VagueDisclaimer

If this spoiler summary is true, it fills me with joy that the Serena apologists, who keep saying she’s playing the long con, is really helping with the resistance and will run off to Hawaii with Tuello and make babies, will be wrong...again.

The boys weren’t there for that part, were they? They only came to the last day for the verdict.

This remains as one of my favorite docs. And as an update, I follow Shelly on Instagram and she seems to be doing well.

The point i’m understanding regarding June’s superhero status is that she’s invincible, protected by super plot armor, that any stupid thing she does matters little to her own survival or even any tension around her survival. Not that she’s performing heroic acts. She does not what makes sense for her character, just however best serves whatever they need to help drag out this story that they clearly lack forethought, imagination, and creativity to continue beyond the source material.

I totally thought that was why they had Ed say this season that yes, he thought of her as his daughter.

I was deeply amused at the detective stopping at Maddie’s table, remarking on her big speech at the school meeting, and that she’d have to check it out. She said it so ominously, as if Madeline’s deep read of ”The Rainbow Connection”would reveal some hidden truths. I don’t think anything would come from an investigation, but they could at least make it seem a bit more competent. I just don’t think Mary Louise is sophisticated enough to be switching up meds or hiring people to infiltrate their lives. Honestly, any evidence she needs to try to get custody or get suspicion thrown on her son’s case, all the ladies are practically handing it all to her with a bow on it.

How did Fezco know to call Jules to help with Rue?

Forgot to add: Dr. Peep was bizarre, but awesome. Jane’s scenes with Mary Louise were terrible, but really well done. I did not like her scenes with the date. First off, him haranguing his poor waitress didn’t come off interesting or intelligent. Secondly, I don’t think he has a hidden agenda, I think he’s just awkward and they’re not sure how to write it. The actor lacks. I do remember him from “Big Love”, but he sadly hasn’t improved. I was disappointed by Mary Louise’s scene with the detective. I really wanted more to be revealed and I wanted some clarity about what was said that night and if Mary Louise knows that Celeste was battered that night. ”He was the best monster.” Those scenes of the kids, Mary Louise, and Celeste watching the videos of their dad was so crushing. Because it really highlighted how insidious abuse is by someone you’re supposed to love and trust. Because how could this man be so loving, so playful, so perfect, but also be the one responsible for so much fear and cruelty. Those moments and the closing moment of Celeste watching that video of Perry really illustrates why her clinging to only the good is so damaging. Her boys have this deep love for their dad, but we’ve seen how they were also marinated in an extremely abusive relationship involving their parents. They don’t love and respect their mother in how they need to and Celeste seems too comfortable with that. Renata was much better last season. Ed’s responses to Madeline after Bonnie left was inspired and well earned.

Personally, I’m enjoying Streep and Mary Louise. I feel like her character is a slow boil. And frankly, without her character, the conflict would all feel rather inconsequential. Bonnie being the “killer” last season was unearned, imo, and watching her slog through the aftermath isn’t compelling to me. I also found Madeline’s realization about her parents’ marriage felt incredibly tacked on, as does her identity crisis this season. I like Madeline, but the way they seem to be seeking out drama to amp up her story isn’t great.

Well said.

I’d only heard of buttering Pop Tarts from an episode of “Family Guy”(*ducks*). That’s really a thing? I had no idea!

I was gonna say! She spent the first couple charters seasick and the rest of the time clueless. There was lots of hard work blaming this on Hannah, but that’s about it.

i deeply appreciate the commentary here, as elsewhere I’m finding all these blindsided fans, so shocked at Serena’s in character behavior

This is where I am. Like I get Hannah has a history, but this wasn’t some secret sharing. Mila was stating all of this, loud and proud, so why is she owed anything else? She is quite literally dehumanizing people, equivocated men having sex together with beastiality. IMO, the smallest issue here is Hannah gossiping.

I’m wary to say it, but...i’m really enjoying this season? Last season was such a mess, I couldn’t even finish it out. But it seems some kind of peace and understanding was found between Capt. Sandy and Hannah and I truly believe that helped set the tone. Plus Joao must’ve entered some kind of douche rehabilitation program and has been shockingly helpful. I also think the rest of the crew is doing well, are actually putting forth effort, and mostly seem to get along, again setting a very positive tone. Of course there’s Mila, the proudly homophobic, Putin-positive, incompetent chef, but I’m sure she won’t be here the whole season, so for the time being, I can appreciate how everyone deals with her trash self. I really appreciated Travis’ response to her non-apology, “You didn’t hurt my feelings. Your opinion hurts humanity. Done. Finished.” Because, honestly, hate isn’t an opinion. And while she shouldn’t (and won’t) be fired for sharing her hate, no one needs to dismiss it as just a difference of opinion. She held up “freedom of speech”(which made me laugh), which is true, but everyone else can easily exercise their freedoms in response. They all continued working with her and we’ve all had to work with trash, too, but, like all hateful people, she has no real understanding or awareness. I don’t think she’s a plant, exactly. No more than any of the other cast. I do think casting chose her for her attitude and knew full well she wasn’t an accomplished chef. But I definitely don’t think it’s all some act.

Something confusing me about the ~mystery around Perry’s death remains how much was known about Perry beating Celeste during those last moments. It looked like in the interview flashes that she looked bruised and it also sounded like Madeline was talking about it, yet Mary Louise doesn’t know anything about that aspect? Maybe that will be revealed when she speaks to the detective, but it’s frustrating that this is still unclear and I’d like to see their full interviews from directly after the incident.

Their default to violence is very disturbing, but they also learned to not respect their mother. I think that’s part of the reason Celeste appreciates Mary Louise’s presence. Because it seems they hear her more than their mother. I just want to ship the whole family off to some intense, immersive rehab program.

Agreed. I think it’s entirely possible that she was hired to be a bad chef for the storyline, but her personal interactions didn’t seem rehearsed. She seems like she’s a genuinely proud homophobe and Putin-lover.

Since the above 305 promo was taken down, here it is on IG:

Here’s another review for the first 6 episodes While reading this review, i remember the discussion here when June was hiding out at the home of the Econofamily and so many were calling her stupid and reckless for peeking through the blinds. And I felt then and after reading this review too, the s1 rules have changed drastically. The plot armor and the suspension of disbelief are at peak effect for S3. I respect what the writer here says, that we need wins and not pure misery, but I feel like we can have wins still, but with better writing. Honestly, this. When the trailer first dropped, I was much more optimistic. But after reading these articles and learning some spoilers, I feel much less enthusiastic about sloughing through this season. Maybe the second half of the season will be tighter and better written and less OTT, but frankly, this show hasn’t really earned the benefit of the doubt.

Another promo leak, this time for 305. Pretty big spoiler(imo) is revealed:

And i think Ben was around 8-9 months by this episode and it was still a bizarre detail when it’s *your* child. I guess we’ve reached an impasse. Oh wells.

Okay, but this isn’t where anyone was at this point of the show. Carol and Susan were horrible in the beginning, treating Ross like a sperm donor, but at this point, there was clearly a more relaxed relationship(or as relaxed as it could be). They jumped at the chance for Ross to want to have his kid for a full weekend and immediately planned a weekend away to Colonial Williamsburg. I just thought it was a bizarre detail for Ross having not kept his kid for the weekend, it’s not deeper than that. The “secondary caregiving” was in reference to a joke Ross made during the episode 🤷🏻‍♀️

The eager and relieved way that Carol and Susan responded to him wanting Ben for a full weekend did not speak of people not wanting Ross involved or there being any other reason for this not happening sooner.