Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘That Dirty Black Bag’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One thing that we can all agree upon, is that the AMC+ series, That Dirty Black Bag, is one bleak and devastating ride and rightfully so. For the show established from the get-go that it wanted to be a no holds barred look at the wild west, one that really explored how this wasn’t a heroic or beautiful time in American history, but a time wrought with violence and suffering and clearly… it has hammered that reality home in a harrowing and compelling manner. But while it has been incredible to bear witness to a volatile time period in the raw, this experiment in honest historical storytelling has left all of us wondering… if there will be any bright points to be found in this tale.
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Simply because, the wild west couldn’t have been all bad all of the time and we know for a fact that bad people were eventually brought to justice and well, believe it or not positivity is something the show took the time to provide us with during this week’s episode. For ‘Chapter Seven: The Plan’, offered up some heroic and noble moments, but not before bringing the town and some of its characters to their absolute lowest point. For when we return to this town in this tale, life is genuinely bad for certain. Because without a single law man to be found within the city limits, every unsavory character made the decision to descend upon it and enjoy the best parts of being a criminal.

Which meant, that someone had to step up and try to help the innocent in their hour of need and that person… reluctantly turned out to be Red Bill… simply because he wasn’t good with pure lawlessness. But even then, he was still hesitant to do any sustained good because he had greater goals in mind, and it wasn’t until children were dying in the streets did Red Bill decide to try and help this town by doing the unthinkable. In that, he opted to take his horse out to the desert, in a desperate attempt to bring McCoy home. All so that someone offered up law and order in a town free from it, and well… that’s when the story started to shift toward redemption and heroism. Despite the fact that Bill found a drunken and angry and downright dangerous McCoy at a local shop… where he managed to tie up the owners and plunder all the booze.

Because once he was able to get McCoy to relax and they were able to properly chat, they came to realize that they shared a common foe in Bronson and that perhaps if they worked together instead of against one another… then perhaps they could solve a great deal of one another’s problems. Since the end of Bronson would free McCoy of his sorted past and of course, Red Bill could finally have his revenge and well… that there set the stage for one epic finale. One where both men will be able to work together to bring down the infamous Bronson. Who is mere miles away from Greenvale, and it will be fascinating to see if Red Bill will complete his quest at last, or if more darkness awaits these reluctant heroes since Bronson is indeed traveling with a pack of lethal assassins.

If anything, that setup for a showdown, combined with the fact that Steve’s farm is finally growing crops and that Symone has come home to take charge of the business, because she really does believe Greenvale to be her town… made for the most uplifting episode of this series to date. Because people were rewarded in this tale for their faith and finally worked toward a common goal of good and well, while it was lovely to see positivity here… it likely is best we enjoy it while it lasts. Because there’s no way the arrival of Bronson will be handled in a peaceful or joyous manner. For revenge is a bloody business and Bronson is strong and that means an epic season finale awaits us, one that will undoubtedly be filled to the brim with ugly moments and incredible surprises. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Reacher’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous Prime Video series, Reacher, the situation was quite grim. For Reacher and his friends came to discover that Kliner’s reach was pretty powerful to say the least, since he was able to get someone to assassinate another Secret Service agent. Making it clear that everyone’s safety was in jeopardy and that in many ways… they were back to square one on the case. Because without the files they were hoping for, there was little hope of uncovering exactly what was happening in the once proud town of Margrave, and the chances of bringing anyone to justice over it in that moment… were nil, and well, that allowed for the next episode of this show to open up in a sorrowful manner.
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Because everyone was lost in ‘No Apologies’ and genuinely unsure of where to start next and well, that’s when Reacher had a moment of inspiration. Because if Teale and Kliner were as dirty as they come, there was a chance they might have hurt Roscoe’s mentor Gray, as part of their long-term plan to take over law enforcement in the town and thank heavens he had that thought. Because it allowed for the team to discover that Gray actually kept detailed files on every going on in this town and that gave them solid dirt and new leads… but nothing concrete on Kliner and his crew just yet. Which meant, it was time for Reacher to leave town for a bit and dig deeper with Neagley and see if by chance they could find the smoking gun in question.

But alas, even that proved elusive. But progress was made. Since this dynamic duo were able to learn that Kliner Industries’ reach was far and wide and they were clearly into some shady stuff in other towns since this duo visited a city that was laid to waste ecologically by Kliner’s experiments with various chemicals and such, leading Reacher to wonder if by chance… there was more to this influx of feed into Margrave, despite the reservations that others had about it. Plus, they did uncover a name worth scrutiny regarding Joe’s death… but alas, that is when elusive came into play. Simply because Kliner’s cadre of dirty cops were in this part of the south as well… and one of them nearly took Reacher and Neagley out, in the hopes of keeping the truth, a secret. 

Which is an plot-line that could have carried this episode from beginning to end, since it dug deeper into the conspiracy surrounding Margrave and upped the stakes. But as it turned out, this is an episode that opted to offer up a couple of surprises along the way as well. Such as the fact that the doubt that Reacher sowed regarding Gray’s death, motivated Roscoe to dig deeper on her end and she discovered, that Teale killed him back in the day and that discovery, sadly sent Roscoe out of town and on babysitting duty for Hubble’s family. Simply because it also led to her punching Teale square in his fat, lazy, murdering mouth. Plus… this episode also confirmed without a doubt, that someone else is pulling the strings regarding this mess… since Finlay’s attempt to break into Kliner’s office to get the smoking gun in question, led to the discovery of Kliner’s dead body.

If anything, this was just an incredible episode when all is said and done. One that was filled to the brim with incredible moments. Because it was just epic to see Roscoe sock Teale in the face and that reveal at the end was just as impressive. But really, the best part about this episode, was everything involving Reacher and Neagley. Since she really is Reacher’s equal and knows how to get him to open up and that… allowed for the audience to learn more about the man he is and the man he aspires to be, and you really cannot go wrong with a story that gives us just enough to keep us hooked on the mystery, and grows its characters at the same time and well, it will be interesting to see where that growth and where these new revelations will take us in the weeks to come. Until next time.   

For the most part, crime dramas and cozy mysteries and any story relating to crime really, tend to keep their two main storylines separate. Which means we are often treated to an in-depth look at the case in question, alongside a plot thread that grows the characters or explains their backstory and it makes sense as to why this is often the case. Because keeping those two worlds separate, allows for the audience to clear their head when it comes to the crime in question and get to know the intrepid investigators that they are steadily growing attached to, giving rise to balance in a story that is basically mired in chaos. 

But there was mention of the fact that not every crime story follows this edict. For there are some that are eager to see if a particular exploration and/or thematic concept can extend beyond the hero detective and apply to the story in general, and one such show that has taken the time to explore such possibilities is Queens of Mystery on Acorn TV. For Creator/Writer Julian Unthank is always eager to try new things with this unique and dynamic series and his preference to experiment boldly with crime stories, allowed for him to craft a powerful tale this go round, one universally grounded in the power of the past and how it can haunt us in both mysterious and unhealthy ways.

A feat that ‘Smoke & Mirrors, First Chapter’ accomplished by having two key characters deal with their respective pasts in very different ways. One of which was Detective Sergeant Mattie Stone. For the need to dig into old files for the department, led to the reveal of old files about her mother and that in turn… reminded her of how unresolved the past is for her and how much she is desperate to know about what happened to her mother. Which spoke to our need to have answers regarding our past, especially when it comes to issues involving unfinished business with family members, since it provides us with peace and allows for us to grow, making Mattie’s journey the positive exploration regarding the past.

As for the ugly one, well that came about by way of the case at hand. For one of Jane’s books had been purchased by the ultra-talented actor, Sir Lawrence Shaw, to be adapted for the stage and well… that wasn’t going as planned and to complicate matters further… Shaw turned up dead during rehearsals. Which brought forth a detailed investigation that dug into Shaw’s sorted past. Which revealed all kinds of regrets and broken relationships that truly helped to transform Shaw into an arrogant monster that only had acting left to hold onto. Reminding us quite plainly that when we leave unresolved issues in our past, they can bring us more harm than good… including death if we project it on the wrong moment or person.

But of course, the details on who actually committed this crime, will have to wait for the final chapter. But in the interim, we can once again celebrate another brilliant chapter from this series. One that did a phenomenal job of integrating a central theme into every aspect of the story and in doing so, proved that they don’t have to stay separate in this kind of story. For when it is done properly, the same effect for the audience is present and the show is still enjoyable and it just goes to show that Queens of Mystery is a show ahead of its time and truly, it will be both satisfying and bittersweet to see how this case ends. Since that will signal the end of our journey through season one of this magnificent show. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Harry Wild’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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We tend to view crime in a manner that is very… black and white. In that, crossing the line and breaking the law is a terrible thing for anyone to do, and we should avoid doing it at all costs. Since that makes the person that did such an act, a betrayer of everything mankind stands for and they should of course… have the book thrown at them for doing so and pay the piper for disobeying the incredible rules that so many others obey on a daily basis. Which is a perspective upon crime that is sensible for certain, since it does motivate folks to do what they can to play by the rules… but the fact of the matter is, it isn’t the end all be all, line of thinking when it comes to crime in our world. Because let’s be honest, the world operates within a grey area and sometimes, the crimes that people commit are done with good intentions.

For instance, a down on her luck mother, that steals a loaf of bread to feed her family is just trying to do right by hungry mouths and people that strike back against others who have committed heinous and disgusting crimes, are just trying their best to stand by what’s morally right and these are the types of crimes that create great debate within our world and offer up different perspectives on crime. Because how does one apply that harsh line of thinking to that starving family? And for that matter, how does one justify not harming a man that crossed the line with children or the innocent? If anything, those unique aspects of crime, just go to show that the system is flawed and requires better interpretation and scrutiny, to really understand what justice and crime looks like and to figure out what kinds of proper penalties should come to bear.

If anything, the grey area is of note today, simply because it is something that came up during this week’s episode of Harry Wild on Acorn TV, in the most surprising way imaginable. Because at first, ‘A Corpse In My Soup’ appeared to be the kind of mystery that was going to flip the script on Harry. For she was present for an unsettling dinner party with her old college crew, one where the well water served was poisoned by the rotting corpse of Melissa Cavendish, who happened to be the now ex-wife of Lawrence Cavendish, a higher up at the university. And well, her passing and Harry’s ability to avoid the poisoning in question, made her the prime suspect. A move that made it seem as though, someone who had it out for Harry was framing her and that an intense, revenge-fueled mystery was going to take place in this tale.

But once Harry and Fergus dug into the matter, they uncovered a disturbing truth. In that, Lawrence was actually, a sexual predator. One that used his status and standing to prey upon younger women both professionally and personally and well… once Harry discovered that horrific truth, and that her replacement, a professor named Lucy, dealt with a similar incident at her old college… she put two and two together and came to realize that Lucy took justice into her own hands when a confrontation between Lucy and Melissa... regarding Lawrence paying the piper for his crimes, went south. Which put Harry at quite the crossroads. Where she could either put Lucy behind bars because she took a life and broke the law… or let her walk and hope that she found her way after clearly letting the worst parts of an abusive man get the better of her.

Which was quite the powerful conundrum for Harry to face. But in the end, Harry went big and let Lucy just fade into the world after leaving behind her confession so that some closure would come forth by bringing Lawrence to justice. But make no mistake about it, bad guy getting his or no, this will serve as a controversial ending. Since so many hold firm in their beliefs of what justice should be. But regardless of which side you fall upon, what we can agree upon is that this is a brilliant and bold episode of television. One that challenges the viewer in a powerful manner and tasks us with really pondering upon a great deal when it comes to the nature of justice and this show deserves a round of applause of offering up this kind of incredible story and it will be downright amazing to see what other bold stories await us as season one continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season six premiere of ‘Better Call Saul’. To revisit the season five finale, click here.
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Over the course of five, illustrious seasons… fans of the AMC series, Breaking Bad, and fans of good storytelling in general… have been treated to quite the stunning ride by way of the show, Better Call Saul. For this series has been nothing short of a masterclass in tragic storytelling, since we’ve all watched with bated breath, the slow corruption of the soul of one James ‘Jimmy’ McGill. One that has brought him closer and closer to a transformation of sorts, into the beloved slippery lawyer named Saul Goodman… who captured our hearts and minds with his endearing brand of smugness and scumbaggery in that aforementioned iconic series, and much like the drug kingpin he helped out in that tale, his transformation has left us pondering upon one giant question.
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Specifically, what it will take, to finally motivate Jimmy McGill to abandon the last vestiges of the good man we’ve spent time with, and embrace the wonder and horror of Saul Goodman, and the unfortunate fate that awaits him by way of his tragic relationship/partnership with Walter ‘Heisenberg’ White. And thus far, the series has toyed with the possibility that his brother’s death or spending a year in legal exile might have been the root causes of that change. But even those tough moments haven’t quite pushed Jimmy over the edge just yet, but now that we are in the endgame of his powerful journey… the truth and that powerful moment will indeed be revealed to us and one could say, that the groundwork of what might finally motivate Jimmy to break from the norm and be bad was laid down during last night’s two-hour season six premiere of the show. 

For ‘Wine and Roses’ and ‘Carrot and Stick’ presented us with a fascinating possibility as to what could motivate a man to transform in such an incredible manner… but before we dig too deeply into those possibilities, we need to take a moment and discuss some other important moments in this epic and sweeping story. Specifically… how these two tales set the stage for heartbreak and sorrow when it comes to Nacho and his quest to be out of the life and the game. Since these two episodes focused upon him and his plight as well and sadly, Nacho was put through the wringer in this tale. For when we catch up with him, here, he has indeed escaped the assault upon Lalo’s compound, but he wasn’t safe in the slightest. 

Because Lalo of course, survived and wanted revenge for whomever wronged him and of course, dark forces led by Gustavo ‘Gus’ Fring kept life interesting for Nacho as well, since Gus was playing both sides to build his empire. To the point where Nacho was basically stuck between a rock and a hard place in this tale. Wherein he was hunted and afraid and watching his back at every turn and while his vigilance kept him ahead of some surprises involving those who wished to do him harm, it wasn’t enough to stop the Twins from finding him and eventually capturing him in a sequence that undoubtedly put everyone on the edge of their seats as they impatiently and nervously waited to see if by chance, Nacho would escape. 

But while it was both wonderful and harrowing to see that Nacho is alive at the moment, the time has come to discuss the important moments that took place in this story regarding Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler and the potential groundwork that was laid down for Saul’s official birth. For when we catch up with this dynamic duo in these tales, they are going full bore into bringing down Howard Hamlin. In fact, they’re so eager to force the Sandpiper settlement and ruin Howard in the process, that they are playing as dirty as they can. Even going so far as to get into Howard’s country club in order to plant what looks like cocaine in his locker, so that Clifford Main can see it. In order to build doubt in the union that these two law firms have put together and when that doesn’t give them the exact result they want, they take their machinations one step further, by way of a blast from the past.
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Since Jimmy took the time to reunite with Betsy and Craig Kettleman, to also sow doubt in their minds that Howard did them dirty by being high throughout his defense of them, and that he could in fact, overturn the conviction because of this and get them their life back. But of course, they harbored zero trust for Jimmy’s and instead, the Kettleman’s spoke with Clifford about such matters and when they don’t hear what they wanted from him, they went after Jimmy hard and threatened to take the lie public, and that brought about… one powerful moment. Wherein Kim unleashed her own brand of darkness to keep them quiet, the kind that put Betsy in tears and left Jimmy shocked at what Kim had to say and well, while doubt was once again sown in Howard’s ability, and Jimmy was safe from any blowback on this matter… Kim’s brutal behavior was troubling for certain.

For it not only spoke to the reality that she is indulging in the darkness further, but that her desire to harness it… might be the catalyst for the truth birth of Saul Goodman. In fact, she even spoke to what kind of car Saul should drive and the excess of success he should project and those thoughts, and her actions and Jimmy’s response could infer that Kim’s journey into darkness is what will be the final straw for Jimmy McGill. For he has always admired Kim for her honesty and her honor and her desire to always flirt with the darkness but never fully embrace it. But if she does so because of Jimmy and his actions… well Mister McGill might never recover from that. For that would inform him that his brother was right about him and that his actions and influence have corrupted the one thing he saw as pure in this world.

Which would be all the reason he would need to abandon any sense of good and embrace Saul Goodman and all that he stands for and that was a fascinating epiphany/possibility to come up in this tale. One that is as tragic as it gets. But alas, only time will tell if that is indeed the deciding factor in such matters or if there is another surprise awaiting us regarding Saul’s genesis. But one way or another, the truth as to how he transformed into that man will be revealed and it will be sobering and tragic in nature, and it will undoubtedly lead to one powerful ending to this incredible series… one that will stick with us for a long time and leave us in awe. But before we arrive at the conclusion of Jimmy’s harrowing journey, we have a lot of big moments waiting for us and it will be both stunning and heartbreaking to watch them play out as the final season of Better Call Saul continues along. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the ‘Doctor Who’ special, ‘Legend of the Sea Devils’.
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​What do you get when the Doctor promises a beach vacation? A massive world saving adventure! To be honest, I’d personally take the beach vacation, but everyone has different tastes. Yaz, the Doctor, and Dan have landed in 19th century China just in time to meet the Pirate Queen herself, Madam Ching. The infamous Pirate Queen has stormed into a village and started to chip away at a statue of a Sea Monster holding a man. Apparently, she’s looking for information on the Flor de la Mar, a ship that sank in the 16th century with an impressive treasure aboard. Turns out, Madam ChIng’s crew, including her two sons, have been kidnapped and a massive ransom is required for their safe return.
 
The treasure from the Flor de la Mar is enough to cover it, and the whereabouts are supposedly hidden in the statue. This statue, however, is not a normal work of art. It’s thankfully not a Weeping Angel either, because really? We have had enough trauma with them as of late. No, this alien creature is more home grown than originally anticipated. This creature is a Sea Devil, and they originated from Earth. They were here before humans even were, which, doesn’t that make us the invading species? Either way, the Sea Devil and the Doctor have not met, although the Doctor has met other Sea Devils in the future, and it did not go well, as it tends to go with most encounters with hostile creatures. This is no different, and this Sea Devil in particular, came equipped with his own flying modified sea ship.
 
Now, it’s important to note that the number one rule when traveling with the Doctor is to not wander off. Dan, despite knowing this rule, sure had no problem disregarding it and going off to Madam Ching’s ship anyway. Why? Well, right after Madam Ching accidentally released the Sea Devil it killed a bunch of villagers, one of which was a young man’s father. The kid wants revenge, and Dan is always up for an adventure and is easily distracted with helping others. Plus, Yaz and the Doctor sort of have this weird tension between them lately, so it’s probably for the best that Dan gives them a bit of space, right?
 
All of this would have worked out okay, except Dan isn’t too keen on letting the kid kill Ching in revenge and also, Ching finds them and captures them anyway. Never let it be said that Dan isn’t super clever. He notices right away that Ching has no crew, because they were all taken prisoner by another infamous pirate. He offers himself and the young man, who was bent on killing her, to help her serve as her crew in hopes of not getting killed himself. Dan’s got some smart survival skills. Plus, he also spent those years with Yaz hopping around while they were stuck in the past waiting on the Doctor, so he surely knows his way around a ship.

Meanwhile the Doctor and Yaz leave Dan, which is super rude, but he did break the first rule of traveling with the Doctor, and go looking for the Flor de la Mar. They find another legendary ship and also the Sea Devil that they’re fighting in question, in the past, and learn that there’s a lot more going on than they first suspected. The Doctor decides to head back to the 19th century, and the plan is to hang out out on the Ocean floor and find the shipwreck, where they can get the Flor de la Mar’s treasure and give it to Ching, so she’ll help them fight the Sea Devils. Except once they get there…there’s no ship. At least the Doctor flirts with Yaz just a bit, saying that she’s not a bad date after all, and Yaz is left a little stunned because up until now, Dan is the only person who knows how she feels about the Doctor. The moment is broken when a giant sea monster tears through the ocean floor and eats the TARDIS. 
 
That’s when we find out that the Sea Devils have been living inside the sea monster, of sorts, and also using this infamous ship to scare the ‘land crawlers’. The Sea Devil is looking for something called the Keystone. This mystical item of unknown origin is the catalyst to the Sea Devil’s plan, and his previous downfall. In an attempt to threaten the Doctor, or show off their power, or both, the Sea Devil shows how he’s kept Ji-Hun, captain of the ship that held the treasure of the Flor de la Mar that the Doctor and Yaz went looking for, alive all this time as a trophy. When the Sea Devil gets called away, Ji-Hun reveals to the Doctor that he had the Keystone but gave it to his most trusted crew member the day the Sea Devil attacked his ship. Still, the Doctor bluffs as best she can until the Sea Devil reveals he knows she’s lying. They found the Keystone, on Ching’s ship... because the kid that Dan’s been with, has it. 
 
It wouldn’t be a true Doctor Who special if the bad guys didn’t almost win. The Sea Devil gets the Keystone and plans to use it to return the earth back to the water world it had once been. His ship is capable of doing just that. The Doctor is clever, and she’s fought her way out of much more dire situations than this, so of course she comes up with a clever plan that almost ends in her untimely demise. That is, until Ji-Hun steps up to save the day and sacrifices himself instead. In the meantime, they also found the treasure Ching was looking for and it’s more than enough to pay the ransom to have her crew and kids back. All’s well that ends well because the day is saved… right? There are just a few unsolved things. Dan calls Diane and leaves her a message, only to have her call him back as he’s leaving said message. She misses him too. There might be hope there.
 
As for the Doctor and Yaz? We can’t always have nice things. The Doctor is always reluctant to be in relationships, no matter whom they’re with. But she does reveal that she feels the same about Yaz, but she can’t settle down. It’s requited-ly unrequited still. The Doctor won’t fix herself to any person because then she’d never want to leave them, and she also knows that love causes pain. Yaz takes it in stride because it’s brave to do something knowing it’ll hurt. Perhaps the Doctor has also forgotten the age old saying, it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Our Doctor will always be more than self-sacrificing, always giving up the heart’s desires to protect everyone and everything and in the end losing it all, over and over again. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘61st Street’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

One thing that we can all agree upon, is that the crime drama tends to glorify what a manhunt looks like, and it makes sense as to why they do. After all, we tune into these shows to satiate a need for justice, since the everyday world tends to be free from it more often than we’d like. So, seeing fictional law enforcement officials… go the extra mile in an intense manner after a horrible crime has been committed, helps us to achieve that. For it is a noble quest that we are now invested in, and we have to see it come to its heroic close and well… while that does indeed end in a manner we prefer, it is problematic to put such a process on a pedestal and give it a heck of a paint job in print and on screen. Because in reality, the manhunt is an ugly process.

One where suffering hangs over it since a horrible act has taken place, and people are mourning and healing and are scared and broken because of what just happened, and it is also a process where lives are at risk if the offender is dangerous and, on a spree, and well, this is another reason why the AMC and ALLBLK series, 61st Street, deserves our attention and praise. Since its next episode offered the audience the manhunt in the raw, and all the horror that comes with it, especially when the hunted is in fact… not a monster in the slightest… but the wrong person at the wrong place in time, and that made ‘The Hunter and the Hunted’ quite the powerful tale. One that also took the time to really break down the impact of crime on a human and fundamental level.

Since it did show us how the death of Detective Michael Rossi sent shockwaves through the precinct and his family. For a life was lost and that void does have an impact on the people that knew the fallen and it was powerful to acknowledge that and check in on Moses’ family as well. Because hearing that a family member is being pursued by the police as the primary suspect in a murder no less… also has a profound impact upon the folks surrounding the accused, and that made for some powerful and heartbreaking moments. The kind that injected humanity into this oft romanticized sequence of events. But what is genuinely amazing, is that the story did not allow for sympathy and humanity to shift the focus away from the commentary established in the ‘Pilot’ episode.

For it also put us alongside Moses as he ran from the cops and seeing him be hunted by police officers and experiencing that fear firsthand made for some poignant moments. The kind that truly demonstrated how corrupt officers will stop at nothing to get the justice they believe in their heads is proper and deserved, and how far they’ll go to truly paint African American suspects as subhuman and natural born thugs. As evidenced by how Brannigan chose a terrifying image of Moses to release to the press and through his illegal discussions with Detective Logan and well… had it not been for Moses’ friends stepping in and getting Franklin Roberts involved with the case there was a fair chance that Moses would have been become just another statistic and another notch on Brannigan’s belt. 

But thankfully, he’s in custody. Giving him a chance to tell his side in the courts. But even that, provides the viewer with trepidation over hope. For the courts are likely no better than the precincts and Franklin and Moses have one hell of an uphill battle ahead of them. But while we wait to see how that takes shape, we can in fact, bask of the wonder of another powerful chapter in this tale. One that held nothing back in its deeper examination of a broken and unjust system that brings the hammer down upon Black people in America, and in its examination of the emotional impact crime has upon us all and well, once again… this is a story that leaves us eager to continue the journey. To see what other harsh lessons about our world await us down the line as this corrupt case, goes to trial. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘Power Book IV: Force’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that season finales are no easy task for the creative minds that work to bring them to fruition. Because one mistake or one odd storytelling decision, and the fans will let a particular show have it when it comes to their disappointment and rightfully so. For they have invested time and effort into a story that they expected to blow them away, and anything else just isn’t right. Which is why so many fans go into a season finale with their breath held and butterflies in their stomach, because they just don’t know if things are going to wrong and disappoint. But what’s amazing about the television industry, is that there is one particular franchise, where this kind of trepidation doesn’t take place when it is season finale time.
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Specifically… the Power Universe. For Courtney A. Kemp and 50 Cent’s incredible collection of shows, always deliver when it comes to their respective season finales. Because these two producers know what fans want and expect, and instruct their teams to bring that to life. Which in turn leads to incredible endings to seasons, the kind that take our breath away and move us and leave us hungry for more and well… the wonder of the Power Universe’s ability to pull this off all the time, is top of mind today, because we simply have to acknowledge that the season one finale of Power Book IV: Force, kept this proud tradition alive. For ‘Family Business’ was an hour-long rollercoaster ride that accomplished all of those goals, by surprising us at every turn.

Because everyone that tuned into this story, was expecting an outright bloody finale. One that saw Egan v. Flynn lay the city of Chicago to waste with a fight for the ages, and for a time, the show leaned into the possibility that this was exactly what was going to happen. After all, the Flynn family was indeed ready for war and ready to cause harm to Tommy and the Serbian Mob. To the point where Claudia decided to double cross Tommy and set the stage for a showdown at the lab. All in the hopes of showing her father and Ioan that she could handle leadership of the family business, and that did indeed lead to quite the epic shootout for certain. One that saw both sides suffer heavy losses, to the point where the Four Horseman were down to a lone pony after this fight and a surprise at Dr. Parker’s.

But it is that fight that quickly brought forth surprise, since it shifted the tone and design of this story. Because Tommy quickly came to realize that the Serbian Mob wasn’t worth the money, he paid them, since their soldiers were lackluster at best and that forced him to back off and regroup and think… and surprisingly, take care of family business. For Kate Egan finally arrived in town and begged her son to bring everyone together and despite his reservations, Tommy knew her arrival was bigger than the anger in his heart, and he allowed for the family to be together at last. Which led to some powerful moments for certain, the kind that once again showed us a different side of Tommy and those moments were sadly… brief in the joy they provided us with.

Because while Tommy took a beat, Jenard was fast at work at trying to kill his brother. An act that failed miserably and backfired upon him. Since Diamond sent quite the message to his baby bro. One so impactful that Jenard opted to try a different angle to get control of CBI and the streets, by making some wild and dangerous deals. One of which, involved handing the Serbian Mob their pipeline back, in exchange for ceasing the war with the Flynn family. An act that would allow for CBI and the Flynns to join forces so that Jenard would have the firepower and the resources to finally bring Tommy Egan to street justice and kill his brother in the process. Giving him the empire, he always wanted and retribution for a life lost. 

Which was… a solid plan for certain. Since everyone signed off on it and went to work on finding ways to isolate Tommy to deal with him at last. But what they didn’t count on, was that Tommy knew someone would try and unify the streets to come at him, and that allowed for him to broker peace with Diamond and plan ahead for one hell of a fight. One that required wits to win since he would never have the firepower and the numbers and well… that led to one hell of an ugly showdown. One where Tommy saw his brother in dire trouble thanks to the fine work of the new alliance, and where the Sampson brothers had to decide if blood was more important than street justice and riches untold and well… in the end Tommy did win the day... but at quite the cost for certain.

Because Liliana was lost in the fight, ending her journey in a heroic manner and of course… Tommy lost his line to Dhalia and all the riches it sent his way. But for his efforts and his wits, he was alive… and so was his family, and he did some damage for certain. Since he was able to get Walter to admit that he was behind Gloria’s death after all, shattering the Flynn family through and through, and his alliance with Diamond continued after the fight. Which is a wonderful thing since Diamond was able to split CBI’s territory with his brother… complete with loyal lieutenants that were eager to succeed, and that means that in the end, Tommy Egan will get another shot at taking over Chicago, and that is about as epic an ending as it gets. Since it didn’t end at all like we expected and was incredibly intimate and moving and full of big moments and unexpected departures.

If anything, it is best to call this finale… perfect. For it had everything you could ask for and more in a season finale and of course… it featured Tommy’s all-important catch phrase and… it also set the stage for the future and bigger tie ins to the Power Universe. Since the battle in this tale, got the attention of the DEA back in New York… which brought about some epic cameos and hellos from classic Power and Ghost cast members and the best news of all when it comes to this finale… is that season two is a go. Which means all we have to do now, is wait patiently for another year of adventures with Tommy Egan… as he hits the reset button on building the empire he always wanted and woe to those who stand in his way now. Because Tommy’s had a taste of what life is like at the top and anyone that gets in the way a second time around… will have Christmas cancelled on their ass. Until next year. 

Often times in crime stories revolving around the rise and fall of a drug kingpin, the heavy in question… is insatiable when it comes to their desire to acquire money and power. To the point where they are unrecognizable by the end of the story, which in turn brings about their tragic finale, wherein the desire to have every, thing, over human connection destroys them. But while that makes for a powerful journey, one that is grounded in the nature of greed and its dangers, it does leave one to wonder… if it is possible for a drug kingpin to ever have enough. If they could in fact, reach a point where they finally feel okay with what they’ve accomplished and walk away satisfied and it just so happens, that the next episode of Breaking Bad opts to dive into such questions.
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That is… after Heisenberg took care of some important housecleaning. For ‘Gliding Over All’ opens up with a tense meeting between Lydia and Walter, wherein the two of them come to a long-term agreement, financially, in exchange for Lydia’s safety and the names of the last of the Fring gang. Which Walter immediately took to the Aryan Brotherhood in Albuquerque to enlist their help in ending all of their lives. A move that proved to be quite worthwhile on Walter’s part… since the Brotherhood was able to wipe out all nine guys, and one scuzzy lawyer, in a matter of two minutes over the span of three separate locations. Which of course, made Hank look like a fool and enabled the story, to begin the exploration in question.

For shortly after this Capone inspired, Valentine’s Day Massacre type event, Heisenberg was able to enlist Todd’s help in making more Blue Sky and for a time… that’s all Walter did. Work and make money and bring it to his wife to launder, and of course… be left alone in peace to be the drug lord and king he always wanted to be. But after a few months, and a routine visit to the doctor to check on his lungs, Walter found himself at a crossroads. One presented unto him by Skyler. For it turned out that she rented a storage locker to keep the profits safe since there was no way she could launder… a palate of cold, hard cash. And seeing that money and hearing his wife ask him if this would be enough… answered all of those questions in the affirmative. For he had everything he needed or wanted financially… so why not walk away?

Which brought the kids home and brought peace to the family at last… and it even brought forth an impromptu apology from Walter to Jesse. One that involved cash and shock for Mister Pinkman, since he was worried that a visit from Heisenberg, meant the end had come for him as well. But instead, an old friend took care of him, and these moves made it appear as though, Breaking Bad was going to end in a different manner. Wherein a drug kingpin could walk away from the business and potentially explore what life looked life after crime… without punishment. Where perhaps Walter could reconcile with his wife and raise his kids in peace. But alas, a simple, seemingly throwaway moment where Hank had to use the bathroom for a minute… changed everything.

For the always sly ASAC Schrader was digging through Walter’s reading material while doing his business and he came across a book from Walt Whitman. One that featured a love letter from Gale Boetticher and once again featured the initials of W.W. and that… allowed for Hank to put all the pieces together. In that, there was a solid chance the Heisenberg he’s been chasing all this time, was indeed Walter White and that revelation… will clearly change everything. For the last thing Walter wants to do is go to jail and considering how far he’s gone to stay out of it… he may indulge in the darkest parts of his soul to keep his freedom since Hank will undoubtedly act upon this. Which means, the disaster and tragedy we have been bracing for, is on its way. But alas, it will be a little bit before we dive into that, for the last half of these Retro Recaps are going to accompany the second half of the final season of Better Call Saul. So, for now, we will let this cliffhanger simmer and settle in our minds, and revisit its conclusion with fresh eyes, this summer. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Harry Wild’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of its first three episodes, the Acorn TV series, Harry Wild, has established itself to be a solid cozy mystery. One that is filled to the brim with engaging and unique cases, that feature gravity and intelligence, that Harry and Fergus solve with a level of glee that never allows for the source material to ever get heavy in the slightest. All of which allows for the viewer to enjoy an entertaining and satisfying ride, one where good always triumphs over evil and it even offers up literary lessons often. Courtesy of Harry’s grounding in that particular world, and well… this particularly important aspect of the show is important to note and reflect upon… simply because the next episode in this wonderful saga… opted to shake things up and inform us of something quite important about the show.
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In that, while the writers’ room is fine with this series being grounded in the realm of the cozy mystery, and pleasing crowds in the process… these same writers want to see if by chance, they can push the envelope of that genre and pepper in bolder and darker stories along the way, as evidenced by the next episode in this tale. For ‘An Unhappy Happy Is a Dangerous Thing’, definitely indulged in some darker storytelling. The kind that is usually reserved for the grittier crime dramas of the world and it accomplished this feat by having a loan shark named Ringo die in a horrible manner. The kind that garnered the attention of Happy, since Ringo was his son, and because Happy wanted his son’s killer brought to justice quickly and efficiently… he enlisted the help of Harry and Fergus. 

Whom quickly discovered that they were dealing with a ruthless killer. One that was basically injecting himself into the world of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment by pretending to be one of the characters, so he could commit/reenact the vengeful crimes present within that novel, and well… once Harry and the man, whose name turned out to be Billy Lund began to speak… did the darkness take over this story. Because Billy wasn’t mentally stable in the slightest and he saw Harry as his equal and nemesis a la Moriarty to Holmes, and basically wanted to play a long game with her, one that would help indulge his already twisted fantasies and of course, Harry was having none of that. For she knew the dangers of indulging fantasy over anything else, especially for someone who saw no gravity in their crimes and that motivated her to do something different here.

Specifically, to try and bring Billy to justice in the sneakiest manner possible. Which in this case, involved taking the time to meet his broken family so that she could secure his address and work with Charlie to promptly bring him in. Allowing for justice for Ringo to take place and keeping more blood off the streets since Happy was planning to murder Billy post haste. But alas, only part of the plan worked. Because while the police were able to search Billy’s home, he was mere moments away from arriving there, shattering his belief that Harry was his equal/endless foe and that motivated him to cross a lot of lines. Such as kidnapping Charlie and teasing Harry as to his location. So, he could indulge in his special brand of darkness face to face and punish Harry in every way imaginable to ease the pain in his heart and the madness in his mind and thankfully, he never had the chance to do so.

Since Happy and Fergus were there to back Harry up, and of course, she was able to broker a deal that saw Billy go to jail instead of dying at Happy’s hands, giving us a happy ending to a harrowing tale. One that really did provide us with Harry’s darkest storyline to date since Billy was scary and ruthless and a true psychopath through and through. A move that quite frankly, needs to be applauded. Simply because this bold decision, never overpowered the story or took the series in a new direction. It simply added a little spice to the mythos and allowed for us to understand that this is a crime series that can simply do it all and that’s wonderful. Because it means that it can surprise us at any moment with a case that is either serious or whimsical or something in-between and this magnificent storytelling decision absolutely motivates us to continue the journey. In order to see what kind of unique cases await us down the line. Until next time.