DearEvette

That wedding was so, so extra. OMG! I love how totally everybody just seemed to go with it. It was like they were all on a reality show. I don't have the commercial free version of Hulu -- way too cheap to cough up the extra six bucks a month. So, I don't know how to feel about the Hotels.com sponsorship of the wedding considering that seemed to be the one commercial that plays every single commercial break. Am I laughing at the cheekiness or annoyed at it? Maya looked so cute this entire episode. I adored her entire wardrobe. That red dress was gorgeous. Then she wore that cute light blue knit top with the black ribbon, and then the yellow dress was smoking hot. Zara telling her she couldn't be a bridesmaid because she was too pretty 'A Pippa situation..." made me laugh.

Ah, I finally finished it. I have to admit I was not feeling the first few episodes, but as the season went on it settled into itself, got funnier and deeper. Also it was really rather subversive. With the Muffy/Moses situation I honestly think Simien was making a point about how the black community should not automatically rally around iconic or heroic black figures if they are clearly doing wrong. But also in having the central victim be a white woman with her champions being mostly black women, he was also amplifying the oft made point that black women will fight for the greater good, not just self interest, even when history has shown that if the situation was reversed, white women would not often do the same. Another point he made in a subversive way, was how easy everything was for Gabe. Yeah he struggled because his family lost their money, but when he basically lied to get the scholarship, and he tried to give it back, how easy everyone made it for him to keep his lie. The message of course is how much the system is rigged to allow a white man to fail upward. I did love how much joy Sam got in needling him the entire time! I was expecting some big climactic push in the final chapter and was a little disappointed we didn't get one. I will say the role reversal/fakeout in the beginning of the episode freaked me a little. Kinda odd seeing Gabe as Reggie and Reggie as Gabe. Also I did not recognize Kurt in those stupid braids, but Muffy looked good in hers. But I loved that last big group conversation between everyone. What a great scene as they all processed everything together and Reggie looked like he was finally himself again. I liked all the additional characters who made a strong mark, but didn't manage to sideline the core characters. D'Unte was the breakout. I love how absolutely everybody figured out Lionel was Chester. LOL. Did we even see Sorbet once? Brooke managed to redeem herself a little bit in the last ep, although I still think she is a pill now.

Right. I think they did a good job with the cast at least physically. Rand is the one whose appearance is such a contrast to the rest of the two Rivers people. Before I read who was who, I guessed almost all correctly, I had switched the Nynaeve and Egwene actresses only because the actress who plays Egwene looks older in her headshot. Also I think the guy they got to play Perrin really feels like that is what Perrin would look like. Also, Rosamund Pike is playing Moraine and I think that is good casting too. I wonder who will be Lan? I really liked that character in the book. And Finally, I read that Brandon Sanderson had been a consultant on the show and he has stated that they are cutting a LOT and said some fans will be furious but to take the adaptation on its own merits. I mean, there is no way this is workable without a lot of cuts. I admit it is making me want to revisit the books now.

I finished episode 8. I can't believe how much Brooke is annoying me this season. I liked her so much last season and this season she is just asking for a throat punch every time she is on screen. I am madly disliking how she is forcing the Muffy thing. Reggie's storyline is my least favorite this season. I am just not feeling his obsession with Moses. And maybe it is because Blair Underwood has played the slippery, smooth villain before but I can't help but feel there is something off about Moses. But I get that it falls within the bigger theme of the show about students and their idols: Sam & The Laverne Cox characters, Coco and that awful professor. In her own way she is as desperate as Reggie. And I hate seeing my fabulous CoCo like that. Speaking of Coco's prof -- man, I HATE professors like that. I had a few of those in college, especially grad school. And you just have to grit your teeth. But I got some own back in my professional capacity. I worked as a consultant/short-term contractor at this one college as an IT and data analyst for the Provost and this place had their fair share of these types of professors. Some of them tried it with me. The condescension was rolling off them in waves. And yet, they needed me more than I needed them and I let them know it in big ways and small. I have never heard of 'Mafia' before but that game looked fun. I love how brutally funny everyone was during the game. Even Reggie's roommate who is a fun little addition to the crew. Lionel's walk on the freaky side is killing me. I wonder if they had parties like that when I was in school? This season gets stronger as it goes on. And the additional cast is really making the show richer.

The Amazon tv adaptation of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series has announced their main cast. The cast is surprisingly multicultural given the source material. I liked the first seven books of the series but couldn't finish because the wait between books became prohibitive and then Robert Jordan died before finishing it. Brandon Sanderson (an excellent fantasy writer, btw) had to come in and finish the last two books. The written series is a whopping 12 books in total. Here's a pic of the actors who play the main five cast members.

I call your Boyd and raise you an Ava. I feel like the show wanted to make Ava all things: a tough girl, a damsel in distress (I mean I think she got kidnapped at least 3 times in the first season alone), she was an object of love or lust by almost every male. She was basically written as is she was the only woman in Harlan. And in the end she managed to get away scot free even after all the shit she pulled. Man, by the time the show ended, I hated that character. I would have loved way more time with Tim and Rachel.

I thought the first ep felt like a pilot episode. And as with most pilot episodes it is trying hard to make an impression. It felt very self aware that it was a Rom-Com. So it gave us all these personalities right out the gate and threw the rom-com tropes in our faces. Which I think would have been understandable and even a little forgivable in a series called something other than 'Four Weddings a Funeral.' But it gets stronger as it goes on and settles into itself. And the stories begin to take on a more organic feel and the characters feel more lived in.

Did you not see that ass in season 1? I believe my exact words were 'You could bounce a quarter on that ass.' LOL. But I agree, Troy was my least favorite in S1 (except dat ass!!) but he came thru in S2. I am only five episodes in and while this season seems more subdued and little messy and also less LOL funny than season 1 especially, I am liking the themes it is grappling with. I am fascinated by what Simien is trying to say about respectability politics amongst black filmmakers and the black community consuming black film. Sam rejecting the Tyler Perry-like director in favor of the more auteur like director (The Laverne Cox character, whom I believe is a gender flipped stand in for Spike Lee). His throwing shade at Spike (even though he has long been an admirer of Spike) and he himself playing the Tyler Perry like character himself (with a nice wink because Perry often stars in his own movies). I actually went looking to see if anyone talked about this and found a great article in Variety that breaks it down. I made me rethink some things. Won't make me like Tyler Perry's treatment of women, but I do respect the man's hustle. And I loved and agree with Simien's comments about Spike. The article is spoilery so don't read if you don't want to be spoiled. Happy that Sam and Gabe are back together. On the one hand I am glad Sam has chilled a bit, but on the other I am with Al, she's freaking me out. I do like how they are handling her grief with he father's death since I think this largely takes place only three or so months after. Also I've always liked how the show has treated Gabe's 'woke white guy' thing. He is only woke to a point. He does try, bless his heart. Last season the show seemed to hint that Kurt, the Pastiche guy, had a little bit more going on under hood than just generic white privilege ass. But he seems to be fully back on that train again, although so far it does seem like he's trying to catch feelings for CoCo. Also I thought he was student, but Coco keeps calling him her faculty advisor? And finally, I am loving the new character D'unte. He has replaced Brooke as my favorite break out character. Honestly, I am loving the look at the black gay community so much. I am glad that Lionel has found his tribe away from the more bitchy gays he seemed to encounter last season.

Tell that to the fans who make 15-minute SB videos for every episode even now. A dedicated fan shipper can take a casual glance that means absolutely nothing in canon, slo mo it down so it become a long, longing look, put some Barry White music behind it and swear it is true love.

Fun episode. loved how everyone was so into Love Chalet and let's face it, that is exactly the sort of trashy show Zara would be on. I loved every tv audience reaction shot each week as they all watched he show LOL. Even the random people in the pub and Asif crawling in silently so he can watch as well. Also the show itself was perfect. Love the two guys being into each other twist (and of course everyone's reactions). LOL. I frickin' love Basheer! And he and Fatima had on 'Team Zara' shirts! Ok Maya and Duffy. That is the most awkward pairing ever. Basheer's reaction to their pairing cracks me up every time. But I do think Duffy had to have his time with Maya so he could get her out of his system. It is obvious he and Gemma will get together because Maya and Kash are totally gonna get together in the end. I never saw what Craig saw in Zara but dammit, if Brandon Mychal Smith isn't selling the hell out of it. He does the teary eyed thing so well. I am betting that her turning him down on tv was all producer manipulation. She had to finish out the show as pre-scripted or she would have been in breach of contract or something. I am glad to see her getting into the friend fold more deeply, but Gemma really needs to give up her childish competition with Maya. I hadn't realized this is the first time Ainsley has come face to face with Kash since the wedding. Ouch. Finally, I like the calligraphy notes as scene placards.

I binged all four eps and while I think it started our a little rough, I am enjoying it a lot. It gets better as it goes on. I am enjoying the heck out of it. And in this one I have tumbled into full on team Gemma. I've always like her as a character and the actress does a great job giving her that bitchy yet somehow still ok thing. And I loved the glimpses of her marriage with Quentin, but this one she came into her own. I hate to say 'great funeral' but it was. Maya and Duffy: Ok, if they decide to go there, I am hoping it is just to get Maya out of Duffy's system once and for all. They don't have any chemistry (that I can tell up to now) and it feels like Maya just went in for the kiss because she felt sad, not because she suddenly realized she has feelings for Duffy. So I don't see any future for them. But for him to move on, he has to shoot his shot or else she will always be the one he pines for. I like the Fatima character and I love Kash's chaperone/wing man. He lights up every scene he is on. Yay, Marcus showed a little humanity.

I think it is the likeability actors and the chemistry between them all that is mainly responsible for the success of The Flash. If you really sit and think about it, the writing hasn't been a friend to any of the characters, not just Caitlin. I mean look at how badly they fucked up Nora. What a waste of such a potentially great character. Barry comes off the best but that is because I think in the beginning the show was laser focused in writing for him and had a strong story to tell about him. Everyone else were still very much satellites around Barry. It is no accident that the writing of the characters' relationship with Barry is always stronger than the writing of their relationships with each other outside of Barry. I mean compare Joe ad Barry's relationship with Joe and Iris' relationship. There is some truly wonderful character and relationship moments between Barry and Joe. Joe and Iris simply didn't get those same level of emotional beats. And while writing for your central character is fine, it can't sustain itself in the long run if you have an ensemble cast that, like this cast, is likeable and capable of showing a range of emotions. It is no accident that the romances for every character has felt pretty anemic, not just Caitlin. Yes, even West-Allen. I think WA is saved by the sheer force of the chemistry between CP and GG. The idea of them and the aura of them is stronger than what we actually get on screen. I mean, look at last season, Barry and Iris should have gotten at least one romantic scene alone, marvelling at the fact that she had been pregnant with his child. Ruminating over what that must have been like to find out that they were gonna be parents, joking about how much fun they had making her. It could have been a great tender even somewhat sexy sceen, and yet the lion's share of that was them separately dealing with Nora. Hell, I think Iris spent more time in bed with Oliver than she did with Barry last season. re: Caitlin, I think the writers truly believe they write well for her. I think they truly believe pumping up KF and putting her in dominatrix gear and making her sexy-drawl is appealing to the fans. I bet they high fived themselves in congratulation after the last KF recton. After all she has super powers and that automatically makes her a 'badass' in fandom eyes and yet she has a heart of gold and is still part of the team because she is 'Caity' underneath.

I don't believe I've seen this reported here.. but it looks like the On My Block cast got their raises from Netflix and Season 3 filming is underway. According to Deadline, they did not get the 250,00 per episode ask (which was their negotiation start), but supposedly got at least triple or more their current salary estimated to be anywhere from 60,000 - 80,00 per episode.

The one other time they deviated from The Flash being the first ep was the Crisis on Earth-X crossover where Supergirl was the first episode. And it is a shame because that episode seemed more Flash-like than the actual Flash episode that aired. It centered on Iris and Barry's wedding and the scenes of the aborted wedding came right out of the Flash comic book. It was actually my favorite ep of that Crossover because we get to see Iris walk up the aisle and the really cool, well choreographed fight scene in the church. Just the scenes of Wally catching bullets is the coolest...

I haven't re-watched any episodes of the show... not one conducive to re-watches... but I got the impression that Rome, Eddie and Gary were friends pre-John and that John made a huge impression on them? I could be wrong. But I agree, nothing about these 4 make sense in a friend manner. We are just told they are friends and are supposed to be believe it. But then again look how quickly they incorporated Maggie into their inner circle... she met them like a minute ago and suddenly she's everybody's bestie. And even if we are to believe the guys are such ride or die besties, it doesn't follow that Regina and Delilah and Katherine would have to fall into that. Another reason why I think Katherine is the most believable. We know that Regina comes from a money. Her mother was about to whip out her checkbook and write out a bunch of zeros without breaking a sweat. Even if she rejected her mother's bail out, I think we are supposed to get the impression that Regina has resources that don't come from a paycheck or making a living. Again, not having re-watched, but I don't think she or Rome were worried or fretted about finances at all when he revealed he wanted to quit his job.

I enjoyed the show for the first half the the season but it seemed like in the second half somebody at the network sent a note saying 'make it more shooty!'. The first half had been a charming show about what it was like being a rookie. The second half it decided it wanted to be a cross between Lethal Weapon and Chicago PD with a revolving door of chemistry-less love interests for Nathan Filion. Afton Williamson was a breath of fresh air on the show. She made Bishop such a great and instantly charismatic character. My interest in the show waned sharply in the second half. It was already on life support when I heard she was leaving. Now I know I am out. The part about the racial harassment she received from the Hair dept is just and extra level of fucked up, imo.

Co-sign. I liked her at first, but last ruined her character for me all over. I think it helps that we got just the right amount of Gary. Yeah, he was a good concept and whoever was responsible for his conception and development had a great bead on the character. Also the actor has great comedic timing but also allows a little bit of that stuff you want to feel sorry for to shine through. But even so, I think like Mona, too much of him would have been the ruination of him.

Oh Brandon is gonna be Kingdom Come Clark Kent? Hmm, I can;t see it for now. Man, I love that version of Superman. He is older, a little harder looking, a little grizzled, really jacked. Sigh. I had a crush on that version of Superman better than the clean cut younger one. I wonder if they are gonna go that route with hair/make-up or do their own version of it

Sounds like the 'Gave Up too Soon' trope.

Ugh. I hate this. I hate it when a show tries to tell me that a lead character doing terrible things is ok by making everyone else around him in the show give them a pass and creating plot apologia. But I also hate it in fandom discussion when fans give them a pass. Or even worse, dogpile on a secondary character for rightly calling the main character on their shitty behavior. It is the acceptance of it that allows the trope to flourish.

The Black Lady Sketch Show is coming soon to HBO and had Robine Thede and Issa Rae amongst others at the EPs and writers. The trailer is fantastic with a veritable menu of whos who among black actresses with Angela Bassett being the highlight:

RIP. Rutger Hauer. I FLOVED Ladyhawke! Altho I remember thinking the 80s soundtrack did not match the Medieval Fantasy feel of the movie. Also he freaked me out so hard in The Hitcher.

Thanks for mentioning the Shaw series that sounds very promising. I had to peace out of the Chicagoland series after book 2. It just didn't feel like it was bringing anything fresh to an over-saturated genre. Also, I just didn't like her writing voice. ETA: I just discovered a new series Bramble and Blood (first book) by Ashley Beasley. Urban Fantasy with a touch of crime noir, with a necromancer heroine who is a woman of color. There is also some really strong world building. I like her take on necromancers and her magic systems.

Here is a youtube video of the Flash SDCC panel. Not official or professional. This comes from a Caity Lotz fan who attended all the Arrowverse panels. Glad to see the panel, just kinda wish I could see their faces better.

Yeah, not a huge fan of the outfit. But the head styling and the legs/shoes are to die for. And actually the hair/shades elevate the outfit.