ninjago

This last episode was fantastic. Not to be a total cornball, but the band of brothers element-the camaraderie between Kareem and Magic, Kareem and Spencer, Riley and Westheas, Westhead and McKinney, Jeannie and Claire, even Bill and poor Jerry West-added some warmth to the fun, sleazy, cut-throat tone. Speaking of Jerry West, he was the best part of the show. I know he hates it, but as a lifelong fan of terrible (Minnesota) sports team, I related totally to his roller coaster, unhinged emotions while watching/not watching the game.

I only rarely watch this show and every time I do I come away on the side of Joe Gorga. Teresa learned from her father that she can treat Joe like garbage, then turn around and demand he let her use him when she needs him, insulting him all along. She and Louis will break-up and she will not just expect but demand Joe and Melissa support her and help her pick up the pieces for herself and her daughters, and Joe will because that's his role in their family.

Ooof Teresa is only allowed to have friendships with people they go on “double dates” with? Dolores-her long-time, loyal close friend wasn’t- invited to the party because she’s single? This is a terrible, controlling sign.

Shout out to Craig for telling the girls to move away if they were going to eavesdrop.

I love the fun stuff, like Buss being sleazy or bantering with his mom. Don’t want to see him crying and manipulating the nurse. I find Jerry West hot as hell in this for some reason. Sorry Jerry.

I like Kareem's writing as well, but I disagree strongly with this. The Jerry West character on the show is fantastic, and I think very well drawn and interesting. I know Jerry West does not like the portrayal and I'm sorry for that.

What in the hell is Martina freaking Navratilova doing on this POS show, lurking around in the background nervously while these idiots yammer along and ignore her? She's a legend!

Spencer Haywood was married to Iman?! The man who did his own circumcision was married to Iman!

This show is kind of slow, but I like it all right. Quincy Isaiah is likable as Magic, but, God, he looks so much like Pete Davidson.

I haven't watched this franchise regularly in years, but I like Frank what is wrong with me. I know he was a shady lawyer, but when he told Delores not to start sleeping around he was so deadpan. I don't know he makes me laugh. I don't like watching the ED stuff. This is not what these shows are for.

Anyway, I appreciated that all of the men voiced concern about the allegations against Louie. With men like these guys-goombah/macho-types-I was worried they'd dismiss it or minimize it.

Marian looks so much like Cindy Brady it's distracting.

Hey, protip that would have cut this off before it started: billionaires aren't looking for relationships on Tinder.

In their zeal to make Emily a wide-eyed prodigy, Sylvie has been shown to be mean to the point of unprofessional, unable to manage the agency financially, unwilling to do the hard parts of client management and an outdated dinosaur when it comes to marketing. Why are we supposed to think she is justified in her outrage or competent to start a new agency, let alone be on her side? Also, I get that Madeline is a gauche slob, but it was Antoine's wife who first brought up work at the party.

I just do not see Cynthia Nixon signing on to have this relationship that so closely mirrors her own IRL relationship end any way other than with Che and Miranda together in a “traditional” relationship (ie, not open). I just don’t believe she will let this be portrayed as a “fling” or in a way that is seen as less serious or less devoted than a traditional relationship. And yes I know people are poly or have open marriages and those relationships are serious and valid, but to paraphrase Charlotte, this show isn’t progressive enough for that. Cynthia Nixon obviously wanted to tell her story and she’s not going to let this end without Miranda being validated.

You’re living together and have a baby. No one gives a shit that you’re engaged.

I think I blacked out after I saw the Italian guy in his underwear.

I don't care about the kids and first names thing, but Brady called Miranda a bitch for making his girlfriend go home so he could do his homework? Really? Hell no. From what we've seen of him, he seems messy, but like a decent kid.

Of course this clumsy show has Che, a Magical Negro for 2021. Che's here to Teach Lessons on How To Be Good to these white ladies going through some stuff. Che's not just hilarious, they're wise and insightful and endlessly patient! When they rushed over to Gloria with the handkerchief during the wake my eyes rolled out of my head.

On last night's episode's talking heads he talks about how he isn't a businessman, doesn't know anything about business-majored in polisci "and that took me 10 years" -doesn't understand their financial advisor's lingo (he appeared to be unfamiliar with the term "in the red"), does no bookkeeping and says he didn't ever want to start the crystals sales business. He also talks to Brody about how they are going out of business and are broke. I'm not saying he's being Responsible, but I appreciated that he acknowledged it so openly and didn't front like he was a baller like basically every Real Housewife.

One thing I will say about Spencer is I find it refreshing that someone on a reality show is honest about being broke and a terrible business man.

That means they have to gross $200K just to pay for food. What about mortgage/rent? Health insurance? Neither one of them is aspirational enough to make big money on social media endorsements and they aren't cool enough to do club appearances. I can't believe they get paid very much by MTV with the low ratings of this show. People like them and Kim Zolsiak make me so nervous the way they burn through money on stupid shit like they are going to be able to keep making money on the D list forever. Open a 401K!

I try to cut Brandon some slack because he did have such a messed up upbringing and I don't think he knows how relationships are supposed to work (neither does Brody, and for the same reason) and for the most part he just seems like an immature, needy person. I don't know if he's pretending that he's a mover and a shaker or if he is really working, but he's not charismatic/talented enough to spin his connections into anything, but, yes, I think he's had opportunities because of his family and he isn't able to parlay those into anything more on his own. I think Dani is trying to get him to dump her.

Dani's a knockout-she looks like Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford's daughter. And I like Brandon, but he isn't the most exciting guy. She couldn't have been less interested than she was at the weird movie premiere, but Brandon seems like he'd be a hard guy to break-up with.

Spencer can be fun and funny and makes for good reality TV. But he and Heidi have no boundaries and they don't subscribe to the idea of "proportional response"-they will say whatever terrible thing they can think of, regardless of how minor the offense they are responding to is, and most people are not ready/willing to go that low. Jason and Ashley are the easiest targets-they have the least history and the least clout in this group. I don't have much respect for Brody (and JB and Frankie and basically everyone other than Brandon, Audrina and the new girl) for not intervening, but Brody has a messy personal/family life and Spencer has so much history with these people, I imagine they are all scared of what he will unleash/make up about them if he's mad.