sinkwriter

The only pregnancy story he could come up with was having Cordelia sleep with Angel's son? That was beyond gross and made NO sense. Before he came back as a teenager, she was like a mom to him.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, if you feel like typing them up, Taryn74. Season 4 was a messy and complicated one, but there were definitely parts I liked.

Ha! I found the fight. Gotta love Youtube. (It's not the whole thing, but most of it.) Someone in the comments reminded me that they left out some good stuff that came at the end, including when Alex finally softens a bit and says he hadn't really thought about his mom caring so much about it, and she says, "Surprise, Alex. I am a real person! Flesh and blood! Real feelings!" I wish CBS had kept the whole clip, where you can see them make up. It's very sweet.

A favorite of mine is the one where Alex turns 18. He's pretty insufferable, sneaks out with his friends to go to a bar, trying to pick up girls by pretending to be a military pilot only in town for the night or something, and then his mom comes to get him ("Can I have a word with you, Colonel?") and he gets in a massive fight with his mom when she makes him come home with her. The fight is HILARIOUS. "I've got EIGHTEEN YEARS under this belt..." (with a hand gesture with his belt that cracks me up) Most of the yelling is done by Alex. His mom just stands there, listening to him rant. He keeps talking as if she's responding to him, snapping at her like she actually said something and he's got another retort ready. But the whole time she's silent, and when he finally stops talking... ALEX: Have you anything else to say? MOM: (silent but definitely fuming) ALEX: I thought not. ...and then his mom just FLATTENS HIM with her words. Just tells him off, and he's stunned and really sorry, and it's awesome and so funny. Michael J. Fox and Meredith Baxter at their best.

If the cops just keep going in circles, arresting and then putting people back on the streets, and not helping with the serious issues of the communities, then they are part of the problem. It becomes a vicious cycle, just like that guy pointed out about the aesthetic changes Nolan was doing in the park - adding new light bulbs does nothing if they just get broken again and the park goes right back to being a drug hangout. It just means the cops (like Nolan in this episode) are doing pointless stuff to pat themselves on the back, like, "I added new light bulbs. That solves the problem! Everything should be good now." But it's not. Something deeper needs to be done to help make the neighborhood safe, and it's not going to happen by doing stuff that doesn't really make a real difference. It's like the issues we have with the health & drug industry. Medication is great and often very necessary, but if all it does is offer temporary relief from pain (or simply masks pain), it's not really solving the real issues people are suffering from, like what's actually causing the pain in the first place. Like, yeah, you can give me meds to make the pain in my arm go away for a while, but what I really need is for you to fix the broken bone. So to speak.

I'm hoping they'll still show that she is the psycho (and not Malcolm) because she's the one who isn't freaking out. I was a little disappointed that they jumped right to "Malcolm liked that he got away with it." Really? *sigh Honestly? I was so confused by that moment in the episode. Up to that point, I had seen his side story in the episode as "JT is awkward and doesn't know how to talk to the press because he's never been in charge and in front of the camera before - it was always Gil's job." So all of a sudden right at the end of the episode he's getting attacked, and I'm like, "What the hell is happening here? Why are they [the writers] choosing to do this in this episode, right in this moment? It makes NO sense. Did I miss something?" It felt like a random attack that had nothing to do with anything he'd been doing all episode. And then the end with Gil showing up made it sound like they'd attacked him because they didn't like that he was in charge while Gil was on leave? Or maybe I misunderstood and need to rewatch the episode because I felt like I missed something. It seemed like they didn't show properly that there was any threat coming or that anyone had an issue with him. It made no sense. It just felt really random in the midst of an episode that wasn't about police brutality or racism. And that's fine, it doesn't have to be all "afterschool special" hit-you-over-the-head with its messaging, especially because these kinds of attacks where the huge jump in escalation seems to come out of nowhere are true to reality, but... in this particular episode, with little time left, I was like, "WTF is going on?" That's what I thought they were going to do, and I thought it could be really interesting. Especially if she was in denial about how viciously she'd attacked the guy, how out of control and rage-filled she'd been, and maybe Malcolm would try to get her to at the very least seek therapy or something while they held this secret and it became harder for both of them to handle it. I hope they don't drop her as a potential "heir" to her dad's psychosis. Having Malcolm take up that mantle seems too easy. Yes, the actor can definitely play it (he was certainly a little manic-scary with the chains and the saw in the dungeon), but I think it's too predictable to have him be the one who becomes his father. After all, he seems genuinely freaked out about it, with his shaking hands and constant worry, while his sister seems like it's all no big deal (which seems much more in line with someone who has a tendency toward serial murder).

Just started rewatching this show - man, it's been a long time! Which is fun, because my memory is now hazy on some details and makes it like I've almost never seen the show before. I remember some things, but there are a lot of details I've forgotten. Mellie being a sleeper agent is one of the big ones. Rewatching Man on the Street, I had a vague memory that this episode was pivotal for some reason but I couldn't remember why. Watching the episode, I knew Mellie doesn't get killed but I couldn't remember how she got out of the situation. I thought maybe Ballard made it back just in time. So I was waiting for him to run and get there... until the phone message came on and Adelle said, "There are three flowers in a vase," and then it all came flooding back to me. BEST MOMENT EVER! I remember watching the series when it first aired and thinking, I swear if they kill her off, I will be furious. And then they amped up the amazing with her surprise programming. Seeing her switch to kickass mode was so cool. I also remember really appreciating that they cast Miracle Laurie as Mellie because she was not your standard sized actress. I thought she was beautiful and loved that she got to have this romance with one of the lead male characters. It was so rare (and often still is) to have a curvy actress be in a romantic role or a kickass role -- they're usually the sidekick or the comic relief -- so that was one area where I really tipped my hat to the Dollhouse casting. That Mellie got to have more depth than I would have expected (from a character usually meant to be the "mild-mannered neighbor" and prop for exposition needs) was super gratifying.

Random side note: a potential client contacted my contract boss today, and the last name was Coatsworth. Which immediately made me snicker and suddenly think of Ms. Coatsworth-Hay and "Francis Scott Key" keys. Heeeee.

I never saw Toby as a "wise counselor." (Though I do think he had his moments of wisdom.) Instead, I saw him as a smart, conflicted man with great integrity, even to his own inner detriment. Which sounds like I think he did it, but no. To me it's because of that integrity that I think he didn't do it. For me, there was NO way he would have betrayed the President re: the shuttle. Instead, I think he would have stayed quiet, suffering in silence, and probably spent a lot of time drinking heavily and feeling like shit for not saying anything. We see it so many times. Even when he's furious with Bartlet, he's the one who was there for everyone else when they were angry with him about the MS reveal, for example gently but pointedly reminding Sam that he's still "President Bartlet," not just "Bartlet," even though he understands how betrayed they feel. And when he felt the White House had been betrayed by someone who leaked information, he was furious and wanted to interview everyone and find out who would do such a thing. (And in the end pulled back and instead reminded everyone that he understands how good it feels to be "in the know" but you just can't give up resources, not without hurting everyone you work for and with and not without possibly wrecking everything you've worked toward.) And there were so many times when Toby would hold things in and suffer in silence. You can see how embarrassed and horrified he felt when he was taken to task for his arrogance in writing a speech for Bartlet that condemned the very leader who was visiting (State Dinner) and led to his French protestor friend not being released. He felt like shit when he found out the President didn't choose him for his job, but he wouldn't confront the President about it. Bartlet had to hear from CJ (most likely) about how Toby felt, and he's the one who brought it up to Toby instead. Toby holds it all in. And he was angry when Leo suggested Toby was looking for a life boat out of the West Wing, because Toby has been there since the very beginning and wasn't planning to go anywhere so he felt like how could Leo think that about him? He may get frustrated and angry with Bartlet, and challenge him to be the man he knows Bartlet is and can be, but he's still fiercely, quietly loyal. So to me, there's just no way Toby would have betrayed the White House. He would have wanted to but ultimately he has integrity, even when he hates himself for it. I truly believe he would have kept quiet, blamed himself, and as he once said, he'd want to spend some time "in a dark room alone" -- spent doing a lot of drinking and contemplating quitting everything.

P.S. The other guy in Jon's show is played by none other than Mr. Trick from Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Heeee. (His name is K. Todd Freeman, and - random note - I once saw him in a production of Wicked in Chicago.)

Our very own Marcus Bell (Jon Michael Hill) is going to be in a virtual theatre production of a two-member-cast, 20-minute show called "What is Left, Burns," via Steppenwolf Theatre, starting sometime in November? Looks like you may not be able to buy a ticket to just that show -- you may have to buy a virtual membership in order to see it, but that also means you will get to see all the other shows Steppenwolf puts on virtually from now through next year August. Here's a link for anyone interested in seeing what else they'll be doing. And here's the description of Jon's show: Sounds like quite a departure from Marcus Bell! I'm intrigued. 😊

I had to laugh this morning - an office I was in had a radio playing and these two DJs were bitching about Tyra and how she kept cutting off judges because she said they were running out of time, but then she miraculously had all sorts of time to talk about whatever she wanted to talk about. They were really mad! They wanted to hear from the judges. They did not like her as a host at all. I can't say I'm surprised, though. I expected her to make the show focus more on her and her opinions, and just hearing they were going to focus on her annoying smize stuff solidified that for me. I don't think I'll be able to keep watching. I really do miss Tom. He had such a quick wit and was able to keep low profile and let the dancing (and the judges' antics) be the focus. (And make marvelously snarky comments when warranted, LOL.)

I find something wrong with that, and hope their father is going to sort it out. (LOL) While I like the idea that people end up in hell because it's of their own making (feeling responsibility for something they've done), I feel like that absolves those who may have done something really horrible but don't have the conscience to care about what they did. So, does that mean they don't end up in hell, or does God have a different plan for those people? Inquiring minds want to know. Because there are some people who better be in hell for what they've done...

As for the events of this episode... FUCKING FINALLY. (LOL) And: Dan, noooooooo. As Lucifer would say: Michael, you bastard.

I definitely wonder about that (Dan casualty possibility) because he keeps talking about how much he's messed up and people don't know just how much (except Maze, of course, who was part of one of his big incidents). I fear for him because he's clearly feeling such guilt, and if he's feeling that, he'll get stuck in hell because he can't let go of it. I hope Amenadiel was able to get through to him enough, that he's a good man, but... I don't know. And now that he's seen Lucifer's face... YIKES! I've got 2 more episodes to watch and I have no idea what they've got planned for anybody. All part of the fun! 😉 I know she was drunk, but it bothered me as well to hear Linda say that. Mainly because she of all people knows how much he's changed since he first started working with her. He may still be self-absorbed sometimes (oftentimes, LOL), but he's learning and changing in important ways, too.

This has been my favorite episode so far from this season. Everyone got a little something to do, Amenadiel finally got some love and appreciation (from the nuns, LOL), there was a lot of funny going on, and interesting characters paired up for some terrific scenes. Linda and Maze are always so wonderful together, and I liked the unusual pairing of Chloe and Amenadiel working together (and how much that annoyed Lucifer, LOL). Of course, Lucifer and Dan are always a riot. And the end discussion between Chloe and Amenadiel was just lovely. I thought that was a good way for Chloe to move forward again. ❤️

I think what annoyed me a little bit about this particular chosen "past" for Linda is that it seems to contradict her behavior about her pregnancy with Charlie. With that pregnancy, she seemed like she'd never been pregnant before and that everything was brand new and scary to her. But that wouldn't be the case if she'd already been pregnant once. You can decide to walk away from it afterward, but you really can't forget how it works. I love this show, but sometimes I think they try too hard to neatly tie together storylines (like a case that perfectly mirrors whatever Lucifer and Chloe are struggling with that week, or in this case Maze's mom tied together with Linda's past, etc.). It's not necessary. The audience will "get it" without a case or a piece of someone's past to tie it all together. And the characters can go through the struggle without a case to force them to see why their behavior is messed up. Of all the possible "sins" a show could have, it's a minor one, but it does sometimes feel like they're hitting us over the head with the message of the episode, and I don't need or want that in order to enjoy the show.

I'm still watching all the episodes from this season, but I'm having a bit of trouble with the whole Michael plot. Don't get me wrong, I think Tom Ellis is awesome and I love how he differentiates between the characters with even the smallest of body language changes. But... I don't understand how Michael can be so nasty and plotting evil and getting away with it. Amenadiel did shady stuff in season 1 and lost his wings and powers because of it. How can Michael come to Earth, be messing around as he is and be so evil and not feel relatively immediate consequences from his "Father"? Angels may be dicks sometimes, but they're not supposed to be outright evil, are they?

I will consider it a huge waste if the one true believer of all the characters ends up never finding out about Lucifer. I think that would be a huge thing for her character and a plot worth exploring. Especially if she goes into denial or truly cannot handle it - all the other characters so far have eventually gotten over it (for the most part). It would be more realistic if at least one of the main characters refused to believe it, or just lost their mind. Or something interesting! For some reason I was waiting for him to finally realize he'd just been scared to face his family and that -- now that he acknowledges those fears -- he doesn't have to feel guilty anymore. And then he'd disappear from Hell right in front of Lucifer (or someone would come to take him to Heaven). I figured he was going to come to realizations about himself, showing more growth and readiness to let go of those emotional struggles than Lucifer was able to do during the same conversation (with Lucifer's own baggage). That was my hope for him, anyway. Maybe they could bring him back in S6 to let him wise up at long last and leave Hell once and for all, proving Lucifer's comment that people are there because of their own internal struggles and can actually leave anytime they're ready and able.

I'm doing a full series re-watch right now (currently on season 4) and Dan still bugs me in this episode. He's being such a hypocrite and doesn't even seem to notice. He has NO reason to judge, given that he shot a man (and almost killed him), conspired with Maze to have Chloe's father's murderer killed (he may not have been the one to do the killing but he set it up perfectly so that it would happen), and recently went on a fight club sort of spree with Maze, getting in a massive brawl under the guise of getting info from a suspect but really it was because he wanted to blow off steam and hurt someone. So he's completely full of shit. And I know it's because he's so angry about Charlotte's death, but that doesn't give him the right to judge or set someone up to be hurt or killed.

Nice! I'm in a Lucifer re-watch as well, though I've just started so I'm only on episode 3 of season 1. So, I'm in the early fun stuff. 😊 On a side note, did you enjoy Smallville as a series? I only watched the first 5 seasons, so I'm wondering if it's worth it for me to go back and give the rest a try.

Happy "National Avocado Day" to the two best avocados in Hell's Kitchen. 😉

I just finished a rewatch of my Leverage DVDs, and I'm still singing that song, LOL. Just finished messaging with my sister, who (once upon a time) I got watching White Collar, which she loves and now calls her "comfort TV." So I told her today, "Well, if you liked that, you have to come visit me and I'll get you watching Leverage! It's so fun." *rubs hands together gleefully* Yessssssss... I will make it happen. 😄

I could have gotten behind any of those suggestions, especially because -- as DollEyes pointed out -- they've been on the show and know what it's like, and they're engaging, fun, and/or funny. (I especially love the Aisha Tyler idea. She's fantastic, and so quick-witted.) Tyra, though? Sadly, not for me. I'm not interested. Can't believe they got rid of Tom. What a fool move, no matter what costs they needed to cut.

Now there's a thought! LOL. ❤️