Jordan Baker

I guess it could be worse. They could have taken Louis, too.

I just finished watching Season 1. Wow. It really is as good as everyone said . . . I'm not sure which impresses me most--the acting, the writing, the cinematography, even the opening song. Maybe it's all just top-notch. I don't think there's a weak link in the cast, and for such a large cast, that's quite something. Singling out anyone seems unfair somehow, but I'll do so anyway. I love Dominic West and think he's perfect as Jimmy. I don't notice his accent slipping, although I've read elsewhere that others do so (on a regular basis). This was my first time seeing Idris Elba, and, when Stringer Bell is on the screen, you can't take your eyes off him. And Larry Gilliard, Jr? D'Angelo is the character that sticks with me. Great, haunting performance. And then, of course, there's Michael B. Jordan as Wallace. They're all great. Every actor on the show. I do wish the show weren't so unrelentingly grim, but then it wouldn't be realistic, I suppose. I'm assuming this doesn't change in the subsequent seasons? Does anyone know how the show was received by the Baltimore police and politicians?

This episode had a few choice moments. I loved Donna's evaluation/interview with the TI person. And I liked Donna and her cool buzz. All she needed were some tasty waves . . . But I HATED it when Joe had those Giants catch fire. ARGH. Gordon looks better with a beard. I'd love to see how things work at Mutiny. That would be a reason for Season 2. BTW, how is Cameron paying her employees? I saw her hand out a credit card for equipment, but what about payroll, taxes . . . stuff like that? So many unanswered questions. Here's another--who wrote the manual(s) that surely accompanied the Giant? (OK, dorky question, but in my former life I was a technical writer, and I know someone had to explain how to use the thing.)

I missed a few of the Lifetime seasons (I gave up for a while after the Gretchen fiasco). Most of my favorite challenges are from the Bravo years, including some that have already been mentioned. My #1 episode, though, is the dog challenge from Season 3. I loved the way the designers interacted with the dogs. Yeah, maybe the dog outfits were a bit silly, but I just loved the vibe of the episode. It made some of the designers (Jeffrey, in particular) seem more likeable. I remember watching it more than once because, unlike so many of the episodes in this franchise, there was no drama, no bickering, no ugliness. It was a fun episode. And Uli made a really cool dress.

I really like this show, but this episode was nearly impossible for me to watch. In fact, I had to turn it off at certain points. I just can't watch abuse of children. Or animals. And so I missed part of the episode, which leads me to some questions: I'm assuming that Little Pete (was that his name?) was beaten into revealing the name of the arsonist. Pretty much the minute we went to flashback, I had to turn off the telly. Anyway, why was he allowed to live? Did the evildoers just assume no one would believe him? Or was a beating so routine that no one would think it odd? What did happen to the dog and her puppies? And, yes, I worried about the poor boy being returned to his mother. Didn't that also mean he'd be returned to the abusive father

Speaking of drinking games, I recall that we listed, over at TWOP, several phrases that could cause everyone to DRINK! . . . but I'm not sure I remember them all. Let's see . . . "When I was a congressman" or "When I was in Congress" <insert category of person, such as Republicans, White House staffers, etc.> "always come up to me and say" "Time and time again . . . " "Questions must be asked" I'm drawing a blank on the others.

I wasn't blown away by the pilot (the way I was with "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad"), but I was intrigued enough to stick with the show. My two favorite moments: After the silver-tongued sales pitch, the engineer mentions the "free install". Not only is it funny in constrast to all that has come before it, but it is so typical of the way many techies use "install" as a noun. The army of lawyers arriving to do battle. All in their dark suits. One thing that's not clear to me, though. Is Cardiff supposed to be based on a real company?

I think this is when I went from crying to full-out sobbing. Oh, my. The scene was both lovely and heartbreaking.

This show. It never fails to make me misty. I liked everything about tonight's show, but I do have one question. What in the adoption papers gave Dr. Turner pause? Is he hiding a secret, too? He knows how important it is for Shelagh to adopt a child, and so I find it odd that he tossed aside the papers because the agency asked too many questions. Too many questions about what, exactly? Nevertheless, I find Dr. Turner to be a true hero of this story. As are all the nuns and all the midwives. I'm quite certain that all of them (well, perhaps not the nuns) could be making a better, more lucrative living elsewhere, but they dedicate their lives to helping the less fortunate. So very inspiring.

Same here. What really got to me was Sister Monica Joan's poem recitation. Oh, and the moment when Jenny sees the note about the hotel reservations (two rooms) for Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. <sniff>

I loved that Gale from "Breaking Bad" made an appearance in the last two episodes. And he's still doing science stuff when he's not stealing diamonds. I half expected him to quote Walt Whitman. Agree completely. It's what makes this show so interesting and, sometimes, so uncomfortable. I can never decide which of the actors is my favorite. Maybe it's a three-way tie. In these last two episodes, however, I'd have to give the nudge to Jerome Flynn. He looks as though he was born to play Drake. And he has quite possibly the bluest eyes I've ever seen.

Two come to mind: The Committee to Put Things on Top of Other Things (which I know changes into something else) Woody vs. Tinny words