Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’.
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Truly, there are few things in this world as tragic or unsettling as when family members turn upon one another. Because family is sacred and something we cherish to no end, and that is why we are rattled and stunned when we hear on the news that two family members have crossed that uncrossable line and committed harm upon one another. But while it is important to cherish family and show disdain when it is treated as meaningless, so that we continue to cherish it… we do have to be honest with ourselves and understand that family life isn’t as rosy for everyone as it was for us. Because sometimes, family can be toxic and unhealthy in every sense of those words and that kind of environment can drive people to do horrible things to one another.

If anything, that reality, and the cause as to why family members suddenly view their own blood as the kind of monster that needs to have vengeance imparted upon them is top of mind today, simply because it served as the focus of the next episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries, in the most surprising way imaginable. Because at first glance, it really seemed as though Jean and her new hometown were going to be embroiled in a crime related to money. For a dead body turned up at Jeremy and Judith’s thirty-fifth wedding anniversary celebration and the poor soul that was gone, Mary (who also happened to be Judith’s estranged sister), was basically robbed either before dying or after. Since a rare and valuable broach was missing from her outfit.

Which in turn motivated Jean to offer her services to the police, since she knows that kind of product inside and out and knew she could help them track it down and that offer provided her… with honorary status from Andre Caron. Because he trusted her knowledge and instincts and that… kicked off the grand investigation into this murder and Jean’s quick thinking and in-depth digging, revealed that there was indeed a family element at play here. For it turns out that Jeremy’s brother Harry… had an affair with Mary. Leading Jean to wonder if a crime of passion from Harry’s wife came into play here. But in the end, that wasn’t enough to bring this heinous crime to fruition. No instead, a broken and abandoned heart, one belonging to Harry and Mary’s unplanned daughter… Angela… brought about Mary’s end.

Because Angela was abandoned shortly after birth and put into the foster system and once, she reached adulthood and set out into the world, she decided it best to reunite with her mother and forge a future with her. Which went swimmingly at first, until Mary had a change of heart and abandoned Angela again. Leaving Angela with no recourse in her mind… than to exact revenge on someone that caused her great harm. Which is why she worked to steal the broach. To sell it and get some kind of value from a worthless parent. But alas, the plan to steal it via the event and a disguise, went wrong, and Mary died, putting Angela behind bars all because she couldn’t reconcile or let go of the past and in this instance, that is easier said than done… making this story a grand tragedy for certain.

One that makes it clear that marginalization and emotional abuse, will motivate a family member to do horrible things to their own flesh and blood, genetic ties be damned, and this episode deserves a round of applause for showcasing this in such a frank manner and for not trying to offer a solve to this… because there really isn’t one. Because we cannot influence what others do, we can only control our own world and be a better family member, plain and simple. But all family commentary aside, this episode also deserves kudos, for giving Jean a new purpose in life and for giving her a true nemesis as well. Since the person that wants the ring, worked to get their hands on the broach and they are taunting Jean and that definitely compels one to continue this journey… to see how Jean’s newfound role, might finally lead her to her husband’s killer, and peace at last. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two premiere of ‘Power Book II: Ghost’.
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For the most part, television shows tend to explore one particular aspect of the human condition and move on, and it makes sense as to why. After all, there is a lot that goes into what makes us who we are and lingering upon the same concept for weeks or years on end, runs the risk of boring an audience that wants to learn more about humanity and life itself. But while changing it up definitely allows for powerful storytelling to take place and for some fine lessons to come forth, there is one inherent flaw in offering a week-to-week analysis of who we are. In that, it romanticizes life and makes it seem storybook in its own right and that’s why we need to applaud shows that take the time to avoid this particular style of storytelling.
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For those are the ones that really explore the human condition in the raw and that is precisely why Power Book II: Ghost on STARZ, deserves our attention. Because this is a series that does just that and for proof… then look no further than its season two premiere. For ‘Free Will Is Never Free’ returns to a concept that was initially explored in the show’s series premiere. Specifically, what comes next in life when we face some dark times and it managed to make a return to this concept work… by putting Tariq in quite the tough place in the season one finale. For once again, he found himself ending the life of another human being to further advance his own initiatives, and when we catch up with him, here… he is once again reconciling death and who he is as a person and that leads to one fascinating premiere.

One that saw multiple characters reeling with the concept of what comes next in both a positive and negative manner. Cooper Saxe for instance, was wrestling with that question in regard to his legal career because he was in strange new territory. Because signing up with MacLean and Associates meant he had to learn a whole new side to the lawyer business, the schmoozing and finessing side really, alongside learning how to navigate his new career path with a nemesis turned boss and well, that was about as awkward as a transition as one might expect. And oddly, this plot thread really was the only positive exploration of what comes next, since everyone else asking that question… had a lot of dark moments hanging over them.

After all, Cane was trying to figure out what his future would look like after becoming persona non grata at the Tejada stead. To the point where Monet even shooed him away when he tried to make nice and that pushed him to work with a new stranger in town named Mecca. Who is ruthless and loaded with product and eager to get a cut of that New York action. And of course, Monet herself… made it clear that she wants what comes next… to be freedom from this business. Wherein she and her family can enjoy a life where they aren’t pulling guns in the kitchen out of the fear that someone has come to try and take what’s theirs. But that might not be an easy task, since it will take Zeke getting into the draft to make that happen, and Zeke was hesitant to fully commit, largely because he’s deeply in love with Carrie and doesn’t want to leave her. Speaking of Carrie… well it turns out she wants justice, since she is reeling from the death of Jabari Reynolds.
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Which brings us back to Tariq, because obviously he is the one responsible for the injustice in question and while he should be upset or worried about the cops sticking around campus, over Professor Reynolds death, he really is in his own world in this tale. One where death is no big deal and what is of concern instead to him… is what will become of his family and himself for that matter. Because he still hasn’t had proper time to decide who he wants to be, which leads one to wonder, if such matters will serve as the central conflict for Tariq this season. Since he seems eager to decide if he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps or forge a life free from crime and it will be quite interesting to see which path he chooses since he is so conflicted here. As evidenced by how quickly he picked up product for Monet and how rattled he was on the deer hunt when faced with the many lives he’s taken.

But while we wait to see what Tariq decides, we can revel in the wonder of a quality premiere. One that really did plunge us back into this world nicely, since it gave every character we’ve discussed today, quality screen time to remind us of what they stand for and what they’re all about. And it added new ones to the mix by way of Mecca and even took the time to follow up on Councilman Tate. But above all else, going this route and asking that question again, reminds us of the fact that life is cyclical in nature and the answers we seek don’t come easy and that’s really what makes this show stand out so well. Because it really is about the grey areas of life, and we how thrive within that more than we know and truly… this show deserves a thunderous round of applause for providing us with that powerful lesson. Until next time.

To hear more about season two of ‘Power Book II: Ghost’, swing by our Interviews page and enjoy our conversations with the cast of this dynamic series.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1304 of ‘Doctor Who’.
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An Angel has the TARDIS, no scarier words exist, really. An Angel found its way into the TARDIS through Yaz and easily took control. Where exactly is it taking them? Hopefully the Doctor can save them before they find out. And she does, because she is amazing. Not all is as it seems, however. The Doctor gets the Angel out of the TARDIS but at what cost? They arrive in 1967, a young girl is lost, the Doctor’s sonic has picked up a strange signal, and they’ve no idea if this is a trap or not. Surprise! It is.

​The Doctor leaves Dan and Yaz to their own devices, while she investigates what the Sonic wants. Dan and Yaz do their best, really, and things go horribly wrong. They get attacked by an Angel and sent back in time. The Angels are here. The Doctor is unaware of her companions’ fate as she hurries into the house and basement of a psychiatrist that has someone of interest. Clare, from the beginning of the season, and she’s been stuck here for 2 years. The Angels waste no time in finding them, and Clare is not as she seems. She’s turning into an Angel herself… or is she?

The Doctor gets them back to the basement, secured, and manages get into Clare’s head. She is, indeed, stuck with an Angel in her mind. It’s sad, really, but the Angel is being hunted by the other Angels. They know too much, things the Doctor doesn’t. Things about the Division and the Doctor’s time with them. The Doctor makes a deal to help get the Angel to safety in turn for Clare’s release. Of course, nothing is as it seems. And Dan and Yaz? Well, they got transported to 1901, in the same village. They manage to find Peggy, the missing 10-year-old girl. She’s been here a bit herself but says the Angels have left her alone. She doesn’t know why. The town in question might actually be cursed after all. Space is folding in around this time and place, making them stuck in the Village with no hope of getting back to their own time. Peggy is doing her best to keep Yaz and Dan okay, but really Dan might need therapy after all this. How will they get to the Doctor? That is a good question. The Doctor might not survive either. She’s busy fighting off Angels and getting Clare and her psychiatrist to safety. It doesn’t work, these things never do at first. The psychiatrist is sent back to 1901 and Clare gets away. The Doctor almost does too, almost.

The thing is, you can’t trust Weeping Angels either. There’s a break in the time streams, so it seems. Dan and Yaz can see the Doctor and the Angels and Clare, and they can see Dan and Yaz, but they can’t get to each other. They can’t cross over. The Angel that was in Clare’s mind has made a different deal, they’re trading the Doctor for their freedom and the Angles will give the Doctor back to the Division. Yaz, Dan, Peggy, and the psychiatrist are just there to watch it happen and tell the stories. The Angels perform the Quantum Extraction and in turn, turn the Doctor into an Angel. Yaz and Dan are officially on their own now as the Doctor has to face something far worse.

What of Bel and Vinder? Bel is still trying to find Vinder, she’s come across a planet they’d hoped to honeymoon on, only it’s been destroyed by the Flux. It’s also been turned into a hunting ground for Azure to collect life forms. Vinder, sadly, arrives sometime after Bel has already gone. She left him a message though, and he’s off to find her with renewed determination.

There is a fundamental question that each and every one of us ask ourselves at a certain point in our lives. Specifically, who is it we want to be? And we ask ourselves that question, simply because we are creatures that believe in legacy and making that decision allows for us to define that and it is a question that is important and relevant to today’s discussion, largely because it is the fundamental query that Tariq St. Patrick has been asking himself throughout season one of Power Book II: Ghost. Because he simply doesn’t know who he wants to be or where he would like his life to go. Which has motivated him to waffle between good and evil all season long and at long last… it would seem that Tariq is finally taking the time to finally answer that question.

For the season one finale of this series saw Tariq take a big step toward defining his future and his legacy and that made ‘Heart of Darkness’, one concerning tale. At least, by the end of the episode. Because early on, this was quite the joyous tale. As evidenced by what happened in court. Since he and Tameika figured out how to outplay and outwit Cooper Saxe by utterly exposing him and his plans in court. Which in turn led to Cooper’s dismissal and his mother’s freedom, in exchange for testimony that Tommy Egan was the head of the St. Patrick empire and taking this line of action, really made it seem as though Tariq finally on the right path and looking toward a better tomorrow with his family. One where the past would eventually fade away.

But the past is never that easy to walk away from and it didn’t take long for Tommy to return to New York to settle some old scores and put down Tasha for making him look bad and that’s when Tariq came to realize, that the only way to truly handle his future was to settle his present at any cost necessary and in true Ghost fashion… Tariq put in motion a grand plan that would solve all of his problems and secure a path forward where life wasn’t so stressful. Which is why he agreed to take a rights related payoff from Professor Reynolds, in the hopes of getting him isolated, so he could be dealt with. An act that was helped along by Cane and his insane quest to enact revenge upon Tariq. But when the dust settled from that moment, a man who knew too much was gone, allowing for the last loose thread to be dealt with.

Because obviously, having Tommy exact revenge upon the St. Patrick family was something that Tariq could not stomach, which is why he put together a plan where Tommy would ‘die’ to keep the authorities off his back. Which would allow for him to walk away and start over fresh. Which worked, but this is Tommy Egan we are talking about here, and just walking away isn’t his style. That’s why Tariq called in some favors to Monet and figured out how to isolate his mom, so that the FBI could whisk her away to witness protection, to keep her clear of Tommy's wrath and so that Tariq and Tommy could finally have it out safely. Allowing for the book to close on the past at last, since Tommy was off into the night, giving Tariq a fresh start… one where it would seem his legacy may end up becoming as dark as his father’s. After all, Reynolds was dead, and Tariq pulled the strings to make this happen.

But what is truly terrifying about this revelation, is how much Tariq reveled in following in his father’s footsteps. For he genuinely enjoyed playing others and putting together grand plans to win. Plus, square or no with Monet, he did enjoy raking in the cash with Effie and Brayden and well, that does leave one to wonder if we are indeed witnessing the origin story of a villain. One that is moving into an accelerated phase now that the world is Tariq’s oyster, and it will be quite interesting to see if that is the case or if redemption is in the cards for Tariq St. Patrick and the good news is… we don’t have to wait all that long to find out which way he might be headed. For season two kicks off later tonight on STARZ and as intense as this inaugural season was, season two should waste little time of informing us... who Tariq wants to be in this life. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’.
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When we last settled in to discuss the new Acorn TV series, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, Jean White was dealing with quite the chain of unpleasant surprises. For not only was her husband Rory gone forever courtesy of a car crash… but his untimely end was no accident. For someone made a point to poison him in a manner that would make his end seem akin to an accident. All because they were eager to get their hands on a precious and rare ring, that someone else managed to steal instead. But to make matters worse, whomever offed Jean’s husband was quick to taunt Jean about Rory’s death from afar, leaving one to wonder exactly how she and the police were going to handle such matters in the next episode.
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Well as it turns out, the next episode in question, wasted little time in informing Jean (and the audience) that little was going to happen. Because while the note was indeed nasty in tone, it didn’t reveal any direct clues to the writer’s involvement in Rory’s death or anything else for that matter and all the police could do… was send the ring and the letter off for forensic examination and hope that something came back that could offer up clues regarding Jean’s allegations. Which meant the story more or less opted to let the case rest for now, leaving one to wonder exactly what then this episode would be about, and it just so happens, that a little quiet time in regard to the case, allowed for quite the unique mystery to fall into Jean’s lap.

Because Jean’s reputation for spotting valuables, quickly spread through the town, and that motivated a kind lady named Adele, to ask for her help in regard to a question her mother, Elanor, was harboring. Specifically, whether or not an age-old book that was left behind by Eleanor’s mother when was captured by Nazi soldiers during the occupation of France in World War II… would serve as a treasure map regarding a massive inheritance. And her plea was so compelling, that Jean took on the ‘case’ and began to snoop around to see if that was indeed a reality and sadly, the book turned out to be nothing more than a dangerous ruse. For it was left behind with a purpose, to fool and entice Nazi soldiers into searching for lethal treasure. Since it  was written by a member of the French Resistance and the ‘treasure’ in question, almost ended Dom’s life.

But thankfully, the search wasn’t a total loss. For eventually, Jean figured out that the inheritance was actually close to Elanor all along. Since her mother took the time to hide a beautiful golden statue in plain sight by coating it with paint and attaching it to the top of a cane, allowing for this family to find riches untold and that wasn’t the only treasure that Eleanor was gifted thanks to Jean’s fine work and investigative skills. For in her travels, she came across a man named Victor, who turned out to be Eleanor’s brother. And he was living nearby without a clue in the world that his sister was in his own backyard and that allowed for an incredible reunion to take place. One that was beautiful and bittersweet, since Eleanor did reveal in this tale that she was nearing the end of her life. 

But thanks to Jean and Dom’s hard work and tireless efforts, her children are taken care for ages on end, and she was able to reconcile with her brother… whom she thought was lost forever, since he too disappeared on that fateful day when the Reich came calling and well, that’s quite the wonderful ending for certain, one that brought together a supremely unique investigation. Because most cozy mysteries focus on far more darker crimes. So, to see Jean handle an inheritance mystery and reunite a broken family, really does catch you off guard in a good way and it likely signals that these are the types of mysteries she will be solving in the weeks to come, and this writer welcomes that kind of storytelling. Since it will keep us guessing and engaged and it will be quite interesting to see what kind of unique cases await us as season one continues along. Until next time.  

One particular aspect of life that no one ever enjoys dealing with, is the moment when we have to face the consequences of our actions. Because that moment reminds us of the fact, that we’ve taken part in some foolish acts. The kind that we undoubtedly knew weren’t a good idea to begin with, but we did them none the less and we can no longer escape them and well, how we deal with it all is important. For we really are at a crossroads when this happens, wherein we can own our mistakes and try and come back from them… or we can double down and push ahead as though nothing happened, and likely endure more consequences. If anything, this crossroads is top of mind today, simply because several characters were forced to face it in the next episode of Power Book II: Ghost.
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Simply because the death of Lil Guap’s lieutenant and the fallout from that, combined with Davis and Cooper’s back and forth and Tariq’s desire to control everything… brought everything about full circle and really, it’s best we start with Tariq’s reckoning in ‘Monster’, since that set the stage for so much regarding the season finale. Because finally coming to understand that Cooper and Davis were coming for him, combined with the broken relationships surrounding him, forced Tariq to really ponder upon where he has been and where he is going, and that led to some epiphanies for him. In that, he really hasn’t done anything all that noble, and he really is causing a lot of trouble for a lot of people, which is why attrition was in the cards for him, so that he could finally try and come back from his many mistakes.

Which made for quite the positive journey for Tariq in this tale, one that stood in stark contrast to the Tejada family’s journey. For Cane’s decision to flex up and be his own kingpin, led to major trouble for Monet. To the point where Rico’s boys almost gunned her and Tariq and her family down. Simply because they smelled weakness and likely found out about their fallen distributor and well, rather than admit to the fact that this ego got in the way of being the protector for this family, Cane doubled down on his immature nonsense. To the point where Monet made it clear that his future with the family remains nonexistent, since she has no room for showboats or ego and well… that decision… motivated Cane to continue to thrive in his mistaken laden path, as evidenced by what he did to Officer Ramirez in this tale. 

Plus, he wasn’t the only one eager to slip into the proverbial ether when mistakes came calling, since Cooper Saxe also indulged in doubling down when Stephen Ott… exposed him in an embarrassing manner. Since he captured photographs of Cooper and Davis at Epiphany Turner’s place, exposing their alliance. Which would force Cooper to go hard on her when her time came to take the stand, in his continued efforts to put Tasha behind bars. But there was just one problem with that plan. In that, Tariq gave all of his drag cash to Epiphany, so she could escape town and never be heard from again. Giving Saxe one last chance to come clean and back out of his deal with MacLean or… do the wrong thing. Which he did. By calling Tariq to the stand and well… it is definitely safe to say that could lead to great trouble and strife.

After all, Tariq is indeed on a moral kick of sorts. One where it would seem he’s ready to face the consequences for killing his father by admitting to it on the stand. An act that would destroy any future for Tariq, and of course… it could in turn… expose the Tejada empire to everyone since the truth comes out in waves when people are finally willing to speak upon it. But while we wait to see what Tariq decides to do with his future and the future of so many, we can in fact… bask in the wonder of a fascinating tale. One that really did hammer home the crisis we face when the past and our mistakes come calling in a frank and realistic manner. The kind that really does make the viewer wonder what they might do if they were faced with that choice. But before we ponder upon our own path in such matters, it is best we brace ourselves for the season one finale. For it will undoubtedly bring about a bevy of epic moments since everything in his harrowing journey is ready to come to a head. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The Wheel of Time’.
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When we last left our ragtag group of unexpected heroes in the Amazon Prime series, The Wheel of Time, the situation was quite grim. For the vacant city of Shadar Logoth nearly consumed them all, forcing a hasty escape from the city’s giant walls… one that saw everyone be separated and to top it all off, it seemed as though Lan was in great trouble. Since a rightfully angry and confused (and shockingly alive) Nynaeve had him at sword point. If anything, all of these elements left us wondering if this group of heroes were going to find any safety following their escape from doom or if more trouble awaited them and thankfully, this series wasted no time in informing us, that semi-good times were ahead for the Two Rivers group.

For ‘A Place of Safety’ provided the majority of the characters with a place to catch their breath. For instance, shortly after escaping a pack of seemingly hungry and dangerous wolves, Egwene and Perrin finally ran into a group of potentially kind people known as the Tinkers. Who roamed from place to place and claimed to offer comfort and shelter to anyone in need and boy did these two need it. For they were cold and starving and unsure if they could trust anyone in the slightest. But thankfully, these were indeed good people through and through and that gave this duo everything they needed from a peace perspective and truly, they are the ones that had it the easiest in this tale, since their friends found a touch of trouble to go with their respective safety. 
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Mat and Rand for instance, found a mining village on their way toward the White Tower and decided it was a fine place to stop and breathe and plan their next moves and well, it didn’t take long for Mat to decide… that this was a foolish quest through and through. For he would rather be with his family and help them back home and that motivated him to try and collect as much money as possible to get back there. Meanwhile Rand, found himself in quite the predicament. For the kindness of an innkeeper turned out to be nothing more than a horrific ruse. Since she revealed herself to be aligned with the Dark One and promised Mat and Rand to that monster, ruining their sense of safety and putting them back on the road again after a kind gleeman saved them from her clutches.

As for Moiraine and Lan… well… all they could do in this tale was remain exposed outside and do their best to survive and thankfully, after much posturing and battling, Nynaeve and Lan came to an agreement. The kind where she would do her best to heal Moiraine so that everyone could start the search for the remaining survivors and really, this particular sequence in the story was both subtle and tense. Subtle, simply because silence was used to drive just about everything here, which means that it was up the actors to sell decisions and moments with their eyes and their body language and this was tense, courtesy of the fact that there was no safety to be found in the open. Especially with the possibility that evil could appear at any moment. But eventually this tense alliance paid off, since Moiraine regained consciousness and moved on to begin the hunt… only to encounter quite the surprise.

In that one of her sisters, apparently found the Dragon Reborn and was moving him to a secure location, leaving one to wonder if she got it all wrong. But while we wait to see if that is the case and what will become of our heroes, we can bask in one solid tale. One that quite frankly, gave the audience a little time to breathe after sitting through pure madness and it was nice to catch our breath our spend a little quality time with these good people and learn a little more about them. Plus, a round of applause to the story for using so much silence to build trust between two characters and well, in the end… all this episode does is leave us filled with questions. Because we simply have to know if this random guy is indeed the Dragon Reborn and if he isn’t… why lie about such a thing? And let’s be honest, it probably isn’t him, when one considers how Rand jacked up that door and well… all this curiosity is going to leave each and every one of us counting down the minutes until next Friday’s entry. Until next time.

It really is quite amazing, how a single innocuous moment, can change so much in our lives. Because one wouldn’t think that a single look or a few glib words could alter our world in ways we never thought possible. But it happens and it happens often in our lives and for the most part, we can use those surprises as a learning experience. Since they teach us to carefully think about our words and our actions, so we don’t repeat that mistake and upend our world in a more dynamic manner. But it does leave one to wonder… what would happen if a singular moment in that vein, put us in outright danger? How would we react to that, and would we be able to stop the response before things got out of hand? Well, those are important questions that the next episode of Power Book II: Ghost, takes the time to explore.
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But it sure doesn’t seem as though that’s going to be the case early on. Since ‘Family First’ opens up with a grand opportunity for Tariq. Because homecoming has arrived at Stansfield and Effie has swung by the campus to support Yale as they prepare to take on Zeke and his team and well, her arrival is fortuitous since 2-Bit has come calling to collect on monies owed. Which is why Tariq quickly joins forces with Effie to make a few (thousand) bucks selling coke. But while Tariq is enjoying the good life and making some money with someone, he cares about deeply… that singular moment of change was brewing behind the scenes. For Tariq’s desire to become close and trusted with Monet, twisted Cane’s mind badly. To the point where believed he was being pushed out of the family and the only way to settle that score… was by killing Tariq.

Of course, he could not do that himself since that would be the end of him. So instead, he sent one of Lil’ Guap’s lieutenants to do so and that ended in disaster. Since 2-Bit and Tariq teamed up to put the assassin down and the resulting fallout from that death only got worse. Since Guap wanted retribution for it and nearly hurt Zeke and Dru to get it. Which meant that Monet was forced to eject Cane from the family, in order to keep it safe and well… that is really is quite the powerful change to come forth out of something as simple as being there for Monet. But alas, it does mean that Cane is on his own going forward (more on that in a moment) and it also means that Tariq is about as clever as they come, since he did indeed spot the danger early on and that undoubtedly saved his life. But while it was fascinating to explore those questions in a wild way, and see Tariq and Monet come to a peaceful understanding, there is still a lot of trouble on the horizon for Tariq.

Because Brayden is beside himself over this selfish betrayal and it would seem he’s ready to walk away from the operation over this. Plus, Professor Reynolds is quickly becoming an obsessive thorn in Tariq’s side. Since he’s been following Tariq to aid in writing his novel and of course, he now knows that Tariq is dealing drugs, potentially through Course Connect. And to top it all off, now Tariq has 2-Bit chomping at the bit for cash. To the tune of fifty large, since he helped out in bringing someone down and all of these problems, will likely bring about great strife for Tariq. Because he needs Brayden’s help to continue to pay off Davis and Reynolds discovering the drug trade would be disastrous for certain and 2-Bit… well who knows how far he is willing to go to get his hands on the ‘inheritance’ that he believes the St. Patrick family owes him.

But while we wait to see how all of these juicy storylines come together in the next couple of episodes, we can bask in the wonder of one intense and fast paced tale. One that really did force Cane to atone for his selfish actions in the darkest way imaginable and well… being banished might lead to more disaster. Since we know that Cane is a loose cannon through and through and sparing Lil’ Guap in order to make him a lieutenant is an equally unsettling prospect. Since they are both birds of a feather. But all of that aside, this really was quite the test for Tariq. One that he passed with flying colors and that’s a good thing. Because he really is about to face a bevy of incredible challenges and having that level of savvy and strength and having someone as powerful as Monet in his corner, could definitely help him get through each and every one of them. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘The Morning Show’.
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Over the course of the past couple of months, the AppleTV+ series, The Morning Show, has explored some fascinating concepts. Such as the need for personal accountability when the universe points out our sour actions, alongside featuring some shocking surprises… since this season also saw Mitch Kessler exit the series in a powerful and controversial manner. But while it has been fascinating to see reckonings take place and harsh truths be expressed to characters that needed to hear them… there is one particular plot thread that the audience has been eager to see the show explore. Specifically… the arrival of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Because to do so would offer the audience perspective on what was a genuinely unsettling time in all of our lives.
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Well, after weeks to teasing and toying and hinting at its arrival, the season two finale dealt with it at last and that made ‘Fever’, a surprisingly poignant and sobering episode. Not because of more character deaths or severe suffering because of Covid. But because this show decided to offer up some serious context about the pandemic and what it should mean to all of us, and it accomplished this powerful examination by way of two key storylines. Wherein Bradley Jackson stepped away from the show to try and find her brother since making sure he was safe and secure was more important than any of their differences, and through Alex Levy’s experiences with Covid. Since Chip realized that putting her on the air while sick, would in fact… be a point of redemption since she would be sharing her journey in a raw and powerful manner, one that spoke to the reality of the moment and showed Alex as a human being instead of a personality. 

Which of course, led to plenty of moving moments for certain. Since watching Alex sit in front of a camera and suffer from Covid provided great context to what some of us never quite understood. Specifically, how painful it is to contract this virus and battle it. For there are fortunate people who managed to avoid catching Covid during its ebbs and flows over the past two years now. Plus, it really did humanize and humble her at last and her story was just as moving as Bradley’s. Since she finally lowered her guard when it came to her family and she genuinely risked life and limb to find her brother, since she was out in the open and in the thick of the city as Covid began to run rampant and what matters most… is that she did indeed find her brother and reconcile with him at a critical moment, giving hope to the audience that perhaps there’s a better tomorrow waiting for their fractured relationship.

But that’s really all we are going to discuss when it comes to the plot. Simply because what this episode had to say about the pandemic and what it should mean to us… is of serious note. In part because this episode really did a wonderfully scary job of taking us back down memory lane. Since it chronicled the early days of the pandemic and how confused we all were when it began and how scared we were as well. Since we were truly facing the unknown back then, and the lack of treatments and data and government response left us in a shattered place. One where we simply didn’t know what to do or how to respond and kudos to the series for being one of the few stories out there to capture the zeitgeist of this moment and properly express the range of emotions that everyone experienced that fateful March. But while that was incredible to revisit mentally, it paled in comparison to the story’s stunning message.
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Because in the end, this is an episode that takes the time to point out that this event was nothing short of a wake-up call. One that showed us the precious nature of life and how quickly it changes before our eyes and how quickly the universe can rob us of a future if the circumstances are right. Which means we can no longer immerse ourselves in pettiness and fruitless endeavors. Instead, once the pandemic ends, and it will end, we need to take that fear and the epiphany that we could have lost our lives as easily as anyone else during the peak of this… and use it in a positive manner. And say the things we’ve always wanted to say to those that matter and be open and be bold and go after everything we’ve ever wanted in life. For this is our second chance, our gift and signal to hit the restart button and live life as we’ve always wanted to. Because we simply never know when the universe is going to surprise us in scary ways and that is one hell of a message to find embedded within a show about morning television news and journalism.

But it is there, and it is beautiful and poignant, and it stays with you long after the end credits have rolled. In large part because it truly resonates with the viewer and reminds them to think about this now before the world tries to demand that we go back to a life that wasn’t working for everyone. But also, because this message and the epiphanies present here for the characters… will likely change the landscape of season three of this series, provided of course it gets that, and this writer hopes that it does. Because we could learn a lot from Bradley’s desire to mend fences and do right by her family and we could also learn plenty from Cory’s desire to be open and in the moment and Alex’s quest to find self-fulfillment, regardless of what the world thinks. But while we wait for that announcement, we can bask in one powerful tale. One that really did hammer home quite the message, one that we should definitely take to heart. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘Foundation’.
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Something that has become a staple of the science fiction genre, is the epic cliffhanger ending. Wherein every storyline in a sci-fi tale, comes to a head in an explosive, adventurous and action laden finale… that ends in such an epic manner than we are immediately left hungry for more. Which is of course, a result of audience demand since viewers and readers have made it clear that they want to be wowed when they pick up a science fiction story. But what’s truly amazing about this, is that stories in this vein… rarely to use to feature this kind of ending. For back in the day, a sci-fi story simply ended, in the most logical manner possible and that meant either an epic ending or a low-key one awaited the reader/viewer, and few complained about that. Since it was simply the way of the genre. 

If anything, that old school ending is of relevance today, simply because… it’s precisely the type of finale that the AppleTV+ series Foundation opted to go with for its season one finale. For ‘The Leap’ was quite the low-key affair, one that brought about a prompt and foreboding resolution to the Cleon Crisis on Trantor. One where Dezmerel decided the fate of Brother Dawn to prevent further conflict between Day and Dusk, since they disagreed on how to best handle this aberration and once Dawn’s fate was sealed… the foreboding nature of this journey came into play. Since Dezmerel is deeply broken and conflicted over her actions in the past few episodes and because we came to learn that the current line of Cleon’s are all genetically tainted and altered, leaving the future of the throne up in the air.

Yet that wasn’t the only powerful storyline resolved in a simple manner in this tale. For back on Terminus, the return of Hari Seldon led to some very intriguing revelations and resolutions. For instance, we came to learn that shortly before Hari died, he ingested a colony of nanobots that transformed his body into The Vault. Which was sent to Terminus to prepare for this very moment. Because Hari knew that conflict would arrive between these three factions and that the Invictus would be discovered. Which is why The Vault allowed for Hari to appear at the right time. To reveal these facts and to broker a peace deal between these peoples. For despite the promises made by Empire to let the Foundation thrive, Hari knew eventually… they’d have enough of giving freedom to outliers and a fight would come and well… Hari’s wishes for peace and a time to build were granted by the people of Terminus and someday down the line, they’ll be ready to face a resurgent Empire. 

But truly, the most relaxed and fascinating resolution in this story, involved Salvor and Gaal. Because after weeks of trying to figure out the genesis of her visions and whether or not The Vault generated them, she finally came to realize they were the product of another source. Her true mother to be exact, who as it turns out… is Gaal. Courtesy of the embryo exchange that happened long before Salvor was born. And coming to realize that mom was out in the void and lost to the solar winds, motivated Salvor to board Hugo’s old ship, since he was now the skipper of the Invictus, and search the stars for her mother. A voyage that ended in quasi-disaster. For Salvor’s quest brought her ship down into the oceans of Synnax, wherein she was forced to go into suspended animation and wait for a rescue. One that did come some 138 years later, when Gaal returned home as well and discovered Salvor’s watery ‘grave’ and rescued her from an eternity of sleep. Which in turn allowed for mother and daughter to meet and face an unknown future. 

One where the Foundation is likely a force to be reckoned with and one where the Empire might be a shell of its former self thanks to the variations of Cleon that now exist and well, that really is the most relaxed way to end to a season of epic storytelling. Since it signals to the viewer that the story doesn’t need a powerhouse space battle or lessons in morality to prepare us for more. Because Foundation is truly a marathon and not a race and every moment and lesson, we experienced here was part of a bigger plan. A tapestry of sorts that is slowly unfolding before our eyes and the best part of this finale is knowing that a second season of this series already awaits us. Which means we don’t have to worry about not seeing this story grow, we simply have to wait patiently to see what the future looks like and what Hari Seldon’s predictions will reveal about the true fate of the galaxy and whether or not mankind can in fact… save itself from its own stupidity. Until next year.