Biggie B

The way I see it, we already know that Rebecca never made it big as a professional singer. Thus, her flashbacks need to support that part of her story line. It also lays the foundation for her feelings about Kate's singing in light of Rebecca's own non-singing career. I don't think the producers of the show are ignoring Mandy Moore's singing skills but the Rebecca character does sing at points throughout the show, so it behooved them to cast an actress who actually can and does sing (although, sure, they could've hired anyone and dubbed in the singing if they really wanted to). As for Mandy Moore's looks - that's subjective - I don't think she's anything special. Pretty, yes, but not incredible. But that's just how I see her. As others have mentioned, I did think that when Rebecca went to that interview in LA, there was going to be the singing equivalent of the casting couch. Glad that didn't happen.

Oh, sorry @GHScorpiosRule - I misread.

I watch it on the Starz network, and the first run episode is on every Sunday at 8:00 p.m. eastern time. It's not on demand, nor do I pay for it - it's just part of the Starz regularly scheduled first run shows. Starz has more than one channel, and the new weekly episode is on later on at least one of the other channels. I liked this episode a lot. It's been ages since I read the books, and while I remember the plot on a broad level, I don't remember the details or how things differ from the books, and I don't much care. I just let the story unfold before me - whatever happens, happens. Sometimes it's well done and sometimes it's less than fabulous, but overall, it's a beautifully made show and it's compelling enough to keep me coming back. I thought Ian was excellent this week, even though he didn't have a major story line in this episode. I appreciated how calm and efficient he was in helping Claire do the surgery on Rufus. I liked his scene when he and the other fellow were getting ready to bathe Rollo - his facial expressions were on point. I do remember not really liking or trusting Jocasta when I read the books, and this episode did little to change my mind. River Run isn't a good place - it gives me the creeps. It was sickening to watch what happened to Rufus, and then I reminded myself that lynching was still going on deep into the 20th century, two centuries after Rufus - which is disgusting and completely depressing. Still, I thought it was a powerful episode and offered a small window into an environment that is almost beyond our ability to imagine (slavery and all its horror).

A person named Kate. Jackson said he met her at the monastery (which surprised me - I must have missed it but I guess he stayed at one while off on his God quest??). Anyway, this Kate had lost her brother, I believe, so she and Jackson bonded over their losses, or something to that effect. When Maggie picked up Jackson's cell phone, mistakenly thinking it was hers, she saw a text from Kate that said, "I miss you!!" with some heart emojis. Jackson swore up, down, and sideways that they never slept together. If I messed up any of the details, someone correct me!

She had an abortion last season. I loved the whole onesie sleepover stuff - it was seriously hilarious and it was almost a relief - no screaming, no drama (except for a brief moment when Jamal realized he'd eaten what he shouldn't have), just...weird fun! Good for them! One thing that's interesting to me is that now that Cookie and Lucious are strapped for cash, we are seeing Cookie in one outfit for pretty much the entire episode. No more lavish outfits with each scene change, wigs, jewelry, etc. I mean, she's still Cookie and isn't wearing sweatpants, but her clothing is almost an additional character in and of itself, so it's really noticeable to see Cookie so scaled back from a sartorial point of view. I'm not interested in Maya at all. I get Cookie's connection to her via Poundcake, but I don't even see the point of the Maya character at this point. It doesn't relate to anything, it's just off to the side.

Ah - live action dog! Got it! I didn't see the quote. And yes - even with numerous recaps, I have NO recollection of the dog at all - none.

Wouldn't they have just used a clip from an episode the dog was originally in, just as they did with George, Lexi, Ellis, Derek, and Mark? Easier than trying to deal with an actual dog on the set and cheaper, too!

Hot Asian Ortho God, I think.

@Efzee, I remember every single thing about prom and the panties and all of that, but nothing about the dog!!! I must have some mental block, which is weird because I love dogs - ah, well, the joys of aging!

Thanks for the dog recap, @WhosThatGirl. I have utterly no recollection of that story line at all, despite having watched this show faithfully from Day One.

This was a really good article, and I am very glad for the actor. Glasses the character, though, is still annoying - but if this story line helps him be less of a bumbling ding dong, I'm all for it! And I have to laugh, because until reading the above-referenced article, I never knew or remembered the character's name!! Levi Schmitt - whaddya know?? Please refresh my memory about the deceased dog. I am drawing a blank.

I am guessing that Teddy will have a sudden complication with her pregnancy and/or the blot clot condition, will need to be rushed to the hospital, and her pregnancy will then be made known to the entire staff. There's no way Teddy will tell Owen to his face - he will find out quite by accident in the worst possible way (either by an EMT shouting it out across the ER as Teddy's wheeled in on a gurney, or someone mentioning it to Owen as if he already knew, etc). I could see Amelia finding out before Owen as well - that would be fun! Not interested in Betty or her story line. Glasses and Hot Asian guy - whatever - I mean, good for Glasses having an epiphany, perhaps, but the character himself is so off-putting to me that I'd rather he be written out. I do agree that it would be good to see two men develop and sustain a relationship on this show, but I don't want to see Glasses as one of those men! As cheesy as it was, I really liked seeing the departed characters. I don't care if it was a bone thrown to us long-time viewers - seeing Derek and Mark took my breath away. I forget - what was the dog's story? Drawing a blank on it. I don't find Dr. Linc attractive in any way, shape, or form, but he is sloooowly growing on me. He seems like a decent guy. I'm almost a little disappointed that he's pursuing Meredith. Let him develop his own independent story line(s) first, maybe? It's always like Noah's Ark on these soap operas - everyone has to be paired off ASAP. I'm not a Maggie fan, but I did very much get how she still misses and grieves for her mother and how deeply it can affect her at times. I also very much liked the Spanish rendition of the the Snow Patrol song.

I thought Lucious was making the cheese steaks for himself. He was done making them when Cookie came into the kitchen and said she could tell something must be upsetting him, since cheese steaks are his go-to comfort meal. No way of knowing whether he was making them just for himself or for both of them. And hey, Cookie not only took some for herself but then took his portion, too! I am a female heart attack survivor (was 44 when I had mine) and unless Cookie's eating those cheese steaks regularly, one serving (even a big one!) isn't going to move the needle much, so long as her usual diet is more heart-healthy.

I think it's reasonable to wonder about Randall and Beth's finances. After all, isn't this show supposed to be about people with whom we can connect, who have something in common with their viewers, characters who are "us"? Does the title of the show mean "Hey, this is who we are, just like you guys," or does it mean "This is who we are and we are totally different than you and yours, so watch in puzzlement"? Most of us viewers aren't in the same financial tier as Randall and Beth and the logistics of having two unemployed parents, long or short term, in a family of five would be very problematic for us. I have several cousins, who by their early 40's, had made enough money so that neither they nor their children will ever have to work again. So I sort of lump Randall into that category, and move on. But perhaps a throwaway line now and then about their financial security would help put the topic to rest a bit.

Did you mean 'responsible' instead of 'reprehensible'? Lucious was the voice of reason and tolerance. I was very surprised to learn that Tiana and Hakeem had twins and that one of them died. Wow - quite sad. I thought that Hakeem's gun might've come into play when he got into it with Blake. Kai and Jamal's proposals were terrific. I hope we get to see their wedding, and I want Becky to be the maid of honor.

I just finished watching tonight's "Empire" episode and there was plenty of kissing between two gay African-American men - and it ended with them getting engaged. And one of them is HIV positive. While this still isn't seen as often as straight characters, I'm glad to see any such characters. Some is better than none! Still a long way to go, of course.

Always glad to see Neelix (the character from 'Voyager,' the guy who was the father of the sick father/son duo, ) still actively working! I agree with everyone about Max's wife - just awful. There is NO connection between them whatsoever, and she somehow needs to be eliminated from the story line. His cancer is ENOUGH of a personal storyline to keep us occupied. We don't need this nonsense on top of it. I haven't read the book upon which the show is based, so I have no idea how closely, if at all, they are keeping to it, but if the book is merely the basis of the idea of the show, then they totally goofed by introducing the wife. She adds absolutely nothing and it drives me crazy to see how Max loses his dignity and inner strength in her presence. I get that she's carrying their baby - but that just shouldn't have been part of the show at all. The psychiatrist's husband was VERY good looking. Lucky, lucky Iggy. I did like how Iggy said to his daughter that her grandparents "don't understand our family." I thought was age-appropriate for the daughter and was relatively diplomatic. I can't take one more moment of Bloom and Reynolds. I like him but cannot stand her. She needs to be written out along with Max's wife. He can do A LOT better than her, and it has nothing to do with her not being African-American. She's just so damn annoying and brings out the worst in him - another man reduced to a blubbering fool by a woman completely NOT worthy! I found this a seriously weak episode and didn't even enjoy Dr. Helen that much (she's pretty much the one character I like so far). I've lost patience with the Indian doctor as well but perhaps he'll actually develop a relationship with the coffee lady. Anything to keep him from being such a downer. That stupid jazzy music between scenes is worse than nails on a chalkboard.

Dr. Helen continues to grow on me each week. I do feel, though, that her strong desire to have a baby seems to have come out of nowhere. I mean, I get that each episode, she's been brought down to earth bit by bit (the two women who felt Helen couldn't put the patient first, above her 'celebrity' status; the wealthy widow acidly pointing out the Birkin bag, etc.), but all of a sudden, she is devastated by the challenge to have a baby right this second. It seemed so random - we as viewers have never been given any inkling that she is so intent on having a baby. I have no problem with her wanting to do so, of course, although I did think for a moment, she was going to ask Max to be a sperm donor!!!!!! Otherwise, the rest of the episode was OK. It brought nothing new to the horrors of gun violence, it's a story line that while sadly real, is all too common and thus difficult to convey in a more meaningful way than has been done many a time elsewhere. I'm also getting tired of Bloom and Reynolds - either get together or don't, each week it's the same thing - they have an intense 'moment,' followed by her leaving him in puzzlement/frustration. Move on one way or the other. It was great not having Max's wife around - didn't miss her or anything related to that story line. I did feel bad for Vijay but the second he said "I forgive you," to his son, I knew that was gonna blow up. It's one of those phrases you should NOT ever say, unless someone first ASKS you for forgiveness! It is guaranteed to make the other person defensive if you say it first, especially without even giving any specifics. If Vijay had said, "I forgive you for doing X,Y,Z," then the son would have at least had a chance to correct, rebut, accept, or refuse Vijay's forgiveness. But saying it as Vijay did leaves room for total misinterpretation - maybe the son thinks Vijay is accusing him of having done something egregious when in fact the son hasn't. And too, the son should have been very specific in his response to his father rather than just storming off. I suspect each of them is completely wrong in what they think the other has said or done.

In the limo, Kevin reached down to the little mini bar, grabbed one of the little bottles, uncapped it, and chugged it. Whether he drank more of those little bottles, and/or continued drinking once at the prom, it seems not to matter, as the end result was the same.

I found it interesting that Zoe opened up to a complete stranger, the wife of Jack's army buddy. I mean, it shows that these two strangers completely and totally "get" what each is talking about - a cultural/ethnic shorthand that we've probably all experienced in some way or another. But regardless, these two don't know each other at all. Still, we saw Rebecca having a pretty personal conversation with her former boyfriend's mother about whether Rebecca should pursue a relationship with Jack, so why not? I got more out of this episode than last week, that's for sure. Kudos to the poster above who mentioned that perhaps it's Nicky who had/has a Vietnamese family. Would not surprise me at all. The necklace might've been given initially to Nick, and then when Nick died, perhaps Jack got it. Felt very bad for Beth during her job interview - wow - it's so rare to see her lose her composure like that. Notice how she was twisting her wedding rings again, her signature nervous habit.

I'm interested in Nick as well, but even if we find out every single thing about him, none of the current-day characters will know as much as we will. The two people who know Nick the best - Jack and Nick - are both dead and can't tell Nick's story to anyone. Whatever Kevin might find out will be second or third hand information. And sure, even that little bit of info will affect Kevin and perhaps his siblings, but not as directly as we'll be affected. Again, like so much of Jack's Vietnam experiences, I find this frustrating. I know more about Jack and Nick than their children/niece/nephews do. Nick is definitely a compelling character to me, but he's so divorced from the other characters. Is he there just to show more of Jack's persona?

I would agree. I'm still watching the show and I think it has moments of brilliance. But at the end of the day, I feel like it's a still just a very fancy soap opera with a twist. Which is fine - as I said, I'm still watching, and I'm not hate-watching it. But perhaps the flashback gimmick is beginning to wear thin? I get that Milo is the marquee star of the show and seeing as his character is dead, flashbacks are the only way to show him, but how long can that sustain? It's tricky. Regardless, I think this Jack-only episode was enough to last a long, long time. We need to get back to the present day. I definitely want to see Kevin go to Vietnam, though. That should push him WAY out of his comfort zone and that interests me more than seeing what about Jack he discovers.

I disagree with this. I think human suffering can be understood even if you didn't experience it first hand. I was only 8 in 1970 but that doesn't mean I can't be affected by the horrors of Vietnam. Obviously, it didn't have an immediate or personal impact on me as it was happening, as I was too young and had no family members or friends involved. But I think that now, as a 56 year old person who has lived a bit and has experienced the broad variety of major life challenges (illness, death, financial crap, etc.) that most of us encounter as we navigate through life, I can be affected by Vietnam. I don't think there's only one way to recognize and be impacted by tragedy. I'm Jewish - every year at Passover, we commemorate the horror the Jews in ancient Egypt endured. I didn't live through that era, yet it is a part of my very being and I feel it quite intensely. And on a very shallow level, if only people who experienced Vietnam in real time can "feel" it in the present day, that would mean that the makers of this show are targeting a very specific demographic and are purposely excluding the rest of the viewing audience - and I suspect that isn't what they're aiming to do.

I would like to see Max and the oncologist as a couple. They've got a good rapport. Since all TV shows insist on pairing off their characters, at least there should be a good connection between the two people involved, unlike Max and his wife. Speaking of the wife, will Max ever tell her that he has cancer and is about to undergo a rigorous course of treatment? Hello? It will pretty damn hard to keep that a secret, especially if he experiences any sort of skin discoloration or burning from the radiation, and if he has a port put in for chemo. I like Dr. Reynolds, but I don't care for Dr. Bloom, so it's hard for me to envision them together.

Separate and apart from Vietnam, the number 18 is very significant in Judaism. It's far too complicated to explain, but if you Google it, you can find out some really cool stuff about the number 18. I remember as a teen, when I got my first car (an old clunker!), I was given a small drawstring bag with 18 pennies in it, and was told to put it in the glove compartment, for good luck. So I found it sad that for Nicky, the number 18 was ultimately very unlucky for him.