phoenix780

I'm one who thought this was fun, and I also credit Bethenny for helping with that. There are two things, though, that bug me. Tinsley tried really hard in that fight with Sonja, but I couldn't stop wondering where she pulled a check from. I haven't written a check in years, it's hard for me to imagine her just having one with her. So, I couldn't get into the scene. Also, Ramona. When they panned I caught a glimpse of a TV mounted to a wall, cables everywhere, cable box on a table. That's not the opulence I expect from the show, and I'm highly disappointed. The rest was amazing, exactly the kind of fun drama I need after a long day. My favorite moment was Luann pulling at her collar as she realized who she was chatting with. I love her when the character slips a bit (or a lot). Ramona's pact at brunch being immediately slaughtered was also a great scene.

I'm glad it's back. I'm secretly hoping that they do a radical revamp and it's more like these videos. Uninterrupted dancing, shot in a way that makes sense and is engaging enough, in my opinion, to not need things like audience noises or judge reaction shots to help viewers engage. Plus the back-to-back switching of dancers feels...like a more meaningful, intense competition, even though that's not the intent.

I guess there's something to be said for a show willing to depict all out war as boring, repetitive, and ultimately unsatisfying.

I skipped last week's because I couldn't deal with the stories. And I tried this week but had to stop when Tyra started giving selfie lessons. There's something off about the tone of the show for me, I think because it looks better, the way it's filmed, but Tyra's antics are still the same so they feel out of place. I dunno. There seem to be some good contestants, it sucks that it's...weird and boring (I to me).

If they pull off a redemption arc for a character who perpetrated some of the most graphic violence we've seen, against a fan favorite character, they're the best writers in the history of television. I can't even imagine what that would look like (though I'd guess it involves saving Maggie at some point), how they'd do it without heroic self-sacrifice on Negan's part. I almost want them to try, to see how well they can do.

I know there are differences, but this Negan backstory stuff reminds me of the Governor. Why wait so long to try and flesh out a character? He's already stale, at least for me, and he only really existed to murder a beloved character anyway. Unless learning more about him is a prelude to his demise, I'll pass. Or I'll watch and complain about it more, because it's nice to have something harmless to vent about. I'm strangely unmoved by Carl's death. I'm mostly curious who they'll do this with next, because they rely heavily on beloved characters dying to drive story, and taking out a kid seems like your last move. But they have more seasons pending, right?

I think Vanderpump held back because the info about Dorit was too new for her. She's the ultimate stealth schemer, if we're to believe prior seasons, there's no way she'd learn about a betrayal and react to it the same day. She needs time to plot, and to get back in control of the storyline. I don't imagine we'll see her full revenge until the reunion, if not next season.

Aw, you guys. Erika had to wear her sunglasses inside because of allergies, or whatever the throwaway line was. I loved this episode. Dorit really brought it. I like a villain I can comfortably hate, and she's so delusional I feel no guilt for disliking everything about her. I enjoyed fights between the old school cast members. I loved Camille's enjoyment of Dorit getting yelled at. I'll tolerate Teddy attempting to defuse my drama because she's a good, neutral character. The only thing I found disappointing was that this wasn't a full-on housewives crossover. Enough of them across the cities are in "fashion," they could have had more fun with that. I'm glad there's at least one coming next week.

This season...I may drop out. I can't deal with Kennedy, or Game of Thrones every week. The elimination drama is played out, given how long this genre's been around I've seen this all before, but it's also making me not like the most likely winners. It just feels weaker, even if I forget how awesome the last all stars was. And, it's kinda boring. At least next season should be great, by contrast.

Tyra! It's like she never left. Except she seems out of place, because she's way more energetic than anyone else. She's clearly from a different generation of reality TV. I didn't learn a single name. What they did to the "old" was super mean, twisted. That's about all I can remember...except for the unstable one crying about something. Here's hoping it picks up!

Is this a models of all sizes seasons like the mothership so bravely did? That was such a (self) important moment, they can't go backwards... I'm actually down for this if it's the same writers and editors, because they were on point this past regular season. Not necessarily as a fashion show, but as a reality soap it was really entertaining and well crafted. They have enough terrible people here to pull off something special, for lack of a better word.

I think that's an interesting way to describe the show- people lucky enough to survive- because I guess I felt like the show was more about people who banded together and survived through their collective efforts, against the odds. Maybe I need to readjust my perspective here, because it is just luck that eventually will run out for them all, one finale after another. I think I'm also a little old school, in that I like the idea of invincible characters. You watch them get beat up, cry, fall in love, there's some tension around survival (that you choose to buy into because it's a fictional world and you have to let go a little to enjoy it), and you also get to watch them triumph and succeed every now and again, too. So thinking about it...this really isn't the story for me, because I think it's totally unbalanced, and they only seem to know how to do one thing to get you to care about the characters they've created. In truth, I also can't really get into it post-Glenn/Abe because there hasn't been any real justice/vengeance yet, and that scene in the premiere where they all shot the building instead of Negan & co. was kind of...I still don't get how that was anything but stupidity from our protagonists, in a way I can't get over. As far as how this helps explain why Rick decides to show mercy to Negan, I'm imagining a long set of scenes where they talk about Carl and what Carl would have wanted. It probably won't make total sense unless you decide to roll with it, and if they want to rely on shocking character deaths actually killing the main villain would be a good path to take (about their only one, too- we're down to, what, 4 people they can use in this capacity?) so I don't get why they would want to keep Negan alive at all. But, I can see how they'd go an In Carl's Memory route to keep that character around a bit longer.

This reunion was a great summary of the season for me. Way too much self-congratulation for featuring models of all sizes 16+ seasons into a franchise, especially since they still only got invited to the digital version of a magazine (unless...is that one of the magazines that's digital only now?). But ultimately enjoyable as a reality TV show, for me, thanks to the twins and the drama that swirls around them. They were great villains. As someone who comments on the show online I could have done without the "don't read the comments" stuff, or the "I only take the good." We can be brutal at times, but we're also pretty thoughtful critics, and criticism is good. Plus we're nowhere near as bad as the judges (who oddly weren't at the reunion to validate the "best season ever" storyline). The show, at least, should be grateful people still care enough to comment. I didn't change my opinion on Tim for his behavior on his other show. I may have now, though. A professional critic shouldn't be so dismissive of us online folk. That's my feeling, anyway. Overall though, this was my most enjoyed season since the move to Lifetime. I hope the next cast is as entertaining.

I love how the judges chastise people for slinging mud then go backstage and absolutely demolish them. Just watched one with a granddaughter being sued by her grandmother, they were appalled she'd call grandma a liar, then labeled her a sociopath.

Is Joanie really going to be a carpenter on the new Trading Spaces? I loved her, so I hope so, but I can't quite tell if she's confirmed or just on some weird digital spinoff. http://people.com/home/trading-spaces-revival-inside-the-emotional-moment-the-original-cast-reunited/

That was pretty boring for how many explosions and whatnot there were. But, I'm choosing to ignore time jumping until it's clarified, and maybe that's where the entertainment is. This is a Sunday night show, I don't wanna try that hard.

I'm guess for me it's not so stark, in the sense that, after thinking about it more, to me it's fair in this situation specifically to think everyone could have done better. I'm not super critical of or offended by Michael or Margarita, I also can't applaud them. Other situations, like Weinstein, I have a different perspective. I'd forgotten about the dolls. So, there will now be a child's toy dressed as a melting disco ball? That doesn't feel super playful.

I can't get there with you. I don't disagree with what you're saying, but for me it just felt so self-serving that I can't get to a place where I see this specific instance as something to encourage. I guess I think that motive matters, so finally speaking out because you're jealous or you're the victim of the copying, whatever, isn't something I applaud. That may be wrong on my part and I'll have to rethink it. Also, my opinion is admittedly tainted because I have a pet peeve about people speaking a different language to hide a conversation, and I remember Margarita throwing a model under the bus spectacularly a few weeks back, so I'm already not feeling either her or Michael. I think they made a really big mistake with the cliffhanger last week pushing the twin drama to conclude on this episode. While it was great tv, and I did appreciate the soap-opera-ness of it all, it was really jarring to jump from Cheating to Product Placement w/Kids. I needed time to forget between episodes. Actually, I wish we'd heard more from the judges. I'm left with the impression that it's OK to copy a garment as long as you do it while in the workroom, and/or you do it on challenges that aren't about clothing design (like this one about making a print). But I think some of that may be embarrassment on the judges' part, because they can't exactly admit that they missed Claire's alleged propensity for knocking stuff off. It was just strange, they could have taken some time to clarify. I was, however, super impressed that they managed to get an advertisement for pens nestled into that product placement segment. Although now that I'm thinking...didn't they used to shill tablets? Seems like a step backward, though these pens are cool. I'll miss Amy. I don't care that her look wasn't the best, because I thought that most of them kind of sucked, and this isn't a show about talented clothing makers anymore so I don't see a point in getting rid of her now. I especially hated the winning look, it gave me flashbacks to a challenge from a few years back with car parts or something. Totally didn't get it.

This show's rebirth as a soap opera is entertaining as hell. I can't not turn in next time. Also, twins, like in every classic soap ever. I'll assume Clair cheated and still think Margarita is worse. Either say it or don't, and don't wind up others to do your dirty work. I'm considering the win and cash prize compensation for all the twin vs. twin drama, which I guess means I think it's fake. Brilliant plot twist, though. They should lower the overall prize package if contestants get this crazy over $25k and a Dixie cup "inspired by" their print. I wonder if there think it's balanced because they had an elimination at the beginning instead of the end.

That was a serious letdown. I was riding high, having thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the episode right when suddenly it was the runway and judgment time. And then it was a big bag of "what the fuck" right up until the end. Super disappointing, but not surprising, and now I'm all bitter. I'm not even excited to see the twins emotionally tear each other down, using as many words as possible to do so. I'm just annoyed. Speaking of words, Kentaro's interview moment didn't even register with me as a thing that happened until the comments here. I think it hit me as a moment in which a human being was trying to learn something, which I think is awesome, so it just melted into the fun of watching the show...until the end. I'd love for us to live in a world where we don't talk so much about how we say things, it's getting to be...inescapable in my world, apparently, if it's invading my overly-serious discussion of a nonsense reality show, and I need a break from it. It was nice to see the models in still photographs (for a fraction of a second), but if we're doing Instagram I think we should really do Instagram- post that crap and see how many likes an outfit actually gets.

Way late in watching and commenting, but I really enjoyed the episode. It was about as close to classic PR as I think I'll get, and I was thoroughly entertained (albeit paying half attention). I think it was mainly the fun surprise of guest judges I don't know offering actual critical feedback beyond "I wouldn't wear it." And, I feel like the twins are essentially Kenley from back in the day, in this episode it was enjoyable to revisit that kind of classically-delusional reality show villain. They're also doing a great job at priming them for an over-the-top dramatic explosion at some point- it should be decent, if it's not too drawn out. Also, I've started to look forward to seeing what Nina's wearing. The whole season thus far her tops have been...I'm going to say "encrusted," because they appear to be covered in random shiny crap. This episode brought the random astronaut. I love that she's not afraid to make the designers look better by contrast, or steal a little bit of the attention. The only thing I'd jettison are the models' opinions. Don't care, don't get why one was thanking the judges for feedback on the runway., or why one was giving backstory during the close-up critique. If they want me to care about models again, pair them with a designer, bring back the swapping drama, and that might do it because there'd be relationships forming between designers I like and their muses. The way it is, though...not into it.

Reading that article, the line about being prepared to be filmed at all times...did they conceive of this as some kind of act? They do dominate, while I struggle to remember some of the other contestants. If it's all calculated...they aren't smart people. They'll probably be successful, because the world is broken, but they're not all that swift.

I think you hit it, it's about public perception. He went on her show and acted out. That was just dumb, she couldn't really overlook it. I don't feel particularly passionate about any of this stuff, but the interview was...it felt like punishment. Andy shows up a her home, she didn't get the glam treatment and great lighting, he asked more intense questions than usual, and it's offered up to us. She probably should have just "broken down" at the reunion. This was a strange coda to what's probably my favorite season of housewives ever. I could've done without it.

I like the clowns (this show is all about that one, great costume a year), I like the actress from Scream Queens, I'm fine watching Sarah Paulson run around screaming, but I can't do Trump in my entertainment, and I think I'm bitter that a show that's usually a fun escape, coming off a season I really enjoyed, has this off-putting element. There aren't many shows left that get my full attention, I don't want to let it go, not for this. Here's hoping it's just a gimmick.

This episode was a lot better than the others so far, because I could fast forward through the unnecessary parts, like the models speaking. I also wasn't paying full attention, it's a great show to have on while doing chores. Did Nina, in a shirt that was completely encrusted with random crap, say something was too much? Margarita's dress. The top seemed...I can't imagine it comfortably fitting (or covering) a woman with even a slightly larger chest than the model. Seems like it'd need to be redesigned, so I was surprised it was a top look. I'm not a woman though, so I have no real Idea. It was nice, though, to only disagree with one of the top looks.