Category Archives: horror

November 20, 2016 – The Walking Dead Stands Alone, Except for a Short Visit from Atlanta

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What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

Because the American Music Awards eclipsed Once Upon a Time, and I’m just touching on the Atlanta Housewives for now, it’s mostly zombies tonight. The spellcheck at WordPress seems to have taken the evening off as well, so apologies for any typoooooz.

The Walking Dead

Dr. Carson is there when Maggie wakes up. She has some a condition placenta previa, resulting in a placenta separation that could have been caused by trauma. He says the baby seems fine, and we all listen to the heartbeat. The doctor tells her to take it easy for a few days, like she has to call in to work.

Maggie asks Sasha where “they” are and Sasha shows her two fresh graves. She gives Maggie a pocket watch that was Glenn’s. She says all Abe had was a cigar. Maggie leaves the watch on the makeshift headstone pile of rocks, instead of saving it for their child like a normal person would. Sasha tells Maggie she’s going to be okay, and they’re both staying until the baby is born.

Jesus has cleaned up well, so I guess they have showers at Hilltop. He brings some flowers to the graves. Gregory accosts Maggie about Negan. He wants her to leave, but she says the doctor told her to stay. Gregory seems seriously out of touch, and Jesus tries to explain who the two women are. Gregory tells him that Maggie said her group could keep them safe from the Saviors, but so far she’s only put them in danger. He says plausible deniability is their way out. Jesus says it will be dark soon and Gregory says they can stay for the night. Sasha says Maggie is pregnant and Gregory says that’s her mistake. Geez. Jesus tells them he’ll take them back in the morning.

Rick wants to go on a supply run since the Saviors are coming back soon. Carl asks if this is how it’s going to be now, and Rick says yes. Rick gives Michonne a radio and says if she changes her mind, they’re headed North. They kiss good-by.

Carl asks why Michonne didn’t go and she says she needs to figure some things out, like how they do this. Carl says Rick is wrong and she knows it. Michonne says even if she thinks he is, she doesn’t know for sure. She tells Carl to make sure to change his bandage and be nice to Olivia. She leaves. Presumably not to go with Rick.

Carl finds Enid climbing the wall. She’s walking to Hilltop. He says he’s not saving her any more. She says she’s sorry he had to see it, and he says he’s not. He walks away and she goes over the wall.

Jesus tells Sasha he’s glad she’s there. He says he’ll try to change Gregory’s mind, but he’s not a leader. Sasha says she’ll leave and scavage for Hilltop if they’ll keep Maggie. Jesus doesn’t want that, and she asks what he does want. He says he just tries to help where he can, and she tells him maybe he has to do more. He gives her Abraham’s necklace, saying that he liked Abe. He was the only person he knew who could say things that would make you smile and wince at the same time. Yeah, he was the only character with a sense of humor and they killed him off. Thanks, Walking Dead. 😕

Maggie comes in and Jesus says he’s sorry. He’s going to see what he can do. She asks why they burn their dead, and he tells her that the idea was to just keep going. He says he’ll see them in the morning.

Maggie asks now what? Sasha says they’ll stay. She wonders if Gregory is dangerous, but Maggie thinks it’s worse – he’s a coward.

Enid rides her bike toward Hilltop and almost gets attacked by a zombie, but a car runs it over. It’s Carl. A man true to his word. She asks why he’s there, and he says he was just going for a drive.

At Hilltop, everyone is asleep and loud music starts blasting from nowhere. Sasha sees the gates open and fires burning. She goes up to the roof. A bunch of zombies are walking through the gate. WTF?

Sasha calls to Jesus (no, not that Jesus), saying that Maggie needs help. Some of the guys come out. Jesus kicks ass. Sasha tries to get into the car that’s playing the music. It’s wrapped in chains, and the hatchback is sealed with a middle finger made out of metal. Gregory watches from a window. Sasha almost stabs Jesus by accident. He runs to close the gate, but here comes Maggie with a bulldozer. Why fool around? Squish, squash, kick, stab. Maggie rolls over the car, which hopefully isn’t a relative of Christine’s.

Carl and Enid walk down the road. Carl says he’s glad he saw what he did, so when he has a chance to kill Negan, he won’t hesitate. She says it’s how it is you do things for the ones you love, or loved. He says it’s not for love. He says he’s sorry he locked her in, and she says she didn’t need to see it. Enid says they don’t even know if Maggie is okay, and Carl says they’ll get there.

Jesus talks to Gregory, who tells him all this can be his if he sticks around and becomes a part of things. Wow. What incentive. Maggie and Sasha come in, and Gregory tells them they have to go. Jesus can’t believe he’s saying that after the save last night. Sasha says she’ll go; Maggie can stay and they’ll call it even. She asks how they can make this work, and Gregory says they could meet one on one (wink-wink). She tells him to go to hell. He cancels an order for preserves he was going to give them, like it matters, and I’m thinking forget coward, this dude is a nut.

A truck caravan is coming in. Gregory says Maggie and Sasha have to hide. He tells Jesus to put them in the closet. It’s the Saviors. Zzzzzz….. Sorry, but they’re such one-trick ponies.

Carl finds a backpack with roller skates in it. How fortuitous! He and Enid skate down the road. They hold hands. 16 Magazine readers go crazy.

Gregory opens the door and the Saviors walk in with Simon at the helm. This is so stupid. Gregory welcomes them to Hilltop and tells them to make themselves at home. Simon says it isn’t a social call; they need to talk. He wants to talk in the study and see some painting. Referring to Rick and company, Simon tells Gregory that the people he used to deal with have been removed from the field of play. Gregory acts ignorant.

Gregory tells Simon that the message was loud and clear. Now it’s Simon’s turn to act ignorant. They look at the painting. I looked this up and it’s Portrait of Charles V on Horseback by Anthony van Dyck. There doesn’t seem to be any meaning behind it though. Simon says the Saviors like to show management by example, and last night was them working their asses off to provide an example. He says people at Hilltop probably forget what the corpses look and smell like. He says they were going to come in for a save, but the Hilltoppers cleaned up the mess themselves – “good on ya.” He says since they picked up their skills from the Saviors, it was still their win. I had a boss like him once. Simon calls Gregory a team player, and says his people are spoiled. He refers to Rick’s group again, and says the Hilltoppers who associated with them are extremely dead, and the people who killed them work for Negan now and are real go-getters. Gregory says it’s a shame, but tell Negan that he understands the benefits in crossing the aisle, whatever that means. Simon says for now everything is as Negan wants, but thanks him for recognizing what they bring to the table. That’s why he’s still there while others aren’t. Simon asks if there’s anything else Gregory wants him to know. Uh-oh. Trick question.

Gregory comes out of his office with Simon. Jesus looks hard at them. It looks like Gregory is going to rat out Maggie and Sasha when he opens a locked closet, but the only thing inside is a case of Scotch. Simon says he hates Scotch – it tastes like ashtray and window cleaner – but Negan will love it. I hate it too, although I’d probably be more gracious in my description. No points for Gregory though, since Simon is going to say it’s from him. He takes the case, and tells his men to take half of whatever they have. And the painting. Simon asks Gregory if he can get a kneel out of him and I think he said “neon,” so I wonder wth? for a moment, and think he has neon signs as well as paintings. Simon tells Gregory it’s a solid kneel and remember it for next time. These guys are so boring. Where is Ezekiel when I need him?

Carl doesn’t think Negan is there, since he doesn’t see the truck. Enid tells him that she knows he wasn’t taking a drive, he was coming to get her. He asks her to come with him to kill Negan. She says it would be for them, not Abe, Glenn, or Maggie. She says asks how, but Carl says it wouldn’t matter. He kisses her forehead and then they start really kissing. Tween/teen Twitter accounts explode. Enid tells him he shouldn’t go, but she can’t stop him.

Jesus lets Maggie and Sasha out of a different closet. Gregory says he told Jesus the hallway closet, and Maggies says, yeah, so he could give them up. Jesus asks Gregory wants to let everyone know he works for the Saviors and lose his position. He says that Maggie and Sasha are staying, and they’ll be one big dysfunctional family. Gregory says he made progress today, and he’ll see them through it. He says the Saviors can be reasonable, and Maggie punches him. She takes the pocket watch from him. He tells her that he didn’t want it left out in the rain. Since he’s been calling her everything except what her actual name is, Maggie says he’s going to start calling her by her name now – Maggie Rhee.

Jesus talks to Maggie and Sasha about Gregory, saying that when he got there, Gregory was already in charge. He thinks it just happened, and it wasn’t because Gregory had any special skills. He apologizes for not talking to him sooner. Maggie leaves for the trailer. Sasha tells Jesus that if he wants to make it up to them, he can he find out where Negan lives. Jesus says that one of the trucks is going back soon, so sure. She asks him to keep it between them. He says that he doesn’t like not telling Maggie, and she says she doesn’t either.

Maggie sees Enid at the graves. Enid asks if Maggie is okay, and Maggie says she’s not. She says she won’t be either, and hugs Enid.

Enid says she heard Maggie killed some walkers and a car when she’s supposed to take it easy. Maggie says it wasn’t too hard she’s had practice. Sasha comes in surprised to see Enid. Sasha asks why balloons are on Abe’s grave, and Enid says there’s nothing marking it. Maggie tells Sashe that she was going to use the watch her father gave Glenn to mark his, but decided to give it to Enid instead. Enid asks if she doesn’t want to keep it to remember Glenn by, but Maggie says that they don’t need anyting to remember him by – they have themselves. Well, she also has a baby coming. Maggie says a prayer before they eat.

The Saviors load up the truck and the caravan leaves. Sasha sharpens her knife. Jesus sneaks into a truck and drinks some Scotch. As he’s pouring the remainder of the bottle out, he sees that Carl is in the truck with him. Hi, Carl! Tiger Beat readers go out of their minds.

Next time, Negan wants to bring civilization back to the world, and Rick says they have to do something. Biggest. Understatement. Ever.

What would Carl and Jesus do?

💋 Just brushing up against The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Kenya went with Matt to his family reunion in Cincinnati. Even though she offered to pay for his first class plane ticket, Matt insisted on driving, feeling that it would be a bonding experience. An 8-hour car ride and Kenya agreed. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

Porsha is looking for a baby daddy, frightening all of us. First of all, because she’s going to breed, and secondly that there might be someone out there who agrees with this cockamamie idea, and that’s who she’s going to breed with. She and Phaedra are the two phoniest phonies I’ve ever seen. If they had a full brain between them, they’d be dangerous.

It looks like Sheree might get back together with Bob, although he’s moving a bit fast for both of our tastes.

Next time, Phaedra sets up a game of drunk laser tag and Mama Joyce goes nuts. Both of those events should make it worth watching.

November 18, 2016 – Valentin Obtient la Garde, Lucy is Found Then Unfound & Quotes to Ponder

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What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Valentin opens his arms and Charlotte goes to him. She whispers something to him in French. He tells her the nice judge will decide if he’s taking her home.

Curtis meets Julian for breakfast. He says he’s done some more digging. Julian says Sonny confessed at the funeral, but Curtis says he almost confessed. Somebody stopped him.

Franco looks at Tom’s picture in the newspaper online at the hospital. He flashes back to choking Tom. Suddenly, the paper is gone and it’s a 404 error. He starts banging on the computer and I identify. The tech guy comes by and tells him that’s not going to help. Franco sees Sam in the hallway.

Elizabeth is about to go into Kelly’s and Tom is there. She asks if he’s following her, but he says it’s a coincidence. He’s glad he ran into her though, because they have unfinished business.

Jax makes surprise waffles for Josslyn, and I’m skeptical that they’re homemade. Josslyn tells him that she misses Morgan. She says yesterday was hard, and she wasn’t even there for the worst of it. She can’t believe what Sonny said. Jax says he did the right thing. Josslyn thinks Carly will never go back to him now.

Carly shows up at Sonny’s cell. Sonny tells Carly he wants to make it right, and wants Morgan to have peace. She says there is no peace. She brings out a jar and says there’s pieces of their son in there. She opens it. Sonny wakes up. Jason is there.

Jax tells Josslyn that he can’t answer that question. Carly comes in and sits with Josslyn to eat. Jax says he’ll try pancakes tomorrow and Carly says it sounds like he’s staying a while. Josslyn says she wants him here, and so does mom.

Elizabeth takes out her pepper spray. Tom says he’s not going to hurt her. He tells her that legally, he can’t say certain things, but if he’s ever done anything to harm her, he’s sorry. He says he’s trying to get on with his life, and she doesn’t have to send her boyfriend after him. Elizabeth says Franco told her about it and she doesn’t blame him. Tom says Franco left out the part about choking him.

Franco apologizes to Sam for what happened in Hawaii. He says it was sick, but there’s no excuse, tumor or no tumor. He apologizes for what he took away from her. He knows it’s a lot to ask, but hopes that one day she’ll forgive him. She tells him to go to hell. Well, that answers that question.

The judge asks Claudette why she calls Valentin “papa,” and Charlotte says because he is. The judge asks if she likes him, and Charlotte says she loves him.

Curtis tells Julian that he thinks Jason knows more than they do. Julian says he’ll be right back, and wants to hear about some actual investigating. Curtis moves over to sit with Diane. He wants to talk about her client.

Sonny asks what Jason has for him. Jason says the bomb had nothing to do with Sonny or hi contractor, but they have to find out who planted it. Sonny asks if it matters, since Morgan is dead. He wonders why he should keep fighting.

Carly tells Josslyn that Jax has work and a life. Jax says he has no obligations right now, and he can stay as long as they need him. Carly offers a suite at the hotel, but Josslyn wants him to stay with them.

Sam asks what Franco’s end game is, to lower their defenses so he can blindside them? He says something happened to someone he cared about, and he realizes he has to come to terms with some things .He doesn’t want to be that guy. It dawns on Sam that he’s talking about Elizabeth, and she says there is no being better person; he’s sick and cruel and he’s lying to himself.

Tom shows Elizabeth the marks on his neck. He tells her that Franco said he was going to torture Tom until he begged for death. He says he doesn’t want to go to the police or harm her, and to tell Franco that he’s no threat to her. Elizabeth says he’ll always be a threat because of what he took from her.

The judge wants to wrap it up. Valentin says his daughter loves and trusts him, and wants to be with him. Anna says he’s dangerous. Valentin says she only has allegations, and to prove it. Anna shows the judge some Interpol stuff. She says Valentin didn’t even exist prior to 2011. She thinks he intends to disappear again, with Charlotte. The judge wants to review and deliberate in private. They step outside. Griff tells Anna, nice save, but Valentin says he wouldn’t be so sure.

Diane tells Curtis that Sonny must have remembered her advice and kept silent. Curtis says that Sonny talked to Jason. Diane tells him that she has nothing to say, since he’s working for dirtbag Julian. She thanks him for picking up the tab and leaves.

Jason tells Sonny that he didn’t fail Morgan. No matter what guilt he’s feeling, it isn’t going to change anything, and throwing his life away won’t help anyone. He asks if Sonny wants Avery with Ava. Sonny says Carly will work it out. Jason asks if Sonny knows Oscar Jessup. Sonny says when he worked for Skully, Oscar was a contractor for the Jeromes. Jason tells him not to do something he can’t take back, and that it’s not too late.

Jax tells Josslyn not to put her mom on the spot, but Carly says she’s right. They have plenty of room. Josslyn wants to finish her homework so her weekend is free. When she’s gone, Carly asks Jax how he thinks she’s doing. He says she’s hurting a lot. Carly is worried she’s not there for Josslyn, and Jax says that Josslyn gets her strength from Carly.

Griff says Claudette meant something to him and he owes it to her to fight for Charlotte. Valentin says Claudette only has a passing relationship with the truth, and doesn’t love him. Griff asks what Valentin did to her and punches him. Well, that was a bad move.

The judge comes out, asking if she needs to call security, or are the three of them capable of sitting down while she renders her decision? She says she understands it’s a heated situation, but she can’t condone any violence. She tells them what just happened has no bearing on her decision, but it’s clear that Charlotte has bonded with her father, is secure in his presence, and loves him. Anna has serious allegations, but no corroborating evidence, and his lack of history has no bearing on his fitness as a parent. She awards custody to Valentin.

Carly tells Jax it’s great having him there, for Josslyn and for her. He knows what she needs. He tells her that the waffles are a one time thing. He’s making a green smoothie tomorrow and he won’t let her put it in the planter. She laughs and says it’s been a while since she found anything funny. She says Morgan wouldn’t like her like this, but his life is over. Jax says he wouldn’t want hers to be. She wonders how to move through this. Jax puts his arm round her and says maybe they can try together. Josslyn sees them and smiles.

Jason meets Sam. She tells him about Franco. She thinks he’s trying to get into her head. He apologized for what happened in Hawaii and says he truly regrets it. Jason asks how Sam feels. She says it’s not up to her to make him feel better, and thinks he’s a coward. She wonders what Elizabeth is thinking.

Franco asks Elizabeth where the donuts are, and she says she forgot them. She asks if he tried to choke Tom. He says he told her he went to see him, but Elizabeth says he never told her that he tried to choke him. Franco says he never said he didn’t. She says it was lying by omission. Franco says it wasn’t an end-his-life choke, just a send-a-strong- message choke. She wonders if they can make this work. He says he’s not sorry for anything he’s done. Tom is garbage and scares her, and her being scared upsets him. He asks who told her, and she says Tom did.

Griff says the judge can’t give Charlotte to Valentin, but she says there’s no legal reason not to. She talks about equal protections of law, and that you don’t get to violate someone’s rights because of your opinion of them. Should Claudette resurface, that will be a separate matter. Her decision is final. Griff looks sick, and Valentin smiles.

The judge thanks Charlotte for her help and says she’s made her job easy today. She tells Valentin to stay in New York for the time being, and he says he’s staying in Port Charles indefinitely. The judge lets Griff say good by. Griff tells Charlotte that he knows he’s not her dad, but she’s in his heart just the same, and he’ll always be there for her.

Franco is like, what? Elizabeth says she saw Tom at Kelly’s. She says it’s disgusting he’s out of prison, but he’s legally paroled. He has every right to have Franco arrested, but she doesn’t want Franco taken away from her. She wants him to swear he’ll let it go.

Josslyn is doing a report on Pride and Prejudice. She asks Jax and Carly for some input. She talks about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, and how they realized they belonged together. She hints that the story relates to Carly and Jax, and asks if she got her point across.

Diane tells Sonny he’s reviewed the confession and has a strong case for reasonable doubt. She says why bother though, since he’s determined to plead guilty, but he says not any more.

Jason tells Sam about talking to Sonny. She says she talked to Spinelli about Jessup’s phone number. In perfect soap timing, her phone rings and it’s Spinelli.

Curtis tells Julian that something about the bomb doesn’t add up. Julian tells him go on a wild goose chase on his own time. Since Sonny confessed, Curtis doesn’t need to follow up anymore. He’s fired.

Anna tells Valentin she’ll uncover the truth about him. He tells her to open her eyes in Latin and leaves with Charlotte.

Elizabeth tells Franco that Tom has done enough damage; they can’t let his release from prison consume them. She goes back to work, and Franco thinks about what Sam said to him. The computer tech comes by, and Franco asks if he can break into the cloud and hypothetically track someone’s GPS.

After she goes back upstairs, Jax and Carly talk about Josslyn wanting to pair them up again. Jax says she probably thinks it would get Carly away from Sonny. Carly says other people see Jax and Sonny as opposites, but she looks at them at individuals. She says she and Jax’s time with each other was herhappiest, and she should have worked harder at the relationship. They kiss.

Diane asks if Sonny has decided to take her advice, and he says yes. She wonders what brought about his change of heart. He tells her that they both want the same thing – justice.

Sam hangs up with Spinelli. She says Oscar has been dead since 1990.

Curtis tells Julian that he’s done good work. Julian can’t argue with that, but says he wanted Sonny in prison and that’s where he’s going. He gives Curtis a check. Curtis leaves, and Julian’s phone rings. Julian says he got rid of him like he was asked, and he’s done everything Jessup has wanted.

On Monday, Curtis asks Hayden what’s going on, Jason is afraid they’re too late, and Jax is hesitant, but Carly isn’t.

Z Nation

Doc and Addie run as some Lucy’s adoptive father shoots at them. Her adoptive mother, who also has a gun, them. She says she won’t hesitate to shoot them, and that Lucy needs new friends. They’re taken inside.

Murphy says he needs an assistant for all the paperwork. 10K is brought in to see him. He tells 10K  that he’s not like the others; they’ve all embraced him. When he doesn’t have a booster shot, he’s a pita, but when he has one, he’s uncommunicative. He reacts, but doesn’t act. They’re preparing to go to war, and 10K should be leading. Murphy says they need to fix his problem. He thinks it might be 10K’s name. It’s also his mission and purpose, and as long as he’s 10K, he’s of no use. He needs a new purpose. The world has moved past zombie killing and he needs a new mission. He renames 10K “Thomas,” and says first, he needs to know if he can trust him.

Addie and Doc are tied to chairs. “Pa” says they aren’t playing games. Doc says they’re not there to cause trouble. “Ma” asks who they are and where they’re from. Addie makes the introductions, and says they came from upstate. Doc says they were traveling with Murphy. Addie tells them that Murphy sent them to get his daughter. Doc adds that he helped deliver her. Addie explains that Murphy asked them to take him to California. Pa says that must be at least 100 miles and she tells him it’s more like a few thousand. And I thought I was geographically challenged.

Pa asks if Addie is a princess. Doc says it’s really Lucy talking, and Addie asks if he’s having a stroke. Addie remarks on how big Lucy is. Ma says the zombies love her; they keep her safe and even help with the chores. Addie asks Lucy if she’d like to go on a trip, and Lucy says she’d like to see her daddy. Pa says they have to see if they’re telling the truth, but Doc says how would they know all this? Pa says just give them the password. Ma says Murphy gave them a password in case he had to send someone one day.

Addie tells Doc to tell them the password. He looks at Lucy and says “Smurf ,” and waits to be shot. The couple puts their guns down. Pa brings out a humongous knife and says he’s cutting them loose. He amends that to it’s the wrong password and Doc is going to meet his maker. Doc says Murphy must have given them the wrong password and asks for a do-over. Addie tells Lucy they can’t take her to see her daddy if Pa kills Doc. Lucy says she wants to play with them, but Pa says they mean her harm. She says no, play. Ma tells her whatever she says, and they’re cut loose. Ma says they’re not out of the frying pan yet.

Lucy takes them to meet her friends. A bunch of zombies hanging out in the backyard, dressed as princesses, pirates, and fairy tale characters.

Lucy tells Addie and Doc not to be afraid; these are her friends. Addie thinks Lucy’s friends aren’t going to like them. Doc explains they’re not like her; the zombies think they’re food. Lucy gives them “tea,” and then wants to play hide and seek. Doc is “it,” and the zombies and Addie are supposed to hide.

Murphy asks 10K if he knows the knife game and 10K nods. He does that between the fingers thing with the knife. Murphy says they have a history. He needs to know it won’t interfere with things and what 10K is willing to do for him. 10K’s knife goes faster. Murphy says he needs to know if he’ll kill for him and die for him. 10k now Thomas moves the knife even faster.

Doc finishes counting. He hears Lucy giggle. He’s not about to find any of the zombies, so he starts looking for her. Ma is behind the house with a gun and he tags her. She seems annoyed. Doc follows the sound of Lucy laughing. And finds a zombie dressed like Raggedy Ann.

Murphy concentrates on 10K with leopard iris eyes. 10K stabs himself and stops with the knife. Murphy says good thing it wasn’t his trigger finger, and wraps the wound. He says let’s talk about the new mission.

The zombie tries to attack Doc. He calls for Lucy. He grabs a rock and hits the zombie in the head with it. Addie runs to him, asking if he’s okay. Lucy comes out asking them to do it again. She wants Raggedy Ann to get up, but that’s not happening. Addie says Doc had to stop her or she would have bit him. She’s dead. Lucy says Doc broke her and she hates him; he ruined everything. She runs off, and Addie follows. Pa goes too, and the zombies surround Doc, but Ma is still there with a gun.

Addie and Pa run after Lucy through the woods. Ma takes Doc inside. Seriously, what was he supposed to do? Ma says they’ll have to round the zombies up now, since Lucy hates it when they run off. Then they’ll probably shoot him. She asks if he’d like tea.

Lucy checks out some flowers. A zombie comes out of the woods, and she tells it to take her home, but the zombie is threatening. Lucy says bad zombie, but the zombie says she’s no zombie, and to come here. Lucy screams.

Lucy comes to the edge of a cliff and tells the woman to stop. Addie comes up from behind and knocks the woman down. She tells Lucy it’s not a zombie, she just looks like one, and to run. Addie fights the woman and grabs a huge stick, chasing her off. Lucy says Addie saved her and runs to her.

Murphy gives 10K instructions and asks if he understands. 10K nods. He says he has a surprise for him, and shows him a syringe. He says it’s what 10K wants, to be himself again and be human. 10K hesitates. Murphy concentrates, and 10K puts the syringe down. Murphy says good, and to remember what they talked about. 10K leaves.

Lucy jumps up and down, happy she’s going to meet her dad. Doc says he brought her into the world and won’t let anything happen to her. She asks about her mommy. Addie says her name was Serena and she loved Lucy very much. Doc tells the story of Murphy and Serena meeting, and we flash back. He says they fell in love over a blueberry pie. He says they were king and queen of the apocalypse. Lucy asks if they lived in a castle. Doc says yes, and we flash back to things that didn’t happen. Lucy asks how babies are made. Doc says it’s like baking a pie. They loved each other so much, they ate the whole pie she baked. Lucy asks if that’s why she’s blue, and Doc says yes. He says by the time they finished the pie, her mom had a bun in the oven of her own. We see Serena giving Murphy a list of baby needs while he sips a martini.

Doc says they were separated by fate and we see them leaving Serena in the dust. Doc says Murphy looked for her, and we flash back to when they met up again. Doc says that Lucy was ready to come out and meet the world, and he was there to help. We see the delivery, and he says she made quite an entrance. He talks about Murphy loving her immediately. Lucy asks if her mommy loved her. Doc says she loved her so much, she had to fight off zombies who wanted to hurt her. Lucy says zombies are her friends, and Doc says not all of them. We flash back to how Serena met her end. Doc says Serena is a warrior princess, and fought them off and saved her, but afterward, she had to rest, and went to a faraway land. By the time he’s done, Lucy is asleep in Addie’s lap.

Zombies gather outside. Along with a hooded figure that has Freddy Kruegerish knives.

Doc and Addie buckle Lucy into the car. Addie asks where Ma and Pa are. Doc goes back to see what’s keeping them, but the house looks empty. He goes out back and sees them sitting in chairs. He approaches them saying this is best for Lucy. They’ve been tied up. He undoes the bonds, and Ma says it’s his fault. Pa says he lied to them, and the couple chases Doc. He locks the back door and runs out the front. It’s a little tense when he can’t get the front door open, but he breaks the lock.

Doc calls to Addie. Ma says if he hurts her, every zombie in the apocalypse will be after him. Doc says he doesn’t know what they’re talking about. He finds Addie on the ground next to the car. The Man drives off with Lucy. Doc calls to Lucy, saying they’ll find her, and tends to Addie. Ma and Pa come running out.

They come after Doc. He tells Addie to play dead and runs. He lights a flare, and sticks Pa in the back of the head with it. I’m not so sure you could get through a skull with a flare, but okay. Ma knocks Doc down. She tries to bite him, and he says it wasn’t him. Addie comes from behind, and smashes her in the head with a garden gnome.

Lucy asks The Man a million questions, including are we there yet? She says he’s not a good bully, and asks why his head is shiny. He tazes her, and she says do it again. He does it again, and she laughs and says again. He tells her to shut up. She wants her Aunt addie. The Man tells her that Addie is dead and Lucy screams. Murphy hears her.

Doc stitches up Addie’s head wound. Addie says they have to go after her. She says they have to get help. They passed a radio tower and one of them has to contact Citizen Z or Roberta. Doc suggests that she take the motorcycle and follow Lucy; he’ll go to the tower.

Murphy feels hot and it’s getting hard to breathe. He goes out for air, loosening his collar. Somewhere Lucy is fussing with some ropes. She has a hood over her head and is gasping. The Man stops the car. He takes Lucy’s hood off. He asks what happened to her, I assume he’s noticing her color for the first time, and she says wait until she tells her daddy.

Murpy stares into the distance, presumably connecting with Lucy.

Addie rides down the highway with determination.

Outside Murphytown, 10K looks at his dog tags that say Thomas. He consults a paper. We don’t see it, but there’s not much written on it. What there is, is written in large print in felt marker. I can make out the words “end” and “kill.”

Next time, Doc makes a broadcast and becomes a guru.

Quotes of the Week

What’s the answer to a perfect square? – You. — Greg Ottot (Diedrich Bader) and Taylor Otto (Meg Donnelly) respectively, on American Housewife

The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity. From the day of the Declaration, the American people were bound by the laws of God.John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States, 1821

Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.Judge Judy

November 13, 2016 – The World Behind the Mirror is Revealed, the NJ Reunion Drags On & Negan Shakes Down Alexandria

Standard

What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

Once Upon a Time

Snow talks to David while he sleeps. She says maybe this is their normal now. Regina blames herself. She says she’s the only one who can hurt the queen, but Emma doesn’t want her to engage. Emma says her own sentence is already death, and Henry needs one of them to be there.

Snow is about to kiss David, and makes a face like she smells something weird. She looks at the mirror and then throws something at it. The Evil Queen is watching them.

A split screen shows us how Snow and David are living now. They leave notes for each other and videos on the phone. He leaves her flowers all the time. I’m thinking this is a great way to avoid any marital conflict, and wondering how I can arrange this for myself.

Emma visits Regina and asks if she has anything. She says she got an idea when Snow broke the mirror. They might not be able to hurt the queen, but they can imprison her in the world behind the mirror. Henry volunteers to be bait.

Henry meets the Evil Queen on the beach. She tells him that she knows he’s upset about his parents, but someday he’ll understand that you have to make hard choices. She talks about when they used to come there and feed the seagulls. She says he was afraid of them, and he tells her that he’s not afraid of anything now, especially her. He disappears, poof! in a puff of purple smoke. Regina and Emma show up with a mirror, but the Evil Queen tells them that it’s the wrong one because she switched them. She flips the tables (or mirror, as it were) on them, and they end up in the world behind the mirror. The Evil Queen says she hopes they enjoy where they’re going, because it’s where they’re spending the rest of their lives.

Emma wakes up and sees Storybrooke in a mirror. She’s in a room with mirrors everywhere, and calls out for Regina. The camera pans out and it’s a stone room within a forest of mirrors. Emma sees Granny in one of them, and tries to get her attention. Regina appears and tells her they’re all one-way mirrors. They have no way to communicate. She says it was the perfect prison for the Evil Queen since she has no friends anyway. Emma says people might not be able to break out, but maybe someone can break in. They think Henry is their answer.

The Evil Queen as Regina tells Henry that it worked and she’s finally free. Hook asks about Emma, and the queen tells him that Emma is driving to NYC to find the Dragon. She directs Hook to a fake voicemail. Snow says they finally got rid of the monster, but the queen says maybe not so much of a monster. She says they have someone else to worry about – Henry has to get ready for a dance. She says she’ll make sure everything works out for him.

Belle tells Zelena that Gold has closed his shop. She says he’s after her baby and she needs Zelena to help stop him; they’re both mothers and know what it’s like to care about someone who lets them down. Belle says she’s seen Zelena make portals before. Zelena says Gold has the wand she needs under lock and key, but Belle says she knows who can get it.

They meet with Jasmine and Aladdin, who claims to be the best thief anywhere. Jasmine doesn’t want him to get involved, but Zelena says it’s their fault that Gold is in possession of the shears in the first place. Belle says if Aladdin is any kind of a hero, he’ll help her escape the beast.

The Evil Queen visits Gold. She tries to come on to him, but he’s like, not today, he’s working. She says she needs the Hammer of Festus, which makes me think of Festivus for the rest of us. He says the hammer’s magic is only useful to someone who doesn’t have any. She says she wants it for Henry. Gold says villains don’t get happy endings, but the queen says she’s looking for a beginning. He asks what she has to offer him in return. She says now they’re on the same team, aren’t they? He tells her to remember her mother’s lesson – love is weakness. She says it can be, but it can also be a weapon, and she’s going to use it on her son.

Hook keeps leaving messages for Emma. He says he knows phones work in NYC and something doesn’t feel right. He sees the glass from the mirror on the beach. The Evil Queen appears and he asks what she’s done with Emma and Regina, but she says she’s not answering his question and blows him back with some magic.

Emma and Regina are getting nowhere, and Regina says they have to zero in on something. Emma suggests Granny’s, where Henry is meeting Violet before the dance. They see Henry adjust his tie, and they bang on the mirror. The Evil Queen as Regina calls to him. Emma says he has no idea they’re even gone. Henry tells the queen that he doesn’t think he’s good enough for Violet. The queen says Violet is a nice girl, but still a commoner and she’s lucky to have him. She says they might go back to her castle one day, and he’ll be king. Henry says he thinks he should finish high school first, but she says it’s not always about actually sitting on a throne, it’s about how you carry yourself. She tells him girls notice these things and to go off and be kingly. He leaves and the Evil Queen looks into the mirror and smiles.

Henry meets Violet. She asks if the homecoming dance is like a ball. He tells her something more important is happening, and to keep looking at him. He says that the woman behind him isn’t Regina, it’s the Evil Queen. He tells Violet to think of a reason to leave. She says she isn’t crazy about her dress, and wants to show him another one in the shop window. He tells her she’s a great liar. She says thanks, and they leave.

Emma and Regina are upset about Henry. Suddenly, Emma thinks someone else is with them. Regina says she doesn’t think so, but the Dragon comes out. He was imprisoned by the Evil Queen. He says everything is off balance, the dark and the light, a lesson sometimes learned at great cost. Emma says they’re worried abbot their son, and he says he once lost a daughter and paid the price.

Aladdin sneaks around Gold’s shop. Gold is doing some spinning (on a spinning wheel, not a bike). He hears something, but it’s just a windup toy. Aladdin finds the wand.

The Dragon takes Emma and Regina to another room in the mirror forest. Emma says she was looking for him. He says unfortunately, breaking their curse is beyond his ability. He tells them that Sidney was working on a way out, and points to a broken mirror. He thinks together they can mend it. Regina fixes one of the cracks by touching it and starts messing with the glass pieces.

Henry talks to a mirror. He says if his moms are in there, say something. The Evil Queen overhears and says it’s not like leaving a voicemail. She tells him that a gentleman never ditches his date. He says that Violet is somewhere safe, and he realized his mom wasn’t his mom. She brings up how she once helped him be brave, and says he could be great, but not if he’s a wimp. He says she can’t Darth Vader him and he’ll never join her. She says she’s not really evil, despite the name. She’s not a hero either, but a leader, and they do what’s necessary. She brings out a heart.

The Dragon tells them Henry is safe. Emma and Regina realize it’s the Evil Queen speaking through him. She’s also in the mirror and tells them that she has the Dragon’s heart. The Dragon doubles over. He says he doesn’t want to do this, and red smokes envelops him. When the smoke clears, he’s turned into a huge dragon.

The Evil Queen says to kill them, and the dragon Dragon goes crazy, flying all around and breathing fire. The queen gives Henry the hammer and says he can save them by smashing the Dragon’s heart. Henry says the Dragon is innocent, and it won’t make him hers. She says he’ll understand more of who she is though. He says if Regina dies so does she, and she says that’s how certain she is he’ll do it.

Emma and Regina hide behind some pillars. They discuss being mothers. Emma says neither one of them are sacrificing themselves, and Regina says they’ll do this together. She comes out and distracts the dragon. Henry says if the Evil Queen is his mom, not to make him do this. She says her own mother proved that sometimes all you need is a little push. The dragon comes after Emma and Regina. They cry out for help, but Henry smashes the mirror instead of the heart.

Good choice. The dragon breathes fire on the mirror, and Emma and Regina pop through. The Evil Queen says they made Henry soft, and accuses him of hiding behind them. He says he’s not hiding, and strong families make you stronger than you would be by yourself, but she’ll never understand because she’ll always be alone.

Hook grabs the queen from behind with his hook and tells Her Majesty to shove off. The Evil Queen tells Henry that she only wants what’s best for him, and disappears, poof! in a cloud of purple smoke.

Jasmine tells Aladdin she’s proud of him. Why do they both have British accents? Is Agribah lost in the UK? She says she was so focused on finding Agribah, she almost stopped him from helping Belle. Along with stealing the wand, he lifted a genie lamp, and gives it to her. She says the genie is gone, but he says he’s free now, but whoever’s inside might be able to help them find Agribah

Belle brings the wand to Zelena. Gold pops in right behind her. He says he can’t let Belle take their child away. He puts a spell on her and says no matter where she goes, he’ll find her. She calls him a beast, but he says it’s love. She says next time, she’ll run so far and so fast, he’ll never set eyes on his child. He says Rumpelstiltskin takes children, and she says tell your first son that.

Gold falls to the floor. Zelena says his heart only beats because of her, and if he hurts her, he hurts himself. He struggles up and says they’re far from done. He disappears, poof! in a cloud of purple smoke. I guess a lot of the smoke budget was blown on the dragon Dragon, so they couldn’t afford another color.

Snow writes to David. She says she can’t do this anymore and she misses him. They switch places. David takes the crumpled paper from her hand and says he misses her too.

Violet goes to Granny’s. Henry apologizes for them missing the dance. She says they had their first date there, and it’s better than the dance. Henry says she’s seemed distant, but she says it’s not him; she’s having a hard time adjusting to school. She feels out of place like the kids in the John Hughes movie, and doesn’t know if shes a jock or a nerd. He says he should have started with Sixteen Candles, and tells her that she doesn’t need a label; she’s Violet. He asks her to dance

Emma tells Regina that Henry is going to be okay with or without her. Regina says the queen was wrong about him. She was so worried about how they’re going to raise him, she didn’t realize that they already had.

Gold looks at the sonogram picture. The Evil Queen tells him that children rebel; it’s their job, but it’s the parents job to make them strong. Gold asks how far she’s willing to go, and she says she’ll do anything. He suggests they might both get their happy ending and kisses her. She says they are on the same page this time, and he says for now. But there’s one more thing to take care of. He tells her that Zelena has become a bit of a problem, and he wants her dead.

Next time – in 2 weeks – Gold becomes a beast who goes too far, and Belle might lose her baby.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey – The Reunion Part Two

Teresa claims she had a gut feeling that Jacqueline set her up. Andy takes a break. Jacqueline says no wonder Teresa is so angry with her. In the dressing room, Chris tells Jacqueline that Teresa is crazy.

Chris and Joe #2 join the group. Andy says that was quite an accusation. Teresa says she doesn’t feel Jacqueline was responsible, but she dabbled in it. She went to “certain people” getting information, and started the ball rolling. Andy asks Siggy and Dolores what they think. Siggy says she’s been friends with Jacqueline for 2½ years, and Dolores says she doesn’t think that’s something Jacqueline would do. Chris says they have a mutual friend who called him about a possible Federal investigation, then Chris called another friend who had some ideas on how to circumvent things. He approached Joe #1 who told them to f-off, so he washed his hands of it. He asks when Teresa is going to take responsibility.

Jacqueline drags Melissa into it, saying that Melissa was giving her information. Melissa says she thought of her as a girlfriend who she told things to in confidence. She warns the others that Jacqueline will spill their secrets. Jacqueline tries to get Chris involved and Melissa points out that she doesn’t need to drag Joe #2 into her business. Chris says blah-blah-blah about how they used to be friends. He claims Jacqueline tried to get everyone to be friends when Teresa was on the outs with Melissa, but he told her one day she’d be the one on the outside.

Joe #2 thinks this is petty stuff, and that his family destroyed him. He says he was a mess for a while. and we flash back to some choice moments like the christening party. Chris talks about how he met Jacqueline, and somehow the subject of Jacqueline being a stripper pops up again, but doesn’t linger. Chris insists that Jacqueline never meant any ill will toward anybody.

Andy lightens the mood by saying sometimes he thinks he needs a Jersey translator, and shows some clips of “Jerseyisms,” which are more like Teresaisms. Like when Teresa confused an enema with edamame. Dolores confuses things further by telling her that it’s really a colonic. Teresa blames everything on having had braces on the back of her teeth. Jacqueline admits to it being an endearing quality.

Andy talks about Italian families and how it’s sometimes like being at war. He touches briefly on the rift between Teresa and her brother, but moves quickly on to Teresa coming home and how even prison didn’t bring her down. We see clips of the family, and of Joe leaving. Andy says he was surprised to hear that Teresa might have to sell the house. She says she thought it might be good to downsize, but the kids don’t want to leave, so she’s working hard to keep them there. Andy asks what she learned in prison. She talks about the wonderful women she met there, how they’re not bad people, and actually uses the word prison. She says it really wasn’t exactly a camp, and a lot of it was disgusting. She says she took responsibility, but she really just signed a paper. Andy asks if she blames Joe #1, but she says he took full responsibility, telling the court she had nothing to do with it, but since she’s a celebrity, it went the way it did. We see all the paparazzi screeching at her. Melissa says if Joe #1 could have done her time, he would have. I honestly believe that is the way it went. I think she had no clue what she was signing – why would she have read it, since she trusted her husband? And I think she was made an example of because she’s a reality star.

A viewer remarks that Teresa doesn’t seem to have remorse, and she’s like, what more do you want? They talk about Joe #1 now being inside, and how he almost has a six-pack now. Andy asks about Teresa’s insistence that Joe never cheated, and she says show her proof. They talk about Teresa’s going away party when she left the clink, and how Gia has a boyfriend now. Andy suggests she date Dolores’s Frankie, and Teresa says you never know.

Andy asks if Teresa thinks Joe will keep it together, and she says he is already. He asks about the possibility of Joe being deported. She says because it’s a legal matter, she can’t really discuss it and they’ll see what happens. He asks her why it’s something she doesn’t want to discuss, and she says there’s no need to give it life. Amen to that. Of course she doesn’t want to discuss it. Geez. That’s possibly the stupidest question Andy has ever asked anyone.

Chris is back, although I hadn’t realized he left. Andy asks why Teresa doesn’t want to deal with her cousins. Teresa says they’re toxic; they never called or wrote once, and Rosie really hadn’t been there for Joe. Jacqueline says that Teresa wouldn’t even sit on the same couch with them, and Teresa basically tells her to mind her own business. Siggy says Jacqueline just wanted to bring the family together, and Teresa says she doesn’t see it that way. Siggy says Teresa had different priorities than dealing with her cousins.

A viewer asks about Melissa and Kathy, but Melissa says they just drifted apart. Jacqueline tries to voice an opinion, but Melissa shuts it down, saying Jacqueline knows it’s true.

Next up, the nightmare in Vermont. We flash back to all that, and I want to smack Jacqueline’s stupid face all over again. Andy asks why Melissa invited Robyn and Kristina, and she says they were friends. Teresa talks about Jacqueline antagonizing Robyn, but Jacqueline says she was calling Robyn’s bluff. Chris says Jacqueline thought it was going to be a time of genuinely mending fences and was disappointed. Which I guess gave her leeway to scream at whoever she wanted to. Dolores thinks Melissa should have come to Jacqueline’s rescue, and Melissa says after Jacqueline barked at her like she was one of her kids, she didn’t answer Jacqueline fast enough. Andy asks Melissa if she had four nose jobs. Melissa barely starts to talk and Jacqueline jumps in with her two cents. Melissa says it’s her secret to tell, and wants to know why it’s Jacqueline’s business.

Jacqueline says blah-blah-blah, and claims Teresa went to jail for lying. Melissa calls Jacquleine a sh*tty friend. Teresa says she has a clown’s face, and that she’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing with rabies. She calls Jacqueline disgusting, and Jacqueline acts like she doesn’t care, but Teresa says she does and that’s why she keeps coming back.

Andy asks Joe #2 why Jacqueline and Melissa had problems after Teresa came back. Joe says Jacqueline got weird, and Melissa says she acted paranoid and never believed that Teresa could change. Jacqueline questions whether or not Melissa and Teresa are really friends. Melissa says when Jacqueline lies, she turns the sound off. Chris claims that Teresa messed up their relationship with Joe #2 and Melissa. Melissa says there was a time they were friends, but Jacqueline ‘s mind messed with her and she started to question things. Then she called a magazine with stories about them, and that ended it.

We flash back on more of Jacqueline’s idiocy. Andy brings up the lunch that went south. He asks Jacqueline why she even went. Jacqueline says her intention was to talk to everyone one on one. Andy says that seems rational and logical, but that wasn’t how it came off. Jacqueline claims that Teresa and Melissa came in with an attitude. Dolores insists they were still angry about Vermont, but then stands corrected after they tell her that wasn’t the case and we see a clip.

Andy asks if Jacqueline’s approach had been different, would Teresa have accepted it. Teresa says she would have. Andy asks what about Melissa, and the lovely Jacqueline squeaks that he was going to talk to her. Melissa points out that Jacqueline was never a friend in the first place. Chris claims that Jacqueline feels too deeply for people, and when she’s hurt, she goes to extremes. Okay.

Andy asks Siggy and Dolores what it would take to heal the friendship. Dolores suggests a lobotomy and Siggy says you have to put gas in a relationship to keep it moving forward and this tank is out. We flash back to some better times. In an old interview, Chris says they have a strong bond, whether they admit it or not. Jacqueline says it’s hard, and Teresa says no matter what, she’ll always have a special place in her heart for Nicholas. Jacqueline says they’ve both said and done things that are terrible, but Teresa says she’s never done anything to intentionally hurt Jacqueline. They had great times, but something went sour. Dolores says once someone apologizes, you can’t go back and say you don’t trust them. I dunno about that.

Andy brings up Jacqueline being hit hard when Joe #1 went away. She says just because she’s angry doesn’t mean she doesn’t have compassion. She starts crying. Andy asks if Teresa felt warm toward Jacqueline when she saw that, and Teresa says she did at the time. Dolores insists that neither one of them would turn the other away if there was an acutal need.

Andy talks about them leaning on one another. He asks Jacqueline if she was surprised that everyone was so supportive about Nicholas, and they all start crying. Teresa and Melissa hold hands. Melissa says even as angry as she is, she doesn’t like to see anyone hurt. Siggy says they’re all the best moms ever. Everyone agrees. Siggy says she loves them all, but she’s never going to Vermont again. She asks if everyone would do a group hug for her. Andy wants to see one too. Jacqueline says everyone doesn’t have to be friends, and Teresa begs her not to talk to people who want to hurt her. Dolores thinks they should stop talking before it goes bad, and Andy says let’s move forward.

They all hug, including Andy.

Best quote of the reunion: If you need to remove the knives, then there should not be a lunch. —- Dolores

The Walking Dead

Michonne stares at Rick while he sleeps, but it’s not exactly a loving look. She gets out of bed and gets her sword. And kills Rick. Just kidding. She messes around in the fireplace and brings out a gun. She quietly puts it into her duffel bag and leaves. Rick sees her and who knows what he thinks.

Michonne walks across a field to an abandoned truck, and gets on top of it. She surveys the land and waits.

Rick tends to Judith. Eugene crunches numbers or whatever he does. Rosita asks him to open the gate. Spencer asks if Eugene wants to come, but he says no. Rosita says no surprise. Eugene says he’s getting a music player back together and doing his part.

The Whistling Man Negan pounds on the gate, telling the little pigs to let him in. Is he going to huff and puff? A guy opens the inner gate and asks who he is. Negan is like, are you joking? and then Rick joins them. He tells Rick don’t make him have to ask. Rick says they were told a week and he’s early. Rick opens the gate and Negan says he missed him.

Negan kills a zombie with Lucille and says “easy peasy lemon squeezie.” We already know he’s one of those funny guy villains. He’s brought Daryl along with him, and says he just took care of a dead prick that could have killed them all, instead of bashing someone’s head in. He hands Lucille to Rick and strolls into Alexandria.

Negan says things like hot diggity dog, and that Alexandria is an embarrassment of riches. He tells Rick that they’ll have plenty to offer up. Rick tries to talk to Daryl, but Negan tells him no, and the same goes for everyone. Negan is so ridiculously satisfied with himself, he’s almost not scary. He tells Rick they’ll decide what they take and his workers move out into the town. Negan says they’re going to search the houses a bit and keep the process moving. He asks if Rick is going to show him around.

Rosita starts to go back to the car. Dwight asks where she’s going, and then says he doesn’t care. He takes the weapons from the car. He tells Rosita he has a job for her. Get Daryl’s bike. She says it’s not there and he says she knows where it is. She starts to leave and he takes her cap, telling her she can go now. She and Spencer get back in the car. Dwight dumps out her water and says don’t take too long.

Michonne is still at her post on the truck. She aims her gun at a zombie. She shoots and misses. She shoots again and misses. She practically unloads the gun. Either she’s a really bad shot or the site is off. She splits the zombie’s head open with her sword. I’m sure that’s more satisfying anyway. She walks through the woods and sees a dead deer. I’d eat the whole thing right there before I’d bring it back for Negan to steal.

Some of Negan’s people bring out a ratty chair. Negan is pleased, and says they’re reasonable people once you get to know them. Daryl follows him around silently. One of the guy’s wants to show Negan something. It’s Rick in the old video that Deanna took. He looks all Jeremiah Johnson, and Negan says he wouldn’t have wanted to mess with that guy, but it’s not Rick anymore. He asks what happened to the sick girl, referring to Maggie, and asks if she was married to number two. He tells Rick to be careful with how he looks at him, and goes on about good looking widows. He says he’d love to see her. Father Gabriel asks if he wants to pay his respects, and Negan says he’s freaky as sh*t, sneaking up on him like that. Negan assumes Maggie didn’t make it. He says it didn’t need to happen, but Daryl forced his hand. He was going to ask her to come back with him.

While Negan is prattling on, there’s a shot from somewhere. It’s Carl telling the guys to put stuff back. Rick tells him to put the gun down. Carl says they’re taking all the medicine. He tells Negan that he should go before he finds out how dangerous they really are. Negan asks if Carl just threatened him. Rick says to put the gun down, but Negan tells him they’re having a conversation. Negan tells Carl he likes him and doesn’t want to go hard proving a point. He says half and half is what it is. He asks if Carl wants him to prove how serious he is…again. Carl gives Rick the gun and Rick gives it to Negan.

Negan is reminded how many guns they have. He says this emotional outburst has made it clear he can’t allow that, and they’re all his now. He asks Rick where his guns are.

Negan shakes down Olivia at the armory. She says she keeps track of everything like the rations and the guns. Negan says they have slim pickin’s as far as food goes, and they’re no good to him if they starve, so for now they can keep their food. He says is a thank you too much to ask? but Rick says nothing. Negan says he knows they started off on the wrong foot, but Rick forced his hand. He says he’s reasonable if people cooperate, and asks if Rick is cooperating. He wants to know if there are any guns waiting for their moment. Rick says the guns are all in the armory to the best of his knowledge, and Negan says he’s counting on that.

Rosita and Spencer go out to the forest. Spencer looks under a pile of branches and says it’s still there. It’s Daryl’s bike. He says he knows it sucks, but this is their life now, this is where Rick got them. He says maybe if Rick had thought it through, it would be different. People might still be with them. I’m not a huge Rick fan, but he’s being just a little harsh. Rosita trots into the woods.

Negan tells Rick he thinks their attangement is going to work just fine. He wonders if Rick has been taking care of his guns. He aims one at Daryl, who doesn’t react, but shoots out a window. Some guy brings out a bazooka. Negan says he’s going to have fun with it. A woman tells Negan they’re short two guns. Rick says they had some people leave and maybe the guns are with them. Negan asks if Olivia sucks at her job, but she says the inventory is correct. He asks if she knows where the guns are and that he’s disappointed. It shows that someone isn’t on board and he can’t have that. He says he doesn’t enjoy killing women, but it was Olivia’s responsibiltiy. He badgers her and she starts to cry.

Rick’s people gather at the church and he tells everyone he thought of hiding some of the guns, but what if the Saviors found them or they had the guns on them when they ran into one of them? It doesn’t matter how many bullets they have, it isn’t enough. He says hiding guns isn’t the answer anymore. He asks who has the two they’re looking for or who knows where they are? He says if they don’t find them, Negan will kill Olivia. A guy asks why they care and Rick asks if he has them, but he doesn’t. He says most of them weren’t there; they didn’t have to watch. If they give Negan what he wants, they live in peace. Another guy gets up and asks how they’re getting out of this. Rick says there is no way out of this. He’s not in charge anymore. Negan is. He asks again who has the guns. Eugene says not everyone is there.

Rosita slinks trough the forest following some zombies. Spencer calls for her. She hides behind a tree and takes the zombies out with a knife. I don’t know if there’s a purpose or she’s just getting out her aggression. She impales one’s head on the end of a log. Ooh. She took a gun off of him. But it’s empty. Rosita tells Spencer that Negan is going to take all their guns and asks if he’s going to tell. She says this is not their life and he walks away.

Rick watches Negan sitting with Olivia. He starts tearing the place apart. Gabriel comes in and says he feels like it’s going to work out. They’ll find the guns, get through today, and find a way to beat this. He has faith in Rick. He says things change; they weren’t always friends. He asks if Michonne has them, but Rick says she doesn’t have what they’re looking for. He thanks Gabriel for his quick thinking about Maggie.

Aaron tells Rick there’s nothing so far. They all split up to look elsewhere. Rick opens a floor grate and finds a lot of stuff, like bouncy ball, a can of beans, and whiskey. He pulls out a sack that has two guns in it. He brings them outside. Some guy is bothering Enid about keeping some balloons, making her say please a bunch of times. A-hole.

Rick gives Negan the guns. Negan says funny how a little thing like holy sh*t someone is going to die, lights a fire under everyone. He asks where Rick found them. I’d tell him it was Maggie’s house. Might as well make her the scapegoat since she’s supposed to be dead anyway.

Negan’s people start to pull out. Negan tells Rick he’s got a helluva place. Negan sees Michonne out of the corner of his eye. Rick asks for a second. Negan says no at first, and then smiles. Rick goes in, and Michonne sees him holding Lucille. Rick says he needs the rifle. He says he knows it’s in the bag and that she was out practicing. He says they have to give up their guns. If Negan finds them, someone dies, and he’s not losing anyone else. He asks if she’ll let him give the guns to Negan.

Michonne comes out with the deer like she was hunting. Rick gives Negan the gun. Negan says this is something to build a relationship on. He tells Rick that he’s special. Rick asks if Daryl can stay. Negan says, not happening, but amends that to maybe Daryl can plead his case and sway him.

Daryl says nothing. Negan says Rick tried. Now he has to get over that tall wall and earn for him. They’ll be back soon and Rick had better have something interesting for them, or Lucille will have her way. Someone will die, and no more magic guns. Michonne throws down the deer, and Negan says he loves a gal who buys him dinner and doesn’t expect him to put out.

Dwight takes Daryl’s bike and throws Rosita’s hat back to her. He asks if they found anything else, and she says just his dead friend. He rides off on Daryl’s bike. He tells Daryl to just say the word and he can have it back, but Daryl remains silent.

Negan tells Rick that nobody died. He thinks he and Rick can find their understanding. He asks if Rick wants him to go, and Rick says that would be good. He tells Rick to say the two magical words, and Rick says thank you. Negan is like, no, thank you, because he’s cuckoo.

Another zombie comes by and Negan says they need his help. He tells Rick they’re going to both come out winners and to watch his form. Rick tightens his grip on Lucille. Negan kills the zombie with a candlestick. (It was Negan in Alexandria with the candlestick.) Negan says win win, and to clean the candlestick up for next time.

Negan stats to leave, and says how careless of him, going back for his bat. He wonders why Rick would want Lucille after what she did, and thanks him for him being accommodating. He tells Rick that he just shoved his d*ck down Rick’s throat and Rick thanked him for it. Finally, they leave. Daryl looks at Rick from the back of the truck.

Rick tells Spencer that they were going to kill Olivia over two guns that were missing, and he found them in Spencer’s house. He doesn’t fault him for having the guns, but the food and liquor? He calls Spencer weak, saying they got lucky this time, and Spencer says they should have made a deal when they could. He asks if Glenn and Abe were lucky too. Rick tells him that if he says something like that again, he’ll knock Spencer’s teeth down his throat.

Rosita confronts Spencer about the guns. He says he had them for a while because he didn’t trust Rick. He says he was worried about Rick being in charge, and she said it already, that this doesn’t have to be their life. He drives away, and she takes a gun out of the wheel well of another car.

Rick fixes up a bed on the floor since the mattresses were all taken. Michonne says the rifle belonged to the Saviors and wasn’t on the list. He asks if she has more, and she says no. She says everything they have, they got from fighting for it. Rick says he made a choice and Negan has the numbers. She says what about Hilltop, but he tells her they still outnumber them. He says if they play by the rules, they’ll have some kind of life. Michonne says what kind?

Rick talks about Shane and how he took care of Carl when Rick was out of commission in the beginning. He says Shane hooked up with Rick’s wife because they thought he was dead. He says he loves Judith, but she isn’t his. He had to accept that to keep her alive. He hopes he can raise her and protect her and teach her to survive. He says he had to accept how they live now to keep everyone else alive. He tells Michonne that she has to accept this – they all do – or it wont’ work. Michonne says she’ll try.

Michonne goes back to the abandoned truck. She hears something and looks in the distance. She gets down and walks across the field. She sees a smoldering pile of gravestones and starts hyperventilating.

Rosita picks up a shell casing. She takes it to Eugene and asks him to make her a bullet.

Next time, Maggie is at Hilltop and at risk, Carl is done, and Jesus is back (no, not that Jesus).

 

November 11, 2016 – A GH Funeral, a New Escorpion & a Trio of Quotes

Standard

What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital – Thursday

Jax wakes up Carly, who feel asleep on the couch. She says for a while, she stopped dreading the day, but it’s here.

Sonny says today is the day, and he’s going to make things right. Nell comes to the door. Carly sent her to pick up some clothes because she didn’t have appropriate funeral attire. She asks Sonny if he wants to talk. He doesn’t.

Alexis tells the alcoholism quiz on her computer that it knows nothing. Sam comes by. She says she was calling all morning, and Alexis says her phone died. Sam tells her that it smells like a bonfire and asks what happened.

At the hospital, Franco asks Elizabeth how she’s doing. She says time hasn’t dulled any of the pain Tom Baker inflicted on her. Franco tells her that she did a great job on her victim impact statement, and thanks her for sharing it. Elizabeth is waiting to hear from the parole board, and he says there’s no way her statement can’t affect things.

Finn goes to Windemere and asks Laura if she’s seen Hayden, and if she was behaving oddly. Laura says she seemed flushed, but nothing too out of the ordinary. He asks if she’s there now.

Elizabeth tells Franco that she hopes he understands why she didn’t want him to stay. He says he totally does, and what’s important is to keep Tom behind bars. He says what they have is special, and he wants her to feel comfortable. She says she doesn’t know how she would have survived without Lucky, and when she lost him, Jason was there. In some ways, Jason put her on the path she is now, by making her feel safe. Brad is cursing Finn out nearby, as he goes through some of the lab’s contents.

Laura tells Finn that Hayden wasn’t there in the morning, and her bed is still made. She invites him in. Hayden pops up saying she was fine last night and still is.

Nell apologizes to Sonny, and he says it’s not her fault; he shouldn’t have snapped at her. He asks about Carly, and Nell says she’s functioning, but not living. She tells him that Jax arrived and stayed at the house with Carly. He says that’s great, but his face doesn’t match his words.

Jax gives Carly coffee. He tells her that Bobbie and Josslyn are making sure everything is in place for the reception, and Nell went to get her dresses. Carly appreciates that Jax loved Morgan like a son. Jax asks about Sonny, but she says when she sees him, she thinks of their bad choices, and sees how badly they failed their son. Jax says none of it is on her. She says it is, because she believed Sonny had changed.

Alexis tells Sam that her oven timer needs to be fixed, but Sam wonders why Alexis didn’t smell anything. Alexis deflects the questioning. Sam asks if she can borrow Alexis’s laptop.

Finn asks what Hayden is doing. He says they need to know if she was exposed. Laura asks exposed to what, and he gives a mini explanation. Hayden says she has to get to work, but Laura says it would be a good idea for her to listen to Finn. Hayden says she’s fine, and Finn says he’s not going anywhere.

Brad complains to no one in particular, saying there’s a Hazmat team cleaning up in the lab. He says there’s definitely something wrong with Finn, and no one seems to care. Elizabeth says she does, and it sounds like Finn might be an addict.

Franco talks to himself about Jason, a guy who kills people, making Elizabeth feel safe. Obrecht overhears him, and he tells her about how Jason makes Elizabeth feel safe and made him leave, Obrecht asks if he expressed his feeling, and he says no. She says she told him not to bottle things up and expect Elizabeth to read his mind.

Kristina comes by Alexis’s place to get her shoes, and talks to Sam, distracting Sam long enough that Alexis can delete the history on the laptop. Kristina says everyone is blaming Sonny when it’s Julian’s fault. Sam says not everyone. She and Jason don’t.

Nell asks if Sonny is still planning on leaving. She says he’s making a mistake and that his family needs him. He says they’re better off without him. He asks if she kept his secret. Nell says yes, but it’s hard not telling Carly. Sonny says he’s put her through enough. Nell tells him that for what it’s worth, she hopes he reconsiders. She goes upstairs, and Sonny looks at a picture of himself and Morgan.

Carly tells Jax that she begged, she pleaded, she tossed an entire gun shipment in the harbor. She knows that Sonny sees violence as a solution, but she lied to herself, thinking she could make a difference. She says she should have known that Sonny was incapable of change. Jax says that doesn’t change the fact that she still loves him.

Laura says if she’s been exposed to something through Hayden, she needs to know, but Finn says it isn’t transmitted that way. Hayden says don’t worry, she’s fine, and she’ll be out of Laura’s life soon. Finn asks her about last night. She claims she was out, but he thinks she passed out. He wants to take her temperature and check her heart. Hayden says she’ll cooperate if he’ll leave, but she doesn’t even make it to the couch before she keels over.

Carly tells Jax that a part of her wants to reach out to Sonny, but she can’t get sucked back in. Now she can see the chances she took, not only with herself, but her children. She’s sorry she didn’t listen to Jax. Jax says no apologies, but Carly says Morgan should get one. Jax brings up a Thanksgiving in the past, and how Morgan sabatoged their cars so they had to spend the day together, and they stopped fighting. She says Morgan is a great kid; he knew they belonged together.

Nell comes back downstairs. She asks if Sonny needs anything else. He says he’d love to be able to hug his son and hear his voice, but that can’t happen. He tells Nell that Carly is probably waiting, so she should go. She says she hopes wherever he goes, he manages to find peace. Sonny gives her the letter for Carly, and says to give it her after the service. She promises she will.

Sam tells Alexis that Danny said the cookies were burning and she was asleep. Alexis makes the excuse that they were watching a boring kids’ movie. Sam says Danny claimed he shook her and tried to wake her. She wonders why even an alarm and smoke didn’t wake Alexis up. She asks if Alexis was drinking while watching Danny.

Finn tells Hayden that he’s reasonably sure she’s been infected. He promises to take care of her and find a cure for them both. Hayden says even if it kills them.

Brad has a jar of something in a plastic bag. He doesn’t know what it is, but he’s going to find out.

Obrecht tells Franco that he needs to find a way to express his feelings about Jason, rather than repress them. Franco talks about Eliabeth being raped, and asks if he’s supposed to feel badly about scaring Sam. He thinks there’s no difference between the sick rapist and the sick illusionist.

Alexis tells Sam that she wasn’t drinking. Sam says the bottle is half gone. Alexis tells her that Laura came by. She explains what Mikkos had done with the estate, and how she had to tell Laura. She says that everything Laura thought belonged to Nicholas and Spencer belongs to Valentin. She says Laura asked for the wine . Sam wonders if Alexis helped her drink it, but Alexis says no

Carly tells Jax that she knows he and Nell got off on the wrong foot, but Nell has helped her a lot. Nell pops in with clothes and shoes. Carly goes upstairs to get ready. Nell asks if she could do anything for Jax. He thanks Nell for helping Carly. She says Carly has been good to her, so no thanks needed. Jax asks if she remembers the circumstances surrounding her kidney surgery.

Sonny takes out his gun. Kristina is at the door, and he puts it back in the box. She says she told herself she wasn’t going to cry, but walking into the house, it hit her that she’s never seeing Morgan again. Sonny asks her to sit down. She asks him why he’s so peaceful, and he says he’s come to a decision. He’s happy that she’s supported him and wants her to make peace with losing her brother. He wants her to thrive and be the best person she can, and find the happiness she deserves. He tells her to live the best life she can live, for him and her brother She asks why it sounds like good by, and asks where Sonny is going.

Franco tells Obrecht that he and Elizabeth have been taking it slow. She’s accepting him for who he is, but Tom Baker’s parole hearing brought up old stuff. Obrecht asks if Tom is going to be let out, and Franco says he’ll make sure he never is.

Brad runs back from wherever they test stuff, and says the jar contained and opioid that’s one of the most tightly controlled substances in the world. Finn having that much in his possession could get him fired. Obrecht applauds, saying Brad finally got the drop on Finn.

Laura tells Hayden that she and Dr. Finn are going to help her. She takes Hayden’s temperature. Finn says they can’t let it get to a life threatening condition. Hayden asks if the exposure isn’t a life threatening condition, but he says it can be slowed.

Sam apologizes for thinking Alexis wouldn’t honor her promise. Alexis says right now they should concentrate on Sonny and Carly. Sam says because of Morgan’s death, she’s become a helicopter mom.

Nell tells Jax that she remembers the car ride, the smell of the room, the sound of the machines, and how she just wanted to go home. Jax wonders why her parents would do this, and she says money; her father couldn’t keep a job, and they weren’t the best parents. Carly comes down. She tells Nell she can dress there, just lock up before she leaves.

Sonny tells Kristina that he’s not going anywhere, but since Morgan died he’s been distant. He apologizes and Kristina says they’re all coping as best they can. It’s not his fault, it’s Julian’s. Sonny says all she needs to know is that he loves her and always will. He says before Morgan died, he didn’t say it enough, and no matter what, he’s always going to tell her how much he loves her. She says she loves him too, and they hug. He tells her to go to the car while he checks on something. When she’s gone, he takes out the gun and says, “Okay, buddy.”

Franco asks Elizabeth why Brad was so concerned about Finn. She tells him that it’s not her business, and she wants to stay away from it. Her phone rings. It’s the prison.

Obrecht calls Monica, saying she has proof that Finn has something that will put the hospital under more scrutiny.

Finn tells Hayden that she’s showing signs of sepsis, and has to get to the hospital.

Elizabeth tells Franco that the parole board took the statement into consideration, and decided to parole Tom anyway. The man who raped her is getting out of prison.

Alexis leaves for the funeral. She gives a lingering look to the wine bottle.

Nell talks to herself, saying she doesn’t know what Sonny wrote, but Carly’s life is about to go from bad to worse.

At the church, Kristina tells Sonny that he was quiet on the drive, and asks if everything is okay. Jax and Carly come in. Kristina tells Carly that she feels lousy, but Sonny feels worse, especially now that Carly strolled in with Jax.

Jax tells Sonny that he’s going to miss Morgan. Sonny says him too. They bro hug.

Tomorrow, Franco is going to stop Tom, Nell gives Carly a letter, and Sonny tells Jax that after today, he won’t be a problem.

General Hospital – Friday

Laura calls for transport to the hospital. Finn tells Hayden she’s going to be okay. I don’t think she’s looking too good though. She stops breathing.

Franco tells Elizabeth that they’ll fight Tom Baker’s release, but she says by tonight he’ll be in Port Charles, staying with his brother.

Jordan and Andre have breakfast and talk about Morgan’s funeral. Julian approaches them and says why drag out the investigation when they all know that Sonny is guilty?

Jax realizes Sonny has a gun. Sonny says he has to protect himself, but Jax says this is the behavior that got them here in the first place. Kristina tells Carly that she doesn’t have to rub Sonny’s nose in it by showing up with Jax, but Carly says he’s there for Josslyn.

Jason meets with the broker. He asks how a bomb ended up in Julian’s car.

Sonny tells Jax that after today, he won’t be a problem for his children anymore.

Hayden’s pulse is back, but thready. Finn brings out a shot of adrenaline.

Franco is stunned, but Elizabeth explains that Tom wasn’t convicted for raping her; he was convicted of another crime. Franco says he’ll stop him before he hurts Elizabeth.

Anna gives her condolences to Dante, explaining that Robin wanted to be there, but had to go back to Berkeley. Griff tells Lulu and Dante that Valentin is Charlotte’s father.

Kiki hesitates to go into the church. Dillon sees her.

Molly, who has a great new haircut, is praying by the votive candles, and Josslyn joins her. Molly says she doesn’t really pray, but it’s the only way to talk to Morgan now.

Kristina asks if Carly stopped to think about how her being with Jax would hurt Sonny. Carly says he has to get through it as best he can. Kristina and Jax leave to check on the other girls. Bobbie tells Carly they’ll get through it together.

Jax questions Sonny, but Alexis comes in and distracts them. She tells Jax that she wouldn’t be surprised if her ex-husband tries to pull something when everyone is at their most vulnerable.

Jordan tells Julian they’re investigating everything. Julian says that’s why he hired his own guy.

Jason asks the broker why Morgan Corrinthos is dead. The contract was supposed to be canceled, and Jason wants to know why it didn’t happen.

Franco says there’s no reason they can’t stop Tom, but Elizabeth says absolutely not. Finn comes running in with Hayden in his arms.

Griff tells Lulu and Dante that Claudette lied to protect Charlotte from her own father. Lulu says no wonder, and Anna tells her that they’re going to do everything to prevent Valentin from harming Charlotte.

Nell says she has something for Carly. We think she’s going to give her the note ahead of time, but she shoves it to the bottom of her purse and gives Carly some earrings that she forgot. Carly tells Bobbie that they were the first gift Morgan gave her that he bought with his own money. Bobbie seems skeptical of Nell.

Micheal suggests where all the kids sit, and Kristina says it feels like they’re being pulled apart. Michael says that Morgan will always keep them together. Nell approaches Michael and gives him kudos. She says they’re lucky to have him as a brother, and so was Morgan.

Olivia hugs Sonny. She tells him he takes on too much guilt, and she and Dante love him. He tells her to take care of their son.

Jordan advises Julian against any outside investigation and interference.

The broker – who looks and sounds like he stepped out of a Rat Pack movie – says he canceled it himself, immediately after getting off the phone with Sonny. He says his guy wouldn’t even have done it like that. He doesn’t have anything to do with bombs and makes things look like an accident. Jason asks if he’s saying his guy isn’t responsible, and the broker says absolutely. Someone else was trying to kill Julian.

Julian asks Curtis what’s up with Jordan, but Curtis doesn’t want to talk about it. Julian tells him make sure nothing interferes with investigation. Curtis tells Julian that he knows what the last call was on Pete’s phone.

Jason wants to talk to the contractor, but the broker says it doesn’t work that way. Jason says it does today. He tells Max to stay with the broker and make sure he calls his guy, and leaves for the funeral.

Kiki didn’t expect to see Dillon. He says he’s surprised himself. He and Morgan didn’t exactly get along, but he never wanted something like this to happen. He asks if she’s going in. Kiki says she doesn’t know; she doesn’t think Carly wants to see her. Dillon says think about what Morgan would want, and she goes in. He waits a beat and follows.

Kiki sits next to Lulu. Dillon sits next to Bobbie. The service begins. We don’t hear it, but only see everyone’s reactions. Kristina gets up to speak. She talks about Molly helping her with what to say, and reads something from the Bible. Dante speaks next, talking about what a great kid Morgan was, and that he’s grateful for the time he had with him. He also does a reading. It’s about forgiveness. Sonny ponders it.

Hayden is finally in a hospital bed hooked up to things. Finn tells Elizabeth that Hayden came in contact with something in the lab. Hayden goes into shock.

Josslyn sings Amazing Grace. Sonny ponders some more. Obviously, today’s theme is forgiveness. Finn and Elizabeth trying to get Hayden under control is interspersed with the funeral. Sonny and Carly look at each other from across the room.

Franco uses the hospital computer to look up Tom’s brother’s address. Because it’s left totally unattended and no one is around. There might be more reasons than one why people don’t want to come here.

Hayden is stabilized. Elizabeth asks Finn what they’re dealing with, and he tells her to keep monitoring her sister and he’ll be back. Tracy asks Laura what happened. Finn comes out and says Hayden is stable for now. Tracy tells him to leave the rest to the doctors. Finn says he’s a doctor. Tracy says because of Brad’s complaints, he’ll probably be banned. He says he’ll take his research elsewhere, but Tracy says he has a reputation. Finn says it’s his fault that Hayden is sick. Tracy asks if she has what he has, and Finn tells her that it’s worse. She was exposed to something more concentrated. He says no one will be able to understand the treatment like he would. Tracy says she has an idea.

At the funeral, Michael speaks. He talks about not being able to protect Morgan, and hopes that Morgan would forgive him. He says they never gave him enough credit for his capacity to forgive. Kiki leaves and Dillon leaves behind her. Michael says Morgan always found room in his heart again for people who did him wrong.

Kiki tells Dillon to go away, but he says he can’t leave her like this. They hug, and Kiki cries.

Michael says he wishes they could all be as forgiving as Morgan, and wishes he was still here. He never had the chance to tell him how much he admired him.

Elizabeth tells Finn that Hayden is stable for now. He asks her to gather the medication they used and arrange for transfer. Tracy is taking her. Elizabeth gets weird about that, but Laura says even if she doesn’t understand, Finn is the best one to treat Hayden. Tracy says Hayden saved Elizabeth’s life, now it’s her turn. Finn thanks Tracy, and Tracy says just prove her right.

Carly goes to the podium. She says the casket is empty. There wasn’t a body to recover, so they filled the coffin with things; pictures, acceptance letter to college, symbols of Morgan’s life, symbols of his potential. He was going to be a great man, but now that potential is gone. She cries at the casket. It’s killing Sonny. Jason comes up and hugs her. This is just miserable.

Jason sits down and Sam asks what happened. He says he thinks he’s on to something that will change everything. Sam says Carly really needed him. Sam doesn’t seem well, so Jason and Alexis suggest she go home. They leave with her.

Curtis tells Julian that Pete was lured away so someone could plant the bomb. He asks if the name Oscar Jessup rings a bell. Julian says no, and Curtis asks if he’s sure.

The priest starts to give the details for the reception at the MetroCourt, but Sonny wants to speak.

Franco calls Tom’s brother, Seth. Using an Irish accent, he says he’s from the parole board, and needs to confirm that Tom will be staying with him and what his address is. He says he’ll be personally following up on the conversation.

Hayden is wheeled out, and Finn calls Tracy the best friend he ever had. He hugs her. She says she’ll see him at the house. Laura tells Tracy that she really sticks her neck out for the people she loves. Tracy says Finn saved her life, but Laura says she thinks Tracy cares about Hayden too.

Kiki wants to go back in. Dillon asks if she wants him to go in and sit with her. She thanks him and they enter together.

Julian says he’s the guy who signs Curtis’s paychecks, so stop wasting time with Pete, and prove Sonny was behind it.

Sonny says his son is gone and he can’t believe it. He knows most of them blame him, but they can’t blame him more than he blames himself. Morgan’s life wasn’t easy; he deserves to be at peace, but that can’t happen because of Sonny. He says there’s only one way Morgan can be at peace, and there’s only one way to make it happen – the only way he knows how. He takes out the gun.

On Monday, Valentin and Doc meet again, Ava thinks it’s just a matter of time before she’s found out, and Sonny takes responsibility for Morgan’s death.

Z Nation

Back on the air, Citizen Z is joined by Kaya in the Skya. They suddenly get a load of feedback, and Murphy comes on. He makes a speech about the new world he’s creating. He says everyone has done what they had to in order to survive. He tells them about the Murphy Miracle Vaccine, and says it’s there for all who are ready for freedom from fear.

Roberta watches Murphy’s compound. Dr. Sun thinks the vaccine can be deluted so that a person is immune, but not under Murphy’s control. Hector spies Murphy leaving. Roberta says he has a magazine and there’s only one place Murphy ever reads. The toilet? Roberta decides to go on her own, and slips into the latrine. Ha-ha! There are two of them with half moons on the doors. One says Mr. Murphy, and the other says Everyone Else.

The zombies start pounding at the door to the Everyone Else outhouse where Roberta is. Murphy comes out, complaining that he can’t get five minutes to himself. One of his cronies tells him that someone cut through the fence. They open the Everyone Else door, but it’s empty and obviously someone has gone out the other side. Murphy says, “Warren.”

Sun asks Roberta how long they’re going to search. Roberta says until they find the Red Hand or the Red Hand finds them. Hector says the Red Hand is crazy even by apocalypse standards. Roberta says they’ll need an army. Hector tells her that they can’t be controlled, and they’ll change her more than she’ll change them. She tells him, so be it.

Sun notices some trash cans are on fire. The three of them slip into what looks like a utility headquarters. They see some people who seem high, messing around with an abandoned car. Hector calls them Enders. Roberta fires a shot and the Enders flee. Escopion is written on the car’s hood and there are bodies in the trunk. Roberta thinks they’re probably the owners of the car.

Some zombies come out of nowhere. While Hector and Roberta are dealing with them, one gets Sun on the ground, but someone shoots him. A guy comes out from behind a wall. He says it’s an odd little stand-off, and introduces himself as Hopper. He tells them that he was just going down the road, and they need to watch out for the Red Hand; their methods are harsh. Hopper explains that he’s the Red Hand’s drug dealer, and just a small time business man. Roberta wants to see Escorpion. Hopper says he’ll take them, for a fee. She draws her gun, and he says okay, no fee.

Kaya figures out that Murphy is transmitting from Spokane. Citizen Z wonders what Murphy is up to.

Hopper says Escorpion had a come to Jesus zombie moment, and decided to bring justice to a lawless world. The Red Hand executes his judgment. They drive to a warehouse area.

They get out of the car and Hopper lags behind. He tells them they’re paranoid. Roberta says he is too, and he says Escorpion wants it that way. He lights up a joint and asks Sun if she wants to partake. He offers her drugs or something stronger, saying she needs a man. He puts his arm around her and she flips him to the ground. Roberta tells him not to pull that sh*t again and helps him up.

Hopper leads them to one of the warehouses and opens a metal door. Roberta says it had better not be a trap. They follow Hopper inside. Hopper leads them down to the basement and through a tunnel. He calls it “underground Seattle.” He says it was a cesspool of humanity until the Red Hand cleaned it up. They go on for what seems like forever.

Screams are heard in the distance. Sun hears a scratching noise, and they see disembodied hands climbing all over the place. Hopper says it’s best they keep moving.

10K is in a cell. He’s brought to Murphy. Murphy says the thing about confinement is that it gives you time to think about the big things, like who am I, why am I here? 10K says he only thought about how much he hated Murphy.

Murphy asks what Roberta is planning. 10K says she didn’t tell him. Murphy opens a safe. He pulls out a vial calling it humnaity in a single injection. If 10K tells him Roberta’s plan, he might get his soul back. 10K says Roberta is planning to smack his ass good. Murphy laughs. He tells his cronie to find 10K something useful to do, and that zombie moat clean up might be a good start.

Hopper leads the trio to a chamber where there are neon signs that say guilty. Underneath, there are men bound up in barbed wire with metal gags in their mouths. One tries to speak, but Hooper throws a switch and electrocutes them. He says, the sign did say guilty. The men turn to zombies, breaking their bonds and going after Roberta, Hector and Sun. Hooper applauds when all of the zombies are dead. He suggests they do that professionally and tells them that Escorpion will see them now.

A phone rings? Murphy gets off his throne and looks around for the source. A phone inside a cardboard box inside a closet is ringing. Murphy answers. It’s Citizen Z. Murphy tells him that Operation Bite Mark has been terminated, and there’s a new mission now. Citizen Z asks about Roberta. Murphy says he doesn’t know what happened to her. He says Merch decided it’s more than she could handle, and he has his own mission now. He tells Citizen Z not to call again and hangs up. Kaya tells Citizen Z, that went well.

Hector, Roberta and Sun are led to another area. Everyone gets on their knees and they’re made to do the same. Escorpion is presented. It’s Vazquez. I say OMG! out loud.

Vazquez tells Roberta he hears she has a proposition for him. She says she didn’t expect to find him here. He asks if they’ve met. She says yes, but it’s been a while. He says she must be mistaken; he’d have remembered her. Vazquez says he knows Hector. He’s one of those men who think they’re better than him. They want the peace he brings, but denounce his methods. He says right now the world needs a mad man. Hector asks if he’s sure he doesn’t remember him, and shows him his tattoo.

Vazquez says he has one just like it. He tells his guards to lock Hector and Sun up. Roberta tells him that she also is on a mission, and together they can get a vaccine for the zombie virus. He says he has his own mission, and she should help him. She says they were on a mission together once. He asks her to tell him about it. She unbuttons the bottom of his shirt. She says he was badly wounded and dying; she was hurt too and he helped her. She some close enough to kiss him, says, and then…and she kisses him.

He calls the guards and says get her out of his sight.

Sun asks Hooper what’s going to happen to them. He says he doesn’t know; Escorpion is unpredictable. He throws Sun into a single cell and tells her that she’s safe – for now. Roberta gets thrown in with Hector. She tells Hector that Vazquez won’t help; he still thinks he’s Escorpion. Hector blames himself for Vazquez going insane, because of what he did to Vazquez’s family. Roberta says he’ll snap out of it and Hector asks what if he doesnt? She says she’ll hill him. Hector says she won’t have to, and grabs her from behind, squeezing her neck until she blacks out.

Hopper wakes Roberta. He asks where Hector went. She says maybe he walked out. Hopper takes her and Sun to Vazquez/Escorpion. Vazquez asks where the other one is, and Hopper says he escaped, but not for long.

Vazquez asks Roberta why she’s really there. He asks what this is, showing her a vial. She says their mission, and tells him about trying to get Murphy to California and how they found the real Escorpion. She says he has to remember; they were doing it as a team.

Hector comes in fighting. Vazquez goes over to Hector, and Roberta asks Vazquez not to kill him. Hector says he’s the real Escorpion. Vazquez says it’s lie, and punches him. Hector tells Vazquez that he was an undercover cop named Vazquez, and Escorpion killed his family. Vazquez says he lies. Hector says they met again in Mexico. He goes through the scenario, and how he remembered killing them .He says he didn’t care about their begging and shot them both.

Memories flood Vazquez’s mind. Roberta says it’s true. Vazquez tells the guys to let Hector go. Robeta sees they’re going to fight and wants to stop it. Vazquez hits Hector with some kind of hammer, and then runs him through with a machete. I gasp. Vazquez says he is Escorpion and wants Hector to say it, but he refuses.

Roberta sees the machete and kills Vazquez with it. More gasping on my part. Roberta tells him that she’s sorry. Everyone just stands around watching this entire thing. Vazquez says he’s sorry too, and calls her Roberta. He asks for mercy, and she says yes, go home to your family. He dies and she gives him mercy by slicing off his head. Even though I’m miffed that they gave me Vazquez back and then took him away, it’s really cool how his head slides off his body as he slides down to the floor.

Roberta drops the blade and goes to Hector. She asks Sun to do something. Sun gives him an injection of the experimental vaccine. They wait for a millisecond. Sun says it didn’t work, but he’s not turning.

Hopper holds up Vazquez’s head, and everyone kneels to Roberta.

Whoa.

We hear Murphy say that there’s a world without fear and zombie bites. They’re taking back the apocalypse one vaccine at a time, and if you can hear him, fear no more.

Doc and Addie come to a clearing in the woods. They look into a backyard where a zombie couple is with a little girl. At first Doc thinks the child is going to get bitten, and then he realizes it’s Lucy. Apparently, zombie children grow at the same rate as children on soap operas, because she looks a lot older than one. A live man comes out of the house and shoots at them.

Hector opens his eyes.

Wow. This episode took me all over the place.

Next time, it’s all about Lucy.

Quotes of the Week

Little Jewish kids love hip-hop.Marcy Blum, president of Marcy Blum Associates, from the online article Hollywood’s Battle for the Best Bar Mitzvah: $5M Budgets, Justin Bieber and Camels

Instead of letting your hardships and failures discourage or exhaust you, let them inspire you. Let them make you even hungrier to succeed.Michelle Obama

I respect your jumpsuit, but not its contents. – Tina Fey, as Kate Ellis in Sisters

veteransday

November 6, 2016 – Two Cursed Hearts on Once, a Not Yet Broken Daryl on Dead & Continuing Conflicts on the NJ Reunion

Standard

What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

Once Upon a Time

A breeze blows through the bedroom as Snow and David sleep. Suddenly, Snow finds herself in the middle of the forest. The Evil Queen asks if she remembers her 15th birthday. She got a pony that was just another loyal subject and she’d said it was her best day ever.. The Evil Queen says Snow’s father always made sure Snow got more than she wanted, and now the queen wants what she’s always wanted – Snow’s heart in her hand. She says since David has half of Snow’s heart, she wants that too.

Snow says there’s a protection spell on both of them. The Evil Queen says they’ll hand their hearts over willingly. She shows Snow something terrible in a bottle. She tells Snow that they have twelve hours to figure it out or the whole town will get a taste of it. The Evil Queen disappears, poof! in a puff of purple smoke, and Snow examines the bottle.

The Evil Queen tells Zelena she’s finally getting her revenge on Snow, and David will be thrown into the bargain too. Zelena asks if Rumpel is helping her. The Evil Queen says they’re old friends.

Back in the day, Snow sells a piece of jewelry because she needs the cash…er, coppers. David looks for his mother’s lost lamb (is his mom’s name Mary?), but can’t find it. She says the way things are going, they’re going to have to admit defeat and sell the farm. David goes off to find a buyer for the farm. He’s going to the same port town that Snow is.

In the forest, Snow tears down a wanted poster with her face on it, and the Blue Fairy warns her to get out of the way. They nearly get creamed by an ax. Snow says it’s the Woodcutter, who is als oa bounty hunter. Snow says the forst is no place for her. She’s sold everything and has just enough to get away from The Evil Queen. She’s heading to the nearest port town.

In Storybrooke, Snow explains the bottle of trouble to the others. Emma’s hand shakes. She tells them that the Oracle said things could change as they went along, but the only certainty is her death. Regina tests what’s in the bottle on a tree. It goes all weird, loses it’s leaves and gets bigger. She says it’s water from the River of Lost Souls, and it proves that the Evil Queen is working with Gold. She says if Snow and David don’t give the queen their hearts, she’ll destroy the whole town. Snow wonders if this is the path to Emma’s death. David tells her not to give up. She says she’ll never do that, but the Evil Queen might have finally gotten them.

David’s dog, Wilby, brings him a cup. Wilby leads him to a tiny carriage. A traveling merchant comes out and says David has his cup. He says he was sleeping there so no one would find him. It turns out they’re going the same way, so the merchant offers David a ride. He’s not really a merchant though.

The Blue Fairy tells Snow that everyone loves her, and that love is the most powerful thing of all. Snow says love doesn’t hold its value and she can’t afford to invest in it. She says what can change her life is a ticket out. The Blue Fairy tells her to be careful, and that danger can seem harmless at first.

Fast forward, and Belle wishes she could help, but she’s looked through all her books at can’t find anything to counteract the water. The Blue Fairy, known as Mother Superior in Storybrooke, joins them and says she has nothing either. She thinks there might be some magic to imprison the Evil Queen in a sapling inspired by true love. She believes it’s lost somewhere in Storybrooke. She tells them that there’s a beckoning spell, but it won’t be invisible to Gold and the Evil Queen, so it will be a race. Regina says there might be more between the queen and Gold than just business. Regina says she’d always had chemistry with Rumpel and they can use it to their advantage.

Zelena gets a note from the Evil Queen to meet her at Gold’s shop. Regina peeks out from around the corner and watches Zelena enter. Zelena sees Gold in the back of the shop making out with the Evil Queen. The Evil Queen tells Gold that they should take it somewhere more comfortable, and Zelena says, yeah, like a bed of lies, and walks out.

The Evil Queen blocks Zelena’s path. She says she didn’t say anything because she knew Zelena would be jealous – the proof being in her green neck. Zelena says she’s tired of the lies. Gold sees the note, and the Evil Queen realizes that Regina wrote it. Gold says they’re being played.

Mother Superior makes a rainbow that shows them the way to the sapling.

Way back when, David and the merchant walk through the forest. David feels woozy after drinking some water, and the merchant tells him he shouldn’t take drinks from strangers. David passes out. Snow comes through the forest and hears something in the shrubs. Wilby comes running out and then she sees the Woodcutter’s ax. The Woodcutter tells her that the dog is good at finding strays, and Snow spits in his face. He says he’s not going to kill her, he’s just taking her the the queen for the reward, and the queen will kill her.

In the present, Snow tells David it’s good to be on an adventure with him again. Regina finds a trap door near a path in the forest. She opens it, asks if they’re ready, and the three of them disappear, poof! in a cloud of purple smoke.

Hook tells Emma that her parents will be fine. They’ll find that baby tree thing and fix it. He reads from Henry’s book. It says David and Snow always found each other, no matter what the Evil Queen did, and even when they couldn’t, Emma made sure they did. Hook says they were born of her love and she can overcome anything. He tells her to remember who she is – the product of true love.

Wilby licks David’s face (true love’s kiss? ha-ha!) and he wakes up. David runs to the carriage. Snow is trapped inside. She tells David that the Woodcutter will be back any second and he needs to go. David starts banging at the lock.

Back to the future, Snow, David and Regina find the sapling. Snow and David uproot it and flash back to all of their adventures. Regina hurries them along, but the Evil Queen arrives. She steals the sapling and Snow says it won’t work for her. She breaks it in half and it turns to dust. She tells them to hand their hearts over, but David says they still have time. The Evil Queen says she’ll see them at the cemetery soon enough – it’s a good place for endings.

Back home, Snow tells David that they can’t let the town die. He wishes they could have saved the sapling. They talk about a shared memory where each thinks the other wasn’t there.

In the Enchanted Forest, the Woodcutter finds David trying to break the lock. They fight. Snow grabs the Woodcutter’s arm through a hole in the door and they’re able to kill him. David wants to free Snow, but she says she’s made some enemies. If he sees her face, he’ll have a target on his back. He says he’ll leave, and she can free herself. He asks what she’s doing alone out in the woods. She tells him that she’s trying to survive and not doing a good job of it. He thinks she’s resourceful, and tells her about having to sell the farm. She says she has money and wants to give it to him. He tells her that she needs it herself, but she says maybe she is resourceful, and makes plans to rob a corrupt nobleman. She tells David that knowing he believes in her makes her not alone. She gives him the money, and a little glowing thing happens. The sapling is born.

The Evil Queen tells the townspeople she’s glad they accepted her invitation. If Snow doesn’t show up in five minutes, she’s going to give them some water from the River of Lost souls. Zelena makes a snide remark to Belle about Rumpel making a deal with the queen.

Snow and David arrive. The Evil Queen says she knew they’d show up, even without the sapling. Snow says they know their love is more powerful than anything she has. They’re willing to make the sacrifice. Snow says their paths always go back to each other, and then to Emma. David has Regina remove the protection spell.

Snow and David stand before the Evil Queen holding hands. She’s all happy. She takes their hearts out and the townspeople let out a collective gasp. The Evil Queen says she’s dreamt of this moment forever. She wants to give Snow her pain. the pain of being alone. Since she couldn’t kill her, she’s come up with something more cruel. S returns their hearts. Snow falls to the ground, and disappears, poof! in a cloud of purple smoke. The Evil Queen tells David that since he always finds Snow, start looking and see what happens when he does.

Belle visits Gold’s shop. She tells him that Zelena told her about him and the Evil Queen. She says she doesn’t care what he does and who he does it with, but she does care about the shears. She says Gold intends to use him on their son, but he doesn’t get to tamper with their son’s life just to keep him from hating his father. She says she knows he’s better than that, and he does feel love and could be a good man. If he wants his son’s love, don’t take it, be worthy of it. Gold asks what if he fails. Belle says that’s him all over – fear of failing, which is worse than being evil; he’s too weak to be good. She leaves, and Gold is mighty pissed at Zelena.

David drives to the woods to look for Snow. Emma follows in the VW. David finds Snow in a case made of branches. He removes the top. Regina has come along, and says she doesn’t think it will work this time. David kisses Snow and she wakes up. They remember the first time this happened, and David falls over.

Regina says that the queen put a sleeping curse on Snow’s heart, so they share the curse. When one is awake the other will be asleep. Snow says they’ll never be together. Yeah, but they’ll never argue either.

Next time, Snow tries to break the curse, and Regina thinks they can trap the Evil Queen  behind the mirror, but she and Emma get trapped instead.

The Walking Dead

I would love watching King Ezekiel every week, but it doesn’t look like that’s the deal tonight.

Dwight is watching Who’s the Boss reruns, while he does shots with his girl, Sherry. Alrighty then. Dwight carves chess pieces. Bread is baked. Bartering is done. Negan kicks someone’s ass. Dwight writes down the number 39. He seems to have contraband pickles and condiments. Somehow, a chicken sandwich is born.

Dwight eats while watching some guys play weird games with the zombies. One zombie is stuck to a flagpole and just keeps sliding up and down. I guess the chicken has run out because Dwight makes a dog food sandwich. Oh wait. That’s for Daryl. Well, at least it’s probably loaded with nutrition. Daryl is also naked and I get a little distracted.

Alone in a small, dark cell, Daryl hears a way-too-loud song and I turn down the TV. Dwight brings another sandwich. He watches as Daryl eats. Daryl starts to sleep and the song starts up again. Dwight pops in with a sandwich. How many does he get a day? Daryl is all shaky and weird. Dwight brings in his crossbow and drags Daryl out.

Dammit! They gave Daryl clothes. They look like scrubs with an anarchy symbol on the shirt. Dwight take Daryl into a building to a Dr. Carson. Well, maybe he’s not a doctor, but he’s playing one. Sherry is there and recognizes Daryl, but Dwight says not to talk to him. Sherry tells Dwight it’s negative, and he says maybe next time. She tells Daryl to just do whatever they say.

The doctor checks Daryl out. He says Daryl will get better, and Negan will take care of him. Dwight smirks. Negan sees them in the hall. He wants to talk to Dwight. Daryl sits in the hallway until Dwight drags him out again.

Daryl watches the reindeer zombie games. Dwight tells Daryl that’s him unless he’s smart. He can be like them, or Dwight, or the zombies. He tells Daryl to make it easy on himself, and throws him back in the dark. He tells Daryl that he was rebellious at first too. The song plays again and I start laughing this time. It’s something called Easy Street and it’s very peppy.

Negan tells Dwight that Daryl is going apesh*t and some people are harder to break than others. Negan says since Dwight is doing a great job, pick who he wants as long as she says yes. (Well that’s good of him.) Dwight says he’ll pass and Negan is shocked. Dwight says he hasn’t earned it yet. A voice comes over the radio, saying they have an orange situation. A thief named Gordon has gotten away, and Dwight responds that he’ll meet them at the gate. Negan says he doesn’t have to do grunt work, but Dwight says he likes it. Dwight is so up to something, I wonder how Negan doesn’t see it.

They need to stop the torture, because I start laughing every time I hear that song now. Dwight is off on Daryl’s bike, so some other dude brings his sandwich. Along with another play of the song. OMG – stop it – hahahahahaha! I can’t take it anymore. It reminds me of the time a friend of mine put a token into a jukebox by accident. For whatever reason, it played the opposite side of the song we wanted and it wouldn’t stop. We would be talking, and every time the song would end, we’d wait…and then it would play again and we’d laugh hysterically. Finally, someone went over to the jukebox and kicked it a good one, and it moved on.

While I’m cracking up, Daryl manages to sneak out. I guess he stuck something over the door lock. Cool! Dwight comes across zombies with limbs cracking off as they try to crawl. Dwight pushes the bike along railroad tracks and past an accident. He takes it all in, and almost gets crowned by a zombie falling from the bridge above, then ends up nearly getting bitten by another one.

Back at Neganville or whatever it’s called, Daryl is confronted by Sherry. She tells him that he won’t get away, and when you’re bad, Negan will be worse. Daryl goes to the outside door and sees a line of bikes. He makes a run for them. Uh-oh. Caught. Surrounded. And here comes the man of the hour with his baseball bat. He asks if Daryl is pissing his pants yet. No, but I’m going to from laughing if he puts that song back on again.

No surprise, Negan is all smiley. He asks each man who they are and they all say Negan. He tells Daryl that he’s everywhere, and it was his last shot at realizing that fundamental truth. It sucks, because his life was about to get easier. He doesn’t think that Daryl gets it. Daryl has three choices: you work for Negan as a dead man; work for him and wish you were dead;or work for him, get a brand new pair of shoes, and live like a king. There’s no door number four; it’s the only way.

Negan almost hits Daryl with the bat, but Daryl puts his hand up to block it. Negan says he loves how Daryl doesn’t scare easy, but it pisses Lucille off; she finds it disrespectful. Lucky for him, she isn’t feeling thirsty today, but Negan is definitely getting a drink. He walks off whistling as the guys beat the crap out of Daryl.

Dwight continues on with a flat. He sees a zombie in the distance attacking someone. It’s Gordon. Dwight drops the bike, dispatches the zombie, and whacks Gordon.

Someone says Daryl’s name, It’s Sherry. She says, in the woods after they took his stuff, she said she was sorry. He’d told her she was going to be, and now she is.

Dwight asks Gordon if it was worth it. Gordon says just let him go, and Dwight says he can’t. Gordon asks why, since they used to be friendly, and Dwight keeps telling him to shut up.It’s revealed that Sherry was Dwight’s wife, although Dwight says not anymore. He tells Gordon to keep walking, that there’s nowhere to go anymore – everything is Negan’s or will be. Gordon says it’s okay if Dwight shoots him; he wants him to. Gordon says he can’t go back. Dwight says it’s the only way. Gordon says that’s what Negan wants them to believe. There’s only one of him, so why are they giving up?  Dwight says they were losing. Gordon says when they got there, they thought it would be okay and they could fight the monsters . He drops to his knees and Dwight tells him to get up, and that he’ll dig up Gordon’s dead wife and feed her to the crows if he doesn’t. Gordon says that Dwight won, but there’s nothing left. Gordon gets up and they start to walk again. Dwight shoots him in the back.

Sherry is having a smoke in the stairwell. Dwight asks her for a cigarette. Where are they getting those? Are they growing tobacco? He asks if Negan is good to her, and she says yes. She asks if Dwight is happy, and he says yes, but doesn’t sound like it. He says he did the right thing, and it’s better than being dead. Better than being a zombie maybe.

Oh no here it comes again. ♫ Easy street…da-da-da-da ♫ Daryl gets his sandwich. Dwight tells Daryl that he got his friend killed and he got Tina killed, so don’t pretend he doesn’t know the score. He should be dead, but Negan took a shine to him, and he shouldn’t forget he’s lucky. Dwight sticks a picture on the wall. and says don’t forget. Daryl swipes it down but then looks at it. It’s kind of dark and I can’t really see it, but I think it’s Glenn’s smashed in head.

Thank God. They finally play something different. Roy Orbison‘s Crying. Both Daryl and Dwight lsiten on opposite sides of the door. Daryl weeps. Dwight leaves before he starts.

Dwight brings Daryl to Negan. Negan tells Daryl he looks awful and they’ll have Carson fix him up. He says Dwight hustles and he likes hustle, but things weren’t always cool between them. He says Dwight’s sis fell behind on points because she needed lots of medication. Negan had wanted to marry her and take care of her because he’s a stand-up guy, but while he was thinking about it, Dwight stole the meds and took off with the girls. He couldn’t let something like that stand; there are rules. It cost him a lot going after Dwight, and he still got away, but he saw the light and came back to ask forgiveness. Negan was okay with it, but Lucille is a stickler for the rules. Dwight begged him not to kill Sherry, so he was just going to kill Dwight, but Sherry said she’d marry him instead. It was a start, but not enough, so Dwight got the iron, and then Negan married Sherry. After all that, Dwight still got on board. Negan says he’s a top guy, and they’re totally cool. He tells Daryl that he’s ready to be that guy.

All Daryl has to do is answer a simple question. Who are you? Daryl is quiet, and Negan asks if he’s overwhelmed by the awesomeness? Negan asks him again, while brandishing Lucille, who are you? Daryl answers, “Daryl.”

Negan smiles and tells Dwight that it’s cool. Daryl made his choice; it’s not his problem if it’s a dumbass choice. Daryl is thrown back into his cell, and Dwight says he’s going to wind up in that room or hanging on the fence. Daryl says he gets it. He understands why Dwight took it; he was thinking about someone else, which is why Daryl can’t.

Dwight ponders things outside, while watching the zombie Olympics or whatever that is going on. I almost feel sorry for him. He sees Gordon as a zombie, and it looks like Gordon recognizes him.

Next time, Rick sees Negan again, Michonne is ready to fight, and Rick tells the group that he’s not in charge anymore.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey – Reunion Part One

Beautiful dresses and Teresa looks stunning in a black strapless number. Andy asks about Joe #1, and Teresa says he’s working on his GED and wants to go to college when he gets back. Andy talks about the last reunion she attended, and he wondered at the time if she would be back. She says she’s surprised Jacqueline is there, and Jacqueline says she loves confrontation. As evidenced by her running away from every single one

Jacqueline talks about getting along with Dolores and Siggy. Siggy says she loves everyone. They talk about Dolores’s growth and how she became an independent woman this year. We flash back on how heavily she was counting on Frank, the best ex-husband in the universe. A viewer asks if Frank wasn’t in a relationship, if they’d get back together, but it’s a no. They talk about her son Frankie being hot, and her new management of the gym. They discuss Dina, and who she’s friends with now. Dolores talks about being friends with Caroline, and how it might have contributed to her and Dina no longer being close.

We flash back to the ups and downs with Jacqueline and Teresa this season. How do I detest Jacqueline? Let me count the ways. Andy asks if Jacqueline thinks Teresa has changed, and Jacqueline gives a vague “in some ways” answer. Siggy says Jacqueline’s intentions are good, but her delivery is horrible, and that Teresa is the opposite with no filter. They talk about Jacqueline calling Joe #2 and dragging him into things between her and Teresa. Andy asks if Jacqueline thought Melissa was threatened by the friendship? It doesn’t take long before the three of them are all talking at once. We flash back to Jacqueline’s criticism of Teresa buying a car after she got out of prison. Teresa says they paid back their restitution, and leasing a Lexus isn’t that much, which I’m sure is a matter of perspective. The bottom line for me is that unless someone is paying my bills, they have no business talking about my financial decisions.

Commercial break with important information. Below Deck is on Wednesday this week.

Apparently, Teresa had tweeted that she would like Danielle Staub back on the show. She thinks Danielle would be a great enemy for Jacqueline. Danielle had asked on Facebook if Teresa understands now how it felt to be called names in front of her children. We’re treated to a flash back of Teresa calling Danielle a “prostitution whore,” and flipping the table.

They talk about Siggy and Dolores’s friendship. They’ve known each other the least amount of time, but seem closest. We flash back to a bunch of Siggy stuff. Siggy talks about her family’s move to Israel when she was in high school, and how she came back to America for her senior year.

Jacqueline’s family life is discussed – Ashlee’s engagement, Nicholas’s breakthroughs, and Jacqueline becoming a “glamma.” Jacqueline talks about her new grandson. Teresa and Melissa are whispering and Andy breaks it up. Teresa says Jacqueline talks all about family, and then allows her daughter to say nasty things on Twitter. We see a tweet from Ashlee about Teresa, calling her an ape. Huh? Teresa tells Jacqueline that her daughter needs to learn respect. Jacqueline tries to drag Gia into it, and Teresa tells her to compare what Ashlee puts online to what Gia does. Ashlee has been crazy rude over the years, and I’d hazard a guess that Gia is a nun in comparison.

Joe #2 joins the ladies. Andy talks about what great mothers all the women are, and we flash back to various scenes with the various kids. It’s amazing that most of these kids turned out halfway normal. Andy asks if Teresa gets Jacqueline’s position better after being with Nicholas, and Teresa says she realizes it’s difficult. They talk about Milania, who can be a real loudmouth, but also very sweet. Jacqueline gives her props for how wonderful she is with Nicholas.

We go back in time, watching how Melissa developed her business and the conflicts she had with Joe #2. Andy talks about Joe’s crumb comment being sexist, and Joe says he was raised a certain way. He talks about Melissa giving him sloppy Joes from the can when they were first married. Melissa says that he’s definitely evolved. A fan points out that Melissa had been arrested for shoplifting twenty years ago (when she was a teenager? really? someone’s bringing this up?), and she talks about going through a rebellious period. Derek has quit Envy, but Melissa says it had nothing to do with him selling stories. They talk about Kim D and who told who not to shop where or go to whose events.

Jacqueline acts like Kim D isn’t that bad, but we flash back to her gossiping about Teresa right to Jacqueline. A viewer asks about Teresa not liking that Jacqueline asked her about tabloid rumors, but it not bothering Teresa when Siggy did. Teresa says she didn’t know Siggy. Andy doesn’t get it, but I do. What she saying is that Jacqueline should have known better than asking if something was true, but Siggy wouldn’t have known that, so it was an innocent question when she asked.

Andy says it’s nice to see Teresa and Melissa getting along, and they agree. We flash back to Teresa coming home. It’s such a beautiful, human moment, not matter how you might feel about these two, they’re still people and they’re still a family who love each other. We flash back to Joe #1 leaving. Teresa talks about being away from her daughters. Andy asks them about visiting Joe #1 and Melissa says she most likely won’t. She talks to him on the phone and he has a huge family who all want to see him. We learn that Joe #2 lost his virginity at the age of nine and Teresa walked in on it. Thank you for that visual.

Because Teresa and Melissa are getting along so well, Jacqueline brings up the sprinkle cookies from ten Christmases ago. We flash back to the history of discord between them. Melissa asks why Jacqueline likes to examine their family problems. Jacqueline says they keep implying that she was involved in Strippergate, and Jacqueline says let’s talk about the facts. Teresa infers that it was Jacqueline who did some stripping. I’d also like to know why Jacqueline feels the need to be so involved with the interpersonal relationships of people she’s not related to.

After Teresa insisting that Jacqueline is the one who was once a stripper and Jacqueline saying she wasn’t, we flash back to when that club guy claimed Melissa worked for him (she was a bartender). Now that they’ve jogged my memory, Jacqueline stirred the pot during that whole thing. Melissa tells Jacqueline her hands aren’t clean. Teresa says Jacqueline and Kim D have been tight since day one. Jacqueline says they play dirty and does Melissa think she’d really do that to her? Melissa says she’s not in denial about Teresa, but Jacqueline didn’t show up to the reunion, running away from any responsibility. Melissa says she thinks Jacqueline felt guilty and didn’t want to face her. She says the number one person who caused it was Kim D, but Jacqueline likes situations to happen to other people, taking the attention off of herself. Andy says Joe #2 is the real stripper and Joe wants to know what’s wrong with strippers.

Jacqueline talks about who was going to be at the reunion and how it was toxic, so she avoided it. Teresa says Jacqueline has done numerous things to hurt her and her family. She says that Jacqueline is the one who gave the tabloids a story about Joe #1 cheating. It’s interesting – we flash back to see Jacqueline asking Teresa leading questions and Teresa basically saying she’d kill Joe if she caught him cheating. Jacqueline tells Teresa she’s crazy. Teresa says she’d never put up with it and Joe #2 backs her up. Teresa says Jacqueline’s first husband cheated on her, and somehow it gets to Dolores not having liked Jacqueline for a long time prior to this season, which Dolores denies.

Teresa says Jacqueline is a liar, and Jacqueline says that Teresa went to jail for lying. Teresa says she pled guilty, but Jacqueline set her up. Teresa says Jacqueline and Caroline were behind everything, even calling the government. Siggy says Jacqueline truly loved Teresa at one time. Jacqueline is aghast, but Teresa says she’s glad she got it off her chest and believes it in her gut. Jacqueline says no wonder Teresa is so angry at her.

Next time, extra housewife Chris wants Teresa, Joe #2, or both to take responsibility; Melissa tells Jacqueline she has crazy eyes; Siggy tries to be peacemaker – no doubt unsuccessfully; and Dolores says to light a candle, because that thing is dead. She could be referring to quite a few things here.

October 30, 2016 – Captain Nemo Finds Storybrooke, Carol Finds a King & Siggy Finds No Closure

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What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

Once Upon a Time

Long ago, on the Jolly Roger, Hook yells at the crew for being slow. One of the men says they’re tired and Hook asks who dares defy him?. It’s a stowaway who says he’s no one and wants to ask him a simple question. He asks if taking revenge on the Dark One has been worth the time and effort. Hook says he’ll have to settle for him first, but suddenly sees what he thinks is a sea monster. The stowaway tells him there isn’t one, and he’s saving Hook’s life. He pushes him into the water and dives in after him.

In Storybrooke, Regina hunts down the Evil Queen for a little chat. The Queen insults her lack of entrance flair. Zelena joins them. Regina says that her masquerade as a cricket therapist didn’t work.

Snow and David are inside Zelena’s house. Snow lets Jiminy Cricket out of his cage. I’ll say it again – he’s so cute! I want one.

The Evil Queen says she’s not there just to gloat, she’s there for something else. Zelena runs inside where David and Snow are. The Evil Queen says the real fun can begin and Regina appears in between them, poof! in a puff of purple smoke. She tells the Evil Queen to bring it on.

At Granny’s, Jasmine tells Aladdin they haven’t talked about Agribah – they still need his help. He doesn’t want to hear about it and leaves the diner.

Hook joins Henry and Emma for breakfast, but Emma gets a text from Jasmine that she doesn’t know where Aladdin is. Emma and leaves to help find him. Hook tosses Henry’s Pop Tarts in the trash and says he’s going to make him a pirate’s breakfast of grapefruit and mackerel. I have to admit, it’s a lot healthier. God only knows what’s in a Pop Tart. I won’t touch them. Henry takes the trash out.

The Evil Queen is waiting outside, and asks Henry if his new father is bothering him. Henry says Hook isn’t his father, but she says he may be soon. She says she knows what it’s like to be that person, and Henry says Hook isn’t like her. She shows him a box that Hook was fooling around with, and he finds the shears. The one thing that can take away what makes Emma special. She says Hook doesn’t care about Henry or Emma, and he needs to asks himself what he’s going to do about it.She disappears, poof! in a cloud of purple smoke. Copycat.

Emma catches Aladdin breaking into a car. He says it’s his, and she says they need to talk. He says he knows Jasmine sent her.

Hook looks for Henry. He sees that the shears are gone.

Back in the day, Hook comes to on a submarine. A man with a harpoon tells Hook welcome aboard. Hook punches him out and asks where he is. He asks what magic this is, and a captain welcomes him to the Nautilus, saying to call him Nemo. Hook asks what he wants. Nemo says the ship is a second chance. Hook says he’s not staying. Nemo says he knows Hook’s heart is full of hatred and seeking revenge, and he finds people like him. The one thing missing in his life is family. Hook says no one will replace what the Dark One took. Nemo says he knows how it feels. He lost a family too, brutally murdered while he was at sea. He spent decades hunting the murderers down. When he was finished, all he was left with was an empty heart and a blood-stained harpoon.

Hook wants out, but Nemo needs his help with a mission. He tell Hook that when it’s done, he’ll see this ship is where he belongs.

Hook finds Henry at the docks and asks what he’s doing there. Henry says what his mom wanted Hook to do. Hook says he’s trying to protect Emma. They see something rise out of the water and start to run, but their path is blocked by a guy who says the captain wants to see Hook.

Henry and Hook are taken on to the Nautilus. Hook opens the window shade and it’s super cool under the water. The ship is pretty amazing too.

Snow and David meet at the hospital. Another refugee from the Land of Untold Stories has been brought in. David is going to go to the station to see if he’s been reported missing. Snow sees Belle in the waiting room. She’s getting her first ultrasound. She doesn’t want Rumpel to be a part of anything, but doesn’t know how to deal with it. Snow says she doesn’t have to deal with it for three trimesters.

Henry wonders what would happen if Hook had just gotten rid of the shears. He says he’s saving her life. Henry says her being the Savior is what brought them together, and Hook doesn’t get to make decisions since he not part of the family. Henry says they’re just going to be fish food now anyway. Hook says the captain isn’t someone he’s going to want to meet.

Way back when, Nemo and Hook are in old-fashioned diving suits with those big round helmets. Nemo tells him stay on the path. They go through a cavern. Another diver says he’d give his life for Nemo. His family was taken for him and he grew up on the docks, vowing revenge, and Nemo saved his life. Hook asks if he found those who wronged him. They guy says no, and Hook says he shouldn’t give up so easily.

They come across a huge treasure chest. Nemo says there’s more than gold and jewels in it. Hook tries to back away and a giant squid grabs him. Nemo said stay on the path, dude. The squid is awesome, all tentacles and teeth. Nemo harpoons it. Good-by giant squid! Nemo says Hook is stubborn, but he hasn’t given up on him. He’s part of the family.

Rumpel as Gold visits the Evil Queen. She says she’s driving a wedge through the Charming clan and asks if he’d care to join her. He asks if she remembers her lessons. Never take what’s his being the most important one. He says the shears are gone, and he can smell her magic all over it. The Evil Queen realizes he wants to use them on Belle so he can change the fate of his family. She tells him like everyone he’s ever loved, the shears are long gone. He tells her to be careful who she crosses; she might need an ally. She says you don’t need allies when you win, and she’s doing fine without him.

Emma drives Aladdin out to the woods. She shows him the Welcome to Storybrooke sign. She shows him the base where a car hit it. She says she hit it after Henry tried to convince her she was the Savior. She says it wasn’t the only time. Yesterday when he gave her the shears, she was worried she might use them. She imagines her family having to watch her die. She says she ran, but came back to face the people she disappointed, and tried to make up for her mistakes. He says he doesn’t know how to fix things in Argribah. She tells him finding out what happened is a good place to start.

Hook tells Henry he killed his own father. When he did it, he didn’t just take his life. He had a son, named Liam after Hook’s older brother, and he left an innocent boy an orphan.

In the past, Nemo shows Hook a key. He says all they do is sail with no place to call home. This key opens the gateway to the Mysterious Island, where you can start over. He tells Hook this is his chance. Hook says he can’t give up now. Nemo says Hook has lost people he loves and doesn’t want to open his heart, but the island is a place where he never has to lose anyone again. He asks Hook to join his crew. Hook asks where he got the key, and Nemo says it belongs to his first mate. He was a young boy when his father was murdered. He tells Hook his first mate’s name is Liam.

Fast forwarding, Henry thinks Hook is trying to make up for Liam with him. He says Hook can’t do that, but maybe he can, and shows him the shears. He says, first rule of kidnapping is they never search the kid. Hook gives Henry a diving suit. He says there’s only one helmet, so he’s not going. He says if only one of them can go back to Emma, it’s Henry. Henry dives into the water.

Back in time, Liam approaches, calling Hook “brother.” He says he’s been waiting a long time for this and produces a weapon.

Hook runs farther into the submarine. He sees Nemo who tells him that running from Liam won’t solve anything. Liam is like a son to him and gave up seeking vengeance. Liam enters, saying he was a son to someone else once too. Nemo says killing Hook won’t quench the fire inside him. Liam tells Nemo that’s easy for him to say; he got his revenge. Nemo says they were so close to finding a home. Liam says his heart is no stronger than the captain’s. Nemo gets in between Hook and Liam, and Liam stabs Nemo accidentally. Hook says Liam deserves better, and hopes he finds it. He jumps into the water.

In the present, Liam tells Hook he’s taken everything, his father and Nemo. Hook realizes the Mysterious Island is the Land of Untold Stories, and Nemo is in Storybrooke. Liam says that Hyde took Nemo, and he’s dead because of Hook. Henry returns and tells Liam to stop. While he’s distracted, Hook knocks him out. Hook says he told Henry to leave, and Henry says if he had Hook would be dead. Hook says he couldn’t see another family ruined, and Henry says neither could he.

Hook says he won’t use the shears if Henry doens’t want him to. They’ll find another way to save Emma; the decisions don’t have to come true. He puts the shears in a chest and it sinks into the water.

Aladdin approaches Jasmine. He apologizes. She says she knows he feels guilty, but there’s more he needs to know. He says he might not be the Savior anymore, but if they go back to Agribah, he might be able to help. Jasmine says she went to a neighboring kingdom seeking an alliance. She got caught in a sandstorm on the way back, and when she got there, Agribah was gone. Way to end their storyline.

Belle asks Snow about the patient that was brought in. Snow says he’s in surgery, but the doctor thinks he has a chance. Belle has two copies of the sonogram. Snow asks if she’s giving one to Gold. Belle doesn’t know if he can ever repair things. She does know the son in her dream looked at him with hatred. She wishes things could turn out differently.

The patient is Liam. Hook sits next to the bed and tells him he’s in the hospital. He’s surprised Hook didn’t kill him, but Hook says he has something to live for now. Liam realized if he killed Hook in front of Henry, he’d be creating another boy filled with hate. He wishes Nemo could see them.

Nemo is wheeled in. He was found this morning, and was the patient in surgery. He and Liam join hands and Hook goes to the waiting room. Emma is confused as to what happened. Hook says he’ll fill her in, and Henry jets. He says everything that happened was his fault. Henry was looking to right a wrong. He didn’t dispose of the shears, thinking it might help save her even if she hated him for it. He says Henry made him see the error of his ways, and they’re at the bottom of the ocean. She says she would have done the same thing. They embrace.

Gold looks at a huge book. He says the pirates and the son worked things out in the end. The Evil Queen tells him that they’re an insipid bunch, too forgiving of each other. She says she’s come to make amends, and has been going about it all wrong. She forgot the most important lesson – know what you want and go after it with everything you have. He asks what she wants. She kisses him. Hmm…

Belle comes to Gold’s shop. She sees it’s closed and slips the sonogram picture under the door.

Gold asks if the Evil Queen wants him. She says something else, but she needs his help. He asks what makes her think he would help her. The Evil Queen says fortunately for him, there are still a few underwater creatures who owe her a favor. She has the shears. He asks what she needs his help with. She tells him that the one thing she’s always wanted is Snow White’s heart and smiles

Next time, the contents of a bottle could destroy Storybrooke, they have 12 hours to figure it out, danger lurks around every corner, and the Evil Queen thinks the cemetery is a good place for endings.

The Walking Dead

Carol is being hauled in a wagon by two guys on horseback that look like knights. Morgan follows.

Zombies attack and Carol falls off. Morgan and the others fight them off. Carol thinks she sees someone she knows, but it’s a zombie. She staggers away while the guys are still fighting. She comes to a house and sees a lady beckon from the window, but it’s a zombie. She slumps against a fence. A zombie is headed toward her and gets it’s face sliced off. Nice one. A bunch of people on horseback come in and dispatch the rest. I’m going with this crowd.

A guy named Daniel says they’ve been looking for Morgan, but it looks like he found some people himself. Morgan fiddles with a mailbox because maybe that zombie mailman from Z Nation is coming along.

Carol sleeps while Morgan sits next to the bed. She wakes to the sound of makeshift wind chimes. She asks how long she’s been asleep and he tells her two days. I always think that would be freaky to wake up and so much time has gone by. But it’s better than American Werewolf in London where he was out for three weeks. She asks where they are.

Morgan wheels her through the town. He says their weapons will be with held until they leave. In about a week, they can go back to Alexandria. The town is called The Kindgom. Morgan says they were helping Carol, so he helped them. It’s beautiful, lots of plants and animals, and Renaissance Faire clothing. Morgan explains the story he gave the man in charge, whose name is King Ezekiel.

Morgan wheels Carol into a building. He tells her Ezekiel does his own thing. They go into an auditorium where Ezekiel sits on a throne with his pet tiger next to him. I like him already. He could possibly save this show for me. I’m getting to the point where I’m tired of it being depressing and more depressing.

Ezekiel tells the tiger to settle down; these are their guests. He says if she’s a friend of Morgan, she’s considered a friend of the realm unless proven otherwise. He introduces himself and welcomes her to The Kingdom. He asks if he detects skepticism, and if she thinks he’s mad. He asks what she thinks of The Kingdom and King. She tells him that she thinks he’s amazing, the place is amazing, and Shiva the tiger is amazing. She says she doesn‘t know what’s going on in the most wonderful way. He says he let’s everyone take what they want as long as they contribute. Drink from the well, replenish the well.

He has one of his men give her some fruit. She says she doesn’t want to be any trouble and she’s not a fruit person. He says if there’s anything she wants or needs, just ask, and mentions they have a great musician. She says more rest and maybe a hairbrush; no one told her she was meeting royalty. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her smile like this, but I don’t know if she’s faking it. They both say it’s a pleasure, and Morgan wheels her out.

Carol is like, what the what? She tells Morgan that this is make believe and she can’t do this. Freakin’ spoilsport. Morgan tries to talk to her. She says when he’s not there to stop her, she’ll go. He says he’ll stop her, but she says it’s not up to him. He says he won’t let her die out there. She says it doesn’t matter what he does.

Is she kidding? This place is awesome!

Ezekiel and company hunt some wild pigs. They drive them to a place where a zombie is hanging from the ceiling, because they want the pigs’ bellies full of rot. I don’t get that, but okay. Some zombies wander up and one of the guys, Benjamin, is learning how to kill them. He doesn’t quite get it, so Ezekiel finishes the zombie off. Morgan is told that no one back at The Kingdom needs to know about any of this. Ezekiel yells to the zombies that one day they will be released from the curse and in the meantime, they live in their place. I’m fascinated.

Back at The Kingdom, Ezekiel asks Morgan how he acquired his skills with the staff. Morgan says from a cheese-maker. Ezekiel says Benjamin’s path is in need of adjustment, and asks if Morgan will train him. Morgan says the staff could have saved the man he shot to save Carol. Ezekiel says like it saved Morgan. He needs Benjamin to live because he’ll be an important member of his staff. Morgan agrees, and Ezekiel says The Kingdom is favored by his presence again.

Carol sits in her room. Shiva suns herself and an acapella choir sings It’s All Right. Morgan shows Benjamin how to use the staff. Watching Benjamin reminds me of one of my martial arts workout DVDs. Carol wheels around the place, faking it, acting all nice to a guy and pretending to be over the moon about some cobbler. She pretends to tear up about how great the town is, and asks for a tissue. She steals some clothing when they guy has his back turned. She’s pissing me off.

Benjamin asks about Morgan’s book. Morgan tells him it’s philosophy. Benjamin says he’s read all the books there several times, and air conditioning manuals are boring. Morgan gives him the book. Ezekiel tells them they have matters of import to attend to.

He says the swine are slaughtered far from the kindgom. It’s a secret and secrets are burdens that come with a cost. A bunch of guys get out of cars and meet them. They belong to the Saviors (not to be confused with Emma and Aladdin in the previous show). Ezekiel says their arrangement is important. Oooh, I think I’m getting this. One of the guys says the pigs look bigger than last time, and Ezekiel’s man, Richard, says they were well fed. The man asks for help loading them into the truck. A woman starts to quietly tell Morgan they’re from another group, but Morgan says he knows who they are. Apparently, Ezekiel is trying to poison the Saviors or turn them into zombies.

The guys load the truck. One of the Saviors tells them they’ve gotten off easy. Richard says maybe he has it backwards. They start to fight. Guns are drawn. Ezekiel says to lower their weapons and tells Richard to let him go; this isn’t what they do. The guy gets in a few more punches until he’s made to stop. He’s a real a-hole. Ezekiel tells Richard they’ll discuss it. The Savior says it’s produce week next week, so they’d better produce or Richard is going first.

Ezekial asks if the man Morgan killed to save Carol was one of them. Morgan says yes, and asks if that’s why Ezekiel wanted him here, because he could do it again? Ezekiel says the opposite.

It’s movie night! Everyone is finishing up dinner and Benjamin and Morgan talk. Benjamin is raising a little boy. He says Ezekiel was tight with his father, who was a good fighter. He was sent out to clear a building, but there wasn’t enough back-up and eight men didn’t make it out. His father was one of them. He says Ezekiel is more careful now. He’s keeping his deal with the Saviors because they want to fight, but don’t want to lose people. Morgan asks if Benjamin agrees, but he says he doesn’t know enough to know.

Benjamin asks about an inscription in the book about not killing. Morgan says he didn’t write it, but it’s not about what he thinks. People can point you in the right direction, but can’t show you the way. You have to find that for yourself. He says he’s just fumbling through, and sometimes we change our minds. He leaves to talk to Carol.

Carol is gone. Good. She was no fun anyway. Morgan sits on the bed and smiles.

Carol limps around to the apple tree. Ezekiel tells her to help herself. The garden is his favorite place, and he’s glad she saw it before she left . She apologizes, but asks what good she is there. Ezekiel tells her to never bullsh*t a bullsh*tter. He says the sweet and innocent act is clever. Blend in, get people to trust her, get what she needs, and disappear. He says the gun she has belongs to the Saviors, and she did more than put up a fight – she won. She says by ending up here? and he asks if it’s funny. She tells him that this place is a joke, and out there it’s real. She says he’s selling people a fairy tale. He says maybe they need one. She asks if having his ass kissed is a perk.

Ezekiel sits with her. He says people want someone to follow; it’s human nature. They want someone to make them feel safe, and people who feel safe are less dangerous and more productive. They see a dude with a tiger and make him larger than life, a hero. Who is he to burst their bubble? They needed someone to follow, so he faked it until he made it. He was a zoo keeper and Shiva fell into a moat. There was no medical assistance, and she was hurt and going to bleed out. He knew the risk, but she was in pain, so he saved her life. After that she never even showed a tooth in his direction. She could do a lot of damage, but she hasn’t and won’t. He lost a lot like everyone else. When it started to end, he came back to the zoo. Shiva was alone, hungry, and trapped, like him. She was the last thing left in the world he loved. She protected him, got him here, and made him larger than life. He used to act in community theater and played some kings. He says his name is really Ezekiel though. Cards on the table, nothing up his sleeve, but appreciates it if she keeps it between them, at least for now.

Carol says she doesn’t care. Do what he wants. She’s going to go. He asks where? She says away. He says he’s sorry for whatever bad she’s been through. There’s too much of it out there. It feels like it’s all bad, especially when you’re alone, but it’s not all bad. Where there’s life, there’s hope, heroism, grace, and love. He hopes that she’s not walking away from life. He made his own world. He found a way to embrace the contradiction, by being over-the-top good. He says maybe he’s crazy, but maybe he can help if she lets him. She asks why he cares, and he says it makes him feel good. He says she can go or not go, see if he’s on to something or it’s more bullsh*t.

Morgan and Carol ride down a road. Morgan asks if she’s sure this is what she wants. She does. They stop at the house where Morgan was fixing the mailbox. He says she’s his favorite person he ever knocked down, or at least in the top two or three. He tells her to take care of herself. She says always watching, always ready. He gets back on his horse and she goes in the gate. He puts the mailbox flag down.

Carol sees the zombie in the house and goes inside brandishing her weapon. She buries the now dead zombie in the yard. She builds a fire and there’s a knock at the door. She hears the tiger. It’s Ezekiel with an apple. He tells her she has to try one. She gives him a real smile. Almost.

Next time, more Negan (sigh), Daryl gets shoved around, and Negan likes it that he doesn’t scare easy.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

It’s time for Melissa’s fashion show. Siggy and Dolores discuss Jacqueline in the car. Dolores thinks Jacqueline overreacted to her text. She’s been going around saying Dolores set her up to look like a no show.

Preparing for the show, Melissa feels abandoned, since her partner is in the Bahamas. She says she doesn’t know what she’s doing and didn’t sleep last night. The models practice their walks.

Jacqueline is on the couch hacking and coughing. She tells Chris that she wouldn’t have gone to the fashion show even if she wasn’t sick. Chris thinks that some of her friends aren’t really her friends. He thinks she should get to the bottom of why Dolores asked if she was coming to the fashion show when she knew Jacqueline was sick. Um…maybe she forgot or was just making conversation. The overreaction is trickling down.
The Wakiles and Teresa cross paths at the bar, and it’s awkward. In her interview, Teresa says she’s done with her cousins and there’s no confusion about that. She doesn’t wish anyone ill will, she just wants to be left alone. Joe #2 and Richie talk. Teresa tells Melissa she wants to be there for her, but she feels sad. It’s her first event without Joe #1.

Siggy and Dolores arrive. Dolores tells Kathy about calling Jacqueline and that Jacqueline is paranoid that she was being set up. I’m not getting this. Does Jacqueline think Dolores was trying to catch her in a lie about being sick? Kathy asks if Dolores is open to talking to Jacqueline, but Dolores says she’s too angry right now. She shows Kathy the text. Teresa joins them. She says she wishes Jacqueline the best, but she’s evil. Kathy insists she’s not.

Melissa gets the models ready. She’s nervous and gets a glass of wine. Teresa tells Siggy that she walked into something with Kathy and Dolores. Siggy says Jacqueline got weird with Dolores. In her interview, Teresa says Jacqueline is sweet at first, but then you get to know her.

Backstage, things are crazy. The music starts. The models begin to walk the runway. Melissa runs around like a nut, telling everyone they need to move faster. All of a sudden, no one is on stage and she doesn’t know what to do. Melissa starts to freak, but everything falls back into place. The clothes are really cute.

Melissa makes a speech, thanking everyone at Envy and her family. Joe #2 is proud of her. She turned a crumb into a cake. She talks about feeling a tug on her pillow the night before and no one being there, but she had “a feeling.” That morning, her mother reminded her that it was the anniversary of her father’s death and she feels like he’s there.

Siggy asks Melissa to lunch on Friday. She’s invited everyone because she wants closure. She says Jacqueline is fighting with Dolores now, and she wants everyone to say their peace without fighting and walk away like ladies. Good luck with that. In her interview, Siggy says she wants everyone to move forward and shut up. She’s hoping Jacqueline comes.

Dolores meets Frank for lunch. She tells him he said the kitchen would never get done and it happened. She adds that he won’t be getting a bill because she’s on a payment plan with the contractor. Frank is the best ex-husband in the world. Next to Bruce Willis. He jokes that she’s breaking up with him, and she says she’s just taking the pressure off. In her interview, Dolores says Frank is in another relationship, but they have a bond that can’t be broken. He feels concerned that she doesn’t want help anymore. She says he’s like a part of her, and it’s just the financial help she doesn’t need.

Frank tells Dolores that her father took him aside when the problems started, and said sh*t happens, but you never turn your back on your family and children, and he’ll always be a part of the family. She wants to get the check. He says he likes the new Dolores, but she tells him don’t get used to it.

Teresa’s lawyer, Jim, comes over. He says he’s gotten a few emails from Joe #1 and she says she missed his call because she was doing yoga. She’s getting certified and needs to put in a certain amount of hours. Jim asks about finances. Teresa says after they got married Joe did everything, but it’s going back to the way it was before that, and she might have to sell the house. She says the kids have been through enough, but she’ll do what it takes to keep things afloat, since Gia is almost college bound. She shows him a framed cover of her new book that the publisher sent. She has one of the last book, and says she’s definitely a different person now and proud of who she is. She can’t wait for Joe to get home. Jim says to never feel like she’s by herelf.

Dolores and her mother are doing some cooking. Siggy comes by, loud as ever, with her own mother, and all of them put together a meal. Siggy thinks their moms are too selfless and should do more for themselves. They sit down to eat, and she toasts to their mothers being wonderful. Siggy says she’ll always take care of her mother the way her mother has taken care of her, and Dolores says her too. Siggy tells them there has to be a way to get the friends back together, but Dolores doesn’t think so.

Melissa comes home to Joe #2 cooking dinner and roses on the table. He tells her to sit down. He’s made chicken cordon bleu. They talk about Melissa’s sales, which are thriving. In her interview, she’s afraid he wants her to scale back. He apologizes for saying she made crumbs where he made cake. He says he loves her and stands by her and he’s a lucky man. He brings out parfaits for dessert. She asks if they’re having cappuccino with candy sticks, and he says he got the kind she likes. She says she’d like his candy stick after dinner and he picks her up out of the chair. These two are so cute.

Siggy is bringing the girls together because she wants Vermont laid to rest. She’s having the lunch at a restaurant because she doesn’t want a repet performance in her house. She removes the knives from the table. She hasn’t heard from Jacqueline, so she doesn’t know if she’s coming, but she’s hired security. She tells some bald guy in a black jacket what the score is.

Melissa tells Teresa that Jacqueline is super paranoid and doesn’t like them together. Teresa says she’s a cuckoo. Melissa is hoping for closure, but the most Teresa thinks she’s getting is a nice lunch.

Jacqueline shows up first. Siggy gets all teary. Jacqueline says she came for Siggy because she knows what it’s like to be in the middle. She says she said horrible things to Teresa in Vermont. She claims Melissa didn’t like her and Teresa being friends. She says she couldn’t even sit down before everyone tried to talk for each other. In her interview, Jacqueline says she wants to make it more comfortable for everyone and is glad to explain where she was coming from. Whatever that insane place might be. Siggy says Dolores loves her. Jacqueline says she knows Dolores explodes, but then gets over it. She wants to get to the bottom of the animosity with Teresa, but has no interest in Melissa.

Dolores joins them and Siggy starts crying again. What is wrong with her? Dolores apologizes to Jacqueline. Jacqueline gives some half-assed explanation about her paranoia. She says she knows Dolores’s heart. She wants to talk to Teresa and Melissa one on one. Siggy tells Jacqueline that Teresa was sincere, but Jacqueline wonders why she took the first opportunity to disband the friendship. This woman is so delusional. The first time she saw Teresa after she got home, she took the opportunity to be insulting, and she did all that finger-in-the-face stuff in Vermont.

The second Teresa and Melissa get in the room, Jacqueline demands that Teresa sit across from her and Melissa leave the room. She wants to talk one on one. She has a ride waiting if they refuse. She says it’s the way she likes to do things. Teresa says she doesn’t call the shots, and she says she is today. Teresa calls her “teacher,” and Jacqueline doesn’t like it. Teresa asks if Miss Teacher is better, and Jacqueline asks if bitch is better. Teresa asks if a word I’m not going to type is better. Jacqueline tells Melissa to leave the room again. Siggy says she’s giving them orders, and no one wants to be spoken to like a child. Teresa says she thinks Jacqueline is evil to the core. Jacqueline wants everyone to leave. I don’t think evil is the word I’d use, but she’s something abnormal. Dolores suggests everyone try something new and speak softly. Jacqueline asks if Teresa needs a back up, and Teresa says yes, she does. She wants everyone to see what’s going on. Joacqueline says call her when she can talk one on one (which will be never) and leaves. In the other room, Jacqueline apologizes to Dolores. In her interview, Jacqueline calls Teresa and Melissa animals. WTF?

Teresa says Jacqueline is a coward. Melissa says when Jacqueline is in a situation where she isn’t controlling things, it’s run, Forest, run. Agreed. Which is why I find her tagline so amusing. Teresa says she’s conniving and twisted. Siggy asks Dolores if she thinks Jacqueline handled things wrong. Dolores does, and they go out to find her. Jacqueline definitely sees them. The car slows down and she sticks her head out the door, but then they drive away. Why don’t they dump this chick?

Dolores says on a good day you don’t speak to an Italian like that. Teresa says Jacqueline wants them out of the room so no one else can tell her she’s wrong. Melissa says if you have nothing to hide, you don’t run. Teresa tells them that Jacqueline is dead to her. Melissa adds that she took off her mask. Dolores thinks no one was mentally prepared for the meeting. Huh?

Teresa says she’s been home three months and it feels like she never left. She thanks them for being supportive.

It’s the finale, so they have the little blurbs about what everyone is doing. It’s all boring. Until we get to Teresa – whose yoga partner is now Danielle StaubI don’t even know what to say.

Next time, the reunion. Duck and run.

October 23, 2016 – Once Upon Aladdin, Walking Dead Reveal & NJ’s Dolores’s Kitchen Gets Warmed

Standard

What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

Once Upon a Time

In the capital of Agribah, the market is busy and Jafar pushes people around. He corrals three guys, telling them that the Sultan doesn’t tolerate thieves and neither does he. He zaps them and poof! they turn into rats in a cloud of red smoke. Maybe dusty rose is closer.

Jasmine comes to Aladdin’s rug shop. She’s there to hire him. He wonder if she shouldn’t be in a palace, but she’s unhappy there. She wants Aladdin to help her defeat Jafar. He’s not interested, but she tells him look in his pocket. He finds a royal scarab as payment. When he tries to give it back, she screams, “thief!” and he says he’ll help just to shut her up. She wants him to steal a weapon called the Diamond in the Rough.

Emma’s visions are still haunting her. She and Archie walk through the forest. They find the Oracle, but she keels over dead. So much for her part. A girl runs past them. Emma runs after her and the girl falls. It’s Shireen.

Emma and David talk to Shireen. Emma asks what her story is and says maybe they can help. Shireen explains that she’s really Princess Jasmine, but says she didn’t kill the Oracle and doesn’t know who did. The Oracle was helping her find Aladdin. She says he was special and the Savior.

The Evil Queen shows up at Archie’s office. She wants to talk about Emma. She says Hyde told her that the Oracle gave Emma visions of her future, and Archie realizes the Evil Queen is the one who killed the Oracle. She asks him to team up for old time’s sake. He tells her no way, and she turns herself into his clone. She says if he won’t help, she’ll ask Emma herself.

Zelena tends to her baby, and finds Archie  in her kitchen tied up. He wants her to untie him, but she says her sister must have her reasons. He tries using psychology to trick her into setting him free, but it doesn’t work.

The Evil Queen sees Emma, who sees her as Archie. “Archie” says they have more to explore, but Emma says the plans have changed. She says Aladdin is another Savior and she has to help find him. She drives off in her yellow VW bug.

In the old world, Jasmine takes Aladdin to the Cave of Wonders. She says he’ll learn everything he needs from there. He jokes around, but she tells him it’s serious. Rather than living a life of comfort, she wants to save the world. He says she can’t blame Jafar for everything though. It’s been bad for a while, and only when her own family was persecuted did she get involved. He tells her that she’s selfish. He juggles an apple and gives it to her, making her smile.

They approach the cave. The closed entrance stumps Aladdin she wonders how hard a little breaking and entering can be for a thief. He says “Open Sezme!.” Nothing happens. But then the door slowly opens. He says, after her.

The Storybrooke group gathers at Emma’s place. David says they’re not giving up on finding Aladdin, but it doesn’t look good. The Evil Queen as Archie enters. He says Emma has a secret, encouraging her to tell her family. Emma says she’s been having visions of what she thinks is her future. She says all of the Saviors died, but she thought if she found Aladdin alive, he could help her avoid her fate. As they argue, Archie leaves and turns back to the Evil Queen outside.

Emma says Regina isn’t there in the vision. Regina wonders if she’s dead or if she’s the hooded figure. She says they’ll find another way to track down Aladdin and tells them meet in her vault in an hour. Jasmine wonders if Aladdin is dead.

The Cave of Wonders definitely is. Lots of gold and treasure and a booby trapped rough diamond. Aladdin sees a gold monkey and uses it as a weight so he can take the diamond. It turns to dust in his hands and the cave starts to shake. He covers Jasmine. When it’s over, she says he’s magic. He asks if she knew that would happen, and she says she suspected. The actual gem wasn’t the Diamond in the Rough; he is. He can challenge Jafar and defeat him and be the Savior of Agribah.

In today’s Storybrooke, Jasmine is sitting in Henry’s room and he tells her that she can play his X-Box or whatever helps. She feels like she’s intruding, but he says he knows it’s hard on her. She says the worst part is knowing that being a Savior is a death sentence, and back in Agribah, she’s the one who encouraged Aladdin. Henry says he did the same thing with his mother, but maybe Hyde is wrong. Jasmine hopes so, for both their sakes.

Snow says Emma should have been honest. Emma says she didn’t lie, she was just scared. David gets a message from Leroy. He had an appointment with Archie, but Archie never showed.

The Evil Queen pops into Zelena’s place and says thanks for watching Archie. She tells Zelena to come with her and let Archie babysit. She says Zelena’s little sister is going to make everything better.

Zelena and the Evil Queen go to the spa and gossip. The Evil Queen asks if this isn’t what Zelena always wanted, a family that supports her? She says the rest want Zelena to squelch her gifts. She says she lied to Henry for years, but she never gave him a chance to accept the real her. She tells Zelena that she’s strong, powerful, and wicked, and that her daughter might turn out as wonderfully wicked as she is.

Regina concocts a potion. It’s a locator spell. She says there’s one thing Aladdin didn’t steal – his magic. If he’s alive, it’s still with him. She tells Emma to drink it and they’ll go find him.

Back in the day, Aladdin asks why Jasmine didn’t tell him, but she says he wouldn’t have believed her. She says that the scarab was a gift to her family for freeing the kingdom from darkness. Now it’s his. Even if he doesn’t believe in himself, she believes in him. She leaves Aladdin in the cave.

Jafar appears, asking how it feels to be a Savior. He asks if Aladdin wants to see what happens, and produces an Oracle bird that looks an awful lot like a cardinal. The bird’s eyes glow and Aladdin sees death. Jafar says that death is the fate of all Saviors, but there’s a way to alter his destiny. He shows Aladdin a pair of gold shears that can sever the ties. He’ll live a long, prosperous, happy life, paid for by the treasures in the cave, and no longer be Savior. Jafar asks if prince doesn’t sound more appealing than dead Savior.

In Agribah, Jasmine finds her father. She wants to get him somewhere safe; a great battle is coming. She says Jafar has torn the kingdom apart, but she’s found a Savior to defeat him. Jafar appears and says that sounds like treason. She tells Jafar a Savior is coming. He says her Savior had a heart for gold rather than a heart of gold, and the only thing between Aladdin and the throne is her. Jafar puts Jasmine inside of a huge hourglass. The sand begins to pile up around her.

Aladdin swoops in on a flying carpet and tells Jafar not to be so sure. He breaks the glass, releasing Jasmine, who is about to be covered in sand. Jafar says Aladdin has never had to pay a price for anything, but someday he will, and he’ll know this was no victory.

Jasmine thought Aladdin abandoned them, but he says she changed his mind. The king wonders who Aladdin is. Aladdin says he’s returning something she lost and gives her the scarab. She wants him to keep it as a remembrance that a friend believes in him.

The Storybrooke gang walks through the forest. Emma feels a quake and steers Henry in another direction. They go underground, and Regina says they’re under the cemetery in a forgotten crypt. Jasmine says Emma must have made a mistake. She looks around in the dark with a flashlight and sees the scarab. She says Emma is right: he’s there. Regina asks if she’s sure it’s Aladdin, and she says yes. I’m not. Henry asks what this means, but Emma doesn’t know. She needs to be alone.

Emma has her vision. Henry interrupts. He says he’s sorry and it’s all his fault. He says if he’d never knocked on her door and dragged her to Storybrooke in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened. He forced her to be Savior. Emma says now she has actual magic in her life – him – and she has a family now. She tells him not to worry about the end of the story, just enjoy the middle of the journey together. They hug. Aladdin appears. He tells Emma from one Savior to another, it’s no fun.

In Agribah, Aladdin and Jasmine walk through the market. Her father wants Aladdin to have his pick of the royal treasures, but he says he doesn’t want that. Jasmine asks what he does want. He says just to be Savior. He asks Jasmine to go away with him; he wants to show her the world. She says she can’t; there’s much work to be done in the kingdom. She says it’s not good-by. He’ll defeat Jafar and he knows where to find her.

Aladdin finds the shears in his bag along with a note from Jafar – for a rainy day, or coming storm, or when the Savior’s burden becomes too much.

Aladdin tells Emma that he used them and ran to the Enchanted Forest to hide. Emma realizes he planted the scarab at the crypt. He never intended to reveal himself, but after hearing Emma and Henry, he couldn’t do it. Henry says he has to go to Jasmine. Aladdin says he doesn’t want to see the look in her eyes when she realizes he’s just a common thief. Emma doesn’t think that will happen.

Jasmine sits on a park bench and looks at the scarab. Aladdin approaches. They embrace. She thought he was dead and he thought he’d never see her again. He asks now what. She says now he needs to help her. Agribah is in terrible danger and needs the Savior. He’s like, um….

The Evil Queen and Zelena get back. Archie asks if they’re going to torture and kill him. Zelena tells him not to be ridiculous; she has to show her daughter who her mommy is. She turns Archie into a cricket and puts him in a cage above the baby’s crib. OMG – he’s so cute!

The group gathers. Emma says she doesn’t want to use the shears. Aladdin didn’t trust the people he loved, and that’s why he failed. If her magic comes with a price, they’ll pay it. David says they can protect her and the town. Hook says he’s with her, and she apologizes for not trusting him. She says no more secrets and gives him the shears so they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Emma tells Hook to get rid of them.

Emma watches as Hook goes out in a rowboat. He comes back and says they’re ten thousand leagues under the sea. She thanks him. He promises that she’ll have her heart’s desire. She leaves him on the dock. We see he still has the shears. Bad Hook.

Next time, Hook travels 20,000 leagues under the sea.

The Walking Dead

All right, let’s get it over with. I don’t even care anymore. Unless it’s Daryl.

Rick says he’s going to kill Negan. Good luck with that. Negan asks him to speak up. Rick says not today or tomorrow, but he’s going to kill him. Negan asks right hand man Simon what he has, and Simon says a hatchet. He plays with Rick a little and asks for the ax.

Negan shows Rick the ax. He puts it in his belt. He drags Rick off. He says maybe Rick will be back and they can turn the people inside out who are left. We see a bloody pulp. So who died? Are they going to stretch this out even more? I’m annoyed already and it’s only four minutes into the show.

Negan kicks Rick’s ass around the RV and then suggests they go for a ride. The trailer won’t start and he calls it a piece of sh*t. He laughs about Rick saying he’s going to kill him, and asks if Rick saw what he just did. I didn’t. He says Rick’s best bet is to get him in the back of the head with the ax, but when Rick picks it up, Negan is faster. He tells Rick to drop it and pounds him when he does. He tells Rick not to make him get up again, like he’s dad on a Sunday car ride. He says that dawn is braking and it’s a brand new day. He wants Rick to think about what happened, and what could still happen. He starts to drive.

Negan drives into a zombie who splatters all over the windshield. We see flashes of Rosita, Sasha and Glenn. Negan stops the van. He says Rick is his, and the people back there are his, and Lucille is his. Okay. I get it. Everything is his. He opens the door and throws out the ax, telling Rick to go get it. He threatens Rick with Lucille and says get his ax. Negan finally tosses Rick out the door. The zombies surround Rick, but he fights them off.

We see a flash of Abe. Rick fights off more zombies. We see an Aaron flash back and more zombies. Abe again, and more zombies. Maggie, and more zombies. Rick climbs to the top of the van and a zombie pulls at him. A flash of Daryl. Rick gets to the roof. He stands up and looks out. There are lots of small fires everywhere and tons of zombies wandering around. A Michonne flash back. Rick sees a zombie hanging from a bridge and falls to his knees. A Carl flash back. Negan says they thought they were all going to grow old together and have Sunday dinner, but now it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.

Rick flashes back to when Negan first appeared. Negan does that eenie, meenie, minie, mo thing. We move on to the my mother told me part, and I’m thinking this is taking forever. Rick sweats and shakes. It’s Abe. After the first wallop, Abe tells Negan to suck his nuts. Alrighty then.

Negan keeps pounding on Abe long after he’s dead. What’s the point? Especially since it just looked like he was hitting the ground. (Wattup wit dat, editing department?) Negan flings Lucille around, getting blood everywhere. He shoves the bat in Rosita’s face and asks if they were together. He says it sucks, but there was a reason. He took it for the team, so take a look. Daryl jumps up and punches him and a bunch of guys take Daryl down. Negan laughs. He says that’s a no-no and won’t fly here. A guy asks if Negan wants Daryl dead, and points his crossbow at him. Negan says no, he doesn’t die until they’ve tried everything. Guess he wants to keep Daryl around because he’s feisty.

Negan says this isn’t how it works. (That’s not how any of this works!) The first one is free. He doesn’t know what kind of lying a-holes they’ve been dealing with, but he’s a man of his word and first impressions are important. He needs them to know him. (Get to know me!) He whacks Glenn with Lucille. I guess the first one wasn’t free? Glenn tells Maggie he’ll find her. Negan asks if Glenn is trying to speak and we see Glenn’s eyeball practically hanging out. Negan says he’s truly sorry, but he did say no exceptions and beats Glenn some more. The focus is on how distraught Maggie is, but we hear the bat keep hitting. Lots of blood flies, and Negan says he’s just getting started. He says Lucille is a vampire bat. Rick looks spacey, and Negan asks if the joke was that bad. It was pretty stupid.

Back in the present, Negan tells Rick that the rest of them don’t have to die, and get him his ax. Because he’s really Joan Crawford. He says it’s Rick’s last chance and starts shooting through the RV roof. Rick jumps onto the hanging zombie. The others grab at his feet. Hanging zombie’s neck stretches until Rick reaches the ground. Negan shoots at the zombies and tells Rick the clock is ticking. Rick climbs over the zombie pile and finds the ax. He ends up next to a head that’s trying to bite.

As Rick kills each zombie, he sees each character getting hit by Lucille. Did this happen or is that just his motivation? Negan shoots the zombies remaining around Rick, and Rick gets back in the RV. Negan holds out his hand and Rick gives him the ax. Road trip!

Rick is understandably tired and starts to nod out. The RV stops. Negan says, “We’re here, prick,” and I laugh. Is he going to call him that now? Negan says it must be hard, since Rick has been King Sh*t for so long. Losing two of his own in front of his boy is screwed up. He wipes the ax blade on Rick’s jacket, saying tht Rick was probably addicted to being in charge, but now that’s over. He says Rick can still lead a nice productive life, producing for Negan. He gives Rick the ax and says he thinks Rick is going to need it.

When they get back, Rick tumbles out of the RV. Negan asks Rick if he knows what that trip was about. Um…power trip? He wanted Rick to look at him differently, and he wants Rick to understand. He says that Rick is still looking at him like he sh*t in his scrambled eggs, and it’s not going to work. He asks if he should give Rick another chance and Rick says yes. Negan says what he does next determines if his crap day becomes everyone else’s crap day or just another crap day. He tells his men to put guns at the back of everyone’s heads.

Negan tells Carl to come to him. I can’t imagine they’d take Carl away from the teens and tweens and 16 Magazine. He asks if Carl is a lefty. He isn’t and Negan ties Carl’s right arm with a belt like he would for a shot. He tells him to get down next to Rick. He asks Simon for a pen and draws a line on Carl’s forearm. Rick asks what he’s doing, and Negan says he ain’t doin’ sh*t, which is apparently his favorite word. He wants Rick to cut Carl’s arm off at the line. Michonne says he doesn’t have to do this; they understand. Negan says she might, but he’s not sure that Rick does. He gives Rick instructions, saying they have a great doctor and Carl will be fine. Probably. It needs to happen now or he’ll kill Carl. Rick says do it to him instead, but Negan says it’s the only way. Joan Negan tells him to pick up the ax. He says not making a decision is making a big decision, and Rick will see everyone die. He asks if Rick is going to make him count. Rick gets embarrassingly weepy and Negan slaps him, telling him this is it. Carl tells him just do it. He raises the ax and Negan stops him, saying Rick answers to him and provides to him and belongs to him, right? Rick says right, and Negan says that’s the look he wanted to see. Ooh, it’s like an Abraham sacrificing his son thing. Except Negan is a lot meaner than God.

Negan says all of us together did it, and even the dead guys get the spirit award today. He says it was a productive day, and he hopes for all their sakes that they get it now and understand how things work. Things have changed. Whatever they had going for them is over now. He tells Dwight to load Daryl up and they toss him in the van. Negan says he has guts; he’s not a little bitch like some people. He asks if Rick still wants to try something. If he does, he’ll cut pieces off of Daryl and put him on Rick’s doorstep or better yet he’ll have Rick do it.

Negan tells them, welcome to a brand new beginning. He leaves the truck so they can get stuff for him. He’ll be back in a week.

Negan and his men leave. Rick’s group sits staring into space, some crying, some just stunned. I guess they don’t have to worry about Glenn and Abe turning into walkers, since their heads were smashed to pulps. They sit quietly. Maggie gets up. Rick tells her to sit, but she says no. He says they need to get her to Hilltop, and she says they need to fight them. Rick says they have Daryl and they have an army; they would die, all of them. Maggie tells him to go home and take everyone. They need to go to Alexandria. She says they were out there for her and Rick says they still are.

Maggie says she needs them to go back. She can’t have them out there. Michonne says they’re not letting her go; it’s not going to help. Sasha says she’ll take her. She’ll get her there and keep her safe. Maggie is not looking too good. Maggie says she needs to do this, but Aaron says they need to help her. Rick begs her to let them help. He says Glenn was their family too. Maggie breaks down crying. She hugs Carl. They lift the bodies – or what’s left of them. There’s a crane shot of Maggie between the two blood spots.

We see everyone around a table with Glenn holding a little boy.

Rick picks up the ax. He goes in the RV, closes the door, and starts it up. He stares at a single zombie. It screeches at them as they drive away. He sees it fall to its knees. Rick’s eyes are fearful.

Next time, Negan takes over.

Seriously annoying and distracting were the several commercials featuring zombies that made me think the show was back on.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Melissa and Joe #2 go to Teresa’s house with Chinese food. Milania complains about Teresa being boring and daddy being more fun. Joe asks if Teresa has talked to Joe #1 yet, but she hasn’t. Milania says she’s going to have grey hair by the time her father gets back.

Milania rides the ATV and Joe #2 stops her from riding so fast. He tells her she doesn’t want her dad to come home to her in the hospital. Melissa asks Teresa if she’s going to Dolores’s kitchen warming party. Teresa isn’t thrilled that Jacqueline will be there, but wants to be supportive. They talk about the transition Teresa is going through with Joe #1 going into the clink.

Siggy and Dolores talk to a party planner about Dolores’s party. Really? Siggy is proud of Dolores for getting her gym going and not having ex-husband Frank pay for everything. They talk about Teresa and Melissa being with Jacqueline in the same room, and hope that no one clashes.

Melissa talks to Derek about the fashion show. Her partner isn’t going to be there, so it’s just her and two employees. She demonstrates a runway walk.

Jacqueline is hoarse. Probably from yelling at people. We can only hope she gets full blown laryngitis. She and Chris talk about who’s going to be at the party. Jacqueline says she’s not ready to talk to Teresa and Melissa, and Chris says he’s staying out of it. Wise move.

It’s party time! Siggy and kids arrive first. Dolores says renovating the house has helped her move forward with her life. Siggy asks if Dolores is nervous about Teresa and Jacqueline being together, but she says no, and expects them to act like big girls. Has she seen this show before? She expects a lot. Dolores’s mom shows up. Everyone is very impressed. It’s definitely a beautiful kitchen. Even more impressive is that Dolores’s grandmother is 102 years old. Siggy asks for her secret, but she says if she told, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore. Dolores explains the Jacqueline/Teresa fight to her. I’m sure it’s just what she wants to hear about, especially being on borrowed time.

On the way over, Joe #2 asks what Melissa is going to say to Jacqueline. She says she has nothing to say and didn’t deserve to be screamed at. Joe says she deserves an apology. She calls Teresa, but Teresa says she’s not going to make it. The girls are missing Joe #1 and he’s going to call tonight, so she wants to be there.

Creepy Kim D arrives. Siggy makes a point of introducing son Josh, saying he came out of her “cookie.” Why? Why would you say something like that? Dolores brings a statue of the Virgin Mary into the room, hoping that the Blessed Mother will watch after everyone. I laugh because it reminds me of my aunt and her statue of St. Anthony. He’s the patron saint of lost things, and if she prayed to him and still couldn’t find something, she’d turn his face to the wall. When Melissa gets there, she says she sees the trouble makers are there already and heads for the kitchen. The most sickening thing is that Jacqueline is wearing a shirt that says Nama’ Stay Away From Me, obviously geared to bug Teresa. There is something wrong with this woman.

Melissa tells Dolores that Teresa won’t be coming. Dolores understands and is going to send her a text. The Wakhili gang comes in. In his interview, Joe #2 says their issues are minor and he’s going to be nice. He goes over to say hello and none of them are that friendly, but Jacqueline is totally icy. Rich makes rude remarks about having a foursome with Rosie.

Dolores is a little annoyed about Jacqueline’s shirt. I’d make her go home and change. Since she can’t start trouble with Teresa not there, Jacqueline wants to leave. Chris approaches Joe #2 and says Jacqueline feels like she wasn’t given the opportunity to give her side of the story about Vermont. Chris thinks Joe should have called him. Joe says he respects that Chris sticks up for his wife, and he does the same, but when they’re wrong you should say so. He says Jacqueline went buck wild on Melissa. Chris says she defended herself, and Joe wonders if hey were at the same party. I think Chris should take a look at the shirt his wife is wearing and justify that. And why is this dude even involving the two of them?

Chris says Jacqueline deserves more love than she got. All she got was a smack in the face. Joe #2 points out how cold Jacqueline was when he said hello. He says frankly he thinks they were both wrong. He mentions the fashion show, but Chris is like, you didn’t come to our popcorn event and Jacqueline is still feeling sensitive. He adds they should get together soon, just to confuse things more. Sensitive Jacqueline starts beeping the car horn.

Dolores makes a toast thanking everyone for coming.

Siggy takes her mom for a hair makeover. She feels badly about her mom saying they don’t spend enough time together. Afterwards, they’re going to lunch. She wants to see her mother enjoy her life more. She tells her mother that they’re coming every week from now on. She wants her to know how valuable she is.

Milania helps Teresa with Joe #1‘s chores. She keeps comparing how Teresa does things to how Joe does them. Teresa asks what she misses and if there’s anything she can do to make it better. Milania says no one can replace him and Teresa is embarrassing.

Siggy takes her mother to lunch. She says she doesn’t like the fact that her mother doesn’t take enough time for herself. She says sometimes she feels sad being with her. Her mom says that she appreciates the time she has, especially since she missed them so much when she lived in Israel.

Dolores is having a ladies’ night at the gym. Teresa is teaching a yoga class, and Siggy is coming to talk about her book, Write Your Own Fairy Tale.

Jacqueline is feeling worse. Chris thinks she should see a doctor. Chris tells her about the conversation with Joe. She writes on a pad that no freaking way is she going to the fashion show.

Dolores leaves a message for Jacqueline. She says she’s not expecting her to come to ladies’ night, but she’s helped in the past, and Dolores wants her to know she’s appreciated. Robyn shows up, which surprises Dolores a little. She tells Robyn that she has no problem with her, except for her not getting along with Jacqueline. Robyn says she has no reason not to get along with Dolores. Teresa says too bad; she wants nothing to do with Jacqueline anymore.

Melissa is anxious about the fashion show. She says there’s so much going on and she can’t figure out how it will all come together. Joe calls her into the bathroom to help with shaving his back. She tries to convince him that she’s in the middle of something right now.

Teresa’s class begins. She explains she’s getting her certification and teaches several poses. In her interview, Teresa says she love the way yoga makes her feel, and that it’s good for both your body and mind. Afterward, the girls all have a health food version of a martini, some kind of smoothie concoction.

Siggy discusses having the life of your dreams. Dolores thanks everyone for comeing she says as women they all have something to share and have to stick together. In her interview, she says she feels like she’s back.

Teresa makes breakfast. Milania says if her egg sandwich isn’t like dad’s, she’s throwing it out. Teresa tries to talk to her, but she doesn’t want to discuss her father. Gabriela doesn’t understand why they have to talk about it and says it’s fine. In her interview, Teresa says they’re trying to find the new normal.

Melissa gets ready for the fashion show. She wants to prove to Joe that she’s not just bringing in crumbs. It’s time for a run through and Melissa is still adding last minute outfits. Joe #2 has to get the kids ready, and wonders what the blip happened to his life. A question I often ask myself.

On the way to the fashions show, Dolores and Siggy discuss who’s coming or not. Dolores says Jacqueline is accusing her of saying she was a no-show at the gym event and whined because her name wasn’t on the flyer. It escalated into an argument that Dolores ended with an F-U. Dolores says she’s heard nothing except Jacqueline badmouthing her. She says Jacqueline has alienated herself and she’s not gong to be a whipping post. Siggy thinks Jacqueline is paranoid and insecure. Who is the common denominator in all of these arguments, people?

Next time, the finale – Melissa’s fashion show happens, Teresa might need to sell the house, Jacqueline alienates herself further, and Siggy invites Jacqueline over. It doesn’t look like it ends well.

October 15, 2016 – GH is All About Morgan, Z Nation is All About 10K, Ryan is All About His Wedding & Quotes are What You Make of Them

Standard

What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital – Thursday

Michael listens to Morgan’s phone message from Kiki. He wanders around looking at family photos. Jason comes in. Michael tells Jason that both of his parents want to be alone, but Jason says he came to see Michael.

Jordan and Nathan go over the car bomb case. Jordan is hoping to find some kind of signature that leads them to who planted the bomb. Nathan suggests it might trace back to Sonny, and Jordan says he’d be living out his worst nightmare. Dante walks in.

Lulu visits Maxie who immediately launches into her plans for a New Year’s Eve wedding. Lulu starts to cry. She tells Maxie that Morgan is dead.

Nina has gotten flowers and a fruit basket to send to Sonny’s house, and tells Dillon it’s crazy to think fruit and flowers will help ease the pain of losing someone. Dillon says it’s just a gesture, a tribute to their loss. He tells her that Kiki was going to break up with Morgan to be with him, but now she’s pushing him away.

Franco comes home and finds Kiki sitting on the steps, holding her head and crying.

Nathan asks Dante if he’s sure he wants to be at work. Dante says he wants to find out who killed his brother. Jordan asks what if it leads back to his father, and he says he’ll recuse himself if that happens. TJ comes into the station.

Lulu tells Maxie that it was a car bomb. Maxie is stunned. She tells Lulu she’s sorry and hugs her.

Kiki says she went to Morgan’s house and she was going to dump him. Franco says she’s been unhappy with him for a long time. She says she was breaking up with him so she could be with Dillon. She blames herself, saying she’s not a decent person and doesn’t care about anyone else. Jason says he’s just checking in, and Michael wishes he’d done that with Morgan. He says it was his job to take care of Morgan and he wasn’t there when it mattered the most. Morgan was spiraling out of control and he wasn’t there to help him. He says he accused Sonny of it being his fault, when it’s really himself he should accuse.

TJ and Jordan take a walk. He says Molly is a mess because Morgan was more like a brother than a cousin. Jordan apologizes for taking him away, but she wanted to talk to him about who’s responsible for putting the bomb in Julian’s car. He asks about Sonny and she admits he’s the most likely suspect.

Dante tells Nathan that Morgan being dead doesn’t feel real. He says Morgan was working hard to put his life back on track, and he wasn’t there for him. He says he was too concerned about Sonny. He begged Sonny not to do anything after Julian’s acquittal, but he didn’t get through. He feels like a failure as a cop and a brother.

Maxie asks how Dante is doing and Lulu says he’s devastated. She says it doesn’t help that it looks like Sonny is the one who put the bomb in Julian’s car, and explains how it happened. She says no one warns you about how terrifying it is to be a parent, Maxie says Nathan is about to find out. Lulu asks if she’s prepared for the possibility. Maxie is hoping Charlotte isn’t his.

Dillon tells Nina that Kiki thinks she let Morgan down and that’s why he spiraled out of control. He says she doesn’t even want to be around him. Nina says deep down, she knows she needs him, and he has to make her see that.

Franco says breaking up with someone isn’t selfish. She says it’s the one thing Carly begged her not to do. She tells Franco that Morgan saw her with Dillon. She says he got it wrong that they were having sex, but they were kissing. She told Dillon that she’d been thinking about him since the Nurses Ball and she was going to break up with Morgan. She says she’s the reason Morgan was drinking. Franco explains that Morgan wasn’t thinking rationally because he was ill, and she can’t let this stop her from having a happy life. She tells Franco she needs to be alone. She gets up, and I can’t help but notice the great joggers she’s wearing.

Jason tells Michael that he didn’t neglect Morgan. Michael says he could have been a big brother, but he was wrapped up in his own life and didn’t see any signs of trouble. Jason reminds him that Sabrrrina just died. Yeah, Michael has been legitimately busy. Jason says he was there when Morgan was killed; he got him to stop, but no one could have done anything about the explosion. He says Morgan was the victim of terrible circumstances and Michael needs to stop blaming himself.

TJ says Jordan has no idea how much Sonny loved Morgan. She says she does. A parent’s job is to love and protect, and she almost lost TJ in the warehouse shootout thanks to Sonny. He says he forgives her for the past and hopes that she can do the same and forgive him.

Jason tells Michael that the way he’s thinking is a trap, and there’s a lot of blame to go around. He says Michael loved Morgan and was good to him. Michael says except for when he wasn’t, and talks about how angry he’d gotten with him. He says Morgan did stupid stuff, like kidnapping Avery (yeah, you know, stupid little things like that), and didn’t think things through. He relied on Michael for that. Jason says he was a grown man and we all make our own decisions. He says remember when Morgan came home from the hospital as a baby – Michael was the first one to hold him. Michael was the first one to give him love and acceptance, and when he screwed up, the first to forgive him. Jason tells him to stop blaming himself for something that wasn’t in his control, and to give himself credit for being the person Morgan loved and looked up to.

Dillon knocks on Kiki’s door. He says no pressure, she doesn’t have to let him in, but even if she wants to use him as a punching bag, whatever she needs, he’s there for her. He says he’s not going to leave. She doesn’t have to answer the door, he’ll sit out in the hallway so she can know she isn’t alone. He asks her to just let him know she hears him. She stops the music on her phone and goes to the door.

Maxie says if Charlotte turns out to be Nathan’s daughter, she’ll accept it and be supportive. Lulu says Charlotte would be lucky to have her as a stepmom. She asks where Charlotte is, and Maxie says Claudette put her somewhere safe because of a guy who’s after them. She says it’s someone Lulu knows too – Valentin Cassadine.

Nathan can’t imagine how Sonny must feel. Dante said if something happened to Rocco that was his fault, he couldn’t live. Nathan says he’s starting to know what it’s like, and he hasn’t even met his daughter. Claudette has come in with a child that looks exactly like her and says he has now. Because everyone is allowed to wander anywhere they like at the police station.

Claudette tells Charlotte to say hello to her dad. Nathan tells her it’s nice to meet her, but she’s not too responsive. He tells Claudette to give her time since he’s a stranger. He tells Charlotte that he’s excited to meet her. Claudette says she just had to make sure it was s-a-f-e. Charlotte goes to Nathan and hugs him. That didn’t take long. Claudette says she imagined this moment and that it looks happy and right. Dante tells him to take the rest of the day off. He asks Charlotte if they can spend some time together, and Claudette suggests feeding the ducks. He wants Charlotte to meet Maxie first.

Lulu says she can’t imagine what Charlotte went through with Valentin in the picture. Maxie says at least Claudette had the good sense to get her away from him. Lulu has to leave and tells Maxie she’s strong and can handle this. I just have to interject that when we met Valentin, he certainly didn’t act like this ruthless villain they’re talking about.

TJ tells Jordan about how he offered to drive Morgan anywhere he wanted, but Morgan saw the keys in Julian’s car. He thought he was getting through, when Morgan sucker punched him. He thinks he should have done something more, but Jordan says he did what he could and called the police.

Franco shows up at Nina’s office. She tells him about how she sent Dillon over to see Kiki. Franco is glad because he couldn’t get through to her. Nina tells him he’d be an amazing father.

Kiki tells Dillon that she knows he wants to help but seeing him doesn’t make her feel better. The last time she saw Morgan, they got in a fight about him. Dillon is perplexed and she tells him about how Morgan said she was making time for Dillon, but not him. She’s so weepy, I can barely understand what she’s saying. Michael listens outside the door. He comes in and asks her if she was breaking up with Morgan.

Michael says Morgan’s phone was recovered and he listened to her messages. He says there was a tone of her felling sorry for herself like she always does, and standing by someone with bipolar disease isn’t very fun. Morgan was desperate scared and needed her, but she was too busy screwing Dillon. He starts getting belligerent and loud and aggressive, and Dillon grabs him.

Franco says just because he gave Kiki a shoulder to cry on in her hour of need doesn’t mean he’d make a good father. Nina says your child is any child who loves you back. Or something like that.

Nathan comes home. Maxie is on the phone with Spinelli and says her good-byes. Nathan brings in Charlotte and introduces her. It might have been nice to give Maxie a heads up. Not too insensitive. I’m surprised at Nathan.

Lulu goes to the station and says she has to talk to Dante. She tells him about why Charlotte was kept away from Nathan. He says Claudette brought Charlotte to the station.

Dillon says Michael is grieving and he’s sorry, but that doesn’t give him the right to abuse Kiki. They almost come to blows and Kiki says she deserves it. Dillon says that’s not reality. She says she convinced herself that she was righteous and good in breaking up with Morgan before starting a relationship with Dillon. Well, yeah. She tells Dillon to go and not come back. She can’t look at him. What an idiot Michael is. I’ve never liked him. Dillon leaves. Michael and Kiki look at each other. She says she’s sorry. He says he’s sorry too. Moron. My ambivalence has turned to hate.

Jordan says Sonny planted the bomb and it’s tragic, but now TJ should understand what his life costs. She asks if he’s done with Sonny. He says he was the last person to see Morgan alive. Jordan says she’s there for him.

Dante says there was no excuse for Claudette keeping Nathan’s daughter from him. Lulu says the man Claudette was hiding her daughter from was Valentin.

Maxie asks if Charlotte would like cookies. She says yes, and Claudette says she had a bagel in the car. She thinks it was a mistake to come since Charlotte has to get comfortable with Nathan first. He says he doesn’t notice she’s distressed, and Claudette says shes quiet around new people. Claudette is looking stupid and contrary because Charlotte hardly seems shy around Maxie.

Maxie takes Nathan aside and tells him that she was fully prepared to welcome Charlotte into their lives, but now that she’s seen her, there’s no way she’s his daughter.

Nina says she’s investigating other avenues for a baby. Franco says the child will be lucky. She says she’d rather have gotten pregnant, but it wasn’t in the stars. Franco tells her that being a birth parent isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and sometimes that makes it worse,

Michael apologizes to Kiki. He says they can keep lashing out, but it’s not going to change things. “They?” Is this one of those “we were all drunk” statements? Seems to me he was the only one lashing. He says all they know for sure is that they’re going to be hurting for a long time. Get that man a psyche degree.

Next time, Claudette plays with Nathan, Scotty tells Julian he’s responsible, and Carly tells Sonny he’s responsible.

General Hospital – Friday

Maxie says she knows in her heart that Charlotte isn’t Nathan’s. Claudette hears her talking and says how dare she, but Maxie says how dare Claudette try to pass off Charlotte as Nathan’s daughter. She says there’s absolutely nothing of Nathan in her. Since the kid looks like a Claudette clone, I tend to agree, but that doesn’t mean she’s not his.

Sam meets Alexis at The Floating Rib. Sam says on the outside, Jason acts like everything is okay, but on the inside Morgan’s death has to be tearing him apart. They talk about the bomb being meant for Julian.

Julian drops off financials at Crimson. He tells Nina that Sonny ended up killing his own son and now he has to live with it.

Kristina tells Sonny she can’t believe Morgan is gone. She thought he would always be there. Josslyn comes downstairs. She says she keeps thinking she’ll wake up and it will just be a dream. She says she loved Morgan and Kristina says he loved her too. Kristina asks about Michael. He’s upstairs with Carly.

Carly tells Michael she doesn’t ever want him to think she takes him for granted. She’s going to get Josslyn and go back to her own place. Michael asks for how long, and says he’ll be supportive. He asks if she’s sure she wants to walk out, and she says she doesn’t have a choice.

Nathan tells Maxie to stop it. She says when Claudette stops trying to pass off her daughter as Nathan’s, she’ll stop calling her on it. Claudette says she doesn’t need Charlotte around Maxie and hustles her out the door. Maxie asks Nathan when he’s going to stop letting Claudette play him.

Scotty shows up at Crimson to get Julian. They leave and Curtis arrives. Nina asks if there’s any baby news. He says yes.

Scotty tells Julian that Carly can’t evict him, but that’s not his problem. Morgan is dead instead of him and Sonny is going to want revenge.

Michael tells Carly to make sure she’s doing the right thing. She says if she’d done the right thing, Morgan might still be alive. She begged Sonny to stop the retaliation of violence, but she couldn’t stop him and now Morgan is dead. Michael says Sonny told him he had nothing to do with it, but she says because of Sonny’s actions, Morgan is dead. She says she understands Sonny is Michael’s dad and he worked at getting the relationship back on track, but she can’t stay in the house another minute. He says they’ll get through it together.

Josslyn tells Kristina that Carly told her to stay in her room until she came to get her. Carly comes downstairs with her bag.

Nathan asks Maxie how she could do that in front of a child? Maxie tells him that if Claudette doesn’t want to be exposed as a liar and a fraud in front of her kid, she shouldn’t lie and perpetuate fraud in front of her kid. He tells her the paternity test isn’t at the top of his priority list. Maxie says he wants to believe Charlotte is his daughter regardless if it’s a lie.

Claudette tells Charlotte she’s going to get to know her dad and she can’t do anything to stop it.

Sam tells Alexis that Morgan saw the keys in the car, but no one knows if he knew that it was Julian’s car. She thinks it was just a horrible and strange coincidence. Alexis says the bomb wasn’t a coincidence, Sonny is behind it.

Julian tells Scotty he’s not worried about Sonny. Scotty says he should be, because Sonny wants him dead more than ever now. Scotty tells him there might be a way out of this for him.

Michael wants to take the girls to the park to play with Avery. Kristina wants to know what’s going on, but he hurries them out. Sonny asks Carly if she was leaving without saying anything. She says she was going to get Josslyn settled, then come say good-by. He says their boy just died. She says Sonny made a decision and now Morgan is dead. She says the pain and despair is going to be there forever, but there’s going to be one less consequence – her and Sonny.

Nathan says he’s been thinking it over for a long time. There’s a chance he could be Charlotte’s father. He’d never forgive himself if he lost her for good, and he needs Maxie to understand that. Maxie says if she’s really his daughter, she would have a stepdaughter that’s part him, and that would be a gift. She apologizes. He has no idea if this will smooth things over with Claudette, but Maxie says she has a solution.

Charlotte skips around the park. Claudette says it was worth it to do what she did to keep Charlotte safe. Nathan calls and Claudete says it’s not a good time. Nathan says listen and she won’t regret it.

Curtis says he can’t get Nina a baby. He says he feels terrible, but at the end of the day, they’re talking about a black market baby and it’s dangerous for both sides She asks for his research, but he doesn’t want to give it to her.

Scotty says it would be a lot harder for Sonny to kill Julian if Sonny is behind bars. He suggests proving that Sonny tried to have him killed.

Josslyn takes Avery – who is so big, she should be walking by now – to push her on the swings. Kristina asks Michael what his mom is doing to her dad.

Carly says that she told Sonny not to let his need for revenge have a hold on him. She tells him that she should have given him an ultimatum, but she stayed, and now Morgan is dead. Sonny says she and Griff convinced him and he called off the hit. Carly says it was too late. when he had his big epiphany, their son was already driving to his death, and now he’s asking her why she’s leaving. The doorbell rings.

Nell says she hopes she’s not interrupting. She tells Carly that people want to know what they can do. Carly says she hasn’t even made funeral arrangements. She says she doesn’t even know what to do, since their beautiful, passionate, erratic son was blown to bits. Sonny tries to comfort her, but she tells him not to touch her.

Claudette and Charlotte come back to Nathan’s. Maxie tells Charlotte that seeing her was more of a surprise than she expected and she snapped. Claudette asks if that’s what they’re calling crazy baseless accusations now, but Maxie ignores her, saying she was wrong and she’s sorry. Maxie says she’s happy to have Nathan’s daughter there. Charlotte – who I have to mention doesn’t seem to care what’s going on – goes off to play. Claudette tells Maxie that was nice, but she doesn’t believe it.

Sam says Morgan was just a kid and had his whole life ahead of him. She can’t say the same for Julian, who’s left a trail of broken lives and misery. She still doesn’t wish him dead though. Alexis says she doesn’t either.

Nina says she paid for the research, so she can do what she wants with it. Curtis says Nina will get caught and he’ll be the accessory. He wants to stay out of trouble, but he’s also her friend. He tells her to believe that he’s doing what’s best. Nina storms out and Julian asks Curtis whats up. Curtis says he had to turn down a job. Julian says he might have one for him. Don’t do it, Curtis.

Carly has nothing else to say. She walks out. Nell looks at their family photo and follows, leaving Sonny alone. He starts to cry. This dude is killing me.

Michael says Kristina doesn’t understand. Kristina says Julian is the one who went after both of her parents. She says their father was trying to do what the courts couldn’t, and everyone needs to stop blaming Sonny for Morgan’s death. Josslyn appears and asks why that would be happening.

Nathan shoves Claudette out into the hallway. He tells her he needs time with the daughter she kept from him. He says her, him and Maxie need to work together to keep Charlotte safe. Claudette says she realizes she did the right thing telling him and when he takes charge, it makes her believe everything will be okay. She tries to take his hand and there’s an awkward moment, but he goes back inside and she smirks.

Nell shows up at the park asking to take Avery back home to see her dad. She leaves with Avery, and Josslyn asks why Sonny is to blame. Kristina explains about the retaliation with Julian. Josslyn doesn’t want to believe Sonny planted the bomb, and wants to talk to Michael. Kristina leaves to check in with Molly. Josslyn asks Michael to tell her what he knows. He says Morgan stole Julian’s car but no one knows what really happened. She says he does and begs her to tell him. He says Julian has a lot of enemies and he doesn’t know for sure. He says Sonny didn’t sas it was him, but it could have been. She cries and asks how he could do that.

Julian wants proof on who put the bomb in his car. Curtis says the police are on it, but Julian scoffs. Curtis says he can personally vouch for the integrity of the commissioner. Julian says he wants to launch his own investigation. Curtis says he wants to get back on the force. Julian says if he finds out who planted the bomb, he’ll get back on the force. Julian gives him some payment figures like it’s a real estate transaction, and Curtis says he can’t promise anything, but he’ll be in touch.

Nell brings Avery back to Sonny’s.

Michael says the odds of Morgan stealing the car were a million to one. Josslyn says, but he did, and she hates Sonny now. Carly arrives and Josslyn runs to her. Kudos to the show for Carly looking like she’s been ugly crying like a real person. (And kudos to Laura Wright for letting them.)

Nathan has to get back to the station. Claudette says they have to go to. Maxie says maybe next time they can stay longer, and Claudette sarcastically says, here’s hoping. Out in the hallway Claudette says Nathan was right and Charlotte hugs Nathan.

Maxie makes a call and asks how long paternity test results take. She says she has a sample and looks at a juice box in a plastic bag.

Alexis says despite everything, she doesn’t want Julian dead. She cant hep thinking though, if Julian had died instead of Morgan, it would solve her problems.

Curtis asks Nina if she’s okay and they’re still good. She says she respects his position. She has to figure out what happens to her next. Curtis makes a call to TJ, leaving a message for hims to call back. It’s about Morgan.

Nina does some normal work. She sees the fruit basket has disappeared.

Josslyn tells Carly that Kristina told her what Sonny did. Carly says it’s awful, but they’ll get through it together. Josslyn says Morgan won’t. Good point. She says her dad never talks about hating Sonny, but when she mentions Sonny, he gets a look on his face. She says she just thought Sonny was kind of cold until Morgan died. Now she believes her dad was right about Sonny all along.

Sonny has to go out and Nell says she’ll watch Avery. Looking at Avery, Sonny looks almost happy for a moment. The phone rings. Sonny says to let him in. It’s Julian with a fruit basket. What a cheap b*st*rd.

On Monday, Sonny tells Julian to take his best shot, TJ and Curtis talk about the investigation, and Tracy blames Lucy for GH being on the chopping block.

Z Nation

10K is in the rapids. He periodically comes up for a breath. We see him doing a dead man’s float (ha-ha) and he hears a voice telling him to wake up. He emerges from calmer waters. And amazingly still has his backpack. He must be a New Yorker. Lily Tomlin once said being a New Yorker is always knowing where your purse is.

His backpack has the vials of booster shots he needs. He’s bleeding and crawls to the water, putting moss on the injury. He sees someone on the bridge. It’s Murphy’s Number One dude. He grabs his stuff and runs.

Murphy is trying to put Merch back together. one of his minions hands him her forearm. Another says she should have had more faith and didn’t deserve him. Murphy says everyone deserves him. He says they move forward. Merch chose her fate, but they can make different choices. He tells them to finish the moat, plant food, and live without fear.

One stays behind. He wants to thank Murphy. He says he was going to end it all and was without hope, but then Murphy came along. He leaves to help out with the moat.

10K continues through the woods. He hears growling sounds like a werewolf. He’s still bleeding and sees Number One.

Murphy says Merch wasn’t actually afraid of the zombies, so what was it. He wonders if something went wrong with the vaccine, like unexpected side-effects. He asks why she left him alone to do everything himself; he’s a savior, not a doctor. He wishes he knew what was going on in her head. He sees her exposed brain and almost takes a bite, but stops himself. He licks his lips.

Number One sees the blood by the water. He runs in the other direction, and 10K emerges from the water. 10K sees and upside down picnic table floating along and takes a ride on it. He flashes back to being chased by the zombies with 5K. He falls into a dream and calls out to 5K. He dreams of coming back the village and Red running into the zombie horde. Back on land, it starts to rain. He finds a grub to eat.

Murphy says, “To Z or not to Z; alas, poor doctor, I thought I knew you.” He says they were so close to his vision, not just for him, but for everyone. He says people found safety for the first time in years, maybe ever. He wonders why she would stop him from helping them. He says the truth is out there, and he’ll find the answer. He wonders if it’s in there, and looks at Merch’s brain.

10K hears a motorcycle. Then he’s on the motorcycle, and the driver is tied up. 10K takes off. He finds an abandoned building. A gun came with the bike, and he shoots some zombies. Is he counting again? He runs into a rope and gets knocked off the bike. Some people run to where he’s lying.

10K wakes up in Red’s arms. She kisses him. He’s dreaming. He’s chained to a car and some zombies come toward him. He fends one off and then tries to break the chain with his bare hands. He whacks a zombie in the face with a hubcap. He gets on top of the car. A zombie grabs the chain and pulls him off, but he kills it with a windshield wiper. He smashes another’s head with the hubcap and then uses it like a Frisbee and cuts another’s head off. He grabs a rat-tail comb from the car, and kills another. No rest for the wicked, here come some more.

Just as one gets close, it’s dispatched from behind. Number One tells the rest to get out. He patches 10K’s wound and sees a puncture. He says 10K stole the injectors and used them. He wants to know where Murphy’s medicine is. 10K says he was ambushed, and they took his bike and the medicine. Number One says they’re getting the medicine back and going back to Murphy.

Murphy examines Merch’s dismembered hand and does a palm reading. He wonders why she chose death over a long life. He sees a vial on the floor and realizes it’s the original vaccine and she took it before she entered the moat. He doesn’t think it makes sense that she’d want to die. He wonders if she was testing it on herself, and concludes it was an accident. Or was it? He sees needle marks on the wrist and knows she took it on purpose. It was the vaccine that was supposed to make her more human. Murphy realizes she must have given it to 10K as well. He wonders if it’s worse being him than being dead, and if she would rather not exist than be part of his world. He asks if there’s something wrong with him. He tells Merch to answer him.

10K sees a rock in the water. He whacks Nimber One in the head with it and runs. It doesn’t take long for Number One to get up again and follow. They run through the woods. 10K sees Red ahead of him. All of a sudden Number One can’t find him, and follows the blood trail. 10K falls. Man, I can’t take this. 10K sees Number One coming, and Number One asks how this running away is working for him. Okay, Dr. Phil. Murphy offered him peace and freedom, but he ran. Number One asks if 10K wants fear and pain, and pushes his thumb into 10K’s wound.

The two people who stopped 10K are in the woods. We hear the growling again and the man is attacked by something. I’m not so sure it’s zombies though. The girl gets away.

Number One tells 10K that Murphy has a plan to get the electricity and water running again. He says Murphy’s cure fixes everything, and how can he not want to be part of that? 10K says he knows Murphy too well. Number One says his daughter is still alive because of Murphy. 10K says he only feels this way because Murphy bit him, but he traded freedom for safety. Number One says he is free, and 10K says it’s not freedom, it’s brainwashing. Number One asks what 10K thinks was in the medicine, and 10K says his free will. Number One says it made him sick in the head, and that’s why Murphy sent him to get the vials back.

A creepy Sasquatch-looking zombie comes up and Number One lets it pass, but 10K bashes it with a rock,  even though his hands are bound. He falls and starts to crawl, and the zombie crawls after him. Number One says the world without Murphy is just more of this. He asks if 10K wants mercy and 10K says he doesn’t want to be afraid anymore. We think Number One is going to shoot 10K, but he shoots the zombie and tells 10K welcome back to sanity.

Murphy opens a safe and takes out some vials. He sees himself in a broken mirror. He wants to finish the plan and bring it to completion, even if he has to do it himself. He says, what else is new? and I know the feeling. He passes Merch’s exposed brain again and hesitates, but goes to his food tray. He goes through her notes, but doesn’t understand them. He looks at the two-tyned fork in his hand.

Number One and 10K find the bike, but there’s no backpack. They see a guy’s body, and 10K says there were two people who attacked him. Number One can’t tell if it was a zombie or animal attack. 10K sees Red again and Number One tells him to move it, it’s time to go home. A crow flies overhead. There are growls again and 10K takes off running.

The girl who was with the guy on the bike hides behind a tree. A creature is after her. Number One runs after 10K. 10K comes to the edge of a cliff.

Number One sees fur on a branch. He sees 10K’s jacket at the edge of the cliff. Red whispers to 10K to wake up. She tells him to be quiet. He sees a dead deer next to him. Number One thinks 10K is dead and leaves. Red tells 10K to run and leads him through the forest. The creature follows. 10K hears growling and rustling in the bushes. Red tells him to go back. He says no way. She pushes him and says they can’t leave. She says he has to save 5K, because “they” have him. 10K sees her sword on the ground.

10K continues on with the sword. He sees a pack of wolves surrounding something. He starts hacking at them. Lots of fur and blood flies. It also looks like there are zombies or people on the outskirts. When the wolves are dispatched, he sees 5K. He asks if the kid is okay, but he’s a little zombie, and 10K kills him. The wolves have turned into dead soldiers. 10K finds his backpack.

10K sees a sign for Spokane. He sees Red and turns to follow, but falls. He injects himself with one of the vials and has a seizure. He wakes with his head in Red’s lap. 5K joins them. All is happy. 5K tells them his dead zombie count. 10K thanks Red for saving him, and she says she’s not real. He says he doesn’t care and kisses her.

A shadow falls over a sleeping 10K.

Murphy suddenly understands all of Merch’s notes. Because he’s eating her brain. Number One comes back…alone. He tells Murphy that 10K is dead and he’s sorry. He thinks it was a pack of wolves, or zombies; whatever it was, it was fast. Murphy asks if he saw 10K die. He says no, and Murphy says then he’s not dead. He’ll be joining Roberta, and they’ll all come after them. He says prepare for an attack, siege, or both. The battle for humanity is about to begin, and he intends to win.

Next time, looks like an all Doc episode. Doc ends up in the Serenity Falls Institution for the Criminally Insane. And he’s in a straight jacket.

💍 Hope you caught Million Dollar Listing NY’s Ryan’s Wedding. If not, I’m sure Bravo will be rerunning it. It was fun to see Kevin Lee flutter around, directing things, and ending up with an assistant he hadn’t expected. Luis, now retired from real estate, added some Latin charm as well. The location in Greece was absolutely gorgeous, and Ryan almost bought one of the most beautiful houses I’ve ever seen – complete with its own mini castle and infinity pool. While the wedding ceremony was awesome, the reception venue looked like something out of a fairy tale. Everyone went through a lot of angst to create the perfect day, and I was glad to see these two get a happy ending.

Quotes of the Week

We need a new brand of scotch. This taste’s like a poor man’s kilt.Alan Alda as Myles Clarkson in The Mephisto Waltz

Gestures, in love, are incomparably more attractive, effective and valuable than words.Francois Rabelais

The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.Julia Child

October 2, 2016 – A Count Visits Storybrooke, Fear the Dead Finale & NJ’s Jacqueline Loses It

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What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

Once Upon a Time

The Evil Queen leads Zelena to the vault. Zelena doesn’t want to let her in, but that doesn’t matter. She needs supplies for a spell. She asks Zelena if she’s worried she’ll harm her better half, but Zelena says it remains to be seen which half is better. The Evil Queen says she just wants to teach Regina that she can’t escape who she is. Zelena asks what’s in it for her and the queen says a sister who’s more deserving.

Regina goes the Granny’s where the Untold Story people have gathered. She has the storybook with her and says she knows they’re afraid that their stories will play out. She says she’s just like them and they don’t have to be afraid. Whatever comes next, they’ll face it together.

Belle comes into Granny’s, looking for a new place to stay. Emma tells Hook she has an appointment to see Archie, so Hook leaves with Belle to help her out.

Henry asks a guy what his name is, wanting to see if his story is in the book. He says he isn’t important enough to be in there. An envelope with a fancy sealing wax closure arrives.

We flash back to the guy’s story – he’s Edmund, the Count of Monte Cristo. We’re at a ball and Edmund approaches the Baron. The Baron says he couldn’t be Edmund; he’s in prison. Edmund tells the Baron that he escaped, and although it took a decade, he’s now the man he wants to be. He pulls out his sword and stabs the Baron. The ballroom clears out and the Evil Queen applauds. She says it’s hard to find commitment like his. She wonders how long his next revenge quest will take and asks him for the names of everyone who has wronged him. In return, she wants help in getting some revenge of her own.

The envelope is an invitation for David and Snow from the Count. Regina says he wants his revenge and explains that she’d once hired him to kill them.

Archie tells Emma it’s a safe space and she can trust him. She tells him about her vision. She says she almost starts to win her battle against the hooded figure, but her hand starts shaking and she gets killed. He thinks maybe the more she talks about it, the less it will haunt her. She says she’s hesitant to tell her family because they would want to fix things and she’s supposed to be the savior. He says even saviors should get a day off. Emma gets upset when he encourages her to let them know and leaves Archie’s office.

David asks why Regina didn’t tell them about the Count. She says she’s clearly trying to put her evil ways behind her, and the Count didn’t get the memo. Snow says she hired him and she can fire him. Regina says that’s why she’s going to meet him instead of them.

Back in the day, Snow and David come upon a destroyed village. One person is alive – Edmund. He says when the queen attacked, everyone fled, but he stayed behind to put out the fire. Snow’s handmaiden, Charlotte, has nursing skills and gives him a salve for his burns. Edmund sees something in her eyes that he finds mesmerizing. He wants to go on the attack, but Snow says revenge isn’t going to bring anyone happiness and finding happiness is the best revenge. David suggests he work for them as a wine steward because that’s a great alternative to seeking revenge.

Regina meets Edmund. She tells him she’s calling off the murder. She says revenge won’t bring back the person you love, and if she can say that, anyone can. Edmund hurls his sword at her and she stops it in mid-air, but by the time she turns it around, Edmund is gone.

Emma tries to drive Snow and David to someplace safe, but the car hits an invisible wall at the Storybrooke border. She says obviously the Count doesn’t want them leaving.

Hook takes Belle to the Jolly Roger. She says she can’t stay there as it will risk Hook’s life. He says he had a hand in harming her and wants to make up for it. He says he needs to forgive himself and he’s not there yet. She says she’ll stay. She wanted to wait for Rumple to come around, but she has to do what’s best for her son.

Regina says it’s not the Count preventing them from leaving, and the only way for a protection spell to have worked is if someone got into her vault. Zelena shows up and Regina tells her about the spell, and says that Zelena is the only other one who could have opened her vault. Zelena says she doesn’t know who did it, but she’s tired of the inquisition and disappears, poof! in a puff of green smoke. Regina says she thinks the Count isn’t the only one they have to worry about.

The Count watches the Evil Queen dispatch a couple of knights. She asks him for a lesson in swordsmanship, but he says he has to go to Snow and David’s. She has a vial of poison for him to use, but he wants to know what they did to deserve death. She asks if he’s getting a conscience and he says to call it professional curiosity. She says the only thing on his mind should be how badly he wants his revenge. He takes the poison vial with him.

Rumpel appears, telling the Evil Queen that she’s still having someone else do her dirty work. She says that’s because Rumpel put a spell on Snow and David, so she can’t hurt them. She says she put the same protection spell on the count to protect him from Rumpel, telling him that the student has outgrown the teacher. He says they’ll see about that, and disappears, poof! in a cloud of grey smoke.

The Evil Queen shows up in Mr. Gold’s shop. He says he knew it was too good to be true, and she says she knows he’s happy that she’s back. He’s holding a coin and he says if she wants it, she has to leave Belle and his son out of her evil plans. She asks if he’s sure that’s all he wants. She says the Untold Story people aren’t the only ones whose plans haven’t played out. He asks why he would be interested in her and she tells him to look her up when he gets tired of waiting for Belle.

Edmund puts the poison into the wine. David says they need another glass for Charlotte, who has to leave to take care of her mother. Edmund pours the wine and says something about Charlotte’s eyes. They make a toast, but Edmund stops them from drinking. He says an occasion like this calls for something more special and he takes the wine away.

Regina and Henry walk around the Untold Story people’s crash landing. Regina tells Henry she can’t let the first story play out like this. She sees Charlotte’s body and says Edmund poisoned her with the wine meant for Snow and David. The Evil Queen appears and says that the handmaid’s tale played out and Regina’s will too. Regina says she thought she’d killed the Evil Queen. The Evil Queen asks if she thought it would be that easy and that after all they did together, this is what she gets. Regina realizes that the Evil Queen has been controlling the Count. The Evil Queen produces his heart and says Regina should be thanking her.

David and Snow see Edmund on the dock. David says it’s all a misunderstanding. Edmund says they have no idea and launches his sword at them. Snow says Regina has changed and doesn’t want this. David asks why he’s doing this, and Edmund says the Evil Queen has his heart. David says they’ll find a way to stop her; they always do.

In the old days, Rumpel shows up, asking Edmund why he didn’t poison Snow and David. Edmund says because of Charlotte. He says she didn’t deserve to die and if he’d killed her his revenge wouldn’t be so sweet. Rumpel says Snow and David don’t deserve to die either. He puts a spell on the door and says he needs them alive and procreating. Edmund finds Charlotte’s body and asks for the antidote. Rumpel says there’s no cure for this poison, but it can be stopped.

He shows Edmund a key and tell him it’s the key to where all untold stories are finished. If he goes there, Charlotte will live, but if he comes back, she dies.

Edmund tells Snow and David that he wanted a fresh start. Regina appears and sword fights with him. She says he can still have a fresh start and his story doesn’t have to end like this. He says it ended when Charlotte died. She says that she couldn’t save Charlotte but she can save him. She asks Henry to call for help, but the Evil Queen did something to his phone. Edmund approaches Snow and David who are now unconscious. Regina lets her sword fly and it runs through him. She cries over his body, but Henry says she did what she had to do.

Snow and David come to. Regina says she had no choice. The Evil Queen says that’s not true and that heroes always find a third way. Regina says she’ll rip the Evil Queen’s heart out. The Evil Queen says that’s the spirit. Regina realizes that the Evil Queen wanted her to kill Edmund. The Evil Queen says the little bit of darkness she revived is just a start. She says Regina will destroy everyone’s happy endings. She says the people from the Land of Untold Stories aren’t the only ones who don’t want their stories told, and when everything plays out, she’ll sit back and watch them tear themselves apart.

Snow tells Regina it’s not her fault and she didn’t have a choice. Emma says the Evil Queen wants her to doubt herself. Snow says she can’t be beaten by running away. She asks what the Evil Queen meant by them all having stories they don’t want told. Emma’s hand starts to shake.

Henry tells Hook he should have known better because sequels are never as good and then has to explain the concept of a sequel. Henry says the first time, the people wanted their stories told. David sees another envelope. It has the coin in it. He goes outside. The Evil Queen asks how he likes his gift. David asks why she gave it to him. She says we all have untold stories waiting to play out. He says the coin was his father’s good luck piece. Before he got drunk and died in a cart accident. The Evil Queen says she’s not interested in his daddy issues. She asks if he’s sure it was an accident, and disappears, poof ! in a puff of purple smoke.

Zelena hears her baby cry and finds the Evil Queen with him. The Evil Queen gives the baby a silver rattle that once belonged to her. She tells Zelena to consider it a gift for not telling Regina about her. She admires the ability to keep a secret. Zelena says it was a test and she’d thought the Evil Queen was different from Regina. The Evil Queen says she’ll never doubt Zelena again. She says she’s the sister Zelena wants because they’re alike in that they never settle for less, and Regina is literally the lesser of two evils.

Emma goes back to Archie. She says he’s right, but she’s not ready to tell her family yet. They talk about the Evil Queen’s return. Emma says she’s worried about who’s going to kill her. The one person who wasn’t with her family is Regina. Archie asks if she’s worried about Regina or the Evil Queen, but she doesn’t know.

No preview for next week.

Fear the Walking Dead

Ofelia’s car starts to overheat. She stops and gets out. She tries to remove the distributor cap and is attacked by a zombie. She slams the hood onto it’s arm, but another one comes after her. She manages to get a hammer out of the car and whacks it in the head, as well as the one that follows. A fourth zombie attacks, but she’s in the zone now. She takes a knife from his belt and stabs car hood zombie.

Now there’s a whole group of them coming, but they’re not moving fast, so she just takes a jug for water and leaves.

Commercial break. The next Pirates of the Caribbean movie – A Pirate’s Death for Me – looks great! Coming out in 2017.

Nick wakes up with Luci beside him. How does her makeup look so perfect in the grubby apocalypse? He goes outside and meets his recruit. They go to Alejandro’s pharmacy and Nick breaks into the drug cabinet. They load up a bag with medication and head out through the bus.

Travis wakes up with Madison sitting beside him in a chair. She says she’s been thinking. She says he kept his promise to Liza. He protected Chris and in this new world he’s safer with people who understand him. She says she’s going to remind him until he believes it. She says he belongs there and when he’s ready, come downstairs.

Nick and the other guy go to the gang market. He tells the guard they have Oxy, shows him the bag and they’re allowed in.

Alicia brings Travis some food. She opens the curtains. Nice view when there aren’t zombies cluttering it up. She tells Travis she’s sorry; she feels like she pushed Chris away. He says she had every right to be scared and that Chris is sick. He says he’s sorry that he didn’t believe her and protect her better. She tells him it’s okay.

Meanwhile, back at the gang market, Nick and the other guy (does he have a name?) meet with gang leader Marco. He’s planning an attack and says it will be like taking candy from a baby. Nick says if the gang will leave them alone, they’ll be there every week, on time. Marco says he likes Nick, but the game is over. They don’t need him anymore. He points out a guy who knows where all the drugs that are left are. He says they’re joining forces and are taking over. Marco shows him the dead bodies of the family who had been there the last time Nick delivered. He says if the people of Colonia aren’t gone by the time he gets there, they’re dead. Alrighty then.

Madison asks Hector how it went last night, and he says better than expected. A few guys who showed up late seeking medical attention are acting like bigot morons. It’s the group Chris was with, but no Chris. Madison asks if they were in an accident. They tell her that their truck rolled and now their truck is totaled and the driver is dead. There’s an argument as to whether the driver had a license. Madison asks if she heard right that one of them is Derek.

Madison goes to Victor and tells him that the guys who just showed up are the ones that Chris went off with. Victor tells her not to tell Travis. She says they need to find out what happened to Chris. Victor says that Travis left Chris with these men. He says she has an amazing daughter and lives with the hope that Nick will return. He asks if she thinks Travis can live without that hope. She says he’s broken and it would kill him.

Luci accosts Nick and says she can’t believe he made the drop. Nick tells her the gang is coming for them and they have to tell Alejandro. He says he’s sorry he snuck out, but he’d never lie to her. They go to see Alejandro. Nick says they have to leave now. A zombie pops up off an operating table and attacks Nick. Nick tumbles over the railing along with the zombie, and they fall onto a hospital bed with a patient in it. The zombie bites that guy’s nose off, as well as a nurse’s finger. Nick plunges his thumbs into the zombie’s eyeballs all the way to his brain. Good one. But who’s going to clean up that mess?

Alejandro gets bitten in the fray.

Ofelia goes through an opening in a wire fence. There isn’t much except tumbleweeds on the other side.

The Colonians do their chanting and send the bitten people out to the zombie wall. I guess amputation isn’t an option for the nurse? Luci asks Nick what’s wrong and he says they’re running out of time. He’s also eyeballing Alejandro.

Madison brings Andres to fix Derek’s shoulder. She wants to take them to a more private place, a room in the hotel, but the other people get up in arms because they were here first. It reminds me of the hospital where I used to live in Queens. Madison and Andres hustle the guys out.

Travis looks out the window and sees them, with the crowd following. Geez, for people who needed a doctor so desperately a minute ago, this bunch is pretty lively. He bangs on the window, yelling to Madison. Victor tries to stop him, but Travis runs outside. Travis pushes through the crowd and asks Derek where Chris is.

Nick starts to pack and tells Luci they’re leaving. He says faith is’t going to help when the shooting starts. She says Alejandro needs them. Nick says he won’t find any answers. Alejandro comes in and Nick asks if he cleaned it up well. He says Alejandro is frightened. Yesterday he was frightened of people leaving, and now he’s frightened of the bite. Luci asks what’s going on and Nick says he won’t be able to get her to leave unless Alejandro comes clean.

Alejandro says he’s not immune. Luci feels his forehead and says he’s warm. Nick says he’s infected. Luci says she saw him get bit before, and he says that’s what she wanted to believe. He says he told the story to build the place and protect people. Nick says he wanted them to build it to protect him, and he’s not committing suicide for a fraud. Alejandro says he brought Luci there under false pretenses, but the love is real. She’s his daughter. She says he’s dead to her.

Alejandro leaves and Luci tells Nick she’s not going. She says this place matters and it’s her home. Nick says she doesn’t have to die for it. She says they’ve fared better there than they did in the world. She says for most of them, it’s the first time they’ve had a family.

Ofelia trudges through the desert. Someone shoots at her. She hides behind a tree and gets the knife out. A guy with a rifle comes toward her. He makes her hand him the knife. He says welcome to America. I guess he’s the last of the border guards.

Madison takes Derek and Brandon to an office. Derek says he’ll tell them everything but can’t think with his shoulder the way it is. Andres pops it back into place. Travis asks what happened to Chris. Derek says he has to promise something first and Travis pulls on his arm. They want a car so they can get out. Madison says it’s done. He says he and Brandon were running on no sleep doing the driving and Chris volunteered. Derek says Chris must have dozed off the next thing they knew, they were rolling. He tells Travis that Chris was thrown from the car and dead when they found him. Travis is pretty upset and I’m not so sure this is the true story. He asks where Chris is. He says they pulled him out and buried him by the tree. Travis asks if he was thrown or they pulled him out. Brandon says he was thrown and Derek adds they pulled him to the tree. I actually don’t know which one is Derek and which one is Brandon, so I’m making that up as I go along. Why couldn’t one of them have died instead of Baby James?

Travis gets Madison and Andres out of the room, and locks the door. He proceeds to beat the crap out of Derek and Brandon. Madison bangs on the door telling him to stop. Derek says they killed Chris. They had to. We see Chris pulling himself from the car and his legs are all messed up. He starts crawling and Brandon shoots him. I’d say good riddance, but…

Travis kicks the crap out of Derek. Brandon tries to stop him, but he’s no match. Oscar has gotten the keys and tries to come in, but Travis slams the door on his head. Ouch. Brandon hits Travis over the head with a chair, but it only slows him down for a millisecond. He strangles Brandon until blood is coming out of his mouth. Damn. No more pacifism I guess. Travis kicks him in the head. His work is done. He’s lying in the exact same position Chris was in when he died.

Fear the Walking Dead – Part Two – Season Finale

Travis is tired after all that. He sits on the floor staring into space. Andres breaks in through the window. Madison tries to snap Travis out of it. Elena has Travis carted off. Madison follows. Andres says they’ll take him someplace safe. Victor tells Madison not to argue – it’s not helping. She asks Alicia for her knife. She goes into the office. She makes sure the guys are dead and then stabs them one in the eye and the other in the ear. Good. Now I don’t have to figure out who’s who anymore.

Luci tends to Alejandro. She says if the people find out, they’ll lose their faith and they’ll die like animals. She asks if he thought this day would come. He says beyond the walls is death and more death, and he did what he could to keep them together. She tells him he failed. He tells her Nick is right; it’s ending. Luci says only for him. She says he has to lie to them again before he goes.

Victor tells Madison that Travis failed her and put them in jeopardy. Madison says he’s lost too much to end up like this, and Victor it was her decree that he get put out. Alicia says after all this, he found them, but Victor says he can’t stay. Alicia says they can leave with him. They found this place and they’ll find another. Victor asks if she’s really going to leave for the man who abandoned her, and Madison asks him to come. Victor says he wouldn’t die for any of them. Aw, man, I like Victor.

Madison asks Andres how Oscar is. He says unconscious. Madison asks to give them until morning and they’ll never see them again. Elena agrees. Andres wants Travis out now, but Elena says Madison fought for them, and they should let her have Travis. She tells Madison they leave at dawn.

Madison goes to see Travis. She tells Alicia if she notices anything weird, to let her know. She tells Travis the plan. He says they can’t do this, but she says they’re not going to let him die. She says he found them and it was for a reason. He says it’s safe there and she says they’re leaving in the morning.

Nick has packed his ditty bag and is ready to go. He sees Luci and tells her to come with him. She asks where they’re going to go. He says they’ll find someplace safe until it isn’t anymore. He says the gang is going to slaughter them anyway. She says they’ll die no matter what and this is no place for boys, so run. Oh, snap!

Alicia approaches Andres. She wants to help, and asks if Oscar has regained consciousness yet. Nope. Andres says his pupils are dilated and he thinks Oscar’s brain is swelling. He’s going to have to take the pressure off. Hector is there and tells Alicia to get lost. Eeek! Andres cuts into Oscar’s skull and it disturbs me a million times more than the zombie biting the guy’s nose off.

Alejandro speaks to the people. He says the rumors they’ve heard are true. The men with guns are coming to kill them. It’s the evil of men that the earth is purging. They need their faith more than ever and must not fear. Nick looks down at the zombie wall from the top of the bus. Alejandro says anther destiny awaits them; they’ll overcome the evil and protect their home. More powerful than weapons or evil is their faith, and they have each other. Nick bloodies up and goes out. Alejandro says the time to defend what’s theirs is now. Nick sees a helicopter through his binoculars.

Andres slices into Oscars skull and I cringe.

Travis tells Madison whatever part of him she thinks is the same, it’s not. He says he’s not sorry they’re dead, and she says he shouldn’t be; they deserved it. She says she’s no better than Travis either; she’s worse. She says they’ve both killed. She tells him that she locked Cecelia in with her dead to protect Nick. She understands what he did and why. She says he’ll do it again because they have to. She can face it if he’s with her. He says he’s here.

Now Oscar is all messed up and Andres is upset. Hector says it’s not fair that the others are safe in their beds . Andres, who’s medical abilities are questionable at this point, pokes Oscar’s brain with a screwdriver or something.

Andres breaks into Madison’s room. They start to kick the crap out of Travis, and Madison says they’ll leave now. Andres pulls out a gun. He says Travis killed Oscar, but he had to deal with it. Travis tells them not to do this in front of Alicia and Madison. Then he goes berserk. Victor comes in with a gun and tells everyone to get out. He can’t believe what he’s seeing. He tells Madison and Travis to run now. They grab Alicia and go.

They get in a car, and Madison tells Victor to come. Instead, he hands her the gun. He says he’ll be okay and to get going now. They leave. Just in time. Travis drives right through the wrought iron gate. Victor watches. I’ll miss Victor. I hope we see you again.

Alicia looks traumatized and it’s silent in the car. Madison says they’ll be okay. She’s said that at least a dozen times already.

Alejandro looks like he’s going to shoot up. Nick walks in. Alejandro thought he left, but he says he saw something and came back. Yeah, the drugs. Alejandro is pretty shaky, so Nick helps him like the pro he is. He asks if Alejandro if he’s afraid of dying. Alejandro says he can still fight and still help. Nick says be brave, but careful, using the same words that Alejandro told him. If the gang comes and they’re still here, it’s over. He says Alejandro is being brave with other people’s lives, but Alejandro says he cares about his people. Nick says he wanted to be a great man and if he still wants it, give them permission to run. Alejandro asks where they’d run to and Nick says north. He saw a Medivac helicopter landing across the border. Nick says his people will never have to know. Alejandro says there’s a weight that comes with being a leader. Nick says he and Luci are up for the challenge. He says if Alejandro tells them to go, his people will live and he gets to die a beautiful death. He gives Alejandro the drugs. Alejandro slips into dreamland.

Travis stops at a bullet riddled gang supermarket. It’s empty. Madison says there was an office upstairs where Marco was asking about Colonia and Nick. It stinks in there, and it’s from the bodies of the family the gang killed. Madison says it’s the people who knew Nick. She rifles through their pockets for something that might tell them where the people lived. Alicia asks Madison what she’s doing. Well, I don’t think she’s looking for cash.

The Colonians better get moving. Here comes the gang. They break down the pre-wall wall and go into where the zombies are. They shoot a few and get into the bus. Marco thinks it’s too easy and the Colonians must have run. The place looks deserted. Yep, they’re gone. Maybe. It could be a trap.

Alejandro is still there, and spies on them. I’m wondering if he’s going to blow the place to smithereens with these guys in it. Marco says they left and hid like cucarachas. Alejandro goes into the bus, even though he can barely walk. He starts the bus. Marco is like what’s up with that noise? Alejandro drives the bus away from the gate, letting the zombies in. Ironically, he might be the only one alive after this.

Nice crane shot. Zombies and gang guys. The gang shoots at the zombies wasting a million more bullets. The gang leaves Marco there and run to hide like cucarachas.

The people of Colonia hit the streets bloodied up. They’re going north with Nick and Luci leading. Another crane shot. No expense was spared for this finale.

Commercial break. It’s the trailer for the new Gears of War game. Whoa. It’s pretty cool looking. I don’t play video games, but if I did, I’d play this one.

Travis, Madison and Alicia drive to Colonia. They tell Alicia to wait by the gate. She sees Alejandro in the bus and goes to investigate. Travis picks up guns as they walk through the town, but all they see are zombies. Madison says everyone is dead. They back up and leave the way they came. Alicia puts a jacket under Alejandro’s head. She says he’s alive…for now. Madison tells him that she’s looking for her son Nick. She asks if he’s still alive and Alejandro says border. He tells her Nick saw something and then breathes his last. Alicia gives Madison her knife.

Nick and crew walk through a billion cars at the border. Nick takes out his binoculars. He sees smoke in the distance and another helicopter. He says it looks like a refugee camp, maybe a couple of hours away. All of a sudden, they’re attacked by men with guns. Luci is hit. Nick grabs her and they hide behind a booth.

One of the guys finds them. Luci and Nick are separated and Nick gets a kick in the head.

See you next season!

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Joe #2 thinks he hurt his back skiing. Dolores talks to him and Melissa about what she perceives as Robyn’s erratic behavior and says that they should ask her to leave. Siggy comes in and tells them that Jacqueline says she’s leaving if Robin doesn’t go. Melissa suggests they talk to Teresa to see what she wants to do, and Joe says this is better than the movies.

Dolores relays this information to Jacqueline. Jacqueline says Teresa can be frustrating, but she loves her. She starts getting weepy, saying that people want to latch on to Teresa. In her interview, Siggy says she thinks Jacqueline is making a bigger deal than necessary. She wants to protect Teresa, who hasn’t asked for protection. Jacqueline informs us that she just got her period, which might explain this emotional display over nothing.

Melissa tells Teresa that Jacqueline feels threatened by Robyn. In her interview, Teresa says Jacqueline is playing the victim and didn’t act threatened at the time. We flash back and nope, she didn’t. Teresa says she’s not asking Robyn to leave. Robyn comes to Teresa’s room and says she’s leaving because she wants everyone to have a good time. Teresa is bummed and says she’d rather be off somewhere just hanging out with Melissa. In the car with Melissa and Joe #2 on the way to dinner, Teresa says Jacqueline instigated things, even sitting on Robyn. Yep, she did.

The group meets at a restaurant. Teresa sits as far away from Jacqueline as possible. She asks if they noticed two people are missing. Jacqueline wonders how Teresa feels about that. Teresa says she doesn’t think Jacqueline felt threatened, since she even sat on Robyn. Jacqueline says Robyn said she wanted to rage on her ass, so she was giving it to her because she’s so accommodating.

Teresa asks why Robyn would say that in the first place? Jacqueline says she doesn’t know and she offered to leave. Teresa calls her calculated, which I believe translates to calculating. Teresa says Jacqueline thinks that Robyn has a reputation, but she isn’t aware of any. Jacqueline gets up and puts her coat on. Chris says Teresa and Jacqueline have known each other a long time, and Teresa should trust her since her heart is in the right place. Siggy says no one knows how the situation started. Jacqueline says it doesn’t matter, but if they had both stayed there would have been a fight, creating a problem for Teresa who’s on probation. Teresa says Jacqueline should have just walked away. Teresa suggests maybe Jacqueline wanted a “soldier” and was disappointed. Jacqueline feels that Teresa has hangers-on that are using her and those are the people she calls soldiers. Jacqueline suddenly starts asking Melissa if she didn’t track down the rumor mongers who’d said Melissa was a stripper. And there goes Jacqueline’s finger in Melissa’s face. Melissa tells her to chill. Jacqueline gets louder and Melissa says Jacqueline is secretly pissed that she and Teresa are getting along. Jacqueline says Melissa is full of it. In her interview, Jacqueline says Melissa is acting weird and calls her a soldier. To her face, she calls Melissa a fake, phony bitch. Everyone’s mouths are hanging open. Joe’s eyes bug out and I literally lol. Jacqueline whips out her phone to call I don’t know who for support. In his interview, Chris says Jacqueline is hurt, and he thinks Melissa and Teresa don’t give a flying.

Melissa asks what she did to Jacqueline. Jacqueline gets even louder, saying Melissa wouldn’t answer her question, so she’s not answering either. Teresa asks Siggy if she thinks this is normal behavior. Melissa tells Jacqueline there’s been something wrong with her for a while. Siggy says Jacqueline feels that no one has her back. Teresa says she doesn’t like Jacqueline getting in Melissa’s face because it makes her feel threatened. Jacqueline gets up, yelling like a banshee, calling Teresa a criminal, and flings her whole arm around. She says Teresa is a twisted bitch who hated Melissa. In her interview, she welcomes the real Teresa home and calls her a psychopathic narcissistic sociopath who is trying to rewrite history with lies. All this over basically nothing. Jacqueline leaves the restaurant with Chris in tow, because she’s best at being a rude a-hole and then running away.

When they get outside, I can’t believe that Chris tells Jacqueline she was attacked. Melissa says a good person would be happy for them and Jacqueline is jealous of her and Teresa’s friendship. Siggy tries to fix it by explaining how Jacqueline feels. Teresa says Jacqueline shouldn’t have been sitting on Robyn, but Siggy says that Robyn did start it. Dolores says Jacqueline was crying all day about how she loves Teresa. Joe #2 says they need to knock that stuff off and talks about how nasty Jacqueline was when Teresa came home. In her interview, Teresa says she should have seen it coming and brings up Jacqueline’s past fights, including punching Caroline in the face. Melissa says she thinks Jacqueline really hates Teresa. Siggy says Jacqueline is fragile and Teresa says she’s f-ing fragile.

Back at Teresa’s house, Joe #1 and the girls get take-out. Audriana says she wishes daddy had more days before he leaves. Joe says he’s going to get skinny. Melania suggests his belly is too stretched out to get small again. She says he’s fatter than pregnant people because she’s ever the soul of tact. He gives the girls instructions and says he’s going to be checking on them every day.

In the car, Jacqueline says she’s not crying because she sees them for who they are now. Oh, the drama from this girl.

Dolores says that she bets if they knock on the door, Jacqueline won’t open it. She hopes Chris is up and we see him snoring. Siggy sees the bags packed. She says no one hears where Jacqueline is coming from, and Jacqueline says a lot of nasty stuff about Teresa, claiming she and Melissa don’t deserve her in their lives. I agree, but not for the same reasons.

Melissa says she hasn’t been yelled like that since high school and it was the same level of rancor as if she had been sleeping with someone else’s boyfriend.

Siggy says she can’t make people like each other. She says Jacqueline is upset about Kathy and Rosie. She just wants to know that Teresa and Melissa have her back. In her interview, Dolores says she knew this was coming, but poor Siggy didn’t. OMG – Siggy goes on and on and on about it and how she’d walk home if she could. She says she doesn’t want to jet around Vermont tomorrow, but Dolores suggests she sleep on it.

Teresa calls Joe #1 and tells him how Jacqueline got in Melissa’s face and then called her a criminal. HA-HA-HA! Joe says he had a hard on before she started talking to him about Jacqueline. TMI, but funny.

Dolores tells Siggy that Jacqueline left and Siggy says she’s jealous.

Melissa says she doesn’t feel like she lost a friend, but like she never had one. She thinks Jacqueline just kept her around to keep an eye on her. Teresa says she puts her friends on the spot, which isn’t a true friend.

Melissa and Teresa go to Siggy and Dolores’s room. Siggy says she’s leaving today. She’s overwhelmed. In her interview, she has to bring out a little fan because talking about Vermont giving her a hot flash. Really, this isn’t that big a deal. She says this group of women don’t belong together. Melissa says they came here to give Teresa some fun. Siggy says she’s about peace, not war. Teresa asks Dolores to weigh in and she gets ridiculous, pounding on the counter, saying she’s stressed and needs to be alone. Okay, Greta Garbo. Teresa says she understands and they leave. Siggy says she’s relieved.

Jacqueline is trying to decompress. Chris says it’s good to step away from toxic environments. Kathy drops by and before five seconds go by, Jacqueline and Chris talk about Jacqueline being attacked. Chris says Jacqueline was hurt and they had the wrong person’s back. Jacqueline says she called Teresa a criminal when she meant to say con artist. Like this makes it better.

Melissa and Teresa go on a skycar ride and they both start screaming before it even gets going. Teresa talks about Joe #1 going to prison and how she doesn’t want to deal with it. She just pushes the thoughts and feelings away. They both get teary and Melissa says she’ll get through it. Teresa says the beginning was the hardest and Joe cried every time he visited. Melissa says they’ve been through a lot together. Teresa says she’s thankful for Melissa’s support and she can feel the love. Melissa jokes about how they started off the trip with so many people. She says they’re not going to let other people ruinng them any longer.

Next time, Dolores wants to know if Jacqueline is done, Melissa tells Siggy to watch her back, Kim D gets air time, and Melissa confronts Derek.

September 25, 2016 – Storybrooke is Back, Travis & Chris Part Ways, & New Jersey Goes to Vermont

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What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

Like Willy Wonka, I am striking that and reversing it on Sunday nights, and it’s zombies before Wives. Now that Once Upon a Time is back, I had to switch my TV viewing sequence around.

Once Upon a Time

We are in an Arabian kingdom, flying carpets and all. A man says the kingdom is in great danger and they need a savior, but the savior is not seeing anyone today. The man is persistent and Jafar pops out and turns him into dust, along with the woman who was fielding the savior’s visitors. Jafar tells the savior that when they met, he was a common thief, and the fate of saviors is to give, breaking off their branches until all that’s left is a shaky stump. He says you never hear the words “happily ever after” about a savior. It’s Aladdin he’s talking to and he tells him to take care.

Hook and Emma are making out on the couch. The earth moves, but not in a good way. They go outside and see a ship floating through the air – awesome! It’s a dirigible from The Land of Untold Stories. Hyde appears, tells everyone that it’s his and that The Dark One gave him the town.

Regina and Emma zap Hyde, but he just laughs. He says nothing is more dangerous than an untold story and the people who don’t want them told. The dirigible crashes in the forest.

Emma and the others check it out. Snow says it looks like the people inside ran. Jekyll says he may be able to salvage a weapon to take down the stranger. Emma has a vision about fighting someone. Hook asks her what’s up, but she says nothing.

Rumple looks for Hyde. He’s exchanged the keys to Storybrooke for the answer to waking Belle. Hyde has told him in the Temple of Morpheus there are sands that will allow him to walk in Belle’s dreams and he can wake her from there. Rumple uses the sand and meets Morpheus in the forest. He tells Rumple welcome to Belle’s dream world and asks if he’d like to wake her up.

Regina visits Zelena and tells her what happened with Hyde. Zelena suggests barbecuing Hyde and puts her daughter down for a nap. Regina says nothing is working and they need to plan. Zelena has an arrow feather from Robin for her, but can’t find it. Regina puts a protection spell over the house and the vault.

Snow tells Regina that Jekyll finished his weapon, so they might not have to worry about protection. Regina tells Snow about Zelena forgetting where she put the feather, which she thinks is odd behavior. She decides to forget about it for now, since heroism comes first.

Hyde is holed up at the town hall. Regina pretends to have Jekyll prisoner to lure him outside. She tells Hyde to leave town and Jekyll is his. He suggests she keep both Jekyll and Storybrooke, and not embarrass herself. She distracts him while Emma aims Jekyll’s weapon, which looks like a small mortar, but she has another vision. She starts to shake and Regina almost gets strangled by Hyde. Emma finally shoots and Hyde becomes their prisoner. He tells Emma that he knows more than she does, and if she wants to know what’s happening to her, she knows where to find him.

Emma is all weird and shaky, while she’s messing around the dirigible. Archie (otherwise known as Jiminy Cricket) and Pongo come by with coffee. Emma says her parents must have sent him and she’s not in the mood for therapy right now. He says she’s been fighting forever and now that the walls are down, it’s let in collateral damage. He says there are no short cuts to fixing the big problems.

Emma goes to see Hyde. He calls her a smart girl, and she says keep calling her girl and he’ll find out how smart she is. He wants her to take off the cuffs. He says prisoners respond to carrots and sticks and she has neither. She starts to leave and he says he knows about the battle in her mind’s eye. She tells him that she’s been in prison and the worst part was being alone. She says she knows how he feels, and he can spill the beans or stay lonely. He can sit there in silence and rot. Hyde says she did come with a stick after all and it’s impressive except for one small thing – she’s afraid of him. He tells her he brought someone to help her with her problem, and to follow the red bird. He wonders if she’s ready for her story though.

I swear Rumple just said Belle is dreaming about White Castle, but I guess he said the white castle. He and Morpheus go into the castle and Belle acts like a servant. Morpheus tells Rumple that’s how she sees herself in her dream and he’s a beast. Morpheus sets up a giant hourglass timer. He says if Rumple doesn’t wake Belle in an hour, she’ll end up with a fiery fate. Rumple says he’ll make her fall in love with him again.

Morpheus says the castle terrifies Belle, but Rumple says it’s also where they fell in love. He says his love for her and their child will never be a lie. Belle brings tea and Rumple comes out in full Rumple regalia. Belle is all nervous and drops a cup, but he says everything is cool and maybe she should take a break. She asks him what’s going on. He says he has a ball to attend later and he asks her to dance. They dance to the music from Beauty and the Beast. He says there’s one more thing they need and he zaps the yellow ballgown onto her. She asks what’s come over him, and he says maybe he’s tired of being a beast. Very nice scene.

Zelena comes to Regina’s house and asks her if she got Hyde. Regina says yes, but it’s the first time she’s been back since Robin died. She asks Zelena to go. Zelena says they should be helping each other, but Regina says not this time because she blames Zelena. Zelena says what about Emma, who dragged her to hell? Regina says she chose to go, but she trusted Zelena, and Robin’s soul was destroyed. Zelena says Regina ripped out the part of her that made them most alike. Zelena says she and the baby will be gone by tonight, and she disappears poof! in a puff of green smoke.

Snow and the gang look for the people from the dirigible. Snow can tell that they’re afraid. She calls to them, saying Hyde is locked up and they want to help. They see shadows of people with torches come out of the forest. Snow tells them they’ll be at Granny’s where there’s food and shelter for them.

Emma walks through the forest with Hook and sees the red bird. She asks him to go and he knows something is up, but leaves. Emma follows the red bird. She sees a girl who says the bird is her pet. She says she knows many things, including why Emma is there. She says the visions tell a story of her future.

Regina is doing a locator spell when Henry walks in. She’s trying to find the feather and Henry says it’s not working because it’s looking for Robin and he’s gone. Regina says Hades told her that Robin’s soul was destroyed, but Henry believes that he’s in a special place.

Belle and Rumple dance. She says it’s a shame he’s been alone for so long and he says he wasn’t always alone; there was a son who left because he saw the darkness. Rumple says he had a chance to change but was too frightened. Belle asks if he could change now, would he? He says for her, he would be the best man he could be. They kiss.

All of the memories come flooding back. Belle says they’ve done this before and she can’t do this again. He explains they fell in love and got married and now their child is in danger. She put herself to sleep, but he needs her to wake up now. She says she loves him and believes he loves her, but together they cause heartbreak. Morpheus pops in and says he had to be sure Belle wouldn’t fall for Rumple’s lies again. Now he can wake her up with true loves kiss. She says she doesn’t know him and he says she’s known him since the day he was conceived. He’s their son and it’s his dream too. He says don’t let Rumple destroy them like he did his lost family.

Morpheus gives Belle a kiss on the forehead and she wakes up. Belle tells Rumple that their son was testing her, pretending to be Morpheus. Rumple says they can discuss it at home and makes sparkly, blue swirly things in the mirror. Belle says her son gave her a warning and she’s going to listen, and walks into the mirror.

The girl says she’s called an oracle, but knowing the future is a heavy burden. Emma sees herself battling a hooded figure. The Storybrooke crew are running toward them as Emma’s sword gets knocked from her hand. She tells the hooded figure she’s not going to let them get hurt. Her hand starts to shake and he runs his sword through her. The oracle says this is just a small piece of her end story. She can change the destination, but the result will be the same. She’ll die in the battle she saw. Since no one really dies on this show, I wouldn’t be too worried.

Emma goes back to Hyde. She asks him what’s coming and how to stop it. She says no matter what, she’ll defeat it. He says that’s what saviors always say, but there’s always a villain to bring them down. She has to ask herself if helping others is what causes her story to end.

Emma joins Hook at the bar. He says she’s in a better mood, and she tells him it was just stress, and Archie helped her. He asks if she’s sure and she says she is, and joins him in having a drink.

Snow tells Regina it will work out. Snow takes Regina’s hand and Regina says she was an awful stepmother. Snow says that’s in the past. Regina asks how she held up during those terrible times. She says the only way she could stay alive was to never give up and Regina is the one who taught her that hope is a choice. Regina says Hades was wrong; Robin is at peace. She’s been thinking about how the people with untold stories were hiding, and she says that’s exactly what she used to do. Her life had stopped. The only story she heard was the one she told herself, that she was the evil queen. She forgot the most important thing, that life isn’t just one story, there’s many. To some, she’s a villain, but to others, she’s a hero. They see her strength and ability to do right, even when she thought she couldn’t. She’s going to start a new story and chooses to believe this story will have a better ending.than the last one.

They walk off together, and we see a feather drop to the ground.

The untold story people are at Granny’s getting clothing and food. Belle looks out from inside Mr. Gold’s shop. Emma is looking mighty shaky.

Zelena comes home and sees Regina. No, it’s the Evil Queen. She tells Zelena that all she ever wanted was a sister, and when she got her wish, it was the wrong one. Zelena is shocked the Evil Queen is alive and she says she can’t be gotten rid of that easily. The Evil Queen suggest they have a drink and that it’s time for some sisterly bonding.

This season, the secret of the savior is revealed, Cinderella joins the team, and the Evil Queen and Zelena join forces.

Fear the Walking Dead

A crowd of people beg to come into the hotel. Alicia says it’s a mistake, they don’t have anything. Madison says sorry. The people grab at the gate. There is shouting and crying. Madison sees Travis among them.

Poor Mr Spanish Guy lies dead with Chris standing over him. Baby James is still alive. Travis takes charge and says he’s going to try and stitch up the wound. He runs to the house to look for whatever he can find, rifling through drawers. Surprisingly, he’s quite good at stitching, even though Baby James is twitching and whining the whole time. Now he has to do the exit wound. He says after he does that, they won’t move him until he’s better and Baby James finally shuts up. He ain’t called Baby for nothin’. I’m very impressed at both Travis’s cool and his skills.

Travis buries Mr. Whatever-the-hell-his-name-is with his family. Suarez! It’s Suarez. Now that he’s in the ground, I have his name. Travis is working on some kind of adrenaline because he’s just flying through all this.

The guys cook a chicken for dinner. Travis asks Baby James how he’s doing. His pain is only level 3 or 4, so he’s doing pretty well. Travis says he can’t help him if he doesn’t know what’s going on, so if anything gets worse, let him know. Travis asks Chris to talk. He tells Chris he killed a man today, and the least he could do is let it affect his appetite. Travis wants to know what he’s thinking. Chris says the guy shot his friend, what was he supposed to do? Travis says they’re savages. Chris says this is how it works now – no more good or bad, no right or wrong, it’s kill or be killed, sorrynotsorry. He tells Travis how he would hide every recess in middle-school and Travis told him to play along and fit in. Travis says the operative phrase was play along. Chris says Travis has proved his worth, and be careful how he plays it because they need theses guys .Travis says he doesn’t need them, but Chris says he does.

Madison tells them to open the gate for Travis. They manage to get Travis through a small opening while keeping the others out. He and Madison cling to each other.

Travis looks out from a balcony. Madison asks if he wants a shower, but he says no. You sure about that? She asks if he wants food and he says he doesn’t need anything. He asks where Victor is, and she says he ran off, possibly to Tijuana. She asks about Chris. Travis gets a weird look on his face and goes inside. He tells her he had no choice and she asks where Chris is.

We go back to earlier. The chickens have run out, so it’s moving day. Baby James claims his pain is at zero, but Travis is skeptical. The guys want to go to San Diego. Travis repeats that it’s burned and Chris says they never actually saw that. The guys all insist on leaving, but frankly, I think James looks scared.

Travis looks at Mr. Suarez’s grave and then goes inside the house .He looks at all the family pictures on the walls. Damn. And I thought I had a lot of photos. He finds Mr Suarez’s license and makes a grave marker using the info. Like this means anything. Chris says they’re leaving, and Travis says too bad, he’s finishing this.

Travis joins the rest and they slide Baby James into the bed of the truck. He doesn’t sound like his pain is a zero. Travis rides in the back with Baby James and Chris. They start off and already James isn’t looking too good. Travis checks his pulse and tells them if they don’t stop, Baby James is going to die. He barely has a pulse. They go back.

Travis hears Chris talking with the others. Travis tells them they need to give Baby James more time. He says they can survive there for enough time for James to heal. He tells them Baby James is scared of them, and he’s starting to get why. Travis grabs Chris’s gun. One of the guys says he doesn’t have the balls to use it and Travis shoots close. The guy jumps up, brandishing his own gun. Chris asks why Travis is doing this and he says he’s doing it for him.

Travis tends to Baby James. He tells him his buddies want to put him down. Baby James asks why Travis thinks he agreed to get in the truck? He tells Travis about another friend, Troy. He was sick and they knew he was going to turn, and kept their promise to kill him if he did. He says when the time came, he begged them not to do it. Baby James ended up doing the dirty work. Travis says it’s all the same no matter where they go, just different people. He tells Baby James he’s not sick or dying, he just needs time. Baby James says it doesn’t matter, what matters is they think he is and he’s considered dead weight. Travis fingers the gun.

James sleeps while Travis guards him. Chris knocks at the barn door, saying he wants to talk and brought food. Travis tells him to set it down and frisks him. He says the others are down the road. Travis tells him to sit down. Chris says he gets it and Travis asks what he gets. Chris says he understands why Travis is trying to save people, because life matters. Chris says they’ve known Baby James since he was six and still want to kill him, so imagine what they might do to him. I wouldn’t trust this kid as far as I could throw him.

Yep. Travis is caught off-guard and Chris gets the better of him and lets the others in. Baby James begs for his life and Travis says don’t do it. Too late. Baby James is dead. I knew Chris was faking it – playing along. Travis is seriously bummed. Chris has his gun back and they guys pack the truck up again. Travis wants to talk to Chris. He tells Chris the name of the farmer and says he was born on Chris’s birthday. He tells Chris that this is forever and he’s barely 16. If he drives away, Travis will never find him. Chris tells him that his way doesn’t work. Travis promises to take care of him. Chris says by letting him go, he is. He says he’s adapting and better off without Travis. He says Travis found it in him to kill Chris’s zombified mother. Travis says there’s a difference and Chris says, no, there’s not, so that settles it. As they drive away, Travis begs Chris not to go. Then curses him out. I’ll bet we see Chris and the bros somewhere down the line again. Travis starts to walk.

Travis tells Madison he walked for two days and saw the hotel light, and what are the chances? He’s bummed about leaving Chris, but Madison tells him they’ll get through this. He says he failed his son and his wife. He goes back out on the balcony. Madison says he said it himself, there was no choice. Travis says he could have gone along with it. It would have been wrong, but he would have done right by Chris. Madison says he’s still out there. Travis says he was wrong when Chris threatened Alicia, and they should be parents first. Madison did what she was supposed to, but his priority should have been Chris. He says the whole time he was walking, he thought about how he should have told Chris he loved him. Instead, the last thing he said was “God damn you.” He says when Chris was a boy, he had a big heart, but by the time Madison met him, he was angry. Travis says he allowed Chris to become that way. He says they’re living minute by minute, and at any time, it could be over. He wishes he had ended things differently. Madison says she has to find Alicia and leaves.

Alicia and Andres are tending to the patients in a makeshift infirmary. Madison asks Alicia to come with her. They go out on the dock. Madison says there’s something Alicia needs to understand and to hear her out. She says it’s about Alicia’s father and his accident, and that it wasn’t an accident. She thought she was doing the right thing by not telling her. Alicia says Madison said he fell asleep at the wheel, and Madison says he didn’t. Alicia asks how she can be certain,  and Madison says he left a note in his glove box. Alicia starts to cry and asks what it said. Madison says it’s not important. He was a man of few words who could be quite precise. Alicia insists. It said, I love you all and enough’s enough.

Alicia asks if Nick knows. Madison says Nick is why she kept it a secret. She says there’s a lot of Alicia’s father in Nick. She lists his positive qualities and says he just couldn’t see it. She asks to hold Alicia’s hand. She says she was afraid of Nick ending up like her father, but she never loved Alicia any less. She just thought Alicia was all right. Alicia says she had to be and Madison apologizes. She hugs Alicia. Alicia says she loves Madison too.

Travis takes a shower. He stands with his forehead on the wall.

Uh-oh. Here comes trouble. A small group comes to the gate . It’s those guys, but I don’t see Chris.

Next time, the 2-hour finale, Travis finds Chris, Victor returns, and there are lots and lots of zombies to make up for this episode.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Love Melissa’s dress in the opening. I’ll bet I’d like the stuff in her store. If I could fit in it.

The end of the last episode repeats. At lunch, Rosie wonders if Teresa never wants to be a family again. Teresa says her heart got hardened and asks her to respect that. She says she wishes them the best. Kathy asks if they can at least come away with a possibility. Teresa says they’re cousins and will always be there for each other as family. She and Joe #2 leave.

Teresa starts to cry and does that fanning thing. She says it’s exhausting. Joe #2 talks about how they were taught to never cry. He tells Teresa if that’s how she feels, that’s how she feels, and she says she feels like she doesn’t want to be around Kathy and Rosie.

Siggy and Dolores visit Jacqueline. They want the skinny on what happened. Jacqueline calls Kathy and Rosie. Kathy says Teresa said she has a lot on her plate and wants to keep her distance right now, but her door is open. Kathy makes like everything went more okay than it was.

Teresa packs for Vermont while Milania does some break dancing. Teresa wants the girls to spend time with their father, since he’ll be going to the pokey away soon.

Joe #2 tells Melissa it’s good of her to plan the trip. He says Teresa was really stressed out by the lunch with Kathy and Rosie, and thinks she could use the break. Melissa wants everyone to just have fun and not worry about anything. Good luck with that. Mutual friends Robyn and Christina are also coming. She tells Joe about how Jacqueline and Teresa seem to be doing better, but thinks Jacqueline still doubts Teresa and is paranoid of Melissa’s friendship with her.

Kim D (who the name Plastic would actually fit) is at her store, Posche. We flash back to the stupid fashion show she had where she tried to “expose” Melissa as a stripper. Or as Melissa says it, “shtripper.” Jacqueline and Siggy come in. Kim gossips about Melissa’s store and says that one of her assistants is selling stories. Jacqueline brings up Teresa selling books for cash at a time when it looked badly for her, and how it was leaked to the press. Siggy talks about how Melissa and Teresa are getting along better, but Kim D will have none of that, saying it’s all an act.

Joe #1 looks at a brochure on vaginal rejuvenation. I don’t want to know. Robyn and Christina arrive with their suitcases, as well a Melissa and Joe #2. The party bus comes with Jacqueline and Chris, and everyone gets on it. Since Joe #1 has been a bad boy, he can’t come. He’s not allowed to leave the state.

They discuss skiing, and who is good at it or not, swapping war stories. Joe #2 has already had enough of all the ladies talking at once. Siggy offers Teresa any help she might need when she’s a “single mother.” Chris says he’s the only one she can count on, and Joe brings up him trying to date Teresa. Chris says she was only interested in Joe #1.

Somehow the lunch comes up. Teresa compares it to breaking up with a guy – you still love him, but there’s nothing there. Robyn talks about actions speaking louder than words, but Dolores says they’re good people. We flash back to an issue Robyn had with Rosie. She says Rosie won’t even acknowledge her. In her interview, Jacqueline calls Robyn one of “Teresa’s soldiers,” and she questions Teresa having changed. Melissa says there seems to be no meeting of the minds, and Jacqueline starts getting loud about the message not having been clear. Melissa thinks she’s trying to push the relationship. Jacqueline says that if Teresa doesn’t want it, she totally gets it, but she needs to make it understood. Joe interjects that they might have gotten the wrong message when she said her door was open. Melissa opens some champagne. In her interview, Dolores says Robyn doesn’t really mesh well with the others.

After eight hours, they finally arrive and go immediately to the bar. They’ve rented a villa, and the suites or whatever are divvied up. Siggy tries on the many hats she’s brought with her.

Dinner time! All the women have their bathrobes on over their clothes. I have no clue why. It’s a family style meal and looks pretty damn good. Melissa announces her fashion show. Teresa thanks everyone for hanging out with her before Joe #1 leaves. Everyone says something positive and they toast. Joe #2 and Chris play shuffleboard (except it’s like a foosball table) and the girls go outside by the fire-pit.

Jacqueline tells Melissa what Kim D said about her assistant Derek and how he’s selling stories. In her interview, Melissa says Kim D is scraping the bottom of the barrel for gossip. She reminds the others about Kim D stirring the pot, trying to out her as the shtripper she never was. We flash back to that, and also a problem that Kim started between Jacqueline and Teresa. Teresa suggests Melissa just check Derek out.

Joe #2 talks to Chris about being glad he was born a man when he hears the girls bitching. Robyn tells Jacqueline she’s confusing and not very direct. She feels that Jacqueline tried to attack her and Jacqueline talks about her being a “loyal soldier” to Teresa. Robyn suggests they bring Teresa into the conversation, and in her interview, Jacqueline wonders why Robyn wants to drag Teresa into it. Um, maybe because you’re talking about her? Robyn asks Jacqueline what her problem is, and she says she wants to rage on Jacqueline’s ass. Jacqueline says bring it on and they tell each other to STFU and do that “no, you” stuff that I find funny coming from adults.

Jacqueline gets up and gets in Robyn’s face. Teresa comes out and asks what’s happening and they continue their argument. In her interview, Teresa says she’s never seen Robyn like this and wouldn’t be surprised if Jacqueline crossed the line. They go inside and Jacqueline keeps it up. Robyn calls her an instigator and Jacqueline tells Teresa she thought she’d cleaned house, but she forgot to take out the garbage. She’s so nasty. Or vicious, as Michael Rapaport would say.

Meanwhile back at Teresa’s house, Milania tries to cook while Joe #1 gives instructions like, don’t burn that. I can tell he’s at the end of his rope already and it’s only early morning.

Jacqueline refuses to come out of her room because she’s five years old. Teresa says she antagonizes the situation (ha-ha – I think she means aggravates) and then plays the victim. Truth! Melissa comes to breakfast in a bizarre ski outfit. Teresa asks Dolores why Jacqueline isn’t coming out and Dolores says she’s bummed. Poor baby.

Jacqueline tells Chris about how Robyn said she wanted her ass, so she sat one her. Chris says they’re out of control.

The rest of the group goes to a dog sledding place. Dolores totally loves on one of the dogs. Teresa keeps saying she’s scared, but don’t they have three dogs, one of which is a German Shepherd? Everyone gets in the sleds and the dogs are super excited. We see everything all shaky-cam on the ride. Melissa says it’s too bad Jacqueline didn’t come and that she tends to create her own issues. Dolores has gotten a text telling them there’s nothing wrong and some TMI about Jacqueline and Chris.

Time to ski. Robyn immediately falls on her ass and continues to do so. Joe is next. I refuse to laugh because I’ve never been skiing and can just imagine. Teresa tells Melissa she’s glad they’re in a good place. She asks for help in understanding Jacqueline, because it doesn’t seem to be going as well. Melissa says her relationship with Jacqueline has changed, since she seems to be paranoid about trusting Teresa.

Siggy and Dolores go back to the villa and Jacqueline says since Chris has to leave, she wants to go too. She says the weekend is about Teresa and Robyn is her friend, so she thinks it’s for the best. Siggy gets ridiculous about how they won’t have a good time without her. In her interview, Dolores is upset because this new person is causing a problem. Frankly, I think Jacqueline is acting like a big baby. She claims to be fearful of Robyn, since she said she wanted to kick Jacqueline’s ass, but Jacqueline started it and she’s the one with the tough girl tagline. She always seems to be spoiling for a fight, but I guess the real truth is, she’s all mouth. Then again, didn’t she punch Caroline Manzo? And her daughter, Ashlee, is the one who pulled out Danielle Staub’s weave way back when. Yeah, now I need help understanding Jacqueline too.

In her interview, Teresa says that Jacqueline is calculated (um…calculating?) and hits you where it hurts.

Big baby Jacqueline packs. Dolores tells her that Teresa is on probation can’t be around any arguments. Jacqueline says if she stays there will be an argument, and they both whine about the new person. Siggy says they have to protect Teresa. Dolores says Robyn is a threat and they should tell her. Honestly, these women think everyone has short term memory loss. Robyn did not start this argument.

Next time, Teresa doesn’t want to ask Robyn to leave, Joe #2 says this is like a soap opera, Jacqueline wags her finger in Teresa and Melissa’s faces while pulling out her phone, and Dolores goes nuts.