Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘Total Control’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

One important question that we don’t ponder upon enough in our lives, is exactly how far we’d go to achieve our dreams and our goals in life. And we don’t ponder upon that one all that often for one simple reason, in that… there is some weird part of us that believes the answer could be, that we might not go as far we think we would, and that’s scary. For we believe our dreams are our ticket to freedom and that doubt might expose that we are on the wrong path of pursuit after all. But that’s actually beneficial, and a good reason to ask ourselves that all-important question. So, we can get ourselves on the right track and toward the right goals because when we find our true north… we will indeed go to the ends of the earth to achieve it.
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If anything, how far we would actually go to obtain what we want is top of mind today, simply because it served as the focal theme of the season two finale of Total Control. For when we catch up with Alex Irving here, she’s having to ponder upon that very question… since everything is falling to pieces in front of her. For the independent bloc is starting to choose sides, jeopardizing the grand social agenda she wants to enact and despite her best efforts to keep the bloc together, the promises made by the parties to the independents, and the scandal surrounding Alex for Charlie having doxed her online abuser, the whole thing continues to unravel. Leaving Alex beside herself and unsure of how to proceed to make this three-year term worthy of the faith the people of Freeman placed in her. 

But a surprise power struggle in the party she left behind, provides her with a touch of powerful inspiration, and that’s why she went straight to Paul and spoke to him about how this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Wherein he could create a no confidence scenario in leadership and assume it himself and with the support of a three-person independent bloc, he could become Prime Minister and bring about history and a new way forward for the country and believe it or not, this careful gambit worked to a tee. And for a time, it appeared as though, this change in power and change for the better in government… was going to go off without a hitch. Alas however, it did run into quite the hiccup.

Because the racist cab driver that Alex encountered ages ago, saw the doxing incident as his call to arms. Wherein he needed to do something for the other close-minded idiots of the nation and stand against Alex. Which led to a horrible attack outside of parliament, wherein Alex took a knife to the hand and Charlie took one to the shoulder, right as the vote was about to get underway. And with Alex trying to sort her mind out and see if her brother was going to live, Damien Bauer saw this as an opportunity to force the vote and reclaim power. A move that was going to fail thanks to Rachel and a few others since they rightfully saw this as the slimiest move possible. But with Charlie’s blessing, Alex pushed her way onto the floor, wound and all, and made her dreams come true.

Which was a powerful way to end season two. One that absolutely hammered home the fact that when the dream truly calls to us, nothing will stop us from making it happen and now a new dawn is coming for the government and Alex can get to work and accomplish wonders for the people. Plus, it would seem that her brave and bold actions here, inspired her son as well… since he began to leave behind his rebel ways to make a point of what it means to have representation and diversity at the top levels of government and well… all this finale does is leave us hungry for more. Because at long last, Alex Irving did it, she made it back to government and she took control of the future of the nation for the better and hopefully it won’t be long before we get a season three of this magnificent series, so we can watch Alex live the dream and make a difference.  

It is definitely safe to say, that we in the modern, industrialized world… lack certain understandings. Specifically, what it is like to live in an environment where oppression through intimidation and fear reigns, and where the oppressed must sometimes risk it all to enjoy either true freedom or to light a spark of revolution so that change can finally come to their world and well, we lack that perspective simply because it isn’t present in our world. For we are indeed as free as they come and can only remotely imagine what life in that environment is like. But it is important to have that perspective. In part to appreciate the gift of freedom we’ve been given, but to also understand and learn more about our world and how it truly functions and thankfully, stories are there to fill in those gaps. 

In fact, the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation takes the time to do explore such matters. A feat that ‘Face of the Enemy’ accomplishes, by plunging Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi into quite the harrowing situation. For when we catch up with Deanna, here, she has awakened far from home, aboard a Romulan Battlecruiser no less… and has been surgically altered to resemble a Romulan Tal Shiar agent named Major Rekar. All because Ambassador Spock’s work on Romulus has brought about a resistance of sorts, one that needs the Federation’s help to survive, and that is why Deanna was abducted and altered and given a new identity. So that she can use her unique skill set to help a Sub-Commander named N’Vek smuggle precious cargo to the Federation.

Specifically, a high-ranking member of the Romulan Imperial Senate, who was eager to defect than be discovered as a traitor and well, that set the stage for a quality exploration of the Romulan Star Empire and the general theme of this tale. Because we were able to learn, how the Tal Shiar uses stunning brutality and fear in order to keep the people of the Empire and its military loyal, and how difficult it is to live under that kind of regime. Because it means that fear is everywhere, and a sense of safety never exists for the good people going about their lives and that was quite the incredible journey to take us on. Since it really did hammer home, what an ugly life this could be and why men like N’Vek would risk it all for a better tomorrow, and that makes this a powerful episode for certain, one that features more big moments beyond its theme.

For this is also a story that really lets Deanna shine. Because she has to think fast in this tale and find a savagery within that she doesn’t think she’s capable of harnessing, so she can keep the ruse going and finish this mission. But she finds it and does an incredible job of selling the lie and that’s just the bare beginnings of the bold acts she accomplishes in this tale. Since she also concocts the pivot plan to get that senator off the ship, one that also saves her hide. Plus, it is equally as amazing to see her really take charge and stand toe-to-toe with a Romulan Commander that is eager to teach the Tal Shiar a lesson out here in the far reaches of space. Because that’s no easy task, and it goes just goes to show the untapped potential that Deanna has as a leader and this writer would go so far as to conjecture that this episode is another foundational element in her eventual decision to take the Commander’s exam in season seven.

But all of that aside, this is simply a wonderful episode when all is said and done. In large part because it really does a fine job of exploring the episode’s central theme. Plus, it also offers up some wonderful character growth for Deanna. If anything, it is safe to say this episode has something for every Star Trek fan out there. Since it also features a grand and sweeping adventure, a touch of education on another alien culture since we spend so much time with the Romulans here, and learn a great deal about how the Empire is truly perceived by its people, and we get an amazing standoff between the Enterprise and a Warbird and you simply cannot go wrong with a story that offers so much and this really is a gem that honestly deserves more attention. But sadly, it is undoubtedly overshadowed by what comes next, since the Picard-centric story that awaits us, was stunning in nature. But hopefully the wonder of streaming will give this one the attention and standing it is due, because this really is a special episode, through and through. Until next time.

Please enjoy a sneak peek of Episode 205 of Fast Foodies, which will air on truTV on February 23, 2022.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Conviction: The Case of Stephen Lawrence’.
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One particular aspect of our world that has outright surprised so many in the past couple of years, is the number of injustices that are being committed by police officers and how those injustices are racially motivated. And what makes this so surprising, is that we really have been taught that justice is blind and those that enforce the laws would never discriminate based upon the color of someone’s skin. But it is happening and will continue to happen until great changes are made and what’s truly appalling about all of this… is that we are genuinely coming to understand now that this has been happening for ages on end. But that unfortunate epiphany is now leading to the creation of stories that are chronicling these stories so that awareness around such matters can be raised in an order to bring about change, and it just so happens that Acorn TV is now host to a series that explores such matters.

For Conviction: The Case of Stephen Lawrence, is a show that chronicles a real-life case from England regarding a grave injustice that the Lawrence family suffered through. For on April 22, 1993, eighteen-year-old Stephen Lawrence was brutally murdered by a group of racist men and unfortunately… justice for Stephen didn't materialize. For the Metropolitan Police were slow to make any arrests and the investigative process was so sloppy, it allowed for the men in question to walk and never face charges and when we catch up with the Lawrence family in 2006 in this story, they’re still rightfully angry about what happened, and in some tough places mentally. Stephen's father Neville, for instance, is so filled with rage and pain that he's in essence lost and unsure of what comes next in life and his ex-wife/Stephen's mother, Doreen, is equally as mad. But she is trying to do something about her pain and express it through advocacy and charity, but even that... isn't giving her the peace that justice, would. 

But one fateful day when Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll is working on moving a mountain of old files out of a previously used storage area, he stumbles upon the case file for Stephen’s death and quickly pours over it and realizes… that so much was missed in the initial investigation and asks to be put on this investigation as the SIO to bring justice forth for this family. A move that is of course, met with skepticism and resistance. Since there have been multiple inquiries into Stephen’s death and several reviews of the case and one of the investigators assigned to this case, is quick to leave it for the same unfortunate reasons that allowed for it to languish in the first place. But the challenges that lie ahead don’t deter DCI Driscoll in the slightest, in fact, he sees this as a grand opportunity to change perception around the case and genuinely find evidence to convict and well… his out of the box thinking pays off in dividends for certain.

Because he is able to remove the incorrect perceptions about this attack, specifically that it was ‘brief’. For that word helped everyone to believe that evidence simply wasn’t present in this crime and that in turn led to shoddy forensic work. The kind that is rectified when Clive has a third-party company handle a deeper sweep of the evidence and well… in doing so… the first physical evidence tying the suspects to this crime is finally revealed and that motivates Clive to meet with Doreen and Neville. In part to inform them that someone is finally in their corner when it comes to this case and of course, that progress is finally being made and that leads to some interesting reactions. Such as shock and surprise and distrust, primarily from Doreen. Since she’s been through the promise phase regarding this case more times than she can count, and her disdain and distrust is only amplified when an unfortunate surprise drops into everyone’s laps at the end of this premiere.

For someone, decided that the time was right to leak to the press, all the details on the new investigation. A move that creates all kind of problems for Clive and the team. Because a public eye puts undue pressure on the Met and could force demands for quick results when this case needs care and detail to solve and well, while we wait to see what comes next from this stunning twist… we can bask in one quality and thoughtful premiere. One that genuinely makes it clear that this kind of problem is nothing new in our world unfortunately, and that’s important to point out. Because it speaks a truth that needs to be spoken and shines a light on an issue that needs our attention, and it will be quite interesting to see what other modern-day parallels and surprises await us, as Clive and his determined team of investigators work to solve a crime that some would prefer disappear into the ether. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season four finale of ‘Agatha Raisin’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When one thinks of a wedding, only happy thoughts come to mind and rightfully so. For a wedding is indeed a joyous occasion. For it truly is one of the greatest expressions of love that we will ever bear witness to, and the joy and connection we see between those getting married really is inspiring in many ways. But while the wedding is indeed something to be celebrated through and through and should engender uplifting thoughts, sadly… not all weddings bring about happiness. After all, sometimes one of the parties to be married, gets cold feet, and leaves the other at the altar, leading to shock and surprise for those in attendance and in the case of Agatha Raisin’s world, sometimes, death befalls people at a wedding.
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For Agatha Raisin: There Goes the Bride, is a story that features a murder investigation involving a bride and this one… was quite personal in nature. For the season four finale of this Acorn TV series, sees the group assemble for James’ big day. Wherein he is going to tie to the not to his beloved Eirwen and at first, this really does seem as though it is going to be quite the amazing wedding for certain. For James and Eirwen are clearly deeply in love and despite some quirks surrounding Eirwen’s family, especially when it comes to her father…everyone is expecting this day to go off without a hitch and leave not a dry eye in the house. That is… until Eirwen dies the day of her wedding, courtesy of a gunshot wound while she was putting on her dress no less.

Which means it is up to Agatha and her team to bring the killer to justice and well, it doesn’t take long for this case… to confuse them like never before. Because at first, it appears as though her half-brother, Rhys, might have some reason to want to harm her and when it is revealed he is nothing more than an annoying lush, the attention turns to Eirwen’s ex-fiancés and that sadly… offers little headway either. To complicate matters further, others begin to die… including one of those very exes. Pushing Agatha and the team to dig as deep as they possibly can to find some kind of clue or reason as to why this wholesale wave of murder was sweeping the town and who was behind it and well… what Toni uncovers during a general image search leads to quite the stunning surprise for certain.

Because it turns out… that Eirwen was harboring quite the secret, in that… she wasn’t who she said she was… nor was she single when she agreed to marry James. Instead, it turns out that she was in love with Monty, the main who claimed to be her father and well… that particularly twisted lie existed simply because Monty was preparing to go after the company that Rhys’ mother, Olivia owned. To rob her of her riches and share them with his original lady. Which added quite the surprise twist to this whole mess but still didn’t explain why Eirwen died or who killed her. But with a little pressing from Agatha during a tense confrontation… it was revealed that Monty was behind this. Because Eirwen genuinely fell in love with James and wanted out of the twisted life of lies she was currently living and since Monty couldn’t bear the thought of someone else being with her, he crossed the ultimate line multiple times to enact some measure of revenge.

Which is a dark and wild way to end this tale, but there were bright spots to be found in its conclusion. For instance, Monty was of course brought to justice. Saving others from his bloodlust and his endless webs of lies and deception and James was on the road to recovery thanks to the wonderful friends/extended family in his life and… we even got a wedding after all. Since Toni and Bill finally admitted they were meant for one another and tied the knot and well, that’s really all there is to say about season four of this wonderful show and all we can hope for at this point, is a season five renewal. So, that we can continue to take part in more of Agatha’s delightful and carefully woven investigations and watch these incredible and dynamic characters grow, as they work to right incredible wrongs. Until next time.  

One particular aspect of storytelling that we’ve talked about often over the past couple of months here at Nerds That Geek, is endings. Simply because, we are in a transitional period in television, where a bevy of shows that have dominated the airwaves for years now, are bidding farewell and bringing their long and winding journeys to their respective conclusions and that’s brought forth all kinds of important discussions. Such as how there is fear and concern and outright trepidation that accompanies the prospective end of a story, since we’ve all been privy to series finales that are weak or disappointing in nature and leave us with a sour taste in our mouth. But while we have every right to be worried or be concerned about how a show is going to end, the time has come to shift gears and discuss… how the end can engender excitement.
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Which might be a strange thing to say, since no one likes to say goodbye to characters and settings and stories that captivate us through and through. But when a story is supremely bold in nature and is eager to push envelopes on a consistent basis, its ending has the potential to get the fan base excited. For it could let loose in its final season and do things storytelling wise that wouldn’t have flown in year’s past, all because it has nothing to lose with the end on the horizon. If anything, the potential for greatness at the end is top of mind today, simply because that hopeful curiosity surrounds the final season of Killing Eve on BBC America. For we are all dying to know if this show is going to let loose for its farewell tour and wow us in ways it never has before and well… we have had the opportunity to see the first few episodes of the fourth and final season of this show and we have wonderful news to report.

In that, the show does indeed accomplish all the wonders we discussed just a moment ago and we’d like to take a moment today to spotlight some of its best decisions for the final season… in a spoiler-free manner of course. Because it would be awful to ruin the surprises that await. But what we can tell you… is that season four makes some incredibly bold decisions storytelling wise. Because the plot of this season is unlike anything we’ve ever seen on the show before and that leads to some fascinating and engaging moments that grab hold of you tightly and never let go, since you’re borderline desperate to see where they are going to take you, and it is those big moments that allow for the most important aspect of this series to take on new life.

For it is the characters and their growth and their reactions to the hands they’ve been dealt that really makes this series worthwhile, and the surprises in the plot… bring about some equally as bold decisions regarding character growth. Since everyone here makes some stunning admissions and decisions regarding what they want this season and how they are going to get it and that honestly brings about some jaw-dropping moments for certain. The kind that also force you to suck in your breath in anticipation and worry or to process the wild nature of what you’ve just seen. Especially when it comes to Villanelle’s journey. Since that is about as bold and original and unique as it gets and well, it is all of those elements that gets one genuinely excited for this brand-new season and its impending finale.

Because clearly, we are going to be treated to an incredibly special ending. One that will take us by complete and utter surprise, and of course, it doesn’t hurt that the cast gives us their finest work to date here as well. Because Sandra Oh turns in a tour de force run as Eve in year four, and Fiona Shaw is simply electric with the raw emotion she presents to us here, and of course… Jodie Comer continues to remind us how talented she really is, by way of those aforementioned unique moments involving Villanelle, and the best news of all… is that we don’t have to wait that much longer to reunite with this trio one last time. For Killing Eve returns to the airwaves on Sunday, February 27, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. EST, and we here at NTG cannot wait for you to see what wonders await as this incredible journey begins its long and winding journey toward the end.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Power Book IV: Force’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked at length about what goes into starting over in life and there is good reason for that. Because that is precisely what Tommy Egan is looking for in the STARZ series, Power Book IV: Force, now that he’s left New York behind and chosen Chicago as his destination for a fresh start. And well, thus far, he’s followed the process of hitting the reset button to an outright tee. Since he has found a new place to live, he’s made new friends and contacts in the industry, and he has the lay of the land in hand, thanks to the run he made with Diamond during last week’s episode and well… it would seem as though this exploration isn’t going away any time soon.
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For the next chapter in Tommy’s journey took the time to examine another critical step in starting over in a strange new place, specifically… the fact that we need to get a job. Which of course in this case, means moving drugs and getting that paper and when we catch up with Tommy in ‘Fire Starter’, he has the perfect product to make him that coin. Because it turned out that Liliana was sitting on a gold mine of cocaine, and it was so pure that Tommy decided the past could say in the past and he could make nice with Liliana long enough for the two of them to strike it rich and gain some real power in this town. And once they cut that coke into a street ready product, Tommy laid out his vision for conquering the Windy City, one that involved quite the bold plan for certain.

Because Tommy outright recognized that this city had quite the problem on its hands. In that, everyone was sticking to their territory and working against one another. So, if someone were to unify these warring businessmen and break down the borders, they put up so product could flow all over the city, he could quickly take control of everything and rake in the dough and with product in hand… he wasted little time in getting down to business. Which first involved, talking to the always mysterious and dangerous Walter Flynn to get him to agree to a sit down with CBI. But despite making nice with Walter for disobeying his orders and laying down some logic for diversifying the Flynn Family’s product line, he was sadly… unable to get that meeting. Which instead prompted him to try and get the Flynn family to sell his coke in an effort to engender trust and lay down the foundation for a future partnership and that surprisingly… went over well with Walter, but not in reality.

For when Tommy and Vic set out into the world to unload that coke, things went sideways real quick. For Flynn’s top customer was uh… a person of the lowest caliber. One so gross and outlandish that Tommy basically killed the deal because this guy was incapable of exhibiting basic human decency. In fact, he was such a scumbag that even his own bodyguard… the ultra slim ‘Fat Tony’, was happy to leave him behind so that Tommy and Vic could teach him some manners, the old school Chicago way. A move that infuriated Walter through and through since it was a failure to move product. But as Tommy is wont to do, he used that miss to his advantage and convinced Walter that this failure signaled a need to do things differently, and that finally got the elder Flynn to agree to a meeting with CBI to build the empire Tommy dreamed of. 

Which of course brought Tommy back to Jenard and Diamond to make the meeting happen, a decision that also brought about another unfortunate, albeit brief, roadblock in Tommy’s plans. Because in order to get the green light for this meeting, Diamond had to reclaim his seat as the head of CBI from his brother and that led to a brutal battle royale between the two of them. One that saw Jenard use his anger to his advantage until it consumed him fully, allowing for his big brother to use his skill as a boxer and his patience to goad Jenard into making some mistakes. Which in turn brought about the win for Diamond and made him the head of CBI once again. And with Diamond back in charge, the meeting was on and at long last, Tommy’s grand plan was coming to fruition.
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But alas, it turned out that this was all an elaborate ruse on Walter’s part, to get some ugly things off of his chest and to attempt to teach Tommy a lesson. For when everyone finally came together under one roof, Walter just let loose on Diamond, blasting out hate and racial slurs to sour the deal and remind Diamond of what he thought of him, and that worked to a tee, since Diamond stormed off and basically agreed to never work with Walter again. As for how that was designed to teach Tommy a lesson… well, Walter played him in essence, and led him on from beginning to end. To make him look like a fool and help him to understand that this was his town, and he wasn’t letting anyone else in on a cut of it. But while that would have motivated any other man to back down in defeat and humiliation, let’s be honest… Walter’s actions here will only embolden Tommy further.

Because Tommy doesn’t bend to anyone’s wishes, they bend to his and while he sometimes takes a few lumps in getting to his goals, he always achieves them in the end. So, it is only a matter of time before he regroups and figures out a new path in which to take control of this city, but even then… it won’t be an easy task. For Jenard also made it clear in this tale, that he’s planning to split CBI down the middle and lead his own crew to power and glory and of course… Claudia Flynn has plans of her own. For she and Mai have that incredible new drug on their hands and Claudia is done taking orders and is ready to set out on her own and seize control of the drug trade in Chicago. 

But while we wait to see what comes next for Chi-town and Tommy regarding these twists; we can offer up a round of applause for one amazing episode. Because this one was basically an old school gangster story. One filled to the brim with intense and epic moments that grabbed hold of you and never let go and you simply cannot go wrong with that, nor can you go wrong with watching Tommy learn on the job so to speak. Because he is definitely going to use everything that happened here to his advantage, and it will be quite satisfying to see him take these lessons to heart and come out of the other side stronger and smarter and ready to give what he got… as he continues to work toward building the Egan Empire. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Attenborough’s Global Adventure’. To revisit the series premiere, click here.
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One of several beliefs that humanity shares in, is that mankind is the true ruler of Planet Earth. For we are the beings that have figured out how to make use of the environment to create grand communities that thrive and protect and nurture generations of humans to come, and we also believe… that our world does not resemble the animal kingdom in the slightest. Because of our advancements and because we harbor no natural predators and well… those are beliefs that are completely and utterly wrong. For we are but partners in this world, and not its masters and our lives resemble the animal kingdom more than we know and it just so happens that last night’s episode of Attenborough’s Global Adventure, took the time to prove those points.
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For ‘Episode Two – Home Planet’ brought us back to the Great Barrier Reef to show us that community is something that is a fundamental understanding on this planet. For this part of the world mirrors ours to a tee. Because the Great Barrier Reef can be seen as something akin to a rest stop or a tourist attraction in our world. Since so many animals travel thousands of miles to swing by the reef for food and protection and whatever else they need… including grooming. Because there are fish in the Reef that are happy to service other aquatic life akin to a barber or a spa, since they clear out all of the parasites and other unsavory flotsam that have attached themselves to a manta ray or a turtle, and it was just incredible to learn how much this part of the world, resembles our own and how much we’ve learned from animals in regard to caring for one another and the magic of this exploration didn’t end there.

Because David was also keen to point out how animals make use of their environment in the same manner as we do. Since they know as we do, that there are only certain places in the world to go, to get what one needs, and that’s why there are birds galore on Heron Island near the Reef, so they can care for their young and provide them with what they need. An act that is no different than us swinging by a hospital to bear our young since everything we need to ensure a healthy birth and post-birth are there. Not to mention, the bats of Borneo have outright evolved to make use of their dark environment through echolocation, so that the caves on that island become their perfect property and the best comparison there is how mankind builds homes in environments that are normally not hospitable to us, but we too know how to adapt, and it was just fascinating to see how many parallels to our world there are in nature.

But while it was indeed powerful and engaging to learn that how humanity functions is more in tune with nature than we know, what would an episode of this unique documentary be without moments that break away from the central theme to celebrate the majesty of the world and how innovative it is at surviving? And we enjoyed those moments through offshoot vignettes that showed us how mangroves that grow near several islands near the Great Barrier Reef, support, and nurture young aquatic wildlife so they have every chance to grow. Plus, we learned a great deal about various butterflies and lizards that stick to unique mating habits because of how they’re built and of course, we had another look into the past, via CGI, regarding birds that once soared and dominated the skies.

But what matters most here, is that we genuinely learned that places like the Reef are no different than say Los Angeles or New York City, since they are teeming with diverse life that depend upon one another to function properly. Making it clear that we share so much with nature and taking the time to learn that… is a powerful way to help us to understand that our role here can go beyond boasting about our ability to conquer a land quickly, and colonize it, and establish an economy and the like. No instead, this lesson informs us, that we are the only species on the planet in a unique position to help all life on Earth and give back to it for providing us with so much, and that is some beautiful and powerful wisdom to impart here. The kind that not only gives the viewer pause but leaves one eager to see what other stunning lessons await us, when we wrap up this journey come next Saturday.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episodes 201-205 of ‘State of the Union’.
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There are, a great many situations in life that we fear and would prefer to never deal with. For instance, the thought of losing our job is both scary and frustrating since it would put undue stress and uncertainty upon us. As would watching a loved one suffer through a difficult illness. But of the many life events we dread, there are two that hang in the back of our minds above all others; the death of someone we love, for obvious reasons. But also… the possibility of seeing a long-standing romantic relationship come to an end. Because when you’ve vested years in a person romantically and revealed yourself to them and vice versa, and made that powerful connection with them, the thought of that ending is downright terrifying.
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But there is a chance that the day might come when we drift from our partner and we have to reconcile the reality that they might not be around anymore, despite making years of memories with them and well, that difficult aspect of life is top of mind today, because it is the subject of the SundanceTV series, State of the Union. For the second season of this brilliant series made its debut on Monday and has aired a total of five episodes since and well, now seems the perfect time to examine the first half of season two and what it has to say about drifting apart from a person we love. Specifically, what can cause said drift, and one reason as to why it begins in the first place… is because we simply do not grow as individuals. 

For when we meet Scott and Ellen in this new season, they’re in therapy and working toward seeing if their relationship is salvageable and well, what Ellen sees in regard to that, has her concerned to say the least. Because while she has worked to experience life and see what it can offer, her husband has remained stagnant. In fact, Scott is more or less stuck in the past, those golden years when men were men and had no feelings nor talked about them and his desire to just forge ahead and pretend as though the status quo is the way to go… speaks volumes to the point in question. Because now, they have nothing in common and they’re not working toward similar romantic goals anymore, they’re on their own respective paths and going through the motions.

Speaking of that desire to keep feelings at bay, that brings us to the second examination as to what makes us drift apart and that is, a lack of being in touch with one’s emotions. Because Scott really is about as detached from them as it gets and because of that, his icy demeanor and inability to speak from the heart has all but pushed his wife away and what’s worse… is that he tends to project his emotions more often than not when they do appear. As evidenced by how he’s now lashing out and causing trouble in therapy, putting the whole process in jeopardy in a desperate attempt to keep control of feelings he is terrified of experiencing. And well, both of these elements make for a powerful character study on modern toxic masculinity and all the incorrect and destructive expectations we project upon men, regarding how they should act and what they should feel. 

But above all, what truly makes these first five episodes so compelling, is that they all harken back to the biggest reason of all as to why relationships deteriorate and drift. In that, there’s no communication here and there’s been little effort to use it until this exact moment, and that really is the fundamental to maintaining a healthy relationship, and, in the end, this is a brilliant segment of this story. Since it leaves the audience eager to see if a grand split between two people that do indeed care about one another is going to take place or if reconciliation is in the cards. Plus, it features some powerful moments and conversations that are relevant to the times and realistic and well… the good news is, we don’t have to wait much longer to see what resolution awaits us on the horizon. Since State of the Union returns for its second half of season two on Monday, February 21, 2022. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Fast Foodies’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, our discussions revolving around the truTV series, Fast Foodies, have revealed some fascinating facts about food and our favorite meals. For now, we know that what makes a certain meal our outright favorite, revolves around a special set of circumstances and unique moments. The kind that only that meal that can replicate and surprisingly… we can use that meal to generate new memories by sharing it with others. But while that has made for some powerful moments this season, this is a series that is eager to evolve and find new ways to explore the wonder of food and that’s precisely why this week’s episode with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, offered up new perspective on the favorite meal.

For Jesse revealed to our top-tier chefs, that he’s a big fan of the Schlotzsky’s Deli ‘Original’, and that it is a meal he tried long ago and makes a point to have one whenever he’s in the vicinity of that restaurant. Simply because it is delicious and dynamic and his love of this sandwich made it clear that sometimes, a tasty treat doesn’t have to invoke memories or motivate us to reflect upon a moment. It can just bring us joy and comfort with its sheer deliciousness and once we came to understand that wonderful aspect of food, the time at last arrived for Justin and Kristen, and Jeremy to recreate this sandwich to a tee and believe it or not, that was a surprisingly easier task than the past few weeks. For the most part, that is.

Because while the meat and veggies in the sandwich were easy to replicate, since deli meats and spices and sauces are easy to find, the bread was a whole different matter. Because it’s unique composition and design made it quite difficult to replicate and that definitely made for a fascinating final product from Justin and Kristen. For they decided to recreate the bread from scratch and while they did indeed create some tasty bread that in turn made for a tasty sandwich, the lack of flawless crispiness and composition regarding this special kind of bread, is what allowed for them to lose this challenge to Jeremy. Because he decided that trying to recreate perfection wasn’t possible, so he used the original bread.

Once that was done, the time came for the Remix Round and once again, the culinary creations brought forth by these creative chefs were nothing short of breathtaking. For Kristen created a Cheese Frittelle with ‘Nduja Sauce and Kishky’s Seasoning, and this dish was quite the treat since one could dip this delightful confection in that amazing sauce and enjoy a burst of flavor. As for Jeremy, he created a Sourdough Crusted Salmon with Passion fruit and a Black Olive Oil and let’s be honest, that dish was gorgeous and could go on any menu in a fine dining restaurant and Justin… he went with a lovely spin on the dish. For he gave life to a Pork Belly with a Parmesan Crisp and Sourdough and that definitely brought joy to everyone that tasted this beautiful and savory creation.

But as is always the case, there can be only one Chompion, and the fun factor and simplicity of the Frittelle allowed for Kristen to win the day and don a slick Schlotzsky’s trucker hat before sending the boys off to Loserville and well, in the end, this was another delightful episode of this show. One that wasn’t afraid to mix things up when it comes to the core foundation of this show and that’s a wonderful twist to inject into this cooking adventure for certain. Since it speaks to the fact that this series likes to keep things as fresh as possible, and it will be truly interesting to see what twists and turns and amazing delights await us when Fast Foodies returns next Thursday. Until next time.