Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Good Grief’. To revisit the season two premiere, click here.
Perhaps one of the hardest aspects of dealing with the death of a loved one, is the aftermath of their passing. Because not only are we forced to sift through their lives and figure out what goes and what stays from decades of collections and proclivities we knew little about, but there’s the clinical and costly matter of laying them to rest. Which means we have to take the time to take bids on who can offer up an affordable funeral and of course, we have to pay that bill and bring everyone together to say goodbye. Which can be exhausting and as heartbreaking as the passing of a loved one… which is why compassion for those mourning is such a big deal. For they really are going through it and when a funeral parlor or anyone can cut them some slack, it is a wonderful and beautiful thing and well, that kind of compassion is top of mind today… simply because it was put on full display in the next episode of Good Grief. For when we catch up with the crew of the Loving Tributes Funeral home in ‘Play Nice’, they are mired in quite the ugly farewell. Because the deceased and how despised they were, brought forth conflict from some clients. Wherein one party’s desire to have a super deluxe farewell clashed hard with her brother and his husband’s desire to keep costs down. To the point where the whole thing appeared to be falling apart before Ellie and Dean’s eyes, meaning they would likely lose the client over business matters. Which prompted Dean to just step up and step into the heart of the matter. Wherein he came to learn that the real concern here was that paying top dollar for a jerk's funeral would create long term strife within the home for this newlywed couple. Which in turn prompted Dean to go the extra mile, and ease some of those financial worries and end the conflict that was brewing within the family by offering up some steep discounts. The kind that did raise Ellie’s ire, but in the end, it was the right call. Because compassion matters most above all things, especially when someone is hurting, and it was just wonderful to see this slice of kindness take place and be reminded of that message and to find some humor in the mix of such a choice as well. Because the revamped deluxe burial package, also motivated Dean to uh… become the entertainment at the wake, one that featured a soup, and let’s be honest, it isn’t every day that you get to see the man who paid the final respects to your loved one, bust out some serious karaoke in their honor and oddly enough, the humor didn’t end there. For this episode also caught up with Gwen in between those lovely moments and wow, was she a freakin’ hot mess over having her DJ business basically fail. Because she spent her days just trashing the house and playing games and walking about on stilts and well, this was just hilarious through and through and thankfully, it would seem that Gwen won’t be feeling this lost for that much longer. For Ellie did offer Gwen a shot at managing and revamping the social media presence of the parlor. An act that should give her purpose and direction at last, and hey… maybe she can DJ a few of the Deluxe Funeral musical numbers to help Dean out. But all kidding aside, this really was quite the lovely episode. One that genuinely spoke to all of us and reminded us that grieving is hard, and compassion is a big key to helping people through it, and we should provide that to others when death arrives and well… you simply cannot go wrong with a show that offers up that kind of message. Especially when the show revolves around what comes next after death and well, all this episode does is compel us to continue the journey, so we can see what other unique stories await us in season two of this wondrous series. Until next time.
0 Comments
Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Everything’s Trash’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
One thing that we can all agree upon, is that stories that focus on the majesty of romance… follow some pretty specific formulas and offer some pretty consistent messages. Such as how love doesn’t die, since we are often treated to stories where the spark is rekindled with the one that got away and that’s further expanded upon in stories where a couple has lost the magic of their love. Plus, these tales often speak to how love is right in front of us and if we just open our eyes, we can have it in our hands and of course… all of these formulas and messages are eaten up by audiences everywhere because they inspire hope in those of us searching for our one true love or those that have found it, are quickly appreciative of the love they’ve found in life. But while those are indeed feel-good stories that make us melty, they are in many ways misleading. Because love is a lot of work and not instantly magical all of the time and sometimes… those concepts don’t play out in real life like we want, as evidenced by this week’s episode of Everything’s Trash on Freeform. For ‘Rom-Coms Are Mostly Trash’ is a story that took those tropes and exposed how easily manipulated they are within the world of romantic stories. For instance, Jayden and Jessie came to learn that keeping the spark alive isn’t the instantaneous and easy act as it is portrayed in storytelling. Because they very much wanted to spice up their sex life, only to learn that the moment wasn’t always there and sometimes making the attempt can be awkward as well. But it can be done with a little planning and care, but one should never expect it to be in the moment and as magical as it is in say, the movies. However, that wasn’t the only rom-com trope/cliché that this episode was eager to bust. For Malika’s reunion with an old flame, a former NFL player no less… would have played out in the happiest of manner in a traditional romance story. Since they reconnected after all these years and quickly found the spark and seemed to be barreling toward something quite special since he finally appeared to grow up and embrace love and the importance of being an unselfish lover. But it didn’t take long for Malika to discover… he hadn’t grown at all. He was as selfish as he was when they parted ways, and he only wanted Malika around to serve his needs and his wants. Making it clear that sometimes the spark is an illusion or lustful in nature, and we need to be honest with ourselves about whether that’s actually what we need in life or if we should search elsewhere for the right kind of love, which is what Malika did, since she left him behind. Yet while those two plot threads would have been enough to make it clear how much the rom-com gets wrong, Phoebe’s journey in this tale went after another cliché as well. Since she came to discover that Michael, not only had the ‘lengthy’ goods to titillate a woman’s desire, but that she might have feelings for him. Which would be, the perfect rom-com scenario, one grounded in love being right before our eyes and well… that motivated Phoebe and Michael to cross that line and come to discover… that trying to hook up with your roomie/close friend might turn out to be awkward AF. Because the chemistry wasn’t there and every move was uncomfortable and the kiss they shared, had zero spark in the slightest. Making it clear that sometimes the love we think is right in front of us, isn’t there, and if we didn't feel a hint of that fire or a hint of chemistry early on, we should probably leave it be. If anything, this was just… a brilliant episode through and through. One that did a phenomenal job of thumbing its nose at the many clichés that romantic comedies send our way, while also speaking to how they’re not a total write off. Because we do love the idea of love and we do love the pursuit of it and the feelings it evokes. So, we should instead, use those stories as a pick me up, rather than a guide as to how things are going to go, so we don’t find ourselves disillusioned when things don’t go according to the movies, and that’s a great message to find here. One that was sent our way in a damn hilarious manner as well, since so many shenanigans ensued from all three of these storylines and, now that we’ve reached the end of this lesson, the time has come to patiently wait for the next one from of the smartest comedies on the air right now. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Paper Girls’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
Over the course of the past few weeks, our discussions revolving around the Prime Video series, Paper Girls, has focused heavily on concepts revolving around the future and how it weighs heavy on our minds. For the series has dug deep into such matters and it has even pondered upon what it would be like to see ourselves in the future and the dangers and disappointments that could accompany such a feat. But after spending a great deal of time exploring all of that in the first three episodes, it would seem that such concepts are going to take a backseat going forward. For the next episode of this dynamic series, more or less wrapped up such matters, in order to focus on the Time War surrounding our heroes. Which does make sense, since there are grand events surrounding the Paper Girls and that needs resolution… as does the fact that they are still eager to get home and enjoy 1988 once again. Which is why ‘It Was Never About the Corn’ worked fast to resolve all the hanging plot threads created in 2019. Since we came to learn that Future Erin was in a family fight to get her mother’s house sold and after confronting Missy over such matters, there was little left in 2019 for Erin to be concerned with, freeing her to do more. Not to mention, things got weird for Mac. Because her brother Dylan, figured he could adopt his sister as his daughter and well… Mac struggled with the fact that her brother grew up and would treat her like a dad, and that she’d be an equal to her nieces and that made it easier for her to pull away when the time was right. Because despite some misgivings on Larry’s part, since he wanted Future Erin and the Paper Girls to join the fight with his awesome robot that was also a time machine… he eventually acquiesced to her very specific request regarding the Go-Time-Bot. In that, these girls needed to get home. For they were young and had their whole lives ahead of them and it would be awful to try and ask them to join in mortal combat for a cause that they have no ties to. Which led to all kinds of preparations to depart to 1988 in the machine. The kind that saw everyone race against time to not only learn their roles regarding the machine, but to rescue Mac from the future. In part because the vortex to escape was about to hit at a specific time, but also because… trouble had finally found the Paper Girls in 2019. For Prioress was closing in on all of them, to the point where she came within inches of dealing with KJ and Mac at the local Chili’s where Mac was convinced to return with the crew. Which made for quite the intense finale, where Prioress was constantly on their heels and causing all kinds of trouble. But in the end, the robot time machine managed to escape with everyone intact and should… be on its way to back to 1988. Unless time travel gets tricky in this story as it often does within this genre. But in the end, it was nice to see our heroes and our villain come closer to interacting and to see… the first on screen appearance of Grand Father. Since he did pop up in the closing moments of this tale to express his disdain for Prioress being just a few seconds behind. Either way, it’s obvious now that the story is shifting gears and taking us into the heart of the war and the chase for the Paper Girls and that’s not a bad thing by any means. For it finally ups the stakes and gives us a look at the Time War and of course… it means we can enjoy more of the iconic Grand Father and see what the girls will become in 1988 with knowledge of what's happening behind the scenes, if that is indeed their destination and well… once again, the phenomenal writing here and strong performances just compel us to continue the journey post haste. So, we can see where this unique story is going to take us next, now that it is moving into a new phase in its structure and design. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘A League of Their Own’. To revisit the series premiere, click here.
When we last settled in to discuss the delightful and refreshing Prime Video series, A League of Their Own, we talked at length about how this series was unlike any other. For this was a sports show grounded heavily in relatable realism, providing the viewer with a story that truly engages, and of course… the series premiere hinted at great explorations on the horizon regarding what life was like in 1943 for African Americans and LGBTQIA+ individuals, and women in general, and well… it is important to revisit those key points, simply because the next episode in this magnificent and progressive new show… wasted little time in digging into those topics in an intense and detailed manner. For ‘Find the Gap’ quickly informed us that being an African American in the 1940s… was an awful and demeaning experience. One where Black people didn’t exist in the minds of some and where segregation ran rampant and that truly isolated and embarrassed Max Chapman in this tale and rightfully so. Because these were cruel notions to begin with, and they absolutely oppressed African Americans back in that era and watching that play out in real time, was sobering and heartbreaking and irritating. And kudos to the show for taking the time to showcase this reality and lightly point out in the process… that we have still have some ways to go from an equality standpoint, since uh… some of this crap is still happening in 2022. As for the show’s examination on what life was like to for LGBTQIA+ individuals in that era, that was handled in conjunction with what life was like for women in that same timeframe. For it was made inherently clear that women were viewed in a supremely specific light, wherein they had to maintain a very prim and proper image in 1943 and of course… in order to maintain that illusion, only men could be on a woman’s mind from an orientation perspective. Which was upsetting to learn and uncomfortable to watch, especially when one considers that secrecy came into play for Max when she wanted to be close to her girlfriend and well… that’s another aspect of the past we still struggle with today. Since there are people that want LGBTQIA+ individuals to ‘stay in the closet’ and of course, some still harbor some close-minded views of women and their place in the world. Speaking of that, the role of a woman in this world was greater expanded upon, by way of the first game for the Rockford Peaches. Because every single player was forced to endure sexism and misogyny and doubt when they took the field since so many didn’t believe that the AAGPBL was going to work. Not even the team’s skipper, the ultra-famous Casey ‘Dove Porter’, had any faith in what was happening here and that was powerful to watch. Since that speaks volumes to what these women had to overcome to be taken seriously as professional ball players and of course, it speaks to the rampant close-minded nature of our modern world and our past, regarding how some people believe that women cannot do whatever they want to in life, that they instead must fulfill old and outdated roles that provide them with little when they deserve the world. If anything, this was just, a brilliant story through and through. One that knew exactly how use humor at the right moments to loosen up some of the heavier stuff, and there was a lot of that. In fact, this is an episode that outright gives one pause with its intelligence and bravery and commentary on how things haven’t changed as much as we might like. But this series is having the tough and necessary conversations we need to right now, and it is of course… providing us with a stunning re-imagining of this world. One that is adding all kinds of incredible depth to a movie that could only take its own explorations so far, and well… all this episode does, is demand us to continue to the journey. So, we can watch these characters grow in an era where old ideals completely and utterly ruled the day. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 309 of ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
Normally the penultimate episode for a television series that is about to bid farewell to the airwaves… is either quite epic or quite bleak in nature. For this is the perfect time to set the stage for the series finale and invest the audience like never before and going dark, tends to pay off dividends regarding that. Which is why the penultimate episode of Motherland: Fort Salem is such an important story through and through because last night’s episode proved that it doesn’t have to be all gloom and doom. The next to last entry in a story can surprise us, bring us joy, and do everything it can to help the audience say goodbye in a somewhat happy manner since ‘But I Don’t Even Have a Dress…’ turned out to be a story that was supremely uplifting in nature. Shortly after, a touch of darkness surrounded the Bellweather Unit. After all, they were on trial in this tale, and basically being treated as examples by the Federal Government and the Camarilla to stir up Anti-Witch sentiment so President Silver and his lackeys could be rid of Witches for all time. But a stirring speech from Raelle at the darkest possible moment of that sham trial, combined with the stunning return of President Wade… put an end to this joke and the war on witches. In fact, Wade’s return set the stage for a seemingly grand end to the Camarilla, since almost all of Silver’s lackeys were rounded up and arrested, as was the false POTUS, bringing peace and joy back to America at last and well… good times inspired Raelle and Scylla to seize the moment and do something they’ve been wanting to do for ages. In that, the time had come to get married, and they expected Abigail and Adil to join them in a multiple union ceremony and well… that actually happened. Allowing for everyone to come together at last and do something that circumstances on this series have prevented for the past three years… and just enjoy life and all the wonder it has to offer. With Sarah Alder no less, since she survived the incident at the cavern and made it back to the world courtesy of Khalida, and this was just… wonderful. Because it allowed for this show to really lean into the lighthearted and bring characters scattered around the country (and globe) together at last and it was indeed wonderful to see unions happen, and joy to take place everywhere and well… this is where the series took the time to surprise us once again, courtesy of the return of Hearst. For he had gone missing shortly after Silver was placed in beautiful handcuffs and was simply biding his time to return to the forefront of the story. Wherein he and his henchmen released Silver from his cell and made their way to Fort Salem post haste to finish the work they started with the Mycelial network. A move that caught the Army by surprise and cost lives, including Izadora’s, and it of course, set the stage for the final battle after all. For the Camarilla have once again found a way to make themselves a nuisance by seizing Fort Salem and now the future of Witch-kind is indeed in jeopardy since the Camarilla are undoubtedly going to attack the network in a savage manner and do whatever they must to destroy it, so the powers that Witches enjoy can never be used again. Which means are indeed in for one grand battle between good and evil, one that will clearly be costly and painful and as epic as they come. But as we wait for our heroes to face off against the Camarilla one last time, we can bask in the wonder of a phenomenal penultimate episode. One that broke tradition and trope through and through to give us some much-needed beauty and joy, since these wonderful characters… really did deserve a bright spot before things get ugly, and they will, so it is best we soak up every single wonderful moment featured here. For now, that vows have been exchanged and first dances have taken place, the final battle between good and evil awaits, and it will be both epic and heartbreaking, and it will bring forth the end of a powerful and original three-year journey. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three and Four of ‘Darby and Joan’. To revisit the previous episodes, click here.
One particular aspect of life that we believe we can easily abandon or hide from… is our past, and it makes sense as to why. After all, what has happened… has happened. There’s no going back and changing yesterday so there’s really no reason to give it any license outside of acknowledging the moment. But while that mental mantra works on the small stuff, it simply doesn’t work on the heavier moments in our past and that’s why this line of thinking is flawed for certain. Because the stuff that really hurts from yesterday, it finds ways to haunt us and it never fades until we either learn from it, learn about it… or face it head on. If anything, the power of the past and the need to face it is top of mind today, simply because it was the focal theme of the next two episodes of Darby and Joan. For the third episode in this dynamic saga, saw Joan learn a great deal about her husband. Such as the fact that he was not named Ian and basically assumed Ian’s identity for reasons we don’t know yet. But her discovery of this unfortunate truth, was indeed made possible by the past. Since what was true was indeed un-erasable and that of course taught us quickly how the past never fades and to a lesser extent, how we need to face it. For despite the fact that the past broke Joan’s heart, she still desperately needs those answers, and it will be fascinating to see what else she is going to learn about the stranger that she married, since she is clearly not done searching for the truth. But while that was a vastly unique and subtle way to handle the power of the past and how it is indeed inescapable, Jack Darby’s journey in the fourth episode, was a tad more direct on how it impacts us and how we cannot escape it. Since the woman he left at the alter weighed heavy on his mind courtesy of Joan’s pain and the case they unexpectedly found themselves working on during Christmas and well, being forced to face that once again… put Jack in a supremely thoughtful place. One where he realized no matter how far he traveled or how hard he tried to lose himself in the world, the past was waiting for him and it was either face it or be tormented by it and thankfully, he chose the former option and began to own up to yesterday in a dynamic and powerful manner. However, while that journey made for some powerful and reflective moments, one cannot forget that this series is a mystery at its core, and there were plenty of unique cases for our heroes to investigate as well. Since these are a pair of tales that saw caravan thieves go after ‘Grey Nomads’ since they seemed to believe older folks were easy targets. Plus, this was also a block of stories that featured a painfully malicious and excessive revenge plot. Because that prank could have killed an innocent person and turned people against one another for no reason, making the man that committed it, about as stupid and shortsighted as they come. But of course, our heroes made it right, because that is indeed what they do. But all interesting cases aside, what matters more here were the powerful life lessons present about the past. Because such musings move beyond the journey of the characters and are designed to help us learn as well, and we absolutely garnered some wonderful insight here about how to handle the past and what it means to confront it and well, this is likely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to lessons of this sort. For there are four more episodes left in season one of this magnificent series, and still, plenty of self-work for Darby and Joan to handle, and it will be fascinating to see what their next steps are as they continue to learn and heal and grow toward finding peace in their souls and peace with their past. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of ‘Better Call Saul’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
We are taught from a supremely early age, to live life to the fullest. To experience everything, we want to and do whatever it takes to go to our final days without a single regret in our hearts. Because to do so means we threw caution to the wind and embraced the chaos of life and the wonder of it at the same time and well… it doesn’t take long when we reach adulthood to come to understand that such advice, is in fact… flawed. Because life is far more chaotic than we know, and we are going to make a bevy of mistakes as we chug along. The kind that will hurt people, hurt ourselves for that matter as well and the pain we create and the stupid decisions we make… will indeed haunt us and stay with us. Simply because, some things we cannot reconcile, and some things we cannot heal from and that… begs an important question. In that, what do we do then to find peace with our lives and the actions we’ve taken when we’ve reached our final days and discover regret is all we know? Or for that matter… how do we square that same problem when we have an epiphany regarding that at a far younger age? Well, those are questions that are supremely important to our discussion today, because it just so happened to be the focus of the series finale of Better Call Saul on AMC. For ‘Saul Gone’ was quite the introspective story for one Jimmy McGill and he had to face those questions… simply because his attempts to escape in this story from the police… didn’t quite go as planned. In fact, it is safe to say that Jimmy’s push to run was nothing short of a complete and utter disaster. For he wasn’t quick enough to evade the cops at his home thanks to the fact that Marion was able to catch his license plate and his attempts to slide away on foot were just as much of a failure. Because once the cops knew just who they were chasing… they pulled out all of the stops. Such as helicopters, heavier patrols, roadblocks and search points within the city of Omaha, and despite Jimmy’s best efforts to evade them by jumping in a gooey dumpster… the noise he made in an attempt to call for extraction, finally brought the cops to him and just like that, James ‘Saul Goodman’ McGill was no longer on the run. He was under arrest, and it wasn’t long before he was behind bars and awaiting extradition to New Mexico to face a bevy of charges for what he did with Walter White.
But of course, Jimmy wasn’t going down without one hell of a fight. Which prompted him to call up Bill Oakley and have him join on as advisory council. To throw a bone to an old friend and of course… to have someone present in the room to bounce around ideas. For Jimmy was eager to put together his own special deal with Federal Prosecutors and he made it clear that if he didn’t get his exact terms he would push for a magnificent mistrial and he would likely get it. Which brought forth the sweetest deal that a criminal in this country has ever received. Wherein Saul Goodman would only do seven years in a cozy penitentiary and despite the misgivings of so many and even the disdain of one Marie Schrader, that deal was basically set in stone.
However, a moment in that conversation, one where Jimmy tried to use the Howard Hamlin mess to add one more sweetener to his sentence… took him off guard. Mainly because he came to discover that Kim already told that truth and well, at first… it appeared as though Jimmy was going to use Kim and her knowledge of his actions as another bargaining chip. In fact, he had so much to say about that… Kim was alerted to the reality that she might be exposed in court and well… that brought her back to New Mexico to be there for Saul’s big trial. A moment where it seemed that Saul Goodman was going to get away with everything and come out on top once again and be the hero in his mind that he always believed himself to be and well… that’s when the story’s big questions came back into play. Because in that moment, James McGill made a powerful decision. Wherein he decided… to no longer lie, to no longer run and own up to everything he’d done over the past few years. A move that shocked the court and Kim no less. But something inside Jimmy straight up changed and he understood that coming out on top and beating everyone down to get there… no longer served him well in the slightest. So instead, he just embraced the truth and his mistakes and that brought him to an eighty-six-year prison sentence in a Supermax facility. Where he would ironically spend the rest of his days baking bread as he did in Omaha and where he would enjoy one last memory with Kim, since she visited him and properly said a goodbye and that… is how the saga of James McGill and Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul comes to a close… complete with one powerful lesson.
In that, when we finally come to the point where we realize our life is full of regret and full of mistakes that will haunt us straight to our final days or on our way to the grave… we have a choice to make. One where we can either resolve ourselves to the path, we mistakenly put ourselves upon or how we've lived… or we can shift. We can forgive ourselves; we can forgive others and we can do our best to square up with those we’ve hurt, by being honest and authentic. We simply own up to everything, and our foolish mistakes and when we do that… we can feel those regrets disappear and we can find peace at last and while Jimmy might not be in the most ideal situation because of that, the peace he made he with Kim and Chuck and everyone else that pushed him to be angry and to thumb his nose at the system… gave him everything he finally needed to feel whole. Which means that his finale, not only serves as the anthesis to Walter White’s journey but it really is in a weird way… a happy ending for Jimmy McGill.
One where he finally reached his potential and finally took ownership and found peace at last and you can’t ask for more than that from a character study and a grand tragedy. Where the tragedy isn’t negated in the slightest by Jimmy’s actions, since the tragedy remains that he didn’t do this sooner and well, this was in the end, the perfect finale. For this one truly wrapped up every thread in Jimmy’s story and every thread in the Breaking Bad Universe and it was so flawless and so utterly perfect, that there is nothing left to say about this story. We can only offer our thanks. To Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould for gifting us with this incredible series and all the powerful moments it had to offer. To Michael Mando and Tony Dalton for doing a phenomenal job of filling in two important blanks in this rich tapestry of a story. To Giancarlo Esposito for adding depth to an already well-written and dynamic character. To Jonathan Banks for doing such a wonderful job of showing us what brought Mike to the darkness he embraced in Breaking Bad. To Patrick Fabian for giving us the ultimate frenemy in Howard Hamlin. To Michael McKean for being the genesis of Jimmy’s pain. To Rhea Seehorn for turning in a tour de force series of performances, the kind that gave Kim incredible depth, and moved us every step of the way, and of course… to Bob Odenkirk. For giving us a career defining performance, one that will be fawned over for ages and well, that’s it, nerds and geeks. We’ve reached the end of a powerful journey; one we will revisit over and over again to soak up its wonder and one that will forever be remembered as one of the finest television shows to ever grace the airwaves. Written by John Edward Betancourt It is definitely safe to say, that Apple TV+ is quite the special streamer. Simply because this is a network that is eager to take risks when it comes to storytelling, as evidenced by their lineup. For every single original show and movie that Apple TV+ is host to, is unlike anything else on the market. And their desire to tell bold stories that push envelopes and start conversations has brought forth an Academy Award win for Apple TV+, and they simply don’t show any signs of slowing down when it comes to bringing incredible stories into our homes. Which is why today’s reveal is so important, since it speaks to Apple TV+ once again doing their best to bring forth a stunning story that will engage us and leave us thinking. For earlier, the network unveiled a first-look image and information regarding the upcoming series Shantaram. An adaptation of the internationally best-selling novel by Gregory David Roberts that will star Charlie Hunnam of Sons of Anarchy fame, and it is clear that this series will dive deep into the human condition and experience and well… here are all the details on this fascinating new series, courtesy of Apple TV+. ‘Apple TV+ today unveiled a first-look at “Shantaram,” a new drama series starring Charlie Hunnam (“Sons of Anarchy”), and based on the internationally best-selling novel by Gregory David Roberts. The highly anticipated Apple Original series is a hopeful cinematic love story coupled with a thrilling epic adventure that follows one man’s journey to redemption through a country that changes his life. “Shantaram" will make its global debut with the first three episodes of its 12-episode first season on Friday, October 14, 2022, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday through December 16, 2022, on Apple TV+. “Shantaram” follows a fugitive named Lin Ford (Hunnam) looking to get lost in vibrant and chaotic 1980s Bombay. Alone in an unfamiliar city, Lin struggles to avoid the trouble he’s running from in this new place. After falling for an enigmatic and intriguing woman named Karla, Lin must choose between freedom or love and the complications that come with it. In addition to Hunnam, the series also stars Shubham Saraf, Elektra Kilbey, Fayssal Bazzi, Luke Pasqualino, Antonia Desplat, Alyy Khan, Sujaya Dasgupta, Vincent Perez, David Field, Alexander Siddig, Gabrielle Scharnitzky, Elham Ehsas, Rachel Kamath, Matthew Joseph, and Shiv Palekar. The series is co-created, written and executive produced by Steve Lightfoot, who also serves as showrunner. Bharat Nalluri directs and executive produces. Andrea Barron, Nicole Clemens, Steve Golin, Justin Kurzel, also executive produce along with Eric Warren Singer, who co-created the series. “Shantaram" is produced for Apple by Paramount Television Studios and Anonymous Content’s AC Studios. Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have been honored with 250 wins and 1,123 award nominations and counting, including this year’s Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”’ Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two premiere of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’.
One thing that fans of television can all agree upon, is that the Power Universe on STARZ, is one of the most dynamic franchises out there. Because not only is every chapter (or ‘Book’ if you will), in this saga as compelling and tense as possible… but every single one of them, gives the audience what they want. For those that wanted to more of the St. Patrick saga, can enjoy Tariq’s adventures through Book II: Ghost, and those that wanted to see Tommy Egan enjoy his day in the sun, can do so by way of Book IV: Force. But what’s truly amazing about this franchise… is that it also knows how to properly flesh out the story of every single character in this universe and for proof… then look no further than Power Book III: Raising Kanan. For this particular series took us back in time, well before James St. Patrick wreaked havoc on his family and New York in the O.G. Power, to explore what drove one of the key characters of that very same series… to the life of crime that saw him clash with Ghost before his untimely end. Giving rise to a grand tragedy of sorts, one that would undoubtedly show us every formational moment in Kanan’s life since this franchise leaves no stone unturned and boy, did it deliver. Since we were able to see how Kanan’s mother Raquel, pushed him hard to be hard and be aggressive on these streets. Lessons that eventually drove Kanan to a difficult moment in the season one finale, one that left us curious as to whether or not shooting his own father would be another keystone moment that pushed him toward the darkness. But thankfully, our wait to enjoy more of this series and explore the importance of that moment, is over. For last night saw the series return to the airwaves for its season two premiere and well, what it provided us with was fascinating to say the least. For ‘The More Things Change’ is a story that saw Kanan… in a reflective place. For he wasn’t sure how to reconcile putting a bullet in his father’s chest, nor was he sure about whether or not this was the life he wanted to lead. Because the game required some sacrifices of the soul, and some dark actions and well… he spent a fair chunk of this tale debating as to whether or not he wanted to play it anymore. And even being back home didn’t help to convince him since all he saw was more of that sacrifice and how it pushed his mother to new heights.
In fact, Raquel’s behavior, and planning in this story, was powerful to say the least. Because now that she’d won and set up her own amazing distribution network via the projects… she was power hungry. To the point where she was beginning to make plans to expand. In fact, she was so ready to make things happen quickly, that she pushed the rest of her family quite hard, creating resistance along the way. But of course, family is everything in the game, and everyone appeared to fall in line with her wishes. But that might not last, thanks to some poor decisions and desires to be something more than drug dealers. Hinting at some conflict this season, and that might not be the only trouble that Raq could potentially be facing this season. Since the past was weighing heavy upon her in this tale as well, in the form of Detective Malcolm Howard.
For the good detective survived his gunshot wound after all, and more, since cancer was discovered in his body during surgery, which was subsequently removed. And being alive and slightly foggy due to memory loss, didn’t stop Malcolm from connecting the dots. Since Kanan’s file was still at his home and of course… he was eager to keep an eye on him and speak with Raq at the end of this tale. Which could bring forth all kinds of issues for the empire, as could Kanan’s decision about the game. Because at this point in his life, he had no taste for it, and wanted out. Which will create hurt Raq long-term since she clearly wants to build a true family empire here, and that should also bring forth a grand conflict within the household, and more tragic moments for Kanan. Since we already know that he will eventually acquiesce and join the cause. The only question now, is whether or not this season features more of that journey into darkness or if Kanan resists it at every step, which means we are going to be in for one epic season. One that should feature some stunning moments as the business expands and dreams collide and of course, this season will undoubtedly wow us every step of the way in true Power fashion. Since this franchise always knows how to deliver and how to shock us and this Book, most certainly assembled one incredible premiere here. For this was the perfect way to draw us back into Kanan’s world in the 1990s and it was a wonderful way to progress the story and well, once again… we are left hungry for more from the Power Universe and will undoubtedly be counting down the minutes until next Sunday’s grand chapter in this grand tragedy. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘P-Valley’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
Truly, one of the most difficult episodes to assemble for the writers’ room of a television series… is the season finale. For fans have high expectations about how those episodes should go and any level of disappointment regarding them, can make or break a series. Which is why so many work hard to wow audiences with stunning finales, so that expectations are met. But now and again, you run into shows that worry less about the spectacle of the finale and focus harder on the story and the logical conclusion to a particular year of storytelling, and it just so happens that the season two finale of P-Valley on STARZ followed that more organic edict. For ‘Mississippi Rule’ was a story devoid of catered shocking moments or unexpected twists and turns… everything here instead felt natural and fitting to this universe. In fact, it reflected the ups and downs of life to a tee by giving us a story that focused in part, upon the wonder of new chapters in life. For this story opened up with a new day in Chucalissa. Wherein Patrice was voted in as the new mayor, much to Andre’s chagrin, and where the casino referendum went through as well. Making it clear that a great deal of change was coming to this town, the kind that was going to be both good and bad. Since a hardcore religious mayor could lead to some unique conflicts while the casino prospered and well… those two revelations led to all kinds of ups and down in this story. In fact, the gaming referendum passing… actually led to quite the powerful reckoning for Hailey. Because she didn’t get her five million dollars for The Pynk and the land it sits upon, thanks to Uncle Clifford’s behind the scenes deal with Corbin Kyle. For the new casino would go up on his land, next to his body of water and that gave Clifford a chance to be rid of her at last. By using the finder’s fee that Corbin paid him… as a payout to Hailey. A move that prompted her to simply up and disappear (with some interest from the club of course) since she gambled and lost big before the casino ever went up, and she wasn’t the only one dealing with some hardships in this tale. For Keyshawn dealt with a horrible end around courtesy of Derrick. Since he figured out what she was up to and called the cops on her instead and demanded a divorce and sadly… it would seem Keyshawn is off to jail now for crimes she did not commit. However, while it was devastating to watch Keyshawn be betrayed by Derrick in the worst possible way, there were a lot of bright spots to be found in this tale. After all, Mercedes finally has her daughter home again thanks to a long overdue rehab stint for you know who… and Ernestine came home from the hospital at last, and she was Covid-free and ready to party. In fact, her return home brought about a grand celebration at The Pynk. One where another moment of majesty took place. For despite running into some road bumps regarding their love, since Uncle Clifford flippantly asked Murda to shove off because of the tour… Murda didn’t hear a word Clifford said. Instead, he opted to attend the party and declare his love for Clifford at last, giving these two the shot they finally deserve and well… that’s about as happy an ending as one can get for this season of storytelling. Since there was a dangerous gang related surprise at the end of this tale, the kind where the proverbial chickens came home to roost. But aside from that… this was indeed a bittersweet tale, one that truly reflected life, and that is what this show has always worked toward and offering up a finale that speaks to new chapters and new beginnings and unfortunate sorrow, makes this the perfect finale for this show. One that reminds storytellers everything that the end of the season doesn’t have to be epic, it just has to be good and reflect what the show stands for and well… now that we’ve reached the end of a powerful and incredible season, all we can do is hope for more of this amazing world. For as of press time, this series has not yet been granted a season three, and hopefully STARZ does so quick. For this is a series unlike any other and deserves to continue… so we can learn more about life in Chucalissa and see how these incredible people continue to grow. Until next time. |
Archives
December 2024
|