Please enjoy a sneak peek of tomorrow’s brand-new episode of The Morning Show, streaming exclusively on AppleTV+.

One particular lie that we tell ourselves often… is that we can fix the most broken parts of ourselves through good deeds and hard work, and what makes that a lie… is quite deep in nature. Because at some point, we all learn that true selfcare and healing involves staring down our problems and our traumas and dealing with them in a realistic and dynamic manner, and if we cannot do that… we simply cannot heal and that particular lie is important to our discussion today, simply because it’s been one of the biggest themes present in the STARZ series, Hightown. Because the first three episodes of this series, have seen Jackie Quiñones do just that, by burying herself in the Sherry Henry case in the hopes of somehow using that to fix the grand mistakes she’s made.

In fact, she’s so hellbent on this belief, that she takes it to a whole new level in the next episode. For ‘BFO’ sees Jackie drive far off to Wareham in Devonne’s car, to finally meet with Krista and get some truth about what’s going on and she actually does get pretty darn close to making that happen. Because some healthy threats to the man that is keeping her safe, allows for her to step into Krista’s hotel room with her bag, and leave a note with Jackie's number on it in the hopes of getting that all-important call, so she could finally bring Sherry’s aggressors to justice and find the peace she so desperately thought this would give her. But while she waited for that call, she was able to turn her attention to a grand opportunity with her old squad. Because they needed a body and Ed went to bat for her to come on home and help out on a big case, and that invigorated Jackie like never before.

For she was quickly able to put together the parameters for a federal case on this BFO and she was so spot on with her plan that the service managed to get a huge bust on this night, once again leaving Jackie riding a high and that’s precisely when this series went philosophical. Because while it was nice to see Jackie dedicate herself to more noble causes, those actions didn’t answer the all-important question hanging over her journey. Specifically, how does one come to discover the lie we tell ourselves, especially when we genuinely believe it is the only way forward? Well as it turns out, the only way for that reality to come to light, is by being outright shown by the universe that our real root cause hasn’t been fixed in the slightest… by way of a grand step back and Jackie definitely took that here. For in the closing moments of this tale, Jackie slammed down a shot, thinking she was healed… when in fact, she has started a new journey. One that will now remind her harshly of what she needs to work on in order to be healthy.

But while that made for some powerful storytelling for certain, we would be remiss to not talk about the case and how both sides are continuing a delicate dance to obtain power. Because while Alan and Ray were able to get close to someone that was close to Osito, Ray’s idiotic anger and desire to solve this quickly, forced their potential CI to lawyer up. Leaving Ray with no choice but to continue to work Renee as an informant whether she knew it or not, which in turn led to a face-to-face meeting with Osito. One where he made it clear to Ray that he was onto the police and their pursuit of him and that it would take some serious effort to bring him down. Not to mention, Krista’s name continues to come up with Osito and Junior, putting her at risk like never before, especially now that she’s breaking sobriety as well, since she left the hotel once she realized her protector was done with her, and she spoke about that fateful night to someone that might have a vested interest in sharing her story.

In the end however, this really was quite the powerful tale. One that deserves some serious applause and recognition for taking the time to finally start a journey of potential redemption for Jackie. Because her drinking here doesn’t mean she failed, it means she should finally wake up and that’s huge and that’s powerful and it is downright realistic. Since that really is how we heal and how we learn to pull ourselves out of dark and foolish moments and the wonder of this story doesn’t end there. Because the case really is getting terrifying and dangerous since everyone is upping their game and trying harder to be in control, and it will be quite interesting to see where this power struggle takes us next and of course… it will be equally as fascinating to see how Jackie responds to her next big stumble. Since the only question that remains in regard to that, is how far is she going to fall before she realizes that the only person that can pick her up… is herself? Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Ultra City Smiths’.
​
Normally, crime dramas build to an incredible finale. One where good and evil are pitted against one another in a harrowing fight for survival. The kind where, more often than not, good emerges victorious. Reminding us always that the best parts of us survive the darkest moments and that there are champions out there who do their best to ensure that people are safe from the evil that men do and for a time, it seemed as though that was the ending that Ultra City Smiths was working toward regarding its season one finale. For Mills was trying to stay strong in the face of adversity and so many others were working toward a better tomorrow.

But as it turns out, ‘Family of Orphans’, decided to take the story in a vastly different direction. One that quite frankly, undoubtedly stunned some fans. For there was little to no resolution of any of the plot points present this season and that’s a bold as decision as it comes. Since we expect a plot to move forward. But this is of course, a vastly different kind of crime drama… one that is eager to shake things up and do bold acts, so such a decision storytelling wise, makes absolute sense. Since it really is the last thing, the audience ever expected and really, what made this finale so unique and downright shocking… was its inclusion of some stunning plot points and cliffhangers. 

Such as the fact, that the Most Dangerous Man in the World, is actually a father. In fact, he is Grace’s father. For back in the day MDMITW and Bernice had quite the love affair, one that while healthy in some respects, never quite panned out because of the fact that Bernice’s love was a cold-blooded killer. Which in turn motivated her to step away and raise Grace on her own. But that divide between father and daughter might change now that Grace spent a little time with her father in this tale and it really was quite interesting to see the villain of this story be humanized, especially when one considers the fact that he clearly has been involved in a great deal of Ultra City’s dark past. Leaving one to wonder if by chance, there is redemption in the cards for him, through his daughter.

However, there was mention of cliffhangers and of the many present, in this tale, one stands out above the rest. For this is a story where we finally came to learn the identity of Trish’s lost baby. The one that was left sitting outside a police station, ages ago, and as it turns out… that baby is Detective Mills. A reality that will once again upend this case. Because if he’s family, he can no longer work on the case, and more importantly… such news will upend his life, provided of course he lives long enough to hear it. Because hot on his tail in this tale, was the Most Dangerous Man in the World, and he was in full uniform and ready to strike and well… we will have to wait until season two to learn of his fate and the fate of others.

Since Street Hustler Boy was staring down the barrel of a bevy of guns when his robbery went awry and to top it off… the mayor is up to something as well since he is suddenly hitting the streets and trying to play nice with all the tweens of the city and well, all we can do now is wait for a season two renewal, and this writer hopes it happens. Because this really has been quite the refreshing and unique ride. One that has defied convention and entertained along the way with quirky musical numbers and laugh out loud moments. But it is the show’s overall originality that really has me hungry to see a new season come to life, since it is unlike any other series on the market and television needs more of that, plain and simple. Until next time.

​There is a prevailing belief when it comes to children’s (or family) entertainment. In that, stories in this vein don’t have to be hyper intelligent or feature depth in the slightest and that particular belief exists, simply because there is a grand perception that children, won’t pick up on heavier and more intelligent concepts. They simply want to be entertained through and through and well, that’s a belief that quite frankly is incorrect. For every parent out there can attest to the fact that their child or children are far smarter than others give them credit, to the point where they clearly absorb and comprehend deeper concepts and notions surrounding them in the world. 
​
Which is why it is a shame that more children’s themed entertainment isn’t chock full of deeper concepts, since that could help children understand a great deal about the world at an early age if done right. But thankfully, there are creative minds that are starting to recognize this truth about children and are starting to put together smarter shows and stories for kids, the kind that are indeed designed to teach them a great deal about life and the world in a manner that is both entertaining and comprehendible and it just so happens, that AppleTV+ is host to a show that features that kind of depth. For Wolfboy and the Everything Factory is a children’s series that is unlike any other, largely because it offers up the perfect balance of fantasy and reality. 

A feat that this series accomplishes, by introducing the audience to a supremely relatable character named William Wolfe. For William is by all counts, an outsider of sorts, that quirky kid that likes to keep to himself and his own world and let’s be honest… that’s someone we’ve known or were as a child and that immediately adds credibility to this story, and it serves as a supremely important foundation to the story that lies ahead. For one day, William comes to discover that beneath our feet is a magical realm where beings known as Sprytes live, and these unique creatures can create just about anything in a place known as the Everything Factory and once William joins them below… is when the real gravity of this story gets underway.

For there are episodes that celebrate the outcast by celebrating our differences and how we should embrace them at every turn. Plus, there are also stories that subtly teach kids what it means to embrace imagination and creativity and what it means to believe in oneself and that makes this series, the most intelligent children’s show out there. Because this one really does dig into concepts and ideas that no other series will touch in the slightest and it does it in such a unique and creative manner that children simply won’t notice. They’ll be immersed in this world and absorb all the beautiful messages it sends their way. Granted, the adults will catch on, but that will provide them with nothing but comfort, since they’re secure in the knowledge that wholesome entertainment is taking place, the kind that hopefully engenders conversation about the wondrous things the young viewer has just seen.

But rather than just ask us to take our word for it today in regard to everything we’ve just discussed, we here at NTG thought it might be helpful if you read first hand, what the folks behind the scenes wanted to accomplish in regard to this series and how proud they are of their creation, by way of an interview we conducted with series creator Toff Mazery, Executive Producer Joseph Gordon-Levitt and star Kassian Ahktar. And its best we highlight that aforementioned pride since that is paramount to the creation of a story of this caliber and here is what Kassian and Toff had to say about that topic.
​
Kassian Ahktar: The thing that I'm most happy about watching Wolfboy… is just it all coming together. So, when I was in the studio recording it. It was just amazing reading the scripts and getting to know the story. But when you see it on TV, you say, “oh, this hard work made this just amazing.” And it's a really good story in my opinion. And yeah, it's just… it's just amazing.

Toff Mazery: I would also jump in and say that the honesty of the voice acting is one of the things I'm most proud of. We made the decision to use kids from the beginning and it wasn't an easy decision because… it just wasn't. Wolfboy, especially. We heard hundreds of voices. Kassian’s voice was immediately, the one that felt the most authentic, like I believed him, and I felt it just stood out. There was something different about him. And I think that's for me, that's a huge part of why our story works. He was such a good worker, he's amazing. Kassian. You are so great, I’m so proud of how it turned out with your voice. So that's one of the things I'm most proud of.

But while the passion for this project comes through in those answers, we’ve talked at length about messaging and takeaways and meaning from this series and here is what Toff and Joseph and Kassian had to say about what they hope the audiences will walk away with when it comes to this dynamic series.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Toff and I were always talking about; wouldn't it be cool if this show felt like something that Wolfboy could have made? So, if someone watches this show, and then sits down and starts drawing, or writing their own story, or you know, acting out an adventure in their room. That to me is the pinnacle of what I would hope for.

Toff Mazery: That's exactly the kind of thing I was gonna say. I want people to watch the show and go outside, and like talk to trees and imagine the world a little bit differently because that's what I always wanted from the show. That's the lens through which I saw the world as a kid, and that kid inspires me the most today. I think that's the world we tried to build, where Wolfboy discovers, “I was right. The world is magical, and everything is alive, and everything has a heart,” and all the trees and pebbles and dreams and everything that they make in the show is alive and it has a character of its own. I think that would be my big thing.

Kassian Ahktar: I would say probably rather than like an active thing I would say more of like, meaningful things. So, it’s more like the takeaway is always to never, never give up basically, like Wolfboy. And being different is good. That's what I would hope that kids take away from the show.

So, as you can see. Not only did a lot of love and thought and depth go into the creation of this particular series but there’s a lot of hope in this series as well. Hope that the learning that takes place in this series, turns to inspiration and that really does make this quite the special and unique series for certain. One that genuinely captures the zeitgeist of being a child and what it means it dream and well, hopefully you take the time to check this series out on AppleTV+ whenever you get a chance, regardless of whether you are a parent or a casual fan of animation. Because this is a story for everyone since it reminds all of us to dream big and embrace the beauty of the world. Which are timeless messages that resonate with all of us.

Season one of ‘Wolfboy and the Everything Factory’ is available to stream right now on AppleTV+. The interview segments of this article were lightly edited for clarity.

Normally in crime dramas, the hero, or the villain, or both… are as cool as they come. Which often allows for quite the stylish story to take place. One where the detective in question cannot be rattled by the evil they see, allowing for them to solve a case that puts the fear of God into others. Or we are treated to a story where the villain is so sure of themselves, they’re almost like-able because of the fun they have in committing their crimes and if the story does indeed feature both types of characters, then it’s nothing short of a powerhouse ride, the kind where an immovable object slams into an unstoppable force. But while those elements make for an entertaining ride, they do in fact, create a disservice for their readers or their viewers.

Simply because, crime dramas are designed to help us better understand the human condition and what makes us tick and what makes us overcome the darkness within and that’s why crime stories that abandon that cheesy but fun formula should be celebrated at every turn. Because those are the ones that we connect with and that is why Hightown is of note. For this is a series that presents its heroes in the raw by giving them challenges to fail at, which in turn invests us like never before since we want to see them succeed and grow beyond their goofs and well, for proof that this is how this series operates… then look no further than its next episode. For ‘Rebellion Dogs’ is a story that sees just about everyone stumble and fall and try to figure out a way forward and that makes for one fascinating story. 

One that genuinely informs us of how human and flawed our heroes are in this tale. For this story saw Jackie screw the pooch in court and barrel toward a felony charge and being that in position… motivated her to double down on the idea that she could in fact, right all of her wrongs by solving the Sherry Henry case. Which is why she worked with Junior to travel around the cape to find clues and answers and why she returned to her ex-girlfriend for help. To prove her worth, to show the world she wasn’t a screw up and what’s amazing is that her ‘noble’ quest was counterbalanced nicely by Ray’s in this story. Because he too stumbled hard by letting his emotions and his desire get the better of him. Because Frankie recognized that a guy like Ray can be manipulated through the ‘love’ of a beautiful woman and sent Renee after him to get close and derail the case and Ray fell right into that trap hook, line, and sinker. For he was quick to respond to Renee’s advances and sadly, that means he’s crossed an ugly line and will have to work hard to recover from it.

But there was mention of the fact that just about everyone stumbled in this tale and even our villains made their share of mistakes. For we came to learn in this tale that Junior doesn’t quite understand how serious his situation really is. Because he saw the dumping of Sherry’s body as a done deal. But Frankie didn’t see it like that in the slightest and sent Osito after him via phone and eventually in person, to make it clear that perfection was the expectation this outfit and in order to prove his worth to the boss and Osito, he was asked to do quite the ugly act. In that, he needed to beat the living hell out of an everyday guy to show his toughness and show that he could follow orders and well, that eagerness to make some cash and earn some praise is the stumble in question for Junior. One that could cost him if he doesn’t come to understand how little he matters to these folks and how dangerous they really are.

If anything, this was just a wonderfully low-key character study when all is said and done. Since it really did a wonderful job of teaching us what makes them tick and what drives them and obviously, what their weaknesses and flaws are and that was undoubtedly a calculated choice writing wise. One that really does remind us of the power of the crime drama and what it can teach us, since everything presented here was hyper realistic and relatable and of course, it’s also there to vest us in the story and make us crave more and that’s just fine. Because this series is great, and we really do want to see how everyone comes back from their gross missteps and well, the only way to find out if or how that is going to be the case… is to continue the journey and see where life on Cape Cod… takes us next.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Finding Alice’.
​
The most important question that someone recovering from loss or grief will need to ask themselves at some point… is what comes next? Because grief consumes a person and puts them on quite the wild ride, one that does eventually come to an end, and the unknown that awaits a person when they realize this isn’t a forever feeling is an important one to ponder upon. Because emerging from the pain is the start of a brand-new chapter, one filled with the unknown and endless possibility and thinking about what one’s life could be and what it will stand for when the pain ends is supremely important, and well, what’s amazing… is that there is no real solid answer to that question. Because the journey that awaits us after grief varies from person to person because of their different wants and needs.
​
For some simply want their next chapter to involve being free of the pain they felt, and some want to immediately find happiness, while others… want to keep the memory of their lost loved one alive in any way possible and it just so happens that the latter of those three potential outcomes, is what Alice is eager to accomplish in the next episode of Finding Alice. Because when we catch up with her in ‘Sperm’, she is starting to think about what comes next, especially after receiving a massive offer that could solve her problems in one fell swoop. The only problem is, she isn’t sure if that’s the answer to her problems and the possibility of a complete fresh start freaks her out. To the point where her anxiety, motivates her to lock everyone out of the house so she can have a moment to process the weight of it all and try to figure out if that is the right path forward and that is when her journey toward honoring Harry… gets underway.

Because she comes to realize that doing so is the only way she will find peace after his passing and once she comes down from her anxiety cloud… she gets right to preserving his legacy in some unique ways. The first one, is by denying Tanvi any shot at Harry’s fledgling empire. Since she turned down the massive offer on the table in the hopes of moving those apartments herself and because she simply had to know if the sour land Harry bought was really as bad as advertised. Which as it turns out, it wasn’t, and that revelation allowed for Alice to begin to noodle upon what would be needed to build upon that land and develop it in a manner that would genuinely honor her late love and what’s wild about this tale, is that Alice’s quest to keep his memory alive, didn’t end with that land grab.

For she also decided that it might not be a bad idea to get ahold of the sperm that Harry left behind and have another child. To add to Harry’s legacy. Which is a plan that was met with a lot of disdain and wild looks and sassy and hilarious moments and well… let’s be honest, that was a bit much. Especially when Charlotte was already the living legacy of the man. But it just goes to show how hard we will push ourselves to accomplish a goal when we know it will give us peace and well, trying to keep Harry’s memory alive really did do a great deal of healthy things for Alice. Because despite the wild moments present here, she really did find focus and she really did inspire others to take charge of their lives as well, since her dad finally stood up to her mom.

Plus, she also stood up to her mom when mummy decided that being downright nasty and cruel was the best way to get through to her daughter and well, in the end, it would seem that what comes next for Alice… is strength and determination and dedication to the man she loved. Because for the first time in her life, she’s free and in charge of her fate and that should allow for her to accomplish wonders in keeping Harry’s memory alive whilst discovering what will make her happy going forward and hopefully, that’s what the season finale of this series focuses upon. Since it would be nice to see Alice finally find her groove. But alas, there’s a fair chance the finale in question might be more bittersweet than expected. Thanks to Tanvi’s ownership stake and a family that can’t leave well enough alone. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 208 of ‘My Life Is Murder’.
​
We are taught from a very early age, that minding our own business, is the best way to conduct oneself. Because doing so allows for us to focus on our lives and our daily tasks and goals and it keeps us free from unnecessary and outright stressful drama. But while that particular line of thinking has held fast for decades on end and has indeed kept a vast majority of our lives, drama free… we are starting to discover… it’s actually a terrible way to view the world. Because it tends to put us in a bubble of sorts, one where new experiences are kept at bay and making a point to keep to ourselves, helps to engender trouble in the world since sometimes, those we ignore are in need of help and guidance.

Because not everyone is strong and not everyone is eager to speak up or ask for help when life is tough and when those folks are continually ignored, trouble follows. To the point where sometimes people get hurt or get lost in this wild world and really, all of this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because that unfortunate reality weaved its way into the fabric of this week’s episode of My Life Is Murder, in the sneakiest way possible. Because ‘Hidden Gems’ started off with a genuine robbery case. For a shop owner named Mariel was brutally murdered in her jewelry shop, and of course… necklaces went missing and the silent alarm was tripped, and the door was ripped asunder. Making it seem as though Alexa was going to solve a super traditional case for a change.

But something about this robbery didn’t quite add up. Specifically, the fact that the CCTV went out for roughly four minutes before the alarm was tripped, and it was equally as odd, that the most valuable jewels were left behind. Leaving Alexa to wonder, if by chance something more was going on here and with a little digging, she was able to discover a delivery man named Enzo was likely the last person to see Mariel alive and well… he shockingly admitted to her murder during his interview with Alexa. But even that, didn’t add up since there was little motive for such a crime and Enzo knew nothing of the details. Which made Alexa dig even deeper and that’s really when the exploration in question, came into play.

Because Alexa was able to discover that one of Mariel’s employees, a woman named Ramona, was responsible for all of this. In fact, she staged the robbery in order to get off scot free and she hurt her boss… because she felt she had no other recourse. For Mariel put her in a strange situation, where she would be the face of the company and her anxiety wasn’t good with that and she was so afraid and so terrified of failure and of being used in this manner, that she snapped. Which outright made it clear that sometimes, folks who struggle with being seen and are afraid to speak up, can break and do horrible things when they’re at their lowest and all it might have taken to avoid this, was a conversation revolving around Ramona’s mental health and the exploration didn’t stop there.

Since Enzo’s journey also helped to remind us that sometimes, when we aren’t seen by the world, or haven’t found a path or a voice… we’ll do whatever we can to achieve that or to achieve the connection we need. Which is why Enzo was big on service jobs and on being pinned as the guy for this murder… so he could be seen and heard and exist to a world filled with so many other voices and really, in the end… all these elements make this episode quite bittersweet for certain. Since this one reflects a part of our would that we ironically ignore and it offers no easy answers for the audience, since it is up to individuals to step out of their comfort zone to comfort others and well… hopefully this episode influences at least a few folks to do just that. Because clearly, it can make a world of difference.

Well, interestingly enough, we get the Guardians of the Multiverse. I really should have seen this one coming, and yet I somehow was still surprised. The plan is simple, Ultron must be stopped. This series really didn’t hold back on just how powerful Ultron really was. The only issue I had with the previous episode, was that Thanos showed up immediately after the world was destroyed. As if Ultron couldn’t have done what he did without the Infinity Stones. Now, in theory, he couldn’t have accessed the Multiverse without the other stones, but he still could have breached the barrier and destroyed so many other worlds with some effort. Being equipped with the Infinity Stones did make Ultron a much bigger threat, faster, and let’s be honest, watching Ultron and the Watcher fight was the best part of the whole series. Okay, maybe Zombie Scarlet Witch is the best part. Either way, the season finale of the series managed to bring everything full circle and end in the most poetic way possible. 

The Watcher assembled his team, starting with Evil Doctor Strange, from ‘What If Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?’ If you are going to have a version of Strange on your team, he does seem like the best bet. Of course, he has to have Captain Carter, she’s literally the best! Killmonger was… a choice. I really questioned that logic, but you know, this isn’t my team, so… T’Challa’s Star Lord made a whole lot of sense, considering he managed to turn Thanos good and all.

Of course, we had to have Party/Only Child Thor in the mix, because reasons? The last of the team is Gamora, and I’m sad we didn’t get to see her universe where she killed Thanos and made a device to break the Infinity Stones. All in all, it’s a decent team from various universes and there’s little to no way they could possibly mess this up. When the Watcher brings them all to a pocket universe and explains what’s happening, they all agree without much thought. Well, Thor tries to leave, but he can’t, so he might as well stay. They go to Vormir and start to form their plan properly, without the Watcher with them. There isn’t enough life on the planet for Ultron to really be interested in it. Killmonger gives off the “definitely going to double cross everyone the first chance he gets” vibes, which Gamora easily picks up. Thor happily draws some serious attention to them, and Ultron shows up pretty quick to kill everyone, like killer robots tend to do. The good news is this Strange is extremely proficient at Magic. Not only does he have protection spells on everyone, he can open inter-dimensional portals. Which he opens as soon as T’Challa takes the Soul Stone from Ultron.

Where do they end up? Where it all began with Ultron winning. The sole survivor of the planet is Natasha, and she intercepts the falling Soul Stone as our Heroes make a crash landing into this Universe with Ultron hot on their trail. Natasha doesn’t just take the Stone and run, she stays, and she fights. It’s what she does best, saving the day and all. Peggy instantly bonds with Natasha and Strange extends his protection spell to her without so much as a word. The fight is a ton of near misses from all parties until Gamora gets the Soul Stone and puts it in her Infinity Stone Crusher of Doom. The thing is, her machine was designed to work on the Infinity Stones in her universe, not this one. That means, Ultron eventually gets the Stone back and unleashes the full force of all 6 stones onto the Guardians of the Multiverse. It’s a close call but Natasha and Captain Carter break away from the attack. Natasha finds Clint’s discarded arrow with Zola’s program, and knows they’ll only have one true shot at defeating Ultron once and for all. Carter leaps onto Ultron’s back and yanks him back with just enough force for Natasha to fire Clint’s arrow into Ultron’s eye. Good thing Zola is a better virus than Ultron is.

With everyone alive, so far, and Ultron fighting Zola for control of the Vision Body, Killmonger makes his move thanks to an Ultron robot head found at the beginning of all this. Oh no! That betrayal! That we all totally didn’t see coming. Whatever will everyone do? They don’t have to do anything, because Zola wins and defeats Ultron and when Killmonger tries to take over, the Stones are torn between which entity to go to. Strange locks them both away in a pocket universe. Everyone returns to the Watcher who takes them all home, one by one. Strange will spend the rest of eternity watching over the little pocket universe. The Watcher knew this was always going to be the outcome. Natasha is the last to leave this tiny corner of the multiverse, only the Watcher takes her to a different universe. The one that was invaded by Loki and his army, and where they lost their Widow. As for Captain Carter? She got her happy ending. In the end, in her universe, they find the giant metal suit Steve used to pilot, and inside? Steve of course! And they all lived happily ever after! Or as close as they can get. The Watcher goes back to just watching, and we get to wonder if we get a season 2!

One universal rule about life that a great deal of us abide by, is that we need to atone for our sins. Simply because a great deal of the bad things we do are correctable, and the best way to move forward is to own those mistakes and do what we can to set things right and there are some serious psychological benefits that accompany following this rule as well. After all, so many of us feel great when we’ve cleared the air and apologized and made amends and being in that mindset, also allows for us or really learn the lesson inherent that accompanies that mistake and truly, it would be nice if everyone adhered to this law of the land. But what’s genuinely fascinating about this rule, is that it sometimes requires a measure of delicateness in executing it.

Because sometimes, the mistake we made was so great and so devastating, that immediately trying to repair what we’ve done, is a bad idea or seemingly impossible. Which means we need to take a moment and really think about what happened and figure out the right way forward to make amends, even if that includes working on ourselves, so we don’t rush into this and make another faux pas and really, this is relevant to our discussion today… simply because it served as the focus of the next episode of Hightown. For ‘Severely Weatherbeaten’ saw Jackie Quiñones in a tough place mentally during her rehab stay. Because she really thought she was making great progress in her recovery. to the point where she thought she was ahead of the game, and that motivated her to ponder upon what comes next.

For she was of course, still facing felony charges for the accident she caused, courtesy of her drinking and drug problem, and she was also still haunted by Sherry’s murder and well… the discovery of Krista Collins and her relationship to Sherry, is what brought about the exploration in question and the answer to Jackie's question. Because just like that… Jackie thought that solving Sherry’s murder and saving Krista in the process, might reflect well on her record and perhaps heal the wounds in her soul over her mistake and that in turn, sent her down a bold path. One where she left rehab and opted to perform a grand investigation on her own and well… it quickly became clear that such a move was a bad idea. Largely because, she wasn’t a cop at the moment, nor was she safe in doing this in the slightest. But more so, because this wasn’t going to heal her or fix her, she needed to do that first before making amends, leaving all of us to wonder how long before such a decision will backfire upon Jackie.

But while that made for a solid and fascinating exploration on how to properly atone for our mistakes and how self-care is pertinent to that when self-destructive behaviors are in play… this episode also took a little time to advance the case against Osito. For Alan and Ray made great strides in getting close to him and some answers about his involvement in all this. A feat they accomplished by using Renee as bait to draw him out in the open so he could potentially sell some drugs to an undercover cop. Which is a move that went poorly, since Osito smelled trouble and bounced before the the unit could get a long term fix on him. But Ray was able to pull some prints from a fast-food bag he left behind and get a positive ID on him and his true identity, and hopefully that will help them move quickly in solving this case, especially since dark clouds are gathering on the horizon regarding it.

After all, we now know that Junior is mixed up in this mess, since he met with Frankie in jail and provided the boss man with all kinds of updates and apologies in regard to Sherry’s murder. Which also speaks volumes to the fact that Frankie is pulling some strings behind the scenes and no good can come from that. Plus, to complicate matters further, Ray is fixated on Renee and that’s just bad. Since such feelings and attractions could derail this case in an epic manner and well, all those juicy storylines do is leave us eager for more. Because that’s the kind of stuff you have to see play out. But before we dive into the next chapter in this dynamic tale, we can celebrate another solid episode. One that once again explored the power of addiction and the nature of our characters in a detailed and dynamic manner… all while pulling us deeper and deeper into the seedy underbelly of Cape Cod. Until next time.  

One thing that television fans can agree upon, is that the STARZ series Hightown, was one of the most refreshing shows to hit the airwaves in 2020. Largely due to the fact that it was quite progressive in nature. After all, having an LGBTQ+ individual as your lead protagonist is a huge deal since representation in popular media is paramount right now, and the wonder of this series didn’t end there. For it also took the time to show us the power of addiction and how it transforms an individual and how hard it is to overcome and while those elements could have carried this series through season one no problem… it still had more powerful moments to send our way.
​
Because there was the whole matter of the police chasing after Osito and Ray and Frankie’s twisted game of chess, the one where Renee played the pawn through and through and the resolution of that whole mess, simply left us hungry for more of this fascinating world and the incredible people that populate it. But thankfully, our wait for new episodes of this outstanding series, is about to finally come to an end. For Sunday, October 17, 2021, will bring forth the season two premiere of this dynamic series and we here at Nerds That Geek, were actually able to get an advance look at season two and now seems like the perfect time to preview what season two is going to look like, in a spoiler-free fashion of course.

After all, you need to experience it firsthand and hopefully informing you of the fact that the same quality character development that was present in season one is expanded upon here, will create some added excitement for you. Because in year two, there are some grand new challenges for Jackie and Ray and Alan and Renee to face. The kind that forces them to outright deal with the consequences of their actions from season one in a dynamic and realistic manner. The kind that leaves you rooting for some and shaking your head in regard to others as they take unique paths in how they deal with yesterday, and the new challenges presented to them, and the wonder of this new season extends well beyond this fascinating element.  

Because at its core, Hightown is a crime drama and a new season of storytelling means little to us without a juicy case for us to dive into with the characters we love, and the good news is, the case that our heroes are working to solve this year, is quite compelling. For it features all of the intrigue and guile that last year’s case did, dialed up of course. Because you have to raise the stakes in year two and the arrival of a potent drug known as Great White does just that. How exactly, we refuse to spoil here, but we can definitely tell you that its arrival on the cape is a big deal and it will change the lives of those who opt to take it and of course, change the lives of those trying to stop its spread on the streets. 

Which means that simply put, we are going to be treated to one powerful season of storytelling. One where the drama is deeper, the stakes are higher, and the danger is real. Because there are some genuinely unsavory people working behind the scenes in Cape Cod to sling drugs and it is going to take some serious effort from our heroes to keep them from harming others and well, we here at Nerds That Geek cannot wait to geek out with the rest of you regarding this new season. So much in fact, that we have more season two coverage to bring you later this week, by way of some interviews with the cast and crew. So, keep your eyes peeled for that and join us after Sunday night’s brand-new episode as we break down the season two premiere!