Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Cruel Summer’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Each and every one of us in this life, search for quite the important person in our travels. Specifically… the person that completes us and fundamentally understands us. Because it isn’t enough to have a family around, we need validation from the universe that there is someone out there who truly sees us in a valuable light and wants nothing more than to see us succeed and will stand with us to make that happen. And that gives us a real sense of security in this life and does indeed lift us up and propels us to new heights and what’s interesting, is that we don’t necessarily find that person through the traditional channel of love and romance. Sometimes… we find it through an absolute best friend. That person we connect with on a deep level and feel complete around.    
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Which is why we encounter so many people that speak to the wonder of their best friend for life and why they rave about them nonstop. Because the BFFL is someone of value and truly helps a person navigate life and while there is much to celebrate about finding our BFFL… there is caution that needs to be exercised when it comes to the search. Because sadly, sometimes loneliness propels us to search for filler over substance and when we meet someone in that vein or someone toxic in nature and also in need of that other half… trouble can come into lives. The kind that can leads to sorrow and heartbreak, or worse, all because we think the connection, we initially share is the one we’ve been looking for. When in fact, it is nothing more than a lesson designed to teach us what we should be searching for instead. If anything, this troubling truth about best friends is top of mind today, because it was put on full display in the next episode of Cruel Summer on Freeform.

For ‘All I Want for Christmas’ took the time to explore the best friend dynamic between Megan and Isabella, which we thought was healthy in nature. Only to learn… it was not. For Megan is someone who has often felt akin to an outlier in this world, despite having friends and people that love her and Isabella… is desperate to be liked and loved and desperate to connect with someone, all because… she has no real connection to reality or her own identity. And that means this duo have connected via a poor foundation. One designed to fulfill immediate needs in a toxic manner, and that brought about some genuinely concerning moments in this tale. The kind that saw Isabella cheat on Luke when an old flame arrived in town and then expect forgiveness and quiet for her actions… under the guise of the power of the best friend.

Not to mention, Megan was so desperate to have the connection she shared with Isabella in her life, that she was the enabler here and let bad stuff slide to keep Isabella around. Giving rise to a toxic best friendship. One designed to offer style over substance and well, seeing what each of them did in this tale to each other under the guise of friendship… does leave one to wonder… if they are as innocent as we initially believed. Because clearly, under the right circumstances, they could cause harm to each other and they are teetering on the brink of doing just that in the Summer of 2000, and well… that level of darkness suddenly raises questions as to whether or not… they harmed Luke together. All in the name of love and loyalty to each other and that really does change the game for this show, especially after that powerhouse reveal at the end.

Wherein we came to learn that Lisa, dear Lisa, the BFFL that Isabella speaks of often, stopped being a bestie for life when her life ended, via an accidental drowning. And of course, since Luke was found in the water… suddenly this duo are not what we thought them to be. They’re capable of some darkness and some ugliness, the kind inspired by their toxic relationship. One they straight up use for absolution when needed and well… all this episode does, is leave us desperate for more of this tale. Because the questions being raised now have us deeply concerned and curious about that fateful day and what led to it and well… all we can do now is impatiently wait for next week’s episode. To see it further expand on a topic we don’t discuss enough, superficially toxic friendships, and to see where that big reveal takes us as we barrel toward the reveal of what happened to poor Luke. Until next time. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Cannes Confidential’. 

Fans of crime stories and mysteries on television, can all agree upon the fact that shows in this vein, follow pretty standard formulas these days. In that, they’re dark, they’re gritty and filmed through a distorted lens to remind us that we’re trapped in an ugly world with intrepid and grizzled, and brilliant detectives. Who see the world for what it is and use their rough experiences to simply keep evil at bay, making them gatekeepers for good of sorts, and they of course… face off against equally as brilliant monsters. Who kill with impunity and joy and are eager to teach the world valuable lessons regarding what’s right and what’s fair and those formulas… do lead to some incredible stories.
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The kind that are indeed powerhouse and epic and keep us tuning in because they raise the stakes and take us on an emotional rollercoaster. But what’s fascinating about formula, is that it tends to engender creativity. For there comes a saturation point where creatives and studios are eager to try something new in order to stand out and/or change the game and it just so happens, that Acorn TV is now home to a show that serves as the anthesis to such formulas. For Cannes Confidential is that rare crime story, that is eager to inject fun into the genre. Which some will of course balk at, but crime shows don’t always have to be so bleak, they can indeed have a little fun, and do more and be more with a little care and a little love, and that’s precisely what this show does.

Courtesy of several key elements, such as the show’s setting. For this is a series that takes us far away from the gritty nature of the big city and is set in Cannes. Which allows for us to enter a bright and vibrant world where crime is dealt with via a tough-as-nails (but very relatable) detective named Camille Delmasse who doesn’t ponder upon the deeper meaning of what she’s dealing with, she just wants the bad guys behind bars and will waste little time in making that happen. Making her quite the force for good, and making her quite the uplifting character, one who is wonderfully counterbalanced by the enigmatic Harry King. A man with all kinds of mystery surrounding him, and he serves as Camille’s foil personality wise. Since he has no qualms operating in the grey to get what he wants and well… their union in this story, allows for some unconventional storytelling to take place in ‘Death of a Jester’.

For it is up to Camille to bring the killer of a well-known artist to justice in this story, and in order to do that… she will indeed need Harry’s help. Since his grey area mentality gets him where he wants to go, and his chipper demeanor and quick mind allows for him to get what he wants and obtain the critical information everyone needs regarding this case, and their powers combined really do lead to quite the unique solution to the case. One that informs us of how well they work together and how much fun this show is going to be. Because Lucie Lucas (Camille) and Jamie Bamber (Harry) play off of each other well, and they lean into the comedy and lean into the vibe of the show and that also allows for this series, to offer up some delightful action and adventure as well. The kind that explores the French countryside and gets our hearts pumping since it is all handled in a quality manner.

If anything, all of these elements, make this a must-watch show. Simply because… it really is refreshing and fun and injects new life into the crime and mystery story. All by offering something for everyone. Because if you like a more traditional/classic crime story… you have that here with the show’s 80s and 90s feel, and if you want a different kind of detective, you’ve got it. Plus, there’s comic relief to be found via Harry and there’s even a love triangle brewing in this story between Harry, Lucie and Lucie’s partner, Lea and best of all… there are some modern elements to be found here too. Such as an overreaching arc involving Lucie’s father and some secrets surrounding Harry as well and that… compels us to continue the journey. To enjoy all the refreshing wonder this series has to offer, and to see where those bigger mysteries are going to take us in the weeks to come. Until next time.

To learn more about Harry King, check out our interview with Actor Jamie Bamber.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Run the World’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere.
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One particular truth about healing from trauma and change that everyone seemingly chooses to ignore, is that it is not a quick process. It takes a lot of time. The length of which, can and will vary from individual to individual since each person heals differently in this life and it requires a bevy of cures if you will. For there is no one path to healing completely. Sometimes we need to forge ahead to heal, sometimes we need to just sit and let emotion wash over us. And we absolutely need support to help us, and therapy and more… because when our lives are upended and we are wounded… there’s so much we need to stitch up and that’s why the STARZ series, Run the World, should be celebrated. Since it has spent season two looking at how we bounce back and heal from tough times in a realistic manner.
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In fact, the next episode in this brilliant saga, ‘Homecoming’, is a story that informed us of other unique aspects regarding the healing process. In that, try as we might to stay on the straight and narrow to heal, sometimes life will throw more trauma and uncomfortable surprises our way and sometimes… we need to ground ourselves when we’re healing and seeing our family can help with that. Since family is always honest with us and surprisingly can help us focus on what’s bothering us and well, Whitney, Renee, and Sondi all came to discover that when Renee explored the first lesson in this story. The one regarding how tough times will find us again when we are healing. Because… her grandmother passed, and that meant heading back to her and Whitney’s hometown of Chicago and well, that also meant, Whitney and Sondi were heading that way too… to support their friend and to find focus and healing through family. 

Which is precisely what Whitney and Renee did. Because being surrounded by family to celebrate a life, prompted Renee to really reflect upon her journey as a whole and ponder upon what matters in life and oddly enough… Jason might be part of that. Since he showed up for emotional support and tried to pay penance both financially and emotionally for his sins, and that left Renee beside herself and wondering if she was letting something special get away. As for Whitney, well… she had to face the music with her parents and their displeasure over the mess with Ola and that was no easy task. Since they LOVED Ola. But eventually she found the focus and the strength to point out that this was over and that she was hurting and needed her family, and they backed off on their love of Ola to be there for her and it was quite amazing to see these two find focus and use the strength of their family life to further heal before our eyes.

Not to mention, even Sondi found value in this trip. Because prior to the call regarding Renee’s nana coming in, she broke up with Matthew and had to explain to Amari that she wasn’t going to be living with her anymore, or around all that much. Which Amari handled in stride and so did Sondi, seemingly. But her somewhat sassy behavior and slightly uppity moments backing Whitney’s parents were a little out of character, and well… that was because she was trying desperately to find some leverage and validation over being shunned by Amari. A truth that was exposed to her by Ray Ray, Renee’s cousin, and it was advice that helped Sondi refocus on her own healing process since she went the wayside. Which really did help her a great deal and informed us that sometimes… extended family can lend a hand as well.

All of which made, for another incredible episode. One that wonderfully explored the many different aspects of healing and how we will stumble regarding the process along the way. But what mattered more is that buried beneath the missteps and struggles, is the sheer fact, that this trio happens to be making great progress when it comes to healing and growing into the person, they each want to be. To the point where Whitney is now understanding the importance of speaking up for herself and taking charge, and where Sondi is learning what it means to grab hold of her own destiny, and Renee… is finally starting to discover what she wants and what boundaries can do and that… outright compels us to continue this journey. So, we can see this trio continue to grow, and continue to heal, so we too can learn from them as they bounce back from some tough times to resume their quest… to run the world. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 702 of ‘Outlander’. To revisit the Season Seven Premiere, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the iconic STARZ series, Outlander, we talked at length about the nature of love. Of how it pushes us to do things we might not normally do in life in both a positive and negative manner. Since love can have a toxic effect upon us, one as strong as the positive effect, and well… the show’s exploration regarding the nature of love is still top of mind a week later, simply because the series is still eager to examine it and dissect it and really work to understand love and its power, as evidenced by this week’s episode. For ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ took the time to explore different dynamics of what love pushes us to do and to further define the ups and downs it entails and it accomplished this feat… shortly after handling some other matters from the past.
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For instance, this episode finally informed us of who exactly killed Malva, and as it turned out… it was her half-brother, Allan. Who, we learned, also felt the need to cross a lot of lines in his relationship with Malva. To the point where he was revealed to be the father of her child and the person that took her life out of jealousy and well, his (gross) actions, and the dangerous breakdown of his psyche that came from the collapse of his family, prompted Ian to end him and put that whole saga to rest at last. Not to mention, this is a story that featured a brief reunion between Lord John Grey and William Ransom and the Fraser family. Which allowed for Brianna to see her half-brother again and brought forth a moment of farewell between John and Jamie, since John desperately wanted Jamie to fight for the crown in the war, and Jamie refused and parted ways… to ensure their good standing would be maintained. 

But while there is one other blast from the past to discuss, we’ll save that for later. For it is indeed love that we are here to discuss, and this is an episode that explored in great detail… how love will motivate a parent to risk everything to save their child and keep them safe, and how part of truly loving someone is letting go and that was examined… by way of a blessing in the Fraser homestead. For little Amanda was born to Brianna and Roger and that did indeed bring good tidings and joy to the household. For little Amanda was lovely and vibrant and the proud parents were over the moon. But alas… the joy didn’t last. For Claire noticed some health issues with Amanda, the kind related to her heart, which could not be fixed in the 1700s, but certainly could through modern medicine in the 20th Century and well… that meant a choice had to be made.

Specifically, either sit and watch little Amanda slowly die from her heart defect, or travel, and find a period in the future where she could easily be healed and enjoy the life she was given in this tale and well, mom and dad decided upon the latter option. So… they made plans to head to Boston and travel into tomorrow and that brought forth some powerful moments for certain. The kind where Jamie and Claire were in essence, forced to say goodbye to their family, their grandchildren even, and that was no easy task. Because they are so close, and have indeed been through hell together, the kind that makes a family bond strong. But love, and the hope for a better tomorrow for their family… prompted this duo to let them go and grieve accordingly, but true love gives us the strength to do so. For we know deep down, love like that… transcends time and is never forgotten.
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Thankfully, Brianna and Roger and their family made it past the threshold and traveled well, since they and the audience were privy to the fascinating sight of a jumbo jet flying through the air, but their journey and their decision really was the second half of the exploration. Because make no mistake about it, this duo and their children risked life and limb to travel through time… out of love. Because there was an incredible joy and bond formed between Brianna and Roger, and little Amanda, and the resolve in their eyes regarding making her well, spoke volumes about how much we will risk in the name of love, in a positive and beautiful manner. One that all of us can relate to in some form or fashion since we’ve either gone the extra mile in the name of the love of our kids or can think of a time our parents did that for us. 

However, while that made for a beautiful episode, there was mention of one more blast from the past in this tale and well… that came about by way of Wendigo Donner. Who in the finale of this tale, broke into the Fraser estate with his mates to grab hold of more gems to travel through time. A moment that made it seem suffering was in the cards for Claire once again. But the scuffle that followed and the sheer ignorance of Wendigo and his idiot friends, brought forth an explosive cliffhanger that should hopefully bring about his long-awaited and long overdue end. But that aside, this episode really did offer up a lot of moving beauty. Courtesy of a wonderful examination regarding love, and some fine writing and fine acting and well… now that we’ve reached the end of this chapter of the journey it is onto the next. One that will undoubtedly feature repairs for the Fraser estate (because there’s no way Jamie and Claire will be devastatingly wounded or lost) and a new chapter for this couple, and adventures untold with their daughter, grandchildren, and son-in-law… far in the future… and let’s hope that features a visit to Disneyland. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘True Crime Story: Look Into My Eyes’. To revisit the premiere, click here. This article also contains discussions regarding suicide, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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When we last settled in to discuss the unsettling and engaging premiere of True Crime Story: Look Into My Eyes, we, like the good people of North Port, Florida… were left with more questions than answers. Simply because, it didn’t make any sense that a dedicated educator would suddenly turn to unproven methods of mental health care to take care of his students, nor did it make any sense that multiple students died as a result of the use of hypnotism. We only knew that this tragedy rocked a community and shattered lives and that so many in that town were searching from the same answers as the audience and well… the only way to begin to understand the root cause of how this could have happened and perhaps how this came to fruition, was to talk to the ringmaster himself, Dr. George Kenney. 
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Whom as it turned out, was willing to speak to the cameras for this documentary and well… what he and other family members had to say in ‘Step Two: Bypass the Critical’ was indeed quite disturbing. Simply because… well… let’s not mince words… there was a real detachment present from the man at the center of this whole controversy. As though he had been caught up in something that he didn’t understand or didn’t really want to be part of, when in fact, this was all his doing. And that was just off putting and disturbing, as was the careful thought that went into his answers. As though there was real effort to say the most neutral thing possible to not be incriminated on camera. But that silence and that attitude and his decisions said a lot, as did his story about he came into hypnotism and what motivated him to implement it. 

Because that spoke to a man that really didn’t have a legacy at that time in his career. Sure, he was respected, sure he was doing a fine job. But he wasn’t standing out from other educators, he wasn’t admired or seen as a maverick of sorts. But the way he lit up talking about hypnotism and how special it was, informed us that he was motivated to take it up, to become the opposite of all that, to be a pioneer in this field. Heck, the man even had compact disc instructional albums for sale on Prime when he was at his apex of hypnosis. And that really did hammer home his need to be seen at any cost and well, that is when this story really took a tragic turn and brought us back to the matter at hand. In that, Dr. Kenney did indeed hypnotize multiple students in his school and the next ones that passed, didn’t die in an accident that could have been potentially related to something else.

No, instead, they took their own lives. In a manner that was as unsettling as the act, since they didn’t even resist their own end, they just… died. And they weren’t kids that showed warning signs or were spiraling into depression. Granted, they had their troubles and sometimes suicide can occur without warning when the person ready to commit it keeps their real emotions and thoughts in check. But that didn’t seem to be the case here, not when their families spoke of vibrancy and hope and thoughts of tomorrow. No… they all interacted with Dr. Kenney, and they all underwent the strange hypnosis routine that others did and then found reason to take their own lives, which was disturbing and left us with a bigger question.

Specifically… what did Kenny really say to them in their sessions. Because such an act implies that inspiration was given to them to do something awful. Which can be countermanded by the fact that one parent sat in on a session and didn’t suspect that. But this man was unqualified to be doing this, especially after we learned that he only took a weeklong certification course for this, and often entertained the crowd with hypnosis early on. But alas, no answers were to be found on that topic. But those will likely come. Since we did finally get answers as to why Kenney did what he did and what motivated him to turn to this. Which was a tragic and sad answer to say the least, one that is undoubtedly going to bring forth more sorrowful moments in the weeks to come regarding this documentary. But we should expect nothing less from a story about a man desperate to be seen, for when that happens in America, sorrow always follows. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘Silo’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One important truth, about the truth, is that no matter how hard people try to repress it, hide it, or turn it into something different… it will always be exposed to those searching for it and the masses at large. For the truth is something that cannot be repressed, hidden, or altered, it is pure, it is powerful and when the day comes that it begins to be exposed, especially in an environment where people try to do those very things to keep it at bay… everything changes. For now… people know what they weren’t supposed to know, and word will begin to spread far and wide and there will be consequences for those that lied, and that is… a scary time for certain.
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Because that will bring forth, the last gasp, if you will, from those in power and those desperate to cling to power. For they will lose what they have, and they will fight dearly to keep it even as it slips away. But what’s fascinating about the truth’s exposure, is that we only see or focus upon that end result. The moment when the truth wins, and the evil is banished because it is hard to quantify what the buildup to change looks like. But thankfully, fiction is there to fill in the blanks and ponder upon the logical progression of how the truth comes forth and how it begins to spread in places where people have tried to suppress it, and it just so happens that the next episode of Silo on Apple TV+, provided us with the genesis point of the truth finally being heard and found for that matter as well, in this particular universe.

A feat that ‘The Getaway’ accomplished by way of two key storylines. One of which involved Acting-Sheriff Billings. Who was beside himself for letting Nichols run off into the night, who did survive by the way, and he wanted nothing more… than to show his worth and bring her in and that brought him to her apartment to look for clues and anything that could lead him to her and that in turn… brought Billings the truth. For he found the Georgia book, and saw his world flip upside down, to the point where he only kept a portion of that book, before destroying the rest. But what mattered more here, was that the truth was exposed and had indeed found its way into the light, and nothing will ever be the same for Billings, and there is a good chance now… he will soon speak the truth, and that was a fascinating genesis point to watch, one complimented nicely by Juliette’s journey.

For her run through the Silo brought her to the most unlikely of places, Sims’ apartment. Wherein she secured his wife and son to use his computer to open the hard drive and look for the truth. A process that was slow and tense and dangerous. Since Bernard and Sims were digging through the network of the Silo to find her connection, and had it not been for kindness from Sims’ wife, Rebecca likely would have been caught. But instead, she snuck out of there and returned to old friends with good connections to finally connect the drive in a safe and secure manner. One where Bernard would never find her and that… allowed for the truth to come to light for everyone in that room. Because she was able to hear George’s final message to her and learn the truth about how he felt and of course, she came to learn something horrifying about the Silo.
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In that, about a century into this miserable existence, someone went out to clean and fired back stunning video footage. The kind that showed an Earth that wasn’t devastated and was instead, mired in beauty and wonder, just like the Georgia book showcased and well… that proved that Allison was right, that the people of the Silo were being fed a lie when it came to how the outside world looked and that truth… was now in front of Juliette and her friends and all it took to get there, was an act of kindness and outright perseverance to finally uncover it and well… it won’t be long now before the truth begins to spread through the Silo. Making Sims and Bernard’s jobs quite difficult going forward since it will spread like a virus and poison belief in the Pact and that process will be as fascinating to watch as the subtle genesis that took place here.

Not to mention, Juliette has now been tasked with uncovering another truth, one involving a secret doorway beneath the waves at the bottom of the Silo, and that too should lead to some incredible moments when the first chapter of this incredible story wraps up next week. But before we get there, we can celebrate one amazing story. One that kept us on the edge of our seats and also informed us of how savvy and dialed in Bernard is, since he did know a great deal about everyone in the Silo and it informed us that evil may not have as tight a hold on this place as we originally thought, since Camille Sims was willing to let public enemy number one go and well… all of these elements will undoubtedly have us counting down the minutes to next week’s season finale. So, we can finally see what truth will do for humanity and what evil’s last gasp might look like when ten thousand people rise up against it. Until next time.

Please enjoy a sneak peek of the Series Premiere of Cannes Confidential, which will make its debut on Acorn TV on Monday, 6/26/23.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’. To revisit the Season Two Premiere, click here.
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With Una’s trial underway there are many key things to take into account when it comes to the Federation’s justice system. The charges against Una seem assigning, the cards are stacked against her, and her own lawyer currently works for Starfleet. Starfleet is very firm in its rules, especially when it comes to Genetically Modified people. Starfleet views it as an unfair advantage of sorts, and a reminder of a dark past. Yet, Una, like many Illyrians, was genetically modified before she was even born.

This brings about an interesting topic. As the show comments, there was the Eugenics War, where people who were genetically modified were discriminated against heavily afterwards. An interesting ideology, that would definitely happen too. The idea of genetically modifying humans is not a new concept or discussion. Star Trek, however, does a great job of showcasing the human response to such an idea. For many, the idea of purposefully and knowingly altering the DNA of an unborn child is unheard of. Even seen as taboo in many ways. Others, however, see it as the next step in evolution, eliminating many genetic deformations and diseases. 

Obviously, in the show, those with genetically modified DNA are disease resistant, and have advantages others wouldn’t. The concept however, it still poignant. Would those who were genetically modified really be discriminated against to such a level that they’d have to live in different cities? Absolutely. We’ve already lived through segregation within our own nation.

​Star Trek has always done an amazing job of calling out points in human history that were, and in some cases, still are, major issues. Discrimination is nothing new, as Una’s amazing Lawyer and friend pointed out. People have been discriminated against for what they look like, how they worship, who they love, and so much more. 

While the happy ending is that Una gets all charges dropped against her and gets to go back to her job, the reality is that very little was done to end the law that prohibits other genetically modified people from joining Starfleet. While the idea of ‘baby steps’ and ‘every little bit forward’ is wonderful, it’s also a stark reminder that change does not ever happen quickly. The topic at hand is still a brittle one with opposing forces continuing to fight on either side. It’s a political dance that transcended all of space and time and it seems to be an inherent flaw in the system.

Star Trek’s commentary on just how slow things change is not the only one it made, however. The show also pointed out the hypocrisy of those that enforce the laws. No different than what we’re currently facing. It’s a wonderful look into the modern times, as Pop Culture reflects real life. We can only be so lucky to have more Una’s and Pikes speaking up and out. The good fights are never over and while the battles are long and slow, true justice always wins out in the end.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Based on a True Story’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Starting a podcast, should be quite the joyous and celebratory event. Simply because, the person or persons getting ready to launch one are about to embark on a special journey. One where they get to focus upon something they are passionate about with the rest of world and share their expertise with the masses. And thanks to our feverish consumption of the podcast, with the right structure and marketing, they can turn this into a career change and head into a new chapter of their life where day in and day out, they follow their passion and live their dream and well… how does one not get excited about that?  Well for some, there’s a lot to lament.
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After all, there is an investment in gear, and they may not feel comfortable with marketing or assembly of a show and that could bring forth overwhelming collaboration. Or in some cases, different views and battling egos can make the launch of a podcast an outright nightmare. To the point where second thoughts might come into play, or… in the case of Nathan and Ava Bartlett in the Peacock series, Based on a True Story, starting a podcast with a man that has happily admitted to being a serial killer could lead down an impossible path. One where the killer’s story is either told or buried with those that refuse to speak for them, regardless of their concerns. Which is precisely the struggle that this duo went through in ‘Who’s Next’. 

Because we came to learn that Matt didn’t want to cause Ava physical harm, and the same went for Nathan. No instead, Matt just wanted more leverage over this couple and used his skillset to point out the flaws in their current recording setup to get them to trust him and well… once they agreed to finally record on his terms… did Matt really go for broke. Because he didn’t like any of the edits that this couple made, nor did he like how the narrative was playing out. So, he made his own cut and his own changes and presented them to the couple as suggestive changes… until they pushed back on several elements, and that’s when this couple began to regret every single decision they had made up to this point. Because Matt wanted it his way and if not… well… everyone put two and two together regarding that.

Which put the two of them in a dark place, where dreams were impacted with worry and where Nathan found himself in the midst of a deep moral conundrum. For they made a deal with the devil really, one that would cost them everything if they didn’t complete it and well, that meant selling their souls completely to keep their lives, and Nathan wasn’t sure if he could do that. But when the chips were down, and the chance was there to turn his back on Matt and just turn him into the cops… he instead opted to just roll with it. As though the ends would justify the pain and well, just like that… the podcast dropped to numbers that we were left dying to know, thanks to a juicy cliffhanger in this tale. 
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But what mattered more, was that consequences came into play for this rash decision on Nathan and Ava’s part. Because that allowed for this episode to go deeper. For this is at its core, a satire and examination of our obsession with fame and with pop-culture and podcasts, and how so many want to be the next big thing and will do whatever it takes to be that… when in fact, they shouldn’t. They should… do the opposite of what we saw here and surround themselves with the right people and take feedback and not let ego and drive come into play or a tamer version of this kind of conflict happens as do those doubts, and that was brilliant commentary on the podcast zeitgeist, one that might however… prove to be moot in this moment.

After all, the look on their faces indicated something big had indeed happened with the podcast, and well… having the Westside Ripper on it would indeed lead to big download numbers, and that kind of shock. Which means, this lesson would be applied the long way round… and that too should lead to amazing commentary. But in the here and the now, we can celebrate another fascinating chapter in this tale. One that really spoke to the dangers of going for broke with a risky idea, in a wild and hilarious manner of course, and it also spoke well to how hard it can be to find compromise in creativity when fame really is the endgame over the product and well, it will be interesting to see just how viral this podcast went and what success will do to everyone as this story continues along. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Premiere of ‘True Crime Story: Look Into My Eyes’. This article also contains discussions about suicide, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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It is definitely safe to say that when it comes to certain institutions in our world, we trust the people that make them up implicitly, and rightfully so. For these are the folks that are tasked with difficult jobs, the kind that require a special touch and a special temperament and if someone has come into that field, we really don’t question them. We think they are ready to take on the challenge and are trained and set up for success because of what the institution stands for. So, we give them our faith and more often than not, that pays off. For the people that protect our streets or are tasked with our faith, and the care and education of our children… do their best to uphold their duties and our trust and make those institutions proud.
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Granted, there are outliers, bad teachers, cops that aren’t qualified and such, but those are usually blips that are forgotten. But in the past few years, our faith in our institutions have been rocked to their core. Since we’ve seen peace officers commit crimes on livestreams, learned that there are men of the cloth that have committed some terrible acts throughout the years and even the educators we trust implicitly have betrayed our trust in them, and well… that has left us beside ourselves and confused. Since we don’t understand how this all could have happened or what needs to be done to fix it. But in order to fix the problem, we first need to understand the root cause of the problem, and that requires… looking at the big picture and understanding all sides of the matter at hand and that is why shows like True Crime Story on Sundance TV are critical to such matters, since this is a show that does indeed examine every aspect of atrocities that happen in our world.

In fact, for its new season, Look Into My Eyes, the show opted to focus upon a strange series of events that took place a little over a decade ago in the city of North Port, Florida, at its high school no less. For over the course of a few months several students died without warning. One of them, passed away in a tragic accident, while others… simply took their own lives. Which rocked this community to its core and left them wondering how this could have happened when there was no rhyme or reason to it. Until there was. For ‘Step One: Absorb Attention’ informed us that there was a common denominator amongst the teenagers that died. In that, they had unique contact with their principal, a Dr. George Kenney. Who used hypnosis to help them all in academics or athletics. Making this a documentary about the unique failure of an individual in an institution and well… that made for a fascinating opening chapter regarding this matter.

One that truly did opt to take us back to the beginning to understand what caused this, and yes, part of it was in fact, Dr. Kenney. Who found himself obsessed with hypnosis at that point in his career and believed it would offer great benefits to others. So, he practiced it at school and in his personal life with conviction and confidence. The kind that allowed for people to trust him and not question his methods, and there were students that believed he was also just trying to do right in this world and heal people as best he could. But the death of those teens, changed everything, and divided this town and well… it became evident here that the root cause period of this mess, was giving leeway to a man and a method of healing that wasn’t certified for anyone to use, and it might have been abused and might have influenced these teenagers in the wrong manner, leading to their death, regardless of good intentions.

All of which brought forth an engaging watch for certain, one that put the viewer on the edge of their seat with curiosity and horror. Because how on earth would a man that dedicated his life to educating youth be okay with using something so experimental? Something that has never been certified as the right way to provide care to anyone really? But those are questions for later on down the line. Since this episode… was to establish that this was a crime involving a failure in the institution once again, one that tore a community apart and that the root cause in its most literal sense, was poor decision making and a lack of accountability through trust. But of course, we really do need more to understand the whole picture and how to prevent this happening again, and it won’t be long before we receive that grander view. For the next episode of this show promises to explore the why and our other questions, by having Dr. Kenney speak, and it will be fascinating and unsettling to hear what he has to say, as this exploration into one incredible failure of trust, continues along. Until next time.