Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘Night Court’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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If there is one type of person that the vast majority of people out there don’t like, it’s a bully. Because they’re always loud, always filled with annoying bravado and they’re just plain mean, and unsettling to be around. In fact, the only person that might like a bully, is a bully, and even that is debatable because of how miserable a person they seem to be. But alas, they are something that each and every one of us will have to deal with in life, and until the day comes when people stop bullying, how we deal with them is paramount. For while they’re all miserable, no two bullies are born the same way, nor do they respond the same way to disarm them, and well… that’s why this week’s episode of Night Court on NBC is so important. For it offered up several blueprints on how to smack a bully down.

Because ‘Chips Ahoy’ saw a pair of unique bullies arrive in the courthouse, one of which… was born. Because it was Fleet Week in New York, and that meant misbehaving Naval officers were popping up in the Night Court and well… Dan saw this as an opportunity to make some extra bread. Because it was well known that the officers held a massive poker tournament during Fleet Week and Dan just wanted in on it to clean up. And once he found his in, he went all out in being a cash-based bully. All by making sure to use his vast poker skills to take full advantage of sailors who really weren’t thinking that straight. Which bothered Gurgs to no end and prompted her to do what must be done in defeating one type of bully.

Specifically… by finding someone that could easily stand up to Dan. Which took a while to find in the courtroom. Mainly because, it was Olivia all along and she was busy this episode, trying to follow the Flobert path to riches. Because he had a program to garner new things in life, and she was loving that program. But alas, Gurgs asked for her help, and knew Olivia would love a chance to stick it to Dan Fielding. So… Olivia used her own college gained poker skills to sit at the big table with Dan and offer him a touch of humility. The kind where his riches began to fade and slowly made their back into the pockets of needy sailors. Which cooled Dan down and reminded him to not be such a bully, and yes, that reinforced that a fair majority of bullies out there can’t handle just being stood up to. 

But there are some, that are supremely twisted in nature and tough to bring down, and that was what Abby was dealing with while Danny boy paid the piper. Because a local mom named Jasmine, who knew Wyatt and was enamored with his attempts to do what Gurgs did, was bullying her way through his life and the everyday flow of the courtroom. And it didn’t matter who stood up to her, that only seemed to fuel her more and well… that prompted Abby to offer up a unique solution in teaching a bully a lesson. In that, she realized that she had nothing to lose in attempting to bruise the ego of Jasmine, and if she went all out and showed her how much people didn’t like her bullying ways, it might lead to a win or at least, a moment of pause for Jasmine and well… Abby was right. Because pressing the right buttons in a free throw contest not only led to defeat… but pause… and a lesson learned.

Which meant that in some instances, it’s not enough to stand up and punch a bully in the nose. They need a thrashing of sorts, the kind that really exposes them for the bully they are, and it doesn’t have to be physical violence to make that happen… but a damn good lesson in humility and those lessons, brought about one delightful episode of the show. One that once again offered up a little something for those who want more depth from their entertainment, along with a healthy dose of wacky and fun for those who don’t. Because the jokes were simply sublime as well, with everyone pitching in to really make us laugh and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this lovely laugh fest, it’s onto the next one… one that will satisfy fans of the franchise, courtesy of an epic reunion. Until next time.

To learn more about the cast’s experiences in creating ‘Night Court’, check out our interview with the actor who plays Olivia, India de Beaufort.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Ten of ‘Extended Family’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular truth about family life that frustrates every parent, is the sheer fact that they cannot be in more places at once. Because sadly, bringing children into the world means that they begin to take part in interests that delight them and require their time, and that in turn, requires the time of parents as well. Which can be downright frustrating when events overlap, and a parent potentially cannot be there to support their children because that’s what parents want above all else. To take part in beautiful memories and watch their kids grow before their eyes. But alas, there are only two of them, and that is why… in order to properly raise a family, it does indeed take a village. 

Which is why parents rely upon their parents to help out when possible, and that’s also why… new members to the family, especially in a blended family, have to step up and take the reins of their respective new role as stepparent. So that the kids get what they need and well, that truth is top of mind today, simply because the next episode of Extended Family on NBC put that on display to demonstrate how it works and showcase the wonders teamwork accomplishes. A feat that ‘The Consequences of Familial Obligations’ accomplished by having Jim and Julia face some daunting issues with family time.

Because a father/daughter dance was coming up for Grace on the same night that Jimmy Jr. had a Pinewood Derby with his Scout Troop. And well, both of them wanted dear old dad to be there. Since Grace had been practicing a dance with Jim and Jimmy needed his guidance. Which prompted Jim and Julia to figure out how best to split up the duties to keep everyone happy and well… that was where Trey came in. Because Jimmy desperately wanted a father figure there and since Trey was a scout once himself… and a stepdad in waiting… Jimmy deemed Trey as the one to be there to support him. An emotional moment for Trey that he was happy to take part in… giving rise to brief peace in the household as everyone seemed appeased at last and the trouble was behind them.

But life, doesn’t play by the rules, and just like that… Jim was delayed on the big night, and Bobby was too when he stepped in to try and help at the dance. Which meant it fell to Trey to once again stand tall and dance it up in this instance to save another night, and he happily stood in until Jim arrived from his delay. Which gave Trey a chance to peel back and let Jim and Grace impress the crowd. Because sometimes… sacrifice comes into play when it comes to giving children the memories they want and need, and he wasn’t the only one to play the temporary hero. Since Julia, who became the backup derby master, also took a backseat when Bobby realized he could help Jimmy Jr. place well in the big race, which he most certainly did.

All of which, truly spoke to how it takes everyone in a family to raise kids properly, and that such unity also includes sacrifice and an understanding od when to back down to make the moment right and that led… to one amazing episode. One that offered up a beautiful look into how family life works in Modern America and perhaps offered a guide to newly blended families that are unsure of how roles work in their new dynamic. But that is what this show does well, showcase and teach and entertain along the way. For the laughs were definitely here as well, with Jim’s shenanigans leading the way and truly, it was incredible to see this family jell in this manner and see them grow before our eyes and that definitely leaves us eager to continue more of this beautiful journey, one that truly speaks to the wonder and the power of family. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Constellation’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are a great many things we fear in this life. Some of which are simple in nature, such as the dark or being around tiny critters with eight legs. Whereas some of them are grand and complex, such as being alone forever or watching our loved ones suffer through an illness. But above all, there are two fears we harbor that trump just about every last one of the rest of our worries. Specifically, we all harbor some kind of fear of death, and we all are terrified at the prospect of losing our mental faculties. Because our mind is something that is precious to us, and something we mostly harbor control over, so the thought of having that slip away to the point where we lose our grip on reality and our choices… really is a terrifying prospect.

One that prompts us at times to go the extra mile to ensure that our mind is indeed healthy and stable. Which is why we will visit a therapist or a psychiatrist now and again, to ensure that’s the case, and it’s why we sometimes ask for objective observation from our friends and family regarding our state of mind. All because, that terror is real and tough times can make it feel as though we are indeed losing our mind. Which is why Jo’s actions in the next episode of Constellation on Apple TV+, make sense, despite their harrowing and seemingly outlandish nature. For ‘Five Miles Out, the Sound Is Clearest’ picked up shortly after last week’s episode, where Magnus had hit his head, and well… good news was in the cards regarding that.

In that, he wasn’t dead, just banged up and well… knowing full well that she would be held accountable for this act, Jo used his moment of pain as a respite to put together her own plan to understand whether or not she was losing her mind. So, she scooped up Alice, called an ambulance and hit the road, making sure to pick up the Cal and call in some favors along the way. The kind that would allow for others to examine the strange cocktail of pills she used to swallow as she made her way into the interior of Denmark. Not to cause harm, but to get answers. Because the person that sent her those tapes and those transcripts had to know more, and she needed those answers to determine her true mental state and well… that quest ended being a touch fruitless… at first.

Because while the people responsible for sending her those tapes were eager to help prove to Jo that there were strange recordings, they had picked up from radio chatter throughout the years, the kind that spoke to strange occurrences in space and time once an astronaut crossed the threshold of the Karman Line, there just wasn’t much for Jo to hear. In fact, no one outside of the gracious hosts Jo and Alice met heard anything on those tapes. Leaving Jo to believe that there was a very good chance that she was indeed losing her mental faculties courtesy of the stress and emotional damage she experienced aboard the ISS. But that’s when this episode took quite the turn in this little game of whether or not Jo is mentally competent to function in this life after a harrowing trauma. 
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For on the way to the cabin that we were introduced to earlier in the story, the Cal helped reveal that those tapes did indeed harbor secrets untold, the kind that spoke to strange occurrences in space and more that doesn’t add up on terra firma. Such as the fact that Alice didn’t recognize her own voice or vernacular when she heard a clip of the ISS accident and that wasn’t the only moment present here that spoke to the possibility something stranger was taking place. After all, Henry was struggling mightily in this tale with hearing his brother and hearing things that weren’t there. In fact, their connection was so strong, they could communicate through a mirror from across the globe and even influence one another physically.

Making it clear, that something incredible is taking place in the depths of space. Something that changes some astronauts in ways we cannot imagine, and it would seem, the Cal is related to it and is only making things worse. As to what exactly is going on, we still don’t know, and that’s okay. Because that’s part of the fun, and the mystery, one that this series is slowly unraveling in all the right ways. But before we ponder upon those answers, we can celebrate one smart tale. One that did an amazing job of preying upon one of our deepest, and darkest fears and how important it is to know and feel that we are okay mentally. And now that Jo has a better understanding of that, the show will likely indeed dive into the questions at hand, and what was unleashed on that fateful day aboard the International Space Station. Until next time.

It is definitely safe to say that in this era of peak television, we’ve been able to learn a great deal about how our favorite stories come together. For there are documentaries abound that go behind the scenes of classics and there are others that deeply explore the crafts we love. But what is fascinating about the many stories out there chronicling entertainment, is that there aren’t many that really explore how different types of entertainment come together… such as say… stand-up comedy. Sure, there’s comedy specials abound, and a glut of new competition shows to showcase the pressures of stand-up, but we don’t really know how the jokes are made, and what work goes into crafting the perfect joke that leaves audiences in stitches.
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But that is about to change. For earlier today, Peacock let it be known that they are about to release a docu-special that will chronicle that process entitled, Good One: A Show About Jokes. Which will spotlight comedian Mike Birbiglia as he builds a new routine. Giving us exclusive access as to how jokes are crafted in a detailed manner and well, to properly celebrate the arrival of this fascinating new documentary, here are all the details on this special, including a trailer and a release date, to help us prepare to learn how laughter is born.

·       The docu-special features Mike Birbiglia, alongside interviews and commentary from distinguished comedians including Seth Meyers, Hasan Minhaj, Atsuko Okatsuka and more. Following the run of his latest Broadway show, comedian Mike Birbiglia begins an unpredictable journey developing new material from personal truths. The result is an immersive look at the craft of comedy from the ground up and a unique snapshot of the intersection between process and personal.
 
·       GOOD ONE: A SHOW ABOUT JOKES is directed by Eddie Schmidt. Eddie Schmidt, Jesse David Fox, Scoop Wasserstein, Pam Wasserstein, Seth Meyers, Mike Shoemaker and Jason Carden serve as executive producers.
 
ABOUT GOOD ONE: A SHOW ABOUT JOKES
A Peacock Original adaptation of the popular Vulture comedy podcast, Good One: A Show About Jokes highlights the journey of a comedian developing new material. This docu-special follows Mike Birbiglia from Providence, R.I. to Washington, D.C. as he builds jokes based on personal truths, mixing comedy with revelations and anecdotes from family and his fellow comedians. 

ABOUT THE DOCU-SPECIAL
Premiere Date: March 26, 2024  
Featuring: Mike Birbiglia with Seth Meyers, Joe Birbiglia, Hasan Minhaj, & Atsuko Okatsuka  
Executive Producers: Eddie Schmidt, Jesse David Fox, Scoop Wasserstein, Pam Wasserstein, Seth Meyers, Mike Shoemaker, Jason Carden 
Co-Executive Producers: Austin Flack, Jyllian Gunther 
Directed By: Eddie Schmidt 
Producers: Sarit G. Work, Maggie Contreras 
Produced by: Vox Media Studios with Vulture, Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions, Eddie Schmidt Productions and Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group 
Format: Docu-Special, 1 x 45 min episode 

​Please enjoy this sneak peek of Episode Four of Constellation which debuts tomorrow (3/6/24) on Apple TV+!

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 304 of ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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We are often taught in this life, that obsession is something that is fleeting in nature, and understandably so. For a great deal of what catches our eye and motivates us to ponder upon it, night, and day… eventually burns out as other life events and people and moments garner our attention. So, we give obsession little mind and pay even less attention to it in the real world, since all we know that its flame is eventually extinguished. But the fact of the matter is, that isn’t obsession in a nutshell, for not everyone is able to easily let go or let other aspects of life help to squash that proverbial fire, and that’s why obsession needs a little more care and concern. 

Because when it doesn’t fade, when it doesn’t disappear, dangerous things can and will happen as someone comes to realize they want what they are obsessed with in their lives and well… the dangers of just ignoring obsession and waiting to act upon it when someone harbors an unhealthy one is top of mind today, simply because it was featured in a unique manner in the next episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries on Acorn TV. For ‘Jackal’ saw a young woman be shot in broad daylight, making it seem as though an assassin was running about the city and well, the antique book in her hand prompted Caron to call in Jean who quickly thought she figured the case out.

For it didn’t take long for Jean to ponder upon the reality that the deceased was not the target, and that another woman standing near her had enemies and a visit to that woman, confirmed this… more or less. For she was deeply shaken and utterly terrified that she was a target and some ugly notes found in other rare books she purchased harbored some unsettling letters from the dealer. Which meant, he needed to be spoken to, and his strange behavior and fury toward the state of collectibles and such… really did make it seem as though he was the monster that took a life, so… he was taken into custody and that was when a real twist came into play, one related to the central theme of this tale.

Because the deceased’s father came into town to bury his daughter, and a conversation with him, made Jean realize… the real killer wasn’t the seemingly most obvious one. No instead, it became clear that the man that employed the deceased as a nanny… might be at fault and another discussion with him, confirmed that. For he was utterly obsessed with his nanny, and made overtures to woo her, that were denied. And rather than take no for answer and move on and understand there was no chance… that obsession burned bright and pushed him to do the unthinkable. And had it not been for Caron showing up at the right moment, and Dom’s outright bravery… he might have taken more lives in the name of his tragic obsession.

All of which really did remind us of obsession’s true dangers and how obsession requires vigilance from those of us who are outside observers before it is too late, and how we must take action when we are genuinely concerned about it. And well… that lesson brought about one engaging story. One that truly explored that theme well and managed to surprise us along the way with misdirection and lightened the mood with more vignettes from the bar. Since Jeremy and Judith are basically not fit to run the place, despite their best efforts and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this fascinating tale, it’s onto the next one and all the wonderful lessons about the human condition it will undoubtedly send our way. Until next time.

One particular aspect of murder mysteries that is supremely fascinating, is the sheer fact that classics from this genre continue to endure in our modern world. And what makes that so fascinating, relates to how we live in an era where they simply should not. For the modern murder mystery is catered to the times and filled to the brim with dark moments and gritty cases, and grizzled investigators that have seen it all and are in a deep battle with their own psyches to push ahead and do good in the world. But, while we are in a new era for the genre, the classics do to continue to endure and rightfully so.
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Because the best ones out there, are timeless in nature. Courtesy of explorations regarding murder and the human condition that are relevant in 2024 and any year really and speak to aspects of our world that aren’t changing or getting any better and one particular author whose work fits this criterion is Agatha Christie. Because she truly had an understanding of who we are as a society and of what problems we hide often in the name of progress and well, the power of the classics and the importance of her work are top of mind today, simply because BritBox is home to a powerful and relevant new adaptation of her work, Agatha Christie’s Murder Is Easy, and well… this is definitely a story worth spotlighting… for several reasons.

Such as the fact that this story features a juicy plot that is supremely faithful in nature. For this tale introduces us to Luke Fitzwilliam, a retired officer who is heading to London via train when we meet him, and whilst aboard it, he meets the enigmatic Miss Pinkerton. A seasoned soul in a hurry to report to Scotland Yard that murder has descended upon her hometown of Wychwood, and she wants nothing more than justice. A quest that Luke is happy to help champion when Miss Pinkerton dies on the streets of London in a concerning and strange manner and well, it doesn’t take long for Luke to learn that the idyllic Wychwood is anything but, and this town is mired in darkness and death because someone has discovered that murder is indeed easy when one puts their mind to it. 

Which really is the plot of the original book to a tee, and there are more faithful elements to be found in this tale. After all, Wychwood is filled to the brim with quirky and dynamic characters that all have reasons to commit to darkness, another Christie staple. One that gives rise to a story that keeps us guessing, as a good Agatha Christie novel/story is wont to do, and that guessing game takes us down incredible paths and incredible possibilities. All of which makes for an immersive who-done-it that is so cleverly crafted and assembled that even the hardcore fans of her work may second guess themselves as to how it ends since everything is handled here in such a refreshing and fun manner.
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But while it is a true delight to be immersed in a new and faithful telling of a true classic, it is the underlying subtext in this story that makes it worth our while. Simply because this story, focuses heavily on elements that we can relate to and currently grapple with. Since this is a story grounded in concerns about class warfare, and the abuses that the rich and entitled take part in, and how those abuses of power and of money impact the everyday person, and the impunity they occur with. Giving rise to a story that is timely and relevant and that easily explains why Agatha’s work continues to endure, because she really did have a core understanding of the problems of the modern world. Granted, those elements could be juiced up a little bit for this adaptation, but that is immaterial. For the core of those concepts were always there and ready to be pondered upon.

However, having them spotlighted here really does add incredible depth and perspective to a story that is indeed captivating and engaging. Giving rise to an adaptation that truly resonates through and through and is further enhanced by some delightful performances. Since everyone in the cast brings their A-game to the table and plays their respective parts with a zest and zeal that perfectly fits the moment and serves the wonder of the story and well, in the end, all of these elements combine to bring forth, a perfect murder mystery. One that does Agatha proud since it has it all really, and it reminds us of her prowess as a writer and how her observational skills truly made her work timeless and powerful, and poignant.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 206 of ‘The Way Home’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at great length about how the Hallmark Channel series, The Way Home, has offered up some of the best explorations regarding the healing journey we go on when we suffer through trauma and loss to ever hit the airwaves. Simply because it is presenting such lessons in a very raw and compelling manner, one grounded in cautionary moments and causality and that is indeed helping us to learn the importance of dealing with our respective pains and emotional aches. But of course… to truly hammer home why that needs to happen, we need examples of what kind of consequences await, and that’s why this week’s episode of the show is quite important in nature. For ‘How to Save a Life’ showcases just that, and it accomplished such a feat by way to two key storylines.

One of which, involved Del. For she received a phone call from the authorities that they might have found Jacob’s remains in a body of water. Which we knew to be false, but since Del has been in the dark about Jacob’s real whereabouts, she held to the moment and felt the past wash over her. All by pondering upon the many phone calls she received in that vein throughout the years, and how they hurt and tortured her soul and well… since Del hasn’t quite put all her pain to bed, those memoires and sorrowful hope stuck around until she got the news that Jacob wasn’t the person they found. All of which spoke to how the past lingers when we don’t resolve it, and how it finds new ways to create pain when the wound isn’t healed and re-opened and that made for one powerful and moving storyline/lesson.

But there was mention of two plot threads related to the lesson in this tale, and the other one came about via Kat. Who made some significant discoveries in the past. Such as the fact that it wasn’t the British that hauled Jacob away for violating the law, but Cyrus Goodwin’s lackeys at his behest. To settle old scores and to cause all kinds of trouble, and well… that meant Kat had to dedicate time and resources and trust into helping him escape Cryus’ home. Which brought about a harrowing and intense sequence that saw Kat, Susanna and Thomas run roughshod through the Goodwin estate to indeed free a battered and bruised Jacob before Kat returned home. Which at first glance, doesn’t seem like a plot thread grounded deeply in consequences for not dealing with our trauma.

However, the consequences were there. For buried beneath Kat’s bravery and brilliance, were little moments that spoke to those painful consequences. For instance, the paper was suffering back in present day, because Kat was spending all of her time in the past, neglecting her duties and that prompted Elliot and Alice to step in to keep the paper alive and of course… it was up to Alice to support Del in her time of need. Because Kat was scaring Cyrus in the past while Del tried to smooth over the ache in her chest and all of that spoke to the reality that when we obsess about the past and our pain and focus only upon, we do damage to our personal lives. We lose sight of what needs to be a priority, and we potentially hurt others along the way. Ergo, we have to be present in the moment, we have to reconcile and heal, or real pain comes into play.

All of which made, for another brilliant episode from this story. Since it used a wonderfully written script to draw us in and thrill us with adventure and hope, to provide us with subtext and truth regarding what we become when we are obsessed with our pain instead of obsessed with living. Giving rise to an incredible tale that made it clear that Kat is flirting with real emotional danger here and may need some hard lessons to understand the err of her ways. Which is hyper realistic and adds to the core depth of this story, and now that we’ve reached the end of this stunning lesson, it will be interesting to see what lies ahead now that we know where Kat is firmly planted, emotionally. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘The Irrational’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular truth about the human condition that we’ve learned via the lessons put forth in the brilliant NBC series, The Irrational, is that there are a great many trigger elements in the world that make us… that title. For love can make us do wild things that are nonsensical and stupid, but so can money and pressures untold. But of the many aspects of life that can drive us to do some supremely awful things, there is one above all that can push us into that madness; the fact that we all have a time limit on this Earth and will someday expire. Which may seem silly, since one would think that fact would bring us peace and a drive and desire to live life to the fullest, and for most folks, that particular truth does. But not everyone subscribes to such concepts and well… they take quite the path instead when they come to understand death waits for us all.

For instance, they may use their fear of death as an excuse to do the opposite and not live life. They’ll just hide away from the world in effort to avoid human contact and the reality that those they love will depart from this life, which is unhealthy and irrational. And if by chance, their fear of death is supremely overpowering, well… then they may be driven to do outright nasty things in the name of tomorrow as evidenced by the show’s next episode. For ‘Cheating Life’ saw a wildly popular health guru die during a live stream in a shocking manner. As though he was caught up in a hit and run. But since Kylie was a fan and watched this in front of Alec, who had a lot of questions about those final moments… they dove into the investigation with the local police and uncovered quite the set of surprises.

Such as the fact that there was a love triangle between the deceased, named Vincent, and his bodyguard Johan and Vincent’s wife, Tori, and that… put forth potential for motive from either Tori or Johan and that’s when this case became even stranger in nature. Because the more it seemed as though Johan was responsible for running down his boss, the more it seemed as though… Johan was not. Because he disappeared without a trace after Vincent’s passing and left no clues or trail regarding where he might have gone. Which left Alec thinking that something was quite amiss in this case, as though the whole point of this mess was to throw people off the trail and keep a secret hidden away and that was indeed the case.

Because one clever clue that Alec and his task force discovered, led them to a hidden away clinic. One where it was discovered that they only catered to high rolling clientele who wanted to keep their cancer battles a secret, and Vincent, was a patient in this place. Because to make it known publicly that his health regiment and snake oil products failed him, would be too big a cross to bear, as would a healthy man dying in general. In fact, that terrified him the most, so he in essence… gave into those fears of death and those concerns regarding humiliation to fake his own death. All by hiring a ringer that adored him, would be intimate with Tori, and was so eager to please he would essentially give his life so that Vincent could go on.

Which was the perfect way to explore how a fear of death, of its inevitable power, can transform us into a person that barely resembles the person we see in the mirror. Since Vincent truly gave into that fear and truly became a monster in a desperate attempt to cheat that which we cannot cheat. A move that speaks to the importance of acceptance, and the importance of living in the moment. So that when our number is called, there is peace instead of terror, giving rise to a deep and philosophical tale, one that is clearly going to give way… to bigger moments. Since Jace and Marisa clearly brought about one hell of an unsettling breakthrough in the Mathias case, and it will only be a matter of time now before the truth comes to bear. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Three Premiere of ‘BMF’. To revisit the Season Two Finale, click here.
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It truly is quite amazing what the hit STARZ series, BMF, is accomplishing from a storytelling perspective. For it really is the most realistic crime drama out there, courtesy of how it is grounded in its characters and moments that don’t glorify the drug trade. They instead present this life in a realistic and logical manner, and that has given us one compelling and unique tale, one being told in chapters really. Because in many ways, seasons one and two of this show featured the opening chapter, those humble beginnings of a dream and the lengths Terry and Meech had to go to find their way to it. Which means that season three is indeed the beginning of a new chapter, one that will be grounded in the difficulties of building their empire, as evidenced by the season three premiere of the show.

For ‘Detroit vs. Everybody’ opened up a little while after Meech traveled down Atlanta way to set up the new leg of the operation and well… it didn’t take long for him to discover that he had a lot of hard work in front of him. Because Atlanta at the time, was a highly competitive place for drug dealers. With multiple dealer groups fighting for their share of a small pie and that meant that Meech was immediately in the thick of it and had to work hard to figure out how to bring loyalty forth and he had to quickly learn the lay of the land. To understand his competitors and understand how best to either bring them aboard or undercut them or destroy them. Giving rise to some tough times for Meech, the kind he could handle sure, but were tough none the less.

But while it was fascinating to learn that competition breeds disdain in this business when one is trying to muscle in on new turf, there were other complications and struggles to be had in this story that were a touch more intimate in nature, and those revolved around Terry. Who was now the King of Detroit and well, he immediately felt the need to put his stamp on his reign by exacting revenge. Because Markisha was the one to take that bullet and Terry wanted payback. Prompting a bit of an internal squabble over what mattered most right now, which in the eyes of everyone but Terry… was the business. Which in turn forced Meech to step in and be creative in giving everyone what they wanted.

All of which spoke to how keeping business and pleasure separate isn’t easy in this business either, and can potentially, muck up the early days of an empire while one learns how to keep them separate. But while those lessons were enough to do this franchise and its realism proud, there were still more surprises to be found in this tale regarding what other roadblocks existed for Terry and Merch in those early days. Which was explored via those left burned in this tale. After all, Terry and Meech made a hard push to keep Detectives Jin and Bryant from discovering any truth about their operation and while they did indeed do some serious damage there, neither gumshoe was ready to walk away just yet. Since both Jin and Bryant made their own unique vows to get back into the game and bring BMF to justice.   

If anything, all of these elements made it clear… that those early days of building this powerhouse empire… were hard for the Flenory brothers. Because others wanted that financial glory too, and maturity wasn’t quite in play and of course… humiliating a pair of cops that were so close didn’t exactly prompt them to stand down. All of which, sets the stage for three key elements for these brothers to overcome, and we will of course… tune in to see how they do. Because everything they accomplished defied the odds and gave rise to a powerful story that continues to captivate us, since we so rarely get a complete and thorough chronicling of the rise and fall of a criminal empire in such a raw manner. Until next time.