There was a time in television history, where the sitcom was a vastly different kind of show. One that only dabbled in realism and rarely offered depth. For they were seen as the apex of escapism, where audiences could get home after a long day at work and just lose themselves in some laughs with characters that were relatable and fun… but nothing more. And that standard stuck around for decades on end but recently its started to change, at light speed no less. Because over the past decade or so, sitcoms are suddenly a slice of our own world, and they offer lessons and healing, and we can thank one particular duo for this incredible change.
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For Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin have both worked on two revolutionary sitcoms: Superstore and American Auto. Both of which offered laughs, absolutely, but also offered so much more. Since they provided audiences with a sense of realism through characters and settings that truly reflected the realities of the industries they highlighted, and in doing so… lessons came forth. As did endearing and human moments and a new understanding of the world of retail and how a C-Suite operates and that has indeed changed the landscape of sitcoms forever and influenced them for certain. Since so many more sitcoms now harbor depth and well, this duo isn’t done exploring what depth can do for the sitcom.

For tonight will see the debut of their latest offering, St. Denis Medical, on NBC, and well… it absolutely deserves a quick spotlight before its debut. Simply because this time around, Justin and Eric have taken the time to explore the world of medicine through a comedic lens. By plunging us into the world of St. Denis Medical. A hospital in Oregon that features everything we’ve come to know and love from this duo’s work. Since this hospital is filled to the brim with quirky doctors and administrators and equally as quirky patients sometimes. Which allows for us to enjoy, another series from this pairing that brings forth the laughs. Because the jokes work here, and they’re relatable and funny and having some comedy legends present in the cast only adds to that. Since Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier shine in this series, and they often remind us why they are legends. 

But of course, there was mention of that depth, and that’s present here through the characters and through the heart they exhibit. For no character in this story is a mere caricature, they are once again well-rounded characters with needs and wants and things they stand for, and that allows for the audience to immerse themselves into this story easily. Not to mention, this series also offers up a little biting commentary on the commercialization of the medical field and the competitive nature of it in Modern America. Which is never overwhelming, but welcome, since it does need to be spoken to in this day and age, and speaking of a touch of real-world reflection, well that’s where this series truly shines. 

Because it doesn’t harbor the glitz and glamour that so many medical shows prefer to have, to make hospital life intense. It instead features the mundane, the everyday stuff hospital workers have to deal with, and that’s refreshing. Since it allows for us to get to know the characters and much like Superstore and American Auto, properly reflects the industry that is being lampooned. Which just gives rise to a truly enriching series. One we connect with on a deeper level and enjoy from beginning to end thanks to the laughs, and the best news of all is that we are mere hours of away from enjoying this new series. Since it debuts on NBC later tonight with a two-episode series premiere at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST, and we here at NTG cannot wait for you to see this delightful and dynamic new show.

Nerds That Geek was also able to attend the NBC Segment of the Television Critics Association 2024 Summer Press Tour, where ‘St. Denis Medical’ was showcased and where multiple members of the cast and production team offered up the following thoughts on this new series. 

Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer regarding the show’s setting and the value of its unique mockumentary design.

ERIC LEDGIN: “Yeah, so Oregon was chosen for a couple reasons. One is I just feel like it’s a very underrepresented state. It’s a great and beautiful state that you don’t hear a lot about. But also there was a nurse that I spoke to a lot during the research part of the development process, and it was a little bit of a nod to her. She helped kind of inspire the character of Alex a little bit, and so it started out as a bit of a nod to her, but I think it’s also a fun place for us to discover as we go. We’ve got little references to Oregon throughout season one, but, of course, if we get more seasons of the show, we’ll explore more outside the hospital.”

JUSTIN SPITZER: “I loved ‘Scrubs’ so much but that show, especially over its run, it became a --broad sounds like it’s value-based but it’s not. It had more wacky elements of it from whatever, marching bands coming through or a musical episode. It was great in so many ways but the fact that this is a mockumentary sort of limits us and says we are always going to be the much more grounded version of it.”

Wendi McLendon-Covey (Joyce) and David Alan Grier (Dr. Ron) on what attracted them to this project.

WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY: “All I wanted was to not play another mom right away, because I did that for a long time. I think it’s well-documented that I can play moms, and respect to all moms everywhere. What I loved about this character is that she is not nurturing at all. Don’t come near her wanting a hug. She does not want your germs and she cannot keep a plant alive, but she is devoted to this hospital. That’s her baby, and this is her whole personality. So the fact that this came along right at the tail end of “The Goldbergs,” I’m the luckiest person in the world. I was not being strategic, necessarily. I just knew I didn’t want to be in the ’80s again, since I’ve done it twice now and this was just such a gift.”

DAVID ALAN GRIER: “I mean, my goal is always to say yes to a good script. So it just happened that I was a doctor. It also happens that the character -- we all know, there are some characters that you read and you think I can reach or get to. There are other characters that you just know, and this guy, he’s an old curmudgeon. That’s me. No, it wasn’t the medical stuff. That was incidental. I just responded to the script, and I say this begrudgingly. It was good. It was well written. It was intelligent.”

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Inspector Ellis’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say that crime dramas, tend to showcase the world in a supremely polarizing and stark manner. Wherein there is only good and only evil, and those two sides battle it out for all time, and of course… in a crime drama, the forces of good are the police officers in the story with the main character serving as their proverbial archangel of sorts. While evil is the criminal that’s crossed lines and they serve as that agent of darkness sent here to sow chaos, and we eat this up, simply because… it satisfies something deep in our brains. For it makes the world and its complexities, palatable and it gives us a sense of catharsis regarding injustice.
 
Because in reality, the world is supremely grey and good and evil are concepts that get lost in the mix, and justice isn’t always possible. Which is why it is always shocking to see a crime drama point that out, and well, this is top of mind today, simply because the next episode of Inspector Ellis showcases the grey via a harrowing and devastating case in ‘Callorwell’. Which this episode pulls off by having DCI Ellis and DS Harper head to that very town to figure out how things are going so wrong at the local precinct. For an officer has gone missing after a massive case involving a drug kingpin falls to pieces because of poor policework and well, before they can even investigate the shortcomings of that case, dark news washes over the town, when that missing officer’s body turns up.  

Which pushes this duo to understand how such things could happen here and that leads to a juicy case where even the officers in this town are suspects. For all Ellis and Harper uncover is ego and anger toward one another, and cops that are out to protect who they choose to protect within the walls of the precinct, and that makes it damn near impossible for this duo to uncover the truth. But eventually, they come to find that the now deceased officer immersed herself too deeply in the case in question and uncovered far too many injustices in this town, and that helped to end her life. But what matters more in this story, is the chaos that surrounds that final discovery, since it speaks… to a world exactly like our own.

Because this is the madness we see in our own world. For there are so many people out there in it for themselves. Both in the private sector and in police stations around the world. For ambition rules the day and that forces people to put blinders on and pervert the course of justice through ignorance. Which made for a frustrating but realistic tale. One that informed us that perhaps the Ellis’ of the world are far and few between and messy cops like the ones we saw here are the norm. Not to mention, that sense of ‘me, me, me’ in law enforcement is what helps to grow and sow chaos and crime in our world. Since attention spans are focused elsewhere and that allows for criminals to thrive with impunity and for justice to remain unserved.

All of which brings forth, a powerful story in the end. One that just holds a mirror up to the chaos and injustices of the world and showcases how they exist because of ego and selfishness in a field that is supposed to be selfless, and that is brilliant. Since we need to hear that more often and we need to think about who exactly applies when it comes to that age old slogan, ‘to serve and protect’. Plus, this episode also allowed for Sharon D Clarke to shine further as DCI Ellis. Since she is a tour de force in this story and provides us with the sense of justice and common sense we want in this world through her performance and well… all this does is leave us eager for more of this amazing tale. So, we can enjoy more bold storytelling from a series that is eager to just showcase the world as it is, and how the fight for justice is far harder than we know. Until next time.

To learn more about season one of ‘Inspector Ellis’ check out our interview with series lead Sharon D Clarke. 

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Brilliant Minds’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There is in our modern world, a great debate that has raged for decades on end, revolving around the rights of people that are legally brain dead, suffering from a terminal illness or are facing a devastating change to their quality-of-life standards because of an injury. In that, no one can decide if these people should be allowed to voluntarily expire, and it makes sense why there is a debate. After all, life is precious and if there is any chance that a person can live and have a fighting chance at a better tomorrow through discoveries that could help them down the line, they should get their chance. But at the same time… if a cure is years off, they are going to suffer and that’s really the key there, the suffering they face, and the indignity that can accompany that, and well… this debate shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

But it does beg some big questions. Such as what are the rights of a patient in this situation? And should we in fact, just drop the debate and let a person choose their respective fate when they’re staring down a horrifying diagnosis or watching their loved one breathe with the help of a machine? Well, it just so happens that the next episode of Brilliant Minds on NBC dives into this debate in a powerful manner, and offers an answer to those questions, after it of course, offered up a medical miracle in ‘The Man from Grozny’. For in this tale, John Doe, who we learned is named Roman, underwent that epic procedure to have a communication device implanted in his brain and well, the thing worked, and just like that… Dr. Wolf and his team could communicate with him, and they learned his story.

In that, Roman was a refugee from Chechnya, who came to America to be free and live an authentic life, where he could be with his boyfriend and enjoy the American Dream. For being a homosexual in Chechnya was in fact, a crime. But alas, while he found joy and wonder here, an accident led to his stroke and that in turn led to his current condition, and his story, and his resilience genuinely touched the team at the hospital and truly, they were in awe that he was still alive and still fighting after everything and of course, now that they could communicate they were eager to help Roman enjoy a better life. So, they tracked down his significant other, Alex, and began to make plans for what his future would look like. One where he could be with Alex and speak with him and connect with others despite needing those machines to live, and that’s where those questions came into play. 

Simply because, while Roman was thrilled to communicate and grateful for the chance to be reunited with his love and shown kindness by the staff, he had some concerns about his future. About how he would forever be stuck in this bed, and unable to do anything else but chat now and again, so he asked to be removed from the ventilator… so he could die. For he felt there was now closure to his journey, and he could find peace rather than live in this manner. Which brought forth the debate in question and fury from the company that installed the communication chip in his brain. Because they wanted more data and others were worried that it was cruel to not give him a fighting chance or that perhaps he was mentally stunned by being able to talk. But a psych eval and some hard discussions made it clear that Roman was of sound mind, and it would be cruel to ignore his wishes and let him live in a manner he did not find quality within. Which brought forth a powerful end to a fascinating life and left us with a simple answer to those questions.

In that, the debate should end now simply because… like anything in this life, it is up to the individual how they want to live, and we have no power over that. We can merely make suggestions and offer alternatives. But if someone is facing a horrible end from cancer or a true quality of life concern as Roman did here, they can choose an end if they see fit, for it is their life and they are facing circumstances that aren’t the norm. All of which made for a powerful and moving episode. One that not only explored the life and times of a long-standing mystery this season but showcased what real kindness looks like and how this team has jelled and come together since they were all there for Roman at the end. Which was just beautiful to see, as was Wolf finding inspiration to go for it love wise with Nicols, and this story definitely gave us plenty to ponder upon regarding patient’s rights and the need to let people choose their path when they can. For we are the captains of our own souls and should always have the right to decide what’s best for us. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘Mr. Throwback’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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If there is one particular question, we’ve all been eager to have the phenomenal Peacock series, Mr. Throwback, answer… it would be… can people who lie through their teeth for personal gain be redeemed? Because folks that do that, are selfish in nature, and truly do hurt people along the way. To the point where lives are forever changed, and spirits are forever broken. So badly in fact, that it seems like there can be no redemption for the lie, the act of deception and well, after five weeks of Danny Grossman toying with a lie to benefit himself, we finally received the answer to that all-important question in the show’s season one finale. 

Wherein it seemed as though, the answer was initially no. Because ‘Eric Roth Costs a Fortune, Bro’ opened up with the reveal that Mitch was now in prison for defrauding Steph Curry and the foundation. And rather than come clean and take the fall for his own lie, Danny saw this as a chance to properly punish his father for his transgressions and move on in life and not have to worry about dealing with an exit strategy. For the charity game was on the horizon and getting through that would solve all of his problems. Because then it would be done, and life would return to normal. But alas, that simply was not the case. 

Because the truth was beginning to poke through the dark clouds Danny surrounded this whole mess with. Since the film crew wanted there to be genuine accountability and well, the push to expose the truth and the fact that Danny received some time to reflect upon his lie, helped him to realize… he was no better than his dad. In fact, he was repeating the cycle, hurting his family in the name of revenge and agency and that prompted him… to finally tell the truth. Granted he did it on the national stage and took a hell of a punch from Steph, one that was deserved. But this did teach us that if the circumstances are right and perhaps someone doing this madness can take a moment to see their mistake objectively, they can in fact… be redeemed.

Which brought about a sweet ending. One where Danny finally made peace with his past and even worked to make peace with his father. So that they could have a relationship at last. Not to mention, he found grace for all of his transgressions and was able to let life play out as it should. In an organic manner where people lived their lives, and he only worried about his own. Which was lovely to see play out, because let’s be honest… Danny was never a villain. Just a busted man with a busted soul that needed to heal and find a way forward from that, and he did here and that made for a lovely ending that set the stage for a potential second season for this gem. Since there was a hint that overseas shenanigans lie ahead.

But while we wait for a season two announcement, we can celebrate one magnificent finale. One that was emotional, raw and supremely human. Since it brought everything together beautifully by pointing out that people like Danny, do this because of their hurt, their marginalization and that if we offered people that have made mistakes or have been manipulated a little more care, and a little more grace, perhaps they can achieve wonders like Danny did here and find their path. Making this story more about how we heal and overcome over anything else and that made for a satisfying ending to this chapter in Danny’s life and gives us hope that we can all come back from our trauma and find the peace we all seek. 

​This article highlights the Series Finale of ‘My Lady Jane’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular problem that is currently popping up in television that is frustrating fans to no end, is that great shows are being cancelled far too quickly in this day and age. And this is problematic because some genuinely incredible stories are disappearing from the airwaves. The kind that are bold, intelligent, and offer something refreshing and new, and that is why we are seeing so many petitions and #Save campaigns. To try and keep great stories alive and on the air, so they can accomplish their brave goals, and that is why today… we are going to be recapping the series finale of the now cancelled Prime Video series, My Lady Jane, in a vastly different manner.

Because if you’re reading this, you’re a fan that’s signed the #SaveMyLadyJane petition and you’re on another rewatch and you already know how season one ends, so we don’t need to rehash that in great detail, and if you haven’t watched it yet, go do so and come back, you’ll be glad you did. But because of the fact that so many reading this article, want more of the show, we need to instead discuss… the transformation of this show in its finale and why that finale means that this series needs more seasons and deserves a fresh start on another network if necessary. Because ‘Another Girl, Another Planet’ and ‘God Save the Queen’ is simply brilliant television, that turned out to be shockingly timely and showcased exactly what this series stands for and what it could be.

For Lady Jane’s fight to shut down the monarchy and create a country for all, while suffering evil untold from her own family… let us know that this story was less about fantasy and more about our modern world. Where women should be seen and heard and want to be but are shut down often by the patriarchy and old white men, and where marginalized individuals are seen as monsters or animals by closed-minded folks that let hate and a lack of knowledge guide their words and actions. And it is also a series… about how we fight that. Through the power of love since it does conquer all, through kindness since it can heal an ailing soul and through choice. The choice of being better. Of rising above the hate and the nonsense to be a beacon for others who also want there to be a better life for all.

Which makes this finale, so poignant and so powerful. Because the world now finds itself in Jane’s situation. Held captive by people who made poor choices in leadership and listened to their fearful rally cry and let that fear guide them into giving hate filled assholes too much power and too much control, and well… we definitely need a show that spotlights the fight against such tyranny. That lets us know that heroes are out there trying to do the right thing and make the world a better place. So, we have hope. So, we feel inspired to hold our heads high on the dark days ahead and well, that’s why this series deserves more seasons, and hopefully someone gives it the second chance it absolutely deserves. 

Because this one is special, and this one has relevancy and gravity, and it will never become overwhelming or scary thanks to the plucky humor and unique style it presents its stories with and well, that’s really all there is to say on the show itself, and all that remains, are thanks to the cast and crew for putting together a series that gently reels us into something powerful and thoughtful and of course… we have to reiterate that we genuinely hope that Prime Video gives this series another chance or that another streamer picks it up. Because this is refreshing and original content that deserves every chance to grow, and to help people during this trying time. By offering up a story that really does remind us that we can be better when we come together and stand tall against those who would do us harm, because that’s what bullies like them… simply cannot stand.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Sweetpea’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say that the fascinating STARZ series, Sweetpea, has asked some hard questions over the course of its first four episodes. Specifically, can Rhiannon maintain her anonymity? And can she find any measure of redemption for the things she’s done? Simply because it seems implausible that she would forever remain in the shadows with the amount of visual data out in the world, and at her core, was a good person. One that has crossed a lot of lines but could atone for her sins if she chose to do something worthwhile, and it just so happens that at long last, the series began to ponder upon the answers to those all-important questions in the season’s penultimate episode.

Which ‘Someone’s Been a Naughty Girl’ accomplished, by way of some big surprises. One of which, involved Marina. Who really took what she discovered to heart and began to investigate Rhiannon with impunity. Because she saw the connections, saw the darkness and what Rhiannon might be looking for and that brought her all over town to investigate this wallflower turned murderer. Which allowed for us to spend a lot of time with Marina and learn she and Rhiannon shared in some traits. Since Marina was also oft ignored and oft not seen, but the difference between the two was that Marina made a point to not let that eat her soul up or set her back. She opted to push past it and find agency. But that aside, the police were closing in and that was a big problem for Rhiannon.

Whose journey in this tale, oddly related to Marina’s parallel path. For when we caught up with her in this tale, she was struggling with what to do with Julia. Because now she felt for her, since no woman should ever be subjected to the horrors of a garbage fiancé, and that allowed for the two to finally connect and confront one another about current and past actions and that led to some hard truths for Rhiannon. Such as how, she was her own worst enemy and chose to do the opposite of Marina and embrace her pain instead of fighting against it, and that rattled her to no end and put her in a difficult spot mentally. Wherein she started making mistakes. Because a confrontation with Julia’s fiancé, about what she did to his home, prompted her to try and make him the next victim in broad daylight.

But alas, Jeff saw this happen and that forced Rhiannon to try and stop him from revealing the truth. Which fate helped with since he was splattered about when he rolled in front of a massive truck. But that also gave Rhiannon pause. Because that helped her to understand, Julia was right. That she had let this happen, she chose to go down this route and find unhealthy catharsis and if she didn’t change course, she would be a true monster and that gave her an idea on how to redeem herself. One that required Julia’s help. Wherein they would work together to bring that gross fiancé to justice and for the most part, the plan worked. But it did require a little of Rhiannon’s darkness to save the day. But she did work to redeem herself here and time will tell if she has done enough.

After all, Marina was there to greet her and Julia and that cannot be a good thing. But while we wait to see what Marina does with the evidence she has; we can revel in quite the intelligent tale. One that deeply explored how the modern world makes it damn near impossible to get away with murder, and that’s a good thing. Because it is the darkest act, we take part in, and it did let us know that Rhiannon is redeemable but will be forever transformed, regardless of the outcome. Because she has taken lives and been responsible for the death of an innocent, and there’s no going back from that, and it will be interesting to see how she reconciles that when the season finale of this fascinating series gets underway. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘Three Women’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular truth about human behavior that we often forget in this life, is that every action we take part in and everything we believe in… comes forth because of our past. For we are creatures made up of memories and experiences and we truly use those elements to shape us, define us, and guide us. Which is a bittersweet truth really. Since it pushes us to do good things and drives us toward a purpose, but it can also make us sour at times and push us to do things that hurt other people and that really… is the only time we remember that truth. For then we have to focus on the source problem from yesterday and fix it and never was this more evident than during the next episode of Three Women on STARZ.

For ‘sex on drugs’ spent a lot of time focused on Gia and Sloane. In part because Gia was getting treatment up north and was hoping to tell Sloane’s story to the world and wasn’t having much luck in doing so. But also, because it was time to explore what makes Sloane, Sloane. Because to date, all we’ve known is that she is driven, she has incredible wants and needs both sexually and professionally and up until now… they’ve not caused any issues for her. They might isolate her a smidge, but one can deal with that. But here, we finally came to learn exactly what drives that sexual appetite and a need to conquer and that came forth… by way of one grand plan to have everything she ever wanted sexually in this life. 

Because she was still having sex with Will when she pleased, without her husband’s knowledge or Lily’s knowledge and she wanted that to stop. She wanted everyone to enjoy one another and indulge in the wonder of that. So, she planned an evening where she could get Richard to seduce Lily and where she could be with Will as she pleased and for the most part, her plan worked. For the night in question was sexually charged and eventually everyone swapped partners. But Richard’s foolishness in not wearing a condom brought her plan back down to earth and brought about truth and chaos when it was revealed that she and Will were having an affair. And of course, the fallout of that was devastating and left everyone drifting and gave Sloane a moment to think about… what brought her to this point.

For it didn’t make sense for her to try and destroy all she had built and give up the perfect sex life she enjoyed. But pondering upon that helped her to understand… this was all about her past. In that, she never felt loved by… anyone really. She was just, best seen, not heard, and so she pushed for connection through control and sex, and this went south… because she felt loved and desired by Will. Genuinely desired and she was willing to chase that and risk it all to have what she needed most. Which put her at a crossroads for certain. One that she intended to work through by sitting down with Gia and put her incredible story to paper at last. So, the world could finally see her, hear her, and understand her and her needs.

All of which made for a powerful tale. One that truly expressed that forgotten truth. But it is one we need to discuss more often. Because that’s the kind of discussion that creates awareness and prompts us to think upon our actions before we do things we shouldn’t, and what’s wild is that this story had more to offer. Since we did spend time with Gia in this tale, wherein she expressed her fear over what might happen to her, both professionally and in life, to the point where she too is isolating. Since she shot down an attempt by Jack to contact her and be with her, which was also powerful to watch and well… the stage is now set for the season finale. Because the core push of this story was for Gia to finish her book, to tell the tale of these three women, and it would seem… she’s close to finally writing ‘the end’ on this powerful journey. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Happy’s Place’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Stories that revolve around the power of loss and grief and the impact it has upon our lives… are certainly comprehensive in nature. Because we see the emotional slam that death imparts upon people in these stories, and we see how much the hole it creates in our hearts, can make a person suffer and suffer greatly. Plus, we see how hard it is to get out of that funk and find our way back to the light. So that we aren’t locked in sorrow forever and can live and do right by the person we lost and honor them. But what’s interesting, is that these stories do miss the mark when it comes to something quite important to such matters. In that, they never cover… how to grieve.

Which one would think is paramount for certain, since we have to grieve and get that muck out to heal, but those stories rarely exhibit that. It could be related to the fact that such an act can be personal in nature, or perhaps there is a worry that how the story outlines it, might be seen as verbatim and people will try and use it, and fail. But there are some things we all do to grieve and move on, and that’s why this week’s episode of Happy’s Place on NBC is of note. Simply because ‘Fish Fry Monday’ explored some of the universal things we do to grieve, and it accomplished that feat, by way of a great suggestion from Emmett. In that, the bar should bring back Fish Fry Mondays, an event that was super popular and made the joint some serious cash, and that her late father took part in, and he expected Bobbie to follow in her daddy’s footsteps and help him with it.

An act she was mortified to take part in. Since it meant leaving the bar alone and potentially opening it up to trouble. But the staff had her covered and she came to slowly learn, that this wasn’t a fishing trip. Heck, it wasn’t for her daddy back in the day. It was just an excuse to drink beers and shoot the breeze with Emmett and that is where the lesson got underway. Because Emmett wanted to do just that with Bobbie. So that they could remember her father and think upon the good times and talk about old times. Because that… is how we all grieve. By honoring the memory of the ones we love, by keeping them alive through our words and thinking about the impact they had upon our lives. Because then we are able to think fondly upon them instead of with sorrow, and that was a great first step for Bobbie and Emmett to take together.

But of course, this show always offers more than just a singular lesson, and Isabella handled the second one in this story. One that revolved around how important it is to respect others and their respective field. Because Isabella was behind the bar and learning about how to tend bar from Gabby and she really didn’t pay much attention to all that Gabby had to say. For Isabella thought slinging drinks was a simple job, one that required minimal thought and attention. In fact, she thought a YouTube video would get her ready to roll, and that brought forth all kinds of conflict between the two, the kind that Steve had to step in and cool off. So that Isabella could see that Gabby wasn’t trying to be a jerk or overbearing. She in fact, cared deeply about her craft and knew way more nuances about bartending than any video could ever teach a person. 
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Which in turn, prompted Isabella to back off, and listen, especially when it was made clear she missed some critical steps in her belief that she was just ready to go, and that led to the respect in question and allowed for Isabella to step back and learn. All of which brought forth, a touching episode. One that showcased some wonderful lessons regarding respect and grief and presented them to us in a manner that was just… beautiful. Since it made those points clear in a direct and humbling manner and regarding grief, it went where few stories go, and that’s important. Because that’s the kind of stuff we need to see in print, and on the silver and small screen because people look to these stories for guidance and the good news is, they have it here, and truly… that leaves us eager to see what other brave lessons await us on the horizon as season one of this delightful comedy continues along. Until next time.

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 304 of ‘Lopez vs Lopez’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

One unfortunate truth about life that no one wants to face or talk about, is that there will come a day where we realize we are getting older. For some that arrives when lots of gray hairs start showing up. For others, it hits when a wound or injury takes a lot longer to heal or when we notice that it sometimes hurts our back to get up off of the couch. But one way or another… that day will come, and it will be tough to reconcile. For it speaks to the fragility of life, of our mortality and that… tougher days are ahead and that does leave one to wonder… how do we make peace with something that earth shattering?

Well, it just so happens that the next episode of Lopez vs Lopez on NBC took the time to offer up some positive thinking on the matter, a feat that ‘Lopez vs The Roast of George Lopez’ accomplished, by way of a birthday celebration, George’s in fact. For he was now well into sixties and feeling good about it until a mishap and spill involving his birthday cake, prompted Mayan and the rest of the family to worry deeply about him. Because they realized, he was getting up there in years, and bad things could happen from that, and this scared George too. Because this was that moment for him, that moment where he realized age was now a factor and well, not only did this episode show us how to reconcile it, but also how NOT to reconcile that fact.

Courtesy of a grand push from George to look and feel young again. By dying his hair and suddenly being all about fitness, which led to some painful shenanigans for him. Wherein he tore something in his shoulder and struggled to really work at a peak physical level. Because there comes a point where we cannot and when that happens… we simply have to embrace the fact that we aren’t getting any younger and that the only way to be square with that, is to adjust our lives so we feel as young as possible. By living in the moment, by finding joy with the people we love and for George that involved… being roasted and thriving within laughter. Which led to an epic roast with Jeff Ross as the emcee, where some fine burns were delivered. But before we dive into the lesson further, we do need to take a moment and discuss… the other unique lesson present here.

For while Quinten helped George find comfort in his miles, Mayan was dealing with quite the surprise. In that, Chance was using foul language at school, and she was desperate to find out how he was learning it, so she could cut that off at the source. As it turned out, Rosie was the one responsible. Because Josué was trying his best to talk to her and that prompted her to exude fury over the phone, the kind that included a few F bombs and crude descriptions of that cochino, and Chance heard that, and Mayan had to step in and teach her mom how best to speak about such matters around her son and that text messages… might communicate those feelings better. Of course, she also had to punish Chance, and did so in a traditional Latinx manner, by having him wash out his mouth with soap.
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Which is legit by the way. In fact, allow this Latinx writer to offer up a pro tip, Irish Spring is the smoothest tasting soap out there, and Dial is just the worst. So, kids, if you’re going to cuss and take that punishment, have that Irish Spring around to make life easy. But that aside, this was just… a magnificent slice of life episode. One that spoke to what parents sometimes have to deal with and how sometimes… parents and grandparents create their own problems when they forget that kids pick up on everything, along with a fine lesson on how we handle that all-important and scary moment in our lives. Because that’s just what this show does, it explores life, culture, and everything in between and that made for another satisfying and fun episode. One that has us ready for more of this show’s intelligence and its wonderful reflections on the experiences we share in. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 2606 of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article also contains discussing regarding domestic violence and sexual assault, which may be triggering to some individuals.

If there is one particular question we ask often in this life, but rarely get a good answer to, it would have to be… why aren’t men that abuse women and assault them held accountable more often? And well, don’t get a good answer to that for several reasons. For starters, we don’t always know it happens. Because so many women stay silent on the matter, in large part because we don’t listen to them. Second, there is a strange mantra in our world that somehow… this is a ‘simple mistake’ that men make, and they somehow deserve second chances for this calculated crime, and if you don’t believe that… well we did just elect a man convicted of being a sexual assaulter to the highest office of the land.

But that second reason, has a lot of the keys to it as to why these crimes go unpunished. For again, calculation comes into play and a lot of these dude bros think about how not to get caught, how to keep their disgusting actions a secret. And that, combined with the power of fear, they get away with it. Which does leave us to wonder what it would take to bring the calculated ones to justice and well, the next episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC answers that question. In that, vigilance and persistence are the key, so that in the long term, there is a real fear that men that do such acts will be caught, regardless of how smart they think they are, and ‘Rorschach’ made that clear, through one complex crime.

For the SVU team was pulled into a strange case up north by the Feds. Wherein a pair of travel vloggers named Ellie and Chris ended up in the hospital due to a brutal attack. One where Chris was stabbed several times and where Ellie was plunged into a coma, and well… it was just so savage and random that the Feds and the local police needed another set of eyes on it and at first, it really did seem as though someone just lost their mind and decided to attack two innocent people. Which while plausible, did not sit right with Captain Benson or Detective Silva. Because something about the crime scene and the way Chris spoke about the case, just didn’t add up. In fact, there was a sense of staging and a sense that facts were missing.

Which forced the team to dig deep into the evidence and anything they could get their hands on data wise to piece together what happened here, and well… some body cam footage from a traffic stop, and some horrible, deleted footage revealed… that Chris… was THAT guy. The abuser who could no longer take his girlfriend having agency or wants, so he did what they always do. Resort to violence, power, and every low thing in the book to be the poor little Alpha, and of course, to not get caught… he hurt himself by plunging the knife into his body, and well… under normal circumstances he would have gotten away with it all. Due to lack of solid evidence and leads. Which is why, we need teams like Benson’s, working these cases tirelessly and tearing into every detail to prove what abusers do. 

All so, they can be held accountable and so that long term, guys like Chris, do have the fear of whatever God they believe in, put into them that they cannot get away with such crimes, and refrain from committing them. But alas, we do enable, and we do reward men that go this route… so it will be a long time before the Chrises and presidents-elect of the world pay the piper for the awful things they do. But while we wait, we can praise one intelligent episode. One that showcased how abusers work, how they get away with so much and how outright pathetic they are. Because it takes a real coward, to strike a woman and cross that line, and it was nice that this series reminded us, what real men look like, and how dudes like Chris, are just an embarrassment. Until next time.