Category Archives: walking dead

Feb25

February 24, 2019 – Daryl Gives the Wrong Answer, It’s Not What It Sounds Like, Grace is Still Under Fire, Riding, Awkward & Monday

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

The Walking Dead

Ezekiel asks what Jerry wants to tell him. Jerry swore he wasn’t saying anything, so Ezekiel can’t either. He asks Carol to swear too. Nabila is pregnant. He’s going to be a daddy. Ezekiel says, it’s the future of the Kingdom, and congratulates him. Carol says they’re coming. Apparently this is a flashback, since Jesus and Tara arrive to give them some food. Ezekiel is glad hear the worst has passed. Jesus tells him, Maggie wanted to come, but she’s still sick. Carol is surprised to see Tara, and Tara says not as surprised as Michonne is going to be when she finds out Tara isn’t coming back. She took more supplies than she was supposed to, and took something else. Maggie isn’t Michonne’s biggest fan right now, and they thought it better that Ezekiel hang onto it. Tara hands him a leather tube, and says she won’t be going back to Alexandria. Ezekiel says he hasn’t given up the idea the charter embodies. When the time comes, they’ll reunite and sign it together, a community that can begin anew as one. Jesus says, in the meantime, Ezekiel will be the keeper. It’s what they’re counting on. Jerry asks if Ezekiel is going to read it or not. Ezekiel takes it out, and reads over the Community Charter Rights and Freedoms.

Forward in the present day, Ezekiel is still reading. Dianne tells him, five minutes. He says it’s good to have her back. Carol asks if Dianne knows something she doesn’t. Carol is going off to hunt, and Ezekiel says he assumed the queen would be handling preparations for the fair. She asks him not to call her that. She still feels the empty nest. Or maybe she just missed him while she was gone. Calling her my love, he says he missed her too. In a few days’ time, they feast. It’s all going to work out.

Maybe not at Hilltop, where Alpha has come for her daughter. She knows they have her. Daryl tells her, leave now, and no one gets hurt. Alpha says, wrong answer. She puts her hand up, and a ton of zombies and/or Whisperers come out of the woods.

Earl says he has arthritis, but Tammy is acting like he’s on his deathbed. She says he might as well have, spilling hot metal everywhere. Enid prescribes something, and says she should take a break; Tammy thinks retirement is in order. He says he’s not retiring, and he’s not taking a break. He has horseshoes to finish before the fair. Outside, Tammy tells Enid, the guys being gone brought his stress back, but Enid shouldn’t lose hope. They’ll turn up. She asks what happened, and Enid says the ones who killed Jesus are out there.

Tara says if they piss Alpha off, they might get killed. Magna says they don’t even have a horse. Alpha asks which one leads. Daryl asks, what does it matter? Alpha says his people crossed into their land; no conflict. His people killed their people; no conflict. She’s done talking. I guess she’s also leaving out that her people killed Jesus. I’d call that a conflict. She tells him, bring out her daughter or there will be conflict. Daryl says he’s getting her. Henry tells him, no, but Daryl says she’s not getting Lydia. She’s done talking, but he isn’t, because he’s just that crazy.

Ezekiel tells Carol to go back with the others. She asks why he’s scared to tell her what he’s doing. He says he’s not, and asks Jerry if this is the face of a scared man. Jerry says, no comment. Ezekiel says it’s a side mission. He’s picking up one last item for the fair. Nothing she’d be interested in. She says, try her, and he says what about if he shows her?

Jerry says, movie time. The group stands in front of a theater. Zombies crowd the lobby.

Alpha gives a signal. Connie watches from the cornfield. Daryl approaches her. He says she can’t have Lydia. If it’s a fight she’s looking for, they have enough firepower to light them up. He hears a baby crying, and says they brought a baby out there. Alpha says, they’re animals. Animals live out there. Animals have babies. He seems to want conflict. She doesn’t, so she’s proposing a trade. Two captives wearing zombie skin masks are brought forward, and revealed to be Luke and Alden. She wanted to kill them, but she wants her daughter. One of hers for two of theirs. It’s a good trade, and that’s why going they’re going to take it. Now bring her daughter.

Carol tells Ezekiel that a projector is really not something they absolutely need. He says it’s dangerous, but they’ve worked it out. Like a cobra strike. She asks if it’s worth it, and he says Henry used to love movie nights. It’s been five years, and the young ones don’t know what a movie is. Bringing cinema back from the dead, the sense of whimsy and wonder, will make gathering together something they’ll never forget. And if joy and lifelong friendship aren’t worth fighting for, he doesn’t know what is.

Ezekiel turns on a boombox. The zombies file out of the theater following the music, as zombie will do. Ezekiel, Carol, and some of the others go in, Jerry can’t find any bulbs, and Dianne is pretty sure the expiration date on the popcorn butter is just a suggestion. A zombie toddles out of the arcade, and Jerry takes care of it. A bunch of zombies are stuck in and around the popcorn machine. Jerry sees the projection room, and says it’s their last chance. Ezekiel knows what to do. Cobra strike.

A Whisperer asks Alpha if he should lead them away, but she says no. Get back for now. Luke looks around, and sees Connie in the cornfield. He signs to her, stay hidden. The dead are coming.

Tara asks what Daryl thinks. He thinks they should give Lydia back. Yumiko says Henry and Lydia are gone. They start hunting. Daryl calls Dog, and has him sniff something. Alpha waits, and the Whisperers mill around. A baby cries, and the mom holding it looks antsy. Alpha locks eyes with her, and kind of shrugs. The mom leaves the baby on the ground. Alpha says, the land of the dead needs to live in silence. If the mother can’t quiet the child, the dead will. Natural selection.

Enid tells Daryl that she knows where Henry probably took Lydia. She’s known him since he was a kid, and he likes her; he can talk to her. Daryl says, no! as zombies toddle toward the baby. Luke signs to Connie, baby. Connie sees the baby, and hits the nearest zombie with a slingshot. She runs out, and grabs the baby. Now what? The zombies move toward her, and she runs into the field with the baby, but a zombie follows. I assume right now it’s a huge disadvantage not to be able to hear. She jabs one in the head, but here comes another. She puts the sling around her neck. One more pops out, gets in her face, and she pikes it. More are coming. Suddenly, Daryl, Kelly, Earl, and Tammy are there, and hustle Connie out of the cornfield.

Jerry finds a bulb in the projector, and says, they’re in business. Dianne tells him, grab and go, but he says, it’s fra-gee-lee (the way the father in A Christmas Story pronounces it) for real. Ezekiel asks Carole for a hand on a side mission. He wants a poster box frame for the charter. She thinks he’s dreaming, and doesn’t want him to be disappointed if it doesn’t happen. What if the fair isn’t enough? What if more trade and training isn’t enough. She thinks they should talk to Jesus if things get worse, and maybe stay at Hilltop, at least until they find someplace better. Ezekiel asks, what better place than the Kingdom? A knight tells him that the boombox died. The zombies start getting loud. Jerry gets the bulb out of the projector, and puts it in bubble wrap, telling Dianne, let’s bounce. He drops his precious package, and we both say, oh sh*t.

Lydia looks at a wooden coin. Henry says Hilltop made it, but it didn’t work. She says her mother wasn’t supposed to come. She broke own rules. Maybe her mother misses her. Henry says, maybe. Lydia says, maybe she’s sorry, but Henry says, no she’s not, People like that don’t get to be sorry. Enid calls to him from outside. He tells Lydia to stay there. She says she doesn’t want to go back. Enid say if she could do something to help, she would. No one wants this, but Lydia doesn’t belong to them. Her mother will kill Luke and Alden if they don’t give her back. Henry says there’s got to be another way, but Enid says, there isn’t. She’s sorry. Henry says, it’s not fair – or right. She says it isn’t, but it’s something they have to live with, and he asks, how? She says when she was his age, she saw her parents die it. It changed her. I it became about surviving. Someone else died, someone special, who left her a letter reminding her that just surviving isn’t living, and they live with it by staying who they are, and not letting it change them. Lydia comes out says she’s going to go; she has to. Henry says, no, but she says she wants to be with her mother. They’re her people she misses them, even though I’m not sure what there is to miss. She say she’ll miss him too, but she’ll be okay. So will he she. She kisses him. This is actually a little sad, and I rarely have any feels for this show anymore.

Daryl brings Lydia out to Alpha. I’m feel a little stressed because I liked Luke in the Fantastic Beasts movies, and anything could go wrong. Lydia walks forward, and Luke and Alden are released. Alpha’s responsibility is done though, and they have to take their own gags off. Enid hugs Alden, and says she never wants let go of him. Lydia tells Alpha, sorry, and thanks her mother for coming to get her. In response she gets a crack across the face. Then Alpha hugs her, and says, call her Alpha.

Jerry tells Ezekiel that he got it, bubble wrapped, in one piece, after he dropped it somewhere between rows R and W. Ezekiel says they need to move before the horde is upon them. Jerry wants to stay and fight, and Carol asks if the queen’s call counts for something. She agrees with Jerry. A few kills each, it shouldn’t be too hard. Ezekiel says she doesn’t need to do this for him. She tells him, who says it’s just for him? She’s doing this or what? The zombies break free of the popcorn machine, Carol and some of the others use bows and arrows. Ezekiel does some does slicing and dicing. Carol wants him to be safe. They’ve lost so much, and with Henry gone… Ezekiel says he’s safe with her. He’s there with her. Jerry says they’ve got the projector going. Ezekiel says they have to be smart; be ready for every eventuality. Maybe they’re done losing. Carol says, maybe. We see a spray-painted quincunx symbol (I’m not making that up) on the back of a sign that the drive past, which we can safely assume has significance. Read all about it below.

Henry gets why Daryl had to do what he did, but that doesn’t make it okay. Daryl tells him that he never said it did. Henry asks what Daryl did to live with it. Daryl wonders what he’s talking about, and Henry say he saw the scars on Daryl’s back. He thinks knows more than anyone what sent Lydia back to her mother. He wonders how Daryl can live with that. Daryl says, the world is sh*t sometimes, and you live with it. Sometimes that’s all you can do. He did what he had to do today. They all did. He walks away

Ezekiel dusts off the poster box, and Jerry tests out the projector. He, Ezekiel, and Carol smile. Ezekiel and Carol kiss.

Magna and the others drink. Connie kicks back. Earl and Tammy won the baby lottery, and are taking care of the Whisperer child. Jerry is the father of three now, and bounces a baby.

Adeline gives Daryl a note she found in Henry’s room. Couldn’t live with it – gone to find Lydia. Connie sees him leaving, and writes, where are you going? He shows he the note and says he’s going to find Henry. She writes that she’s going with him. He says, no, but she shows the words to him again. He says, why? and she writes that she couldn’t live with it either. They leave together, and the gates close behind them.

Next time, Lydia walks again, Henry follows Lydia, Lydia claims she lied and they need to be ready, and Michonne says it’s dangerous. Like that isn’t the status of pretty much everything.

🎷 It’s All About That Quincunx…

Told you I didn’t make it up.

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2019/02/25/the-walking-dead-what-is-that-symbol-carol-ezekiel-whisperers-911-bounty/

📺 I Remember Her…

I didn’t realize Brett Butler was playing Tammy. She used to do a stand-up act, and had a sitcom for a hot minute.

https://www.romper.com/p/who-plays-tammy-on-the-walking-dead-brett-butler-is-a-tv-veteran-12152647

🚴 McRide…

It was a special night for Melissa McBride (Carol) on Ride With Norman Reedus, and a different kind of ride for him. They went to Scotland to uncover Melissa’s heritage, and she was thrilled with the results. They even ended up in a pub in a building that was not only the last known address of her great-something grandfather, but had once been owned by a McBride family. I’m still surprised at how much I enjoy this show.

🏆 For Those of You Who Still Care…

I haven’t bothered watching the Oscars in many years. I was well-aware that the year I actually knew two of the nominees – oddly enough, two Williams, Hurt and Hickey – could never be topped, so I haven’t watched it since. TBH, I never really cared much anyway, since it’s kind of meaningless. It’s not like the audience is voting. This was kind of a fun article though.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1016737/relive-the-most-awkward-oscars-moments-of-all-time?source=email&medium=emn-content-1&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

☕ The Best I Can Do…

Although it does say it all.

mondayCoffee5

 

Feb18

February 17, 2019 – Alpha Arrives at Hilltop, Extra Dead Tidbits & Lydia

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

The Walking Dead

An announcement over a loudspeaker says, remain calm follow and instructions. A lot of people run around, getting ready for something. 23 DAYS is written on a wall. A couple with a little girl is in a back room. The woman calls the man Frank, and says they have to wait it out. He says, the world is going to hell, and they’re pretending it’s not. The girl says they can’t go out; they’ll get sick. They have to wait for the doctor to come, and make it better. Frank says, nobody’s coming, and we find out the little girl is Lydia. Her mother says, daddy is just kidding, and sings Lydia, the Tattooed Lady to her. (See below for another version.) Lydia looks at her father.

Lydia tells Henry that she remembers the look in his eyes. She can still see it; how cold it is… was. She wonders why she’s telling Henry. He says, it beats the quiet and being alone. Outside, Daryl listens. Henry says, walking around in dead people’s skins is pretty messed up. Lydia says, thinking Hilltop isn’t going to fall like every other place is messed up. She tells Henry that his dad’s an a-hole, like hers. He says Daryl isn’t his dad. He doesn’t even want to be there. Daryl is only there to do a favor for his mom. She thought his mom died, and Henry says she’s his second mom. She’s tough. Not somebody you want to mess with. He asks what happened to Lydia’s dad.

We see Frank with blood pouring out of his neck. Lydia says. he didn’t survive. Her mom kept her alive and safe. She’s a lot like his mom. You don’t want to mess with her either.

Magna’s group goes through the woods with Tara. They see a cluster of what look like zombies feeding, and Yumiko says maybe dead; maybe not. She tells them to keep their distance. Watch their hands; they could have knives. They’re noticed, and kill the zombies (or not) one by one, using arrows, a pokey stick, and Kelly’s slingshot. When all of the zombies are dead, Magna tells them, find the masked ones. They discover the dinner is Luke and Alden’s horses. Kelly says, maybe they tried to bail? and Tara says, check for tracks. Kelly tells them, Connie says the horses were cut open and skinned with knives; these aren’t just the dead. Magna thinks they should go in different directions, but Tara says, it’s not safe. The walkers aren’t walkers. The girl is a liar. There could be three or three hundred of them. She tells them that they need to stay behind the walls until they make a plan, and they find out what this is. Kelly says, what if they don’t? but Tara says they will. Let’s go.

Henry asks if Lydia wants an egg. He can roll it to her. She says he doesn’t have to take care of her, but he says he’s just being nice. She asks why, and he says when he, his brother, and dad were found, they were pretty messed up too. It took a lot of someone being nice to make okay again. She says, hunger is a gift, and asks if he thinks she’s messed up. He asks how hunger is a gift, but she says if she has to explain, he wouldn’t understand. It will never be okay again. Henry says, says who? and she says, her dad.

Lydia flashes back again. We hear, please stand by, on the loudspeaker. A guy says, it’s been the same message for a day. Are they doing this or what? Frank tells Lydia’s mom (whose real name is unknown as far as I can find) to get their stuff. They’re moving out. She asks what he’s doing, and Frank says, getting the hell out. She tells him, it’s too dangerous. Let them go; they’ll play it safe. He says Lydia is coming, but she says she doesn’t want her child harmed. He tells her to never suggest he doesn’t care about his kid. She says they’re not going, and he calls her a bitch. Lydia asks if Halloween is coming up. She found a costume. She holds up a sheet, saying she can be a ghost. Frank says, every day is Halloween. How can he see all these freaks, and still be hopeful? He starts to shave off his beard, telling Lydia’s mother that she’s the one who liked it; he can’t stand it, and he’s doing what he wants now. Lydia and her mom play checkers. Her mother says, checkmate, and Lydia says, that’s chess. She tells Henry, He… she always said that. He says her mom sounds nice. Lydia says, yeah, but it’s not real convincing. Henry says his second mom found him. Ezekiel is his second dad; they’re leaders from another community. That’s where he’s from. She asks if it’s far, and what it’s called. He says it’s called The Kingdom. It’s about a day’s ride. Daryl busts in.

Daryl tells Henry that he’s getting out, and unlocks the door. Outside, he asks Henry what the hell is wrong with him, telling her about The Kingdom? It’s where Henry is from, and he has family there. Henry says, he was listening? Daryl says they’ve been switching off, and Henry says they were using him. Daryl says, it was working too. Henry says Lydia is a good person, but got messed up out there. She’s right about Daryl; he’s an a-hole. If he wants answers, he can get them himself. The cheese Lydia sits alone.

Lydia hears Daryl come in, and sits up. He sits outside her cell. She thought he came to kill her. He says he brought her something for her ear. She keeps pulling on it like it hurts. She says, no, and he says he doesn’t give a sh*t. Two of their people went missing. Their horses were half-skinned and half-eaten. Does she know anything about that? She says, how could she? She’s been there. He asks if her mom kills the people she crosses, and Lydia says she does what she has to do.

In Lydia’s flashback, a man says they’re running out of food, and haven’t seen daylight in weeks. Her mom tells him, shut up. The guy starts going stir crazy, banging on the boarded up window, calling for help, and Lydia’s mom knocks him down. She gets in his face, leaning on his throat, and tells him, shut up. He’s pathetic, and there’s no room for him there. Shut his mouth. Does he hear her? Not anymore. He’s dead. Beardless Frank holds Lydia, and sings to her softly

Lydia tells Daryl that he used to sing that to her when she was scared. She was scared a lot back then. Daryl asks how old was she? and she says, five, six st most; who knows? Daryl says her mom did what she had to. Lydia looks troubled. He throws the pill bottle into the cell. He says, it doesn’t have to be like that. There are a lot of good people there. They’ll help her if she helps them. She asks for some water. He scoops some up with a ladle, and holds the bottom of it through the bars. She asks if he thinks she’ll hit him with it. She tries attacking him, but he grabs her arm. He sees bruises all over it. She spits at him.

Back at Hilltop, Yumiko tells Magna, they should go back out. They’ve been gone too long. They could be hurt. Magna says she almost screwed up for them in Alexandria. They got a second chance. If they go against Tara, they could lose everything. Kelly says Luke would want them to be together. There’s a way they can sneak out; she saw the kids do it. Yumiko says, it’s Luke. Minute by minute, day by day; they’re ride or die. They have to do it, even if costs all this. She asks who’s in, and everyone raises their hands. Yumiko says they meet tonight..

Daryl messes with a branch, telling Lydia that some dads beat the sh*t out of their kids with a stick or a belt, but these a-holes ain’t picky. They use what’s laying around. A good switch from a birch tree ought to work. Her dad sounds like one of those dads, except the part when he sang to her when she was scared. Those dads like it when you’re scared. The thing is, it was the only part of her story that didn’t sound like bullsh*t. He saw the bruises on her arm; they’re from a beating. If her dad is dead, who gave them to her? She says, her mom. Daryl asks where she is, and Lydia says he should be glad he doesn’t know. He asks, where’s her camp? Why is Lydia protecting her? She’s safer there. She says, this place isn’t real. Things won’t change, and they’re all acing like it will. Her mom walks because that’s what the dead do. It’s their world, and we have to live in it. What her mom does, she does for a reason. She beats Lydia because she loves her. Daryl says, bullsh*t, and Lydia says, when you stay soft, people die.

This time, in Lydia’s flashback, her mom sits in a chair, her head shaved. Someone in the background says they should wait until morning; it will be safer. Everyone agrees. Frank – again with a beard – tells Lydia, it’s okay. Her mom and dad are there. She doesn’t have to worry. Everything will be all right in the morning. When everyone is sleeping, Lydia gets out of bed, and sneaks over to the corpse of the guy her mother killed. His body is under a blanket. She uncovers his face, then covers it again. She starts to leave, and his hand moves. He sits up. She turns around, sees him, and screams. Frank grabs her, and the zombie bites Frank’s throat out. Her mother picks her up.

Daryl says it wasn’t her fault. Lydia says she was stupid. She deserved to die. Her dad was soft, now he’s dead. Daryl asks what he was supposed to do? Watch his little girl get bit? She says, if you can’t bend, you break. He broke. Daryl says they’re making it better. They’re building it back up. Changing it back. She says he doesn’t belong with these people. Maybe used to, but not anymore. He’s hard; they’re soft.  He says she doesn’t know sh*t about him. He starts to leave, and she says she told him about what happened to her, tell her what happened to him, but he walks out.

Magna’s group sneaks out. At the fence, Yumiko watches for the guard. They hide inside a cart with wood piled on it.

Henry says Daryl could have asked him to help. Daryl keeps walking, and Henry asks where he’s going. Daryl says, this is a waste of time. She’s Tara’s problem. Henry asks, what’s going to happen to her? Did someone beat Daryl too? He once heard his dad ask his mom why her hair was so short. She said her first husband grabbed it when she tried to get away from him, and slammed her against the wall. One day, she cut it off, so he couldn’t. He guesses it took this long for her to feel safe again. Sometimes Daryl acts like the type of guy who slams people against walls, but Henry doesn’t think that’s it. Daryl says Henry shouldn’t listen to people talk. Henry says, just because her people bad, doesn’t mean she is. She’s just scared. Daryl can show her there’s nothing to be afraid of. Daryl says, no, not just him. Henry can do that.

In the woods, Yumiko doesn’t think the tracks they’re seeing are the same, but Kelly disagrees. She says the dead don’t do that. Yumiko says Kelly is thinking about Coalport, but if they hadn’t left, they’d be dead like the others. Kelly says they didn’t have a choice. Yumiko says, they did. Their choice was not to die. A zombie pops out of the trees behind Kelly, who stabs it in the head. They see more coming, and Yuniko says, it’s too dark and dangerous to be looking for Luke. Kelly says they can’t give up. They love Luke. Yumiko says they need to go back, and Magna says, she’s right. Connie says they’ll come back when they have a plan – all of them. Kelly says when they got separated Luke is the one who found her. She starts to cry, and Connie hugs her. She tells the others to go back. She’ll stay with her sister. They reluctantly leave. Something tells me this is a bad, bad idea.

Henry visits Lydia. He tells her it’s just him. She asks if Daryl sent him, but he says Daryl doesn’t know he’s there. He couldn’t wait until tomorrow to talk to her. He likes her, and thinks she’s a good person. He wants to show her a good place with good people. He unlocks the door, and she asks if he’s letting her out. He says, for a bit. Be quiet, and stay out of sight. Cool? She says, cool.

He helps her out of the root cellar. They duck back when someone comes by, but trip and fall. Lydia digs in the dirt, and eats something. She digs again, and shows Henry a worm. She holds one out to Henry. At first, it’s a no, but then he takes it and swallows it. He says he just ate a worm. She smiles, and says he did. He helps her up, and they walk around. He shows her the doctor’s office, saying, Enid is a good doctor. She’s surprised they have a doctor, and he says, you name it, they’ve got it. She feels around on a carpentry table behind her and fingers a hammer. She asks how long they’ve been there, and he says six years, but it’s only going to keep growing. She says places like this aren’t supposed to exist. Her mom told her they couldn’t. That’s why… A baby starts to cry. She puts the hammer down, and grips her head. She flashes back to being with her parents, but this time, the narrative is different. Her mother kills the guy, and shaves her head, saying, they’re going to do what she wants now. She holds a knife to Lydia’s throat, says, this is how they live now, and puts a skin on Lydia’s head. Lydia tells Henry to put her back in her cell. He’s puzzled, but says, okay.

As Henry locks her in, he says he’s sorry, and starts to leave. She asks him to wait. She asks if he could stay with her tonight. Please. He lies down in front of her cell, and they hold hands through the bars.

Daryl comes down in the morning. Henry says, she didn’t want to be alone. He asks if her ear still hurts, and Lydia says, everything hurts. She still has the pills, and he gets water for her, putting the ladle in between the bars. This time, she drinks. She says her mom isn’t coming for her; none of them are. When someone dies, or gets taken, they move on, like they never existed. That’s how it’s always been. Unless they have no choice, they don’t come into contact with big groups. That’s why she asked about the communities. So she’d have something to give them. Otherwise, they have no reason to take her back. Henry says, Lydia is her daughter. Doesn’t it matter? Daryl says they’re missing people. Lydia says if her mother came across them, she can’t think of a reason she’d keep them alive. She’s sorry. He asks if they have a camp somewhere, and she says under a bridge, maybe a mile east, but they don’t stay in one place long. Henry asks if any of her story is true. She says she thought all of it was. She needed it to be, but had it mixed up. It was a lie, but she wasn’t lying. Her mom told her over and over for years. Deep down, she knew what her mother was, and knew what she did.

Back in Lydia’s past the dead guy has become a zombie, and tears a different guy’s throat out. It’s pandemonium with everyone running around. Her mother starts prying off window boards, and says they’ve got to get out. Frank says, those are our friends. She says, they’re panicking. The three of them are getting out of there. He says she can do what she wants, but Lydia stays with him. Lydia’s mom says, the hell she does. He tells Lydia, it’s okay, and to wait there. They’ll come back. Lydia says, don’t go, but he jumps into the fray. Her mother follows, but slams Frank up against a wall. Lydia tells Daryl and Henry that she was scared. Her mom was there with that cold look in her eye. Then she got her knife. Lydia starts to cry, and Daryl says, it’s okay. They’ve heard enough. She’s sorry she can’t help them. She’s sorry she wasted his time. He says she didn’t.

Magna and Yumiko go back to Hilltop. They see Tara up on the fence, and Yumiko says she’ll talk to her.

Henry asks Daryl why would Lydia’s mom do that to her kid? Lydia thinks it’s her fault her dad died.  Daryl says, some people are not meant be parents. Henry asks, what happens now? Can she stay with them? Daryl says, we’ll see. He’s going to get her fresh clothes, and talk to Tara and see about that camp. Henry says he’s glad Daryl and his mom are friends.

Yumiko joins Tara, who asks what they found. Yumiko says, nothing. It was wrong of them to leave. She wishes they’d realized it sooner. She should have. She sees two guards bringing Kelly back, along with Connie walking parallel on another path. Tara says the guards saw them sneak out, and they weren’t taking any chances. She gets why they did it, but next time they want to challenge one of her decisions, talk to her. She doesn’t know if she’s doing the right thing there, but she doesn’t want any more people to die, including them.

Yumiko looks through the binoculars, and sees a group of Whisperers coming toward Hilltop. They’re perilously close to Connie. Kelly sees, and tries to run to her, but the guards hold her back. Connie signals for her to stay, and runs into a cornfield, which is probably another bad, bad idea. Tara looks out, and freaks. She yells for Daryl.

Here they come. Lydia’s mom pushes her way to the front. Daryl watches, along with Tara, Yumiko, and Magna. The Whisperers stand at the gate. Lydia’s mom says, she’s Alpha. She only wants one thing from them. Her daughter.

Next time, the Whisperers have captured Luje and Aldon. Daryl tells Alpha that she can’t have her daughter, and Alpha says, wrong answer.

ℹ Some useless trivia I got from Talking Dead. Yip Harburg who wrote Lydia, the Tattooed Lady, also wrote all the songs for The Wizard of Oz. And to turn that into six degrees of Walking Dead, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was being read to Judith in an earlier episode. Another tidbit was that the set for Lydia’s past memories was also The Sanctuary set, since it wasn’t in use at the time.

🐥 Say the Magic Word & the Duck Comes Down…

And how an elephant got in my pajamas, I’ll never know.

 

Feb11

February 10, 2019 – The Whispering Begins, Riding Again, the Dogs Are Fine, Bye-Bye Danai & a Thrill

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

The Walking Dead

Michonne’s voice tells us that Rick’s vision lives on. The communities must reunite face a brutal enemy who walks with the dead, and whispers.

Everything is at a standstill. Dog barks. Eugene freaks. Aaron takes the knife out of Jesus. Daryl pikes a few zombies. They go back behind the gate, dragging Jesus with them. zombies clamor at the gate. One undoes the bolt holding it shut.

Negan goes upstairs and outside. He marvels at fresh air, and smiles. He eats a tomato. He picks up a shovel, and goes into a house. He goes to a bedroom, and sees a child’s drawing of their family above the bed. He sees a compass hanging from a lanyard on the bedpost, and takes it.

After changing his clothes, Negan goes back out. He starts to climb the fence, and Judith says she thought he was smarter than this. She guesses not. She has a gun aimed at him, but he says she’s not going to shoot him. She says, yeah, she will. He tells her that he’s not going back, so pull the trigger. He suggests how about they go their own ways, and never see each other again. She says, how about no? He gets back down. How embarrassing for him. He says when her parents locked him up, they said he’d help people see things can change, and they did for everyone but him. Alexandria is a wonderland, but his part is full of walls and bed pans. Judith says her mom decides, not her, but he says she can. She’s not letting him go; she’s just not seeing him leave. She says there’s nothing out there for him; for anyone. He says she knows him better than anyone has in a long time. He promises he’s not hurting anyone – even if they try to hurt him – but he has to go. She lowers the gun, and he thanks her. She asks if he was in her room. He shows her the compass, and asks if she wants it back. She tells him, keep it. It will help him find his way. She says if she sees him again, she’ll shoot. He smiles, and says he would. He climbs over the fence and out.

Luke walks around. Alden says Michonne and the others have only been gone a few hours, but the rest of the group is concerned. He suggests two two-person teams. Tara says, no risks. Luke asks if they need an extra hand – he has two. He wants to do his part. Alden says Luke can ride with him.

Michonne, Daryl, and Aaron head back, along with Magna’s group. Daryl and Aaron carry Jesus. Michonne says it will mean a lot to them, bringing him back. Daryl is sorry he couldn’t find Rick for her. She’s sorry she couldn’t do it for the both of them. She thanks him for trying, and for after.

Aaron doesn’t think they should be out there. Eugene says it’s his fault, but Aaron says Rick wanted to be out there. Maybe what happened was bound to happen. Dog barks. They see zombies and follow.

Zombies amble through a covered bridge. Daryl aims his crossbow, and hits one in the leg; then gets it in the head. The other zombies jump on it, feeding. Another zombie pulls out a knife, and goes after Michonne. A third drops to her knees in front of Daryl. He removes her mask, and she says, please don’t kill me. Michonne says, how many? and she says they killed them all. It’s just her. Michonne doesn’t believe her, and holds the katana to her throat. Daryl says they have no time; they’ll take her with them. He pulls her up. Michonne says if she tries anything, she won’t have to pretend.

Negan is pretty tickled to be out. He sits in a rusted, burned out van, having a snack. A presses against the windows, and he whacks it with the shovel. That’s not good enough, so he cracks its head open. A decomposed, crispy critter zombie grabs at him from a truck bed. It slithers after him, and he finishes it off. He goes to a stream, drinks some water, then gets sick. I was just thinking the water in there can’t be good to drink, what with corpses everywhere and all. He leaves his jacket, and continues on.

Michonne and the others get back to Hilltop. Michonne leads the prisoner in. Jesus’s body is draped over a horse. Everyone looks grim. Siddiq runs to them. Aaron hugs Tara. Jesus is taken off the horse.

A woman asks Tara if the prisoner did it. She says no; one of her people. The woman says the people are looking to Tara. They’re going to want justice, and when the time comes, they’ll look to her for that too. Tara says she knows.

Daryl tosses the prisoner into the pokey. Henry asks, what’s going on? Daryl says, Jesus is dead. The prisoner is plopped on a chair, and Michonne says, no more bullsh*t.

Negan wanders around in an old shopping area, and goes into a clothing store. He knocks the shovel on the wall to find out if anyone is in there. It seems to be empty, and he goes through the store. He finds a flashlight, and gets it working. It’s creepy. There are mannequins everywhere, and a dead guy slumped against the wall. Negan checks out the sale racks. and puts on a jacket.

He hears growling, and a pack of dogs comes in. They go after him, and he makes a mad dash to the back of the store. He climbs up where they can’t see him, but they’re smart dogs and they’re looking hard. Aw, a Pitbull like Spuds. Negan runs to an exit, but the door is jammed. One of the dogs is almost on him, and somehow, he gets the door open, but there’s a zombie right there in his face. He shoves the zombie inside, and slams the door shut. We don’t see it, but it sounds like the dog got eaten. This was of much discussion on Talking Dead, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan assuring viewers that no dogs were harmed. (See below.) Speaking of dogs, why is this the first time we’ve seen dogs in ten years? Were they hiding until they thought it was safe? And why aren’t there more birds other than those symbolic crows?

Luke talks to Alden about singing at the fair. Alden says he’s been known to sing when he has enough drink in him. Luke says they’ll knock them dead at the fair; a two man band. Luke sees an arrow in a tree. He takes it out, and says it’s Yumiko’s. He sees another, and takes that one out. A zombie toddles up, and as Luke is about to pike it with the arrow, another grabs his pant leg, and he falls. Alden uses an arrow like a javelin, and Luke kicks the other zombie away. He tells Alden, a two-man band, and a symphony of awesome; think about it. Luke sees another arrow, and thinks it’s a trail. Alden says they could be stray shots, but Luke says if the arrows lead to their people, Alden is singing at the fair.

Alden looks through binoculars. They see a horde in the distance. Luke says it’s Alden’s call. Go back or keep going.

Michonne asks the prisoner, how many more, but she insists they’re all dead. They were her family, and they’re dead. Michonne tells her, stop, and asks her name. She says, none of them have names. That’s not how it works. Daryl asks why they wear the skins. She says, they were good people. It’s what they did to live. All they wanted to do was live. They wouldn’t understand. Michonne says, make them understand. She asks if they were made do it, and the prisoner says they were just trying see if they were good people too. They attacked them, and now they’re all dead. She doesn’t have anyone. Michonne asks what her group knows about them. Did they know about Alexandria? The prisoner says they didn’t tell her anything, and asks them to leave her alone. She cries, and Daryl and Michonne go outside. He says he’ll get it out of her. He’ll try again in the morning. Michonne says it will be without her. She’s taking her people back. They might not know about the new enemy, and she can’t risk it. He thanks her for being there and helping. Tara guesses it’s her call now. Michonne tells Daryl that keeping the prisoner there is a risk; they both know that. Daryl says he’ll get her to talk, and Michonne says if she doesn’t, he knows what he has to do.

Siddiq tells Eugene it’s not so bad, and Eugene says, says him. Siddiq says, a few weeks light compression, and he’ll be good as new. He tells Rosita that he was scares she wouldn’t make it. He’s torn up about Jesus, but a quick twist, and it could have been him. He takes her hand, and tells her they don’t talk about what’s nearest and dearest, and then time goes by. He’s done playing the losing game. She jets outside, and gets sick. Siddiq asks if she’s okay. He says her body has been through a lot. She says, it’s not that. When they were having fun, before Gabriel. She’s pregnant. Eugene hears them talking. Didn’t see that coming.

Daryl sits outside with Henry, who asks if getting drunk always makes you feel bad. Daryl says, no; acting stupid does. What was he thinking? Henry says, he wasn’t. The fresh air is helping though. Daryl tells him, another two minutes, and he’s back in. He has one more night. Henry says he’s sorry. He wants to find his place. He knew where was at the Kingdom. Who is he here?

Negan continues his trek. He gets to the Sanctuary, and says, home, sweet home. He goes inside, and whistles. He looks out over the warehouse floor, and it’s a mess. Kind of like when Little Edie came back to Grey Gardens.

Negan busts an opening through a wall. Behind it is a motorcycle. He hears a noise, and sees a zombie behind a door. He says, big Ritchie, that you? Loyal to the end. The zombie presses against the glass, and Negan smiles.

Aaron, who is looking more Amish by the day, helps Michonne pack up her truck. He asks if she’s all right. He says they have everything they need at Alexandria, and everything they need there. They should take care of what they have, and each other. He’s sorry he didn’t get that until now. She’s sorry too – for everything.

Daryl tells Michonne that he thinks Luke and Alden should be back by now. She says it could be something or nothing. She tells him that he knows what he needs to do about the prisoner. He ask why it’s up to him, and she says he’s the best damn judge of character she knows. Without Jesus or Maggie, they need him. Tara is smart, but she shouldn’t do it alone. Bringing Jesus back will help them move on. After that, it’s about doing whatever it takes to not bear anymore. He says, aight.

Negan looks at a dead plant. Big Richie makes a lot of noise. Negan sits at the boardroom table, alone, and says, well, sh*t. He straightens up, and moves things around. He sits on a couch, looking really sad. He hears something, picks up pole, and looks out back, where a few zombies are wandering around. He goes out.

Negan says, damn, Big Richie. He thought they had something special going on. The other zombies turn toward him, and one by one, he whacks them in the head. Big Richie is behind a fence. Negan leaves him, and goes back inside, blockading the door.

He looks at the compass, seeing the initials JG engraved on the back. He half-smiles. He lets Big Richie in, says, sorry it just ain’t working out, and dispatches him.

Jesus’s coffin is nailed shut. It’s pretty fancy.

Daryl asks the prisoner, who are you? She looks terrified, and he asks if she wants to die. Henry says, what’s his problem? and Daryl says their people just buried a good man. They’re ready to string her up. He’ll drag her ass up the steps. He asks how many are in her group. She says she told him, and he pulls her up. She says, ten, and he asks why they wear the skins. She tells him, to blend in. He asks her name, and she says they have no names. They had names once, but don’t use them. He asks how long they’ve been around there, but she doesn’t know. They moved around with the dead. The skins made the dead leave them alone, yet they were never alone. They protected each other. He asks if they have a camp, or walls, but she says, walls don’t keep you safe. Places like this don’t make it. She and her mom saw it happen over and over. She barely remembers the world before, but mom said it was changing, and they had to change with it. They needed the dead to keep safe. He asks, why kill other people? and she says they were always going to kill them. It’s what people do. Everyone is a threat; it’s us or them. He asks how many people are in her group, and she says, it’s the truth. It’s just her mom left, and she’s a good person. She begs Daryl not to look for her. She’s one woman, out there alone. Daryl says he thought she said they were never alone. She says her mom got separated, and he calls her a liar. He told her what going to happen. He starts dragging her out. She begs him not to, and Henry tells him, stop. Daryl drops her, and she scoots back to the wall in her cell. He locks the door, and says he told Henry, sit still and be quiet. Henry says, she’s just a girl, but Daryl tells him to wise his ass up. As he leaves, Henry calls after him, but Daryl doesn’t come back.

The prisoner thanks Henry. He says he had to. He couldn’t let Daryl do what he was going to. He introduces himself, and she says her name is Lydia. Daryl listens outside the window.

Negan rides on his bike. Judith shoots the tire out, and he falls. He tells her slow down. He knows she said she’d shoot him, but damn. She says a lot of people are out looking for him. She says she told him nothing was out there. He says she sure as sh*t did. She tells him, language. I’m a kid a-hole. He says he swears in front of his friends; people who know some sh*t. He give her the compass, and thanks her for letting him borrow it. She takes it, and he says she was right. He got a good look outside, and there’s nothing there for him anymore. She says, so he goes back; then what? He says he’ll let her know what he knows. She shrugs, and walks away, He follows.

Enid and Magna look out over Hilltop. Enid says Magna is one of them now. It’s good to have them. Magna asks what brought Enid there. Enid says, Alden. She doesn’t know what to call what they have; it’s all so new. Magna says she has one of those. She tells Enid, Luke’s a survivor. Alden’s in good hands.

Luke says Alden had better warm up his vocal chords. Alden says we’ll see. A zombie comes toward them, and Luke says he has it. The zombie stops, and they’re weirded out. They now see other zombies standing silently, surrounding them. A zombie strides up to them, pointing a double-barrel shotgun at them, saying hands where she can see them. It’s Alpha, aka Lydia’s mother. (They don’t say this, but at this point, it’s common knowledge.)

Next week, Lydia says they will never be okay again. Alexandria will fall like every other place. She tells Daryl not to mess with her mom, and when he asks where her mom is, she tells him be glad he doesn’t know.

🚴 Norman Reedus is back with Ride, along with his sometimes sidekick, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. I didn’t think this would be my type of show, but I love it. The season premiere brought them to London, and they also visited areas of the English countryside. Stopping at a pig and goat farm, they picked pigs for a race, and Norman’s pig, Rachel – named for the Friends character – won. It was adorable to hear them talk about how cute the goats were. I loved when Norman compared the pub they went to, to The Slaughtered Lamb in American Werewolf in London (one of my favorite movies). They also went to Stonehenge, where the guide assured us the stones had nothing to do with aliens, and the winter solstice is the key. A meet-up with Andrew Lincoln, who served crumpets, rounded out the show. Even if you’re not into travel or motorcycles, this show has a little bit of everything, and something for everyone. It’s lighthearted, but you still learn a lot.

🐶 No Animals Were Harmed…

Jeffrey swears.

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2019/02/11/the-walking-dead-909-jeffrey-dean-morgan-negan-no-dogs-harmed/

👋 You Probably Know Already…

But just in case you didn’t. Is this the beginning of the end of TWD? Lauren Cohan (Maggie) has already jumped show too. They’re going to be paying Norman Reedus (Daryl) a skabillion dollars an episode to keep him.

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2019/02/08/the-walking-dead-danai-gurira-michonne-exit-leaving/

👹 In Keeping With the Spirit…

I remember watching this on a big screen in the lounge area on the third floor of Danceteria. Good times…

 

Feb9

February 8, 2019 – Griff is Next, a Helluva Finale, Small Chefs Coming, Bad Gina, Badder Michael, Cheap Ramona, Walking Again, OK for Cardi, Susan’s Tumble, a Half Dozen Quotes & Weekend Life

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Jason asks if Sonny is reading the book. Sonny says Alexis gave it to him. He was hoping to see why Kristina is so hooked. Jason says he read it to research Shiloh, but doesn’t buy it. Sonny says, Alexis did, and he’s wondering how it affected Kristina. He wants to be filled in on Shiloh. Spinelli joins them and says, allow him. His research has borne something. He was in deep dive mode, but it has not been a proverbial cake walk.

Sam goes to the DOD house. Kristina answers the door, and asks why she’s there. Sam says, hello to her too. Shiloh says she’s there to see him.

On the phone, Alexis tells someone she was referred by Dr. Collins, and she’s wondering if she can get an appointment with Dr. Bern. Julian is taking out the garbage, and sees her. She says she’ll take the appointment tonight, and have Dr. Collins send her records. When she’s done, she asks Julian if he got that. He says she’s getting a new shrink?

Elizabeth wants to see Franco, but Jordan says they have a lot of questions for him, and the answers might not be pleasant. Elizabeth wonders why they’re assuming he’s guilty, and Margaux says, there’s strong circumstantial evidence. Franco is brought out, and asks Elizabeth where Scotty is. Jordan thinks he’s avoiding the inevitable. Margaux says the recovered the driver’s licenses from the art therapy room. Elizabeth says they were placed there; it’s a set-up. Jordan says it’s not the first time Lulu ID’d Franco, and Elizabeth says she’s confused. As for the licenses, Carly’s hair was found in Mary Pat’s hand, and the knife that killed Kiki went missing, and turned up in Griff’s apartment. Griff was innocent, and she doesn’t understand why they’re convinced Franco is guilty.

Not-Doc sees Griff, and flashes back to seeing him holding Ava. He signs in for blood donation, and sits next to Griff. He says, it’s a fine day to give blood, isn’t it?

Spinelli says, before David Archer went Zen and became Shiloh, he had a propensity for trouble. He lists many of Shiloh’s encounters with the law, as well as a couple of lawsuits. Sonny says maybe he was just a kid. Spinelli says, he was a restless young fellow, with too much money and no responsibility. After his funding went dry, he went searching for excitement, and ended up in Afghanistan. Then came the incident he claims turned his life around. Shiloh’s narrative reads phony and contrived, but Spinelli researched it, and the story checks out.

Shiloh tells Kristina that he and Sam were having a great conversation, and wanted to continue it. Sam says she wanted to find out more. She thought Kristina would be happier, and Kristina says it’s great Sam’s there, but she didn’t have a positive experience last time. Sam says she realized Kristina is important to her. She knows DOD is important to Kristina, so she’s come with an open mind. Shiloh says, after today, she’ll have a better understanding of Kristina’s dedication. Kristina leaves to do some outreach, leaving Sam and Shiloh alone.

Alexis says if Julian must know, she left therapy with Doc months ago, and realized it was premature. Julian asks why not go back to him, and she says he’s much too nosy. He says, good for her. It’s no secret she has a lot to work through. For someone who claims she’s done with him, she’s very interested in his relationship with Kim. They’re back together now. She says, poor Kim. She sits at the bar, and says, arrogant bastard. A guy sitting there says, I beg your pardon?

Not-Doc tells Griff, donating blood is an easy way to help save lives. Griff says, if you’re not afraid of needles, and not-Doc says, no problem there. And the post donation cookies help. Not-Doc says he needs Griff’s help, and Griff says, with…? Not-Doc says he can’t find Ava. Does Griff know where she is? Griff says, no, and asks why not-Doc would think he knew. Not-Doc says he saw them embracing earlier. Is there anything he’d like to share? Man to man.

Franco says Elizabeth makes salient points. Jordan says his situation is different. He asks, what about the licenses? Someone planted them; it’s exactly the same. Jordan says, those were obvious plants; the licenses, not so much. Franco suggests the killer deliberately deviated from the plan.  They came to him, and he told them all about himself. Now they’re exploiting his history, and using his past to pin the murders on him. Jordan says he has no alibi, and wears the same shoe as Lulu’s attacker. It matches the print. He says maybe they should drag everyone in who wears a size twelve. Jordan says then there are the notes from his sessions with Doc. Scotty shows up, and hands Jordan some paperwork. He tells her to take a look. They won’t be railroading his innocent son after all.

Jordan asks what it is, and Scotty says, a little thing he likes to call due process. Margaux says he wants an injunction. Scotty says Franco won’t be charged because of a medical factor. Margaux says they can’t move forward until Franco gets an MRI scan to make sure he has no brain tumor. Scotty asks if he’s going to have to call the judge.

Shiloh gives Sam a tour of the house. She says he has impressive friends. Jackie Templeton (aka Demi Moore, circa 1982). He says they met building sustainable housing in Central America. You meet amazing people doing outreach. He hopes it proves they don’t operate in the shadows. Sam has noticed he says we and us a lot, and he says likes to work closely in a collective sense. She says he has an almost paternal quality. She’s wondering why he never settled down and had a family. He says the members of DOD are his family. She gets that, but hasn’t he been tempted? He says he could ask Sam that question. She hasn’t settled down with Jason.

All Spinelli found were glowing endorsements. Sonny says, too clean. Shiloh’s got to be behind some kind of mess. Kristina comes in, and he thanks her for penciling him in. He’s sorry it’s short notice, but she says she was planning to come downtown anyway. The group she’s working with is hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner. He says her mom mentioned she’s been at the DOD house, and had nothing but good things to say. The seminar had a positive effect on her life.

Alexis repeats, arrogant bastard – not him. Unless he’s one too. She tells him not to take it personally. She’s sorry. She and her ex got into it. She’s sure her ex is nothing like him. He’s here alone reading and drinking water. He doesn’t know who she’s insulting now. She says she’s sure his book is a page turner. He shows her the cover, and it’s about Russia in the earlier 20th century. He says, so much social change in a short time. She asks if he’s a professor, and he says, a doctor, but a history enthusiast. He’s surprised she’s not drinking something stronger, but she says she had to give that vice up. He seems to be pounding it up with coffee. He says he has to go work. She thanks him for not asking her why she can’t drink anymore. He says, hmm… and I wonder if he’s her new shrink.

Alexis tells him that she quit two years ago. He says, congratulations, and she says it’s ironic that she’s sitting in her ex’s bar, since he drove her to drink, then drove her to therapy. The therapist had her bring him to the sessions. He asks if it worked, and she says the therapist dumped her. She has a new therapist, but no intention of bringing her ex to her sessions. He says, hmm… again, and she says, what? He tells her it’s not his place, but she says he has every right to an explanation. He says from what she’s told him, everything has been in the context of her ex.

Kristina asks what Sonny wants to know. He says Alexis gave him the book, and he was just reading it. He’ll let her know what he thinks. Kristina says Shiloh is a genius, and Sonny says, we’ll see. He told Shiloh that he’d better take care of daughter or else. She says he doesn’t trust Shiloh, but he says it’s what he would say to anyone spending that much time with her. She seems happy, and lights up when she talks about DOD. She says it’s kind of like the family she never had. He says, excuse me? and she says she didn’t mean it like that. She knows how fortunate she is, but she just inherited all of those relationships. Sonny says it doesn’t make them less important. She says she’s never been good at maintaining friendships, and her love life has always been messy. She finally found her people. She’s not just Sonny and Alexis’s daughter. There’s no history following her. She can define herself on her own terms.

Sam tells Shiloh that her relationship with Jason is none of his business. Or her relationships with anyone else. Shiloh says she’s confusing concern with judgement. It’s what they deal with there. They interrogate the mechanics of human behavior. Kristina’s session helped bring the barriers down that she put up around her trauma. They can help identify Sam’s barriers too. Sam says, fine. Make a believer out of her. Tell her why she can’t settle down. He asks if she’s sure she wants to hear this. Everyone she’s ever loved abandoned her.

Spinelli says his research didn’t yield much intel, but he did notice one constant. He shows Jason a picture of a woman with Shiloh, and says, she’s his closest ally. Or was at one time.

Griff tells not-Doc that he’s dead wrong. That ship sailed, and crashed and burned. Isn’t not-Doc dating her? There’s nothing left to discuss, unless not-Doc has something to add. Not-Doc says, you’re next… to give blood. Ha-ha! I love his little jokes to himself. Griff goes in, and not-Doc takes a cookie.

In the hospital hallway, Scotty asks for a moment with his client. Franco asks what the field trip is for; to buy time? Scotty says time is his best friend, and hopes the MRI goes at a snail’s pace. Elizabeth says, he’s stalling? Scotty says he’s delaying the charges, and asks her to come with him to see Griff. She kisses Franco, and says, it will be over soon. As usual, hospital security is totally lax, and the cop guarding him doesn’t care that Elizabeth could have slipped him a weapon. Scotty and Elizabeth leave, and Ava comes by. She says she heard he’d been arrested.

The guy tells Alexis, don’t get him wrong. If it’s cathartic, good. If bringing her ex helps, he thinks that’s fantastic. She says it doesn’t sound like he thinks so, and he says, maybe she doesn’t need her ex for her next breakthrough; just her. He’s been there, and realized the only person responsible for his own happiness is himself, and he’s not such bad company. Alexis says, except for the exiled Russian aristocracy. He says, that goes without saying. She says he’s insightful, and he says he’s been told he has that knack. He’d like to continue their conversation sometime. Perhaps over dinner.

Margaux asks what Jordan is thinking. Jordan says, Franco had the opportunity, but no motive. Margaux says, two out of three can convince a jury, and he didn’t have a motive before, but his killings were never random.

Franco tells Ava he was arrested, but it’s a misunderstanding. Ava says he’s no stranger to violence. He says he could never kill Kiki. He cared about her like she was his daughter. Ava says Kiki was her daughter, yet she found plenty of ways to hurt her. He says she’s not seriously thinking he did it. She doesn’t know what she’s thinking. When she thought he was Kiki’s father, she wanted to protect Kiki from him and his sadistic tendencies. You know what they say about old habits. He says his died. She says the cops say they have evidence, but he says they’re trying to pin the murders on him because of his history. He’s completely innocent, and while they’re wasting time with him, the murderer is free. He asks how she could think that of him after what they’ve been through. The lies, the manipulations, the double-crosses. Kiki was the better angel for both of them. He loved her, and would take his own life before he laid a hand on her. Ava believes him.

Griff asks if Elizabeth and Scotty want him to help exonerate Franco as a suspect in Kiki’s murder. Elizabeth promises he’s innocent. He didn’t do it. Scotty says Griff is legally obligated, so it’s not an option. Griff says he has patients in greater need of an MRI, and it will be a few hours. Scotty tells him, take his time. Scotty leaves, and Elizabeth thanks Griff. He says he didn’t have much choice. Elizabeth asks what happened; he has a scrape on his head (the second time they referenced that now). He says it’s nothing; he’s fine. She knows he’s having a hard time lately, and says if he needs to talk, she’s there. He repeats that he’s fine.

Not-Doc looks at Ava’s picture on his desk. He says Griff thinks he can throw her away like trash, and come crawling back to take her away from him. He just has to go. It will be difficult with Franco in jail, but Dr. Monroe has been visibly depressed since Kiki died. It’s the talk of the hospital. It would be terrible if he suffered an unfortunate accident.

Jason asks who the woman is, and Spinelli says, her name is Harmony. Just Harmony. She was born Loraine Miller, but changed her name when she joined DOD. Shiloh is the idea guy, and she’s more practicality. She helped him open branches, the most recent in Beechers Corners. Jason wonders why she didn’t follow Shiloh.

Shiloh hopes he didn’t offend Sam. Kristina told him about the hardships she had in life. How she was abandoned, and raised by an artist. It’s not a bad thing. Sam says, it’s not? Sharing her personal, private information with someone she doesn’t know? He says he’s concerned for Sam. He has no idea what she’s been through; the trials and dashed hopes. It’s not surprising that she’s attracted to dangerous men; it’s the only thing she knows. Sam says she thinks it made her strong. He says, what we think and reality are often different. Sam says he has impressive insights. He hands her the book, saying it’s part of the program. She was thinking of setting up a session. He says if she’d like another shot, she’ll have the opportunity shortly. She asks, what kind? and he tells her to come to their Valentine’s Day event. He thinks it will be the start of a new beginning for her.

Sonny wants to take Kristina and Mike out to dinner. Mike would be thrilled to see her. She asks how Mike is adjusting. Sonny says, it’s tough, but it was the right thing to do. She’s sure Sonny misses having him at home, and Sonny says he was slipping away more every day. There’s going to be a time when he doesn’t remember any of them, so it makes you realize how important it is to hold on to family while you still can. He’s happy that she’s happy at DOD, but doesn’t want her to forget her family. Kristina says, never. He tells her, if things don’t work out at DOD, he’s always there for her. They hug.

Alexis says the guy doesn’t want to have dinner with her. He says, maybe exchanging numbers would be a good start, but she says, it’s not a good idea. He seems like a nice guy, and she has a lot of issues. She thought she was ready to date, but doesn’t think it’s a good idea. She’s going through things she has to work out. He says, there’s nothing wrong with that. If she changes her mind… He gives her his card, and leaves. Julian asks what happened to her friend? She says if he means the guy she was talking to, she doesn’t know him. He was just being nice. She says she has an appointment, and leaves.

Ava says she knows Franco was heartbroken losing Kiki, and knows he’s telling the truth. It’s obvious. He says that means a lot. She says she just needed to hear him say it. He tells her that he needs a favor. He needs her to talk to Doc. The cops subpoenaed his nots, and for some reason, he made Franco sound like he was on the verge of a psychotic, homicidal break. If he felt that way, why not help him? Maybe Doc didn’t believe he’d act on his tendencies. Ava says maybe that’s why he didn’t say something to her. She says she owes someone an apology, and runs off.

Doc finds Griff, and says things got tense earlier, and he wants to apologize. He knows Kiki’s death affected Griff, and he’s sorry to upset him. They shake hands, and Griff says, apology accepted. Not-Doc says, speaking of Kiki, he was talking with the other doctors, and they want to put a brick for her in the memorial courtyard. The best place to pick a spot is from the roof. If Griff has a few minutes, his input would be appreciated. Griff says he has a few minutes.

Jason tells Spinelli, if Harmony went everywhere with Shiloh, why not there? If someone can answer all their questions, it’s her. He’s taking a ride to Beechers Corners to see what he can find out.

Sam thanks Shiloh for showing her around. If she has follow-up questions, don’t hesitate to call. No pressure. He hopes to see her on Valentine’s Day. He thinks it would be good for her. Kristina comes back, and Sam says she was just about to tell Shiloh that she’s going to attend their Valentine’s Day event. Shiloh says, wonderful news, and Kristina says, fantastic. Her face doesn’t look like it’s fantastic though.

Alexis knocks on her new doctor’s office door. He says, come in. Yep, it’s that guy. She says, of course it’s you.

Elizabeth tells Franco it might be hours; stop worrying. He says, what if the tumor is back? She says he’d know it, but he says, would he? What if he didn’t, and did horrible things in a blackout? She doesn’t believe that. He says he’d like to think he knows himself and he’s not capable of horrible violence, but he is capable of horrible violence. What if he’s wrong? What if the tumor is back and calling the shots? She knows it’s a nightmare, and it’s hard to have faith in himself, but she has enough for both of them. She loves him. They kiss. Which again, the officer ignores.

Jordan says Franco was accused of murder, but never prosecuted because he had no capacity. Franco considered killing performance art. It was simultaneously art and a challenge to law enforcement. Margaux says, the murders fit his pattern. How the corpses were found staged screams artistic. Why is Jordan still unsure? Jordan says, it’s too neat; too easy. She’s mad at herself for not seeing it sooner. She’d feel better if she could find something iron clad. If they’re wrong, the real killer is still out there.

Ava goes to Doc’s office, but not-Doc isn’t there.

Griff and not-Doc go out onto the roof. Not-Doc points out the vantage point for the view of the memorial courtyard. As Griff looks, he takes a syringe out of his sleeve.

Next time, Jason meets Harmony, Sam says Shiloh is about to get a taste fo his own medicine, and Ava tells not-Doc that she knows what he’s been up to.

🔥 I missed the very beginning, but Mia (rookie) and Ariel (veteran) were the two finalists on Hell’s Kitchen. As usual, the former contestants returned to back the finalists up for the big dinner. Both Mia and Ariel’s families were VIP guests, as well as Marcia Clark, and some comedian I’ve never heard of. Gordon was so wired, he even told maître’d Jean-Philippe to piss off. We took a trip down the two chefs’ Memory Lanes, while Gordon pondered his decision. When called into his office, Gordon told Mia that she’d been strong in the challenges, and a creative chef. Ariel was praised for never having been up for elimination. He said they were both winners in his eyes. Although, what else is he going to say? In the end, it was Ariel’s door handle that turned, and she was on her way to becoming the executive chef at Hell’s Kitchen at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Not too shabby, considering the salary is a quarter of a million bucks. Gordon said she was fiercely talented and a real leader. I have to agree; she was excellent at taking charge. Mia said it wasn’t the end for her; just the beginning. I did have to wonder how you could possibly go up from there, but she can certainly get a job anywhere she likes. Ariel said she didn’t just make it out alive, but made it out a winner.

🍗 MasterChef Junior begins its new season on Tuesday, March 5th.

🍹 Better to Tie One On At the Casita…

Apparently, divorce isn’t agreeing with Gina like she thought it would.

https://pagesix.com/2019/02/01/rhoc-star-gina-kirschenheiter-arrested-for-dui/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pagesixdaily&utm_content=20190202&tpcc=pagesix_daily&mpweb=755-7600305-711673032

🐨 Maybe It’s Just an Aussie Thing…

And BTW, Ashley is pregnant.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2018/09/real-housewives-potomac-michael-darby-sexual-assault/

🍕 I’ll Bet She Asked For Separate Checks Too…

Well, it is 20%.

https://pagesix.com/2019/02/05/ramona-singer-leaves-a-lousy-tip-at-pizza-joint/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pagesixdaily&utm_content=20190206&tpcc=pagesix_daily&mpweb=755-7607154-711673032

👹 It’s Ba-a-ack…

Sunday, February 10th at 9 pm.

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2019/02/04/the-walking-dead-calls-super-bowl-53-a-filler-episode/?utm_source=Comicbook.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=190203_221339_Comicbook.com%20Daily%20Newsletter&utm_content=Link

🏈 Speaking of the Bowl…

Someone doesn’t know the meaning of hypocrisy.

https://pagesix.com/2019/02/02/why-cardi-b-wont-be-watching-the-super-bowl/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pagesixdaily&utm_content=20190203&tpcc=pagesix_daily&mpweb=755-7601383-711673032

💃 She’s Even Cute When She Falls…

La Lucci: grace under everything.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1012831/susan-lucci-recovers-like-a-pro-after-falling-on-the-runway?source=email&medium=emn-content-4&cmpid=morning-a&content=emn-news

👄 Quotes of the Week

My mother said when the doctor smacked me on my butt, I thought it was applause and I’ve been looking for it ever since. – Kathy Bates on Dr. Phil

Nobody can hurt me without my permission. – Mahatma Gandhi

Behaving like a princess is work. It’s not just about looking beautiful or wearing a crown. It’s more about how you are inside. – Julie Andrews

This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can… reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that’s what I mean by ‘Hallelujah.’ –Leonard Cohen

It’s the damn dumbest nineteen minutes in the universe. – Andrea Lee (R. Kelly’s ex-wife), regarding I Admit

Liquor. It doesn’t not help. – commentator Zach Noe Towers, Dating: No Filter

🎆 Once More Unto Your Weekend…

This song will forever make me think of Bosom Buddies. It’s my life for the next two days anyway.

 

 

 

Jan8

January 7, 2019 – Sam Makes a Connection, a Winter Wonderland Ice Queen Fierce Party, LVP’s Orbit, More Roll Calls, Weekend Watching, Coltie & After the Holidaze

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

I missed the beginning. Only until the opening credits.

Alexis drops by Sam’s place. She was hoping to spend one-on-one time with her favorite middle daughter. Sam thought Kristina had texted; she moved out. Alexis asks if she moved in with Sonny, and Sam say, no. She moved in with Daisy and some other friends. Alexis says that’s the house situation Oscar is living in; good for her. Sam asks who she is and what has she done with her mother? Alexis says they’re nice to Oscar, and she hopes they’ll be as welcoming to Kristina. She’s an adult, can make her own decisions, and she respects that. Sam isn’t buying it, and Alexis tells her, as they say in the program, fake it till you make it. Jason comes in, and Alexis asks Sam when the move happened. Sam says Kristina had been getting more involved with the Dawn of Day people, a space opened up, and she grabbed it. She and Jason had questions, so they went over and asked. Alexis asks what she thinks, and Sam says, it feels like home. Alexis likes the system of Sam worrying first. She thanks Sam and Jason, saying it’s nice that Kristina has the two of them to look out for her, and leaves.

Josslyn has Oscar’s critique of Of Mice and Men. He got an A-. He says he’s sorry, bringing shame on her, him, and their ancestors. She’s brought his schoolwork, and asks what he wants to do, and he tells her that he has a special assignment. He shows her the journal; her favorite project. He’s been adding to it, and says he wants to spend he longest day in the mountains, from sunrise to sunset.

Julian tells Drew, message received, but Drew isn’t done. He wonders if Kim spent too many nights with her son, and wasn’t giving Julian enough attention, so he ended the relationship over nothing. Julian doesn’t want to discuss it with Drew, but Drew says Kim trusted him. She believed in him when everyone warned her not to. Julian says, everyone was right; congratulate them. Drew calls him Charlie, and says he’ll give him credit for one thing. He kept up the charade longer than Drew thought he would.

Kim tells Terry that Oscar is looking better, and he’s eating. Josslyn even has him doing homework, and thinking about the SATs and where to go to college; his future. Terry says, the most important thing is, he’s opened himself up to love. Clinically, and scientifically, love helps.

At the gym, not-Doc asks Laura if she should be wandering around alone with a killer on the loose. She asks if that’s why he followed her, and he says she can’t be too careful. She thanks him for that, and for what he said at the meeting. She thinks it’s odd to receive and endorsement from a soon-to-be ex, but he says Port Charles needs a fighter like her in office; he meant what he said. She tells him that she did too. If elected, she’ll be an advocate for mental health, starting with Ferncliff. He tells her no one respects and understands commitment to reform like he does, but she needs to prioritize the needs of the entire city. While she’s looking after the greater good, he volunteers to keep an eye on what happens at Ferncliff.

Sam looks at the laptop, and tells Jason that she understands why Dawn of Day is appealing to Kristina. It’s about empowerment, confidence in community, and excellence through action. They do a lot of volunteering; at the food pantry, the homeless shelter, the soup kitchen. There are no red flags. Jason says, bad guys don’t advertise that they’re bad guys. Sam says, it all seems sincere, but something is up. They’re hiding something or have an agenda. She asks how the book is, and Jason says it basically covers what Shiloh told them, but in more detail. Troublemaker Hank almost got killed in Afghanistan, and Drew saved him. He reads, it wasn’t just Hank’s body lifted off the field, but his soul was in Drew’s hands. Drew’s singular choice to save him not only changed Hank’s life, but his world. Sam thinks he’s laying it on thick. Kristina is looking for a spiritual identity; she’s drifting, and he’s giving her direction. Jason asks if she doesn’t like it, and Sam says, no; does he? He says he’s more interesting in Hank’s life before he became Shiloh. Why did he have to reinvent himself? What’s he running from?

Kristina brings Shiloh to Oscar’s room, and introduces him to Josslyn. Oscar says it’s nice of Shiloh to let him crash at his house, but Shiloh says, it’s everyone’s house. They miss Oscar, and he’s looking forward to getting to know him better. Josslyn knows what the group does, but asks what about Shiloh specifically? Shiloh says he gives space for people to listen, and learn to trust themselves. Josslyn says, like a therapist or guru? Shiloh doesn’t think of himself as a leader. It’s a community; he just paves the way. Kristina suggests Josslyn join them at the next meeting. Shiloh says she’s more than welcome. Oscar wants to start paying Shiloh back, but Shiloh says the community is paid by serving others.

Julian tells Drew that he doesn’t owe him any explanations. Drew says he’s a selfish SOB, like he always was. He guesses a dying kid interfered with the relationship, and asks when Julian’s motivation ran out. Julian says when he saw Drew and Kim kissing.

Not-Doc tells Laura, the patients at Ferncliff are criminally insane; damaged beyond repair. Laura asks if that means he doesn’t want to advocate for them. They both have mental health issues in their past, and she thought they agreed. He’s concerned some of the patients might be manipulative, and if their found sane, they’ll be shipped to prison. Laura asks if he didn’t once ask what worse punishment can there be than to live with a broken mind? While their talking, not-Doc has been wrapping an exercise band around his hands. Laura says he’s cutting off his own circulation.

Not-Doc says it’s a nervous habit. Laura asks, since when? and he snaps that it’s new; he’s working it through. She asks if he’s all right, and he says he’s fine. She says there’s no one there; just them. Is there something he needs to tell her? Now’s his chance. He says she knows him well. There is something he’s wanted to say since she came home. It needed to be the right time. He stretches the band, and says, maybe the moment has arrived. Scotty walks in, and says he came to hit a heavy bag. He might have to knock out a knife wielding lunatic. Not-Doc says leave it to Scotty to bring fists to a knife fight, and Scotty says leave it to Doc to wear a suit at the gym. He asks if they’re getting back together, and not-Doc says, no. It’s none of Scotty’s business. Laura says they’re friends, and it is. Scotty tells them about the self-defense class, saying he thinks everyone should take it. They don’t know who will be next.

Oscar marvels over his dad saving and inspiring Shiloh. Josslyn asks how it’s possible no one made the connection, but Shiloh says he didn’t know who Oscar’s parents were. Oscar asks if Shiloh saw his dad, and if Drew remembered him. Shiloh says he saw Drew, but he didn’t remember. Drew told him about his condition, but he’s made an impressive life for himself. Oscar says his dad is a great guy. Shiloh says, even if Drew didn’t have a memory issue, he might not recognize him. He put the angry boy behind him. Oscar wonders if Shiloh can tell him about Drew’s time in the service. Shiloh says he’d be more than happy to, if it’s cool with Oscar’s dad. Kim walks in, asking if there’s a party she wasn’t invited to. Kristina introduces her to Shiloh, who hopes he didn’t cause friction. Kim is glad he gave Oscar a place to stay while they were sorting things out. Shiloh says they love Oscar, and wonder when he’s coming back. Oscar tells Kim that he wants to come home tomorrow, if it’s cool with her. She says nothing would make her happier. They hug.

Sam tells Jason that Dawn of Day first filed their incorporation under D. H. Archer; a personal marketing platform. She says that D.H. is David Henry. He’s the only son and surviving child of Henry Archer, one of her husbands.

Oscar explains about the trial, and Kristina asks if it hurt. He says, no; it just made him tired. Kim sees Terry outside the room, and says she has to check on the smaller babies. She excuses herself, and in the hallway, Terry tells her, it’s time to call Drew. Oscar’s test results are in.

Drew says Julian broke things off because of a little New Year’s Eve kiss between exes? Julian tells him, don’t say it’s nothing. Alexis wants to interject before they say things they’ll regret. Drew says he won’t regret anything, but Alexis says it doesn’t appear they’ll say anything that will help Kim. Maybe they should go in their separate corners. Julian wants Drew to hear this. He got tired of spending night after night alone, but New Year’s Eve was supposed to be their night. Kim preferred spending it with Drew, so he responded in kind. Drew said he didn’t wait two seconds to ask what was going on before he slept with someone else, and Julian says, what’s good for the goose. Drew gets a text from Kim saying the test results are in. He tells Julian that he didn’t deserve Kim, and jets. Alexis asks why Julian just lied to Drew.

Sam tells Jason that Henry was one of her first big ones. He was huge in advertising, and wanted a pretty, much younger woman on his arm. She wasn’t his first, and she’s sure she wasn’t his last. Jason thinks she must have met Shiloh, but she doesn’t remember meeting him. She thinks he refused to come to the wedding on the grounds she was a gold-digging tramp, who would be taking his inheritance. He wasn’t entirely wrong. Jason says Henry must have talked about him, and Sam says Henry called him David. She thinks calling himself Hank was his way of rebelling. She got the impression that he was living off of hi trust fund. Jason says he must have known about her. Wouldn’t he have recognized her? She says, maybe he was waiting to see if she recognized him.

Alexis tells Julian, bailing after one kiss is wimpy of him. He says he’s clearly not what Kim needs. It’s a family crisis, and he’s not part of the family. He’s not walking away, just giving up.

Scotty tells Laura and not-Doc the last victim was a producer who was making a documentary about Ryan. He was a nice guy, and had asked questions about the killing spree, but that’s not the creepy part. All of the interview footage is missing. Laura asks if they think the killer took it, and Scotty says that’s the theory. Maybe he stumbled on something about Ryan the killer didn’t want anyone to know. Laura wonders what could have any consequence, and Scotty says maybe the killer is a copycat, and is trying to circumvent any leads. The police think they’re getting cocky, and will try to murder the wrong person at the wrong time, and be sent to prison for the rest of their miserable life.

Oscar thinks it’s cool that Shiloh knew his dad. Josslyn asks him to bring his attention back to his first day out. She’s already told her mom that she’s not going to school, and suggests lunch at Kelly’s, Oscar agrees, and she says, then what? He wants to go to the docks. He’s sick of staring at the walls, and just wants to look out on the water. Josslyn says, done, and he suggests following it with ping pong at the Quartermaine’s – if she doesn’t mind losing. Oscar suddenly looks pensive, and asks, what happens after tomorrow when he goes back to school? Do they know what’s going on? He doesn’t want them to look differently at him. Josslyn says, it doesn’t matter. She’ll be with him, and no matter what happens, they’ll face it together.

On her tablet, Terry shows Drew and Kim Oscar’s tumor before treatment, and the tumor yesterday. Kim takes the tablet. Drew says he’s the only non-doctor in the room. Can they explain what they’re looking at? Kim says it hasn’t shrunk. Terry says it’s almost nine centimeters, and the growth in the brain tissue is entangled in major blood vessels. The treatment failed. Drew asks what it means, and Kim says, it’s still inoperable. Oscar is going to die.

Not-Doc admires Scotty’s confidence in the police. Scotty says the killer thinks a lot of himself – or herself – but no one is untouchable. Not-Doc says no one caught the Zodiac killer or Jack the Ripper. Scotty is sure they got what was coming to them. Gail always told him, what goes around comes around, and you need to think before you act. Laura says she remembers Gail telling them that, and he says, most of the time, she was right. Laura says, Gail is a wonderful woman, and she’s glad he persevered. Scotty tells them, Gail passed away.

Sam tells Jason, whoever Shiloh is, he’s made no attempt to hide his personal history. He grew up with wealth being the chief motivator, and wanted to reinvent a meaningful purpose, making a welcoming community. Buzzwords; he seems like he’s full of crap. Jason says there are too many coincidences connected with Shiloh, Drew, and Oscar. And now Kristina. There are too many people he cares about in Shiloh’s orbit.

Julian tells Alexis that Kim chose Drew. Alexis says she kissed Drew, and chose Julian. She doesn’t want it to end as much as he doesn’t. Julian says she told him Oscar was her whole world, and now her world is crumbing. Alexis says, if that’s true, doesn’t she need him more? He says he’s not the right man for the job.

Terry tells Kim that she’s correct. Oscar’s tumor didn’t shrink, and remains inoperable. She’s sorry. Drew says they appreciate how hard she’s fought, and Terry says he’s a wonderful kid. She’s been privileged to get to know him. Kim asks how much time, but she’s not sure. Up until recently, it’s been slow growing. The best they can do is monitor it, and be available for whatever he needs. As for a timeline, it’s too soon to tell. Kim says, so there’s time, and Terry says, there is. She leaves to give them privacy. Drew says they knew it was a long shot. Kim cries, and says, it was. Drew says they’re going to have to tell him. Kim agrees, but says, he’s having such a good day. Josslyn is there; Kristina showed up with a friend; and he’s eating again. What if this is his last happy day? Drew says they can’t let it be. Kim asks to leave it one more day. Give him one more day of hope. They don’t know how many days he’ll have left. Drew knows it’s hard, but they gave him their word. It’s his life, and whatever control is left, they have to give it to him.

Laura tells Scotty that she’s sorry; it’s a tremendous loss. Scotty says Gail thought the world of her, and Laura says she felt the same about Gail. Scotty feels like an orphan. The Baldwin family is disappearing. It was important to them when they were young. Scotty’s parents always had advice. He and Laura married young, and they were there to tell him what he was doing right or wrong. Now there’s no one to remember them but him. Laura tells him to forget the workout, and suggest they go to Kelly’s for coffee. They should get it to go, walk to the pier, and watch the ferry. Scotty says Lee loved to fish there. Laura says he can tell her stories, and then it will be two of them remembering. She tells not-Doc if he wants to talk… but he says, never mind. It was just a passing thought. Laura and Scotty leave, and not-Doc looks at the band. He wraps it around a rope of the boxing ring.

Alexis says the person Julian slept with doesn’t exist, do they? Why lie to Drew and Kim that he slept with an imaginary person? Julian says there was a line he had to cross to get Kim away. Alexis says he didn’t make Kim think it was her, did he? He says, no; however, he didn’t deny it.

Sam makes circles on a paper, saying this is what they have so far. They’ll start with Oscar; he’s Jason’s nephew. Then they’ll go with Drew, his brother. Drew saved Hank/Shiloh, who is the son of her old mark, Henry Archer, and who’s now living with her sister Kristina. Who’s in the middle? Jason says Sam is, Linda Black. Sam says Kristina starts hanging out with him, and she begins getting email under her old alias’s name. Jason says it’s no coincidence. Sam says, no, but there she is, in the bullseye.

Kristina tells Shiloh that she can’t believe he took the time to come. He says all they need is each other. That’s why he’s there. He asks if she’s all settled. It’s her home, and he’s 100% committed to helping her discover what she needs to about herself. She can always come to him.

Drew and Kim go to Oscar’s room. Seeing their faces, he asks what’s wrong. Kim asks Josslyn for a moment alone, but Oscar wants her to stay. Josslyn says only if it’s okay with his parents, and Drew thinks it’s a good idea. He closes the door. We don’t hear them. We only see Oscar’s face as they tell him.

Tomorrow, Josslyn wants to take Oscar to one of those places, Franco tells Elizabeth the trial didn’t work, and Sam says she’s being set up.

Vanderpump Rules

Meanwhile, at Vanderpump Dogs, the SUR employees arrive with their pets. Lisa tells them that Yulin is starting again. The situation has improved, but it’s still going on. She’s hoping her campaign will stop the torture and garner attention. Everyone puts on tattoos saying, stop the torture. She wants all dog lovers to wear the tattoo and post it on social media. Even Kristen. The group discusses James. Everyone agrees that he should be gone, and Stassi says they’ll be able to have dinner at SUR again. James shows up, saying he’s not missing the dog event. He’s going to try get back in Lisa’s good graces. Jax thinks it takes something like this to wake him up. In her interview, Kristen says just showing up with a cute puppy doesn’t make you a good person. Charles Manson had dogs. I dunno about that. Usually people make that reference to Hitler, who definitely had a dog. Scheana blathers on about wanting to be single, even though it sounds like she has a new man in her sights. In Jax’s interview, he says, Scheana has one speed; psycho stalker girlfriend.

Stassi is getting excited about her joint birthday party, but stressed out. Ariana is stressed out about James, who is going to be disinvited. Stassi wonders what he’s thinking when he acts like an a-hole, which is 98% of the time. Lisa sees James, and asks how he’s doing. She’s going to talk to his mother, and tell her that James needs support from her. There needs to be a major shift in his attitude. In her interview, Lisa says James was only twenty when she met him. His parents asked her to give him a job. She thought he was destined for success, and feels like this is a personal failure. She knows sometimes she shouldn’t be as involved as she is, but can’t help it. James insists he’s changing his ways.

Ariana asks if Raquel is coming. and Stassi says she is. Ariana calls James over, and explains there are people coming to the party who aren’t comfortable with him being there. He asks if he’s being disinvited, and Stassi says, if Katie and Brittany can’t be at their workplace without being wary of him, how can they be at a party? In James’s interview, he says he thought Ariana was his friend, and it’s sucky that she’s joining forces with Stassi. Ariana says she wants him to come, but not at the discomfort of others. In his interview, he adds that he though she was a leader, but he guesses she’s a follower. I guess he’s not a listener.

Lala and Brittany go to a spa for a booty smoothie. Lala explains, it’s a facial for your bum area. In her interview, Lala says, the booty takes a beating, and her dude is an ass man… and a vagina man… and a boob man… He’s just a man. Afterwards, she says her booty is ready to get some play. She asks Brittany if anyone has asked if she’s worried about Jax. She heard Tom and Ariana talking about how his track record shouldn’t be ignored. We flash back to Tom saying Jax is emotional over his dad, but when it wears off, he’ll be back to his old ways. Brittany says she’s not looking past it, but it feels like a new relationship. In Brittany’s interview, she says she’s disappointed, since Tom and Ariana were just helping them celebrate. She tells Lala she didn’t have Jax’s back last year, but now he’s her family. She’s following her heart.

Beau brings food to Stassi’s place. In her interview, Stassi says after dating five months, she and Beau went to Europe. He surprised her by taking her to several cemeteries. She tells him the cheese won’t taste the same as in Italy. She tells us that he’s different from Patrick. He doesn’t use words she doesn’t understand to be condescending. We flash back to that. In Stassi’s interview, she tells Patrick that she hopes she’s not viewing this myopically, but she feels galvanized by her relationship, you effing d*ck. She’s excited being thirty; it’s a milestone, and she’s proud. She has a great relationship and great friends. Twenty three year old Stassi wasn’t grateful for anything. Now she’s thankful she’s an effing adult.

At Scheana’s new apartment, Adam helps put a daybed together. In her interview, Scheana says she’s attracted to him, but he tells her that he doesn’t want a relationship. She keeps making suggestive comments, but he ignores it. She doesn’t mind flirting with him. Maybe one time he’ll say yes. I don’t know if I’d call what she’s doing flirting. More like a blatant come-on. Which is fine, but he really doesn’t seem interested. He asks about the party, and she assumed the two of them are going together. It’s a winter theme, using Game of Thrones for inspiration. Scheana doesn’t watch it. She claims he’d said it’s her only flaw.

Lisa visits TomTom. She’s ready for it to be open. They’re behind schedule, and have a deadline that she wants to stick with, despite the unforeseen hurdles. James’s mother Jackie stops by. She tells Lisa that she’s nine moths sober. Lisa says she should be proud, and tells Jackie that she’s concerned about James. He has unbelievable disrespect for women. Jackie stops her there, saying she gets the whole movement, but when women come at James, where does he go? Clearly she isn’t interested in preparing her son for the real world. Lisa says his drinking isn’t helping, but Jackie says they’re not talking about that. She says when the alcohol is coupled with him being attacked, how is he supposed to defend himself? Lisa says, not like that, and blurts out that James lost his job. Jackie starts to cry, and asks what he did. She wants to know what set him off. Lisa is much more of a soft touch than I am. This woman is so pissing me off, making it sound like James’s bad behavior is someone else’s fault. No wonder he’s the way he is. I want to smack her, especially since she’s borderline angry at Lisa for being truthful. Lisa says if she’s defending him, it’s not helping. Jackie says she wants to understand. Lisa tells her that she doesn’t have to be there. James should be in therapy, and learning to control his anger. He has to change the way he speaks to women. Jackie says she’s working up the nerve to have balls toward him, because she made mistakes as a mother. She’s allowed him to speak that way, even to her. In Lisa’s interview, she says she has admiration for Jackie’s honesty. There’s no perfect parent, but a sober parent makes wiser decisions. Jackie asks Lisa to give Tuesday night back to James. It scares her, taking everything away, pounding someone when they’re already low. She begs Lisa to do it – for her. Lisa puts her head in her hands, and says right now she can’t put him in SUR; the way he’s spoken to some of the girls. Jackie says Lisa is his mother figure, and Lisa says, no; Jackie is. She needs Jackie to be strong for her son. I’m glad Lisa drew the line there.

We hear Christmas music, which always weirds me out in warm-weather climates. Stassi, Ariana, Katie, and Kristen go to the Almost Christmas store. Kristen explains they’re doing a winter wonderland, ice queen, fierce themed party. In her interview, Stassi says, it’s going to be stress free, and fun as sh*t. She and Ariana both love a theme, and this year, their friends don’t have to choose which party to go to. Stassi sees some weird animated elves, and says it wouldn’t be her birthday without something creepy. They pick out some elves and trees, and set up the delivery. Stassi says she’s thirty, in a healthy relationship, loves her apartment, and loves her dogs. Katie tells her that her little meltdowns don’t matter as much, and Stassi realizes she can’t have meltdowns anymore. We flash back to some of them, and she says she’s past birthday meltdowns… she thinks.

Tom and Schwartz visit Villa Rosa, where Lisa is nursing a bird she found that flew in, and hit a window. In her interview, Lisa says she thinks she was put on the earth to help every wounded bird that comes her way. She asks Schwartz to count the busser shirts, while she talks to tom. She says Tom is the only person who sees James as someone struggling. Tom doesn’t think James has ever had a close friend. The bird Lisa has been holding suddenly springs to life, climbing up the front of her. In his interview, Tom says, Lisa is like Snow White. She can nurse a bird back to health by holding it against her bosom. Lisa thinks James needs therapy. She tells Tom with the help of them and his mom, he can hope toward a better future. In Lisa’s interview, she says if James changes the way he deals with people and moves on, he’ll be fine. She wants the best for him. She tells Tom that James might not be working for her, but she’s not deserting him. Schwarz comes out, and Lisa tells them to take the shirts, and decide where the logo should go. Schwartz counted fifty-seven, but Lisa says there should be eighty-four. They recount the shirts, and she’s correct. In his interview, Schwartz says he’s always had a knack for numbers.

Stassi says everyone is doing their part to help set up the party. Kristen got the house, Brittany got the bartender, and Beau is helping set up. We see Carter using a VR headset. She tells Ariana that one of the perks of being in the industry are that they have hookups everywhere. She and Ariana get their makeup done. In her interview, Stassi says they both decided to be bejeweled beautiful ice queens, with the same hair, makeup, and outfit, so they’re not out-hotting each other. Brittany gets her makeup done, and the ice sculpture comes. Jax shows Brittany what he’s wearing. She tells him about what Ariana and Tom said. She says they don’t think Jax might have really changed, and it’s just that his dad passed away. In Jax’s interview, he wonders what right Tom has to question him. He doesn’t ask questions about Ariana not wanting to marry Tom. He tells Brittany, apparently, Tom and Ariana’s relationship is perfect. Ariana doesn’t want marriage, and Tom sees his friends doing well, so he wants to break them down. Brittany thinks he should talk to Tom. Jax says he was going ask Tom to be his best man. Why be there if he’s not going to be supportive?

At James and Raquel’s place, things aren’t as festive. James is puttering around in the kitchen, when Lisa knocks on the door. In his interview, James says, it’s like the Queen of London visiting the peasants in the old tower. His couch is clean, but he still wants to put a tea towel down for her to sit on. He says Raquel is doing some modeling, and going to the party afterward. Lisa thinks if her partner wasn’t invited, her allegiance would be with her partner. James says he’s not mad. He has bigger things to worry about. She spoke to his mother, and sees a vast difference in how she is. James says he’s proud of her. In James’s interview, he says he and his brothers would come home to their mom drinking, and it would cause fights. He moved out at eighteen. Lisa tells him, being a drunk is not an option, and she hopes she never sees him drunk again. He tells her that his dad is staying with his old roommate Paul. Lisa asks if he’s helping his family, and James says, why wouldn’t he? In Lisa’s interview, she says James’s one redeeming quality is that he stepped up to help his family. At twenty-six, it’s a big responsibility. She tells him that he’s coming across as a humble human, and it’s better than him being an aggressive pr*ck. She says she’s not giving up on him. He thanks her for caring. it means the world to him.

Ariana and Stassi put the finishing touches on their costumes. Stassi thinks Katie looks scary hot as a winter warrior princess. Schwartz, who’s dressed as a bath salt elf, wonders what would happened if they conceived a baby in these outfits? Everyone trickles in. Tom is wearing a custom-made headpiece. He says he centered the costume around it, then found a fur jacket, and the outfit magically came together. He’s the Winter Duke of the North. Okay. Katie introduces the birthday queens. Stassi and Ariana toast each other. In her interview, Ariana says she heard about Stassi’s butt shot tragedy, so she gets a redo. She bends over Stassi’s lap, but Stassi just drinks out of a glass in her hand. Then Stassi puts a glass between her boobs, and pours it into Ariana’s mouth. Or tries to anyway. It just looks messy and awkward, and I’m wondering, why are they doing this? In Katie’s interview, she’s glad Stassi is being the weirdo she is. Patrick wouldn’t have it, but Beau loves her for who she is. Scheana never thought Ariana was this into Stassi, and says, it’s effing weird.

Raquel arrives in silver sequins. In her interview, Kristen says she doesn’t like Raquel, but likes the thought of James home alone. She brings Raquel a welcome drink, and Raquel asks if there’s anything in it. Kristen says, you can’t taste roofies, and Raquel says, that’s reassuring. Beau is wearing an outfit with a lot of tiny, blinking Christmas lights, and Stassi’s mom tells him that he should have a light on his package, appalling both Stassi and me. In his interview, Beau says he’s never had a girlfriend’s mom talk about his package. Awkward. What’s with these people? Last time it was Patrick commenting on Lisa’s ass.

Jax says he’s heard Tom’s been talking negatively about his relationship. He wants Tom handling his bachelor party, and to be his best man. Tom says he was just concerned, and hoping Jax’s father’s death isn’t too much of a catalyst. In Tom’s interview, he says, Jax is a recovering sociopath. He doesn’t want the engagement to turn into something Jax is excited about, then gets bored with, and moves on. Jax says he would never talk about Tom’s relationship. Tom says he’s concerned about when the dust settles, and it’s not something that’s always on Jax’s mind. Jax says after all the things they went through, Brittany still wanted to work it out. Tom says he’s known Jax a long time, and Jax says he knows he has bad tendencies, but he’s doing the right thing. In his interview, Jax says, unlike how Tom is treating him now, he’ll be happy when Tom is engaged, but he knows that’s never going to happen. They hug it out.

The queens wear garbage bags over their outfits, and drink from a blood fountain. I have no clue what it is, but I don’t think it’s real blood. Lala wants to wear Tom’s headpiece in real life. He says she can borrow it. Stassi thanks Raquel for coming, and Raquel says she heard Katie wouldn’t be comfortable with James there. Ariana says she’d love for him to be there, and Stassi says she wouldn’t. Raquel says he hasn’t had a drink since then, but Ariana thinks it’s too fresh. Raquel says she’s trying to get him where they all want him to be. Stassi wants him to be normal, but he body shamed her best friend. Is Raquel stupid? Raquel tells Stassi not to say she’s stupid, and Stassi tells Raquel that she deserves more. When she was in her early twenties, she thought the same thing. In her interview, Stassi understands what it’s like to be in a relationship with someone sh*tty. We flash back to Jax, some other guy whose name I don’t remember, and Patrick. Stassi says she was defending him constantly; she gets Raquel. Raquel says it’s unwanted wisdom, so Stassi gives up. Other guests don bags, and drink from the fountain. Stassi gets stuck on someone else’s costume. In her interview, she says she’s more relaxed this birthday, and a lot has to do with Beau. He’s the best, and she freaking loves him. She asks if she sounds like Scheana talking about Rob. Her worst nightmare.

It’s almost 2 am, and Stassi takes off her makeup. She texts Beau that she’s tired, and asks him to come to bed. She tries to call, and it goes to voicemail. In her interview, she says she wants him in bed with her at the end of the night, so she knows everything is okay. She wants him to love her, and she wants to know she’s loved. He’s still partying and laughing with the other dudes. She leaves a message. She knows he’s read her texts, and he’s legitimately ignoring her. Being left is a big deal; it kills her. She slams down the phone and cries.

Next time, Stassi confronts Beau about her concern that he’ll leave her, the girls have a smashing party, Stassi’s mother embarrasses her, and a staff meeting is held about James.

🌴 The new season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premieres on Tuesday, February 9th at 9 pm.

🍝 He Just Can’t Help Himself…

It’s not about the pasta.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2018/12/vanderpump-rules-recap-james-kennedy-slams-cheating-accusations-drunken-rage/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

💋 When I Was Sniffing Around the Bravo Site…

I found Giggy! This pup version of VPR is very cute.

http://www.bravotv.com/vanderpump-rules/season-7/videos/introducing-vanderpup-rules

🔊 More Roll Calls…

Soap Dead

https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/remembering-daytime-stars-who-died-2018-169072

SciFi Dead

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/2018/12/31/remembering-celebrities-lost-2018/?utm_source=Comicbook.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=190101_005922_Comicbook.com%20Daily%20Newsletter&utm_content=Image

The Walking Dead Dead

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2018/12/31/the-walking-dead-dead-characters-killed-off-2018/?utm_source=Comicbook.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=190101_005922_Comicbook.com%20Daily%20Newsletter&utm_content=Image

💀 While we’re on the subject, The Walking Dead returns for the back half of its ninth season on February 10th, 2019 at 9 pm.

📺 👀 My Weekend Viewing…

Last weekend, I continued my Downton Abbey binge, but took a break for A Quiet Place. You probably already know the gist of the film. A family has to hide from monsters who find their prey by sound, so there’s precious little of it. This also makes the actors have to work at least twice as hard, so it had to be a labor of love for Jim John Krasinski, as he wrote it, directed it, and starred in it. And I doubt he got three paychecks. He and real life wife Emily Blunt are superb, as are the kids. I was impressed and riveted. Since it’s just premiering on cable, I don’t want to give the ending away, but let me say this. At first, I was like, I want my money back. Then I thought, ‘twas feedback killed the beast. And finally, I was, ha-ha-ha! Girls rule! Catch it if you can

In other viewing, we’re at the Couples Tell All point on 90 Day Fiancé, as I feverishly work on my dissertation of the season. And quite a season it was, with two couples having a baby – one on the scene before the season started, and another born during. There was witchy-poo Leida, who finally trumped Jax for worst human being on earth, and might as well have said she’s just in it for the green card and whatever else she can get. We also have Colt and Larissa, possibly the most popular with the fans, but not necessarily in a good way. I was skeptical of her intentions, since dude lives with his mother and a bunch of cats. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but come on. She’s a hottie from Brazil. I’m not sure what it is he has – I don’t see it – but I think she really wants him. Things went from bad to worse, with Colt’s cousin hammering insults at her while Colt just looked at the sky. Then, on a subsequent occasion, Colt called the police when he couldn’t handle Larissa in an argument. This turned out to be a seriously bad move. Even though he told them not to come, they showed up, and even though he declined to press charges, the state had other ideas. No surprise, this doesn’t look good when applying for a green card. They got married anyway, and, well, a conversation for another blog.

The weirdest thing was, I had a dream about Colt. We were co-workers at a restaurant. I have no idea what that means. Sundays have turned out to give great TV – 90 Day Fiancé, Dirty John, and Return to Amish. It’s a night I’d rather watch than write about, although I take notes on 90 Day Fiancé. That show is such crap, but I could watch it all day. I guess that’s how some people feel about Big Brother. I tried watching that, but I just couldn’t stick with it. Dirty John is at the opposite end of the spectrum, with excellent writing and acting.

In other news, while browsing entertainment articles online, I saw an article praising George Clooney for being “humble and approachable” on the set of Catch-22. Why wouldn’t he be? Why is he being given kudos for something that would be expected at any other job?

👰 A Taste of 90…

Those crazy kids.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2018/12/90-day-fiance-colt-johnson-larissa-dos-santos-filming-next-season-marital-issues/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🎸 I Got Those Post-Holiday Blues…

afterholiday

afterholiday2 afterholiday4

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Or work…

afterholiday8

 

Nov26

November 25, 2018 – The Whisperers Are Here, Two Thoughts & My Birthday

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

The Walking Dead

Zombies gather in a field. Jesus asks Aaron if he’s ever seen them do that before, and he says, never. Daryl joins them and suggests they circle around back with the horses, and pick up on foot. Jesus and Aaron are worried about the zombies milling around. Daryl says they should go; a storm is coming. They shove off. The zombies continue to mill. One looks up like they heard something.

Gabriel reads meditations to Negan. Don’t judge distraction; let it wash over you. Negan isn’t feeling it, and says, screw it. Gabriel doesn’t understand. Clearly, Negan wants help. Negan says maybe this is all they get, and Gabriel asks if he’s getting any benefit out of their sessions. Negan says he knows another week has passed. He tells Gabriel not to take it personally. He’s never getting out, but appreciates Gabriel. He has everything he needs. He has a window that’s as good as TV was. Gabriel says, it’s an important first step, but life needs meaning. Negan plays catch with a ball against the wall as he speaks. He says people talk outside the window like they don’t remember he’s there. That’s when he gets the really good sh*t. Rosita said things Gabriel would find interesting. Gabriel says he doesn’t need Negan to tell him how Rosita feels about him. Negan asks, who said she was talking about him? Gabriel says he’ll see him next week.

Outside, Gabriel sees a group come into the town. A woman tells him that messengers from Hilltop have said Rosita is hurt.

A rider flies through Hilltop, yelling, riders are coming! It’s Michonne and Siddiq, with the new people. Connie signs that she’s not excited, and tells Kelly to let her know if they seem suspicious. Diane (whose name I finally remember without having to look it up) tells Tara there are eight. Magna says they’ll shoot anyone who they don’t like the looks of, but Luke says, they’re solid looking; scrappy.

Michonne says they’ve come for Rosita. Diane asks who the others are, and Michonne says, they’re good people, looking for a home. She told them Hilltop might consider taking them. Diane gives Michonne a look, and removes her katana and other weapons. The others follow suit, including a reluctant Magna.

Michonne and company go into Hilltop. Michonne asks Tara where Jesus is, and she says he’s with a search party looking for Eugene. Eugene went out with Rosita, but wasn’t with her when she was found. Enid says she was unconscious when she got there, but she’ll be fine. Michonne asks how they knew Eugene was with her, and Tara says she was able to tell Aaron. It’s like the old gang back together. She tells Michonne that they’re probably on their way back already. She’ll have to wait for Jesus to get back. If they want to stay, they have to talk to him, and have to earn their keep. Kelly tells her that Connie says thank you. They all do. Siddiq tells Michonne it’s good they’re here, and Michonne says, yeah, but they yeah sounds more like, not really. She smiles; then doesn’t.

Magna says a group with a guy named Jesus running things sounds like cult. Siddiq tells Michonne that he didn’t know about Eugene, and these are their friends. Carol comes over and hugs Siddiq. Michonne says she didn’t expect to see her. Carol asks who her friends are, and Magna says they’re not friends. Michonne introduces Carol, who signs nice to meet you, but it’s all she knows. Siddiq tells them to come with him, and they’ll find out where they’re staying.

Carol asks Michonne about Judith and RJ. Michonne asks if Ezekiel is there, but Carol says just her. She’s dropping off Henry. He’s apprenticing with the blacksmith. She says he’s a good kid, with a big heart. He can see the world falling apart. She tells Michonne that they need the fair, and asks if Alexandria can’t send a delegation. Michonne says she didn’t want to turn them down, but Alexandria had their troubles too. Carol gets why it’s hard, but they’ve all lost something. They’ve both lost children, and they kept going. They’ve always been a family. Michonne says they still are, but the Kingdom is the Kingdom. Hilltop is there, and Alexandria is here, and in between, there’s a whole lot of broken world. They can’t pretend otherwise. They have to take care of own now. Carol says, it’s a shame, and Michonne says, but that’s how it is. They part company.

Jesus tells Aaron that Daryl used to come by, but never stayed. Aaron says they used to be explorers. They were looking for people, and a chance to be a part of something bigger. Maybe this is showing Jesus the way forward; the next step. He’d be a good leader if he stopped fighting it. He looks at Daryl out in the field, and says, he spent a long time keeping people away, but finding them is his thing. He wonders if Daryl will ever stop fighting too.

Daryl tells them the herd is coming for them. The wind is carrying the sound. He winds up a clock, and throws it into the field. He says, let’s put some ground between us and them, and they run.

Diane asks Carol if she can hitch a ride. The Kingdom needs her more than Hilltop. Carol says she’d like the company. Henry puts some boxes in the cart, telling her that he got an advance on his pay. He got some tools and nails for her to take home. She tells him that she wouldn’t be leaving if she didn’t trust him. He says he’ll be back for the fair. He’s going to make her proud, and she says he already has. She’s choked up, but holds it back, and drives away after waving goodbye.

Jesus tells Daryl that Aaron put the count at around one hundred and forty, and now it’s double that. Aaron wonders if it could be a different herd, or another one. The zombies march down the road, and Daryl says, as long as they’re going the other way, it doesn’t matter. We see the alarm clock in the field. No idea what significance this has, if any.

Enid sees Henry getting instructions on making a spearhead. When she talks to the assistant about something, Earl asks Henry if he wants to spend the evening with him and Tammy. He says that sounds cool, but he’s really tired.

Gabriel empties Negan’s bedpan. Negan tells him an elaborate scientific explanation about something that boils down to, every time Gabriel smells something that came from Negan’s ass, part of it goes up his nose. Sadly, I actually knew this information already. Gabriel tells him, shut up. For once in his life, shut his mouth. Gabriel says he keeps scratching. He thinks if he digs deep enough, he’ll find a person he can help, but he never does. He tells Negan that he sent Rosita out, and she got hurt. He doesn’t know how bad, and can’t help her because he has to be here with Negan. Someone has to be responsible for him. Negan says he’s sorry; he didn’t know. Gabriel says it’s bad enough he has to clean up Negan’s sh*t. He shouldn’t have to listen to it too. Negan seems disturbed.

Henry sees two boys and a girl around his age. One introduces himself as Gage. He says Henry was there during the war; he’s the kid with the stick. Henry says it was a long time ago. A girl introduces herself as Addie, and the other boy is Rodney. Gage says they’ve been watching him mope around, and Addie is seriously worried. They’ve always lived there, and Addie thinks it must be exciting to be someplace new all the time. Rodney asks about Oceania, and if it’s really all women. Henry says, mostly, and Rodney says he should have become a fisherman. Gage asks if Henry wants to hang out in the woods, and Henry asks if they don’t close the gate at night. Gage says whatever’s got him down, it’s not worth it. Life’s too short. Henry says, okay; he’ll do it.

Siddiq tells Michonne that he’s sorry he kept so much from her, but he’s on her side. Michonne knows people would still be angry, but that doesn’t make it easier. Siddiq says, it’s not too late to mend fences. Michonne says, it’s not, but she won’t. Not in the way they want her to. She didn’t make the choices she made because they were easy. At least they’re alive to hate her for it.

Rosita wakes up, and panics. Michonne tells her that she’s at Hilltop. Jesus and Aaron found her. Rosita says, Eugene! and Michonne says a group is out there tracking him. They should be back soon. Rosita says she knows where he is, but Siddiq says, they can handle whatever is going on. Rosita says, no; they can’t. There’s no way they can handle it.

The storm gets closer. Daryl, Jesus, and Aaron walk in the dark, using flashlights. That must be hard to hold along with a crossbow. Dog goes first into a barn, and digs at some hay. Daryl pokes at it, and hits something hard. Aaron asks if Eugene is in there, and Eugene says, affirmative. They lift a trap door, and Eugene comes out, totally shaken. He says he took a bad step, and dislocated his knee. They have to get out. The herd followed him, and they’re on their way back. Daryl says, they’re gone. They’re not looking for him. Eugene says they’re been there twice looking for him. It’s not a normal herd. Aaron asks what he means, and Eugene says when they passed by, he could hear them. They were whispering to each other. Aaron says, talking? Eugene says, Rosita heard it too; she can corroborate what he’s telling them. Daryl says they’ve got to get back. Dog barks, and I say, oh sh*t, out loud. Aaron says, no way it’s the same herd. Daryl says the herd’s got them cut off. Eugene is like, no, no, no, no, no!

Henry and his new friends drink and break windows. Some things never change. Henry falls over. He says if this is their idea of fun, he’d hate to see what happens when they get bored. Gage says they’ll show him now. They go outside where there’s a zombie in a pit. Gage laughs about it, and he and Rodney play ring toss, trying to get the rings on a metal thing stuck in the zombie’s head. He also has a few darts sticking out of him. Addie walks away. Gage tells Henry to try his luck. Henry pushes him out of the way, jumps in the pit. and kills the zombie. Gage asks what he did that for, and Henry says if he has to explain, Gage won’t understand. Gage is outta there.

The herd moves forward. I’m scared. They’re moving into the woods. Eugene is freaking out, and Jesus says, it’s not making sense. They shouldn’t have doubled back, and really shouldn’t have followed them to the barn. Eugene has a theory; the dead are evolving. They’re not dead in a sense that makes sense. Their brains are alive, and if their brains are alive, they can change. Daryl is like, what?! and Jesus says, it’s not any crazier than it already is. If the zombies can talk, they can learn strategy. He thinks they should split up, but Aaron says they’re stronger together. Jesus says that doesn’t help them. The only way out is to avoid a fight. Daryl and Aaron take Eugene, and Jesus goes the other way to distract the herd.

Negan continues to play ball. He notices the door move when a draft blows through. He gets up, and pushes the door open. Now what? He picks up his ball, gives a side smile, and tosses the ball behind him.

Tara tells Earl that Henry threw up on a pig, and then her boots. Henry says he’s sorry, and she says, good. She has enough to worry about and loved those boots. She’s going to bed. Earl thought he was too tired to do anything. The reek of crappy moonshine coming off him says that was a lie. He was found outside the gate, shouting. Does he want to explain how he wound up there? Henry says, no, sir, and Earl asks who gave him the booze. Henry is silent, and Earl says, okay. He offered take Henry on and teach him, but if this is how he treats his commitments, he can take his scrawny ass back to the Kingdom. Henry knows he screwed up, but the people back home are counting on him. His parents are counting on him. Earl asks, what the hell got into him? Henry says he saw his mom cry; she’s so tough. Before that, he was too excited to think about it, and understand what a huge deal it was. He guesses he didn’t want to think about it for a while. Earl says he’s been there. The minimum sentence for drunk and disorderly is two days, but he’ll talk to Jesus, and see what he can do. He tells Henry to get some sleep. He’ll have a lot of work to catch up on when he gets out.

This herd is scary. Daryl is on top of a box car, and lights a string of firecrackers. They smoke the place up and make noise. Dog barks. I’m going to have a heart attack. The herd keeps going, surprising Daryl. He quiets Dog.

Aaron and Jesus get Eugene to, oddly enough, a cemetery gate. The herd is following. The go through a spot where the stone is crumbling. Jesus tells them to follow the wall; there’s a gate somewhere. The zombies start tumbling in, following them. The gate is locked. Jesus and Aaron try to push Eugene over the wall, but it’s not working out. It’s as not good as it gets. The zombies are closing in. Aaron and Jesus stan and wait, weapons at the ready. As the zombies reach them, they fight; stabbing and slicing heads, piking and smashing skulls. Eugene quakes near the gate. The whispering zombies suddenly stop.

Michonne is on the other side of the gate, and calls to Eugene. She tells him to push as she pulls. Magna appears, and helps. Together they get it open. Jesus tells Aaron to go ahead, and goes all ninja on the zombies. Aaron tells him to move it.

O.M.G. A zombie comes up behind Jesus, and literally stabs him in the back. He whispers in Jesus’s ear, something about him not being where he belongs. I’m stunned. I was not expecting that.

Magna’s group flies out, and goes after more zombies with bows and arrows. Jesus’s killer is slain. Aaron kneels beside Jesus. Well, sh*t.

Lightening begins to strike. Looking at the zombie who killed Jesus, Daryl calls Michonne over. He looks at the zombie’s head, and cuts at its hair. At first, I think he’s scalping it, but the whole face comes away. Like that dude in Silence of the Lambs. Daryl turns the zombie over, and he’s a dead human.

We hear the words, circle round, being whispered. Dog barks. Through the fog, the Whisperers move closer. This bunch is trapped.

💀 This was the mid-season finale. Next time, there’s a new enemy and a new level of creepiness. Negan is on the loose and whistling again. AND DOG IS OKAY. For now. The show returns in February.

🌅 Mini Contemplations…

Nobody can bring you peace but yourself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why wait? Dream is now. – Sophie (Jennifer Coolidge), 2 Broke Girls

🎂 They Say It’s My Birthday…

The party in my mind…

BirthdayPup2

Probably closer to it…

BirthdayPup3

 

Nov24

November 23, 2018 – The Brain Biscuit Flour Mill, Walking Video, Mary Pat’s Head, a Wife Yes, Charm News, a Wife No, Thankful Quotes & Shaft

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

🍗 Hope a great Thanksgiving was had by all!

Z Nation

Roberta, 10K, and Addie walk on the road between wheat fields. Roberta notes that they need harvesting; they’re going to seed. Addie doesn’t know how many live humans are left to do the work. She says, welcome to the heartland, and asks what the plan is. Roberta says they’re going to find out what’s in the biscuits. Addie asks what the end game is, and Roberta says, help George get her new country going first. Addie thinks they’re more tear sh*t up types than building a nation types. Roberta says they have to make sure the right people are in charge, and George is a natural leader. As they get closer to the farm, they find several mercied bodies. Addie says they’re farm workers, and some are talkers. Roberta thinks someone doesn’t want the biscuits made. 10K asks if they hear that, a ghostly voice saying, feed us. Roberta signals them to move into an area where a bunch of cars are parked. We can hear, feed us, biscuits. It gets louder as they get closer. They hear, but don’t see anything.

A dude pops up among the cars, and Addie says he’s a talker. Robert says he might know something. They raise their hands, and walk toward him. Roberta says they come in peace. She knows they’re hungry, but have no biscuits. They can help. 10K asks, what happens when talkers stop talking? Roberta guesses nothing good. They’re surrounded. Addie doesn’t want to hurt them, and Roberta says, let’s try to make this non-lethal.

George and Doc drive up, and they get in. Roberta says, perfect timing, Addie says they got her message from Kaya. Doc asks where they’re headed, and she tells him a farmhouse up ahead. Doc says they’ll have just about enough gas.

In the fields, Pandora tells a talker, he must be starved. She knows where he can find tasty brains waiting to be nibbled. She pushes him, and says, go after them.

Doc pulls up at the farmhouse, and says they’re running on fumes. They go inside, and George blocks the door. 10K says the talkers must have been hiding in the wheat. They look hungry, and Roberta wonders what they’re eating. A farmhand comes out, and says he knows – brains. He takes off his hat, and shows them the top of his head. It’s gone.

Roberta says the talkers have been eating his brains? and he says, everybody wants a piece of Charlie. Addie asks what happened, but he thinks they ate that part. Roberta asks if anyone else is there, but Charlie isn’t sure.

Roberta asks George if she wants to talk about Dante. George says it was her fault. She shouldn’t have let him go. Doc says, that’s not true. George says he put his trust in her and what she believed in, and it got him killed. Addie says she got Dante killed? and Doc says, the vigilantes got him. They killed the captain and his guard too. They’re probably the same bastards who killed the others. Roberta hugs George, and George cries. She says they chopped him in pieces, and put him in a trashcan. He did it for her. He was still alive. She had to mercy him. Roberta says George did right. George asks, who would do that? and Addie says, humans. Doc says, maybe not. Maybe talkers. They left a sign saying, this is what happens to traitors. Addie says, Newmerica would be a better place if they got rid of the people. Doc says, maybe the zombies got it right; screw everyone. Roberta promises they’ll bring Dante justice. George says she can’t give up. She can’t let Dante’s death be in vain. She has to see it through, no matter what. She’s willing to die for a better world. Roberta says, that’s her girl, and if that’s all we got, that’s all we got.

Doc goes into the garage, and picks up a mason jar. He sniffs it, and says, that could curl your nose hairs. He dips his fingers in and licks them. Steam comes out of his ears, and he says, that’s ass-kicking hooch.

Addie looks around upstairs. 10K goes to the kitchen, and takes off the tin can hook he’s been using. His wound looks pretty sore. Doc asks how it’s going, and 10K says, it hurts like a bad mother – Doc says, shut your mouth, a reference to Isaac Hayes‘s Theme from Shaft that 10K doesn’t get. He thinks the wound should be cleaned up, but the water is brown. 10K doesn’t think they should use that water, and Doc says he has a perfect plan B.

Addie keeps looking. She opens a closet, and brings her pokey bat weapon down among the clothes. She hits someone. She says, you, and he says it looks like she has him where she wants him.

The talkers are moving fast, with Pandora behind them.

Addie says she should kill him. He says, put him out of his misery. She says or make him wish he was dead. He asks what she wants him to do, and she says, unbutton his shirt. He does, and she slides her weapon down him. He says, now what? and she tells him to kiss her. They kiss, and she says he stood her up. She waited two days; she thought he was dead. He says, you know how it is. Zombies. She sees he has a wound and asks what happened. He says someone shot him.

Doc tells 10K it might sting, and pours the hooch over the wound. Obviously in pain, 10K puts the jar to his mouth. Doc says he wouldn’t drink that, but 10K guzzles the jar down. He says he feels great, then throws up. Doc says it might take his mind off his hand for a while. Roberta asks if he’s okay, and Doc says, alcohol poisoning. He’ll be good in a day, or three. They put him in a chair. Roberta says the talkers are still lurking.

Addie brings the guy downstairs. Addie says this is her friend, Finn; he’s been shot. Doc bandages him, saying he lost a lot of blood; he’s a lucky man. Finn asks if the wound is that bad, and Doc says, no, he’s a terrible doctor. 10K gets sick again, and Doc says his next patient. Roberta asks how Addie and Finn know each other. Finn says his farmhands turned taker, and Addie helped him. Addie says, they hit it off, and Finn helped save a lot of talkers. He says, like Butch and Sundance. An aside here: I thought the scene with her asking him to unbutton his shirt was lifted from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. But in the film, it’s Robert Redford and Kathrine Ross, and he’s waiting for her in her room. Roberta asks what happened? and Finn says when they came back, Charlie volunteered to make the ultimate sacrifice to save his friends. They fed them tiny bits of brain. He had them rounded up to go to Limbo, when he was shot and the talkers were set loose. Somebody doesn’t want them to make biscuits. Roberta asks if he knows the secret ingredient. He says other than chopped brains, he doesn’t know what’s in them. He’ll show them what’s left.

He takes them to the manufacturing area, and shows them the machine that mixes brains into powder. Then it goes into the flour. George asks if they took it all. He says, there’s some flour left, but they took all the added ingredients. They’re the only source in the area. Not just for biscuits, but all grain. They don’t have much seed left, and need to harvest. Addie says, all of Newmerica could starve. They see where the fire was, and Finn says when he came to put it out, he got shot. Charlie got a machete in the head. He didn’t get a good look at them though. Roberta asks, if he had workers, does he think he could harvest? Addie says he’s bleeding again, and tells him to take it easy.

Doc and 10K come out in cowboy gear, twirling lassos. Doc says he was in a goat rodeo one time. He says they’ll round up the talkers, and Addie says, what could go wrong? Pandora says, looks like somebody wants to play cowboy. Let’s send them a stampede. The talkers move forward.

Finn tells Charlie, cue the dinner bell, and he hits on one of those triangle things, saying, come get your brains. Roberta and George get ropes ready. Roberta tells George that she’s still in shock. Some things are not meant to be seen, but she needs George’s head in it. Addie and Finn wait in a car. Finn says, it’s like old times, and Addie says, it was a month ago. He says, that’s old for the apocalypse. He’s glad she’s there. He was worried it was going to be just him and Charlie. She asks if he’s okay, and he says, yeah.

10K and Doc go talker hunting. Charlie continues to ring the triangle, saying, hot brains. He says, a little sriracha, spicy, the way they like it, and sprinkles some on his head. Addie and Finn rope some talkers. Finn tells Charlie, now, and he takes a piece out of his brain to feed them. Doc lassos a tiller, 10K says, yippee-ki-yo-ki-yay, and gets one with a net, but gets tangled up in it. Doc knocks the zombie out with a hammer. 10K asks if he’s dead, but Doc says, he’s already dead; he just stunned him. He suggests they tie him up before the others get back.

Pandora says, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Let’s nip this revolution in the bud.

Roberta and George go into the stables. George tells Roberta to watch herself. They’re almost completely turned. They see a talker in the shadows. Another runs past (I think it’s Pandora), but Roberta thinks they should get this one first. George says she knows he’s scared. She is too. It’s a scary world these days. She promises she’s not going to hurt him, and says it must be terrifying, but they have brains for him. A volunteer, Charlie, generously donated his brains until they get biscuits. They just have to secure him for his own safety. He grabs a hoe, and tries to hit George, but she gets him down. Outside, Pandora has set herself up with a gun. She says, it was nice while it lasted. She’s going to enjoy this.

10K comes up behind Pandora, but doesn’t see the gun. He says, there you are. He tells her this is for her own good. She’ll get some brains, and be humanish in no time. He’s not going to hurt her. Pandora’s cohort is behind him with a taser. They fight, and Pandora jumps in. Her crony gets 10K on the ground, and forces him to put his hook in his own mouth, but Doc has gotten the taser, and tasers him. He tells 10K he couldn’t help it, and suggests they corral these two.

The talkers have been put in a pen. Charlie asks what it is they’re doing again. Doc says they’re feeding the talkers so they don’t turn zombie. Charlie asks, what are they feeding them with? and Doc says, actually, brains; his brains. Charlie says, he’s cool with that, right? Doc says, as far as they know. Doc tells the talkers to make two lines. Pandora gives half-mask guy half a biscuit, and eats the other half.

Roberta wonders who’s been cutting off their supplies. George says, it couldn’t be talkers, but Roberta says people and talkers are easier to manipulate when they’re starving. George says they’re going to stop the revolution and bring justice to the world. Finn says, the world belongs to the dead now, and Addie says maybe it’s not theirs to claim. George says they all need each other to survive. That’s why they need a new country. Addie says, so far, George’s new country has done nothing but get people killed, including Dante. George says, maybe Addie is right, and she’s responsible for Dante’s death. It will haunt her until her mercy comes, but it’s not up to Addie to judge her. Addie says, not everyone shares her dream or her way of doing things. Roberta steps between them, and says they have no time for politics. Like it or not, they’re fighting the same fight together. They’re at war, and don’t even know who they’re fighting. Pandora watches them.

Charlie starts to sing Bicycle Built for Two. Doc asks how he’s feeling, and he says, lightheaded. BA-DUM-CHH! Doc leads him to a chair. Addie asks how he’s doing, and Doc says, not good. He keeps singing, and gets stuck on the word crazy, going, zee… zee… zee… Charlie asks Finn if it’s time. Finn says he saved them all. They’re alive because of him. Charlie asks, can he have his mercy now? and Finn says, sure. Charlie tells Finn goodbye, and goodbye whoever the rest of them are. Finn sings, and takes out the last of Charlie’s brain. Charlie is officially gone. Finn says, have mercy, and everyone is bummed

The talkers all sing Bicycle Built for Two, and Doc says, that was weird.

Finn says, since the water supply was cut off, they would have eventually died from drought. The hydraulic power that controls the flow of water was cut off after the first attack. George says it’s a Native American operation. She knows the chief. Roberta suggests they talk to some water keepers. Finn says he’ll stay there to keep an eye on the talkers. Addie kisses him goodbye.

Pandora pokes her friend, telling him if he doesn’t stop singing, she won’t hesitate to mercy him. She hates that song. Finn walks up, and says, what do we have here? It looks like they’re feeling more like themselves. He tells the talkers that after he gives Charlie a proper burial, and gathers some supplies, they’ll set off for Limbo. He thinks after dark is safer. He’s not doing well, and Pandora says, it won’t be long now before someone starts playing for the other team.

10K says his hand hurts like it’s still there. Doc tells him, it’s phantom limb syndrome. Eventually, it works itself out, and the brain ignores the signals. Roberta can’t figure out why the farm was cut off, and Addie says maybe they didn’t like George’s idea. George says they’re independent, but the is chief fact-oriented, and supported the referendum, seeing the positives. Doc asks if 10K is all right. 10K says he’s just hungover. Doc feels his forehead, and says he’s burning up; he’s not fine. He needs antibiotics. George thinks they can get help from the chief, and Doc says he knows all about Native American medicine. Together, Doc and 10K say, but we were nowhere near the Grand Canyon. They see a distress signal, and Addie says, Finn. Addie runs back to find him lying on the ground.

She moves him underneath a tree, and he says two talkers jumped him and set the others free. Addie tells him, hang in there, and Finn says he’s scared. He’s lost too much blood. She tells him not to be afraid; she’s there. Roberta goes through the wheat field, and a talker pops up. Roberta says, hey, Emma, it’s me. Emma looks like she’s about to attack Roberta, but hugs her. I’m assuming, in life, Emma wasn’t known for her social skills.

George goes through another field, and hears her name being called. Pandora crouches in the wheat.

Finn tells Addie that they had big plans. Addie says they can still do big things. He asks if she promises to keep their deal. If he doesn’t like it, she’ll mercy him. She promises. He asks if she thinks he’ll see a white light, and tells her, it hurts. He’s scared, and doesn’t want to turn. Addie tells him not to fight it, and he tells her that he loves her. She loves him too. He dies. She closes his eyes, strokes his face, and kisses him. He starts to shake, coughs, and wakes up. She says, so? He says, nothing hurts, and he’s not afraid. For eight years, every day since day one, he’s been afraid. Now he’s not. She tells him that she saved him some. The last piece of Charlie. He eats it.

Roberta and George join them, and Roberta says they rounded up all the talkers, except two. Finn says they’re probably the ones who jumped him. Roberta says, is he? and Addie nods. Roberta says, welcome back. She and George are going to catch up with Doc and 10K. Addie says she’s going to stay and help Finn get the talkers back to work, but after that… Roberta tells them to take care of each other. George tells Addie, see you in Newmerica. Addie says, keep dreaming, and George says, somebody has to.

Doc wonders where they are. He says 10K seems to be healing okay. If Roberta and George aren’t back soon, they should just head to the dam without them. He says 10K’s fever broke, and gives him some water. He hopes the water keepers are friendly. He’s shot by an arrow, says, they’ve got to be kidding, and falls over.

Next Friday – Ninjas! Spirits! Wait, what? Doc is a ghost, and enters 10K’s body. 10K feels old and kinda stoned.

👹 If You’re Reading This…

You’ll probably be interested in this:

https://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead/video-extras/season-09/episode-07/spoilers-making-of-the-walking-dead-season-9-episode-7?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=4-907-inside&utm_campaign=the-walking-dead

🏥 If You Read This On Weekdays…

You were bummed because football was on instead of General Hospital. Here’s a consolation prize.

https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-behind-the-scenes-mary-pat-death-168319?utm_medium=email&utm_source=SailthruHorizonDaily&utm_content=14987444&utm_campaign=ABCsid_ed_Newsletter_engaged_weekly%202018-11-05&utm_term=Master_ABCsid_sitesignups

🎉 Best News I’ve Heard in a While…

Which is kind of sad when you think about it. LVP is still on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

https://www.etonline.com/lisa-vanderpump-sets-the-record-straight-on-rhobh-drama-exclusive-113983?linkId=59713270

👍 It’s About Time…

T-Rav charmed himself out of more than being a cast member.

https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kathryn-dennis-files-to-modify-custody-after-thomas-ravenel-arrest/

🎃 Charming Halloween News

I love the addition of the dog as Michael.

https://people.com/parents/southern-charm-cameran-eubanks-daughter-dresses-up-patricia-altschul/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article

👎 Bad Idea…

No. Just no.

http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-orange-county/personal-space/living-with-ex-after-divorce?cid=soc_tw_Bravo_RHOC_PersonalSpace_Dish

📣 Quotes of the Week

You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance. – Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Being grateful all the time isn’t easy. But it’s when you feel least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can give you: perspective. Gratitude can transform any situation. It alters your vibration, moving you from negative energy to positive. It’s the quickest, easiest, most powerful way to effect change in your life—this I know for sure. – Oprah Winfrey, What I Know for Sure

In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices. – Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

Unto us, so much is given. We just have to be open for business. – Anne Lamott, Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers

My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus. – Stephan W. Hawking, New York Times Magazine interview

My gratitude for good writing is unbounded; I’m grateful for it the way I’m grateful for the ocean. – Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

I think that real friendship always makes us feel such sweet gratitude, because the world almost always seems like a very hard desert, and the flowers that grow there seem to grow against such high odds. – Stephen King, The Eyes of the Dragon

It has been said that life has treated me harshly; and sometimes I have complained in my heart because many pleasures of human experience have been withheld from me…if much has been denied me, much, very much, has been given me. – Helen Keller, The Open Door

They do not love, that do not show their love. – William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona

🎼 Because It’s the Second Time This Week…

I’ve heard a reference to this song.

 

Nov19

November 18, 2018 – Daryl Gets a Dog, Some Talk, Amish Return, a Dinner & It’s Here Again

Posted on by
Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

The Walking Dead

Rosita is being chased through the woods. She stops at a tree for water, but the bottle is empty. She slumps against the tree.

Daryl, Carol, and Henry walk through a different part of the woods. Daryl is carrying firewood, and drops it at his camp near the river. Carol asks if he’s fixed the boat since last time. He’s not being very communicative, and she asks when he last ate. Apparently, he’s acquired a dog – looks like a German Shepherd mix – and he says, the dog ate yesterday. She’s not talking about that.

Michonne and Siddiq are taking Magna’s group to Hilltop. Michonne tells Siddiq he’ll feel better if he says it. Siddiq says she should have let them stay. He thinks she likes them. He’s not hearing her deny it. She says it doesn’t mean she trusts them. Luke says Magna gave Michonne the option not to trust them. She and Kelly want to get back to their camp. Magna wants her knife back. Yumiko tells Michonne, sorry about Magna; she can be hotheaded. She’s been on edge since they lost Bernie. She talks about how he used to wear a horrid shirt. It was like looking into creation in paisley. Magna said it gave her a headache, so he wore it every day for a week. Magna came around on the shirt, like they came around on Magna. Michonne says, like family. Yumiko asks if Hilltop is safe. Michonne says it is, and Yumiko asks what it’s like. Michonne says it’s been a while since she’s been there, and Yumiko says, then how does she know it’s safe? Michonne says she promised her daughter that she’d get them there, and she will. They just have to trust her.

Hilltop is looking good. There are tons of crops, blacksmithing and pottery making going on, and Enid being a doctor. Jesus listens to music on an old gramophone Tara drops by. She says he’s been spending a lot of time with records. She goes over some farming stuff, other operational issues, and a couple of complaints. She tells him, congratulations; he’s been reelected leader. He says, winning is a given when there’s no one running against you. She asks if he still thinks it’s temporary. He wants to check on Tammy’s crops, but Tara says she has a list. He tells her to ask when he gets back

Daryl shoots a snake for dinner, and stabs a zombie with the same arrow after he gets it back. He’s a multi-tasker. Carol asks if he’s just leaving the zombie, and he says it keeps the animals away. She says he’s longer than he said he’d be. He says he likes it; it’s quiet. He asks how the king is, and she says he’s having a hard time letting go. She’s taking Henry to Hilltop. He’s going to apprentice as a smithy. Daryl appreciates the visit, but wonders why she’s really there. She wants him to come with them. They have problems of their own at the Kingdom, and she’d feel better if Daryl could go with Henry. He says he can’t babysit, but she says it’s not like that. Henry is an idealist, like Ezekiel, which is important, but it can be dangerous. Daryl says he has to learn for himself. Like they did.

Magna’s camp has been torn apart. There are a few zombies lurking. Kelly stabs on in the head, and Connie stomps on another’s head. Luke wields a baseball bat. Magna looks through what’s left of her stuff. Siddiq finds a recorder, and says it was the first instrument he learned to play. His aunt gave him one. He had it a week, until his mom decided, for her own sanity, that he liked painting better. I totally understand this. When I was in fourth grade, everyone had to learn to play the recorder, and you could hear the sounds of practicing throughout the neighborhood. It’s a wonder our parents didn’t lose their minds. Michonne says, for her sanity, and takes it from him. Connie signs that Luke is obsessed with saving musical instruments.

Michonne tells DJ to take any weapons. Magna thinks they should get them back, but Michonne says she’s not letting her men take five armed people into Hilltop. If they want their weapons, they can take them, but they’re on their own. If they want a chance at something better, stay with them. Magna wonders how they’re supposed to trust her, when she’s doesn’t trust them. Michonne says then they can take their chances. Yumiko says they didn’t get brought back together just to be killed. She asks if they’ll be there by morning, and Michonne says they will. Yumiko says they have a real chance for a safe place. The sun is going down soon, and Michonne suggests they find shelter.

Aaron is riding out of the woods, and gets knocked off his horse by Jesus. Aaron says, rule number one – be aware of your surroundings. Jesus says, rule number one – look up. They spar Jesus says, not bad, and gets the best of Aaron. Aaron whacks Jesus in the face, and Jesus acts like he’s really hurt. When Aaron asks if he’s okay, Jesus gets the better of him again. When they’re done, Aaron says he heard it was election day. Jesus says that’s why he’s late. There was a party, and it’s hard to get away as it is. Aaron doesn’t suppose Maggie changed her mind about the fair. It’s important for the Kingdom; for all of them to come back together. They see a flare go up in the distance.

The find Rosita, bloody, and leaning against a tree. Aaron asks where Eugene is, and she says she left him. He was going to a barn. Zombies come toward them. Jesus says they have to go; it will be dark soon. Whatever barn Eugene is in, Jesus hopes he’s safe until tomorrow,

Daryl cooks up the snake. Carol is impressed. Henry wonders if the real reason they came here was that Carol wants Daryl to be his chaperone. This guy? He can handle himself. Daryl says it will be ready in thirty minutes, and Carol says, just enough time. Daryl says, for what?

Carol gives Daryl a haircut. He knows she thinks He’s still looking for him. Carol says, is he? She thinks he should let it go, and that his hair looks better. They eat. Henry asks how Daryl got his scars. Daryl calls the dog, who he just calls dog.

Michonne is on watch, and hears something. She goes inside a stable. She walks quietly past the horses, where there’s a dude at a workbench with his back to her. She comes up behind him, and says, drop it; turn around slow. It’s Luke. He says, he can’t. He starts to turn, and she whacks at him. Everyone comes running. Luke shows them his broken violin. I think Michonne might be just a little paranoid.

Henry wakes up, and leaves the tent. He thinks he sees Daryl from behind, and shines a light. It’s a zombie instead, but Daryl arrives in time to knife it in the head. He keeps walking. He hears Dog barking, and runs in that direction. Dog is tethered to a tree and several zombies are stuck in Daryl’s traps around him. Why are they doing this to me? Introducing another animal which will no doubt eventually get eaten. I’ve gotten to the point where, if a dog is introduced in a horror story I’m reading, I stop reading. Dog is surrounded, barking his head off, with the zombies reaching for him. Daryl approaches. A half-zombie grabs at him. He goes down, and loses his knife. Henry wants to help, but Daryl tells him, get back. Daryl manages to get his other knife out, and stabs, spears, and pikes the heads of the zombies. Henry is astounded. A zombie whose ankle is held in a trap, pulls itself free, leaving its foot behind. Henry jumps forward, and impales it. Daryl finishes the job. He says he told Henry to stay back, and Henry says, you’re welcome. Up on the hill, Carol has her bow drawn. She steps back so they don’t see her.

Jesus asks Enid how Rosita is. Enid says she’s okay, just dehydrated. He says it’s weird, seeing her after all this time. She says for her too. She asks Jesus what they were doing out there, and Jesus says, training. He’s been talking to Aaron, keeping the lines of communication open. Enid says, and avoiding being there. He wants to try to get Alexandria on board with the fair. She doesn’t think they’ll go along with it. Jesus says, it’s important, and Enid says people are noticing that he’s gone, that’s important too. She knows he thinks he’s just keeping a promise to Maggie, but he took the job. Stop pretending. She’s not there; he is. Maggie is counting on him. They’re counting on him. She’s counting on him. He needs to stay there, and keep the place together.

Daryl gets dressed, and Henry looks at the scars on his back. He tosses Henry some salve, saying it’s good for infection. Daryl thanks Henry for the help, and Henry thanks Daryl for saving him. He asks Daryl not to tell his mom. Daryl tosses a stick for Dog to fetch. He says that he’s seeing more and more zombies. Henry tells him that Carol says he’s her best friend; that she had his back no matter what. She misses him. She worries about him. Can he see that? Daryl asks if that’s what Henry wants. Daryl looking over his shoulder all the time. Henry says it’s not just about him.

Luke says, unbelievable. Michonne starts talk, but he’s like, uh-uh-uh. He says it’s an original Stradivarius. Kelly says he found it in a mansion before it was overrun. It was in a kids room. Michonne asks why he collects instruments, and Luke says, it’s art. For a long time, historians and archaeologists wondered how humans survived against the Neanderthals. With them being bigger and stronger, with better weapons, why are we still here? Why did we survive? He tells her about a flute found in a cave, and how it was realized that maybe ancient humans didn’t defeat the Neanderthals the way we look at defeat. They sat around the campfire, sharing stores, and told stories in music and painting. They created communities and identities. The communities they built grew, and the Neanderthals retreated, and died out. It’s what separates humans from animals. It brings people together in building something, and you can’t ignore that. Michonne says after all he’s seen and done, he still believes that’s all it could take? Luke says, survival of the fittest. Sharing art with each other makes them stronger. Michonne ponders this.

Michonne tells Siddiq that they’ll reach Alexandria before Hilltop, and can stop for supplies if they need them. Siddiq says she should come. It’s the least she can do after murdering Luke’s violin. Michonne thinks it’s for the best, but Siddiq tells her, don’t worry about Maggie. She doesn’t know what to do if they see each other, but Siddiq says, she’s gone. Jesus runs Hilltop now. Michonne asks where she is, and DJ runs in saying, walkers; let’s move. They run out, Michonne in the lead. Yumiko says they need their weapons. Magna uses a brick to smash a zombie in the head. Zombies start pouring in. Michonne tells DJ to get the new people their weapons. Kelly gets a slingshot thing going. The horses start getting agitated, and Michonne says, sh*t. Yumiko tells the others they know what to do. Connie and Kelly work their slingshots. Luke opens the doors of the cars in the lot, so the zombies are blocked. Yumiko uses an arrow to knock an awning down, crushing several zombies. Magna saves Yumiko’s ass when a stray zombie sneaks up on her. A zombie toddles toward them, wearing a paisley shirt. Magna is sadly transfixed, and the others stare, open-mouthed. As Bernie gets close to Magna, Michonne knifes him from behind. Siddiq says, let’s go, and urges Magna to move. They all look at Bernie’s body as they go past.

Daryl tells Carol, ready in ten minutes. Hey, she’s using one of my coffee cups. It’s metal, blue with flecks of white, for camping.

The group headed for Hilltop travels on. Everyone is bummed. Michonne says she knows what it’s like to worry about a friend, and feel guilty. Yumiko says they’ll feel better when they have home, and are safe. Michonne says they will. This is as far as she’s going. Siddiq apologizes for not telling her about Maggie sooner. She asks, where is she? and Siddiq says, someplace far away; a new community. That’s all he knows. He understands she wanted the information sooner, but he promised someone he wouldn’t. This means Michonne can come. She should. Michonne says she’s needed back home. She kept her promise to Judith. Siddiq says what about her promise to him? She says, it’s not that simple. They hear horses approaching.

Two men ride up to them. They’re carrying spears, and Michonne asks if they’re From Hilltop. They are, and Michonne says her group is from Alexandria. They’re headed there now. One of the men says they have a message. Hilltop has one of their own – Rosita. She’s been injured. Michonne tells them to let them know that Michonne and the others are headed to Hilltop. The men ride off. Michonne giddyaps. Luke tells them, hold up, and they stop. Connie sees something. They wait, as she looks around, but then she signals, it’s nothing.

Daryl rides into Hilltop. Henry wonders if Enid will recognize him; he’s bigger. Jesus says it’s a pleasant surprise. He asks what brings them there, and Carol says Henry has a stubborn interest in blacksmithing. Jesus says they can help with that.

Aaron tells Daryl that they found Rosita pretty banged up, and Eugene is missing. They’re headed out to find him now, and could use a good tracker. Daryl says he’s going. Henry wants to go too, but Carol says they need to get him settled in. Jesus says he knows where to start looking. Jesus tells Enid that he should go. She says she’ll stay, but next time, he does. Dog leads the way, Daryl follows, and the search party heads out.

Next time, Aaron says he’s never seen zombies do this before, Rosita wants to leave, Jesus kicks zombie ass, and Eugene says, it’s not a normal herd; they’re whispering to each other.

🔊 I don’t know what that fair business is about, but on Talking Dead tonight, Dan Fogler (Luke) said there was something musical coming up. That made me wonder if there’s a connection. Also, Michael Cudlitz (the late Abe) had his directorial debut with tonight’s TWD episode.

🐎 Return to Amish returned to the small screen tonight, but I have to catch it on the flipside. I can’t wait to see what Mary Schmucker, the grandmother of my dreams, and the gang are up to. Some new members have also been added to the cast.

✈ My Dinner with Hervé is on HBO rotation, and Peter Dinklage is so good, he’ll make you cry. About the tragic life (and death) of Hervé Jean-Pierre Villechaize, it goes far beyond dinner. The performances are brilliant, and the story of a frustrated artist shows incredible insight into a too-brief life.

🍹 It’ll Be All Right...

Sure, Mondays are just fine if you live in Margaritaville.

 

Nov12

November 11, 2018 – Dead, Dead, More Dead & Happy Veteran’s Day

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

 

The Walking Dead

Six years later. Michonne says she’s there, and knows he’s still there too. It hasn’t gotten any easier. Days keep passing; the world keeps spinning. Years go by while they try to make sense of it all. Daryl fishes. A zombie rises out of the water, and he impales a zombie on his makeshift spear. Carol, now with long hair, smiles at a still sleeping Ezekiel. She looks at the wall, where it says, at times we crack, only to let the light in.

Michonne says they try to look ahead to a better future, but the truth is, the path has only grown darker. It’s harder to see. You can feel so lost, and so alone, and so desperate for something; anything that might show you the way. She rides into the woods, and goes to an old RV. She gets out a cigar box that has keepsakes in it. She looks at a four-leaf clover. She says, they’re surrounded by darkness. There are still flashes of light – she takes out a cowboy figure – calling to us. Not enough to light the way ahead, but enough to keep them going.

In the woods, Daryl sees a snapping zombie wedged in a tree that’s growing around it. A bird lands on it, and brings a worm to a nest of its young. Michonne says they keep trying; they keep fighting. Daryl continues on. Carol works in the garden. Michonne says, they keep dreaming. She puts the cowboy figure in her bag, and says that’s what she does, every second of every day – for him; for them. She hasn’t given up, and never will. She rides back to Alexandria.

A group looks for Judith, who comes out of the woods. Aaron asks if she’s okay. She says she heard them calling, and they needed help. The group she saved comes out, and she gives them water. For clarity’s sake, even though we don’t know their names yet, I’m going to use them. The leader is Magna – who I mistakenly called Megan last week – Yumiko, sisters Connie and Kelly, and Luke (who is also Eddie Redmayne’s sidekick in Fantastic Beasts). Luke says he can cook something fancy from roots and leaves, and Eugene says they make stew; more mileage for the masses. Luke asks if there are more of them, and Judith says, way more. Using sign language, Kelly says the sickos are coming for them. Eugene steps up and stabs several zombies in the head. Apparently, he’s learned some skills in the past six years. He says there are more on the way, and they have to get out. Judith says the group needs food, water, and medicine. Aaron says, come on.

At the Kingdom, Carol wonders if there’s any place not falling apart. Much as I do at my own kingdom. Jerry says their loyalty to her, calling her, my queen. Carol makes a face, and he says she’s married to the king, and mother to the price. She has to accept it at some point. She says if she doesn’t by now, it’s never going to happen. In a basement, a pipe is spewing water, and Henry is trying fix it. Carol takes the duct tape, and straps it around the leak. Jerry says they’re in the clear; nice work. Henry says they’re holding things together with plastic and tape; they need better tools. Ezekiel says they’ve discussed it. Henry says, he’s discussed it. He says he has to go or he’ll be late. Ezekiel says he appreciates Henry’s passion and honesty, but he’d best watch his tone.

Ezekiel watches as Henry practices weaponry. Carol says Henry isn’t wrong. The place is getting older. Henry is getting older. Ezekiel says there are others who would gladly train at Hilltop in his place; they need him here. Carol says this is Henry’s home, but Ezekiel needs him there. Ezekiel says he wants Henry safe. It hasn’t been the same at Hilltop. Carol says, sometimes you have to let cracks happen to let the light in. Ezekiel laughs.

Eugene says it’s in direct and flagrant violation of security protocol, and Rosita says she knows. They bring the new people to the gate of Alexandria. Judith promises they’ll be safe there. She takes Magna’s hand and leads them in. The newcomers are amazed. Judith says, this is Alexandria; this is home.

Gabriel comes out. A child runs toward Aaron, saying, daddy, but he tells Gracie to stay where she is. Siddiq sees the wounded Yumiko, and says he’ll take her to the infirmary. Michonne rides in, and asks if someone wants to tell her what this is. Eugene says, five unknowns, all clean, one in the infirmary. She looks them over, and pats Magna down. She says, all clean? and Eugene says, whistle worthy, clean as a-wise. Michonne asks why they’re there, and Aaron says it was his call. She says it wasn’t his call to make. Judith tells Michonne that she decided. They needed help. Michonne says she knows the rules; they all do. Aaron says, they’re here now, and one is badly hurt. Siddiq is checking her out. He says, no disrespect, but maybe they could decide together. Gabriel suggests that they bring it before the council for a vote tomorrow. Michonne agrees, and says to put them in holding. Luke does some sign language. Judith sees the cowboy figure on the ground. I think of John from the other show, and get confused for a millisecond.

Ezekiel gives Henry a hug for the boy, and shakes hands for the man he’s going to become. Henry says Ezekiel is acting like he’s not going to see him again. Ezekiel tells Henry to be respectful, responsible, kind, and considerate. Henry promises, and gets the carriage ready. Ezekiel thinks if they bring the communities back together as full partners, it will change everything, and Carol says, he’ll be fine. Ezekiel says. he sees the world as should be, not as it is. He’s a dreamer. She wonders who he gets that from. She says they could use more dreamers, and Ezekiel says they could use more people to pull them down. She says she has some ideas, and he’s sure she does.

At the town meeting, Gabriel says it’s been a long time since they’ve seen any new faces. They’re a fair community of decent minded people, but not Saul. He asks who the leader is, and Magna asks what makes him think they have one. Gabriel asks if they knew each other before. Luke tries to piece together who knew who first, and lists someone they’ve lost. He says there were others, but just he can’t finish. He starts to cry, saying, they didn’t make it. Aaron asks who they were before. Luke was a music teacher, and Magna a waitress at a truck stop. Kelly says Connie says she was a journalist, but she’s being modest. She exposed some sleazy politicians, and put them behind bars. Kelly was in high school, stressing about stupid sh*t. Gabriel asks who they are now. Magna says, a fighter. Kelly tells them Connie claims she’s his guardian angel, but it’s the other way around. Luke says he guesses he’s still a music teacher. Education never ends, not even the in face of monsters and mayhem. Gabriel asks what they did to survive, and Magna says what she had to. Kelly says Connie never gave up, and Luke says, nothing special. He doesn’t know what he did to deserve it. In the beginning, he was in the right place at the right time. He’s lucky he met the right people. Before, if you saw them together, you would say maybe they work together. They don’t have anything in common, except for breathing. Aaron thanks them. He’d like to vote, but Michonne has a question. As a community, they want to be kind, generous, and charitable, but as they know, decisions like the one they’re about to make can come with a heavy price. She walks up to Magna, and tells Magna to show her left hand. She asks if Magna get her tattoo at a truck stop, and Magna says, screw you. Michonne says it’s a prison tattoo. The four dots are the walls, and the dot in the middle is her; the prisoner. She did hard time. Magna says she can explain, and Michonne asks if she has nothing to hide. Magna says, nothing, and Michonne tells her to put the knife on the table. Magna undoes the buckle off of her belt, and it’s a knife. Michonne says she remembers; she knows they do too. She seconds the motion to vote, and walks to the door. Magna wonders if she can ask Michonne a question. Michonne says, no, and continues to walk.

Gabriel checks out the radio equipment Rosita says she thought he gave up, but he says he keeps thinking there are still people they don’t know about. He thinks Michonne is wrong. He thinks they’re good people. Michonne got a rise out of Magna on purpose. Rosita says they’ll be in Alexandria until Yuniko is back on her feet. Michonne has time to change her mind. Gabriel says, maybe. He tells Rosita that Eugene thinks if they went further out and set up a remote amplifier, it might boost their signal. Rosita says it would be a security breach. Gabriel says it would be like stumbling in the dark, but think who they might find; what else is out there. Rosita ponders this, and says she and Eugene will check it out. They kiss. I don’t think any of us saw that coming. He tells her that she’s amazing.

Michonne says she thought she was done with this talking and not hearing him answer, but she wants what he did; to protect them. Judith walks toward the room where Michonne is talking. Michonne says nothing else mattered except him. She knows this isn’t what he planned, what he wanted, but he wasn’t there. Neither was she. Judith is almost at the door, but decides to go back. The floorboard creaks, and Michonne sees her. Michonne says it’s almost time for her lesson. You know she has to be wondering how much Judith heard.

In the carriage with Henry, Carol says they’re not going to Hilltop. They hear screaming, and Henry jumps down. Carol tells him to stop, then runs after him. He goes down an alley, and sees some thugs bothering a woman. He yells, get off her! but as he gets closer, the woman draws a weapon on him, calling him her hero. Carol has followed, and draws her bow, telling the woman, drop it. The gate behind her slides shut, and they’re trapped. Savior Jed comes out with some other guys. He says he’s not good at math, but there’s more of them. He calls Carol boss lady, and salutes.

In another carriage, Eugene says Rosita must like Gabriel. She’s flattening security protocol to stand by her man. Rosita tells him to focus. He says there are more viable selects available to her. She asks if he has someone specific in mind, but he says, generally speaking. They stop the carriage stops, and Rosita says, fresh tracks. Eugene says luckily they’re going in the other direction, and they head to some water towers.

Siddiq tells Yuniko that she got a concussion, and she was dehydrated, but she’ll be back on her feet tomorrow. Magna asks if she should be, but Siddiq tells her that’s not for him to say. Magna watches Michonne and Judith practice fighting. Luke asks what Siddiq’s story is. Siddiq says he was a stranger someone took in. Luke says it must have been different then. Is there a reason things changed? Siddiq says there’s a reason for everything, and excuses himself.

The woman tells Henry that they didn’t stand a chance; she had them pegged a mile down the road. Jed comes back with the carriage and horses. He tells Carol, sorry for the inconvenience. They’ve been having a tough time since the Sanctuary went bust. Carol asks if they tried joining with another community, but Jed says that’s not his bag. She spared him back in the day, so he’s offering her the same courtesy. The horses for their lives. Henry can keep his stick, but everything else is theirs. Carol tells him, take it and go. He wants her ring first. I wonder why, since it can’t be worth anything. She’s about to take it off, when Henry whacks Jed with his stick. Jed knocks Henry down, and Carol shields him. She gives Jed the ring, and he puts it on. He says it was a pleasure doing business with her, and he meant to tell her, he likes what she’s done with her hair. Okay. Is this some SWF situation?

Judith does math homework near Negan’s cell. It’s a story problem involving airplanes, and Negan asks if she’s ever seen an airplane fly in any direction at any speed. She says, no, and he asks if she thinks she will. She says, probably not. He thinks the math problems should apply to the real world: from right here and now. She tells him some strangers were brought there, but her mom is making them move. He says her being her, she must want to help. She says she found them, and brought them there. Negan says when he was her age, he brought home stray dogs. His mom hated it, and he didn’t understand why. They were friendly and grateful. One day, he brought home the wrong. Judith asks if it bit him, and he says, not him. It killed the other strays, and almost chewed his mom’s ear off when she tried to stop it. It seemed as friendly and grateful as the others. Judith asks if he ever brought home another one, but he says he wised up. Judith says, look how great that turned out. She starts to leave, and he thought she wanted his help. She tells him, just with math. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a good or bad person on the inside. Numbers don’t care.

Eugene is up on a water tower. Rosita says, looking good, and he starts to come down. He sees a load of zombies headed their way, and calls to Rosita. She tells him to get his ass down now. He drops his bag, and he startles the horses (who seem to be the source of a lot of problems). They get spooked, and take off. He’s not even a third of way down, and the zombies are advancing. Rosita digs through the bed of a truck. Eugene’s foot slips, and the ladder falls. He drops to the ground, and Rosita runs back. His knee is messed up. He tells her he did a hard core U on the DL. She gets a crutch, and gives it to him. They go as fast as he can.

In their tent, Henry tells Carol that he doesn’t get it. She didn’t even try. She says there was no point, but he says, bullsh*t. There’s right and wrong. You stand up for what’s right, and fight what’s wrong. She taught him that; what happened? She says, him. Someday he’ll understand. She rubs her finger where her ring used to be.

Magna tells the others, sorry. Michonne set her up. She didn’t know how it would play out, and wanted them to have options. Luke tells her, hand over the necklace. She takes it off. It has pointy things hanging from it. She says they can’t just go back out there, without horses and supplies. How long will they last? Luke says, as long as they can; same as always. Magna says, that worked out great. Kelly translates Connie’s signing. She tells them not to be a-holes. Bernie would have wanted them to have this, but they’re fighting like always. She tells Magna, leave this woman alone. They need to get Yuniko and get out. If that’s their fate, so be it. Luke asks if they shouldn’t try to convince Michonne. Magna tells him not to start too. They need this; everything. Luke tells her there are little kids there. Save it for someone who deserves it. He takes a vote, and tells Magna, hand it over now. She gives him the necklace. He tells her to sleep on it. She might feel better in the light of day.

At the Savior’s camp, Carol tells Jed the stuff there belongs to people she knew. I don’t know how she did it, but it looks like the Saviors are tied up. And I don’t mean busy. Jed says they found it, and he didn’t do anything. Carol says he hurt her son, but she’s never going to see them again. She lights a match, sets the place on fire, and they burn alive. Alrighty then.

Magna watches Michonne through the window. She almost walks into the house, but sees a toddler run to Michonne. Instead, she goes to the door, and hands Michonne a knife, saying she missed one. Michonne thanks her. Magna says Michonne was right about her. She’s done things; terrible things. If she had all this, she wouldn’t trust her either. She walks away, and they have an exchange I couldn’t hear.

Michonne sees Judith on the steps, holding a gun. She says she’s supposed to protect those she loves, like her dad protected those he loved.  Michonne thinks her dad would have been proud of what she did yesterday; her brother too. Judith asks, then why not help them? Michonne says she’ll understand someday. Judith knows Michonne talks to Rick; Carl too. She’s starting to forget their voices. They keep fading away. She hopes Michonne can still hear them. She runs upstairs, and the toddler runs to Michonne. She sees the cowboy figure on the floor.

Rosita and Eugene run as fast as Eugene can run, which isn’t very fast. He says he can’t keep on keeping on. He says there’s something he’s been working on telling her; something he’s been holding a long time. She tells him, shut up; they’re making it. She pulls him along.

Henry and Carol are back in their carriage. Henry is sorry about what he said, and thanks her. She says he’s safe. That’s all that matters. We see that Carol’s ring is back on her finger. Henry asks where she’s taking them, and she says, off the map. Daryl stands in her path. She says, need a ride, stranger? He smiles, and heads toward the carriage.

While Michonne gets dressed, we see an X scar on her lower back. She takes out Rick’s shirt, puts it on, and hugs herself. Judith sees Magna’s group outside, and says, sorry. Yuniko says if she’d known they were getting booted when she recovered, she would have hit her head harder.  Connie says through Kelly that Magna had volunteered to hit her again. They thank everyone for their hospitality, especially Judith. Gabriel and Siddiq walk them toward the gate. Michonne rides up, and says, change of plans. She gives Judith the cowboy, and says she knows another place that might take them in. She’s going to escort them personally. Siddiq will be going to Hilltop with her, to keep an eye on his patient until they get there. Kelly signs what’s happening to Connie. Judith tells them, good luck.

Eugene and Rosita stumble along. They slide down a muddy embankment toward some water. They cover themselves with the mud. I say, holy! The zombies are so close, but walk past.

Next time, Eugene and Rosita are still on the run, a flare is sent up, more of the new people, Daryl, and zombies. Kind of like this week.

🔥 When it comes to Carol, it looks like the Saviors have met their match. – Talking Dead

🎭 Meet the New Cast…

And then some.

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-walking-dead/feature/a865119/the-walking-dead-season-9-cast-new-characters-explained/

💖 Thanking Those Who Have Served…

HappyVeteran'sDay

Nov5

November 4, 2018 – Happy Trails to Rick, a Little Talk, How & Help

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

The Walking Dead

In case you didn’t know, it’s Rick’s last episode.

It’s not looking good for Rick. We see a cloud of crows. We hear Rick’s voice saying, wake up; it’s time to go. He’s talking to himself. Literally. The crows turn into helicopters. Rick bleeds as he stands over himself in a hospital bed. Hospital patient Rick says, wake up, a-hole. In the real world, zombies come for Rick, who’s impaled by metal pole attached to a cement block. He takes off his belt and, screaming in pain, hoists himself off the pole. He hits the ground crawling, with zombies coming from everywhere. Luckily, the horse that caused his problem in the first place, is waiting. He jumps on, and the now-merged horde follows him as he trots away.

A smoking camper stalls on the road. Anne/Jadis/Tortellini is frustrated. A voice on the radio asks her to confirm her location, and the status of her A. She says she’s north of the junkyard, and the A is ready for transport. They know her group vacated the landfill, and if it’s a trick there will be consequences. She says, it’s no trick. She’s desperate, and needs to leave this place. She gets out, and says she’ll be ready.

Good thing these aren’t fast zombies. The horse plods along. Rick tells himself to stay awake. He drifts too close to the horde, and then takes off.

A zombie toddles out of the woods as Maggie and Dianne approach on horseback. Maggie dismounts, and smashes its head. Over and over. She wipes the blood off of herself, and says they can go.

Rick continues on. he sees a mailbox, and gallops on a path through the woods. He reaches a cabin with come face me a-holes written on the wall. He goes inside, and tears some bedding into strips. He wraps them around his middle where the wound is. He looks around, and sees a dead body with a gun in its hand. There bullet holes in the cabin walls. He passes out.

Rick says he’s looking for his family. Someone asks, what’s your wound? Rick and Shane sit in their patrol car looking at a vehicle turned upside down near the road. Shane says, idiots, and Rick asks if that was the car they were chasing? Shane says, a third man changes everything, and Rick tells Shane that he’s looking for his family. Shane says he could argue that it’s his family; it’s his baby girl. Rick says she doesn’t have his nose. They laugh. Shane admits to being an a-hole, and says Rick is one too. Shane says Rick took a page out of his book, and he’s glad Rick stepped up. Rick says, it had to be him, but Shane says that’s where he’s wrong; it has to be him. That’s the only way it gets done. He knows Rick has it in him. It’s time. He tells Rick, listen carefully. Kneel down, dig deep, and find the rage; it’s in there and the only way this gets done – and it has to get done. He can do it. Rick says he’s sorry for what he did to Shane, but Shane tells Rick, forget that sh*t. He leans toward Rick, and suddenly turns into a zombie.

Back at the cabin, zombies are spilling in. Rick busts out the boards from a window, and pulls himself out. A zombie grabs his leg, but miraculously, he gets away and back on the horse. There’s not even that much of him to go around. Why the crowd?

Michonne writes, as Judith does crafts with shells. Michonne gets a coffee ring on some of her papers. I note this because one of my bosses told me, coffee rings show you’re working hard. A guy comes by, and tells Michonne that Maggie just came in; someone opened the gate. Maggie stomps through town, and Michonne meets her at the jail steps. Maggie tells Michonne to get out of her way. Michonne asks if Maggie is willing to turn this into something else for him, but Maggie says it’s not for him. It’s for her, and for others; he should have died. Michonne says, he didn’t die; it’s done. Maggie says, because Rick decided? and tells Michonne, stand back. Michonne was there. She saw what Negan did. Michonne asks if Glenn would want this; for Maggie to go through her to get to Negan. Maggie says she doesn’t know. She never got to say goodbye. Michonne says her father wouldn’t want this. Maggie says it’s the one thing she had was knowing Glenn’s murderer would die. What does she do? Start over? Start something else? If Negan had butchered Rick in front of Michonne, and she had a child to raise alone, he would have been dead, and she knows it. She tells Michonne to stop acting like she has a choice, and she can just turn it off. It’s been a year and a half, and she can’t. Michonne says she’s going to have to find a way. Maggie wishes there was something else she could do, but she can’t keep living like this. There’s nothing Michonne can say. Michonne asks if she’s willing to live with what comes after, and Maggie says she can’t live with it now. She holds out her hand, and Michonne gives her the key.

Maggie goes inside. Negan says, she gave up the key huh? He says Michonne has the blood, but Maggie has the fire on her. Maggie asks if he remembers her. He says, of course. It’s why he thought she’d win. She tells him to get on his knees. He says he remembers her screaming, and how much he broke her when he broke open her husband’s head, Maggie says, his name was Glenn. Negan asks if she’s come for revenge, but she says, justice. He thought she’d do this sooner, and asks if it took her this long to work up the nerve. He cracked open her husband’s skull, and popped out his eyeball while she watched. He used to say he didn’t enjoy killing. It was a lie. Her husband was different. Killing him that way was fun. Maggie puts the key in the cell lock. Negan tells her to have her justice. Kill him – it was worth it. She wants to see him in the light. He doesn’t move, but says, come on, and asks if she doesn’t have it in her. Is she going to punk out like Rick? She wants him in the light. He cries, and tells her to kill him.

She grabs him by the collar, and throws his ass into the hallway. He begs her to kill him. She asks, why? but he says, just do it. She insists he tell her why, and he says, so he can be with his wife and family. He should be dead. He has to be dead, and it has to be her because he cant do it. He’s tried. He can’t be like this; don’t make him stay like this. She tells him to get back in his cell. He continues to beg, and she says, no. She came to kill him, but he’s already worse than dead. That settles it. He says, it’s not supposed to be like this, and closes his cell door behind him. I wonder if this is reverse psychology.

Outside, Maggie and Michonne look at each other. Dianne runs up and says there’s trouble at the bridge.

Rick keeps on leading the horde. He needs to find his family. He passes out, but the horse keeps going with him on it.

Hershel shows Rick the sunset. They talk about how beautiful it is, and they hug. Rick is sorry for what happened to Hershel and Glenn; everything he’s lost. Maybe if he’d tried harder… Hershel says his girl is strong. His grandson will make her stronger. Does Rick think he has to worry about her? Rick says he needs to find his family; keep them together. Hershel says he doesn’t. He only thinks he does. Rick says it’s been hard. What he wanted for him and Carl. He’s been trying. Hershel says he’ll get there, and Rick says he’s tired. Maybe he can find his family there. Hershel says, no. He has to wake up. Rick is back on the horse. He doubles over, and rides hugging the horse’s neck.

Rick is at the hospital, where it all began. He hears Morgan asking, what’s your wound? He sees the double-doors that say, DON’T OPEN DEAD INSIDE. He pulls out the board holding the doors shut, and opens them to a bright white light. He walks outside, and there are dead bodies carpeting the ground. It’s like Jonestown, but worse. He walks through them. Heavy, grey clouds loom above.

Sasha stands up, and Rick says, they’re all dead. She knows, and tells him, it’s okay. He asks, how? She says he did his part, like she did hers, and like others did before them. The others gave them strength, and they needed to do what they did, so others could draw from them. They changed each other. They helped make each other better. She tells him, it’s never the end of everything. They don’t die. It’s not about him, or her, or any one of them; but all of them. She doesn’t think it evens out, but it always crosses over to the good, the brave, and toward love. He’s not going to find his family there. They’re not lost. Neither is he. He needs to wake up.

He falls off the horse, and the horse takes off, like my Golden Retriever did when I fell in that hole. Some man’s best friend. Apparently, the horse isn’t either. Rick is bleeding like a stuck pig. He wanders into an abandoned camp, and some zombies see him. He shoots one, two, three, and the third one falls on him. Well, crap, here come more. He shoves that one off, and this is crazy. They’re rolling right through, knocking down tents, headed toward Rick. He stumbles away, but damn! Here they come from the other side. Where’s that freaking horse?

Rick drags himself to the bridge, and falls.  The zombie mob gets closer. Rick hears his name, and everyone comes running. Daryl, Ezekiel, Carol, Eugene, Maggie, and Michonne. Michonne kneels in front of Rick, and says they’ll get him out of there. She says, it’s not over. She loves him because he’s a fighter, and never gives up. So fight. Fight for her; for all of them. The others stand and watch, and I wonder how they could have possibly killed all those zombies that fast. Rick says he found his family. He found her. Michonne says, he did, and he says, this isn’t real. She says, yes, it is, and kisses him. She says, now wake up.

Rick limps toward the bridge, the zombies following. How they haven’t gotten him yet is beyond me. He drips blood as he walks. He leans on the wooden beams, stumbles, and crawls a little, reminding me of a determined marathoner. He faces the zombies. Holy! There’s tons of them. He says, no, and keeps walking. A zombie comes up behind him, close enough to touch, but an arrow pierces its head. It’s Daryl with his trusty crossbow. Everyone from Alexandria runs out of the woods. Maggie wonders what Rick is doing, and Daryl says, he’s trying to bring down the bridge. Maggie starts running around to the other side, and Rick is like, I got this. Some others follow Maggie. Rick says, too many, and chops a zombie in the head with a hatchet. Daryl shoots more of them. A box of dynamite falls and opens.

Michonne and the others run around the other way. Rick just stands there, facing the zombies. He raises his gun, and aims at the dynamite. Michonne cries out. Rick says, I found them, and shoots. The bridge blows and burns. Daryl cries. In one of the coolest special effects ever on the show (possibly a toss-up with Jadis’s thrashing machine), we see flaming zombies dropping off of both sides of the bridge, and into the water. Maggie and Carol hold Michonne back. Daryl walks into the woods. Presumably to be alone with his feelings.

Anne sees the smoke from the bridge. She fiddles with the radio, and listens in. The helicopter is coming, and she gets her gun ready. She sees the mess floating down the river, and she’s all, wtf? She looks closer, and sees Rick washed up on shore. She radios the helicopter. She says she has a B, but he’s strong. Can they help? She drops the gun, and says it’s no longer a trade. She’s trying to save a friend who saved her. She has something for them. Deal? The helicopter lands

Funky music plays (see below). Anne tells Rick he’s going to be okay. She’s going to save him. He lies on a stretcher on the helicopter, receiving oxygen. The helicopter takes off. Nothing like leaving that door wide open.

Time jump – six years. A small group of young people are in the midst of a pack of zombies. They’re slicing and dicing, but become surrounded. One asks, Meg, what do we do? Meg says, fight. Gunshots ring out, and the zombies start dropping. As soon as a path is cleared, the group runs through it, and into the woods. They find a little girl who has a gun and a mini katana. She asks if they have names, and they tell her more names I will have to learn.

They ask what her name is, and she says, Judith. Judith Grimes. She puts on Rick’s sheriff’s hat.

Next time. Michonne hasn’t given up and never will; Carol’s hair is a lot longer; Daryl says a storm is coming; strangers come to town; someone wants to help Negan; Gabriel wonders what else might be out there; hiding in plain sight; and some fancy fightin’.

🔊 On Talking Dead, we saw video tributes to Andrew Lincoln from some of the cast members. As they were recorded a while ago, Scott Wilson (Hershel) was featured. Apparently, this episode of TWD was his last performance, which certainly makes it more poignant . We found out we’ll be meeting The Whisperers, and the funky music was Space Junk by Wang Chung. It had also been used during the closing credits of the first TWD episode. You can read about it here:

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2018/11/04/the-walking-dead-space-junk-song-name-first-episode-rick/

🏃 How Does It Happen…?

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🎶 Maybe This Will Help…