Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Finale of ‘Run the World’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Far in the future, when we find ourselves in a wondrous place and at peace with our past and the tough times we went through, we tend… to reflect. Reflect upon those tough days and what they did for us and reflect upon the lessons they taught us. Because the journey means a lot and did so much for us and reflecting upon it helps us find gratitude and helps reinforce our newfound peace and chapter. But something we don’t focus upon enough when it comes to the journey… is the moment where everything came together. Because there was a day where all the lessons, we learned jelled and put us on an incredible path, one that we didn’t think was possible and that is what truly propelled us forward with newfound strength and we should reflect upon that magical moment in time. Since it was the culmination of our hard work and something to be proud of and that moment is top of mind today because it was put on display in the season two finale of Run the World on STARZ.
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With good reason for that matter, since Whitney, Sondi, and Renee have indeed spent this season learning powerful lessons about life and what it means to move forward after tough times and ‘No Regrets’ truly did see those lessons come together. For instance, Sondi finally came to realize that taking charge of her life and setting and respecting boundaries, and going for what her heart desired, was the only way to create genuine happiness for herself and that finally allowed for her to find agency and peace in this tale. Since she made contact with that documentarian to discuss speaking with the individuals, he interviewed in the short to add to her own dissertation. But he had a better idea. In that, she should just work with him on the feature version of it. Since she knew and was passionate about the subject matter. So why not join up, tell a powerful story and work alongside someone in a professional capacity with nothing sexual or romantic implied? Which was an offer that was too good to pass up and truly was a culmination of the lessons Sondi learned and just like that… she said yes and prepared to take a semester off to have what she wanted. 

As for Whitney, well she’s spent all season long trying to learn how to be strong in what she does and accept the good without questioning it, and of course… she’s been eager to put the past to rest and find peace with her actions and she managed to bring everything she’s learned this season about those elements together, to find what she wanted. Since she finally came to accept what the workplace meant to her after her review, and to let the good in her work just speak for itself, and at Jason’s big release party, she came to finally understand how to make peace with yesterday. Courtesy of the fact that the man she cheated with, showed up to the party and even was chill with Ola, who also dropped by. Which meant, if she wanted that peace, she had to confront the past and that prompted her to speak with that man and tell him what she really wanted to say about the affair, and she came clean with Ola about that man’s role in ruining their engagement. Because she needed that out in the open, regardless of the risk it might pose to their flirtations, and well… she finally felt whole and ready to move forward by the end of this story. 

But of course, the big journey we were all waiting for in this tale, was Renee’s. Because she’s spent all season trying to understand love and what Jason means to her and what it means to love without ego and love without emotional borders. And she of course… came to realize she wanted Jason back in her life and wanted to work on her marriage and well… she set out to make that happen here. Of course, that was no easy task. Because shedding ego and making that kind of change isn’t easy, and she struggled to just blurt out what needed to be said in the moment and used actions to try and express what had to be spoken. Not to mention, Jason’s new talent was trying her best to muscle in and make something romantic happen between them. Which prompted Renee to finally stand up and show Jason how much she cared, before finally telling him, how much she cared. Which led to a powerful moment, wherein Jason explained that he too still felt so much for her and at last… she had what she wanted and had her marriage and true love back. Closing out an amazing journey for Renee, and for Whitney and Sondi as well.

Which made this, a flawless season finale. Because great stories, find a way to bring everything together and close the story out in a dynamic and powerful, and satisfying manner, and that’s what we received here. For everyone grew this season and brought their lessons together to close out this chapter in their lives and you cannot ask for more from a television season than that. And truly, it was amazing to see this trio find agency and growth, and shockingly, inspire others to do so as well. Since even Barb came to realize she might have squandered a few things away by not acting in the same bold and brave manner as these girls when it came to that which challenges us. But of course, the best stories out there, also know how to set the stage for the next chapter, and what Jason wants… hinted deeply at challenges to come in a third season and well, hopefully this show gets the green light for a third season soon. Because this is a series that television needs right now, plain, and simple, courtesy of the fact that that it teaches us so much about life and the complexities of the pursuit of happiness and that it is genuinely progressive and features the representation we desperately need on the small screen. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 705 of ‘Outlander’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Now that scores have been settled, cliffhangers resolved, and old chapters closed for new ones… it is becoming inherently clear what the creative brain trust behind season seven of Outlander on STARZ is looking to accomplish. In that, this will now become a grand and sweeping tale. One that spans the life and times of the Fraser family across two centuries of global history and well, for proof… look no further than this week’s tale. For ‘Singapore’ is a story that explored the lives of the family in 1980, while looking at every aspect of life for the rest of the family in 1776, amidst the turbulence of the Revolutionary War and well… that did indeed make for a grand and sweeping tale, one that saw everyone in the family dealing with unique aspects of life.
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Brianna for instance… had to contend with the reality that her gender was going to make life difficult for her in her new job. Which was… dumb to say the least, and that led to some scary moments for Brianna. Wherein she found herself insulted and eventually locked away and abandoned by the very crew that worked for her as some of kind sick joke. Granted, they didn’t count on her knowing the dam layout well, since she got out just fine, but this was a harsh wake-up call for Bree. One that truly informed her what she was up against, and it gave her pause. But Roger did remind her of how strong she is and how she never backs down and those gentle nudges were enough for her to stand up to these bullies and help them understand who was really in charge, and it was just incredible to see Bree stand up like this and forge a new path in an era where she clearly doesn’t feel whole without her parents around… but she may have found a way to solve that problem as well.

But of course, there was mention that this story was encompassed every corner of this family’s history and future and well, that meant back in 1776… we spent time with Ian and William, and their unique struggles. For instance, Ian spent a lot of time in this episode pondering upon the nature of family and what it meant to be a father. Which led to some fascinating moments with Ian as he worked through what he wanted in life, and it featured some beautiful moments as well… especially when he went home to see old Indigenous friends. As for William, well he pondered upon the finer points of mortality. Since he and the Hunters got lost on their way to Ticonderoga and encountered an unsavory couple. One whose head of household believed in punishing innocents that came near his land, and that led to an incredible scare and an incredible fight. One that put William close to his end. But everyone survived and went their separate yet definite paths… to Fort Ticonderoga.

Which is where we caught up with Claire and Jamie. Who settled into United States Army life, and their time here allowed for some parallels in time to come forth, for Claire at the least. Since she was seen as nothing more than a nuisance by those in charge of medical in this place. Since she of course, knew more than they did and spoke aloud when it came to what they were doing wrong. Something that sadly… goes poorly for women in any period of time. But she pushed ahead as always and worked to make a comfortable place for those in need and those with wounds, and that served her well… especially when genuine trouble came calling. For while she was handling her duties, Jamie was working hard to convince those in charge that the current strategy to protect Ticonderoga was well… mediocre at best. Because Sugar Loaf Hill wasn’t far from the Fort and if the British opted to capture it and scale it, they could arm it and use the high ground to push United States forces out of the Fort.
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A concern that bothered him so greatly, he simulated an attack in this manner to prove his point when it was initially rebuffed. But alas, those in charge still didn’t believe him. That is… until the British took the hill. Which put the Fort into evacuation mode. Wherein the civilians were escorted out by boat and sadly, some injured were left behind, but held their heads high thanks to Claire’s kindness and honesty, and of course… that meant our heroes were on the run as well. With British forces quickly securing the area and well… this was just a powerful sequence to watch. Since it spoke to the realities of the war back in that era and featured some fine history lessons as well. For Sugar Loaf Hill was in fact, how the British took Fort Ticonderoga back in the day. Granted, this may have been a little more accelerated in the show, but it was nice to see a history lesson come into play regardless.

But that aside, this really was quite the engaging and quality episode. One that did a fine job of exploring the lives of these characters while setting the stage for some big moments. After all, there is someone lurking about Lallybroch and they may cause trouble for Brianna and Roger and their family and of course… our heroes are facing uncertainty and genuine worry once again. For the war is on and the British want to quell the ‘rebellion’ before them, and that may lead to some difficult days for these star-crossed lovers. Which means that once again, we are left counting down the days to another chapter in this magnificent series, and this time… there’s an added excitement to go with the countdown. Simply because… what lies ahead is an era of history not often explored in television and film anymore, and it will be interesting to see what this show explores with that opportunity, and what other historical moments it works to recreate for us, as season seven and the Revolutionary War continue along. Until next time.   

It is definitely safe to say, that season one of the Apple TV+ series, Foundation, was an absolute breath of fresh air. Simply because this science fiction series defied current convention for sci-fi television shows by bringing us… a true sci-fi epic. One that took its time in telling its story and gave every character and situation attention. Which allowed for a rich and powerful storytelling experience to take place. One that engaged us and wowed us and left us hungry for more and thankfully… our wait for more of this majestic series has come to an end. For today brings forth the debut of season two of the show on Apple TV+, and well… the good news about the return of this series is that it hasn’t missed a beat and clearly plans on sticking with what worked so well in season one.

For ‘In Seldon’s Shadow’ is a story… that once again is eager to world-build and offer a slow burning story that not only fills in the blanks of what happened in between the many years the story jumped through… but keeps the characters at the forefront of the story and gives them powerful journeys to go on and that made for a phenomenal season two premiere. One that informed us… that the past 138 years in the galaxy have been uneasy. Wherein the vast footprint that Empire once enjoyed is no longer as vast, courtesy of new factions and a thriving Foundation. One that quietly was preparing for war and of course… this was something that the core of Empire really wasn’t bothering to pay attention to in the slightest.

Since Brother Day was focused on how best to change the course of Empire, to better deal with the genetic problem the Cleon’s suffered from. To the point where he believed that producing an heir naturally would change everything for Empire and somehow bond it closer. But that was nothing more than vanity, the kind that ignored the real needs of the people and that was why it came as no surprise… that an assassination attempt befell the palace. One that put Day close to death, but even that… wasn’t enough to really raise any alarm bells or concerns. It was business as usual, and it took information regarding Foundation and the reality of what happened so long ago, to wake this trio of leaders up. Which was… a fine way to immerse us back into this world and remind us of its troubles… which is often this trio of close-minded leaders.

But of course… there was so much more to explore in this story that the failings of the Cleons. For this is also a story that informed us that Hari Seldon was in a unique place following the incident aboard the ship. For he awoke in a place that wasn’t quite reality and wasn’t quite fantasy. Leaving him to wonder if by chance… this was what death was like and that an afterlife was real. But that was mere disorientation for this iteration of Hari, and it didn’t take long for him to realize that Gaal had stuffed him away in the Prime Radiant and that he was basically at a crossroads in his existence. Wherein he could patiently wait within his own world and emerge as called upon or be Hari Seldon and reclaim agency regardless and of course… Hari chose the latter option. Which led to a unique moment we will get to in a second.
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Because it related to the last catch-up journey/character study present in this tale. Specifically, checking in on Gaal and her daughter, Salvor. Since they were still stranded on Synnax and that forced this duo, to come to know each other properly and learn what it means to have family across time and space, and it was wonderful to watch these characters share the deep bond they weren’t sure existed early on in this story and use it to trust one another in a valiant attempt to revitalize the ship beneath the water, to get off of Synnax. Primarily because of coming storms… both literal and figurative. Since a giant hurricane was brewing near the ship and would cause them harm and because… a storm was brewing for humanity. For everything was going awry with Hari’s calculations regarding the future of humanity and someone needed to step in and stop the looming crises that awaited.

But alas, that will be no quick process. Simply because… Hari was indeed free and eager to have a little palaver with his former protégé. Which gave rise to a cliffhanger of sorts, one that has mother and daughter at a crossroads of their own until this gets resolved. But that aside, this was… a perfect season premiere. Courtesy of how it eased us back into this world and through its wondrous world-building. But above all, what made it so great… was that it felt like season one never ended. Because everything we love about this show was present. That means… season two is going to offer up another great science fiction epic. One that keeps on the edge of our seats with a story that continues to impress and well, now that we are back in this universe and the stage has been set, it will be fascinating to watch the Second Crisis and its resolution play out as season two of this brilliant show continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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What happens when a half-Vulcan, half-Human grown man gets turned into just a Human? Well, interestingly enough, we got to see that this week on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Spock and Chapel are on their way in a shuttle to check out the Vulcan moon that once had an ancient civilization on it, and now doesn’t. All as a part of Christine’s continued efforts to get into a Vulcan science program. The tension between the two is pretty high considering they both refuse to resolve their feelings for one another. Things go a little wonky when their shuttle is hit by an anomaly. Suddenly they wake up back on the Enterprise, only Spock isn’t quite… himself.
 
Turns out they were rescued by inter dimensional beings that healed them, only in doing so they noticed Spock’s DNA didn’t match Christine’s completely, and that confused them. They did the next best thing and removed the Vulcan part, leaving Spock 100% human. This wouldn’t be a problem, except Spock was to go to Vulcan and visit his fiancé T’Pring and her family for a ritual that all engaged couples do to celebrate their engagement. T’Pring’s mother already hates Spock, and this event had been canceled multiple times, so it’s a dire situation. To cancel would make T’Pring’s family call the engagement off, which is bad. Because Spock still has feelings for her. And definitely not Chapel, no, he doesn’t love her at all.
 
To make matters worse, Spock’s mother shows up, unannounced, to help prepare Spock for the ritual. She of course finds out what happened, as Pike had told everyone Spock was in a shuttle accident and nothing else. She then enlists Pike’s help in teaching Spock to lie his way through the whole thing. Meanwhile, Chapel is doing her best to reverse what happened to Spock, with no luck whatsoever. Spock is struggling with the tea portion of the ritual, as the pot itself is scalding and his human form feels things now.

T’Pring arrives and immediately goes off about her mother being annoying and wearing her out, leaving no room for Spock to explain what’s happened to him. Well, fake it till you make it, and he does just that. Everything is going fine, he managed the tea portion without fail, gaining T’Pring’s mother’s begrudged approval on that. He sat through the improvement ceremony with a stone face as he was picked apart by T’Pring’s mother, only excusing himself to take his frustrations out into a pillow. That’s when he’s saved from faking it any further.
 
See, Christine is smart. She went ahead and asked Uhura and Ortegas to go back to the moon with her and find the inter dimensional beings that ‘fixed’ Spock and begged for their help. Here, she finally admitted out loud her feelings for Spock, much to the other’s chagrin. It worked and with their help she’s able to fix Spock, which she does, just in time to finish the ritual. Spock almost gets away with the whole thing, until after the Mind Meld portion, where T’Pring’s mother unloads more passive aggressive criticisms.
 
And really, who doesn’t want to tell that passive aggressive, rude, family member off? Spock reveals that he had been human for the entire thing, and proves that he’s more than meets the eye, leaving everyone speechless. He also thanks his own mother for all she has done for him. In the end, however, T’Pring has an issue with never being told about his being turned human. She points out that everyone else on the Enterprise knew, but her. Spock clearly didn’t trust her enough to share what had really happened to him with her. It’s enough to make her take a break from their relationship, which gives Spock the opening he needs to tell Christine how he really feels about her.
 
The love triangle is messy, and this season is filled with forbidden love stories. It’ll be interesting to see who gets into one next!

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Primo’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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As we continue our journey through season one of the magnificent Amazon Freevee series, Primo, one thing is becoming apparent. That this show is finally figuring out how to get across its message in a supremely smooth and brilliant manner. For this is a series that at its core, really wants to shatter all the tropes and stereotypes that negatively impact the Latino/Latinx community, and early on, it went big with that message, before discovering, the sheer essence of the show would accomplish that goal. Because just showcasing a Latino/Latinx family in America, and their ups and downs in a dynamically funny manner, rips away stereotypes. After all, we’ve not seen cliché play out or heard ridiculous catchphrases from this family.
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They just… live. Live like anyone else in America, and that is the point. And it really is quite amazing to see the show lean harder and harder into that, as evidenced by the next episode in this journey. For ‘The Carnival’ is a story that further explored the little things that make Americans, Americans, regardless of the nonsense and labels others place upon others. Such as how… cherishing memories and mementos means the world to us. Which the show explored, by way of Ryan and Jay’s oafishness. Because they knocked over one of Drea’s favorite bookcases, and spilled its contents, and despite putting it back together, she was still displeased. Because they didn’t do it just right, specifically when it came to the arrangement of the shelves. Which meant to make her happy, and be forgiven, they had to figure out how to put it back together correctly, and with Mondo’s help, they came to realize it was Drea’s memory bookcase, and each shelf represented a member of the family. Which helped this duo restore those shelves right and find peace with Drea and well… that really does go to show how the human experience isn’t all that different from culture to culture. Since memories have that kind of weight in any family.

That aside though, this episode still shined beyond that beautiful and touching story. Since Rafa and his friends, and Mya, were headed to the carnival in their segment of the story. One that explored the importance of being classy and taking the high road in all things, a lesson we are all taught and as a bonus, what it means to be a classy role model in this life. Because while they were at the fair, Mya’s money was basically swiped by some punk kid. And since Rollie worked the carnival and was consistently in jail now for teaching dudes’ lessons on any given night at the bar, Rafa thought he could be the muscle for the night and teach that doof a lesson. But Rollie wasn’t comfortable with that, especially since Mike pointed out that this was negative behavior to model for an impressionable teenager and well, that request more or less reinforced that Rollie was taking Rafa down a bad path.

But that didn’t stop Rafa from bringing the heat and eventually, he found that kid and started to whip him something fierce. That is until Rollie stepped in and embarrassed Rafa by stopping the fight hard. But that allowed for better heads to prevail. Because Rafa did come to realize that he made his friends and Mya uncomfortable with that behavior. Which spoke to there being a better way in life than with our fists, because that isn’t something that people admire and if someone taught us that first… they need to be better as well. Which prompted Rollie to step up and fix his own mistakes, in part by enforcingthe high road and also by being more of a mentor than just an ass-kicking icon. Plus, it didn’t hurt that he gave the group free reign of the carnival at the end of the night. Making him one of the cool ones and giving Rafa more fuel to throw on the tiny fire that he and Mya currently share in their hearts. 

But what mattered most, this was just a story about people. Living their lives, making mistakes, and growing like the rest of us. And that’s the key. Because it made the fact that this family is Latino/Latinx moot. They were just Americans and that’s brilliant and powerful and it made for one great episode. Another one filled to the brim with great jokes. Such as the whole weird tooth thing that Drea fixates upon, and that wacky shirt that Mike gave to Rafa for his date. After all, it really did make him freakin’ invincible during that fight. But above all, it was just a heartwarming story, one that saw characters grow and you can never go wrong with that, and this story of course… compels us to continue the journey. To see more quality representation and learn more wonderful lessons, from a down to earth, American family. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Based on a True Story’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When comes to every single decision we make, that we reach a point of no return regarding them. Wherein we simply commit and never look back, consequences be damned, and that really does lead to some fascinating moments in our lives. Since it either brings us endless prosperity because we decided to commit to our dreams, or we find ourselves in a rough spot because we made a boneheaded decision and have to live with that call for years on end. But one way or another… there truly is a moment where make the call one way or the other and what’s funny… is that we don’t think much about that moment. We just hold to the outcome and reflect upon its impact upon our lives.
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But that moment has significance, for there is plenty to learn from it, since it can teach us how to embrace the positive or how to avoid the foolishness we come to lament and that is likely why… the next episode of Based on a True Story on Peacock, focused on that moment in its next episode. Because ‘Ted Bundy Bottle Opener’ brought Ava, Nathan, and Matt to a point of no return. Where their lives will be forever changed, and what we witnessed here… will provide us with incredible context and closure regarding this choice and its motivations and its real impact on lives when we reach the season finale of this saga. But before we get ahead of ourselves… the only reason a point of no return decision existed in this tale, was because of the fact that Ava and Nathan really did find themselves at quite the crossroads in this story. 

For they just watched a person die and that made this whole endeavor a little too real and a little too scary. Not to mention, there was little they could do to find peace with it. So, in the moment, they met with Ruby, got drunk and high and let loose to forget about the horrors of what they’d experienced recentered themselves as a couple and well… began to learn toward their next chapter being… a simpler life. One away from podcasting and one away from fame to just… be happy. To enjoy the moment and celebrate the connection they had and for a time, it really seemed as though they were going to go that route and make that their point of no return decision. Since that would rob Matt of any power and the failing podcast would offer up the death kneel so to speak.

Giving rise to the real possibility that the final episodes in season one would be about breaking free from our obsessions and healing from the damage they can cause when we indulge them in an unhealthy manner. But alas, Matt wasn’t going make that kind of call so simple and so easy. After all, he spent most of his night with a TV writer eager to tell his story and glamorize him without allowing for him to have the control he craves. And the frustration that came out of that, sent his imagination into some dark and twisted places, the kind that pushed him to take his bloodlust and perhaps use it in a manner that would give him the fame he wanted. So, he put together quite the plan in the middle of the night. One that would finally make the podcast a success and give him everything he wanted and craved as a killer, and that led… to the real point of no return decision for Ava and Nathan.
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Because as they were preparing to return to a more relaxed life, someone with access to the podcast’s social media account let CrimeCon know that the Westside Ripper would be speaking live in a Ballroom. Which gathered a crowd that only grew and grew, when the speakers in that room, aired another confession from the Ripper, one that spoke to his involvement in Dahlia’s death. Which stunned the Bartlett’s, since they had assurances from Matt that he influenced her to jump, not die at his hands. But alas, he did all this… to gain agency and control over his story. And if the Bartlett’s wanted in on this new chapter in the podcast, where fresh content and a giant audience were the norm… all they had to do… was say yes. Which they did, because that crowd and their excitement, and the call of fame was too great to resist, and just like that, they committed to a decision from which there is no return.

For now, the show is out there and there are people lining up to hear the Westside Ripper speak, and if the rest of this story has taught us anything, this deal with the devil cannot go well. Which means it will be interesting to see how it goes south, and of course… examine the fallout and its impact on everyone, and that all may come forth quite soon. Since Ruby did get her hands on the burner phone and read the message. Either way, this was another fascinating tale from this series. One that once again, took the time to examine important moments in people’s lives so that the audience can understand the importance of really thinking before we leap and the importance of really understanding what a commitment means. So, we don’t go down the hard road that this couple is about to. But the decision is made and now… all we can do is sit back and watch hard lessons come into play as Ava and Nathan pay the piper for their obsession with fame. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Secret Invasion’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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If there is only one real downside to the heroes of the world, it would have to be the timeline they operate on. Because while it is wonderful to know that they are calculated in their actions to combat evil, and thorough and do everything they can to ensure that they are going after the right people and executing the right plan to bring them down… evil doesn’t operate like that. It’s quick, its malicious and eager to execute its own plan and it waits for no one and that sadly… allows for it to win the day and bring forth pain and suffering. Of course, calculation and patience eventually win the war, but that doesn’t stop us from lamenting the fact that heroes don’t work faster and well, that unfortunate frustration is top of mind today, because it was put on full display in the next episode of Secret Invasion on Disney+.

For ‘Beloved’ saw that very problem play out… but not before some housekeeping came into play. The kind that wrapped up some plot threads and followed up on others. Such as G’iah. For when we last saw her, she was apparently at her end, only for us to learn… she would be just fine. For the super-powered project that Gravik has been working on, was a resurrection of Project Extremis, and he indeed perfected it and delivered it to some and G’iah made sure to take a dose of it so she could be forgotten by Gravik and carve her own path. Not to mention, this was the story that featured the end of Fury and Varra’s relationship. Since she was expected to be his assassin and well, while neither side could go through with such an act… the lack of safety and security in their marriage… was enough to prompt a parting of the ways. Clearing the path for Fury to really dive deep and work to stop this mess.

Which brought us to the central theme in question. Because Fury needed answers and the only way to do that, was to plan, to calculate and assess. To figure out what Gravik had planned and how best to respond to it, and that meant, dealing with Rhodey. Whom we also learned… isn’t Rhodey. For this iteration of Rhodey is in fact, a Skrull. One that has been working to get Fury out of the picture to keep the plan on track and well… that reveal was quite the stunner and spoke to how far ahead the Skrull are in their plans for world domination and sadly, the cat and mouse game played here to track Rhodey and uncover those nefarious plans, is where the theme in question came into play. Because Rhodey wasn’t traveling about after a meeting with Fury to discuss and scheme with his fellow Skrull, he was off to bring about World War III. 

A move that involved isolating President Ritson so that Gravik and his team could assassinate him. Which would in fact, spark the war in question and from the ashes of the old guard, the Skrull would rise and live their new lives in their new world. Which made for a terrifying sequence of events. Wherein the bad guys enjoyed several wins. For they did indeed attack with impunity and put the president within an inch of death while Rhodey just sat and watched. But the world was still saved on this day, since that tracker did bring Fury and Talos to the battle site, and that did allow for the President of the United States to be saved, staving off war, at least against the nations. But that tiny victory aside, this was indeed a costly fight. All because Gravik was eager to put his plan in motion and didn’t wait to plan or ponder too much, he merely acted and Fury’s proper need to gather intel, brought forth age old frustrations.

Not to mention… a hero did fall. Because despite heroically using his alien strength to save President Ritson, while injured no less, Talos was punished by Gravik. By taking a blade in the chest while looking his closest ally square in the eye and since Talos didn’t undergo the Extremis procedure, his fate seems far darker. Especially when one considers that Nick Fury was forced to drive off with the president to keep peace and hope for a better tomorrow alive. But while we wait to learn the true fate of Talos, we can revel in one stunning episode. One that featured some powerful reveals and some stunning moments, and a fine reminder that evil does indeed creep forward for a time before it is put in its place, and all of these elements are going to make the wait for next Wednesday’s episode quite difficult. For the stakes are raised and we are in the endgame now, and it is going to be an explosive fight to save the world from Gravik’s machinations. Until next time.

​Please enjoy this sneak peak of the Season Two Finale of ‘Run the World’.  Which arrives tomorrow, 7/14/23 on STARZ!

​Please enjoy a sneak peek of Episode 705 of ‘Outlander’. Which arrives tomorrow, 7/14/23 on STARZ!  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Premiere of ‘The Afterparty’.

There are few things more daunting in the creative world, than bringing to life a sequel that holds a flame to the perfect story that came before it. Because it’s near impossible really, since one has to replicate what made the original successful, all while creating something new and exciting that surpasses the foundation, and that difficult reality, is often why we see sequel stories… stumble and/or outright fail. Since they collapse under the weight of what they are tasked with. But not all sequels suffer from this. For now, and again we have been treated to follow-up stories that wow us and there are some… that actually manage to surpass the original. Which are of the course, the rarest sequels of all, but they do happen, and believe it or not… Apple TV+ is now host… to a sequel in that vein. 
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For earlier today, season two of The Afterparty debuted on the network and well, ‘Aniq 2: The Sequel’ and ‘Grace’, wasted little time in informing the audience that we are in the presence of a follow-up story that is bigger and better than what came before it, and those stories accomplished such feats… by offering a pair of stories that first… immerse us perfectly back within this universe. Courtesy of a lovely and smooth reunion with Aniq and Zoë. Wherein we learn that they are still going strong after that harrowing night, to the point where Aniq receives an invite to meet Zoë’s family at her sister Grace’s wedding and well… that is a plot that truly does allow for us to comfortably welcome ourselves back into this universe, right before murder most foul returns to the forefront of the story.

Because after an awkward rehearsal dinner and equally as awkward wedding, it isn’t long before Grace’s husband, Edgar, is found dead and just like that… Aniq and Zoë are once again plunged into a fascinating murder mystery. One that only Detective Danner can help solve, and that is precisely why Aniq calls her first and well, at a quick glance… that plot makes it seem as though The Afterparty season two is a by-the-numbers sequel. Where all the same things happen… so there’s no way this new season can be that innovative. But that would be incorrect. For this time around, there are no police involved. Since Danner has left the force to focus on her career as a novelist, and that is exciting and new, and this time… she and Aniq are squaring off against people with gobs and gobs of money. Which can never go well and that leads… to storytelling that exceeds what season one brought to the table.

For now, we are surrounded by a case that has no rules, no laws to abide by. Just morality and a quest for knowledge and that brings forth wild accusations early on, and an independence for Zoë that brings about a wildly unsettling investigation of her own. To prove that her sister didn’t do it. Plus, this time around… there seems to be far more suspects present in the household. Since again, rich people do stupid things without reproach in this life, and one of them could easily be responsible for the end of Edgar. Not to mention, there are exes in the house since Grace invited them to see her head off into matrimony, and jealousy is always a great motivator of murder. So, there is a real ‘wild west’ feel to this season, and that really does add a fresh perspective and new scope to this story, and that is a big reason as to why this season surpasses the original.
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The other reasons, however, relate to what we love about the show in the first place. Simply because the creative brain-trust behind this series… have perfected the ambitious nature of this story in season two, and that allows for the multi-genre format of storytelling present here… to really exceed our expectations and feel grander and more enchanting in scope. To the point where you actually forget at times that you’re watching this series and that you’re instead immersed in a respectful send up of the genre in question. Not to mention, the humor is truly at its best here. In fact, every joke told in this story plays to the strengths of the cast and that means we get peak comedy, the kind that truly forces one to pause the story as it plays out to get every last bit of laughter out. To ensure one can keep up with the case and to ensure… one can catch their breath because the jokes are that good.

All of which really does make for a bigger and better season, and that’s saying something since season one of this show really was complete and utter perfection. But it’s obvious now that Executive Producers Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, and Anthony King, really wanted to challenge themselves this season and put together a story that is more ambitious and grander and the end result… is that superior sequel and a season of storytelling… that engages us deeply and puts a grand smile on our faces. Because it’s fun, it’s enthralling and above all, it’s just good storytelling. The kind that really does whisk us away into the various genres of film we love and truly… it will be interesting to see what new homages to the wonder of film await us, and of course… learn who killed Edgar, as season two of this incredible show continues along. Until next time.  

To learn more about what season two means to Executive Producers Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, and Anthony King, check out our interview with them, here.