It is definitely safe to say that America has a love affair with the Western. For this type of story has permeated the entertainment landscape for ages on end and that is just incredible. Simply because so many genres ebb and flow with the times or fade from the landscape when they no longer enchant the public. But even in this era of big-time blockbusters and where any story can be told on television, the Western continues to thrive, and it genuinely makes sense as to why. Because it is just fascinating to know… that there was an era in American history, where a good chunk of the nation and the nation to be, was lawless and ultra-violent and outright chaotic.

Which is why the lens of the Western is so incredibly intoxicating. Since it truly allows for the audience to experience the foreign feeling of a grandiose country in the raw, where the rules did not apply and where open territory was truly treated as such and following all of those elements, brought forth some iconic stories. The kind that spoke to the wonder and the horror of the frontier and leave us in awe that a sprawling nation came out of such chaos and well… the majesty and visceral nature of the Western and its legacy are top of mind today, simply because Prime Video is about to be host to a powerful and proper Western series, entitled, The English.

Which is a story that introduces us to a pair of unique characters on supremely different paths. For Cornelia Locke has traveled far and into the heart of the wild west in an effort to find violent closure to a harrowing time in her life and Eli Whipp, is a former Indigenous American Solider, one now free from his commitments to the United States Army and simply wants to find his own way in life. But a strange and chance encounter puts them on a path of unity and cooperation that will teach them a great deal about life, both good and bad and well… that is a brilliant setup to inject into a Western. Since it speaks to the nature of the frontier and how it was a place of dreams where anyone who arrived could achieve their goals with a little hard work and elbow grease. It just so happens that in this instance, the goal is revenge, allowing for the dark underbelly of the wild west to take the center stage and remind us of the savagery of this time and how people embraced the freedom of the frontier in the wrong way. 

But the story offers so much more than just a quality and engaging plot that slowly reveals truths and understanding regarding Cornelia’s plight and Eli’s journey. For this is a story that truly feels akin to the great Westerns of yesteryear. For it has that grand sense of adventure that always engages a viewer, and there are thrills and tension to be found and moments that evoke a sense of wondrous nostalgia. For there are visuals that immediately remind one of Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood’s visual work in the genre since some of the shots just take your breath away and fit here perfectly. Not to mention at times, the score feels akin to the late Ennio Morricone’s work. All of which speaks volumes to the care that writer/director Hugo Blick put into assembling this story and the talents of composer Frederico Jusid. 

But above all, what truly makes a Western worthwhile are compelling performances and those are found here as well. For Emily Blunt shines as Cornelia Locke, and sells the pain brewing within Cornelia’s soul, and Chaske Spencer is utterly wonderful as Eli Whipp and truly sells the conflicted nature of his character. And there are of course… some other actors that pop up here that will pleasantly surprise the viewer. Who exactly, we won’t spoil here, in fact… you’ve likely noticed that this has been a preview that is light on the details on rightfully so. Because this… like so many Westerns, is an experience. One that you need to enjoy firsthand and the best news of all, is that you don’t have to wait that much longer to do so. For The English arrives on Prime Video on 11/11/22, and we here at NTG hope you give it a look, because this really is a classic in the making, one that will stay with you long after the sun has set on Cornelia and Eli’s quest.

It is definitely safe to say, that love is both the purest and most complicated concept on the planet. For that which we seek, hurts us often, and leaves us confused, but it can also bring us joy and a peace that we’ve never known before. All because love is just a wild emotion through and through, one that we still have yet to understand in our modern era… to the point where we do our best to try and figure out through storytelling and by talking and learning from others regarding their experiences in love and well, it just so happens that Prime Video is about to be host to a unique examination on love and all its euphoria and trappings. 

For Mammals is a story offers up a unique perspective on love in modern times, in a comedic manner of course so that the subject matter is a touch more palatable than one might expect. And it just so happens that this series is arriving on Friday and in anticipation of its arrival, earlier today Prime Video released a full trailer for the series. To give all of us an idea of what kind of powerful examination on love it is going to provide us with and well, here is that trailer and some details on the show for all of you to enjoy (courtesy of Prime Video), as we count down the days to the debut of this refreshing and unique comedy.

'Today, Prime Video debuted the official trailer and new images for the upcoming darkly comedic drama series Mammals, starring Tony, Emmy, and BAFTA winner James Corden and Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins. All six episodes of Mammals will premiere on Friday, November 11, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.

In the new Original series, revelations and secrets come to light as the complexity of modern marriage and fidelity are exposed. In a world of 8 billion, what happens after we've found “the one?” Can we stay true to the promises we strive to keep when, after all, aren't we all just Mammals? 
 
Mammals follows the story of Jamie (James Corden), a chef whose world implodes when he discovers shocking secrets about his pregnant wife, Amandine (Melia Kreiling). Jamie finds himself hunting for answers with the help of his brother-in-law Jeff (Colin Morgan). Through this hunt, the cracks in Jeff’s marriage to Jamie’s sister Lue (Sally Hawkins) also widen. 

Written by two-time Olivier and Tony Award winner Jez Butterworth, Mammals is about the complexities of marriage: there is sadness, grief, tension, love, friendship, betrayal, and a touch of magical realism. The series is directed by Stephanie Laing (Made for Love, Physical) and produced by Street Hassle, in association with Vertigo Films and Fulwell 73.'

​Please enjoy this exclusive clip from Circuit Breakers, which makes its debut on Apple TV+, Friday (11/11/2022).

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Mood’.
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Something that is genuinely fascinating about popular entertainment, is how easy it is to find a story that can tell us what life was like during a different period of time. Be it the wild west, or Victorian times… there are just a bevy of stories that can enthrall us and fascinate us and some, even go one step further. Wherein they show us what it was like to grow up in a particular era. Something that can in fact, give us incredible perspective on our family members. For instance, if you want to learn what it was like for your parents to grow up and you were born in the 80s or 90s… there are a bevy of movies about the 50s and 60s that fill in those blanks and really provide us with a unique understanding of an era and a life we know nothing of.
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But what’s truly fascinating about this aspect of entertainment, is that it is continuing along. For stories about the 90s are starting to be seen and there are even shows on the air now, that are looking to encapsulate what life is like for people growing up in our current day and age. The kind that really showcase the unique transitional place that youth are spending their time within and one particular series in this vein, made its debut on BBC America last night. For Mood is a story that plunges us into the life of folks growing up in the second decade of a new century and millennium and what ‘I Didn’t Come to Pay I Came to Slay’ had to say about such matters is quite intriguing and powerful to say the least.

For this is a series that quickly informs us of the fact that so many people making their way in the 2020s… are a bit lost at the moment. Because this is a changing of the guard moment in our history, where the Boomers and others are about to step away and since the next generation wasn’t thought about or set up for success, since so many believed they would just follow the status quo when that did not turn out to be the case… they’re just trying to find their own way. Which is a reality that engages us deeply. For those of us in the middle of our lives, have zero understanding of the plight of the generation to replace us and well… this series premiere does a wonderful job of showing us how those that will inherit the earth want to be more and do more… but haven’t a clue where to begin. 

Especially with hustle culture being the hot thing now and with so many members of the older generation being aggressive about how old ideals need to stay alive. Which creates a powerful conflict in our youth, as evidenced by Sasha’s journey here. Since she fights to walk the straight and narrow while trying to carve out her own path as she basically hits rock bottom in this story. Because the world hasn’t given her a truth north yet, nor has anyone supported her to find one. But that does seem to change by the end of this tale when she finally finds agency and purpose through the random kindness of a stranger that has figured out her own way and her own path forward. One that not everyone will agree with.

But that is the new normal for youth. Just getting it done and finding a way and that allows for a chaotic and uncomfortable story to take place. One that rightfully confuses us and leaves us out of sorts because it takes the time to show us the world as it is and how growing up in the 2020s and carving a path isn’t easy when the selfish generation that should be ready to hand everything off, isn’t ready to do so unless it is on their terms and well… that is going to make for one fascinating series. One that will provide us with stunning perspective as Sasha’s journey through the world, on her own… no less… gets underway. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 304 of ‘Step Up’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular lesson that we are forced to learn often in this life, is that negative actions have consequences. Which is both funny and frustrating, because we should have learned this in our youth when the lesson first presented itself to us. But we are in fact, flawed creatures. The kind that are ruled by emotions and the moment and that at times, prompts us to just react and do and well… the aftermath of the moment, also prompts us to reflect upon the lesson and do our best to learn it again. If anything, the constant return of this lesson is top of mind today, simply because both Sage and Rigo were faced with it during this week’s episode of Step Up on STARZ.
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For ‘Cell Therapy’ picked up shortly after the whole mess at the BMT Excellence Awards and well… had Sage taken a moment and not lived within it, he wouldn’t be in jail. Which is where we found him in this particular tale. Which was a humbling experience for certain, since it was the last place, he wanted to be and of course… it put him in a tough spot where control and direction was no longer available to him. Instead, he was nothing more than a number and treated as such by his cellmates. All because of his hotheaded actions and had it not been for a friend named Magic, life in jail would have been far tougher. 

However, the consequences of his actions didn’t result in total devastation and sorrow. Because the beauty of learning this lesson… again… when we are older is that it tends to give us perspective and objectivity so that we do indeed do things differently the next time, so we don’t risk what we have if the consequence is severe enough. Which Sage was able to do here. Because his time with Magic, and Magic’s admission that he wanted to try out at High Water, because he wondered now if his life would have been different if he poured his life into dance or something more… gave Sage pause and helped him to realize… he really did something special through High Water’s creation. He gave people a choice and a chance, and if by chance he could beat these charges… perhaps this would be the last time his temper would put him in such a position. 

Yet while it was indeed fascinating to see Sage learn from his mistakes in a unique manner and hopefully find humbling peace at last, he wasn’t the only one learning this lesson again. Because Rigo, came to understand that there is a price for fame when talking smack is involved. Sure, ticket sales went up, and sure he was the toast of social media and the town. But some wouldn’t let this disrespect stand, and one fine night… after a concert to get the kinks out for the tour… Rigo came face to face with death. Because a pair of Sage supporters pulled a gun on him and had it not been for the security that Collette requested, he might have not lived to see another day. But now… he gets another chance, where he can think about his actions and reflect on what this means for him… oddly alongside the person responsible for his greatest pain.

But Collette’s actions are of course, another matter for another time, and in the here and the now, we can celebrate one smart tale. One that really did hammer home the reality that sometimes we learn the same lessons in life because of our flaws as human beings, but how that can be a positive for certain. The only question that remains is what exactly Rigo gleaned from such a harrowing experience and what kind of impact his understandable fear and lashing out at Marquise will have on their future as friends and music partners and well… the only way to find out for certain, is to tune in next week and see what surprises await the dynamic characters of this brilliant series. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Dangerous Liaisons’.
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One would think, that in this era where technology rules the day, that stories about eras long gone would be forgotten. After all, our minds connect better with stories that feel as though they are happening around us, so that we can fully immerse ourselves within them, and our ability to consume entertainment on a moment’s notice now, complete with a bevy of new ideas that are contemporary in nature, would and should only further put that nail in the proverbial coffin for the classics. Yet… tales set in classic eras, where technology doesn’t exist and seemingly un-relatable experiences are the norm… continue to thrive and that is with good reason.
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For those stories… speak to the purity of the human experience. Whether those aspects be good or bad and well, seeing that on full display… which is the core of good storytelling, compels us to pick up books about this era or watch shows and movies about them. So, we can better understand ourselves and our world in this era, since it presents us in the raw and well… that purity is top of mind today, because it serves as the true core of a new series on STARZ, Dangerous Liaisons. For this particular tale, one set before the iconic story that everyone knows and loves, really does dive deep into something that is both wondrous and horrifying and pure and complex… love. 

A feat that ‘Love or War’ accomplishes by introducing us to Camille and Pascal, who are star-crossed lovers from two vastly different worlds. Since Camille is a woman of the night and eager to escape her existence and identity as a sex object and Pascal… works for the King and is doing his best to map out the city of Paris as per His Majesty’s wishes. And together, they have found something quite powerful, pure and intense love. The kind where the soul burns with desire and slowly they are making plans to finally be together far away from here in peace and harmony and joy. Making this story appear to be a perfectly wonderful tale about the magic of love and how it overcomes great odds to find us.

But that wouldn’t be love stripped down to its purest, which is why there are secrets abound in this tale. For Pascal really hasn’t informed Camille of the fact, that he is quite the player of sorts. One that spends endless hours when he’s not with his love, pleasing noble women about the city and quietly blackmailing them with letters that will reveal either their infidelity or their impurity. All because Pascal’s promises of giving Camille the life she wants desperately, isn’t within his abilities due to family strife and a job that only pays so much. Making this his insurance policy. But when she does discover this reality, Camille will make great changes to her life, to find agency and direction so that she will never be swayed again by the false promises that come with loving the wrong person. 
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Which is… a powerful way to explore love, since it does indeed strip away the trappings of our world to really look at all of its flaws and wonders. Since we are privy to the moments that we crave when it comes to love. Such as the security it provides us with, the euphoria and how it emboldens our spirits to dream beyond what we believe to be our limits. But also… we see its horrors. Such as how it prompts us to have tunnel vision regarding the person we love and the abuse it can bring our way when we put the fantasy above the reality and of course… how it can potentially be our downfall when we let it sink in too deeply and commit to the wrong person.

All of which makes this, an engaging and powerful watch. One that truly does whisk us away so that we can lose ourselves in this pure story about impurity. And it also reminds us… that despite being set centuries ago, we still struggle with such matters, and they exist because the heart sometimes knows not what it wants, it just craves, and desires and we make all kinds of incredibly good and incredibly bad decisions because of it. But this is also a story that deserves credit for pointing out that we cannot just ‘c’est la vie’ when it comes to the bad stuff that love does, since that enables and encourages that which harms us and well… all of these elements simply demand more of our attention. So, we can see where this story of broken and longing and somewhat toxic hearts will take us as one longs for their way while the other… longs for true love. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Criss Angel’s Magic with the Stars’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Thus far, our journey through the wonderful world of magic, via The CW series, Criss Angel’s Magic with the Stars, has featured one particular constant. In that, every single competitor that has taken the stage to try and take home the Golden Wand, has had some kind of stage or screen experience. Allowing for everyone to work the crowd and put on a show and keep the crowd enthralled in the process, and of course… that keeps the scoring close. Since charisma and performance is critical to putting on a great show, as we’ve now learned. But this week, the show broke from that mold and made it seem as though… perhaps for the first time ever, we’d be in for one lopsided battle.
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Because Frankie Muniz, star of Malcolm in the Middle, went head-to-head with Olympic Athlete Lolo Jones and what made that potentially one-sided… was that Lolo wasn’t super familiar with showmanship. But as it turned out, competitive fire can bring out the best in people as evidenced by the Mentalist illusions that kicked off ‘Metamorphosis’. Because while Frankie immediately came out and worked the crowd with his extensive stage and screen skills, Lolo quickly held her own. For she was simply, herself, and found a way to connect with the crowd, making it clear that she was here to win and would do her best to hang with Frankie. 

Which she certainly did. Because she found a way to really relate to the crowd in the Close-Up competition. By using her experience at the Olympics to really sell a slick illusion, and even Criss himself pointed out how great of a job she did with that and thank heavens she did, because Frankie brought the thunder in his illusion. For he knew exactly how to warm up the crowd and keep them laughing and enjoying the show. But Lolo did enough to keep the competition close once again and didn’t waver in her confidence in the slightest. That is until the Grand Illusion competition came into play. For this week, the magicians were going to have to replicate the Metamorphosis Illusion, and that required A LOT from Frankie and Lolo.

Specifically, whomever took the stage to perform this illusion had to genuinely be a powerhouse showman. For this was an illusion that required connecting with the crowd in utter silence and they had to use showman skills to sell the power of the illusion and she wasn’t sure she could do it. In fact, she briefly spoke to potentially just quitting because of how out of depth she felt. Leaving all of us wonder, how she would do come showtime. A question that we had to wait to have answered since Frankie went first… and SLAYED. He was just simply sublime, making it seem as though, that was it. Lolo was done. But she wasn’t. Because she came out and held her own again and dug deep and found the performer within, making life quite difficult for the judges and Criss… since she did such an amazing job on stage.

Which of course, begs the question… did she win? Well… we haven’t spoiled the winner in this competition yet, and we aren’t going to start now. So, that’s as far as we go here because you need to see how it ends. But what we are going to do, is celebrate one epic episode. One that informed us that mixing it up when it comes to what kind of stars take the stage, only adds to the wonder of this competition. Because going head-to-head with a television icon, really pushed Lolo to give us her best, and she did, and that made for one satisfying competition. One that leaves us wondering, what kind of other unique matchups await us as season one of this delightful and entertaining show continues along. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 311 of ‘Central Park’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are times in our lives where we simply do not feel comfortable in our skin. Sometimes this discomfort is external in nature. Say when we decide to hang out with friends at a place or at an event that is completely and utterly out of our comfort zone, or if we take the time to hang out with people who we don’t know in a similar setting. Heck, sometimes we don’t even feel comfortable in a new job. But there are simple ways to fix all that. In that, we simply remove ourselves from the situation or bury ourselves in our work to find the comfort we need. But sometimes our discomfort goes beyond that simple fix and is something that we carry with us every day. 

It could be related to a rough memory or recent trauma since those hang heavy over every moment of every day or it could be related to something we don’t talk about all that often… in that… we aren’t always one-hundred percent comfortable with our body or our appearance or an aspect of who we are physically. And it is those latter aspects of discomfort that are supremely difficult to overcome. Because sometimes, those issues cannot be altered or changed, which then begs the question… how do we find peace then, with who we are and who we will forever be? Well as it turns out, there is a way as evidenced by this week’s episode of Central Park on Apple TV+.  

For ‘The Puffs Go Poof’ is a story that spent a great deal of time in Fista Puffs world. Wherein she was dealing with a crisis. In that, since her hair was the source of her power, it often required great care after a hard day’s work of beating up the bad guys. But that impacted Fista’s private time greatly and prompted her to remove the puff portion of her life to try and see what life was like without having that nonstop care regiment that she dealt with. Which at first, brought joy and peace to her mind, and even rest and rejuvenation since she could use devices to fight crime. But the arrival of a super villain made of water, forced Fista Puffs to dig deep and realize that her old hair had to be in her life and had to be always with her… since it was the only way to properly keep her city safe.

Which as it turned out served as a metaphor for a struggle that Molly was going through. Because her heritage gave her hair that is different from that of her friends. The kind that required different care when she went swimming in the pool and a push from her friends to hit up the pool and then push right to a movie, made her feel alienated and different and uncomfortable in her own skin. But the comic made it clear, that when we feel akin to Molly… we need time. Time to process that we do have a slight difference from others, and how that isn’t a hindrance to life or something that makes us weird or alienates us. It just means, we need to be aware of it and handle it accordingly and be honest with others about it and that’s what Molly did here.
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That in turn, allowed for her to just delay the movie so she could properly care for her hair and still have all the fun she anticipated having with her friends all because she a took a moment to objectively think on the situation over letting it consume her. Making for a beautiful story that truly tackled a topic that we don’t think about all that often in a positive manner. One that can help so many of us when we look in the mirror and wonder if there’s something wrong with us or when we feel off about our appearance, and it is wonderful to see this show speak to the importance of body positivity and self-acceptance, and how to handle those weird little moments where our brain briefly thinks that there is something wrong, when there isn’t. For we are all beautiful and special and it takes time to make the brain embrace that over doubt and worry. 

However, while that alone could have carried this tale, this concept was oddly extended to Bitsy as well. Who googled herself and found out that she has a sour reputation online, which prompted her to try and hire a PR firm to make her look better on the web. A move that of course… ended in disaster and the decision to just buy out the websites talking trash, inadvertently hammering home the point to just… be yourself. Albeit in a far more quirky and wild manner, but that’s to be expected. For this is a comedy show through and through and it will always find a way to make us smile, even when it ponders deep and well, with only two episodes to go in season three, it will be interesting to see what other fascinating observations about life this series is going to send our way.  Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘The Devil’s Hour’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are a great many elements that go into the creation of a wonderful and memorable mystery. Obviously, the case or conundrum that is the foundation of the story must be as compelling as it gets. Because without that, there is no reason for the audience to be vested in the story. But in addition to that, the story also needs to be outright compelling and filled with high stakes for resolution and it of course… needs dynamic characters that we care about. But above all else, the best mysteries out there know how to subvert our expectations and surprise us at every turn and one particular series that is excelling at all of these elements, is The Devil’s Hour on Prime Video.
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For the next episode in this fascinating journey, ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’, takes the time to check every box on all that all-important list and it accomplished those feats by making sure to explore the fallout of the end of the series premiere. Because this is a story that informed us that disaster didn’t strike at that household, instead the man that we were all worried about was brutally dealt with, allowing for this story to immediately subvert our expectations by making it appear as though we were simply moving on from this point, and putting the whole mystery involving Lucy and that mystery man on the backburner until that meeting we keep getting snippets of comes to fruition and well, that definitely allowed for us to lower our guard and just settle in. 

Which in turn allowed for us to dive into the police investigation regarding that treasure trove Ravi stumbled upon, and their search for the right Lucy Chambers. Wherein they slowly uncovered that this particular party has visited other Lucy’s around town and while they poked around regarding that fact, the Lucy we know, the true mark, went back to her everyday life and her everyday battles. Since she really was struggling to figure out what was wrong with her son and why his behavior was always so odd and why he was always so cold and distant. Allowing for some powerful moments to come forth as she did her best to be a great mother and really help her baby, and well, at this point in the story, we were all so relaxed and comfortable that what came next… outright stunned us.

Because it became apparent that this story was designed to remind us that we cannot escape fate. Courtesy of the fact that Isaac began to exhibit behavior that once again allowed for Lucy to understand that something incredible was at work here and tied deeply into the neighbor girl up the road, and so much more that she didn’t understand, and of course… that ending is the stuff of legend. Wherein we came to learn that the mysterious man only identified as Gideon happens to have deeper ties to Lucy than we originally knew. Since he stepped into Lucy’s home and kidnapped her son. For reasons we simply do not understand in the slightest, but that’s okay. Because that only adds to the wonder of this particular tale.

One that truly offered up a compelling and powerful journey, that raised the stakes and grew the characters. Not to mention, it featured some stunning performances since Jessica Raine turned her acting skills loose here. Plus, it also provided us with more mystery and great surprises. The kind that makes it clear that there is a grand tapestry being assembled here. One where every little moment connects in a masterful manner and truly, this episode really does compel us to continue the journey post haste. So that more layers can be revealed to us and at last, we can learn the truth about this strange fate swirling about Lucy Chambers and what Gideon has to do with all of it. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘The Peripheral’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular element that is critical to telling any good story, is making sure that we connect with the characters. For they are who we spend the most time with, in any particular tale, and if we cannot attach to some element of them or relate to them in any way, then this journey is nothing more than raw and forgettable entertainment. The kind that kills some time and nothing more and that’s not something that any storyteller really wants. They want to provide us with something memorable and powerful and that’s why so many know the importance of taking the time to really flesh out the characters and help us to see them for who they are and find that connection point, and that’s precisely why this week’s episode of The Peripheral on Prime Video is of note.
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For ‘Jackpot’ is a story that made the characters and what makes them tick, an outright priority through and through. So that we can begin that connection process and really come to understand these folks through and through. That is why this episode spent a lot of time exploring what made Wolf/Wilf the man that is he is today, and why he fights for a bigger cause and of course… the time we spent with him, helped us to understand that he is a genuinely good man. One that really does want to make a difference and perhaps avoid a real catastrophe through Flynne, and the character building and understanding didn’t just end with him. Since we also spent a lot of time with Flynne and Burton in this tale. Wherein we came to understand what this quest means to them and who they are as people.

As it turns out, they are truly individuals that are… lost and searching for purpose in life, and that’s a big reason why they game and why they love the digital frontier. Because in there, they have purpose and admiration and are more than the echo they are in the real world, and they are coming to understand that there is a grand opportunity here to be part of something special and do something special. Not to mention it was nice to see that they do love another and will go the extra mile to ensure the other’s safety. As evidenced by the medical surprises that Flynne went through in this tale and how Burton was at her side and eager to speak to her need to care for herself at every turn and well… all of these elements gave the audience exactly what they needed and really helped us to connect with these folks like never before.

Because up until now, it’s been about the world-building in this tale and immersing us within the strange dynamic between the past and future and that was rightfully still present here. Because this episode also had the opportunity to use the downtime present here to really explore why Flynne and her timeline is key to the future. Simply because… the reality that branching timelines exist, might help to prevent what happens in the prime timeline. Wherein disaster after disaster awaits humanity through horrible new pandemics and natural disasters and environmental collapses. Combined with social unrest and man-made disasters coming forth from that. And well… an alternate timeline might offer humanity a second chance, provided of course… everyone can get on the same page in this story, and that is of course… no easy task.

Since this is the first time that Flynne has had real answers come her way about anything regarding the future and of course… Lev has his own ideas about what this can do for him, and Cherise obviously has her own agenda. Giving rise to the real possibility of some new commentary on the horizon, the kind that dives deep into our inability to work together toward better causes and whether or not we can achieve such a feat. But while we wait to see if that is the case, and what the revelations about Stubs in this tale mean… we can celebrate one comfortable and warm tale. One that really did explore these characters like never before and made them worthy of the journey ahead and it will be genuinely interesting to see if this story is planning on doing any further intimate explorations in this manner, or if the action and the stakes are about to be amplified as we enter the back half of the story. Until next time.