Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 208 of ‘Central Park’.

When we are young and enjoying all that the world has offer, the thought of standing still is nothing short of terrifying. For the whole world is our oyster and we can see any part of it that we so wish and well, that’s a mantra that quickly changes when one settles down and has a family. Because then it’s all about putting down roots and creating a stable environment for the little one or little ones so they can grow and eventually head out into the world and see it through fresh eyes before they settle down, allowing for the family cycle to start anew. But what’s fascinating about this process is that it isn’t always so black and white and so simple.
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Because sometimes, economic downturn ruins those root related plans since the money dries up and families have to figure out where else to go to find stability and sometimes… a parent’s career choice can keep their kids moving around constantly. Which means that true stability is up to the family to create when fate and life threatens to upend a current situation and since Central Park on AppleTV is keen on exploring the corners of life that other shows tend not to, the folks behind the scenes decided its next episode would serve as the perfect opportunity to explore how a family finds stability when their current situation is turned upside down and how they process a potential move.

A feat that ‘Sir Bricks-A-Lot’ accomplished, by having Owen deal with quite the conundrum. For the folks that built Central Park in the first place were so happy with his work that they offered him a shot at quite the cushy gig. One where he and the family would move to the grounds of a fancy university so that Owen could design a new park for this facility and of course, curate it with the same care that he curates Manhattan’s biggest park and well, that really did leave Owen beside himself. For it truly was an amazing opportunity, one that he needed to ponder upon with his family and what better way to sort out a big decision… then by playing with Legos and using them to work it all out.

Which is what brought about the grand exploration of how a family processes, seeing their stability upended and in this instance, the Tillerman family tried their best to look upon the bright side by envisioning through Legos, how their lives could improve with such a move. For Molly, being this close to a university meant she could take a Good Will Hunting path toward becoming a famous and wonderful artist and Paige believed that she would use the time up there to write the next great detective series, before having her own Misery like experience and of course, Cole saw this as the moment when he would finally have the freedom to make space travel and alien encounters a reality. But while it was fun to play ‘what if?’ with the family, what matters more here, is the underlying message.
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Because it speaks to the fact that unity and hope are the keys to processing a big move. Since the family used that to help them understand that while their favorite things about Central Park would be gone, they’d have each other and the love and support this family supplies one another with on a regular basis, and that would in turn, create the stability they need and help them to get along just fine. But the good news is that in the end, they wouldn’t need to draw upon those emotions after all. Because Owen decided that while the offer was amazing and while his family would be fine, being so connected to New York City and a park with so much history… meant staying put was the far better option. 

In the end however, this was just a sweet and beautifully intimate story. One that really gave us our best look to date at the Tillerman family and how they work and well, it turns out they’re an outright model family. For they embody the finest ideals of family life and their love and support of one another is unrivaled on television right now and to top it all off, this show once again managed to examine a corner of life we don’t think about all that often. Because upping and moving one’s family can be a huge deal and have an incredible impact on everyone, and it was nice to see this series address something so important to a family dynamic. If anything, the only real downside to this episode, is that it signals a bit of a hiatus for the show. For the back half of season two is going to air later this year. Which means we will have to wait with bated breath to see what positive things come out of Owen’s decision to stay, but it is a wait that will certainly be worth it. For this series is simply phenomenal and will undoubtedly wow us when it returns to the airwaves. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Ted Lasso’.

Second chances are genuinely rare in life, and it makes sense as to why. After all, we live in a culture where mistakes aren't tolerated in the slightest, and the greater the error, the greater the chance that we can't recover from them. Second chances are also rare because we tend to not forgive wanton disrespect that is directed at us because we know our worth, understand our boundaries, and we collectively know that when someone feels the need to cross that line, that we are better off without them in our lives. Those key elements make "the second chance" almost impossible to earn. But second chances can happen, provided, of course, that the person wanting redemption is genuine in their quest to attain it --and if those wronged are willing to grant it-- and it just so happens that earning second chances is explored in great detail in the next episode of Ted Lasso.

The episode ‘Lavender’ starts it's exploration of second chances by reuniting us with Mister Jamie Tartt. Jamie, if you recall in the last episode, was living it up on reality television as a heartthrob on a dating show, and well, when we catch up with Jamie here, things aren't going all that well for him. Not only does Jamie get kicked off the show post haste, but because he took the time to skip out on the new soccer season to do this show, repercussions came into play. Manchester City cut Jamie without giving him a second thought, and that left Jamie beside himself. Now Jamie was without the sport he loves and without much of a future, really, and that motivated him to look inward and ponder his actions and their consequences for perhaps the first time ever. That self-awareness and desire to set things right served as the first lesson for the audience regarding this week's redemption theme.

Jamie's actions took the time to teach us that we can't move forward without understanding where we've been, and once Jamie hit that particular point, he made an attempt to earn his second chance by apologizing to Ted, Keeley, and everyone that he wronged during his time at AFC Richmond. Jamie did this, in part, because he wanted a second chance at football, and he firmly believed that this was the club to do it with— not only because the team was struggling, but also because he was genuinely remorseful and ready to change his behavior and attitude to garner an opportunity to play the sport he loves. Ted, faced with the prospect of having an ace on his team once again, and seeing that Jamie had indeed reformed himself, understood that putting others ahead of himself in this sport was the key to genuine success and that actions have consequences, combined with his kind heart and good nature, motivated Ted to give Jamie a second chance at last.

Ted's decision might not go over well with the team because Sam Obisanya, who was quickly becoming the face of the franchise, objected to Jamie's return—to the point where he even had a powerful heart-to-heart conversation with Coach Lasso. Jamie was, in fact, terrible to Sam during their time together on the team and being free of that kind of bullying and being able to grow as a player without Jamie's shadow was important to Sam. Sam's objections here, and Ted's eventual decision to not abide by them, speaks volumes to how difficult a second chance can be to earn. Sam's concerns speak to how hard it is to forgive and trust again when we've been wronged, and that our reasons for being wary are likely justified because the person we cut out and refused to trust again crossed all kinds of lines at some point. It will be quite interesting to see where this twist takes us —and kudos to the series for adding this particularly realistic complication into the overall story— because it offers a genuine sense of realism and something more for Jamie to overcome.

Yet, while it was fascinating to explore the nature of the second chance, this episode had other elements it was eager to examine, such as following up on Roy Kent's new life without football. When we left Roy in the last episode, he was still trying to figure out what comes next for him now that he's left the sport. Keeley was able to recognize that while Roy's body had clearly told him the time had come to stop playing, his mind was still with football through and through. This is why Keely suggested that Roy take a job with Sky Sports and play the role of the pundit— so he could offer up his vast knowledge to the masses and be around the sport. It turns out that Keely's suggestion was worthwhile after all, for Roy found new life by being able to talk about soccer as only he can. Seeing the joy in his eyes and the gratitude that he has for Keeley really did allow for a feel-good segment to come to life— one that was supremely hopeful in nature because it reminds us that life goes on and offers us new opportunities when we reach a new chapter that might scare us, and that when you're surrounded by people that genuinely love and support you, you can achieve anything.
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In the end, this was another flawless episode from a downright flawless series. This episode did everything right storytelling wise: It offered up a compelling exploration on a topic that we don't think about that often but it is supremely important to everyday life, especially for those of us with unfinished business in our hearts. Additionally, it let the characters grow in dynamic and powerful ways because there was a time where self-awareness and understanding just didn't seem to be in the cards for Jamie Tartt. But most important of all, this episode set the stage for some fascinating moments down the line. There is going to be some measure of conflict around Jamie's return, whether Coach Lasso likes it or not, and it will be up to Ted to own this bold decision and figure out how to use it to unify a team that's desperate to find success. Until next time!    ​

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Leverage: Redemption’.
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Often times in storytelling, tales that revolve around redemption… follow some fairly specific formulas. Wherein a good soul either makes a devastating, life-changing mistake or is brought to their knees by the cruelty of their fellow man. Which in turn motivates them to find redemption by righting their wrong or by proving to those that caused them harm, that they are indeed worthy and better than the slimeball that made a negative impact upon their life and well… these are formulas that stick around because they are genuinely impactful. For they help to remind us to be better than we were yesterday and to never let others push us around. But while these plot lines definitely make audiences feel good on a consistent basis, their lack of diversity is in fact, problematic.

Because redemption extends beyond folks that we can consider to be a victim of circumstance or their shortsightedness. For there are people out there, specifically the ones that cause circumstance on their own… that sometimes realize they are on the wrong side of history and need to redeem themselves and their actions in order to sleep better at night and those are stories we should hear and celebrate and that is precisely why the next episode of Leverage: Redemption is of note. For ‘The Tower Job’ revolves around a ‘villain’s’ quest for redemption in a surprising manner. By initially making it seem as though, we were going to be treated to just another revenge job by the Leverage team. Because Harry Wilson stumbles upon a small protest in the opening moments of this tale, one revolving around the death of construction workers thanks to the negligence of a developer named Jason Crawley and well… that’s a solid reason to get the team involved. But it didn’t take long for us to realize, that this case really resonated with Harry for reasons beyond simply righting a wrong.

Mainly because, when that negligence came to light a few years ago, Harry was the lawyer that got Jason off scot-free and being reminded of that fact and coming to learn that Jason was once again building in the Big Easy, elicited quite the fire in Harry’s belly. One that motivated him to convince the team to take on this case and make Jason pay and well, that in turn led to quite the redemption story. One that genuinely made it clear that Harry isn’t right mentally or emotionally over what he did back in the day and that he is desperate to redeem himself and his actions, and he will go to any length to obtain that sense of peace and well, that quest brought about some incredible challenges for Mister Wilson. Because unfortunately, Harry’s desire to find peace, meant he often made some serious mistakes on this con, the kind that almost jeopardized the mission. 

Which meant that he had to learn on the fly, that redemption doesn’t come overnight and that if he wants to do it right, he needs to exercise patience with himself and the situation. So that he can remain objective in obtaining it and once he did, oh boy did Jason pay. But while that alone was quite fascinating to watch, the other lessons this episode offered up in regard to redemption, is what really allowed for it to shine. Simply because the story also took the time to point out that redemption goes beyond simply doing good for others and righting wrongs. It also involves making peace with one’s actions and mistakes and learning that you can grow and change and be a genuinely better person in the long term, and this was handled in a beautiful and intimate manner and that makes this quite the brilliant tale when all is said and done.

Simply because that’s the kind of depth you find in dramas, not a kickass crime thriller filled to the brim with dynamic characters. But as if often the case with Dean Devlin shows, this is another one that is eager to buck the norms and leave tropes behind and boy did it accomplish that in spades. Plus, we were treated to some wonderful character growth and some supremely moving moments, since Eliot’s brief lesson to Harry really was quite powerful in nature, since it gave us so much insight into Mister Spencer and what drives him. But most important of all, this episode was a ton of fun. Because the final fight sequence where Brianna was able to watch Eliot do his thing was ridiculously hilarious, and you can never go wrong with a show that finds a way to inject Klingon into its storylines and well, in the end, it will be quite interesting to see how Harry Wilson applies the lessons he learned here in the weeks to come, as the Leverage team continues their good fight to make things right in the world. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The North Water’.
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Thus far, our journey through the AMC+ series, The North Water, has offered up some fascinating explorations in regard to the human condition. For we’ve come to learn exactly why men do the evil that they do and how indulging in such dark acts can put a person down a terrifying path for certain. Plus, our doomed voyage into the arctic has also been able to teach us how desperate men will become when they yearn for redemption since Patrick Sumner is literally risking life and limb in the hopes of putting his soul back together. But while it has been fascinating to explore those particular aspects of our humanity, it was only a matter of time before this series opted to abandon those explorations in favor of something far darker. 

For as mentioned before, this expedition is indeed doomed thanks to Captain Brownlee’s order to scuttle the boat in the cold waters of the north so that a grandiose insurance payout can befell him and his select crew members involved in this fraud and well, it just so happens that the plan was put into motion in the next episode of this harrowing tale. For ‘Homo Homini Lupus’ saw the crew nearing their destination in the deep arctic and that meant, once the right spot was discovered, the Volunteer was going to be sent packing into the frosty depths of Davy Jones’ locker and for a moment there… it seemed as though the plan was going to go off without a hitch, but a surprise from Henry Drax and the plan itself… changed that, and moved the story into some incredibly dark territory.

Because Sumner once again wanted to press the matter involving the late cabin boy so that an innocent man would not die and that motivated the captain to allow Sumner to physically inspect Henry Drax’s body to look for clues as to his potential involvement in the murder and at first, it seemed as though this was a waste of time. For Drax was in fine shape, and none the corresponding evidence was present on his body. But the discovery of a nasty injury on his arm, one that revealed the tooth of the dead lad was embedded beneath his skin, not only revealed Drax to be the killer… but it brought about serious trouble. For rather than be taken below and put in cuffs, he lashed out and cracked open the captain’s skull… eventually killing him and that left the crew beside themselves, and it left the plan in tatters.

For now, First Mate Cavendish had to solidify his new role as captain and figure out how to execute the plan in a hasty manner and well… that led to disaster. For while he was able to get the ship into the ice to make it appear as though the Volunteer ‘accidentally’ hit an iceberg, allowing for him to give the order to abandon ship to the Hastings, the damage was minimal and that forced him to keep a contingent behind to sell that he did everything within his power to save the ship… when in fact he sunk her and sadly… this delay to get everyone moving, brought forth great harm. For a storm moved in, beating up the camp that was host to Cavendish and Drax and Sumner and the storm was so bad… that it wiped out the Hastings with a loss of all hands. Which meant, that a horrific fate awaits these men. One where food and shelter will quickly become a luxury and where warmth will be desired and well, that’s a heck of way to end this tale.

Because it signals quite the shift storytelling wise, one where explorations of the human condition will be set aside to instead examine our savagery and our draw to survival. For it will take drastic measures for these men to make it through the winter, if they do, and if the elements don’t get them… there is a fair chance that a crazed and hungry Henry Drax will. But while we wait to see where this story takes us next, we can bask in the wonder of an intense and harrowing tale. One that really did drag our spirits down as we watched everything unravel in a matter of minutes. But that certainly won’t stop us from tuning in next week. For we are vested in this journey now and doomed or no, we simply have to see how it ends and if by chance… there is a way that Patrick Sumner can redeem himself in the midst of his darkest hour. Until next time.  
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As an added bonus, here is a clip of this week's episode for you to enjoy!

​Please enjoy a sneak peek of tomorrow’s brand-new episode of Ted Lasso, streaming exclusively on AppleTV+.

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Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the 2019 HBO series, ‘Watchmen’.

In the comic book realm, Watchmen (DC Comics; 1986) is a God among men! Changing the landscape forever, it’s been described as: “The moment comic books grew up,” (Nicholas Barber; BBC). It’s no wonder considering its undertones of misogyny, racism, and xenophobia, mixed with blatant violence, sex and destruction. *KAPOW* LOL!! It’s also no secret that writer/creator Allen Moore, having developed a strong aversion to his own masterpiece after a tumultuous relationship with DC Comics, has washed his hands of the entire thing and expressed that it not be adapted going forward, no matter the format. Despite this fact, Warner Bros. and DC Comics, have continued to give the chronicle life with a feature film and prequel and sequel comic stories respectively. But what really blew up the genre for old and new generations alike is the television series created by Damon Lindelof (Lost; The Leftovers) which ran for nine episodes on HBO in 2019. Aside from being chock-full of homages and Easter Eggs (YES!!), unlike the preceding follow-ups, Damon’s story takes place in modern times (YAY!!). With this in mind, I’d like to discuss four things that improve on the original works by making the entire ‘verse even more complex, timely and enjoyable than it already was. So, before you can say: “Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon,” (*WINK*)… beginning with new characters, let’s dive in shall we?

Jumping 33 years to 2019 means Lindelof couldn’t just pick up where the original saga ended back in 1986. So, bringing things to modern light meant introducing new characters for us to pour over with nerdy delight! Chief among them – Regina King’s Angela Abar (AKA: Sister Night). Donned in one hell of a superhero-like costume, King’s all black attire brings all the vigilante vibes one could ask for. Not to mention, as the lead role, she’s a wife, mother, police officer and an all-around take no sh@#, bad ass!! HECK YEAH! And, as if seeing a black female lead in a highly anticipated television series tied to one of the greatest comics of all time isn’t enough (OMG!!), following her journey from start to finish is pure joy! King – winning a Primetime Emmy, Critics Choice and multiple other awards and nominations for the role – knocks this one out of the park folks! But she’s not the only newbie.

We also meet fellow officer Wade Tillman (AKA: Looking Glass) AND his mesmerizing liquid chrome mask which is beyond cool!! Played by Tim Blake Nelson, he brings an extra… well… Tim (LOL!) to the role that only he can. There’s also a few side characters that add some countless WTF moments such as Tom Mison and Sara Vickers as Mr. Phillips and Ms. Crookshanks. These two are spectacular over and over and over again (*WINK*)… LOL! Plus, there’s a mystery vigilante known only as Lube Man and his counterpart Agent Petey (Dustin Ingram). Who – courtesy of HBO and the show’s team of writers – comes complete with his own very detailed Peteypedia of files providing extra background to the series for the fan who really likes a deep-dive. AWESOME!! These files serve as the: “equivalent of additional materials” found in the original works and are full of details on virtually every aspect and character of the show. VERY COOL!! Next, there’s Lady Trieu portrayed by Hong Chau. An odd, yet charismatic billionaire who becomes central to the plot by the end. Sound familiar?? I’d also like to give a special shout out to Will Reeves played by Louis Gossett Jr, O.B Williams portrayed by Steven G. Norfleet and the character Hooded Justice from the mini-series inside the show brought to life by Cheyenne Jackson. All of which end up being fantastic pieces of cloth in one tightly woven tale!! And let’s not forget the other officers Andrew Howard as Red Scare and Jessica Camacho as Pirate Jenny. Or even the rest of the force who like our individualized masked crew – due to an attack on their brethren – wear force wide issued identical yellow masks to hide their identity. This gives the entire squad a cool yet very different Watchmen vibe never seen before. It also sparks feelings of Moore’s original message: “Who watches the Watchmen,” translated from the Latin phrase: “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes,” coined by the Roman poet Juvenal. Heck… just mixing this look with law and order is a twist all its own since the source material draws a clear line between the police and masked vigilantes particularly with the Keene Act. Which brings me to number 3 and our first original character – FBI Agent Laurie Blake (Jean Smart).

Doing a double, if not triple take on Laurie Blake, I was excited to see Jean (Fargo; Legion) embrace this role. But, I was initially shocked to learn the character not only changed her last name to match her father’s (Eddie Blake/The Comedian) but that she also leads the FBI’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force enforcing the Keene Act she was once arrested for violating. WOW… times have certainly changed for Silk Spectre II, eh!! It didn’t make sense at first. Yet, as the story plays out, Jean’s acting chops are on full display with Laurie’s mix of longing for what was while powerfully dealing with what is. Plus, Peteypedia gives even more insight to this complicated character. Whether you take the deep-dive or not, in the series,  you can actually feel her plight! That of the aging superstar desperate to find some resemblance of who she was and where the love of her life – Dr. Manhattan – has gone. Can you even imagine?!? All of which is perfectly blended with her contempt for all that’s come to pass at the insanely narcissistic hands of my favorite Watchmen alum – Adrian Veidt – played expertly by Jeremy Irons!!
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I never really envisioned Veidt in his later years. You? He’s virtually immortal in the pages of Moore’s Watchmen. And further, for his part of the prequel series, Before Watchmen: Ozymandias (Len Wein; 2013), which I cover in meticulous detail here, we see a young Veidt and his mega ego grow into the monster slowly laid bare in the source material. But older? Never! Even so, Irons is fantastic as we watch Veidt struggle in his eccentricities. Keeping with the themes depicted in the original works, and similar to Lady Trieu noted above, Lindelof makes Veidt a central player to the overall narrative but keeps him on the side sprinkling bits throughout. It’s confusing and bulky, but well worth the journey. And just like the blue Doctor himself, the biggest reveals come towards the end of the series. For that reason alone, I will say nothing of Dr. Manhattan or who plays him (for those still not in the know) except that all of his narrative, along with the entire series, is so well pieced together that you might need a second watch just to pick up on its intricacies. NICE!! Not to mention, like Regina King, the actor who portrays Dr. Manhattan also won a Primetime Emmy amongst other wins and noms for the role. And boy does he earn them!! Further, as the comic focuses on mans’ own self-destruction via nuclear war, Damon finds a whole new ticking time bomb to grab our attention – racism!

On the extinction note, Moore’s creation is explicitly about our own self-created demise. This is displayed over and over in the main storyline and in the layered text and tales folded within. In short, the lesson is never truly learned until it’s too late. Lindelof runs with this idea in epic fashion weaving a tale of excess on all fronts. Side note. With my fondness for Ozymandias, I particularly love his cocky, self-important excess in this series. Adrian – Mr. Smarty Pants (LOL!!) – always thinks he has the answer and it’s glorious to see it all unfold. Ok, back to the well-timed message… LOL!! 
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Opening the series with the real-life 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Lindelof sets the stage for subsequent episodes to be steeped in commentary and examinations on racism. He uses this event for a few reasons which we’ll get to shortly. But first, a small WTF history lesson.

Virtually scrubbed from our Nation’s past for decades, the most affluent and prestigious black owned area in the country, known as the Greenwood District (AKA: Black Wall Street), was completely destroyed by white attacks on May 31st and June 1st, 1921. Dubbed by the Oklahoma Historical Society as: “The single worst incident of racial violence in American History,” the details are horrific. An area of 35 city blocks were destroyed in less than 24 hours leaving many homeless, destitute or dead. WTF!! And because racial segregation and the Oklahoma branch of the KKK only grew in the years to follow, virtually no consequences were had and Black Wall Street never recovered. **Insert disgusted and frightened look here!!**

I myself, knew little of the depth of this event. And it’s crazy how many posts there were across all social media platforms from people of all races knowing absolutely nothing about it having been introduced for the first time via Watchmen’s opening sequence. Including people living in Tulsa. WOW!! Additionally, Google searches surged on the topic during and after the premiere well into the next morning. Not to mention, the details are beyond shocking!! Especially when you learn the whole thing started from escalated rumors of an elevator encounter between a black teenager (Dick Rowland) and the white elevator operator (Sarah Page). SMDH!!

Lindelof, previously declining twice to adapt the show, now catapulting 30+ years into the future, asked himself: “What is creating the most anxiety in America right now?” He settled on the obvious choice of race. Then, moving away from Moore’s Cold War themes yet staying on point with the Oklahoman history where the Keene Act was written, Damon seized on the source material AND historical truths to tell one hell of a comic tale. HOLY COW, THAT’S AMAZING!! Carrying racial themes throughout, the series deals with issues of reparations given to Oklahoman Massacre Descendants, incidents of racism felt towards King’s character, and, in true Watchmen fashion, occurrences of discrimination folded into the stories within the story. An apt message indeed!! EXCELLENT!! He also wanted to show that: “Superheroes cannot defeat racism,” as he smacks the would be fan awake with shocking imagery throughout the series leading me to the biggest and most fitting tale of excess – Rorschach’s Journal!!

Do you love Rorschach (AKA: Walter Kovacs)? I do! And honestly, despite his rude and discriminative demeanor, I always have. Particularly after he was brought to life by Jackie Earle Haley in the 2009 film. But is he a hero? The reviews are certainly mixed on this. Some say he’s the “moral center” of Moore’s work. On the surface, I once believed this, but after looking more deeply at the character, how he’s portrayed, and just exactly what Moore was trying to achieve, I see things very differently now. Because overall, though Rorschach is a tortured soul, he’s as far from center as it gets. And Though Veidt’s monstrous plight might give him a run (LOL!!), morally Mr. Kovacs is by far the worst of the vigilante bunch. His self-righteous view of the world is dark which makes him fascinating. But to those who think he’s another Batman, wake up!!
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To explain further. In the comic, from his own commentary – some of which are actual excerpts from his journal – Rorschach is clearly a misogynistic, racist, homophobic sociopath. Not to mention, the place he mailed his journal in the end – the New Frontiersman – is a right-wing extremist newspaper that he praised and followed. Say what you want about Rorschach, but these facts are undeniable. Though… I never imagined how the newspaper would perceive his journal beyond releasing the truth behind everything about vigilantes and Veidt’s plan. However, Lindelof runs with this idea and never lets up. I mean… of course the New Frontiersman published the entire journal. DUH!! To say nothing of the fact that it makes absolute sense that some White Supremacist Oklahoman Zealots would take Rorschach’s journal and make it gospel… LOL! Calling them the Seventh Kavalry is a nice nod too as the name is referenced in Chapter XI of the comic via the supplemental material during an interview titled After the Masquerade between Doug Roth of Nova Express and Veidt. In which, Adrian sees the properly titled 7th Cavalry Regiment – referring to Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s Regiment, who participated in some of the largest Indian Wars and Native American Massacres in US history including his Last Stand at The Battle of Little Bighorn – as a necessary evil. Just like how he saw his own master squid plan to avert nuclear war. WHOA!! Yeah, Adrian’s pretty bad too… LOL!!

Looking ahead at Lindelof’s Seventh Kavalry, they’re a jumble of historical and racial perversion at its finest with Rorschach’s Journal as the story’s anchor! Just like the comic. VERY COOL!! Even Agent Petey’s files make note of these extremists facts. NICE!! I mean… Lindelof must’ve spent countless hours envisioning how this would lay out because it’s so well done, it’s scary. Using the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre as a starting point, Damon weaves a very timely and modern tale by blending elements of Watchmen’s racist tones into various representations of prejudice amongst present day Tulsa residents culminating in a true fight of good and evil even beyond what Veidt could imagine. WOW!! Blatantly and unapologetically, I might add. All the while, like the original works, the question of: “Who watches the Watchmen,” always lingers. Plus, the entire series boasts fascinating NEW reveals and excellent music from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross , all wrapped in a nostalgic Easter Egg filled Watchmen bow! As I said… complex, timely and enjoyable! BRAVO!!

Well there you have it! Four reasons why Damon Lindelof’s feature not only pays a fitting homage to the source material, but builds upon it with force!! *Pew Pew* LOL! Will we see more? Well, Damon has been pretty firm in stating he only envisioned one season of the limited series. I mean… it’s pretty self-contained. Which I suspect, is exactly what Lindelof wanted. A fitting tale that ends!! Just like the comic… period!! In fact, since watching his adaptation, I have often wondered if Alan Moore has actually seen it and secretly loves it! For, much more than the other variations, it’s more on point with Moore’s original intent. Even the original concept artist – Dave Gibbons – endorsed it which is a good thing since Lindelof has stated he might not have done it otherwise. NICE!! Thanks Dave!! LOL! Because nothing screams Watchmen more than a visceral look inside the lives of fallible characters – good and bad – as they struggle to find their place in their own self-annihilation! Oh, and capes… LOL!! “Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.”

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘The Real Manhunter’.
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When we think of the crimes that are committed in our modern world, we often think about complex schemes that are generated in the mind of twisted individuals. Whose only goal is to sow chaos and teach mankind a lesson and we think of those things, because that is how crime is presented in television and film. For movies love to have complex killers and television shows are all about intricate crimes and how they come to fruition and well, while that definitely makes for solid entertainment and offers fascinating insight on the act of murder, it is not a true representation of how crime happens in our world. 
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Because sometimes, ugly crimes are committed when a lover is jilted or there are substances involved that motivate someone to cross a line. Or they happen by way of a bad or angry decision, and that last reason for a crime to be committed is of concern today, because that served as the focus of the next episode of The Real Manhunter. For ‘The Dream City Cinema Fire’ revolved around a harrowing case for Colin Sutton and his team. One where an anger fueled decision, led to a horrific fire at an unlicensed pornographic theater, the kind that ended up taking the lives of eleven men and what was fascinating about this particular case… was that it didn’t seem as though angry human influence was involved in the slightest.

For the Dream City Cinema operated off the books and sold memberships under the table and because it wasn’t a licensed city business… it wasn’t subject to all the fire regulations that other theaters had to abide by. Which made it seem as first, as though negligence was the key to this fire. For with no regulations in place, layers of paint and flammable materials were stacked upon one another. Which in turn allowed for the fire to spread quickly once it took hold. But a little forensic work, is what brought about the discovery of the crime in question. Because as investigators dug through the rubble… they uncovered something quite alarming; a melted gas can. Which in turn immediately made it clear that someone set this blaze intentionally and that put everyone on the hunt for the arsonist and oddly enough, it didn’t take them that long to find him.

Because eyewitness accounts and CCTV helped the police to learn that a man named David Lauwers set the fire, because of an angry misunderstanding. One where Lauwers struggled to comprehend that the theater was showing a type of movie that he might find offensive, and and the disconnect likely came about because David is deaf. And the frustration and anger that boiled over in that moment, motivated him to just get a gas can and light everyone in the place ablaze. Which was a stunning revelation to say the least and thankfully, Lauwers realized the impact of his horrible decision and eventually turned himself in and was given a life sentence. But while those facts help us to better understand how crimes are sometimes committed on a moment’s notice, what also makes this case of note, is how the press and police handled it back in 1994.

Because this is a story that was unfortunately glazed over and pushed aside, because the pornographic film that was shown on that night, was homosexual in nature. Which meant that the men that died were part of the LGBTQ+ community and rather than highlight their struggles and stories, because of how attitudes were toward LGBTQ+ individuals in the 90s, it was swept under the proverbial rug to not bring forth any controversy and that was just a wrong decision then, plain and simple. Because we’re talking about eleven lives, brutally murdered from a poor decision and their stories should have been told. But at least this series made an effort to right that wrong, and well… in the end, this really was perhaps… the darkest chapter in this documentary series to date. Simply because it put our genuine cruelty and anger on display and there is little in this world, more frightening than that. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 303 of ‘Jack Irish’.
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If there is one particular lesson that we are forced to re-learn as we venture through life, it would have to be that uncovering the truth can be quite the harrowing affair. Because lies hide in the darkness for a reason and moving them into the light causes nothing but harm, but we continue to forge ahead and expose the truth whenever possible. For deep down we know it is the right thing to do, regardless of the cost and well, that tough lesson is top of mind today, largely due to the fact that the uncomfortable quest for the truth serves as the focus of the next episode of Jack Irish. Because Jack and Linda went full bore into the case in this tale and that allowed for trouble to find them and for more ugly facts to come to light. 

For instance, they were both able to prove without a doubt… that everyone involved with Operation Great White, took a little side payment for their efforts to the tune of one million. And of course, they divided it up amongst themselves and splurged a little and well, bringing these facts out into the open, made it clear that corruption was running rampant through the police and what’s stunning, is that wasn’t the only ugly revelation that popped up in this particular tale. For it also turns out, that Barry’s involvement in the cover up surrounding Wayne Milovich and Izzy’s death, is what motivated him to befriend Jack in an effort to make amends for his actions and that left Jack beside himself and rightfully despondent as he tried to reconcile that. But unfortunately, the trouble in question didn’t allow for that happen.

Because the more that Linda and Jack were able to uncover, the quicker the heat was turned up on both of them. Since the cops started tossing little hints that pain and suffering would await them both if they didn’t back the hell off of the case right away and to complicate matters further… Troy actually took the time to meet with Jack face to face while Mister Irish was enjoying an ice cream cone with his son. And Troy made it clear that had the little one not been around, bad things would have happened and really… all of this trouble left both Linda and Jack as distraught and lost as they come and rightfully so. Because no one is ever comfortable with the prospect of feeling as though their life is in danger and oddly enough, the fear that both of them experienced, led to an unfortunate moment between the two of them. One that was supremely intimate and born of out stress and the regret they both felt after committing to their carnal desires, will undoubtedly change their relationship going forward.

But while it was indeed fascinating to learn that Barry was a corrupt cop and that his mates were eager to create a massive forthcoming payday, there is still one question hanging heavy over this mystery. Specifically, why did Izzy have to die? After all, she had zero ties to this case and was in essence an innocent bystander, but there is likely a rhyme and a reason as to why this particular tale opted not to answer that particular question and instead focused a bevy of other reveals, including the fact that Barry’s old flame is Troy and Casey’s mom. In that, what better place to explore the one thing that has plagued Jack for years on end… than in the series finale. For next Monday’s episode is it, the end of the line for Jack F**king Irish and exploring that question, should make for quite the powerhouse ending to his long-standing saga.

But while we wait to see what Jack will do when he uncovers the last little bits of truth left to explore, we can revel in the wonder of one quality tale. Because this one was downright intense from start to finish and it did a fine job of revealing all kinds of answers for us, whilst reminding us of the chaos and trouble that follows a grand search for the truth and well, now that this particular chapter in the case has come to a close… it is finally time to turn our attention to the end of the journey. Where anything likely can and will happen as Jack Irish finally confronts the darkest part of his past and hopefully figures out how to move on from it, so he can find the peace and quiet, that he’s spent nearly a decade, searching for. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Blindspotting’.
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If there is one thing that a parent wants for their child above all else, it would be for them to live a stress-free and happy life. Because parents only want the best and smoothest route in this life for their children and many go to great lengths to make that happen by offering up a safe environment at home, one complete with love and open air and everlasting care. But despite the best efforts of parents everywhere to ensure that their little ones are safe and secure and happy, deep down they know that their efforts can only last so long and that eventually, the tougher aspects of the world will find a way to touch and influence their child or children and that’s difficult to reconcile for certain. And to complicate matters further… sometimes it turns out, that the parents are the ones that have to be involved in that lesson. 
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After all, the chaos of the world can touch our families at any time as well and really, all of this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because this conundrum is precisely what Ashley had to deal with in the next episode of Blindspotting. For after weeks of putting it off, she knew the time had come to tell Sean why Miles has been absent from his life for some time now, but she didn’t quite know if she should in fact… tell him the truth or is she should figure out another way to keep him from facing the harsh reality that his dad was another prison statistic and well, her struggle to figure out the right way to handle this, allowed for ‘Ghost Dad’ to blossom into quite the relatable and engrossing tale. One that more or less took the time to examine how we come to big decisions in our lives and in this case, a little imagination had to come into play.

Because in order to properly sort out her thoughts, Ashley let her visual representation of Miles stick around for far longer than usual, so she could bounce ideas off of him and be honest with herself about this situation and this was just fascinating to watch. In part because it allowed for Rafael Casal and Jasmine Cephas-Jones to shine as actors, since they played off of one another in a magnificent manner. But more so because… this felt real, and the frustrations expressed here and the pain that came with knowing that Sean was going to have to learn a harsh truth, is indeed what parents want to avoid, especially in regard to this mess. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that this vignette revealed why exactly Ashley isn’t super upset with Miles, since it would seem she had a little involvement in the drugs found at the apartment.

How exactly she is tied to that, will have to wait for another time. But that does explain some of the guilt she’s been experiencing and why she’s been regressing and it would seem, the final segment of her journey in this tale, has fixed that. Simply because, she finally did the thing and told her son where Miles is at and that is a solid first step toward rebuilding her family’s foundation for the future and we’d be foolish to not point out the visual poetry/commentary present in this part of the story as well. Since the prison ‘dancers’ in this finale segment, served as a fine message that we need to not stigmatize all prisoners as violent offenders and monsters. Because they are fact, dads like Miles and people that were in the wrong place at the wrong time who have a story to tell and should be heard and the deep nature of this story, didn’t end there.

Because while Ashley and mind-Miles were hammering out what comes next for their family, Nancy and Janelle, and Trish and Earl… pondered upon what it means to be Black in America right now, and the horrors of appropriation and gentrification and everything in between. And well… it is definitely best, that this writer focuses instead on the importance of these scenes rather than trying to speak to or relate to or analyze what these characters had to say. For that would be counterintuitive and disrespectful to do, since the experiences of a Hispanic writer cannot compare to that of African Americans. So, what matters more here, is to point out that this conversation happened on a major cable network. Because this is the kind of stuff, we need to see on television more often. For this is representation at its finest and hopefully that conversation is one that will inspire other writers and directors to do the same in their own work and help to educate the world in a manner as dynamic as this.

In the end however, this was just another quality episode from a series that quite frankly… gets it. It gets the world; it understands what drives us and what we fear and that really does make this the most human show out there right now. Because this writer is also hard pressed to think of another series tackling these kinds of everyday topics and conversation and concerns in such a frank and beautiful manner. But all observations aside, at long last, Ashley is pushing ahead in life and finding her rhythm as a mother and she is embracing that role and embracing the future since there is little else, she can do in the now, and well… that definitely leaves one hungry for more and counting down the minutes until the next chapter in the ordeal. So we can see how Ashley is going to use her newfound strength to remove herself from her current funk and put her family back together. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’.
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There is a prevailing belief in our modern world, that when we are close to achieving our dreams and having everything, we want in life… that a calm will wash over us. As though our souls and minds understand what it is about to happen, so there is no point in worrying about our troubles anymore, for they are finally about to end. But that is a belief, that has been proven to be false. For time and time again, when we are close to what we actually want… we find ourselves terrified and emotional that something will go wrong, and we’ll be back at square one. Because it’s human to worry and human to think we might not deserve this and well, that unsettling aspect of life is relevant to our discussion today, largely because it served as one of the key focal themes of last night’s episode of Kevin Can F**k Himself.
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Because ‘Broken’ saw Allison lock down a date for the end of her husband’s life. Which meant she was finally in the home stretch and that soon her nightmare life would come to an end, and she could begin anew with Sam and enjoy all that life had to offer. But it didn’t take long for that fear and that worry to settle in, and Allison went through the emotional wringer because of it. Because knowing that the finish line was in sight, motivated her to reflect upon the journey thus far and how hard it has been for her and that brought about a bevy of emotions, even some sense of remorse as well. Because despite the evil that Kevin does on a consistent basis, he is still a life, and knowing he would die at her beck and call… wasn’t easy to process.

Nor was her freedom for that matter, and that is important to note as well. Because this episode also dug deep into the fact that sometimes the panic we experience when we are near the end of our troubles, is related to the fact… that we don’t know what life would look like without our struggles. For we’ve survived for so long in the muck, that survival instinct is all we know. But where this segment truly shines, is that it goes deeper than informing us of the fact that we all struggle with happiness and letting go of negativity. No instead, this part of the story really is poignant and powerful since it puts the plight of domestic abuse survivors on display. For we often hear folks lament that they should know better and be ready to walk away when the ugly stars, but this segment helps to teach us… it is just not that black and white.

Because there is history here and a life, one that Allison believed in at some point would guide her to happiness and just seeing that end is no easy task and kudos to the writers of this show for putting that hard aspect of toxic and abusive relationships on display, since that is something, we don’t talk about enough. Plus, this segment also deserves serious credit for reinforcing the harsh reality of how hard it can be for someone to just exit that kind of situation when they have no money or destination to escape to, which is the case with Allison and really, all of this made for some powerful moments, the kind that could have carried this entire episode from beginning to end. But as if often the case with this series… it had plenty more poignant bits of storytelling to offer beyond Allison’s stunning plight.

For instance, this is a story that also took the time to expand upon how manipulative an abuser can be. Because Kevin went all out in this particular tale, once Neal revealed to him that Allison took a fertility test. An act that was all part of the grand plan to manipulate Kevin before his end and well… that certainly backfired. Since Kevin embraced this possibility and used it to his advantage by discussing what fatherhood and family life would look like in the McRoberts’ home and while this is handled in a classic sitcom manner, the underlying horror of it is inescapable. For this is one of Allison’s dreams, and hearing Kevin speak to it and potentially want it, only helped the conflicts within her to grow, and that kind of manipulative behavior was both stunning and disgusting and it definitely leads one to wonder how far and low Kevin can or might go, depending on how the end of this story is resolved.
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But before we get to that, we also need to talk about Patty’s journey here as well, since it was also powerful and significant. For when we last left her, she was beginning to explore her sexual identity thanks to Tammy and that exploration continued here as well. Because Patty finally came to realize that men weren’t her preference and that she’d been lying to herself about that all along to fit in and this is just… huge for television. Since it gives us a coming out story that is also grounded in realism since so many LGBTQ+ individuals go through a learning process akin to Patty’s and it is just refreshing to finally see a major primetime series go through that journey for a change. Because it is sorely needed on the small screen and it too deserves credit for making it clear… that Patty is outright in love with Allison and is unsure of how to handle that since this all new to her and of course, telling someone who is your closest friend… that they are your person… likely is no easy task.

However, while it will be interesting to see where that takes us, there was mention of a powerhouse ending to this story and now is the time to discuss that, because it was indeed loaded. For instance, it showed us how miserable Sam is at home and how done he is with his staged life, since he walked out on his annoying wife and of course… we have to talk about that cliffhanger. Because it turns out that Nick screwed up bad at work. To the point where he was likely headed back to jail and rather than go that route, he opted to collect on his contract and get out of town. But unfortunately for him, Kevin found the gun that Patty buried in the backyard and well… that led to a brief showdown in the McRoberts home when Nick busted in… one that ended with a gunshot, and little answers as to who was on the receiving end of a bullet.

In fact, all we know at this point, is that the police are involved, and Allison had to speak with them and well… it should be fascinating to learn if Kevin McRoberts is dead at last, and Allison can start her life anew or if he has once again escaped fate’s clutches. But while we wait to see how this all plays out; we can revel in the wonder of one powerful and engrossing tale. Because not only did this feature some deep and resonating themes, but it also offered up a bevy of storylines for us to chew upon. The kind that offered character growth for just about everyone outside of Kevin (in fact, he might not be capable of growth) and that’s no small feat and well… now that we’ve reached the end of this magnificent story, the time has come for us to play the waiting game once again and this week’s holding pattern won’t be easy in the slightest. Because next Sunday’s episode, is the season finale of this brilliant story, and we will all be waiting with bated breath to see where this revolutionary tale is going to take us next. Until then.