S02.E10: If All The World's a Stage, Identity Is Nothing But a Costume

[Athena]

Quote

Sun moves ahead with her undercover mission, while Lito heads to Hollywood for the audition of a lifetime. Capheus prepares for his first big speech.

 

[Mindthinkr]

Wow. Just wow. 

Spoiler

Last week I was binge watching  Love and it had Andy Dick in it. Now this week he pops up in this show! I can't believe what he said about luring up the Oscar and taking every inch of it...

Enjoyed the homage of From Here to Eternity. 

I liked Lito's flair with making the Sidecar...hope he's there for Sun when the party begins so she doesn't have attention drawn to herself. 

[Enero]

Kala planning to leave Rajan has disaster written all over it. I can see something getting in the way of her and Wolfie finally being together. 

Loved Caphues' speech. 

Lito and Hernando are two gorgeous men and their scene in the ocean and on the beach was beautiful and all kinds of hot. 

[Helena Dax]

Don't know why, but the Hollywood guy made me think of Ryan Murphy. And I hope Blake's straight, I don't want him causing problems between Hernando and Lito. I agree that the homage of From Here to Eternity was great. Although the... tangas? slips? were al kinds of awful imho.

I don't understand why they're all saying "Gallo" wrong. 

I'm worried about Kala, I don't trust her husband. Or his friend. And we don't know yet what's going on with that present.

[MizStaken]

Yeah. I must admit I was a bit perplexed why Lido and Hernando were wearing thongs, felt rather gratitious as that's nothing they've ever shown them wearing before, but I'm not complaining.  These two guys have so much freaking chemistry. Only complaint, no big sex scene between the two. 

Matter of fact, seems like a lot less sex this season. Ok rewatched episode 1. Totally forgot about the birthday orgy. 

Marc Jacobs, Cheyenne Jackson and ........ Andy Dick???? Wtf? 

Edited May 7, 2017 by MizStaken
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[Enigma X]

I could have done without dickish Andy Dick. My only dislike of the season.

[tennisgurl]

Does Andy Dick have blackmail on someone at Netflix or something? Why is he randomly showing up in all the Netflix shows I watch all of the sudden? First Love and now this? I thought we had, as a society, decided to forget he ever existed?

I want to vote for Caphues! His speech was great, his sincerity really shined through. So, what exact office is he running for? If he wins, what will he actually have to do? I love that Jela has appointed himself as his political Hype Man, and then Capheus gave him a shout out in the speech! And the crime boss guy is his financial backer, and his possible future father in law! I'm loving his plot this season, even more than last year. And when Caphues was all nervous before getting up, and the rest of the cluster showed up to support him, and Lito and Wolfgang had their hands on his shoulders? Feels. This is like Feels the show.

Wolfgang and Kala are so adorable, I cant even be mad that she's married. I don't Rajan is really a bad guy, I think he got caught up in his business and didn't really realize how horrible what he was doing was until Kala called him out. But, Wolfgang and Kala are meant to be damn it! I'm very concerned though, with all their "I would be lost if something happened to you" and "I'm leaving my husband and going to be with you" all over the place. Its like a cop announcing he has just one more day until retirement before going to bust a bank heist, its just pushing your luck!

Lito saves the day through bartending! The ass kicking and hacking skills might be the most consistently useful to the gang, but I love when the characters weird random talents get showcased as well.

Holy Hell, that From Here to Eternity scene! *fans self* I think I`ll be in my bunk...

[Rinaldo]

The only way that "from queer to eternity" (hey, I'm just quoting Hernando) scene could have better would be if Cheyenne Jackson joined them in a threesome. Not I actually want that kind of disruption for the characters' lives, but it sure would be pretty. I may have whimpered a bit when "Blake" turned around and it was the lovely Mr. Jackson. We must at least see some of the movie they're shooting.

That moment when Capheus couldn't make himself walk to the front of the stage, and then the cluster (minus Will) was there to back him up... oh man, this show gets to me so skillfully.

And Will backsliding... sad, but very believable after all he's been through.

I agree: Lito stepping up with one of his skills, like showy bartending, always gives the show an extra lift.

Is all this still happening on the day Kala is waiting for Rajan to get home so they can open Ajay's ominous gift? Not bloody likely, given that we've had Riley's transatlantic flight, not to mention all the complications of three people traveling from Mexico to LA. The time scheme on this show is sometimes its most bewildering element.

Edited May 9, 2017 by Rinaldo

[bc1795]

If I were Lito I'd be worried too.  I mean,  will Sun be "performing" is part?

[jhlipton]

On 5/8/2017 at 2:03 PM, tennisgurl said:

Does Andy Dick have blackmail on someone at Netflix or something? Why is he randomly showing up in all the Netflix shows I watch all of the sudden? First Love and now this? I thought we had, as a society, decided to forget he ever existed?

I want to vote for Caphues! His speech was great, his sincerity really shined through. So, what exact office is he running for? If he wins, what will he actually have to do?

I usually hate Andy Dick (the last name is sooooo appropriate!) but he wasn't too bad here.

I think that Caphues is running for one of the 17 seats from Nairobi (Kamukunji?) in the National Assembly.  If elected, he would represent his constituency in the Assembly.

[Clanstarling]

On 5/7/2017 at 3:33 PM, Helena Dax said:

I don't understand why they're all saying "Gallo" wrong.

I don't remember them saying "Gallo" or mispronouncing. What was it in regards to?

On 5/8/2017 at 11:03 AM, tennisgurl said:

I want to vote for Caphues! His speech was great, his sincerity really shined through. So, what exact office is he running for? If he wins, what will he actually have to do? I love that Jela has appointed himself as his political Hype Man, and then Capheus gave him a shout out in the speech! And the crime boss guy is his financial backer, and his possible future father in law! I'm loving his plot this season, even more than last year. And when Caphues was all nervous before getting up, and the rest of the cluster showed up to support him, and Lito and Wolfgang had their hands on his shoulders? Feels. This is like Feels the show.

I think he's running for mayor of Nairobi.

I love this season, for me it hits on all levels, particularly the feels.

[Helena Dax]

Gallo is Jordi's surname. You know, the character Lito's going to play. They pronounce it in English or Italian, like a single /l/. In Spanish, the /ll/ sounds like the /y/ in /you/. Lito, Hernando and Daniela should be pronouncing Ga-yo instead of Ga-lo, imo.

Just a minor thing, but it caught my attention.

[Clanstarling]

28 minutes ago, Helena Dax said:

Gallo is Jordi's surname. You know, the character Lito's going to play. They pronounce it in English or Italian, like a single /l/. In Spanish, the /ll/ sounds like the /y/ in /you/. Lito, Hernando and Daniela should be pronouncing Ga-yo instead of Ga-lo, imo.

Just a minor thing, but it caught my attention.

Oh, somehow I missed that. I agree it should have been said the Spanish way (which is the way I say it - unless I'm talking about the wine family in Northern California, who are Italian, I believe).

[Lady Calypso]

Man, Whispers is such a dick. Going to Will in a vulnerable state and telling him that he basically hated his father and wouldn't see him before he died? Watching him backtrack and go back into drugs was rough to watch, but I would have been surprised if he didn't.

It was nice to see Lito help Sun out when she needed it. Even though he really needed that audition to go smoothly, he chose right and went to help Sun make a Sidecar. And then she came to help him right back. I mean, she went "off script" and started speaking from the heart, but it helped him. And it's not like Lito can't channel that emotion on his own, so it really did pay off.  

I don't pay attention to Andy Dick at all, so his cameo didn't bother me because I didn't really care. Interesting on getting Cheyenne Jackson as Blake, who seems to care very little about the Hollywood lifestyle. I did see sparks between Dani and Blake, so I'd totally be cool with them having a fling. However, they may be pointing toward a Blake/Hernando/Lito love triangle instead. Which would really make me upset, because Hernando and Lito just work together. Their beach scene was just awesome to watch.

Capheus' speech was really good. I think, before the riot started, people were really listening. I am also a bit confused about what he's running for. Crime Boss' daughter said in a previous episode that he was running for President, but I don't think that's right.

The ending scene was a great set up to the finale.

[megsara]

On 5/7/2017 at 7:13 PM, MizStaken said:

I was a bit perplexed why Lido and Hernando were wearing thongs,

Well, they wouldn't want pantylines at an important Hollywood party, would they?  ;)   God, they are gorgeous.  

[possibilities]

I thought the Jordi outfit was so dorky. Lido never before looked so ridiculous, not even in his pajamas.

If "From Queer to Eternity" is not the name of a movie that's already been made (probably porn, possibly satire), it really should be. That was soooo funny and soooo beautiful.

[AllyB]

On 5/9/2017 at 1:11 AM, Rinaldo said:

Is all this still happening on the day Kala is waiting for Rajan to get home so they can open Ajay's ominous gift? Not bloody likely, given that we've had Riley's transatlantic flight, not to mention all the complications of three people traveling from Mexico to LA. The time scheme on this show is sometimes its most bewildering element.

Rajan is on a business trip and Kala wasn't expecting him back for several days when Ajay came with the gift.

[Clanstarling]

3 hours ago, possibilities said:

I thought the Jordi outfit was so dorky. Lido never before looked so ridiculous, not even in his pajamas.

If "From Queer to Eternity" is not the name of a movie that's already been made (probably porn, possibly satire), it really should be. That was soooo funny and soooo beautiful.

I agree. The outfit didn't suit him at all - but then again, I don't know what the character they're dressing for is supposed to be.

It was an amazingly beautiful shot - and I wasn't ever that keen on the original one. 

[Danny Franks]

I really liked the scenes that Kala had with Riley and Will. I feel like she does most of her stuff with Wolfgang, so her relationships with the others often feel under-developed. 

I found it interesting that Riley had to explain to Kala that Will was taking it hard because "all the things that were broken between them can never be fixed." It seems like the sensates don't always understand one another fully, and can perhaps hold some things back if they want. That would explain why Will didn't have the others with him when he was alone and grieving. 

Of course, Kala has certain questions that need to be answered... like what it's like to have physical sex with a member of the cluster. Just, you know, scientific interest. But it does raise the question again of how unhealthy it might be to be in love with a member of your cluster. I can see how it could cause resentment in other cluster members, or separate the two from the rest.

I have to say, Tuppence Middleton is such an expressive actor. I've said before that her smile lights up the room, but you can just feel her pain, in these scenes.

I guess Will and Wolfgang are similar, in the way they close themselves off from the others. Seems like Kala didn't know what Wolfgang had been up to, and then he has to go and be wooby about how things would be better for her if he was dead.

Andy Dick playing a skeevy, potentially predatory gay movie producer? Big stretch for him, there. Sun using her very real loneliness to get Lito the part was nice. And Lito using his cocktail skills to get her the gig at her brother's event.

The Hollywood BS party was amusing. I'm honestly not sure where I was supposed to find them redressing Lito to be serious or a side-eyed look at Hollywood nonsense. But then, Lito loves the movie business BS, so I guess he could enjoy it regardless.

This episode was where I felt that the need for them to recast Capheus proved fortuitous. Because I couldn't see Aml Ameen having the presence and gravitas to be convincing as the headliner of a political rally. He was too boyish, whereas Toby Onwumere just seems much more grown up and composed. Even with his fear and hesitancy, he looked like he belonged on that stage.

I'm enjoying this look into Kenyan politics, even while being frustrated that it all, yet again, comes back to the borders that the colonial powers drew up. They didn't care if some people were Kikuyu and others Luo, they didn't care if their nice, straight borders lumped some tribes together, and split others. They just expected the natives to deal with it. And it has caused endless civil unrest and warfare in Africa, ever since.

I'm definitely warming to Capheus' 'legendary' nemesis. He's still clearly a cold blooded murderer, but he actually seems to believe in Capheus as a good man, and wants him to succeed.

[darkestboy]

Good penultimate episode, though nothing advanced on the BPO side of things. Whispers taking pleasure in Will's grief was pretty abhorrent though. I really want him to get his comeuppance in the next one.

Loved Lito's cocktail making skills, the Hollywood party was pretty vapid but I blanked out Andy Dick and focused on Cheyenne Jackson, which seemed to be wise. Oh and the sex scene with Hernando was a thing of beauty.

Sun going after her brother and everyone there to help her was a lovely moment.

Nice conversation with Riley/Kala at the start and it seems that we're getting some progress with Kala/Wolfgang too.

Not enough Nomi and Amanita though for me.

I'm liking Capheus's storyline but I'm getting the horrible feeling he's going to lose a loved one by the end of this though, 8/10

[romantic idiot]

On 5/30/2017 at 7:55 PM, Danny Franks said:

I'm enjoying this look into Kenyan politics, even while being frustrated that it all, yet again, comes back to the borders that the colonial powers drew up. They didn't care if some people were Kikuyu and others Luo, they didn't care if their nice, straight borders lumped some tribes together, and split others. They just expected the natives to deal with it. And it has caused endless civil unrest and warfare in Africa, ever since.

The final gift of the British. Make sure to mess things up as much as possible even while leaving. We're still living with the results here in the Indian subcontinent too.

And that's one of the things I really like about the series. Each place and its issues feels authentic to me. It's not just going in-depth into America and London while touching the rest superficially. They really get the emotion of all the different places in the world (even if in slightly broad strokes). 

Edited June 13, 2017 by romantic idiot

[jhlipton]

I don't know if anyone has looked at the real matatus that run around Nairobi, but Van Damme would fit right in!

[ElectricBoogaloo]

I thought the Riley/Kala scene discussing their relationships with Will/Wolfgang was interesting because as a non-sensate obviously I have no idea what it's like, but I like that Kala wanted to know about it too. Interesting that Wolfgang and Kala are finally willing to give their relationship a try and that they're both willing to move across the world to be together. Not to sound totally pessimistic but man, if things don't work out wouldn't that be a little awkward for the rest of the cluster too?

Ugh, Milton. He's so evil that I'm convinced he had something to do with Joey Pants dying. But even if he had nothing to do with it, he sure didn't hesitate to rub Will's face in his own guilt and tell him what a terrible son he was. Never mind the fact that the only reason Will wasn't in Chicago was because he was hiding from Whispers.

Poor Will - not only is he mourning his father and feeling guilty about not being there for him but on top of all that, he feels responsible for not warning Capheus sooner. I know they're all connected but it's not Will's responsibility to make sure they aren't walking into traps all the time just because he's a cop. Don't feel bad, Will!

One thing I really like about Will's character development is that even though he's a cop, he has worked with Wolfgang, even utilizing Wolfie's, ahem, skills. And now he's okay with helping Sun take down her brother. I loved that when she asked if he was going to stop her, he asked, "Do you want me to stop you?" He was willing to go along either way.

The Lito/Sun situation is something that I thought might happen more often within clusters (one person popping in when it's totally inconvenient for the other person). When Lito initially said no, I was surprised because he has been very kind to the others. I loved that he stopped his audition so that he could help her for a minute. But why didn't he just excuse himself to the bathroom or the hallway for a few minutes instead of just standing there making noises?

My favorite moments are always when the cluster shows up to give silent support. As much as I love the interactive scenes where different characters are jumping in and out of fight scenes, it's so great in silent moments like when everyone (sans Will) stood behind Capheus before he gave his speech and last week when they all joined Wolfgang in the alley. I loved that they are all ready to go to war with Sun to take out her horrible brother.

Loved Lito and Hernando joyfully splashing around in the ocean. Hernando is so good for him. He is supportive and knows how to lift him up when he's feeling down. The homage right afterward was so cute.

I'm excited to watch the next episode because I want to see what happens but I'm also so sad because I know that's it until the wrap up movie!

Edited August 19, 2017 by ElectricBoogaloo

[Watchingtv]

Will was apologizing because he was too drugged up to be able to clearly explain that Capheaus was walking into a trap, which cost valuable seconds, and then he was trying to help fight the assassin by flailing around. It looked like he was interfering with Sun, who probably could have handled the assassin herself.