Please enjoy this exclusive clip from tonight’s new episode of Life After Lockup on WE tv.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 308 of ‘Star Trek: Picard’. To revisit the previous episode, click  here.
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If there is one particular moment that fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation have been eagerly awaiting when it comes to the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard on Paramount+, it would be the long-awaited reunion of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D and NCC-1701-E. Simply because… TNG fans love that crew and love the dynamic they bring to the table and slowly but surely, we’ve inched closer to enjoying that incredible reunion. In fact, we received quite the tease a couple of weeks ago since ‘The Bounty’ featured the entire cast on screen. But sadly… still not in the same room together, but that all changed this week.
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For at long last, ‘Surrender’, was the episode that brought this crew back together… in the most epic manner of course. By having them earn that reunion and rightfully so. Because having it just magically come to fruition with Vadic sitting in the captain’s chair of the U.S.S. Titan, would have felt cheap and disgusting. So… she needed to be dealt with before the story could bring us that epic moment and that led to one intense tale. One that saw the skeleton crew aboard this ship, continue to dwindle since Vadic felt she needed everyone to understand she meant business before going after what she really wanted. Which was to have Jack Crusher come to the bridge and surrender to her and whatever fate she had planned for him, or else others would die. 

Which thankfully, Jack was unwilling to do and that forced Admiral Picard and his friends to put together a daring plan to re-take the ship and handle her and keep his son, safe. Part of which involved, trying to figure out a way to properly get Lieutenant Commander Data in control of his mental faculties and in order to do that… great risk came into play. Because it seemed the only way to give Data full control of his new Gollum body was to remove the partition between, he and Lore, and let fate handle the rest. For one of those personalities would have to emerge as the dominant one and all they could do was hope Lore would be vanquished. 

At first… it seemed that evil would win the day. For in that brain, Lore was quick to rewrite programming and seemingly delete Data’s memories, which weakened our beloved hero the point of surrender. Since he freely handed over memories and his essence. But that… as it turned out, was designed to fool Lore into a false sense of security. For Data knew how to make those memories part of Lore and that in turn, made Lore part of Data. Which allowed for a touching and bittersweet sequence to take place where Lore left this franchise once again, absorbed by a brother that finally learned how to outwit that kind of arrogance, and with Data at their side once again, the heroes of the Enterprise prepared to re-take the ship and thankfully, they had reinforcements on the way. 

Because while Data worked to return to prominence, Worf and Raffi boarded the Shrike under cloak and cover. Wherein they pulled all the information available regarding the theft of Admiral Picard’s original body and they made sure to free Deanna and Will as well. Who, while waiting for their surprise salvation, took a few moments to finally speak honestly about the difficult nature of the past few years and their respective grief, and reconnect with one another in a healthy and playful manner. But once they were saved from their cell, they were all business once again and were quickly aboard the Titan and that allowed for the plan to re-take the ship to come into play, but not without losses sadly. 
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For Vadic did indeed begin executing the bridge crew because that’s what a monster like her, does. But eventually Jack did arrive on the bridge and quickly distracted Vadic so that the remaining bridge crew would be sent to a safe place while Data assumed control of the ship. Allowing for Jack and Seven to hide behind a personal forcefield as Data opened the evacuation hatch on the bridge, ending Vadic’s reign of terror and bringing her vessel to destruction and with that leg of the danger behind them… it happened. The crew of the Enterprise were reunited and took the time to heal and catch up and feel the connection that only lifelong friendships can produce, before getting down to business. Specifically, saving Frontier Day from whatever the real villain had planned. Which meant, Deanna had to dive into Jack’s brain and find answers since he was obviously connected to something dark and evil, something that might be connected to all this chaos.

Which of course, put forth a cliffhanger for next week, since it seems that is when the reveal will happen at last, and that makes this cliffhanger quite welcome. For revealing the truth would have greatly overshadowed what mattered most here. The chilling end to Captain Vadic, and that grand reunion of The Next Generation. And we do need to spotlight the exit of Vadic, because… let’s be honest, Amanda Plummer just slayed in this tale, offering up one of the finest villain performances in Star Trek history and she even received a powerhouse send-off, complete with a perfect quip and this writer cannot thank Amanda enough for her contributions to this season. Because she was just sublime and her creepy and nuanced performance will be missed in the final two weeks of the series, but alas… Vadic had to leave to make room for the real heavy.

But truly, it was that moment in the conference room that has all of us buzzing today. Because… that was it. We got to see this intrepid crew sit around a conference table for the first time in over two decades. In fact, the last time we saw them all together in a similar setting was before battle and mayhem and death befell them in Star Trek: Nemesis. And it was just… amazing to see old friends back where they belong and let’s be honest… it was a moment that either left us in tears or misty eyed because that was a truly perfect moment. One the audience and the characters earned, which makes it sweeter and well, it is best we enjoy it while we can. For darkness will soon come, and it will bring with it great challenges. The kind only the crew of the Enterprise can tangle with, and it will be fascinating to learn who or what is really behind this plot and how these heroes will rise to the occasion to save Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets. Until next time.

Something that is genuinely fascinating about this era of peak television; is how it is beginning to generate incredible excitement and buzz. For now, we simply cannot wait for new seasons of our favorite shows. In fact, we are setting reminders in our phones and watching with friends in person or via text all thanks to the fact that television is upping its game storytelling wise and providing us with grand and epic stories that captivate our imagination and leave us shaking our heads in want and desire when the end credits roll and one network leading the way in this is Apple TV+. For they continue to put out content that moves us and wows us and they have no qualms providing viewers with epic stories that blow us away and it just so happens that we are nearing the release of another story in that vein.
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For Silo arrives in May, and it is a story that looks to be another great epic, one that explores a unique dystopian world that will immediately suck us in and demand our attention when new episodes drop, and for proof… just look at the amazing trailer for the show that was released by Apple TV+ earlier today. For it promises a grand and sweeping story of survival, curiosity, and mystery and all the elements that drive humanity to be more than we are in the moment. Which is the kind of stuff we crave and this trailer is going to prompt us to set multiple alerts to see what wonders it is going to send our way and well, since you’re likely here because you haven’t seen what it has to offer yet, or here to enjoy the majesty of that trailer once again, here it is alongside some updated details on the series as we continue the countdown to another great epic from a network we love.  

‘Apple TV+ today unveiled the trailer for “Silo,” the gripping, world-building Apple Original drama based on Hugh Howey’s New York Times bestselling trilogy of dystopian novels, starring an ensemble cast led by Rebecca Ferguson (“Dune,” “Mission: Impossible” films), who also serves as an executive producer. “Silo” is created by Emmy-nominated screenwriter Graham Yost (“Band of Brothers,” “Justified”), who also serves as showrunner. Academy Award-nominee Morten Tyldum (“Defending Jacob,” “The Imitation Game”) directs the first three episodes. The 10-episode series will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, May 5, 2023 with the first two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday through June 30, 2023.
 
“Silo” is the story of the last ten thousand people on earth, their mile-deep home protecting them from the toxic and deadly world outside. However, no one knows when or why the silo was built and any who try to find out face fatal consequences. Ferguson stars as Juliette, an engineer, who seeks answers about a loved one's murder and tumbles onto a mystery that goes far deeper than she could have ever imagined, leading her to discover that if the lies don't kill you, the truth will.
 
The ensemble cast starring alongside Ferguson includes Common (“The Chi”), Emmy nominee Harriet Walter (“Succession”), Chinaza Uche (“Dickinson”), Avi Nash (“The Walking Dead”), Critics Choice Award and NAACP winner David Oyelowo (“Selma”), Emmy-nominee Rashida Jones (“Parks and Recreation”) and Academy Award winner Tim Robbins (“Mystic River”).
 
“Silo” is produced for Apple TV+ by AMC Studios and based on the novels by Hugh Howey. The series is executive produced by Yost, Howey, Tyldum and Ferguson alongside Nina Jack, Fred Golan, Rémi Aubuchon and Ingrid Escajeda.
 
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 348 wins and 1,436 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
 
About Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $6.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Ten of ‘The Ark’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say that the SYFY series, The Ark, dropped one of its best cliffhangers to date last week. After all, no one really saw Kelly’s betrayal coming, nor did anyone really calculate that she was a spy for Ark Fifteen and was eager to get near William Trust. Not to mention, it was quite shocking to hear her call for her friends and see them bearing down upon our heroes. And well… we simply had to know what was coming next and if these wonderful people that we’ve come to know, were going to be safe against a foe that nearly ended their lives not that long ago and thankfully… we got some good news in this week’s tale.

Because there was no weapons fire exchanged in the opening moments of ‘Hoping for Forever’. Just posturing between the two Arks, and a surprise deployment of a shuttle from Ark Fifteen. Which led to a tense bit of conflict at Ark One’s secondary shuttlebay as Sharon and her team dealt with invaders post haste, making it seem as though our heroes had the upper hand, and all would be well. But a little gunfire in Trust’s ‘cell’, and the arrival of another guest that used the confusion in the shuttlebay to get aboard led to some surprises. One of which was the death of Helena Trust since no help arrived in the slightest, and… that our villains were searching for a DNA sample present on Ark One, that was essential to the crew of Ark Fifteen. Which thanks to Felix never left the ship. But sadly, Trust, Angus, and Lane left with Kelly at gunpoint, and returned to the enemy vessel, and thanks to some fast flying, Ark Onesurvived another round with that superweapon and that led… to quite the reveal.

For once Kelly returned home, it was made apparent who was behind this madness and behind these wanton attacks on good people, and it turned out to be… Evelyn Maddox. Who muscled her way onto this final Ark to save her hide and save most of humanity’s more decadent trinkets, and she was quite pleased that Kelly brought William to her because she had plans for Proxima B. The kind that involved William’s science to get the planet rotating once again so life would be sustainable for the last vestiges for mankind. But that was merely the tip of the iceberg regarding her plans. For she also wanted power, and that was why she was murdering other people. To make sure that no one would stand against her or the people she chose for salvation, and of course… she wanted to build a new world in the image she saw fit. All of which makes her a terrifying villain, since she doesn’t know she’s evil nor does she really care about how she gets what she wants.  
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But there was a formidable force out there in the void ready to teach her a lesson, and the name of that individual was Sharon Garnet. Who used the quiet time at light speed to investigate what they wanted and why they wanted it. And she came to discover that the DNA sample they wanted, was of a spider, one that could help cure the very same affliction that was about to end Brice’s life. Which meant, someone Maddox valued and cared about needed this DNA badly and that led to quite the showdown at Proxima B. One where Evelyn once again thought she had the upper hand. Since she and Sharon came to a tense deal that Evelyn worked to tilt in her favor, blissfully unaware that the captain of Ark One used the same strategy employed by Evelyn’s lackeys to gain access to an enemy vessel, a move that led to another amazing cliffhanger.

In fact, it is equally as safe to say that this series is putting on a writing clinic regarding cliffhangers. But that aside, make no mistake about it… this was one satisfying and epic tale. For it provided us with a bevy of answers regarding who our true villain is this season, and Maddox is indeed a chilling monster that will bring forth great trouble in the weeks to come, and this story was also just plain amazing. For it was filled with high stakes and incredible action and adventure and it really did set the stage for a stunning showdown. One where this intrepid crew is going to have to figure out how to topple a brilliant and resource rich monster, and it will be interesting to see how they handle her as we begin to wrap up this inaugural season of storytelling. Until next time. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 306 of ‘The Mandalorian’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Now, and again in life… we will be presented with seemingly impossible tasks. The kind that oft involve, putting the pieces back together of something quite important. For some, that involves getting their life in order because things aren’t great there. For others, it involves caring for others who also need to repair their life in some capacity, and sometimes… it’s all about fixing someone else’s big mess at work. And truly, those tasks seem impossible. Because how does one rebuild a life? And how does one rebuild a corner of industry that was once solid and sound? Well at it turns out, the answer to those questions is far simpler than we give it credit, as evidenced by this week’s episode of The Mandalorian on Disney+.
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For ‘Chapter 22: Guns for Hire’ featured quite the impossible task for Bo-Katan Kryze and Din Djarin. In that, they had to reunite their people and that was going to be a seemingly impossible task. Since so many no longer had faith in their former leader, Bo-Katan, and they certainly didn’t think much of the old ways. But our heroes were tasked to try to make this happen none the less and that brought them to the idyllic world of Plazir-15. A peaceful place that hired Bo’s former army as their muscle and featured quite the eccentric pair of royals, played by Lizzo and Jack Black in an epic manner. And it was the hope of our heroes that they could be granted court with the royals and talk them into letting them talk with the Mandalorian Mercenaries on this particular world.  

Which was agreed to with one condition. In that, our heroes had to figure out why reprogrammed Imperial and Clone War era droids were malfunctioning on this world and causing trouble. Which led to a fascinating search for clues on the planet, one that informed our heroes of the answer to those questions. For this was also an impossible task. But if we are to solve one, buckling down, staying the course, and putting in the work, will often lead to improvement and resolution, and reveal the simple solution we seek, and that’s what happened here in more ways than one. Since their determination proved who was behind the droid problem. Which just so happened to be a Separatist constable (played by screen legend Christopher Lloyd) that wanted to sow chaos and well, with him out of the way, Bo-Katan and Din, had their simple solution in hand to solve bringing their people home.  

Of course, they still had to put in the work. Which meant challenging Axe Woves for leadership, and that was of course, a violent and angry fight filled with vitriol over the past. But of course… Bo-Katan was victorious but still faced great odds without having everything in place to lead them. Which is where the simple solution came into play courtesy of Din. Who admitted he was defeated on Mandalore and that Bo-Katan saved his life with the Darksaber. Making it rightfully hers, and once that was confirmed by the group… he returned it to her and just like that… the problem wasn’t so tough. For these Mandalorians were ready to fall in behind a true leader, one that now could bring them home and rebuild the world they lost. 

All of which made, for one epic tale. One that took us on quite the adventure and featured some lovely call backs to Star Wars history. Since it’s been a long time since we’ve seen Separatist droids in live action Star Wars storytelling, plus… this was also a story that featured a lot of fun. Because Jack Black and Lizzo were amazing here, as was Christopher Lloyd, and the action and adventure just added to the delight. But really what made this episode truly worth our while, was Bo-Katan’s redemption as a leader. For she once again has what she needs to help her people chart a course forward, and now it can be done right and done differently so their world is never broken again, and it will be interesting to see what comes next for the children of Mandalore now that they are one step closer to healing their world. Until next time. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 304 of ‘Ted Lasso’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

When we cut someone out of our lives, for negative or toxic related reasons… we expect to never see them again and rightfully so. After all, they wronged us, they hurt us, and the thought of seeing them ever again is as uncomfortable a thought, as the moment was, we expelled them from our lives, and thankfully… their permanent exit tends to come to fruition. Because normally when we do this, we know they’ll avoid regular haunts, or we can alter our life to avoid them and just like that… we are free of the madness with lessons in hands and ready to move onto better people and bigger things in life. But sometimes… this plan doesn’t quite work out the way we hoped. 
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For now, and again, the person we cut loose, is deeply tied to our world, and we share friends and hangouts and other such places. Which means… there will come a point when we cross paths with them again and that… can be unnerving. Because that means… we will have to look them in the eye and interact with them again, and potentially feel those pained emotions bubble to the surface of our soul and that is just as difficult as the decision we made to release them from our lives. Which begs a supremely important question. In that, how do we deal with that? For that can be a daunting and powerful task to say the least and it just so happens that the next episode of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+, takes the time to explore this.

For ‘Big Week’ featured an important date on the calendar. Specifically, the long-awaited matchup between West Ham and AFC Richmond. Which meant that Nate and Ted were going to be coaching against one another in a match that meant a great deal in the Premier League and of course… that gave rise to pressure. Pressure from Rebecca and the coaching staff at Richmond since they really wanted to stick it to Nate and weren’t sure they could and oddly… pressure in Nate’s world as well. Because having the echo drown out the voice was something that meant a lot to Nate, and he really wanted to make that happen. Which allowed for an interesting story of duality to take place as well, as we were reminded of the fact that Nate isn’t a supervillain of sorts… he is but a man and has feelings and was just as nervous here.  

Which led to some fascinating scenes that spoke to how there is still some good in his soul when he isn’t being enabled by Rupert, but on game day… that good mostly faded. That brought forth… an ugly first half as the two sides battled it out and tried to outwit one another and sadly… that led to our first lesson regarding how we handle confronting those we cut out of our lives. In that… it’s best we give them nothing from an emotional standpoint when we see them again, since that can ignite a need to right a wrong and that… can lead to disaster and it did. Since Coach Beard and Roy Kent showed the team the footage of Nate ripping the ‘Believe’ sign in half last season while Rebecca also did the wrong thing by demanding in a quirky way that Ted enact revenge upon Rupert. And well… that pushed the team to play angry and play stupid in the second half… and lose this match. 
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But that wasn’t the only lesson that came out of that disappointing result. For Ted also made it clear that class and kindness matter when encountering that blast from the past. Since that takes them off guard since they too are curious about indulging in emotion and well… that mantra did make Nate look bad since he was disrespectful to Ted, despite wanting to be the opposite. Which ate at him for certain and set the stage perhaps for a different kind of rematch since we all know deep down, these teams will face off again because that’s the kind of world Ted and his friends live in. But while we wait for that, we can relish in a powerful episode. One that spoke to the lasting impact of the Wonder Kid’s actions from last season, and one that saw growth for the characters that indulged in the need for revenge over kindness.

Since Beard and Roy learned their lesson hard without Ted saying a word and of course, Nate is indeed floundering with his tough guy act because of the ugly it produces. But what was amazing is that this episode featured more growth-based moments. Since this is a story that forced Keeley to grow as a boss, since Shandy made one hell of a mistake, in front of THE BOSS no less, and this is also an episode that saw Ted do something he rarely does. Which was to stand up for himself and speak out about the hurt he felt, to his wife no less. That’s huge, and that’s something that will undoubtedly be an important plot point in weeks to come. But what mattered more is that this brilliant tale, did a phenomenal job of reminding us… how life tends to come around full circle, especially when unfinished business comes into play, and that the high road is how we make that… a neutral and uneventful experience. Until next time. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 211 of ‘American Auto’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

Something that a fair majority of people will not acknowledge, is the sheer fact that they were lost for quite some time in their lives. Lost in the sense that they were directionless and without purpose and simply went about their day and got by to the best of their abilities. And they won’t admit to that, because in the eyes of modern society, that is a sign of weakness and failure. For in America, one should always be pushing forward and chasing the American Dream with a focus and vigor unparalleled by their peers. But that is… a silly thing to be ashamed of. Because everyone goes through that phase in their lives where they just… coast. But eventually they do find focus and they do find purpose and change course.  
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It just takes the right kind of wakeup call and well, that process is of note today, simply because it was put on display in a creative manner in the next episode of American Auto on NBC. A feat that ‘Funeral’ accomplished by putting the team in a precarious place. For as the Payne family gathered at Payne Motors for the wake of Wesley’s grandfather, some troubling news came to Katherine, through Wesley. In that, now that the Payne family’s last major tie to the business was moving onto the afterlife, the family was in charge of his shares and well… they were ready to sell. In fact, the whole wake was abuzz with what everyone was going to do with the money and that terrified Katherine for one simple and chilling reason. 

In that… the stock price was finally back up and everyone was likely keeping their jobs. But if the family dumped the shares onto the market after the funeral… the price would go right back down and that would cost her and the team their jobs and that prompted her to make quite the ask of the team. Wherein she needed them to talk the family out of selling, a plan that worked, but was quickly torpedoed by quite the surprise from Payne’s former CFO. For Jin now worked for a Saudi Arabian hedge fund and was in attendance and was authorized to make quite the offer. Where his firm would purchase all the family shares, all of them, well over market value. Which would save jobs and keep Payne afloat. The team just had to talk everyone into selling and they did, and that… didn’t sit right with Wesley. 

Because he spoke often in this episode about what Payne meant to him, and what it should mean to the family, and as this episode continued belong it became clear… that death had given Wesley a wakeup call. One that taught him that just being the everyman and enjoying a good time and waiting to see what was going to come along… wasn’t sustainable anymore. He needed a true north; he needed something to focus on and Payne Motors was it. Because it meant the world to him, and he finally understood his legacy and the majesty of being a member of the Payne family. And the thought of the family business being run by a hedge fund was too much to bear and in a stunning moment, he figured out the password to his crypto drive, and bought out the shares, making him the majority shareholder. 

Which made for quite the amazing episode. One that saw Wesley grow up and embrace so much right before our eyes, and that was just incredible to see play out and it set the stage for an interesting lead up to the season finale. Since Wesley is now technically, Katherine’s boss, and good relationship or no… that could lead to conflict and of course… it’s now a race to save jobs. But while we wait to see what comes of that… we really can celebrate this story. Because it was endearing, deep and funny to boot. Mainly because Cyrus’ ability to anger the head of every major auto maker on the planet was pretty incredible, not to mention, the sell/buy sequence was just amazing to watch play out and well, all this episode does is leave us hungry for more. So, we can see what this bold new chapter in Payne Motors is going to look like. Until next time. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Twelve of ‘Night Court’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One of the biggest challenges we will ever encounter in life, is coming to learn that so many people will compromise their morals and their standards to get ahead in life and climb the proverbial corporate ladder. And what makes this so challenging is that the rest of us… do everything we can to stay true to ourselves and what we believe in and that definitely brings forth conflict as we continue along through life, as we try to juggle being a decent person when an indecent person tries to get us to bend our moral code. Which of course… begs some important questions when it happens. Specifically… what do we do when this tough day comes? Do we just roll with it and deal with the personal consequences later? Or do we find a way to stand firm and take the high ground?
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Well, it just so happens that the next episode of Night Court on NBC takes the time to guide us on such matters. A feat that ‘DA Club’ accomplished by way of a unique case within the walls of the courthouse. For an upstanding citizen was assaulted and the District Attorney decided to get involved, himself, in doling out justice on this matter. Which Abby saw as the perfect opportunity to enact some serious change in the system. Because Jeff, the District Attorney, was demanding some tough sentences from the courts, on offenses that did not need such stiff penalties and well… after handling this case, she thought she was going to be able to get a little face time with Jeff to express her concerns on this and the system in general. And thankfully, Jeff agreed to the meeting, at an exclusive social club no less.

Which was news that unnerved Dan. For he knew Jeff, knew what he was about and expected him to give Abby nothing but trouble. So, he swung by that club to keep an eye on Abby, and it was a wonderful thing that he did. Because despite being receptive and open to what Abby had to say… Jeff was quietly making plans to use this meeting against Abby. For he confided in Dan that she would become his scape goat for his next election campaign, since he could paint her as a judge that was not tough on crime. Which prompted Dan to warn Abby about Jeff’s plans and offer up a dastardly counterpunch that would put Jeff in his place at last. But that left Abby struggling from a moral and decency perspective.  

After all, she came here to do the right thing and blackmailing the man and playing hardball to get her way seemed as low as what was being proposed by Jeff. Not to mention, such an act was vicious and ugly and that wasn’t her style. So instead, she worked with Olivia, who tagged along, and Neil, who swung by with Gurgs to deliver a hard cover copy of her research thanks to an iPad mishap… to find a way to keep true to herself while getting results. And it turned out that the specter of blackmail was enough to make that happen and most important of all… this taught us a valuable lesson. In that, when this moment comes, and it will… we don’t have to compromise our morals and standards to get what we want.

We simply have to be creative, and inventive, and make those who will compromise uncomfortable and unable to use their detachment from what matters in the respective situation we run into… so we come out on top. Which was, a lovely lesson to find here, one that spoke to the power of conviction and to the wonder of adaptability and of course… this episode was funny as well. Thanks to the wonder of that weird club and all the strange members that attended and Gurgs simply had the best one liners and scene stealing moments here and let’s be honest, how can you go wrong with including a character named Captain James T. Kush? All of which, made for another delightful and meaningful episode of this wondrous saga and once again, we are eager for more. Since we simply have to know what kind of laughs and lessons will await us when court is back in session. Until next time.  

The coming-of-age story tends to follow a fairly specific formula. Wherein someone in their youth, often times a teenager, comes to discover that there is more to the world and more to life, courtesy of some kind of grand adventure or some kind of life-changing moment. One that informs them of those truths in a dynamic and thoughtful manner and allows for them to reach a powerful moment of growth and continue on with the lesson in hand. Which isn’t a bad formula by any means, simply because it really does spotlight the journey of discovery, we all go through when we begin to see the world in a different light. But it is perhaps… an incomplete formula at best, one that does indeed do the audience a bit of a disservice. 
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Since it motivates one to presume that there will indeed be a go-to moment where everything changed for us, when we reflect upon life in our later years… when in fact, that isn’t the case. For real life, features a series of moments and hardships that shape us and transform us into the person we will become, a journey… as mentioned before, and those moments are what we truly reflect upon and that is what should be expressed to youth. So, they understand and prepare for what growing up really looks like, and thankfully… we are seeing a shift in storytelling when it comes to this. For more and more stories are beginning to understand the importance of honesty when it comes to our coming-of-age moments and one particular show that truly shines regarding this is the brand-new Disney+ series, The Crossover.

A feat that this show accomplishes, by plunging us into the lives of the Bell family. One that is composed of the brilliant Doctor Crystal Bell, and her husband Chuck, who happens to be a former NBA player and he is the head coach of the local high school basketball team, where his sons Josh and Jordan play as well. And their lives are pretty awesome when we meet them. For they’re a healthy family unit, and Josh and Jordan have NBA dreams on their radar. But when Chuck’s health starts to take a turn for the worse… the family is pressed like never before and Jordan and Josh… must figure out how to navigate a new normal. One filled with new challenges that will test their resolve, their relationship, and their dreams, and force them to grow and understand the harsh realities of the world, and well… that is the perfect way to bring forth a realistic coming-of-age story. 

Because that is how life works, for when it rains it pours, and there is no guide as teenagers as to how we navigate all that in the moment. We simply do our best and hurt, and learn, and try to keep on the path that brings us happiness and at times, that is no easy task. Which brings forth, a powerful story to say the least. One that truly feels relatable from beginning to end. Since it does features moments and worries that we experience in our teenage years, and it really does feature genuine struggles and fears, the ones that teach us so much about life who we are as a person. Which also engages us into this story in a dynamic manner, since allows for us to truly care about this family and their lives and their future and what’s amazing… is that this series is quite inspirational in nature as well.

Courtesy of the fact, that Josh and Jordan are always looking ahead regardless of the difficulties of the moment or the odds that are seemingly against them. Which helps us to understand… how we grow when the going gets tough and how we stay strong in a healthy manner during that dark period, and how we honor our moral core in doing so. Which are lessons that are brought to life via wonderful and earnest performances from a talented cast and all of these elements make this, essential family viewing. Since it provides everyone that tunes in with plenty to ponder upon and discuss and the best news of all, is that you can start those discussions right away. For season one of The Crossover is available to stream on Disney+ right now, allowing for you and your family to enjoy a perfect coming-of-age story, one that finally presents that pivotal phase in our lives in a realistic and relatable manner. 

​It really is quite the magical time to be a fan of television. For the demand that fans have created has pushed the industry to finally bring forth every type of story imaginable. Which has allowed for wonders untold to come forth. For instance, television writing is simply top-notch right now since writer’s rooms understand that anything less than their A game will allow for a story to be lost in the mix. Not to mention, A-list celebrities are flocking toward this television revolution, and at long last… stories that celebrate other cultures and lifestyles, and feature diversity and representation… are becoming commonplace. Plus… we are also being treated to a bevy of original and unique stories that would have never received a green light back in the day.
 
But while all of this is commonplace now, there is one particular network that continues to lead the way… Apple TV+. Simply because their mission from the get-go was to tell quality stories that leave us thinking and offer great depth and they have backed that up with stunning stories that move us and wow us and have us talking for days on end, and they have also enjoyed Emmy and Oscar wins because of the effort they put into curating original and dynamic storytelling and earlier today, they let us know that another unique series is coming to the network. For ‘Drops of God’ is going to make its debut on Apple TV+ on April 21, 2023, and this fascinating tale, based on the New York Times Bestselling Manga of the same name, will once again offer something fresh and exciting for audiences. 
 
Courtesy of a unique plot revolving around legacy and family… and wine… and it also doesn’t hurt that this story is multilingual, and to give everyone an idea of how refreshing this series is going to be, Apple TV+ was kind enough to release a trailer and some in-depth plot details to prepare us for another incredible ride. And with that in mind… here is that trailer for you to experience, and those details (courtesy of Apple TV+) to prepare us for another amazing story from a network that truly believes in the power of storytelling.
 
‘Today, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for the new multilingual French-Japanese drama “Drops of God.” Filmed in French, Japanese and English, “Drops of God” stars Fleur Geffrier (“Das Boat,” “Elle”) and Tomohisa Yamashita (“The Head,” “Tokyo Vice,” “Alice in Borderland”), and is set in the world of gastronomy and fine wines. The new eight-episode series from Legendary Entertainment, adapted from the New York Times bestselling Japanese manga series of the same name, will premiere on Friday, April 21, 2023 with two episodes followed by one episode weekly every Friday through June 2, 2023 on Apple TV+. 
 
"Drops of God” is set in the world of gastronomy and fine wines. Frenchman Alexandre Léger, creator of the famous Léger Wine Guide and emblematic figure in oenology, has just passed away at his home in Tokyo at the age of 60. He leaves behind a daughter, Camille (Geffrier), who lives in Paris and hasn’t seen her father since her parents separated when she was nine years old. When Camille flies to Tokyo and Léger’s will is read, she discovers that her father has left her an extraordinary wine collection – the greatest collection in the world according to the experts. But, to claim the inheritance, Camille must compete with a brilliant young oenologist, Issei Tomine (Yamashita). Biological daughter versus spiritual son: the duel is about to begin. There are three tests to break the tie, all related to wine tasting. The winner will take ownership of Léger's empire, the loser will leave empty handed. But how could Camille win such a duel? She knows nothing about wine, and worse: she has never drunk a single drop. 
 
Written by series creator Quoc Dang Tran (“Marianne,” “Parallel”), executive produced by Klaus Zimmermann (“Borgia,” “Trapped”), and directed by Oded Ruskin (“No Man’s Land,” “Absentia”), the series is also produced by Les Productions Dynamic in association with 22H22 and Adline Entertainment. The series is presented in partnership with France Télévisions and Hulu Japan. "Drops of God" is inspired by the New York Times bestselling Japanese manga series created and written by award-winning Tadashi Agi, with artwork by Shu Okimoto and published by Kodansha. 
 
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 348 wins and 1,436 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
 
About Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $6.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.*’