Bandolero

I just love all of the comments and analyses. Only watched one time... but I believe the weather was clear in part 1 and stormy in part 2 which coincides with what we know about that night.

Just wanted to say that your words were so beautiful.. It made me tear up.

Wow... I’m glad she didn’t kill herself. I didn’t believe that she did. She seemed like she was on the path to healing. I hope that psychopathic asshole is caught quickly. Poor poor Alison. I am just so sad. I kinda wish part 1 was true even though he did lie about his wife. They seem to really get each other but it was all a hallucination. I think we always want happy endings... we want to see redemption but sometimes life just sucks and then you die. Another beautiful episode IMO. Gut-wrenching.

Oh my goodness... I totally forgot about this! Just after six weeks mind you.. insane. He and Alison were not even a couple... they barely knew each other really.

To be honest I’ve never really understood the whole guardian thing with Luisa (I mean, even with Alison gone, Joanie still has her father, grandparents, uncles, etc.). Why would that make a difference in Luisa’s immigration status. She isn’t even the biological mother and she is not related to Joanie except through marriage. Aren’t undocumented biological parents deported all the time in the US?

Wanted to add that thinking that Alison wouldn’t kill herself because of Joanie is a perfectly valid viewpoint. Yes we know that there are countless people who kill themselves even with young children BUT I am sure there are others who do hold on because of their kids and family. I just happen to think that Alison is one of those people. I could be wrong, of course.

Just wanted to say one of the best lines was Cole’s “Let me guess, you’re fucking his mother.” So funny and so very true. Typical Noah behavior. Another kinda funny moment was the lady asking which one of them was the closest relative and the ensuing awkwardness. Also how did Alison’d dad know about her disappearances or much about her at all from just one short conversation. Kinda odd.

If she doesn’t leave a suicide note then I’ll think she was murdered because I just can’t see her not leaving one for Cole and Joanie. I would think she would want them to understand and to ensure they didn’t blame themselves.

Why??? I don’t understand why she would do this? I am beyond shocked and saddened. Truly didn’t see this coming. I just can’t see her doing that to Joanie. I watched the ep right before bed and wished I hadn’t cause it messed me up emotionally. i had truly hoped that Cole and Alison would be endgame.

Yes I found this interesting... there were several cookbooks by famous folks on her counter, I think. I did find that kind of odd.

I actually commend Noah for trying and fighting to stay in his kids’ lives. Yes he fucked up when he left Helen the way that he did but I don’t think he ever turned his back on his kids (at least I don’t think he did). I also don’t think it’s right to try to exclude him from the kids’ lives... I think it is best for the kids to have a healthy relationship with their father. All that anger is no good for anybody.

So Helen doesn’t know she’s approaching menopause? I found that hard to believe. The first thing she does is run go get a pregnancy test? Okay Helen. I’m glad she and Vic actually seem to have connected again. Again Noah’s kids are just little assholes. I swear.

I find it hard to believe that Noah would ever want to be with Helen again but I guess anything is possible. She just doesn’t come across as a very pleasant person to be around. Of course, Noah is no peach himself. I truly hope that ship has sailed.

Yep Noah’s son was incredibly disrespectful. I’m glad that Noah is trying to be in his kids lives though. Helen almost seems to love the kids turning on Noah. She also should have called Trevor on the disrespect and not enable it. Also wanted to add that driving to someone’s office... someone you barely know is kinda crazy to me. Doesn’t Alison have other people she can turn to. She seems to have latched on to Ben rather quickly.

I think Noah was so wrong for sharing the essay with the principal. He should have suggested that Antoine share it with his mom instead. Noah is just way out of line. Are there not rules about principals fraternizing with teachers? Seems really murky to me.

Honestly, if I were Vic... I would break up with Helen, say adios to the parents, resign from my job, and go off to some peaceful island paradise somewhere where I could live out the rest of my days in peace. He can afford it. Of course, this place would also need to have excellent medical services. Selfish... maybe but I don’t care cause I’M dying.

Well... I loved this episode. Yes there were cringey parts like the exorcism but overall I found it to be impactful, emotional and it just resonated for me. I applauded when Vic bought the Porsche... thought that was great. I felt such empathy for Vic. Yes, asking Helen to have a baby was wrong but imagine having no one to turn to (your parents are in denial and your SO is overly dramatic and trying to control everything) and then having to perform at such a high level at work. I am glad that he was finally able to open up to neighbor lady. On a side note why is TV sex always so perfunctory... no foreplay, no tenderness, no build-up... just straight to penis in vagina! When Vic mentioned that his decisions were essentially in reaction to his parents, I think a lot of people can really relate to that. Yep lady in the hospital was terribly over the top. Cole finally admits what we all knew. Glad he owned his truth. He and Luisa are just not to be. Wouldn’t mind if endgame is Cole and Alison actually. Loved the scene with the stones... with him saying things he disliked. Overall great episode IMO. Keep it up show!

I do think she is blessed considering what some other people who are undocumented have to go through (poverty, low wages with very physically demanding jobs, etc). A beautiful comfortable home without financial worries are huge blessings for most of us. The possibility of deportation and having to work illegally is the case for all who are undocumented. She’s not alone in this. Why should Cole leave his child, job and restaurant to move to S America. He can always do frequents trips if it comes to that. I don’t blame him for not wanting to move. Yes WE know that Cole is still hung up on Alison but wondering how Luisa figures this. Maybe I just don’t remember but I can’t think of an instance where Cole objectively chose Alison from Luisa’s point of view though.

I just don’t see what’s so awful about Luisa’s life. She sure complains a lot. I’m sure there are many who would consider themselves blessed to have her life. She lives in a beautiful home, doesn’t have to work unless she wants to, etc. Furthermore, she chose to marry Cole. Her “illegal” status is not Cole’s fault yet somehow he gets the blame. Also, what she asked of Cole is just ridiculous honestly. I also don’t see exactly how in her view Cole is so hung up on Alison (we know he cheated BUT she doesn’t know that).

Add me to the list of folks who are so glad that Kandi did not act all fake and start kissing Nene's butt. She stayed respectfully quiet and away from the tomfoolery. I don't doubt that those were real emotions for Nene but at the end of the day she is a narcissist and always goes right back to her true self. The doctor seemed like he was there for Nene and nobody else. He was there to facilitate the ass kissing that was going on. He apparently is the chairman of the "All Hail Nene" club. Nene feels like she is the Queen Bee and that all comers should bow to her. It would be exhausting being her friend... she can say whatever she wants to you but don't you dare ever say anything back to her.

This is what happens when kids get married... Christian and Maria. Christian is spoiled. Has probably been coddled all his life. Has likely been told that gypsy women are subservient to their men and all of that. It is very obvious that his parents did not prepare him for marriage nor even just being in a relationship. Did his Dad even talk to him about how to treat a woman. His behavior is immature and appalling. No way was he ready for marriage. I blame the parents actually of both of those kids. What a pity. What mother would willingly send her young daughter into such a situation in this day and age. There is no reason for it. What about college, self-knowledge and all of that. Instead this young girl is stuck taking care of a man and likely popping out babies.

Re Jessica: A guy can be take charge and be alpha but still be patient and gentle with his wife. Ryan is so not that. He needs an assertive and aggressive woman who calls him on his shit. Jessica's manner of handling confrontation just does not match his. He needs someone willing to get kinda loud and brash and go up against him but Jessica is not like that. Granted she is passive-aggressive and obviously struggles with self-esteem and a guy like Ryan who likes to pick at her is just not a good match. She should at least cook for the man though especially since she made a point of saying that she likes to cook. Re: Davina. I read a book about attachment styles and Davina definitely seems to have an anxious style while Sean has an avoidant style. The more he distances himself then the more needy she gets which of course causes him to pull away even more. I think if Sean would show Davina that he is actually invested and truly cares she would definitely ratchet down. I think she senses his distance and disconnect and it is causing her to urgently seek validation from him. I actually thought Davina's plan about her apartment sounded reasonable. She is not against moving but is just trying to make a rational decision... she seems willing to move to Jersey eventually. It seems that once things don't go his way, Sean just checks out. Why is it that the woman is always the one expected to make concessions? I think Jaclyn is putting on an act. The whole acting shy and putting her head down in her talking heads is a giveaway to me. It just does not ring true IMO. As I said before, she seems to be the one setting the tone and pace of their relationship. I guess Ryan is okay with that.

Jaclyn kinda asks like the alpha in the relationship but maybe that is what Ryan likes. Although that does not seem to be the case. It seems like she is the one setting the tone and pace in their relationship.

Yeah I think the more detached and removed Sean is... the more Davina ratchets up which of course pushes Sean away even more. I think Davina is gorgeous and Sean is probably used to women trying hard to impress him but Davina is so not like that. Also Davina, due to her beauty, may also be used to men fawning over her and Sean is obviously not like that. They are both kinda dramatic... and I don't think two drama queens in a relationship is going to work. Sean and his anxiety thing about moving, etc. is kinda exhausting to me. He expects all this understanding but does not seem to extend that to Davina.

I wonder about the "instruments" and if people are really telling the truth. I have often lied (hanging head in shame) on such "instruments" because I was concerned about how I would be perceived. Also lots of us have no self-awareness at all. A friend recently described herself in a way that is opposite of how she comes across to others. So I think that the "self-reporting" like others mentioned may be one of the problems. Also no one can truly predict whether two people connect or not. The experts likely had a small pool to choose from and probably had producer demands thrown in as well for looks, personality, etc. I would think that would make their jobs extremely difficult. In a true arranged marriage... the parents would have the benefit of having years to get to know their own child and hopefully the intended spouse as well so would not be so easily fooled. Unfortunately, most of us are really good at pretending for at least a short amount of time.