring down Sokol whilst being hunted. But instead, this particular tale shook that up and went into world-building. For a fair chunk of this tale instead took place in the Czech Republic, wherein James Greer spent time with President Alena Kovac, to see where her country stood on potentially inviting NATO weapons onto their soil. Which at first, seemed to be an afterthought for Alena. Since she really wanted her country to be impartial. But Greer knew that danger was lurking for this nation and set out to prove that it was and did, since it became clear to him that the assassination was staged and that certain parties were planning to use it as a reason to interfere, prompting those weapons to make their way to the republic.

Which should have been nothing less than good news in this story, since it seemed as though Greer headed off disaster and brought security and safety to a potentially scary situation. But instead, this was nothing more than part of a grander plan. Since we came to learn that Petr is in fact, working against his daughter. Since he was aligned with the cabal of leaders that want a Red Russia to move across Eastern Europe once again, and he knows plenty about Sokol and where it is at and the plan in general. Which entails the Czech Republic receiving NATO assistance to set the stage for a standoff and potential conflict, giving these shady fellows the perfect moment in which to unleash Sokol and their plans, giving rise to real tension here. The kind that left us wondering if there was going to be any hope to stop the plan since it was playing out as they hoped.  

Thankfully however, hope arrived in the form of Jack’s journey. For he and Mike made their way to Vienna to speak with Zoya and setup a meeting with her contact so Jack could have concrete evidence of the plan to present to the United States Government, which was still hot on his trail in this tale, and so he could figure out how best to stop the madness, and he got his wish. For Zoya set up the meeting on a train, one that Jack made sure he was on and for a time… it seemed as though painful trouble awaited him as well. Since his Russian nemesis was on the train, as was a suspicious stranger that appeared to have machinations to bring him harm. But instead, the stranger revealed himself to be Luka, and saved Jack and explained that they had limited time to fill him in and plan for tomorrow, giving rise to a future story that would resemble a more traditional tale.

Since this one… was all about setup and what makes that so unconventional is that usually the beginning of the spy story is where we play catch up and cat and mouse games and enjoy setup, then the action comes in. But this season of the show… has flipped all that. Since the tension and doom was in episode one, and the rest has been filtering in ever since and well, this works. Because the answers are just making this whole situation nightmarish in nature, and the tension is beginning to rise and it is also teaching us, to expect the unexpected from this story. Since it seems now that anything could happen, thanks to the stakes being so high and once again, we are compelled to continue the journey. To see what other surprises await us and see how Jack is going to save the free world from perhaps its biggest threat to date. Until next time. 

It wasn’t that long ago, that we spotlighted an important epiphany that washed over Meech in an earlier episode of BMF on STARZ. Wherein he pondered upon the fact that pushing others violently, would in turn result in a cycle of violence. Which was quite the unique statement for a future drug kingpin to make, since so many of them surround themselves in violence and use brute and overwhelming force to quell any concerns, and in many ways… those musings made it seem as though Meech was fully prepared to do things different and build his empire in a better way. But clearly, that thought process was nothing more than quality foreshadowing when all is said and done.
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For in the last episode, Meech was quick to resort to a different kind of violence to get the result he wanted for his business, emotional violence. The kind that sent Lamar into a deep and dark place and left all of us wondering what would come next from a response standpoint and well… it didn’t take long for Meech to come to understand exactly what kind of counteroffensive would come forth from taking the time to break a man’s spirit in a violent manner, in the show’s next episode. For ‘Strictly Business’ opened up with a stunning response from Lamar. One that saw gunfire in broad daylight and saw Meech have to continue to circle the wagons around his family, while Lamar regrouped and caused all kinds of trouble around town with Monique and even the 50 Boyz while they were slinging product. 

But what made this episode quite fascinating, is that it used Lamar’s seething and need to hide as an opportunity to build tension and advance other storylines. Such as how B-Mickie started to suspect something suspicious was up with Kato, and how Meech began to work hard to open up new lines of business for the franchise and how 50 Boyz became a moniker that Tee and Meech were ready to drop. Not to mention there was the whole matter of Terry’s struggles with planning for the future since he bombed a college interview and we even got to check in on Charles and Lucille and their struggles in getting that settlement from the hospital, and all of this was brilliant to be honest. Because a lot of these plot threads needed this attention, and they truly did help to build the tension.

Because behind these formative and important moments, the threat of Lamar hung heavy over the story. As though he would appear and cause trouble at any moment, and near the end of the episode… that tension finally snapped in a big and terrifying way. Because not only did Lamar decide to kill Slick in a harrowing manner in the midst of a frustrated rage, but Lamar also decided that the time had come to really hit the Flenory family where it would hurt… by bringing harm to young Nicole. So, he set out and tracked her as though she were prey and when the time was right, he swooped in and tried to pull her away from the street and her boyfriend, Darius. But things went horribly wrong during his big moment, to the point where he ended up plunging a knife into Darius… ending his life. 

Which was… the perfect way to bring that foreshadowing and lesson around full circle. Because Meech’s decision to enact psychological and emotional violence upon Lamar, unleashed a nightmare upon the streets of Detroit. Wherein Lamar went on a tear and hurt so many people in the process, and to make matters worse… he’s still on the loose. Which means he can strike at any time and that makes for an ominous ending as well. One that now leaves us worried deeply about the future of the Flenory family and whether or not they will make it out of this season as a complete family unit, and well… the only way to know… is to continue the journey, and see what Terry and Meech’s response will be, now that Lamar has escalated this feud, further. Until next time. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘Whitstable Pearl’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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We are taught from a very early age, that love is one of the most powerful emotions that a human being can express and experience. In fact, it is so powerful, according to those lessons, that it can overcome anything and inspire others in ways we never imagined, and on a more intimate level… it will draw our chosen lover to us… regardless of what is standing in our way. Which is why we cherish it so and feed it whenever we feel it… so that wonders can come to fruition. But alas, while those lessons are wonderful, they aren’t entirely accurate. For we do come to learn when we grow older that love can be quite the flawed and painful, and sometimes disappointing experience.
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Because it doesn’t overcome insurmountable odds, nor does it always inspire. Because some people are cold hearted and evil in nature and find no solace or joy in love. And others are closed off emotionally and are not reciprocal in love and sometimes… we fall head over heels in love with people we cannot have. Which causes all kinds of trouble, usually for the person who knows what they want is miles away. But while most folks eventually come to terms with those realities, some simply cannot and push to make love happen, consequences be damned. If anything, all of these sour lessons regarding love are top of mind today, simply because several people were forced to learn them in the season two finale of Whitstable Pearl on Acorn TV.

A feat that ‘To Those We Love’ accomplished first, by giving us a murder case grounded in the broken heart that comes from not being able to be near the one we want. For a man named Adnan saw his bride die the day of their wedding and was of course shattered over this. Since he hadn’t a clue who could committed such a cold act. Which of course prompted Mike and Pearl to dive into this case headfirst to bring this cruel individual to justice and well, thanks to Pearl’s keen mind, she came to realize that a woman that had been constantly harassing the deceased, was in fact… the woman trying to comfort Adnan. Because Laurie wanted him and only him and was so distraught that she was never his top choice... that she snapped and went to extreme measures to have his love. Making it clear how much a denial of love can hurt and how it can break an individual emotionally. 

But while that could have carried this episode on its own, it was Mike and Pearl’s journey here that was equally as important. Because this is the story where Mike finally realized that Pearl was his everything. As evidenced by how he opened up to her in this tale about the past pain he’s kept hidden and by how he cared for and worried about Pearl in this story and trusted her when needed. And it was his hope that his love for her… would conquer all and motivate her to leave her man and be back with him. But alas, it just doesn’t work like that in the real world. For commitments and bonds can help a person deny that request of the heart, as Pearl had to do here. Which leaves Mike and Pearl’s future in an uncertain place and that is… a powerful way to hammer home the lesson inherent.

For it devastates the viewer too. Because we were all hoping this duo would finally get it together and get together. But for now, it is not meant to be, and it may never happen… because that’s life. Where sometimes we love and lose and do our best to get by. If anything, this was… the perfect way to end a unique season of storytelling. Because year two of this dynamic series, was all about lessons and how we apply them to our everyday lives and dropping a big one that is hard to learn, is the right way to close out a season filled to the brim with plenty for us to chew upon. And hopefully we can see how Mike and Pearl apply the lessons learned here in the future. Provided of course a third season is green lit, which as of press time hasn’t happened yet. But while we wait to see if the journey will continue, we can reflect upon and rewatch a brilliant season of storytelling that took this world and its characters to new heights. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Leverage: Redemption’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Forgiveness is a word and a concept that carries great weight in our world and understandably so. After all, to err is indeed human and to hold grudges against those who err and stumble through their journey is bad for everyone involved. Since it creates bad blood and promotes more anger and disdain in a world that already has enough negativity to go round. So, we do our best to forgive and forget and heal, in the hopes of making the world a better place in the process. But despite our best efforts to forgive as often as possible, now, and again we come to learn that there moments and acts in this life, that are beyond forgiveness. For when a person crosses that line, forgiveness would only encourage bad behavior further.
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For the individuals that cross that line, only believe in themselves and their actions and will never care about anyone beyond that. And that motivates them to hurt others with impunity and a sick joy that demands retribution if at all possible, and that kind of person and the lack of forgiveness they earn is top of mind today… simply because that was the type of disgusting individual the team encountered in the next episode of Leverage: Redemption. For ‘The Walk in the Woods Job’ saw Eliot get fired up over the fact that a good friend of his, a brother really, likely was killed by a dishonorable man named Austin Kurlander. Who used one seemingly positive brave moment in his life to build a shady mercenary empire, that clearly ran up against that old and dear friend. Of course, Eliot wasn’t going to stand for this and immediately rallied the team to find out why this happened and to bring Kurlander down.

However, there were some roadblocks that sprung up in regard to making that happen. In that, Eliot’s friend, Paul, faked his own death to bring Kurlander’s guard down. All because he wanted a shot at putting Kurlander down himself. Simply because this weasel had risen to prominence through a lie. For his brave moment was nothing more than opportunistic cowardice. The kind that dishonored memories of the fallen to further his interests and Paul felt responsible for taking part in this mess by not bringing that truth to light sooner. Not to mention, Kurlander was hiding amongst other men of his caliber at a remote location, forcing the team to get creative to bring to light his cowardice and dishonor. Which of course, they did, because this is Team Leverage, we are talking about here, and no one escapes them. 

But what matters more here, was how this episode dug deep into how dishonorable acts and lies, truly fire up people like never before. Because we truly do value honesty and integrity above all and seeing someone cast that aside, just disgusts us. Likely because they are values that our parents instill in us at a young age, and we come to see the good they can do. So, to see someone step away from a societal foundation is just unsettling to say the least. However, while that made for some fine commentary, we’d be foolish to not point out… that Eliot is the real draw of this episode. Because we’ve only had snippets of his past pop up on the show, and we only know so much about what formed the man to be so honorable and so heroic, and this episode revealed a great deal about that. Since it did speak to how he came to learn what heroes and cowards look like, and how much honor and integrity mean to him.

All of which was expressed through a top-tier performance from Christian Kane, and it was quite incredible to see Eliot take charge here and that this episode still found a way to keep things light with source material that was a touch dark. Since Parker and Sophie’s bet made for some real fun, and of course Breanna’s decision to help save some frogs added to that and of course… Harry’s impression of Eliot, complete with THE speech from Rocky Balboa was the stuff of legend. Which is a testament to Noah Wyle’s script and direction in this story. But all of that aside, it is also important to point out that in many ways it seems as though, this was a setup episode. One designed to prepare us for an important moment in the franchise’s history, since the teaser and episode description for what comes next, promises a deep dive into the mystery that is Eliot, and it will be fascinating to finally learn more about this enigmatic hero. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Lopez vs Lopez’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Society has made some incredible strides when it comes to understanding mental health. For it wasn’t that long ago that such disorders as PTSD or bipolar disorder were seen as the same thing and were to be treated in a harrowing and scary manner, by locking folks that suffered from either one up, wherein they would be medicated and forgotten. But science has helped us to understand the uniqueness of our mental health and that we respond quite differently to stress and trauma, and that, brain chemistry can vastly differ from one person to another, and that has led to some revolutionary care. To the point where there are now specific drugs to treat specific disorders ranging from anxiety to schizophrenia.
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But what’s fascinating about this medical revolution, is that it has run into severe resistance. For there are people out there who cite big pharma and profits as the reason behind such diagnoses and disorders, and they are of course, wrong. And there are of course others… who see mental health issues and disorders and illness, as nothing more than figments of imagination. Where somehow quiet time and/or busy time will cure what ails a person when so many know that this is not the case. Which are surprising stances for certain since we are so reliant upon science and technology in our everyday lives, ergo, we should be embracing all it has to offer. That of course, begs the question… what is it leading to this split between people that embrace what medicine has to offer and those who deny it and science?

Well as it turns out, the next episode of Lopez vs Lopez on NBC, explored such matters in a dynamic and uplifting fashion. A feat that ‘Lopez vs Anxiety’ accomplished, by informing us that Mayan suffered from anxiety and understandably so. For there were a rash of break ins in her neighborhood and of course, some unresolved trauma from her childhood created that as well. Which meant she needed to take medication for such matters and that did not sit well with George. Who firmly believed this was nothing more than an ‘in your head’ type scenario and that with a little love and a lot of shenanigans, such as rigging the house with a security system of his own devising, Mayan would feel just fine. But that wasn’t the case, because anxiety is quite real, and it took George getting to experience it firsthand to help him understand its reality.

Which was… the perfect way to explore the divide and how two key elements go into this strange denial. In part it relates to the generational gap in America, since there are entire generations of people who were told to ‘suck it up’ and push forward when their mental health faltered. That means they didn’t have the knowledge or understanding needed to just, take a beat and seek help or do what must be done to heal mentally, and that means education is really the other factor that goes into such matters. Because without it, people fear what they don’t understand and make rash judgments and statements, and decisions and until we fix both issues, this kind of nonsense will continue. And a round of applause is in order to the producers and writers and cast for addressing this in a compelling and lighthearted manner so the lesson stuck in our minds, and for also tying this into the Latinx experience as well.

Because the pride and machismo we mentioned in our last recap was present here again in a different manner. For it isn’t acceptable in Latino and Latinx culture for men to be perceived as weak or unable to fight against anything that life throws about. Which the show expressed through George’s actions and wanton sniping of Quenten and his value as a family protector, and that was definitely some hardcore commentary on machismo and how Latino males process fear and how they too believe in forging ahead through adversity because that is what the culture demands. But thankfully, rather than just say it is all bad and nothing can be done, the advice present here was applicable to George and undoubtedly to others. Making this another powerful and poignant tale, one that really did a phenomenal job of presenting a key issue in our world in a manner that isn’t polarizing and once again, this compels one to continue the journey, to see what other fascinating commentary awaits us courtesy of this brilliant new series. Until next time.

It is definitely safe to say that the witch, is nothing short of a horror icon. After all, these mystical beings have been around since the earliest days of the genre and their stories continue to permeate the pop-culture landscape. Speaking volumes to their importance to horror and how well they resonate with audiences. For there is just something incredible and engaging about a person, often a woman in these stories, being able to tap into powers from a realm we know nothing of and never knew existed. But while the witch brings us a haunted joy and we line up to see what their stories look like, there is an interesting conundrum that exists with witch-themed storytelling. 
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In that, the vast majority of these tales operate in the past, where witchcraft was something, we often feared and hunted as a society. A move that does speak to our former savagery and hyper misogyny and reminds us that we’ve made some progress as a species… but it does leave us wondering why there aren’t more modern-day witch stories. The kind where magic exists in a world where science has proven magic to be nothing more than a figment of our imagination. Because not only would that create an opportunity to tell a tale that serves as a quasi-escape, but it would also give rise to something refreshing and original for this type of story. Wherein new territory could be explored regarding the witch and their powers and thankfully, that is about to come to fruition.

For Sunday will see the debut of a new series on AMC, one that updates the witch story in a dynamic new light, thanks to the network’s acquisition of Anne Rice’s magnificent work. Because not only did AMC get their hands on Interview with the Vampire, but they also grabbed hold of Lives of the Mayfair Witches, which will now be known as Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, and well… we here at NTG had the opportunity to see some of this magnificent new series in advance and thought it would be worthwhile to discuss what will make this highly anticipated show worth your time, in a spoiler-free manner of course. And the first reason this series is worth your while, is that at long last, this popular series of books is receiving a quality on screen adaptation and that’s huge. Because too often, adaptations are treated as an afterthought and given a low budget or feel rushed and that’s simply not the case here.

Because this show truly brings the world of the Mayfair Witches to life, complete with a grand and sweeping story that encompasses everything we loved in the books, and it has top-tier effects to accompany the magic, and sets and costumes that do the story justice. But while it is nice to finally see this world come to life on our television screens, where this series truly shines, is via its modern-day update. For the writers and producers of this series clearly understood there was a chance here to do something special with a cast that is made up of primarily of women in the lead roles, and that allows for topics and troubles that women face today to be addressed in this story. Grounding the story in a realistic manner, and the fact that the magic is treated with respect and is wonderfully woven into the story only adds to that realism. Making this series feel as though we’ve stumbled upon a world within our world, and that just draws us into this story further.

As does its acting, because it takes quality performances to really sell this kind of story and keep it grounded, and the cast here really does a phenomenal job of selling this world and its secrets, with Alexandra Daddario leading the way. For her performance as Rowan is a revelation, since she brings an incredible honesty and vulnerability to the role, the kind that allows for the viewer to immediately understand her and trust her and root for her every step of the way. If anything, all of these elements provide us with a phenomenal and refreshing series, one that we thankfully are days away from enjoying. For Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches will make its debut on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at 9 p.m. EST/PST on five networks no less. Since BBC America, IFC, SundanceTV, and WEtv will be carrying the series premiere along AMC and we here at NTG hope you give it a look and join us here for our weekly recaps of a series that is full of mystery, mysticism, and intrigue, and treats the longstanding legacy of the witch, with the respect it is due.   

Often times in crime dramas, there comes a critical moment for the main character. Wherein they are at quite the crossroads. One that will allow for them to either fully commit to a life of crime or step away from the darkness and lead a normal life, and this crossroads tends to be presented to them, via a mentor or wise criminal that knows the ugly path they are about to go down. Which is a move that allows for a clear and concise choice to be made by character and it is also designed to help the audience understand exactly what kind of logic goes into turning to a life of crime. Which can be quite helpful in that regard for certain, but it does present quite the unique problem for the story. In that, it just isn’t realistic in the slightest.
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Because the vast majority of big decisions we make in life, be them good or bad, are made in the moment and based on the information we have in front of us. For there is rarely time to consult someone wise and just to guide us, we simply must do. Or… deep down… we already know what path we must take, and the manner in which we decide to move forward in life in a negative or positive manner is top of mind today, simply because Meech was presented with that conundrum in the next episode of BMF on STARZ. For when we caught up with Meech and Terry in ‘Secrets and Lies’, their operation was in a difficult place. After all, Pat finally decided to straight up cut them out of the business because he couldn’t stand being called to the carpet regarding his own drug use, nor could he handle Meech outgrowing him, and Lamar, of course… stole their stash.

That put the business on hold until they could connect with Big L and get new product and that too was of worry. Because they needed money to pay for the product and without any weight to move, they were stuck. Which put Meech at that crossroads. One where he had to decide how ruthless he needed to be in order to have what he wanted and well, what he decided was quite stunning to say the least. Especially when one considers how often he has tried to push peace over violence and dark acts. But it was either fight back and get his or let Lamar have his way and lose the business he loved… and that was why, he decided to pick up Zoe and keep her secure so that Lamar would be forced to either turn over the stash or never see his child again, or so it seemed. Since Meech wasn’t prepared to cross that line and expected to not have to. But make no mistake about it… this was… about as brutal and as powerful as it gets. 

Because this truly put Lamar into a downward spiral. One that prompted him to go back on his word with 12th Street regarding keeping business and personal lives separate, since he asked his team to find his little one. But despite his best efforts and some close calls in getting Zoe back, Meech was one step ahead. But alas, Lamar wouldn’t break and that pushed Meech to escalate his plans further. Which is why he had Slick kidnapped and beaten badly so that he would listen to reason and come to understand that he held Zoe’s future, and his own life, in his hands. Because if he told Meech where the stash was, he could have Zoe and look the hero, even though disappointment would come into play from Lamar. Or… he could let her die, and the piper when it was made clear to Lamar, he could have saved his daughter and chose not to. Thankfully, he chose the former, and that got the 50 Boyz what they needed to get new product at last and it sent Zoe home safe, with a caveat of course.

In that, Lamar could no longer be near her because of the danger he created. A move that will undoubtedly shatter Lamar and put him in a strange place and that wasn’t the only emotional surprise present here as well, since an evening of honesty led to Lucille learning the truth about her sons and their actions. Both moments of course, will bring forth consequences for certain. But while we wait to see what kind of consequences exactly, we can revel in the majesty of one powerful tale. One that made it clear that sometimes, people commit to the darkest path possible in a swift manner. Where they don’t ponder upon right and wrong and consequences, just what’s in front of them or out of fear of losing what they love or on the off chance they’ll miss out. All of which pushed Meech to go to the next level and it will indeed be fascinating to see where Meech goes from here, now that he’s fully committed to the life, and the game, and everything ugly that will be required of him to rise to the top. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of ‘Doc Martin’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

​The biggest question that plagues creative individuals that are tasked with assembling the ending of an iconic television series is… how is it going to end? Which is… quite the important and loaded question. Because this is it, the final story, and it is so important and so critical that not sticking the proverbial landing could leave failure hanging over the legacy of the series. Not to mention, the fans will let their displeasure be known if the finale doesn’t meet their expectations and that puts a great deal of pressure on the producers and the writers’ room to get it right, and it is undoubtedly the question that was hanging over those same teams when it comes to the Acorn TV series, Doc Martin.
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Because this wildly popular series had to be brought to its logical conclusion in a manner that paid respect to the dynamic characters that populate Portwenn, and well, this past weekend, Acorn TV aired the series finale of the wondrous saga of Doctor Martin Ellingham and well… we are happy to report that everyone behind the scenes, figured out how to stick the landing by offering up an ending that perfectly fit the dynamics of the series. That means, ‘Last Christmas in Portwenn’, didn’t offer up some game changing, gimmicky surprise to close everything out. Nor did it decide to offer up some ham hocked cliffhanger or open-ended finale that the viewer could interpret.

No instead, this finale… was all about giving Martin, a moment of reflection on the long and winding and wild journey he’s enjoyed over the past ten years and a chance to properly grow as man and embrace a bold new chapter in his life. And it accomplished those feats by way of two key plot points. First… by setting this finale in the heart of the Holiday season. For that is a time of reflection, where we do look at the journey behind us and the journey ahead and… by having Martin bid farewell to his mother. For she passed in this tale and that too put Martin in a reflective place since she shaped and controlled so much of his life and well, a messy medical tussle with the town Santa, and concerns about being a better parent than his mother, brought this series home.

For there was a sequence of events that saw Martin come close to losing his own life in the midst of a nasty winter storm. Which allowed for him to reflect upon his journey and how he turned out just fine, regardless of his mother’s meddling and sometimes off kilter words and behaviors, and since he chose his own path and didn’t opt to repeat some kind of cycle of abuse, he was going to be a great father. He just needed to remind himself that the past meant nothing, and that all that mattered were actions going forward. Which led to a triumphant return to his family, one that saw him do just that, and that really is… the perfect way to close out Martin’s story. Because this was always his journey and his growth, and after spending ten years struggling with it, he finally made strides and left the dry and grizzled doctor persona… mostly behind. Effectively, closing that chapter to begin a new one.

However, what also made this finale of note, is that it didn’t just offer Martin growth in this tale. Because at long last, Joe finally properly declared his love for Janice, after doing one last quirky act, allowing for them to prepare for a life together as husband and wife. Plus, Morwenna and Al entered a new phase of their lives since they were preparing to become parents in this tale, and even Mrs. Tishell found growth in this tale. By admitting her feelings for Martin so that she could let go of them and move on in life, without that neck brace for the first time ever. Either way, in the end, this really was quite the satisfying finale. One that brought the series home in a manner that was as simple and as quirky as the hero it allowed for us to spend ten glorious and moving and wondrous seasons with, and truly, this iconic series will be looked upon fondly for generations to come. Courtesy of the fact that it stuck the landing and because it offered us a delightful and original story about life, that will never be replicated.    

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Lopez vs Lopez’.
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There is a prevailing belief that the family unit in Modern America, still resembles its structure from many, many years ago. Wherein every household featured a hard-working father and mother, the latter of which stayed home to keep a suburban homestead neat and clean for the 2.5 children that also lived under that roof. And of course, they’d go to church together weekly and have dinner at seven o’clock promptly every night. Which is an image that really does make it seem as though Norman Rockwell froze what family life would be like in the United States of America for all time, in his world-famous Saturday Evening Post painting. But alas, that belief is woefully incorrect and that image, no longer resembles family life in America.
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Because now, American suburban life features people from all walks of life and all the religions of the world and there isn’t always just a mother and a father. Sometimes two dads or two moms run the household, or parents that are gender fluid and/or non-binary. And sometimes, both parents split up and take turns raising their children because marriage isn’t forever anymore and that in turn brings forth new challenges for families as the years roll along since divorce can lead to estrangement and bad blood. Which is why it is always a wonderful thing to discover television shows and movies and stories in general… that showcase all of that. So that the old guard of thinking can quietly fade away into memory and the true reality of family life can step to the forefront of American thinking, and recently, an important show in this vein made its debut on NBC.

For Lopez vs Lopez is a show that explores not only what the modern American family unit looks like in our country, but the real challenges they face and how generational divides and old and outdated ways complicate healing. And it accomplishes such feats, by immediately introducing us to Mayan and George Lopez. A father and daughter that lost touch after George and Mayan’s mother, Rosie, split, and this duo are now trying to reconnect. And when we catch up with them in ‘Lopez vs Pilot’, Mayan and George are in the midst of their reconnection and that is where the show dives deep into modern family dynamics. In part because we learn that Mayan has a boyfriend named Quenten and they had a son named Chance, and since Quentin is Caucasian, they are a mixed family. Which also reflects our modern world, and the struggles that Mayan and George endure in trying to find common ground and to have a healthy relationship at last, is what brings forth deeper commentary and observations on modern family life.

After all, we come to learn that George wasn’t there for a fair chunk of Mayan’s life, reflecting how some parents are indeed absent from their children’s lives these days when a family splits and how hard reconnection and reconciliation can also be. Because both Mayan and George struggle to find common ground and they also fight often over how she should live her life and how he should live his own, as well. Speaking to the generational divide that exists in our world and how difficult communication can be in a family that never really communicated in the first place. But where this series shines, is that it takes the time to explore how we fix those problems and find ways to connect, and that’s essential to add to a series like this since it offers so many searching for something similar, a better way and a way forward and the wonder of this premiere, doesn’t end there.

Because we’d be remiss to not point out, that this fascinating plot offers more than just modern family commentary and observation. For this is also an opportunity to explore the Latino and Latinx experience in America and Latino culture and George’s fight to not adapt with the times and not open up to his daughter, accomplishes that. For something that is not discussed often regarding Latino culture, is the toxic masculinity that is present often, the kind that features the behavior that George exhibits here. Since pride and machismo are prized heavily by Latino and Latinx men and nothing is allowed to dent that pride. And this pilot deserves a round of applause for pointing out that this exists and that it can be shed and overcome in the name of something better. And that additional commentary and everything we’ve discussed, make this a poignant and important premiere. One that is brave and bold and funny as well, since all of this is explored through brilliant humor that lets the lesson stick and truly, this pilot compels one to continue the journey. So, we can see what other realistic concepts and slices of everyday Latino life this wondrous series is going to send our way. Until next time.