Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season five finale of ‘Ride with Norman Reedus’.

It is definitely safe to say, that a great deal of planning goes into a road trip. After all, you need to take the time off from work to make it happen, plus you need to plan your route, your stops and lodging for that matter as well. Plus, you also must carve out time for all the things you’re going to see at your destination, making these trips quite the daunting affair at times. But in the end, all that effort is worth it since the memories that are forged on that trip… do indeed last a lifetime. And really, the incredible amount of planning that goes into assembling a road trip is top of mind today… simply because it came up during last night’s season five finale of Ride with Norman Reedus.

Because Norman and his production team, saw now as the perfect time to give the audience some grand perspective. For if we think putting together a road trip can be a difficult task, imagine what it takes to assemble a television show about road trips and that made ‘The Road Less Traveled: Behind the Scenes’ quite the fascinating affair. Since we were indeed able to learn that a great deal of effort goes into putting this magnificent series together. To the point where emergency bikes and multiple cameras and caravans are on the road with Norman at all times, to ensure that safety is paramount during every trip and so that the production stays on schedule. So that we the viewer can settle in and enjoy the wonder of Norman's, and his companion of the week's, adventures around the globe. 

But while that alone made for one compelling episode, since we were able to see firsthand how much planning goes into a single day of filming on this series, this finale took things one step further, by taking the time to show the audience some of the challenges the production team runs into while filming on the road. Such as weather for example. Since it doesn’t obey call sheets and call times and on more than one occasion, it has brought about some difficulties for the crew. Since you cannot ride in snow or heavy moisture, and it is definitely not safe to hit high speeds when giant winds are bearing down. But regardless of that respective challenge, this is a crew that refuses to back down when twists and turns arrive, and that’s allowed for them adapt on the fly and make a show come to life, and up until now, we’ve been none the wiser about such problems.

Yet, despite some of the challenges that this team encounters when assembling this show, and the incredible amount of planning that goes into the creation of Ride, at no point has the show’s star or the crew of this series… ever lost sight of the fact that the road trip is designed to be a fun, memory creating event. And sticking with that mantra is what has made this show so incredible from day one. Because now we know for certain, that the crew has a good time when they’re out there and they genuinely care about preserving the vision of the series and really, this is a brilliant finale when all is said and done. Simply because the folks that put together television shows rarely have their day in the sun, and it is wonderful that Norman and his other Executive Producers saw an opportunity to put some faces from behind the scenes, on the screen, and show the audience all the hard work they put into making this series a reality.

If anything, this simply gives the viewer a newfound appreciation for this show, and knowing who does what behind the camera, will give future seasons of this series incredible gravity. Since we will be fully aware of how much passion goes into these adventures when we tune in, and it is those future adventures that we must now look forward to. For our unique season five journey with Norman and his incredible crew has come to an end, and all we can do now is sit and wait for new adventures and revisit the older ones as often as possible and that’s something we will be doing here at Nerds That Geek in the weeks to come. Since this is a travel show unlike any other and now really is the perfect time to start (or re-start) at the beginning and soak up everything this grand journey has to offer. Until next year.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘One Wild Day’.
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When we think of the grasslands of Africa, our minds are treated with visuals akin to a Rudyard Kipling novel. Where everything is lush and green and beautiful and the animals in this majestic land hang out in relative harmony in their own respective territories, and only the weak are given up for the greater good. Which is a wonderfully beautiful and woefully incorrect visual. For in reality, we know now that organized chaos is a part of the natural order of our world, and that every species in the wild does its own thing according to the time of day and time of year and thankfully, the second episode of One Wild Day on BBC America… did a fine a job of reinforcing this fact. 
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Because ‘Episode Two: Grasslands’ provided us with a dusk till dawn journey through the grasslands of Africa and well, what it revealed to us about how life truly functions in this part of the world was fascinating to say the least. For we quickly came to learn that much like the deserts, the morning brings about a fascinating mix of early risers and slow starters, something that definitely benefits the elephant shrew, also known as the Sengi. For this tiny little critter knows full well that it can get a head start on its daily food intake by acting fast and hunting down insects that are gently bathing in the sun’s rays and it was quite fascinating to see how this part of the world mirrors its dry counterpart first thing in the morning. But once the day gets warmer, a great deal of the parallels come to an end. 

For the animals that live here, handle the heat in a far different manner than their desert counterparts, since some of them straight up nap through it. Such as lions. Because they fully understand it will be easier for them to hunt after the heat has passed, so they might as well lie down and conserve energy. But while the lion handles the ugly temperatures with gentle care, it can cause tempers to flare elsewhere, as evidenced by the hippo segment in this tale. For these giants will suffer greatly if they stay out in the heat, and that motivates them to find water to immerse themselves in and unfortunately for them, the water gets cramped quickly since every hippo knows that it is the key to keeping cool and that definitely allows for angry battles to take place as they all vie for a little personal space and a little peace in a cool place.

But thankfully, the grasslands do offer up some respite when the conditions are right. Since the heat evaporates moisture into the air, which in turn allows for powerful rain clouds to form. The kind that brings down torrents of rain and covers the landscape in moisture and cooler temperatures and that is definitely a wonderful way to prepare everyone for a calm evening, wherein a bevy of predators come to life. For every feline that populates the grasslands of this incredible continent, know full well that the nighttime is the perfect time for them to hunt, giving life to the darkness until the time has come for these proud predators to find somewhere safe to settle down and sleep the day away, once the sun beings to peek over the horizon.

If anything, all of these elements made for one fascinating tale. One that genuinely did a wonderful job of showing us how life genuinely adapts to its environment. Since the animals that live here have figured out how to cope with the heat in a manner that is vastly different to their desert counterparts. But while it was quite incredible to learn how life in the grasslands goes over the course of a single day, what matters more, is that this episode hammered home the fact that the sun dictates life in this part of the world in a strict manner as well. And it is genuinely incredible to continue to see and learn how nature follows its lead to a tee and it will be equally as incredible to see how wildlife obeys the sun in environments where it isn’t as apparent, as our journey through one wild day on Earth, continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’.
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It’s with a very heavy heart that I am writing this review. I genuinely am sad that this show is over, and while I know there will be future projects to look forward to, I’m still bummed this has come to an end. But the show must go on and so must this final review.

Spoilers!

Okay, but really, I need someone to talk to me about Sam’s new Captain America uniform! I am full on geeking out about this. It’s so comic accurate and somehow real world and the costume design department did a wonderful job. Genuinely, they always seem to go above and beyond in their detail. Right! Moving on. The fight scenes in this show are really well done and I honestly love the transformation from Sam’s Falcon style of fighting, to his new Cap style of fighting. Seeing Sam throw the shield and have the new wings? It’s a really great combo. Anyway, this story starts off with Sam fighting baddies while Bucky gets distracted on a phone call with Karli, and Sharon just murders someone by melting their face off. It’s not the normal start to things, but you know what, it works? This finale jumps right into where it ended last episode and doesn’t hold back. Karli’s plan to kidnap the two-truck full of CRG council members and a helicopter of government officials is commendable.

There’s a lot going on all at once and it ties together nicely. Sam takes on the Helicopter of hostages, leaving Bucky to handle the armored cars, and I mean Sharon is... doing Sharon things. We really don’t get to see a lot of Sharon beyond the handful of scenes with her. She shows up as help and then kind of just... shows back up at some point. Walker even shows up to fight Karli while Bucky is fighting Karli. The fact that Karli would willingly kill these people to make her point does speak to Zemo’s point. She’s too far gone. She actually has one of her mates’ light one of the cars on fire... with everyone still inside, just to get Bucky distracted. Of course, he saves everyone, and Walker comes along for his final showdown with her, which Bucky then has to get involved in.
 
Walker’s new shield doesn’t stand a chance against Super Soldiers, but he does. Karli gets away with Walker in hot pursuit, and she knocks him out. Flat out gets him down long enough to get back to the second car, still full of people, to push Bucky over the edge of a construction zone, down just a few stories. And then she drives the other car towards the same edge. It actually almost went over, and yes, I knew it probably wouldn’t, but also, I don’t trust Marvel to pull their punches. Walker shows up and well, shows up. He makes the choice to save the armored car full of people and not go after Karli.

See? Growth! Probably not though. In the end he gets shoved over the edge with Karli and the car almost falls over. Oh, but Sam is here to save the day. Sam literally saved the Helicopter from its hijacker and came straight away to save even more people. Good news, Redwing is back! And Sam? Sam is Captain America, in all his glory. The fight still isn’t over, however. As the five remaining Flag Smashers run off. Bucky lures four of them out with their own app. I guess Walker kind of helped... I mean, he was there.

Also, big brag moment. This is the second time I have called something right in a Marvel Show. In WandaVision, early on, I called Agnes being Agatha, which I was completely right about. Since Episode 3 of this show, I have been saying that Sharon Carter is the Power Broker. I was right. Again. I can’t be stopped! I did see it coming, but I hadn’t seen Karli and the Flag Smashers having worked for her previously. I also didn’t see Karli shooting her and then minutes later Sharon returning the favor and killing Karli. The fight between Karli and Sam was great in a lot of ways. Sam isn’t a Super Soldier, and Karli is, and he holds his own. He also flat out refuses to fight her. In case we forgot, Karli is a teenager. I don’t believe her age is ever fully disclosed in the show, but that’s not the point. Sam’s fight with her is him purely on the defensive, and Karli is all too happy and desperate to almost kill Sam by the end of it. Sharon killing Karli is... disheartening.

Karli didn’t have to die, in all honesty. Sam and Bucky both tried reasoning with her as a way to get her to stop what she was doing. Sadly, neither were able to get through to her, not quite like Sam had a few episodes earlier, but Walker royally screwed that up. The show wraps together nicely after that. Sam gives a real-world speech to the Senators and Delegates about what they’re about to vote on and then we get a happy celebration back in Sam’s home town and Bucky brings cake. Walker is officially U.S. Agent, and Sharon is pardoned and also still totally a secret underground international mob boss.

So, let's really address a few things that really stood out to me in this last episode. I really liked it, I thought it was a good conclusion and I’m curious to hear more about the recently announced 4th Captain America movie. But let’s be honest, I want another season of this. Because Sam and Bucky are my babies. Back to this episode, though, this was lighter on its racial inequality themes than its previous episodes. However, it had some extremely strong moments. The first, in my opinion, is when Walter confronts Karli and she says she hadn’t meant to kill his friend, because she didn’t kill people who didn’t matter. This line stuck out and genuinely still bothers me for a lot of reasons. 1. It’s indicative of how many Black American deaths are seen. 2. Lemar’s death was not pointless, it did matter. Death matters. Lemar’s death served as the catalyst for Walker’s character arc going from “wow this guy is annoying” to, “and now he’s bad”. Lemar was objectively a good character who also just served to Walker's continuous benefit and privilege. But he furthered the story along by building Walker up and also unknowingly pushing him to take the Serum.

Next we have Sam’s speech. Sam had a lot of points, and no, nothing is easy, especially with what the GRC was trying to do. Let’s not forget, Sam is a Black man living in America. Beyond that he’s the first Black Captain America that the public is privy to. Sam understands the frustrations of the Flag Smashers and displaced people more than anyone is ever going to give him credit for. Sam actively agreed with Karli and her mission, just not her methods. Taking up the mantle of Captain America even makes him more of a target for a lot of hate by people, and yet he still does it. The fact that he compared the GRC to Thanos was a great way to bring the point home. He’s not wrong, either. Sam does not waste time mincing words, and he does not take his new role lightly.

Lastly, Sam takes Isaiah and Eli to the Captain America exhibit in the Smithsonian where he shows them the newest exhibit. Isaiah is no longer in the dark, not forgotten, not swept away like a filthy secret. Everyone now knows about the First Black Captain America. His service, sacrifice, and subsequent mistreatment, and blatant torture, are not going to just be left locked away. It’s a powerful scene because a lot of Black history, American history, is often ignored and omitted, in favor of not making people uncomfortable. There has been a tendency to purposefully not speak, teach or share a lot of Black American history because it does not suit the narrative being spun. The systemic racism that is still going on to this day runs so deep that when confronted with evidence, many turn a blind eye still.

Throughout the show, Sam struggled with taking the mantle of Captain America, because he didn’t feel worthy, because he was a Black man in America. Isaiah actually did the same exact thing Steve did, snuck across enemy lines and saved his troops, and he was imprisoned and experimented on. The parallels and injustices run deep. The only difference these men had to Steve, is literally just the color of their skin. Sam was always worthy of the shield, of the title, of the legacy. Will America accept a Black man as Captain America? It better. This show did a great job in addressing racism, but it leaves the ever-present question: What does it mean to be Black in America?

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘For All Mankind’.
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The point of no return is a phrase that is often considered to be a negative notion and understandably so. Because it often ties into poor decisions and escalation, the kind that usually results in someone getting hurt emotionally or physically and it is a phrase that is relevant to our discussion today, simply because the point of no return is precisely where things have been heading on the AppleTV+ series, For All Mankind. Because for weeks now, the United States of America and the Soviet Union have been playing a dangerous game of escalation, one that has seemingly put both countries on a path toward nuclear war, leaving one to wonder if by chance… both nations would cross that proverbial red line in the season two finale of this incredible series and early on, it seemed as though that was going to be the case and the worst case scenario was about to play out before our eyes.

For ‘The Grey’ saw Tracy and Gordo Stevens, figure out how to radio home and alert NASA to the fact that the Russians assaulted the base and demanded the return of their cosmonaut. And to make matters worse, tensions were building in the Gulf of Mexico and that put the two superpowers on a path to war. In fact, they were so close to a nuclear exchange, that air raid sirens began to blare all over the United States, prompting so many to seek shelter and President Reagan was evacuated to Air Force One, only lending to the horror of this moment, one from which it seemed there would be no escape. But as history has taught us, time and time again… the actions of the brave and the bold tend to bring an end to the potential of war when those souls rise up and give their all toward peace and thankfully, that happened in this particular tale in a tense and costly and downright emotional manner. 

Because at Jamestown, a brief weapons exchange damaged the nuclear reactor, putting the entire station at risk and that motivated Gordo and Tracy to build custom spacesuits and do their best to rush across the void of space to kick on a redundancy system to save everyone aboard, friend or foe and well… believe it or not they actually pulled that miracle off, at the cost of their lives unfortunately. Because without proper suits and a steady flow of oxygen, their bodies were damaged by the void. But before the story could properly mourn their heroic end, it had more uplifting moments of bravery to provide us with. The kind that allowed for Admiral Edward Baldwin to finally see the light in regard to following orders, since Sally Ride was able to convince him that destroying Buran would end in disaster, motivating him to instead destroy the Sea Dragon payload to make it clear to the Russians that America didn’t want war. 

But while sacrifice and bravery likely could have ended this conflict on its own, sometimes a stronger symbol is needed to really help pull people back from the brink and that happened by way Commander Danielle Poole’s decision to disobey orders when her mission was called off by NASA in lieu of the situation. Because she understood the importance of this mission and what it could do for the world and after a little bit of sweet talking, she helped her cosmonaut counterparts to understand the importance of it as well and convinced them to dock with Apollo at last so that the world could witness a moment of unity and well, that was so powerful and so overwhelming that the President of the United States and the Soviet Premier finally sat down to find a better way and that made for one satisfying and sorrowful ending to this season for certain. One that finally brought a grand hope forward. In that, there is a chance after all that a unified planet, one that uses space travel to better mankind as a whole… could exist as evidenced by the closing moments of this particular tale where a human being set foot on Mars in the year 1994.

But before we read too deeply into the meaning of that, it is best we celebrate one incredible season finale. Because this one had it all, tension, high stakes, and of course… inspirational moments through and through. The kind that reminded us of the fact that our better angels can accomplish wonders when we choose them over violence and anger and fear. But while it was nice to be lifted up by beautiful moments, we would be remiss to not point out that the death of Gordo and Tracy is devastating to say the least, since they were beloved characters on the road to personal redemption and it is a shame, we will never get to see them mend their love for another and see what heights they could have risen to thanks to their heroic acts. But their legacy will undoubtedly live on in season three of this incredible series and now that the peace has been made and we know that man has arrived on Mars, it will be quite interesting to see if this giant leap for mankind will finally unify our world in a new decade of alternate reality-based space travel… or if we still have a long way to go to conquering the stars as one. Until next year.

‘For All Mankind’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

There are a great many aspects to life that irritate to us no end. But not being able to control a situation we should control, is one that is definitely near or at, the top of that long and winding list. Simply because it drives us mad to see that particular situation escape our grasp, to the point where we honestly find ourselves at a crossroads when it happens. In that, we can look at this situation objectively and decide as to whether we should even be a part of it in the first place… or… we can go after it with gusto and take charge and prove to ourselves and others involved that we are the ones that should be handling this day and night. If anything, this annoying aspect of the human condition is relevant to our discussion today, simply because Walter White and Jesse Pinkman had to deal with this exact conundrum in the next episode of Breaking Bad.

For Walt was still on the outs with his wife, in ‘Caballo sin Nombre’, despite her sending signals that she might be interested in reconciling now that he was finally honest with her. An act that irritated him to no end. As for Jesse, well, not being able to have a say in the fate of the house that he took care of and had history in, when his parents decided to sell it, put him in a sour place and both scenarios put these gentlemen at that aforementioned crossroads. Wherein Jesse could just buy a new place and move on and forget about ever having to prove his worth to his folks and Walt, well he could sign the papers and start over fresh and find a new path in life. The kind where he could raise his kids from afar and indulge in new chemistry related hobbies that didn’t involve the creation of crystal methamphetamines.

Or they could figure out how to take charge of the situation and make it their own and well… that’s the path they both decided to take. For Jesse hired Saul Goodman to buy the house back from his folks at half the price they were asking. A bold plan that wouldn’t normally work, but since Saul had inside info on the meth lab, the Pinkmans ‘forgot’ to mention in the sales flyer; he was able to gain the upper hand and get Jesse the house back. Which in turn gave Jesse control over his life and his parents for certain. Since it proved to them, he was indeed rolling in the dough these days and that they shouldn’t ever underestimate him or view him as weak. Which is a subtle form of seizing control but an effective one none the less, and as for Walt, well his plan was equally as bold and a touch more dangerous in the end since it involved breaking and entering.

Because Walt just decided that since he was on the deed alongside his wife, that he might as well just move the hell back in. Which wasn’t an easy task since Skyler changed the locks. But he knew his own house inside and out and that helped him to find a way in and make himself at home and this was pretty darn brave. After all, a curious and confused neighbor could have gotten the police involved but Walt was done with his being punished any longer, especially after apologizing and telling the truth and this power move really was one incredible way to re-take control of his situation. One that was surprisingly riskier than he ever expected or will ever know. Because while Walt was working his way into the house, Mike Erhmantraut was planning listening devices to ensure no trouble would come to the Fring operation and it is a wonderful thing that he was there. 

For the Salamanca cousins broke into the house to murder Walter with impunity, to set things right for the death of Tuco. And had Mike not been there, they would have been successful. But thankfully, he was able to get Gus to intervene and call off the attack, leaving Walter clueless as to how close he came to dying. In the end however, this really was quite the dynamic and engrossing tale. Because despite its ‘filler’ feel, these are all relevant moments to getting Walter and Jesse back on their tragic paths. Because eventually, they’ll feel about the drug trade, the same way they felt about the situations they handled here and these types of actions, will help them to stand tall and seize control of their operations and face the darkness that awaits them. And truly, it will be quite fascinating to see what new challenges down the line, will finally motivate them to return to their unfortunate and dangerous road to nowhere. Until next time.

Please enjoy a sneak peek of tomorrow’s season two finale of For All Mankind, streaming exclusively on AppleTV+.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘Losing Alice’.
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It is definitely safe to say that the AppleTV+ series, Losing Alice, has offered audiences everywhere, a fascinating dissection on the nature and the power of obsession. For its slow burn approach and step-by-step examination has left no stone unturned in regard to the genesis and the impact that obsession can have upon an individual, to the point where the story has engendered great worry in relation to the concluding episode in this tale. Because the endgame to any heavy measure of obsession is destruction and strife and that is something that no viewer is ever prepared to watch unfold. But as it turns out… the season one finale of this fascinating and powerful series did indeed give us just that, but with quite the twist. One that helped us to understand that the obsession in question in this particular tale, was actually something far different than expected and that made ‘The End’ quite the fascinating watch.

For this finale wasted zero time in making it clear that Sophie didn’t make it to the end of principal photography for Room 209. Nor was she involved in its festival premiere. Which truly made it seem as though, the crossing of the line that happened in the penultimate episode led to some kind falling out between Alice and Sophie, and understandably so. After all, a violated marriage tends to create all kinds of problems for those involved, especially one that was damaged by way of obsession. But as this episode continued along, it became clear that other factors came into play here. Such as the fact that Alice paid no mind to the fact that Naomi’s mother showed up to hassle Sophie at the end of shooting, a decision that led to utter disaster when a gunshot rang out. For that bullet struck true and put Sophie into a coma and well, the fallout from this stunning moment led to the surprise twist in question.

Because Alice was able to learn at the hospital from Sophie’s parents, that they more or less adopted Naomi back in the day, to keep her safe from an unstable mother, meaning that everything Alice thought she knew about Sophie… was a lie. Sure, she might have a bit of a wild lifestyle in adulthood, but her past and her motivations… were all a mystery to Alice because she assumed and believed that the story reflected her life to a tee and even that, was an incorrect assumption. For eventually, she met Naomi, and her daughter… one that was brought into this world exactly as Sophie wrote about in Room 209 and well, that shocking revelation made it inherently clear… that this was never a story about obsession about a person. No instead, Losing Alice is a series that was designed to show us the danger that can come about from obsessing over a fantasy world and refusing to separate the fantasy from reality.

Which means that Alice was so lost in life and so distraught over her career sliding into oblivion that she created a world where Sophie was someone else. Someone dark and brooding and thrilling, the kind of person that would suck Alice into her world so that she could live vicariously through her and she used that concept of darkness to bring to life a script that she firmly believed it was more than it appeared to be. A belief that allowed for her to make it her own and give it a voice that would help to express and explore her darkest beliefs and hopes, and of course… this whole desire to escape her life and create depth to a dark patch in Sophie and Naomi’s life, consumed her and destroyed her relationship with David and brought home the power of obsession in the most unique way imaginable and well, that makes this quite the powerful and incredible season finale when all is said and done.

Because that is a bold twist to inject into this story, one that leaves the viewer in a stunned place. For all of us, this reviewer included, bought into what Alice was selling and outright believed that Sophie was indeed some kind fiendish monster. But that allowed for us to be sucked into the lie that Alice was telling herself and it reminds us in a sober manner, to be wary of letting fantasy become our reality and to question everything when we have suspicion and well, it really is a shame this story has ended for the time being. Especially now that Sophie has awakened from her coma and well, hopefully we get a second season of this story sooner rather than later. So, we can explore the true fallout of obsession. But while we wait for that to be announced, this first season likely deserves a rewatch so we can see it in a brand-new light now that we know it’s true meaning.  

‘Losing Alice’ is available to stream now, on AppleTV+.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Twelve of ‘Big Sky’.
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There are a great many reasons as to why audiences are eagerly tuning into the ABC series, Big Sky. Such as the fact that it is a unique crime drama through and through. One that provides its loyal viewers with big moments as often as possible, and plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The kind that quite frankly, shatter every single trope that normally accompanies this genre and the wonder of this series doesn’t end there. Because it also knows how to ramp up the tension on a moment’s notice, providing the viewer with a thrilling experience on a consistent basis. But what truly allows for this series to shine, is that it knows exactly when to pull back on the throttle so that the audience can learn more about what exactly is going on, and to give them a break mentally as well and it just so happens that last night’s episode of the show, is one that accomplished both of those relaxed goals.

For ‘No Better Than Dogs’ is a story that allowed for us to finally learn a great deal about the Kleinsasser clan and what kinds of dirty secrets they are harboring, shortly after the messes that Jenny and Cassie found themselves in, were resolved. And thankfully, no real harm came to them physically, for John Wayne actually stepped up to the plate and chased Rand off before he could do something awful to Jenny and as for Cassie, well thankfully, the idiot cop that picked her up, eventually brought her back to the jail and let her heal for a bit in a cell. A move that gave Mark Lindor time to swing by this godforsaken town to flex his U.S. Marshal muscles and get Cassie out of jail, and once this dynamic duo was free of their respective nightmares, they were able to get back to the matter at hand; proving that Blake Kleinsasser was an innocent man. 

Which is what oddly enough, brought about our learning opportunity about this twisted family. Because even though John Wayne showed Jenny the house where Rosie was badly injured, it was clear that the family was still hiding all kinds of secrets, one of which related to that night. Because eventually, Jenny and Cassie were able to find Rosie and speak with her about her how she was having memory flashes of that night, and a great deal of them involved Rand and John Wayne, leading our heroes to believe that there was a chance they were the ones that committed this crime and pinned it on their brother to save their hide and well, the time we spent with the Kleinsasser family in this tale, more or less backed their theory up. Because Horst was quick to try and make amends with his son in this tale, to have a little peace before he died and that led to some supremely unsettling moments.

Because Blake was having none of his father’s olive branch, mainly because he too has been asked to bury a great deal of secrets about this family, one involving murder in fact. For ages ago, a temporary farm worker apparently crossed Rand in the wrong manner and in doing so, was brutally killed by him. Which prompted Horst to enlist Blake’s help in hiding the body and keeping the secret and having to live with that for years on end, is what has motivated Blake to stay away and be fine with ceding control of the farm to John Wayne. But what matters more, is that this revelation and the ending of this tale, really hammered home the terrifying nature of this family. Because when Blake tried to uncover the corpse of that long gone farm hand, John Wayne was eager to harm his brother to keep that secret buried. Making it clear that the Kleinsassers will do whatever it takes to keep their power and their image intact.
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However, while all of that painted a haunting image of what this family is all about, and truly gave us an understanding of what Jenny and Cassie are up against, we would be foolish to not discuss Ronald’s journey in this tale as well. Because he had a tough go of it in this episode. For not only did he nearly get caught whilst creeping on Jerrie, but he’s spending more time at his mother’s grave with full surveillance on the cemetery and… he finally met his match on a psychotic level in this story. Because his new girlfriend, has a real dark side to her. One that she indulges in to exert power over Ronald/Arthur and all of this was both satisfying and scary all at once. In part because it is nice to see Ronald suffer for a change and be the defensive, but the terror comes from the fact that at some point… he will say enough and likely snap and that will be ugly for everyone around him. 

But while we wait to see what will come of Ronald’s new living situation and the revelations that Cassie and Jenny uncovered here, we can bask in one fascinating tale. One that really did a fine job of slowing things down to help us understand exactly what we are dealing with when it comes to this family and well, it is obvious now that our dynamic duo is in over their head. Because the Kleinsasser clan has their fingers into everything in this town and that can never bode well for heroes searching for justice. In fact, there is a chance that Jenny and Cassie might fail in their mission to bring this family to it. Simply because we know that this series is all about the unconventional and letting the bad guy win would fit that particular mold and well, that means each and every one of us… will be counting down the minutes until next week’s episode. So that we can indeed see what kind of unique ending awaits us in regard to this wild and dynamic storyline. Until next time.  

One particular storytelling trope that audiences everywhere enjoy, is the ‘moment of truth.’ Wherein the main character steps away from their chaotic situation, to ponder upon whether or not they should walk a particular path in life. And we eat this up, simply because it is usually inspirational in nature. For watching characters decide to do the right thing and save countless lives or outright choose to walk away from a toxic situation that could cost them everything, is quite powerful to say the least. Because it reminds us, to choose a better way and to always follow what’s right in our hearts and to never putter about with a decision once we know deep down it is the correct one to make.
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But as is often the case in storytelling, this is something that isn’t necessarily presented in a realistic light. Because sometimes the heart tells us to do the dumb thing, and we listen and let’s be honest… we waffle a lot when it comes to big decisions. Because they’re big decisions, the kind that are difficult to commit to sometimes. But while most stories avoid the realism in order to offer up a dynamic and uplifting story, there are some that don’t shy away from the realities of decision making, such as Breaking Bad. For the season three premiere of this dark and powerful franchise, takes the time to feature Walter White waffling back and forth over committing once again to the drug dealer lifestyle and well, it makes sense as to why.

Because ‘No Más’ wastes zero time in informing us that Walter came to realize that his involvement in Jane’s death, is what left her father, Donald, in a fragile mental state. The kind that allowed for him to make a critical mistake, and having that blood on his hands, combined with the fact that Skyler finally tosses him out… motivates Walt to ponder upon walking away once again from the trade. To the point where he actually turns down a three million dollar offer from Gus Fring and he even comes clean with Skyler from the comfort of his new apartment. All in the hopes of getting Skyler to take him back, since he believes that honesty and abandoning the trade will finally change her mind. But it doesn’t, sadly, and that leaves Walt in quite the broken place.

One that is further enhanced by the quite the twist in this tale. Because for a better part of this episode, it appeared as though Jesse Pinkman was having second thoughts about the drug trade as well. Because he spent a lot of time in rehab, struggling with the death of Jane, to the point where he reached out to a counselor in utter pain as only, he can, in the hopes of finding closure. And once he got out, it really seemed as though he was ready to move on. But a quick talk with Walter, helped us and Mister White realize that Jesse had accepted his fate as the bad guy, isolating Walt further since he was desperate to find a way back into the light and now, there is simply no way that will happen. For he’s left nothing but scorched earth in his wake and truly… this is nothing more than a break designed to catch his breath and it is only a matter of time before Walt returns to the path that gives him a freedom and a power that he’s always craved.

But even then, that return won’t be easy, because the B-story in this episode informed us that major trouble is on its way. For the Salamanca twins are heading north from Mexico to handle unfinished business in regard to Tuco and it will be interesting to see how Walter handles his first real brush with the cartel and what kind of roadblocks they will throw up in his quest to become the biggest kingpin in town. But while we wait for that to happen, we can bask in one fascinating tale. One that did a phenomenal job of putting Walt at a realistic crossroads. Since an ugly moment revolving around our dream or our career choice, does indeed give us pause and really all this episode does, is leave us quite curious as to what exactly will make Walt furious enough to return to a life of crime and the only way to discover that… is to continue the journey and see where Walt’s sabbatical takes us. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 704 of ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’.

​One big reason why audiences are attracted to the AcornTV series, The Brokenwood Mysteries, is the sheer fact that this show does a wonderful job of balancing a tough subject. Because murder is nasty business any way you slice it and finding a way to make it compelling and palatable to a viewer is no easy task. But this show’s use of humor and clever clues and world building, makes such a dark act easy to watch and oddly enough… easy to enjoy. But alas, sometimes humor in murder is an impossible task when the reason for it is supremely personal and painful in nature and it just so happens, that this particular show… finally brought forth its first somber episode of series seven.
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But it sure didn’t seem like that was going to be the case early on. For the opening portion of ‘Something Nasty at the Market’ was quite the quirky affair. One where Mike and Kristin dropped by a local farmer’s market to gather up some cheese and world class chutney. But the joy and lighthearted nature of the market took quite the harrowing turn, when the owner of the place, a self-made cooking guru named Sophie Grainger… emerged from the barn with a pitchfork in her back and some strange markings on her skin. The kind that resembled a butcher’s guide to slicing up a cow. Which oddly enough, did lead the most comedic moment of the night, since Gina figured out how such an act was done, and was eager to show off her ‘prime cuts’ to Mike.

However, once the team started to dive deep into this particular death, well that’s when things became far more somber. For we came to learn that Sophie was actually quite the sour individual and stepped on a lot of toes and hurt a lot of people on her rise to the top. To the point where cookbooks went missing from old classmates because she wanted to publish the recipes and make them seem as though they were her own creation, and she of course, used that money to build an empire. One that was putting people out of homes and angering others since she was only interested in collecting fees and to top it all off, she was alienating her family. For they were simply miserable, due to the fact that they were nothing more than accessories to her false lifestyle and it is that fakery… that actually managed to lead to Sophie’s death.

For it turns out, that there was an affair happening behind the scenes as well. One where her husband Rory, was growing close to an old classmate of Sophie’s, to the point where he was ready to leave Sophie no problem to finally feel love again. But Sophie was having none of that, she needed her perfect family image and well, that motivated Rory to get out of this fake and hollow marriage in the most desperate way imaginable… by ending Sophie’s life in an intricate manner that should have allowed for him to get away with it, scot free. But alas, there are always tiny clues and mistakes in matters of murder and well, eventually Rory was put away and we were left with the sobering reminder, that desperation and loneliness are dangerous bedfellows and can motivate people to do horrible and heartbreaking things, making this quite the powerful episode when all is said and done.

Because this one really did a wonderful job of exploring that notion in great detail, and of the trappings of fame. Since Sophie clearly transformed into a powerful monster once she struck it rich, and it was equally as sobering to see how she was ruining lives in the name of fame and well, kudos to the writers’ room for grounding this story with a touch of reality. If anything, this particular tale makes it clear that The Brokenwood Mysteries is quite the versatile show, one that can play it straight or play it quirky and not knowing which type of tale lies ahead really does entice the viewer to continue the journey, in part to see which direction the show will take us in next, but also to simply enjoy a quality mystery. The kind that will be solved by fine individuals that genuinely believe in truth and justice. Until next time.  

'The Brokenwood Mysteries' is streaming now on AcornTV.