Please enjoy this sneak peek from Episode Seven of Echo 3, which debuts on Apple TV+, tomorrow, 12/23/2022.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘The English’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Happy endings exist in storytelling for one reason, and one reason alone… to help us escape. Because in reality, we know that happy endings are rare. For the everyday world is filled with chaos and sometimes cruelty. The kind that goes unpunished for foolish reasons. So, to sit down and watch a story where they are brought to justice, gives us catharsis and peace… if only for a little while. But now and again, there are stories that arrive in print, or television or theater, that offer none of that. They simply speak the truth we don’t often like to hear, to give us a powerful tale that there is no escape from. Where we must find meaning from the darkness on our own, and one such show that accomplished that, is The English on Prime Video, as evidenced by its finale.
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That is, shortly after ‘Cherished’ took the time to answer the last of our questions. Such as what was going on in Hoxem regarding all the wanton murder and pain. Which as it turned out, related to both Melmont and Trafford fighting back against the past, alongside a surprise that related to Cornelia. Because we also came to learn, that one of the deaths, was related to syphilis. For all of the villains in this tale, celebrated their slaughter with a woman of the night, and contracted syphilis in the process. Which of course, Melmont gave to Cornelia, and thus… we came to fully understand her motivations as well. Since the illness ravaged her son and claimed him early and was slowly destroying her as well. Yet what was also impressive, is the darkness of the story didn’t end there… since it didn’t take long for just about everyone but Eli, Cornelia and Melmont to die through various circumstances. 

But that only helped to bring us to the point of the story, via a harrowing showdown. For Melmont didn’t suffer at Cornelia’s hands. Because despite the pain she carried, killing him would have accomplished nothing for her. Leaving her destitute and sorrowful, even after others stepped in to claim his useless life. Which in turn, left Cornelia in a hollow place. Where she could not spend her life with Eli because of her illness, and to keep the peace, forcing her to just head home… and spend her days in a sorrowful place. Where her body wasted away and where she pondered upon memories of a grand adventure and dreams of a life that could have been. And she was so broken and so shattered that even one good deed pained her greatly, since it too, reminded her of her current standing and days gone by.

Which meant, that Melmont won. For despite being gunned down, he caused Cornelia great pain in every sense of the phrase, and his recklessness and monstrous nature poisoned her body and her soul. Since she was consumed by thoughts of revenge that came to no peace when he died, and of course… disease ravaged her body, and the love she always wanted was far away. A sobering reminder of how happy endings aren’t always possible. Especially when it comes to the actions of men like Melmont. Since they take and do as they please without a penalty in the world because of their bravado and money and outright confidence. Because for some reason, we cherish those concepts and nurture them, and allow for so many get hurt in the process. 

That makes… for a bleak ending for certain. One that truly offered no catharsis, just tragedy and sorrow and much for us to ponder upon. Such as whether or not we would do anything differently if we were in Cornelia’s shoes. Since vengeance for the wrong imparted upon her, makes sense and quite frankly, seems like the right way to go. But our musings on this matter and our feelings upon it are ours to decide. Because this story simply wanted to tell us a dark story, one that showcased the ugly that wild west brought out in man and how it is best we remember that from time to time. Because our history and our darkness are as important to acknowledge as our victories, and that makes this a powerful story for certain. One that will stay with us for quite some time.

This is a spoiler-free recap of the season three premiere of ‘Jack Ryan’. To revisit the season two finale, click here.
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It’s been quite a while since we’ve talked about the Prime Video series, Jack Ryan, and understandably so. After all, the world has been a wild place the past couple of years, to the point where a lot of productions were rightfully delayed or put on hold. But this too has mostly passed, and the industry is getting back to up to speed and that means… the time has come once again to talk about Jack Ryan and his adventures through this reimagined and refreshing iteration of Tom Clancy’s thrilling universe. For today marks the debut of season three on Prime Video, and well… what an incredible season we are in for this year, courtesy of a truly incredible plot.
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For ‘Falcon’ is a story that wastes little time in informing us, that Jack is up against quite the challenge this year. For he’s being hearing rumors of a potential new superweapon being developed by an old enemy, one designed to turn back time in a manner that few want. Which means… it is up to him to uncover the truth regarding whether or not this weapon exists, and if this plan has legitimacy to it, and well… that’s where things become interesting in this story. Because minute by minute, we come to learn of a daring plot to tip the scales from a geo-political standpoint, and that of course means… this weapon and this plan exist, and that ups the ante in this series like never before.

Which in turn leads to some incredible action sequences. The kind that sees Jack once again displaying his skills as a solider turned analyst and that of course, keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Since the stakes in these sequences are sky-high and of course, lead to some incredible twists and turns. Where governments quickly find themselves facing a new crisis and where Jack finds himself in a unique position, one he’s never dealt with over the course of his illustrious career with the CIA. Wherein, he will be tested like never before at a time when the world needs him most and that brings forth, the finest season premiere of this show to date. A feat that is likely aided by the fact that we are now in year three, where the creative team is comfortable and ready to roll, and they have most certainly delivered here.

Because the danger that lies ahead and the trouble present here… truly engages you deeply and demands your attention. Which is likely why Prime Video made the decision to just drop all eight episodes of season three now. So, we can just binge away and see where this wild and terrifying plot will take us. One that has echoes of the real world once again, giving this show extra punch as well, and that realism is also something that is quite frankly new to this franchise. Since everything else we’ve enjoyed prior to this has felt plausible yet detached, and that does add to this viewing experience since the plot really does play upon some of our anxieties and worries and fears about what’s happening in the world right now.

If anything, all of these elements combine to create what is, a perfect season premiere. Because it immediately grabs hold of you and never lets go and that is just fine… because you absolutely want more, and you cannot ask for much more from a premiere than that. Not to mention John Krasinski, and Wendell Pierce once again put on an acting clinic as Jack and Greer respectively, which only helps to sell this epic season. One that is clearly going to blow us way from beginning to end with a refreshing story that thus far, doesn’t feel based off of any of Tom Clancy’s prior novels, leading to a sense of excitement that will only grow as we continue to follow Jack along for his biggest and scariest mission to date. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Whitstable Pearl’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Anything. That is the word that anyone who is asked the question, ‘how far would you go to keep your family safe?’ mutters as their answer. Because family is everything to us, and if they are in danger, there’s no way we will allow for harm to come to them. But what’s funny about that particular question, is that it is more or less asked with a unique implication at play. On that speaks to the real possibility that we would be making this decision at a time when a mortal threat was standing before our family. Making this question more of a test of love and loyalty than what it really is designed to do. Which is to challenge our moral center. 
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Because to truly do anything for our family, means that we are willing to cross certain lines at any given time to ensure not only their safety and survival, but their ability to thrive in this life. Which does indeed change our answer because if we were required to say… cause someone else great harm in order to put a smile on our family’s faces or help them sleep better at night during a trying time… could we? Well, that’s a far gritter version of that question that the next episode of Whistable Pearl on Acorn TV works to answer. For ‘The Gumshoe and the Femme Fatale’ is a story that sees Pearl work with a housekeeper named Natalia. Who believed that she and her boss, the once famous horror scream queen, Zelda St. John, were in great danger.

Because Zelda changed up her will, and planned to leave everything to Natalia, and it was the belief that the family would respond toward this change with violence against both parties. Which was a warning that came to fruition in a unique manner, since Zelda was badly beaten and claimed that Natalia had turned upon her. A claim that appeared to have nothing but facts behind it, since Natalia was surrounded by evidence that spoke to an assault. But something about this didn’t sit right with Pearl, and the gaps in the story were too great to ignore. Which prompted her to gather just enough evidence to confront Zelda with the truth. In that, she staged this to get back in the spotlight and use her refreshed notoriety to potentially sell a lackluster novel about her life. Which Zelda admitted to doing, but only to keep her family safe. Because the money was gone, and her death was near and if putting someone behind bars was the best way to keep them financially safe… so be it.

Which is a plot that wonderfully addresses that question in the manner it was supposed to. For it is designed to make us ponder upon how such an act might be tougher than we know. Because if we have everything to lose in doing so… we might not be so willing to just blow a life up in the name of our family. That makes this, another brilliant tale for certain, one that once again offers up a different kind of crime and a different kind of case and features some wonderful commentary to go alongside it. The kind that will prompt us to never look at that question the same, ever again, and what’s amazing… is that this story had so much more to offer us beyond Pearl’s phenomenal work here. It also gave us some interesting insight regarding Mike’s struggles.

For we subtly came to learn here… that Mike isn’t healed quite yet. And there’s nothing wrong with that because Rome wasn’t built in a day. But he loves Pearl deeply and loving someone again scares the hell out of him, to the point where he is doing stupid stuff now. Such as hanging onto a relationship he knows has no future, and by pushing Pearl further and further away. To prevent being near what his heart is telling him he wants, out of the belief he’ll lose this new love too, and that is also… brilliant and realistic for certain and it sets the stage for a will they or won’t they moment for the ages. One that we hope ends with Mike and Pearl finally finding one another in this life, and the only way to know if that is even remotely going to be the case, is to continue the journey post haste and enjoy some fascinating crimes along the way. Until next time. 

Caution: This article contains spoiler for Episode 203 of ‘Leverage: Redemption’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One would think that the world of video games would be fairly innocuous and relaxed. After all, these are fantasy worlds where a player can lose themselves in a story of their choosing, and if they so desire… they can enjoy the company of others in their adventures through the power of the web. All of which sounds amazingly fun and free of the nastiness of the world and the people eager to exert control and cause trouble in the name of their ego. But alas, that’s simply not the case. For the world of gaming can be quite toxic at times since the anonymity of this world motivates some to be pretty gross human beings when it comes to what they say and do online, and there are those out there, eager to exploit the gaming world for their own benefit. 
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Which means that this world too… is one that we hope to find justice within, and of course… the best way to enjoy that, is through Leverage: Redemption, the one show that always makes that wish come true. For there is no frontier that Team Leverage won’t venture to, as evidenced by the next episode of this dynamic Amazon Freevee series. For ‘The Tournament Job’ saw the squad be recruited by a concerned sister, named Jane, to see if her brother, Tam, was indeed okay. For he had been recruited by an E-Sports wizard named Kyle Fury… and no one had heard from him in a while. Which motivated her to make an impromptu visit to check in on him, and when she did, she noticed he looked distressed and scared and well, it’s a good thing she reached out to the team out of concern, since they came to learn that Kyle was bad news.

For he was all about crafting a winning team in the most illegal and unethical ways imaginable. Such as doping his teams with high yield stimulants and using fear and punishment to ‘get the best’ out of them. Which meant the team needed to take this guy down a peg. Because this was all about feeding his garbage ego and burning anyone else in the process, and these gamers didn’t deserve that kind of treatment or to have their freedoms taken away. But their mission was no easy task. For Kyle had all the bases covered and trusted no one, making it appear as though the team was in over their heads. But you can never count this team out, and with a little guile of their own and some playing along… they were able to expose Kyle and save Tam and his friends and help keep the video game world fun by getting rid of a cancer within it. 

But while that made for a satisfying episode of this series, one that featured a pretty scary villain since Kyle was pretty darn evil, what really made this episode quite special, were all the unique journeys that our heroes went upon to complete the mission. Since Breanna was forced to learn on the fly the difficulties that come with being the ‘Inside Man’, and she adapted quite well. Not to mention, Harry’s ability to lose himself in the gamer role he unleashed here, led to some serious laughs and what had to be great fun for Noah Wyle. And of course, Eliot really shined here as the moral core of this mission. Since he went the extra mile to take care of a bunch of scared kids really, reminding us of the good man he truly is. Plus, it was great to see Sophie settling further into her leadership role, and uh… Parker’s Schwarzenegger impression and Sarah Connor persona here was the stuff of legend.

If anything, this was just… a wild and fun episode when all is said and done. One that almost felt akin to a palate cleanser of sorts. Since let’s be honest, while the other episodes always balance the dark and the light… the last two heavies the show featured, were a little on the uglier and darker side. Making this the perfect episode to just lighten the mood and give us all plenty to smile about. And smile we most certainly did, thanks to one happy, happy ending and a new hobby for Eliot and well… you can never go wrong with an episode of this show that leans into the fun. And now that we’ve reached the end of this delightful and engaging tale, it’s onto the next mission and all the wonders and lessons it will undoubtedly send our way. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the ‘Lopez vs Lopez’ Christmas Episode.
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The year 2002 was an important one when it comes to television. For this is the year that George Lopez (a.k.a The George Lopez Show) made its debut on ABC and what made that so significant and important, was the sheer fact that a show revolving around Latinos and their lives was in prime-time television. A rarity for certain then, and a rarity now... but the significance of that series, which aired for six seasons… cannot be understated. For it was in fact, a grand accomplishment regarding representation in American television, especially when it comes to the Latino community. For this series de-stigmatized the stereotypes that often surround Latinos in popular media and put the richness of Latino culture on display. Which is why it is a shame that this series went off the air in 2007, well before its time.
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But while there is little that can be done regarding that final decision, this is a series that is of note today… for several reasons. Partly because, it is back in the conversation of popular culture, courtesy of the most recent episode of Lopez vs Lopez. For ‘Lopez vs Christmas’ is a story that reunited series star George Lopez with the entire cast of that show, allowing for a warm and hilarious sequence to take place, filled with perfect fourth wall, meta moments, alongside a wondrous sense of nostalgia. Because the cast was just as important to the show as its storytelling, and it was just a true delight to see George’s old television family alongside his new one in an episode… that prompts us to think deeper on that the significance of that series… and how it quite frankly paved the way for another pertinent series from George.

Because not only did it pave the way to bring Lopez vs Lopez to life, since there was now a precedent and clearly a demand for prime-time entertainment that is Latino-centric, but we would be foolish to not talk about the importance of this new series and this particular episode. Because once again… this is George Lopez starring in a show that puts Latino culture front and center, specifically the Christmas traditions one might find in a Latino household. Which is important to say the least. Because that’s the stuff that further de-stigmatizes stereotypes and helps people to understand the majesty of different cultures and that is prevalent here in a magnificent and sometimes familiar manner. Since there are a bevy of familiar familial quirks that echo in the minds of anyone who grew up in a Latino household, including several that hit home for this Latino writer. 

However, we would be remiss to not point out that much like George’s previous series, this too makes a point to tackle the ties that bind us all. Since the show’s plot revolves around a fractured family structure, something that is commonplace in modern America. Plus, it speaks to how difficult it is for those families to reconcile and the struggles that come with such matters, even when all parties agree to try and make the most of it. Plus, issues such as mental health and alcoholism are even present in this series and this episode. Giving it incredible depth and incredible meaning as well. Since such struggles force this somewhat broken family to really ponder upon the meaning of the season and why it is important to be around family, even when it stresses it out and drives us mad, during the holiday season and that is where this episode truly shines as a holiday episode.

Because at its core, it is designed to lift us up, by reminding us of the fact that despite our differences or regardless, where we have come from… we have been given some important gifts. Our lives, and the people that come into and are part of it from the start. And that is in fact, quite special and should be celebrated on a day where gifts matters. And if by chance, there are some tamales present at that celebration, so much the better. If anything, this is just an important holiday special. One that teaches us so much and is fun and vibrant, and truly… it also speaks to the fact that this series deserves a little more recognition as well, something we at NTG will remedy shortly through upcoming recaps of this series. Because this show, is important and engaging, and it will be fascinating to see where this journey is going to take us in the weeks to come. Until next time.

While the holidays bring forth some lovely time with our family and friends, and joy and laughter, and enough sweets to prompt us to start that gym membership resolution early… there are some minor drawbacks to what comes after the big day. In that, a lot of us are on vacation, and we have a lot of down time to fill, and not doing so can lead to a great deal of boredom. So, we find things to do. Some fill that time with those aforementioned resolutions, while others… see this as a wonderful time to catch up on their favorite television shows and perhaps plan ahead as to what they intend to watch when the New Year gets underway.
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Because people love television and making time for our favorite shows makes for a wonderful and relaxing escape and being able to plan ahead only adds to that wondrous experience and that’s why it is always lovely to learn in advance what kind of programming we can expect from our favorite networks and streamers and that’s why we owe some thanks to STARZ. For recently, they released their programming lineup for January 2023, to get us ready for a new year of television viewing and well, with that in mind, here is that lineup (courtesy of STARZ) so that you can carve a little time out of your day to enjoy all that STARZ has to offer.

‘STARZ announces its programming highlights for the month of January, including the season two premiere of “BMF” on January 6, followed by all new episodes in subsequent weeks. On the film front, notable titles joining the STARZ app this month include Guardians of the Galaxy, Milk and Little Women (2019).’

Notable Film Stunts and Collections available on the STARZ app in January:

• “Criminal Empires” 1/1- 1/10
  • Films include: Sicario: Day of the Soldado, State Property, State Property 2, For the Love of Money, Gangs of New York, The Glass Shield, Brick Mansions, The Hollow Point, and The Birthday Cake
• “Superhero Hangout” 1/1- 1/31
  • Films include: Hancock, X-Men, X-Men: First Class, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Immortals, Thor: The Dark World, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy
• “Chinese New Year” 1/17- 1/31
  • Films include: Assassins, Better Luck Tomorrow, The Eagle Huntress, The Grudge, Kiss of the Dragon, Operation Condor 2: The Armour of God, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, The Tuxedo, and The Way of the Dragon
• “Bromantic Adventures- Friends to the End” 1/24- 1/31
  • Films include: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Dinner for Schmucks, 22 Jump Street, Janky Promoters, The Matador, The Brothers Grimsby, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, The Cable Guy, and The Brothers Grimm

 
Original Series Marathons:
STARZ

• “Dangerous Liaisons” End of Season Marathon, episodes 101- 107 leading into the season 1 finale at 8:00 pm ET/PT (January 1, 1:00 pm ET/PT)
• “BMF” Season One- Double episodes every night (January 1- 5 at 9:00 pm ET/PT)
• “The BMF Documentary: Blowing Money Fast” all 8 episodes (January 6 at 12:45 pm ET/PT)
• “Party Down” Seasons One and Two every Friday (January 6- February 17 at 11:00 pm ET/PT)

 
STARZ In Black

• “The BMF Documentary: Blowing Money Fast” all 8 episodes (January 1 at 11:50 am ET/PT)

 
STARZ Edge

• “BMF” Season One Marathon (January 8 at 12:45 pm ET/PT)
• “Blindspotting” Season One Marathon (January 15 at 3:40 pm ET/PT)

 
STARZ Comedy

• “Party Down” Seasons One and Two, every Saturday (January 1- 28 at 8:00 pm ET/PT)

 
STARZ Cinema

• “Serpent Queen” Season One Marathon (January 1 at 7:30 am ET/PT)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘Step Up’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past ten weeks, we’ve talked at length about how the STARZ series, Step Up, has done a phenomenal job of exploring… life. Because this season’s storylines have taken the time to explore the ups and downs that accompany the human experience. Such as the folly and wonder of love, how we grow day by day and transform into different people because of that, and of course… how change is always around us and how we need to recognize that, so we aren’t surprised by its inevitable arrival. If anything, reflecting upon all of those elements is important today… simply because the finale of the show, figured out how to combine all of those lessons into one giant one to bring this season’s musings home.
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For ‘Sleep When U Die’ is a story that informed us, that life is nothing more than a series of chapters and stories. That teach us plenty and we combine them in our later years to teach others and guide them and reflect upon our own journey. And that… when chaos surrounds us and ups and downs and change are everywhere to be found, that’s often a signal that a chapter is about end so that a fresh one can begin and teach us more great lessons in the process. And it brought forth those observations… by bringing the chaos to an outright eleven in this tale. For Collette made a power play to obtain High Water and Sage’s fortune out of spite. And Marquise and Rigo went head-to-head over who should be standing behind the lyrics of ‘Unchosen’, and even Odalie saw peak chaos come into her life when Angel’s brother arrived in town to collect money that was now missing because of Odalie’s bender.

Which pushed everyone to extremes. Since Rigo talked of shooting Marquise, Angel was in a panic and Sage it seemed was ready to go to war with his now ex. But a shocking revelation from Cruz, allowed for Sage to realize… that he was putting great stock in a love that was never build on substance or connection. They were just in love with the idea of one another and their accomplishments. Which meant… he needed to close this chapter and move onto the next one. That required agency on his part and when he realized that Collette was indeed East-O’s killer, he used that leverage to get his empire back and ponder upon what came next, and that led to other bold decisions across the board as well. Since Angel came to realize her life was on the wrong path and no longer sustainable and Marquise, wanted desperately to find value in life.

Oddly enough, all of those musings and decisions came to a head at the Grammys. Wherein Marquise, with a little nudge from Sage, confronted Rigo in front of a live studio audience and informed the world of the theft of his songs and how this kind of beef over fame wasn’t right. They were brothers after all and needed to find peace over anger. And being honest like that, and standing up for himself, closed that chapter in his life related to feeling… well… unchosen… and opened up a new one. And Angel used a little trickery and some royalty payments through Sage to get back home with Marquise, and Sage even figured out… how to find real peace and truly part ways with the toxic nature of his and Collette’s love… by giving her High Water and moving onto new endeavors. All of which, were powerful ways to explore the chapter system of life, the kind that provided us with a step-by-step guide on how to handle it.

Which involved a moment of objectivity, where the overwhelming nature of chaos, forces people to think. Think about where they have been, where they are going and what it would take to embrace change and what lie ahead and that made for a wonderfully satisfying finale. One that also made sure to look at what happens to those who don’t fully embrace the lesson or take a minute to think, since Odalie and Rigo are in a dark place, and Marquise’s decision was rushed enough… that it might not turn out how he wanted. Adding more depth to this brilliant and complex season. Which really did look at life in a manner that more stories should, to remind us of what an incredible journey we are on, and how everything good and bad has meaning and value to us. And now that this series has reached its end, this saga will stand as a wonderful testament to how our quest for the dream is not what defines us… it is how we handle all the surprises that it sends our way, even after we’ve grabbed hold of it.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Dangerous Liaisons’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the STARZ series, Dangerous Liaisons, has done a phenomenal job of teaching us about the power and the nature of revenge. For Camille’s quest to harm Jacqueline and to a lesser extent Valmont, has informed us of the origins of revenge and how a deep-rooted pain can fuel it and take it to incredible levels. Not to mention, it’s shown us how intoxicating it is and how it can drive us to become vastly different people, courtesy of the power and rush it provides us with. All of which has given us a comprehensive understanding of the vendetta. Perhaps enough to hammer home why we should steer clear of it at all costs, regardless of the powerful temptation it sends our way.
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But alas, the writers’ room of this fascinating series, didn’t feel as though that was enough to really give the audience the perspective and caution, they need to exercise regarding revenge. Because there are other dangers that come into play by indulging it, and it just so happens that the penultimate episode of the series, opted to dig into such matters. For when we caught up with Valmont and Camille in ‘Here Is My Soul’, they were atop cloud nine and once again consummating their intense and oft toxic love. For it seemed as though, at long last, they would achieve agency and power over those they wished to punish. Thanks to the fact, that Camille had a wonderful plan in mind to utterly embarrass and destroy Jacqueline and her slimy husband. 

In that, she would have Valmont get his declaration of love from Jacqueline, in writing of course. Which in turn would be presented to the queen at the upcoming opera. For Camille now knew what her majesty looked like and that would make it easy to get close to her and distribute such a surprise. But therein lie the first lesson in the other dangers that come with revenge. In that, in order for it to fully work… it requires cooperation from the mark. And that isn’t always possible. For people have different things that they want out of life, and that can conflict with delicate revenge plans, as evidenced by how poorly Valmont’s portion of the plan went. Since Jacqueline rebuffed him and even hit him for suggesting they give into their desire for one another… and that prompted him to of course… try harder to win over her lust.

Which in turn… led to another lesson. Specifically, that sometimes revenge reveals other truths we never thought we would learn. The kind that could change lives and can force us to alter the plan and that came about… courtesy of Valmont’s pivot. For it seemed he finally motivated Jacqueline’s desires and could finally bring this plan for revenge to fruition. But alas, Jacqueline felt she needed to confess a dark and dirty secret and truth to Valmont before their desire was consummated. Wherein Valmont came to learn, that Camille’s little one didn’t die as she was told. She lived and was under Jacqueline’s care, and that was why she was so religious, to try and atone for kidnapping a child in essence, and that of course… prompted a bold plan on Valmont’s part to make things right for his love. 
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Wherein he would quickly kidnap the child and return her to her mother and that plan, and Camille’s doings in the world, led to the final lesson of the night… that indulging in revenge can and will immerse a person amongst real trouble and dark individuals and dark deeds. For it is a dark act to begin with and that lesson came to life when Valmont was beaten badly by Henri and his men so this secret and Henri’s stature could be held to the highest standard. Plus, we also came to learn that Camille was making enemies because of her request to Chevalier, and that she might be married to an actual monster. Since Jean has some violent secrets in his closest, and some proclivities that were implied to be quite terrifying, and she and Victoire might be in real danger now. 

Not to mention, the letters are out in the world because Rose is just… the worst, and well, all of these elements set the stage for what should be… a powerful series finale. But before we get to the end of the story, we can in fact… celebrate another brilliant chapter in this journey. One that truly hammered home the external and uncontrollable aspects of revenge we don’t think about all that often, and the external dangers that come with embracing a dark life where anger rules the day and truly… it will be interesting to see how all of this comes together in next week’s finale. For there is a lot of darkness hanging over this story now, the kind that can quickly change lives for the worse, and hopefully Valmont and Camille can expertly navigate the darkness as they have all year, to enjoy a sliver of agency and peace perhaps, before this saga comes to a close. Until next time.

One thing that we can all agree upon, is that the holidays can be quite the emotional and powerful time for each and every one of us. Because the holiday season at its core, is a time of reflection. Since it forces us to think about all of the relationships in our lives and what those parties deserve as a gift so we can bring them proper joy and of course… being around friends and family during this season… prompts our minds to think upon the journey we’ve endured, and where we are at, and where we might be headed. Which is where the emotion comes from. Because it is overwhelming to feel all that love, and sometimes… that level of reflection can force us to focus on the negative realities of the season and our lives as well.
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For there are people we’ve lost along the way that we can’t share the wonder of the holidays with, and that hurts and of course… life is hard. It beats us down, it challenges us far more often than we care for it to and that negative line of thinking, can put us in a tough place during the season. Since it forces us to also ponder upon our failures and the things we haven’t accomplished yet. Which in many ways, leaves one to wonder, why we should even bother to celebrate the holidays or even think about them if they can potentially bring us nothing but heartbreak and weigh us down. But the fact of the matter is, facing the good and the bad during this season is essential to finding joy or to improving our lives, and if by chance we need help in doing so, storytelling can aid us in sorting out these overwhelming thoughts, as evidenced by the upcoming Apple TV+ holiday special, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.

A feat that this story (based upon Charlie Mackesy's book of the same name) accomplishes by plunging us into a unique winter world, where the Boy wanders through the countryside, and he is simply… lost and looking for a home, all alone. But soon… he encounters the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse, a group of intelligent animals that seemingly have no business hanging out with the Boy, much less together, But they too are searching, for more out of life, and they deem it best to follow a nearby river to try and find the Boy the home he seeks and what they crave and what follows… is a stunningly moving story that explores the hardships of life and how they weigh upon us. For each character here represents a unique aspect of life and the challenges that come with it and once that is revealed to the viewer, does the true wonder, and magic, of this holiday story come to life.

For it quickly becomes apparent that this is a grandiose ride through our struggles. The pain we encounter regarding our failures, our losses, our believed shortcomings and how hard it is at times to chase our dreams and goals, and the why behind presenting that in a holiday special is quite powerful. Because it is designed to take the viewer to task, through surprise… since you’re not expecting to run into such musings in a special. But doing so is all part of a wonderfully layered plan to task us to reflect upon our pain and acknowledge and feel it… so we can see it objectively. For when we do so, we see how our hardships have done more for us than we know, and how that pain has pushed us to be more and be better and has brought us closer to what we want than we’ve ever known. 
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Not to mention, it has a lot to say about the real gifts that the holiday season provides us with. For it is easy to get lost in the gift giving and the hustle and bustle that accompanies it. When in fact, those gifts are less about cost and less about joy and relate to meaning. Specifically, how family and the family we choose are genuine gifts to us. Since they lift us up and love us and nurture us. For, we are the gift to them, and that’s important to recognize, as is the sheer fact that life itself… is the greatest gift of all. For to be on this planet, breathing and thriving is truly something to behold, and enjoying the journey and the stunning moments it sends our way both good and bad, are special presents indeed and worth cherishing.

If anything, all of these elements… make this a perfect holiday special. Because not only does it present us with a beautiful and sweeping story that perfectly embraces the look and feel of the season, but it accomplishes exactly what you want from a holiday special. In that, it forces us to take a moment, and use this time, to objectively look at our sometimes overwhelming and stifling lives… so we can see how far we’ve come, and above all, to remind us to cherish what we’ve been given and lean upon it in our hour of need, and thankfully… you need not wait much longer to experience this moving and beautiful holiday special. For The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse makes its debut on Christmas Day on Apple TV+, and we at NTG hope you give it a look. To have your spirits lifted on a day when you’re surrounded by everything and everyone, you’ve ever needed.