Black Knight

Nowadays I generally won't start a heavily-serialized series until it's finished, but not out of fear (even though I've been waiting half my life for GRRM to finish) - it's more a memory issue. I find the max I can go without needing to re-read all that came before is about a year, which even authors who do put out their sequels quickly and regularly can still easily miss by a couple months (and, of course, I also need to get to reading the latest book - it's pretty easy for stuff to sit in my to-read pile for months). Some authors are better than others about managing to include enough recap in their latest book that it isn't necessary to go back and re-read. However, I have recently realized it's possible to go too far in that direction. I love Seanan McGuire's October Daye series, which has reached double digits, and good lord, lately those installments feel like they are one-third recap of the series. She has many recurring characters, every one of whom upon first appearance in any new book gets their backstory and relationship to Toby explained, so the plot is constantly coming to a screeching halt, and at this point I wish she'd just write an appendix.

A friend and I watched tonight and we thought her decision might've had a lot to do with the fact that she had such a supportive conversation with her tutor where he wholeheartedly encouraged her to dress down Salisbury and Churchill. She told Tommy that she wanted Martin because she wanted an ally, and she later found that she has an ally in her tutor. So she decided she didn't need Martin. I noticed that Elizabeth never thought of, and of course Tommy wouldn't suggest, the solution that would have given Elizabeth the secretary she wanted while meeting (at least technically) Tommy's desire for following a strict order of succession: Get rid of Adeane first, before Tommy retires. Then the spare, Martin, becomes the heir. It's kind of funny that it never occurred to Elizabeth given the parallel to her own family.

The lawsuit continues. I have to admit I still don't understand the point of this lawsuit. I thought OdH came off the best of anyone in the series, and not even in a grading-on-a-curve sense (i.e. the least horrible of a horrible bunch). Nobody would hold her calling her sister a bitch against her (and I'm not sure anyone would believe that she never did that privately, considering all that went on between them), especially given the context the show included that her sister was badmouthing her to the press, and while she seems upset about the "gossipy" interview that never took place, I don't recall on the TV show CZJ saying anything over the line. Nothing that Bette or even Joan would find embarrassing, nothing that couldn't be included in a puff piece. I realize to OdH saying anything at all publicly might seem over the line, but still. It's just the cognitive dissonance of the one who got a portrayal of being a classy grande dame loyal to her friend being the one to sue. Everyone else got off worse. I suppose the rest all are dead now (although BD is still preaching up a crazy storm), but still. It makes me wonder about the real story behind her own feud with her sister, if she takes this kind of offense to her portrayal. I thought Kidman was good in Big Little Lies, but I really would have chosen any of the other nominees over her. Particularly Lange, as mentioned above, and Reese Witherspoon, who I thought had the more difficult role on BLL as she had to make a character who's easily dislikable likable. But so often the TV awards are decided based on who's the biggest film star who's deigned to appear on TV, and that's Kidman. I do wonder when the TV award voters are going to get over this complex given that it's almost universally acknowledged that nowadays the prestige projects are on TV, not film.

Totally agree. But the house targets everyone who goes through it. Guilt over not being a good enough friend to Margot doesn't qualify as something that would inspire terror, and Jules is clearly freaked by the egg/room that she doesn't want to talk about. So I don't think the guilt is Jules's real issue, it was just the way to separate the friends so that Margot can fall deeper into the illusion of the Father while Jules gets sucked into her own horror. I'm sure we'll find out whatever is going on with Jules, but we're really only one episode into this scenario (as the first episode was the set-up for the house) so there hasn't been time to fully delve into all the characters. This was a Margot and JD episode. Although Jules may well also end up being the rescuer (which will let us avoid the "minority character always dies" trope). Judging by the look she shot Margot when Margot was about to eat the omelet, she knows her fairy tales and Greek myths (those were totally pomegranate seeds that the Father was eating at the end).

I also really enjoyed the premiere. The sequence of the characters going through the haunted house was well-done; the makers of this show understand about setting up a mood and creating suspense instead of just going straight for jump scares as has sadly become so prevalent in horror nowadays. Aisha Dee seems to be everywhere right now and it's well-deserved, but I groaned when her character's name was revealed to be Jules, because on one of her other shows she played the best friend of a character named Jules, and it's just going to cross my wires every time "Jules" is said here. There must be more to the story of the death of Margot's dad. Of course losing a parent is traumatizing, but I just feel like there's something she's not saying. Also, Margot's blaming herself for her dad's death because she wasn't home by ten, so where was her mother that night? I like that this season includes a strong female friendship that passes the Bechdel test (although if last season is anything to go by, at least one of them will end up dead). Jules understood the Martian reference when Margot told her it had been whispered in her ear, and wanted to leave. I wonder if Margot and Jules are the only ones caught in this illusion where they think they've left the house but haven't (I'm pretty sure that's what was going on at the end), or if the guys also are. We haven't seen them.

Actually, I think the reason the first time succeeded was because the civilian who absolutely killed that round was a Zumba instructor or something like that. Meaning she spends a ton of time bopping around to the rhythm of various tunes. Apart from that civilian, nobody has done well at the game. So unless they're going to have an episode consisting heavily of fitness class instructors, I think this is one game that should be retired. And I suspect it will be after this.

Except, to be fair, one of the things she was dinged on by the judges was that she hadn't done anything to the model's teeth, and it was actually her attempt to do something about the teeth (having the model swish some moth's blood around his mouth) that resulted in the problems with the work she'd already done. So her instincts were correct. It just had an unfortunate backfire. It happens. Tate still overdoes it with the gore, I see. But he's a great guy and I'm happy for him.

I love how you fully credited the models, KC! Personally, I would have put Andrew last in the finale - as the judges noted, his creature was quite rote. But he was the most consistent performer all season out of the three finalists, and I think that is what really gave him the win. I'm not unhappy about it, just saying. Especially since haunted houses are what he does in his day job. That might be why his creature was so unoriginal but his mad scientist was well-executed (also not original, but when you're given a mad scientist brief you don't have much opportunity for creativity). He's probably done both a hundred times and basically copied them for the show's contest. He mentioned the laboratory was the scene he wanted, and again, out of the three scenarios that's the one you'll see most in real life. To some degree he could coast, but hey, it shows that he's really good at his day job! Congrats to him. The finale always has the finalists supervising a team. The brief is just always too large in too short a time for the finalists to handle on their own.

Au contraire. That's exactly what happens in a previous season too:

Yes, I'm aware, but we're a long way from getting to any of that in the D&E stories.

Kiersten's model helped camouflage the lack of depth with the body rolls he (or she? I don't remember) did. Like the judges, I was just appreciative that she didn't go for the obvious choices and yet the sin of her demon was still clear. I actually liked this episode the best so far, because at least everyone had their own creation to work on and the instructions allowed for more variation between the individual designs. KC scored a lot of points with me for continuing with an honored Face Off trend of helping competitors - she didn't have to show the other team how to do skullcaps for horns. The constant reiteration of the show about how she knows how to do horns overshadowed what I really would have liked to have heard more of, which is how she managed to do the best look of her team, considering that her situation was not good going in - the only one who had to have her mold run the day of, and then the mold turned out all shredded despite Andrew's best efforts (I'd hate to see what his worst efforts would result in!). That speaks to her having some talent, and in more areas than just proper horn affixing.

They didn't explain it on the show, but some women still have chemotherapy recommended for them, even after a double mastectomy and with clean nodes, as there can still be cancer cells elsewhere in the body that can invade other organs (metastasis). Emma would have had an oncotype test done to predict her likelihood of metastasis, and her score must've been high, thus indicating that chemotherapy was warranted. Your mother either had a low score or went through this in earlier, different days. It is interesting they didn't explain this on the show, but Jessica has said they thought people would get taken out of the show if they got too specific. You can only explain so much before it turns from a comedy into a PSA. Jessica and Lennon also chose to skip the chemo onscreen because they couldn't figure out how to make it funny, and maybe the necessary conversation between Emma and her doctor about why chemo was recommended for Emma was part of that. It had to be terribly upsetting for Jessica to learn she was at such high risk of metastasis.

Oy, I hate that proposed ending too. I'd rather the girls stick together as well. However - should the show return - I'm trying to keep in mind that it's the ending after another four seasons of story. In other words, while Ophelia sacrificing herself at this point for Jules doesn't seem fair or appropriate, some things could happen in the remaining four seasons that would justify such an ending. Plus, she doesn't really say exactly what happens to Ophelia. Like, maybe Ophelia sacrifices herself, but an awesome lawyer turns her punishment into a slap on the wrist. Her mom's wealthy and well-connected, after all. So all in all, I'm still going to hope that the show returns, though if there's been nearly a month with no additional word, I guess it really is looking unlikely.

Yeah, I'm just so relieved that this show even gets product placement. I mean, look at this season - USA has it on the graveyard night of Friday AND dumped the entire season online right after the first night. So traditional advertising revenue is nil, and product placement is basically all that's keeping this show afloat.

Soooooo late on this! But it has happened at least once. My all-time favorite CNG (in terms of excitement) is Gillian Jacobs's turn, where she had to clue Samuel L. Jackson twice...and she did it with the same "fedora" clue each time...only the civilian was able to guess it the second time, just before time expired! In fairness, immediately prior to the second Samuel L. Jackson, Gillian screwed up by saying the celebrity's name and so that one was an automatic DQ rather than a pass. (Which only made the end more exciting, because Gillian was jumping up and down in frustration at her screw-up and then had to pull it together.)

I was amazed too until I remembered from her intro that she's a Zumba instructor. She would naturally listen to a lot of music and be very in tune with the beat. At first I groaned at them doing Hold My Balls for the second week in a row, but then I couldn't stop laughing during it. Especially near the end when Mike Colter was completely covered up. The driving game, though, I'm over. I suppose they're doing it a lot to justify the new car prop.

I am laughing that the first clue for Lindsay Lohan was "played Elizabeth Taylor." Sure, that's the first...fifth...hundredth thing anyone thinks of in regards to her, Lauren! And agreed on Lauren being the worst of the TWD players. She made a hash out of the first game and the car game, and didn't even try in the ball pit game until she was the last one. Christian was a better player by far, but I think the female civilian was fooled by demeanor - Lauren acts so aggressive while Christian comes off as a little frail and nervous. But massive points to both actresses for knowing enough about this show not to wear high heels. Looking at you, ANNA... The ball pit game always features one category in which everything Jane says is correct, and as soon as I heard Trump tweets I knew that would be it. Clearly none of the players, civilians included, watch the show regularly.

It was Cath and her husband.

I watched the premiere on BBCA, but I just remembered that for the first two seasons, I paid to watch weekly on Amazon because BBCA was cutting scenes. Does anyone know if they're cutting scenes again for S3? If they are, I'm going to have to go Amazon again because those hacks can't be trusted not to cut key scenes (in the S1 finale, they cut large chunks of Ellie reacting to the Joe reveal, and Mark confronting Joe - I mean, seriously?!). I was mistrustful of "best mate Cath" as soon as I saw Sarah Parish is playing her. She's too good an actress not to be given a juicy role. Beth's supervisor did say Beth has a rare talent or whatever, so I expect she'll be more help than hindrance to Trish. Mark hasn't changed at all - forever an ass. Really, he lost a child and now he's not bothering to see his other two children much just because things aren't great between him and Beth? I wonder if he'll become a major suspect at some point. It could be some sort of weird closing the circle on a meta level. Otherwise, like others have said, I don't really see why the Latimers are still on the show. They've at least tied Beth in to the case with her new vocation, and I guess we're supposed to feel nervous for Chloe as a possible future victim, but Mark is, seemingly, pointless. I smiled so hard whenever Ellie and Hardy were bickering. Never change, you two. I hope they go on bickering forever - as platonic partners. I can't see them together romantically. They have so much chemistry, but it's not that type of chemistry, at least not as the Hardy and Miller characters. I wouldn't at all object to the actors being paired romantically on a different project. I like that Ellie (along with everyone else) isn't perfect and although she overreacted to the porn, it didn't bother me...until the line about Tom being his father's son. If she had realized at that point she'd gone too far and apologized, it would have been more tolerable to me, but she didn't do that. At least on the BBCA airing. Maybe she did and it was cut. Dammit. I'm going to have to subscribe again to the show on Amazon because I just don't trust BBCA at all.

Well, I jumped ahead because I couldn't wait for the USA airings of the post-diagnosis episodes. I found Emma's doctor a little off-putting personally, but Emma (and Jessica IRL) clearly responded to her and that's all that matters. Different strokes for different folks. Again I liked that Emma's major concern was being there for Charlotte, and Maggie's quiet insistence that Charlotte is Emma's daughter was lovely. I had never heard about one-stop surgery before and that was interesting information. I also liked how the scene where they pick out implants for Emma conveyed the surrealness of the entire situation - you're so stressed, yet things are moving at warp speed and you have to move along at warp speed too and so you find yourself picking out implants in fifteen seconds when you've never even imagined being in that position. Of course Maggie was being strong and positive around Emma, but a scene of her dealing with her own feelings about Emma's cancer was really needed and I'm glad the show delivered. In the second episode, the bit where Emma came downstairs only to have to listen to the other women say things (even though they were positive) about her cancer and she just got this look on her face - which Maggie immediately noted and responded to by trying to kick everyone out - was well done.

Just to tie it up - Jessica and Lennon have a one-page Q&A in this week's Entertainment Weekly that confirms that Emma never saw Jurassic Park. Turns out that Jessica won't watch any movie that's remotely scary.

Yeah, Maggie and Dr. Popsicle have a nice rapport. He has a genteel sweetness to him, and I like them together. Although, if Emma truly wants to ensure the two of them together, she should destroy Maggie's backup Bocephus hat, because I cannot see him being down with that persona. (And I really hope Bocephus doesn't make an appearance this season. I hate him as much as Emma does.) The scene where Emma and Maggie were told that it's cancer was well done, and hard for me to watch knowing that Jessica went through it in real life. I know many artists like to process their real life in their work and that Jessica is one of them, but I still wonder how it felt for her to shoot it. Even though she and Lennon aren't credited with writing this episode (they are credited with writing the next one), I'm sure they had considerable input into the final few scenes, Jessica especially. But I digress - back to the scene itself. I liked that Maggie knew as soon as Dr. Popsicle came through the door and exchanged looks with her. I liked that when Maggie put her hand on Emma's arm, Emma didn't seem even to know it because she was having such an out-of-body reaction to the diagnosis, and so the gesture slowly turned more into Maggie needing to feel Emma than the reverse. I also loved that at the end, Emma's major concern was being there for Charlotte. So sweet. Minor nit about a different storyline - the director of the video Maggie and Dr. Popsicle were shooting mentioned getting a Duster for a Costco spot. But, Costco famously doesn't do TV advertising, or even advertising in general. All it really does is direct mail to existing members.

But that's just not funny. If your interpretation was what the joke was meant to be, they would have continued by having her called out on her lie, because then that would have made it funny. Maggie would've said something about having seen the movie with Emma umpteen years ago and to just own up that she'd seen the movie but just couldn't come up with the name, and she and Mark would've ragged on Emma until she broke and yelled that she did see it. That's funny. But in any case, Emma's clearly not struggling with trying to remember the title - she hears the premise and just reacts to the premise and starts distractedly rambling. And it doesn't make any sense that she'd lie about not having seen the movie. Why would she bother? It's not the sort of thing she'd care about. If she was trying to save herself some embarrassment, and I don't think she'd be embarrassed enough by something like that anyway, but it's the only motive I can even see for why she'd lie - if she has indeed seen Jurassic Park, she'd find it more embarrassing to say she hadn't seen the movie than to say that the title just slipped her mind. And again, it was a short bit. "All its tropes" is overstating, as she really only says two things. First, that the dinosaurs will run amok once the power goes off, which anyone who knows how movies go can predict just from hearing the premise. But then she starts to think of what specifically could happen and in her speculation happens to hit on the velociraptor scene. And the way she words it and delivers it points to it being speculation rather than something she's actually seen - she doesn't sound at all like she's describing something she's actually seen. Yes, it is really, really specific, but that's exactly what makes her speculation funny, that she's never seen the movie but hits perfectly on that specific ridiculous scene. If they'd just left it at her first guess, it wouldn't have been funny because anyone who knows movies can guess that. But only Emma can guess the velociraptor opening the door, because her thinking's so warped. Heh.

Ryo and the Android are skilled fighters as well. On a related note, I wonder when someone is going to start training Five. Like Three and Six, she can shoot, but unlike them, she doesn't have brute strength to fall back on when unarmed. She needs to learn some skills for the times she doesn't have a gun. And speaking of training Five, I also wonder when they're going to think about teaching her how to pilot ships as well. With Six's (temporary, I believe) departure, Two and the Android are currently the only pilots. Since the Android interfaces directly with all the Raza's systems, she doesn't leave the ship when it's in flight except in extreme situations. And since Two is the leader, sometimes she needs to stay aboard the Raza. As such, they really need one more pilot, for flexibility on those missions which require them using the shuttle. That was Six's greatest usefulness, actually, the fact that he was just a crewsman who had pilot skills. He had no larger role and so could always be used to pilot a shuttle mission if Two needed to stay on the Raza.

It didn't go on anywhere near as long as you're remembering, as she only mentioned one scene. First she asked why anyone would open such a park, then said that the power would go off and all hell would break loose. That's just obvious. Then she mentioned that some dinosaurs are really smart and used that to extrapolate a scenario where a velociraptor might open a door, and it ended there. That actually is a trope, in that animals in Hollywood are very often shown doing stuff that the average animal couldn't/wouldn't do. The fact that she hit upon the velociraptor scene with a combination of logic and her classic zany rambling is what made the bit funny. She wasn't lying about not having seen the movie.