Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Dark Winds’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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There was a time, where the cliffhanger was reserved for penultimate episodes or season finales when it comes to television. Simply because that really seemed to be the perfect time to startle the audience and leave them hanging with an ending that took their breath away and/or left them worried about the fate of a particular character. But as peak television continues along, writers and other creatives are starting to understand that with a little care, cliffhangers can find their way into regular season storytelling and be impactful and move us in an epic manner and for proof… then look no further than what the AMC series, Dark Winds, is doing in its second season. After all, the season two premiere brought forth a cliffhanger to kick off the new season.
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One that saw Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee stranded in the desert after that creepy dude blew up Leaphorn’s cruiser, and to complicate matters further… Jim was badly injured. Leaving all of us to wonder how they were going to get out of this mess and whether or not Jim would survive his injuries, and that was quite the impactful cliffhanger. One that thankfully, the next episode resolved quickly. For ‘Wonders of the Unknown’ immediately informed us that Joe basically willed his and Jim’s way to safety, by dragging Jim through the desert, and he did not slow down except when needed and that led… to a roadside rescue that brought them to the hospital. Where Jim could finally get the medical attention he needed, and this also allowed for Joe to enjoy a moment of respite. 

Which he desperately needed since he had to process the fact that the past was being dredged up and that there might be more to his son’s death than he ever knew. And that was so overwhelming and so powerful, that it bled over into his investigation briefly. To the point where Joe made sure to push those negative emotions down, to properly understand the nature of the People of Darkness and their involvement in this mess. However, while Joe did indeed cool down as needed, that didn’t help the investigation. For he received conflicting information on the POD and their motivations. To the point where it seemed as though, there was nothing to go upon and that brought forth, a touch of downtime in this story. Wherein we were able to see the characters grow and live their lives during this unsettling time.  

That brought forth, a surprise from Bernadette, since she revealed to Joe that she was ready to move forward in her law enforcement career. Which was why she applied for a position with the Border Patrol, which was hiring Indigenous Americans soon, and we also saw Emma deal with the hardships and impact of bad laws on the reservation, and this downtime and ironically the case… allowed for us to really dive into Joe’s life and past. And learn about the kind of father he was and learn about the tense dynamic he shares with his own dad. Since his father had information about the POD and whom Joe should speak to regarding them, and that required an uncomfortable visit, and it was fascinating to see the tense dynamic between these two and come to understand how that shaped Joe into the man he is today. All of which, just enriched this universe further.
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But eventually… the case progressed in a shocking manner. For while Jim was healing and while life was being lived… that creepy dude was up to no good. For he assembled a new explosive designed to kill Thomas Charley’s son. And that, and the cliffhanger at the end of this story here… made it clear that this case is going to be… quite racially motivated in nature. Because clearly, this mystery man is targeting Indigenous Americans on the reservation, for reasons we do not quite know, and what’s scary… is that this may not be his first time in doing so. Since Benny Charley revealed, that this man had been around about the time that Joe’s son died, making him the prime suspect in Joe’s mind for what happened regarding that explosion, and that reveal set the stage for grave concerns going forward.

Since it meant, someone sanctioned such actions and had no qualms targeting Indigenous Americans, and clearly… all parties involved seem ready to move forward in causing more harm to a people that have seen plenty. And next up in harm’s way appears to be Jim Chee, since creepy and pasty guy made his way to the hospital in disguise with malice in his heart, giving us another powerful cliffhanger. Which of course, is one of many good reasons to celebrate another brilliant chapter in this saga. Because this episode really did showcase the wonder of the cliffhanger and how it can work in everyday storytelling, twice over even. Plus, it also did a fine job of expanding this universe and grew the characters and set the stage for the investigation to come in a powerful and engaging manner and well, all we can sadly do now… is wait for more of this magnificent series, and all the incredible storytelling it sends our way. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episodes 105 and 106 of ‘Praise Petey’. To revisit the previous two episodes, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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For the most part, animated comedies tend to steer clear of the rules of traditional television and it makes sense as to why. After all, they are set in a world of pure imagination, and are designed to make us laugh and laugh hard. So, there’s no need to follow up on prior storylines and concepts, unless big laughs can come from that again, and there’s no need to dive into deeper stuff or backstories and/or really grow the characters, unless there’s a big reason to do so, or an empty spot in the season to fill. Which is why the new Freeform series, Praise Petey, is of note. Because this is an animated comedy that is eager to offer up traditional storytelling and for proof, just look no further than this week’s episodes.

Because ‘Barn Wedding’ and ‘Not-Sad Adult Birthday’ took the time to follow up on past plotlines and added depth and backstory to Petey and her world, and helped her to grow, and that made… for a pair of phenomenal stories. The kind that showcased what animated comedies are capable of, and all it took to get such brilliance going, was that follow-up. For early on in this block, Petey was working hard to figure out how to make a sustainable economy in this place that didn’t involve robbing people and well, what she came up with… was ingenious. For she figured out that New Utopia could use the town barn to host super wedding packages with an epic price tag. And all they had to do to make this successful was keep all the weird wedding traditions away that her dad put in place. Such as the hardcore nudity and ceremonial fertility tortoise, and well… for a time, it appeared as though Petey’s plans were going to work and be free from drama and weirdness.

For she booked a big wedding and the elders and the other more oddball citizens of New Utopia were sent off to find pinecones, to avoid the hardcore nudity. But alas, there was still weird to be found in this wedding, since this turned out to be the wedding for her ex, and well… that meant that Petey was going to have to face one the big reasons she came down to New Utopia and her past life in general. Because the bride to be, was very much like the Petey of old, and that brought forth a supremely powerful journey for Petey. One where she faced the worst parts of her past head on, reconciled her heartbreak, and embraced her new life and of course… found a way to blend together the weird of this town with her new revenue stream. Granted, she had no choice because the tortoise and the others crashed the wedding, but hey… she made it all seem like part of the plan when the moment was right and that deserves a round of applause.

Yet, that wasn’t the only aspect of the past that Petey had to deal with in this tale. Because she found her birthday to be quite the somber affair. For she was reminded of the fact that no one ever really took the time to celebrate her on this day. After all, Petey’s bestie got so freakin’ drunk on Petey’s birthday that the ugly shenanigans that ensued pulled all the attention away from the birthday girl and for that matter, Petey’s mom was never around for birthday shenanigans because she was in New Utopia doing a one mom show about Petey’s birth. Which put Petey in a tough and somewhat self-indulgent place. Because all she wanted was to change that pattern and overcome and feel loved and well, moving to New Utopia allowed for those wishes to come to life. Since Bandit kept her from doing something dumb and Eliza, made sure Petey felt loved on her birthday for the first time ever and made sure mom was present for a change as well.

All of which, brought forth growth for Petey and signs of better days ahead. But what mattered more, is that both of these tales were deeply connected to past episodes and did a wonderful job of following up on past storylines and that made this feel more like a traditional comedy series for certain and speaking of the comedy… well it was simply top notch here. After all, the whole tortoise thing was just rip-roaringly hilarious, as was the town’s response to the one mom show about the birth and life of New Utopia’s present leader and well, all of these elements combined to bring forth one magnificent episode. One that made it clear that Praise Petey is the most refreshing animated comedy on the air right now, and this really does leave us eager to see what other surprises await us in New Utopia as season one of this magnificent show continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘Minx’. To revisit the Season Two Premiere, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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When we look at people in this world that are true titans of their career field, we feel a sense of admiration and we see joy and peace in their eyes, and rightfully so. Because they achieved their dream, and we absolutely admire that and long for that… and of course… by living their dream they have to be at peace with themselves internally. And truth be told… a fair majority of them are indeed experiencing just that. But not everyone. Because sometimes… the admiration we send their way and the awe we endure over what they’ve obtained emotionally… is deemed as something they do not deserve. For they aren’t sure they belong at the top of their field, nor are they certain this ride will continue.
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Simply because… imposter syndrome is a very real thing in this world and it can strike even the most successful in their field with worries in that vein and well, this is something we don’t talk about all that often in our world because of how much we believe success fixes all. But we should discuss it, and showcase it, for it can wreak havoc on the minds of the successful and they too, need nurturing and guidance despite being at the top and that is why this week’s episode of Minx on STARZ is of note. Because ‘It’s okay to like it’ showcased imposter syndrome and its impact upon people and how hard it can be to shake and it accomplished this feat, by way of a red-letter day at the Bottom Dollar offices, for Rolling Stone had dropped by… to do a feature on the magazine. 

Which Doug saw… as a prime opportunity to showcase what a brilliant publisher he was. To the point where he had Carl Sagan (yes, THE Carl Sagan), hang out around the offices to help reinforce his genius since he was launching, Beyond, the definitive Sci-Fi magazine, with Carl’s work. Yet while he was eager to have Carl talk to the folks from the Stone and felt quite proud of its structure, this was all designed to shake a nagging reality. In that, Doug was beginning to understand that being viewed as a genius publisher was an impossibility. For in reality, he was seen as the merch man in this office, as ‘Mug’ Renetti, and he didn’t want to be that, despite the success his merch line brought forth. But that was his role here, that was where he succeeded, and it took words from Constance to hammer that home and help the audience understand that sometimes… imposter syndrome pushes us away from what we are good at, because we cannot make peace with what we truly succeed at in this life.

That just so happened to be an aspect of this syndrome, few have ever discussed on television, but that tracks, since we’ve all known someone or been the person that tries to hide from what they’re really good at. But to really drive home the power of this problem, Joyce was the one who exhibited the more traditional iteration of it. Because she spent her day, avoiding the reporters from Rolling Stone, for some silly reasons. For she claimed her aversion to an interview related to worries about Rolling Stone using its power and reporting to make her and Minx look bad in the public eye. But as the day went on, it became clear that Joyce was hiding for deeper reasons, the kind that were revealed in an intimate moment with said reporter. Wherein he called her to the carpet on the fact, that she was worried about being seen as a fraud. As though this was all some stroke of luck, and she confirmed just that. Which was… the perfect way to showcase the power of imposter syndrome. Since that explains so much about Joyce’s behavior over the past two years and that adds incredible depth to her and makes her more relatable than ever.

Because of our own battles with imposter syndrome, and battles to come. For it touches all of us in some form or fashion and it is in fact, beatable. Since we came to learn here, that speaking to or being confronted of our worries helps greatly with this, as does acceptance and enjoying the ride and well… while those were some cerebral storylines, we’d be remiss to not point out that the show’s trademark humor and heart were present here as well. Courtesy of that whole Sagan storyline, and the other historical cameos here, such as Annie Liebowitz and Linda Ronstadt. Not to mention, Shelly and Lenny’s swinger party was as awkward as can be, but the decision Shelly made about coming back to Minx was quite the delight. In the end however… all of these elements brought forth another brilliant episode. One that really did tackle an important topic and it will be interesting to see if Joyce and Doug will take what they’ve learned to heart and rise to the occasion and enjoy this wild ride. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘The Wild Sides’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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One particular fact about the world that every human being learns early on in life, is that outside of our world… where temperatures are comfortable and safety surrounds us, alongside plentiful food and water… things are rough. For there is no shelter for animals to run to when rain and snow comes pouring down. Nor can they cool off or heat up when the temperature changes. They simply are in the thick of chaos and are forced to work hard to survive. Which gives us gratitude and comfort over the fact that we have figured out how to avoid that world and thrive within one that truly is controlled and safe. But what’s fascinating about our general understanding of the world, is that it is quite topical in nature.

Because in reality, what wildlife in the world experiences, is actually far more harrowing than we know. For animals suffer in this world and push hard to see another tomorrow while we eat and drink and sleep in our comfortable beds. Which is why, it is important sometimes to see what this is like. In part to remind us of how good we have it on days where the world we’ve designed seems to weigh us down, but also… to just understand our world through and through. For we often forget that we share this planet with creatures untold and that our world really is quite the harsh and angry place where good and bad happens every moment in the wild, and it just so happens… that a new documentary on BBC America showcases that chaos, and that made the series premiere of The Wild Sides, quite sobering.

Simply because ‘The Drought’ held nothing back in showing us how hard life can be for animals and what it takes for them to survive and it accomplished that feat by plunging us into the Mashatu Wilderness in Botswana, where a four-year drought had been taking place when the film crew arrived and well… what that reality showcased was powerful to say the least. Since this crew was able to follow a bevy of animals as they worked to figure out what to do with the water supply basically depleted in their corner of the world, and that led to some incredible decisions for certain. Such as resorting to eating other animals some species normally wouldn’t consume to ensure they had food and water, while also suffering greatly as they forged ahead and waited for rains that sadly… never came and that… pushed the animals that lived here to do something quite extreme.

In that, they all packed up and moved toward a river, one that elephants in this region knew by heart. All because water is what fuels all life on Planet Earth, but even that quest… was wrought with difficult times. For so many had to be on guard, for every animal in the area was headed to the river, predators included. Which brought forth more loss, more suffering and eventually, outright worry. For when the day arrived, and everyone reached the riverbed… there was nothing to be found. Just mud and sand, making it appear as though the worst-case scenario was about to occur. But thanks to the elephant family in this story, water was discovered beneath the ground… and everyone drank side by side and settled into this strange dryish life. For there was still no sign of the rains and life of course, had to go on and that really was… quite the harrowing and powerful journey.

One that truly encapsulated the chaos that takes place on our world. Because nothing went right, nothing was planned. It was just survival of the fittest and extreme acts to see another tomorrow, and all the viewers could do… was sit back and enjoy this uncomfortable ride. One that really did show us ups and downs and everything in between in the compelling manner that only BBC America can provide. Not to mention, this was… a visceral examination as well, devoid of clever editing when the ugly stuff took place to really hammer home… this is the world, and it is indeed wild and chaotic and full of moments we no longer know. For we are the lucky ones and well… what’s equally as wild is that this is merely the beginning of the journey, and it will be interesting to see what other chaos awaits in this corner of the world as this fascinating documentary continues along. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Foundation’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

There are few things we enjoy and lament more in storytelling, than the introduction of a new character. Because new characters often bring with them unique moments and new dynamics to the story, and if the story handles things right… they also bring forth… powerful new adventures. The kind that takes us on a wild ride and progresses the plot. But we did mention that we don't always enjoy the arrival of new characters. For sometimes new characters arrive that really serve no purpose and just fill a space and that can be problematic for a story and an audience since it can create imbalance and take people out of it. Which means we oft approach their introduction with a touch of caution until we know the story knows exactly how to handle them, and it is safe to say that trepidation was present in the hearts of the fans of the Apple TV+ series, Foundation.
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For while it was amazing to meet so many new characters last week, we were hoping they weren’t just filler to help us coast along to bigger plot threads, since that would indeed sully the incredible work, this series has accomplished over the past two seasons. But thankfully, this week’s episode informed us that this saga knows what to do with new characters, since each of them served the plot well… and progressed it in a compelling manner. A feat these characters accomplished in ‘Where the Stars Are Scattered Thinly’ by reaching their destinations and getting down to business, and in the case of Bel, accomplishing their mission. For he and Glawen made their way to the planet of concern and informed us of how incredible they are as soldiers. Since anyone that stood in their way of getting to their informant, paid the price swiftly and dearly. For failure was not an option and well… they did indeed get to the informant and learn that the word of Seldon was being spread far and wide. Giving rise to worry and concern that war might come swiftly, since they headed back to Trantor with this ‘treasonous’ information the instant they had it in hand. 

But thankfully… war might be avoided. In part because Hober Mallow, Brother Constant and Poly, returned to the Vault at Foundation HQ. Wherein they were eventually greeted by the Hari Seldon that powered the Vault and they learned that this Artificial Intelligence Iteration of Hari wasn’t corrupted by evil or eager to sow discord. It simply wanted to flex its muscles to stay Godly and do its best to avoid the Second Crisis as well. Which meant that our heroes were given two missions really. One of which was to head to Trantor and open up negotiations with Empire in an effort to stave off war, and this mission could not have come at a better time. Since they could in fact, reach Trantor at the same time as Bel, allowing for them to explain themselves. Giving rise to the perfect distraction and mathematical conjunction needed to keep dialogue going over war, and as for Hober… well Hari had a special mission for him that we won’t learn about until later, but it is undoubtedly, in the same vein of preventing the Crisis that awaits. 

However, while those two teams set out toward the home of Empire, there were surprises brewing in the Royal Palace. After all, Queen Sareth really hasn’t had all that much to do in this story but offer some blunt words and wait for her chance, making her seem for some time as though she’s nothing more than a reminder that little depth exists in the worlds of Empire. But here we came to learn… she’s more than meets the eye. In fact, she is a supremely savvy ruler that has been playing Day for a fool all along. For she was concerned that the death of her family and her ascension to the throne, was set up by Day to bring her into the family fold and manipulate her properly into becoming his wife and bearer of Empire’s children, and now seemed like the time to push for the truth. Which was why she and Rue poked about with Dawn and Dusk to see if they would yield answers and why they set up a plant in the palace, to gain that truth. For if that was the case, hell would come to Trantor’s doorstep in the name of revenge, and it will be interesting to see if Day did indeed stoop that low. 

In the end however, this was simply one delightful tale. One that really did give these new characters purpose and direction. For now, they are part of the fabric of the universe and not just the expansion of it, and their purpose in this story is quite critical. Since Bel could in fact help the cause and keep the peace with his understanding of Empire and by coming to properly understand what the Foundation is about, and the queen could in fact… stave off a greater war if she learns that Day crossed that line after all by creating focused conflict. All of which, enriches this story further and adds depth and even raises the stakes. Since all of these threads really did inform us that Empire is more fragile than we thought and that this galaxy is a powder keg waiting for a spark, and it will take the good in all of these characters to prevent that. Along with the assist the galaxy needs from the reborn Hari Seldon and Gaal and Salvor, and truly… it will be interesting to see what comes next for this grand and sweeping story, now that the stage is set for very different kinds of conflict, all designed to save humanity from utter darkness. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Heels’. To revisit the Season Two Premiere, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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The prevailing belief that surrounds the pursuit of one’s dreams, is that reaching the top, and grabbing that dream… will lead to an instant transformation of our lives. Wherein our financial problems are gone since we’ve reached the top and likely received the deal of a lifetime, and where great peace washes over us. Because we’ve accomplished wonders, we have everything we want, and there’s nothing ahead but better days. Not to mention, our hearts will soar on a daily basis with satisfaction and wonder and there will be no more doubts in our mind that we belong here, nor will there be any doubts that we are on the wrong path or wasting our time. Because… we did it. We followed and obtained our dream. 
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We of course, hold to these beliefs, because we hear of such peace from those who have chased their dreams and won the day. But what’s unfortunate about this particular aspect of the chase and the big moment in question… is that those feelings and truths don’t come until later. Because nothing changes overnight and we must maintain what we have obtained, and well, that’s why this week’s episode of Heels is of note. For this hit STARZ series took the time to offer a realistic look at what life really looks like in the immediate aftermath of finally grabbing hold of what we want, and that brought forth a shockingly honest and raw tale. Since ‘The Journey is the Obstacle’ did indeed express how little changes in those precious first days after having what we want and how that reality can be difficult to navigate. 

For instance, in the wake of the big day at the fair, it really seemed as though the Duffy Wrestling League was on easy street. For the check from the fair was in hand, thanks to Wild Bill’s wild ride with the commissioner of the fair and that was cash that should have gone a long way. But alas, the phone calls from collectors were blowing Willie’s phone up nonstop, making it clear that while the league was now solvent and a money maker, that cash wasn’t magically going to start rolling in. They had to capitalize on what happened and put together another amazing show that would pad the safe, and that was a hard truth of how little things change in the immediate wake of success, and the show had plenty more to say about that as well, courtesy of what these dynamic characters encountered in the wake of finally enjoying the wonder of their dream. 

After all, Crystal came to learn, that the highs don’t hold forever. Because she was basically asked to relinquish the belt, simply because of the heat that was coming down on the internet and from Gully regarding the finish. Because the fans knew the rules and to stay legit and to keep that audience, it had to be addressed and, in that moment, a DQ of the title was the best way to handle that. Granted, Crystal didn’t see that right away, and that motivated her to fight for what belonged to her, and risk her standing in the process. But thankfully, Willie was there to guide her and explain to her the intricacies of this moment and that cooled her down. Allowing for her to sit in a holding pattern while she absorbed the hard lesson at hand about how there are still highs and lows after we find what we’ve wanted, and how that truth was not easy to swallow in the slightest. 

As for Jack Spade, well… he came to learn in the wake of success… that it wouldn’t transform him and give him magical peace just like that. Because he was still his salty self when confronted with what officials at Thomas’ school had to say about his son’s actions, and while the family won the day, he handled it wrong… and battled with Staci over that moment. Giving rise to the reality that change wasn’t going to come to him from success, he was going to have to work at it. And define the man he wanted to be and chase that, while enjoying success. Which was powerful to watch, since Staci has been waiting for that epiphany to reach her husband’s heart for some time now, and so have we, and this was quite the way to hammer home the lesson and explore what really changes us and how success can simply compliment the self-work since it gives us more to celebrate. Of course, he wasn’t the only Spade that spent some time in this story pondering upon the power of success and what it provides us with.
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Because Ace was on quite the journey of self-discovery in this story. For he spent a lot of time on the road and decided that just getting away from it all would help him finally find clarity. Because he came to realize in this story… that success did nothing for him. Sure, he was beloved by the fans and sure he was a talented wrestler. But success and adoration left him hollow because they didn’t provide him with what he really wanted in this life, respect. Respect from his friends and his family and eventually he came to discover… he was also desperate to find self-respect. And that brought forth the most intimate journey in this story since you rarely see people that are in fact adored like Ace, understand that reality and understand that the only way to get what they want is to look within and discover what their soul craves, and it will be interesting to see if this journey and its ending will help him find what we truly desires.

But more on that in just a moment. Because in many ways, all of these moments made it seem as though grabbing hold of our dreams… is nothing but a downer. But that simply is not the case. This was just designed to prepare people for the shock they will experience when they run into similar moments as the characters did here when they too reach the top, before showcasing… some of the immediate payoffs as well. Because success can bring forth new allies and bring forth new ideas and new opportunities, and when success is embraced… it can accomplish wonders. As evidenced by how Wild Bill made peace with Jack and inspired the perfect way to handle the league’s technical problem, by giving Crystal a chance to rightfully reclaim the belt and they even leaned into the theatrics of it and let Jack really explore his creative side and that led… to a packed house and a night of majesty at the Duffy Dome, wherein Crystal Tyler became a professional wrestler and the undisputed Champion of the Duffy Wrestling League. 

All of which made clear… the wonder of success and the magic that comes with finally having our dreams come true and well… this episode deserves a hard round of applause for going this route from a storytelling perspective. For it was… everything people need to hear in an era of human history where everyone is trying to chase their dreams in the digital age, and it was also… the right way to progress this story and keep it grounded and human and real. Because those are elements we love and respect about this incredible show and now that everyone has an understanding of what this new era in their life looks like and how it will take a little time before they settle into true happiness… we can turn our attention to some of the challenges that await the good people of the Duffy Wrestling League. Such as how Gully will respond to this rebound, since he is the thorn in the DWL’s side that seemingly cannot be removed and of course… what will come out of Ace’s journey and his horrible injury and stranding. Until next time.
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To learn more about Staci Spade’s journey in season two of ‘Heels’, check out our interview with Actor Alison Luff.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist. This article also contains discussions revolving around domestic violence and child abuse, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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For the most part, stories that revolve around the power of childhood trauma and its impact upon one’s psyche, tend to gloss over the trauma in question. Sure, we see it in brief flashbacks and sure… we collectively know that it harms people greatly, but that really is as far as these stories go and they instead focus… on the way forward. Of those tough days where the pain is confronted, and the healing begins and well… that’s both healthy and problematic. On the plus side, it does inform us that we are not defined by our trauma and that we can rise above with work and dedication. But on the downside… it glosses over a reality that we don’t acknowledge enough.
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In that, childhood trauma and abuse are alive and well in our world, and if we want to really address the core of trauma and ensure that it no longer impacts people in adulthood and stunts them, we must begin to have the tough conversations around this problem. Starting by acknowledging the fact that it happens and that it is a real problem, and we must recognize that it badly injures the mental health of the children that suffer from it, regardless of how resilient they might be. Not to mention, we need to see and understand how it shapes lives and how we think and function in adulthood. For by seeing the complete picture and its impact, will we finally be ready to just… put our foot down and fight to end this and one way we can start that conversation is through storytelling.

Because stories touch our souls in ways, we never thought possible, and they open our eyes to so much in this life since they can explore the facets of what concerns us, and it just so happens that a new series on Prime Video is eager to finally start this conversation. Which is a feat that The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart intends to accomplish, by holding nothing back. For ‘Part 1: Black Fire Orchid’ really does showcase the horrors of child abuse and how and why we let it persist, courtesy of an introduction to young Alice Hart, who seemingly has… the perfect life. After all, she and her mother and father live in a wonderful home away from the hustle and bustle of society, and there is a connection between them all, seemingly a deep one born out of love and care. But that is nothing more than a façade.

For we quickly come to learn in this story, it is born out of fear and control. For her father, expects his wife and child to obey his every wish and every command, and he will punish them physically if they do not comply. Not to mention, they live in isolation in essence so he can maintain that control and it isn’t until Alice wanders into town to explore life and the world, that concern begins to grow. But all are helpless to do anything but watch and observe as Alice and her mother suffers and well, it takes a mistake to free her of such horrors. One involving fire and destruction, and sadly more loss. Since that accident will likely bring forth the death of Alice’s unborn sibling, and even the bright light at the end of the tunnel of this nightmarish journey… is of concern. Since Alice is sent to live with her grandmother June, on her father’s side… and sadly… that household is clearly filled with unsettling secrets.
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But what makes this episode so powerful is that unabashed look at childhood trauma and abuse. And it does showcase what causes it, since we learn that there is some generational trauma at play here and of course… those deep scars enable rotten old dad to conduct what he conducts. But while that alone could have carried this episode, the fact that we see the places that Alice must go mentally, to cope with this pain, and see the fear in her and her mother’s hearts that exists, because they worry that dad will harm them at the drop of the hat… really hammers home the ugliness of this and other elements explore how… society lets it persist. Partly because, so many feel it’s not their business, but also because… our refusal to acknowledge its reality means zero proper protections and detections under the letter of the law.

But in the here and the now, that isn’t the case, and this is reality, and it is sobering to see on screen, and this is… only the first leg of the journey, which is equally as incredible. Because it really does mean, that we are going to truly see the impact trauma and abuse has on a child and how it forms our future and that is going to make for a stunning journey. One that will undoubtedly give us the same pause as this premiere and hopefully… start the conversations that need to be had. For this kind of visceral and unsettled life should not be endured by anyone. And if this series can make a difference and push people to look for the signs and step in, in all the right ways, and/or work to break generational trauma in their own life to ensure such horrors are stopped in their tracks, then every single second of this journey will be worthy of the discomfort it produces. Until next time.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Please enjoy this sneak peek and details regarding the brand-new Eva the Owlet specials that you can watch on Apple TV+ right now!
 
‘In honor of International Owl Awareness Day, Apple TV+ is excited to share a sneak peek clip on behalf of the four new “Eva the Owlet” shorts premiering globally on Friday, August 4. Based on the New York Times bestselling Scholastic book series “Owl Diaries” by award-winning author Rebecca Elliott, “Eva the Owlet” returns with four adorable shorts “Diary, Cheer Me Up, Up, Up!,” “All About Baby Mo," “Diary Doodles” and “Diary, Cheer Lucy Up, Up, Up!”
 
“Diary, Cheer Me Up, Up, Up!” follows Eva when she goes on a fly with Baxter to cheer herself up after breaking a pinecone she crafted. In “All About Baby Mo," Eva tells her diary all about Baby Mo after he covers one of her pages in scribbles, but she realizes how many things she loves about him. “Diary Doodles” follows Eva as she doodles how she feels while waiting for the rain to stop. In “Diary, Cheer Lucy Up, Up, Up!,” Eva helps Lucy write her own Cheer-Up List when Lucy feels sad after her favorite stuffed animal gets a hole in it. 
 
Since first being published, “Owl Diaries” now has eight foreign language translations and 11 million copies in print. Produced by award-winning Scholastic Entertainment (“Clifford the Big Red Dog,” “Goosebumps,” “The Magic School Bus”) with production services and 4K animation by 9 Story Media Group’s Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated studio Brown Bag Films in Dublin and Bali (”Doc McStuffins,” “Vampirina,” “Octonauts”), “Eva the Owlet” also features original songs by critically acclaimed musician and singer-songwriter Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums. Voice talent includes Vivienne Rutherford ("Eureka!," “911: Lone Star”) as the titular character Eva, Jessica DiCicco ("The Loud House," "Puppy Dog Pals") as Eva's mom, Dino Andrade (“Loud House,” “We Baby Bears”) as Eva's dad, as well as Romy Fay (“Best Foot Forward”), Sascha Yurchak, Jon Olson (“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” “Pokemon: Detective Pikachu”), Evie Hsu (“Team Mekbots”), Sarah Vattano (“The Uglies,” “Rise Up, Sing Out”), Pressly James Crosby (“General Hospital”), and Kenna Ramsey (“Rent”).
 
“Eva the Owlet” is executive produced by Scholastic Entertainment’s Peabody and Daytime Emmy Award-winning team including Iole Lucchese (“Clifford the Big Red Dog”), Caitlin Friedman (“Stillwater”), and Jef Kaminsky (“Signs of Survival”). Head series writers and Daytime Emmy Award nominees Annabeth Bondor-Stone (“Helpsters”) and Connor White (“Helpsters”) serve as co-executive producers, and Daytime Emmy Award nominee Damien O’Connor (“Angela’s Christmas,” “Angela’s Christmas 2”) serves as supervising director.’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

The main lesson that should be taken away from this episode is, don’t mess with things. When the Enterprise finds a mysterious fold in space that can boost their communications if properly utilized, they decide to run some experiments on it and see if it can handle all of Starfleet’s subspace traffic. All is going well, until it isn’t. Any signal they try gets lost or thrown back at themselves. That is, until they try music.
 
No, just kidding, it also gets thrown back at them and then everyone is forced to live out a nightmare of being trapped inside a musical. Now, a lot of shows have a musical episode, most of the time it’s done as a dream sequence. Strange New Worlds, however, does their musical episodes with logic, science, and sound plot. Because, they really are redefining the standard of how things are going to get done. Everyone is forced to sing their deepest heart’s desires or emotions and it’s really more than just a security risk, it’s a literal embarrassing hellscape for most. La’an pines after Jim Kirk, Uhura sings about her lost family, Una melodically gives Jim work advice, Pike fights with his girlfriend, in front of the entire bridge, in song, and Christine snaps Spock’s heart in half and grinds it to dust with a snazzy bar number. It’s one of the worst days on the ship, and nobody is getting hazard pay for all the emotional damage being done.
 
But really, the best part of the entire episode is when a Klingon ship shows up to blow up the singularity, only to get caught singing about how much they hate the Federation. Listen, we’ve all been there. It’s kind of understandable at this point. Amidst all the hurt and confessions, there are some touching heart to hearts and some friendships are strengthened. Sure, the confessions didn’t go quite as planned. La’an did finally tell Jim about their alternate timeline budding romance. Only for Jim to crush her by revealing that he’s with Carol Marcus, at the moment, and she’s pregnant. At least she and Spock can bond over their heartbreak.

Thankfully, Uhura is a literal genius who manages to figure out a way to break free from the torment of song and inspires the entire ship to sing and dance like they’re performing on Broadway. The good news is it works, and the bad news is everyone has to deal with the fallout of what was revealed during these musical numbers.
 
All jokes aside about Vulcans being cold blooded and unfeeling, if they do feel feels like Spock, they actually do feel a great deal. Watching Christine break Spock by breaking up with him in a very public way, was so sad. Seeing La’an finally take a chance and open up, only to be shot down, sucked. But, Chris and Marie really do need to learn to communicate better. Chris really does need to speak his mind, in a healthy, polite way. And no, no camping, unless there’s room service.
 
All in all, this was a fun episode, still heavily laced with so much emotion and pain. The whole thing was a great follow up to last week’s PTSD deep dive into war veterans. The glimpse into the interpersonal lives of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise was more than interesting, it was fascinating.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the shows and films being covered here wouldn’t exist.

What is genuinely interesting about summer, is how at its start, we are working hard to create a balance with mother nature. Wherein we can spend the right amount of time outdoors after being cooped up for so long, while also balancing our outdoor time with viewing time for the shows and movies we love. Since we know now that entertainment is just as important to our lives and our mental health as blue skies are. But that particular fight for balance… more or less begins to fade once we get into the dog days of summer. Courtesy of the sweltering heat that late July and all of August provides and well… this is when entertainment becomes quite important to all of us.

Because we need our shows and our movies to be free of that heat and that’s why networks and streamers are working now to make sure their late summer slate has more to offer, so we have something to enjoy and to keep our minds off of the sweltering heat, and STARZ is definitely doing a fine job in helping out with that. For their August programming lineup features some can’t miss television shows and a slate of amazing movies to watch and well, since you’re likely starting to ponder what your plan is going to be to beat the heat, here is the August 2023 Programming Lineup for STARZ, courtesy of STARZ… to help you make that plan and to give you the quality storytelling fix you need.

'STARZ announces its programming highlights for the month of August, with the second season of the adventure-filled “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham” heading down under to New Zealand and the seventh season of fan-favorite time-traveling drama, “Outlander” airing its mid-season finale. Meanwhile, the 1970s-set “Minx” and small-town sports drama “Heels” continue their sophomore seasons. On the film front, notable titles joining the STARZ app this month include Fear (2023), featuring “Power Book IV: Force” star Joseph Sikora, Marry Me, The 355 and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. STARZ will also air the live “Stand Up to Cancer” event on the east coast on August 19 at 8 pm ET.'

​Join ‘Outlander’ stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish as they travel down under and hit the road again for a four-episode second season – this time in the adventure capital of the world: New Zealand. The fun-filled travel docuseries “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham” returns August 11 with new episodes available to stream weekly on Fridays at midnight on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms and will air weekly on the STARZ linear platform at 9:30 pm ET/PT in the U.S. It will be available on LIONSGATE+ in the U.K. and Ireland.
 

• Friday, August 11: “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham” *Season Premiere

Episode 201, “Scottish Influence”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 11 at 9:30 pm ET/PT, 8:30 pm CT
Sam and Graham depart on a road trip…again, only this time their journey embarks for New Zealand! Follow the Scottish duo as they zip down mountains and come face to face with a terrifying apex predator. 
 

• Friday, August 18: “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham”

Episode 202, “Maori Culture”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 18 at 9:30 pm ET/PT, 8:30 pm CT
Sam and Graham immerse themselves in the rich culture of the Māori. The lads learn ceremonial dances, fighting techniques, and showcase the important honor of keeping ancient cultures alive.
 

• Friday, August 25: “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham”

Episode 203, “Taste of New Zealand”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 25 at 9:30 pm ET/PT, 8:30 pm CT
Don’t bee afraid to drink the milk. Sam and Graham embark on an immersive food and wine tour with local New Zealand businesses.

The first half of “Outlander” season seven wraps up on August 11 with the mid-season finale available at midnight ET on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms and internationally on the LIONSGATE+ premium streaming platform in the U.K. and Ireland, and linearly at 8:00 PM ET/PT in the U.S.
 
In the seventh season of “Outlander,” Jamie, Claire, and their family are caught in the violent birth pains of an emerging nation as armies march to war and British institutions crumble in the face of armed rebellion. The land the Frasers call home is changing – and they must change with it. In order to protect what they’ve built, the Frasers have to navigate the perils of the Revolutionary War. They learn that sometimes to defend what you love, you have to leave it behind. As the conflict draws them out of North Carolina and into the heart of this fight for independence, Jamie, Claire, Brianna, and Roger are faced with impossible decisions that have the potential to tear their family apart.

• Please note, there is no new episode of “Outlander” on Friday, August 4
• Friday, August 11 “Outlander” *Mid-season finale

​
Episode 708, “Turning Points”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 11 at 8:00 pm ET/PT, 7:00 pm CT
The pivotal Second Battle of Saratoga gets underway. Roger and Brianna search for Jemmy.

​“Minx” season two continues with new episodes available Fridays at midnight (ET) on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms. On linear, they will air on STARZ at 9:00PM ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada.
 
Set in 1970s Los Angeles, “Minx” centers around Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), an earnest young feminist who joins forces with a low-rent publisher (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women.  In season two, Doug and Joyce grapple with Minx’s explosive success, which brings more money, fame and temptation than either of them know how to handle.

• Friday, August 4 “Minx”

Episode 203, “It’s Okay to Like It”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 4 at 9:00 pm ET/PT, 8:00 CT
Six months later, Minx is front and center of the sexual revolution, and Rolling Stone descends on the Bottom Dollar offices to interview the gang. Joyce busies herself with work to avoid being interviewed while Doug tries to co-opt the reporters to promote his new science magazine. After partying a little too hard, Richie struggles to pull off a big shoot. Shelly and Lenny get into the swing of things and lead a sexual revolution of their own.

• Friday, August 11 “Minx”

Episode 204, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Sexiness”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 11 at 9:00 pm ET/PT, 8:00 CT
Joyce takes her eyes off the ball(s) and ditches work for her new rockstar beau. Doug and Bambi put their all into surprising Constance with a new, flashy idea for the company. Shelly returns to work at Bottom Dollar and finds it hard to focus.

• Friday, August 18 “Minx”

Episode 205, “A Stately Pleasure Dome Decree”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 18 at 9:00 pm ET/PT, 8:00 CT
Joyce and Doug head to Vegas to sell the international rights to Minx. Joyce runs into some colleagues from her past and competes for relevance. At Bottom Dollar, Tina aims to let loose and host a watch party for the Billy Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs tennis match. Shelly faces off on the court with a snide Minx model. Feeling uninspired, Richie explores his career options.
​

• Friday, August 25 “Minx”

Episode 206, “This is Our Zig”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 25 at 9:00 pm ET/PT, 8:00 CT
Shelly gets a taste of college life while joining Joyce on her victory-lap trip to Vassar. Doug accompanies Tina to her mom’s retirement party and learns some surprising news. Bambi connects with Richie on a trip of their own.

​“Heels” season two continues with new episodes available Fridays at midnight (ET) on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms. On linear, they will air on STARZ at 10:00PM ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada.
 
"Heels" is a story about the men and women who chase their dreams in the world of small-town pro wrestling. Set in a close-knit Georgia community, it follows a family-owned wrestling organization where two brothers and rivals, Jack (Stephen Amell) and Ace Spade (Alexander Ludwig), are at war over their late father’s legacy and their individual versions of success, while also working to find their own identity as a “face” or a “heel.” In wrestling, a “heel” is a common term used to describe the antagonist or villain in the ring, however, the line between hero and heel is much less clear for this sibling rivalry outside of the ring.
 

• Friday, August 4 “Heels”

Episode 202, “The Journey is the Obstacle”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 4 at 10:00 pm ET/PT, 9:00 CT
Ace begins what he hopes will be his journey of spiritual awakening. But meanwhile, back in Duffy, the collective elation from the South Georgia State Fair is fading fast. The financial vultures are circling after the DWL’s success. Can Jack balance his personal life and wrestling? How will the DWL follow up on such a smashing event? And can they do it without Ace?
 

• Friday, August 11 “Heels”

Episode 203, “Discord”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 11 at 10:00 pm ET/PT, 9:00 CT
Jack goes on the road to find Ace, hoping to bring him back home to Duffy. The DWL has been left in the hands of Willie, who uses the opportunity to stretch her writing muscles and start developing a Women’s Division with Crystal. Gully comes to town with an offer the DWL can’t refuse.
 

• Friday, August 18 “Heels”

Episode 204, “Heavy Heads”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 18 at 10:00 pm ET/PT, 9:00 CT
Crystal worries about her first Women’s Division bout. And as things with her and Bobby-Pin start heating up, Jack contends with a still-smarting Gully.
 

• Friday, August 25 “Heels”

Episode 205, “Who the Hell is the Condamned”
Linear Premiere Friday, August 25 at 10:00 pm ET/PT, 9:00 CT
A mysterious new wrestler surges in popularity in Duffy, igniting Gully’s ire. Gully demands the DWL make an appearance at Florida Wrestling Dystopia to make amends. Jack asks Staci to take on more responsibility at the Dome, where she starts raising alarms and clashing with Willie.

Available August 1:

• Above the Rim
• Acrimony
• The American
• Among the Beasts
• As Good as Dead
• Babe
• Babe: Pig in the City
• A Beautiful Mind
• Brokeback Mountain
• Brooklyn’s Finest
• CB4
• Clockers
• Dawn of the Dead
• Detroit
• Drumline
• Fear (2023)
• Gridlock’d
• Gringa
• Harry and the Hendersons
• Higher Learning
• Inside Man
• Inside Man: Most Wanted
• Leprechaun
• Leprechaun 2
• Leprechaun 3
• Leprechaun 4: In Space
• Leprechaun in the Hood
• Leprechaun 6: Back 2 Tha Hood
• Leprechaun: Origins
• A Man Apart
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith
• Origins of Hip Hop
• Philadelphia
• Pride
• Proud Mary
• Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution
• Single Not Searching
• Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion
• Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?
• A Walk in the Clouds
• When the Bough Breaks
• XXX
• XXX: State of the Union

 
Available August 2:

• Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon

 
Available August 6:

• Cinderella (2015)

 
Available August 10:

• Marry Me

 
Available August 11:

• Diana
• Heathers
• Hitman
• Kingdom of Heaven
• The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

 
Available August 14:

• Slender Man

 
Available August 16

• That Awkward Moment

 
Available August 21:

• The 355

 
Available August 30:

• Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

 
Available August 31:

• Alpha

 

STARZ

• “Men in Kilts” Season One Marathon, August 4 at 4:30 pm ET/PT
• “Power Book IV: Force” Season One Marathon, August 27 at 10:00 am ET/PT

 
STARZ Encore

• “Men in Kilts” Season One Marathon, Double episodes every night August 7-10 at 10:00 pm ET/PT
• “Power Book IV: Force” Season One Marathon, Every night August 28- 31 at 10:00 pm ET/PT

 
STARZ Edge

• “Men in Kilts” Season One Marathon, August 8 at 9:00 pm ET/PT
• “Outlander” Season Seven Catch-up Marathon, August 13 at 4:00 pm ET/PT
• “Heels” Season Two Catch-up Marathon, August 19 at 11:00 am ET/PT
• “Power Book IV: Force” Season One Marathon, August 29- 31 at 9:00 pm ET/PT

 
STARZ Encore Westerns

• Breakfast with the Duke- Saturdays at 8:00 am
  • Titles include: The Man from Utah, Texas Terror, The Trail Beyond, The Desert Trail
• Audie Murphy Collection- Saturday, August 26 at 5:00 pm ET/PT
  • Titles include: Destry, Gunsmoke, Kansas Raiders, The Quick Gun
• Classic TV Westerns Weekdays at 2:00 pm ET/PT
  • Titles include: The Deputy, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Wagon Train, Laramie, Lawman, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Rifleman, The Virginian

 
About STARZ
STARZ (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company, is a leading global media streaming platform committed to delivering premium content that amplifies narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences. STARZ is home to the highly rated and first-of-its-kind STARZ app that offers the ability to stream or download STARZ premium content, as well as the flagship domestic STARZ® service, including STARZ ENCORE, 17 premium pay TV channels, and the associated on-demand and online services. In 2018, STARZ launched its international premium streaming platform STARZPLAY, now LIONSGATE+, to provide subscribers access to bold, curated storytelling. LIONSGATE+, coupled with the STARZPLAY ARABIA joint venture in MENA and Lionsgate Play in South and Southeast Asia, has a footprint that extends across the globe. STARZ and LIONSGATE+ are available across digital OTT platforms and multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies around the world. In February 2021, STARZ launched #TakeTheLead, a multi-faceted and innovative inclusion initiative expanding its existing efforts to improve representation on screen, behind the camera and throughout the company. ​