It does seem strange to say this, but thinking that revenge and helping people could be same thing is starting to cross my mind more often than not.  When running into people that need help, there has to be a reason why they are down and out, and there is usually a more powerful person behind it.  Wanting to help that person out by making sure that the one that has hurt them suffers, even a little bit could be construed as revenge and that is one thing that the Daredevil series is bringing to life.

Vladimir is worried about the absence of his brother back at their headquarters.  Not seeing his brother since he went to ask Fisk for help is disconcerting to him and he is looking for answers from Wesley.  But Wesley is not able to shine any light on Anatoly’s disappearance, but when the door to the office opens up and a headless Anatoly is brought into the room, Wesley has to make sure that the Russians know who is responsible.  Blaming the man in black, Vladimir is ready to exact revenge for his brother, but will need more information before forming his plan.

Claire is staying with Matt while her wounds heal.  Matt is the perfect gentleman while taking care of his care giver, but his abilities are starting to frighten the nurse.  With the smell of copper in the air, the two are not able to push aside their feelings for each other and decide to take the relationship to the next level.  Not wanting to let anyone know what they are up to, Matt goes about his day as normal when he and Foggy get a new client that is looking for help when her cost controlled apartment is being ransacked by the landlord to force everyone to leave so he can open a new set of condos.   Sending Foggy and Karen to talk to the landlord’s lawyer, Matt heads down to the police station to see if there are any complaints against the man, but winds up hearing more than he was supposed to. 

Arriving at a meet with his partners in crime, Wilson Fisk has to come clean about what has happened to Anatoly and his plans for the future of crime in Hell’s Kitchen.  Although no one seems to be happy about the circumstances behind his fit of rage, they are all on board with taking the Russians out of the equation.  Apologizing for his actions, Fisk has other things on his mind than just wanting to take over the drug trafficking around his city and plans another night out with the beautiful Vanessa Marianna, but has to believe that she will show up.  Buying out the restaurant for the night, Fisk comes clean to the art dealer about his dealings around Hell’s Kitchen and wants her by his side, as he is falling in love with the woman.  Vanessa gives in and watches as the new order starts over desert and knows that she will be with the most powerful man in the city.

While trying to interrogate the landlord’s lawyer, Foggy and Karen find out what they are up against, Foggy’s ex-girlfriend.  Although Foggy is able to put up a good fight in the office, he leaves empty handed and with no resolution in sight.  Returning to their new client’s beat up apartment, Foggy offers his services on fixing it back up to a livable space and has to stay for dinner as a thank you.  When talking to Karen about his past, Karen is worried about how she is being perceived by Matt since he has never taken the time to touch her face.  While Foggy pretends to be blind, explosions erupt outside of the window and although there are injured in the apartment, Foggy runs out to see if there are any more people in need of assistance. 

This episode jumps all around the place, so let’s try to just sum it up now.  Vladimir is looking for the killer of his brother, covered above, but finds out that is not just the man in black behind the beheading of him, but Fisk is also responsible. Vladimir is preparing for war when he has a blind visitor come in and destroy his warehouse.  Wilson Fisk is concerned more about the people that talk, talking to the wrong people.  Having a witness killed in police custody for speaking his name, it is more concerning to him that people can actually refer to him as a person, rather than a myth.  Matt Murdock hears the killing happen in the police station, with the same name being uttered that he knows nothing about.  Knowing that there is a correlation between this Fisk character and what is happening in his city, Matt has to find a way to piece this puzzle together.  Foggy and Karen are forming a tighter relationship as they are being sent on errands together and seem to be enjoying.  Although Foggy seems to be selling himself short, Karen is starting to see him for the man that he really is. 

Boom, there it is.  An action packed episode to say the least.  I was already sold on this series, but now I am in too deep to look back.  I have said previously that I like Wesley’s character the best, but now I am starting to enjoy Wilson Fisk’s a little bit more.  With all that he is looking to do for Hell’s Kitchen, he is willing to break more than a few eggs to accomplish it.  With his subtle remarks, he is all heart, and even though it may not be in the right place, he is very forthcoming with what he is willing to do to take the city back.  I think Matt tried to grow up a little bit in this episode as well, with his budding relationship with Claire, he is starting to open up about who he really is.  But I am afraid if he gives too much away, he will lose his edge and battle with those who are looking to reinvent Hell’s Kitchen to their own liking.  Blind leading the blind, it is the only way to see forward. Keep watching, and let's see what unfolds.

Well, there are really only two words that properly describe last night's episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., jaw dropping. Last night the show pulled out all of the stops and well, there were some decisions made that the show can never go back upon, some changes to a couple of characters I never expected to see and well...we got some big time answers and our Avengers tie in "The Dirty Half Dozen".

Let's start by taking about some of those irrevocable changes the show decided to go through last night, specifically the big time character surprises. For one, I honestly don't feel like I even know Simmons anymore. She has walked down a super dark path this season and her attempt on Ward's life was just plain shocking. I never saw it coming, never thought she would go through with it. But here we are, she tried to wax Ward and she'll never be the same. I was also stunned by the fact that Ward didn't try to get all murder-y this episode. This was his big chance to handle the original team he worked with and well...he's turned out quite classy. It was a hell of a change for these two characters, and curious ones at that. 

As for the other big event last night that cannot be taken back, I'm stunned they blew up the Bus. In fact, my shock over that can only be compared to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock when Kirk made the decision to scuttle the Enterprise because man, the Bus was a big part of this show, and many an important event happened there, just...wow.  Of course there were plenty of other awesome moments as well, Skye's rescue of Lincoln was nothing short of spectacular, kudos to the show for giving us an action sequence as epic as that, but let's be honest...we were all dying for one thing last night, the Avengers tie in.

Now the show certainly did not disappoint here. Our first big reference was to the Twins, but that was merely the appetizer, since the show brought us the main course in the last five minutes. Raina, who it turns out is extremely clairvoyant after the change, spoke of metal men ripping our world to pieces and that nothing would ever be the same in obvious reference to Ultron and his army...but there was still plenty more to feast upon.  Especially when Coulson dropped the bomb that Gonzales should enjoy his time as the big dog of S.H.I.E.L.D. because Fury would be back soon enough and then we got the phone call with Maria Hill and the answers we wanted. Coulson has been hunting for Loki's scepter all this time, and Theta Protocol involves...calling in the Avengers. 

Needless to say, I was jumping up and down in my seat during those five minutes. The return of Maria Hill was a nice little surprise, but the Avengers shout out and the set up for Friday's release just made the wait all the more unbearable. When this show ties in to the movies right, it sure doesn't mess around but holy hell, the rest of this episode was seriously impressive as well. In fact the last few weeks on the show have been nothing short of stellar, with top notch performance and plot and as we inch closer to the Season Finale, I'm wondering what else they have in store for us.  Until next week my friends...

It’s been a while since I’ve written about this show, so I thought I would give Mattie a break, and share my thoughts on the recent happenings. Also, seriously, I’ve missed geeking out about the awesomeness that is S.H.I.E.L.D. So, last week, Skye took over the world. I’m just kidding. That’s the season finale. Bobbi and Mack did spar, however, and we should take a moment to just relish in the sight that was. Much relishing! Alright, so. Skye is trying to talk some sense into her mom, because mommy wants to just dump Cal and be done with him. He’s not part of her people, and therefore can’t stay there. Skye being the caring person she is, talks sense into the woman. She’ll go with Cal and break it all to him gently. That will make it all easier for everyone, and he shouldn’t flip out and kill people. This is agreed upon…with some conditions Skye is unaware of.

Either way, Cal seems to be enjoying this time with Skye. He literally seems happier and normal, and she’s kind of enjoying it herself. Skye didn’t get to have that happy family experience, so this is all new for her. Still, she knows it can’t last. Trying to find a polite way to say what she has to do is proving harder. In the meantime, Simmons is trying to ‘break’ into Fury’s box. Except the box they have is a fake. She switched it out and gave the real one to Fitz, who might be on the run from S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. She confesses this to May, who tells Bobbi that Fitz switched them out and it’s really Simmons covering for him. Guess May really is on their side. Ish.

Fitz, finally shook his tails and got rescued by Coulson! With Mike on their side, there’s nothing they can’t do! Also, they need Mike for Coulson’s next plan. He needs the HYDRA agent Ward has…for purposes…also, Ward and Agent 33 being together is seriously weird. I don’t like it. One bit. At all. But, okay. So, they’re together, and Coulson and Mike take 33, and get Ward to have a sit down chat with him. Coulson is offering him a deal. Help get to a specific, higher up, HYDRA agent. Mike poses as Bakshi’s bodyguard, which goes well…until it doesn’t. Things are delayed as HYDRA is on the hunt for a certain teleporting inhuman…

They happen to track it to the building Skye and Cal are in…and, that goes just as well as expected. Coulson and Ward go in with Agent 33 and Hunter to find Skye. The fight is awesome, minus Hunter getting shot, and soon Skye is being whisked away by Gordon, Cal tagging along, before Coulson’s very eyes…Hunter is shot, Ward isn’t backstabbing anyone, and Simmons is mad at May. Like, this show has seriously taken me for a ride with all the emotions! I can hardly believe what’s happened in such a short amount of time. Also, I can’t believe Ward is helping them. In the end, Mike and an Inhuman are captured by Bakshi, who probably is a traitorous snake, oh wait, he is, and it’s all a mess…hopefully tonight will make the feels feel better.

It can be difficult to ask for help if you feel like you are at the top of your game.  I have been known to put myself through hell due to my pride in doing my job since I never want to admit that I need help.  There are several people that go through bouts like this and end up driving themselves crazy, when it is not necessary.  Pride can be a killer in more than one way and there is no shame in asking for help from your friends, co-workers or an outside group to make sure that the job gets done right.  It is all in the way you perceive yourself when it is done, but I think the real fear comes from seeing how others are able to handle the work, and if they are able to do it better than you, you may feel like you are no longer needed.

Brothers Anatoly and Vladimir are having trouble ending their bout with the man in the black mask.  Being given a larger distribution ring by their employer, they need to start producing faster results, but are still coming up short on their weekly payments.  Wesley gives the brothers the proper face time and gives them an offer that they should not refuse, but being proud, they have to decline since they know what the problem is and how to handle it on their own.  Finding out the dark secret of what happened to their man that was thrown off of a roof top, they have focused their sights on Claire and are ready to get their next shot at the man in black. 

Karen is having a rough time with signing the settlement sheet from her old employer and is trying to find out who is trying to kill her.  Getting information from Ben Ulrich at the paper, she knows that there is more digging to be done to find out what is really happening behind the scenes.  Heading to an office equipment auction, Karen believes that she is in the clear and will be able to pinpoint at least one player, but when Ben shows up and shows her that there are more than one person that is looking for her, she is forced to believe that she is still not safe from whom ever is hunting her down.  Buying some office equipment to cover her tracks, Karen meets with Ben and gets a new direction on what she should be doing to bring out the man that is hiding in the shadows with the old reporters help, but is still afraid of what the repercussions could be.  

Matt is back in the care of Claire once again and is starting to get to know the nurse just a little bit better.  Having her leave her old apartment until he can find out if the Russians are still trying to find her, Matt needs to be able to start putting the pieces together.  When he hears Claire being kidnapped from her friend’s apartment, he has to find out where she has been taken and turns to her old apartment for answers.  Not wanting any harm to come to the nurse that has shown him pity, especially because of his actions, Matt is able to find the parking lot where she is being held and of course those who took Karen, what to know exactly who he is.  Unleashing hell on those responsible, Matt is able to get her back to safety, but at a cost to both of them as the Russians are forced to call in extra help to make their problem go away. 

The older, wealthy Wilson Fisk has finished decorating his new place in Hell’s Kitchen, but is not yet done with his time in the art house.  Wanting to thank Ms. Marianna for all of her help in his most recent acquisition, he asks the dealer to dinner.  Not being smooth by any means, Fisk is trying his hardest to be someone that he is not and it shows during his date with the woman.  But his work never seems to end for him when word hits the streets that he is out in public.  When being interrupted in the restaurant by Anatoly while on his date, Fisk is upset and needs to take it out on someone.  Wanting his private life to be separated from his business, Fisk is not afraid to let his emotions run high when not being seen by the world for who he really is.

If you did not know who to fear in this show yet, you do after this episode.  Wilson Fisk has finally made his appearance on screen and even though you get to see the softer side of the man, you get to see his strength as well.  Not backing down from anyone, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with and when you see what happens to Anatoly after wrecking his night out with the beautiful art dealer, you will understand why.  A perfect set up episode in the series as you see how fearful and prideful the Russians are, along with how Matt Murdock feels about asking for help.  Not a ton of jokes in the is one though, as Foggy gets a little bit less air time than usual, but he does make a lasting impression when he is able to call his office space an office as he gets the fax machine he has desperately wanted.  Keep watching, and let's see what unfolds.

With only a handful of episodes left, I am actually really enjoying what they’ve been doing so far. It seems that the direction they’re heading in is finally pushing some characters into having some massive changes. Gordon is hot on the case of a serial killer that has been targeting young women and killing them for decades. No cop has gone near the case because, well, every time they do, someone they love dies. Last episode, he found out that Commissioner Loeb had given him the case on purpose. While Jim is still afraid that the killer will go after Lee, he knows what has to be done. With Lee’s support, Gordon makes a public announcement. He informs the press, and everyone, that there is a serial killer out there, and that he is going to stop him.

The announcement sparks some movement in their case. Bullock and Gordon have a few leads that send them to the house of a wealthy woman…who might have been dead for a very long time. Her butler, however, is found alive, but was attempting to hang himself. They bring the man in for questioning. Seems he never informed anyone of the rich woman’s passing, so that the money could go to his son. Although, the butler hadn’t seen his son in quite some time. The woman had taken kindly to him, even treated the boy as if he were her own. When the detectives inform him that the son had been seducing and killing women, he laughs and shows a picture of his very deformed, ugly, child. The man does look familiar. He happens to be the one who is trying to seduce Barbara at the moment…

He actually succeeds in seducing her, taking her home after the Wayne Gala, and she stumbles into his…play room. Seems he might not be interested in just killing her. Rewinding a bit, the two had met at a bar earlier. He had every intent of killing her when she brought him back to her place, just because she was supposedly Jim’s girlfriend. Once she revealed she was single, and a bit of a mess, however, that changed things. She may be his next target for other reasons now…

Bruce is on the hunt for the man that hired Reggie. He’s also not okay with the fact that Selena pushed Reggie out a 5 story window and killed him. Bruce states that’s a line he can never cross, and Selena admits she’d do it all over again. She saved them, and she’s not sorry. They meet on some middle ground, however, when Bruce discovers the man who hired Reggie will be at the Wayne Gala. He invites Selena, and he confronts the man while she steals a key from his pocket and makes a copy of it. Bruce wants his stolen files back, and he’s going to get them. While all this is going on Maroni is busy seducing the Penguin’s mom. Yes, you read that right. He’s doing it to mess with the kid. Why? Because mobsters need hobbies too. After charming her all night, Maroni asks if she’s aware that her darling Oswald is a murderer. She faints into a fit of tears and denial, and Maroni leaves. Surely she’s not that stupid to believe her son owns a night club, and only that, right? Apparently so…the last straw is when he sends her flowers and Penguin kills the delivery boy in a fit of rage.

Fits of rage seem to be the theme here, because Ed has his own. It seems his crush, Ms. Kringle, is being hit by her cop boyfriend. Ed confronts him, telling the brute to leave her, and he gets beat up too. Later that evening, Ed confronts him again. Only, when the cop gets a bit too shove happy, Ed snaps, and stabs him several times. Seems he’s just as shocked as we are since he starts panicking…then he starts laughing…because, you know, normal reactions…

Sometimes things happen and they can’t be forgiven. In the case of Lily’s life always going wrong, who is really to blame? Is it really Charming and Snow’s fault? Or is it the Author? In either case, Lily’s life has been anything but happy of normal. A gloom has set over our Emma, and she’s not able to really come to terms with what’s happened. Cruella couldn’t kill, but she didn’t know that. Still, she did what she did to save Henry, and that has to speak for something. Maleficent comes to Emma with a request. She asks the savior to find her daughter. A task Emma is up for, until she’s given the information Maleficent gained from Rumple. It seems fate has intertwined Emma’s life with the child of Maleficent from day one. Lily was her best friend…or something similar. Turns out the bad-luck girl, that stumbled into Emma’s life as children, would end up being someone her parents screwed over viciously. Emma’s about to head out on her own, when Regina offers a proposal, they should travel together. Despite everything that’s going on Regina needs Emma. And I need Emma to stop pouting…I mean, Regina doesn’t often ask for help, so when she asks for Emma’s…It hit in the feels, you guys. In the feels.

Maleficent is trusted in guarding Belle’s heart, while Snow and Charming have to watch Henry. It seems like it’s a good idea, right? They can be trusted to do that much at least. With Emma and Regina gone, Gold has a word with Will. They have a common interest, and Gold convinces Will to steal back Belle’s heart. In a weird reunion, Gold finally explains to Belle why he’d lied to her all that time. His heart is turning black, and soon nothing will remain of it. He gives her heart back and tells her he’s okay with Will guarding her heart. He knows he screwed up bad, and then he leaves. Like, guys, the feels that happened form that I can’t even begin to explain. For starters, come on Gold! Get it together! Belle loved you and you screwed that up so bad it’s not even funny! I mean, Will is a cute guy, but she doesn’t belong with him. Plus, Mattie brought up a good point of when is this taking place in Will’s time line! After all, in the spin off series, we saw Will’s love…so…what’s going on!

Emma has managed to track down where Lily used to live, only to find out form the land lord that she died some time ago. Distraught Emma nearly loses it and punches the guy, but Regina calms her down. They leave, only to have a wolf nearly wreck their car…but Emma swerves and they miss it completely. Flat tire aside, they head off to a nearby diner where the car will be towed to and grab coffee, yeah I guess that’s a good idea. Except for the waitress. She’s got a strangely familiar birthmark. Lily didn’t die, she just needed a new life. When Emma confronts her, it doesn’t go as planned. Lily leaves, with some kid she claims is hers, but really isn’t…and Emma isn’t convinced. She and Regina head over to where Lily lives now. Despite her story, she isn’t married, nor was that really her kid…but she does know more than she let on. It seems she’s known about Emma, and Storybrooke for quite some time. She takes Emma’s car and the chase is on.

What happened between the two of them as kids? Emma had finally found a foster family that had no problem treating her like one of their own…until Lily showed back up. The girl had gotten into trouble and needed Emma’s help. She sends Emma to get her necklace from the house she was squatting in with her boyfriend at the time, with a promise to leave after. Emma got the necklace, and finds out what really happened. Lily and her boyfriend had robbed a convenience store with guns….Lily claims it was her boyfriend’s fault, but when Emma returns with the necklace, Lily is nowhere to be found. Instead, she’s left, taking the family's vacation money with them. Needless to say, Emma runs away after that confrontation. Lily shows up at the bus stop, she tries to explain to Emma that she doesn’t know why bad things keep happening to her, but they just do…Emma won’t have any of that, she’s done listening to Lily, so she storms off. Later, Lily is on a bus, by herself, when an old man sits next to her. He explains things to her that he shouldn’t know. It’s only a matter of moments before the pre-teen knows her whole life’s true story. And that necklace? That crescent moon isn’t made of stone…and her mother didn’t abandon her…

The car chase comes to a startling stop when Emma pulls in front of Lily and slams on the breaks. They all exit their vehicles, tension mounting by the second.  Lily confesses to knowing everything. She blames Emma at first, but Emma doesn’t have anything to do with how things ended up. No different than Lily did. Their parents are to blame, well Snow and Charming anyway. Lily begs Emma to put an end to her misery and just shoot her already, but Emma doesn’t. Instead, she puts the gun away (after Regina yells at her) and they sit and talk. Emma isn’t going to give up on Lily anymore. None of this is their fault, and she needs to be the friend she never was able to be. The three of them finally head off to New York.

Regina’s reunion with Robin is short lived when Marian shows up. Regina tries explaining that Marian isn’t actually Marian, but her sister Zelena. Robin seems confused and denies it, until Zelena shows herself. Robin is just a bit shocked, and I’m just a bit irritated with his existence, but that’s another blog for another time. And then Zelena drops the biggest bomb ever. She’s pregnant with Robin’s baby. What. Even. Seriously, guys, what even! This is an episode straight out of Jerry Springer, or worse! I’ve no words for that…at all. But, well, we’ve only got one episode left before the big season finale…what’s going to happen!?

Oh man...last night's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a beautiful work of art. Every little thing came together ever so sweetly last night, and for the first time one of Coulson's well crafted plans ended up blowing up right in his face. But what mattered most, was that there were some amazing moments for characters to develop last night, and that's what we are going to spend most of today talking about since relationships were the focus of "The Frenemy of My Enemy".

So where do we begin? Well, with the central and heartbreaking story of Cal and Daisy/Skye/Earthquake/Too Many Nicknames For Her as she grapples with the decision that her mother wants to send Cal away forever. Skye sees the danger that is entailed with this, after all, the chances of Cal taking this well are slim to none so she asks to travel with him to soften the blow and that's when the show took its sad little turn. In fact for the first time I truly felt pity for Cal. This is a guy who wanted nothing more than to have the absolute American Dream family wise. I mean he even said it himself tonight, imagining taking Daisy to a charter school, seeing her off at dances, all those lovely things and well...we know how the story ends. 

In fact I would venture to say that tonight's episode was about those we love and how sometimes the things we do to protect them or help them...can backfire horribly.  Take Coulson's storyline for example. His quest to save Skye and keep her safe went to hell pretty quick. Surprisingly Grant Ward was not the big problem last night...it was the grander plan that blew up in Coulson's face, specifically capturing Bakshi and using him to draw out the senior leadership of Hydra. Because as it turns out, Bakshi is not as brainwashed as Ward and Kara thought...he was all about some revenge last night and getting back into Hydra's good graces by kidnapping Mike and Lincoln when things got ugly.

It was a calculated risk on Coulson's part and we saw a lot of character development from him as well. We learned just how much Coulson believes in what he is doing and the lengths he will go to make sure his team is safe and whole once again. I think we have always seen hints of his nobility, but to promise Ward to be free of his ugly memories in life and to see the heartbreak on his face once Skye left with Gordon and Cal...makes you love the character all that much more. Not to mention, perhaps there is unity coming to S.H.I.E.L.D. at last, now that Bobbi and Mack seem to be figuring out that perhaps Coulson is not the enemy Gonzales has made him out to be.  

Either way, I love how this episode tied everything together so neatly. One by one all of the plot threads are coming to a head. We know that Hydra is still looking for gifted individuals, which may explain why Coulson is trying to assemble them as well...he could be trying to protect them. We know that there are cracks in the new S.H.I.E.L.D. as we see them now questioning exactly what they are fighting for and as the season two finale closes in, I get the strong feeling all of these things will be resolved, and if it is done in the same masterful fashion as last night's episode, we are in for one hell of a treat. Until next week my friends.

Can we take a moment to truly appreciate the back stabbing that occurs during this show? Seriously, I'm amazed anyone trusts anyone here! Like, how even? Well, they do. A young officer comes to Gordon with a mysterious case that's not been solved, even after years of people trying. Or have they been? Jim doesn't think so, but he takes the case. A girl had gone missing then was found stabbed, several months later, through the heart. Who could have done this!? Jim decides to let Lee help, because she's cute, and he loves her.  An autopsy shows that the body wasn't abused. I mean, aside from the stab wounds. Which is weird, right? Well, it just so happens some handsome, wealthy guy picked this girl up at an old speak easy. After a night of fun, he decides she can't leave. Why? Because he's psychotic. She's kept just fine, minus the handcuffs, until she overlooks his dinner one night...yeah, so that legit happens.

I really don't want to ever live in Gotham.

Meanwhile, Alfred is stubborn and wants to find Reggie. Mostly for revenge. Sadly, he's bleeding and still healing from nearly dying. Which is probably the most realistic showing of stab wounds ever. So Bruce takes matters into his own hands. Well, with Selena's help, they find out where Reggie is. He might be sleeping, curled around a bag...which probably has drugs/booze in it. Or both! Bruce gets a name out of him. Reggie was hired after all, and Selena has his precious bag dangling out a window. Which she promptly drops as soon as they have what they need. Reggie then thinks it's a good idea to tell Bruce he's basically going to tattle on him. Make sure his "employer" knows that Bruce is onto him. Reggie didn't mean to stab Alfred, it just sort of happened...he leans out the window to try and retrieve his bag, but they're up high, and it's now out of reach. Bruce struggles with the idea of pushing Reggie...Selena does push him. I'm not sure if Reggie lives through that. I doubt it though....

And the Penguin is making negotiations for an establishment. He wants to buy it from a woman who won't sell. Why? Because he wants to kill Don Maroni here...thankfully he persuades her into letting him buy the place. He needs to own it, but allows the woman to still work and be the figure head...murder plots are the best! Speaking of, Fish is plotting her own. Or rather her escape from hell-island. It doesn't take too long before she nearly gets caught. One lie leads to another, and soon she's almost caught. The Doll Maker doesn't take being lied to well. And Fish doesn't like being trapped. Her plan? Steal the keys to the helicopter that's on the island, break free, and fly out of there. She just needs a distraction from the guards....so, she sacrifices some of the men from downstairs. They're Cannon fodder, they just didn't know it. It's probably a less cruel fate for them.... While they're distracted Fish frees the other prisoners, she's nearly stopped by Dollmaker, but he gets his ass handed to him...she rescues her one friend and they escape...or do they? The head of the guards shoots through the glass of the chopper and hits Fish, she's alive, though, and still flying. 

And that case Gordon took? Turns out Bullock knows the case. The killer is a serial killer who leaves a photo of the girl he's killed with her body. He's not been found because any cop who tries has family members show up dead with the same M.O. Turns out, Commissioner Loeb set the whole thing up...which means Gordon is back on the war path...

There have been few episodes in TV history that disturb me, and this was one of them. Guys! This show got dark! Were you shocked? Because I was just a bit shocked...like....damn. Finally getting the story of Cruella was something we have long been awaiting. After all, this show is notorious for taking villains and giving them tragic back stories that have us falling in love with people we're supposed to hate. And then this episode happened. And I'm still trying to recover from it. They tricked us! At least they did finally explain how Cruella had magic powers. I mean, that was a little out there at first, but then it made sense. So, let's just walk through this. 

Maleficent wants to know where her daughter is, since Cruella and Ursula fell through the portal with the baby. She does deserve that much. But alas, Cruella isn't in the mood to play along. Antagonising Maleficent until she turns into a dragon, only to use her powers and have the dragon take a nap. Cruella is late for a date with the Author, since there are happy endings to be had. He, however, won't give her one. He refuses, even after her threats...so when all else fails, she's off to kidnap Henry after that, because there's nothing better to do. If she can't kill the author she'll get Emma to do it for her. Why does she even want him dead? What sense does that even make!? Well, they do know one another, and it would seem Cruella's upbringing wasn't all that peachy. 

Our Author is either named Walt, or Isaac, and I really don't care which, because this is just as much his story as it is hers, only we get to see what happens when true evil is involved. So far, we've seen there has always been a reason for why things are the way they are. Why people make the choices they do, and what lead them to make those choices. Last night, though, we saw a true monster. Cruella was just a child, really, locked away by a strict mother. Isaac came to see said mother, to collect interesting stories. The woman, a famous dog trainer, has no intentions of giving any story. But Cruella does. She gets Isaac to break her out and they sneak away to a club. Dancing, music, alcohol. It's a 1920's wonderment for the two. In just a few short moments, Isaac is enchanted with Cruella and has no problem spilling his secret.

With a magic quill and magic ink, anything he writes is truth. To illustrate, he give Cruella a diamond necklace and matching earrings. But that's not enough. So he does the stupidest thing ever, but he doesn't know it's stupid yet, and neither do we. She now has magical powers to persuade animals to her whim. Okay, weird, but useful as we see later. When she leaves to supposedly face her mother, I was okay with it. But, first mommy dearest visits Isaac. The story he gets is one he wasn't wishing for. Cruella wasn't kept out of meanness, she was kept to protect other people. The mother knows as three husbands, including Cruella's father, were poisoned by the girl. Isaac refuses to believe this, and so did I. I was wrong. So wrong. Cruella does confront her mother...she turns her mother's own Dalmatians on her, kills her. Isaac finds her sewing...Cruella had taken his pen, the magic quill, and he needs it back and wants answers. The scene that follows really had me wondering just how dark this season would go. Very. It went very dark. After using her new powers to have her mother killed by her own dogs, she killed the dogs and made them into a coat. In a dash to get his quill/pen back, our Author loses the fight over the ink. That explains Cruella's hair. He manages to scribble something down. And she manages to not be able to shoot him. Taking the ink well, he leaves her....

The Sociopath she is, Cruella is unable to kill anyone, thanks to one sentence, scratched in magical ink and enchanted quill. The note the Author keeps. He writes stories of his own instead of living them. Now, however, I'm still not okay. Rumple knows Cruella can't kill. She does have Henry though, and that's not something Emma is okay with. She doesn't know Cruella can't kill, all she knows is that Henry is in danger. Emma breaks her cardinal rule, she uses her magic to shove Cruella off the cliff....which I'm pretty sure there's no surviving that.

Rumple has succeeded, right? He's managed to make the Savior fall..... 

Taking jobs based on your morals can be difficult in this day and age.  There are plenty of things that people or companies can do that you do not agree with, but at the same time, if they are paying you for your services, can you continue doing it?  I took a personality test recently that said I have a hard time working for an employer that does not share the same morals that I do, and it is absolutely correct.  Knowing that now, I am happy I have never wanted to be a lawyer, since it is not always up to the firm to pick their clients, it has to do with the money that is being offered.

Matt, Foggy and Karen are all surprised to hear a knock at their door and find a new source of revenue at their fingertips.  Not knowing anything about the man that they are dealing with, Wesley has offered them a retainer to keep working their hardest to keep the innocent walking around on the streets.  But Wesley seems to know too much about Karen’s past, and since there was not thing released in the press about her predicament, Matt becomes intrigued about what Wesley knows and who he really works for.  Talking to their next client, Matt and Foggy seem to have different opinions about what they are doing.  With their murder suspect John Healy knowing more about the law than most, Foggy wants to back away, even with the money, it does not seem right in his eyes.  Even though Matt feels the same way, he wants to know more about the man that hired the two to protect the man that executed another with a bowling ball.  As Healy is keeping his story straight about what happened that night, he will not divulge any information about the man that has paid for the lawyers and he wants the trail to be quick and painless.

Karen is still having a hard time coping with the loss of her co-worker in her apartment.  After the flash drive that she downloaded from Union Allied Construction made its way to the local newspaper, the company was quickly disbanded, but it is not dead.  Being called into a settlement meeting, Karen is presented with a cease and desist letter and if she is willing to sign it and stop talking about what she has seen, she will be given a lump sum of money, along with her life back.  Even though she feels like she has done nothing wrong and she exposed criminal activity at the company, she is being told that this is the only way out and for her to continue her life.  With people trying to kill her, Karen does not believe that what is happening is right and tries to talk to her co-workers widow, but she has already signed the letter.  With her remaining family in her best interests, the widow will not allow anyone to come between her and her late husband’s money.

Ben Urich is working tirelessly to uncover something new that is happening in Hell’s Kitchen.  After meeting with his informant, Ben finds out that there is a new player that is making life very difficult for the Russians and wants to find out who it is.  Talking to his editor about the story, he is shot down since the last expose that he wrote did nothing for circulation.  Ben is fighting a losing battle, but that is not the only thing that is on his mind as he needs to find a way to keep his wife in the hospital while she is still recovering.  With his insurance wanting to kick her out and into a different facility, Ben is trying to pull every string he has to make sure is taken care of while she is on the mend.  

This is the first episode you actually get to see Matt and Foggy in a courtroom and they do not disappoint.  With Foggy’s charisma, he takes the opening statement while Matt sits back in the shadows and listens for anything that does not seem ordinary.  Hearing the watch of Wesley in the courtroom, Matt is also able to hear the fast heartbeat of one of the jurors and determine that she is being forced to do something against her will.  Confronting her handler, Matt is able to get her excused from the jury and give his final statement to get John Healy acquitted of the murder charges.  But Healy does not know who Matt is, much less what the blind lawyer does at night.

I am pleasantly impressed with how this episode was able to keep me intrigued, even while in the courtroom.  Usually the pace of a show dies off when there is no action, but this episode kept it rolling pretty well.  With more focus on who people are and what their moral fiber really is, Matt had to be put to the test, for the money, but also for information about who is the top man in the chain that is giving the orders.  I am really enjoying Wesley’s character in the series thus far.  Showing next to no emotions when talking business, you get to see him crack a smile when passing a couple kids at the bowling alley, I just thought that was fun.  I have been sucked into this series, not to just make a point, but because the story is playing consistently and I want to know who is going to be the real leader of Hell’s Kitchen when all is said and done.  Keep watching and see what unfolds.