Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Everything’s Trash’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Whether we like to admit it or not, at some point or another in our lives… we are going fail at doing what we love. Because no one can win all the time and sometimes the moment gets the better of us and that in turn, leads to missteps and failures and of course, reflection. Where we ponder upon what went wrong and how we proceed next in life and that particular moment, is essential to what comes next. Because we can either wallow in the failure and let it consume us and push us away from what we love, or we can find the lesson within said failure and learn and grow and rebound and well, this is top of mind today… simply because it is something that Phoebe, and Malika, and Jayden all experienced in the season finale of Everything’s Trash on Freeform.
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For when we catch up with this trio in ‘Election Night Is Trash’ failure is everywhere. For Phoebe, that involved just losing it over how she and Malika were being treated at Parakeet Media. To the point where she informed every one of their big meeting with the company’s rival and how that would end in a grand pay day for this duo. Which of course… it didn’t. Because it turned out that they were only interested in Phoebe, leaving her in a tough place. Wherein she had to decide if leaving her bestie behind was worthwhile or not, a problem further complicated by the fact that Phoebe was fired from Parakeet and Malika was asked to stay on. Which really was quite the devastating failure for Phoebe, because just like that… her perfect career was potentially over, since change would have to come to maintain it.

As for Jayden, well his failures involved Election Day. Because everything that could go wrong on this day, did. Since he voted for his rival absentmindedly early in the day and of course… was just off his game for the rest of it. Because he couldn’t find a good groove to speak to the people, despite Michael’s help with social media on this day and in the end… his opponent and his entrenched nature was just too much to overcome. So sadly, Jayden lost the race and also tasted failure for the first time in life, the kind that was indeed out of his control and that left him in a tough place mentally as well. Because this is what he wanted and he didn’t know what was on the horizon past this point and well, it was fascinating to watch he and Phoebe take a beat, and really ponder upon their journeys… before choosing to do the right thing and use failure as their guide and their inspiration. 

For Jayden, that involved agreeing to bring Hamilton on as his new campaign manager. Because despite losing, he electrified and engaged voters and closed a big gap, and that had the potential serve him well in other roles down the line… such as say running for the Senate at any level and such, and Phoebe… well she came to learn quite the important lesson. In that, in this modern age, when you have a unique talent that people love… you don’t have to answer to a boss or a company that wants to control what you do. You can strike out on your own and do your own thing as you see fit and that’s precisely what she and Malika opted to do. To keep their synergy and let their show really grow and well… that sets the stage for season two quite nicely and we even have the potential for a little romantic drama to play out as well.

After all, Phoebe may have agreed to just fly to Miami when she was supposed to be spending a romantic weekend with Hammy-Ham-Hams in a rustic getaway… something that would undoubtedly be handled in season two and well… we do hope that Freeform gives this series a second season order. Because this show has been nothing short of a breath of fresh air. Because this contemporary comedy grounded in classic morality, has not only provided us with food for thought on life and the adventures we undertake, but it has done so in a beautiful and hilarious manner, one that allowed for the lessons to stick and to leave us eager for more. Since we simply are compelled to see what awaits Phoebe on any given day and well… all we can do now is wait and hope for that second season and perhaps rewatch this first season in the meantime, to enjoy more of this amazing series and all the intelligence it has to offer. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Pantheon’. To revisit the series premiere, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating and wondrous new AMC+ series, Pantheon, we talked at length about how the show posed some supremely important questions about death and the afterlife. Specifically, what will both concepts look like years down the line as technology continues to evolve in ways that none of us have ever remotely imagined it could, and of course… how corporations and capitalism might play into that. Questions that the series was quick to answer, in part because it was easy to point out that the cloud would be a perfect place to the store the human mind and that corporations and greed would work to fund such matters… but also because… there is so much more to explore regarding this concept, as evidenced by this week’s episode.
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For ‘Reign of Winter’ is a story that focused heavily on what life after death in the digital frontier might look like and well, this series postulates that it could be Heaven or Hell, depending on who is keeping the server running. For instance, Chanda experienced the equivalent of Hell. Since he was tasked with doing busy work in his digital afterlife. In fact, he was in essence… living the same day over and over again within the server and spent his many hours coding away without an ounce of knowledge of his death or his new expectations and that’s about as hellish as it gets, and his journey was definitely far more harrowing than David’s.

Because he in essence… lived through a taste of Heaven. For he was able to play in the game world all day and enjoy adventures abound and of course… he still had contact with his family. To the point where Maddie was determined to figure out how to get her mother and father to either reconnect or communicate and well, the freedom that David enjoyed in the digital afterlife, allowed for him to poke the bear so to speak through some shenanigans while Ellen was on a date, which in turn brought forth that long awaited conversation. Obviously, no romance was to be found… but the important thing is that peace was made, closure happened, and they agreed to be friends and that is definitely a wonderful afterlife to thrive within and both of these plot lines made for some fascinating explorations for certain.

However, while it was indeed wonderful to ponder upon what digital afterlife might look like, this is a dramatic series through and through and this episode had more fascinating tidbits to offer the audience. For instance, Chanda’s personal Hell may not last for the lifespan of a server, since echoes of the failed mental maps that came before him asked for his help and managed to free him. Not to mention, the plot with Caspian continued to thicken here. Since his ‘parents’ made a point to push him to the edge with their troubling fake domestic violence routine. To the point where he’s become violent and bold and different really, and while we have little to go upon regarding the strange plan Logorhythms has in store for Caspian, it is only a matter of time before it is revealed, and it will undoubtedly be both fascinating and horrifying.

Not to mention, we’d be foolish to not express concern over the fact that Logorhythms and Alliance Telecom are having off the cuff discussions about that digital afterlife and well, all of those moments, definitely set the stage for more fascinating storytelling. The kind that is clearly going to explore what happens when those trapped within a digital afterlife take charge of their new lives and potentially go on the offensive against those who locked them away. But while we wait to see how that will play out, we can bask in the wonder of a truly top-notch story. One that explored concepts that honestly, we need to start thinking about now since we are on the cusp of a new digital frontier and this show deserves a round of applause for going there in such a compelling and powerful manner, and it will be incredible to see where this refreshing and unique story is going to take us next.

​Please enjoy this Sneak Peek of Episode 303 of See, which debuts on Apple TV+ tomorrow (9/9/22).

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Paper Girls’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked a lot about how the brilliant Prime Video series, Paper Girls, has offered up some fascinating thoughts on an age-old fantasy for us. Specifically, what it would be like for our younger selves to meet our older selves and how that might be a terrible idea. One that could lead to disaster for our younger minds, which see the world in such a black and white manner. But while it has been supremely interesting to dive into that and come to understand how weird it might be, this exploration has been fairly one sided for certain. Because what we often forget is that sometimes, in our older years… we ponder upon what knowledge we might impart upon our younger selves if given the opportunity and well… the show made a point to not forget that. For the next episode in this tale, ‘Some Kind of Burping Trash Hole’, takes the time to explore such matters.
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Since 1988 Tiffany was riding all kinds of wonderful highs regarding where her future was going and well… that concerned 1999 Tiffany. Because her younger self was putting a lot of stock in a future that featured some important lessons and well, when given the chance to teach her those lessons and give her great wisdom, she did so. With… awful results. Since she revealed that adoption is how the Tiffanys found a home long ago, and that such a critical truth was kept from them for a very, very long time. To the point where it was devastating and broke them down the line. Which is something that ‘88 Tiffany really didn’t care to hear or learn about because it rattled her to no end. All of which served to teach us, that if we ever had this opportunity, there is only so much wisdom we can impart. Since our younger selves cannot fully process the gravity of the heavier stuff, and regardless of how much we want to spare ourselves potential pain… we cannot. For it is critical to our growth.

But what is fascinating about this episode, is that its intelligence didn’t end with that plotline. For Mac and KJ’s journey went to some philosophical places as well. For Mac finally decided to face her own future and explore the future place she was buried. A moment that was eerie for both of them and a touch intense at times, since Mac’s stepmom showed up as well since this day was Mac’s birthday. Giving rise to some ‘ghostly’ moments for her stepmom, but more importantly, Mac learned a lot from this moment. Because this really did help her to realize, how precious life really is, and how much of its she’s wasted being sour and dour and eager to snap back at people. Seemingly giving rise to a new Mac in this tale… one that seems eager to live in the moment and enjoy every second since they will never come again.

However, it may be a hot minute before she gets to really explore that aspect of life. Because a problem was brewing behind the scenes while the aforementioned characters dealt with their problems. For the temporal mess that was brewing on Larry’s farm wasn’t a way home, it was nothing more than a rip in time. One likely precipitated by the fact that these poor Paper Girls were trapped in the wrong time and well… it was a big enough problem to catch the attention of the Old Watch, who sent a recon droid to check the problem out. Which in turn, confirmed the presence of our heroes and that set the stage for serious trouble. Because the Old Watch are likely on their way and are undoubtedly eager to handle such matters in a violent fashion. Setting the stage for a grand showdown at last between Prioress and the girls she’s been hunting across the sea of time. 

But while we wait to see how that is going to go, we can celebrate another intelligent tale. Because this one genuinely went to some deep places, since the Tiffany situation really did offer up a lovely foil to everything this show has explored so far, and Mac facing her own death… was powerful stuff. The kind of thing you hope that no twelve-year-old would ever have to face. But here we are. But alas, this is likely the last of the deeper stuff for this series for the time being. Because the season finale awaits us, and who knows what kinds of wonders await us there, outside of the obvious showdown that is. For this this is show that always knows how to surprise, and well… the best way to find out, is to hit play and see where the final chapter in year one of this brilliant series, is going to take us. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘A League of Their Own’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular aspect of life that we are all aware exists, is that our journey functions akin to a story. For it is complete with different chapters and roles as we grow older and evolve and that is something that we outright celebrate, and rightfully so. Because it means the human experience is always exciting and always changing, preventing stagnation through continual growth, but what’s fascinating about this aspect of our lives… is that despite how we speak to its wonder, such change can be downright terrifying when it arrives. Simply because there are rarely signs that change is coming, and we aren’t oft prepared to deal with all it entails. If anything, that struggle is top of mind today, simply because it, and the struggles that accompany it, were featured in the next episode of A League of Their Own on Prime Video.

A feat that ‘Back Footed’ accomplished by having great change come into Carson and Max’s lives. For Max… that entailed figuring out her place in the world and her sexuality, quite frankly. Because it was obvious to her after some training sessions with Carson that maybe baseball wasn’t for her anymore. Since she genuinely struggled with that dark day and what baseball meant to her. And of course, attempts to be intimate with men, didn’t satisfy her in the slightest. Prompting her to really focus on tomorrow and how she was going to adjust to the major change coming her way and that wasn’t easy. Because she truly felt lost in this tale and unsure of what comes next, and that’s quite the realistic response to major change in our lives and it will be interesting to see what becomes of Max as season one rolls along.

As for Carson, well her big change involved a coaching decision. In that, she was now the de facto skipper. Because the fallout from the fist fight caused all kinds of trouble and prompted Mister Baker to select her as coach to create unity, and well… while she loved the sport and knew its ins and outs so well, being a coach, a genuine leader of women… was new territory for her and a scary and disastrous change early on. Because everyone was pushing to have things their way, and Lou was of course, fighting her at every single turn, even becoming downright insubordinate when it suited her. Leaving her to wonder how she could reach this team and her new girlfriend for that matter as well, since she too was pulling away. All of which reinforced the reality of how painful change can be.

But as this series is wont to do, it went beyond just pointing out how tough change can be. It offered us solutions on how we adjust. Since Max came to realize, that embracing her authentic self is the key to adjusting to this new chapter in her life, and Carson, came to realize that leadership involves understanding and humility. Because the team had to trust her and she had to trust them and help them to grow and succeed, and eventually she did just that and experienced wonders. For Lou finally fell in line when Carson figured out how to reach her, and the team responded nicely to her new attitude and approach. All because Carson took a moment to look at her situation objectively, which allowed for her to find a new way forward in this new chapter.

Which made this quite the uplifting and educational tale, one that was also quite progressive in nature as well. Since we also came to learn that Max’s Aunt Bertie, is transgender, and is living as Uncle Bertie since they came to understand their authentic self through and through, regardless of personal cost. And what makes this progressive, is that we don’t see enough transgender individuals in television or film, much less in stories set in 1943. But transgender individuals were around back then as well, they simply were not seen and kudos to this show for pointing that out and ensuring that proper representation was present here, and well… now that we’ve reached the end of this chapter, it’s onto the next one, to see how Carson settles in as coach and to see where Max’s journey of discovery takes us next.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’.
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​It feels good to come home again. Middle Earth is the granddaddy of fantasy fiction worlds. Both in print and on film, the storytelling and pop culture influence of The Lord of the Rings has few rivals. It was an important root point for me as a kid struggling through Fellowship of the Ring and then skipping ahead to Two Towers after leaving the theater the day Peter Jackson’s trilogy came out.
 
I spent a lot of time in Middle Earth. Turning pages, eating popcorn, watching hours of footage of how they put it all on film, and crossing swords with hundreds of computer-generated orcs at the 75th Battle of Helm’s Deep. There’s a magic about that place.
 
Magic enough that it dragged me back for 3 prequels that, though they had a charm, there was no real reason for 2 of them to exist. By the time the final Hobbit sequel was released, there were 4 seasons yet to be aired of the other generation-defining fantasy fiction crossover, Game of Thrones. GOT did for television storytelling what its predecessor had in film and then some, defying the classic tropes (some would say almost to a fault) and had stumbled at the finish line. Did I want to go back to Middle Earth after all of that? All that progress and regression? You bet your hairy feet I did!
 
So, with the semi-sour taste of the prequels and the recent success and then abrupt anti-climax of the would-be successor to Tolkien’s throne swirling through my mind I began Prime Video’s new series.

I breathed a sigh of relief as Galadriel’s voice returned to set the stage for a younger Middle Earth and an all too familiar threat.
 
Galadriel narrates the attack on the undying lands by the evil Morgoth and his cruel lieutenant Sauron. She fills us in on the centuries long war fought with legions of orcs and the continued occupation of middle earth and its people. Galadriel, we discover, is a soldier without a war being forced to retire to the undying lands though the horrors of war have traumatized her mind.  She protests unheeded that the war is not over, that she is convinced (rightly so) that Sauron’s power endures.
 
She briefly reunites with Elrond, a herald of the Elven King Gil-galad and an old friend. After persuading her to take the ship to the undying lands, Elrond is tasked by his King to accompany and assist the Elven Master Smith Celebrimbor with his newest and mysterious endeavor.
 
Laced between the scenes of Galadriel’s resistance, acceptance, and final rebellion in diving overboard rather than returning to the elven homeland we follow an adventurous Harfoot (hobbit-ish folk), Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot. Nori’s natural curiosity sets her at odds with her people’s secretive philosophy of hiding away from the other races of the world. Nori wonders whether the early appearance of hunters, and now wolves near her seasonal home bode well for the future.

And finally, we meet the Elven Soldier Arondir, who explores a mysterious dark petulance infecting the land with his unspoken and forbidden love, the human Bronwyn.
 
And with that the stage is set for another receding and yet deepening darkness threatening a familiar but rougher Middle Earth. It looks amazing, it carries the weight of that well-tread world well, and I’m so excited to see what comes next (especially if the stranger who makes a late appearance in the episode is who and what I think he is!) There are mythic blades, legends, and little world-building flourishes that feel uniquely Tolkien as we explore this projected time before the third age. They’ve managed to kindle the old under-the-hill magic that has led generations to step out on their own long journeys over the misty mountains.
 
So, mount up, lace up your greaves, and take that family blade off of the wall as we continue to explore the magical world of the Rings of Power with episode 2 real soon!

One thing that we can all agree upon, is that we have a collective fascination with people that indulge in their darker side. Simply because, the vast majority of us, are bereft of cruelty or darker thoughts and a desire to act upon them. So, to know that there are people who do so, and that history is littered with people that had no qualms with it, truly does fascinate us. Because we simply have to know, what is it that brought forth these uglier tendencies and thoughts in their minds and of course… what motivated them to indulge in them. For to understand that, means we properly understand the human condition and all the good and bad that comes with it, and one easy way to learn in this manner, is through storytelling.

Because that allows for a perfect encapsulation of our curiosities to come to life, since we can watch or read a neatly contained story that answers every last one of our questions and it just so happens, that another opportunity to learn about a gruff individual from history is about to arrive on our television screens. For Sunday, September 11, 2022, will see the premiere of The Serpent Queen on STARZ. A show that revolves around the life and times of the infamous Queen Catherine de’ Medici, who ruthlessly ruled over France ages upon ages ago. And it is that ruthlessness and desire to achieve her goals at any cost that fascinates us to this day. Since she remains one of the toughest leaders in human history and we are curious as to what drove that fierceness, and well… it is how this story explores her motivations to commit to that, that makes it of note and worth previewing (in a spoiler-free manner) a few days before its release.

Simply because, it explores Catherine’s life in a supremely unique manner, by exploring her past and the tough moments she experienced in her youth, so we in turn can see how those moments formed the once and future queen and the lessons she would often draw upon in making powerful and brutal decisions. Which is an exploration that features moments that absolutely helped her to understand a need for survival and making the hard choices that no one else can and that… really does give us stunning perspective on her history and her life, and the controversial decisions she made, and most important of all, it entertains and engages. Simply because every moment we are privy to is handled in such a dynamic and slick manner that you forget you’re watching a period piece. You’re simply glued to your screen and unable to look away and of course, you have to know more about her and what she is going to do next and that’s also thanks in large part to the stellar casting present in the show.

For Samantha Morton, who plays the iconic Queen, is simply stunning in the role. Since she brings a certain subtlety and zest to Catherine that allows for the viewer to be curious and afraid of her all at once, and that is largely due to the fact, that Samantha relished the opportunity to bring this character to life and was honored to play her. In fact, here is what Samantha had to say about this role when asked about it by NTG at a recent roundtable press conference: “I think I feel very honored, I feel very privileged to go from, you know, from playing somebody that I love, like Alpha in The Walking Dead, that we have coming out with Tales of the Walking Dead. And then to get to play the queen of France, in the same year is joy. You know, it's like, really flexing those muscles. And I'm being given the opportunity to work with Justin and Erwin, who are the producers, showrunner, and writer/director. And likewise, with working on The Walking Dead, it's just like, you know… I don't know if anyone out there likes chocolate, but it's like eating the best chocolate. It's… it's really amazing.”

That joy certainly shows in her performance, and it is obvious that Samantha’s enthusiasm for this series inspired the rest of the cast as well. Since Liv Hill is just as dynamic as Catherine’s younger self and of course, you cannot go wrong with Charles Dance and Colm Meaney chewing up the scenery with joy in their eyes as well. But what matters most, is that it is obvious that this is a show created with passion, and it really wants to offer us an objective look at a controversial figure from history so we can make our own decisions about who she was and what her legacy should be. Which is what good storytelling about troublesome people in history should feature, and that’s a testament to Justin Haythe’s magnificent writing and well, the best news of all… is that we are days away from the premiere of this dynamic new series, and we here at NTG hope you give it a look, and check back with us over the next few days. Since we will of course be geeking out about the show via our weekly recaps, but to also check out our interviews with Actor Liv Hill, and Writer/Executive Producer Justin Haythe and Executive Producer Erwin Stoff as we continue our countdown to the series premiere of The Serpent Queen.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Recipes for Love and Murder’.
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Often times, murder mysteries and crime dramas that feature a nouveau detective, one that has never investigated a criminal case in their lives, follow a pretty specific structure. Wherein the new gumshoe, finds a genuine taste for solving crimes and learns this is a skill set they never knew they had. Which in turn plunges them into a dark and dreary world where they face humanity’s darkest acts in a bold and inspiring manner, and well… there’s nothing wrong with that particular formula. Because everyone loves a fish out of water story, and there is a sense of everyday relatability that accompanies such a plot. But while it is delightful to enjoy this kind of story through and through, it does leave one wondering.
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Specifically, what it would be like, if by chance one of these stories really let loose and truly put an everyday person without any hint of training or love for investigation into the fray of dealing with murders. And thankfully, that has finally come to fruition. For the new Acorn TV series, Recipes for Love and Murder, just so happens to offer that up. A feat that the two-part series premiere accomplishes by plunging us into the life and times of a woman named Maria Purvis. Who works at the local paper in her community as a recipe column writer, and of course… she delivers only the finest of foods for the community to experience in print and when we catch up with her, in ‘Bereft Woman’ and ‘Sex Cake’, her life is undergoing quite the important change.

In that, her column is being discontinued to make room for an advice column. Putting Maria at a crossroads. To either disappear from the writing life and just enjoy cooking on her own, or by chance… to take up a new mantle and see what the Tannie Maria column might offer her and as it turns out… the new column provides her with everything she needs as a writer and a person, and some serious surprises along the way. For while she is able to dole out wonderful advice to those in need, and pepper in some delicious and helpful recipes along the way… these letters also plunge her into the world of murder. For one of the women, she offers advice to, turns up dead and that… is what delivers a different kind of story.

Because murder is simply not her forte. She just wants to make delicious food and make people smile. But the fact that believes in doing good and is clearly trying to heal from a checkered past of her own, compels her to forge ahead and do what she can to help with this case. And since she also works with a plucky and highly motivated writer named Jessie September, she gets her chance to do so and that leads… to a wildly refreshing murder mystery. One that is both grounded in very real and unsettling concepts that are ripped from everyday headlines, but also finds a way to be lighthearted enough to never be overwhelming.

Not to mention, this premiere also takes the time to move the case in some supremely unique directions. Since the clues are far and few between regarding who could have committed such an act, and there is so much passion and fury over the fallen, from the deceased's husband and best friend… that confusion reigns over this case. Making it clear that not only does this series want to present us with a different kind of investigator, the likes of which really isn’t seen in this genre… it also wants to keep us guessing and really think about the case and who might have committed such a horrible sin. Giving rise to a supremely engaging viewing experience, one that is wonderfully complimented by some delightful performances.

For Maria Doyle-Kennedy is simply electric as Maria Purvis, and she sells the nature of the character and her struggles to become an investigator in an honest manner that feels real and relatable. And she is wonderfully complimented by Kylie Fisher, who plays Jessie, and truly… all of these elements blend together to provide us with an incredibly original viewing experience. One that really is unlike any other murder mystery on the airwaves right now and its unique nature outright hooks you and will have you counting down the days until next week’s episodes. Since you are vested by the end of this one and beyond eager to learn the truth about every mystery presented here, and it will be fascinating to see what truths are revealed unto us as season one of this refreshing show continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Anyone that is eager to start over in life, hopes with every fiber of their being that their transition into a new phase into their lives will be smooth and clean. Simply because what they are looking to leave behind is anything but, and that can sometimes force folks to just go for it and hit that reset button and enjoy the silence and purity of a new life, in a hurry, only to learn… that such a move is never smooth and clean. Because the past always finds a way to haunt us when it is unresolved and also because… the person looking to escape their woes with a clean break, is still the same person. One that still harbors the bad habits and ill wills that infected their old life through and through.
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Which means, that the same problems and quirks that person endured in their own life are still there, just hidden under the guise of temporary happiness and waiting to emerge. So, in order to truly enjoy a fresh start in life, everything has to be dealt with in the current life, first. That means finding closure with the issues that one wishes to escape from in the first place and it also means… dealing with our messes be them psychological or financial or habitual in nature. For only then we can we truly reinvent ourselves and come to understand what this new opportunity presents us. If anything, this particularly difficult truth about starting over is top of mind today, simply because it served as the focus of this week’s episode of Kevin Can F**k Himself on AMC and AMC+.

A feat that ‘Ghost’ accomplished, by having Allison McRoberts begin the next big step in starting over away from Kevin via faking her own death. Which entailed having Allison, and Patty of course, swing by the local funeral home to meet with the intrepid detective that figured out quite the way to help her escape the pain of this life. In that, in the basement of said funeral home, were a bevy of unclaimed bodies and if she and Patty could find one that matched the age range of Allison, and had a low social media presence, Allison could choose to assume that person’s identity. Allowing for her to use that to gain her fresh start far away from Kevin and his ridiculous shenanigans and well… this turned out to be a far more difficult venture than she was prepared for.

In large part because, there were A LOT of bodies to choose from in the basement of this place. For coffin upon coffin were stacked down there, giving rise to a moment of pause from both Allison and Patty, since such an end seemed almost meaningless in a way, to the point where they both briefly pondered their own journey and accomplishments thus far. But also, because… Allison hadn’t been back to this place since her father's wake was hosted here on the exact same day that she met Kevin and well, being back within the walls of a place that was filled with sorrow and led to incredible sorrow, allowed for a bevy of memories to come flooding back for Allison. Of the sorrow she felt that day of course, but more importantly… it forced her for the first time… to really look within and ponder upon her flaws and her past.  

In fact, this is the really the first time in the course of her life, that Allison has ever bothered to face the pain surrounding her and come to understand that she is someone who uses the sitcom mentality to cope with any particular problem in her life, and latch onto it to find happiness over anything else. A move that obviously has led to all kinds of dark times for Allison. But it was huge to learn this about her and discover how she copes and how long she’s lived within this fog. But more importantly, this is a plot that sticks closely to the particular theme of this episode, simply because this walk down memory lane, and pseudo-failed venture… since the only qualifying person there was named Gertrude… allowed for Allison to have an important epiphany.
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In that, somehow, someway… she would need to deal with her flaws and her past if she ever wanted to this to work. Because this struggle to truly deal with the pain of the world and the dark parts of her life, was no longer sustainable. Granted, that’s of course… a journey unto itself, one that is never resolved easy. But the biggest step we will ever take in life, is acknowledging the hardest truth we will ever have to face. Because once it is there it cannot be put back in the box and has to be dealt with accordingly, at our own pace of course, and truly… this show deserves a serious round of applause for acknowledging this fact about growth and starting over and for giving Allison something deep and meaningful to work toward in this final season of the show.

However, all hope aside… we would be foolish to not talk about the fact that some serious complications might be awaiting Allison’s plan to escape this life as is. For Tammy has… a lot of questions about a lot of things. Such as what went down in Vermont that fateful day, to the point where she has requested surveillance footage from the police up that way, inching her closer and closer to the truth about Allison and Patty’s plans and this episode also revealed that Neil’s struggles are less about Kevin’s toxic behavior and instead relate to his own co-dependency on the man. Since he could not reconcile what Patty and Allison attempted to do and made a point to call Tammy multiple times. To the point where she hung out with Kevin, Neil, and Pete during their Spooky Movie Marathon… to likely get a statement.

Which means that Allison is going to have to hustle to get this done and undoubtedly work on herself on the fly, as is often the case in this world, if she wants any chance at having that fresh start in question. But while we wait to see what comes out of this potential trouble, in the meantime, we can offer up a round of applause for one brilliant episode. Because self-help and self-care, and self-work are topics that are uncomfortable for so many because of what it requires of us. But it is essential if we want true happiness and freedom and any show that is willing to point out that we often create our own problems because of our own negative agency, deserves our awe, and now that Allison knows what must be done internally and externally, there’s a good chance this show is about to become quite intense in nature as Allison McRoberts makes a grand push to finally change her life for the better. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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As season two of the stellar STARZ series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, continues along… it is quickly becoming apparent that this show is working to revolutionize the crime drama. Because nothing about this chapter in the Power Universe is traditional in the slightest. For this series really is doing its best to showcase the characters in a supremely intimate manner and have them deal with other important life moments beyond the consequences of their actions or the pain of The Game. Granted yes, this is a franchise that does offer intimate moments with its characters now and again, the kind that grow them and open them to us. But it has never done it in this manner, and this is rare to find in the genre as a whole. Which is making for some engaging storytelling. The kind that is genuinely drawing us in through and through and vesting us emotionally, and that fascinating balance is top of mind today, because it was once again on full display in last night’s episode.
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Because ‘Pay the Toll’ is a story that perfectly divided the show’s time between crime moments and intimate journeys, and the personal stuff was quite powerful here. Since we once again saw Lou struggle mightily with the direction his life has been taking and how difficult it has been for him to find balance when music calls to him. Not to mention, Jukebox did something quite bold in this tale and just reached out to her biological mother. Because she had to know why she was abandoned back in the day and if she meant anything to her mother and it turned out… she most certainly did. In fact, that meeting went so well and so smoothly, that just like that, she was building a relationship with her mother and inadvertently… inspired Kanan to do his own thing with his father as well.

For he was also struggling in this tale with that particular truth. To the point where he actually swung by the prison where his uncle was currently a resident, to learn more about whether or not his ‘father’ was just that. But that didn’t give him the answers he needed, he had to know more about Detective Howard and the strange draw that he did experience in speaking with him on several occasions. And that, eventually motivated him to seek out time with his biological father when he thought his mother wasn’t looking. But of course, Raq was, since she watches over Kanan carefully and it will be interesting to see what comes of this ‘betrayal’ as she will see it and of course… the other big problem she’s now facing after this particular tale.

Because unfortunately, the move into New Jersey, did not go as smoothly as Raq had planned. In fact, it was a downright disaster. Because the Mafia got wind of their plans and intercepted the initial shipment headed to her target site. Which in turn, brought Raq face to face with the infamous Sal Boselli. Who handled all the money and all the drugs in this part of the world and well, that meeting went about as well as one might expect. Because Raq wasn’t interested in Boselli’s smooth talk, the kind designed to intimidate and strike fear without overtly spelling out any particular threat. She just wanted to get her business going in this neck of the woods, and she wasn’t interested in splitting any profits with Boselli in the slightest. Which in turn motivated a creative way to sneak the stuff in.
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For she planned to have Worrell move the stuff into Jersey under the guise of a school bus. Because who would ever search that? But alas, this is when the audience came to learn that Raq’s problems extended well beyond a Mob Boss eager to get a taste of what she was serving. Because it turned out that the deal that Unique struck with Raq, to life his life free of the game, was nothing more than a disgusting lie. One designed to keep Raq’s guard down so he could quietly get intelligence from Worrell as to what the organization was up to, and exact revenge. For Worrell was in fact, far more dedicated to Unique’s brand of business and once that information hit Unique’s ears… it was quickly spoken to Boselli’s boys. Giving rise to advance notice of how to stop the shipments, and they most certainly did, with minimal fuss of course. 

Which means that Raq truly does have a rat in her operation, one that is too loyal and too afraid to pick a side and that is going to bring about some serious strife in the days to come. Since she won’t think about looking Unique’s way, despite the fact that he hinted at causing trouble here with his intimidating visit to the bodega. But while we wait to see how Raq handles the new problems in her life, we can celebrate one amazing tale. Because this episode did a phenomenal job of offering us the best of both worlds. And it did so in a manner that kept us engaged from beginning to end. Speaking volumes to how revolutionary this show is and how diverse the Power Universe can be and well… sadly… all we can do now is sit and wait for more of this majestic show and all it has to offer. Until next time.