Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 213 of ‘Big Sky’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.    
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​It feels, briefly, as though things may be beginning to wrap up and wind down. This episode wasted no time in mourning the loss of Ronald Pergman, and before the opening credits, the syndicate has taken care of Wolf Legarski as well. But there is another intense and wild story unfolding.
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The Bhullars now have their Montana drug production up and running, and Tonya seems to have deeply involved herself in all aspects of their operations and is working to make herself indispensable to Ren. In addition to arranging for transportation, she will also be overseeing the first shipment.

Travis is also trying to keep Stone in good standing with Ren by returning the bag of cash that Bob had absconded with, which does please her. She rewards him with a couple of stacks of bills and the responsibility for helping to take care of the next day’s shipment with Tonya.

Dietrich is finally forced to face the music for the disaster with the drugs and money in a meeting with Veer and Jag Bhullar. Travis warns Dietrich against attending the meeting, convinced it is a trap, but Dietrich is a good as dead if he doesn’t go. Dietrich endures a beating from Jag that Veer forces Jag to commit, but escapes with his life and the possibility to get back in with them if he can again prove himself useful.

Bob continues to cause mayhem and chaos for everyone with whom he interacts. His booby-trapped basement kills two of Jenny Hoyt’s deputies and lands her partner, Poppernak, in the hospital. Come to find out, it isn’t just Tonya and Travis overseeing the Bhullars first shipment of drugs, Bob is there too, hiding in the vegetation and watching.

Tonya and Travis decide they will each follow one of the trucks until the drop is successfully made. Tonya will soon come regret declining Donno’s offer to ride shot gun with her, as Bob has selected her driver to hijack. Still five miles from the drop point, a flaming carousel horse in the middle of the highway causes the driver, Jamison, to stop his truck and exit the cab to investigate. Bob kills him with one shot as Tonya stands there watching, helpless. Bob appears around the truck, gun drawn on a traumatized Tonya, who simply nods when Bob asks if there are drugs amongst the cargo.

Dietrich learns of Bob’s latest antics when Travis and Jenny pay him a visit at the Boot Heel, warning Dietrich to turn the drugs over to them if Bob does show up. And just like clockwork, Bob appears from the shadows the moment Jenny and Travis leave. Dietrich is less than thrilled to see Bob but agrees to sell the drugs with him. Little does Bob know; he’s just provided Dietrich with the perfect way to ingratiate himself with the Bhullars. Instead of drug buyers, Donno and Dhruv arrive to collect both Bob and the stolen shipment.

Unfortunately for Travis, Bob has a bargaining chip to play to spare his life: he tells Ren that she has a mole, Stone is a cop. Though Ren hardly reacts, rage visibly flashes through her eyes at the revelation of such a betrayal. She calls Travis and sweetly requests he come see her.
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Meanwhile, Travis’s handler from State, Lila Dodge, pays Jenny a late-night visit in her office. Turns out, Travis has not checked in with Lila once, and that his story for targeting the Bhullars was mostly false, other than the fact that it’s personal for him. It wasn’t Travis’s partner that Veer Bhullar killed. Travis had managed to turn Veer’s mistress into his informant, and then proceeded to fall in love with her. Travis has never gotten over her disappearance and blames Veer.

Travis quickly realizes he’s in serious trouble when he arrives to find Bob sitting there. Bob is beyond smug at having turned his death sentence into someone else’s. In his desperation, Travis decides there is only one way to save his own life at this juncture; he stabs Bob to death with the knife off the table, demanding to know if that is the behavior of a cop. Only Tonya looks away, horrified to be witnessing yet another murder in the same day. Clearly, she is developing regrets about joining the Bhullar cartel.

Things are increasingly precarious for Travis, both with the Bhullars and Jenny Hoyt. It seems inevitable that a reckoning is near for him, he can only get away with so much for so long now that everyone is catching on to the fact that he’s playing for both teams.

Tonya, who began the episode full of confidence and satisfaction with her work, has begun to remember how brutal the Bhullars really are, and that violence will continue to be a regular part of her life while she works for them. She clearly never fully considered the consequences until now.

The bodies continue to drop, and the chips keep falling into place. Chaos continues to reign and should make for a fascinating and wild ride to the end of this season for all the characters involved, if they live that long.        

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Echos’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating Sundance Now series, Echos, we talked at length about how the show was starting to move the plot in a vastly different direction. For the last episode was devoid of the usual character study the show prefers to focus upon… so it could start to move the plot forward and offer us answers in an effort to ramp things up for the season finale and well, it is important to revisit that paradigm shift, simply because… it was the bare beginnings of things to come. For the next episode in this fascinating saga, built upon what the prior episode did and catapulted the plot forward even more. Which allowed for all kinds of answers and big reveals to come forth in ‘Der Verrat’.
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For instance, this is a story that revealed quite a bit about Janosch. For he returned home after getting a good look at his double in the sewers and demanded answers regarding how a lookalike was possible and well, that’s when his mother and father revealed quite the surprise. In that, Janosch was originally raised in the very underground that hangs over this tale and when his mother was found dead by his adopted father, he was brought home and cared for and lived the life he’s lived. Which meant, that his twin was kin and undoubtedly the last real connection he had to his former life and his now late mother, and that in turn motivated him to head back into the tunnels to find what little family he has left, to learn everything there is to know about his past and his lineage.

As for Nellie, well she also experienced some big moments in this tale. Since she teamed up with Tyler once again to find her brother and well… that went poorly. Largely because everyone vacated the safe space in the tunnels, due to the fact that there was too much heat surrounding them after the prior death, so… no answers were to be found underground. And it was also a failed endeavor because… Tyler didn’t want to admit to Nellie that she was responsible for the whole thing. So, she tried her best to smooth things over with Nellie until she could either figure out how to deliver Max to her or gain her trust long enough to make it hurt less and that… that just didn’t happen. Since Nellie discovered the truth and rightfully stormed off, leaving Tyler’s fate up the air in that moment… since she was unsure of how to make this right.

But she did figure out a way, thanks to Spider’s return to the hiding place. For he revealed that he saw exactly who grabbed Max at the end of the last episode and it turned out to be… Officer Kaltbrunner. For she knew that Max and her now late daughter interacted at the Rave party and that motivated her to kidnap Max and use her mother’s apartment to interrogate him for information regarding the whereabouts of her daughter. But of course, Max was unwilling to speak to the unfortunate truth about her, since he was unsure of how she would respond and rightfully so. But eventually… she came to learn that her baby girl was dead and well… she did not handle that well in the slightest since one could absolutely feel the anguish and raw fury that emanated from her soul over such news.

Which means that Max is still in grave danger, and it is going to take some incredible effort on Tyler and Nellie’s behalf to save him since the clock is ticking on his safety. Because a broken mother, full of anger and grief, is capable of anything and may do anything to find peace. Which is… a powerful way to set the stage for this show’s finale. For now, the stakes are at their highest and the danger is real and that will undoubtedly bring forth an intense story that might not end happy in the slightest. For this series has proven time and time again that it is unconventional in nature and eager to surprise and it will be quite fascinating to see how this harrowing journey through the underbelly of Munich is going to come to a close. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘That Dirty Black Bag’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Getting to know fictional characters, is just as important as getting to know regular people. Simply because, it helps us to really understand what’s at stake in a particular story and why the character in question is the way that they are and well, the best stories out there… make a point to fill us in on the backstories of the individuals we are reading about or watching on the screen. So, we truly become invested in the story and the character’s plight and this particular part of quality storytelling is top of mind today, simply because the next episode of That Dirty Black Bag on AMC+ took the time to explore the history of two key characters, Sheriff McCoy and Red Bill. 
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Because while they are fascinating characters, we simply don’t know what made Red Bill the quality bounty hunter he is in this story and why McCoy is such a shady law enforcement officer. But ‘Chapter Four: Genesis’ took the time to transport us back to the past, wherein we came to learn that Red Bill… went to a new home after his mother died at the hands of this strange Order of the Eye and he was not well in the years that followed her passing. For he experienced nightmares and never felt as though his new family was safe from trouble in the slightest and that motivated him to head into town and find the best possible bounty hunter to help keep this family safe, a man named James Anderson. 

Whom… was not quite as noble as Bill hoped, since he was a drunk and without manners. But when faced with adversity, courtesy of a roving band of gents that pulled guns on Bill and his new family, the two began to bond and Bill began to understand that perhaps, Anderson could teach him how to really hunt people down and inflict harm. All in the hopes of exacting revenge on the man that killed his mother and well, eventually he and James teamed up and headed off into the world, wherein Bill became the man he is today. Making his story a bit of a tragedy since he’s been consumed by revenge from a very early age, but at least we now understand how he came to be so skilled and how deep his vendetta runs. 

As for McCoy, well his story informed us of the fact… that he acts like a criminal because… he was a criminal. For Arthur McCoy was once hired to steal to a rare cross back in the day with his brother and their gang and that uh… that went badly. For when hunger settled in and mistakes were made along the way, these men were forced to head out on foot and things only got darker from there. Since murder and cannibalism came into play and the numbers dwindled as McCoy’s big brother made his play to keep the entire fortune and eventually… the two were separated at an oasis. Which means that McCoy likely stumbled his way toward Greenvale and assumed a new life to escape his old and his brother… might still be out there and that’s quite the big deal.

For he just happened to have a giant bowie knife with an eye on it, making it appear as though he gave the infamous scars that have haunted so many and likely killed Red Bill’s mother and well… if big brother ever makes his way to Greenvale… a showdown for the ages might occur since Bill and McCoy are headed that way. But while we wait to see what comes out of that revelation… we can bask in the majesty of one quality tale. One that really informed us of the tragic paths that motivated the present-day versions of these men and what they want out of life and now that we know their motivations and foundations, it will be fascinating to see how all of that comes together in the weeks to come, as trouble and conflict arrive in Greenvale. Until next time.  

Please enjoy this sneak peek of Episode 209 of Fast Foodies, which will air on truTV on March 31, 2022.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Reacher’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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For the most part, stories that focus on crime and the investigations surrounding an illegal act… waste little time in providing the gumshoe (and the audience) with a bevy of clues to follow. Because the prevailing belief when it comes to how these stories should be constructed, is that they should move briskly and give the audience just enough mystery to keep them coming back for more and what better way to do that, than through clues that reveal what’s going on and let’s be honest… this is a supremely effective method of telling a crime related story. Because it does the job as advertised and leaves you curious about who committed said crime and why.

Which is why it is always surprising to run into a crime story that defies that particular norm. Since it speaks to the reality that there are other ways to engage an audience and for the sake of today’s discussion, one way to accomplish that… is through danger and intrigue, as evidenced by the next episode of Reacher on Prime Video. For when we catch up with Reacher in ‘First Dance’, he’s rightfully on the hunt to figure out who killed his brother. But rather than run into clues that hint at who might have taken part in such a heinous act… there’s nothing for Reacher to find. For the individuals responsible for this mess, did everything to cover their tracks… making it seem as though the case would quickly end with zero resolution. 

But there is something quite afoul in Margrave. For the implication that dark forces are working behind the scenes turned into confirmation here. Courtesy of the fact that the police chief was viciously murdered and immediately replaced by the current Mayor, whom has a lot of question marks surrounding him regarding his integrity. Plus, the fact that Hubble went missing here… speaks to a grand conspiracy. One that is desperate to remain under wraps and that created the intrigue in question… since we instantly want to know what kind of organization would want to keep secrets in a small town that seemingly has no strategic value, nor is it the hub of something critical. But alas, those answers will indeed have to wait, since no information regarding what is happening in this tiny little town were revealed to us in the slightest.

In fact, the intrigue was replaced in this tale, by the danger in question. As evidenced by how Spivey set up a trap for Reacher when an attempt was made to pull a little intelligence out of Spivey regarding the corrupt nature of the prison and what happened to Reacher and Hubble within its walls. Not to mention, the fact that Roscoe’s house was ransacked and vandalized with an ugly message during a night out with Reacher, informs our heroes that they’ve stumbled onto something ugly, something so foul in fact that people will die in a horrible manner to keep the truth from ever coming to light and that is a perfect way to create a genuine sense of danger. Since we don't know when the dark forces that are lurking about will strike and cause strife, and that oddly, adds to the intrigue as well and creates a sense of anticipation.

Since all of these shady and unsettling acts managed to motivate Reacher to keep the investigation going. For he is fearless and angry and will stop at nothing to bring peace and justice to his brother’s name, and we definitely want to see him complete his search, since these bad, bad people deserve their comeuppance. But what matters most here, is the unconventional nature of this tale and how it informs us that there are indeed other and better ways to engage an audience outside of the norms. Because this plot just grabs hold of you and never lets go and sends your mind racing with questions. For now, you’re dying to know who the mastermind is here and why they are so eager to sow trouble and take lives in doing so, and it will be fascinating to see this mystery unravel in what is likely to be an equally unconventional manner, as our journey through Margrave continues in the weeks to come. Until next time.

There was a time, where the world of television was true escapism. For the sitcom ruled the day and the dramatic and reflective stuff was saved for ‘A Very Special Episode’ or shows buried late at night. For the common belief was that the tube was there to just let everyone unwind from their day so they could refresh themselves for the tomorrow ahead and for a time… it truly seemed as though this was going to be television's fate for as long as it existed. But over the past decade or so, there has been a grand paradigm shift within the industry. For the rise of the streamer and the need for more content to feed the new television networks out there, has called for a different kind of content to arrive in the world of television.

Which means that fluffy stuff simply doesn’t cut it anymore. To really draw in an audience and keep their attention, unique stories have to be told and that is bringing forth a revolution for the industry. One where television is rivaling cinema when it comes to the quality of the storytelling present on the small screen and where giant names now lend themselves to T.V. on the regular because they know they’re taking part in top-tier storytelling. But what matters most, is that this shift in the business, is allowing for powerful stories to be told in unique ways and it just so happens that a story that fits that mold, is about to hit the airwaves on Prime Video.

For The Outlaws really is a story unlike any other on the market and we here at Nerds That Geek have enjoyed an advance look at this compelling new show and would like to take a moment today and spotlight its wonder in a spoiler-free manner of course and well, the first reason this show stands out… is because of its plot. For in this particular journey, we are plunged into a corner of the world that few of us know about or will ever experience. Specifically, what comes next after committing a crime since we join a group of people who are in the midst of community service in this story, as part of their probation, and seeing how they react to the decisions they’ve made and what brought them here, really does make for refreshing television. The kind that gives the viewers perspective and for that matter… also provides them with a powerful character study.

Since we learn so much about these individuals and what drove them to their mistakes and what drives them toward tomorrow and that allows for some powerful and inflective moments to take place. The kind that allows for the viewer to relate to people that we are taught we should NOT relate to, giving rise to the lesson that criminals are human beings too, that made a poor choice or choices and find themselves in a tough place they have to dig out of, and that makes this a truly fascinating show in the end. One that is not quite as dark as that particular plot or structure appears to be. Because this is a story written and created by Stephen Merchant and Elgin James, and they just so happen to be, a writing duo that know what goes into grand storytelling and how to keep it light, and it is the comedic elements present here that really sell this story.

Since it allows for this series to never get overwhelming and heavy, allowing for the viewer to process the gravity of what’s going on with the characters… and the outright majesty of this magnificently original series. Because this one truly takes us on an adventure that is unlike anything else on the airwaves right now and it reminds us of what television can truly accomplish and the good news is, the wait for this dynamic new series is nearing its end. For The Outlaws makes its debut on April 1, 2022, on Prime Video and we cannot wait for all of you to see it and to geek out with all of you about it, and speaking of that… well, make sure you swing by NTG tomorrow to check out our interviews with some of the cast and crew... and to truly build up some excitement for you… we leave you with some sneak peeks from the show, and its trailer. Until next time.

​When they announced that Moon Knight was getting a Disney Plus series, nobody knew what that meant. That was before WandaVision, Loki, Hawkeye, and What If…?; before we had any idea what kind of content the newborn Disney Plus was going to produce for the Marvel Universe. We had seen Marvel release slates before. We had seen them change. And then the chaos of 2020 severely disrupted how the entertainment industry had planned to shoot, edit, market, and release new stories.
 
Through it all there was a tiny voice in the back of my mind, the voice of reason, whispering to me, “If they have to make cuts, Moonie is first on the chopping block.” And then they cast Oscar Isaac, and then they cast Ethan Hawke. Then they dropped a teaser, and then they dropped a trailer during an NFL Wildcard game featuring music from Kid Cudi, and then they dropped another new trailer during the Super Bowl!
 
Disney believes in this character, in this portrayal of his story, and they are putting the whole of Marvel’s might behind him. The marketing rivals what Marvel did leading up to The Avengers and the Phase 2 and 3 premiere films, with promos, featurettes, cast reactions, international theater premieres and Red-Carpet cosplay photo ops. 
 
It has been the most wonderful experience seeing the world discover Marc Spector and his alters, seeing Isaac and the whole cast be so excited for the fans to see what they made, and to sit poised on the edge of the unknown, waiting for the premiere. The outpouring of new fan-art, the easter eggs and glimpses we’ve been seeing daily from new teasers and promos; it’s all just so cool!
 
My origin story as a member of Nerds That Geek is intertwined with my Moon Knight fandom. The bulk of my writing for our site is Moon Knight specific. Nerds That Geek gave me a platform to explore this strange, wonderful, under-appreciated hero through the different phases of his development and it is so surreal to now have press access to details, photos, and production details for the series because of that work, that research, that loving obsession. 

As I sit here with access to so much, I’m reminded of one of my favorite Moon Knight quotes from the Huston and Finch 2006 series, issue 1, “I don’t wear white to hide myself. I wear it so they’ll see me coming. So they’ll know who it is. ‘Cause when they see the white, it doesn’t matter how good a target I am. Their hands shake so bad, they couldn’t hit the Moon.” 
 
I’m shaking. I wanted the whole world to know who Moon Knight was so bad. His story excited me, challenged me, moved me to tears, and brought me such innocent joy. I couldn’t stop talking about him, writing about him, dreaming about a far-flung future where people would know who he was. And it’s really happening. Right now. I get to see it, and I don’t know that I’ve ever felt anything like this before. On March 30th the world gets introduced to a fire that I’ve been sitting beside for many years, and I can’t wait to get to share the warmth. 
 
I was so pessimistic about our chances of actually getting a series that I never made a list of wildest dream expectations for the adaptation, so I thought I’d take a moment and explore those now before the release. 
 
Number one has to be a thoughtful portrayal and exploration of Marc Spector’s Dissociative Identity Disorder. Moon Knight is such an important representation of acknowledging and living with mental illness and his D.I.D. is so crucial to Marc as a character. The trailers and interviews with Oscar Isaac about this specific topic have been very exciting to see, and it looks like their goal was to be as faithful and accurate about Marc’s disorder as possible. ✔ Check.
 
Number two is a comic book accurate suit. So many times, we’ve gotten smooth, Marvel Ultimates, Kevlar lined, practical interpretations of super hero costumes, and they’ve run the gamut from really satisfying and modern, to monotone and boring. If we were going to see Moon Knight on screen he had to stand out, he had to capture the eerie ghostly aura of that cover art that so captivated me when I became a fan of the character. 

The Disney Plus design is incredible! One of my favorite Moon Knight designs is the legendary Alex Ross’ cover for Universe X issue 6, which depicts a dual machine gun toting hero bandaged like a mummy at the foot of the sphinx. The Disney Plus design is a gorgeous combination of that look and the 1985 Fist of Khonshu costume designed by Chris Warner and E.R. Cruz. ✔ Check.
 
Third, is bird skull Khonshu. As much as I love the eerie ambiguity of the black stone statue of the Moon God that winks as the moonlight plays across its face, I love the Declan Shelvey bird skull design more. It’s strange, alien, and terrifying, and it’s a great vehicle for Khonshu’s range of modes, from casual quipper, to blood lustful manipulator. He’s there in the trailers. All 7 dusty feet of him. ✔ Check.
 
Fourth, Moon Knight has to be a brutal hand to hand combatant and endure an inhuman amount of punishment. Moon Knight is complex, he is psychologically rich in story potential, but he is also a violent, frightening, dark hero who has an unpredictable capacity for causing and absorbing physical carnage. From the moment they released footage of Oscar Isaac’s training in preparation for the series, I was impressed by the accuracy of the character’s fluidity and brutality; Isaac moved like Moon Knight and he was doing some real damage. As far as I can tell from the trailers ✔ Check.
 
And my fifth and final wildest dream for the live action adaptation of Moon Knight is very simple. Werewolves. There had better be at least a tease of a big hairy vicious werewolf squaring off against the Jet and Silver Avenger. This is totally silly and totally biased, but honestly entirely possible at the same time. I love that Moon Knight has a history and origin associated with my favorite movie monster, and it would just be so cool to see it play out in live action.

When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous cozy mystery series, Queens of Mystery (on Acorn TV), we talked at length about how the series premiere was in essence a masterclass in introducing an audience to a brand-new universe. For we were treated to engaging character introductions and development and going that route, settled us into this unique story and world and well… it’s important to revisit that wonder… because the majesty of this opening chapter in the Stone saga, didn’t end with quality world-building and dynamic character structure. For the second half of the story, served as another masterclass, one firmly grounded in how to put together a quality mystery.
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A feat that ‘Murder in the Dark: Final Chapter’ accomplished, by taking us on quite the ride. One that featured all kinds of twists and turns and wonderful misdirection and that’s exactly what a great mystery does. It should confuse us and keep us guessing since that demands the viewer to keep a close eye on the clues and even then, it may still fool you, as was the case here. Because despite being able to obtain a confession from Benjamin Kingston, one that implied he masterminded all of the death, Matilda felt hollow about the whole thing and that motivated her, and her aunts… to press harder on the case and really try to understand what happened here and that’s when this story brought about its most satisfying turn.

Because it went old school and brought forth some classic detective devices to bring the real killer to justice. Which meant we were treated to musings from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the wonder and thrill of an investigator stopping at nothing to find the truth and risking their lives in the process. Plus, it also doesn’t hurt that this segment allowed for a little commentary to come into play. Since it was Oscar’s biggest fan that committed this crime because she couldn’t bear the thought of how he was going to end his book series. A shocking twist that more or less made it clear to the audience, to make sure that we never blur the lines between fantasy and reality since that can be unhealthy… and downright dangerous when one cannot differentiate between the two.

However, while this story put on a true clinic regarding how to write a mystery, the quality character development present in the first episode was also present here. For this story fleshed out the incredible draw that Matilda and Daniel share a little further and hinted at how that is clearly going to bring forth trouble down the line. Not to mention, we got to learn more about the aunts here and how they click and of course, we finally started diving into the Raven mythos and the mystery surrounding Matilda’s mother, and it was just a genuine treat to see this world be fleshed out further and to be informed of the fact that the characters will always be the queens of this series, regardless of how engaging the case in front of them might be. 

If anything, this was just a flawless ending to one fascinating mystery. Because this part of the journey left no stone unturned (pun fully intended) and it wrapped up one powerful and intricate case in a satisfying and complete manner and of course, it set the stage for things to come. But what matters most, is that it also did a phenomenal job of sucking us into this universe like never before. Because after this episode, you are vested. Simply because you know you’re dealing with great and noble people that will always do their best to bring criminals to justice, and that their hearts are always in the right place and that kind of positivity is impossible to avoid and it will be a real treat to enjoy it further, in the days and weeks to come. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘The Chelsea Detective’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is genuinely fascinating how many diverse views there are out there when it comes to grief and how we process it. For instance, there are those who believe that grief is nothing more than a challenge, one that can be easily conquered if one faces it head on and they do so with impunity and seem to come out of the other side no worse for the wear. But at the same time, there are others who see grief as a sign of weakness, the kind that should be shoved aside so that life can continue along and of course, there are people who simply see it as another event in life, one that you experience and process in the simplest of fashion and move on.
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But what’s amazing is that the diversity of how we perceive grief, doesn’t end there. For there are some who are utterly devastated by it and spend years languishing within its grasp before finally processing what hurt them so and really, the diverse nature of grief serves to remind us… that it is a supremely personal experience. One that we cannot judge or make demands of since everyone will go through it differently. But there is one particular type of grief that we haven’t discussed that should in fact, give all of us pause. For those that seemingly don’t process it in the slightest or experience violent mood swings when confronted with it, do require that someone step in and help them. Because they are struggling to handle waves of emotions and that can lead to disaster, as evidenced by the season one finale of The Chelsea Detective.

For ‘A Chelsea Education’ explored in great detail, the dangers of unchecked grief by presenting Max and Priya and their intrepid team… with another stunning and complex case. For this time around, a well-liked and morally sound educator named Oliver Cowie was violently murdered in his home, with an object from his own study that went missing and well… unlike the previous case, there were no ugly secrets to unwrap regarding Oliver. Because he stood up for students, he did his best to support his coworkers and really his only flaw was that he was a touch too tough on his wife and daughter and demanded they respect his career over any of their dreams. But even that, wasn’t grounds for murder, just tears and frustrations, and some rebelling from Oliver’s daughter, Flo.

In fact, it didn’t matter which lead the team explored, nothing bad turned up, truly stumping everyone and leaving them to wonder how on earth this crime took place and well… slowly but surely, Max started to wonder if conventional thought was the problem here, and when Max really looked at the clues and realized they hadn’t considered one particular party… it hit him that Flo’s best friend Petal was responsible. For she had recently lost her mother and wasn’t processing her pain and being hit with the possibility that Flo was going to move to Japan, since that was in the works courtesy of Oliver’s position… broke her. To the point where she visited Oliver that night to demand that she lose no more and well… when things didn’t go her way, she snapped and made it clear to all of us, that those who cannot process the pain of losing someone… can and will have their emotions explode, and they need a support network to keep that at bay.
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But while that made for a powerful lesson on the dangers of burying our grief and never processing it in the slightest, there were more incredible moments present within this episode. For this story also took the time to show us some serious growth when it comes to Max and Priya. For DS Shamsie finally figured out how to juggle being a mother, and a wife, and a police detective and made sure that her husband received the support he gave her, strengthening their relationship. As for Max… well he finally learned how to move on from Astrid and how to close those wounds so he could finally find his own way forward. and it was just so satisfying to see these two put some longstanding issues to rest at last and grow before our eyes. Because they are wonderful people that deserve peace, and this should give them some measure of it.

If anything, this was just… the perfect end to the perfect season. Because what better way to close out an unconventional crime drama than with an incredibly unconventional case. One that felt shockingly real and relatable since we’ve all felt or will feel, the rage and unrestrained emotion that Petal experienced here. Because whether you process grief fast or slow… that kind of pain makes an appearance. And the show deserves a round of applause for giving us a case this deep and this intelligent and for once again, bringing up an issue that we don’t think about all that often. Since this kind of grief is grabbing hold of someone right now and skewing their view upon the world, and hurting them badly, and hopefully this story reminds us to just… check in on folks that we know are hurting, to ensure their pain doesn’t consume them, and to remind them… that they are not alone.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 405 of ‘Killing Eve’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past four years, we’ve learned a lot about the fascinating characters that populate the BBC America show, Killing Eve. Because this series serves as a masterclass in character development and how to tell a story through actions over exposition and the end result of defying the norms of storytelling… since cleverly crafted plots for stories in this vein tend to dominate the market… has been a compelling and powerful journey. One so engaging and unique that is has allowed for the incredible mystery hanging over this story to all but be forgotten by the audience. For we simply know little about the Twelve or their origins and haven’t really noticed the lack of resolution regarding that. But with the final season upon us, it would seem that particular mystery is going to come to light by journey’s end, as evidenced by this week’s episode.
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For ‘Don’t Get Attached’ spent a lot of the time in the past, in 1979 to be exact. In Munich no less, where a young Carolyn Martens was working her first MI6 gig. One where she was to keep an eye on an anarchist group that was making waves with its anti-establishment and toppling of government rhetoric, and she did such a great job of implanting herself within his group that she was able to help them come up with quite the name… the Twelve. And she also did a wonderful job of getting to know its leader, Lars, and she also caught the eye of another German man. One both burly and silent and for a time it appeared as though Carolyn’s mission was going to go off without a hitch. Much to the joy of her spy father, who was also on this mission with her.

But it didn’t take long for this whole thing to go sideways when Carolyn’s father died. Because that made the mission personal and it revealed that the burly German man in question was actually a Russian spy named Konstantin, and he was responsible for daddy’s death and well, the genesis of the long-standing cat and mouse game led to all kinds of problems. In that, cover was blown and their focus on their feelings for each other… led to a messy end to their mission, when they thought they killed Lars in a violent manner. But clearly, he lived, and being a ghost allowed for him to properly found the Twelve and bring its chaos to life and that answers why these two are so intent on bringing this organization down and how it came to pass, and more answers may come our way shortly, since Carolyn tracked down Lars in present day.

However, while it was incredible to finally get some answers and see how interconnected the Twelve are to our characters, there were other important moments in this tale that we need to discuss. Such as how Villanelle spent a little time killing once again to dust off her skill set and oddly enough, she did so in a very noble manner. Since she whacked men that were harming women in Cuba before she headed to meet Konstantin. In part to forge peace between the two of them since they have had plenty of sour moments over the past few years, but to also elicit his help in finding Hélène. Because she wanted to make her pay for every ugly moment she bestowed upon Villanelle, and well, a shared desire for revenge between both Villanelle and Eve… allowed for disaster to take place.
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Because while Villanelle was plotting and scheming and getting back into the thick of killing. Eve kidnapped Hélène’s daughter to try and get the upper hand, and she of course, worked the case on the side, and came to discover that Carolyn was somehow involved with the Twelve back in the day and well… her quest to find Lars and put him down and get revenge and best Helene at her game, brought us to the disaster in question. Since Hélène invited Eve along for a little ride to confront Lars. Which of course turned out to be a ruse. For she knew that Villanelle was back in town and that Eve harbored some kind of connection with her and what better way to distract them both from their tasks at hand and teach them a lesson… by making every attempt to kill at least one of them. Which is why she made sure that Eve watched, as Villanelle took an arrow to the back.

A surprise that leaves us worried for certain. Since this is the final season, and anyone can exit the story on a moment’s notice when the end is in sight. But while we wait to see if Villanelle survives this treachery, we can bask in the wonder of a quality tale. One that truly informed us that this farewell season, will be filled to the brim with stunning surprises and the answers we seek, and, in the end, those realities are going to make the wait for next week’s episode an excruciating one for certain. Since we have to know if Villanelle is going to make it and of course… what will come out of the revelations that this episode presented us with. Because it is a huge deal that Carolyn has had some inadvertent involvement with the Twelve and that she is once again, face to face with its unhinged and enigmatic leader. Until next time.