What I Watched Today

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

 

 

General Hospital

Alexis and Sam visit Jason. Alexis encourages Sam to get moving on her follow-up appointment with Dr. Bensch. Sam wants to reschedule, but Alexis and Jason won’t let her. When they’re gone, Jason looks at the postcard again.

Franco is nervous to return to the art therapy program. Elizabeth says he’ll be fine. She tells him good luck, and takes Jake to visit Jason.

In Russia, the nurse checks Patient 6’s vitals. Dr. Kline says he’s lucky to be alive. He tells the nurse that greed comes back to bite you. They offered him a fortune to keep Patient 6 there, but he’s more trouble than he’s worth. The doctor can’t wait to get him out of there.

Someone comes into Ava’s room while she’s sleeping. It’s Griff.

Patient 6 is being transported today, and Dr. Kline wants no trace of him having been there. When the doctor leaves the room, Patient 6 takes out a paperclip.

Ava asks why Griff is there, and he says to see her. He tells her that she has no idea how beautiful she is.

Kristina goes to Parker’s office. She tells Parker that her brother-in-law is awake. Parker says it’s amazing, and the family must be relieved. Kristina says that Molly will be missing a class or two. They go the extra mile for the people they care about, like she just did.

Dillon meets Kiki for lunch. He notes she ordered two lunches, but one of them is for Dr. Bensch, who suddenly appears. He has to jet though, and tells Dillon he’s welcome to the lunch.

Sam tells Alexis that they’re early, and Dr. Bensch isn’t available yet. She wants to leave, but Alexis says no, they’ll wait. Sam doesn’t like Jason being alone. Alexis says her sisters will be happy to help, but Sam doesn’t think so, and says on second thought, Jason could use some alone time. Alexis asks if she’s going to talk to Julien. She thinks somebody should tell him. Sam asks if that somebody is Alexis.

Griff picks up a hand mirror, and shows Ava her face. She looks normal again. He says she’s as gorgeous as ever. If only she worked as hard to heal her soul as she has her face. She wakes up.

Griff calls Anna. He leaves a message saying he narrowed the location of the clinic, but doesn’t have an address. Franco comes in the locker room. He tells Griff they reinstated the art therapy program. Griff asks if he’s been in contact with Ava, but Franco hasn’t talked to her. Griff says that she seems to be MIA, and Franco wonders why it’s stressing Griff out.

Dr. Kline asks if Ava is all right. She tells him that she’s just having bad dreams. He says the first procedure went smoothly, and wants her rested for the next. He goes to get her something to help her sleep.

Patient 6 screws around with the paperclip, trying to get the cuffs open.

I have an interruption, but don’t miss enough to slog through the pirated video online.

Jake goes to get something, and Jason tells Elizabeth that he’s doing well. Elizabeth says he’s strong, but they’ve been there for him. Jason asks if she means her and Franco.

Franco asks if Ava owes Griff money. Griff says that he thinks she’s in trouble, and Franco suggests he get a hazmat suit if he’s going to deal with her. Griff tells Franco that they’re friends, and Franco finds it hard to believe, since they’re polar opposites. Griff says like Franco and Elizabeth.

Patient 6 drops the paperclip, and I say bad words. Someone picks it up. It’s Ava, who just took a tremendous chance unless they have adjoining rooms.

Jason tells Elizabeth that he sees Franco got back in touch with his artistic side. She says the exhibit was old paintings, but he did get the art program back at GH. Jason says they’ll be living and working together now; so much togetherness. She wonders if Jason has a problem with that. Jake shows Jason some pictures he’s organizing. Jason asks if he’s missing one, and Jake wonders if he’s talking about the one he and Franco did together.

Franco tells Griff about giving the money from the exhibit to the hospital. Griff says the old pieces must have stirred up feelings, and Franco says he’s been talking to Elizabeth. Griff mentions the painting he didn’t want to talk about, and Franco starts to singsong, Griff and Ava sitting in a tree. Griff says he has confusing feelings, and Ava is halfway around the globe and hurting. Franco asks what he’s doing there then, and tells him to go find her.

Patient 6 works with the paperclip on the cuffs. Ava chatters at him, saying she can’t believe he can free himself with a paperclip, and he tells her that she should go. She says, and miss this? She’ll take her chances.

Sam tells Alexis that she hasn’t had a perfect scorecard with love either, and veers in the direction of danger. She wouldn’t change anything, but it hasn’t always been easy. Alexis says she doesn’t want Sam to make the same mistake she did with her children. Molly is the good one, but they haven’t always seen red flags. Look at Kristina.

Kristina tells Parker that she’s been bombing in her business classes, and shows Parker her latest dud paper. Parker says economics isn’t her forte, but Kristina says she’s not there for help. She thinks the universe is trying to tell her something. Parker suggests it’s to study more. Kristina thinks maybe she should focus on real world experiences. Parker wonders why she’s getting the feeling that it’s a done deal. Kristina says she dropped her classes. Now there’s no more obstacles preventing them from seeing each other.

Kiki wonders if Dillon is jealous, and he says who wouldn’t be. Dr. Bensch gets to spend massive amounts of time with her, and now he’s buying her lunch. She says it was a sandwich, but Dillon says fries were included – that’s huge. Kiki says she’s also busy with school, her study group, and him. Dillon knows if it weren’t for Dr. Bensch she wouldn’t be on the fast track, but wishes he was helping. Kiki asks how she would function without the foot and backrubs, and conversation about non-medical things. He says he’ll walk her back to the hospital. He tells her please, how could he be jealous of a middle-aged guy in scrubs. Ouch.

Sam tells Alexis that she’s needs to get out and join the dating pool. Alexis is like, no way, and Sam asks if she’s still holding a torch for Julien. Alexis says it’s more like a match, but Sam says the best thing to do is move on. There are a ton of eligible bachelors in Port Charles; pick one. Dr. Bensch shows up, and Sam introduces him. He says he’s already reviewed her stats, and she’ll be in and out quickly. She says that she wants to get back to Jason, and they make small talk about that. Sam tells Dr. Bensch that they’re thinking of having a party for everyone who had a hand in taking care of Jason, so he’s invited. She tells him he can bring his wife or girlfriend, and he tells her he’s single and straight. She says a handsome doctor who’s unattached; what are the odds?

Griff tells Franco that finding Ava is easier said than done. Franco asks if he has any idea where she is, and Griff tells him a clinic in St. Petersburg, Russia. Franco asks what’s the hold-up? Grab a Russian dictionary, and hop on the next flight. Griff asks what he’s supposed to do when he gets there, and Franco tells him to hit up every hospital. Someone will point him in the right direction. Griff says that he’s waiting for friend to call back, and Franco says he can wait in Russia and be productive, or wait here, wringing his hands.

Patient 6 finishes getting free from the cuffs. Ava can’t believe he did that. He tells her to go back to her room; he’s going home. She asks how he’s going to do that, and if he even has a passport. She tells him that they’re planning on moving him today. He hears someone in the hallway, and tells her to get out. He waits behind the door, and when the guard or orderly or whatever he is comes in, Patent 6 jumps him and they fight.

Jake brings up the picture of Jason and Franco, but Elizabeth says that wasn’t Jason; it was a neighbor boy. He looks a lot like Jason, but Franco explained that it couldn’t have been him. Jake shows them a picture of Jason as a boy on his tablet. Elizabeth says there’s a resemblance, and Jake says they could be twins.

Patient 6 and nameless guy continue to fight. Patient 6 finally knocks him out. Ava comes back out, and asks who the hell he is.

Sam asks Dr. Bensch to ease her mother’s fears about her health while she goes to change. Alexis asks a couple of questions, but he has the feeling she already knows the answers. She strikes him as a woman who does her research. She asks if she strikes him as a woman who lets her daughter run roughshod over her, and says he must know what Sam is trying to do. He says she’s trying to set them up, but he likes it.

Parker thinks Kristina is being impulsive, but Kristina says that doesn’t mean she’s making a mistake. Parker says that Kristina’s parents don’t like her as it is, now she’s dropped out of school because of her. Kristina says that wasn’t the only reason, and they’ll come around once they get to know her. Parker asks what if they don’t, and Kristina says that she’s an adult and makes her own choices. The business degree isn’t what she wants. She thought Parker had feelings for her, and wonders if she’s wrong.

Griff says that Franco makes good points. Franco asks if the conversation was actually helpful. Griff says it was strange, but it got him thinking. Franco tells him that from personal experience, the only thing worse than not getting what you want is not living at all.

Elizabeth tells Jake that it’s just a coincidence. There’s only one Jason, and there’s no one else like him. Jake says he’s like Jason, and Jason hopes in good ways. He asks how Jake’s therapy is going, and Jake says they talk about Star Wars. Jason thanks Elizabeth for bringing him, and says the next time, Jake will be able to visit him at home. When they’re gone, Jason looks at the postcard again.

Patient 6 cuffs the now unconscious nameless guy to the bed, and goes through his pockets. He looks into the hallway, and tells Ava it’s clear and to get out. She tells him there’s a ton of security between there and the front door. He says he’s not going that way. She says that she doesn’t even know his name, but good luck, whoever you are. He thanks her and says that he owes her. She leaves, and he fiddles with his mask.

Parker tells Kristina that she’s not wrong. She has strong feelings, but education is important. Kristina says the timing isn’t right. Parker doesn’t want her to regret what she’s doing, but Kristina says that life is short. Between business and love, she’s picking love. Parker asks if she’s free for dinner. Kristina says she is, and Parker says it’s a date.

Jason stares at the postcard, and looks at the phone.

At the hospital, Franco asks Elizabeth and Jake how the visit went. Jake informs him that people can hear you when they’re in a coma. Elizabeth asks how Franco’s first day back was, but he says he’s just getting started. He asks Jake if that’s true what he said about being in a coma. Jake says that his father said he could hear him, he just wasn’t strong enough to talk back. Franco flashes back to talking to Jason, saying if they’re connected to wake up and tell him who he is, so Franco can figure out who he is, and why he’s done what he’s done.

Franco’s phone rings. It’s Jason. He says he’s been awake for almost two days and Franco hasn’t visited. He’s disappointed. He asks why Franco doesn’t come over right now.

Ava is back in her room, looking at a magazine, when Dr. Kline comes in with something to help her sleep. He tells her that success can’t be rushed. She’ll realize when they’re done, and she’s back to her old self. He gets a message that it’s time to transport Patient 6.

Griff leaves a message for Anna that he’s on his way to the airport, and if her contacts come through, to call him. Kiki says she was totally eavesdropping. He says that he wanted to see her anyway. He’s going after her mom. She asks if he’s found out where she is. He tells her not the exact location, but he’s narrowed it down. He says it’s better than waiting and doing nothing. He’s done trying, now he’s going. She asks how he can help, and he asks if she speaks Russian. That’s a no, so he tells her to hold down the fort and pray. Kiki tells him if he finds her mother – he says when – to tell her that she loves her.

Dr. Kline finds the guy cuffed to Patient 6’s bed. He makes an announcement that Patient 6 is on the loose. Everyone should be on the alert. Do not let him make it outside.

Patient 6 runs through a hallway and busts through a door. What do you know? Ta-da! It’s Steve Burton. Like we didn’t know this.

On Monday, Michael accuses Nelle of lying, Jason wants to know why Franco visited him in the ICU, and Paitent 6/Steve Burton/ real Jason (?) needs a favor.

Z Nation

Two years later. Roberta watches as zombies suddenly catch fire in a wasteland. Acid rain starts to come down, and her face melts. She screams.

Roberta wakes up inside of a cocoon in a laboratory. She pulls a tube out of her mouth. Her hair is blonde. Thanks to HDTV, I can see every pore on her nose. She gets up, dressed like a futuristic go-go dancer, in a white crop top and shorts, with little transparent boots. Her hands shake. She strolls around, and picks up a hammer. She walks out to the hallway, and rounds a corner. She sees a child who screams at her. She sees the acid rain in her mind again, and faints.

Roberta opens her eyes to find Murphy standing over her, looking like a normal person. She tells him he’s looking dapper, and he says look who’s back in town. He thought she was dead. He asks if she’s okay, but she’s not sure. He tells her that he’s been cured, and she is too. The bullet that passed through him, hit her. She asks where they are, and where everyone else is. He says she’s been in a coma a long time. She tells him that she was having some weird dreams, and asks how long she’s been out. He tells her for two years. Roberta asks about the others, but Murphy says they didn’t make it. I don’t believe it though. He helps her up. She says she has to get out of there, but he says there’s nowhere to go. There’s nothing left but rotting Z’s.

They get in an elevator. The elevator opens into a park, and Murphy welcomes Roberta to Zona. He tells her they made it; they beat the apocalypse. She can’t believe the rest are all dead, but he says things got so bad in the old world, they’re probably better off. He misses them, even 10K. He tells her that she owes enjoying her life to everyone who didn’t make it. She tells him that she needs to change, but he tells her that it’s Thursday, and clothing is optional. He’s right, because we see two nakey people walk by. Roberta says she hasn’t known the days of the week in years. Murphy gives her the tour.

Murphy tells Roberta that they have all seven days, like when it was pre-Z. They have everything except zombies and the clap, which they eradicated. They stroll through the town, and everyone says hello to Murphy. He tells Roberta that they have tennis, golf, and other recreational activities, like real people, and everything is free when you’re with The Murph. Roberta rolls her eyes, and he says he can’t help it if they owe him their lives. She asks if the vaccine worked, and he says of course. With his blood and the best lab money could buy, what could go wrong?

He takes Roberta to the Giant Museum of Humanity, where they saved what they could, the best of the best of humanity. There’s everything from an Elvis suit to the last case of pop rocks. Roberta sees her reflection in a display case, and touches her hair. She wanders into the hallway, and a guard asks to see bar code. He looks on her wrist, and talks into his radio, saying that there’s a possible unvax. Murphy says she’s with him and introduces her as General Warren. The guard apologizes, and she says that she just woke up from a coma. They continue to walk, and she’s surprised that Murphy made her a general. He says he wanted to make sure they took good care of her.

All dressed up, Roberta and Murphy get into a self-driving car. He can’t wait for her to meet The Founder. He saw it coming before it was coming, and saved what’s left of civilization. He saved humanity, at least the richest of them. She asks what about the rest of the planet, and he says it’s too late. They have a small boat, and can’t save everyone.

A guy runs through the forest, chased by zombies. We see Doc (told you), who has a beard down to his waist, and looks like Moses. He says, now is the time for all good men to kill some puppies and kittens, and mercies the zombies by wielding two hammers. He says it’s a beautiful sight. 10K pops out of nowhere, and head butts him before he realizes it’s Doc.

Up in a treehouse, Doc sits with 10K and Red. 10K says he could have killed Doc, but Doc says it would take way more than a head butt to bring him down. He tells 10K that it’s a nice set-up. It’s been almost two years since they’ve seen each other, and Doc says time flies when you’re killing Z’s. He wants to talk to them about a place called Newmerica, a safe zone in Northern Canada where there are no Z’s. 10K is skeptical, but Doc says it feels right. He tells them that the US government is involved (again, what could go wrong?), and they’re trying to get to the north before snowfall. There’s a waystation refugee camp for survivors. 10K says they have a good spot already. Red says he’s the first human they’ve seen. Doc thinks they might not get another chance, and looking at his beard, asks for a pair of scissors.

A woman is trapped in a car with a zombie, while two men are outside. One has a gun, but he says there’s only one bullet. Another car pulls up, and it’s Addie and Lucy, both rocking a punk-type look, with Addie sporting an eye patch. Addie tells them they’re there to help. Addie gets the woman out of the car, and Lucy calms the zombie. One of the men thanks them, and says they’re going to Newmerica. The other man shoots the zombie. Lucy asks why he did that, and he says it was their mom. The people drive off. Lucy asks Addie if she’s sure she wants to go, but Addie thinks they don’t have a choice. Lucy says, Zona; time to jet. Hey, she used my word.

Murphy tells Roberta that The Founder is a cool guy for being called The Founder, He tells her not to let his appearance frighten her. Really? What could be scary after fighting zombies for years? He used his own blood for the first vaccine, and failed. Not everyone has Murphy’s corpuscles.

OMG! The Founder is Michael Berryman! I love him! Murphy introduces Roberta, but he says everyone knows General Warren. He forgot how beautiful she is. He kisses her hand, and says they’ve met before. He tells Roberta that they all owe her undying gratitude for delivering The Murphy alive. She says it wasn’t easy; half the time she wanted to kill him herself. The Founder takes a breath from his portable oxygen tank. He says she’s funny too. They’ll want her in the gene pool. He says he’d like for her to meet his friends.

The door opens to a group gathered around a dining table. The Founder says he’d like to introduce a hero’s hero, and his new best friend, General Roberta Warren. They all stare at her. The Founder starts to clap, and they follow his lead. The applause gets faster. It’s a weird Stepford-like moment.

At the refugee camp, Dr. Sun directs some workers, and tells some new people to stay within the parameters, especially after dark. A woman complains to a guard that they’re Z bait. He tells her that they take everyone’s welfare seriously, and he thinks she needs a hug. He hugs her, and she calms down. He tells her that human contact is important. He feels better now; how about her? She says if he tries it again, she’ll shoot him. He says, fair enough.

Doc, 10K, and Red arrive at the camp. Dr. Sun hugs them, and asks what happened to Doc. He says that 10K thought he was a Gandalf zombie and coldcocked him. Then he has to explain The Lord of the Rings to 10K.

At the dining table, Murphy says there’s no one more badass than Roberta. One time she chopped the head off of a mutual friend. She says he was already dead, and they barely knew each other; Murphy exaggerates. The Founder tells her that there’s no need to be humble. Roberta says now that they’re cured, they need to learn how to fight. Murphy says not him. Zona is Z free, and his traveling days are over. The Founder tells her that if reports are correct, the last of civilization is in Newmerica. They’ve clawed their way back, and will do it again. He tells her it’s time for renewal, and making way for a new world. It’s the end of the world as we know it, and he feels fine. They can’t wait another decade for the last Z to die of starvation. The moment is here. The window of opportunity to save humanity is closing. They have the shield of the vaccine and the sword of wisdom. It’s time for a reset. Everyone toasts to a reset.

Addie drives like a maniac, trying to shake someone following them. They’re nearly creamed by a huge ball of zombies rolling through, but it misses them and rolls into the car behind them. Addie laughs, and Lucy tells her that it’s not funny; a zombie could have been hurt. There are two soldiers in the car, and the zombies go nuts banging on it. The windshield breaks.

A woman makes small talk with Roberta. The Founder says that he heard her two favorite things are chocolate and killing zombies. He had his pastry chef make a special dessert for her – a chocolate volcano zombie head cake. Murphy tells her that the brains are cherry custard. Roberta cuts into it, and flashes back to repeatedly stabbing a zombie. When she comes back to reality, all of the guests are covered in chocolate and cherry, and she’s destroyed the cake.

Red talks to Sun about the treehouse, and how she hated to give it up. Sun tells her it’s hard to let go of a shred of security. Red asks if she thinks Newmerica is real. She does, but also thinks maybe people need something to believe in. Sun asks Red about 5K. Red says they’d finally made it – we see this as she’s talking – but 5K fell down a hill and was surrounded by a huge flock of crows. When they flew off, 5K was gone. She hopes to see him again one day.

In the car, Murphy tells Roberta that she knows how to make a first impression. Roberta apologizes, and says she has to get out of there. Her hand shakes, and Murphy asks if she’s okay. She says something is wrong with her, and she has to go. She jumps out of the car, and starts to run, avoiding the guards by hiding behind trees. She sees a golf cart, puts on the boots she finds in the back, and rips her gown to make it shorter. She drives the cart to the lab. When she walks inside, a guard tries to stop her, she puts some martial arts moves on him, and he’s down. Ditto the next one. In her mind, she sees the wasteland. She sees a large metal gate with a sign that says zombies beyond this point. She lifts it up, and it opens to the ocean. Guards come up from behind her, and take her away.

Roberta is strapped to a gurney and riding in some kind of medical vehicle, like a rolling examining room. Murphy is there, and she asks where she’s going. He tells her she could have killed the guards, and she can’t go around killing things like she used to. She tells him that he doesn’t understand, and he says to enlighten him. He tells her that she’s the one who doesn’t understand. There’s no one left to save but themselves. He asks her not to go PTSD on him, when this is the first good thing to happen since day one.

Doc gives 10K a box of ammo. 10K asks him what if it sucks, and Doc tells him that life is a crapshoot. He’s young. He might even want to start a family. 10K says that Red doesn’t want children after what happened to 5K. He tells Doc a different story, and we see it differently as he’s talking. When they were searching, they saw this huge black cloud of crows at the bottom of a hill.  They thought they saw him standing in the middle. When the flock cleared, they realized he’d sacrificed himself to save him. We see his clothes and a bloody mess. Doc tells 10K that for not being blood kin, 5K was a lot like him. 10K asks if that’s supposed to make him feel better. Doc says nope. I love Doc. He reminds me of my father.

Another stopped car looks like they’re in trouble. Lucy wonders why everyone in such a hurry to get to Newmerica. She and Addie walk toward the car, but suddenly Lucy tells Addie to stop. She says there are no Z’s there. Instead, it’s a group of guys with guns.

At the camp, a guard tries to contact Rolling Thunder One on his radio, but there’s no answer.

Lucy and Addie are tied up in the back seat. Lucy tells them to let Addie go; she’s the one they want. Using her thoughts, Addie tells Lucy to leave them alone. Keep her eyes on her, and be ready to move. Addie scratches at her non-eye, which I guess is so we can see it. It’s gross, but far from the worst thing on this show.

In her mind, Roberta walks through the wasteland. She sees a control panel, and is about to press a button. IRL, her hand starts to shake. In her dream, she looks up and sees a gigantic stingray (the fish, not the car) floating through the sky. The vehicle stops. Murphy tells her to wake up. She tells him to get her out. He starts to unstrap her, when the door opens. Murphy recognizes Dr. Teller. The doctor tells them to come with him. He has no time to explain.

Back at Zona, one of The Founder’s dinner guests wears a protective suit while he messes with a zombie hand in the lab. It starts to disintegrate until it’s only bones.

Next time, Murphy says it’s not good.

🔪 This time around, Hell’s Kitchen is pitting 16 All Stars – those who did not win in their season, but were still winners in their own right – against each other. The prize is being head chef at Gordon’s Las Vegas restaurant, which pulls in a salary of a quarter of a million dollars. There were a lot of flashbacks from the previous seasons, highlighting the various contestants. The first challenge was a men versus women thing, and the men won. They got to go down a sky slide made of glass from seventy stories up. Which may or may not be your idea of a win. I don’t have the names down, but one of the guys was pretty frightened, and I don’t blame him. He did it anyway, and my hat’s off to him. It did look like fun, but I’d be scared out of my mind. Afterward, was dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant, and Wolfgang himself was trotted out to greet them. The women got the thankless tasks of cleaning up from the initial opening of the contest. This consisted of taking down the bleachers, taking up the red carpet, and best of all, picking up the zillion pieces of confetti that were dropped. Robyn, who got a one out of five, sinking the ladies’ team, consulted her tiger eye, telling the group that it answers yes or no questions for her. One of the other women made a great point in saying that she guessed Robyn didn’t ask about the salmon. <snort> They should vote her off just for thinking she hears from a tiger eye. Next time is an elimination.

Quotes of the Week

Some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well have not lived at all – in which case you fail by default. – J.K. Rowling

For to be free is not merely to case off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. – Nelson Mandela

Did you hear about the two guys who stole a calendar? They each got six months. – a character in the Lifetime movie, Break-Up Nightmare, although probably pretty old.

In Honor of Tonight’s Z-miere

An interview:

http://keyw.com/michael-berryman-says-nuclear-radiation-caused-his-strange-appearance-interview/

Michael Berryman

There were many, but I liked this one.