Normally when someone we love passes into the great beyond, we go through some supremely specific motions. In that, we grieve and grieve hard, because they were our world and we also step away from the world for a time, to process a life without them and what that is going to look like before honoring them by living our life to the fullest while keeping their memory close to our heart. Because that is simply the way of things and that is the expectation when death encroaches on our family. But the fact of the matter is, death and what comes after… is never so perfectly encapsulated. Because sometimes… we discover things about our loved one we aren’t sure we ever wanted to know after they're gone and sometimes, their end requires us to up end our life and go elsewhere to heal properly. 
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Because death is actually a messy process, one that rarely goes our way and it just so happens that a brand-new series on Acorn TV, chronicles that side of things in the most unique way imaginable in The Madame Blanc Mysteries. Now in this particular story, we are introduced to a woman named Jean White who gets some terrible news one day. In that, her husband Rory has passed away in a tragic accident, and obviously… affairs must be settled. Which motivates Jean to fly to France to gather her husband’s effects and prepare to move on without him, and at first glance, that appears to be an unremarkable plot. One that will focus instead on that more traditional and fluffier road to recovery, wherein we will witness every single step of the healing process for Jean. But all that is designed to do is to make the viewer comfortable and relaxed… so that the chaos that awaits Jean takes her and the audience by complete and utter surprise and well… that most certainly is the case, thanks to some wild discoveries.

For upon arriving in Sainte Victoire, her worst fears are confirmed. In that, her husband was unfaithful to her since another woman was constantly seen in Rory’s company on a regular basis and a supremely beautiful gemstone that Rory should have had in his possession, went missing between the time his car crashed and his body was retrieved and well, since that gem could in fact solve the financial distress that Rory left behind as well… Jean takes it upon herself to figure out where it could possibly be and who stole it and surprisingly, she manages to recover it. For after asking around and coming to discover that someone was trying desperately to pawn it, she is able to discover that the son of the town’s mechanic, swiped the ring because he had debts to pay off and also saw the gem as an easy way to make that happen. A discovery that allows for the ring to be placed into custody and for Jean to seemingly have the happy ending she’s looking for.

But even then, the fact that Rory had someone else around, and that someone is watching her and taunting her and likely killed her husband, is going to put Jean on a vastly different path of healing. One where she is determined to bring his killer to justice so she can finally find closure in every way imaginable and well, that’s about as unique a plot as it gets. For it really does put a special spin on the whole recovery from grief trope since you simply don’t see people take it upon themselves to solve the mystery of their loved one’s death. Which might seem silly or outlandish to some, but here is the thing… it works. And it does so because of the powerful grounding this story makes use of. For Jean’s grief, and the echoes of the past that surround her, genuinely add realism to this story, and of course… keeping the killer out of sight and mostly out of mind, while confirming to the audience that this mystery lady did indeed kill Rory… motivates the viewer to thirst for justice and continue the journey.

Plus, you cannot go wrong with the fact that the performances are simply top notch here. Since Sally Lindsay (Jean White) approaches the role with an honest and innocent wonder that instantly motivates you to root for her. Since it is clear she is caught in the middle of a mess she didn’t create and deserves justice and peace, and she is counterbalanced nicely by Steve Edge (Dom Hayes) whose comedic chops allow for the perfect amount of levity to take place… so the core subject matter and gravity of loss never overwhelms the story and well… that makes this series a must see. Since it really is a unique kind of cozy mystery, one that blends together the majesty of private investigator stories with the powerful and poignant nature of grief and loss, perfectly, and it will be quite interesting to see what Jean learns about her husband and who killed him… as this inaugural season rolls along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Dalgliesh’.
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Often times, stories that explore the consequences and dangers of unresolved trauma in life, stick to supremely intimate ramifications. The kind where incredible damage is imparted upon the ‘broken’ character’s personal life and relationships and it makes sense as to why stories in this vein stick to this type of plot. Because the thought of upsetting our natural order because of our own inaction emotionally, is terrifying to say the least. Allowing for these stories to serve as a cautionary tale of sorts and they are impactful for certain. But while they are helpful and thoughtful, they don’t offer audiences the complete picture of what happens when we don’t deal with years of buried trauma. 
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For in reality, it can do serious psychological damage to an individual, to the point where they may eventually explode and cause great harm to others or even take a life and for proof… just look at the profiles of criminals that have committed murder. Since so many of them have incredible trauma in their background and really… this is top of mind today because this particular aspect of murder and how perhaps we can address the root cause of it, was explored in great detail in the season one finale of Dalgliesh. For when we catch up with Adam and his team in ‘A Taste for Death, Parts 1 & 2’, they’re called out to a church to investigate a supremely unique and supremely suspicious pair of deaths, involving a London aristocrat named Sir Paul Berowne.

Who it seems, killed a vagrant and then himself, and well… when one considers the fact that the deceased/primary suspect, recently had someone he cared for die in a horrible accident and was despondent after their passing… it really does seem as though a murder/suicide took place in this church. But since DCI Dalgliesh always explores every possible avenue, it doesn’t take long for him and the team to discover… that this particular crime scene was staged and that they were in fact, dealing with a brutal double murder. Which in turn brought Adam to the family of the deceased to see if by chance they knew of anyone that might want to commit harm against Paul, and well, that part of the investigation led to a fascinating and powerful discovery.

For it turns out, that the man responsible for this heinous crime was the deceased’s brother-in-law, a man named Dominic Swayne. And he killed Paul and so many others… simply out of revenge and fear. For he was a broken man through and through, one filled with trauma and ugly memories, and he saw the marriage of his sister to Paul, as his ticket out, his road to mental peace through financial security. And when that union began to collapse since divorce was imminent, the thought of returning to the life of old… broke him and drove him to murder and it took a powerful and personal admission from Adam… to get Swayne to back down and be taken into custody and it is that admission that truly hammered home the root cause of this kind of murder and how we perhaps prevent it.

In that, men like Swayne, rarely have a support network of any kind. And not being able to speak to their pain and not being encouraged to do so in the slightest since they tend to be raised in environments where emotional openness is frowned upon, allows for their pain to fester, and grow and explode. Which means, we need better support networks out there for people of all walks of life, so they don’t feel alone and fall into the trap and that really is a powerful message to find within a crime drama. One that took the lesson one step further, by way of that incredible ending, wherein Adam took his own advice to Swayne and healed and well… all this finale does is hammer home the reality, that this series is downright brilliant and incredibly moving. Since it doesn’t glamorize murder in the slightest, it points out how horrific it truly is and its lasting impact and well, this writer hopes that we get many more seasons of this show. So, we can once again be treated to powerful cases full of depth, that an intelligent and caring investigator will stop at nothing to solve. Until next year.  

One of the best feelings we can experience shortly after we’ve lost a loved one, is hitting a stride. Wherein all the sorrow and heartbreak we are feeling are replaced by renewed focus and progress toward our goals, and this is a great feeling… simply because it really does give us a sense of purpose and direction. Which is paramount during such a dark time, and it also motivates us… to keep at it and see where this focus can take us success wise and oddly enough… this is relevant to our discussion today, because this is something that happens even in the criminal world. As evidenced by the next episode of Power Book II: Ghost. For when we catch up with Tariq in ‘The Prince’, that’s what he is currently experiencing.

Because he and Brayden figured out a way to quickly and easily get drugs to students at Stansfield. In that, they’ve designed an app that appears to be an easy way to bring the tutoring experience home. Since a student can use the app to order study guides or a premium tutoring package. But, in reality, it orders them drugs and it catches on quick at Stansfield and allows for Tariq to pay Davis McLean’s incredible bills and it also keeps Monet happy. Since Tariq is ordering product left and right and well… that puts him in that groove. One that allows for him to study properly and enjoy the party life and he’s even able to dabble in the romantic world for a change and well… this was simply a nice change of pace in the story. Since we’ve seen Tariq struggle since day one of this series, making this sequence a breath of fresh air.

One that extended beyond Mister St. Patrick’s journey. For Monet was also finding a groove in this tale. In fact, Tariq was doing such a fine job for her, that she was able to suspend Lil’ Guap’s supply of drugs to teach him a lesson in humility. One that didn’t quite stick until Cane forced the lesson into Guap's orbital socket with his fist. But once that was done, she was able to spend a little time being a mother again, and a teacher of the business. Since she used this opportunity to have Dru and Diana  go and check out Tariq’s operation and look for leaks and cracks. In which they found none, and that gave Monet a sense of peace for the first time in a long time and this too, was a welcome change of pace. Since it really did allow for us to see Monet the person for a change and how much she loves her family and how important it is for her to see her children grow up with purpose and understanding.

But alas, this is a crime drama, and drama was indeed brewing behind the scenes. For Davis and Saxe were once again going to toe-to-toe in the courts. Since Davis was working hard to discredit the case against Tasha and get it dismissed, and while his efforts here were unsuccessful, they did have quite the impact on Cooper. In that, he was so threatened and anxious to make progress with this case before Davis had the upper hand, that he went to his shady playbook to get something on Tasha and/or the St. Patrick family. Which involved him using his niece to go undercover at Stansfield to try and snag evidence that Tariq was involved in the family business and while she didn’t get proof positive evidence, she gave her uncle just enough to dig deeper. Which means the good times will not last, so hopefully Tariq and Monet enjoy them while they can.

In the end however, this was simply a wonderful palate cleansing episode. One that allowed for a little joy to be had after several heavy stories and it really was quite refreshing to experience that. Plus, going this route, also helped us get to know all of the characters a little better and understand what makes them tick, since Davis and even Carrie received a little more screen time, and it was just as amazing to learn more about Dru and Diana and well… now that we had a chance to enjoy a little downtime and a little intimacy with these dynamic and fascinating characters… the time has come to steel ourselves once again. For darkness awaits and it is only a matter of time before this peace is interrupted and it will be quite interesting to see what upends the balance first, Cooper Saxe, or a surprise waiting in the wings. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Hightown’.
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Truly one of the toughest moments we will ever deal with in life, is when something that we are yearning for and working toward… is yanked away from us. Because when that happens, it can shatter us emotionally and it can leave us nervous, since it also tends to signal that more bad times are ahead. For when one ugly moment like that arrives, more than likely… others aren’t far behind and of course, this issue is so common in the universe, that our parents take the time to warn us that this kind of event will play out and they also remind us… that we need to hold our head high when it happens. Which can be easier said than done, depending on the severity of the surprise and well this is top of mind today, simply because this kind of trouble arrived in Cape Cod during last night’s episode of Hightown, and everyone that dealt with it, had quite the unique response.
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In Jackie Quiñones case, her response to this kind of strife, was to get as angry as possible and it makes sense as to why. For when we catch up with her in ‘Dot Dot Dot’ she really is riding on cloud nine. After all, things were going great with Leslie, she fed information to Alan and Ray that further confirmed that Charmaine is the real supplier of Great White on the cape and to top it all off, she got invited to another big time bust with Ed. Meaning that she finally felt like life was sending all kinds of manna from heaven her way and well… that all came crashing down in a moment. Because not only did her in with Daisy fall apart (more on that in a moment), but a simple text to Leslie, one that included the word ‘love’ in its context… freaked Leslie right out. To the point where she went silent. Which made it clear to Jackie that she either wasn’t interested in anything serious or wasn’t ready for that kind of attachment and that sent her into a tizzy. One where Ed bore the brunt of her fury when it finally came out. 

But as mentioned a moment ago, she wasn’t the only one that saw something joyous slip through her hands. For Ray Abruzzo also dealt with this little problem. Because despite getting close on the case with Alan, the Lieutenant got wind of Ray’s involvement in all of this and put a stop to it immediately. Which is a move that quite frankly, devastated Ray. Because this really was his last great hope in getting back to the force, in his mind, and not being able to investigate and work this… really left him beside himself and things were only made worse, by a chance run in with his former CI. The one who got the tar beat out of him last season. Because he decided that a little payback was in order and lured Ray out to the middle of nowhere to get his butt kicked right proper and that left Ray in a terrifying place mentally, one where he seemed ready to throw in the towel and put an end to his life.

However, it turns out that Ray was saved… by a horrifying and wild set of circumstances. For while all of this was going on, trouble was brewing at the club. For everyone saw what Jorge did to Daisy and Jorge was remorseful enough… to at least try and smooth things over with her and shower her in gifts and attention to distract from his abusive ways. Which is partly how Jackie lost her as a CI, since she saw this as a sign of hope. But alas, more trouble was waiting for Daisy. For a quick conversation with Frankie, one where she admitted sheepishly that her love and light tuned her up without giving it a second thought, gave Frankie second thoughts about her loyalty. So much in fact, that he joined the happy couple at their fancy beachfront getaway, to kill Daisy in cold blood to keep any and all secrets hidden away and the wild and shocking nature of that moment… didn’t end there.
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For another pissing match between Jorge and Renee when Jorge returned to the club… one where guns were drawn, led to a hell of a surprise when Renee’s revolver fired true and plugged Jorge in the gut. Giving her a tough choice; either save Jorge and be the hero… or let him die and finally get a measure of revenge for the hell he and this lifestyle put her through and believe it or not… she chose the latter and stuck to it. Which means that this was Jorge’s farewell episode, and now his fate is to rot at the airport thanks to an assist from the club’s cleaning crew and what’s amazing is that Renee wasn’t done taking charge in that moment. For shortly after Jorge’s corpse was pulled away… she swung by Ray’s place to tell him that she loved him, which is what saved Ray Abruzzo from checking out and that was one incredible way to end this episode.

Because just like that… the stakes have been raised like never before and Frankie’s anxiety and paranoia will only be amplified from this one dark night, putting a great deal of people in danger since Frankie will want revenge and will never once think his wife is capable of such an act. But while we wait to see what the fallout of Renee’s choice will be, we can bask in the wonder of a simply stunning tale. One that once again hammered home a life lesson and used it… to lull us into a false sense of security. All so that the show could change in tone and design and move this cat and mouse game between the CCINU and the Cuevas cousins in a new and deadly phase and well, hopefully Ray and Jackie recover quickly from their curveballs, because Alan is going to need their wits about them when Frankie comes hard and it really will be quite interesting to see what comes next in this tale… now that chaos is everywhere and revenge is on the mind of the most dangerous man in Cape Cod. Until next time.

When a powerful and intense television show holds nothing back in its first season, there is a collective fear that grows amongst the fans. In that, they worry if said show can maintain that level of intensity when it receives a second season order. Because keeping intensity going is no easy task and often times to keep it rolling, shows have to commit to vastly bigger storytelling concepts, which is a decision that can end in disaster. Because if the concept is too big or too outlandish, the audience won’t buy it and the story will suffer and of course… if the show decides to let up and spread the tension out, well then fans are being denied and/or teased with an important element they fell in love with and that too could drive them away. 

If anything, this particular concern is of note today, simply because it is one that fans of the STARZ series, Power Book II: Ghost, likely have floating about in the back of their minds. Because season one of this series was a true thriller, one where the tension was sky high week after week and it culminated in some powerful moments by season’s end and well, it was so good and such a draw, that seeing it fade or be transformed in a more cautious manner would indeed do a powerful series great harm. But the good news, is that the upcoming second season of this magnificent show, figured out how to keep the tension rolling in a manner that is satisfying and unique and well, we here at Nerds That Geek thought it would be best to take a moment to spotlight how the show accomplished that in a spoiler-free manner of course, since we were lucky enough to see the first two episodes of season two and well, the first way that this series keeps the tension rolling… is through its story structure.

Because season two is tight and crisp, and every single scene is impactful and powerful, to the point where a single second isn’t wasted and going with a tighter storytelling style… allows for these episodes to move a breakneck, breathtaking pace, the kind that leave your heart racing with what takes place. But the tension also continues along in this season, thanks to the fact that, season two doesn’t forget about season one. After all, some life-changing events happened in season one, several of which occurred in the finale and the aftermath of those events are expanded upon here in a fascinating manner, one that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. But really for this writer, where season two truly shines and ups the ante, is in its character development.

Because everyone this season is searching for something, and that allows for them to make bold decisions and grow along the way for better or for worse, and that’s the stuff that really makes a story great and draws the audience right in. Because you’re dying to know if the characters will find what they are looking for, and if they can handle failure in the event, they cannot grab hold of what they want, and that really does add new depth to this series, and it also doesn’t hurt that the cast brings their A-game to all of these elements. Since the performances in season two sell every single moment with a raw honesty and emotion that only draws the viewer into the story further and well… all of these elements are so good, that you’re immediately reinvigorated and hooked by the end of episode one. 

Which is a wonderful thing, since it means that Executive Producers Courtney Kemp and Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, have assembled a powerful season of storytelling for us to enjoy, and the best news of all, is that we don’t have to wait much longer for season two. For it arrives on STARZ on Sunday, November 21, 2021, and we certainly hope you tune in. Because season two really is something special and really informs us of how much care is going into this series and its growth and we here at NTG cannot wait to geek out with all of you the morning after the episode has aired via our recaps and also… make sure you keep swinging by the site in the days leading up to the premiere. Because not only are we still revisiting season one, but we’ve got some interviews with the cast and crew to share with all of you, to properly kick off the arrival of year two of his bold and dynamic series.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1303 of ‘Doctor Who’.
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Once upon a time there was a young woman named Bel who flew through space after the Flux, searching for someone. Someone very specific. Someone whom she loved more than anything. Finding this person has become her mission and that leads her through Post Flux torn places. Through Dalek and Cyberman territories alike, she faces grave dangers, people eating space/time mites, and so much more on her quest. Bel is determined, and she will not stop until she finds her love. But who could be the one person she would risk everything for? Vinder, of course. There is more to this pilot that meets the eye too. Beyond being the one thing Bel is searching for, Vinder is a standup man who will not sell his soul out for anything. A man who lives by his convictions, no matter the cost. Vinder is more than just a solider, just a man stationed on an outpost that outran the Flux and got settled with the Doctor. He is the type of person we all want on our team. Yet, Vinder is currently having a bad time living through some awful moments in his past. Why is he re-living moments of his past?
 
Well, sometimes when you’re the Doctor, the only way to save your friends is to hide them in their own time streams. In Vinder’s case, it’s reliving everything that lead up to him being stationed on a remote star base, away from Bel. All because he filed a report against their leader for having people killed. Whistle blowers never do get off easy. This did ensure he survived the Flux, however. So, I suppose that is one minor win. Only, now he doesn’t know where Bel is. As for the others? Dan is having a good time skipping about in his past, or maybe future? Or maybe both. His love interest was clearly on a date that didn’t go well when he keeps jumping about in both time and place. That tends to happen when Time itself is being destroyed. Yaz is having an even worse time as she’s thrown into events in her life that haven’t even happened yet. The Doctor seems to have the strongest connection in getting through to her. The Doctor isn’t the only one getting to Yaz, though, it seems a Weeping Angel has made itself known. At first it was just in the mirror here, or there. Then it was in a video game. Certainly. That’s not good.
 
Yaz also keeps appearing in Vinder’s timeline, only it isn’t really Yaz, he’s just replacing other people with her for some reason. Dan is stuck with someone from the past and that’s how he learns about the Time Mites, he’s also the one who is jumping around the most and getting lost. the Doctor has a harder time connecting with him than the others. The Doctor? Well, she is in her own past while also meeting with the Mouri. In her one timeline the Doctor is with Dan, Yaz, and Vinder already as they storm the Ravagers stronghold. The Doctor does get a glimpse of her reflection at one point, she thought this was her future, but this is really her past. A past she has no memory of and she’s a person she definitely hasn’t been before. Or has she? It's the mysterious female version of the Doctor, she sees. The very same we met last season. This Doctor is more ruthless. She tells the Ravagers that they need to surrender or be killed themselves, or even worse. Live in a prison ‘til the end of Time itself.
 
Time is also a place, one the Mouri are trying to control, or are they? Wibbly Wobbly and such have us just a tad confused on whom we are truly supposed to be rooting for. Slipping in and out of time streams is dangerous, and it’s slowly going to kill the Doctor if she doesn’t stop. She manages a plan, bring the Mouri into a specific place in time like they had before. Except, she’s not ready for this plan yet. She needs to go back into her past one more time, it’s the only shot she has at learning more of who she was and is. Something, someone, pulls her away completely, another woman with a dire warning. All things end, including this universe, and the Doctor needs to accept it. This mysterious woman, who does have an odd familiarity about her, also warns the Doctor to never look for her again. And then it’s over. The Doctor is shoved into the present with the Mouri, with Dan, and Vinder, and Yaz, and the escaped Ravagers post Flux. The Ravagers escape and the Doctor gets everyone into the TARDIS to leave. They have to fix time and space, after all.
 
Yaz is always questioning her lately, and the Doctor keeps shutting her down. Vinder just wants to go home, and so that’s where he’s taken. Left with a way to contact the Doctor on his Flux torn home planet to search for his love Bel. Dan and Yaz are left with the Doctor to try and sort all this out, until the Weeping Angel from Yaz’s time streams pops out of her phone and… the Weeping Angel has a TARDIS! With that the Flux Saga continues, yet we’re left waiting a whole week before we find out what happens next! 

Normally in the days following the death of a loved one, we find ourselves in quite the focused place, mentally. Wherein we are ready to buckle down and live life to the fullest or change the current course we are on, because death really is a powerful wake-up call. One that reminds us of how precious the gift of life is, and how hard we should be working toward achieving our dreams. Since life is fleeting and short and can be taken away from us in a second and oddly enough, this renewed focus also helps us to heal since it gives us something to work toward while we sort out our emotions. But as is often the case in life, there is a flip side to this aspect of the grieving process, since for some… the days following the death of a loved one, can be destructive and concerning in nature… as evidenced by Tariq’s journey in the next episode of Power Book II: Ghost.
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For when we catch up with Tariq in ‘Play the Game’, is appears as though his desire to become the man his father never was… is going to be put on hold for a little while. Simply because his mother is still in jail and he knows that he cannot rest or feel good about the future until she is free and that motivates Tariq to push hard to deal all the product necessary to ensure that Davis McLean can get her off the hook and well, that in turn… has him lean into Zeke hard. All to try and get into Monet’s good graces and bring forth a partnership and well, his push to become part of the Tejada drug empire, brings about mixed results. Mainly because, Monet won’t let him near her family, regardless of the kindness and politeness that Tariq sends her way. But it turns out, that despite getting shut out, Tariq’s way in… was quickly being created online.

Because Monet was dealing with a rogue dealer named Lil’ Guap, who believed that his good standing with the company, meant that the time had come to the show the world just how awesome he was. Which is why he was constantly hopping online to live stream his lifestyle, to gain a little clout and remind everyone to feed him awe. But this of course, was something that didn’t sit right with Monet in the slightest and it forced her to spring into action and try to get permission from Lorenzo, from his jail cell, to put an end to this mess, a decision that brought about mixed results as well. Because while Monet wanted to terminate the deal with Guap, Lorzeno wanted her to talk some sense into him through Dru and that uh, that went badly. Since Guap almost exposed Dru and the family, and if it hadn’t been for Cane and Officer Ramirez, there’s a fair chance that Monet would have lost everything.

Which motivated Monet to work with Tariq after all, since she had little to lose in doing so and needed a new dealer and their alliance couldn’t have come at a better time. Because while all of this was going down, Davis McLean was teaching Tasha quite the lesson in humility. Since she firmly believed she could convince any jury that James a monster, and that prompted Davis to hold a mock trial, one that would allow for a fierce cross examination to take place, which brought forth the lesson in question. Because she buckled under the pressure and was found guilty by a mock jury. Leaving Davis vindicated in showing her that she wasn’t ready to take the stand, and it also left him unsure of how to proceed with the case. However, what makes the union of Monet and Tariq so relevant to this plot thread, is that Davis is going to need a lot of cash to win this one, the kind that this deal should hopefully produce.

But all of that aside, this really was a fascinating exploration of the darker side of the grieving process. Simply because it was refreshing and unique, since most stories that feature such an examination, lean in heavy on the emotional damage of death, rather than explore how the grey areas of life could produce a stranger grieving process. But the grey is of course, where Tariq operates and, in his mind, all of this is justifiable and noble, since he’s pushing for his mother’s freedom, and well… time will tell as to whether his machinations will pay off in a positive light. Because Monet is genuinely uneasy about this arrangement and ready to take full control if needed and that’s dangerous for Tariq. For one missed step, can result in utter disaster and well, all this episode does is leave one eager to continue the journey. To see what wild surprises await us next.

Normally when the moment comes to reflect upon a life lost, we ponder upon that person’s best traits. For they undoubtedly impacted our lives in a positive manner and the wonder of their acts and the good they represented should in fact… be remembered fondly by all before they are laid to rest and out of our lives forever. Which is why so many of us see funerals as a joyous occasion, one that truly provides us with powerful closure and emotional resolution. But what we often forget, is that the vast majority of us are blessed with good fortune when it comes to this farewell. Because not everyone assembles to celebrate a wonderful life at a funeral, for sometimes the person being laid to rest… was a monster or has a past that isn’t easy to celebrate and that makes saying goodbye difficult for those involved… since they have to reflect upon a life some might see as wasted or evil.
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Which has to be quite the confusing and emotional affair and it is top of mind today, simply because it served as one of the focal points of the next episode of Power Book II: Ghost. For ‘Exceeding Expectations’ saw Tariq and his family prepare to lay James St. Patrick to rest and that was no easy task emotionally. In part because Davis MacLean and Cooper Saxe saw this as an opportunity to curry favor with a jury in their respective quests to free and jail Tasha, but more so because… how does one reconcile and speak to the life of a man that was in fact, a drug kingpin and a father? One that was put down by his own son and well, after struggling mightily with the eulogy of his father and all the demands of those around him, Tariq found a balanced way to speak about his dad and reveal that perhaps… he could honor his father and the horrific act that ended his life, by becoming the man James St. Patrick wanted to be.

But while that was a powerful and raw look into the difficulties that accompany reconciling the end of a bad life, as this series is wont to do… it was packed to the brim with other powerful and unique storylines to accompany Tariq’s journey. For instance, the back and forth between Saxe and MacLean went beyond their graveyard shenanigans. Because these two simply went after one another in the courts, to the point where Davis was able to prove without a doubt that Cooper was manipulating the situation to get specific charges to stick, and while that didn’t allow for the case to be dropped and for Tasha to go free, since merit in the case was found… this wasn’t a total loss for Davis. For there is a real chance that he can play the long game with Cooper and get what he wants and ruin his nemesis in the process, and it will be quite interesting to see what comes out of this opening salvo between two legal titans.

Plus, this is a story that also took the time to expand a little further on Monet Tejada and why exactly why she is so brutally secretive and protective, and it would seem… that her desire to keep a low profile, relates to the fact that she is the queenpin of the Tejada family business at the moment. A reality that was revealed by the return of ‘Uncle’ Frank, since he called her to the carpet on such matters during an uncomfortable dinner and well… it was Monet that reinforced this truth, by way of her aggressive response to what she knew… was an attempt to entrap her. Since both she and Tariq recognized that no one gets out of jail as quickly as someone like Frank without cutting a deal, one designed to bring someone else down. But rather than let that happen… Monet let her son Cane handle Frank with impunity, making it clear she won’t let anyone discover what she’s up to, unless she deems it so.

If anything, the show deserves serious credit for slowly revealing Monet’s career choice and intentions, since it really does build some mystery and some tension as well… since she doesn’t trust anyone and clearly has concerns about Tariq and hopefully that won’t bring about too much trouble for him, since he is indeed at a crossroads. One where he must decide if his father’s footsteps are the answer, or if redemption and a future awaits him and it will be interesting to see what his intentions are, especially since he cannot seem to resist spending time with the Tejada family. But while we wait to see exactly what Tariq wants to learn from them before making his choice, we can celebrate one quality tale. One that did a wonderful of expanding upon the world we left behind at the end of Power, and of setting up the future. Because clearly, there are a lot of surprises and big moments waiting for us down the line and the only way to get the answers we seek and the explosive moments we crave… is to continue the journey post haste. Until next time.    

Often times in storytelling, the concept of ‘what comes next’ for characters that have been through utter hell is designed to be inspiring in nature. Since those three little words relate to a future that is wide open and potentially filled with beauty. But what we often forget about what comes next, is that it isn’t always a positive concept through and through. For it can also be a phrase that aids with mental preparation, especially when we are in the thick of tough times and know full well that more ugly moments await us down the line, and really, the dark side of what comes next is top of mind today… simply because it serves as the focal exploration of the series premiere of the next chapter in the Power franchise, Power Book II: Ghost.
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For ‘The Stranger’ picks up mere hours after James St. Patrick died at the hands of his son Tariq and well, when we catch up with the family here, they are in disarray and bracing for what comes next. For Tasha is in jail and awaiting arraignment and is desperate to be free, so she can be with her family and Tariq is simply trying to start over fresh and put this entire nightmare behind him. To the point where he works to genuinely commit himself to his studies at Stansfield University, so he can graduate as quickly as possible in order to get his hands on the trust and properly take care of his family for all time. But while he tries to stick with the straight and narrow, while his mother’s lawyer works magic behind the scenes, he quickly comes to learn that just walking away and forging ahead from what happened in the Power finale… will be downright impossible.

Because there are a lot of questions surrounding his father’s death, and Tasha full well knows that offering up the entire truth will bring her family to its complete and utter destruction and that motivates her to fire her attorney and try her best to navigate the case on her own with a public defender. A move that Tariq knows will end in utter disaster and that motivates him to get creative and clever with how to free his mother from a life behind bars. Which in turn motivates him to take up the family business and sell a little product in order to pull together some cash quickly, so that he can hire the renowned lawyer, Davis McLean, who has quite the reputation for not always using the truth in court to win cases. A feat that Tariq actually pulls off, with an assist from his roommate, a mister Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Cross, who has quite the following on social media thanks to his stature as a star basketball player at Stansfield. 

But alas, Tariq’s wonderfully laid plans are no match for the posturing that is going on the behind the scenes in this tale. Since Cooper Saxe is under a great deal of pressure to put Tasha behind bars permanently, in an effort to cover up what James was doing behind the scenes since he was seen as a model citizen, and that leads to disaster in court. The kind where Tasha is arrested shortly after being absolved of the original charges so this can become a federal case and really, in the end, what comes next for the St. Patrick family… is strife and struggle and danger. Since Tasha is now facing an uncertain future in the courts and her son is willing to cross a lot of lines to get her out of there, which might cozy him up to some hardened and no-nonsense individuals, courtesy of his time with Zeke… since he introduced Tariq to the rest of his family. Which is headed up by Monet, who doesn’t put up with disrespect in the slightest and is clearly hiding something.

But what that is exactly, we will have to wait to uncover. For this premiere was designed to properly set the stage for what comes next and introduce us to a new world/chapter in the Power franchise. Since we are now joining Tariq on his journey, one that is quickly mired in the grey areas of life and well, in the end… this was a quality premiere through and through. One that did a great job of connecting this world to the rest of the Power saga while setting the stage for the uncertain future that the St. Patrick family now faces. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that this was a surprisingly intense premiere, since the tension here truly keeps one on the edge of their seat and well, all this premiere does is leave one eager to continue the journey. To see how the St. Patrick’s will handle the ugly that comes next and to see if by chance, they will ever be free of the violent and dark legacy that hangs over their family. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘The Morning Show’.
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One particular theme that has continuously popped up in season two of The Morning Show on AppleTV+, is the reckoning. That moment where our past transgressions catch up with and stun us in a strange form of karma that is designed to teach us a lesson, and the reason, we’ve talked about this at length in regard to this series… is because none of the characters that have gone through the reckoning, have learned the lessons it has tried to teach them. Which is a stubborn surprise that has left all of us wondering, exactly what it will take for these intrepid characters to learn the lessons the universe is sending their way and it just so happens… that that next episode in his fascinating series, takes the time to answer that question. 
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As it turns out, being completely and utterly embarrassed at work, was enough for Bradley Jackson to finally come to understand that if she didn’t answer the call of the universe, her family would continue to hold her back in every way imaginable, including her career. Which is why she decided in ‘Testimony’, that the time had come to stand up to her family and her sorted past and just deal with it so she could finally embrace the future and that is why… she did something quite bold in this tale. In that, she finally convinced her brother to go to rehab and even took the day off to drive him there so that she could ensure he went inside to get clean, and she was also one hundred percent prepared for more of his antics. Which he did take part in and that brought forth Bradley’s wrath at last. Wherein she explained this was the end of the line for their relationship and it was up to him now to get his life back on track, and that it was time for her to move from the toxic behavior he and their mother brought to the table.

Which is about as bold of a move as it gets and it was indeed the right answer to the reckoning, since Bradley found newfound strength in this tale, to the point where she was able to handle quite the task. For Cory called out Maggie on the air and invited her on for an interview regarding her book. An offer she accepted, and it fell to Bradley to read the book and conduct the interview and having a clear mind and a newfound focus, allowed for her to take down Maggie on live television by proving to the world that this book was nothing more than a hit job on Alex Levy. One that was grounded in years of disdain and served as nothing more than a chance at revenge and calling Maggie to the carpet on live television and winning that battle, was her true arrival moment in the news industry, since it hammered home the potential that Cory saw in her a year ago when he opted to back her at TMS.

Speaking of Alex Levy, well she served as the counterpoint to this exploration because in many ways… Alex represented the reality that sometimes… redemption from the reckoning might not ever be in the cards for some people. For despite hearing the message and understanding it, they simply cannot get out of their own way and the universe is quick to punish them for that. Which is unfortunate in this instance, since Alex was finally making progress in moving toward a better tomorrow. For she took the time to apologize to Laura for spreading the gossip about her sexuality, the very talk that eventually hampered Laura’s career and she was even starting to treat others with respect and dignity at work, making it seem as though at long last… she understood her legacy and her role, and the need to be good to those around her at UBA, despite the fact that she was planning to leave before the book came out.
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But alas, the thrill and personal satisfaction that came about from being good to others for a change, fueled that ego and made her feel invincible enough to confront and resolve all of the demons from her past and that’s why she attended Mitch’s memorial. Wherein she apologized to Mitch’s ex-wife and a room full of Mitch’s friends for not doing a better job of appreciating Mitch and some of them, and she even spoke to his genuine and final attempt to finally set things right in regard to his actions, to inform all of them that at the end, he was finally finding the right path, so that his legacy would be positive at last. And while that act of attrition was grounded in the right intentions, it was recorded by a guest. One who leaked her words to the world shortly after Bradley defended her on television, which led to disaster since everyone saw this as a double-cross from the big moment that played out in the season one finale and to top it all off, she even caught Covid and found herself in the hospital for it and a nasty fall she experienced after being exposed to the world.

Which is quite the punishment from the universe for letting ego control her, but that’s where we find her none the less. Reeling from the fact that she didn’t understand that the universe was trying to inform her to fix the rifts that she created, and control what she can control, and now… her fate remains up in the air in every way imaginable, especially when it comes to her health. But one thing that might be a certainty at this point, is that her career on television is likely over. Since there is no coming back from hypocrisy, and all the goodwill Bradley assembled for her is utterly gone and the book will undoubtedly be seen as gospel now and well, that really is quite the way to set up the season two finale. Because we simply don’t know how this saga is going to end and what will become of the good people at UBA that Alex has exposed to a deadly disease and that is going to make the wait for next week’s finale, an extremely difficult one. Until next time.