Gummo

Well, you know my theory -- they're bending over backwards to be wholesome this summer to help rehabilitate the Moonves' image. I mean, jeez, in the broadcast episodes they've barely hinted at all the hoohah going on (I've only learned about that on the live feed board here) -- usually that's something they trumpet as loud as they can for ratings and social media clicks. However, the only problem with my theory is all the sleazy commercials during BB for Chlamydia Island (and kudos to whoever came up with that name, an instant classic!).

Ugh, I hate that Jack appears to actually have some game smarts. Jackson, on the other hand.... (His name is Jackson, dammit, not Michie, or Mitchie, or Mickie, or Mookie or Mugwort or MohmygodIcanttakeitanymore). Arrogant with some game I can just about stand (Jack); arrogance with nothing to back it up... Jackson... just bugs me no end. Nicole, that was the most pathetic confessional ever. I don't care how sad you think your life is, why broadcast it on national TV? What's next? "I can't wait for the summer to be over so I can get back to my life sitting alone in the backyard eating worms"? Kat appears to have some of Rachel Reilly's operatic drama queen craziness, now let's see if she has any of Rachel's game. Camp Comeback bears an uneasy resemblance to this past Survivor season's twist, where they kept everybody around the whole frickin' season. Hated it then, hate it now. There's never enough air time for any one person or group and way too much time is wasted on players that should have been long gone. And since only 1 is coming back, why should anyone still in the house even deal with them? Just agree to vote the returnee out as soon as possible and get on with the game. I do hope the returnee is a complete nonfactor in the game so they can get rid of this stupid twist for good.

Dammit, I was begging Christie to nominate Jack! Such an obvious move, especially when you can stand up there and call him out in front of the whole house for trying to strongarm you and run your HOH. She chickened and it's too fucking bad. So, does Sam fancy himself another Paul with the SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS ALL THE TIME?? Hated it from Paul (even BEFORE it was clear what a vile little man he was) and not liking it now. Yes, we know you're a famewhore, you're all famewhores, that's the point of being on the show, you don't have to yell at us to prove it.

OK. Missed the first episode, saw the next two and realized: The entire point of this season is the rehabilitation of Mrs. Julie Chen SerialHarrasserRapist and by extension, her husband, Mr. Julie Chen SerialHarrasserRapist. Everything's so WHOLESOME all of a sudden! No more over-the-top decadent glam themes -- instead, it's that most wholesome of American leisure activities, CAMPING! Not even glamping! And instead of crazy over-the-top costumes for the challenges, we have camp t-shirts and shorts! How sweet! How wholesome! How utterly un-Big Brother! No more crazy racist or fascist-cult-forming contestants! No, just fun-loving wholesome all-American folks out for a summer of wholesome all-American fun! And oh, did we mention it's wholesome? Well, it is! Welcome to G-rated Big Brother! Safe for the whole family (as long as your wives, sisters or daughters don't get too close to Mr. Julie Chen SerialHarasserRapist).

I know Bobby's family and all, but damn, Tray, he's gonna ruin you yet. But I saw what they were going for at the end when Tray's temper was about to send him back to jail for who knows how long and it wasn't just Shay but his memory of ignoring Shay's wise advice 15 years before that made him realize what was important. So it wasn't just Shay Is Always Right but that Tray has learned to listen, and has been forced to learn self-control. I hope they bring back the cop who got fired for preventing Green Eyes from almost getting killed. There aren't enough people who'd knowingly destroy their own careers to save a man's life; sadly, that was the most unrealistic moment the show has given us yet, but it was a moment of hope and faith in humanity, so fuck you, realism, I'll take idealism any day.

"Next on Bravo: The Hobbit and the Giant! A buddy comedy of unequaled proportions!"

I've never been "meh" about a season of Archer but so far I am about this one. 2 eppys in and I feel like I'm still waiting for it to start. Hmm.

Poor Bishme, life just overwhelmed him at the worst possible moment. That said, the finale is really between Hester and Sebastian. I like Garo and his work but it is costumey and dated - most of it looks like it could fit right in in the transvestite/transgender competitions on the show Pose (second season starting next week!) -- and that show chronicles a period almost 30 years gone. I'm in the minority on this board - I like Hester's work, and if she wins it won't be because "the fix is in" (geez, everything is the subject of a conspiracy theory these days!) but because the judges think her work is more modern and interesting than Sebastian's. That may be a debatable viewpoint but that doesn't make it automatically invalid. Sebastian's work is gorgeous, beautiful, stunning -- but also gives a more conventional impression, even when unconventionally made (one of the reasons he gets short shrift sometimes, I think). So all in all, good return to form this season, PR! Christian is a great mentor and I enjoy seeing the mentor more involved than previously. I also like Karlie and Brandon (Brendon), and Nina, of course; the other regular judge didn't leave much of an impression and I wouldn't care if they replace her when they return.

Me too! It would have been so easy to turn Josh into an even doofier Phil Dunphy for quick cheap laughs, but while he's laid back, he's no pushover (he would never have lasted with Shay if he was!). And I like that Tray understands that Josh is the only dad his kids have ever known and that Josh and Shay have done a damn good job so it's Tray's job to fit in and find his place in this family, not just turn up and demand a seat at the head of the table because sperm. I love that we're getting to watch Bobby go thru the growing-up journey that Tray had to go to prison to learn. So much of Bobby's bluster and inappropriate behavior is to hide a really sensitive soul. Also glad the Lisa/baby story wasn't dragged out and that Bobby got out in time, even if he was heartbroken.

Hah, Chloe was on the right track last episode - Eve DOES have super-powers but they're subtle -- she makes everyone she meets feel good about themselves and everyone who meets her likes her. Unlike with the Celestials, it's not clear if she realizes her power or it's just part & parcel of her creation as Adam's helpmate. Anyway, we are parceling these out an episode every few days or so (life keeps intervening!) and I have not enjoyed this show so much since season 1. Everything just feels right, personalities are consistent and correct (no more Ella acting like a 12-year-old or giggly schoolgirl Chloe). It's also so refreshing to see Chloe back to being a good, tough cop and not a blithering idiot. So Amenadiel got all his power restored and flew Charlotte off the to the Silver City but when he came back down to earth, he lost all that? I'm confused. He lied to Remy about being able to slow time -- so he's still a 'crippled' celestial while here on earth? Hoping this is made clearer in the next episodes. And yes, Luci's melted-crayon face isn't nearly as scary as his original devil face, but I'm betting it's a lot cheaper and easier to apply (and remove).

I'm not verklempt, you're verklempt! One of the best series finales ever.

Regarding the scene where Chloe finally breaks down and admits to Lucifer, "I'm TERRIFIED!" -- I'm not going to listen to anyone slag off Lauren German's acting ever again. That was amazing, and it's about time someone of the mortals in Luci's inner circle besides Linda had an appropriately freaked out reaction to the truth. And how do you as an actor convey a character's entire universe being upended, shattered and blown to pieces? It was an impossible moment and she conveyed it brilliantly. Kudos, Ms. German, I knew you had it in you.

Who. The. Fuck. Cares. And that's already my problem with next season.

OH MY GOD THAT ENTIRE SEGMENT WAS LOATHSOME.

Okay. It's been 3 days. Two viewings of the episode. One viewing of the official supplements on YouTube. Lots of reading on the internet. Took me this long to decide: I loved this episode. Nothing was as I wanted it, but that's GoT, isn't it.