Tag Archives: Real Housewives of Potomac

Apr2

April 1, 2018 – Everyone is Looking for Something, Wrong Lane Legend, Some Ramble & My Neighbor’s Brother

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What I Watched Today

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

 

The Walking Dead

At the trash heap, Tardis Jadis hears shooting, and covers Negan with a bunch of material. She plays dead, and several people run past. A guy stops and spits on her. Lucky for her, he keeps moving. When it’s over, she removes her boots and coat, and is in the nightgown she wore when she killed the other Heapsters.

Wearing normal clothing – a plaid flannel shirt and jeans – Jadis retreats to a long, narrow bedroom that’s in amazingly pristine condition, and even has a skylight.  She picks up a now clean Lucille, and checks her watch. She goes to the container. She goes to the container. Negan says, what the sh*t?  He’s tied up, and she pulls him out on a dolly.

Carol chops wood. Ezekiel wants to look for Henry, but she says Maggie needs her. He tells her that she’s choosing not to leave; why? Does she believe Henry is already dead? She told him to pretend until it’s so, yet she can’t. He thought she was the bravest person he’d met, but no. She’s being stopped by cowardice.

Tara tells Daryl it’s been over a day, and she’s still not sick. He says she got lucky. She says Dwight shot her with clean arrow. Everyone else who got hit, got sick. It can’t be an accident. Daryl asks if Dwight gets a pass. Tara reminds Daryl about telling her that they might need Dwight. If she’d killed him, now she’d be dead. She thinks it’s personal with Daryl, and he’s not looking at the whole picture.

Michonne asks Rick if he wants to read it. He gets his coat, and says they need food. She asks what he wrote to Rick. Rick doesn’t know; he can’t. Michonne says he has too. Someone stopped her, and now she’s stopping him. Carl wrote it because he wanted Rick to read it. It was one of his last wishes. She tells Rick that he’s staying. She takes his coat and bag, and leaves the room. Rick looks like he has a headache, and takes out the letter.

Morgan sees Carol, and she asks if he’s looking for him for the Saviors. She says he doesn’t have to, but he says he does. He was supposed to do it before. Carol says fine, but she’s coming with him.

In Maggie’s office, Rosita says if the Saviors come back, they can’t defend a sizeable attack. Daryl thinks hand-to-hand combat is the way to go. Maggie asks if he thinks they’re running out of ammo, but Rosita says they have their bullet-maker; they’ll never run out, but she knows where to find him.

Negan tells Jaundice Jadis that whatever happened, he can smell it. He told her that he thinks people are a resource; he doesn’t throw that away. He’s confident that most people can be put on the right path; his own path. He wouldn’t have done this. It’s the work of someone not following the program, but it’s his mistake; he’ll own this. He took a chance, and thought he was doing the right thing, and punched himself in the d*ck. He’s sorry. He really is sorry. Jadis says she lost all she had. He tells her that he can help get it back. She brings Lucille down about an inch from his face.

Carol tells Morgan it makes sense that they stayed near the road. She finds a partially eaten turnip, and says, they were here. Morgan sees something and runs, calling Henry’s name. Carol follows. Morgan sees Henry, who turns around. He looks like death, and says, you know where it is; you were supposed to. Morgan says he’s not there, and tells Henry he’s not there. He tells Carol that Henry is dead. Carol says she didn’t come to look for Henry, but keep an eye on Morgan. She saves people, but she can’t save the dead. Morgan says he’s not dead. He doesn’t die; he just sees them – again and again. Even when he looks away, he still sees them. They continue to walk, Morgan in the lead. He sees a zombie whose head was cracked open with a rock. He says they came through here. Maybe it was a shortcut.

Rick watches Judith play. A single tear rolls down his face. He goes out with his gun, and asks Alden where they went. Alden says his best and only guess is the Sanctuary. He says they talked about getting out, but he hadn’t given their plans too much credit. Rick asks how he would do it, and Alden tells him about an old dive bar Negan talked about turning into an outpost. He asks Rick to do him a favor, and if Rick finds them, not to kill more than he has to. He says it went bad last night. They made a wrong choice, but it probably hasn’t hit some of them yet. He says Rick could bring them back and show them. Rick says he could.

Jadis’s watch beeps. She tosses Lucille, and walks off. Negan says, let’s talk about this. He had nothing to do with it. He moves himself along on the dolly with his feet. Jadis slides out a luggage cart with a zombie attached to it. It’s super weird, like the zombie is part of the cart. Negan says if she really wanted to harm him, she wouldn’t have left him near a bag full of guns, along with pictures of her nearest and dearest. She looks out, and he has a gun in one hand, and a lit flare in the other. Nearby are several photos. He suggests they have a chat.

Down the road, Carol and Morgan see a herd of zombies crossing. Carol thinks they should wait, and let it pass. Morgan says they could lose the trail, but Carol is afraid of losing more than that. A zombie stumbles toward them, and Morgan pikes it in the head. He starts to walk down the road, and Carol says maybe they can find them by another road. Morgan says he knows what they’ll find. She says he won’t know unless they keep going, and she won’t know unless she tries. He can try too. Morgan says he can’t. She saves people; he watches them die. He’s supposed to. Carol says he found her. He saved her. He knew she could come back, and he can too. He says it wasn’t him. He’s not strong like her. He was there watching them, knowing something would happen, and then it did. He has to kill him. He walks off. Carol calls to him, and then walks in the opposite direction.

Gimcrack Jadis tells Negan to leave the pictures alone. He says he figured they meant something to her. Considering the way things are, she can’t just pop around corner and order friends. He’s asking her one more time, what the sh*t is this? Is this how she kills people? Jadis mimics him, saying people are a resource. She asks him to put the flare away. It’s all she has left. He took her world; her everything. He tells her that his wife’s name was Lucille. She got him through. He didn’t give her sh*t, and she got him through regular life. The bat got him through this. He named the bat after her. It’s the last piece of what he has of her life, like Jadis’s photos. Jadis says, yes, and her watch beeps. She pushes the cart toward him, jumping around it. She knocks the gun out of one hand, and tries to grab the flare, but it falls into a puddle. A helicopter comes by, and she runs inside. Negan says, what the sh*t? for the fifteenth time. Jadis runs back out with a lit flare, but it’s too late. She walks over to where Lucille is, amid a pile of kindling, and is about to light it on fire. Negan says he didn’t burn her pictures. What will she have after she burns Lucille? Just a pile of ashes. She says she gets to hurt him, and he says he didn’t do it, but he can settle it. She puts the flare down, and cries.

Rick runs through the woods. He and Morgan see each other. Morgan is about to whack Rick with his staff, and Rick says Morgan knows him. Morgan says he’s not right, and Rick says out here for them and they’ll finish it. He and Morgan go out to the road, and see a car with fresh body parts next to it. The screen goes to black, and we hear shots.

In the dive bar, the Saviors are talking about two guys who are lying there. Jared wants to get rid of them, saying they don’t look too good. Another Savior says maybe that’s because they hacked part of them off. I guess these are the guys who belong to the body parts. Jared says, even if they make it, who’s waiting? They need to make their own way. If they deliver Rick to Negan, they’ll win big and be recognized. He asks if Rick is ready to walk. They’re ditching the dead weight and moving on. Jared is about to kill the two wounded men, and one Savior says they can get them to the doctor at Hilltop. Rick suggests they come back with him. He says they chose wrong, but it’s not too late. Cut them free, cooperate, make a fresh start, and become part of a community. He’s giving his word. There’s not a lot worth much anymore, but a man’s word means something. Jared looks skeptical. He asks if Rick thinks they’re dumb enough to believe him. He asks Jared to hear him out. They don’t have much time. They’re headed this way. They need to make a choice now.

The Saviors start to get nervous, and Jared says, there’s no herd, and there’s no deal at Hilltop. Rick didn’t come to save them. He came for blood. He says, this one here, indicating Morgan, strangled one of his own men with his bare hands. Jared accuses Rick of saying bullsh*t. Morgan says he came here to do what he was supposed to; kill every last one of them. Jared holds a gun to Morgan’s head. Morgan smiles, and tells him to save his bullets. He’s going to need them. The herd is coming, and after, when he’s just torn skin, loose teeth, and blood – stuff the zombies didn’t eat – it will be a damn shame, because there will be none of them left to kill. Now tell us how you really feel, Morgan. Jared tells the Saviors, let’s dump and bounce. Morgan says it never changes. He doesn’t die. No one does. Everybody turns. Jared is about to shoot Morgan, when another Savior stops him.

They hear the herd. Zombies begin to flow in. Jared is like, WTF?! and shoots at them. Rick yells for someone to cut them loose. Someone knocks Jared down, but it backfires, and they get eaten. Jared takes off. Morgan and Rick get loose, and get their weapons. Rick shoots, and Morgan uses his big stick. There are several Saviors helping them dispatch the zombies, and they kill them too. I’m like, he-e-ey. Rick throws the last one to a zombie. Wow. He’s harsh. Morgan looks around in the rooms behind the bar. He sees Henry by the pool table. But not for long. Jared pops out, and attacks Morgan with some pointy thing that looks pretty dangerous. He almost stabs Morgan in the throat, but Morgan throws him off and out, closing a metal gate that separates the rooms. It’s a kind of chain link, so Morgan watches Jared trying to grab through the openings. Jared screams as zombies tear his flesh from him. Morgan shows no emotion.

A dying Savior tells Rick this isn’t what he said, and Rick says, he lied. He shoots the guy in the head. Hmm… I don’t know how I feel about this. Morgan says, everybody turns, and walks out. Rick says Morgan saved him; he would have died. Maybe on the street in front of Morgan’s house. Morgan didn’t know him; why did he do it? Morgan says they should go. Rick says, just tell him. He had his son then. Morgan says, because his son was there. I forgot all about that.

Negan has Lucille back. Anthrax Jadis looks at the pictures. Negan asks what happened there; what was that was all about? He tells her to come with him and he’ll follow a new path. She’s not interested, but he says, the offer stands. Maybe he’ll swing by again. Who knows? Maybe she’ll want to share. He leaves, and I’m disappointed she didn’t go with him. And it seems Negan is better at keeping his word than Rick is.

Carol annihilates some zombies, after seeing Henry is trapped in a tangle of roots along a swamp. She pulls him out, and he says he’s sorry. She hugs him, and he cries. She says she was wrong; he can survive.

The wall guards at Alexandria bang on the sheet metal, and hoot and holler. Jerry runs to get Ezekiel. Carol and Henry walk in. Henry runs to Ezekiel. Carol nods, and keeps walking. Henry and Ezekiel hug. Nice welcome, but way to draw a crowd of zombies.

Carol tells Ezekiel that he was right, she was afraid. He says, but she’s no coward. Carol says she had a daughter. After she lost her, Carol was nothing. The people she was with saw a better version of her, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t find herself down at times.

A wind blows through Alexandria. Morgan and Rick come in. Morgan touches Henry, making sure he’s real. He tells Henry that he killed the man who killed his brother. He smiles, And Henry says he’s sorry, putting his hand on Morgan’s shoulder. Morgan tells him, don’t ever be sorry. Rick walks past everyone, and goes inside. Michonne sees Morgan crying.

Matrix Jadis brings her rolling suitcase to the bedroom. This must be her safe space. Her clean place too. She lies down on the bed.

Negan drives. He pulls over, and opens the passenger door. He says, if sh*t could sh*t, it wouldn’t look as sh*tty as you. Get in. I think this is probably his record number of sh*ts in one episode. Definitely in one sentence.

He drives to the Sanctuary. The guard says he knew Negan was alive. Negan says, hell yes, but not a word. Daddy is home, but it’s going to be a surprise. Hell, he has all sorts to roll out. We hear zombie noises from the car. See? He’s fun. He brings some life to this show. I know that sounds oxymoronish, but it needs some fun.

Daryl and Rosita watch Eugene through binoculars. They make a plan to take him out.

Rick changes into a comfortable t-shirt, and takes out the letter from Carl. Michonne comes in, and he thanks. Her he says he’s sorry, and she tells him that he doesn’t have to be. He says he loves her. She loves him too. They kiss. She leaves the room. He sits on the bed and reads. He cries a little.

Next time, Negan surprises Dwight, Simon wants to gather the like-minded, and the Saviors plan to take the Hilltop.

✝ My Late Slip

Tonight, I hate Walking Dead even more than usual, since they screwed up my entire evening by being on at all. Bravo decided to show new episodes as well, but not for any Wives who are important to me, so I’ll catch up with Atlanta and Potomac later. So how did they screw up my night, do you ask? (Or maybe not.) I’m going to be up half the night watching the late rerun, since I wanted to see Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. I mostly wanted to see it because, Alice Cooper. Alice was my first real concert that my sister took me to. An hour in, I still mostly wanted to see it for the same reason. Did Chrissy Teigen fund this production? I have nothing against John Legend, but no. He looked like he was having difficulty getting through the score and moving around at the same time. I’m sure he moves around during his concerts, but this is a different kind of moving around. I don’t know if he wasn’t used to it or wasn’t up to it or what, but next to Brandon Victor Dixon (Judas), who knows his way around a Broadway stage, he was a total lightweight. Like vinyl, the concert format of this musical was touted as something new, but isn’t. That’s how the show was first presented. I saw the original on tour. Quite young at the time, I thought they were just really loose with their staging. Especially when Jesus came out and started slapping hands with everyone. At first, I thought he was an actor who showed up late.

It’s always annoyed me that the two most lackluster songs were given to Mary Magdalene. Although I did love her dress, an orange ombre maxi sheath number. The audience was apparently made up of 12-year-olds and/or Legend fans, since they cheered every time he actually made it through a difficult note. Thankfully, they did change some of he score to suit his vocal range. Except for one they forgot. He thought he’s sad and tired? He should have been me watching this. Every once in a while, they also changed a word or line, leaving me with a question mark over my head, because it did nothing to improve on the lyrics or make them more relevant. The lighting was also a problem, most likely looking abstract and cool from the audience, but it wasn’t made for television viewing. During Peter’s Denial, some dude was taking his pic with a cell phone, which also left me wondering. If they were modernizing this, why wasn’t the rest of it like that? Was that supposed to be ironic or something?

Alice gave me a thrill and a smile. Not bad for a seventy-year-old. Thank God (heh-heh) the audience obviously knew who he was. His costume rocked. If a suit could be called psychedelic, this one would be it, again in an orange pallet. (The color scheme in general was in the brown-yellow-orange family.) He also held a walking stick/scepter topped by a small skull. I’ve seen several different Herods – from an Ohio summer theatre Herod, who was downright frightening, taking the apple he was eating and smushing it into Jesus’s face, to the silly film version with my old NYC neighbor Toby’s brother, Josh Mostel (both, sons of the late, great Zero Mostel). Alice was enjoyable and milked it well. I also loved his harem of dancing girls. The choreography as a whole was good.

Oh yeah. Could We Start Again. The third Mary Magdalene song. There’s a reason this one wasn’t even on the soundtrack.

I always feel a little sorry for Pilate, who was really a little fish in a big, Roman political pond. Ben Daniels worked for me here. I love how he seemed like he got a migraine when Herod dropkicked Jesus back to him.

The biggest hit out of the show – the title song, Superstar – was spot-on, again Dixon knocking it out of the park, in the appropriate sparkly outfit, the backup dancing reminiscent of Janet Jackson in the 90s, with some obvious freestylin’ at the end. The crowd went wild.

John Legend is probably a really nice guy and a good singer, but this was out of his whatever. I don’t want to say league, because he’s just in a different one. Lane perhaps? This role was not for him, not at this time anyway. Legend, maybe; Superstar, no. He got lucky though, with a solid supporting cast, winning choreography, and interesting direction.

👠 The Real Housewives of Potomac has a new girl – Candiace. What is wrong with parents?

🎭 I also checked out Your Husband Is Cheating On Us. Multi-talented, JD Lawrence, brings his urban theater circuit play of the same title to NYC. Besides being let in on the rehearsal process, we follow the actors living in the same house. It’s a worth-watching show within a show, and definitely something different.

🏅 Quote of the Night

Rick and Morgan walk into a bar… there is no punchline… just death. – Talking Dead

🎶 My Neighbor’s Brother

 

Mar20

March 19, 2018 – Jim is Backed Into a Corner, SUR Invades Mexico, a Little Ramble, Tuesday & Ed Grimley

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Griff puts stickers on the charts, covering some information. He gives Brad the subjects’ DNA, and asks if he can put a rush on it. Brad doesn’t think he can.

Jim’s thug asks Jim what he’s supposed to do with Franco and Drew. Jim says keep them on ice for a while. He can’t risk being exposed. The mayor already has his number, but has as much to lose as they do.

Olivia-Q tells Ned that she’s considering running for the school board. She’s tired of hearing parents complaining about bussing in kids from the Charles Street district. She’s going to bitch slap the next one who says they can’t be accommodated. Ned tells her to go for it. She asks if he’s going to bail her out for the assault charges, and he’s like, what? She asks what has him so distracted. He says he’s the newly elected mayor, and asks if recovery from the earthquake isn’t enough. Sam and Elizabeth walk in. They need to ask him a few questions.

Franco looks at the door. Drew asks what he’s doing, and he says remembering he doesn’t know how to pick a lock. He’s sure Jason could open it with no problem. He’d stare at it, and after alternating waves of intensity and aloofness, the door would lose confidence. Ha-ha! I love Todd Franco.

At the MetroCourt bar, Jason gives Anna the PK Sinclair manuscript. She asks how he came by it, and he tells her it was in the fireplace when they tracked down Britt. She said it just showed up, and shook Faison. Jason guesses he tried to burn it. Anna is glad the publishing house has the rights to Faison’s nom de plume, especially if Henrik turns out to be the author.

Maxie stops by Peter’s office to thank him. She apologizes for the vasectomy story, and he says it certainly was creative. She was right about Nina being super sensitive and overprotective of her and the baby. She has good people who care about her. She says with Nina worrying for her, it leaves her time to think about other things. He’s hoping one of them is the Crimson budget; Nina will find a way to adjust with her help. She tells Peter that she’s going home, and he asks if she means she decided to go back to the apartment.

Sam and Elizabeth tell Ned about Drew and Franco being missing, and that the police won’t help them look because they’re dealing with the earthquake. Ned says they can’t expect him to ask the PCPD to divert their attention from the disaster relief. Sam says they need to contact Jim, and they know Jim is a friend of his. Ned snaps at them, saying that man is not his friend.

Jim’s thug hopes he’s right about Mayor Quartermaine being in his pocket. Jim thinks a little time in solitary will persuade Drew and Franco to keep their mouths shut. The thug asks what if it doesn’t, and Jim says then they eliminate them. The thug says, you mean…? Jim says, kill them. What else would he mean? He tells the thug not to look surprised; there are no other options. The thug says he signed up for making millions, not killing people. Jim tells him to wait for his signal. Hopefully, they won’t have to take drastic action, but they have to make sure Drew and Franco aren’t found. Jim doesn’t seem to be a very good criminal or businessman. I’m shocked he’s actually made any money. Or that he’s lived this long.

Franco tells Drew that he had a bad moment, but it’s not all his fault the plan went south. Drew takes responsibility for the plan’s failure, and suggests they get back to the time they trusted each other. Or was giving him the rabbit’s foot an empty gesture? Franco says, no, he meant it. Drew says what’s liberating about being trapped together, is that they have nowhere to go; they’re stuck. If Franco has anything to get off his chest, there’s no time like the present. Franco says he’s good. Drew says then he’ll focus on getting out, and suggests Franco do the same. Drew looks at his hand, and says, you’ve got to be kidding me. Franco asks if there’s somewhere he has to be, and Drew says his wedding ring is missing. If they stole it, he’s going to kill them all.

Anna tells Jason that at the time, she was too close to give an objective analysis to the manuscript. Faison is no longer a threat, so she’s going to go through it, page by page. Jason says Spinelli ran it through a program that can predict the ending, and he can send her the information. She declines, saying she needs to be sure she’s reading the author’s thoughts; his creation. With any luck, it will bring her to Henrik.

Maxie tells Peter that she knows it’s weird. She can’t stand to be in the apartment, but she’s fine in the hotel. He says it’s her grief, and it’s up to her how she chooses to deal with it. She says she’s not mourning the way Nathan died, but she’s mourning their life; the years they could have spent with the baby and Georgie. The office might be connected to his death, but had nothing to do with his life. The apartment is her life without Nathan; accepting reality, and letting go of the plans they had. She’s not sure she’s ready. She almost didn’t have Nina bring her back, but after she heard the test results, she was so relieved, she told herself she had to live on for their child, and asked Nina to take her home. Peter asks what she found, and she says mail piled up. Everything addressed to Nathan. His unfinished business waiting there, and he’s not coming home. Peter hugs her.

Griff says he knows it’s the type of thing Brad usually delegates, but it’s important. Brad tells him that he  hasn’t provided a third party authorization. Griff says Brad has a reputation of asking for forgiveness rather than permission, but Brad says that’s before he and Lucas decided on adoption. He tells Griff that the adoption will be closed, and finding his birth parents affected his family. Griff wasn’t aware Brad was adopted, and Brad says Lucas was too, but he would know that, having known Lucas for so long. Griff asks for a favor as an old friend of Brad’s husband. Brad says he likes this side of Griff better than the holier-than-thou side, when he wore his stethoscope around his collar, but he’s not comfortable getting mixed up in this thing. Griff tells him he’ll be running the test on the side of the angels, and Brad says, there’s the Father/Doctor Monroe we know and love. He asks why it’s so important.

Elizabeth tells Ned that Jim was his biggest supporter. Ned apologizes for snapping; he has a lot on his mind. Sam asks if there was a rift between him and Jim. Ned says, no. He supported measure A and Jim’s redevelopment, but after the earthquake, it was a sore subject. Sam says Jim’s not picking up the phone, and asks if Ned knows where he’s staying. Ned gives them the motel information, and they leave. Olivia says the way they’re working together, you’d never know they hate each other. Ned asks if she noticed they were playing good cop/bad cop. I didn’t, but Olivia did. She says Ned was crawling out of his skin, and asks what gives? He has something he needs to tell her.

Jason asks Anna what she’s hoping to find, and she says, clues. Jason thought Faison never left a trail, but she says Faison the author wasn’t as cautious as Faison the spy. He left clues in his books. If Henrik follows the formula, there might be a message intended to lead to Faison to his son. Jason says Spinelli didn’t find any leads, and Anna says he doesn’t know the author like she does. Jason says Henrik could be completely different. Since they’re working together, he’d like to know the real reason she’s so invested in finding Henrik.

Maxie says she’s sorry, and Peter tells her that she has nothing to apologize for. She promised herself that she wouldn’t break down again. He suggests helping her with the mail, but she says Nina already took it. Except for this piece. She takes an envelope out of her bag.

Ned explains Jim’s motives to Olivia. He didn’t care about redeveloping Charles Street; he wanted what was underneath it. Olivia says he talked a good game, but she knew there was something she didn’t like. Funny how everyone keeps saying this now. Ned tells her drilling for gas is risky, even when properly regulated. When he was confronted, he had zero remorse. His motivation is greed and self-preservation. Olivia says he has to be held accountable, and Ned says, so does he.

Sam knocks on Jim’s door, saying she saw his car outside. He opens the door to find her and Elizabeth. Elizabeth says they’re looking for Franco and Drew. Maybe he can point them in the right direction. He says he would if he could, but he hasn’t seen them. Sam tells him that they said they were going there. After he told Drew what Franco had done, Drew was going to confront Franco, but they haven’t heard from either of them since. Elizabeth says she and Sam thought maybe they came back there. Sam says after Franco threatened Jim, she’s afraid he did worse to Drew.

Drew and Franco can’t find the ring. Franco wonders if Drew put it in his pocket, but Drew says it never comes off; it’s a part of him. He gives Franco the rabbit’s foot, saying he doesn’t want to lose it. Franco says Jim told him that he’d been a bad boy, and his mom wouldn’t believe him. Nobody would ever believe him, because everyone knows he’s just a liar.

Anna tells Jason that she needs to debrief Henrik, as an alleged co-conspirator. Jason thinks there’s more to it, and she explains about the disease Faison had, saying Henrik needs to be told. Jason asks why that’s her job.

Maxie hands Peter the envelope, saying that Nathan opened a trust account for the baby. As soon as he found out she was pregnant, he started a college fund. He was practical, a planner and saver; one of them had to be. He would have been a great father, and now the baby is stuck with her. Peter says she’s a terrific mother already. She tells him that she had it easy with Georgie. As difficult as the separation has been, she has Spinelli and Ellie, and Ellie makes Spinelli look like a beatnik in comparison. She lives beyond her means, and is constantly screwing up. Peter reminds her how far she came in the company, and that she trained Nina. Maxie say that’s just her job, but he thinks it shows understanding and responsibility. Nina would do anything for her; he’s experienced her dragon glare. Maxie says when he puts it that way, she almost believes him.

Griff tells Brad that the patients are high profile and want discretion. Once the test results are on file and the records match up, he’ll get the third-party form. He needs them as soon as humanly possible. Brad will actually be helping a lot of people. Brad says okay, but he’s trusting Griff, addressing him as Father.

Sam tells Jim it’s important, and asks if Drew contacted him. She knows he needed answers as much as Franco wanted to hide them. Elizabeth insists he’d never hurt Drew. Jim says the last time he saw Franco was before the earthquake, and he hasn’t seen Drew since they were at the hospital. Sam wants to give him her number, and walks over to the desk. Jim whips the paper on the desk out from under her, saying it’s proprietary information, and rolls it up. He tells Elizabeth this must be troubling, talking to her in the doorway, which leaves Sam to look around. Elizabeth is worried, since they’re in a disaster area, but she had faith that Franco would never hurt Drew. Jim says the truth is that “Bobby” did what he did to Drew, and kept it buried inside a long time. If they’re both missing, she does have something to be concerned about.

Drew if Jim was talking about the top of the stairs when he called Franco a bad boy. Franco doesn’t know. He remembers seeing Jim at top of the stairs, and Drew at the bottom. Drew asks if he remembers pushing him, and Franco says no, but he doesn’t remember that he didn’t.

Anna tells Jason that she’s beyond grateful, and hopes they continue to work together. What she’s not telling him has nothing to do with the search. She says Robin told her that she trusts him the most to have her back, no questions asked. She hasn’t earned that from him yet, but she’s asking him to treat her like her daughter. She needs him to trust her. She has her reasons.

Maxie thanks Peter for talking, and says he should start charging her. He jokes that he’s docking her. She says going back feels impossible, and he says, until it isn’t. She wonders when she’ll know. He says she won’t be thinking about it, and the next thing she knows, she’ll be standing in doorway. She says she’ll trust him on that. She’s sorry he didn’t get chance to know Nathan. She thinks they would have liked each other. She leaves and forgets the envelope. By the time Peter realizes, she’s gone.

Olivia tells Ned not to think of blaming himself; it’s all on Jim. Ned says he let him drill, but Olivia says Ned let him start construction. Ned tells her that he approved the plan. She says he had no idea, but he says Jim sees it differently. He’d said that given the fact they were working closely, and he was advocating the redevelopment, no one will buy that he was completely in the dark. Olivia says he has no proof unless he has something on tape, but Ned says he doesn’t think the city can take it. Thanks to Sonny, they’re already synonymous with organized crime, and the last mayor stole the election. How is it going to look? The office will still be tainted. How is he going to accomplish anything if they think he was in bed with public enemy number one? Olivia asks what he’s going to do, and he says the only thing he can do.

Jim claims that Franco was in a rage and out of his mind. He could have done something and left town. Elizabeth says, not the Franco she knows. He says it’s difficult to hear the truth, but what reason would he have to lie to her? Sam gives him a paper with her number on it. He says sorry that he couldn’t be more help, and they leave. Outside, Elizabeth tells Sam that Jim knows more than he’s telling. Sam says she found proof, and holds up Drew’s ring. She found it on the floor. Drew was wearing it the last time she saw him, so he was in that room. Jim lied.

On the phone, Jim says too many people are catching on. Yeah, like the whole town. He says, they’re out of options. Take care of them.

Drew says if Franco pushed him or didn’t, they were just little kids. What they do know is Jim is lying, and whatever he’s hiding must be bad. Look where they are. Everything that happened in the past doesn’t matter. What does is getting out and getting answers. They’re going to get them together. He asks if that sounds okay, and Franco says it would be great. They hear the beep of a truck backing up.

Olivia ask if Ned is out of his mind, but he says there’s no other way. She says he’d better think of one. Mayor Ned Quartermaine doesn’t run away, abandoning the city and its people when they need him the most. He says she’s right. He needs to make sure Jim doesn’t get away with it. She says after that, he might want to stay mayor. Let this play out, and trust the people of Port Charles to know who he is, and that his intentions are pure. He wishes he had her faith. She knows how much he loves the city. He wants to make it better. He wants them to see the Port Charles that he knows; the potential he sees. He doesn’t see it happening on his watch, but Olivia says maybe he still can. They’re going to save the city, and she knows just how to do it.

Griff sees Brad leaving the hospital, and asks where he’s going. Brad says, home. His husband made dinner, which is risky at best. Griff thought he put a rush on the test, but Brad says Griff knows they’re not instantaneous. He’ll have it in the morning.

Jason trusts Anna. Whatever she can’t disclose, he knows she has her reasons. She thanks him for his discretion and the manuscript. He thinks it seems to be getting more personal, but he’s not asking why. He hopes whatever is in the manuscript helps her find what she’s looking for. Anna says she does too.

On the phone, Peter says they spoke a few months ago about a manuscript. He’s ready to publish it. He knows how the story ends. He looks at the envelope Maxie left.

Tomorrow, Jordan hopes to find what she’s looking for, Sam isn’t letting Jim out of her sight, and Curtis says he has him.

Vanderpump Rules

Have I mentioned how much I hate Jax?

Tom comes in early to work on cocktails. Lisa tells him to give her something she’s never tasted. They’re meeting with TomTom’s designer, Nick Alain today. Tom wants to prove himself, since annoyed Nick in the Vegas showroom. Lisa tells him not to make it more convoluted than it is already. In her interview, Lisa wants them to leave the designing and organizing to her.

Stassi meets Lala’s music producers, since she’s helping plan Lala’s showcase. Lala is leaving the fancy sh*t up to Stassi. They all check out the venue, the patio of The Phoenix restaurant, which has a satellite bar. Stassi wants it like a sexy, dark, mildly haunted house. She and Lala share a giant pretzel, and Lala asks how Stassi felt about girls’ night. Stassi says even though she’s tried to communicate with Ariana, it’s Ariana’s way or the highway. She says everyone gets shamed for calling someone else out, and then they end up apologizing. Lala calls her a gangster bitch.

Jax has an appointment with Kelsey, and asks Brittany to make herself scarce. He tells her that he’s asking nicely, saying these are the little things that will make the relationship better. In her interview, Brittany is not thrilled. Jax straightens up the apartment, so we know he’s looking at this as more than a reiki session. Kelsey arrives and has him center. In his interview, he says she breaks you down and rebuilds you. Whenever he sees her, he has the best day of his life. He calls her the Jax whisperer, and I gag. He tells her the trip is giving him anxiety. He’d love it to be one big happy trip to Mexico, but that’s not their group. He got a job offer in Tampa doing client relations, social media, and marketing for hockey. Kelsey tells him he’s almost ready to be released, but there’s a lot of emotional and mental stress. That will happen when you try to think without a brain. She gives him some stones to dissolve negative energy. Have I told you that I hate Jax? I hate those stones too.

Brittany asks how it went. Jax says it’s always amazing. Kelsey is helping him cope with his issues. Brittany asks what she’s doing that helps so much. He says she knows how to get through to him. He says blah-blah-blah you need patience with him. Kelsey calls him Jason, because he wants her to know the person he used to be. Brittany says he never asked her to call him Jason, and this is coming out of nowhere. He tells her about the position he was offered, and says it’s a dream job. They’re going to pay him to talk about hockey. In her interview, she says he’s acting like this has been a lifelong dream, but she’s never even heard about it before. He says he doesn’t see much holding him back, and there’s nothing there for him. He’s been living a Peter Pan lifestyle. Brittany says she’s been waiting for him to grow up too, and he whines that she can’t just say it’s nice. She says he knows he’s immature, and he tells her that he has to take care of himself first, and this is what he wants. She says they’ll figure it out when everything is confirmed.

Scheana manages to feed the cat, and gives Rob some fast food. She tells him girls’ night was fun. She thinks Brittany got her mojo back after Jax took it. Rob says it’s Brittany’s choice, but Scheana says sometimes it’s easier to stay, which is why she hesitated to get a divorce. Rob shows her logos for the Divorce Closet. She’s impressed at his work ethic. She asks what her role is. He wants her to be the face of the company, but he has majority equity. She tells him his eyes are very blue today, because her attention span is approximately five seconds. She tells Rob, the day they’re flying out to Mexico, her divorce is final. The next time she’s married, it will be to him. He says, wow, but not like, Wow! It comes out sounding more like, ugh.

Lisa visits the stables. it gives her a respite from the challenges in LA. Brittany meets her, and says she’s nervous, since she hasn’t ridden in a while, but just being around horses makes her think of home. Lisa is glad she came out, and asks how she’s doing. Brittany says she and Jax haven’t been fighting, and she’s planning the trip. Lisa wonders why she needs to make things better when he’s treated her like crap. Brittany thinks the trip will be good for them. In her interview, Brittany explains that Jax seems like a different person outside LA. I have an idea. How about finding a different person than Jax? She tells Lisa about the reiki sessions, and how they help Jax calm down. Lisa asks if the therapist is a man or a woman. Brittany tells her a woman, and Lisa suggests a conventional therapist. Brittany says Jax went once. Lisa thinks she should look after herself in the situation. In her interview, Lisa wonders why put up with Jax’s bullsh*t. She’ll never understand it. She doesn’t see him changing any time soon, but it’s what Brittany signed up for.

Construction is happening at the TomTom site. Lisa has the Tom and Schwartz observe. Nick Alain arrives. She wants it to be his masterpiece. He shows her a sketch, including a huge swinging pendulum. Lisa asks if he’s been smoking pot. He shows her another sketch. It’s all very steampunk, and Lisa says he’s a genius. Tom says they worked on five cocktails. He’s brought them for her to try. He starts with a mescal cocktail containing scorpion chili pepper. Lisa says she thinks she’s been stung by the scorpion.

Kristen goes over some outfits for the trip with Stassi.

Lala shows Scheana her spray tan. Scheana didn’t know they were going Oompa Loompa.

The plane ride is drinking, sleeping, and selfies. More drinking commences at the hotel upon their arrival. James says, I’m in Mexico, bitch, like he’s Jesse Pinkman. Their room has a private pool, and Jax is surprised Brittany has gone out of her way to make his birthday awesome. He should be surprised she’s still with him. I’m stunned. Schwartz opens ten-dollar peanuts from the mini bar, saying he’s opening a bar with Lisa and Ken. Things have changed. Katie is impressed they’ve made it through a year of marriage. The trip already feels different from previous ones. We flash back to some of those, and they weren’t pretty. Katie says they’re making amazing happy memories to eclipse the not-so-happy ones. Schwartz hopes they have sixty more years.

Brittany and Jax check out their pool. James and Peter show up, but Jax says he’s not coming out to where the peasants stay. In his interview, James says it’s the first time he’s been invited to Jax’s birthday, and he feels over the moon about it. I guess it doesn’t take much. Jax feels better, and thinks it has to do with Kelsey. What an a-hole. I can tell you this, if your dude is talking to you about another woman like that, get out. Jax says he’s in his own little world, and tells Brittany he loves her. She says she loves him too, and I want to cry.

Kristen bounces on the bed. Stassi tells her at two a.m., it’s lights out, and don’t deny her basic human rights. Kristen wails it’s her vacation too. Stassi points out that they have a balcony. The last time they had one, Kristen and Tom were dating, and she was going to throw herself off. We flash back to that. Stassi tells her to stay away from it, and in response, Kristen opens some tequila.

Tom exfoliates and does his hair, explaining how it’s a different process in the Mexican climate. He’s a manscaping chameleon.

Jax takes Tom and Schwartz aside, and tells them about his new job opportunity. He’s 95% on the side of taking it. I have to say it. A “job opportunity” does not mean you have the job. We see a clip of Brittany telling him that he sprung it on her, and they haven’t really talked about it. She says she loves her friends, and he tells her that they don’t pay the bills. She says it’s a lot to think about, and not an overnight decision, and he says, for her. In her interview, Brittany says he’s not even thinking about her feelings, especially after the heartbreak she’s gone through. It seems like he’s just thinking about himself yet again. Listen, honey, he’s the one who put you through that heartbreak, and if he’s not thinking about your feelings at this point in the game, he never will. She doesn’t get why he didn’t come to her. He decided without talking to her. He says they’re talking right now, and she tells him It seems like he’s made up his mind without asking her. He asks if she’s going to make him turn down his dream job, and she says maybe she’s not his dream girl. She had a dream of being in a good relationship, and not being cheated on. In his interview, Jax says he’s burned out with the constant battle. Please. She tells him to let her know when he has a definitive answer. She wants to focus on being in Mexico and having fun.

SUR survives without this motley crew. Lisa tells Adam and Wesley that their problems are miles away. Adam wants to go from barback to bartender. Lisa says on a Saturday night, he might have to make 350 drinks. In her interview, she explains that being a barback, doing whatever is needed behind the bar and replenishing whatever the bartender needs, is different from a bartender. Bartending is a skill, and takes more talent than being a gorgeous specimen. She asks Adam to make a mojito. In her interview, she says he needs a lot of work in this department, even though he’s already better than Jax. We see some clips of Jax being the worst bartender in the world. Lisa says he’ll have to focus if he wants to make it work. Adam says she makes him nervous, and Wesley says there are customers tougher than Lisa.

The group in Mexico meets for dinner, and Brittany says they’re going to a natural waterpark tomorrow. They toast with tequila shots to Scheana’s divorce. She has a countdown app, and it’s official. She tells everyone that Rob is a man who hangs a TV in seven minutes. In her interview, Stassi suggests that Scheana get a new hobby, like crossword puzzles. Although if Scheana did one, all of the answers would be Rob. Ha-ha-ha! I love Stassi. Stassi says she has nightmares about those three letters. She doesn’t even like mariachi bands, but wishes one would come by.

Jax takes Tom and Schwartz aside, and says he’s gotten a blessing in disguise. He got a call from a friend in Tampa, where there’s a position open in social media/marketing. They’d love to have him head it up. I’m still trying to figure out how this is a blessing in disguise. Disguised as what? A job offer? Tom asks what that means. Jax doesn’t know <snort>, but says it’s his dream job. In his interview, Tom says he’s known Jax for fifteen years, and would miss him. He doesn’t want the band to break up. Schwarz asks who he would make horrible decisions with. Jax says he’s 38, has no education, and needs security. This is huge. In his interview, Jax says he’s happy for Tom and Schwartz, but he’s also jealous. He’s been falling into his old patterns, and is ready for something else. He tells the Toms that he hates to say it, but it’s time to grow up. He needs something in his life. They three-way bro hug.

Brittany tells the girls and James about the job. Katie says he’s had a few job opportunities over the years. We see clips from him starting a sweater line and a fitness app. She says she’ll believe when she sees it. Stassi asks Brittany about moving with him, and Brittany says he just sprang it on her. She’s not saying or doing anything yet. Lala is annoyed with Jax, and Scheana wants to hook Brittany up with anyone else. Ariana says Adam has a crush on her, and thinks they should invite him out with them. James says Jax will go mental, and I think of Ed Grimley.

Jax joins them, and Ariana asks what’s up with Tampa? How serious is the offer? Jax says he’ll be doing events. In her interview, Stassi says he can’t tell them what it’s called or what he has to do besides tweet about hockey. Ariana wants to make sure Brittany also does what she wants to with her life. Brittany asks if he remembers what her dream is; she did it in high school. Ariana says they all know. Brittany asks if he doesn’t remember her talking about tutoring disabled children. In her interview, Lala says he’s been with her for two years, and doesn’t know sh*t about her. Brittany says she’s told him ten million times that she’s wanted to help with disabled kids. Lala tells Jax that he’s no longer single man, it’s a partnership. He asks if it’s between him and Brittany, or him and her? Lala says she’s watched him disrespect people over and over, and he needs to respect Brittany. In her interview, Lala says Jax is being a jerk, and to bullsh*t around with the coolest girl ever shows that he’s full of it. Jax tells her to take care of her own relationship. James thinks Jax is going to lose his temper, and Tom suggests they pump the brakes on this. Stassi says whenever she walks past their apartment, she hears the disrespectful way Jax talks to Brittany. Tom tells her that’s inappropriate; she’s his ex. Stassi says he doesn’t know what he’s talking about, and Kristen says she thought he was Brittany’s friend. Tom says he just found out that his friend might be moving to Florida, and we all break out the violins. Stassi leaves, and Lala follows. Jax says it’s a whole ten minutes into the trip.

Next time, fun in the water, Stassi accuses Kristen of being a terrible travel companion, Rob thinks Scheana should turn off her phone, and Scheana tries to hook Brittany up with Adam.

🍻 It continues to be a wasted summer on Summer House. Kyle acted like a drunken fool, after which he claimed they “were all embarrassing.” I hate that. The worst person to party with in the world is the one who says, “we were all drunk,” when they were the one who was the idiot. New guy Amit seems more mature than the others. I think they kidnapped him.

💅 The Real Housewives of Potomac will be back on Sunday, April 1st at 10 pm. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. With this show, I’d have to agree that they are all embarrassing.

😵 Other people I mix up who aren’t Black. Jon Bon Jovi and John (Cougar, not Cougar) Mellencamp, and Cameron Diaz and Ellen Barkin. Just sayin’.

👯 5 Reasons Tuesdays Are Wildly Underrated

  1. It’s the Safest Day to Drive. Car accidents are LEAST likely to happen on Tuesday.
  1. You’re at Peak Productivity. People get more done on Tuesday than any other day of the week.
  1. Tuesday are Great Days to Change Careers. The Biggest Job Posting Day from employers is Tuesday.
  1. People Are Free to Meet. The most available time on people’s calendars is Tuesday at 2:30 PM.
  1. You Can Meet Your Gym Bestie. Tuesday is the most popular day for exercise classes… you can have both Gym and Tacos!

From – DarbySmart.com newsletter

👦 Ed Grimley

 

 

Jul10

July 9, 2017 – Fear the Mid-Season Finale, 90 Day Nightmare & Part One Potomac Snooze

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What I Watched Today

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

 

 

Fear the Walking Dead

Part One

Jake walks along a canyon, presumably on his way to talk to see Walker. He’s being watched. He hears the click of a gun and runs. He hides behind a tree, gets his gun ready, and turns to find Alicia. Alicia tells him about Vernon and Kathy, and how the entire family was killed. He says it’s even more urgent now. She says she wanted him to own it, but not this way. He says he’s not doing it for that reason, and she insists on going with him.

They see the tribal headquarters, otherwise known as the abandoned gas station. Jake and Alicia walk past the line of guards, and are stripped of their weapons. We see a bunch of people standing in a circle and dogs are barking. Walker steps out, with something wrapped in a bloody towel. Walker tells Jake that he’s hundreds of years late for talking, but just in time for lunch, plopping down the head of a pig that’s just been slaughtered. Of course, they’d wanted us to think it was a dog, and we did. I hate being manipulated like that.

Madison tells Nick that Alicia didn’t come home, and now she’s not in the camp. She asks him to go to Jake’s, but he tells her to leave Alicia alone. Jeremiah approaches, and says he knows Alicia and Jake are courting, which is I guess what we’re calling it now. Some of Jake’s stuff is gone, and so is he. Nick wonders where they should start looking, but Jeremiah says they don’t. He can’t spare a search party, and everyone has had enough right now. Nick and Jeremiah decide to train new recruits.

Sitting in the diner, Jake tells Walker that his father won’t abandon the ranch. He tells him that Russel is dead, and Walker says karma is overdue. Alicia says that the Trumball family is dead too, and he killed them. Walker asks if “this girl” is speaking for Jake, and adds three down, one to go. Jake says his father did nothing to warrant this, and he thought they had an understanding. Walker says he understood that when Jake came there with his drunken friends, he waited on him with a smile, but the day of the white man’s courts are over. They must vacate the land. Jake was hoping for a parlay, and to negotiate. Walker says maybe he’s right, if a parlay can spare blood They can talk after they eat.

Holy! The waitress is Ofelia!  #ThereIsOfelia

Nick approaches Troy, wanting to sign up. Troy asks why join the militia, and Nick tells him that maybe he feels badly about what he’s done to cause any death. Troy suggests leaving before something worse happens, but Nick talks about getting Travis killed, and says he needs an occupation. He also wants to protect them from whoever killed the Trumball family; he saw those savages. Troy tells someone to get Nick outfitted.

Outside the diner, Ofelia tells Alicia that it’s a long story. Alicia says to tell her, and she’ll tell Ofelia how they almost died when she took the truck. Ofelia says, sorry; she thought they were safe. She says that she almost died after that, but Alicia doesn’t care. Ofelia says Walker found her, took her in, and they’re good people. Alicia says they killed a family two days ago, but Ofelia says there was nothing scheduled for then. Walker goes on all the raids, and he was with her.

Jake tells Alicia that they’re swapping people, and he’s staying; Walker guarantees his safety. Alicia says that she’ll stay. Jeremiah has to hear it from him. Walker asks if they have a parley, and Jake says it appears they do.

At the bunkhouse, Nick gives himself a haircut, and Madison asks if she has to worry. She wonders if he’s going back to back with Troy, and he says keep your enemies close. He tells her good luck, and leaves.

Ofelia comes back with Jake. Jake explains what happened, and Ofelia says she’s the hostage from Walker’s side. Jake promises they’ll get Alicia back. He wouldn’t have left her if he didn’t think she was safe. Madison asks Ofelia how long she was there. Ofelia says long enough to know Walker’s word is good. Madison says he wants them off the ranch, and asks if that has changed. Ofelia says only Jake would know.

Walker shows Alicia around, saying that they call themselves pony warriors even though they drive jeeps. Soon they’ll have their own air force. He points out that many of the people are ex-military. As he’s talking, Alicia tells him that she was on the helicopter. He says she’s lucky; they’d been hoping it was an auto. She tells him that he killed one of her family members. He says it’s good if she hates him; maybe she can understand if she magnifies the hate a thousand times. She says that she hates him for killing Travis – and thinking he knows how she feels. He’s nothing but a hypocrite.

There’s a meeting in Jeremiah’s office. Jake says they need blood, and are willing to take it from them. Jeremiah says let them come. Jake suggests letting them share the water. Jeremiah doesn’t think it will satisfy Walker; he’ll want everything. Jake says they need to meet him halfway, but Jeremiah says he’d rather die. Madison says what about Alicia, and Jeremiah says she made her own decision. Jake says he trusts Walker. Madison is an outsider, and needs faith.

When the others leave, Madison asks Jeremiah what he’s going to do. He tells her that he’s going to listen to Jake. He doesn’t think that Walker is to be trusted though.

Walker has taken Alicia to a trailer that houses relics. Alicia looks at a bunch of weird stuff. She sees a skeleton, and Walker says it’s papier-mâché, but it fooled a lot of vacationers. He brings down a chest, and says this isn’t for tourists; this is real. He shows her his great grandfather’s bones. Alicia asks if they shouldn’t be buried, and he says that they were, in a cave. He desecrated his great-grandfather’s grave to save him from travelers and construction. He hopes his great-grandfather forgives him one day. Alicia says the idea of an afterlife doesn’t make sense; it’s hard to get out of this one. Walker says it’s part of a grand plan that had taken place long before the dead walked. He asks if she knows what apocalypse means. When she tells him the end of the world, he says no, it means a great unveiling. He tells her that he kept seeing a theme in the caves; pictures of a new age, a land that will be pure. He says it’s been a long struggle, but after the apocalypse, all will be returned to them – the first humans.

Troy thinks Ofelia is either lying or stupid. Madison says not stupid, but she needs to be on the winning side. Troy says Madison has a connection with her, but Madison says she thinks Ofelia is for herself. She’s with Walker for a reason. Madison tells him that she needs to get Alicia out, and suggests they get a few guys, and slip her out. She says that Troy owes her. She could have brought the whole ranch down on his head. Truth!

Alicia goes out to get water. While she’s walking back, someone follows behind her.

Jeremiah visits Ofelia, and tells her that he thinks they should have a chat, but she says she has nothing to say. He says it’s good that Walker found her, and she’s not dead; at least if the negotiation works, it’s good. She asks what he wants. He says he’s been thinking strange thoughts about ghosts. He talks about your sins not being the thing that holds you in limbo, and the worst of the somehow carrying your sins. Ofelia asks again what he wants. He tells her that nobody wants war, and not to complicate matters with old business. He says that’s fair and asks if she thinks so. Ofelia doesn’t answer, but he asks a second time, and I guess she figures that if she doesn’t agree, she’ll never get out of this stupid conversation, so she says it is. He tells her that he’ll have someone bring food, even though she says she’s not hungry.

Alicia slops the pigs. In the middle of the night? Troy grabs her, and she sees the others with him. She says they’ll get everyone killed. Two of the soldiers are holding a guard, and Alicia says that if they kill him, she’s not leaving. Troy doesn’t care what she thinks. The guard tries to run, and gets stabbed for his trouble. The soldiers start to drag him away, and a dog barks.

Watching from the top of a hill, Nick tells Madison that someone is coming, and they’re not going to make it. They have to bring the truck down. By now, Walker’s people realize something is going on, and are starting to come out. A guy throws Nick to the ground, and is about to stab him, when Troy shoots him (shoots the guy, not Nick). All hell is breaking loose, with shooting and people running everywhere. Troy tosses Alicia into the truck, and Madison drives away with her. Well, this isn’t going to be good.

When they get back, Jake says congratulations, they just declared war. Troy says they were successful in getting Alicia back, and Alicia can’t believe it was Madison’s idea. Jake says he’d made a deal, and Madison tells him that he was played. There was nothing at stake except Alicia’s life. Jeremiah tells her that Jake had made the call, and them that don’t listen have to be brought to heel someday. Does this guy ever say anything that doesn’t sound like a combination of Yoda and a crazy person?

Jake has filled the truck bed with water bottles. Troy asks if their dad knows what he’s doing, and Jake says he’s drunk. Jake thought Jeremiah would be happy. He’d gone to Walker himself and set everything up. Troy asks what kind of a death wish he has, and suggests that only his scalp will be returning. Jake says that he’s going to give them the water. Troy doesn’t think he’s coming back, and that he should ask himself if that would make him happier.

Ofelia takes Alicia off to the side, and says she shouldn’t stay there. Alicia asks what she knows. Ofelia tells Alicia to come with her, it’s all she can offer. Alicia says that she has to stay. Ofelia says that she’s sorry about Travis.

When he gets to the Black Hat, Jake gets the snot beat out of him. Walker tells him that he broke the parlay, but Jake says that Madison and Troy broke it. He’s brought Ofelia and water. Walker takes out a knife, pulling Jake’s head back. Jake says that there will be peace, and Walker says that there will be, but not now. Ofelia stops Walker from killing Jake. Walker says he’ll finish the scalping of the oldest son, when he sees him next. He’ll feed the youngest son to the hogs, and the father will remain alive to watch, before they burn him alive. Where is the freaking boom person whenever Walker talks?

A motorcycle comes to the ranch gate. Ofelia is dropped off. She tells Madison that all she knows is she’s lost her home and the people who took her in. Madison says shouldn’t have left them in the first place. Jeremiah tells them to take Ofelia to the infirmary.

Troy says they’ll press for attack. He says he can get more information from Ofelia, but Jeremiah says no. Madison says they shouldn’t have let her go back, and Jeremiah says to watch her.

Madison says that Ofelia can stay with her and Alicia. Ofelia asks if she’s a prisoner, and Madison tells her that they’re all prisoners of someplace. Ofelia says that there are no walls for Walker’s people because he says you can’t sneak up on an Indian. She says Alicia was never in trouble, but she had a taste of freedom, and now it’s gone.

Troy and the guys talk. Nick asks what if Walker attacks while they’re on their perimeter. Troy says there are only two roads, and they’ll be on both of them. They’ll leave a suicide note (translation: a suicide squad), and the rest will run back and defend the castle ranch. Nick says if that happens, he’ll volunteer to be up front – he’s suicide proof. Troy thinks they should go kamikaze another day. For now, they’re staying behind the fence.

Alicia asks Madison how she can be sure it was Walker who killed the Trumballs?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the horses are restless. Soldier Joe says he doesn’t like it. The guy next to him tells him to stay frosty, but dude doesn’t feel right, then doubles over in pain. Someone else starts throwing up, and suddenly, soldiers are dropping like flies. Alicia and Madison hear them yelling, and run outside. Ofelia watches from the bunkhouse.

The guards start to turn into zombies. Nice. Everyone is running around, and Nick joins the fray. A soldier tells people to get back inside. Zombies are attacking and being attacked. Madison comes out shooting. Ofelia comes out, and Nick calls to her, but she runs. Nick starts to chase her, but then gets sick. Madison takes up the chase. It looks like Ofelia is aiming to steal another truck.

Part Two

In the desert, Ofelia sees a hole in the fence and goes through. Someone starts shooting at her. She scrambles down a hill, and hides behind a tree. She takes out a knife, and blesses herself. Jeremiah comes around the other side of the tree, and holds out his hand. She gives him the knife, and he tells her welcome to America.

She tells Jeremiah that she was headed to Santa Fe where her fiancé is. Jeremiah tells her she’s free to go, and gives her some water. He says to go from whence she came, find shade, and travel by starlight. She wants a ride, but he says he has to go back, and there’s no use for brown people on the ranch. She spits at him, and he tells her enjoy the walk, and speeds away.

Ofelia walks until she drops. She gets up, leaving her backpack. She starts taking her clothes off, and sees her father. She says the earth will protect her, and starts to dig. Daniel tells her no, she has to stay awake. She reaches for him, but he’s not there.

Eventually, Walker comes by. He checks Ofelia’s pulse, and gives her water. He puts her on his horse.

Walker brings Ofelia to the reservation, and takes her to the Black Hat Motel. He puts her in a tub and bathes her. When she comes out, he gives her some soup. They introduce themselves, and Walker tells her to rest

Back in the present, Madison runs after Ofelia. She gets in a truck and finds the keys in under the visor. Madison busts the driver’s window, and pulls her back out.

Troy and the others attend to whoever is still alive at the ranch. A soldier turns, and Jeremiah shoots him. Madison tells them that Ofelia put powder in the coffee, but doesn’t know what kind. Jake says they have antibiotics, but without knowing what it is, it’s hard to treat. Madison says to keep Nick alive, and leaves.

Madison holds a gun on Ofelia as Ofelia drives. Ofelia tells Madison that it was just supposed to make them sick. She insists her people wouldn’t do such a thing. Madison says they used to be her people. Nick was her friend, and now he might die; does she care? Ofelia says the Nation is her family now, and Madison says they’ll see about that. They drive to the motel. Madison wants to talk to Walker. A guard says he’s in the diner, and Madison drags Ofelia inside.

Madison says that Walker killed her husband, and now the ranch. He says they broke the parlay, but she says no, she did. She doesn’t give a flying about anything except her son. She wants to know what’s killing him. Walker says that it’s anthrax, cultivated from animal hides, and there’s no cure. He gets up, telling his guards to put down their weapons. He says that this woman is more of a man than Jake or any of his relatives, and she’s free to leave. I’m like, all right, Walker! He asks how old Madison’s son is, and she says nineteen. He tells her that if he’s strong, he’ll live. He says that his fight isn’t with her, and suggests she take her family and leave.  She says they’ve fought too hard, and lost too much; they’re not running anymore. Walker says they’ll die then.

Zombies amble around. Victor enters what used to be a restaurant. The food in the refrigerated case is rotten. He sees a boat just offshore, and says, hello, angel. He goes down to the water, and walks out. It’s the Abigail. He boards the yacht, and sees the undead crew stumbling around, making zombie noises. He halts a guest with an arrow to the head, and stabs the captain. He shoots more guests and crew with a handgun. He thinks he’s done.

In the infirmary, Nick throws up again. Alicia tells him, morning, sunshine, and he says it’s like old times. Madison them that it’s anthrax. Those who survive will be too weak to hold a gun. Jake tells one of the soldiers to get what’s left of militia. Madison says that’s a bad idea, and Jake says she’s not the leader. Nyah-nyah! Nick tells her that she’s still the life of the party.

Jake says that Madison is right. Alicia suggests he talk to Walker, and he says talk is cheap without anything to barter with; they have no leverage. Alicia knows where they can get some.

Victor picks up a bottle of Dom Perignon. He goes to the wheelhouse, and messes with the controls. He puts on a white jacket, and pops open the bottle, saying it’s good to be home.

Nick tells Jake that he’s feeling better, and asks to be uncuffed. He thinks someone else might need the bed more, like Jake. He tells Jake that he’s sick, but Jake says they need him. Nick says either way, if they’re attacked, he’s not going to be able to help, so please let him up. Jake undoes the cuffs, and Nick asks him where Jeremiah is. Jake says that his dad can’t help. He’s burning the dead. He’ll only disappoint Nick. The hell they’re in is all because of him.

Nick goes to the new old house and takes out a hammer. He starts ripping up the floorboards.

Ofelia knocks at Walker’s door. She says the Clarks took her in, and she cared about them. He says she volunteered for what she did, and saved the entire Nation. He says when he found her, he almost passed her for dead, but his horse sensed her spirit. She says smart horse, and he tells her smarter than him. She faced death, and wasn’t afraid, that’s why he brought her here. She says he saved her life, and he tells her that the debt is paid. They hear people outside and run out.

Fires are starting. Madison and Alicia watch from the truck. Tents are burning, and what’s left of the militia starts to shoot. Madison attaches the relic trailer to the truck, and starts to move. Troy jumps on.

Nick is digging under the floor. He finds Jeremiah in another room, drinking. Nick says Jeremiah shot up the floor and said it had blood in it. Jeremiah says he’s been known to wax metaphoric while in his cups. Nick holds up a skull, asking who it is. Jeremiah says it’s a long story, but Nick wants to know. Jeremiah tells him that when Jake and Troy were little, the local tribe decided that the ranch belonged to them – it was sacred land or some BS – even though it had been sold to them fair and square. He had a frightened family at home, so the founders killed the leaders. One was Walker’s uncle. Nick asks if it’s his skull, and Jeremiah says no, that’s Walker’s father. He’d come by to see what happened to his brother. Nick says when they were working, he just thought Jeremiah was some wise-ass cowboy. Jeremiah says that Nick is a guest, and he needs to get right with the past, or get off the land. Nick says that it’s their land, but Jeremiah says it belongs to whoever holds it, and it was given up for beer money. Nick tells him that they’ll see who can old the land – they’re coming.

Walker’s trucks surround the ranch. Troy comes back with the relics trailer. He and Madison say that it’s leverage. Nick says Walker values them, and Jeremiah says that Nick might not like his hospitality, but he’ll like it better then Walker’s.

Alicia says they’re on the wrong side. Nick says he gets that Madison wants to protect them, but there has to be a line. Nick tells them that Troy killed the Trumballs. Alicia says that Madison knew, and covered for him. Madison says that she doesn’t understand. Alicia says that Madison is just like them; she’s worse because she has no feelings. No wonder her father was depressed. Madison says she’d love to indulge herself, but doesn’t have time for feelings. They have no idea what she carries.

As Victor snoozes, the radio comes to life. He says hello, and a voice comes through. It’s from overseas, a man who was a cosmonaut (a nod to Z Nation?), and Victor asks if they know what’s happened in America. He finds out that the zombies are everywhere. The man says he speaks from his grave, and Victor says he’s sorry at least he got to go to space – no one else will have the opportunity. The man says he’d give it up for water, and Victor says how about champagne? They talk, and laugh a little, and once again, the boom person was absent that day. The man asks about the champagne, and Victor describes it. The connection is starting to break up, and the man tells Victor that the world turns. Victor says the world is dead, but the man tells him not until he dies, and not to give up. The connection is gone, and Victor says, das vidania.

Madison meets Walker. She says the artifacts are unharmed. He wants to know why she’s thrown in with trash, and she says you can’t always choose your people. She tells him they can end this, and live in peace. He says that this is their land, soaked in Indian blood, the time for peace is over. She says that she heard about his fight with the Ottos, and says she understands this is his father. She holds out the skull, but he says it’s not enough. This isn’t his father, but an old white man’s shame.

Madison comes back to the ranch, and says that Walker doesn’t care about relics; he wants the ranch. They have until sundown to clear out or die.

Victor roots around the boat, and gathers supplies together. More liquor! But instead of drinking it, this time he pours it all over, and sets it on fire. He puts on aviator sunglasses, and the flames look awesome in the lenses. He goes back to shore. The boat burns on the water.

Madison comes back to the bunkhouse. She says that Alicia and Nick have never been to Montgomery, and Alicia says she never took them, not even for her grandmother’s funeral. Madison says there was a local council man who lived there, and he had a beautiful wife and little girl. Everyone loved her daddy because he knew everyone’s names and all of their occasions; he knew when to burn the ballot boxes and which ones to burn, but what he didn’t know was when to turn down a drink. So life was hard for the little girl, and harder for her mother. As the little girl grew, she got tired of crying and seeing her mother get hurt. One morning, she ate her cereal, and brushed her teeth for school. She took the gun from her daddy’s dresser, and shot him while he slept off the night before. Nick and Alicia are like, whoa.

Madison says her mother looked at her then, like they’re looking now, but she’d do it again. She’d do it a thousand times to protect her – protect them. She’s going to convince an old man to set aside his pride and make peace with the enemy. Now I’m looking at her like that.

Madison visits Jeremiah. He says he’s going Alamo, last line of defense. He built the house as a hold out. He has supplies and weapons in the basement, and they’re welcome to join him if it comes to it. He offers her a drink, and thanks her for standing by his boys, by Troy, for trying to stop what’s coming. They clink glasses. Madison says she told Jake they couldn’t come to an agreement; there’s only one way to secure peace. Jeremiah says they want his scalp, and asks if she’s there to kill him after he took her in. He continues to list all the things he’s done for her and her family. She puts the gun on the desk, and says she’s not going to kill him for those reasons, and is tired of disappointing her kids. So he’s going to do it.

Jeremiah says he’s not going to die like some rabbit with no resistance. Madison says they’re surrounded by firepower. If he doesn’t do it, everyone dies. It’s his chance to make things up to his sons. He says the hell with them – one is a feckless crybaby, and the other, a chip off the old block. She tells him that her kids aren’t dying because some selfish old prick is afraid to do what’s right. He says go ahead and kill him then, because some selfish old prick did what needed to be done.

Nick walks in, and Jeremiah says, don’t nobody knock? having a valid point. He asks Nick if he knows why his mother came by, and starts to say, she’s just like – Madison raises the gun, but Nick shoots Jeremiah before she has a chance to do it.

Madison tells Nick to do exactly as she says. We see him running from the scene. Troy and Jake come into Jeremiah’s office. Jeremiah is slumped at his desk, while Madison sits in a nearby chair. The brothers take Jeremiah’s body out and put it into the truck. The truck drives away, as Nick, Madison, and Alicia watch from the balcony.

Madison meets Walker on the road, and sets down a backpack. He opens it. It’s Jeremiah’s head. Or so we assume, since for some reason, they decided to not gross us out and we just got a glimpse. Walker nods, and walks away carrying the backpack. Madison walks in the opposite direction.

This was the mid-season finale (please, who invented such a thing?), so there was no preview.

✈ Okay, I am slightly obsessed with 90 Day Fiancé, but it’s just so weird. I mean the coupling is weird. Maybe because the show should really be called How to Get a Green Card in 90 Days. I’m not saying all of the couples are together for that reason, but I think the ratio is heavily on that side. We have Jorge and Anfisa, who has been pretty blatant about the fact that she wanted to marry him for a free ride. The first one I saw revolved around Mohamad and Danielle, which I’ve I’ve already discussed. There is clearly something wrong with Danielle, who keeps going back and forth about whether to get a divorce or an annulment, the latter leaving Mohamad open to deportation. She goes back every time he says, come on, let’s still be friends, and forth when she realizes she’s been had again. I said it before, but being even more blatant, a guy who looks like that would not be interested in her. He’s no Marc Singer, but she’s pretty close to pre-makeover Susan Boyle. Not sayin’ it never happens, but just sayin’. Then there’s Pedro and Chantal. I don’t know how much he cares about the green card thing, but I don’t see him getting a job, and he seems to send an awful lot of her money back to his mother in wherever-the-blip they’re from. His mother is a real piece of work too, calling Chantal’s family stupid and crazy because they’re concerned about their daughter. I get that every mother thinks her son is wonderful, but she’s waaay out of line, and might consider shutting her mouth since she’s a total grifter. It was pretty funny when Chantal got Pedro to try sushi though. Next, we have Pao, a party girl who thinks she’s going to be a model and make tons of money, and Russ, who is a patient-as-hell, somewhat conservative dude from Oklahoma. At present, Pao is in Miami, hanging out with her best gay pal, while Russ is trying to sell their Oklahoma home. Russ came down for a visit, and the friend relentlessly bashed him in Spanish, with Pao translating. I hope he dumps her sorry ass before she gets her card. At least Anfisa is honest about wanting Jorge to be her meal ticket. Last, and I think the couple most likely to succeed, are Loren and Alex, who met in Israel, and are talking about moving his parents to the US. Despite some altercations, that are mostly due to her keeping things from him, they seem the most genuine. I think that’s all of them. If not, it’s enough.

🏛 The Real Housewives of Potomac had part one of their reunion tonight. Of course the main thing is what they wore and how they looked, and I can’t say I have much criticism here. Some of the dresses bordered on bridesmaids-ish (I’m talking to you Karen and Robyn), and there was one that could have doubled for prom (Monique), but not necessarily in a bad way – they were still beautiful. Huge earrings abounded, and everyone sported new hairstyles, all of them lovely. That being said, same Potomac, different day, just more confined. One of the things I always hate about reunions is the same thing I hate about litigants on court shows. Aside from the blatant lying, making faces is incredibly unattractive unless you’re five years old. And all of these women are the Grand Dames of face-making. Part one is always just the warm-up anyway. It looks like a few sparks will fly when the husbands are trotted out.

FWD-S2

Fear the Walking Dead – Season Two Poster

Jul3

July 2, 2017 – Fear the Safety Perspective, Don’t Let the Potomac Hit You on the Way Out & the Marathon Lingers

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What I Watched Today

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

 

 

Fear the Walking Dead

Jeremiah sets up some target practice for Nick. Nick is worried about the caravan, and Jeremiah says they’ll get back when they get back.

Alicia gets out of Jake’s bed. She’s also worried about the caravan. Jake says he protected Troy when they were little, and she can trust him – on this at least. She says she’s more worried about whoever shot the helicopter down.

The caravan looks like a bunch of zombies coming up the road, ragged and shuffling. Alicia and Nick both run out to meet Madison. Everyone gets water, and injuries are looked at. Jeremiah asks what happened, and Troy wants to talk privately. Vernon says they all have a right to know, and Mike tells them that they’re Indian and slaughtered all of them. He says they’ll die too, if they don’t leave.

There’s a meeting in Jeremiah’s office, and Troy thinks they should hit them back immediately. Jeremiah asks if he scouted everything out. Madison says they were cautious, and Jeremiah says they’re extending the caution and not attacking. Troy says they either stole the land or didn’t, and Madison asks if it was stolen. Jeremiah says it was sold to his forebears, and what difference does it make? Jake tells Madison that Walker is a tribal lawyer. He’s sued them several times, and they’ve beat him in court every time. Jeremiah says the reservation is nothing but drug addicts and welfare cheats. He says it’s not racism, but the truth, and that was before the apocalypse, so he can just imagine now. Madison says the guy who talked to them was formidable and took command. Jeremiah asks if she has a crush on him, and tells Jake to deal with it.

Nick and Alicia take Madison back to their cabin. They unwrap and bathe her feet, which look pretty bad. Nick says Madison is strong, and she says he is too.

Alicia goes out to where Jake is practice shooting. She says sorry about the people he lost, but he says he didn’t know most of them. Alicia asks about Jeremiah, and Jake says that he’s the only founding father left; they’re getting picked off one by one. She asks if he’s afraid, and he says war is a violent place. He shows her how to use the automatic rifle. She asks who takes over the ranch after his dad. He says the land will pass to him and Troy, but the people don’t take orders well, so it could end up being anybody, even her. She says why wouldn’t it be him; they’ll want to look to somebody, so why not? She shoots the target.

Gretchen is looking for Alicia. Madison says she’s out and about, and asks how Mike is. She says he’s freaked, but said everyone would have died without her. Madison asks her to come in, and Gretchen says it’s her whole family. Her father doesn’t think it’s safe, and he’s one of the ones who built it. He said it’s just started, and he wants to leave the ranch. Madison says there’s nowhere safer, but Vernon thinks the Rockies will be safe at elevation. He thinks no one will listen, but being a founder, feels responsible.

Jeremiah drinks in his office. He hears something and goes outside. Nick does too. There are little fires all around, and everyone starts coming outside. The count about twenty, and Jeremiah says it wasn’t meant to burn them out; it’s just bullsh*t. Madison says the people are scared.

Nick goes to the pantry. Troy asks if Lucie took off. Nick gets annoyed, but Troy says he’s glad he didn’t take after her. Vernon and Kathy want to leave with some supplies. Troy tells Kathy that it’s no time to leave, but she says they’re worried. Vernon says this is what they put in, and the rules are that they can take it back out. Troy says the rules are for the people who live there, and if they leave, they don’t live there anymore. Kathy says that they spoke with his father, and to take it up with him.

Jeremiah looks like he has a headache, and tells Madison that it’s migraines. She almost tells him about Vernon, but Vernon joins them and beats her to it. He tells Jeremiah that they’ve been friends going on thirty years, but a man’s family comes first. He thinks the best thing to protect them is to leave. Jeremiah asks if they’re booking at the first sign of trouble, but Vernon says they’ve already killed eight. Jeremiah tells him to go. Madison begs Vernon to think for a minute, but he says his mind is made up, and walks away. Jeremiah tells her that when some men have kids, and it turns them into women, which she really appreciates. I can tell by the look on her face. Madison tells Jeremiah to give him a reason to stay or the rest will follow. Jeremiah says he welcomed them with open arms, and now has to beg them to stay? She says there’s a fight coming, and they’ll need everyone.

Vernon and his family are about to leave in their RV. Troy tells them he’ll shoot if the gate is opened. He tells Vernon to open the door, and tries to get Mike to come out. He says people died, and a man doesn’t run. Jake joins the people starting to gather, and tells Troy that Jeremiah said they could leave. Troy says everything is their property, and starts getting loud and stupid. Jake says that’s not what dad wants, and he’s just protecting the ranch. Troy tells him that he has no clue about protecting anything, and is he going to fight or surrender? Troy hits Jake. By now, Jeremiah is there, and almost decks Troy, but the others stop him. The gate is opened, and the RV leaves, Gretchen looking sadly out the window.

Troy is in the armory, and Madison asks if he’s looking for something to take out his old man. He says, never. All he’s ever had is this place and these people. He doesn’t understand it; the world outside is burned. Madison says that they want to see for themselves. He says Mike has been his friend since they were kids; he never quit on him. Madison says he didn’t quit on Troy; he stood by his family. Troy says it’s hard to know how to react. Madison says she’ll help him to save the others from the same mistake.

Troy tells his soldiers to come to attention. He says Mike is gone, and not coming back. From now on, they set an example, and will be a model of order, discipline, and chain of command. They have to make people feel safe or they’ll leave. They have to defend it with their lives or they’ll be slaughtered. It’s all they have, and it’s teetering. The only thing that can save it, is them. He says they’re all with him and do they understand. Everyone says, yes, sir.

Nick sees someone in the new/old house that burned. It’s Jeremiah, working. He asks where Nick has been; he’s been there drinking all night alone. That ought to be great for his migraines. He offers something to Nick, who says he’s high on life. Ha-ha! He tells Jeremiah to slow down, and asks what happened to his hand. Jeremiah says the expression “love the one you’re with” goes the same for hitting people, and I have no idea how that ties in. Nick says tomorrow is another day, a better one; he can crash there, and he’ll be too hungover to get in any fights. Jeremiah says the house is a sacred spot, where the movement was conceived; his life’s work. Now, two are dead, and one is dead to him. He knocks over the table, and while Nick is picking it up, Jeremiah takes the gun. He shoots three holes in the table, and apologizes. He says it’s Nick’s home and gun. He gets into bed. He tells Nick there’s blood in it; it’s in the earth. This guy is a font of information tonight.

Alicia comes into the bunkhouse, and Madison startles her. She asks if Alicia was at Bible study, and Alicia says she was at Jake’s, adding it’s nothing serious. Madison says the rhythm method is bullsh*t, and Alicia says Madison already told her that when she was a little kid, and she thought Madison was talking about a band. Alicia tells Madison that there’s birth control in the pantry. Madison says that the stakes are higher now, and asks if Alicia likes him. Alicia says yes; like, but not love.

Yep, Jeremiah is hungover. Nick says he raided the pantry, and offers him some coffee. Jeremiah starts to say, about last night… and Nick interrupts, saying that he was at the bunkhouse, and did he miss something? Jeremiah spies a horse near the fence and wonders how long it’s been there. They move closer, and he realizes it’s Vernon’s horse. He tells Nick to get Madison.

Madison, Jeremiah, and Nick go out in the truck. Jeremiah doesn’t think they would just free the horse. He thinks that the family is dead, but questions how they got that way. He tells Madison to be ready for that.

Alicia looks at some of Jake’s desk papers, and sees they’re concerning the Black Hat Reservation. He says he’s going to talk to Walker. He wants to take the back way, so his father won’t stop him. Alicia is afraid he’ll get killed, but Jake says he has to be more than just a voice in his father’s ear. She thinks he should take charge inside the camp. He tells her that Walker isn’t crazy, and his people got a raw deal. She asks him not to go, but he leaves anyway.

Madison and company see the RV. It has bullet holes in the windshield. Jeremiah says to stay ready; a lot of dead wander around there. They hear sounds in the camper. Jeremiah opens the door, gun drawn. He goes inside, and we hear shots. He comes out, and says it was Vernon and Kathy. They see Mike, really dead, leaning up against the RV, and hear zombie feeding noises from the trailer. Inside, Gretchen and the rest of the family are chowing down on a horse. Madison shoots them, but pauses before shooting Gretchen, who’s the last one. Gretchen snaps at her like a rabid dog for a while, and Madison finally shoots her.

They pack everybody up. Nick asks Madison if it had something to do with Troy, but she says Walker is close by. Nick says no way they’d leave horses, an RV, and supplies. Jeremiah says of all the things Troy has done, he’s never anything like this, not to his own people. Madison says they need to be sure. Jeremiah doesn’t know what to do, and she says they have to go back.

The RV is brought back with the truck. Madison opens the truck bed, and looks at Troy. Everyone sees the bodies, and gets a little freaked. Madison says they were good people, and didn’t deserve it. She and her family were taken in as strangers at the ranch, and grew to love it there. She wishes her husband had lived to see it, but he was killed – by the same people who killed Phil and the people at the outpost. Walker’s people have now killed their friends. She explains that she’s seen firsthand what happens to his victims. They haven’t been out in the world, but she has, and there’s nothing out there. If they leave, they’ll die. She tells them that Walker’s people don’t have enough strength to fight them, but they’re trying to scare them out. Out there, where no one can see, and there’s no militia to protect them. If they stay together, they live. Everyone starts nodding, and Nick gives Madison the stink eye.

Alicia looks through Jake’s papers, and shoves some into her bag. Nick watches as everyone puts stuff back into the pantry. He tells Madison that she was impressive, and she says it was necessary. He asks how she could tell such a big lie. She says she didn’t lie; they’re safe where they are, and she’ll sleep like a baby. No one would believe it was Troy; they’re more afraid of what’s out there. Nick says that she should have told him first. He would have backed her like he’s backing her now. He tells her not to forget who Troy is.

Madison joins Troy, who’s sitting by himself. He tells her that he didn’t go out to do that. He wanted to look Mike in the eye, and have Mike tell him directly; he owed Troy that. Madison says Mike didn’t want to. Troy says that they both said things, and it went bad. She says that he could run this place, but not if he lets things break. Last night, he took command. Jake doesn’t have what he has; he’s the survivor and heir. She doesn’t want to hear that he lost control; it can’t happen. She doesn’t care why he does what he does, only that he controls it. He asks her why, and she tells him that a fight is coming. He has to save them. She asks if he can, and he says, yes, ma’am.

I got distracted because one of my dogs was stuck in a little dog tent, but next time is the finale, which will be preceded by a marathon. I did catch Madison saying that sides don’t matter, and Troy doesn’t think Jake is coming back.

🏛 The Real Housewives of Potomac had their finale tonight, with the reunion to follow next time. Apparently, Karen isn’t really downsizing, just making a lateral move to another city. The new house has nine bedrooms and is 14,000 square feet. That sounds like something Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd might “downsize” to. She had a Bollywood themed party, that had a touch of Welcome to America thrown in. I guess the invites said to show up in Indian costume, because Monique arrived in Native American regalia. I wasn’t sure if this was supposed to be a (bad) joke, or if she’s the Porsha of the group. I’ve also started to wonder about Robyn and Juan. Although divorced, they’ve never parted company, and now are devoting six months to working on their relationship. Romantic relationship. Could this all possibly be to get some storyline? Because, face it, there isn’t much else interesting about them. There weren’t any fascinating factoids in the blurbs at the end either. The best of it was that Monique is installing a shark tank in her kitchen, and Ashley’s restaurant and marriage are still tanking.

♛ Because I’ve been watching all weekend…

It’s not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy. – Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones

GoT-Tyrion

Jun19

June 18, 2017 – What Happened to Daniel, a Little TV Tea & My Favorite Canine Papa

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What I Watched Today

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

 

 

Fear the Walking Dead

We look out over a bunch of cities from the top of a cliff. A lone zombie wanders the highway. Wait, it’s not a zombie – it’s Daniel. He’s desperate for water, but there’s none to be found. He shuffles behind a truck, hiding from a mini-horde of zombies. The last one turns and sees him. They shuffle at the same pace, Daniel not too far ahead. He hides under a car, but she pulls at his leg. A dog distracts her. Daniel quietly freaks.

Daniel can hear the zombie skulking around as he hides. He sees a pair of boots, and the zombie is taken down. He’s pulled out from under the car. A guy tells him to relax. He sees a wound on Daniel’s leg. Daniel says it had him, but let him go. The guy introduces himself as Efrain, and tells Daniel that he’s dying. Daniel yells for water. Efrain says the good news is that he has water and is happy to share it; the bad news is that they have to walk. He helps Daniel up.

They go into a building and Efrain shuts the gate. It looks like a warehouse flea market. Efrain leads Daniel to a fountain, but it’s dry. He asks where the water is, and Efrain says it shouldn’t be long. The word agua is heard repeatedly over a loudspeaker, and water begins to pour from the spout. Daniel drinks, and Efrain fills a jug. He says every week at this same time, a little miracle. He puts the jug on his bike and peddles away through the zombies, with Daniel in a cart at the front. Daniel is like, hey stairs! but Efrain drives his bike right up them. He’s got a stick for errant zombies, but doesn’t need it.

Efrain drives into an alley where several people are gathered. Daniel keels over, and they hide behind a dumpster. A truck goes by, crowded with men looking around. Someone in the group says that they’re coming by more often now.

Efrain discusses Daniel’s wound with a woman named Lola, who thinks that Daniel could possibly lose his leg. Daniel mumbles about a horse, and Lola asks if he’s a Broncos fan. The wound has to be scraped. Daniel says it take a steady hand, and Lola tells him to try not to scream. Efrain gives him some booze, and Lola sings. Daniel sings with her. She scrapes the wound, and it’s painful just to watch.

Fast forward, and Daniel and Efrain are scavenging. Daniel looks through a photo album. Efrain knocks down a zombie, and tells him to hurry up. Efrain gives the zombie Last Rites before finishing it off. Daniel asks if Efrain was a priest, and Efrain says he’s been many things and he found his calling. He pulls out a flask, and takes a drink, offering it to Daniel. They toddle off with the cart.

Efrain takes Daniel to where he lives, saying all are welcome. He shares some food. Daniel says he’s been kind. He didn’t have to help him, but he did. Daniel asks when he last had a professional haircut, and styles Efrain’s hair. Efrain says it’s been a while since he saw himself, and thanks Daniel. He asks when Daniel is going to sneak out. He knows running when he sees it, and something worse than Daniel’s leg is rotting in him. Daniel says he’s a bad guy, and he pays his debts. He’s killed ninety-six people. Efrain says that’s not it though. They share a bottle of liquor, and Daniel tells Efrain about leaving El Salvador, and how he never told his daughter about his past. Efrain says the burden was his, and asks if Danial is looking for his daughter. Daniel nods.

He tells Efrain that they were in a house surrounded by death, and he was trying to protect her, but his mind wasn’t right. He woke up in a fire, and could hear her calling. He was trapped, and burning, and the ceiling was collapsing. Somehow, he got out, but then he collapsed. When he came to, no one was left alive. Efrain asks what he’s saying. Daniel says he doesn’t know if he burned his daughter alive, and to forgive him. Efrain isn’t so sure forgiveness is his to bestow. He half-hugs Daniel, and tells him to take it easy. He says the good news is, there’s nobody left in this world to judge him; the bad news… he nods off. Daniel covers him with a blanket and jets.

Daniel travels down the highway with a lantern. He pops a zombie in the head with a shovel, sending it into the canal. He tries for another, but loses his weapon. Great. He opens his arms and awaits his fate. The zombie falls, but so does he, with his feet dangling in the current.

Daniel watches some clean-up guys do a coin toss to see who gets to clean the sewer pipe he’s in. They pull out some bodies smushed together with a carpet of leaves and laugh. Daniel rises from the leaves, and I’m surprised neither one of them has a heart attack. They take him to an office and discuss what to do, afraid that they’ll get nailed for sneaking him in. Lola walks in, and says she knows who he is, and they did the right thing in hiding him.

Lola explains that Daniel is at the Gonzalez Dam. Daniel asks why they’re hogging the water when people are dying of thirst? Lola tells him that there’s a new boss making decisions, the President of Tijuana. Daniel asks how much control she has, and she tells him that he never met her before today. He came there looking for a job. A guy breezes in, asking what Daniel is doing there, and Lola tells Daniel that he’s J.C., head of security. She says she hired Daniel because they need more help; they don’t want dead bodies building up in the water system.  J.C. suggests that he discuss this with the boss, but Lola tells him his job is security, hers is water treatment. Let her do her job, and go do his. He nods, and leaves. Daniel is impressed.

Daniel is now on the clean-up crew. He looks at the trucks, and asks another worker if he doesn’t have a problem with the distribution of water. The worker says it’s either get eaten, shot, or work. What’s it gonna be?

It’s dinnertime, and Daniel has an entire can of SPAM on his plate. Unappetizing to say the least. The big boss, Mr. Dante, comes in, and everyone stands up except Daniel. Dante tells everyone to sit, and they go back to eating. J.C. asks Daniel why he didn’t stand, and Daniel says he didn’t know he was supposed to. J.C. says, well, he is, and he’s also supposed to look at J.C. when he’s talking to him. J.C. leans over and puts his middle finger in the middle of Daniel’s SPAM. Daniel stabs him with his fork, and J.C. draws his gun. Dante comes back and asks what’s going on. J.C. whines that he was stabbed, but Daniel says he was just eating. Dante asks what his name is and where he’s from. Daniel tells him, and Dante wonders if he’s Sergeant and NCO Salazar. He looks at the tattoo in Daniel’s mouth. He says, Sombra Nega, which I googled, and it’s a name for El Salvadorian death squad groups. Dante tells J.C. that he needs to read more. He’s picking a fight with a CIA trained killer. He asks how many communists Daniel killed, and Daniel says he lost count. Dante tells everyone that they have a guest, and leads Daniel away.

Daniel questions the way Dante is using the dam, and Dante tells him that it might be the apocalypse, but it’s not communism. He asks what Daniel wants and needs, and says to speak freely. Danial asks if Dante can lend him a jeep; he’s looking for someone. Dante says sure, but his talents deserve more. If Daniel works for him, he’ll give him something befitting of his stature. He holds out his hand.

Daniel is on a truck, looking for a thief. It’s the same kind of truck Efrain and his friends were hiding from. Daniels sees where Efrain lives but says nothing. The truck busts into the warehouse where Daniel got the water. The fountain is dry, and Daniel still says nothing. J.C. says, nothing there, and Daniel looks at the clock. Sh*t. They’re going past the fountain right when it turns on. Sh*t. The water starts to drip, and Daniel panics. The agua announcement is made, but Daniel creates a distraction, saying he found something. He points and says, there’s your thief.

Daniel tells Lola that he had to; they were going to find the fountain. She says he saved Daniel’s life. He says first they’ll find Efrain, and then her; then they’ll both be killed. He did it to protect her. Lola tells him that if she stops running the water, the people will die. Not from bites or gunshots, but of thirst. Daniel says if they find her, there won’t be anything he can do. She says Dante is right; he’s perfect for this place. He tells her to do what she wants, but he warned her, adding not to save people who are already dead.

Daniel sees the guy he pointed out being beaten. He’s taken to a cell, and Daniel brings him a canteen of water. It’s Victor, and we’re back to the ending of last week’s episode. He tells Victor that he said he’d be his guardian angel, and Victor says, or angel of death. Victor wonders how Daniel got out, and Daniel asks if Ofelia is alive. Victor says they fled the compound, and they all thought he was dead, but she’s alive. He tells Daniel that Ofelia is holed up in a hotel. It will take a day, maybe less, to get there. He says to get him out, and he’ll take Daniel to her; she’s waiting for him. Daniel just looks at him.

He calls Victor an s.o.b, saying he doesn’t believe Ofelia is waiting for him. Victor says she survived the fire, and Daniel tells him that he’ll says anything to save his life. He tells Victor that this place is perfect for him. He’ll rot there, like the dead. He says Ofelia is dead, her father is dead, and so is Victor. Victor says that Daniel owes him, but Daniel just keeps walking. Interesting.

Dante announces that the expert is here. A circle of men parts, and Efrain looks at Daniel. Dante asks what Daniel needs, and Daniel says just space. He goes up to Efrain, and talks quietly to him. He says that if Efrain talks, they’ll kill him, and then Lola. If he doesn’t talk, Daniel will kill him. All he can offer is to do it as fast as he can. Efrain says those aren’t options, and Daniel asks Efrain to forgive him. Efrain says, again?

Daniel punches Efrain a bunch of times, saying, confess! Daniel tells Dante that he isn’t going to speak, but Dante says he will, and to keep going. Daniel picks up a hammer. Lola says, enough, leave him alone, and runs to Efrain, crying and hugging him. Daniel drops the hammer.

The lot of them are on a very high ledge on the dam, along with a few other people. Dante says to let it be a lesson that when you steal from him, this is what happens.  Daniel takes the first guy out of the line. Dante tells the guy that he just needs a messenger pigeon to tell the others. The guy thinks he’s cheated death somehow, but Dante hoists him over the railing, and down he goes. Next, Daniel chooses Lola. Dante asks if Daniel is ready. When Daniel hesitates, Dante tells J.C. to do it. Daniel shoots J.C., and throws the other henchman over the railing. Dante is all offended, saying he let Daniel in, but he’ll always be a goddam dog. Daniel says nothing, and just shoots him, and I laugh.

Daniel hands Lola the gun, gets on his knees, and asks her to forgive him. He bows his head. She holds out her hand, and he takes it.

Next time, a fire at the ranch, Troy has a calling, and Victor is surrounded.

I knew it. Jesse Borrego is playing Efrain. He was in one of my favorite 80s TV shows, Fame. At the time, I’d decided VCRs were invented just so I could record that show. The tapes are still in the black hole around here somewhere.

#WhereIsOfelia

☎ Better Call Saul is having its season finale on Monday, Jun 19th. You can actually watch too much TV, and I kind of lost track of this show along the way, but it’s very good. It’s clever, and like TV’s hooker with a heart of gold.

🏛 I have no idea why I’d thought The Real Housewives of Potomac was going to give some actual sophistication to the franchise, but I couldn’t have been further off. I definitely think that this bunch is the most focused on money, and comparing who has more of whatever. That makes me wonder if they’re the group with the least amount money. Ashley told us she still needs to work on both her marriage and the restaurant, since passive/aggressive Michael made some changes to the latter while she was in Bermuda. Although when both of them agreed that the marriage was more important in less than five minutes time, I wondered if all this hands-on management was just for storyline. Charisse held an opening for her champagne room, and cut a ribbon, making this the most excessive thing I’ve ever seen on any Wives show. And that includes Heather Dubrow’s skabillion dollar mansion and the birthday party Taylor Armstrong had for her toddler. This week, the girls also had an overabundance of time to spend analyzing why Karen was downsizing her living quarters. Refusing to descend from the cloud that she lives on, when someone pointed out that Karen would no longer be living in Potomac, she told them that was “a matter of opinion.” Funny, I thought it was a matter of zip code. Next time, a Bollywood party where Monique attends appropriating the wrong Indian culture, and wearing a feather headdress.

🍺 It looks like What Happens at the Abbey has been relegated to midnight status. And rightly so. It doesn’t need to be taking up the space of a show that has some genuine direction.

Quote of the Night & One More for the Dads

You don’t mess with a man’s SPAM. – Rueben Blades (Daniel, FTWD) on Talking Dead

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person — he believed in me. – Jim Valvano

CaseyInTie (2)

💖 One of my favorite dads, Casey 💖

Jun12

June 11, 2017 – Victor Meets an Old Friend, Bermuda on the Potomac & Red Violet

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What I Watched Today

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

 

 

Fear the Walking Dead

I’m desperately hoping we get to see Travis as a zombie.

We hear a voiceover telling us that the great American experiment has failed, and it’s time to start over. We see Jeremiah in a video, saying we need to be prepared. He’s advertising a video tape set that teaches one how to survive what he calls teotwawki or TE. But wait there’s more! You get a survival bucket at no extra cost. His tagline is, if you’re going to plan for a future, plan for a better one, as he and his family wave cheerily at the camera. That was actually fun to watch. They need more of that.

The settlers are having a meeting under a tent outdoors. A woman talks about losing a child because she thought she could fly, and jumped off the roof. Looking at Madison, she says her daughter’s life was risked for the unprepared. Madison gets up, offers condolences, and introduces Nick and Alicia. She says they’ve lost loved ones too. She says Travis was their compass, and thanks them for their generosity. Jake gets up and says grieving is hard, but they need to process it. Vernon says what they need to do is prepare. He wants to know why the helicopter fell. Jeremiah tells him that when they know what they’re dealing with, they’ll act. Jake says whatever threat it is, they’ll mete out justice when they get the details.

Alicia nearly gets in an argument with another settler, and tells them that they should be harassing Troy, not her family. Vernon’s daughter, Gretchen, apologizes for their loss, and asks if Alicia would like to join a Bible study. They also have a band. Alicia says they’re Jewish, but Gretchen says, cool, they’ll do the Old Testament. Well, that didn’t work.

Nick tells Luci that they’ll take the cuffs off soon, and she can see the place. She says she’s seen enough; she can’t forget what they did. As soon as she’s freed, they’ll go. Nick just wants them all to feel safe in one place. He says he had a chance to make that happen, to kill him. She says it wouldn’t have made them safe, and Nick isn’t a killer.

Madison finds Troy lolling about in a bunk. He says he likes the way she says Travis’s name, which is really, really weird. He asks what she did before, and she says she was a guidance counselor. He tells her that certain aspects of academia proved challenging, so he never went to high school. He says everything he does is in service to the ranch. She asks if his father knows that. Troy says complicated things need complicated solutions, and Madison says killing people isn’t complicated. He tells her that’s why he picked her – he didn’t pick Nick. She says Nick comes with her. He says that Nick doesn’t deserve this place.

Victor drives along a coastal road. He drives past a load of people waiting in a long line. He asks if the guard knows a Mr. Dante; he’s a friend. The guy tells him to get in line like everyone else. Victor offers him a watch (I think; I didn’t get a good look), but the guard tosses it away. He wrestles Victor to the ground and draws his gun. Victor says it’s a mistake. A guy leans over Victor, saying he looks like sh*t. I assume this is Dante.

Nick tells Madison that they’re not wanted at the ranch. Madison says they’ll win over the ones who don’t want them there. She tells them to stay away from Troy, who’s a work in progress. Nick says he’s got to do something. He thinks they should start over somewhere else. Madison says they’re not leaving; there’s no place better. They hauled him out of a hellhole, and Travis died for it. Nick says Luci won’t be safe there. He asks what if they let her go, and Madison says he’ll have a choice to make then.

Jake tells Jeremiah something is wrong. They haven’t heard back from the group that left to find out what happened with the helicopter. Madison walks in, and says she needs reassurance; some people resent them. Jeremiah says they’re strangers. Madison says, not to Troy. She’d like a leash put on him, and help with the others. Jeremiah say it’s a place where people ask for help when they need it. Madison tells him that she needs it, and she’s asking. He says she’s hard to like. She says Troy threatened her family; he murdered people, and called it science. She says maybe they should know that. Jeremiah says if his people take umbrage at their presence, that’s on her. He tells he that he won’t let anyone drown without teaching them to swim.

Alone with Madison, Jake asks if Troy hurt her. She asks if he’s always been that way. Jake says he’ll take care of Troy, and she says he and his dad keep saying that. She thanks him for saving Alicia, and he says she saved him too. She asks if he’s worried about the helicopter. He tells her that it was probably a crackpot scavenger. Madison says she wants to meet whoever it is.

Alicia watches the horses. Nick asks her about riding, but she says she’s not ready. She tells him he’s invited to the Bible study. He asks if she wants to stay, and she says no. She tells him that what Madison said wasn’t fair, and he says she’s wrong. Alicia says that this is no time to form a conscience. He asks what happened to her, but she walks away.

Jake finds Troy fixing a fence. He tells Troy to stay away from Madison and her family. He promised them he’d protect them from him. He says he still believes in Troy, but if the ranch knew what he really is… Troy asks what is he? Jake says when dad’s gone, it’s on them; they’ll have to lead together. He needs Troy to stay away from the Clarks. Troy says he hears him. Jake asks if he means it, and Troy says he always does.

Gretchen and a couple of the teenagers take Alicia to an underground place in the middle of the forest. Gretchen tells everyone to get out their study materials. Alicia is handed a humongous bong. She says this isn’t what she expected. Nor would I. Everyone paraphrases Bible verses. Gretchen opens a metal drum and takes out a bird cage. It’s Geoff. Geoff is a head, and I don’t mean of the game. Everyone sits watching Jeff drool and rattle his teeth. Alicia starts to laugh. Alrighty then.

Madison watches outtakes from the video. It’s Jeremiah arguing with his wife, who’s half In the bag, and yelling at the kids. The cameraman tells him to let her go, and he says, shut your mouth. Jeremiah walks in, and says not his finest moment. Madison asks what happened to their mom. He says Troy’s mom. Jake’s mother was his first wife, who died…before. Madison says her father was a drunk, and it killed her. Jeremiah says that the second Mrs. Otto went downhill. Troy took care of her while he was busy selling buckets, and she resented him for it.

Victor and Dante have a drink and talk about old times. Dante assumes that Thomas didn’t make it, and Victor shakes his head. Dante says all Victor has now is his wit, charm, and a crunchy suede coat. Victor says don’t forget his good looks. Dante says it’s good to have him back, and they toast.

The kids pretend to communicate (or maybe they are) through Geoff. They tell Alicia that he wants to know what it’s like “out there.” She tells them that it changes you into something worse than Geoff. She asks who the Ottos are. One of the kids says that Jeremiah saw it coming, and made the place before he was born. Gretchen says Geoff was the first zombie they saw. She says he’s indifferent on the Ottos, except for Troy. She tells Alicia that Troy and the militia do what they can’t – protect them. Alicia tells them that you can’t depend on others; you have to handle your own sh*t. Gretchen says that Geoff wants to know what bad stuff she’s done out there, and Alicia says she killed a man. Gretchen asks how it felt, and she says easy.

Dante shows Victor around the dam he’s taken over. Two guys are about to throw someone off a very high wall. Dante tells Victor that the man used to be in a cartel, and there’s no room for such people. Dude is tossed off the wall and into a pile of zombies, who immediately jump all over him and start feasting. The guys grab Victor. Dante asks if he thinks they were friends in the old world. Back then, Victor wanted people’s land; now he wants Dante’s water. Victor says food, shelter, and a cocktail suffices, but Dante says nothing suffices; it’s not in Victor’s nature. Victor is held over the edge of the balcony. Victor says it’s only a matter of time before someone else takes it, and not him. He says Dante needs transport and guns, and men to guard them. Water is the new currency, and he can organize it. Dante asks how he can trust a thief, but Victor says he never stole from Dante. Dante says he stole from Thomas, and asks if Thomas died believing that Victor loved him. Victor says he did love Thomas, and nearly gets pushed over the wall. Dante says that Victor exploits everything he touches, and owes him a debt. He’s going to work it off, and he’ll feel like those he took from – powerless. Victor is led away. Yikes.

Nick watches an old couple dance on their patio. Troy approaches him, and asks if he wants to join a hunting party. He says they can catch scavengers sneaking around in the dark, and it’s more maintenance than hunting, more cultivating than killing. He tells Nick to get in and earn his keep. They drive away.

Madison is out walking. Jeremiah tells her that Nick went with Troy on a hunting trip. She says he’s a city boy who’s never even dealt with a gun (I dunno about that, since he was a heroin addict and lived on the streets), and asks how long it lasts. Jeremiah says a couple of hours to all night, and they’ll come back safe. Madison says that her daughter is finding God. Jeremiah offers her a cigarette. I see a T-shirt in my head: My daughter got offered a huge bong and all I got was a lousy cigarette. She tells Jeremiah that her kids never had any place to feel safe, and that Nick is an addict. She told him that if he left, she’d let him go, but here they are. Jeremiah says the things they do to their children, and the things they do to make up for it. He asks if she wants to know why he tolerates his son.

The hunting party has dogs. While I couldn’t care less about the people, now I have a pack of German Shepherds to worry about.

Jeremiah takes Madison under the house. It has steel shelving laden with supplies, and he calls it the pantry. He says some people think what’s happened is God’s vengeance, but he thinks it’s an opportunity for a new life and to make amends. The new world has a purpose, and nothing heals a family more than that. They’ll build something better than before, but it won’t be easy. He asks if her family is up for it, and she says absolutely.

Troy sees someone wandering. Nick ambushes him from behind, and throws him to the ground. Troy says the ground is soft, and he could dig a grave easily; probably no one would suspect him. Nick asks how long it will take him to turn, and he tells Nick that if he does it, to time it; the journal is in his pocket. Nick says he’s not a scientist, and asks Troy what’s wrong with him. Troy says that Newton stabbed own eye to understand nature of light, and he needs to know. Nick shoots, but the bullet hits next to Troy’s head. Nick takes the journal and starts to tear it up. They fight, and Nick laughs like the lunatic he’s becoming. Troy says he thinks they can be friends now, like the lunatic he already is.

Madison visits Luci, and says she should be sleeping. Luci thanks her for waiting for her to heal before they leave, and says that she’s sorry about Travis; he saved her life. Madison says he was a good man, much better than her. He saved them all, and they can’t throw it away. They survive at all costs now.

Alicia and crew return. Jake asks if they’re turning water into wine, and she says, praise Jesus. Ha-ha! A pig roast is happening, which is perfect for the munchies. Jake talks to Jeremiah. Jeremiah makes an announcement that they still haven’t heard anything back from the group that went out, and they have to be prepared. Troy is taking a party out, but they need volunteers. Several men volunteer, and Madison raises her hand. They all look at her. Why is that so weird? I guess they are really out of touch with what’s happening everywhere. Madison sits next to Troy. He says her kids are at another table. She says she knows.

Victor awaits his fate in a cell. Someone sets a flask on the ledge. He smells it, then drinks greedily. Daniel appears, and says he knew Victor would drink it all, and that Daniel had told him that he’d be his guardian angel.

Next time, Daniel tells Victor that he’ll rot in there, someone else gets dropped into the zombie pile, zombies on a bus, and what happened to Daniel.

#WhereIsOfelia

🏛 On The Real Housewives of Potomac, Karen arranged a trip to Bermuda so the girls could get to know one another better. Why? Every time I watch this show, I want to know them less. Gizelle insulted Monique in her interview, saying that she’s “educated” and Monique “can’t hold a candle to this.” Omg. Honestly, this is the worst bunch of women ever. I want to see Gizelle’s diploma. She couldn’t even think up a new tagline this time around, using the same one as last season – and this is only their second season. She’s so educated, she can’t even think up two different sentences. She also wore some very scary purple eye shadow (I think Crayola would call it red violet) that matched her dress. Is that what she meant by “this?” No, no, and no. The good news is that Ashley had success, both with the opening of her restaurant, and keeping her marriage together. Of course the whole girls trip was a disaster. I might start using the word “janky” though.

🏖 The Real Housewives of the OC returns on Monday, July 10th, at 9 pm.

PurpleCrayone

PurpleCrayon2

May30

May 29, 2017 – No GH, a Door Opens for Kathryn, Classless Potomac, a Little Amish & Some Turquoise

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What I Watched Today

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

 

 

No General Hospital today. They reran the “Good-by to Tracy” episode. It wasn’t quite as satisfying as the first time, but still enjoyable, and you can’t beat the ending with Luke waiting for her in a Turkish coffee shop. I do wonder if he’s the person who ultimately bought the painting though. I don’t know if I’ll ever get the answer to that question either.

Southern Charm

Kathryn practices her yoga. Landon calls Thomas to go out to dinner. Craig gets an email saying he passed…something. Cameran and Chelsea are going to Home Goods. Cameran wants a woman cave; her husband suggests a nursery. She tells him about the psychic saying she’ll have three children. He thinks they best get going on that.

Craig puts a copy of the “you passed” email on the fridge. He calls his parents. I find out the cat’s name is Gizmo, and wonder if he has an Instagram account. Craig has satisfied his upper-level writing requirement, which means he has a law degree now. He gives Gizmo some treats to celebrate.

Cameran tells Chelsea that she’s totally redoing the room, and needs help. I immediately covet the grey chaise lounge Cameran parks herself on. She tells Chelsea about the topic of Kathryn coming up at Patricia’s party, but doesn’t exactly present it the way it went. She says whenever they talk about Kathryn, the mood changes. She doesn’t want to get involved and says it’s getting old. What Cameran leaves out is that she’s the one who changed the mood. Whitney merely wondered If Kathryn’s amends-making call was legit, and Cameran got all bent out of shape with Landon backing her up as the Greek-freaking-chorus. Chelsea says she actually met Kathryn at the salon, and – after her initial fear wore off because of what she’d been told – she thought Kathryn was nice. Cameran says she can be lovely, but also an absolute horror. She admits people can change though, so who knows? Maybe she’ll be calling Kathryn some day for mother advice.

Naomie meets Craig for dinner. He tells her about graduating law school, and wanted to tell her in person. She says it’s probably a bigger weight off of her chest than his. Craig asks for credit in improving. Naomie says if there hadn’t been any improvement, they wouldn’t still be together. She acts like an idiot, and then asks if he’s taking the bar. Because God forbid he should be happy for a minute with his recent victory. He says his application is in, but she doesn’t like that answer. She wants him to say the words “I’m taking the bar.”

Shep calls Cameran. He apologizes for getting heated after the party. He just wants everyone to be friends. He’s arranging a lunch, including Kathryn, and would like Cameran to come. She says she doesn’t want any drama. Shep brings up the fact that Thomas is the one who owes her an apology. He says Thomas acts out just as badly (truth!), but he always gets a pass. She says she is curious to see if a change has taken place, so she agrees to come. He tells her to bring safety gear. In his interview, Shep says he’s not on anyone’s side; he’s like Switzerland. He calls Kathryn to warn her that Cameran will be at lunch. We flash back to the reunion, where it didn’t go too well with the two of them.

Thomas tells the nanny that he has a date.

Landon’s sister Bam (wtf? is she a Flintstone?) calls, and Landon tells her about inviting Thomas to dinner. In her interview, she says she’d probably have a ring and all the horses she wanted if she gave the okay. Even though she’s most likely right, that’s incredibly narcissistic.

Thomas and Landon meet at the restaurant. Thomas thinks he’s cool because he ordered the most expensive bottle of wine. They discuss the kids. He talks about Landon’s necklace, and tells her that turquoise is from Turkey. She thinks he’s amazing, but I looked this up, and what he is, is wrong. (See link below.) Landon says that Patricia told her that she should consider Thomas as a suitor. Her turn of phrase reminds me of the first place I lived in NYC. It was a women’s residence – kind of like a dorm – and the ladies who ran it said things like “gentlemen caller” and “beau parlor.” It was like being in a Tennessee Williams play. Landon tells Thomas that it would be good if he was twenty years younger and had no baggage. I choke on my coffee. She says she wishes she wasn’t so concerned about what people think. In his interview, Thomas tells us if he thought that way, he’d never leave the house. He tells a bad joke, and Landon acts like it’s the funniest thing ever. Some drunk lady at the next table tells them that she feels that they’re soulmates. Omg, she’s sloshed, and tells Thomas that he should make out with Landon. Please, not at the table. Please.

Craig and Kathryn are the first to arrive for Shep’s lunch, and they get a table outside. Craig asks when was the last time Kathryn and Cameran talked? Kathryn doesn’t really remember, but she’s glad Cameran agreed to come, since it might be awkward if they run into each other. In her interview, Cameran says she’s anxious and nervous because Kathryn can be unpredictable. Shep says Cameran doesn’t have a leg to stand on, since she and Kathryn have never even had an altercation. Whitney is a different story – we flash back to that. Shep is of the mind that even if there are problems, you smile and say, “good to see you.” We flash back to more Whitney nonsense.

Cameran and Whitney drive to the lunch together. Cameran says it’s an opportunity for Kathryn to prove them wrong, and make the two of them look like a-holes. That shouldn’t be too hard. When they arrive, she hopes Kathryn doesn’t think it’s an ambush. Hugs and air kisses all around. Then silence. Cameran says this is the first time they’ve all been together in a while, and that they support Kathryn, and want her to feel supported, even . Where this is coming from, I have no idea. Kathryn says she appreciates it, and it’s important right now. Whitney says it’s water under the bridge. In her interview, Kathryn says Whitney knew her when, and supported Thomas in her downfall. She thinks he might be feeling guilty.

Cameran asks if she’s finished romantically with Thomas. Kathryn says they haven’t even spoken in a year, and tells them about the letter she wrote to him, saying she’d like to co-parent. She talks about how much better she feels. Cameran says Whitney is in love, and she says with what? – ha-ha! – and he tells her about the new girl in his life. Craig announces that he’s graduated law school. Everyone steers clear of the bar question, but not really, since they say they’re going to steer clear of it.

Austen and Craig go golfing. They decide to make it interesting at twenty bucks a hole. Craig asks about Chelsea. He tells Austen that Naomie says she’s a good old boy in a beautiful woman’s body. In his interview, Austen says Chelsea has been engaged twice, and is skeptical of relationships.

Shep goes to Chelsea’s salon for a haircut. They talk about the quail hunt. Chelsea says she never went quail hunting before, and loved every second. They talk about dating, and Shep says she must have guys chasing her. She says nobody is chasing her, and Shep asks if she chewed Austen up and spat him out. She says they just have fun together.

Austen tells Craig about Shep saying he broke bro code by dating Chelsea. Craig says there’s nothing there except Shep wanting to conquer. Austen says if Shep makes a move, he’ll know what the score is, and that Shep is no real friend. He doesn’t think Chelsea would go out with him though. Craig tells him about Shep hitting on Naomie. He says the easy answer is that he thinks he’s better than everyone else, but the deeper thought is that he’s insecure and afraid of actually finding his own woman.

Shep asks Chelsea to go for a glass of wine, but she says she’s on the clock. He tells her to clock out.

Nanny Deidre tells Thomas he needs to get serious bout Saint’s birthday party. They discuss the guest list. In his interview, Thomas wishes he had a partner to plan it with, and laments that Saint doesn’t have a mother involved. Well, isn’t that Thomas’s choice? He calls his father, and tells him about the party. His father tells him that he has a dental appointment the same day, and if they pull the tooth, he “ain’t comin’.” Thomas doesn’t seem real happy about that.

Whitney drops by. The nanny takes the children away. Thomas tells Whitney about the party. Whitney asks if he’s inviting Kathryn, and he says he’s giving it some thought. Whitney tells him about the lunch with her, and says she seems to be doing well. Thomas brings up the letter, and Whitney thinks it’s a step forward. He says she seems to want to move on, and perhaps deserves a second chance.

Landon meets Drew for dinner. She gripes about her website. They can’t call it Roam anymore, since it’s a conflict with other websites, and they might get sued. In her interview, Landon says it’s her fault for not doing her homework, but I knew that already. She says that she’s learning so much every day. Like how to tie her shoes and the ABCs. Drew says he was born in 1989, and Landon says she’s old and her eggs are drying up. This woman has no filter. In her interview, she says there’s a void in her life. She tells Drew she wants family life soon. She likes and respects him, and doesn’t want to mislead him. He says he’s not ready for that yet, and she asks if they can still do stuff. She gets all teary, and says that all she wants is someone to walk her dog with her. Good luck with that if you’re going to get all weepy over it. There must be a Facebook group or something for that. I have to admit getting the feels over her talking about her 12-year-old dog.

Kathryn meets Elizabeth (bleh because she’s married to JD) at a coffee/dessert place. They talk about Saint’s birthday, and Elizabeth says they should get a cake. She asks about Thomas, and Kathryn says she wrote to him, but hasn’t heard back. Elizabeth says she has a reply letter for Kathryn, which makes me wonder why she asked, and why she didn’t tell Kathryn that right away. Weird. It’s a pleasant letter, saying blah-blah-blah how he’d like to be friends and wishes her the best. He invites her to the birthday party. She thinks maybe it’s a new beginning, and she’s going in with no expectations. Elizabeth says she hasn’t seen this Kathryn in a while.

Next time, Saint’s first birthday party, Shep tells Chelsea that she’s like a unicorn, and Shep is a no-show to meet Cameran at a property.

A Coupla Things

🍹 I took a look at The Real Housewives of Potomac late last night, and once again was shocked at how unsophisticated this group is. Ashley opened (or got her husband to fund) an Australian themed restaurant – Oz. The menu includes items like kangaroo and emu. Once again, the embarrassing behavior award goes to Gizelle and Robyn. Since this was a restaurant opening event, Ashley gave a little spiel at the beginning. Not only did Robyn have to explain to Gizelle what an emu is, they both made faces about it. While these aren’t things I would normally eat, I wouldn’t act like a five-year-old about it, especially if that’s the fare of the country. Emu was also a thing not all that long ago, being a lean protein. Obviously, these two are uninformed and immature. Karen needs to give them pseudo etiquette lessons. Oh, and I finally realized that Katie is gone from the cast when they had a flashback. Sadly, I hadn’t even noticed.

🍞 Again, not much was going on Sunday night, so I checked out Return to Amish. Rebecca took the test for her GED, but we don’t know if she passed yet. Math really seems to confuse her, but I would assume that the Amish don’t focus a lot on that, especially if you’re female. It’s sad enough that they only think a girl deserves an eighth-grade education, but it’s highly doubtful they encourage any education of females at all, other than cooking and sewing. I was put into advanced math when I was in sixth grade – whether I wanted to be there or not. Although it served me well later in life when I lied finessed my way into accounting jobs after reading Accounting 101. Rebecca also has severe anxiety problems, which explains her reaction, or lack thereof, to many things. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to accomplish this on her own. Even though she had a tutor, she had to be the one to get herself through the process. Jeremiah and Carmella were on the outs at the start of the episode, but had reconciled by the end. Carmella had taken her kids and gone back to Washington, saying that the situation was toxic, and Jeremiah was controlling. This struck me as odd, since they had just started IVF treatments, and Jeremiah was doing a load of work on their new house. Then Jeremiah mentioned Carmella’s hormone treatments, and I was like, ohhh. Her growing up in a cult doesn’t help anything either. We also got Abe’s story this week. While he sometimes seems kitty whipped by Rebecca, I kind of like how he always has her back. He also seems like a great father – we saw a lot of scenes with him and the kids. Of course Mary being his mother makes him a lucky guy, although it was dicey at first when he decided to leave the tribe. Mary told him that it would break her heart, since he’d be shunned, but it looks like they’ve gotten around that. Next time, it’s the season finale (sniff), and the gang heads to Las Vegas, where Mary is going to do what she jolly well pleases. Which I’m sure involves gambling and drinking.

Every man must live with the man he makes of himself. – Amish Proverb

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May22

May 21, 2017 – A Little Amish Talk & Some Random Bravo Thoughts

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What I Watched Today

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

 

 

Since Once Upon a Time is over for now, we await new Walking Dead episodes, and where the blip is Game of Thrones, I thought I’d take a break from Bravo and it’s Housewives, and catch up on Return to Amish. Most weeks, I fall asleep watching it during the wee hours’ rerun encore performance.

🐎 Half new episode and half individual cast member’s story, one of tonight’s highlights was a trip to Lancaster made by Mary and a pregnant Sabrina. While they were enjoying a meal at a diner, Mary was approached by a local, asking Mary not to have Tupperware parties in her “territory.” We flash back to when she’d hassled Mary before, and Mary shut it down this time by telling her to get a life. Apparently, Tupperware is serious business in the Amish country. When back at home, a sly hater surreptitiously threatened to rat Mary out for having a car, Mary silenced her by giving her Tupperware. Mary is the best. So is Tupperware. The look on Jeremiah’s face when he found out that Sabrina was – SPOLIER AND GROSS OUT ALERT – eating her placenta, was worth the price of admission. I literally lol’d at his reaction. Baby Ariana is the cutest, arriving a month early, and so very tiny! Sabrina would like her to grow up Mennonite, and let parents have custody, but the state is already swooping in to take charge. This segued into Sabrina’s story. Being adopted, she grew up thinking that her mother didn’t want her, when the total opposite was true. It wasn’t evident who told her these things, but I’m assuming it wasn’t her adoptive parents, or she wouldn’t want them to raise Ariana. She eventually looked for her birth parents, and although her mother had passed away, she’d died surrounded by pictures of Sabrina. Her story was truly heart-wrenching, and it’s no surprise she would turn to drugs to soothe herself.  In one of his interviews, Abe talked about how the cast members were each other’s family, as they had decided to strike out on their own at the same time. It’s sad that he and Rebecca no longer want to talk to Sabrina, their Amish, grudge-holding roots taking hold. The whole thing is sad. On a happier front, while catching up on the gang’s trip to Florida, it was a lot of fun watching Mary kick back, do some shots, line dance, and take a twirl around the pole. I did miss Kate though. I’m thinking they should do a spin-off show about her life in NYC. She’s probably afraid the others would descend on her, and all want to stay at her place, like they did last season.

If Sabrina was appropriate, she wouldn’t be Sabrina. – Rebecca

My mother always told me if you kiss a boy, you’ll get pregnant. So that was effective birth control for a while. – Sabrina

Sarasota is like Las Vegas for the Amish people. – Jerimiah

🏛 Not much happened on the Potomac anyway. Karen had some emotions, and I noticed that Charisse talks through her nose. And once I noticed, I couldn’t stop noticing. Someone wagged their finger in Ashley’s face at her place of work. I think it was Gizelle, but I was spacing out already. I don’t know what to make of that Cabo show. It looks like The Real World for adults, “adults” meaning chronologically only. I’m not fond of the regular Real World program. I’m surprised it’s still on. Is it still on? Every once in a while, I’d forget why I stopped watching it, tune in, and then tune back out again, but I haven’t done that in a while. I’m guessing that Invite Only Cabo will most likely infuriate me, or make me laugh if one of them gets arrested in a foreign country.

🏖 Note: Watch What Happens Live is filming from LA this week. I’m not feeling the large, and appropriately noisy, live audience though. I think in NYC there are like, twelve people. There was a fun, surprise appearance by NeNe, but it looked like she usurped Iggy Izalea‘s place at the Shot Ski.

🎿 Not your momma’s or tonight’s Shot Ski…

ShotSki