DearEvette

Right, which is where the "is he worth it" came from. After the lady used the word "exhausting". An anecdote: When I worked in advising/counseling I got burned out because I always felt like I was saying the same thing over and over again. And I was. My boss would always give new counselors the "remember, although you are saying something for the 1000th time, they are hearing it for the first time" speech. This is where Zoe and the old soldier's wife was coming from. It can be exhausting to be an explainer in a relationship/friendship about your 'otherness' all the time. So it become a question of do you even bother? In the end if she and Kevin weren't going anywhere, then she just shrugs along letting him believe the pillowcase is just fancy affectation no need to explain and one less time you have to say the same thing.

No it was a to highlight that Kevin, like most people can recognize obvious racism. It is the microaggressive type he is oblivious to which was very clearly shown. When she said the grocery store lady was racist, Kevin immediately returned with "what did she say" when racism isn't always in your face with people saying stuff. It can be very subtle. So no it wasn't to highlight her stupidity rather a nod to his ignorance because even living with a black brother he still can't get the nuances. Like the pillow. The thing with Zoe and the pillow is like the tail end of a long conversation you are sick of having. I immediately got where Zoe was coming from with the pillow because it is a accretion of a life to having to explain stuff to non-black folks about blackness & black experience. If she has been sleeping with him for awhile and she has a been sleeping on a satin pillow his obviousness to its significance is its own little microaggression. Also been there and done that with some really stupid ass conversations about black women hair. And it gets old real fast.

Yeah, the Katherine issue is probably one of the most glaring of these, We all know they had to reshoot her scenes because of the recast. But it almost felt like they were also re-writing her character even from one scene to the next. In one scene you have her talking about how she didn't realize the funeral would be an all day affair and referred to Jon as her husband's 'friend'. And her line delivery in that scene made it seem like she found the whole thing an inconvenience. Also it lined up really nicely with what we had been told about her from Eddie and later Gary that she was toxic. But then in a later scene she is telling Delilah that Jon was the only one who made her feel part of the group. It almost feels like even after they had shot that first scene of her being rather distance and bitchy, they had already begun to re-imagine her character so the second scene softened her a bit. I'd even guess that they'd decided to make Jon the only one who liked Katherine and shot that scene and inserted it after they had already written later episodes.

This is actually a good point. I just still can' get over that if Eddie and Delilah were so unhappy in their respective marriages, so much so that they had to have an affair with someone, then they had all of Boston to choose from. But they had to have an affair with each other. It is almost as if they wanted to hurt their respective spouses even more. And if Delilah was feeling so abandoned by Jon and Eddie was feeling so over-controlled by Katherine the subconscious need to give that extra little fuck you to their spouses could very well have been an motivating factor than just "oh we fell in love and couldn;t help ourselves"

I did not like this episode as much as last week's. It felt like now that the affair had been revealed, we needed to wallow in it a bit. And that required everyone wanting to be there for Delilah to honor Jon. And I am sorry, but they all just found out a week ago. Katherine should be allowed to have her anger and feel as upset as she needs to for as long as she needs to about the betrayal and not have that shortcut because everyone feels the need to let it go because of they want to eat pizza. I am not at all invested in Maggie and her cancer. She feels like she is in a different show. Frankly crazy hippie chick with the long braids was more charismatic in her few minutes on screen that Maggie has been this whole time. And Finally, it has been two (?) weeks since Jon's death. Delilah is a stay at home mom, I assume. So shouldn't she be a little more concerned about how she and the kids are set going forward? Ashley found the life insurance policies, but does Delilah even know about them? Have we even heard her ask about one or even a will? The pacing is giving me fits. Outside of the affair reveal, no forward momentum has happened on the show. We still have no more clues than we did two episodes ago about why Jon killed himself. And as far as the affair reveal is concerned, neither Eddie nor Delilah have suffered any real consequences from it as we saw with the Slo Mo friends smiling while eating pizza montage. All seems to have been forgiven.

I 100% agree. When Barry said 'Iris is as tough as they come" I turned to my husband and said 'Did he just Strong Black Woman her?" Ugh. Not only this, but with Barry and Nora choosing to include Iris in on the secret at the same time as everyone else, it placed her as an outsider to her own nuclear family unit. It was clear not only did Nora and Barry have a vital piece of information, but Iris was not a part of it. It was a blindside. And what is worse, after they revealed it, Barry didn't even take a minute to take Iris aside and talk to her about it privately even after the reveal. He left without a single word to her. Double Ugh. I thought the meta of the week was kinda lame. Most of the metas powers have something to do with what they were doing during the particle accelerator explosion or how they lived. What the hell could she have been doing that gave her air compression powers? Also i know it is the nature of the show for Barry to fight meta criminals, but it would be nice once in awhile to get a glimpse of a non-evil person who got powers from the explosion. Maybe someone who is actually trying to use their powers for good but inadvertently makes things worse. That would kinda funny for team Flash to be chasing a meta they think is a master criminal only to find that the meta was in their own way trying to be helpful but ended up leaving chaos on their wake. Cicada is nicely creepy. I hope his motivation isn't just "I am eeevil and want to kill!" but something more relatable that we can get behind. Agree that there seems to be something going on with Jesse L Martin. He sat most of last episode didn't he? Finally, I am coming to the conclusion that Captain Singh is just not good at his job. All he's good at is yelling at Barry.

I think the mother orchestrated her getting the fellowship. But IIRC, she saw the news report of the death of her mother and that included a shot of the house and that is where it stirred her memory. And then she went and found the house. Re her male friend, I got the impression he was trying to mack on her but she was totally friend-zoning him. I felt no chemistry at all between them. They felt way more BFF than possible love interests. Yes! I meant to comment on this. There was one shot in particular where they were outside walking and she turned to speak to the intense sister, her hair was down and her cleft in her chin just seemed extra prominent and I thought 'whoa' the resemblance was really strong there.

Beth, Toby and Miguel's group texts

Heh. I think I let out a "What in the Swiss Miss hell is going on with that hair?" when I saw it.

I admit, I found myself kinda drifting and my attention a little fractured. One thing I saw that I found interesting was that the episode was co-written by Tim O'brien, an Vietnam vet and author who wrote several books about Vietnam including the only one I've read The Things They Carried

I never watched the original so I had no allegiance to it nor any strong feelings one way or another about the reboot. I went into with a 'this is a CW show' mindset and I mainly decided to catch it because I like Madeleine Mantock. I liked it. From a plot/writing perspective, It was exactly what I was expecting. The three actresses together were a pleasant surprise. Chemistry is always an iffy thing. I think they have it together and they seemed to have embraced the different personalities that the script calls for very well. I had read some of the comments before watching so I was braced for the 'Rah-Feminism' stuff. But it wasn't as intrusive as I twas prepared for. Some of it was said clearly tongue in cheek. Some was serious (the intense sister). And some was a little comedic. I do agree it was a little overstuffed. Too many plot elements thrown i all at once. And I do think Macy being accepted into the sisterhood was way to quickly and easily accomplished. All three should have felt very betrayed by this big secret and struggled more than they did to reconcile this. But overall, this was rather fun.

I wholeheartedly agree with both of these. Pierce had some terrible moments but they were reigned back at bit. But I think I started to really dislike Pierce completely with the Dungeons and Dragons episode. Later, I would wonder given all that I've heard about Chevy Chase, if Harmon pulled an art imitates life thing and wrote in some of Chase' personality into Pierce. I always disliked Chang even from S1. I think the character really affected how I viewed Ken Joeng as an actor, because I could never become enthusiastic about any other his other projects even though I'd at least give a try to other projects by the rest of the Community actors (minus Chase) out of remembered affection for the show.

I am not getting the vibe that Jon and Ashley were involved. I am getting the vibe that she was just his uber assistant who knew everything he did. My theory is that 1) she is his complete ride or die. He was up to some shady shit and she is deeply in the know and is now trying to cover it all up after death. This is why she read the letter and didn't give it to Delilah. Jon must've confessed everything in the letter and there is something in the letter that implicates Jon and Ashey herself and she doesn't know how Delilah will take it. or 2) Ashely herself was up to some shady shit and Jon's death will uncover what she was doing. So she is trying to cover her tracks and throw suspicion back on Jon. Regards his reasons for killing himself, I wonder if the show/writers would just make it about depression a la Anthony Bourdain and not necessarily something shady. Someone seemingly has everything to live for and has a great life but they are really sufferring. I think the show already alluded a little to this with Rome trying to find a video that shows Jon not smiling. It could be a case that this guy does all this altruistic stuff and is always smiling to hide an immense well of pain.

I loved Amber on Greek which I think the character of Claire is very much like her character of Ashley on Greek. She does comedy well. She and Damon work so great off each other. But then again, I also agree that DWJ is just brilliantly funny anyway. I don't think she got to really flex her comedy muscles on The Carmichael show enough she was the humorless straight man. Here chemistry with DWJ is miles above her chemistry with Jerrod Carmichael did. I watched two seasons of the Carmichael Show and Tiffany friggin' Haddish barely registered for me. I mean, I read an Essence interview of the all the actresses in Girl's Trip as part of the press ahead of the release of the movie and Tiffany just just jumped right off the page in a print interview. I had no idea it was the same person. So when a show subdues Tiffany or all people, then it is no surprise that Amber wasn't shining as bright as she could. Anyway, I agree I am enjoying this. I also think the pilot was a little stronger, but this was still funny. That doll was creepy as hell. I am loving her parents. And also agree Claire and Jake are the best parts.

Heh. I agree with all the assessments except Regina's. She just seemed so deeply disappointed in Deliliah. A silent "i am judging you" but she stayed and finished helping with the office clean out acknowledging that now was the not the time. I actually thought Gary's was the most excessive. I mean, he acted out more than Katherine did. There was a tone to his reaction that felt more over the top than it had to be. I could buy him being biting and sarcastic but you'd think he was the wronged wife the way he was acting. I think everyone else was on point, though. I still think Delilah got off way too easy.

No, I agree with this. As much as I have come to like Katherine and despise Eddie for his affair, Gary's personal opinion of her may be valid. Since we have no context except the minimal one that has been presented it could be that Gary has his own relationship with Katherine that isn't great. It may not just be Eddie poisoning the group. She may be rigid and controlling. Or it just may be that is how she is with Eddie because he is slacker. Her being a little rigid and bossy and being likable for some thins and unlikable for others is not mutually exclusive. Which again, goes to speak about how weak the writing is on the women. If you are gong to include them and make then viable parts of the story, than that needs to happen sooner rather than later.

Yeah, this is the vibe I am getting as well. I can imagine also Iris constantly having to be the voice of caution and reason when all Nora wants to be do is emulate daddy. What I would love to see now, though, that Nora is here and in the presence of Barry and Iris with Barry that some of her blinders come off. That she learns as we have that Barry isn't perfect. That however the Iris of future is, who has live through her husband disappearing and having to raise a child (or children?) alone, that she isn't this Iris right now in front of her. If she got to see her parents interacting and understand their relationship and love, she might learn a few things about her mother. I would love this to be true. It might also explain some things as well. If, say, the sibling was more like Iris or less hero-worshippy of Barry, they might have a closer relationship and Nora might have felt a little distanced. I have to say I did like this premiere and the intro of Nora is very well done. JPK as perfect casting and she is pitch perfect with the slightly hyper-speed personality that one would expect of the speedster child who would go back in time to meet a missing (presumed dead) parent. If it is more a case of her coming back in time to prevent Barry going missing, then I am liking the parallels between her and Barry who went back in time to try to save his parent too. The scenes between Iris and Barry were excellently done. Emotional, loving and the chemistry between those two just continues to leap off the screen. But dammit Barry don't you lie to Iris all season long! Also loved the scene with Barry and Nora in the vault. Man, GG can do man angst so well. Here's hoping they don't muck up the big bad this year.

I have to agree that I love that the affair came out so quickly. I also love the way the scene played out. Katherine is my new favorite. She is such a goddamn lawyer and I love her for it! She calmly let Eddie spin out his lie and then hit him with the facts that she already knew. Room 312 indeed. Ha!! I almost wanted to be sorry for Eddie when it came out, but then I just laughed my ass off. And that poor limo driver had to cool his heels while they had their little drama. Dude just wanted to drive them to Hockey camp! I am having a hard time liking Delilah. Even outside of the affair. But her reasons for the affair are so shallow and I just don't find her sympathetic at all. And as much as I am not a big fan of Eddie's, I hate that he is the one getting all the flack an she's getting treated more delicately because she's the widow. It takes two to tango. And I have to giggle imagining the scene that happened while Delilah was in the bathroom doing the face-wash of despair and Regina called Rome: Regina: "Hi honey, how's Hockey camp going? You guys having fun?" Rome: "Hockey camp, Shmockey camp! Delilah and Eddie are having an affair. Katherine found out and she pissed. Jon probably knew!" Regina either had to have had the phone on speaker so Ashley and Maggie heard the same way she did. Or she immediately dropped dime, which, would be kind fucked up because of course the first thing you do when you find out your BFF is having an affair with a man who is her husband's BFF, is to tell her husband's secretary and some new chick y'all just met a week ago. Yeah, the writing for the women kinda sucks. Wondering about Jon's place of work. Is that his own business and if so, is it a two man show with just him and Ashley because I have not seen any other employees. Also, if that in the case, how is business still happening now that he is dead? Is Delilah just letting Ashley handle stuff? Does he not have a lawyer who is handling his estate? At some point, business is going to stop happening if Jon isn't there wheeling deals, so does Ashley just keep showing up to the office?

You know what is so funny, that I just realized? On the episode of that podcast where Jesse Williams was the guest, he talked very frankly about light skinned privilege in casting (i think this was after his famous BET speech) and he also had strong words about the casting of Zoe Saldana in Nina.

Heh. One of my favorite podcasts!!

You and a lot of people. Ba-dum-bump! Seriously, the movie bombed. I remember when they announced she was playing Nina, people were upset because one of the defining things about Nina was how dark skinned and unequivocally African Black she looked : Afro kinky hair, wide nose, bigger lips, She spoke out about eurocentric standards of beauty and how she felt her looks were negatively judged against those standards, So the casting of Saldana was already problematic because even though Zoe does identify as Afro-Latina, she actually fits the euro standards of beauty that Nina painfully reflected on and felt rejected against. But I think people were still kinda reserving judgement. And then the stills of Zoe as Nina came out. Good Gravy just so wrong! i mean, when you have to darken the skin of an already dark skinned woman and then add prosthetics to make her look African -- then you need to rethink your casting in the first place. Also the make-up was just bad. I mean she looked like a really, really, bad Madame Tussaud's wax figure gone really wrong. I can't help but contrast that to Denzel playing Malcolm X. Sure not the best analogy, but Malcolm was a Ginger! A light skinned man, with freckles and red hair. And Denzel looked nothing like Malcolm, imo. And they didn't even try except maybe to dye his hair red. But he got the speech inflections so right it was uncanny.

Why do you hurt me so? Maybe they can all do what Jordan's estate did and just hire Brandon Sanderson to finish them out. That guy writes a ripping story. And he's juggling multiple series and they're getting written and published. I love his blog because each year he writes a 'State of the Sanderson' where he keeps everyone updated on his various projects. And he hadn't lied yet. He just said he's starting the fourth book of the Stormlight Archive in Jan 2019 with a 2020 pub date (this series is my crack!). He has a frickin' progress bar on all his projects to let you know where he is on each one.

Oh, yeah, Andrew "Asian Bae" on Insecure is a snack! What is interesting is, he isn't the first Asian guy on the show to show an interest in Molly. In Season 1 there was also a very handsome Asian guy who was putting the down the vibes on Molly but she wasn't picking them up. I think he was a co-worker and she didn't even entertain the idea because he wasn't black. I love how the show makes no bones about portraying Molly as the quintessential relationship self-sabotager. And I love how Andrew thoroughly reads her on her sad relationship with Dro.

Oh yes. As noted in another thread, they all have these elaborate staged scenes. Not only that, they keep a special keepsake of each victim (again with keeping all the evidence) and taunt the police and send them notes.

That's cuz the conception of her character and the writing for her is just bad at this point. Say what you will about how terrible Resnick is, at least from a character standpoint there is a clear POV and concept with her. Lea is more and idea than a real character, imo. The whole rant toward Shaun was nothing but theatre to prove to us in the aftermath of Resnick's pronouncement that she really thinks of Shaun as a man. But because Lea really is a paper thin construct, it comes off as false and facile. And of course it was immediately followed up with Resnick's cofnrimation. "oh look she called you jackass, you are a real boy! Just trite, really.