Lassus

Let's not nominate him to take over for James Lipton yet. He did publicly and proudly revenge-urinate on someone's bushes because he wasn't apologized to for not being consulted by Tom about Rachel like she was his property. While I also love a good dog story, I am not entirely convinced James is going to remain the best place for that dog. With luck I'm wrong. This is not entirely unreasonable, but there are apologies and there are apologies. His are not working because he is conveying no sincerity and he's frequently, consistently being a self-centered douchecanoe with even LESS perspective, even a year later. Lastly, this look was definitely something.

They specifically showed the bones in the ceiling in the last episode. That teacher may have been an expert, but he was also teaching high school in the middle of nowhere, and watching a shitty video. As earlier, you're allowed not to like whatever you want. But this a larger debate about what makes up art and entertainment and why your thoughts on this show are not universally shared. Unlike, say, the overwhelming public opinion of The Idol.

I wondered this too, and it was probably a new house; but honestly with all the dark, it COULD have been on the water for all we know.

Liz's young ward Prior is British as well.

I thought it was less about the thawing and more about some chemical effect on the ice, but either way I'll just refer you back to what you quoted of mine. I get if it annoys, you should read one of my 12 rants about that horrible Beethoven movie shitshow from the 90s, Immortal Beloved. But fiction is fiction, and needs these things. This might have been one of the few realistic things, though. Didn't want to waste bullets? Didn't want to accidentally hit Navarro? I didn't mind it because it worked, so.

You're certainly allowed not to like it, but this criticism is a bit odd to me because the science was supposed to be world-changing enough for scientists to murder over it. The story needs for that science to be beyond real-world sense. You may not like it, but to me it's like discarding Ocean's 11 for the odder, reality-stretching bits in that or any other non-documentary film.

That portion of the lab was in a (secret) ice cave below the lab.

This is also a great description of what happened in the lauded (and rightfully so, IMO, I did love it) first season. A shitty, demented child abuser brought about by shitty people and things and coverups happening, and the mysticism was attached to the characterization of Cole and his opposite cultist halfwits.

Danvers did actually say "I don't think you'll find her out on the ice" and took that to mean "dead". So I don't know that I'd say she's dead by default. I do think it's not a given that Navarro just did what her sister did, but I DO think something could have been done to make it less ambiguous while still being a mystery.

I just wanted to quote this initial sentence to tell you that I really liked your post.

I guess people can dislike it. I didn't love the Navarro ending, but everything else was fine with me, and I thought the characters and lives and setting and story was totally compelling and a great enjoyment to watch. Thumbs up as artistic narrative art.

The star-shaped instrument, the blood. Not sure it's entirely fair to include this, unless you're taking issue with the entire right-to-die movement for the cognitive, debilitated, terminally ill. (which, if you are, fine, but it's not the same as Julia) Also, am I imagining it, but wasn't there a hotline warning after EVERY episode?

Lisa's going to call them. Honestly, the idea that she would have Schwartz invite all of them to LISA's event seemed beyond weird and made the whole bar scene a bit sus, IMO.

I don't think we can really ever know this, but to be honest, I wouldn't consider it crazy that he had been. Personally, I do feel there is a difference between thinking about suicide in and actually being suicidal? Maybe that's a crappy parsing or way of putting it, the former being more like "what would happen, and what would people do if I did it" vs. "I wonder if this is a thing I should do." And again, while I imagine him being the former, he could also have been thinking the latter even if briefly. To be 1000% clear I have no history with suicide or having dealt with it even close to me. I don't want to be speaking out of turn in complete ignorance, it's just what I was thinking as I watched that scene. Wut

It's a nice enough house, but it's not some kind of unusual or unique jewel. It's a regular house in a regular part of town. There will be another house.

Hilariously, I can still see the Mars thing happening ("Hey, we need a moron, maybe from reality TV somewhere.")

OK, but as was pointed out, no one there disagreed. I suppose they could have feared disagreeing. But think about it - if, say, Lala did, you really think she would have stayed silent, let someone speak for her in a way she disagreed with? Who in that group can you see having some issue with what Ariana was saying to Schwartz? Honest question - hard to see who would have. Listen, I would love to have some kind of sympathy for Schwartz, but he has no leverage or history as a decent, thoughtful person who should be given any credit, and this isn't just Scandoval, he's always been a joke. Look at his eating off Katie's plate or the whole armpit thing. He's a dick, and tries to get away with it by playing stupid even while he's actually stupid.

Right, I posited before the season started that this was going to be a weird year in that regard. But honestly, this would have been the time for that position from Tom. I get he's just not sure-footed or smart enough to have done it and not be hated even MORE; but this, oy.

Yeah, likewise; but it's very L.A., so. This episode? It's been a minute since Disintegration came out, yes. When you google in "emo bands" a ton of shit from the aughts comes up (My Chemical Romance) and nothing really new. Let's be young again for a moment! I wonder if any of these bands were played that night: https://www.albumoftheyear.org/genre/133-emo/2020s/#google_vignette

My new hot take that is certainly not that hot: From a PR and audience/fan perspective, Tom's whininess made all this a lot worse. If he had been contrite AND firm and not a victim, it would have all gone way way better for him. "I'm very sorry, I've acted terribly and hurt Ariana and others. But, you know what, I'm not the first cheater on the planet, nor am I the worst cheater on the planet. People have fucked their partner's sisters or brothers, they've had multiple families, they've had multiple lovers. Everyone's lives have gone on. I was miserable and I cheated. And I am sorry I did so. Life goes on." No, I'm not saying this sort of statement would be MERITED, nor that his personality would have allowed it. But watching this episode last night, OMG the shrillness and whining and lack of self-awareness and his own victimhood. He's just not an adult. And maybe I'm wrong, maybe that would have made it worse? But hard to see how he could look worse.

While obviously being on Team Ariana, this was absolutely mock-worthy. And, honestly, was roundly mocked by others on Team Ariana throughout the years. (WatchWhatCrappens, etc.) It's not like she got some kind of pass for it.

I'm not sure those are actual quotes.

Fair. But it still doesn't matter, in this kind of dissolving partnership, I want paperwork before I pay a bill and a receipt after I pay it.

Are you kidding? So what? I don't care if I do know, that's how it works when someone wants money from you, ESPECIALLY now if there's any sort of conflict going on. Hell, I don't know the exact amount of my mortgage, and in an area like that, I doubt it's constant. Never pay anything without paperwork. I also hope she's demanding receipts for the payments she's making. I guess I don't understand this. When she's been bitchy (and even I wouldn't deny that she's been bitchy various times) it's been ONSCREEN, and not, like, overheard, she knows where she is. What is she faking about?

Absolutely. Also, Tom/Ariana was a SHOCK, both that it happened at all, and who it happened with. Which person on planet Earth could possibly have been shocked by Randall cheating? If you (Lala) can't understand this, it's definitely on you.