Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 3003 of ‘Top Gear’.

For the most part, the road trip has become a fairly routine affair. After all, GPS and the solid highway system has made this time-tested and beloved journey, a breeze for anyone to indulge in. Since now you can simply kick back and let your phone or on-board system tell you where to go and the internet helps you to easily find any landmarks on the way. But while that definitely takes some of the stress out of planning the trip… it does make it clinical in nature. To the point where sometimes, one ponders upon how nice it would be nice to find a way to add a little spice to the road trip and explore parts of the world that are out of the way and off the beaten path… safely of course.

Because no one likes the idea of getting stuck in a sedan in the heart of the mountains. But thankfully, the off-road vehicle is there to indeed spice up the road trip and allow for the driver to go where they have never gone before, in the safest manner possible. But as is often the case with cars anymore, there are a bevy to choose from. So, may in fact, that it can be quite overwhelming to decide which one is the right one to get. But that is precisely why shows like Top Gear exist, so they can help us with such decisions, and it just so happens that last night’s episode of the show… took the time to explore what the best off-road vehicle is on the market right now and of course… that led to some fascinating and wild selections from our intrepid trio of hosts. 

For Paddy, believed that comfort and style should matter above all else when choosing an off-roader and that’s why he opted to showcase the Mercedes-AMG G63. A practical and beautiful off-road ride, one that stood in stark contrast to Freddie’s choice. For he believed that if you’re going to drive off the beaten path, it should be in the most rugged and natural way imaginable, and that’s why he chose the supremely uncomfortable Ariel Nomad R (pictured above). As for Chris, well he decided that he should showcase a car that blends together style and comfort and practical use and that’s precisely why he chose the Land Rover Defender. But while the lads had solid points as to why their car was likely the best choice for off-road adventures, the only real way to settle which was the best, was to put them to the test, or tests in this instance.

The kind that saw a rugged relay race take plate to get an idea of how these cars handle themselves under pressure, and a wild and quirky trial, designed to the test the mettle of the driver. Wherein the lads were dragged at high speed behind their chosen ride, and the daredevil who motivated the Stig to go the fastest speed, won. And oddly enough, Freddie’s choice dominated these two trials, leaving one to wonder if the car companies got it wrong. Which meant, a final real-world test was in order. One where the lads would actually have to go off-road and deep into rough territory to claim a key that would help them unlock and re-lamp a lighthouse and well, it turns out the G63 failed this test miserably, by getting stuck and requiring a tow, and while Freddie’s ride performed admirably, it was the Land Rover that handled every challenge with minimal fuss and helped Chris to the finish line, making him and the Defender the winner of this week’s competition.
 
If anything, this really was quite the informative episode when all is said and done. Because it really did offer up a solid examination of these particular off-road vehicles, since now we know that Land Rover and Ariel genuinely designed a pair of vehicles that can handle anything you throw at them in the wild. The only question is whether you want to truly be in touch with nature or not, since the Ariel exposes you to the elements and well, hopefully we get to see more comparisons like this in weeks and years to come since this was handy as can be and fun to boot. Because let’s be honest, it was incredible to see the lads hanging onto the back of their rides as they (mostly) barreled toward ninety and well, now that this adventure is in the books, we can turn our attention to the season 30 finale, an episode that looks to solve an age-old problem in our modern world… the mid-life crisis. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Gangs of London’.
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Thus far, our journey through the unsettling world of Gangs of London on AMC, has focused heavily on the nature and the danger of revenge and understandably so. For Sean Wallace has been impacted greatly by his father’s untimely passing and his desire to set that right by punishing others has indeed allowed for us to explore all things vendetta related. But while that has made for some powerful moments, the kind that have helped us to understand the consequences that can come forth from letting revenge flow through your veins… this focus has indeed allowed for other plot points this story has introduced, to go the wayside. For we’ve seen little of Floriana outside of her brief introduction last week, and Darren, the man who killed Finn… has all but disappeared from the plot.

But that wasn’t an oversight or poor writing in the slightest. Because last night’s episode took the time to inform us that this series is going to address everything when the time is right and bring it all together and this week’s chapter… was the perfect time to follow up with Darren and what he’s been up to. Which as it turns out, is a whole lot of nothing. For he’s been laying low at a safe house at the shores, waiting for his boat to come in so he can be whisked away to safety. All the while thinking he had left the worst of this mess behind him in London but sadly… that was not the case. For this story was quick to inform us that Pat Keenan survived the attack on his caravan camp and was badly injured and racing against the clock to try and save his boy. For the aftermath of that assault, saw some odd fellows drop by the burning remains of said camp with some high-tech gear, the kind that informed Pat they were going after his boy.

Which led to a harrowing fight for survival for Pat, one that saw him push through his horrific injury to rescue his son and get him to a safer place, only to discover he was moments too late. For those mysterious forces reached the safe house, first. A revelation that led to one stunning action sequence, one filled to the brim with the show’s incredible visuals and trademark gore and well… in the end, despite fighting hard to save his son with every fiber of his being… Pat failed in his mission. For eventually the boat was left in ruin and in turn, he and his boy were left vulnerable and were easily defeated by these forces. Which made it seem as though, at long last Sean Wallace was successful in his quest for revenge and now this story could move in a fascinating new direction with the family free of vendetta’s icy grip. But that’s when the story took quite the surprising turn.

For it turns out that Sean and the family weren’t responsible for this attack in the slightest. For a quick phone call to one of the assassins revealed that Jevan Kapadia, one of the top members of the investor group that is doing business with the Wallace family, ordered the hit on Darren, potentially to get the money flowing through London once again. But apparently, one big surprise wasn’t enough for this tale, and Jevan’s announcement that another hit of a son was in order… made it clear that his happened well before the events of last week’s brutal episode and that Jevan has been scheming behind the scenes for weeks now… undoubtedly as a power play to get the Dumani family in control of the finances and that was quite the powerful reveal. Since it speaks to the fact that there is no honor among thieves and that the almighty dollar matters above all else and of course… this unexpected twist adds all kinds of new depth and trouble to the current situation and the overall themes this series has been exploring since day one.

For this move serves to remind us one again that Sean’s quest for blood continues to have devastating consequences and of course, that this world of crime isn’t safe in the slightest. For all it takes is a phone call to change fortunes and bring lives to an end and well… this is quite the brilliant story when all is said and done. For a simple follow-up tale, the kind that appeared to be designed to clear our mental palates and shift focus for a bit, ended up tying deeply into to the overall plot and the potential civil war that is seemingly ready to boil over and well, this is another chapter in this harrowing journey that leaves you hungry for more. Because now the stakes are higher than ever, and that definitely leaves one eager to see what comes next for the Wallace family and the London Syndicate in general since it is now truly standing on the precipice of disaster. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary special, ‘Attenborough’s Journey’.
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It is definitely safe to say that everyone loves nature documentaries and understandably so. After all, they’re filled to the brim with incredible beauty and engrossing stories about the various creatures that populate our world, the kind that manage to teach us something new and exciting about the incredible beings we share this tiny little blue ball with. But what’s truly fascinating about nature documentaries, is that they are also synonymous with a particular name, Sir David Attenborough, and there’s good reason as to why that particular name rings familiar and is often associated with stories about the magnificent animals that populate our world.

Because David is one of the most well-known documentarians in the world and he himself has narrated or hosted countless nature shows. To the point where generations of people around the world have seen his work on television. But while we all know his voice and his visage since David has been introducing the world to nature for decades on end, what we don’t know much about… is the man himself. For his history, what drives him and what his plans are for the future have always taken a backseat for the documentary in question. But that all changed last night when the documentary special, Attenborough’s Journey, made its debut on BBC America. For this Sir David Attenborough themed story, allowed for us to finally learn about the life and times of this legendary man and well, as it turns out… his desire to know more about the world started at an early age.

For in his youth, he took the time to examine artifacts in his own backyard and his fascination with how those artifacts came to fruition, motivated him to simply learn about how the world works and while that fascination never left David in his college years, for a time it seemed as though it might become nothing more than a hobby. Because he landed a gig at the new BBC back in the 1950s and appeared to be headed toward a career that was strictly dedicated to curating television shows. In fact, at one point, he was the head programmer at BBC 2 and guided that new arm of the network to incredible heights. But the draw of his early days at the network, wherein he hosted one of the world’s first nature shows, motivated him to return to that in the mid 1970s and well… we absolutely know how that story ends, since David was able to become an outright juggernaut when it comes to nature related storytelling.

But while it is indeed important to know what steps brought David to the iconic standing that he has today, what truly allowed for this documentary to stand out, was its presentation of David in a more intimate manner. Since we were able to see him on location, working behind the camera and working near the wildlife he adores, and this was special… simply because we truly saw his love for Earth on display in this part of the documentary. For every sunset and every one of nature’s creatures, elicited palpable joy and a curiosity to learn and teach that so many of us shed after childhood and seeing that in full force here, makes it clear that David has truly come to understand just how special we are to be on this planet with this variety of wildlife and we would do well, to try and indulge in an ounce of his wonder. 

In fact, there’s more that we should emulate in regard to how David views nature. Because the back end of this documentary, wherein we came to learn more about David’s conservation efforts and fight to combat climate change, speaks volumes to the fact that we turn a blind eye to such topics too often and that if more of us banded together and spoke the same message then perhaps we could genuinely engender change in our world. In the end however, the wonder of David’s career and passion serves to remind us that one person… can in fact make a difference, when they truly dedicate themselves to a cause in the same manner that David has and that makes this a truly special documentary. One that celebrates the life of a true icon and inspires the viewer along the way, by showing us exactly how passion and determination can outright achieve wonders. Until next time.

Sometimes in storytelling, the storyteller, gets lost in their creation. Which is a faux pas that can be attributed to a great many things. For instance, if the world they’ve created is rich and dynamic and vast, exploring that environment can make it easy for the creative mind to wander. Or sometimes, the characters and the situation they’re in, is so dynamic and dramatic that it becomes the focus above all else and believe it or not, that latter issue is precisely why the creators of Breaking Bad found themselves lost in their own tale. Because Walter White and Jesse Pinkman and everyone they encounter and know, have so much depth to them and so much going on, that Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould basically immersed themselves in their fascinating lives and that allowed for something important to be overlooked in this story.

In that, to date, the authorities have done very little in actually taking the time to chase down Heisenberg. Sure, there’s been behind the scenes machinations and discussions and even one large arrest. But outside of that, there’s been no active tailing or hunting and well… there should have been. For high quality meth is of grave concern for any law enforcement agency and well, it would seem that Vince and Peter became aware of this oversight. One that quite frankly, the audience didn’t think about much either, since we too have become lost in this world, but they definitely decided that the next episode in this grand tragedy was the perfect opportunity to fix that mistake and refocus the story. For ‘Sunset’ sees Hank Schrader finally zero on Jesse Pinkman and keep overwatch upon him, with mixed results.

Because Jesse is merely putting together plans to build his own Heisenberg-esque empire and is laying low while he schemes, giving Hank fits since he is eager to nail someone to the wall in this case and well, that motivates him to reach out to a very happy Walt. For prior to that call, Mister White is cooking with his new assistant Gale Boetticher, who shares in Walt’s love of chemistry and the finer things in life and of course, Walt has the finest gear available to him now and can make incredible meth and well… it doesn’t get much better than that. But Hank’s call does ruin the vibe since he begins to inquire about whether or not Jesse just so happens to own a particular RV and that leads to some incredibly tense moments, the kind that make it seem as though the DEA might end Walt’s second act in meth before it can properly begin.

For once Jesse gets wind of Walt’s plan to torch the RV without consulting him, he heads to the junkyard post haste, and brings Hank with him. Which leads to a powerful cat and mouse game, one where Hank is nearly successful in catching both men in the RV. But thanks to an assist from the mysterious Old Joe and Saul Goodman’s iconic secretary, Francesca, Hank is not only delayed, but forced to leave dismayed. For Francesca put in a phone call that made it seem as though Marie was in the hospital, leaving Hank furious and embarrassed when he discovers the truth, while Walt and Jesse… bid farewell to the RV and any of the offending evidence within its walls. Leaving one to wonder if this is a reconciliation point for the two men now that they had an opportunity to reminisce on better days and of course, were reminded of how well they work together under pressure. 

But while we wait to see if the band gets back together, we can bask in one tense and ominous tale. Because this one really did a phenomenal job of putting us on the edge of our seats during the junkyard sequence, since Hank came incredibly close to busting his brother-in-law and that move really raises the stakes like never before and reminds us of the fact that things are only going to get tougher for Walt down the line and apparently Hank for that matter too. Because not only is he filled with fury over being embarrassed on the clock, something that will undoubtedly lead to trouble, but the Salamanca clan is ready for revenge as well and have the green light to make that happen, and that is going to make for some compelling storytelling in the days to come. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Des’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that our perception of the serial killer has changed greatly throughout the years. For we no longer quite fear them or lament them the way that we used to and that is largely due to their evolution in popular culture. For characters such as Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ Lecter and Patrick Bateman, more or less helped to make the serial killer… cool. And now they are completely accessible emotionally and they are humanized and we tend to view them as nothing more than a stylistic villain, one that is more intriguing than dangerous and well, while that has definitely allowed for some incredibly unique stories to come to life, this shift in how they are perceived does come with an unfortunate caveat.

In that, it has more or less normalized the serial killer and removed some of the gravity and concern we should express toward a killer that outright hunts human beings as prey, and that is why stories that don’t shy away from their cold and cruel nature should be celebrated when we stumble upon them. Which is why the Sundance Now mini-series, Des, is of note, since it is grounded in the cold reality of the serial killer. A feat that this story accomplishes by taking us back in time to 1983, so that we can experience one devastating discovery. For one fine day, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay is called out to investigate what might be human remains in a drainpipe. Something Peter is skeptical of, until forensics informs him that the remains in question, do indeed belong to a person and that means… the occupant of the apartment from where this surprise came from needs to be spoken to post haste. 

Which is where this story takes quite the incredible and dark turn. For the introduction of one Dennis ‘Des’ Nilsen brings forth a horrifying truth. In that, Nilsen admits to the fact that he is responsible for those remains being in a drain since he killed the owner of those body parts, and that he’s also killed a great deal of other people over the past five years. An admission that immediately puts Dennis into custody so that Peter can learn more about these crimes. But Des’ strange desire to be honest and open about the fifteen people he’s supposedly murdered, leaves DCI Jay and his team curious as to whether or not he’s telling the truth or if he’s simply a twisted individual that is eager to screw with the police. But forensic evidence that turns in a match for one of the victims, informs Peter that he’s stumbled upon a powerful and intelligent serial killer, one that knows full well that being honest, will give him the greatest gift of all… attention. 

If anything, this is a chilling opening chapter to this particular mini-series and really what makes it so terrifying… is actor David Tennant. For he plays Dennis Nilsen in a manner that quite frankly, sends chills down your spine. For his portrayal of Nilsen is cold and calculated, and devoid of any inkling of humanity. Instead, there is nothing more than a twisted persona that is eager to celebrate its twisted accomplishments by showing them to the world and every single second that Tennant’s Nilsen speaks you are simply captivated by his performance in a morbidly curious way, as you wait to hear what horrific act from the past is nonchalantly going to come out of Des' mouth and well, offering up a fairly accurate re-telling of Nielsen’s admissions from 1983, and having Tennant play it straight is why this particular premiere is so incredibly brilliant through and through.

Because this is an opening chapter that makes it clear that serial killers aren’t kitschy characters designed to spout off one liners and entertain viewers and readers in between their bloodlust. No instead, this serves to remind us that they are soulless monsters that only find solace in horrific acts and attention, and care little for human life and that will be hammered home further in the next couple of episodes. As since, there is a now a writer interested in telling Des’ tale, which will further expose the special brand of evil that only a serial killer can exhibit and of course… the investigation is underway. Which will also unravel the twisted web that Des created to ensnare his victims and truly, this is a journey that is worth continuing, regardless of how ugly it is going to get. All so that we can watch a true monster pay for its crimes and be robbed of the recognition that it so utterly craves. Until next time. 

‘Des’ is available to stream on Sundance Now.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The Mosquito Coast’.
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Thus far, the AppleTV+ series, The Mosquito Coast, has been a masterclass in examining what drives people away from mainstream thinking and into the realm of the conspiracy theories that are currently plaguing our nation. For the first two episodes of this series dug deep into how failure and marginalization and a sense that the system is against a person, can motivate some people to immerse themselves in the theories and illogical line of thinking that so many of us lament. But what the series hasn’t quite done just yet, is show us exactly how a person that has fallen into that mental abyss, draws others into their maddening world. Since that is indeed paramount to properly understanding how to potentially combat this epidemic of misinformation. 

But thankfully, the series is indeed going to take the time to explore that as well and its first foray into such matters, came about during its next episode. For ‘Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere’, established the fact that often times, men like Allie Fox suck others into their wild world… by outright gaining the trust of their inadvertent targets. Which seems like a simple solution to something so incredibly complex, but it is often the simplest answer that makes the most sense. Because when we implicitly trust someone, we follow their lead often and without question, because we believe they can do no wrong. And if by chance they're in our lives during a dark time, and they can promise to lead us through hell and make good on that, we’ll follow them anywhere since security means a great deal to us. 

Which is precisely what Allie does in this tale. For when we catch up with the Fox family here, they’re broken and worried and scared and understandably so. Because they’re in the middle of the desert, with minimal water supply and without a solid plan for survival, they’ll die. Which motivates Allie to spring to action and put together a dangerous plan to get the family to safety and well, the sheer and raw danger of this voyage, allows for Chuy to begin to question the Fox family about their father and his intentions. To the point where there are brief moments where it seems as though the family has actual concerns about their father and his wild ways of thinking, leading one to believe that perhaps this, quite frankly, stupid journey, might finally motivate them to step away from the danger and live a somewhat normal life. A hope that is further enhanced by the fact that this family is brought to its absolute breaking point thanks to a lack of water and food and an injury to Chuy.

Since those elements should make it clear, that the time had finally arrived for them to separate themselves from Allie and his toxic line of thinking and actions. But that’s when the story hammers home how trust does indeed change everything for people that spread lies and misinformation. Because eventually, Allie is able to bring them to salvation, by delivering on his promise to hot wire an emergency migrant beacon to get them aid and safety and well… just like that, the family understands that dad will indeed keep them secure and that he is likely right about everything he says and that makes what should be a happy ending… a heartbreaking one. Because the safety and security he brought them will help them to wipe away any of the doubt that Chuy put into their minds, since now they know to trust Allie at any cost and undoubtedly, that will bring forth more heartbreak and sorrow. 

But while it was indeed fascinating to see how trust solidifies our belief in a person and everything they have to say, this episode also deserves serious credit for taking us upon one harrowing journey. Because this was forty-eight minutes of devastating storytelling. The kind that genuinely saw this family face death in just about every way imaginable. Since they were also able to see how many people didn't complete the journey they embarked upon and really, had it not been for Chuy and Allie’s technical prowess, they would have been added to the nameless litany of the dead peppering the desolate landscape. But all of that aside, this terrifying part of their journey has indeed come to an end and now we will get to see what kind of new life Allie has planned for his family, and if he can in fact… maintain the strange hold he has over them, now that they are away from the environment that has fueled his lies. Until next time.

‘The Mosquito Coast’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Clarice’.
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Thus far, the inaugural season of Clarice on CBS, has focused heavily on the power of trauma and what it takes to pull away from it and it is understandable as to why this has been such a focus for the series. Because not only is this particular direction a brave and bold one to take in an era where mental health issues are still stigmatized, but also because… Clarice Starling and the incredible amount of trauma she’s been through over the course of her fascinating life, makes her ripe for a journey of healing and slowly and steadily, she’s been working on finding internal peace so that she can finally move forward as a true hero of the FBI. 

But while that alone makes this series worthwhile, it also deserves credit for breaking up that journey from time to time with a palate cleansing story. One that allows for us to process what Clarice is going through and to enjoy the core of her story, which is solving incredible crimes with her amazing intuition and empathy and it just so happens, that the next episode in this storied saga, does just that. For ‘Hard Truth’ is a tale that features quite the ugly case for Clarice and the team to solve, one involving the horrific discovery of a dead child. One that the killer took the time to gently place inside of a wall, as if to offer the body care after the horrific act of murder was committed, and the disturbing nature of this crime, pushed the team hard to find the offending party quickly and well, what they found once they started digging was equally as disturbing.

Because eventually, Clarice and Ardelia came to discover that this exact murder happened before and that the victims lived on the same street and that pointed all signs toward the reality that both kids died at the hands of someone they knew and well, that forced the duo to use every ounce of evidence possible to narrow it down to an unlikely family friend. Because it just seemed outright impossible for an elderly widow, named Marybeth, to commit such a crime, especially when it comes to the force that was exerted upon these innocent lives and well, as it turns out… a strange twist involving incest and loneliness and shame, is what motivated the Marybeth’s husband/son, Gerry, to commit this heinous crime. And thankfully, this dynamic duo was able to stop Gerry before he could cause any further harm and justice was indeed brought to fruition at last.

But what’s truly amazing about this particular episode, is that it still managed to work in the conspiracy plot line that’s been hovering heavy over this season arc, by offering up quite the twist. Because while the majority of the team was hunting for a killer, Paul Krendler had to wrestle with the fact that his attorney was the stranger that assaulted Clarice while she was fighting for her life and he had to figure out how to creatively bring Joe down and end this now. But alas, the craftiness of Joe and the evil people that he works with, allowed for him get leverage over Paul. To the point where Krendler shut down the conspiracy investigation, leaving that mess in an uncertain and unwholesome place. One that hopefully the team will quietly go after in the final few weeks of this season. 

In the end however, this was simply… a twisted tale for certain. One that is worthy of the franchise as a whole since Thomas Harris’ dynamic world has always been filled to the brim with taboo cases and villains and Gerry and his mother/wife fit that bill to a tee. Because it doesn’t get more twisted than their sorted and unwholesome affair and kudos to the series for taking the time to break things up with his particularly unsettling plot line, one that really did let Clarice and Ardelia shine in a manner they haven’t yet and hopefully we get more of their combined mental power in the weeks to come. Because it would serve the FBI well to have both of them looking at this conspiracy case from behind the scenes, before Krendler finds himself in too deep with an organization that is eager to wreak havoc on the innocent. Until next time.

Please enjoy a sneak peek of tomorrow’s brand-new episode of The Mosquito Coast, streaming exclusively on AppleTV+.

For the most part, crime dramas follow a very tight formula and structure. One that sees the tension and the stakes raise at a brisk pace so that the audience is engaged in the downfall of the villain and while that is indeed a powerful way to tell a story about the nature of crime, it does get a little stale from time to time. Which is why stories that buck that cliché are worth celebrating regardless of their age, simply because they chose to try something different and that’s precisely why Breaking Bad still deserves our praise. Because every single episode series of this series did its best to offer something new in regard to the crime drama and the next episode in this grand tragedy is no exception to that unspoken rule. Because ‘Más’ is a story that should have been filled with tension and gravity and dread since we all knew it would end with Walter White returning to his role as Heisenberg.

But instead, this was a story filled to the brim with heartbreaking and emotional moments. The kind that focused heavily upon how difficult it is to see important partnerships fall to pieces, especially when we firmly believed that said partner was going to see a particular project or concept to the bitter or wonderful end. And it accomplished these explorations by having a bevy of partnerships in this series fall to pieces in the ugliest manner possible, such Hank and Gomey’s. Because with Hank opting to stick around to solve the Heisenberg case, Gomey felt the time had come to take an opportunity for advancement in El Paso. Which is a move that quite frankly, rattled Hank badly. Because Gomey has always been his sounding board and losing that, left him, in a lost and vulnerable place. One that outright showed once again how small Hank can become when he’s not surrounded by his safety net and this also showed us how much he was hurt by the fact that his best bud did this without talking to him first. 

Which oddly enough, brought about a secondary theme to this particular tale. Specifically how poor communication can also create the dissolution of partnerships. For the lack of communication between Gomey and Hank is partly what led to their unspoken rift at the end of their respective journeys in this tale, for had they spoken to one another about it… perhaps things would have gone smoother and they weren’t the only ones that saw a lack of locution lead to trouble. Because this is a story that saw Skyler and Walter’s partnership as husband and wife come to an end. Something that has been telegraphed for some time, but the reality of it hit Skyler harder than expected. Mainly because Marie pointed out that Skyler more or less shut herself off from Walt and his emotions. Forcing him to deal with this brush with death and the changes in perspective that sent his way... alone, and that was quite the poignant moment to throw out there, since Marie is right. There has been zero communication between Walter and Marie and the end result is a dissolution of marriage. 

But truly, Walt and Jesse's parting of the ways was the most difficult one to watch in this tale. Because they finally reached an understanding in season two. In that, they worked well together and could indeed accomplish anything they put their minds to, and they genuinely became great friends that seemed committed to see this business through to the end. But Walt's decision to waffle again and leave Jesse holding the bag and Jesse's decision to strike out on his own, ended up offending and hurting both men to their core and that of course, motivated them to strike out at one another whenever possible. Which is partly why Walt got back into the business, to teach Jesse a lesson and to remind him of his place and of the opportunity ahead of him if he walked away now and didn’t follow in Walt’s footsteps. Making the end of this partnership perhaps more akin to tough love than anything else. A lesson it would seem Jesse hasn’t quite taken to heart just yet.

In the end however, this really was quite the engrossing and fascinating story. One that truly allowed for the characters to process the journey thus far and to a lesser extent what lies ahead, and this really was brilliant for certain. Because you just don’t see crime dramas offer this kind of depth when it comes to their characters. Nor do they offer up this kind of realism since a lot of what happened here has real world application since we’ve been in positions similar to what some of the characters went through here and all of these elements truly reinforce the fact that it is the characters that sell this story through and through. Because we care about their experiences and their successes and failures and there is still part of us that wants to see Walt walk away and live a normal life and well, sadly that is no longer possible. For he genuinely wants to leave this earth with his family set up for generations and with that incredible new lab awaiting him, he should be able to bring his wishes to fruition, no problem. Regardless of the consequences. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 404 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’.

It is definitely safe to say, that the first three seasons of the Hulu series, The Handmaid’s Tale, have been a masterclass in showing us the horrors that humanity is capable of. Because we’ve been privy to some genuinely harrowing moments, the kind that have left the audience silent and stunned over the nightmares they’ve just seen behind the borders of the all-powerful Republic of Gilead. But while that has made for powerful television through and through, regardless of the emotional beatdown it provides us with, there is one thing that each and every fan of this series has been clamoring for since the show’s inception… the downfall of Gilead. Because seeing that place collapse and burn is the only way we can walk away from this feeling fulfilled in regard to the journey, but even that has been elusive in its own right.

For the series has only flirted with the possibility of giving the audience what they want since June consistently finds herself trapped in Gilead or struggling to find a way to inspire a fight against tyranny. Leaving all of us to wonder when the day will come when we see this series finally take the fight to Gilead and well, it would indeed seem that season four is finally going to bring that to fruition, after the show explains why exactly it has taken so long to get to that point. For the first three episodes of this new season, took the time to show us that revolution is a slow burning process, one that takes time to scrape together and even then… getting it rolling is no easy task since the government that needs to fall is often quite powerful to say the least, and it just so happens, that the next episode in this series, spoke to the fact that revolutionaries need to be mentally ready to fight before the battle in question can begin.

A notion that ‘Milk’ explored, by showing us what that mental process looks like. For some, it comes quickly, as it did for Rita in this tale. For Serena and Fred tried desperately to bring her back into the family fold with a new baby on the way and hearing their old and familiar words and seeing how quickly Serena thought Rita would simply defend her, finally helped Rita to realize that she needed to stand up to them and put them in their place to finally be free and she sure did that in fine and satisfying fashion. Whereas her journey was bookended by Janine’s in this tale, since she helped us to understand how when you’re in the thick of it, suddenly realizing you need to fight is no easy task. Especially when you’ve been mentally and physically abused to your breaking point, which sadly happened to Janine well before the formation of Gilead and well… her actions here speak volumes to the fact that she has a long way to go, as does the fight, and it will take something quite inspiring to finally get so many to achieve Rita's epiphany before they rise up against this awful nation. 

But while that alone could have carried this episode through and through, there was a little more for the audience to chew upon. Because for the first time ever, we finally got to see what the remnant of the United States looks like in this broken land and well… that made for quite the sobering experience. For the city of Chicago, once a shimmering and bustling metropolis, is now nothing more than a skeleton of skyscrapers. One where the fight for the territory appears to be endless and well, the show deserves serious credit for finally getting us far away from Gilead to show us what the world is really like at the frontlines. Since now we know that the fight for freedom is happening in principle here, and that real leadership is lacking at the moment, since the fighters we met just seem interested in doing just enough to survive and it will be quite interesting to see if Chicago is going to become ground zero for the revolution to come or if it too will fall under the pressure that Gilead creates.

If anything, this was simply a quality transitional episode. One that is clearly setting the stage for the future of this season and the fight to come and that’s not a bad thing at all. Because taking the time to explore the difficulties of revolution and how hard it is to commit to bloodshed adds realism to this story and raises the stakes for sure and truly, it does compel one to continue the journey. Because at long last, we’re moving beyond the horrors of the colonies and Gilead itself and being free from that nightmare and in the thick of the fierce fight for freedom, should finally allow for June to find her real purpose in this mess and hopefully she will become the leader of this Chicago resistance and inspire others to fight against the nightmare that is Gilead. So that at long last… this madness can end and those who formed this wicked and hellish nation, can watch it burn to the ground. Until next time.