(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
So what do General Hospital and the trial coverage have in common? General Hospital has been on for fifty years, and the same information is being repeated for what feels like fifty years. Seriously, when this is over, these people should get newscaster jobs. They also love to repeat things over and over.
I figured since GH is on hiatus, and this Friday had a gap (I will forever miss you, Z Nation <sniff>), I’d give you the skinny on the latest 90 Day Fiancé couplings. I am obsessed with this franchise. So much so, I can’t even recap it – I want to take in every second. While I love all of the spin-offs (this could give Law and Order and CSI a run for their money, even put together), my favorite is Pillow Talk/Watch Party, where former cast members watch the latest show, and give commentary. The only thing better than watching TV, is watching other people watch TV. The original is back for a new season, and here’s where they are, in case you want to take the plunge.
American dude Mike and Natalie, a beauty from the Ukraine, seemed to be on shaky ground from the start. Mostly because Natalie’s method of communication is to bore holes in Mike with her eyes, and expect him to know what’s going on in her head. And what’s going on in her head is ridiculous. Mike went to the Ukraine to help her get a K-1 visa, and his time ran out while it was still hung up in the process. During a joint interview, where they were asked if they loved one another, Mike was quick to say yes, while Natalie hemmed and hawed, and said love would come as they got to know one another. Since they were already engaged, this didn’t exactly thrill Mike, causing Natalie to react like a petulant child. She literally threw the ring into his suitcase, but then ended up accompanying him to the airport when she didn’t get the desired response – which was that he should put the ring back on her finger, apologize (for what, was unclear), and sweep her into his arms. She ended up accompanying him to the airport, where she continued to bore holes into him until he left. This was definitely left up in the air.
Finnish lovely Jasmin arrived in America to meet with her fiancé Blake, and so far, it’s a match made in disaster. They have absolutely nothing in common (that I can see anyway), and even worse, Jasmin is a teetotaler/health nut who gets miffed every time Blake dares to have an alcoholic beverage. It doesn’t stop there though. Jasmin refused to get to know his friends, and answered all their questions with barely monosyllabic answers. The topper came when Blake’s best friend was having a birthday. They were supposed to go to a more intimate dinner with just the two couples and on to a party, but Jasmin begged Blake for a dinner alone with him first. This wouldn’t have been so bad if she hadn’t then refused to go the party, and decided to visit her sister instead, who happens to live nearby. I don’t think it takes a Sherlock to figure out there might be some ulterior motive here. Even the sister is telling her that she’s behaving badly. I would have packed this one back to Finland by now.
American born Tania and Syngin from South Africa would be a match made in heaven, if it weren’t for the fact that Tania is a self-centered twit. Syngin has it all; he’s good-looking, articulate, funny, and a hard worker. While he’s not allowed to have a job until he has a green card, he’s still proven his diligence by doing anything and everything that needs to be done, from garden work to revamping a shed for their living space on her mother’s property. A shed Tania was supposed to have finished by the time he got there, but surprise! there was nothing done. As a reward for being such a great guy, Tania took off for 30 out of their 90 days to attend a workshop on natural healing in Costa Rica. Since this is her chosen career, and they agreed it was an investment in their future, Syngin was cool with it. He wasn’t so cool with Tania getting sh*tfaced on the weekends with her classmates, and refusing to call him when she got back to where she was staying. It wasn’t even her getting wasted that he minded, although what he didn’t see was her also flirting shamelessly with any halfway decent dude at the bar. All he wanted was to know she was safe after her night out, because, you know, she was getting blackout drunk in a foreign country. Because her world revolves around herself, Tania failed to see how this was anything but being possessive and harshing her buzz. And even though Syngin had toted and fetched for her mother 24/7 while she was gone, when she came back, Tania was pissed that Syngin hadn’t investigated woodworking courses as she’d instructed him to. Never mind he’s in a foreign country where he knows no one, has no real money, and she left him hanging five minutes after he got there. My advice: Run, Syngin. Run.
Angela from America and Michael from Nigeria are back and badder than ever. I never thought they’d last, much less be riding the Fiancé franchise for this long. Sadly, Michael’s K-1 visa was denied, although it’s unclear as to why. This often seems to be the case, where the applicant is kept in the dark over important particulars. When a visa is denied, the couple has two options. They can appeal the denial or get married in the country of the applicant, and reapply. No surprise, Michael’s family is pushing for the marriage in Nigeria, while Angela wants to be surrounded by her family and friends. Michael shed real tears while giving the news to Angela, so she hopped on the next flight to see him. In the meantime, Michael also told his friends, who have given him grief about the relationship and had gotten in an altercation with Angela on her last trip, to piss off. This is when I started thinking maybe he actually cares for her. With the two being at odds as to how to approach the denial, their reunion started off on shaky ground. It didn’t get any better when, at a gathering of his relatives, their age gap (22 years, with Angela being older) became an issue when the subject of children came up. Michael’s uncle suggested that if Angela’s one remaining egg couldn’t produce progeny, he should have kids with someone else. Needless to say, this didn’t go over too big with Angela. It’s just one more argument in the long line that is their relationship.
American Robert and Anny from the Dominican Republic are a perfect match, just not for each other. Robert has a four-year-old son who he co-sleeps with, while Anny is more interested in another type of threesome. While Anny isn’t behaving like any prize, Robert also misrepresented himself, telling her that he’d buy her clothes when she got there and not to bring anything, and saying he’d take care of all her needs. If her needs were a small one-bedroom for two and a half people, and clothing from the second-hand store, then they were met, but her dreams were a little bigger than that. While their trip to a strip club for her birthday, at her suggestion and complete with a lap dance for her, was a little awkward; him taking her to look at an apartment, only to tell her he’d just signed a one-year lease where they already were, was downright mean. He gave her a give-it-time speech, but I’m not so sure she’s willing to wait. And to be fair, it’s not what she signed up for. I’m also not so sure he wants the stepmother of his son to be quite so freewheeling sexually.
Emily from America met Russian Sasha while she was teaching English in his country. They got to know each other so well, she was pregnant by the time they were on the show. Now they’re living in America, preparing to wed, and Emily has had the baby, but hasn’t shed the baby weight. Fitness coach Sasha has taken this as a personal challenge to get his family healthy, which I think is code for getting Emily to drop a few pounds. In a bold move, he started tossing anything he deemed junk into the garbage, while Emily wailed that the veggie chips were fat free. He doesn’t exactly seem too hands-on with being a father either, and did I mention he has two ex-wives who he also got pregnant before marriage? Sounds like a pattern to me. Still, I think this could go either way. We’re down to getting the wedding dress.
American Michael met Brazilian model Juliana while in Croatia. After a rocky start, and a denied visa, Juliana is now in the US. Another couple with a big age gap (19 years, with Michael being older), Michael has an ex-wife and two children. You’d think this would be a hurdle, but you’d be wrong. His children are a delight, wise beyond their years, and his ex has become Juliana’s biggest ally, even going wedding dress shopping with her. Juliana has also been married before, but it was more of an arranged situation, where she was mistreated, and she split. There was a shaky moment, where Michael suggested a prenup (he has a few bucks), but seriously failed in explaining it to Juliana, who freaked out because he’d dropped out of her life once before when she was still in Brazil. Wisely, he scrapped this idea, and we’re at the wedding. Since I read they’re in the process of adopting her niece and nephew, hopefully, this one lasts.
The one that already didn’t last was Anna from America and Mursel from Turkey. I would have bet the farm on this one at the beginning too. Drawn together online with a shared love of beekeeping, neither one knew the other’s language when he arrived to begin the 90 days. Her two sons weren’t thrilled, mostly the older one, but how could two beekeepers not make it? They were so cute together in their bee suits. Anna had picked out her dress, when she decided Mursel keeping her children a secret from his family was a no for her. She insisted he tell them, and the reaction was not good. During FaceTime with his mother, Mursel got honest, and his mother told him to come home, saying that Anna was no good. As if this wasn’t bad enough, he made it sound like he’d just found out, when he knew all along. When his mother called Anna a deceptive liar, he made no move to correct her. No matter how much Anna cried and begged, Mursel packed his bags, and went home to mommy and daddy. The worst part was, as he was headed to the plane, he turned around and came back to Anna. Both Anna and the viewers thought he’d changed his mind, but he had only returned for another tearful goodbye. I’m all for respecting one’s family, but he’s 35.
I’m using the fact that she was on GH to justify including this, but I swear, every time I see Donna Mills, I’m startled. She’s nearly 80, and doesn’t look much different than she did when she was on Knots Landing. Either she has one helluva plastic surgeon or miracle genes.
We are all equal in the fact that we are all different. We are all the same in the fact that we will never be the same. – C. JoyBell C.
The individual who says it is not possible should move out of the way of those doing it. – Tricia Cunningham
Hey, fellas – stop manspreading. – Awkwafina, the new voice of an NYC subway train. And the voice of reason.
Always forgive, but never forget, else you will be a prisoner of your own hatred, and doomed to repeat your mistakes forever. – Wil Zeus
Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have. – Doris Mortman
If you have a boy, you only have to worry about one penis. If you have a girl, you have to worry about them all. – Herb (Ryan Stiles), Two and a Half Men
I am not good at noticing when I’m happy, except in retrospect. – Tana French
If you ask me I don’t think there are any such things as curses. I think there is only life. That’s enough. – Junot Diaz
Luck affects everything. Let your hook always be cast; in the stream where you least expect it there will be a fish. – Ovid
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Jason visits Sam at Pentenville. She tells Jason they have to focus on two things for her parole hearing. One is her good behavior. Jason asks if there’s been any problems, and Sam says, not really, but there is her cellmate. The other thing is, they want her to take responsibility for her crimes.
On the phone, Sonny asks how long it will take the doctor to determine if Mike is right for the study. He says, the sooner the better. He’ll be waiting to hear. Michael comes down, and Sonny says he’s enrolling his dad in a clinical trial. It’s not a cure, but it might help. He asks if Michael doesn’t think it’s a good idea, and Michael says, sorry; he doesn’t. Does Sonny really think taking Mike halfway around the world is the right thing to do?
At Turning Woods, Mike stares into space. Josslyn comes in, and sees Dev is there. He says, she made it. Mike tells her, keep it down. This kid is breaking him out.
Willow tells Brad that she doesn’t want to intrude, but she’s there for him. Whatever he and Wiley need.
Monica says she wanted to give Bobbie a moment to rest, and Bobbie thanks her for keeping a close eye on Lucas. It’s a comfort, and important to her family, and her.
Carly asks if Julian and Brook know each other. Brook says they met briefly. Julian thought she was a hooker.
At Pentenville, Chase hears a scream. He runs into the infirmary, and finds Nelle on the floor, with Ryan standing over her, holding a bloody scalpel. Ryan says, this isn’t what it looks like.
Michael tells Sonny that he loves his grandpa, and wants the best for him. Sonny says that means he doesn’t give up. There are breakthroughs all the time. It can’t cure the disease, but it can stop it from getting worse. Michael says he’s done some reading, and Sonny says he forgot who he was talking to. Michael says the results are promising, but Sonny should ask himself if hanging on is what Mike would want.
Josslyn says Dev is breaking Mike out? and Dev says, that was the plan, but the busses have stopped running. Mike says he needs to get to the track. He needs to pick up a quick fifty for his son’s birthday. Dev says if he’s looking for action, there are checkers on the table. Mika laughs, and says he needs to get to the track. Josslyn says, does he? Or is he just afraid Dev will beat him? Mike says, set ‘em up. He’s going to show Dev what’s what.
Sam tells Jason that she basically told the judge the same thing. She killed Shiloh because she felt there was no other choice. If circumstances were the same, she’d do the same thing again. She came close to getting on the table, and screaming that she wanted to be home with her kids. He says he doesn’t know if it will help, but she focuses better than most people, and she’s got to stay focused on what’s in front of her. Make it through today, then make it through tomorrow. She says, it sounds like a 12-step program, and he says every day she’s one day closer to coming home. When that day is there, he, Scout, and Danny will be waiting for her. They touch palms against the glass between them.
Nelle wails, why did Ryan stab her, and he says he was trying to help. The guard says, the inmate is secure, and Nelle calls him a psycho freak. Chase tells the nurse that Nelle has one kidney. Nelle asks why Ryan did this to her? She tells Chase, don’t let her die, and Chase says he won’t. Ryan says, you two. So cute together. I’m kind of liking his unshaven Miami Vice look.
Sonny tells Michael that his dad isn’t dead. He still has good days ahead. Michael says, he’s not himself. He’s not grandpa anymore. Mike used to live there, and on Thanksgiving, he didn’t know the house. It was like he’d never been there. At what point is a familiar place not safe? What will it be like in a strange country, giving treatment to someone whose disease is past the point of no return? Sonny says, that’s for doctors to decide. If he’s gone too far, they won’t take him. If they do, there’s hope. Michael says he sees Sonny has made his mind up, and Sonny asks what Michael wants him to do. Michael says, next time he’s with Mike, ask himself if the person he’s hanging onto is the man Mike wanted to be.
Dev tells Mike that he’s killing him, and jumps his own checkers with Mike’s. He tells Mike it’s his turn, and Mike asks if Josslyn is there to see him. She says, of course (🍷), and he says a pretty girl there to see him; that’s something. He tells Dev that he asked for it, and jumps the rest of Dev’s checkers. Dev says Mike trounced him, and Mike says it must be his night. What say they up the stakes and play some craps?
Jason goes to the Quartermaine mansion, and asks if Ned heard anything about Sam’s parole hearing. Ned says the first thing Jason needs to understand is, the board is incorruptible. There are no leaks, and it will take as long as it takes. Jason asks if Ned can talk to someone; no pressure, just a conversation. Ned says he’s a prominent citizen, and used to be mayor. If he asks a favor, there’s no quid pro quo. He can’t try to influence the outcome. It all has to stay above board.
Alexis visits Sam, who says she just missed Jason. Alexis asks if he’s been visiting regularly, and Sam says he has. Alexis asks how Sam is, and she says, frustrated. She wants to be home with the people she loves. Alexis asks how the hearing went, and Sam says it’s the same thing she told Jason. The judge just wants her to take responsibility for her crimes. She’s been a model prisoner, and that’s saying a lot since Cassandra is there. It’s lucky Sam hasn’t attacked her. She thinks the board took into consideration that she saved a guard, but that can only get her so far. Alexis tells her, try to be patient. Sam says she knows. What other choice does she have?
The nurse tells Chase, the ambulance is on its way from GH. He asks what Nelle was doing there, and the guard says, she’s on laundry duty. She was bringing in towels. Ryan says he can’t resist a pretty girl. It was the perfect storm; desire, bloodlust, and linens. Chase says Ryan is serving consecutive lifetimes, and Ryan says Chase is smarter than he looks. Chase says, goodbye, Mr. Chamberlain, and Ryan says, it’s Dr. Chamberlain. Chase is pretty sure Ryan lost his license, but Ryan says, while the MP is out, the PhD is forever. Give Nelle his best when he sees her.
Monica tells everyone that they’re going to try again to wean Lucas off the ventilator so he’s breathing on his own. They’re also going to taper off his medication, in hopes he comes out of it. Brook says, that’s good, right? and Monica says, it’s part of the process. The next few hours will be an indication of responsiveness, since he’ll have no sedation. Julian says, what if he’s not responsive? and Monica says, one step at a time. She’ll keep them posted. Brook says she’s going to find Bobbie, and Carly says she’ll get some food for her. Willow sits with Brad, and asks if he’s okay. It’s very promising. Brad says if he had a do-over, he’d make better choices. She says, about what? and he says he wishes he could take back everything that landed them in the car in the first place. She says, it was horrible, but it was an accident. What happened isn’t his fault. Julian listens in.
Brook finds Bobbie, and they hug. Bobbie says she came. It will be so nice for Lucas to have someone around that he grew up with. Brook says, Lucas grew up. Her, on the other hand… Bobbie says, wait until he wakes up. He’ll be so happy to see her. Brook says, her too.
Sonny says he doesn’t love what Michael is saying, but respects him saying it. Michael says, other people’s problems are easier to deal with than your own, and Sonny says, any problem in particular? Michael says, between the two of them, he’s been stalling deals at ELQ. They think he’s playing hardball, but he really hasn’t had enough time to prep. The few moments he has at his computer, he can hardly stay awake. Sonny says that’s because he’s trying to be all things to all people all at once. He can’t take care of everybody. He needs to take care of himself. Michael says, Wiley comes first, and Sonny says, Wiley is taken care of. Michael needs rest and sleep. He asks if Michael wants to stay there, but Michael says he’ll just get up when he hears Wiley. Sonny says it’s up to Michael, but he appreciates the straight talk about his dad. Sonny knows he doesn’t always make it easier, and Michael says, it helps that he’s not afraid of Sonny. Sonny asks, why would anyone be afraid of him? Michael says he can’t imagine. He tells Sonny that he loves him, and apologizes for being so hard on him. They hug, and Sonny says, it’s a lot harder on his dad.
Jason tells Ned that he’s not asking for a favor, and Ned says, good. That’s the quickest way to torpedo any chance of Sam getting out. Jason asks if there’s any way at all Ned can help, and Ned says if the board finds Sam worth of release, he can suggest they expedite it, if appropriate. Jason asks what the time frame is, but Ned says, the deliberation will take as long as it takes. If Jason wants to risk calling in his own favor to someone who owes him a debt, it’s his decision. Otherwise, he suggests being patient. Let it happen the way it’s supposed to happen.
Willow asks if there’s anything she can get Julian. He says, no, but he appreciates her being there. She says she needed to do something, and hopes she’s not in the way. He thinks Lucas would be touched at how well she’s taking care of his crazy family. Willow says there’s no place she’d rather be. Maybe he can give her some advice. He says he’ll try, and she says, Brad is holding himself responsible. It doesn’t matter what anyone says; he thinks it’s his fault, and she can’t reason with him. What she’s asking is, would Julian speak to him? Knowing Julian doesn’t blame him might help. Julian says he’ll talk to Brad, and try to make him understand why it happened.
Sonny goes to Turning Woods. Mike is ready to throw the dice, and says, papa needs a new pair of shoes. He gets a seven, and Sonny asks if it’s a private game, or can anybody play? Mike jumps up, and yells, stay away from my son, you SOB.
Nelle is wheeled into GH on a gurney. The nurse says she has a single stab wound to the abdomen and possible kidney damage. Nelle says please don’t let her die. Carly watches, and she’s like, whaaat?
Sam tells Alexis, the most aggravating thing is, Shiloh is dead, but they’re still fighting him. Alexis says, it’s unfair, and Sam says she keeps thinking about how it began. It started with her.
Jason tells Ned that he’ll stay the course. Ned was hoping Jason would see it that way. He’s really glad Jason came to see him. Grandfather used to say, family first, then business. Jason says, especially in business. He asks Ned to let him know if he hears anything. Michael arrives, and asks if everything is okay. Jason says, it’s fine, and asks how Lucas is. Michael says, there’s been no change, and Jason says he’s going to the hospital to check in. Michael asks him to let Carly know he’ll be there soon. He has ELQ business to finish. Jason leaves, and Ned says, forgive him, but Michael is looking ragged. Michael says he has a lot on his plate, and Ned says, the family is a rock, and business is a hard place, and there Michael is being crushed in between. Michael says, Ned speaks from experience, and Ned says he’s been where Michael is. ELQ, Lucas, and Wiley; it’s a lot. Let him help. Michael asks in what way, and Ned says since he lost the election, he’s had nothing but time on his hands. If Michael needs him to pick up the slack at ELQ, he’s available. Michael asks if Ned wants to take over ELQ.
Carly tries to go into the room where Nelle is, but a guard says she can’t. She says the woman in there used to be her daughter-in-law. Can he tell her what happened?
The doctor tells Nelle that he’s going to do an ultrasound to see how extreme the injury is. She tells him to hurry.
Carly tells the guard that she knows what confidentiality is. She sees Chase, and he asks how her brother is. She says, they’re cautiously optimistic, and asks what Nelle is doing there. He says, Ryan stabbed her, and she asks how he got access to her. Who thought it would be a good idea to put them together? He says, Ryan might have nicked her kidney. If he did, it’s a big deal; if not, they’ll stitch her up, and it’s back to Pentenville. Carly says, the sooner, the better. Chase goes in, and asks, how bad is it?
Mike tells Sonny, he doesn’t want him around there. Sonny says he doesn’t have to play; he’ll go. Josslyn tells Sonny not to leave. She says, he’s just a friend, and Mike says she’s new around there. Stay away from this guy; he’s filth. He tells Sonny, stay away from his son. His son could lose his life working for him – Joe Skully.
Josslyn tells Mike, good news; there’s been a mistake. He’s not Skully. Mike says, he is. He knows Skully when he sees him. Josslyn says he looks like Skully, but he’s not. She didn’t realize it when she invited him. Mike says she invited him? and Josslyn says, she and Dev both did. They wanted more players for craps. Dev says their friend’s name is Sonny, and Josslyn says, he’s a good guy. That’s why they decided to invite him. They thought he and Mike might hit it off. Mike tells Sonny, come sit with them. He’s sorry he got a little rough. He thought Sonny was someone else. Mike asks if Sonny knows Skully; he’s garbage. Sonny says he thought Mike was being too nice, and he and Mike laugh. Mike says he likes their friend. He was just looking out for his guy. He puts his arm around Dev. He asks if Sonny has kids, and Sonny says he does. Mike says, then he knows. They’re just playing for pennies; nothing serious. Sonny says, pennies work. Dev and Mike set up the game, and Josslyn asks if Sonny is okay. Sonny says, it’s just the disease talking.
The doctor tells Nelle, good news. There’s been no damage to her kidney. Chase asks, what’s next? and the doctor says he’ll patch up the wound, and she’s all his. Chase says he can’t wait. Nelle thanks the doctor, and he leaves. She says she knows things between her and Chase aren’t great. He says he doesn’t know what she means. Sure, she killed her fiancé, trashed his career, and almost killed one of his best friends, but it’s water under the bridge, right? She says he can be as standoffish as he wants, but he wouldn’t be there if he didn’t care. He says he does care; he needs her statement. She asks if he’s sure that’s all it is, and he says, pretty sure. The guard at Pentenville said she was delivering towels. Is that why she was in the infirmary? She says that’s her job. She’s proving she’s a good citizen, and has changed her ways. He says, yes or no, and she says, yes. She has two jobs, in the kitchen and in the laundry. He asks her to describe the attack, and she says she came in to restock towels, and Ryan was there by himself. When she dropped the towels off, and tried to get past him, he grabbed her. He ordered her to try and help him escape. He was going on about Ava, and Nelle was supposed to wheel him out in a laundry bin to the loading dock or he’d hurt her. Chase says, then what? and she says she obviously couldn’t let that happen, so she tried to get away and alert the guard, when he stabbed her. If Chase hadn’t come in when he did, she wouldn’t be there. He saved her life. He walks out, and Nelle doesn’t look happy.
Ned tells Michael that he was offering to pinch hit, not take over, and Michael says he was just kidding. Ned says Michael has a lot of plates in the air, and they’re all full. Once Lucas is in recovery, and things with Wiley are normalized, he’ll hand back the reigns. Michael says what Ned is suggesting is exactly what he was going to ask. He can’t do right by his family or ELQ if he overextends himself. He appreciates Ned picking up some of the work load. Ned says it’s his pleasure, and they shake hands. Ned tells Michael to have his office forward the necessary documents, and he’ll schedule a briefing to bring him up to speed. There is one issue they need to take care of sooner than later. The disposition of Oscar’s shares of ELQ.
Willow tries to hand Brad a protein bar, and says, eat this, but he says he can’t think of food right now. She says he has to keep up his strength. Lucas would want him to. He asks how she knows what Lucas would want, and she says, he’s right. Lucas wants him to pass out from hunger and lack of sleep when he wakes up. Brad says he knows she’s trying to help, and she says she knows they were going through a rough patch. He says that’s none of her business, and she asks if that’s where this is coming from. She wouldn’t have trusted them with Wiley if she didn’t think they’d be good parents. He tells her, stop being so damn nice to him. She doesn’t know the truth. He sees Julian standing there. Chase comes over, and Willow asks why he’s there. He says he was taking a statement from Nelle.
Mike says he had the luckiest streak ever, but Josslyn says, it was more than luck. It was his lethal combination of skills and expertise. Mike says he hates to play and run, and Sonny says Mike cleaned them out. Mike tells Dev to be a gentleman, and see Josslyn home. She can come back whenever she feels like it. She says she’ll do that. Mike says he’s tired, and tells Sonny, it was nice to meet him. Sonny says it was nice to meet Mike too. Mike goes to the desk, and Sonny asks Josslyn and Dev if they could wait outside. Josslyn tells Dev, that was kind of amazing; changing the craps rules so Mike would win every time. Dev says he was just following her lead. She’s amazing. They smile at each other. Mike tells Sonny, this where he gets off, and Sonny says he’ll walk Mike the rest of the way. Mike says his kid was right. Sonny is okay. If he wants to come back, he can do that.
Ned tells Michael, the lawyers think they’re close to solving the probate issues. Michael says, Shiloh is dead, and Oscar wanted the shares to go to the Kilimanjaro Foundation; it seems pretty straightforward. Ned says, the foundation will be funded, with or without the shares. The family will make sure of that. He’d like to acquire the shares for Olivia and Leo, and Michael asks if Ned wants to buy the shares, and Ned says, that’s the idea. Michael says there’s another scenario they haven’t considered. Shiloh was Wiley’s biological father. If probate decides that the shares were legitimately Shiloh’s, Wiley is his next of kin. If they go to the foundation, the family can reacquire them. Ned says he doesn’t think his grandfather’s stipulation was meant to go on in perpetuity. They’re not Shiloh’s shares anymore. Michael says that points back to the question of Ned buying them for Olivia and Leo. He’s too tired to think right now; let him sleep on it. Besides, the shares are still tied up in probate, so there’s no reason to rush. They’ll talk soon. Ned tells Michael, get some sleep.
Monica says, good news. Lucas is off the ventilator, and breathing on his own. Bobbie asks if he’s responding to stimuli, but Monica says, not yet. Although it’s not uncommon in cases like his. Julian asks, how long until Lucas wakes up? and Monica says they’re keeping a close eye on him. The next 24 hours are critical. Julian asks, why? and Bobbie says, the longer he stays in a coma, the less chance he has of waking up.
Alexis tells Sam not to blame herself. None of it is her fault. Sam says she’s been on Shiloh’s radar. DoD wouldn’t exist if she hadn’t drained his father’s bank account. Alexis says Shiloh would have been a predator no matter what, but Sam says she put it in motion, and her kids are suffering for what she did.
Brad asks what Chase means; Nelle is there. Chase says, Ryan stabbed her, and Brad asks if it’s life threatening. Chase says, he regrets to inform Brad, she’s going to recover. Brad says she belongs back behind bars, and Chase says, she will be, as soon as he can get her back. Brook watches them.
Carly tells Jason, it’s not fair. He says he knows, but there’s nothing they can do. She says, it’s wrong. Nelle killed her fiancé, almost killed Michael, and made her family’s life a living hell. Now her brother is fighting for his life because of another psycho. It’s wrong.
Nelle makes a call, and tells the guard that her family is going to be relieved to hear from her. She says, voicemail, and asks if he minds giving her privacy. He goes out to the hallway, and she says, Marty. It’s your favorite client. He’ll never guess where she is.
Tomorrow, Charlotte recognizes someone, Curtis tells Laura that it’s time to look closer to home, Peter says he did what he had to, and Sonny says Carly and Jax have been lying to him for weeks.
👠 On Project Runway, the designers were met with a giant door. Karlie Kloss popped out, and explained that their challenge was going to be inspired by the reimagined world of Cats. She told them that the latest perspective was that animal prints were the new neutral. I don’t think so, but okay. The contestants’ task was to create a chic street style look that was a fresh take on animal prints. Dayoung became ill, and was carted off, but she rallied the next day. Apparently, it was exhaustion and stress, that I’m sure was added to by her two-day challenge becoming a one-day challenge. Surprisingly, the other designers who had extra time, came to Dayoung’s aid and helped her finish. Except for Delvin, who just danced around. I thought most of the designs were pretty interesting, as well as wearable. Veronica, who hadn’t counted on some of the problems she grappled with, ended up making a romper that I thought was kind of cute, but Brandon said it was like an exotic diaper he didn’t want to see anyone wearing. Victoria continued to call faux leather fox leather, so I guess no one is going to correct that. I wasn’t crazy about her design, which had some kind of crisscross mess going on. Brandon said it looked like a snake had crawled into the garment. Victoria and Veronica both ended up the bottom two. One of the judges remarked that Marquise’s design was the only one they could actually see women wearing on the street. It was a sort of skort/blouse combo that definitely worked, except I don’t like when a garment has an uneven hem. I don’t mean a high/low or a handkerchief hem – love those – but this was like a sharp four inch difference on one side of the skirt, skort, or whatever it was – like a half shorts, half skirt is the best I can describe it. So, not for me. Maybe Delvin made the right choice by being selfish, since he ended up in the top two, along with Marquise, presenting a gorgeous peacock feather print coat dress. During the deliberation, Brandon suggested, rather than having been inspired by Cats, Veronica’s outfit was for the woman who has a cat. Meow! What’s interesting – although it might apply to a lot of competition shows – is that some of the designers have a definite presence. Like I (almost) know their names already. Yet some of the others seem invisible. When writing, I often refer to the photo list for the season (I’ve said it before, I suck with names, and think everyone should always wear a nametag), and I wonder where they were on the show. Tyler was a good example. Even though he was a low scorer, he got through, and I think it’s because of his power to wear the cloak of invisibility. Marquis was the big winner. One perk of winning is having the design manufactured, and sold on Bravo’s site, which I could see with this design and also last week’s jumpsuit. I’d even buy the jumpsuit, but I’m pretty sure it’s out of my Old Navy price range. Veronica was out, the judges feeling her garment was unfinished and not street enough, but it was a double-edged sword for her. She wanted to get home to her kid, but wishes she’d made it all worthwhile. I thought, she made it onto the show, and got her name out there. Isn’t that worthwhile? She did add, if you can walk away with being proud of who you are, you really did your best. So isn’t that worthwhile? Next time, the designers have an unconventional materials challenge, using Christmas decorations and wrapping.
🏡 Watch What Happens Live was a blast, the guests being the original case of The Brady Bunch, who have a gig going on HGTV. They began with the theme song, changing it to The Shady Bunch, and I literally lol’d. Susan Olsen (Cindy Brady) gave a wonderfully insightful quote, when Andy asked if the show jumped the shark by introducing another child. A show is already in the toilet when you add a new cute kid. They just flush.
💃 Moving On…
I’m kind of surprised the court hasn’t politely asked Larissa to leave the country. Not that I think she should. I don’t think Coltie and his mommy treated her very well, and she should get a do-over. I’m just thinking, Juicy Joe committed a white collar crime, and has to put an ocean between himself and his family. It doesn’t seem very fair.
🚧 Due to pre-Christmas obligations, I’m not sure when Friday’s GH recap, et al, will be posted. I’ll try for Friday night (really the wee hours of Saturday morning), but it might have to wait until Saturday, depending.
🎁 Can’t Return This Present…
I don’t know if this would be considered a holiday song, but it’s certainly a gift. Warning: Inappropriate in every way.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
Dante flashes back to being with Alpha. She says she doesn’t care about his past; they all have a past. None of it matters now. He did well, but she needs something more; eyes inside the walls. He’s the kind of man she trusts. Practical, loyal, and smart. The kind of man her daughter should get to know. He asks where he should start, and she says, find some strangers and join them. We see him walking in the woods with the Whisperers. He moves ahead, takes off his mask, and for help. He acts like he’s fighting them off, and a group of people runs to his aid. We hear Alpha say, go to the gate. They won’t turn you away. We see him arrive at Alexandria with the people he’s hooked up with, and Siddiq examining him. Alpha’s voiceover tells him to make them think he’s one of them. We see him leave a message in a small box and hide it in a tree. Alpha says, exploit their weaknesses until they crumble. We see him messing with the water filtration system, and killing Cheryl. Alpha says, do all this, and they’ll welcome him home when they fall. He has a special place in her heart. She puts her palm on his chest.
In the present, Dante checks for Siddiq’s pulse, and closes Siddiq’s eyes. Rosita comes by, and asks if Siddiq is awake. She saw the light on. They make small talk in Spanish, and she asks, what’s happening? Dante jokes that he and Siddiq have a hot romance going on. Really, they were just hanging, and Siddiq got called out. Something about Andy and Donna’s kid throwing up. She just missed him. He asks if he can help with anything, and Siddiq opens his eyes. Coco cries, and Rosita sees that Dante has a knife. She puts Coco in the tub without taking her eyes off of him. She tries to go past Dante, into the room where Siddiq is, and they struggle. Dante gets her down, and Siddiq comes out and walks toward the crying baby. Dante tries to strangle Rosita, but she stabs him in the leg. She jumps up, pikes Siddiq in the head, then beats the crap out of Dante. She picks up Coco, and tries to process Siddiq turning into a zombie.
Gamma meets Aaron, and he asks if she’s all right. She asks if the baby is still alive. He asks if she means the baby they rescued from Hilltop, and she says, yes; he’s her nephew. Did they name him? Her sister couldn’t do it. He says, the family who adopted him named him Adam. She asks if she can see him, and Aaron says, they left him to die. Why should he agree to that? She says they can trade. She has information for him. He asks, whatinformation? If he sees it’s true, then they’ll talk, but he’s not promising anything. She says she’s not talking unless she can see him. He’s the only family she has left. He tells her to take off her mask. She does, and says, before all this, her name was Mary. He asks what she wants to tell him.
Daryl slugs Dante, and says he hopes it hurts. Dante says, it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. Seeing humans devour each other showed him it was ridiculous to attach yourself to anyone. The truth will set you free. Gabriel asks if that’s what he’s doing to Rosita. Setting her free. Why did he put Siddiq through all that torture just to kill him? Dante says he liked Siddiq. He wasn’t part of the plan, but he found out who Dante was. Carol asks what the plan is, and he says to increase their paranoia so they make bad decisions. People in places like this grumble, and he’ll enjoy seeing them rip each other apart making a decision about him, like they did with Negan. Gabriel asks if he wants his public reckoning, and Dante says that’s what they’re good at. Gabriel says Rosita helped him, but Dante says they got something from him too. They needed a doctor. Places like Alexandria are a cruel promise. People aren’t really kind, but he didn’t put Siddiq’s head on a spike. The Whisperers are selfish and brutal, but they’ve taught him what people are. Gabriel punches him in the face. Aaron walks in, and says Dante has been there for four months. How did they not know? Daryl says, none of them did, and Aaron says, they ate together, they talked about militia, he treated Gracie. Carol tells him not to do this to himself, and Daryl seconds that. Aaron says, the Whisperer he’s talking to, Mary, told him where Alpha is keeping the herd. Carol says they’ll leave after the funeral, and Daryl asks if they’re trusting a Whisperer now. Lydia is still gone, and it’s probably an ambush. Aaron says the baby the Whisperers left to die was apparently Mary’s nephew. He doesn’t think she’s lying. Daryl says they already sent a group to Hilltop, who’s ready to meet them there. On the side, he tells Carol that she should have said something to him about seeing Lydia. Her disappearing again is on Carol. She says they can push on the Whisperers’ wounds too. She doesn’t think Lydia wants to be found. Daryl asks if she’s talking about Lydia or herself.
Michonne, Judith, and Luke ride in a literally horse-powered car, while Scott checks the path ahead. He tells them he’s found fresh tracks, but it could just be a scout. Michonne says if there’s just one set, she likes their chances, but they have to be as quiet as possible. Luke says he knows that was meant for him. He tells Judith that he likes to whistle his favorite music by Rachmaninoff. The only time he gets to hear it is in his head these days. He asks Judith what she’s writing, and she tells him that she’s compiling a history of their people. He says if she’s writing personal histories, she should read more. There’s a library close by in Waterford, and she can pick up some inspiration. Michonne says they don’t have the time, but they stop there anyway.
Michonne picks up a Russian/English dictionary for Eugene, and Luke says, since they’re there, he’s going to check out the music section. Scott says he’ll look around, and see what’s worth taking. Michonne picks up a book, saying she’s always wanted to read it. Judith asks if they could read it together. Rosita calls Michonne on the radio, and Michonne asks, what’s happening?
Luke whistles as he looks through the books, and gets all happy when he sees some music by Rachmaninoff. He flips through it, and laughs, but a zombie is on the other side of the shelf, and grabs him. Another comes out from behind him, and he yells for help. A guy comes out of nowhere, and pikes the zombie. Luke asks what his name is, but he jets. Luke says, thank you, and stabs the other zombie in the head.
Michonne asks, what happened? and Luke says a guy came out of nowhere and saved his life. Then he ran off. Maybe they can still catch him. Scott goes back out, and Michonne loads her bag with books. Luke is like, what the hell? He tells Michonne he’s sorry, and asks if everything is all right. She says, Siddiq is dead, so everything is not all right.
Uh-oh. They announced a surprise cast member on Talking Dead. This usually means a dead character on Walking Dead.
Gabriel officiates at Siddiq’s funeral. He says a scholar who understood the importance of it, wrote, let me live if life is better, or take my life if that is better. He knew the world defied logic and justice, which is why he posed the sentiment. Gabriel tosses dirt on the grave, and says, you were taken from it, and are now brought back to it, and from it, will be raised a second time. Everyone is bummed. Rosita sits on the ground near Siddiq’s newly dug grave. Ezekiel has come to pay his respects, and Carol goes over to him. She says it’s good to see him, and he says, her too. He can’t believe Siddiq is gone. He was one of those people Ezekiel thought would live forever. There are too many things changing. She asks how long he’s staying, and he says, a day or two. She wishes they more time, and Ezekiel says he heard about them looking for the zombie hoard, and asks if they need help. She says, no, and asks if everything is okay. He tells her, good luck.
Outside the gate, Rosita sees some zombies, and takes out brass knuckles with spikes on them. She thinks of Siddiq and Coco, and stabs them, but the last one gets the better of her. Eugene runs over, and knocks it down. She tells him, thanks, but he says, no expression of gratitude is required. It was lucky he was crossing through. He gives her his deepest condolences about Siddiq’s passing. It was a tragedy, and he wishes there was more he could offer. He tells her, travel safe, and then realizes he’s the one who’s going to be traveling.
Gabriel watches the initial interview he did with Dante. He asks what Dante was before, and Dante says, a father just trying to get by. Gabriel asks how long he knew the people he came in with, and he says he lost track of time. They saved his life. Gabriel asks the standard, how many people has he killed? and he says, only one; the man who tried to hurt is son, but the walkers got Jimmy in the end anyway. Gabriel snaps the video camera shut. Rosita comes in. He sees she’s a mess, and asks, what happened? She says she was helping Eugene with the walkers at the gate. She asks if Coco is sleeping, and Gabriel says she fell fast asleep. She tells him, the truth is that she wasn’t helping Eugene; he was helping her, but she should be able to handle the walkers. Gabriel says, it’s been a rough day. She says, it’s not that. She could die She used to think, if it happened, it happened, but now it would make Coco an orphan. She can’t die. She’s afraid, and the feeling isn’t going away. Gabriel says, feelings are not the future, and she says that sounds like a quote. She could freeze again, and won’t have Eugene to save her. Gabriel says he has to meet with the council. They need to figure out how this happened. They need to find Lydia, and find out why she didn’t know Dante. She says he’s not hearing her, and he tells her that he’s saying the feeling will pass. She says, maybe Dante was right about them. They’re not as strong as they think they are.
Aaron quizzes Gracie on state capitals, and she asks him about his travels. He says he once went hiking with a man he loved in California, and they went to Oakland. While they were hiking, the found some ruins that they explored. They listened to the sound of the waves crashing, and imagined what the people were like who were now lost to time. They had their own laws, beliefs, and hopes for the future. He was one of the first ones there when Alexandria started. When they thought they knew what it was going to be. He’s been thinking more and more about that village. Gracie asks, what happened to those people? but he says he doesn’t know.
Michonne and her group arrive at Oceanside. She tells them that Dante showed up before the fire, and whatever process they’ve been using to vet their newest people, they have to do it again. A few of the women drag a guy in, and Rachel asks how he got in there. Michonne asks who he is, and Jules says they caught him trying to steal a sail, and he was probably going to steal a boat. He struggles to get away, and Michonne takes out her sword. She says she’s not asking him again, and he says just trying to get home; to get back to his family. Luke says this is the guy who saved his life. Jules says he was also sneaking around, messing with their security, and Rachel says, they’ve hung men for less. Michonne says, he might be a Whisperer. Luke says he was taking books, and had pictures of his family. Does he look like a Whisperer? Michonne says she doesn’t know what they look like anymore. He tells them to let him go, and Michonne says, answer her question. Who are his people? They hear some zombies coming, and Michonne tells them to hold him, and slices the top off of a zombie’s head. She pikes a couple of them, but then looks panicked at seeing how many are appearing.
Gabriel goes to the cell where Dante is being kept. He asks if Dante even had a son, and Dante asks why it matters. Gabriel guesses it doesn’t, but it’s one of the things he liked about Dante. Dante says, that his son was killed? and Gabriel says, that he had a family. He supposes Dante would like it if he didn’t trust anyone again. Dante says, that was the idea. Gabriel opens the cell and goes in, leaving the door open. He asks if that’s why he was there. He says he was there to show them to look around look. Look at what people did to the world. Gabriel thinks people can be good, and deserve a second chance. Gabriel says he loved Siddiq like a brother. His family will never be the same. His daughter won’t know him. Maybe Rosita will blame Gabriel, and maybe she’s right. He didn’t protect them enough. He hasn’t always been brave. Dante asks if Gabriel thinks people deserve a second chance. Gabriel says he doesn’t know, but sometimes they get one anyway. He stabs Dante, and Dante pushes Gabriel up against the wall. Gabriel just keeps stabbing him, and yelling with every stab. I say, better stab his effing head, and Gabriel does, then stands there and cries. Apparently, no public reckoning for Dante.
At Oceanside, while they’re fighting the zombies, the guy tries to get away. A zombie comes after him, and knocks him down. Judith tells him, don’t move, and kills it. She calls to Michonne, and Michonne says, good girl.
Rosita walks around the house with Coco, saying reassuring words, probably more for herself than the baby. She looks outside, and sees Gabriel coming toward the house.
On his bike, Daryl leads Aaron and Carol, who are on horses. He parks, and they meet Jerry, Connie, Kelly, and Magna. Jerry asks how Rosita is, and Carol says, as you’d expect. Daryl thanks Connie for helping, and she writes, anything for us.
It’s starting to get dark out when they cross the border where the head stakes are. Daryl crosses last, and follows Carol. Carol takes out a sword, and snaps an animal trap. She says if they’re laying traps, it means they’re closer. Daryl tells her, stop this sh*t. She wants Alpha dead so bad, she doesn’t care what happens to her. Carol says, not true, and he says she never came off the boat. It’s like talking to a goddam ghost. He’s the one she should talk to. Carol says she doesn’t know how, and Daryl says, try. He hugs her, and says, she’s not worth it. She’s a dead woman anyway. They have a future. Don’t let her take that too. He asks if she’s good, and she says yeah. He tells her that he’ll lead, and snaps another trap. A zombie comes along, and Carol kills it, barely breaking her stride.
Gabriel watches Dante’s body burn. Rosita joins him, and puts her head on his shoulder.
Unnamed guy wakes up with his wrists bound. Judith is sitting near him, reading, and he tells her, don’t go through his stuff. The book belongs to his daughter. Judith says it fell out, and she picked it up. It clearly belongs to the library. He says it’s for his daughter; put it back. She continues to read, and he tries lunging for the book. She changes position to be more out of reach, and tells him, be careful. He’s going to rip his stitches. Michonne joins them, and asks if he’s comfortable? He inches back to his original spot, and Michonne asks Judith to give them a minute. When she’s gone, Michonne ask what he’s really doing there. He says her daughter is a demon with a sword, and she says, like mother, like daughter. Only her swords won’t leave anything to heal. Answer her damn question. He says he didn’t mean it in a bad way. No way could they make it this long without being comfortable with violence. She asks how long he’s been watching Oceanside, but he says he wasn’t watching. He doesn’t want to hurt anybody. He left home for supplies, and now he’s trying to get back. She asks if him helping her friend was part of the play, but he says, there’s no play. He just did it. What if he needed help? The same thing might happen to him. He’s glad he did it. Mercy’s in short supply these days. He doesn’t expect it, and maybe he doesn’t deserve it. He asks if something is wrong, and Michonne says he reminded her of something a friend of hers used to say; my mercy prevails over my wrath. She looks off into the distance, and brushes a tear away. She asks him to just tell her where home is, but he says he can’t tell her where he lives. His family is there. She asks if that’s how he’s getting back to them or keeping them safe. They don’t know where he is, or even if he’s coming back. She tells him, don’t put them through that. He says he lives on Bloodsworth Island, south of Tangiers. It’s hard to find. He didn’t mean to break in and cause chaos, but he needed a boat. She says good intentions or not, he owes Oceanside for the damage. He’s not going anywhere until she figures it out. He says they have enemies to fight. Maybe they can help each other. She asks what he means.
Michonne goes to Judith, and Judith asks what he told her. Michonne says he lives on an island two days from there. It’s an old Naval base, and there could be enough weapons for them to destroy the horde. He’s going to let her have them, but she has to find a way to bring them back. Judith asks, what’s wrong? and Michonne says it has to be just her taking that risk. If anything happens, they shouldn’t be together. She has to find out if he’s telling the truth. Is that okay? She holds Judith close.
Daryl’s group walks deeper into the woods. They see an empty clearing from the top of a cliff, and Daryl says, dammit, and Aaron says, that doesn’t mean she lied. They put traps around. The herd could have been there. They had an obligation to check it out. Daryl says they have time to find Lydia; let’s go. Aaron tells Carol that he knows it looks bad, but he wasn’t wrong about this. Carol looks out to the clearing.
Michonne tells nameless-so-far guy that whatever weapons are on his island will pay his debt. She’ll take him home, and bring them back. He says, it can’t be that simple, and she says, or thank you, you’re welcome. It’s up to him. He asks if he can have his stuff back, and she gives him his backpack. He holds out his hand, and says, he’s Virgil.
Michonne tells Luke, tell everyone back home that she’s only a couple days behind, and to radio if they need help. Keep her posted. Luke says, don’t worry. Judith will be looking after them. Michonne tells him, keep her safe, and tells Judith, it doesn’t have to be emergency to check in. Do it every day. She gives Judith a radio, and hugs her. She says she’ll see Judith soon. Be good for Uncle Daryl.
Michonne and Virgil sail out to sea.
Daryl’s group walks through the woods. Daryl suggests taking the river downstream. Carol loiters off to the side, and says she’ll meet them in a few minutes, but Daryl says they all stay together. Carol looks at the clearing, and sees Alpha staring at her. She takes off after Alpha, who runs, and the group all run after Carol. Alpha goes deeper into the woods, and the group continues to follow. Alpha runs into a cave, and some zombies appear. Daryl tells the group to get Carol’s ass out of there. He pikes the zombies, and walks toward the cave. It’s pitch black inside, and he walk holding knives out ahead of him. He quietly calls to Carol, then tumbles down into a hole. The others are there. It’s a ledge, and zombies reach up from beneath them. They’ve found the horde.
On February 23rd, 2020 – Gamma tells whoever’s left at Alexandria that their friends are in trouble, trapped in the cave where Alpha placed the horde; Alpha sets the cave on fire; Gamma is brought into Alexandria, and tries to see Coco; Negan tells Alpha the spy she’s looking for is in her camp; Daryl can’t turn his back on Carol; and Daryl tells Carol they’re not fighting for revenge; they’re fighting for their future.
Good cliffhanger.
👹 On Talking Dead, my prediction was correct, and Dante (Juan Javier Cardenas) was the surprise guest. Chris Hardwick mentioned that the book Judith was reading was The World Before, which was also the title of the episode. We also found out that the cave set had once been used for the Sanctuary, and that a spin-off show, The World Beyond, is slated for 2020. You can read about it here:
A bounty of delicious foods. This song is originally by Ray Charles, but this was the only version they had where you don’t have to stare at an album cover through the whole thing.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
Kelly is out in the woods. We see tattered rags on a clothesline, and a wild boar. Kelly gets her slingshot ready, but she’s having trouble hearing. The boar is down, but not dead, and she has to stab it. A zombie sneaks up on her, and she stabs that too. Zombies fall on the boar, devouring it, so Kelly has to abandon that idea. She runs, and a zombie follows. She tumbles down a hill. She’s hurt, and crawls forward. She leans against a tree, and a seriously creepy-looking zombie reaches for her from behind.
Negan looks at his reflection in the creek, and splashes water on his face. He debates drinking some, but decides not to. A voice says, gotcha. Don’t try anything. Negan turns around to see Brandon, who says, the look on his face. He was just messing with Negan. Brandon tosses him a canteen, and says Negan is fast. It took forever to catch up to him. Negan smiles. Damn he’s handsome.
Yumiko and a couple of others are still working on killing straggling zombies outside the wall. Yumiko goes inside to check in with Eugene. Aiden says Eugene has come up with a zero waste plan, and Eugene says, it seems as good a time as any to master the Pueblo art of basket weaving. On the side, Aiden suggests to Yumiko that they make weapons and catapults. She thinks it’s a good idea, just not now. Things are too complicated. Yumiko moves on, and Earl tells Aiden, the Whisperers toppled their wall with a tree, and now they’re throwing walkers at them, but they’re twiddling their thumbs. Breanna tells Yumiko that Connie was in the root cellar again in the middle of the night. Yumiko asks, who was on watch?
Yumiko goes inside her house to find Magna listening to music and reading. Yumiko shuts off the gramophone. She tells Magna that someone stole the crate of fish they got from Oceanside. Breanna said it was gone from the root cellar. Magna says, everything is strange at the moment. Yumiko says it would help if they stuck to the jobs they were given. Magna turns the music back up, and goes back to her book.
Ezekiel leans against a fence and ponders. Daryl rides in on his bike, and Siddiq follows behind on a horse. Connie waves, and signs talk later to Daryl. Ezekiel says, no sign of Negan? and Siddiq says they searched day and night, thinking about what he took from them, and they didn’t take from him. Ezekiel says they could use a hand in the infirmary, and Siddiq says they were planning on leaving tomorrow, but of course he’ll help.
A group of hunters comes back, and Connie writes, Kelly? Aiden says, she’s not there? She was tracking something, and said she’d meet them back at Hilltop. She should be back by now.
Negan cuts little sucker branches off of a big branch. Brandon whistles, and asks Negan if he got it. His dad used to tells him how the Saviors whistled back and forth. He asks how Negan got out of the cell, but Negan doesn’t say anything. Brandon says at least tell him what they’re looking for, but Negan says he wants to play it safe. Brandon says he heard how badass the Sanctuary was. Then Rick comes along, and talk about a hypocrite. He kills their parents, drags them to Alexandria, and gives them a lecture on community. He heard Negan made Rick cut his own kid’s hand off, and then killed him. Negan says he never did that. Carl was… He would never kill a kid. Brandon says they’re both Negan. Negan starts walking again. Brandon follows.
They come across a mess of barbed wire, and Brandon asks, who would do this? Negan says, the skin freaks. Brandon asks if they should cross. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Negan says, no, and a zombie comes out of nowhere, knocking Negan down. He holds it off with his newly fashioned stick, pushes it off of him. and uses the barbed wire to cut three-quarters of its head off through the mouth. Then he smashes the head with his foot. He says, thanks for the help, and Brandon says, sorry. He needed a second to wrap Negan’s gift. He holds out Lucille, wrapped in barbed wire. He says he swiped it from Alexandria, and was waiting for the right time to surprise Negan. He takes Negan’s leather jacket out of his backpack, and says, it took forever to find it. It was in the back of an old storage garage. His dad said he never saw Negan without it. Negan tells Brandon to put it in his backpack. He doesn’t want to be recognized. Brandon asks if he likes it though, and Negan says it’s a big hit.
Aaron looks around on the bridge, and hears something. He goes into the woods, and watches Gamma dispatch a zombie. She cuts it open, and blood flows into the creek. She shoves the body into the water; its entrails popping out.
Negan and Brandon stare at some zombies meandering around, and Brandon tells Negan that he’d say she’s a seven. Negan just looks at him, and he asks if this isn’t this kind of stuff the Saviors did to kill time. Negan tells Brandon that he can’t say he remembers rating walkers on their hotness. And she’s clearly a three. They hear screaming, and Negan takes off, Brandon following. Negan runs to a bus, where the screaming is coming from, and slams a zombie against the side of it. He breaks the knife in the process of stabbing it in the head. He looks at the handle, and says, you’ve got to be kidding me. He goes inside the bus, where he finds a woman screaming and fending off several zombies. Negan kills one, and she takes down another. Negan smashes the third zombies head in the bus door until there’s nothing left. A little boy peeks out from behind one of the seats. Brandon says, damn. Classic Negan.
Connie and Daryl search the woods for Kelly. Daryl says it’s not her fault, but Kelly signs that she should have gone with Kelly. Daryl asks if he’s told her about his brother Merle. One time Merle took him fishing on a big lake that was private property, in a boat that was stolen. Merle was drinking and fishing, and fell in the lake. Daryl had to swim back to shore while holding onto Merle. He saved Merle’s life, and know what he says? He writes, Dummy, go get the beer. Connie laughs, and he says, idiot, right? He tells her it’s going to be all right, and Dog barks. I always get nervous when dog is on screen
They see the rock from Kelly’s slingshot, and the remains of the boar. Daryl almost shoots Magna, who comes from another direction. Kelly gives Magna a questioning look, and Magna shakes her head.
Yumiko says she should be out there with them, and Aiden says if she was lost in the woods, who would she want to find her? Somebody has to come back with her. Killjoy Earl asks if Aiden really thinks Kelly is okay, and Aiden says he hopes so. Earl says, what about them? The tree didn’t fall on its own. He thinks they might be coming back with something worse. Isn’t Aiden thinking about them at all? Aiden says, after what happened to his family, he thinks night and day about them. Earl says, don’t stop.
Ezekiel tells Siddiq, they took a quarter of the medical supplies. Ezekiel holds a metal tiger, and Siddiq says he’s sorry. Ezekiel says Henry forged it during his apprenticeship. He has a sudden coughing fit, and Siddiq says, that doesn’t sound good, but Ezekiel says, it’s nothing. The regular slings and arrows. Siddiq says it could be from smoke inhalation, and reaches out to touch Ezekiel, who slaps his hand away. Ezekiel tells Siddiq that he said he was fine. After a moment, Ezekiel pulls down his sweater to reveal a protrusion on his neck, saying, it’s grown. Siddiq touches Ezekiel’s neck, and says, it could be a lot of things, but Ezekiel says he knows what it is. Siddiq says, without a test, he can’t be sure, but Ezekiel says he knows. Siddiq sits, and Ezekiel says when he was growing up, his grandmother had it, and so did his father. The pain, the coughing, and swelling; he watched them fight it and win. There was 98% survival rate for thyroid cancer with the treatments that were out there. Now, they both know what it means. Siddiq says, it can be managed; acupuncture, hypnosis… He’s struggling with own condition. He can’t stand how everyone looks to him for some kind of answers. Maybe Ezekiel can’t get away from it, but they can talk about it. What are they there for if not for each other?
Amelia, the woman on the bus, tells Negan that she and Milo have been walking for weeks, since the Whisperers scattered everyone from their camp to the four winds. They went back to what it was before, and what it is in the end, moving from place to place, surviving. Brandon says he’s been there. Amelia asks if Milo wants to walk, and Brandon says, be safe. When they’re gone, Brandon says he knows what Negan is thinking. Negan says, people are a resource, but Brandon says, not them. He starts to go after them, and Negan grabs him, shoving him into a seat. He says he appreciates what Brandon has done for him since he left Alexandria, but it’s only going to get more dangerous from there. It’s best for him to go on alone, and Brandon should go home. Brandon says, okay, but if he goes back, everyone will want know where he’s been. What is he supposed to say? He’s never been a great liar. Negan laughs, and asks if Brandon planned that. He can go wherever the hell he wants. Brandon can go back to Alexandria and tell the whole world exactly where he is. He doesn’t give a sh*t, as long as doesn’t have to see that creepy pasty-ass face of Brandon’s again. Brandon says Negan is just like all the others. He grabs his bag, and gets off the bus.
Alpha watches as a Whisperer slices the face of off a zombie. She says, the ears are tricky. (I find out later on Talking Dead, that this is actually the zombie Kelly killed in the beginning scene.) Gamma approaches, and Alpha touches her face, saying she has something for Gamma. Gamma says she just came back from the creek, and Beta says, another one lost. Alpha says, strategy takes time. If they treat the water, and build a dam of zombies, it will crush them. A Whisperer wants to talk to Alpha, and Beta grumbles, but Alpha tells him to speak his piece. He says instead of what she’s doing, why not cut their enemies down all at once? Alpha asks if anyone agrees, and gets silence. She says, there’s democracy for you, and slices his hamstring. The Whisperer falls to his knees, and she says, the human body is fragile. All it takes to collapse it are a few nicks in the right spot. He makes a feeble attempt to stab her, and she slices his arm. She says, the strong ones know where to come to be safe, and hands Beta her knife. Beta slits the Whisperer’s throat, and Alpha says Gamma wanted another guardian.
Milo plays with a toy plane, and Negan asks how he is, telling Milo that he doesn’t bite. Milo’s mom it packing, so he has time to kill. Milo asks where Brandon is, and Negan says, he went looking for supplies. He tells Milo that he’s going to be rea; he told Brandon to get lost. It turns out he’s not the best co-pilot, if Milo catches his drift. He says Brandon doesn’t, does he? He’s never been on a plane. It’s not Milo’s fault that God turned the world into an ass pit before he was born. It feels like you’ve been sitting on the runway forever, and suddenly you hear a groan. The plane creeps along, moving faster and faster, until everything out the window turns into a blur. The wheels come up, and you’re flying, like voodoo magic. Up and up, higher and higher, until it’s like you’re floating on top of the world. The houses and cars look like toys. The food is a no. He was served beef stroganoff that looked like baby sh*t. There’s so much Milo is going to miss growing up in a screwed up world. Driving his first set of wheels, video games, nut tapping. He explains that you catch a guy off-guard. Keep your wrist loose, and snap your fingers on their nuts. You can’t go too low or too high, or you’ll get nothing but d*ck. He has Milo demonstrate the technique, and says he’s a natural. If nut tapping was a sport, Milo would be in the hall of fame. He tells Milo a fire isn’t happening without wood. Is he packed? Milo says he is, and Negan says he knows it sucks, but tells him mom that Negan knows a place where they’ll probably take them in. It has high walls, farmland, and has a mansion in the middle. They can’t tell who brought them there, but he’ll get them as close as he can. There’s one condition. Milo has to keep his fingers holstered when Negan’s nuts are around. Deal? Milo says, deal, and they high-five.
Gamma walks with the new zombie to the creek. She stabs him again and again, remembering throwing her sister into the zombie horde, and seeing Alpha kill the Whisperer. She’s stabbing so aggressively, she ends up cutting herself, and dropping the knife in the water. Aaron sees, and tosses her a bandage wrap. He says, it’s okay; it’s for her hand. He tells her that his name is Aaron. He knows they don’t do names anymore, but she’s got to be from somewhere. He’s from Vermont. Gamma jets, and he says, you’re welcome.
Connie and Daryl continue to search. Dog barks, and they find Kelly passed out, leaning against the tree. Connie wakes her up, and asks if she’s okay. Kelly signs that she couldn’t hear before, but she’s fine now. Magna gives Kelly some water, but she chokes on it. Connie signs that they have to get back to Hilltop. Daryl thinks they need to find somewhere closer. Connie walks over to a brush pile, and uncovers a big box of supplies. Daryl asks if she knew about this, and Connie takes a medical kit out of the box. She signs something to Magna, and Daryl asks what she said. Magna tells him that Connie doesn’t trust her. Daryl says Hilltop took them in. They have sick children and mouths to feed, and she steals from them. All she’s good for is talking sh*t. Connie writes not to tell them. Let her handle it.
Negan carries a small pile of wood in his arms. He hears whistling, and sees Brandon. Brandon says, that’s it, right? Negan drops the wood, and sees that Amelia and Milo are dead; their bodies next to the bus. Brandon says he remembers Negan kicked people out, but he was messing with them; keeping them in line. He realized this was a test. Negan said it was going to get a lot more dangerous, because he wanted to make sure Brandon had the balls to do what had to be done. Brandon looks at the bodies, and says, what does he think? Negan picks up a big rock, and Brandon turns around, saying, I passed. I am Negan. Negan slams the rock into Brandon’s head, and pounds his head to a pulp. He takes Lucille and his jacket, and walks.
Daryl returns with Connie, Kelly, and Magna. Yumiko runs to them, and asks, what happened? Connie signs that she’ll explain later.
Dante jokes to Siddiq on the radio. He says either Siddiq’s mic is out or he’s laughing balls off. He says he’s still there, and asks how Rosita is. Dante says he didn’t want to tell Siddiq, but she got a bump. She’ll be fine. Siddiq says he’ll leave for home tonight. He asks if Carol is around, and Dante says he’ll grab her. Ezekiel takes Siddiq’s place at the mic. He touches the metal tiger, and listens to Carol’s footsteps coming toward the radio. He shuts the radio off. Not that it’s ever in a happy place, but this show is just heartbreaking tonight.
Yumiko tells Magna it’s scary to think, but they probably wouldn’t have made it if they hadn’t found that stash. It sounds like they were far off the main road. Magna tells her, say it. Yumiko thinks she stole the supplies and hid them out there. Yumiko says, it wouldn’t be the first time, and Magna says Yumiko has thought she was selfish and stupid for the past thirteen years. That’s how she looked at Magna the day she showed up in her fancy suit. Yumiko says she was thinking, here’s an innocent person locked up for a crime she didn’t commit, and she’s never trusted anyone because no one trusted her. She was mad at everyone. Magna says her cousin was a little girl who had to go on living life when nobody came for him. So she did it. There it is. (For clarification: A man sexually assaulted Magna’s young cousin, and she killed him.) Magna tells Yumiko, they’ve both killed how many? and still that look.
Gamma approaches Alpha, and shows Alpha her bandaged hand. She says, the man with the metal arm gave to her. Seated on the ground, Alpha says, shh, and Gamma sits next to her. Alpha takes Gamma’s mask off, saying, different masks for different times. It’s kind of a sacrifice, like Gamma sacrificed her sister. Gamma says Alpha’s sacrifice was much greater, and Alpha says, the man with the metal arm could be useful. Gamma might just have to wear a new mask.
Connie walks through the stables, and hangs up a lantern. Daryl is there with his bike, and she asks if he’s leaving. He says he has to go back, and asks if Kelly is okay. Connie smiles and nods. She writes, sorry about Magna and Kelly asking him to lie for them. Daryl makes the sign for family, and Connie smiles. He gets on his bike, and she signs goodbye. He rolls out, whistling for Dog to follow.
Negan walks through the woods, wearing his jacket, and carrying Lucille. He walks past the barbed wire, and says, hey, sacks of sh*t, what does he have to do to get something to eat? Are they all scared of the big bad wolf? Little pigs, little pigs, let me in. (Which is what he also said when he first went to Alexandria.) He sees some zombies and says, there they are. He’s done talking. He whacks one with Lucille, and says he’s gonna blow their asses all the way home. He wallops a few more, and gets knocked down by Beta, who’s there with some Whisperers. I say, oh sh*t, and Negan says, all right, you big ass freak. Let’s do this.
Next time, Carol takes her gun and goes out walking, Alpha wants to test Negan, and Negan says he wants to join the Whisperers. They’re a survivor’s wet dream.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Curtis shows up at the station in his tux. Jordan tells him how good he looks, and says it might be enough to salvage a thoroughly rotten day. Sometimes the wheels of justice take you places you don’t want go. Diane comes out and says, it’s blatant grandstanding. The evidence – and she uses the term loosely – is worthless. Jordan says she can make that argument in court. Diane says, Sam has been nothing but cooperative, and Jordan repays her by arresting her. Jordan says it was her only course of action, and Diane asks if it required Sam to be held without bail. Does she really want Sam languishing in a jail cell until the trial?
Jax and Josslyn visit Carly at the hospital. Josslyn asks Carly if Donna is really going to be okay. Carly says they’ll have things to look out for, but she’s pretty perfect. Josslyn says, she is. Jax joins them, and says as much as he enjoyed meeting Donna, he wanted to see how the baby momma is doing. She says, well. She feels great, and knowing Donna is going to be okay is the best medicine. Josslyn gives Carly an envelope, and says, it’s from Dev.
Dev is in the kitchen doing homework, when Sonny and Mike come in. Sonny says they were just visiting with Avery, and Mike says they took a bunch of pictures to show Yvonne. Dev is sure she’ll enjoy them. Avery is a beautiful little girl. He says it’s nice to see Mike again, calling him Mr. Corbin. Mike says, they’re cousins; call him Mike. Dev says, okay, Cousin Mike. Mike says Dev’s grandmother told him that she and Dev aren’t close. He wonders why is that? Dev looks at Sonny, and says, they just aren’t. Mike says Dev should give her a call some time. Sonny asks if Mike has been talking to Gladys, and Mike says, all the time.
Jordan says Robert deems Sam a flight risk, and she agrees. Diane tells Curtis, nice tux. As her client’s former business partner, does he really think Sam would skip town, abandoning her children, or take them with her, forfeiting her right to clear her name? He says he’s not taking sides, and she says, that alone speaks volumes. Jordan says, they have a witness. Diane says, who’s allegations are hearsay, and Jordan says, they have a recording. Diane says, obviously doctored. Jordan says the PCPD techs proved it to be authentic, but Diane says, imagine their embarrassment when her independent analysis debunks their finding. Jason comes out with Sam, and Diane says she sees the exorbitant and arbitrary bail has been posted. Jordan asks why Diane is harassing her, when bail has been posted. Diane says, exorbitant bail. which few people could afford. Fortunately, Jason is one of them, but that doesn’t change this grievous miscarriage of justice. Someone is obviously trying to frame Sam.
Maxie says Peter just called. He and Valentin are on their way to All Saints. That means they need to step it up. Obrecht says they’re ahead of schedule, and Maxie says, they can’t become complacent; that’s when disaster strikes. Obrecht says there will be no disaster as long as she’s involved. Nina thanks Sasha for wearing the pendant. Sasha thanks Nina for giving it to her. Obrecht says, it’s a lot of schmaltz over a pendant no one will notice, but Nina says, who cares? She and Sasha know it’s there. Obrecht says, apologies, niece. Nina says she got a special gift of her own last night. She shows them the necklace from Valentin, and everyone is like, wow. Maxie asks who gave it to her, and Nina says, Valentin surprised her with it last night. Maxie says it’s bringing a tsunami of bad luck with it.
At the church, Dustin tells Lulu that she looks amazing. She says, all things considered, she was surprised she could dress herself, and he asks if she’s decided if she’s telling Nina that Sasha isn’t her daughter. Lulu says, and Valentin is behind it all? She hasn’t decided. Valentin and Peter come up the walk.
Jason tells Sam, Spinelli agreed to look at the recording. She adds, that just happened to come from Daisy. He says she’s still loyal to Shiloh, and it gives her motive to lie. Sam says, what about Sheri? and he says, they can’t prove anything; it’s hearsay. Sam tells him what Diane said was right. Someone is trying to frame her, and whoever it is, might be manufacturing more evidence against her.
Diane tells Jordan, Sam killed Shiloh to prevent him from impaling Jason with a gaffing stick. Jordan says, there were only three people on the boat, and one is dead. The other two have criminal histories that seriously compromise their credibility as witnesses. Diane says, Shiloh was the leader of a sex cult, whose followers would blindly follow him off the ledge of Mount Rushmore. One of those followers delivered a damaging declaration. She asks Jordan to please tell her she sees through this. Jordan says she’s welcome to cross-examine, question, and debunk the evidence. Do her job, and Jordan will do hers. Let justice prevail. Diane says she has no doubt it will. She leaves, and Curtis tells Jordan that Sam wasn’t just his business partner, she’s his friend. Jordan asks if he’s telling her that he’s biased, but he says he was wondering if she thinks the killings were anything other than self-defense.
Carly says, Dev was so thoughtful. Josslyn asks what it says, and Carly tells her, congratulations and best wishes. Children make the family’s kettle whistle. She loves it. Jax says, Aussies have a saying for everything, but he’s never heard that one. Carly wonders where Dev is, and Josslyn says, he was concerned it was too private of a situation. He didn’t want to intrude. Carly tells Josslyn, lethim know, wherever family is welcome, he’s welcome. Looking at his phone, Jax says, the saying about the teakettle? It’s Turkish.
Dev says he’ll study upstairs, and Mike says he hopes they’re not interrupting. Dev says, no. There’s a book he needs upstairs anyway. He tells Mike it was good to see him, calling him Cousin Mike, and Mike laughs. Dev goes upstairs, and Sonny asks Mike how he got so close to Gladys. Mike says, it’s just one of those things. They weren’t that close when they were younger, but since she made contact with him, they hit it off. He says, it’s the way this disease works. He can recall old times with his cousins or buddies, but can’t remember why Sonny picked him up today. Sonny says Avery was asking for him, and Mike says does his old heart some good. She’s the best. Sonny says, she’s not the only one who wants to see him. He wants to introduce Mike to their new family member. Carly had the baby. Mike says, she did? He didn’t know they were… never mind. He’s a grandfather again. Sonny says they had a little girl. He and Mike hug, and Mike says, that makes seven grandchildren for him. Sonny says he pulled that number out fast, and Mike says they covered it in their memory care sessions. He wants to see if he can do it, and says, there’s this new one, and there’s Michael, Kristina, Avery – he hesitates, and Sonny says, Dante – Dante, Spencer, and Morgan. Sonny says he wants to introduce Mike to Donna. Mike likes the name, and asks if Sonny remembers Donna Messina from the old neighborhood. Sonny says, that’s why they chose it. Because they wanted to honor her. He and Carly have another surprise for him.
Nina asks Maxie, what’s wrong? and Maxie says, not to throw water on her special day, but Nina isn’t planning on wearing the necklace, is she? Valentin invited in bad luck giving it to her the night before their wedding. She doesn’t want to compound it by wearing the necklace at the ceremony, does she? Nina says, all that matters is that it’s a symbol of his love for her. She’s starting a new chapter, with Valentin, and her beautiful daughter Sasha, and her equally delightful stepdaughter Charlotte. Obrecht asks what they are? Bratwurst? Nina says she loves them both. She tells them to guess what happened a year ago today. A year ago today, she finally got up the courage to pick up the phone and call Sasha to let Sasha know she was her mother. Obrecht takes a drink.
Valentin introduces himself to Dustin. Dustin congratulates him, and he says, today, he feels like the luckiest man on earth. Lulu says he won’t feel that way after he hears what she has to say.
Carly says, Dev drinks a lot of iced tea. Maybe he got it off of a bottle cap. Josslyn says, Dev knows all kinds of random stuff. Jax says, okay. He tells Carly that Donna looks like her. She’s beautiful, just the other women in Carly’s family. She says he’s smooth today, but he says he means it. He has to go. He’s going to Nina’s wedding. Carly wonders how he got roped into that. She tells him, have fun, and he says he’ll try. He just wanted to tell her how happy he is that Donna is fine, and he hopes she’s home soon. Carly says, amen to that. Jax asks if Josslyn wants a ride, and Josslyn says she’ll never get her homework done there. She’ll be back soon. She can’t wait for both Carly and Donna to be home. She loves Donna already. Carly says Josslyn is making her cry, and tells Jax, thanks for the visit.
Jordan tells Curtis, the big mystery isn’t whether Sam planned to kill Shiloh; it’s how many people she managed to beat to the punch. Kristina, Willow, the Cooper-Joneses. Michael and Chase are the two most upstanding citizens she knows, and they could have done it. Curtis says, Sam was clear about pulling the trigger, and clear about why. Jordan says her gut tells her to believe Sam, but the evidence has left her no choice. She had to charge Sam. Curtis tells her not to hate him for saying this, but he hopes she doesn’t win the case. She says she still has to work it, but he says, not today. They have a wedding to attend. He gives her a garment bag, and she says she can’t believe she walked out without her dress. He says lucky for her, she has a loving husband to rescue her. She says, very lucky, and they kiss.
Diane tells Jason and Sam, if this case goes to trial with this Swiss cheese evidence, she’ll make fondue. Jason hopes it doesn’t. Diane agrees it’s clearly a frame-up, and asks if Spinelli is on board to examine the recording. Jason says he’s prepping. Sam says they could be manufacturing more evidence, and Diane says, there’s nothing they can do about it, so put it out of her mind. She has Sam’s statement about being on board the Haunted Star, and it’s thorough, but is there anything she left out. Sam says, nothing she can… Jason says, what? and Sam says Shiloh did say something that made her think he had an accomplice.
Valentin tells Lulu, it’s his wedding day. Can whatever she has going on, wait? She’s afraid not, and he asks if it has anything to do with Charlotte. She says, no, and he says, obviously it can wait then. She says, it’s about… Dustin puts his arm around her, and she says, Valentin is right. It can wait. They don’t have to talk about it right now. Peter says Valentin has to check in with the minister. Valentin thanks Lulu for joining them, and says he hopes they can all be happy for Nina’s sake. He goes inside, and Dustin says, no judgement, but he’s curious. Why didn’t she confront Valentin about Sasha?
Lulu says she knows from panful experience, if she shows her hand, Valentin will outmaneuver her. Besides, he’s not the person she needs to talk to. Dustin says, Nina, and she says, exactly. She doesn’t know if Dustin is aware of this, but Valentin killed her brother. Dustin asks, who is this guy, and why isn’t he in prison? She says, it happened in Greece, and the Greek authorities believed Valentin when he said it was self-defense. Even worse, everything that belonged to her brother, now belongs to Valentin. She wants Valentin punished, but right now she’s trying to make sure she’s telling Nina for the right reasons. Dustin says he’s just getting to know her, but she doesn’t strike him as the vengeful type. Is he wrong?
Valentin thanks Peter for the save, and Peter says, what are best men for? He wonders what Lulu’s problem is, and Valentin says she still blames him for Nikolas’s death. He only invited her for Charlotte’s sake. He thinks she should be asked to leave, and Peter says it would tarnish his halo. In Nina’s eyes, he qualifies for sainthood for finding Sasha. Valentin says, that’s a stretch, but he’d do anything for Nina. Peter feels the same way about Maxie, and Valentin says they have to escape their respective pasts for the women they love. Peter asks if Valentin has forsaken the dark side of his heritage (sounding like a character from Flowers in the Attic), and Valentin says, has Peter?
Nina asks if Charlotte realizes that when she marries Charlotte’s papa, Sasha will be her be true sister. Charlotte says she’ll get the sister she’s always wanted. Did Sasha want a sister? Sasha says not until she met Charlotte. Obrecht passes out champagne, and says, sisters are a gift. On this happiest of occasions, she can’t help but remember Nina’s mother. She’s sure Madeline is craning upward to look past the smoldering brimstone, to disapprove of all their choices. Sasha is glad she never met Madeline, but Obrecht says Madeline made it possible for Sasha to be there. That woman; never a hair out of place. Curtis knocks on the door, and Maxie asks why he’s there. Nothing can go wrong today. He says he wanted to talk to Nina before she marries Valentin. Nina asks, what’s up? and he says she told him to always be honest with her, no matter how much the truth hurts. Charlotte says that’s what her mommy tells her too. Curtis says, it’s good advice; she should follow it. Nina says if he’s there to try and convince her to call it off, she doesn’t want to hear it.
Mike gives Carly a bouquet in a cup that says, World’s Best Mom. He says he got it in the gift shop, and tells her not to go down and see how much he paid. She says it’s priceless to her. Mike said he heard the baby is a little sick, and Carly says, a little, but she’ll be fine. It just takes time. Mike says that means he has seven grandchildren. This new one, Michael, Kristina, Avery, Dante – he looks at Sonny – and Spencer, and Morgan. Did he get them all? Carly says, he got them. Sonny says Mike is surrounded by family, and they all love him. Does he want to see Donna? Mike says, after he meets Donna, does he get his surprise? Carly says, yes.
Sam tells Diane that when she was trying to get Shiloh to let Dev and Wiley go, he said they were running out time. He said he was on the clock, and when he got what he wanted, he’d go. Diane says, he never told her who or what he wanted? Jason says, it’s got to be money, and Diane says, someone would have to deliver it. They need to know who. Sam says, maybe Dev heard something. He was on the Haunted Star before she was. Jason says he’ll check on that, and Diane says she’ll continue to work on things from her end. She tells Sam to enjoy her freedom; live her life. She’ll let them know when it’s time to regroup. Sam says she wants to see Carly and the baby. Jason says, baby Donna made it through surgery with flying colors. Diane had no idea there was a problem, and Jason tells her, the baby has spina bifida, but there’s been no nerve damage, and she can live a full, healthy life. Diane says, thank God. Give the proud parents her love, and tell them that she’ll drop by soon. And Sam… Sam knows. Don’t leave town. Diane tells her, don’t, but she was going to say, don’t worry.
Josslyn and Jax find Dev in the kitchen, where he seems to spend most of his time. Jax says he seems jumpy, and Dev says he didn’t know anyone was there. Josslyn says they just got back from visiting Carly. She loved Dev’s card. Dev asks how Carly is doing, and Josslyn says, all things considered, she couldn’t be better. Jax says the quote Dev put in the card was Turkish, and Dev says, was it? He found it online. Jax says, good choice. Dev says they just missed Mr. Corbin, and Jax says, isn’t Mike his cousin? That’s kind of formal. Dev says that’s what Mike said. He’s trying to call him Cousin Mike. It’s a lot to get used to. Josslyn tells him that Carly said it was fine if he visits. She’d love to see him. He says he’ll head over there now. Dev jets, and Jax says, Dev couldn’t get out fast enough. He wonders why.
Josslyn says she’s sure Dev was saving them from standing around, making polite conversation. Doesn’t Jax have a wedding to get ready for? Jax says he’s not going to be angry, but he knows Josslyn is covering something up about Dev. He hates to see her trying so hard to keep it from him. She says, he’s right. She’s sorry. She has been lying to him.
Mike and Sonny look at baby Donna, and Mike says, she’s little. Sonny says, she came early, but she’ll be well enough to take home soon. Mike says maybe he can introduce her to Yvonne. Jason joins them, and Sonny says he and Mike came to check out the baby. Jason says, she’s a beauty. Sonny tells Mike that he’ll be right back; he and Jason have to talk. Sonny asks, how’s Sam? and Jason says he persuaded Robert to let him post bail. He thinks Sam is a flight risk. Sonny says it doesn’t surprise him. He asks how the case against Sam looks, and Jason says, Diane doesn’t think it’s going to trial, but if it does, they need to be prepared. Sonny says he’ll do whatever he can, and Jason thanks him. Jason says he needs to talk to Dev about what happened on the Haunted Star, and Sonny says, if it helps Sam, be his guest.
Sam tells Carly that she’s sorry she couldn’t visit sooner. Carly says Jason told her what’s happening; it’s crazy. It’s obvious Sam killed Shiloh in self-defense. Sam says there’s evidence that says she planned to kill Shiloh. Carly says, who didn’t think about killing Shiloh? She was dropping hints to Sonny daily. Sam says, there’s a recording that says she was plotting revenge. Carly says she’s out on bail. She knows Sam and Jason will get to the bottom of this. Sam says, that’s the plan.
Dev comes out of the hospital elevator, and Jason says he was looking for Dev. Dev asks if he’s in trouble, but Jason says, no. He doesn’t know if Dev heard, but Sam was arrested for Shiloh’s murder. Dev asks, what kind of justice is that? That guy was out of control. Jason tells him to keep his voice down. He needs to know everything that happened on the boat with Shiloh.
Peter tells Valentin, he supposes there’s always a chance all their misdeeds could be exposed. Valentin says, no risk, no reward. Peter says, yes, but sometimes that risk can be overwhelming. Why do they live with it?
Lulu says Dustin is right. She’s not the vengeful type. He says, good to know. She says she used to be, and he says, also good to know. She says, if she tells the truth about Sasha, it won’t be out of revenge. It will be to save Nina from marrying a man who’s deceiving her; because it’s the right thing to do. How can she teach Charlotte to value honesty if she can’t be honest herself? He says it sounds like she knows what she’s going to do.
Maxie says she has to get to the church, and Charlotte asks if she can come too. She wants to see papa. Nina tells her, it’s okay, and Sasha says she’ll give Nina and Curtis privacy. Nina is sure Curtis won’t mind if she stays, and he says it’s about her too. Nina tells him, please don’t ruin her wedding by trash talking Valentin, but he says, let him finish. It’s no secret he’s not a fan of Valentin’s. He was skeptical about Sasha at first, but he liked her the moment they met, and two DNA tests proved she’s Nina’s long lost daughter. Obrecht says, thanks to Maxie, there were three tests, all yielding the same result. Curtis says, that means Valentin did right by Nina. And anyone who can make her happy, gets his stamp of approval. Nina throws her arms around him, and thanks him. He says, just in case, Aunt Stella gave him this when he was a kid. He gives her a blue handkerchief, and says, because everyone should cry at their wedding. Weeping, Nina says, really? She doesn’t think that’s a thing. He says, crying at your wedding, means there will be no tears throughout your marriage. He says she’s his best person, and she says he’s hers too. He tells her, never forget that, and tells Sasha, be good to her mom.
Jax says, Dev isn’t Sonny’s cousin, right? and Josslyn says, no. Jax asks who he is, and Josslyn says, it’s a long, complicated story. He says he’s all ears, but Josslyn says, first he needs to know that her mom and Sonny made sure she was okay with it. He says, sure, they asked, but was she going to say no? She says she could have. She can think for herself. He says he knows. He just wanted to make sure Sonny didn’t keep repeating the question until he got the answer he wanted.
Dev tells Jason that he was hiding on the Haunted Star when Shiloh showed up with Wiley. He told the baby it wouldn’t be long. He just need to grab some essentials for the trip. That’s when Dev called him, and got Sam. Then Shiloh hit him in the head. He didn’t lose consciousness completely, and heard Shiloh talking on the phone. He was asking for money. Does Jason know who it could have been?
Peter tells Valentin, it was easier to keep secrets when there was no one else he cared about. Valentin says, truer words, my friend. His advice is to forget about it today. Peter asks if that’s Valentin’s way of saying he’s making the wedding day about him. Valentin says he’s being practical. In the wee small hours of the morning, their secrets may find them. Not that he fears it. No, this is a good day.
Lulu tells Dustin, she hates that she knows this. Why does she have to be the one to break Nina’s heart? Curtis and Jordan arrive. Curtis shakes Dustin’s hand, and Lulu introduces him to Jordan. She tells Dustin that Jordan and Curtis were married a year ago. They had their reception on the Haunted Star (but we won’t mention that pesky murder). Curtis says, here’s to Nina’s wedding ending on a happier note. Charlotte runs up, and hugs Lulu. Maxie wants to grab Lulu for a word. Lulu says, thank God Maxie is there. Maxie says Lulu brought Dustin as her plus one. Lulu said she wasn’t going to do that, and they’re not a thing. Charlotte tells Lulu that Curtis visited Nina. He saidNina told him on his wedding day to always be honest, and never lie. Maxie says, there’s a recipe for disaster. Charlotte says, she told Curtis that’s what Lulu teaches her too. Lulu looks at Dustin.
Josslyn tells Jax, if she’d said no, her mom and Sonny would never have let Dev stay, and he’s glad to hear that. She says she kind of likes Dev. He drives her crazy, but it’s a nice distraction from thinking about Oscar every minute of every day. She hated lying to him. He takes her hand, and says he’s sorry Sonny put her in that position.
Mike tells Carly, the baby is beautiful, and Carly says, she is. He says she reminds him of someone; another little baby, but not Avery. He wishes he could remember. Sonny says, maybe Courtney? and Mike says, yes; his beautiful daughter. Sonny thinks now might be the right moment to give Mike his surprise. Carly says she and Sonny talked about it. Sonny wanted to honor his sister, and she agreed. Donna’s full name is Donna Courtney Corinthos. Mike is visibly touched.
Jason asks Dev, what happened when he left the pier? Dev says Jason told him to call 911, but he got worried about getting the cops involved. He saw Peter, and asked for a ride. Peter said yes quickly, and he was pretty cool. Jason asks if Dev remembers anything else. Dev says, Peter was carrying a gym bag, and he seemed pretty nervous.
Peter tells Valentin, it’s almost show time. Valentin says wish him luck, but Peter says it doesn’t sound like he needs it. Valentin says, it’s always good to have it. Charlotte runs to Valentin, and he tells her, tres belle. Charlotte says, Nina said the best thing. After Valentin marries her, Sasha will be her true sister. Valentin says, she will.
Maxie asks Lulu to tell her the florist is inside. Lulu says, they are, and Maxie says, everything is as it should be. She checks her list, the last item being, wedding planner’s BFF and hot date. They’ll be talking about how that happened later. Right now she needs to make sure everything is okay. Maxie runs inside, and Lulu tells Dustin that she has to catch Nina as soon as she gets there. He says he’ll wait with her, but she says she has to do this herself. He tells her that he’s just a text or a holler away, and she thanks him. She waits.
Obrecht, Sasha, and Nina approach. Obrecht says she remembers the last time she was there. Her sister lay dead in her coffin. May today be equally joyous. Sasha calls to Nina, and asks if she’s coming. Nina says she’s on her way. Lulu looks panicked.
On Monday, Charlotte asks what’s wrong, Lulu says she has to tell Nina something that can’t wait, Sam tells Jason that Peter was definitely working with Shiloh, and Josslyn tells Dev that her father knows about him.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Below Deck Mediterranean
We backtrack a tiny bit. Captain Sandy asks the guests how dinner is, and if it’s hot. Since they’re too drunk to have even started eating, she tastes it herself, and says, it’s not hot. She tells Ben, and in his interview, he says, it’s a nightmare. It’s impossible, and he doesn’t use that word. Hannah asks the guests if dinner was good, and primary Laura says, amazing, baby. Colin comes up to help clear the plates, and the women get excited. Anastasia and Aesha clean the cabins. Anastasia is glad it’s not as much effort as being the chef. Travis is pissed off, because he lost his room, and says Jack is off having fun with Aesha. She took Jack away completely. Ben says lunch was more of a success because he was using the oven. Anastasia is happy it’s not her. I have no idea what the dessert is – a flourless chocolate something – but it looks really good. The guests think it’s horrible, which Hannah translates to not very good, and Aesha has to tell Ben the bad news. Ben says the guests are effing insane, and clearly mad. That makes him feel better.
One guest talks about sleeping with another’s ex-husband. Another goes out on deck, and starts doing handstands. Jack and Aesha watch her dance around. Jack says he’s seen her bare ass more times than Aesha’s. Hannah goes to bed. Natalie bugs Travis in the galley, and a bunch of them accost Jack on the bridge. He calls to Aesha for help. She tells him to keep his clothes on. In her interview, Aesha says she’s annoyed, and she’s not a jealous person. She must really care about him. Captain Sandy half-jokingly asks the guests not to harass her crew members; Jack really has to pay attention. Jack thanks her for saving him, and tells her, these women are a mess. A bunch of them act like five-year-olds in the lounge, and finally go to bed, one making up a song about Captain Sandy on the way. Jack loves on Aesha in the galley, and she tells him to stop enjoying himself so much. She cleans up, and gets in the bunk with him. She says now they can watch a movie in bed, and he says, lots of things. In Jack’s interview, he doesn’t know how he feels about living with someone he hasn’t had sex with. He has to be patient. This girl is worth it.
The captain can’t find a stew anywhere, and she pokes her head into Hannah and Anastasia’s cabin. Anastasia realizes she overslept, and Captain Sandy says, not acceptable. In Hannah’s interview, she says she wants back her annoyingly perfect third stew, that she had on the first charters. Jack tells the other deckhands that Aesha has given him rules, like getting dry in the shower, and not waking her up. His only rule for her is, just be naked. It’s give and take. Breakfast is started, and Ben is like the hairdresser who follows you out because they saw one last hair that needed clipping, as he follows Anastasia to put one more piece of garnish on a plate. Travis tells Jack, he’s fine, but he’s bored. Maybe he wants more, but there isn’t anything. He says he’s not getting drunk before going out this time. In his interview, he says Jack has Aesha, and he has vodka. It numbs the mind, so you don’t think about sh*t.
A couple of guests use the jet skis. Anastasia tells Aesha about getting up late. Ben curses the range. Aesha gives the guests on deck some drinks, and they ask for cheeseburgers. They want naughty food. Aesha tells Ben that he’s going to hate her, and relays the request. The captain asks for the slide to be put out. Ben says he can handle the cooking, but he can’t fix the burners. He’s relying on instinct and experience. Captain Sandy says she has to start the engine because they’re dragging anchor. She asks the deck crew to get the guests back on the boat, and the water toys out of the water. In her interview, the captain explains that they need to reset, and she doesn’t need the deckhands to be blasé about getting the toys back in. Ben gets jazzed about the cheeseburgers getting cold. In his interview, he says, it’s important to keep hot food hot, but doesn’t think Hannah grasps the concept. It’s been one disaster after another.
The water toys are brought in. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says dragging anchor is dangerous, and she needs to re-secure the vessel. Colin reaches for the anchor chain and thinks he broke… it. What? His finger? His nose? His man parts? João gives the signal, and they drop anchor. Colin is limping, so is it his foot? The burgers are approved by the guests. Colin tells the captain that he got his toe caught, and he injured his wrist, so I’m still not getting what happened. In her interview, the captain says the thought of losing Colin is causing a tightening in her chest. Colin tells Jack that he landed on his wrist. Jack says, first Colin tried to take June’s place, now he injured himself to get away from them. João takes Colin to shore. Colin is hoping it’s just a sprain. In João’s interview, he asks, how much almost losing Colin can he go through? He can’t afford to lose him. Colin is his best mate, and he needs him be around. He drops Colin off, and Colin gets in a taxi.
João asks the guests if they’re having a chill day. Laura says, more mellow than yesterday. João thinks it’s the calm before the storm. Ben says he’d be screwed without Anastasia. Captain Sandy tells Ben that she’ll be having dinner with the guests. In Ben’s interview, he says it’s nerve wracking when a captain eats with the guests. Any prior complaints can be blamed on the guests, but the captain can attest to what they say. It’s like they lawyered up. In Hannah’s interview, she says both she and Ben need Anastasia for dinner service. Travis whines to João that he sees his old bed with teddy bears on it. In João’s interview, he says, Jack is acting like he just got dumped by his teen sweetheart. They’re still on the same boat. It’s not like Jack moved to another country. The guests order shots, like they need them. João picks up Colin, who says his wrist is just inflamed, and he has to wear a brace for a few days. In his interview, he says, trust him. You don’t want to see the other guy.
The obnoxious guests get ready for dinner. Hannah is nervous because Ben decides to do a self-service family style dinner. He says, plates coming back are depressing. In Hannah’s interview, she says, Ben is sensitive, and not as cocky as he was in Greece. We flash back to that, and she says, he’s still volatile. Just not as cocky. Ben tells Sandy about his serving choice, and says it could be hangovers or their drinking, but the guests don’t seem to be eating. In the captain’s interview, she says, whatever gets Ben to perform best. She tells him that she trusts her chef. Ben says, thankfully, the burner is working. Guest Jules babbles to the captain about Aspen. Guest Stephanie interrupts, and Jules gets testy. In her interview, Captain Sandy says she doesn’t want people to fight for her attention. Guest Samantha asks why they’re serving themselves, and the captain says Ben wasn’t sure if they were going to eat. Samantha wants to see him now. He asks Hannah if that’s good or bad, and there are lots of bleeps. The guys hum Chopin’s Funeral March.
Samantha tells Ben, don’t be worried; it’s good, and everyone praises his food. He thanks them, and jets. Samantha says she likes when he’s nervous, and another jerkface says, he’s cute when he’s nervous. Idiots. I can’t even imagine an amount of money that would make me feel like I could humiliate any kind of workers, whether it’s by coming on to them or making them uncomfortable in another way. Unless I knew them. J/K. Kind of.
Ben uses a flamethrower on the crème brûlée dessert. It’s a success. Captain Sandy has to go back to the bridge. She stops by the galley, and tells Ben, it was amazing, but it got cold. Ben says the shrimp were sizzling when they came out of the galley. The captain says, it’s a long way to go, and Ben suggests getting stones to put them on, which sounds like a really good idea. The captain says it’s the best meal she’s had since she’s been on the boat.
Colin calls his mom to tell her about his injury. She wants to know what medication they gave him, but he says he hasn’t taken anything yet. She suggests he get a desk job, and his dad says, hang in there, as parents will. Jules and Stephanie argue about what happened at the table, and Stephanie says Jules is causing a scene. The other guests get out of the way, wanting to avoid the drama. The crew members do their best to eavesdrop. In Hannah’s interview, she says they’re fighting about getting Sandy’s attention. It’s strangely ironic, since for the past year, she’d been trying to get Sandy’s attention off of her. Stephanie says, that’s not how she saw it, but Jules doesn’t care. Stephanie can’t believe how aggressive Jules is getting with her. She did nothing unacceptable. They finally go to their cabins. This better be a big freaking tip. These women are total jerks.
Aesha and Jack make fun of them in the galley. Natalie wants to play the golf game, and Travis sets it up for her. She comments on how big his hands are, pretending not to know what she’s inferring. He bluntly reminds her. In his interview, he says he’s feeling isolated. Flirting with a beautiful woman is a nice change. The argument continues in the cabins, until it’s finally agreed they’ll deal with it in the morning.
It’s a new day. The guests gather for breakfast, but no talk of the idiocy from the night before. Jack tells Colin not to lift anything. Make João do it. Hannah tells Colin if he needs a hand, let her know. João suggests Jack drive them out. In his interview, João says there are very few things he can do to show Jack his appreciation. It’s like rewarding a dog with a bone. In Jack’s interview, he says, it’s a lovely little surprise. João must be drinking. He wouldn’t trust himself. Travis composes a note to Natalie. In his interview, he says they’re not allowed to fraternize with the guests on the boat, so he decided to do it off the boat. The guests pack, and the crew gets into their whites, queuing up on dock.
Jack slips Natalie the note during the goodbyes. Laura thanks them, and says it was an amazing experience, and the food was amazing. Ben is glad it’s over. Jack jumps on Aesha when they get back to their bunk. Captain Sandy calls everyone to the lounge for the tip meeting. She says considering she had to let a crew member go, and how their roles changed, other than Anastasia oversleeping, it went well. She tells Anastasia not to let it happen again, and Anastasia says, it only happens once. The captain says, Ben flew across the Atlantic Ocean, and nailed it in a galley he’s never been in. He says he couldn’t have done it without the crew, especially Anastasia. The tip is 13,800 euros, or 1250 ($1367.56) each. Hannah says, it’s hush money. In his interview, Jack says, sexual harassment, but the tip made it worth it.
Captain Sandy shows Hannah pictures of table settings from a boat show she went to. She tells Hannah she wants the tables at this level. In the captain’s interview, she says if Hannah can’t do it, she needs to inspire her stews to do it. Travis announces that he’s getting toasted on Red Bull and vodka. Hannah is pumped for tonight, but she’s not babysitting. She tells Jack, who says Travis isn’t as bad as she thinks. He had a few bad days. In Hannah’s interview, she says she’s not spending her night off babysitting a wasted Travis. Been there, done that, got the postcard, and not interested in getting another one again..
Hannah asks if Travis is still planning on being a good boy. Travis says he’s scrapped that idea, and she tells him, don’t make her night sh*t. He doesn’t like the way she said it, but agrees. In Travis’s interview, he says, Hannah is super condescending. The crew gets ready to go out. In Hannah’s interview, she says, the last time she as on a crew’s night out with Ben, he went back to the boat, and banged her third stew. Here’s to history not repeating itself. In the taxi, Aesha tells Hannah that she looks effing sexy, and she could eat Hannah’s face off. Sometimes I think these people are just out at sea too long.
It’s a beautiful restaurant/club, but the seating at the table is really tight. Jack is ready for RBV’s. In her interview, Hannah says she asked him to chill. She doesn’t want to babysit. Travis tells Jack that he’d like to stick his lips on Hannah. I suggest he not tell Hannah that. Waiters come with sparklers, ice buckets, and bottles of liquor, particularly vodka. Outside, in the smoking section, Hannah asks Travis if he’s holding a grudge, and Travis says, it’s old. He’s tired of her conflicting messages. In Travis’s interview, he says he just needs to get through the next two weeks, and he doesn’t have to deal with sh*t again. Hannah tells him that he’s weird, and he goes back inside.
Aesha tells Travis that she loves him, and he says he knows. João tells Colin that Travis is bent on destruction. He can see it. Travis sticks a long straw into a HUGE vodka bottle, and sucks it down. The girls dance. Colin and João go outside. Travis falls on the floor, and breaks one of the bottles. Hannah dances on a table, ignoring all of this totally. Travis goes to sit down, and keels over. Ben calls him an effing wanker. In his interview, Ben says we all know he’s been drunk before, but there’s drunk, and then there’s Travis drunk. Anastasia says, it’s not okay to get drunk like this every single time. Ben helps Travis up and outside. In Ben’s interview, he says he was looking forward to blowing off some steam, and familiarizing himself with his new crew, not babysitting. But apparently, he’s the babysitter. He tosses Travis into the taxi.
Next time, a guest passes out at dinner, João says it has the potential for disaster, Captain Sandy tells Travis that she can smell alcohol on his breath, and Ben gets burned – literally.
🚤 Thoughts and Prayers…
As Colin’s dad would probably say, hang in there, Captain Sandy.
I wanted to get more specific about what the guys in Below Deck Med were humming. It’s a common melody, but I had no idea what it was called. I put dum dumdeath march in, and got this. Poof! Magic! And it kind of fits going back to work.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Charlie’s isn’t open yet, but there’s a knock at the door. It’s Ava, who tells Julian, they need to talk. Julian asks if it can wait, but she says, it can’t. This came in the mail. She shows him an envelope, and says, a letter from Ryan.
Kristina and Sam meet at the MetroCourt for breakfast. Kristina reminds Sam that she works nights, and isn’t usually up this early. Sam thanks her for making an exception, and Kristina says she loves sister time. Sam does too, but Kristina says, the timing is too perfect.
Felicia asks if James had fun, and Mac says they bonded over the Yankees. Felicia says, the game put James to sleep. Then Mac fell asleep. He says, two peas in a pod. He didn’t mention this, since they were having a good time, but now Jordan is back, and he’s not Commissioner anymore. She says, Mac will be back by her side, running The Rib where he belongs.
Peter watches Maxie sleep. He flashes back to his conversation with Shiloh. Shiloh asks if Peter will help him get out, or would he prefer to face Robert? Everyone Peter cares about will know he was in on Drew’s kidnapping, and he was the Cassadine’s project manager. Maxie wakes up, and says she can spend the morning showing him how much she loves him. He says he loves her too. She asks, what’s wrong? He says he’s new to this, but he thinks in order for them to have each other fully, they have to tell each other the whole truth. She asks if this is about what he was trying to tell her the other day, that he’s as bad as Shiloh. He says, no. He’s worse than Shiloh.
Franco looks at the plaque in Oscar’s Meadow. Jason shows up, and Franco says, well, if it isn’t his father’s favorite son. He’s visiting the memorial of the son he never knew.
In the interrogation room, Chase tells Shiloh, chill. His hearing was delayed. Shiloh says, excellent. They can talk about Wiley. Chase says Wiley is safe with his fathers, and Willow is safe with him. Shiloh can’t touch them. Shiloh says he will when he gets out, but Chase says, that’s not going to happen. Alexis walks in, and says she thought her client was being brought up. Shiloh says, just the lady he’s looking for.
Elizabeth runs into Kim at the hospital. Kim says she was just introducing her former patients to Dr. Navarro. Elizabeth says, when that’s squared away, is she really leaving? Kim says, once Julian closes on Charlie’s, she’s hoping to get out as soon as possible. Elizabeth says Kim has been busy. Is that why Kim has been avoiding her, or does it have something to do with Franco?
Franco says Jason doesn’t consider Oscar to be his son. man of few words Jason says, no, and Franco says Jason still considers him Franco. Jason says that’s his legal identity. Franco says he’s glad he’s not that guy. He wants nothing to do with that guy or his crimes. Cabot and Shiloh did the world a favor with the memory transfer. Jason says the people who love him disagree. A lot of those people, he cares about. That’s why he can’t stand by and watch Franco hurt them.
Ava reads, dear Ava; to my precious goddess. I’ve been feasting off the memories of your visit for days. She says, it wasn’t a social visit, and Julian says he doesn’t know what she thought she’d accomplish. She says she went to peace about Kiki’s death. She asked Ryan to let her go, so Kiki could rest, but he gave her nothing. Julian tells her, tear up the letter. He doesn’t know why she opened it.
Kristina says Sam is keeping an eye on her while Shiloh is at the courthouse. Sam says, a little. She’s glad Kristina is free of Shiloh’s influence. Kristina says, more than free. She can’t wait to testify against him. Sam is worried that Shiloh is going to wiggle his way out of it. She doesn’t want him coming after Kristina. Kristina says, he wouldn’t dare. Not only does she have her father’s protection, she’s been brushing up on her boxing. There’s nothing to worry about.
Franco says Jason is talking about Elizabeth, but Jason says, not just her. He’s bound to meet Monica Quartermaine. Franco says, his stepmother? Jason says she didn’t know he existed. She has questions about Drew’s childhood. Will he answer them for her? Franco says he’ll talk to people who accept him as he is. It was difficult with Elizabeth. He can’t be the man she wants him to be. It would be better if he could take off. He’d like to start his life. Go someplace where nobody thinks he’s someone else. Jason asks how he’s going to manage that. Everything he has belongs to Franco. Franco asks what he has. A family who thinks he’s someone else? They want him to be the man they know. Kim can’t even look at him. She thinks he’s someone else, and so much time has passed, he’s ancient history. Jason says, what about Franco’s life? He made promises to Elizabeth and her sons. Is he okay with breaking those? Jason leaves, and Franco looks at the plaque again.
Kim apologizes for not returning Elizabeth’s calls. She didn’t know what to say about Franco. She knows Elizabeth saw the kiss. It took her completely by surprise, and she had no idea what was going on. Elizabeth asks if she’s seen Franco since, and Kim says she ran into him, and he wanted to know about Oscar. He considers himself Oscar’s father, and wanted to know everything. It’s very disconcerting. She sees Franco, but hears Drew. Elizabeth knows it’s confusing. How is she doing with it? Kim says she’s okay. She knows what’s going on now, and she’s just handling it.
Maxie says she told Peter before, there’s no comparison. He was an innocent victim of his father, and he’s moved on. He’s a good person, and he can’t tell her otherwise. He says, stop. He has to get this out, and she’s making it harder. She asks, what is it? and he says he’s responsible for everything that happened to Drew and Jason.
Felicia tells Mac, that’s great news. He’s free to come back to The Floating Rib. He says he’s been offered a permanent position as Chief of Detectives, but he said he’d ask her first. She asks if it’s something he wants to do, and he says he thinks so. She tells him, accept the position.
Maxie says Peter isn’t responsible; Helena and his father are. He did what he could to keep Jason alive, so he could return home. Peter says he stashed Jason away to keep him in reserve, until he could use Jason to kill his father. He planned the whole thing, move by move. The best way to abduct Drew, and leverage Andre to be cooperative. She asks what he’s saying. He says he wasn’t brought in after the procedure. He was there from the beginning. She doesn’t believe him, but he starts to cry, and says he was there in Afghanistan with Helena when she delivered Drew. He painted himself as the victim so he could win the good graces of the people of Port Charles. He’s no innocent. He’s as guilty as Helena and his father.
Kim tells Elizabeth that she knows Franco’s not Drew. She tried to make it clear that she intends to spend the rest of her life with Julian. She’s sure Elizabeth is still planning to spend her life with her husband. Elizabeth says, absolutely. She’s just waiting for Andre to give Franco his memory back. Kim is sorry Elizabeth has to go through this. She hopes the situation gets sorted out before she leaves, so when she goes, she knows they’re happy. They’ll talk before she leaves. Kim gets in the elevator.
Kristina tells Sam, she hates that she bought into Shiloh’s BS. Sam says, not anymore, and Kristina says, never again. He has no power over her. He’s lost his last piece of leverage.
Alexis says if Shiloh is looking for her to represent him, forget it. He says he’s not. His court appointed attorney encouraged him to plead guilty. Alexis says his attorney is better than he deserves. He’s lucky. He says he does consider himself a lucky man. Not only is he a father, he’s been given time to reflect on the people who have enriched his life, her daughter among them. Sam was an inspiration, but Kristina taught him the most important lessons.
You will never believe what happened here. The screen froze, and then it said I wasn’t authorized to view the channel. WTF, ABC? A new message appeared which led me to believe somehow Verizon had mixed up ABC with a sports channel, and a sports package is about the only thing I don’t subscribe to. After juggling remotes and rebooting, it came back. I’m in desperate need of sleep, and it’s not On Demand until the wee hours, but I only lost about five minutes. You’ll figure it out, as I did.
Elizabeth tells Scotty, an ankle monitor was a great idea, but Scotty says, it’s not forever. Franco is going to split as soon as it’s off. Elizabeth says, they have to stop him from leaving town. By force if necessary.
Kim goes to Oscar’s Meadow. She tells Oscar that she’s going to miss coming there to visit. She hopes he knows, everyplace in Port Charles makes her think of him. It’s a reminder, and makes her miss him more. She’s going to try and make a new start in Manhattan, but he’ll always be with her, no matter where she is. Franco appears, and asks why she didn’t tell him about this place. She says, she didn’t have a chance? (Her question mark.) She says, it’s Oscar’s Meadow. The Quartermaine family arranged it with the city, and they dedicated a spot to him. They put up the marker, and they all came after Oscar’s memorial to scatter wildflower seeds, and share a moment with Oscar that they remembered. He asks what moment she chose to share, and she says, encouraging him to have a relationship with his father.
Maxie tells Peter, she doesn’t understand. He’s been so good to her, and he’s close with James. She let him into their lives; into her heart. She loves him. He says he loves her too. He’s sorry. He’ll be the man she wants him to be, but he needs to be honest. He helped destroy Jason and Drew’s lives, and now Franco. He tried to keep it contained, but Shiloh is blackmailing him. Shiloh said he’s going public if Peter doesn’t help him get free. Picking up her phone, Maxie says, forget Shiloh. She’ll do it. Jason busts in, and shoots Peter. Peter wakes up, and Maxie asks, what’s wrong? Wow. Did they fool me.
Kristina asks Sam and Jason how they’re so solid. She can barely remember the last time she was in a real relationship. Not some sick excuse Shiloh encouraged. Sam says it will happen for Kristina too. Kristina says, someday she’ll find a love as great as theirs. Right now, she’s working on herself; figuring out what she wants, and going for it. She has to go, but Sam asks her to stay. She tells Sam, don’t worry. Shiloh is going straight to Pentenville. She leaves, and Jason asks if she’s really as good as she seems. Sam says, yes; she is. It makes everything they went through worth it.
Scotty says they can’t put Franco in a cage. It’s bad enough he has the ankle monitor. He was so desperate, he even tried to get Bobbie to put Franco in quarantine so he wouldn’t bolt. Elizabeth bets Bobbie didn’t like that, and Scotty says she threw drink in his face. He doesn’t blame her; it was unethical. He doesn’t think they can trap Franco like a rat. Elizabeth says, what if there was a legal way? One if, when Franco comes back, he’ll understand? She’s his wife, and if he’s mentally incapacitated, by law she’s permitted to make choices for him. She can argue that he’s not in his right mind, which is the truth. Once guardianship is granted, she can have him committed to Shadybrook, and when Andre gets there, she can make the decision to have the procedure done. Scotty says she wants Franco committed? She asks if he wants his son back. It’s the only way. Frankly, I’m surprised the hospital would even let him out, but that’s GH for you.
Franco asks what else Kim can tell him about the memorial. She says, Oscar wanted it to be a joyful occasion, and despite everything, it was. Oscar planned the whole thing, and everyone showed up. He says, even when Oscar was dying, he was making plans. He sounds like his mother. Kim was always making lists and planning. Kim says she’s learned to appreciate spontaneity. He says, as soon as she got used to a good surprise, they got one when he was deployed. She says, Franco was at the memorial, with Elizabeth and Cameron. He wishes he’d been there. He wishes he’d gotten to know their son. He thinks it might have changed things. She says she’s in a relationship now, and he asks if things are serious with Julian.
Kendra tells Alexis she has a new life plan for her. Alexis says, that’s a lofty goal. Can’t they start with cutting out junk food and exercising a little? Kendra says she can tell Alexis is ready for the holistic approach. It’s about inner strength, not just inner thighs. Julian asks if he can borrow Alexis, and she introduces him to Kendra, adding, Kendra is whipping her into shape. Julian asks if Kendra is a personal trainer, and Kendra says, among other things. He thinks Alexis is perfect as is. Julian brings Alexis over to Ava, who asks if there’s any way to get Ryan to stop writing. There must be a law against it. Alexis says she’s afraid there isn’t.
Mac says Felicia agreed pretty quickly. She just said she wanted him back. She says, yes, but she knows how much he adores police work. She was trying to make the end of his job less of a letdown. It’s wonderful. He says, to be clear, she’s okay by herself? She says, okay with it? She loves it. Ever since he’s been gone, she’s made a million changes. She’s put locally sourced organic and vegetarian options on the menu, and their microbrews are a big hit. She had a single barrel whiskey tasting last week, and the revenues were never higher for a weekday. Their revenue overall has been higher than it’s ever been. Seeing how happy he’s been, inspired her to give her all to the restaurant. And when he comes home, it’s exciting, because it gives her an opportunity to miss him. He says he noticed an uptick in their nocturnal activities. She says, sexy cop, and he says, hot business woman.
Maxie asks if Peter had a bad dream, and he says, yes. She asks what it was about, and he says, losing her. She says, that’s not going to happen. She loves him, and she’s not going anywhere. She says they have plenty of time to order room service and make love before she has to get James. That will drive the demons away. He says he’d love to, but he can’t. He got a text about something he forgot at work. He must have dozed off after he read it. She says, nothing like work stress to freak you out. He says, sorry, and she says they’ll see each other later. It’s not the end of the world.
Sam tells Jason, they don’t have to worry about Kristina. She’s really good. She asks, what is it? and he says he ran into Franco again. He’s determined to leave town. Jason wanted to offer Franco money to just go.
Scotty tells Elizabeth, good idea. She can make medical decisions for Franco, but they still have a lot of trouble. They have to find Andre and reverse the procedure, but Franco is still locked up. She says, for his own good. Scotty wanted Franco quarantined. He says, but it was stupid, and Bobbie talked sense into him. He doesn’t want to force Franco, but Elizabeth says, it’s clear he’s incapable of making decisions on his own behalf. Scotty says, because he’s thinking like Drew, not himself. She says, exactly. Once the monitor is off, they’ll lose him forever. Scotty says, what if he hates them anyway? and she says, who cares? It’s temporary. He says, what if the reversal doesn’t work? Elizabeth tells him, when Franco gave himself up, he told Cameron to tell her that he’d be back. He can’t keep his promise on his own. Franco needs them, and Scotty needs to help his son.
Kim tells Franco, it’s very serious. She tried to keep it casual, but before she knew it, she fell in love with Julian. He asks, what about before Julian? She never married? She says, no, and he says she must have had other serious relationships. She says she dated, but Julian is the first man she’s fallen for since Drew.
Ava says, there’s got to be something that can be done, but Alexis says, unfortunately, prisoners have rights too. Ava can write refused on the envelope and send it back, but that won’t necessarily stop him. Ava says, he’ll never stop. What if they ask the warden to stop his outgoing mail? Alexis says, the warden isn’t obligated to do that, and if they do, Ryan will have a legal case that he was denied his first amendment rights. Ava knows he’s not going to stop, and Alexis suggests Ava not read them. Ava says Alexis has been a lot of help, and walks off. Alexis tells Julian, she wishes she could do more to help. He says, the law is the law. He tells Kendra not to be too hard on Alexis. She’s pretty perfect as it is. He leaves, and Kendra says he thinks highly of Alexis. Alexis suggests they not go there, and Kendra says they’ll get to work reaching her personal lifestyle goals. She hands Alexis her analysis.
Shiloh asks if there are any pictures on his phone that Chase would like to share with him. He’s sure Willow would want to share her son with the man she loves. Chase gets in Shiloh’s face, and tells him, watch it. Chase leaves to see what’s going on, and Shiloh bangs his head on the table. Peter walks in through the side door, and Shiloh asks where the hell he’s been? Peter says, it takes time, and Shiloh tells him, work harder or all of Port Charles will know his dirty little secret. He wonders when people will learn secrets are never safe?
Sitting in Julian’s office, Ava tells Julian she can’t believe a prisoner has the right to torment her like this. He tells her, tear it up, shred it, burn it. Don’t let it get to her. Ryan has done enough damage. She says she’s never hated anyone more, but Julian says she’s giving him the power, just give him nothing. He leaves, and she starts to tear the letter up, but doesn’t.
Alexis tells Kendra, it’s really a major overhaul. It’s a big exercise plan. Kendra says, a new mindset requires physical change; a new relationship to the body. Alexis asks if Kendra is sure she’s not trying to kill her.
Peter tells Shiloh that he hasn’t forgotten their agreement. Shiloh says he’s minutes away from his hearing. His attorney wants him to plead; there’s no way he’s avoiding the charges. Peter says he won’t do time, as long as he keeps his mouth shut. Chase comes in, and asks what Peter is doing there. Peter says Mac must not have told him. The Invader is doing an exclusive on Shiloh. Chase says he wasn’t told, and wonders who would want to read that garbage. He tells Shiloh, his hearing is about to start, and pushes him out the door.
Maxie tells Mac, Chief of Detectives is fantastic. He says Maxie’s mom is on her way to making The Floating Rib the hottest spot in Port Charles. He’s happy. Maxie says she is too. She and Peter are madly in love. Mac says, that’s good news.
Sam says Jason didn’t actually give Franco money to leave? He says he tried to get through to him for Elizabeth’s sake. Sam asks if Franco listened, but Jason doesn’t think so. He doesn’t think anyone can convince Franco to stay.
Scotty tells Elizabeth that he can’t stand the idea of losing his son. It seems like just yesterday, he found out Franco was his son. He won’t give up. Elizabeth ask if he’ll help her, and he says, yes, he will. She hugs him and thanks him. He says he’s got to move fast. He has to get to the judge, and present his case for guardianship. And he has to make it fast before the ankle monitor comes off, and before Franco convinces Kim to be with him.
Franco asks if Kim remembers the CD he made for her. She says, Oscar found it a couple years ago. He says she kept it, and she says, Oscar made a copy and gave it to Drew, in the hope he’d remember. He didn’t. Franco says he remembers every second. He chose the songs hoping to remind her of a moment they had together. Kim says, this was a bad idea, and starts to walk away. Franco grabs her hand, and says he just wanted to tell her that he’s leaving town.
Monday’s episode will be a repeat of May 6, 2019. On Tuesday, Franco says Kim has made him rethink everything, Jordan tells Curtis that spying on Jax is a bad idea, and Sonny tells someone not to try to renegotiate their deal.
And the new Pillow Talk season begins September 15th at 11 pm. I can’t wait!
💔 My Heart…
Bethenny is leaving the RHONY again. It’s one of the few Housewives shows I’m still keenly interested in, and she was a big reason. I wonder if Jill Zarin will vie for the spot?
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear the Walking Dead
A voice on the radio says he saw their video at the gas station. His name is Charles. He was called Chuck when there were people still around to call him Chuck. He asks, when they get there, do one thing – kill him. He got bit, and wants to help like they asked. Where he is, has everything they need under one roof; bookstores, places to get clothing, a food court, and even an urgent care unit. Anyone listening – if anyone is listening – by the time they get there, he’ll already be gone. He doesn’t have a gun, or he’d do it himself. We see zombies in a mall, and someone putting up boards to make a gate. He says he’s wearing a red jacket, and should be easy to spot; he’s holed up in the security office. He asks to be buried someplace outside. Under the stars.
A zombie toddles up to a wooden gate. A hand comes through from the other side, grabs the zombie by the collar, and repeatedly smashes it’s head against the gate. Dwight walks through, and says, sh*t.He wasn’t kidding. Morgan follows, along with Grace, and says, it’s like before. Dwight asks if Morgan thinks it will be enough, and Morgan says it will be. Grace grabs some jelly beans from a candy store, and says, let’s go find him. Dwight says he’ll stay there and pick up the strays. Morgan takes some candy, and Grace tells him, careful. The candy beansies could be jawbreakers now. He says, candy what?
Grace and Morgan go to the security office. They see one of their boxes there, but no Chuck. There’s an iPod in a charger on the desk, along with a note. Morgan asks if Grace talked to him, and shows her the note. It’s addressed to her, saying the iPod is loaded with some of Chuck’s favorites. He hopes they’re okay at double-speed. Grace says, no. He must have remembered what she said on the tape. He said he’d be there. They see a chair with broken ropes tied to it. Morgan says, it looks like he tied himself to it, until he turned. He must have broken loose and wandered off. Grace says, he couldn’t have gone far. Morgan asks if she’s okay, and she says her blood sugar is low. That’s why she grabbed the candy beansies. He says, what does she keep calling those? Dwight calls them to come.
The three of them look down at the zombies gathering on the ground floor, and Dwight says their voices must have drawn them out. Grace wonders if Chuck is down there, and Morgan says it might take a while to find him. Dwight says they’re thinking of going down there to kill someone who’s already dead? Morgan tells him, Chuck said he’d have on a red jacket. Suddenly, Grace keels over. Morgan asks Dwight to get the first aid kit. He tells Grace to stay with them.
Ooh. This week’s credits are creepy cool. The background is a weird-ass carousel in an empty field, and a little calliope music to go with it.
At the Lone Oak gas station, Daniel loads up Skidmark, and tells the others, they need to keep moving. He plays some music over his walkie.
Morgan says Grace’s name, and asks if she can hear him. He tells her that she passed out. She says, candy beansies aren’t what they’re called? and he says, no. Jelly beans. He asks if she’s all right. She says her mom was an interesting woman. She made up answers, and always had to be right. Grace says she thought jelly beans was a brand name. She’s glad she didn’t find out too late. He says, the generator is downstairs. It’s the best they’re going to do. He asks if what happened had anything to do with… Grace says, radiation? He asks if it’s just a matter of time, and she says, it could be anything; she doesn’t know. Morgan asks if there’s anything he can do. Dwight joins them, and asks if she’s okay. She says she just got a nap on a real mattress, with fresh sheets, and she faced the truth about jelly beans. She’s good. Dwight turns on his walkie, and they hear Daniel’s music. Dwight says Logan’s people were at a truck stop not far from there. What if Logan finds out where they are? Grace says they were careful, but Logan might have heard the same messages that brought them there. Dwight says, Logan is pissed about the gas, and Morgan says if Logan is hitting truck stops, they’ll need what’s in the mall more than ever. He tells Dwight to go back, and bring the trucks, so they can load them up. Send the kids out through the back roads. Grace says she’ll stay with Morgan, and Dwight goes to get her some water from the car.
Outside the mall, Dwight gives a flat of water to Morgan. Morgan tells him, be careful. Dwight says Morgan isn’t being careful. They both chose something else. They could have given up the oil fields. Morgan says, but other people needed them. Dwight says he’s already been on the wrong side. You turn off your conscience and heart. When that happens, it’s harder to turn back on. He wonders if they’re now going to live looking over their shoulders. Is that how it’s going to end with them? Morgan says he has faith in people; he has to. He has faith in Dwight already. If Logan’s men come at them, they’ll redirect them, and try to make it something other than a fight. Dwight says they might need more than that, but Morgan thinks he already said it. They’re not being careful; they’re doing right. He hopes Logan and his people see that. He goes back in, and Dwight takes the radio out. He calls Daniel, and asks where he is.
Grace listens to A Tale of Two Cities on the iPod. She watches the zombies, and loads a gun. We see a sign that says Bridgeview Mall. She’s about to walk down the escalator, when Morgan calls her name, and she stops.
Morgan tells her, they said they’d bury Chuck, but he wouldn’t want her to be in the ground next to him. Grace says she wasn’t going down there for him. She going for herself. She’s seen people die from radiation poisoning. She’s seen them get cancer. Every time she coughs or loses her breath or feels a butterfly in her stomach, she wonders if this is it. The beginning of the end for her. It’s no way to live. Morgan doesn’t understand, but she says, there’s an urgent care clinic off main concourse. They have an X-ray machine, and maybe an ultrasound machine, if she’s lucky. She wants to know. She needs to know. He asks how he can help, and she says help her get to the generator, and she can take care of the rest. He asks if there’s nothing that can be done, and she tells him there isn’t. He says, they’ve got work to do. Grace says, after that, they’ll find him.
Dwight stops to pee by the side of the road (why?), and someone holds a gun to his head. He asks if they’re with Logan. Whatever they came there for, they’re not going to find. He was hoping they’d follow him. Why else would he say where he was going on an open channel? A dude knocks him out with the gun butt. Dude says Dwight is right. He didn’t think Dwight would say that.
A remote-controlled car with metal scoops tied to the back (like tin cans on a newlywed’s car), lures the zombies. Morgan works it, and we can tell he’s having fun. He tells Grace, when they get to urgent care, they can get to the generator from the back halls. Morgan keeps moving the car toward a carousel, and they follow the zombies at a distance. Morgan sees the urgent care sign, but Grace is gone. A zombie kicks the car, and it gets trampled on. Grace follows a guy in a red jacket, and takes out a knife. She steps on something, and it makes a noise. The zombies turn around. Morgan sees what’s happening, and doubles back. Grace kills a zombie in a red jacket, but now they’re coming from the other side too. Grace and Morgan lock themselves in a GNC-type store. Zombies clamor at the door. Morgan says, it’s done, and Grace says she thought it was Chuck, but the zombie was dead too long. Morgan says she was trying to help. He checks a door, and says, it’ll be all right. Dwight will be back in the morning. They’ll get to the generator. They just have to wait until Dwight gets back,
Dwight wakes up in a boxcar. Dude says he can’t figure out why Dwight would do a dumbsh*t thing like walk around with an unloaded gun. Dwight says, dumbsh*t like following him with a walkie, so he can find out where everyone else is? Dude says he reloaded Dwight’s gun. Dwight says, and Dude is going to shoot him unless he tells where the others are. What does Logan want with them anyway? He’s sure it started with good intentions, until it became their bread and butter. The question Dude has to ask himself is, is he just an a-hole now, or has he always been an a-hole? Dude says he’s always been an a-hole. At least according to his mama. He hits Dwight, and Dwight says look at his face. He’s been through worse, and from worse people. Dude says he’s sure he’ll think of something if Dwight doesn’t give him what he wants. Dwight says he can keep trying, and when Dwight gets free, they’ll see. Dude leaves the boxcar, pulling the door down.
Grace listens to her book, and Morgan gets them some protein drinks. She says it’s all her fault. Morgan says, she’s brave; making most of what she’s got. They should all be doing the same. She says she’s so not brave. He says she is, and he’s seen it. She says when she was eight, she loved horses. Her parents took her to a dude ranch. She’d never seen one up close, and saw a white mustang. She went up to it and put her hand on it. The horse turned away a bit, and it looked funny. She ran to her mother’s arms, and her mother tried to tell her it was a natural reaction. She tried to get Grace on the horse, but she wouldn’t go. Morgan says she was just a kid, and Grace says she kept screaming. She never went back. She started a life. She was great at her job, but not much else. It doesn’t matter now. Morgan says she can always find another horse to ride, and she asks if he’s seen one not torn to pieces. He says he has, and he’s ridden a couple. She says she’s still playing it safe. Doing what she can today, because she’s too scared to start something she won’t see to the end. Morgan asks, what if the ultrasound tells her something is wrong? Is there anything to be done? She says, before, she might have had a fighting chance, but no. She asks if he raced cars with his son. She doesn’t think she’s seen him smile like that before. She saw the tape. They’re here because he’s helping her with her problem. The least she can do is help him with his. She’s cooking pad tai and listening books on double speed; let her do something while she can. He says, it’s not the type of problem that can be fixed in a day. He looks at the zombies still at the door, and says they have another problem to deal with. The door starts to crack, and he says, let’s get to that generator.
Dude comes back with a gym bag, and Dwight asks if he brought back a pair of pliers. Dude says he’s been thinking about Dwight’s question, but he has no clue why Logan wants the gas. When you go that long without something, it makes you do crazy things to get it. He can understand that. Right, Dwight? Dwight asks how Dude knows his name, and Dude says you can’t go a mile without finding one of their tapes. When he saw Dwight’s part, he thought, he gets this guy. He’s broken up about what gets them all –snatch. He takes a plastic bag of letters out of the bag, and Dwight says, don’t touch that. Dude says, when you get good snatch and lose it, watch out. He tosses the letters on floor one by one. He reads from one, honey – that’s cute. He lights the corner on fire. Dwight starts to get up, and Dude says, that’s not a good idea. He’s going to burn them until Dwight tells him. Maybe he’ll find her himself. She sounds like a sweetheart. In a blink-and-you-miss-it move, Dwight gets the gun from Dude. Dude says, do it. Dwight’s an a-hole too, right? Dwight sees the letters, and says, right, knocking Dude out.
Morgan and Grace go through the back hallways. He tells her to turn off her headlamp. She says she won’t be able to see. He says he knows. He sees the zombies coming, and says he needs her to turn it off, and get down. Don’t overthink this. He’s got it. She does as he asks. He starts fighting the zombies, and she hears his stick fall. She turns her light back on, and sees that a zombie has Morgan down. She stabs it, and says, got it? He says, he would have, and thanks her.
They find the generator, and Grace says they always seem to end up around them. She tells him, it might take a minute, and she tinkers with the generator. He says, his boy was six when he got him one. He can’t remember why. Maybe good grades. Grace asks his son’s name, and he says, Duane. He used to race that car up and down street until it was too dark to see, and Morgan would smile. He’s always been a serious guy. Grace says, really? He says, except with his son. That’s how he knew it was right on the first date. He had on a giant, stupid smile all night afterward. Grace says she wouldn’t want to say goodbye to that either. He asks if she has somebody, and she says, no. He says, why not? and she says for the same reason she didn’t get on the horse. She met a guy who was smart and kind, and let her keep thinking jelly beans were candy beansies. It was right. That’s why she didn’t let it happen. She says she’s jealous of him. He did it. He went for it. He’s the brave one, not her. Now he has that smile. She gets the generator going, and everything in the mall turns on. Homage to Dawn of the Dead, I suppose?
They open the door, and Morgan pikes a zombie. They see the urgent care center. The zombies are headed for the arcade (no surprise), and Morgan and Grace struggle with the gate. The alarm goes off, and the zombies turn in their direction.
Grace shoots, and Morgan uses his pokey stick as they go to the escalator. Grace starts going up, and Morgan follows, but a zombie pulls him down. He struggles with it until Grace finally gets a clean shot. Morgan runs back up. He says, it’s the only way out, and asks how many bullets does she have? She gives him the usual answer of, not enough. He tries working the off switch, but the escalator keeps going, and the zombies keep coming. Grace tells him that she’s out. Morgan looks around for something to block them. As he pikes zombies, she finds an electrical box, opens it, and stops the escalator. She makes it go the other way. Morgan nearly slips down, but she pulls him back off. They go into a maintenance office, and Grace starts shutting things off. She finds a set of keys, and says, let’s go. They look out to a roof landing, and see Chuck. Morgan says, he’s alive.
Dwight opens the truck, and tells Dude, get out. He walks out behind Dude, and tells him, turn around. Dude says, just get it over with, and Dwight asks if Dude knows why the gun isn’t loaded. It’s because Dude is right. He’s an a-hole, or used to be one. The way things are going, he didn’t trust himself to not be that again. Someone gave him a second chance. The same chance he’s giving Dude. Dude asks what the hell Dwight is talking about. Dwight says, when Dude walks out of the woods, he has a choice to make. Go on being an a-hole, or figure out someone else to be. This is such a great moment, I almost cry. Dwight cuts Dude’s wrist ties off, and tells him, go. Dwight walks back to the truck.
Grace says, Chuck. Chuck says, they came. Morgan says they’ve been looking for him, and Check says, sorry about changing things up. He didn’t know how much time he had, and figured he’d make his move while he could. The zombies followed him up the stairwell. He hopes they didn’t cause any headaches. Grace says they had no problems whatsoever. She asks why he’s up there, and he says he wasn’t sure how long they’d be. He’d asked them to bury him under the stars, and he got to thinking if he could make it to the roof, he could see them one last time. It was his luck that it’s a cloudy night. At least he’s got company now. Grace says she’ll be right back. She has something she thinks could help. Morgan sits next to Chuck.
Grace brings back one of those things that makes stars on the ceiling. She sets it up so that it shines on an overhang. Chuck says, it’s perfect, and thanks her. They all smile.
Morgan buries Chuck outside. Grace puts a stuffed turtle on the grave. They stand in silence.
Back inside, they go to urgent care. Morgan says he’ll wait by the door, in case any more stragglers come by. Grace says she doesn’t want to know. He says, sorry; what? She says she doesn’t want to die. She wants to make it. She believes there’s more, no matter what happens. He says, that’s brave, and she laughs. She says, it’s being alive; really alive. She tells him, sorry to make him go through all this, and he says they did what they came there to do. She says, they did. He says Dwight will be back with the others in a few hours. They should get some sleep. She says she’s not tired, and says she knows there’s juice left in the generator.
Grace rides on the carousel. She asks Morgan if he’s going to make her ride by herself. He says he is, and she tells him. come on. He gets on, and they laugh. She says he looks like a natural.
The caravan gets to the mall. Morgan and Grace come out to meet them. Daniel hopes there’s a Cinnabon; he really likes those. Morgan says he didn’t see one. Daniel asks if there’s a Sin City, but Morgan doesn’t think so. Daniel says, a Bunnery? and Morgan says, no. Dwight walks up, and Morgan asks, what happened? He says he ran into one of Logan’s guys on the road. He let the guy go. He’s not doing careful. Morgan says, he’s doing right. Dwight says they should get out, so Logan’s guys don’t find them here. Tess says they passed a ranch that needs to be cleared, but they’ll help.
Daniel cuts Dwight’s hair and gives him a shave, as Grace listens to the end of her book. I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known. Dwight is now clean shaven. Morgan looks around and smiles. Daniel asks what he’s smiling about, and Morgan says, no reason.
Morgan approaches Grace’s truck. She says she’s got them gassed up, and she grabbed some protein bars. He says he’s not going. I say, nooo. He says, Al is out there on her own. She should have backup. He thinks that’s where he ought to be. Grace says, of course, and he tells her, be safe. He’ll see her soon. She nods, and says, see him soon. He leaves, and she looks as disappointed as I feel. She watches him get in his car, and a tear rolls down her cheek. He sees her in the rearview mirror, and watches her as he drives away, wiping tears from his face.
The episode ends with us all feeling cheated out of a romance we were sure was coming.
Next time, Alicia is in trouble, Logan demands to be told where the oil fields are, a new guy joins the crew, and Morgan says, what if?
🍸 The Struggle Is Real…
I don’t know about Desperate or Real, but these two would be perfect on Mob Wives.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear the Walking Dead
A lot of this episode was comprised of interviews with the characters, being put together for what’s basically a PSA.
Al is filming. We see one of the boxes that says, take what you need – leave what you don’t. Morgan says he was on the run. Al asks, from what? and he says, people. Somebody helped him, and that’s what this is all about. A zombie goes by. Alicia says clean-up was her job. It’s what she was good at. She took a step back, and figured out what she needed to keep going; keep helping. Daniel says he thought that’s where he’d be spending the rest of his days, alone with that cat. This is better. Grace says, she gets up, counts her regrets, puta them on her shoulders, and starts the day. Want you do with the time you have left? That’s the question. Victor says the universe is testing them. One becomes born to do something else; a survivor.There’s power in that. John says, money means nothing now. People who were sitting on piles of money, eating caviar out of ladles could have done something in the world. They missed their chance. This group is lousy with skills. That’s wealth today, and they’re glad to spread the wealth. He tasted caviar once, and it tasted like bait. June says, things change. She reached out to someone, and someone else reached out to her. If they make it spread, it means everything. Duane says he has a chance to do what he needs to do, and he’s taking it. Charlie says when they helped as people, things got better. Luci says, everything else was training for this.
Morgan says they landed the plane, and they did the impossible, a few people noticed. That’s all they needed. Al asked if they’ve saved people, and he says, at least a few. He hasn’t stopped driving since he got the radio message. We flash back to Morgan hearing a woman’s voice on the radio, saying, can you help me? Al asks, what about communal living? He says they’re still working on that. It’s easier to see what other people need help with. A zombie comes toward the camera, and Morgan kills it. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, let’s get back to it.
Al says after what happened, she wanted to make sure she wasn’t the only one doing this. She’s not used to this side of the camera. It’s been a long while. She knows how important the story is.
John opens a truck. In a voiceover, Morgan says, after they were contacted, they knew there were more out there. So they picked up more trucks, and covered more ground. Morgan asks Sarah if she’s heard anything, but she says. the radio is all quiet.
Sarah fills a big gas truck. She says this is how they keep humming. Polar Bear’s dudes hooked them up. They fill it every couple of weeks. Logan was right about one thing; gas is going kaput. It’s hard enough to get around. Daniel says someone drives behind to keep everything safe. People want to get it, and hopefully, their presence discourages that. Sarah says Logan wanted the gas for himself. He thought he’d fool them twice with the good Samaritan stuff, but they got him good.
Logan runs after the truck, yelling for them to stop, as they leave him in the dust. Sarah says, karma is a bitch. Technically, what they did to Logan wasn’t any different from what they did to Clayton, but this felt good.
Duane says he got lucky. He fell in with the right folks this time. He’s doing the polar opposite of what he used to do. If he does this for the rest of his life, he won’t make up for what he’s done, but he’ll know he did good. And being on the road, he can find her… Maybe. Daniel says, Duane won’t let him give him a haircut. Duane says, it doesn’t matter what he looks like. Daniel says it wouldn’t take much to make him look presentable.
Alicia explains that she rides in the lead vehicle. Morgan gives Alicia a pokey stick lesson. In her interview, Alicia thinks change is good. It’s what she needed. Victor kicks some zombie ass. Al says tell her about Alicia. Victor says she’s his friend. He wasn’t there when she needed him, but he’s with her now, and doing what he can.
June says she and Grace are in charge of the caravan. Everyone they’re helping is spaced so far apart. Grace says they try to keep the people comfortable between outposts. She and June set up a little camp. Grace makes a list. A zombie wanders in, and June tells everyone to get in the truck. In her interview, she says they’ll find a place to call home – eventually. There has to be a right place. June plays with her pseudo engagement ring. Al asks, when’s the wedding? but June says they have more important things to do. As far as she’s concerned, they’re already married. In John’s interview, he says June has his word and heart. That’s all that matters in this world. Al notices Grace checking her lymph nodes, and Grace says she wakes up wondering if today is the day she’ll feel sick. It used to stop her from doing things, but now she does as much as she can with what she has.
Morgan says when they were on the plane, he never pictured them coming this far. He feels good about what they’re doing, and seeing what it’s doing for everybody. Al asks what it’s done for him, and he says he might not have had the answer before he met Tess.
Luci radios Morgan, saying they need some help, and he asks where they’re going. He pulls up to a farmhouse. Luci says they tried to reach her husband on the walkie. From inside, Tess radios Luci, saying she doesn’t know what’s taking so long. Morgan asks if she can come out, but she says she can’t. They rigged the field, and she doesn’t know where they are. John joins them, and Morgan wonders what she’s talking about, when a zombie comes through the gate, and blows up. John says, landmines. Pieces of zombie rain down on them. Morgan asks, how many more? but Tess doesn’t know. John says the noise is going to bring more, and Morgan says they have to fix the fence.
Sarah listens to Convoy in her truck, and sings along over the radio. In her interview, Charlie says, they like their trucker music. Duane says, it’s all they listen to. Daniel says, this is not music. Sarah says, it’s not just music; it’s their anthem. It’s how they stay in touch when Wen is watching the kids in tanktown. Daniel says, they should have shot Logan in the mouth as soon as he opened it.No more words. He’s proven worth of his words.
Tess says the landmines were put everywhere. Morgan says they have to keep the zombies away from the fence. He asks where Tess’s husband went, and she says to the drugstore for an inhaler. Their son has asthma. Morgan asks if he’s okay, and she says, yes… no… yes. Morgan says they’ll send people to look for him. He asks her if she won’t come out in the meantime, and see what they look like. She asks about the cameras, and John suggests turning them off, but Al says, no. It’s important. Morgan says they’re recording so they can show people what they’re about. Al says not many people saw what they did, and they’re trying to figure the best way to get the message out. So people know they’re not full of crap. John radios Alicia and June. Morgan asks why Tess can’t leave, and Tess says she hasn’t left since things went bad. They have supplies. John says a map of the landmines would have helped. Morgan says it took him a long time to leave the first place he was in. Tess says her husband will be back soon. Morgan wants to make sure her boy gets what he needs. A zombie starts to come through the gate, but John shoots it. John tells Morgan, he said it would draw a crowd. Does he think they can find her husband? Morgan says they crashed a plane and put it back together. They should be able to find a husband. In John’s interview, he says it hit close to home with each of them in their own particular way.
June looks for medical supplies in a pharmacy. She radios Morgan, saying, there’s no inhaler. In her interview, she says, Tess needed to leave the house, and couldn’t. That’s what happens when you settle in one place too long. Things go bad. In Alicia’s interview, she says they thought they should split up to cover more ground. Alicia finds the tree with the message, if you’re reading this, you’re still here. June radios, asking if anyone sees anything. Victor says, nothing, but Alicia says she sees a message on a tree. In her interview, she says her mom looked for a little bit of good when she went out in the world. She would have liked this. We go back to Alicia by the tree. A zombie approaches her, and Victor pikes it from behind. She says she hasn’t killed since after the plane crash. She doesn’t want to go back there.
Morgan goes around the fence. In his interview, John says, a woman with a son; that’s what Morgan lost. Al asks Morgan if he wants to talk about it. He says, no. John says when he was a cop, he and his partner went for whole shifts without saying anything. They knew what made each other tick, and had each other’s backs. He was a good partner. Morgan says, John’s not a good talker. At least not always. Neither is he. At least not always. John tells Morgan that he’ll cover him. Al follows with the camera. Morgan starts to follows the fence, but the zombies pressing against it are too heavy, and that panel falls in. They blow up, and John says it’s the ugliest mustard he’s ever seen. His grandfather worked in a deli, and used to say that. In his interview, Morgan says, it was intense. John says Morgan has to get to the porch before… There’s another explosion; Morgan and Al duck. In Al’s interview, she says, words can’t describe it. Zombies keep blowing up. Morgan asks if everything is all right inside, and Tess says, yeah. Morgan radios June, asking where the inhaler is. Victor says the tree wasn’t the only remarkable thing they came across. June says, a walker came at Alicia. Not just any walker. Alicia says, it was him. June says, it wasTess’s husband. June takes inhaler out of a backpack.
Morgan says they don’t know how close the mines are to house, but runs toward it. In his interview, he says it was loaded for him. He knew from the moment he talked to them. Al says, because what happened to his wife and son? and he says, yes. He continues to move toward to house, and slams a zombie. Al says, don’t move… your left foot… sh*t. Morgan tells John not to come any closer; he doesn’t want anyone else get hurt. John says it could take a while, he might as well have company.
Victor drives up. June has the inhaler. John says they don’t know how many of these things there are. Tess asks what’s going on, and Morgan says they have the inhaler. She needs to come out. She says, Ben will be back. He can get it, and help them too. Morgan tells her, Ben’s not coming back. They found him.He got what they needed. Can she come out? She insists he’s coming back, and Morgan says she can’t bring herself to say goodbye. June gets it; it’s hard. Morgan says if she’s not coming out, he’ll have to get inside. June wonders if Al should put the camera down, but Morgan says, they need to see this. Al says she’s dealt with landmines before. It’s either a dud or a pressure release device. They won’t know until they see what it is. Al tells Morgan to dig the dirt from around it gently, so they can see what they’re up against. John gives him a pocketknife. Once the device is exposed, Al tells him how to rig it, so it doesn’t explode. He asks how sure she is, and she says, 50/50. He says he had something planned for tonight. Something he thinks they all need. John tells him, don’t make any final pronouncements, but Morgan says he’s not doing that. He’s saying it’s still on. He says, on three, but Tess comes out, and tells him, wait. What he’s using won’t work. She’s seen Ben do it a hundred times before. Morgan tells her, stay back, but she says she can help. She wants to help. She knows he’s not coming back.
She carefully walks toward Morgan, and gives him some kind of clip, saying, he used these. Al explains to slide the pin in where the holes line up, and lift his foot slowly to release the pressure. He follows her instructions, and June asks if they think it will hold. John thinks Al should back up, and Morgan says they all should. They back away, but Luci has the camera and keeps filming Morgan. He steps away, and says, let’s go. In her interview, Luci says, she hadn’t gone out in two years. June says, she did today. To help Morgan. Morgan says, because he was there to help her. June asks how he feels, and there’s an explosion where he’d been standing. Tess comes out with her son. In Morgan’s interview, he says he didn’t think she’d come out. Al asks, why not? He says, you can hear somebody’s gone, even see for yourself, and you still can’t believe it.Sometimes you just can’t say goodbye. Morgan hands the boy the inhaler.
The group makes dinner at the campsite. Morgan says he’s been wanting to do it for a while, and they finally could. Grace is making pad thai, and says the recipe has been on her refrigerator for years, and this is what it took for her to make it. She’s just missing peanuts. I wonder if she memorized it, or took it with her just in case. Tess is interviewed, and she says Ben didn’t think everyone was bad. He just thought they needed to stay put to survive where they were, and help would come. He was right. She thanks them, and hugs her son. John says, there’s a proud tradition of eating noodles around a campfire with this group. Morgan asks Alicia if she wants to practice tomorrow, but she says she’s working on something on her own. In her interview, she says she wants to know who’s painting the trees. She wants to find them.
Sarah pulls up, with the others. Everyone laughs and eats. At their happiest, I don’t think they’ve ever looked this content on The Walking Dead. In his interview, Morgan says, you never know where help will come from, but we all need it. Al asks if he’s talking about Tess or himself. He’d said he didn’t think he could answer before Tess. He says he knew he needed help with something, but he didn’t know what it was. It’s been long time since lost them. He still hasn’t said goodbye. He thinks he needs to, but doesn’t know how.
On camera, Alicia says she needs help finding her own way to make things better. John needs to figure out how to make the world like it used to be. June needs to find a place for them. One that won’t be like other the other places they’ve been. Grace says there are things she wants to do. Victor wants to make the most of his second chance. Daniel wants to be a man his daughter would have been proud to call dad. Duane says, he wants to end the day knowing he tried to make someone else’s day better. Charlie wants to do right by the people who took a chance on her. Sarah says she’s keeping the rig chugging for the poet of pavement. Al says she’s making sure their stories aren’t just interviews on paper. She started filming so they’d have it, but it’s become so much more.
Each person says a piece of the end (and I paraphrase). No one can do it on their own. That’s why they made the tape. They need people. That’s how they’ll last. When everyone is helping one another. So if you’re watching, pick up a radio, or leave food, do something, anything. Help yourself. Help us. Help everyone. When everyone starts helping, that’s how they’ll help everyone.
A TV goes to black. A guy (whose name we’ll find out later, is Wes) picks up his knapsack and radio. He listens at the back door, and notices there’s a padlock on it. He takes some snacks, looks at the take what you need, leave what you don’t box – with the phrase help how you can now added – breaks the lock on the door, and walks out of Long Oak Gas. He fills his bike tank. He sees two cars coming, and says, sh*t. A bunch of uniformed people with guns get out of the cars, led by Logan (sans uniform). Wes says he doesn’t want trouble, and Logan says neither does he. There’s something Wes needs to see. He tosses a worn-through pair of boots down, and says, that’s what happens to shoes you walk two hundred miles in. The dead walk; we weren’t meant to. He spent a lot of time clearing the roads, and can’t make use of his own handiwork because their gas was taken. One of Logan’s people takes Wes’s bag, while another siphons the gas out of his bike. Logan asks Wes where the oilfields are. Forget the horse sh*t. Wes says he’s ignorant of said horse sh*t. He’s not with those people who made the tape. Horse sh*t of a different kind. Logan says he likes Wes, but wants to make sure he can’t follow. Two of Logan’s people shoot the tires on Wes’s bike. Logan says, unless Wes wants to join the marching band – he points to a few zombies headed toward the station – he might want to get out. Wes asks, how? Logan says, call them. When they pick up, tell them they’re making more enemies than friends out there. He tosses Wes a radio, and says they have more bullets than they know what to do with. One of his cronies shoots in the air.
They drive off. Wes looks at the radio.
Next time, Morgan says they’re doing right, Dwight is knocked out by an unknown assailant, Daniel says they need to keep moving, and a working escalator!
💀 Not to rush the season, but The Walking Dead will be back on October 6th.
💍 Two Repeats and a Catfish…
Meet the couples on the new season of Before You Even Think Of That Green Card90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear the Walking Dead
Morgan gets on the radio. He says they’re looking for people. We see each of them take a turn at the mic; Alicia, Victor, John, Sarah, Charlie, Luci, and June. Alicia says they just want to help. Victor says, they want to offer assistance, but it’s not selfless. They need it too. John says, don’t be shy. If they’re hungry, there’s help. Sarah says, they’ve got beer. Charlie asks if anybody’s there. They all wait. Morgan asks again if anybody is there. Alicia says it was a good idea, but maybe they can’t make up for what they did. Maybe they’re the last ones left. Morgan knows they’re not. She tells him, dinner’s ready; take a break. They leave, and someone asks if anyone is there. They could use some help. Morgan runs back in, and says, copy. Everything’s going to be all right. Morgan asks where he is.
We see Logan at the truck stop, and it’s a mess. Everything has been thrown around everywhere, stuffing ripped out of cushions, furniture overturned; all covered with what looks like vacuum cleaner dust. Someone calls for Logan to get his ass down there. He comes out on a landing, and several people stand below him. A woman says they’ve searched every inch, and it ain’t there. Tell them where it is, or the next hole they dig will be for him.
Alicia showers the blood off of herself. Grace tells her the water is almost down, and gives her a towel. SheGrace says they need to make a move pretty soon. We hear a siren, and Grace thanks Alicia for getting the kids. She says she should have gotten them, but Alicia says she didn’t know. Grace says she didn’t look. They crashed a plane, and found the kids right away. Alicia says they’ve been doing this for months; Grace never did. Grace says she’s going to be okay, but Alicia say she doesn’t know that. Grace says she doesn’t know she won’t be. The siren means more radiation is coming than got on Alicia.
Morgan sees the coming zombie horde. Luci tells him to get to the truck stop, but he says he can’t risk it. The zombies are too close as it is. He’s going to keep leading them away. She says they have the plane radio running, and to let them know when he’s coming. She likes their chances. Morgan says, keep working. He’ll catch up as soon as he can.
Grace asks if Alicia is okay, and Alicia says she just had a hot shower, so there’s that. Morgan says they’ve got to keep moving. He listens to the siren, and says he’s starting to hate that sound. Grace says she does too, but if it stops, the real trouble begins. The zombies continue to come.
Dylan asks June if she wants to look for John, and she says, more than anything. But if they don’t fix the plane, it won’t be ready when he gets back. Dylan asks if she thinks he’ll make it. She says she’s seen a lot of bad – he has too – but he needs to know that’s not all there is. There’s got to be good too. Otherwise, it doesn’t add up. They haven’t seen whole lot of good lately, and she thinks they’ve got some coming. Dylan agrees.
Dwight and John go through a used car lot, looking for something to hotwire, but have no luck. Nothing starts. Dwight says they’ve got to keep looking. John tries to radio, but gets dead air. Dwight says they must be out of range. John looks in a car, and says, this one will work. Dwight tells him, try it, but he says he doesn’t have to. He sees wrappers from the butterscotch candies he likes on the dashboard. The car starts immediately, and tells Dwight, they’re going to make this thing work yet. They drive off.
Grace drives with Alicia and Morgan in the car, leading the zombies away. Alicia tells Morgan that she should have left them at the tree houses. She couldn’t kill anymore. She says, sorry, but he says, there’s nothing to feel sorry for. When they get back, he’ll teach her the exercises he does. They’re not just about fighting. They’re about protecting yourself and other people, even your enemies. They help him; maybe they can help her too. They arrive at the car blockade. Grace says, get down, and they all crouch inside the truck, as the zombies go by. Grace tells them, don’t move. Hopefully the zombies will keep following the sound. Morgan says as soon as they get to the first ridge, they’ll double back to the plane. Alicia tells Morgan to look, and they see a cloud from an explosion rise in the distance. Presumably from the plant. Suddenly, an errant zombie pops up at Morgan’s window, and tries to get to him. Grace backs up and out. She hits one of the cars, and gets stuck. They get out, and Morgan grabs his pokey stick, still in plastic. Morgan radios Luci, and says they’re coming, but they’re not going to be alone.
Sarah blocks Logan’s truck as he’s driving out. They both get out, and Logan asks if she’d mind moving he rig, calling her sweetheart. She notes that he has a black eye, and says if he calls her sweetheart again, she’ll give him a shiner in the other eye to match it. He assumes they want the truck stop back, and says he’s moving on. He was looking for something, but it’s not there. She says before he leaves, she wants him to do something for her friends. They nearly got themselves killed saving his ass. They’re fixing a plane, and need to find a way to light up a runway. If he hits the brights on his convoy, it will work. He says she’s asking for help, and that’s not how he operates. She tells him, the rig she’s driving, belonged in part to Clayton. She stole with her brother. Now they’re just trying to help too. That’s how they operate. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t regret what they’ve done. She’s read what Clayton wrote, and it gnaws at you. If you walk away from helping people who need it, you’ll spend what’s left of your miserable life making up for it. He owes it to them – and Clayton. He says, nice speech, but unlike his partner, he’s above ground. He’s not his sticking neck out. it’s kept him breathing, and he kind of likes breathing.
John asks Dwight, how far? and Dwight says, fifteen or twenty miles. The car starts sputtering, and stops. John can’t get it going again. He says they had a full tank of gas, but Dwight says it probably went bad. He’s noticed it before. Dwight points out the cloud in the distance. They get out of the car, and John gets June on the radio. She says they must be getting closer, and he says they are. He asks if they’re both looking at the same thing. He’s not giving up, but he might not make it in time. June asks where they are; she’ll come there. He says, it’s too far. He says he’ll do his best to get back, but asks her to promise they’ll take off whether he’s there or not. From the moment he laid eyes on her, he found a reason to live. He wants her to have a reason, whether he’s there or not. Dwight listens as he uses Shari’s words, find something to live for, and live. He says, promise him, and she promises. He says he loves her, but the sound starts breaking up, and John’s radio dies. Dwight says he’s sorry he can’t make it right, for John or anyone else. John sees a message written on a tree, if you’re reading this, it means you’re still here, and asks Dwight how far he thinks Shari’s car is.
Luci asks if June is okay, and June hands her the radio. Luci tells Morgan the wind has changed direction, and he says they need to get on the plane now. They’re closer than she thinks. She sees them running out of the woods. She says they’re not leaving until they have to, but they need help. The zombie horde emerges from the woods. Man, these zombies look tired.
Sarah tells Wen that Logan and his sick squad tore the place up. It looks like they were digging to China. He wonders what they were looking for, and she says, not flares. If she has to shoot sunshine out of her ass to make runway lights happen, then that’s what she’ll do. A car comes squealing in. Wen says they’ve got company. Daniel gets out with his hands up, and Sarah says, Dan the man? She lets Skidmark go, and he runs to Daniel. Daniel says his cat got fatter. Sarah asks if that’s why he’s there, and he says he heard them on the radio, and brought some things to help. Wen says it’s thoughtful, but unless he has spotlights in his trunk, it won’t be enough. Daniel asks him to help unload.
June tells Charlie to get more ammo. Morgan asks Grace if he can use his pokey stick, and she says it should be fine.
Victor works the controls, and asks Al if she’s ready. Al says they’ve got the engines running, and can’t wait much longer. Morgan says they’ll keep them off as long as they can. Al tells Victor that she’s glad she’s not doing this alone. Alicia makes sure the kids are buckled in. She and Victor are scared, but excited. Victor says, he’s got this. Al says they need to leave now, or they won’t have enough fuel. Victor asks if everybody is ready, and Luci says he can do this. He counts down, three… two… and June says, wait. She made John a promise, but this isn’t it. She tells Morgan to get on the plane, and he tells Alicia and Grace to run. Victor tells Al, when he says go, hit it. Morgan, Alicia, and Grace run to the plane, which opens in the back. They hear a car horn, and John and Dwight zoom up, John shooting zombies as they drive. They run to the plane and get in.
Three speedier zombies get hooked in some kind of netting hanging from the plane. One just gets dragged along, but two cling to the open doorway. Al tells them, lose the dead weight now, and John shoots them. The plane goes up with the doorway open. If this was on a big screen, I’d probably feel queasy. They go over the cloud of smoke, and John says they’re all right. Victor says they’ve got this, and everyone relaxes. Dwight looks at Shari’s ring. Morgan looks at his pokey stick. June tells John that she didn’t want to leave, and John says he knows. He kisses her forehead. Victor says, look at that, seeing the mountain. Al says it’s not the prettiest thing she’s seen since the end of everything.
The plane works surprisingly well. Alicia asks Morgan what they do now, and he says, make it back. She says, then do what? He’d said they should keep looking for people to help, and make sure others are living, but how do they do that? He laughs, and says he doesn’t know. That’s what they have to figure out. The plane shakes grace takes her belt off, and breaks the contaminated end off of Morgan’s stick, tossing it out of the plane. She gives the rest of it back to him, saying she fixed it. It was the only way. Morgan says she’s not the first person, and thanks her. June asks John if Dwight will be all right, and John says he thinks so. He wouldn’t have made it without Dwight. They found the car, but thought they hit a dead end. He saw something that made him understand that there are two ways to look everything. He thought he’d never speak to her again, and there was so much he had to say. He can’t keep going unless it’s said. He takes out a candy, and says he knows it doesn’t make sense, but would she do him the honor of becoming his wife. He shows her a ring he’s made from the gold candy wrapper. June says yes, and he says, before they die, he’s putting it on her. He does, and they kiss.
Sarah and Daniel set up numerous stings of Christmas lights, all connected to each other to line the runway. Sarah asks if he thinks they’ll see, and Daniel says they’ll know soon enough. Victor radios Sarah, and she tells him to keep his eyes peeled. He says that’s music to his ears; they’re uncomfortably low on fuel. He sees the makeshift runway, and tells the others they have to see this.
At the generator, Wen turns his chair around, and sees a zombie. He backs up toward the zombie, impaling it on the swords he can eject out of his chair. He didn’t count on the zombie being stuck on the swords, and grabs his rifle. Another zombie heads for him, and trips over the cord going to the generator, turning out the lights. I make a very loud noise. Al says that’s not good. They’re low on fuel.
All of a sudden, the plane starts to jerk. Sarah tries to get Wen on the radio, but he drops it. He propels himself out of the chair. He grabs the radio, and tells Sarah that he wants to say, if he doesn’t make it, she makes the worst beer he’s ever tasted. He loves her anyway. Sarah starts running toward where Wen is. Victor says they need the lights now. Wen crawls forward. Al says they’re going down, whether they like it or not. Wen manages to get the plug back in, and they land. It’s super rough, but they land, and they could see where they were going. Victor laughs
Morgan says, they’re all still standing. He introduces Sarah to Grace. Sarah says they can thank Dan the man for supplying the lights. Dan says he told Al not to show his interview to anyone. Morgan says they did it, and congratulates everyone. Dylan gives Luci the copy of The Little Prince, telling her it helped him a lot. Sarah asks the kids, who’s hungry? There are busted up vending machines that need raiding. The kids run inside, and Alicia runs to Daniel. He’s sorry about what happened. She is too, and says she’s trying to make it better. She thinks that’s happened. She introduces Dwight to Daniel, who says he needs a haircut. Alicia explains that Daniel used to be a barber, and Dwight says he might take Daniel up on it. Charlie hugs Daniel, saying she thought she’d never see him again. He says, after he left, his daughter Ofelia was gone, but he couldn’t let go. (#WhereIsOfelia) He couldn’t let himself say goodbye. Now he could, so he’s back, and he brought all the good records. He tells Victor that he was wrong. Victor says they all are at times.
Sarah, Luci, and Wen clink beers. Wen says it was crazy down there, and her beer still tastes like sh*t. Sarah tells him, keep drinking. It gets better.
Morgan practices with his now shorter pokey stick. A woman comes in on the radio, asking if he copies. He asks who it is, and they ask if they was his plane. He says, yes; who are you? She says she’s heard them before, and saw their boxes on the road. He asks why she didn’t say anything, and she says she didn’t think they were real. Now she saw the plane, and knows they are. She could use some help. Morgan gets feedback, and Logan’s voice says, sorry to interrupt, but he needs to chat. A car pulls in, and Logan gets out. Sarah says, too little too late, and the group surrounds him, pointing their guns. He says, okay; that’s fair. Morgan asks what he’s doing there. He says he listened to Morgan plan to help that woman on the radio, and he has a proposition. Alicia says he’s got to be kidding.
Logan tells them, because of the hurricane, and other elements, eventually it will be impossible to cross the mountain without a plane. Clayton knew the problem was coming, and set it up so people could cultivate a resource to rectify the situation – gasoline. Clayton wrote down the location in in one of his journals. Logan thought he could find it, but he was wrong. He thinks they have it. Luci says they do. He says if they give him the journal, he’ll take them there. Luci asks, how they know it’s not a trap? Victor asks, why not bring his convoy? Logan says they’d kill him, and them, if they knew he was there. He has bad sh*t to make up for too. Alicia said trust her if he wanted help. If they want anybody to get help ever again, they have to get to them. Soon, they won’t be able to. If they want to help people, they’ll help him find it.
Next time – in three weeks – more people are found, Victor wonders if the universe is testing them, a message is found on a tree, and landmines need to be navigated. Literally.
👋 Judith Loses Another Mother…
Unless Judith goes with her. I hope not. She’s one of the few bright spots in The Walking Dead.
I haven’t seen much of any the Little Women shows lately (speaking of which, whatever happened ot New York?), but Matt just gets creepier and creepier.
You will never believe what happened here. The screen froze, and then it said I wasn’t authorized to view the channel. WTF, ABC? A new message appeared which led me to believe somehow Verizon had mixed up ABC with a sports channel, and a sports package is about the only thing I don’t subscribe to. After juggling remotes and rebooting, it came back. I’m in desperate need of sleep, and it’s not On Demand until the wee hours, but I only lost about five minutes. You’ll figure it out, as I did.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 