Magoo

Someone may have mentioned this already, but I feel like Olajuwon is trying and failing for the Woody-Amani storyline - former player meets woman of his dreams and is instantly transformed into committed, true love monogamy guy. It’s all role playing. He keeps showing his immaturity and gross “pride of conquest” true colors, but thinks these grand, rehearsed declarations of commitment to Katina are fooling everyone. We’re all supposed to hold our hands over our hearts and “awwwwwww” at how she has already made him a better man. She might be buying it for now, but I’m sure not.

Re: Bao and the lack of showering priority, and based on the editing in the “next time on…” and Bai’s past tense use, my guess is she was referring to a larger piece of a story when they either worked together in college or when she was a counselor at that camp she said was so awful for her with her fear of snoring that she didn’t sleep. Not convinced it’s a current situation. Subject change: As someone who has suffered a lifetime of allergies and chronic stuffy nose that nothing truly helps (I’ve tried it all, I promise) snoring is a part of my life and I understood her insecurity and being teased about it. It’s perceived as “unfeminine” and can really do a number in self confidence with an intimate partner. I do also see the other side in that it’s a sleep disrupter and can be a deal breaker for some couples and that pressure adds to the insecurity. Thank god my husband also snores and we can tease each other equally about it.

Was Clara wearing a wig at the reunion? Something was off with her hair - it was definitely thicker but I don't think extensions would make her hairline look so odd.

I've noticed this too, and the shape/angle of her jaw makes it look like chewing is painful because of the way she has to maneuver her mouth and teeth. I legit hope an oral surgeon will reach out to her and offer to help.

Any doubt (to me) that Olivia wanted to just check the married box was erased when she said in one of her talking heads “I got a husband to do things with me like travel.” I got a husband? Replace husband with “purse” or “dog” and it means the same thing to her. Bleh.

I’m confused about the scene in the hospital where Jonathan was comforting his young patient. Was that what Grace was picturing him doing in that moment or was that real? It was shot in such a gauzy way, and a blurry shadow appeared in the background so I am not 100% sure. I feel like we might be in for more “was that real time, a memory or an assumption” scenes like this.

Every time Henry says Christina is “impatient” I can’t help but think he’s too kind to say what he really means...”total bitch.” To me, couching it in “impatient” downplays her truly unpleasant personality.

With multiple camera angles no less.

I feel alone, but I actually like Jessa’s videos. Having read the various Duggar threads since the TWOP days, and over the years reading people’s first-hand accounts of being raised similarly (hi Churchy - I’ve learned the most from your thoughtful and truly educational posts) I’m watching them with her horrifyingly stunted upbringing in mind. That she’s trying, however awkwardly, to stretch out even a little, makes me happy for her. She has a nice conversational tone, and says more than once she’s not an expert and that others know far more than she does. I’m not watching with any expectation that I would learn anything, but feel glad that SHE seems to be learning. From my perspective she’s not making these videos for “us.” She’s nowhere near that secular, but she’s trying something and that’s...something.

I'm in LA and will actually be near that area on Sunday. I might try to do a fly-by and report back! ETA: Did her appearance get cancelled? I thought I saw she'd be there on Sunday, 12/8, but I don't see it on their instagram page anymore...

Well, I suppose now is the time I sheepishly confess to using the Rodan + Fields Lash Boost like a crack addict. It really works on my thin/sparse lashes which (humblebrag) are now long enough that I rarely use mascara, but whenever I do people ask if my lashes are real. Downside - if you stop using it (or any other lash blaster like Latisse), your lashes go back to their original form within a short few months. I'm surprised Jill is trying her hand at selling this line - she's never struck me as one who put much thought into skincare or the like. Although what do I know, aside from this lash nonsense, I'm a "slap some Curel lotion on my face and call it a day" kind of skincare gal.

It makes me crazy how Amber gets so nervous when she talks to Matt. Her voice gets shaky, she talks really fast, and the constant nervous laugh/chortle makes my head hurt. I am no fan of Matt's for all the reasons stated here, but I felt terrible for him when they were at his childhood home and she nervously laughed and giggled through what was obviously a painful memory of his sister's fat-shaming bullying. "Hahaha I love it! Hahahahah!" Amber didn't hear a damn word he said. She was so stupidly excited they were having an actual conversation that she didn't even listen to what he was saying or how shitty he was feeling. Her response was immature and inappropriate. Matt's "what the fuck" look on his face after she said that was sad.

You’re right. She said as much to her own mom, who then gave her the sort-of “get over your virginal self” chat. She has lived with the fantasy that her future husband would be forever blinded by gratitude that she’s saved herself for him and she could hold that over him forever more. Not so much. She’s not taking it well that the virginal carrot she’s dangled her entire adult life is actually a burden - she has no idea what to do with this reality.

This is a really perceptive take on Amber and it makes a ton of sense to me. I can’t remember if her twin is married, but if she did find her own yin to her yang it must feel imbalanced to Amber not to have the same kind of supportive relationship in a partner or spouse.

At the risk of sounding stalkerish, do we know if they're living in Studio City? There seem to be a lot of photos taken in that area. Why did I think it was Sun Valley, or is that just where their megachurch is? Curious, because I live super-duper close to Studio City and need to prepare myself mentally and emotionally (lol) in case I run into them unexpectedly.

I may have missed this as a discussion point, but has anyone mentioned the Hulu extras from this episode where Warren Littlefield says “some of the handmaids in DC have chosen a vow of silence.” Have chosen? What the actual fuck Warren Littlefield? Pretty sure not a single one of those women willingly chose to have their mouths barbarically clamped shut. Please go fuck yourself far away from this once-great show.

Trying to pull a silver lining out of this episode. I did like that the DC Commander's house was a wickedly effective reprogramming of Serena back into the Gilead mindset. She was shown everything she had always wished for herself and thought she was going to get when she helped to architect Gilead: A picture-pefect, wonderfully chaotic house full of children's laughter. Completely engaged parents, utterly delighted with said children's every word and move. She saw a mother who seemed to handle it all with ease, and a father that would happily interrupt any part of his day for a little tea party. She saw a glimpse of the father she always hoped Fred would be. And now the closing pitch. It had been a long, long time since anyone told Serena she mattered in any significant way, then here is the Commander's perfect wife - a perfect mother living a perfect life telling Serena that it was her book that changed everything for them as a couple - "look where we are now, all thanks to you." Serena matters. She made change happen. She was right all along. Welcome back to the fold, Serena. And the barbaric treatment of the handmaids? Eh...as long as they serve a means to her end, it's really not her problem, is it?

I thought it felt short, too, and made a mental note that the end credits started running at almost exactly 45-mins. That included the beginning with promos from upcoming HBO shows + the 'Previously On' BLL scenes. This episode from start to finish was probably barely 35-37 mins long. It annoys me that a lot of the HBO dramas do this -- I'd like much closer to an hour from a show I'm paying a monthly fee to watch. /endpetulantrant

With the reveal about Bonnie’s mom’s drinking history and her dad’s quiet personality, are we to assume the abuse alluded to last season was at the hands of her mother?

It was his appearance on Unfiltered that definitely pinged for me, too. When asked about his haircut and he said he "butched it up a little bit" I thought...hmmm. Of the many people I've met along the way - I've never heard a straight guy use "butch" in reference to himself. It could mean nothing, but it stood out to me.

Generally I'm in the "Jeremy's okay" camp, but I was hardcore side-eyeing the ultrasound scene where he was gazing with rapt wonder at the screen, seemingly unable to tear his eyes away to share the moment with Jinger who, I dunno, is actually creating that child with her own body. It seemed overly calculated. She kept trying to get his attention, but to me, the little wheels were spinning in his head: "Filming. Camera is on me. Look awed. Look transfixed. Be the good husband/father who is enamored with the miracle of God's work. Everyone will love me. I'll become a viral sensation of husband/father goals. Oh...uh...hi Jinger, stop poking at me...I'M BUSY BEING AWED FOR THE FANS."

Seriously. And the (to me, insincere) way she always scream-sighs "Siahhhhhhhhhh!" at a pitch only dogs can hear makes me cringe.

Poor Joy - so pregnant, so tired, so...amazingly snarky. On the baby's name: "We don't want anyone else's opinion, (irritably) why would we want anyone else's opinion?" Austin: "uh...we'll say it nicer than that though..." Also snapping, "I don't know Lauren, so I don't know if she's neat or not." She wanted nothing to do with the hoards of Duggars, nothing to do with a camera in her face, nothing to do with nothing. She was just not having it. I know she was exhausted, and I felt badly for her, but I have to admit I was laughing at her get-out-of-my-face-you-fuckers attitude.

These photos are adorable. Jessa gets social right, in part because she's not Jesusing all over the place. These are cute photos, with a cute descriptor that doesn't require a nod to the Big Man. Jill & Derek would have found some awkward way to tie "The Lord" into their post that would have ruined an otherwise completely normal captured moment.

Thank you for the reminder - can't believe I forgot that. I'll tell you what though - he's leaning into her side-boob pretty hard. Scandal!