​Please enjoy this Exclusive Clip from Episode 305 of See, which debuts on Apple TV+ tomorrow (9/23/22).

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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​In Episode 3 of Rings of Power we follow Arondir’s enslavement by his orc captors, who have also taken one of his comrades and his former commander. Made to dig the orc’s tunnels during the daylight as they sweep across the land, the elves plan to escape capture. The cruelty and efficiency of their hosts results in the painful felling of an ancient tree and the murder of both Arondir’s commander and fellow soldier. Arondir is spared so that he might be brought before the orc father Adar (one of the secret names of Sauron). 
 
The arrival of the first Elf in several generations to the shores of Numenor is not met with the warmest of receptions as Queen Regent Miriel (in power after the rumored insanity of her father the king sent him into personal exile in one of the palace towers) is cold and standoffish in response to the unbending Galadriel and her call for aid back to Middle Earth. Confined for the time being as her request is deliberated, Galadriel finds an unexpected ally in Captain Elendil, father of the rebellious and wayward sea cadet Isildur and the newly apprenticed Earien.
 
Elendil rides with the elf to the hall of lore where she discovers that the symbol she’s been following is a map of the southlands of Middle Earth, and it signifies Sauron’s plan to make that place the new seat of his power and home to the forces of darkness. She also discovers that her shipwrecked companion Halbrand is the wayward heir to the throne of those southern lands.

​Through Halbrand we discover the all too familiar themes of “Numenor First” ethnocentrism as the citizens of the Elf gifted island antagonize and finally attack him. This does not go well as Halbrand is fiercer and more capable than he appears at first glance, and he lands himself in a prison cell. Here Galadriel calls on him to shake off the shame of his people’s past alliance with Morgoth and help her unite the southern kingdom against the returning threat of darkness. 
 
As much as I am enjoying the map-spanning stakes unfolding in the other segments of this series, there is so much to love about the Harfoot world-building, especially in this episode. Part of the immediate charm of reading The Fellowship of the Ring is the opening, “On Hobbits” section, where cakes and warm, dry underground holes, and unassuming stout creatures are described in warm detail. These scenes evoke that very same spirit as we discover the ritual of the “we wait for you ceremony” honoring those who passed since the last migration, and the rich culture these road hobbit forebears have developed. 
 
And even as we admire and marvel at the way of life the Harfoots have made to keep themselves safe, we butt up against its confines as Nori sees and chases after the destiny the star-fallen stranger seems to signify for her and for Middle Earth. Unfortunately, Nori’s friendship with the stranger is revealed to the whole of the tribe as he stumbles into their campsite, resulting in Nori’s family being assigned to the very back of the caravan. This is almost certainly a death sentence for the family with her father’s twisted ankle, but as the tribe moves on, the stranger lends a hand and things seem brighter. 

I’m just going to say it, I’ve hinted at it too many times and I just have to get it out of my system: the stranger is Gandalf. That’s what they seem to be hinting at, and it seems really obvious, but they haven’t outright said it and I just have to say that if it is the case, it's the sweetest origin story for why he has the fondness for hobbits that he does. It’s just thoughtful storytelling and I’m really enjoying it. 
 
Also, the way this series portrays elves is so excellent. There is a weight and a grandiose to the sequences where Arondir laments the death of the tree he’s forced to cut down, and the slow-motion joy we see from Galadriel in the saddle alongside Elendil. The slow-motion shots and the lingering drama of these sequences was at first jarring in comparison to the pacing of the rest of the narratives, but the more I see them and think about them, I appreciate their function as an extension of the characterization of the elves. You get a sense of their age, their wisdom, and the great depth of their emotions that I think even Peter Jackson only really hinted at in his films. 
 
I’ll conclude this episode’s recap with more praise for the incredible production design of Adar’s tribe of orcs. The practicality of the animal skull armor and helms as the shields from the sun, and the size, organization, and ruthlessness of those creatures; those elements just work. They look incredible, they are chilling and frightening, and their reverence for, and subservience to Adar (Sauron) is fascinating and I can’t wait to learn more about that power dynamic. Brilliant world building. Stunning execution. More Rings of Power please!

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘A League of Their Own’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Whenever life becomes quite difficult or we need to take a moment and find ourselves, we tend to escape into a safe space. Where we can recoup and breathe and take inventory of our current situation to find our solution or to indeed immerse ourselves in a journey that is essential to our mental health. Wherein we do indeed come to discover who we are and what we need before returning to the world with a new outlook on life or a new approach to something that ails us. But what is fascinating about this journey, is that not everyone is eager to return from it. Because sometimes… it is so wondrous and so freeing that leaving it seems like it would do us a greater disservice. But one way or another we are going to return to the everyday world and face ourselves and our problems, as evidenced by the next episode of A League of Their Own on Prime Video.
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For ‘Full Count’ is a story that saw the pristine and safe world that several characters have been residing within, be shattered. Forcing them to face the reality of their situation when of course… there should have been no reason for that. For we are who we are and that should be celebrated. But alas, in 1943, that wasn’t the case. You were expected to fit a mold, especially as a woman and that hard reality arrived for the Peaches when Jo was returned to the team from police custody, and promptly traded to the Blue Sox to keep the truth about her sexuality a secret. Not to mention, Charlie made his way to Rockford to reunite with Carson after returning from his tour overseas and that… helped to hammer home that the Rockford Peaches and the league was indeed an escape for so many. 

One that was going to come to an end for the team in a couple of weeks, but truly ended for Carson and Greta on this day. Since Greta no longer had her support bestie in the slightest and that terrified her since she would have to finally face the fact that she could no longer run and hide with ease and would need to finish what she started here. Plus, Carson had to reconcile with the reality that she was leading two lives… one with Greta and one with her husband and she would have to figure out how to handle that. Which led to some powerful storytelling, the kind that really explored what it means to be forced into hiding because of one’s sexuality, and how difficult it was to be free and yourself in that era, and it will be fascinating to see how this duo handle their own feelings for one another when the season ends. 

However, while that was a sobering and uncomfortable sequence to watch, there were some uplifting moments to be found in this tale. For instance, Lupe and Jess tracked down Esti and helped bring her back to baseball and the team through an endearing sequence that may or may not have revealed that Esti is Lupe’s long-lost daughter. Plus, Maxine… finally got her shot. For it turned out that the woman she kissed and romanced at Bertie’s, was a pitched named Esther. Who played for the All-Stars, a touring troupe of African American Ball Players who just put on a show with other smaller teams around the nation, and the bond they shared that night combined with Esther’s understanding of how badly Maxine wanted her shot… gave her a shot at taking the mound. Wherein she dominated the Rockford Screws and landed a job as a pitcher at last. 

If anything, this was just… a brilliant episode through and through. One that slapped all of us in the face with the sobering reality that while we’ve enjoyed a wonderful journey of discovery for Carson and others, they live in a time where such a thing cannot happen… ergo, they either have to find balance in the finale or leave it behind… all while warming our hearts with beautiful moments and well, you can’t ask for much more from a penultimate episode than that. Because now we get to see if Carson and Greta and others are up to the task of being true to themselves in a way that doesn’t keep them from going mad, and of course… learn what awaits Max in her new journey and the only way to see how that plays out, is to continue the journey… post haste. Until next time.

It is definitely safe to say that season one of the hit Apple TV+ animated series, Wolfboy and the Everything Factory, was a breath of fresh air for family-themed entertainment. Simply because it offered kids some wonderful lessons about growing up and the wonder of being yourself, and it did so… in a supremely compelling manner. One where those messages weren’t disseminated out in a simplistic or manufactured manner. It really spoke to the intelligence of the audience and celebrated them and that’s why audiences were eager to pour over William Wolfe’s adventures and demand more when the journey came to a close.
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Which is why, thankfully, Apple TV+ was quick to order a second season of this dynamic show and the best news of all, is that we don’t have to wait all that much longer to return to William’s magical and wonderful world. For season two of Wolfboy and the Everything Factory, makes it debut on Apple TV+ on September 30, 2022, and to prepare you for his next adventure and to build excitement for it as well, Apple was kind enough to release a trailer for season two earlier today. And is here is that wonderful trailer for all of you to enjoy, and some details regarding season two for you to peruse, as you count down the days to season two, courtesy of Apple TV+.

‘Apple TV+ today released the trailer for the second season of beloved hit "Wolfboy and the Everything Factory," premiering globally on Friday, September 30. 
 
The second season of the animated epic “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory” takes Wolfboy, voiced by Kassian Akhtar, to a new realm underneath the Everything Factory where Nyx attempts to lure him to the dark side. With his Spryte friends and new allies, Wolfboy engages in a quest to unite the forces of creation and destruction, and realizes that being different is what makes him special - and ultimately, it’s the oddballs and dreamers who change the world.
 
“Wolfboy and the Everything Factory” is inspired by the work of visual artist Toff Mazery, co-created with Emmy Award winner Edward Jesse (HITRECORD’s “Create Together”), developed by Emmy winner Michael Ryan (“All Hail King Julien,” “Kung Fu Panda”), and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Mr. Corman”), HITRECORD and FOX Entertainment’s Bento Box Entertainment. 
 
In addition to Akhtar as the titular Wolfboy, the series is voiced by Critics' Choice Award nominee Archie Yates (“Jojo Rabbit”), who portrays Sprout, Lilly Williams as Xandra, Cristina Milizia (“DC Superhero Girls”) as Floof, Abigail Estrella (“Alice’s Wonderland Bakery”) as Seth and Gordon-Levitt voicing Professor Luxcraft. The series is peppered with a number of special performances, including Juno Temple (“Ted Lasso”) as Nyx.
 
The award-winning slate of original series and film for kids and families on Apple TV+ includes the recently premiered groundbreaking series “El Deafo,” critically acclaimed “Amber Brown” created by Bonnie Hunt, and Common Sense Media Selections "Best Foot Forward," “Duck & Goose," “Surfside Girls” and “Life By Ella.” The impressive all-ages offerings also include “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” and “Harriet the Spy” from The Jim Henson Company, the Peabody Award-winning series “Stillwater," Daytime Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter” and “Helpsters” from Sesame Workshop, Academy Award-nominated animated film “Wolfwalkers," new series and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including “The Snoopy Show," as well as “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Daytime Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times best-selling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers. Apple TV+ continues to present young viewers and their caregivers with first-rate options including the upcoming series  “Jane,” a new mission-driven series from J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment and the Jane Goodall Institute.
 
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have been honored with 275 wins and 1,152 award nominations and counting, including this year’s 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 $4.99 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.’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 503 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. To revisit the season five premiere, click here.
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One particularly difficult lesson that we all have to learn in life, is that a singular win regarding something big in our lives… doesn’t mean we’ve finished the journey or won the proverbial war. Because one victory is just that… one. And if we truly want to win the day and find agency and peace, there is a larger battle ahead. But it is difficult to understand that, since the win is always so incredibly intoxicating and powerful and the high it leaves us with lasts for a good long time. But the universe always finds a way of making it clear how reality actually works in these matters and it isn’t long before we are sent crashing back down to earth and learn that lesson. If anything, this is something that is top of mind today, simply because it is put on full display in the next episode of The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.
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For when we catch up with Serena Waterford and June Osborne in ‘Border’, one of them is riding that particular high. Serena, specifically. After all, the funeral of her late husband was a rousing success since it brought forth sympathy to Gilead around the globe and it even allowed for Serena to dine with Commanders Lawrence, MacKenzie, and Blaine to receive praise for her actions. A move that filled her with joy and agency and hope… that at long last she’d done enough to earn her keep in Gilead and could perhaps enact her own plans for the future. In fact, she was even ready to marry Commander Lawrence if it meant she could finally have a seat at the table in any capacity and well, it didn’t take long for a supremely rude awakening to fall into her lap regarding her future and her thoughts on the future for Gilead itself.

Because the council made it clear to her, that she was a woman, and in Gilead… there can be no woman in power, and that no woman that will ever dictate policy and procedure here. She was to obey and if she wanted to serve Gilead and attempt to spread the word, it was to be on foreign soil as an ‘Ambassador’ of sorts, in Toronto no less. A decision that made it clear that a victory in Gilead for a woman, meant nothing and that the war she wants to fight for power, will be as long and as winding as any battle… and she may never win and well… while that may be a humbling lesson for a woman of her ‘stature’ to learn, it was nothing more but a satisfying moment for the audience. Since none of us care for Serena and her twisted machinations and anytime she can be put in her place, is a pleasing moment for certain, and it most certainly was here.

​However, there was mention that June explored this reality as well and it just so happened… that she was in the thick of the lesson when we caught up with her, here. For seeing Hannah on global television, be touched by her enemy and of course… to see Gilead enjoy the limelight after the message she sent, spoke volumes to how strong a nation it was and how many more victories would need to come into play to dent their reputation and eventually bring them to their knees. Not to mention, she needed to know where her daughter was headed next in life, since her new outfit on television was one, she did not recognize in the hierarchy of Gilead and that motivated her to make contact with Nick to learn about what turned out to be a future grounded in marriage to a Commander.
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But what was equally as important about that discovery, was that June was really able to see how complex and ugly the fight against Gilead truly is. Since in order to make contact with Nick, she had to meet with a rebel group on the border who were in fact… Mayday. That’s right, after all these years, we finally were able to see them in action and see how hard they work and how complex their operation is and that… gave June pause. For it was the final lesson in the fight ahead and spoke to how she will have to savor every small victory since that is how Gilead falls, brick by brick instead of by dropping a top-tier commander, and one has to wonder if by chance… this encounter means June has finally found her army, since she was admired for her work. But time will tell regarding that, especially since there are bigger fish for her to fry, since she made a point to greet Serena upon her return to Toronto.

If anything, this was… the perfect transitional episode. Since we are indeed moving into a new chapter in everyone’s life with Fred gone and with Serena working to make herself known to all, and it was nice to see lessons be learned and see the characters grow as always and what’s amazing, is that this shift into what we might consider the endgame, since season six will be the finale, featured a fascinating moment in Gilead as well. One where Aunt Lydia had a different outlook for the first time ever after praying over and eventually seeing Janine return from her coma. Leaving all of us to wonder if the groundwork for the sequel series, The Testaments, occurred in this tale and well… the only way to find out and the only way to see what comes next after these lessons, is to wait impatiently for next week’s tale, to continue this harrowing and incredible journey. Until then.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episodes Five and Six of ‘Recipes for Love and Murder’. To revisit the previous two episodes, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about how the Acorn TV series, Recipes for Love and Murder, has done a phenomenal job of subverting the clichés often found within murder mysteries. For not only is the main character NOT a standard gumshoe in the slightest, but a recipe writer turned recipe writer/advice columnist, but the strange murder of Martine has been moving forward at a normal… human pace. Allowing for the characters to take the center stage so we can dive into their lives and what makes them tick and well… this refreshing move has been supremely compelling and has allowed all of us to learn so much about these wonderful people.
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But alas, eventually the case has to move forward in these stories, regardless of how much character development one might enjoy, and it just so happens, that the next two episodes of this story do just that… after giving us one last taste of what we love. For ‘A Shoe Murder’ and ‘Breakfast for Dinner’ did indeed provide us with some delightful and engaging character moments. The kind that helped us to learn the tough situation that Maria dealt with in Scotland and how those events motivated her to move so far away and at last… we saw Jessie and Regardt take the plunge and go on a bloody date and while it wasn’t storybook… it ended as it needed to, with a kiss and sparks and hope for a real love between the two of them. 

However, once we got that out of the way, it was onto the case at hand. For once John’s name was dropped as the ex that everyone was concerned about, things got ugly real quick. For Anna and Dirk suddenly joined forces out of the belief that John had to be the killer and they left the hospital and confronted him at his home in a scary moment that oddly saw everyone, but the police arrive first. But once the dust settled and tea was served, the truth finally came forth. In that, John was innocent after all. For every alibi checked out and he clearly wasn’t a violent offender and more and more it was becoming obvious that Dirk and Anna weren’t involved in killing Martine, they were just hurt and misguided and well… stupid from anger. 

But eventually… some truth came to light. For Martine’s funeral arrived shortly after this, wherein her brother was introduced to everyone and her father as well and after a lovely service, dear old dad collapsed due to being poisoned. Leading everyone to wonder why exactly someone would go the extra mile to kill Martine’s pop when was about as innocent as they come. But as it turned out, some great police-work from Khaya, wherein he spent a lot of time with Candy and fed her ego to get her talking… revealed some fascinating facts. In that, technically all the money that Martine’s father was sitting upon, was to go to her in the event of his passing, and if Martine were to die before that happened… it would instead go to her brother.

Which meant… it looked more and more as though money and bad family were responsible for the death of Martine and that revelation and the shocking one, we endured at the hospital, only reinforced that reality. Since brother dearest appeared to be ready to off his old man without question and with Candy’s help and well, not only is that an epic cliffhanger for certain, one that has us deeply worried. But it is also… an amazing way to surprise us with great progress in this case. Because just like that, we have a suspect at last and he appears to be quite dangerous, and we have a motive for that matter as well. All of which made for a supremely satisfying pair of episodes, the kind that once again leave us hungry for more. Not only because of the amazing food cooked here, but more so because… we simply don’t know what to expect now from this amazing show, and sadly we will have to wait another week to see exactly what new surprises and revelations and growth await us as this case continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There comes a point in our lives, whether we like it or not… where a reckoning comes our way. It could be positive in nature, since we might be at a point in our lives where we need a little nudge from the universe to move us in a better direction. Or it could be a negative reckoning of sorts. One where we pay the piper for our sins or our actions. But one way or another, that reckoning is coming and it is such an important aspect of our world that it pops up often in storytelling… but in far more unrealistic manner than we give it credit. For in film, television, and literature, the reckoning is a force of nature. The kind that is grand and sweeping and moving and creates instantaneous change to the lives of the characters.
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When in reality… the reckoning is actually subtle, and progressive in nature. Wherein we make baby steps toward a better life since it doesn’t just come to us overnight and where the unjust… face a gradual buildup to their big moment. Where people begin to push back and express their frustrations about what the bad person in question has done before making them truly pay. If anything, this particular process is top of mind today, simply because the reckoning was put on full display in the next episode of Kevin Can F**k Himself on AMC. In fact, ‘The Unreliable Narrator’ explored both the positive and the negative reckoning in this story, a feat that it accomplished… courtesy of a shared experience for the folks of Worcester.

Simply because the power went out in this city, in a big way and well… when faced with the darkness, everyone arrived at Bev’s Diner to stay safe and having Kevin occupied with his friends and Sam… gave Patty and Allison a chance to handle some business. For before the power went out, two important moments happened for Allison. One, she got a text from the contact at City Hall, letting her know they were ready to help with the cause and get her Gertrude’s death certificate, and second… the article that was supposed to be about the Worcester Wild Dude hit the paper and it was instead about Allison, and her lost potential and the path she never took and that hit her hard, mentally.

For it gave her a moment to truly reflect on every choice she has ever made, and how a great deal of them have brought her sorrow and strife and that she has accepted ugly as her new normal and settled with what that brings. Which made this episode, her reckoning, her moment of truth and well… what she did with the lessons that came out of reflection was quite wonderful and powerful in nature. Because she realized this was her chance to really change course and live better and live happily. And if she was brave on this night, and fearless and didn’t listen to the doubt and the voices that told her otherwise for so many years… she could finally make that first step toward a better tomorrow.

Which is why she was hell-bent on pushing toward the solution regardless of the odds. Simply because she and Patty came to learn that they would need to break into City Hall to get the certificate, because their contact was a former employee with a beef against the city. Which ran with risk if they were in there for too long, but that didn’t matter. She had to do this, and after an unnerving entry into the building and an exhaustive search, Allison found Gertrude’s death certificate and took it with her into the night. Proving without a doubt that reckonings do indeed have a positive impact upon us when we listen to the lesson and look objectively at our lives and now Allison can conduct the next steps in growing into a better future.
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But while that was wonderful to witness and uplifting as well, there was mention that this episode explored both the positive and negative types of reckonings, and the uglier one was handled by Kevin McRoberts himself. Because while Allison was taking steps toward controlling her future, Kevin was being Kevin. For the generator he brought to the diner went missing and he of course, firmly believed that someone inside the diner had stolen it. Which led to an interrogation sequence, where every last one of his friends and family and Sam for that matter as well… who was with him when it went missing, were given the Nth degree regarding this ‘theft’, and when Kevin didn’t get the answers he wanted, he unleashed his special brand of ugly.

For he went after Neil hard post interrogation and Neil… clapped back. For he was tired of being pushed around and blamed like this and his pushback, motivated others to do so as well and under that pressure… Kevin revealed he was responsible for the power outage and that only enraged the group further. And had it not been for the return of the genny, which Diane just pushed under a table, and the return of the power… who knows how far this would have gone. But make no mistake about it, that kind of breaking of the ranks around Kevin… is a reckoning. One that relates to paying the piper for years of abuse and rudeness and pure toxicity and it will be fascinating to see if that continues in the next few weeks as we edge toward the series finale. 

But in the here and the now, what matters more, is that much needed reckonings came forth for the two lead characters. Because Kevin has needed to be held accountable at any level for years on end now, and of course… Allison needed a kick in the pants and that objective look at her life and that made, for one poignant and powerful episode. One that truly hammered home why we should embrace this moment when it arrives because it can do so much for us and well… now that Allison and Kevin McRoberts are on bold new paths, all we can hope for, is that the wonder and the accountability grows from here and that is going to make the wait for next week’s episode, downright unbearable. For we are in the home stretch now and simply need to know where this bold new chapter in the story is going to take us. Until next time.

For the most part, streaming networks work hard to keep their content strictly under wraps on their platform and it is understandable as to why. After all, it’s for their subscribers and if you want in, subscribe, and see what they have to offer outside of the trailers you’ve seen. But not every single streamer abides by this edict. For Apple TV+ tends to share more than just trailers, they love to send out sneak peeks of their programming to give everyone an idea of how great it is and to excite subscribers further and sometimes… they even release portions of a show. 
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For instance, Apple TV+ was nice enough to share with the world, the music video for ‘Roll With It’ from their new family-themed series, Sago Mini Friends. Simply because of the wonder this catchy song provides and to truly educate everyone on the kind of quality family programming they feature and well… with that in mind, here is that very video for all of you to enjoy, courtesy of Apple TV+. And we here at NTG hope you give Sago Mini Friends and Apple’s other family programming a look since clearly… they are leading the way in wholesome content that everyone in the household can enjoy.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 206 of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we are young and looking to decide our future career path, we tend to turn our attention to the family business or the profession that hangs over our household. For it is an easy way to get a taste of what the working world is like and digging into the family business and being a part of it, helps us to see if it is for us and for a fair chunk of us, it isn’t, and we look elsewhere. But for some of us, the family business calls to us, and we come to love the idea of keeping the family’s trade rolling, and we are so excited to join it that we quickly believe that we will be successful and ready to roll the instant we agree to take it up. But regardless of how much excitement we harbor or how much we’ve absorbed from watching our parents run that business… we quickly come to learn a hard lesson about taking up the mantle.
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In that, we are still a babe in such matters and not ready nor qualified to be the next CEO of the business, we have to learn it and become a master of It and that takes time and trial and error. That kind that isn’t dangerous for us in the slightest since we have the safety net of family and their love to fall back upon. But that isn’t the case for everyone, and there are dangerous gigs that are family related that require a tough learning curve, as evidenced by this week’s episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan. For when we catch up with Kanan Stark in ‘It’s a Business, Man’, he was in that plucky mindset and eager to quickly rise through the ranks, despite being asked to start at the bottom. Since he was working to be the bag man for the cash in this tale and well… it didn’t take long for him to discover the dangers of this gig and how much he has to learn. For the local punk named Freddy, came at him and Famous on Kanan’s first day, and they snatched Famous’ jewelry and the drop for the day.
 
A move that pretty much put Kanan in a panic. After all, that’s the worst-case scenario for day one and it spoke to how he didn’t understand the streets and the business just yet, or the hard nature required to be successful at this job. But Kanan was of course… a quick study and he quickly got his hands on all the necessary tools to get the drop back and he used those tools to teach Freddy a valuable lesson in respect. But alas, more complications arose from that, since tuning up Freddy bought forth the police and they put Famous in handcuffs and the bag went with him to jail. But… an assist from family, specifically Detective Howard, made this a good day for Kanan. Since arrangements were made to get Famous out and to put the drop back in Kanan’s hands… intact no less. Keeping Kanan’s nose clean and in the end, there were lessons galore for him here, the kind that he would absolutely take to heart, and it was quite unique to see this plot parallel the family business way of life in our everyday world, just with an ugly twist.

Speaking of ugly twists, there were other ones present in this story as well. Because while Kanan did his best to keep his mom from finding out about his big and bad mistake… Raq was handling business with Sal and his boys. Because the beef had to end and end quickly before it exploded into an all-out turf war and that is precisely why she used Worrell’s suggestion to bring Unique into the fold, because of his ties to the Boselli gang. To broker peace and get the empire growing again and that plan worked. Since it did bring forth calm and snagged Raq some savings regarding the business too. The only downside to the plan, was the expectation that Unique run the Jersey outfit, since such a request… from Sal no less, made it clear that Raq was played here by both Worrell and Unique. But after she put all the pieces together, she filed his win away, and that isn’t good news for Unique in the slightest. Because Raq does not forget, and she will undoubtedly make life tough for Unique in the days to come as the business continues to grow. 

Not to mention, there was ugly to be found with Lou in this tale as well. Since he saw his world basically fall apart in every way imaginable. In part because Raq basically made it known that she was ready to cast him out from the business since his heart was no longer in it and that Crown betrayed him behind his back. Not to mention, Zisa’s single had yet to air on the radio, making him appear to be nothing more than a grand failure at everything and that led… to one scary moment. Wherein Crown finally confronted Lou about their problems, and he was eager to share his thoughts on Lou’s place in the music business as well. Which were words that hurt Lou deeply and well, a man of his stature and nature, one that commands respect and lives in two worlds… had no problem teaching Crown the ultimate lesson for disrespecting him. Putting Lou on a new and terrifying path for certain, one that takes him into uncharted and dark territory.

If anything, it is safe to declare this episode as the darkest of Raising Kanan to date. Since it saw Lou completely commit to the anger that’s been welling up in him for ages on end now, and it also saw Raq’s fury begin to boil over after being played by Unique. But above all… we watched Kanan Stark begin the first real steps in his dark and tragic journey. One that would take him to some ugly places in the original Power, and that was tough to watch. Since now we know what kind of person he started out as. But that’s what a great tragedy does, it breaks out heart along the way, and truly, it will be fascinating to see how Kanan continues to grow into the man we met years down the line in the weeks to come and to see what other dark surprises await us. But sadly, we will have to wait a little longer to see what comes next, since this bold and dynamic series is set to return in a couple of weeks. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘The Serpent Queen’. To revisit the series premiere, click here.
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When we think about or examine the lives of people that have committed dark acts in the course of our history, to better understand ‘evil’, we like to look at their ‘body of work’ so to speak. Such as the series of decisions and actions that genuinely brought them to their peak darkness. Since that helps us to understand the mindset of the person and the path that brought them to infamy. But what we often forget in that analysis, or perhaps don’t focus upon at all… is that they came to this point for one reason and one reason alone… a singular choice. A moment when they decided to commit to that unsavory path and that, is where we should truly start our exploratory journey of such individuals.
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For that is where we come to truly understand… what pushed them down their respective path and why they committed to it fully and it just so happens, that the next episode of The Serpent Queen on STARZ, took the time to do just that. For when we catch up with Princess Catherine de’ Medici in ‘To War Rather Than To Bed’, she’s living her best life in France. She’s working to produce an heir; she’s living in relative peace and sadly… it didn’t take long for that peace to be completely upended. For she struggled to produce an heir in this tale and some problems back home… put her in a tough place mentally. Because another family member died at the hands of the people violently and that left her wondering… if her future her was safe.

For the death of the Pope would keep the dowry incomplete, and that would undoubtedly bring forth scrutiny or an end to her safety and wouldn’t you know it? The Pope died. Courtesy of a poison meal and that… put Catherine at her lowest. For her enemies were doing everything to undermine her and ensure that a lack of a dowry and an heir would bring about her end and/or shift to exile or servitude and that… is where that singular decision came into play. Simply because Catherine was in fact, at a crossroads, one that could have potentially threatened her very survival on this planet and when faced with that possibility, Catherine made quite the powerful choice.

In that, she was going to ensure that she would see tomorrow and be seen and have agency. Which in turn, pushed her to begin to carefully examine her world and her enemies. All so she could come to understand their weaknesses and manipulate them to do either do her bidding or get them to back off, and at first it appeared this was going to be more trouble than it was worth… since there were counter maneuvers to her early tests on this decision, and a loss of life. Granted other factors played into that. But the deceased in question, the stable hand, was still someone that had significance to her life since there was a brief and passionate affair between them in an effort to get that heir. But once the dust settled from this mess and she realized that putting feelings into getting what she needed and wanted was going to cause harm, she doubled down on this choice and refined its parameters.  
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Wherein she was going to switch off those emotions and do whatever was necessary to achieve those goals. Which in turn, allowed for her to exploit those weaknesses in question. Since her cousin was quickly put in her place via some clever machinations, and she even worked on creating some backchannel alliances to make her husband look the hero. And that, gave her protection and comfort and safety, and more time to ponder upon what comes next for her and how she will survive in the long term and well, in the end, all of these elements not only made for a fascinating and compelling tale, but it truly explored how important that singular big choice is when it comes to changing the course of one’s life.

Because in that moment, the snarky and ruthless queen we met in the premiere and enjoyed here as well, was born. All because her decision to do what must be done, influenced every subsequent decision in her mind, allowing for a sequence of tough choices to be made, the kind that would become routine when she became queen. Making this quite the masterful and powerful character study, one that truly connected the dots for us in a subtle and powerful manner. Which just goes to show that this miniseries is simply sublime and is going to give us a powerfully comprehensive look at Catherine’s life and well, now that we know the origin moment where the Serpent Queen was born, we can kick back and watch a true villain form right before our eyes as Catherine de’ Medici rises to power in the most ruthless way imaginable. Until next time.