NorthstarATL

That funeral was the BEST! I cannot stop laughing at the show. Whoever said last week that it reminded them of Carl Hiasson's writing was absolutely spot on! The crazy on top of the murder is so much his wheelhouse. I'm with you there. The scenes with him at home just feel like they belong on a different show.

Gabi + Chad = Gad

GOD, yes! The kid comes to town, pretty much broke, has had a fairly rough life but managed a degree, has decent chemistry with the folks playing his family members, and all the writers can think of is to have him obsess about a clearly deranged mother whom he never knew, and believe a wisp of a girl with an axe to grind that the woman who has shown him nothing but kindness when many others in her position might have given him the cold shoulder is responsible for that mother's murder and that he is now willing to team with wispy girl to destroy the welcoming woman's career? Such a waste. We didn't even get an epi or two of him adjusting to the new wealth nor have we been provided with a reworked set for the new apartment. I wonder if they are thinking of this just being a Kayla-in-jeopardy storyline and writing him out when it's done? The islanders barely had time for a quickie or even for anyone to need a shave and they're already rescued?

Elizabeth has always made sense to me. She was pushed by her mother and Society into a position that required her to marry well, and she lucked into a situation where the man she was destined to marry was in fact someone whom she fell for, in Ross, and likewise he her. She's been passive to the extent that circumstances beyond her control took that option away (Ross being presumed dead), and steered her toward Francis, and his struggles became hers. I actually admired her for standing by Francis, and even her attempts at friendship with Demelza. Her playing hapless victim and damsel in distress after Francis' death to keep Ross' attention made me dislike her intensely, but I could understand what she was doing and why. She's been very calculated and hardly passive throughout most of the story, in fact, even down to her timing the fall last episode. I cannot stand her any longer, mostly because her decisions place her children and Agatha in harm's way. It was one thing when it was just her, but quite another now. But I liked the fact that the triangle initially made none of the three "villainous", and that's very difficult to do. I hope that having Dwight missing, BTW, does not result in reprise of that situation, by having Caroline forced into marrying someone else, only to have Dwight miraculously reappear! They are already a kind of gender reversed version of Ross and Demelza without adding that aspect as well!

Elizabeth is just the worst, while Agatha is again the best. I am assuming she is too frail for travel, because I wanted Verity to at least offer to get her out of the house; but, then, her purpose in life at this point is to needle George and Elizabeth at every turn, and I DO enjoy watching her do so! Demelza was right, as usual, that Ross opted out of the justice position running too quickly. He AND the people could use a little power, and George will use anything at hand to continue his petty tyrannies. The show does such a great job with subtle and unsubtle glances and stares between the characters and the Warleggens and Poldarks were shooting looks at each other throughout the episode that could kill. I am also a sucker for a starcrossed lovers thing, and Drake and Morwenna are too cute as they continue a flirtation despite their families being enemies. Poor Dwight and Carline, though. Things aren't looking good, but Ross is on his way, and they wouldn't be going there if Dwight were a lost cause. Right?

He's listed as "Paolo" in the credits. I am assuming it is model Paolo Roldan, as I recognized him immediately. But I cannot find a confirmation. Speaking of Confirmation, this was a great ending. Live Chenowith, and her interactions with everyone were spot on. Too bad she couldn't do the resurrection thing. I guess Gaiman didn't think giving any Jesus actual power would work with his story, but what a great opportunity to Jesus shop for Mrs. Moon! Interesting, too, that the gods from other locales are played by the proper ethnic actors and actresses, yet the Norse not so much. I think I might feel a little culturally appropriated.

That was nuts! And not just the nuts that killed Nicole! The threeway was SO out of left field! Elizabeth just flat out murdering Jane (after the first headblow with an oar didn't take!) and then doing the Great Liz Speech, Darnley getting out of yet another fire, the introduction of yet another Catherine Spawn, and so on! A LOT to take in, and it just ended being such a mess! However, it was sweet seeing Mary reunite with Toby in the afterlife, although this reminded me that the last time I saw HIM was playing a total creep on "The Last Kingdom"! Oh, and it's interesting that both Mary and Elizabeth bemoan the status of women/Queens, with Idiot Knox to back them up, while the show (and history) is riddled with both heroic AND treacherous women, not the least of which being major character Catherine.

I really hated losing Brenda, and that scene with Tony was so sad. Theresa was just the right balance of elated and mistrustful with her ex. He didn't and doesn't care about anyone but himself. Camila is fun, but there is no way she inspires loyalty. I think it will be fairly simple for Theresa to take over when the time comes. I loved the scene where Theresa told her real story to the "trophy wife" and she thought Theresa was pulling her leg!

Sorry, Wench; I saw the scene differently. I never said that Clay's obsequious behavior was MEANT to incite a negative reaction; just that it could.

There have always been terrible cops and well as decent ones, and traffic violations are how municipalities make their money, so there are a LOT of unnecessary stops. I'm not sure I would call them "heartbreaking". Maddie filming the encounter silently would have been the right way to handle things. I actually thought Clay's obsequious behavior was so over the top that was meant to incite a negative reaction from the cops. Together, they just brought out the worst in each other. Gunnar deserves better.

So heaven really IS Canada? My BF was deported to there by his wife, and I'm considering following him. All those GIFTS Moira got just for arriving! I only need a new cell phone! The ending was cool. I assume that June was carted away by the Underground and she'll be the new Harriett Tubman! (Eventually she'll even be on money! I call dibs on referring to the upcoming bills as "Tubbies", as in "I've got a Tubby in my wallet and I'm going downtown".) Probably all sorts of miscommunications when Luke and Moira try to rescue her and she has to act as if she wants to stay because she's in the middle of a transfer of someone she cares about, plus her daughter still being around. SJ and Fred need to die horribly. Mostly SJ, because she should know better. We're all human, and SHOULD empathize, but there are specific cruelties that each gender and/or subgroup experiences differently, and that commonality SHOULD be a bond. I liked the moment of defiance. It was very Spartacus. Again, I take issue with the premise, so it makes the book and series difficult for me to accept. The handmaids ought to be revered for their ability to conceive, and, barring that, at least kept from physical harm/exertion. A throwback Society would likely be one in which a woman who was pregnant would be kept from activity just in case. Feminism pushed for pregnant women to work right up until labor, and encouraged sports and activity further into pregnancy than in "less enlightened" times. SJ knocking June around, and even that gunman punching a woman he did NOT know was NOT pregnant was beyond what should happen given the premise. However, accepting the premise, that was a rough scene. I have no empathy for Frau Lydia. She sold out, and harmed a lot of women in the process. Janine, though, had become so childlike that it was made even worse, if that is possible. Even worse, the scene is a reminder that stoning still occurs in parts of the world NOW. And, yes, it's often women. Anyway, hope next season is more taking down Gilead, and everyone in it.

He pretty much said it by leaving out the qualifier of her senility/dementia whatever when he repeated back to her that he would put a bullet in her head. And then there were the boundary issues.... I thought this was stronger than the first couple of episodes because we did get a look at what the guys are planning for their future, a bit of Smurf's past, and thankfully no abusive parenting on Baz's part. The guy who plays Javi is kind of hot. So, Smurf was taken in by Manny, and they were all Paper Moon, until the addition of Javi's dad, and some other guy (the one who greeted them when they arrived? I didn't catch his name.) It seems as if maybe she recreated that scenario with her own kids when she had the opportunity, but with her playing the Manny part? Is Pope punishing himself for the murder by burning himself or did he do that to get out of the plans with the woman with kid issues? The bird thing was creepy. Deran's plot is pretty normal...and dull. but I guess we needed to see at least one member of the family go straight (no pun intended), and if the guys aren't going to gather at the house anymore, every show needs a hangout.

I've worked with guys like that. They seriously do NOT pay attention to the women, thinking that they are easily "managed", which is why the women in this show will likely be able to pull off whatever they will be attempting. This made me laugh. I lived near St. Pete/Clearwater for awhile. I didn't really know any of the people like those on the show, but that all sorts of bat shit craziness would be on the news so yeah, it is believable. Oxy is definitely one of the drugs of choice in that area along with crack. I was about ten minutes into it and just realized these were MY PEOPLE! I recognized every single one, darn it. It took some dark turns, but I was laughing through the entire episode. I am definitely in for now. When Des first walked into the house in an earlier scene "Chekov's gun" was in plain sight. Only a matter of time before it reappeared.

EVERYTHING about the episode was perfection! Loved seeing the kids (even if Ross and Demelza's was really brief), and some new characters! The black moon, three people on the brink of death, all the snide comments, especially from fearless Aunt Agatha, and the knowing looks between people who understand how pregnancy works! Great start to the season!

So they decided to make things political? I am making a Madison face and checking out. Adios.

This. I love her performance, and I think they did an excellent job casting her. I also like Camilla and Epifanio for the cartoon characters THEY play. It's almost the opposite of Teresa, because they are so over the top, but they bring the fun. That one DEA agent seems to admire Teresa more than her notdead BF does, or is he downplaying her skillz so as not to make her a larger target? This is one of those shows I don't miss when they are off the air, but am pleased to see them back when they are.

Arianna will be dating by the time Gabi gets home.

I think this hits the nail on the head: Smurf didn't seem to care much for females last season, and I doubt Nicky is the exception. IIRC that was part of the problem with J's mother and her. Smurf seemed, until this season, much better at handling guys. Baz lost me with his horrific treatment of his daughter. I was sure all last season until the end that Pope had had sex with his sister, and that J AND the sister spiraling out of control were the result. I can't recall what made me no longer think that, but Pope is hopefully Lena's dad. She deserves better than Baz.

I'd like to think that it would be, given that real life Gileads do not permit women to drive. LOL! Awesome. I SO wanted June to let it all out when given the job of getting Janine and Angelotte off the bridge, but I guess there's more plot that can be squeezed out of having Janine know about the effort to get away from and/or bring down Gilead. I just imagined June shouting "You should SEE the shit SJ puts me through! And that place Fred took me to, Jezebels? And they think their wives don't KNOW what they do to us there? Remember Moira?" BTW, June mentioned Moira, and Janine didn't flinch. I know she had other things on her mind, but didn't she think Moira was dead? I wonder whether some handmaids would be relieved NOT to watch the couple raise their child; sort of how women feel who give children up for adoption voluntarily. As well as the wives not wanting the "competition" of having the bio-mother always there, especially as the child would not likely look anything like the wife. OTOH, if fertility WERE really the basis for Gilead, the wives would have to suck it up, as the pairing that resulted in a child is apparently one that works, and it is foolish to mess with a positive result by taking chances on procreation with a new pairing by transferring the handmaid. It's great dramatically, but not so much within the internal logic of what Gilead is supposed to be. I wouldn't mind if we followed Moira and see how/whether she got all the way out. I'd really love to know what happened to technology as well. Imagine how much worse things would be if they had modern tech, and could chip people, as well as video them? Fortunately, higher tech doesn't usually go hand-in-hand with medieval religious thinking. This episode had some beautiful scenes, BTW. I am always creeped out by how much the handmaids gathered remind me of the Madeline children's books, if they were horror stories.

Strand leaves in style!

The tree shows more emotion.

Is it too soon to ask for a date?

She looked constipated. Cannot be said enough.

Low standards.

Madison grieved for Travis for a whole two seconds.