Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Night Court’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular aspect about life that each of us will agree is unsettling, is that we simply do not ever have a clue if we’ve made the right decision. Because there is no way of going back and looking at what the other path decision wise might have produced for us. So, we stick with the call we made, and hope for the best and sometimes… let that haunt us. Because now and again, little moments come up that leave us wondering, and sadly… there is simply no way to overcome this permanently. Because we make a lot of big decision in our lives, the kind that weigh upon us heavy. If anything, the only we can do to cope, is to surround ourselves with people who are wise enough to inform us that what’s done and done and to recognize the good in what we decided.

If anything, that particular aspect of life is top of mind today, simply because it popped up in this week’s episode of Night Court on NBC. For ‘Hold the Pickles, Keep the Change’ saw Abby begin to doubt her decision to break up with Rand. Courtesy of the fact that he was dating back home again, and seemed happy, despite the fact that his expression of this was handled poorly on Insta. But that really did get to Abby deeply and truly left her wondering if she made the wrong call, if sticking with Rand and his love could have done something more for her. Which in turn, put her on a strange path in this tale. One where she used the power of the pickle to find perfection and solace in her decision, but sadly… that didn’t work. Because let’s be honest, there’s nothing to be found within the wonder of the pickle outside of the taste.

But Abby’s attempts to reconcile this failed further because… Olivia only exacerbated her worries. Because as Abby struggled to settle in her mind which call was the right call, Olivia dragged her out to a double date with a pair of lawyers so greasy and so unethical, that they would have made Saul Goodman cringe with disgust. But Olivia was feeling saucy in this tale and wanted the love of one of these ambulance chasers badly. To the point where she cared little when Abby ran back to her office to do more pickle work and self-loathing over her decision. All because going on a date made her further doubt what she had done. Making it clear that Olivia was not the right person to support such matters. Heck, she didn’t even get what she wanted in the end. Because the lawyer she wanted so badly, was more in love with his earnings than he would ever be with her. 

Which meant, there was only one hope to save Abby from her mind… Dan Fielding. Who didn’t quite get there to help her until late in the tale. Mainly because he and Flobert came to discover they loved unhealthy food, and felt they should in fact, embrace their awful tastes. Despite what Gurgs told them about the dangers to their health. But eventually, they came to regarding such matters and found new ways to eat a balanced and weird diet and that allowed for Dan, to have a great talk with Abby. One that informed her that yes, while we can never know if the decisions we have made, were in fact the right ones, there’s no point in regretting what we have done. For we made our call, and we must move on and find the positive in our decision and live life to the fullest.

Which… might be the weirdest way ever to get to the lesson at hand, but that should come as no surprise. After all, this is Night Court we are talking about here. A show where zany rules the day and where the characters relish in wacky and fun. So that makes this, the perfect episode. For this was indeed the proper balance of zany and heartfelt, and the zany worked well. Since Olivia’s quest was foolhardy and perfect for her ambitions and well… it’s shocking that Dan and Flobert didn’t catch Type Three Diabetes with the junk they ate. And it was indeed nice to see Abby find advice and solace from her mentor and confidante and well, there’s not much else to say about this episode. Outside of the fact that the Wyatt gag, regarding his sage advice was quite genius and will hopefully continue to come into play as season two of this show continues to balance the goofy and the sweet. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 105 of ‘Extended Family’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It really is safe to say, that the hit NBC series, Extended Family, is exploring aspects of the human condition that no show on television has ever taken the time to. In part because of its unique explorations on what the modern family unit looks like and how that dynamic works. But also, because… it is taking the time to examine aspects of who we are that are complex and rarely discussed, as evidenced by this week’s utterly brilliant episode of the show. For ‘The Consequences of Matchmaking’ featured some frustration from Julia and Trey. In that, Jim was constantly third wheeling around them and using them for emotional support. For there was comfort now and an understanding they were family in their own unique ways. But it did leave Julia wondering if by chance... Jim was in need of romance.

All so he could start over as she did and have that person that could offer him proper support, and well… that allowed for one of many refreshing examinations to come into play in this tale. Such as… what does dating after divorce look like? Because we don’t give that much thought in any capacity. In fact, there is a mantra that dating isn’t really a thing for divorcees. As though they aren’t worthy of love because they didn’t succeed at it. Which is a nonsense view since everyone is worthy of love. But with children and unique setups in the mix, it isn’t the same path to romance that it was pre-marriage and well… this episode informed us… that sometimes, post-divorce dating requires an assist. Which is what Julia offered dear Jim in this tale. For an old friend, named Lydia, popped back up in her life and was eager to get back on the scene, so she set them up… with disastrous results.

Simply because, they weren’t compatible in the slightest. Mainly because Jim was at a different point in his life. Which made it clear, that dating after divorce isn’t a simple process and requires a little more care to ensure that the right match is made and oddly enough, Jim found that match on the same night his original date fell to pieces. Since a lovely lady at the same restaurant liked his stories and his quirkiness, and that led to a real vibe between the two of them, the kind that eventually brought about a secondary lesson about love and dating after divorce. One that involved Juila. For she learned about the second date through Jim and was deeply worried that he would somehow screw this up and be alone and that pushed her to head right to the apartment to make sure Jim didn’t overstep his bounds.

Which of course, screwed up the date for vastly different reasons. But what mattered more here, was that Julia came to understand that she did this, despite Trey’s misgivings and advice, because she still cared deeply for Jim and wanted to give him a happiness, she felt she could not and never did supply. Which is a decision on her part that informed us that she was in many ways, still in love with Jim. Not in a romantic level, but in that transformed manner that sometimes comes about when we have deep ties to a person. One where we love them in a manner where we want to see them happy and where we worry about that happiness so much that it can interfere. Which in turn, helps to remind us that sometimes, love involves letting go and letting someone learn on their own and that is what Julia’s journey put on display in this tale.

Which made this episode, quite complex in nature. Because that’s a lot of lessons to explore, especially in a sitcom no less. But this particular series is all about offering up a complex exploration in life, in a funny manner of course. Since Jim’s dating mistakes here were the stuff of legend and quite frankly, quite relatable. Since we’ve all been as awkward as Jim was in this particular tale, and as off putting. Because dating is also, awkward at any age and stage of life. But that aside, it really was quite amazing to see this show once again find new ground to explore and really ponder upon the complexities of the human experience and love and everything in between, and that really does leave us eager for more of this dynamic series. So, we can continue to learn about love and life, through the lens of this unique and wondrous family. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 303 of ‘La Brea’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There is always a grave risk when a television show enters its final season, that it will abandon or let go the wayside, that which made it so great in the first place. All in the name of course of providing the audience with a powerhouse ending. But going that route does disappoint and does sometimes leave open threads when the series finale arrives, and this is so prevalent, that fans of a beloved show oft find themselves nervous for this possibility when they tune into the farewell season. But thankfully, this isn’t an issue or a concern that fans of the hit NBC series, La Brea are running into. Simply because, the third and final season of the show… is making sure to move the plot forward in an epic manner, while still staying true to what made it the show so great in the first place.

Which is… character growth. For we’ve seen everyone in this series grow beyond who they were when the sinkhole first arrived and brought them to 10,000 B.C. and ‘Maya’ offered up more of that. By having Veronica finally come into her own as a leader, since she was recognized for her abilities as one here, since she was asked to join the council of the village, she and Lucas have made home. A move that put a little tension between her and her love since Lucas wanted that seat. But Veronica spoke to the importance of what this would mean for her, and that Lucas didn’t necessarily have to be a leader to be beloved and respected. Giving rise to wondrous growth for Veronica as she grabbed hold of her agency and embraced her new role. 

Not to mention, even Izzy found some growth in this tale, courtesy of the fact that she came to learn about who she is as a person. Which came about via a hunting trip into the wild. Since Leyla wanted to bring home a boar and make her family proud in doing so. Which led to trouble of course, the kind that forced Izzy to improvise to save Leyla from a La Brea tar pit, and well, that moment, and the care that Izzy expressed made it clear to both of them… there was something romantic between them. Something they are both keen to explore, and well… that moment and that revelation really helped Izzy learn about herself in a powerful way, and of course… this brought about representation, which is important to have on television.

All of which, is the stuff we love about the show through and through and we even found it in the past. Because back in 2021, Ty and Sam were struggling with Gavin and his drinking and Ty was struggling with being back in a time period where he made a lot of tough decisions. The kind that hurt people, such as his ex-wife and he used this opportunity, to set things right with her and put her on a different path. Speaking to how much he’s grown as a person and how much he wants to see others reach their potential. Which allowed for him to reach Gavin like never before and help him step away from his drinking and inspire others in the process. All of which just made for more feel-good moments and surprisingly a touch of danger. Since a sober Gavin did agree to help get his ‘new’ friends into the airbase and that caught the attention of someone ominous.
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Which of course… brings us to the advancing of the plot. For Maya is indeed someone that Gavin and Sam were searching for in this tale, and they found her after some harrowing moments and came to discover that Gavin’s memory fog was related to her work. For she was PsyOps and worked with Gavin on a secret and dangerous project. Since the government was poking about with time travel concepts and clearly, that likely relate to this mess. And part of her job, was to wipe his memory to keep the project a secret. But she was willing and eager to help here and do right and she managed to unlock some portions of his memory. Enough to inform him that someone likely wants him to help out their own agenda over anything else. But that is a start regarding lost memories and clearly, the story is now moving toward resolution regarding the air base and the mystery of how everyone came to this period in time.

All of which made, for a truly engaging episode of the show. One that really did offer up what we love and moved everything forward, and that also made this story, bittersweet in a way. Because we will deeply miss this kind of smooth writing and wonderful moments with the characters. But alas, it all must end, and all must be revealed, and truly… it will be interesting to see how the show juggles the big moments that took place here from a growth perspective, and from a plot advancement perspective. Because so much is coming to a head, and well… it will undoubtedly all come together in a beautiful manner. For this farewell tour is as smooth as they come, and that will make the ending of this beloved show, all the more satisfying. Until next time.

Please enjoy this sneak peek and synopsis of episode five of Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale, which arrives on AMC+ and Sundance Now 1/25/24!
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Episode 5 – Premieres Thursday, January 25 on AMC+ and Sundance Now  
Following the dunking, Sarah decides to cast a spell over the whole of Sanctuary. A revelation pushes Abi into action.

If there is one particular question that is on all of our minds after watching a quality story about war and its horrors… is whether or not there can be any beauty to be found in times of war. And we ask that question simply because war is pure hell on Earth. Wherein good men and sometimes men that are barely of age, die horribly, see their own internal organs as they suffer badly on the battlefield. And of course, they see brothers in arms die before them, and they are surrounded by death. Making it really seem as though, there is no chance that beauty can be present in times of war. But believe it or not, it can. It might be brief, it might leave in a bittersweet manner, but beauty can be present in war. As evidenced by the next episode of The Pacific.
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A truth that ‘Part Eight’ brought to bear, by taking us stateside for the majority of this episode. Wherein we caught up with Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, to see where his journey had taken him since we last saw him enjoying the high life as an outright celebrity. Where he romanced Hollywood starlets and was everywhere to be found, and well… not much had changed. For John was still in the limelight, his story was everywhere and well, he began to realize… that he was no longer enjoying being the face of the War Bond effort. In fact, something about all of this was no longer sitting right with him. For all he was doing was putting on a smile when he could be doing something for the war effort, and that prompted him… to demand a change, one that he was granted.

Which allowed for him to make way to Camp Pendleton, wherein he would train new recruits on how to handle a machine gun the right way, and well… that did indeed give John some purpose. Because just like that, he was contributing again, helping the war effort and it was wonderful to see the life in his eyes again. But that isn’t the beauty that this story wished to express. Instead, that came about by way of the most unexpected surprise for John… love at first sight. For while he was just going about enjoying a little chow with his trainees, he met Lena Riggi. A woman that he instantly fell for, and of course… struggled to impress despite using his celebrity ties and standing to catch her eye. 

Mainly because she wasn’t interested in a celebrity, but a man that cared for her, and could be more than flash and dash and well… once John came to realize that… everything changed. For just like that, they were in the midst of a torrid and passionate love affair for the ages. One that saw them marry, and enjoy the majestic moments that only lovers can, giving rise… to some genuinely beauty in this tale. The kind that reminded us in part, why we fight wars, to preserve those moments and to make sure that future generations can enjoy them. But more so this sequence taught us that beauty can exist during war time, and it likely does. Since these moments are hard to take away from the everyday folks of the world.
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But for the soldiers that fight, that put themselves in harm’s way, those moments may not last, and the bittersweet end to them we made mention of can indeed come into play, and that was most certainly the case for John Basilone. Who decided that he wanted to re-enlist, to continue to fight in the war and do his part. Because he didn’t finish what he started on Guadalcanal and so, he made his way to Iwo Jima. Which was another bloody and brutal fight, one immortalized by the visage of American Soldiers raising the flag on that island… and it was a fight… that was bathed in blood. Including the blood of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone. For despite being able to once again display bravery, and intelligence and leadership in the midst of combat… a stray bullet ended his life and brought sorrow to his now widow. 

Because sadly… that is sometimes how war goes, and the good ones, no matter how good they are at their jobs in the midst of combat, don’t make it home. For war is hell, war is brutal, and no one is immune from the risk of death it offers or its hunger for it. It’s just a matter of who is claimed and when. And that sad reality, made this quite the powerhouse and bittersweet, and downright surprising tale. Simply because, no one expected this story to even examine the possibility of something worth fighting for, of the beauty in this world. But it did, and it was wonderful. Since it did add a very unique air of humanity to this story, and some purpose to the carelessness of war, and it will be interesting to see if any more beauty, and humanity will be found in this series as we near its end. Until next time.

It is definitely safe to say that Apple TV+ caught everyone’s eye when they announced the arrival of their upcoming series, Constellation. After all, a show with Michelle MacLaren at the helm, with stars like Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks, is a huge deal, even more so… when they are all involved in bringing life to a fascinating plot. One revolving around the life and times of an astronaut trying to put themselves back on track after an accident. Only for things to get a little strange, and that that plot is so fascinating and so engaging, we’ve been dying for more details.
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Thankfully, as we inch toward the series premiere of this fascinating series, Apple is offering up just that. For recently they released a trailer for this show, some new images, and updated details of course, and well… this trailer is simply amazing and informs us, we are going to be in for quite the incredible ride. And of course, you don’t have to just take us at our word, because we happen to have that trailer, those pictures and those details to share with you. So, you can see just how amazing this show is going to be when it debuts in a few weeks. 

‘Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for “Constellation,” an upcoming eight-part conspiracy-based psychological thriller drama series starring Noomi Rapace (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “You Won’t Be Alone,” “Lamb,” “What Happened to Monday") and Emmy Award nominee Jonathan Banks (“Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul”). The action-packed space adventure will premiere globally on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 with the first three episodes, followed by one episode weekly, every Wednesday through March 27 on Apple TV+.  
 
Created and written by Peter Harness (“Wallander,” “The War of the Worlds"), “Constellation” stars Rapace as Jo – an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space – only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, and one woman's desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost.
 
The series also stars James D'Arcy ("Agent Carter,” “Oppenheimer”), Julian Looman ("Emily in Paris," The Mallorca Files") William Catlett ("A Thousand and One," "The Devil You Know"), Barbara Sukowa ("Voyager," "Hannah Arendt”), and introduces Rosie and Davina Coleman as Alice. The series is directed by Emmy Award winner Michelle MacLaren (“Shining Girls,” “The Morning Show,” “Breaking Bad”), Oscar nominee Oliver Hirschbiegel (“Downfall,” "The Experiment”) and Oscar nominee Joseph Cedar (“Footnote,” “Our Boys”).
 
Produced by Turbine Studios and Haut et Court TV, the series is executive produced by David Tanner (“Small Axe”), Tracey Scoffield (“Small Axe”), Caroline Benjo (“No Man’s Land”), Simon Arnal (“No Man’s Land”), Carole Scotta (“No Man’s Land”) and Justin Thomson (“Liaison”). MacLaren directs the first two episodes and executive produces the series with Rebecca Hobbs (“Shining Girls”) and co-executive producer Jahan Lopes for MacLaren Entertainment. Harness executive produces through Haunted Barn Ltd. The series was shot principally in Germany and was Series Produced by Daniel Hetzer (‘Munich - Edge of War”) for Turbine Studios, Germany.
 
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
 
About Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.* For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.’

For the most part, our journey through the Second World War via the shows, Band of Brothers, and The Pacific, have yielded two vastly different tales. For while Band of Brothers explored the triumphs and the follies and pain of the European Theater of the war in a broad and powerful manner, The Pacific has offered up a very dark and intimate look at the battle in the Pacific Theater. One that has focused heavily on the mental impact of war upon the men that fought it, giving rise to incredible contrast between those two tales. One so powerful that there should be no parallels between the two in the slightest, outside of the fact they take place during World War II.
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But as it turned out, there was a way to sync these two stories up and offer a parallel storyline if you will. For ‘Part Six’ and ‘Part Seven’ informed us that the Marines that fought in the Battle of Peleliu Island, experienced something similar to what Easy Company and the other boys did on their side of the war. For that battle was akin to the Battle of the Bulge, that last gasp from the enemy in their attempts to maintain relevancy against a superior fighting force and well, much like what happened in Europe in that fateful winter, the Marines on Peleliu faced dangers untold, and darkness, and serious loss and strife. The kind that would change so many before their actions helped change the course of the war.
 
Courtesy of two key battles and two key storylines. One of which involved, the wholesale bloodbath that was the taking of Peleliu Airfield. For the corps was low on water and every essential supply, but there was no time to wait, no time to ponder. They had to take the airfield and advance to keep the enemy on their feet and reeling in fear. Which led to a horrific charging of the field, where Marines were torn asunder and fought in utter terror. Where faces we’ve come to know disappeared and where even the heartiest of heroes fell in combat. For in the midst of this madness, while Leckie was trying to do his job and get his commanding officer what he needed, he was caught up in a nasty explosion. One that wounded him badly and took him out of action to heal.

From there… the story took the time… to explore how this battle broke Eugene Sledge’s spirit through and through and turned him into a grizzled Marine instead of the hopeful one we met at the start of this series. Courtesy of a mission that took his unit into the hills/mountains of the island. Where the enemy was entrenched and relentless. To the point where they attacked at night and forced mistakes and sorrow and the unrelenting nature of this type of combat, wore on Sledge, wore on everyone. To the point where the toughest marine in his unit snapped emotionally. But of course, Sledge tried, tried hard in fact… to hang onto that purity he held in his heart. But alas, one singular moment changed all that, one that showcased the true darkness of the war.
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Because one fine day, his commanding officer, a good man that did his best to keep the light in Sledge and others lit… was taken out by a sniper. Just like that. No rhyme. No reason. Just chaos and the wrong moment, and that helped Sledge to understand the chaos of this war, and its cruelty and that broke him, and pulled the light from him and left him as bitter as anyone else in the regiment. To the point where he displayed a sense of cruelty and a need for justice, we’ve never seen him display. And to properly bookend his fall from grace, his return to base saw him be as salty and as indifferent as his friend. Closing out this journey in a tragic manner thanks to one pyrrhic victory. 

All of which showcased how both theaters of the war, saw some hideous and costly combat. And that is precisely why we have taken the time to look at both of these episodes as one giant one, as we did with the Battle of the Bulge stories for Band of Brothers. For this was indeed a two-hour movie, one wrought with suffering and darkness and the horrors of war, and it reminded us of how hard this fight was thanks to an unrelenting enemy, and well… now that we’ve reached the end of this ugly journey. One that broke so many, it will be interesting to see if any other parallels await us, or if the Pacific Theater will continue to offer its own unique stories about the men that chose to dig in and fight the long fight, despite the pain it imprinted upon their very souls. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Premiere of ‘The Way Home’.
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For the most part, stories that ponder upon the traumas of our past, and the power of loss and grief, focus on how that feels in a very intimate and unique manner. Wherein we are either privy to the moment trauma is revisited, and rattles a person, or shortly after loss arrives and grief watches over them, and it makes sense as to why stories focus on those moments. Because those are relatable and draw us in. Not to manipulate us, but to remind us that these are powerful occurrences in our lives that we all share in, and we should have some understanding they will touch us and touch others in our lives so we can meet them with bravery and strength in hand.

But while it is helpful to see people confront such matters, there are other aspects to grieving and healing from trauma that are sadly left in the dust to make the heavier stuff the focus. When in fact, storytelling should show us as much of the entire process as possible. So that we understand that when the core darkness ends, the real healing begins. The kind that requires a lot of self-work and external work emotionally to finally heal and slowly but surely, there are stories taking the time to do just that. So that we can learn about the whole process at last, and one story in that vein that is of note, returned to the airwaves on the Hallmark Channel last night. For the season two premiere of ‘The Way Home’ offered up some fascinating perspective on healing, and that made for one powerful tale.

One that took place some after a harrowing incident for Kat and Alice in ‘The Space Between’. For shortly after a desperate attempt to use the pond to find Jacob, one that nearly resulted in Alice drowning, a decision was made. In that, the pond had to be forgotten, and they all needed to move on. Especially from the past. Which made it seem as though this episode was going to offer up a very positive take on healing and how important it is to let go of yesterday and that which hurts our souls deeply. But as the months rolled along and all settled in to life once again, it became clear that this episode had other ideas in mind. For in order to heal we have to earn it and put in serious work to really make that happen, and that didn’t happen here.

Instead, Kat, Alice and even Del… spent a lot of time running from the past. Yes, they acknowledged it, acknowledged their pain, but never did the work. Never did exactly what needed to be done to properly let everything go and find resolution. Which instead, offered up a cautionary tale, one filled with fascinating lessons about how hollow life can feel when the past still hangs heavy over us, and how difficult that makes it to live in the moment. Which made for the powerful moments in question, the kind that will absolutely stay with a viewer for some time, making this a worthwhile and engaging season premiere. For it truly served as the anthesis to how grief and loss, and trauma are presented in popular media, and it deserves our applause for going that route.

Because those actions are commonplace by folks that are emotionally wounded. They try and just forge ahead despite acknowledging they’ve been through the wringer with the same hollow results, and it would seem… the story is going to force them to do the work. Courtesy of a fascinating plot twist involving the pond and its power once again, wherein it will take everyone where they need to go to not only keep the timeline intact but prompt them to face their pain, face the darkness and find a way forward. And well, now that we’ve come to the end of one emotional tale, it will be interesting to see how the healing journey for this family comes together as season two of this special series continues along. Until next time.

In 2020, something quite amazing happened in the world of television. In that STARZ decided to air, a crime drama. One that took place on Cape Cod and would revolve around the officers and individuals involved in fighting and fueling the drug trade in that part of the world. Which, at first glance, doesn’t seem all that remarkable. After all, we’ve seen plenty of crime dramas locked in on the drug trade and its evil and its problems, but… that was merely the foundation for what Hightown was eager to accomplish. For series creator, Rebecca Cutter, was out to create a crime drama unlike any other, one that truly wowed us and took us on a different kind of adventure, and she accomplished that… through the character’s journeys.
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Because every single person in this series, happens to be as flawed as they come. After all, Jackie Quiñones, the main character… is a drug addict that goes from enforcing laws in the waters to full on narcotics agent. A powerful journey that is wonderfully counterbalanced by the people around her. For the villains of this story harbor their own incredible flaws and other heroes in the tale struggle with them too, and even their own unique addictions. Giving rise to a powerhouse story that deeply explores how the acts we take part in don’t give us the happiness we want, they’re only part of the equation and how so many people… never learn that lesson. Which is some powerful and revolutionary storytelling. The kind that is as realistic as it gets.

But alas, while we’ve enjoyed two amazing seasons of those musings through the eyes of characters that we do care about and can relate to on some level because of their flaws, all good things must come to their end and the end is indeed in sight for this brilliant series. For Friday will kick off the third and final season of Hightown on STARZ, and well… with the end being nigh, and since we had the honor of seeing a fair chunk of season three early, we thought we here at NTG would take a moment today and share with you, what you can expect from the third and final season of the show. In a spoiler-free manner no less. Because to do otherwise would do the show a grave injustice.

Simply because Rebecca Cutter and her amazing team of writers have put together… a powerhouse final season for the show. One that features some amazing moments that consistently stay true to what makes this show so great in the first place. But make no mistake about it, with the final season at hand, Rebecca and her team understood the need to go bold here and really wow the audience along the way. Which means we are treated to one intense season of storytelling, one where the tension is thick and where you oft find yourself on the edge of your seat with the incredible storytelling decisions that are made here. The kind that put everyone to the test and offer some other surprises along the way, both big and intimate. 

All of which makes… for the show’s finest hour. For this one takes us on an incredibly journey and allows for the supremely talented actors of this show to shine like never before and turn in some of their best work. But above all… it’s obvious that Rebecca and her team are sending this show out on their own terms, and that will lead to one amazing ending. One that we have not seen yet, but we can absolutely ponder upon quality wise, just based on the amazing episodes we were privy to. And the best yet most bittersweet news of all, is that we are indeed days away from one powerhouse season of storytelling.

For Friday will see the third and final season premiere of Hightown hit the airwaves on STARZ and we cannot wait for you to see it, and to properly celebrate the arrival of this amazing farewell season… we’ve got more amazing pre-release coverage to bring you. So please stay tuned as we bring to you, our interviews with Rebecca Cutter and Monica Raymund (Jackie), Atkins Estimond (Osito) and Dohn Norwood (Alan), and James Badge Dale (Ray) and Riley Voelkel (Renee) as we count down to the beginning of the end, of one of the most refreshing crime dramas to ever grace our television screens.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 402 of ‘True Detective. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to enjoy the magnificent new season of the HBO anthology, True Detective, we were left with a bevy of unsettling questions. For the opening chapter to ‘Night Country’ plunged us into a supremely unsettled frozen oasis. For the town of Ennis was flush with tensions related to race relations and financial inequality, and of course… it had quite the mystery on its hands. For eight workers from a mysterious research facility in the middle of nowhere, turned up buried in ice, in horrible positions that spoke to an equally as horrible death. And how they came to be there, along with the mysterious and ethereal circumstances surrounding that end, left us with those aforementioned questions… the kind that the next episode began to work to answer.

That is… after once again outright surprising us. For the next chapter in this story, opened up with some horrifying moments and discoveries. Such as the fact that the majority of the Ennis police force are incompetent and unprofessional. As evidenced by how many officers were trying to get selfies with a modern-day version of ‘The Thing’, and by how many mistakes were being made. That was compounded, by a compound fracture… or rather… severing of a limb. Because one officer just popped an arm off, one that was attached to a victim that was in fact… alive. Which brought about horrible screams and horrible traumas for all, and that led to a jurisdictional pissing match.

Because Captain Ted Connelly, an old acquaintance (slash lover… we would later find out) of Danvers worked to pull the case away from her and the Ennis team. Because of the mistakes made and to get the full brunt of resources from Anchorage under this, but she refused. She wanted this case, she had jurisdiction and she used her intimate knowledge of the rules to get the bodies into an ice rink to thaw to buy herself some time to really keep the case in Ennis, and that… gave everyone a little bit of downtime to investigate the case and it also gave the story the opportunity, to help us to get to know the people of this town and what makes them tick, and that… was just as fascinating at the case itself.

Since we came to learn, that this is a town filled to the brim with flawed individuals. Who harbor either have a bad moment from their past that has brought them to this moment, or they’re making silly mistakes because of internal traumas and flaws. All of which made for some fascinating character explorations, the kind that were bookended nicely by a more comprehensive look at the town. One that helped us to see that the divide that exists runs deep and harbors great anger on both sides and that could lead to some real trouble in this town. But while it was nice to world-build with the show, and learn so much about these characters, there were the other answers we seek, and those slowly began to ooze out during this sequence.
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Because in between affairs, catfishing and the like, Danvers was digging deep into the case and began to see, with Navarro’s help, that something quite strange was happening here. In that, Clark, the one who claimed ‘She’s awake’ before everyone in the research facility headed to their icy and painful fate, was having an affair with the now deceased Annie, and was quite fascinated by the sigil that was seen on the forehead of one of the ice victims, the same one that has popped up Navarro’s investigation as well. All of which meant the investigations were connected and Clark was the key to everything, and what’s more incredible… is that our heroes might get the chance to ask him about everyone, since he is still out there.

But while we wait to learn more about how he survived the harrowing madness that brought six men to their death and sent one to the hospital, we can bask in the reality that we finally have some answers as to what it is going on in this town, and all of it clearly relates to Clark and his strange beliefs in that sigil and whatever horrors it stands for. And all of the revelations here give this story magnificent focus and leave us hungry for more. Because we must know, what has driven Clark to follow the teachings of this ancient symbol and of course… we must know if what he is chasing has merit, since Ennis is a strange town, or if this is nothing more than a bloody snipe hunt initiated by a man that needed something more to believe in. Either way, it will be interesting to see how this story plays out, as the investigation dives deeper into matters that are quite spiritual and spooky in nature. Until next time.