Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘Based on a True Story.’ 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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Stories that feature people that have committed terrible mistakes and wish to atone for them or are looking to move their life into a better direction, often end happy and it makes sense as to why. For we are a society that cherishes the notion of a second chance, and we of course love happy endings and are inspired by growth and maturity. So seeing those very folks, fight for their future and do the right thing, provides us with everything we need and want from a story and while it is indeed lovely to see people rise above foolishness and help us to believe we can do the same in the process… the heavy truth is that… the push to be better and to right wrongs, doesn’t always follow that beautiful little formula.
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Because sometimes, the mistakes we’ve made are irreparable and we must move on with lesson in hand and sometimes… we are just in too deep. For the choices we made were poor and awful, and put us in quite the quagmire. Wherein we don’t know what comes next and have to figure out to navigate this disaster and well, that unfortunate reality is top of mind today, because it served as the focal theme of the season one finale of Based on a True Story. For ‘The Universe’ saw Ava and Nathan Bartlett at quite the difficult crossroads. After all, they had indeed decided that they wanted to correct their mistake and be free of the awful situation they created by making nice with the Westside Ripper and enabling him and his special brand of evil.

But the hard reality that he killed Ruby and her left body on their summer home doorstep, made that complicated, because how on earth does one set things right when they’ve unleashed a true monster. One that was eager to exert control over those who attempted to challenge him, as evidenced by the fact that he partly killed Ruby to inform them how quickly he could bring their world crashing down, and by how he demanded they return home to a surprise anniversary party. Since he basically forced them to psychologically square acting normal while their friend’s body was gently rotting in the trunk of their car. In fact, Simon’s arrival only pushed them harder since he heard Ruby’s phone ringing and tried to get into the trunk of the car out of the worry that someone needed help.

Granted, there was some measure of kindness present in this act since Ruby was going to the cops after all. But that was overshadowed by that cruelty and by his expectation that they become little Mini Westside Ripper assistants and bury the body away from prying eyes. Which was equally as cruel and equally as dark, but this whole mess hammered homed… the monster was free now, and it was in charge and there was no escape any time soon from his clutches and his plans. Which involved killing again to add stories to the podcast and he was also eager to bring some of the faceless killers of the world on the show. Committing this couple to more darkness, more sorrow and that really did serve as a hard reminder… that sometimes… our great intentions are ruined by the situation we’ve created.
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Because any way you slice it, this couple was stuck now and well… that meant they had no choice… but bide their time. Just wait patiently to find the right time to be free and take control of their lives and make the best of a super s*itty situation. Which they figured out how do after all believe it or not. By focusing on what they had in front of them. Which was their love, their forthcoming child, and the other elements about their relationship they wanted to work on. Giving rise to some peace for now between them at least, the kind that will hopefully carry them to the big moment where they can escape Matt’s clutches, and it won’t be easy to maintain that… as evidenced by the surprise arrival of Simon at their beach house, while they were cleaning up Ruby’s blood.

But while we wait to see, how that gets handled in a second season and wait to learn if there will be a second season since as of press time, the show is not yet renewed, we can instead, take a moment to celebrate a unique finale and one amazing season of storytelling. For this show really did explore the dangers of unhealthy obsession with pop culture in a brilliant manner, and it really did go the extra mile by pondering upon how bad things could get in a person’s life if they did enable a serial killer to be a star, and really… in the end, this was just an original and refreshing story. Which is what television absolutely needs more of right now and hopefully we do get more of this dynamic show. To see this couple, find a way forward and bring Matt to justice, and to enjoy more of what it has to say about the human condition and the darkness we are drawn to.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Twisted Metal’. To revisit the Series 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 last settled in to discuss the delightful new Peacock series, Twisted Metal, we talked at length about how the show had accomplished some incredible feats. In that, it truly did capture the zeitgeist of the game franchise it is based upon, since the violent and twisted nature of those games were present… alongside an equally as delightful twist. In that, this world was expanded upon and featured a depth the game did not capture, allowing for this story to go in a fascinating new direction that would explore the bold new world it introduced, all while offering up some intimate moments with the new characters to this world… and the classic characters that the fans absolutely adore. Such as the one, the only, Sweet Tooth.
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For ‘3RNCRCS’ picked up immediately where the series premiere left off, with John Doe and his new friend Quiet (as John christened her), staring down the barrels of Sweet Tooth’s many guns. Which brought forth, another delightful tribute to the game since we were able to see Sweet Tooth’s crazy ice-cream van in action and enjoy some explosions along the way… before truly getting to know the man behind the clown mask. For a crash landing at the Monte Cristo Hotel and Casino, which was Sweet Tooth’s home base, brought forth a bold strategy from John when he realized… there was no way he was going to physically beat this towering clown. So instead, he should get to know him, try, and befriend him and see what would come of that. Which as it turned out… disarmed Sweet Tooth and engendered trust and allowed for us to finally see that Sweet Tooth wasn’t just the bloodthirsty, psychopath we knew from the games… he was a bloodthirsty, psychopath that also wanted to entertain.

Yes, that’s right. He wanted nothing more than to stun an audience with his acting skills and really move them in the process and since John was thinking on his feet in this tale, he was able to free Quiet from the prison that Sweet plunked her into when he caught her sneaking about the casino, to join them at Sweet Tooth’s really weird dinner show. One that basically featured… a dramatic re-creation of the ads that used to run on the casino’s internal channel and well, that led to a scary moment for John and Quiet. For Sweet Tooth really wanted to know if his performance was worthwhile and John couldn’t bring himself to speak to the fact that it blew chunks. But Quiet did, and that… allowed for them to live. For this madman just wanted a little friendship, a little honesty, and some feedback, and some advice on what to do next, and Quiet’s honesty, gave her and John a second chance at life and the freedom to resume John’s mission, and it also inspired Sweet Tooth… to seek out what feeds’ art the most… life experiences. 

Which meant Sweet Tooth the auteur was ready to burn down the hotel, hit the road in his van and meet new people, and probably kill them, to just live a different life and see what such experiences would do for him as an artist and well, that made for one brilliant and hilarious episode. Because truly, all we know of this clown, is his bloodlust, which he satiated in the game through a boatload of rockets and wanton murder. But here… he was more at last, since he was quirky and goofy and funny, and that gave rise to one great villain. Because like the greatest ones to grace the silver and small screen, Sweet Tooth hasn’t a clue he’s in the wrong or stark raving mad, he just follows his own path and his heart when it comes to acting and it was amazing to enjoy this introduction to a new version of Sweet Tooth, before seeing trouble unfold.

Because once our heroes were free, they ran into something quite unsavory in this part of the world. The Law. The very Law that Agent Stone has decided will be the foundation to reformation of the United States of America, and that’s bad… since we’ve seen what he envisions for that through what happened to Quiet last week, and through the introduction of his new deputies here. Which is why she was more than happy to go after the guys that hurt her brother, which of course… backfired. That means… another tough challenge is ahead for our heroes, and this will one be tougher than handling Sweet Tooth. Because unlike ST, Agent Stone really doesn’t have any soft spots or dreams to feed. He just loves law and order and that is going to make for another fascinating adventure and character study, from a wonderful and fun series that continues to surprise. Until next time.  

Truly, the Peanuts Gang and the many stories they’ve told throughout the years, hold a special place in all of our hearts. Because they are stories that speak to the innocence of childhood, and the wonder of imagination and those formative moments we all deal with that prepare us for the more difficult ones that lie ahead, and those are… timeless in nature. Because everyone can relate to them and everyone can find meaning in them, it’s just a bonus that there’s an awesome beagle included in those tales. But as this franchise and its characters continue to thrive in the 21st Century, their stories are beginning to evolve and offer meaning and advice to a new generation of viewers, as evidenced by today’s gift from Apple TV+.

For that network is now the home of the Peanuts gang, and since Apple puts forth some of the smartest family entertainment around, they revealed the trailer for an upcoming Peanuts Special, Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie. Which in turn showcases a story that not only gives Marcie the spotlight, for the first time ever in the franchise’s storied history… but also offers great depth courtesy of a unique journey for Marcie, and that is new territory for the franchise. The kind that is definitely welcome since why not let this franchise move to new heights and explore new potential in the new century, and well, to give you an idea of how amazing this special is going to be… here are all the details regarding it, and that trailer to prepare you for this new era in the Peanuts saga.
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'Apple TV+ today released the trailer for the all-new, highly anticipated Peanuts special “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” premiering globally on Friday, August 18. 
 
Sometimes the people who make the biggest difference, aren’t the ones who grab the spotlight. In “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” we get to see first-hand how our lovable introvert, Marcie, makes a monumental difference from behind the scenes both for her friends and her community. To train for the school golf championship, Marcie assists Peppermint Patty as her caddie, offering thoughtful and deliberate advice to help her win. Meanwhile, after coming up with brilliant solutions to her classmates’ problems – from hallway traffic jams to lunchtime pizza shortages – Marcie is unexpectedly elected as class president...a role she never wanted.  Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Marcie struggles to cope with the expectations of her new job and retreats as far from the public eye as possible. As the golf championship begins, Marcie is still in hiding and Peppermint Patty is forced to tee off with Charlie Brown filling in as her caddie. But after some wise advice and a little introspection, Marcie realizes she can still make a difference for her friends and the school – she’ll just have to buck other people’s expectations and do it her own unique way.
 
Produced for Apple TV+ by Peanuts and WildBrain, the special is directed by Emmy Award winner Raymond S. Persi (“The Simpsons,” “Wreck-It-Ralph”), written by Betsy Walters (“The Snoopy Show,” “Snoopy in Space”), and executive produced by Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, Cornelius Uliano, Paige Braddock, Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts and Logan McPherson. Cognitive scientist Scott Barry Kaufman served as the introvert consultant on the special. 
 
This trailer comes after exciting programming news from Apple TV+, Peanuts and WildBrain earlier this year announcing two upcoming Peanuts originals, including “Camp Snoopy,” a new series featuring Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts along with Charlie Brown and friends as they enjoy an adventure-filled summer outdoors, plus the charming new “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin” special uncovering the origin story of one of Peanuts’ most treasured characters and how he ultimately makes friends with Charlie Brown and the gang. 
 
The award-winning slate of original series and films for kids and families on Apple TV+ includes this year’s Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning animated short film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”; star-studded animated adventure film “Luck” from Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation; and, BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated animated film “Wolfwalkers.”
 
“Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie” is a part of all-ages offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV+, including the BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Get Rolling with Otis,” Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends,” GLAAD Media Award nominated “Pinecone & Pony,” “Frog and Toad,” The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Harriet the Spy” and “Slumberkins,” Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award nominated “Snoopy in Space,” “The Snoopy Show,” and Scholastic’s “Eva the Owlet” and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “Stillwater.” Live-action offerings include Bonnie Hunt’s DGA and WGA Award nominated “Amber Brown,” DGA Award winner "Best Foot Forward," “Surfside Girls,” WGA Award winner “Life By Ella,” Sesame Workshop’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.” 
 
Also included is “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times best-selling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including Emmy Award nominee “It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” “Lucy’s School,” Humanitas and Emmy Award nominee “To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” Emmy Award-winning “Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” and “For Auld Lang Syne.”  
 
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 earned 371 wins and 1,538 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
 
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $6.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free. For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.
 
*Special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device. One offer per Family Sharing group. Plans automatically renew until canceled. Other restrictions and terms apply; visit apple.com/promo for more information.'

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘The Afterparty’. 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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It is definitely safe to say, that season two of The Afterparty on Apple TV+ is doing something quite special. In that… it really is taking the show’s character development/exploration to outright new heights, through the various genres that the characters see their lives through. Since that is helping us learn so much about how the characters view themselves and feel about their lives. For instance, Travis’ Noir journey explored how out of touch he feels with the world, and Hannah’s explored her fascinating innocent view of the world and well… while this was present in season one, it’s just going deeper in season two, as evidenced by this week’s investigation. Since ‘Sebastian’ is a tale… that showcased how some men, or rather a lot of them… project an image and take part in machismo acts… to feel whole.
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Because we came to learn quickly in this tale, that Sebastian, was not the British gent we believed him to be. He was in fact, a kid from California that spent his youth hustling with his two idiot cousins to get by, and well… the more success he found… the more he changed himself and pushed himself to pull greater scams off. Which brought him to Edgar through one of the best cons of his young life, forging his way into a prep school. Wherein he met his match with Edgar and respected his no-nonsense approach to Sebastian’s way of life enough… to join him on every journey in life. Which went south when Edgar decided to fire him and that of course… helped us to learn how Sebastian, was not the killer we thought him to be. No instead, he was nothing more than a thief out for one last heist. 

Which at first, appeared to be the Crypto that Travis flagged. But in the end, it was just a misprinted baseball card that Edgar kept as leverage over his ability to outwit an old friend. And by getting it back and being the bigger and better man… Sebastian felt whole. For he outwitted his greatest foe and looked cool and macho doing it. Because he was a broken man, who had nothing to hold onto but his ego, and well… using the heist genre of storytelling, in the key of Ocean’s Eleven, spoke to that on a more global level since that made him seem so freakin’ cool and edgy, and really reflected the need for men like Sebastian, to project that kind of image to function and feel. And his journey also, ironically, helped fill in a lot of blanks about that night while still showcasing how small he was and how big he felt through the con and through bravado. 

All of which made for a fascinating story, one that was further enhanced… by the chaos the was brewing outside of the interview room. For the guests began to turn on one another in this tale to get answers and justice for Edgar, and that will undoubtedly lead to trouble down the line if not something ugly. Not to mention… there are more secrets to be had in this story. Making it clear that there is more to some of these stories than meets the eye. Likely a direct result of the escapist nature in which these guests have told their tale, and it will be interesting to see where those secrets take this story. But that aside, it really was quite incredible to see a crime themed comedy… go this deep with its characters and even explore toxic masculinity. Because you just don’t see that happen in this type of show.

But it speaks to the revolutionary nature of this series and the brilliance of its writing, and it leaves us hungry for more. To see how the others view themselves and how they use those views to cover up their flaws and their secrets and well… it would seem we are indeed in for some storytelling treats in the next couple of weeks. Since it would seem that the always happy-go-lucky Ulysses is one the radar as a suspect, and his story will let the talented John Cho shine and it would also seem… that Danner has some secrets of her own she needs to spill. Adding new dimension to her character as well, and that is going to make the wait for next week’s episode of this series quite difficult. Since we are hooked and eager to know who killed Edgar and we absolutely want to learn more about what makes these unique characters tick. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Finale of ‘Hijack’. 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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Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks that exists for the creative brain trust that puts together a revolutionary and unique story… is figuring out how to end that story. Because endings are important and they must be done properly to please an audience, regardless of what the story is made of. But when it is special… the ending must be extra special. For the audience now has high expectations and they expect it to wow them as much as the story before it did, or the whole experience is a waste, and well… let’s not mince words… that was the difficult task put before Jim Field Smith and George Kay regarding their revolutionary series on Apple TV+, Hijack.
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Because six hours of amazing twists and turns had to come together properly and had to continue to stun us and give us something satisfying and well… the good news is this duo and the talented cast and crew… did indeed stick the landing. For ‘Brace Brace Brace’ wrapped this story up perfectly, after initially offering up nothing but pure terror on Kingdom Airlines Flight 29. For when we returned to the plane in this tale, the passengers had indeed retaken control thanks to Sam figuring out that Stuart had the only functional gun, but there was no celebration to be had in vanquishing the hijackers. After all, the sleeper agent had the cockpit and there was no way anyone was getting in there… and they were changing course and heading toward central London.

Which meant, the Royal Air Force had to scramble jets, and the worst-case scenario had to be planned for. Since it really did appear as though KA29 was about to conduct an act of terror, and it was the lives of those passengers or the lives of innocents. Which made it seem as though… darkness was the endgame for this story. One where good people died, which would have been one incredible downer, but bold none the less. But this creative duo… wanted to do something different than just shock us and leave us in silence. They wanted us to walk out of this story feeling good, and in order to do that… the impossible had to happen. Specifically, good had to win the day, and the best parts of who we are had to seize control of the situation. Which is no easy task during a panic or while facing the end, as these good people were. 

But a stroke of luck and one man’s desire to do the right thing, brought forth a wonderful ending to this story. Now the stroke of luck in question… well that came forth courtesy of greed. Because the plan in the end was for those mobsters to make their money, order the plan to land, and move on with their rich little lives. But that wasn’t happening, because it became about the cash and nothing more, and that led… to internal rebellion. Where the mastermind was left dead and sadly… where the order to call the whole thing off, never arrived. That meant, the new pilot simply sailed along in silence, and everyone else waited to be shot down, which never happened thanks to cooler heads prevailing on the ground. But that quiet time… gave Sam several great ideas. One of which, was to get everyone’s phones back in their hands to call loved ones, to give them closure just in case since the unknown was ahead. And the second… was to try and talk the new pilot down. 
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In fact, the discovery of her phone, helped Sam to learn her name… which was Amanda, and he also learned that she had a daughter, and once he learned of the plan through her, and the broker of the stock deal… who was also on board… and realized that something had gone wrong… he worked to convince her… to do the right thing. To land this bird and save everyone aboard because if the plan had gone foul on the bad guys’ side, doing the right thing meant no harm would come to anyone or their families. And that led… to one powerfully tense ending. Wherein Amanda agreed to end this and let Sam into the cockpit so he could relay information on the ground to land this plane. Which Amanda did, albeit violently and just like that… so many survived and evil was vanquished because it didn’t get its way and with the authorities now involved, protection came into play for all. Including Kai since Daniel foiled that nonsense.

But what mattered more, was that justice was served. For all the hijackers were placed into handcuffs and while Stuart fought tooth and nail to not be caught, eventually… he was placed under arrest. Which meant… a happy ending came into play, one that was honestly… welcome and satisfying. Because let’s be honest, this wasn’t a flight full of flawed characters with dark pasts, who deserved this punishment. It was everyday people, good people in fact, and they deserved better. And by spending seven hours with them, and caring about them… the last thing we needed was shock and awe. We needed justice, and we got it, and the tension and the worry that preceded relief… was the perfect setup to bring this whole thing home and well… that is indeed all there is to say about this dynamic story. One that wowed us and took us on a phenomenal rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

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.

We firmly like to believe that growing up in this world, is a wholesome and beautiful experience, and understandably so. After all, modern society cherishes the wonder of family and encourages us to nurture our partners and our children if we choose to have them… so that… the incredible experience that so many speak to can finally take place. Where people grow up with parents that work together as a team to showcase what healthy love looks like, and at the same time, work hard to educate and grow their children. So, they become wonderful members of society that contribute and pay this mantra forward so that slowly but surely… the world can become a better place.

But alas… what is unfortunate about that belief is that… it isn’t the one true constant in this world. For out there are children that grow up in broken homes, without two parents present for various reasons, and their growth and learning experience is vastly different because of that. And there are children that spend their youth in shockingly toxic environments. The kind that are filled to the brim with abuse and negatively reinforced formative moments and well… let’s not mince words… we simply make a point to not acknowledge that in this world. For that would shatter the mantra in question and force us to realize that we as a society, aren’t working to improve lives, we simply hope that magically can be inspired. But it cannot, for the ugly must be exposed and addressed and thankfully, storytelling helps start those conversations and inspires change, and it just so happens… that a brand-new series on Prime Video is about to have those hard discussions on how not everyone grows up in a rosy environment and what the potential impact of that kind of youth can have on a person.

Which makes, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, a supremely important series. One that holds little back in its presentation of a less than savory youth and well… since we here at NTG have seen this series early, we thought it would be worthwhile to speak of the majesty of this series in a spoiler-free manner. In part to celebrate what it accomplishes in advance, and to inform the fans of this adaptation of Holly Ringland's work, what to expect, and to warn some. Because the subject matter is tough. For this is a story that takes us through the life and times of one Alice Hart. An individual that spends her years dealing with the horrors of a broken childhood. Complete with trauma, loss, and other elements that we shy away from discussing in this world. And in the wake of those disasters, she moves in with what little family she left to pick up the pieces of her young life and that… will be no easy task when it comes to the secrets her family harbors, and the enduring legacy of her trauma.

Which is… the perfect way to explore the subject matter at hand. Because it forces us to see first-hand, what a darker kind of childhood looks like, and how difficult and taxing it is upon a kid. Since they don’t understand the nuances, we do about why people act the way they act, and that leads to a powerful series that not only has the tough discussions about how children are raised in this world, but what lasting impact a rough childhood has upon them. Since this show does showcase more than just that moment in the life and times of Alice Hart. For we see her later years; we see that impact and that makes… for a stunning series. One that truly does start the conversation about how we cannot let this kind of life persist for children and that better structure has to be in place to protect them and give them the right chance to grow.

But again, be forewarned, this writer wasn’t joking in saying that it holds nothing back. Which can be jarring and scary and uncomfortable. But it is necessary to get the point across and it is handled in a manner that is organic and not gratuitous. But of course, there are more reasons as to why this show is so engaging and so powerful, such as the cast. Since this story features the work of Sigourney Weaver and Alycia Debnam-Carey, and their acting skills only add to the depth of what is truly… an absolute must-watch. For this really is a revolutionary tale, designed to explore a core tenant of our society, one that has been ignored for far too long and the best news of all, is that we can learn and be moved by this series in just a couple of days. For The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, makes its debut on Prime Video, this Friday, August 4, 2023, and we here at NTG cannot wait for you to experience the majesty of this incredible and important story.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘Cannes Confidential’. 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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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about the unique nature of the Acorn TV series, Cannes Confidential. For it truly is an unconventional television series, one that is a chameleon of sorts since it blends together so many genres and themes. But while it has been a joy to discuss the fun aspects of this show and revel in the majesty of the variety this series brings to the table… it was only a matter of time before the series went into more serious territory. After all, there are some real dangers floating about in this universe, and some heavy issues that Harry and Camille have yet to tackle and well… for the show’s season one finale… the tributes and fun were indeed put to the wayside to handle some bigger plot points.
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Such as the whole mess with Boire and Camille’s father, and that did move in quite the powerful direction in ‘Love and Let Die’. But before we dive into that, we need to discuss the case that was present in this story as well. Since it allowed for Lea to take point as the lead investigator on a matter that involved her past. Since the assistant of a famous star, Celeste Badeau, died of what appeared to be an allergic accident in this tale. But something told Lea and Camille…. there was more to the case than that, and through digging they came to learn that the Celeste and the assistant, Zina, were in love and were enjoying a sorted affair that involved breaking the heart of Zina’s girlfriend, Eloise. Who… it just so happened, dated Lea back in the day, and well… in a fit of rage Eloise ended Zina’s life and worked to frame it as an accident to be free. Which was a crime that was quite somber in nature since it involved betrayal and murder in the LGBTQIA+ community in Cannes.

But in between those revelations, is where the other storytelling elements were advanced. For Harry was livid over the fact that Boire threatened his daughter and was ready to go to war to save her. Only to learn… she was actually fine. That she instead was paid by Boire to scare and mess with Harry and that… only emboldened Mister King further to go after Boire. Which meant Boire was under constant surveillance in this story, by Harry. For he was ready to find everything needed to bring the man down. Which prompted Harry to do a little down and dirty work to access every bit of data that Boire was hiding and that led… to quite the surprise. Not the takedown one might think, since Harry basically learned that this scumbag was nothing more than a pawn that followed orders. No instead, Harry’s attempt at revenge revealed a hard truth about Camille’s father.

In that… he actually was guilty of his crimes, and that the payoffs weren’t a lie, they were legit. That meant… his forthcoming release was likely going to be dangerous or deadly since he knew too much. Which in turn prompted Harry to tell Camille the truth to try and get her to stop this before something awful happened. But she of course… did not listen. She wanted her dad home, and she refused to believe he was capable of working with the other side, and that ignorance on her part, led to great heartache. For Harry was right, and on the day, Philippe was set free, he took a bullet from Boire. Thankfully though, Philippe survived his gunshot wound, and was able to give his daughter a warning. That she should trust no one, and that this whole mess went deeper than she knew. 

That of course… led to an epic reveal of the real villain of the season, giving rise to unfinished business and a new direction for Camille to follow if she really wants to clean up the streets. But the ending of this story wasn’t all sorrowful and shocking. For Harry did reconcile with his daughter, and he did turn over everything he collected to prove to Camille she was dealing with something ugly and well… all that does is set the stage for a powerhouse season two and hopefully… we get just that. Because not only do we need to know how this story will end and whether or not Camille can do some damage to the criminals running free in Cannes… but television also needs more of this delightful show. For it is refreshing and fun, and feel-good television is a necessity in the 2020s. But while we wait for that good news, we can celebrate one amazing finale and a season of storytelling that informed us… that crime shows can be fun, when quality writing, respect, and dynamic characters come into play.    

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Finale of ‘Cruel Summer’. 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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If there is one word that has come up often in our discussions of the fascinating Freeform series, Cruel Summer, it would have to be… surprise. Simply because from day one, this season of storytelling has subverted our expectations and surprised us every single step of the way. By way of stunning reveals regarding the complex and toxic relationships that the characters in this story harbor, and through stunning reveals regarding what led to the death of one Luke Chambers. Yet what is truly incredible about season two, is that despite dropping our jaws all season long and setting the stage for a final and fast shocking reveal as to who brought final harm to Luke… the season two finale still managed to shock us left and right. A feat that ‘Endgame’ accomplished by taking us on quite the rollercoaster ride.
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One that did indeed reveal in a matter of minutes, that Brent was the man responsible for ending Luke’s life. Since he came down to the dock on that night, and it turned out… that Brent and Luke had a fight on the dock in the middle of the night, and in the heat of the moment, Brent shoved his brother, who then slammed his head on the metal stairs attached the dock before disappearing into the water. Which of course, signaled the end and brought forth the many surprises in question. Such as the fact, that rather than hold his son accountable and bring him to justice for his crime… dear old dad decided… to cover the whole thing up and push harder for someone else to take the fall. Which explained why he has been so hostile toward Megan and anyone he deemed as a possible pasty to take the blame for Luke’s death. All to keep Brent safe.

Sadly… that patsy did arrive, by way of more surprises. For as the pressure mounted, courtesy of the police and depleted finances thanks to the legal battle in play over keeping Megan out of jail, Megan and Isabella finally had a falling out. One that was long overdue since their toxic nonsense had been at a boiling point for ages, and that led to an ugly farewell. Wherein both sides took the time to finally air their grievances against one another… before finally parting ways with the understanding that their toxic friendship really had no benefits in the end. Which of course, didn’t sit well with Isabella, who truly needed that best friend in her life to complete her, and if Megan wasn’t going to be that… Megan had to pay. Which was why Isabella dropped off an edited tape of that fateful New Year’s night, so that Megan would be arrested as the prime suspect in the case. And the real surprises here were that Megan stood up for herself and that Isabella was willing to go that far to ruin a person by not getting her way. 

Yet, that still wasn’t the end of shockers in this tale. Because Brent thought deeply upon this experience and his brother’s final words, and his own life and actions over the past year or so and realized… the time had come for him to quit living the entitled and spoiled life and be honorable for once, so that he didn’t end up being the spineless weasel his father turned out to be. So… he confessed to killing Luke and went to jail accordingly and brought down a rotten empire within the town. Giving rise to what appeared to be a genuinely happy ending. For the case was solved, Isabella was off to Europe and continuing her toxic ways, and Megan was healing and about to start a job in her field at last and well… that was when the last stunner came our way. For as Megan reflected upon the events of the past year, in the exact spot where Luke’s life came to an end… she discovered cameras pointed at the dock, and she had to know what Luke’s final moments looked like and what she uncovered, was horrifying.
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For in the final moments of this tale, we came to learn that in the middle of the night on that fateful New Year, Luke didn’t drown as we were led to believe. He clung to life, and he clung to the beach in a desperate attempt to live that life. Only to find that another visitor arrived on the beach… Isabella. Who… decided that the best thing to happen in that moment… was for Luke to die. So, she plunged his head into the water and sent his lifeless body into the deep when he stopped breathing. As to why she felt the need to commit murder… who knows? But it wouldn’t be the first time Isabella indulged more unpleasant instincts, and to top it all off… she was clearly going to escape accountability for this. For she was on the other side of the world, enjoying life while Megan suffered and that… was quite the shocking way to end this season of storytelling.

For really, there was no justice for Luke in the end, just answers and the show deserves a round of applause for going this route, for that was the exclamation point on a genuinely unconventional season. One that really did take us on quite the ride and offered up quite the case. One with an ending that few likely called thanks to the shows well-constructed writing and diversionary tactics, and well… all we are left with now… is hope for more seasons of this dynamic series. Because Cruel Summer really is quite the refreshing mystery/crime series and more stories in this style, would be a wonderful thing for television. But while we wait for some good news on that front, we can celebrate one amazing season. One that truly wowed us every step of the way and taught us… that sometimes… shaking up the structure of a genre can be a wonderful thing.