Darian

I liked several of the people, though I can't remember everyone's name. The designer, LaShae, Derryl who wanted to sit at the Mexican restaurant and drink while they raided the headquarters, and one or two others. Your last paragraph is what I was saying to my husband last night. When he and I met, my best friend of almost two decades was a sane, lovely woman who a few years later got pulled into an MLM cult (can't remember which one, but it was Amway-like, lots of cleaning products, food stuffs, etc). I tried for a long time to stay friends but she would never, ever give up trying to recruit me and get me to buy that overpriced junk. And it was very, very Jesusy, and I'm an atheist, so eventually, she decided I wasn't friend material. Toxic, I think she said. But before that, the glimpses I got into the culture were a lot like what I saw in this show. But it sounds like the tights were high quality and at least twice a year, usually more, my friends and I talk tights and leggings. We're always looking for ones that are warm, durable, big or small enough, etc. They could have gotten rich just off that, and then when they were apparently making quality other items. Greedy scumbags had to ruin a bunch of lives for more money than they would ever need. I hope they end up doing time, or at the least going broke. But people like them always seem to come out of things like this fine.

If there are no carvers, I don't think I can watch Bagans as host. I've only seen bits and pieces of him here and there, but he seems to have one setting: maximum jackass. I adore Eddie Jackson, though, and like Aarti (she kept me watching that stupid Candy Land show) and Shinmin a lot. I may give it one shot, bit I hope they didn't ruin this as much as it sounds like they did. I also feel bad for the carvers. I mean, it's got to be a good gig for such a niche. Plus, how they work and what they can achieve fascinates me.

Alex G. is the worst about this. The intensity she puts into that stare is ridiculous. Like, "If this doesn't taste good I am going to come over there and stab you." I notice when others star, but she just brings a serial killer vibe to it. I don't even dislike her. But that star/glare/laser-focus is over the top!

I remember following this story as it unfolded, and it just took me awhile to watch. Even with knowing the story, even with the restrained, non-sensationalized (I'm thinking of what the contrast with what a US version would be and prefer this kind of true-story telling.) I'm just on episode 3 and agree that I've been pleased to have the killer be in the background and the focus on the victim. The moment that got me the most, so far, was when the parents brought in her computer and were so protective of their daughter's work and pride in the good she did and the sources who trusted her who could be endangered. They were so desperate to know what happened to her that they must have wanted to throw everything at law enforcement and say, "Have at it," but they were still honoring and respecting their daughter and what would become part of her legacy. Broke my heart for them and for all those who must have loved and been grateful to her. I'm glad we got a glimpse of a story she worked on. I am not surprised her parents began a scholarship in her name.

Thank you! I didn't mind the butter churning, because it's a skill and it results in something you can use, but making people eat disgusting stuff is wasteful and when they vomit, it's terrible, because they're suffering and it's gross to watch. I'm a childhood cancer survivor from the 70s, before they had effective anti-emetics, and it was just, "Here's your chemo, there are these pills you won't keep down so go home and puke for five days." It takes a lot to make me cry, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, the one thing that will still make me cry is vomiting. I get really angry over making someone do something that could potentially make them throw up, even if they don't have my kind of issue. Plus, it's preserved on video forever, which...nope. It's just cruel.

I just needed that handhold at the end. I'm not shipping Allison and Patty and I'm not not shipping them. I just want them in some kind of relationship. I just really loved the whole season.

I love this show and was so glad to see it back. I'm only up to The Crown episode, but spoiled myself early on, read the whole thread, and go back and read the comments for each episode as I watch. You all make it even more enjoyable. I'm loving the challenges, Dolli's a favorite, but I'm not rooting against anyone and just enjoying it. I don't mind "ding dong," though I can see how it grates. I just feel like I learn a lot and love seeing people do what they love well. When I watched the first episode I couldn't remember if they specified pronouns for each MUA in the first two seasons (I have memory damage), but I'm happy to see it. I'm cis-het but always use mine in online profiles and conversations, and am such a goof, because that first episode, I was trying to memorize their pronouns like I was going to run into them on the street (I'm also homebound) and didn't want to get them wrong!

Armand driving Shane over the edge could be funny, but sabotaging what Tanya was hoping would be a beautiful, cathartic ceremony was cruel. The newlyweds were pretty kind considering and Tanya's a mess, but Armand had no way of knowing how it would go and you don't involve a grieving, paying guest in your petty revenge schemes. I know they resolved the question of Mark's possible testicular cancer early on, but every week, seeing Steve Zahn's name in the credits beside two hanging fruits (figs?) make me smile. I'll cop to being immature and I appreciate that level of detail.

I realize I watched as a medically fragile person who had to lock down harder than the average person and who may be one of those who got vaccinated but didn't get protection from the shot, but after seeing enough poor mask-wearing and even one or two athletes without masks, I started calling it the Parade of Nostrils. I know most were properly masked, but still, at this point, if you can't or won't wear a mask properly where it's required, you should be booted. Glad I stuck it out long enough to see Naomi Osaka, though.

You were smarter than me. Much. I watched and I loathe Alton (he, Robert Irvine, and Buddy V are usually deal breakers for me). More so now than before the stupid tournament. But I did get to see some judges I liked and some good cooking. Not worth it.

When I binge I can never keep straight when happened when so my comments are general. I found this was excellent. Gives me flashbacks to being an RN and this one doctor we reported (nowhere NEAR the level of this monster). Non-linear narratives are popular (at one point, it was hard to publish anything that was linear, I swear) and too often, there's not really a point to it. It doesn't add anything to the story. I am picky about them for that reason. But here, hot it worked so well. It added to the emotional impact but not gratuitously, and made sense to tell it this way. It was such solid storytelling, imo. I did keep thinking back to a younger Alec Baldwin playing a surgeon with quite a God complex in the movie Malice.

This is really tiny but I'm glad for the reveal that Allison's ringtone (for Kevin) is "Shipping up to Boston" because Kevin set it for her. I mean, I sing along and appreciate (I once turned it way at the request of some teens in the next car at a red light in the city where the band was formed and we all delightedly banged our heads and sang, or screamed along) but it seemed more "we're trying to be authentically Massachusetts" than fitting Allison as a character. I mean, it didn't bother me, it was possible she'd choose it, but it didn't feel right. It's just more in character that he chose it . And just for fun, it's always struck me as surreal that sometimes when Dropkick Murphys performs "Shipping up to Boston," they have Irish Step Dancers on stage with them. Apparently, no one thinks twice about it, but for some reason young girls step dancing in their embellished dresses and curly wigs while the lead singer screams about losing his leg cracks me up.

Yes, that's the one I meant, though I realize he's written others (cookbooks, yes?). I have been dying to read it but haven't. I'm going to get it now. Thanks!

Double for sure. I cannot stand Alton. Ted's a darling and while Maneet's never been my favorite (and I can't figure out why, exactly), I appreciate her knowledge and she may be one of the tougher judges but I never get the feelin she's saying anything out of self-promotion or just to sting. Now, Marcus, I adore. I always feel that there's a hint of mentoring in every judging comment he makes. He's not easy, but I feel like he wants everyone to go off and do better. I would love to see him (and this may exist and I've not seen it) in a show where he is just purely mentoring and teaching. I have a feeling he'd excel. I haven't read his book yet, but I imagine he does a fair bit of mentoring, teaching, and guiding in his every day work. I promise, it's not just that he's dapper, charming, and has that voice. That...voice! Alton had a whole series about teaching and yet as a judge it seems to be all about him. He could have learned something from his fellow judges, especially Marcus, but he's too into himself. Blech.

Hey, nothing wrong with bagged salad in front of the TV, if both people are into it or they take turns doing other things if one isn't. Kurt's the perfect romantic partner for someone. But that relationship, imo, is one factor that will make Patty a bit more able to understand why Allison boiled like a frog in slowly heating water and ended up staying in a relationship where her needs are at best an afterthought. Or something. I can Patty thinking she's someone who wouldn't take shit from a man, and then realizing in a way, even if the man wasn't trying to be manipulative and abusive (like Kevin), he still wasn't tuned in to her feelings. So, yeah, he was open to ordering chimichangas that one night, which is more than Kevin would likely ever do, and maybe he'd be better going forward. But I think Patty now can see Allison came to feel stuck and will have more empathy going forward. Or I'll have a different take after the next episode. But I like that the show makes me think and care about the characters.

This episode was so much fun. Loved that they showed Edrisa having her own things that she enjoys and being seen as desirable. My husband and I got behind on this series and watched this episode a week or so ago, and were planning to binge the last few. But then, the Jessica and Gil moment was so perfectly, beautifully done, I made us wait, because I didn't trust that they'd get to be happy and didn't want to watch them falling apart in the next episode, or something. And I haven't spoiled myself. But I wasn't even going to watch this series until I saw Lou Diamond Phillips was on it and he's been consistently perfect but yowee was he sexy as hell in that scene (repeated viewings confirm). And Bellamy Young as Jessica has been a joy to watch. I love this show and I guess we're going to have to watch the last episodes, but I'm going to be said no matter what because I have enjoyed the excellently cast, wonderfully batshit show.

I am not advocating for anyone else to do anything, or telling anyone else how to feel or respond, but I'm in the process of drafting a letter to let Top Chef/Bravo know that in any future episodes, Gabe showing up in any capacity is a deal-breaker. He'll have a successful career whether he's there or not, but I won't watch him in anything again. Especially when this season shows they have a wealth of gifted former competitors to return and share their knowledge and skill.

I think it was Padma who said this was like a family reunion and that's what it felt like. So many of my favorites popped in, too many to list, and even Blaise, who usually makes me leap for the remote, was tolerable for the most part. I feel like Dawn would do great in her own restaurant, where it's set up the way she wants it. I never thought she had any attitude with feedback, just that she's so intense and focused she's taking it in and processing. But, yeah, I love her, and hope for the best for her. And Shota, wow, he was a joy to watch. But the second Gabe got Maria, I felt like he was a shoo in. I love her, and felt she would be an asset in any way (not that Jamie or Byron were lesser, just that Gabe and Maria seemed an incredible fit). It's a lot less feel-good today, but I hope Top Chef does take a hard look at this season and make some changes going forward.

So was the customer, Judi, who gave Patty the book (which Judi said hadn't been checked out in a long time) she later hollowed out the same librarian that Allison talked to at the library (looks like it now that I checked IMDB). If so, I wonder if that will that come back somehow. I am all in on this show. I can't wait for it each week. I adore Annie Murphy, and Mary Hollis Inboden is as much of a draw for me now. I thought she was great the first two episodes and enjoyed more of a focus on her here. So glad these two are going to have an actual relationship.

Oh, my gosh, no, and I apologize if I gave the impression that I thought that. I just know how lucky I am so I felt almost embarrassed at how good I have it. I'm always happy to share anything about how I swung this, because it makes life a lot easier. I've been in the hospital for 4-5 weeks a few times, and having trouble getting into books because of my medical stuff and the general routine of being inpatient, so it was a luxury to be able to just keep checking out books on my phone or laptop and read, then drop books until I found what I wanted, plus I had preloaded a bunch of books. I hope you can find a way to have more options!

Steven's been a favorite since the first episode, but I like him more each week. He takes things in stride, acts like an adult, and seems like a talented chef. His cool as ice reaction to the maid's aprons made me even more of a fan. He's unflappable. I hope he wins, but if he doesn't I'm still going to look for what he does in the future. And Keanu's bull ride was hilarious. She was hilarious.

I'm lucky and I know it. The first two I got because I was regularly using libraries in two different systems. I live in MA, and it's a small state, with little counties, so there are a lot of different systems close by and one was the Boston Public Library system, which is excellent. I had those two when I got an e-reader. I was a very, very early adopter, because between vision and motor issues, I was starting to read less but the e-reader gave me back reading, basically. Back then, libraries had a limited catalog of ebooks, so I got two more cards in neighboring counties. You just have to live in the state. Then all those systems and several more, eight in total, extended ebook borrowing privileges to each other, so I signed up for e-accounts only with the systems I didn't have physical cards with. I hope where you live they've started or start doing something similar. I know in most of our state's you can now sign up just for e-accounts and never go near the physical library to sign up. We have Overdrive, which I use because I use a dedicated ereader, but they made it easy to use, and Libby for androids, etc. My husband uses that to read library ezines on his tablet.

I just got both of these (it helps that I have--and this is going to sound a little insane--eight different library system ebook accounts, so I have most of my state covered. I don't put everything I want on hold at all of them, and take them off when one pulls ahead. And the second I finish a book I return it, but there are some books I'm eager to read that I put on hold in different systems). I read What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins and The Revisioners by by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, both of which I recommend. Everything since has been disappointing, but I'm going to try The Liar's Dictionary tomorrow and if not am dumping it and trying The Plot, which I've heard good things about.

That old expiration on the cocoa package was delightfully dastardly. Just the kind of clue that makes this show so damn much fun. I cheered when it turned out Amanda and Erinn were right (more because I like them rather than disliking Thomas, but, wow, that did rub me the wrong way so I'll be side-eying him next week). I tried to describe this show to my husband and it sounds inane, yet, at least to me, it's clever and fun and something I really look forward to in a time when I don't know when half the shows I follow are on and just watch them when they pop up on the DVR. I've seen Joel McHale go a teensy bit try-hard (Fast Foodies, ahem) but mostly I like him and find him perfect in this.

I gotta tell ya, as someone with such a weak immune system and so many medical issues that my medical team recommended people like me wear masks even outside (and inside our cars), since it would take such a miniscule viral load to infect us and we would almost certainly have severe cases if not die, the whole thing's been so much more fun thanks to people giving us shit about masks and all the other stuff we've had to do that people luckier than us haven't. Thanks for that! By the way, I'm in one of the populations that isn't consistently getting any protection from the vaccine, so the mocking and harassment's only increased. Maybe help let people know we're out there still not able to avoid masks and distancing, so they leave us alone instead of joining in the shit-giving. Sincere thanks if you'll do that. I have a lot of dead friends (in my long-time childhood lymphoma survivor and disability community who did everything they could to survive this, all the while getting made fun of of and yelled at in public for just trying to be safe. I hope more of you start being part of the solution not the problem. It's still life and death for us. Ok, to the show: my husband's been interested in the Ryan's renovation part of the show, so I half listen and last episode, wow. When we bought our first house, it was a major fixer-upper. We did most of the work ourselves, often late into the night, and weekends, and even with what we money spent, we sold it for twice what we had paid seven years later. We hardly patted ourselves on the back for it, just felt we were lucky and had had fun, so I wasn't prepared for almost 30 minutes of Ryan and Emilia patting themselves on the back soooooo much for writing a bunch of checks to people and making decor choices. They should be proud and and feel good about what they accomplished but their self-congratulation was pretty extreme.