Thony and Fiona exhibited feisty independence, and Arman was determined to make it himself.
Thony and Fiona are strong women, and this episode showed that neither of them let anyone push them around. We also saw again that the other cleaners are their core family.
Family isn’t always blood, and these other women have stood by Thony and Fiona more often than the elder De La Rosas have lately. It was enjoyable to see Fiona smile for a few minutes.
Samantha’s diabetic attack showed what was wrong with the health care for low-income families. Typically, insulin and diabetes medications are affordable even without insurance at some stores, but we don’t know if anyone has informed Samantha of her options.
Perhaps, Vinny wanted to make money by selling her medicine, albeit the wrong ones.
Luckily, Thony used her medical expertise to get Samantha a soda and stabilize her sugar.
The manager’s callous behavior made things worse. He didn’t care that Samantha had fainted. He only wanted them to clean the room faster.
Fiona: I quit! Alonzo: Again? How many times does this make this month? See you tomorrow. Thony: No, she’s not coming back, and neither am I. I quit too. Fiona: We’re opening up our own cleaning business. Alonzo: What makes you think you can do that? Fiona: Because we’re badass bitches who deserve better than putting up with a jerk like you!
Those cleaning ladies respect Fiona since all of them quit with her.
That felt like a burden to her, but Thony was determined to do right for their friends.
Out of the two ladies, Thony is the idea person, and Fiona is the one who goes toe-to-toe with the people who stand in their way.
Thony realized how hard getting medication was going to be when she couldn’t get Luca’s meds either, and to make matters worse, Luca had developed a high fever.
Things need to change. It shouldn’t be this hard for Luca to live.
Thony
Naveen Andrews plays Robert Kamdar perfectly as the season’s new villain. He seems to want Arman to fail so he can collect Nadia as his prize.
At first, Arman refuses to play the game, saying he’ll pay back his loan in full.
Soon Arman realizes that non of his gun suppliers will deal with him, especially now that the FBI is watching them.
Being in debt takes a toll on Arman and Nadia’s marriage. While he’s convinced they make it from nothing again, she’s starting to panic.
Who will Arman choose when this is over? While he would do anything for Thony, including getting medicine for Luca, he still loves Nadia too.
He made promises to her, and she got him out of prison.
Unfortunately, her deal with Robert is killing them now. However she feels about Thony, they’re running out of options.
He wants to try her idea of selling medications and seeing if it brings them some cash.
Nadia: You want me to go into business with your cleaning lady? Arman: You’re the one who ran to your ex-boyfriend for money. You had no problem doing that.
The three of them argue about which types of drugs to sell. Thony wins because she’s the only one familiar with the medicine and her clientele.
This was the strong, badass Thony we love. She returned to Vinny with the medicine and offered him a cut if he gave her his client list.
While she didn’t have a clinic set up yet, Thony sold many locals antibiotics, blood pressure meds, and other essentials while taking vitals nearby.
She’s got everything she needs for her clinic to be successful. Thony De La Rosa is on her way!
Arman and Nadia were almost $60,000 short. I noticed Thony kept money to save Chris and other money, so I’m unsure if there would have enough. She’s starting to think of herself too.
Robert isn’t someone you put off, either. When he offered to give Arman one last chance, he kept Nadia as collateral. He probably hoped Arman would fail and he could keep her.
Arman didn’t want to hurt an older man. He seemed horrified Robert sent him there, and after a fight with the son, he collected the money.
The battle is on for Nadia, and Arman still loves Thoney too. We have an exciting love square.
The only way this works is if we work together.
Arman
Security cameras are a frightening thing when used the wrong way. I hated that the motel clerk used them to locate Fiona’s license plate number and follow her.
That was nerve-wracking for a woman already on edge.
The way he threatened her and put his hands on her gave me the creeps.
You know what else I got off those cameras? Your son killing that guy. Unless you compensate me for my lost business, I will have to give that footage to the police.
Motel clerk
It made him seem like a predator she should stay far away from.
We hate Garrett. If he hadn’t made Thony spy on Mia, she would have accompanied Fiona to the motel to pay the blackmail money. Perhaps that would have prevented the unavoidable.
Understandably, Fiona wanted to protect Chris. However, snooping the video cameras and provoking the motel clerk wasn’t her best move.
She’s in a rough spot wanting to call the cops because he sexually harassed his clients, but she’d get in trouble too.
He should not have tried to attack Fiona, though. With her wielding that vase over his head, is he dead?
Over to you, Cleaning Lady Fanatics. How will Fiona and Chris get out of this now that two incidents have occurred at the same hotel?
Will Arman and Nadia survive working for Robert? Are you excited that Thony and Fiona have their own business? Chime in below in the comments.
Joshua Sasse is a charmer, and he certainly has his finger on the pulse when it comes to his counterpart on Monarch.
He’s funny, thoughtful, and undeniably passionate about his craft, which made him a pleasure to interview.
Technically, we got to have dinner with the charming and easygoing family man, thanks to the time difference. And we got the bonus of his darling son joining the conversation too, and a top-notch Trace Adkins impression.
With so many secrets and bombshells on the hottest new primetime family soap, we were excited to pick the talented star’s brain about Luke’s scandalous affair, the investigation into Dottie’s death, whether or not Luke will have his time behind the mic, and much more!
Check out our conversation below!
Luke is a naughty boy, and there are so many delicious secrets on Monarch. What was your reaction when you read that Luke was having an affair with his sister’s wife?
Yeah, it was definitely a big curveball for the character.
It was something that we debated a lot with the writers and the producers. And when something like that happens, as an actor, you always have to try and do your best to empathize with the character and the decisions they make.
Personally, as an actor, I just had to come at it from the standpoint that humans are fallible beings. Characters aren’t perfect. People aren’t perfect. And that’s part of human nature. As an actor, that’s also part of the job to show that side of it. So I had to do my best to allow him to be fallible.
Yes. Forbidden love stories, of course, are very irresistible. What is about Kayla that has Luke risking so much just to be with her? Is it just lust, or does he really love her?
Yeah. I think he really loved her and still does.
As the season progresses, it’s something that’s a very difficult pull. It is hard because he’d been raised by his mother to be family-minded and business-minded. And this crosses every single one of those wires.
It was a difficult one the whole way through, if I’m honest. It was important for me because it wasn’t just a physical event for him. It was an emotional thing. And that’s what gave it credence, in a way. It wasn’t just him acting lustfully; there was more to it.
Absolutely. We find out that Kayla is pregnant, which is such a huge bombshell. What can you tell us about that storyline moving forward?
Well, it’s going to bring up so many questions. I mean, I can’t give away too many details.
Obviously, there are really big social, and especially with what’s going on today in America, big social and legal questions will stir up. The show and FOX are intentionally trying to be current with that.
And it’s going to leave a lot of questions hanging in the air, which I think is good for the viewing public to have a heartbeat to the show that’s concurrent with what’s happening in the world. Those are the questions that we’re going to be sort of asking.
Absolutely. Luke, of course, seems to be or was a mama’s boy a bit, and now Dottie is gone, and Luke appears a bit lost. So can you talk a bit about their dynamic? What was it like working with Susan Sarandon?
Yeah, it’s funny you ask that because it’s been 30 years, nearly to the day, since my father died.
I’m sorry.
It was a long time ago.
But it’s prevalent in how a child never gets over the loss of a parent. Luke (and his sisters) –you’re going through so much quickly.
When you run a business, and your mother is a part of that business, your ability or time to grieve is set back and set to one side. And I think that’s the big thing that Luke’s playing with is that, of course, there’s all this stuff going on internally as it is with Nicky.
They’re trying to work and figure out how to get along at the same time as doing it.
It’s particularly difficult for Luke because his relationship with his father is so fractious, and he doesn’t understand that dynamic. He’s so desperate for his love, which, I think all of us have a parent that maybe we get a little bit more from in terms of love and that physical stuff. So it’s a real challenge for him to have that loss and still maintain his status.
Yeah, and speaking of Albie, I was just going to ask you about that very contemptuous relationship between the two men. But there’s also I believe he said a line at some point that he may not always know how to show it, but he does love Luke. What more can we expect from that relationship moving forward this season?
Look, I think that’s a real volcano that’s sort of rumbling and exploding as we go along because I think that’s exactly the point.
And what we’re trying to display in that culture is the ability or inability for men to show their emotions, even though especially with Albie being such a good example of somebody who has emotions clearly run really deep and is able to put that into song and put that into his art, but isn’t able to display it with the people that are closest to him.
Even when he loses his wife, he still doesn’t know how to show it to his children. As an artist, I think that’s a really interesting area to try and explore because there aren’t definitive answers, and it’s something that we all go through. So as the season unfolds, it’s something that builds and builds and builds. It’s a real sort of pregnant problem.
We have Luke making some discoveries about Dottie’s death. Can we expect some more tension between him and Nicky? Because it seems like they both know a bit about each other’s secrets. They have a lot going on. What can we expect from that?
Yeah, that all really comes to a head. There’s a lot that they don’t know as well. That’s kind of coming up in the next three to four episodes that they’re both going to discover.
What she knows and he knows will start overlapping, and that all kind of comes to a head as well. The writers try to do this sort of Jenga Tetris-like puzzle of plot. Just as one thing’s unraveling, another happens. We’re going to see how these siblings do or don’t bind together with all the stuff that’s being thrown at them.
It snowballs throughout the season. If you think it’s complicated now, it’s going to get bigger. [Laughs]
That sounds very exciting! Now, I would imagine Luke would start feeling a bit more conflicted as time goes on, he’s chasing after the truth about Dottie, but he’s aware it could reflect poorly on his family. Does conflict arise with Luke trying to protect his family and trying to know what that truth is?
I think that’s why Dottie was so intent on him having control of the business, because if he has that strength as his main thoroughfare internally, then it affects his decision-making for everything else.
And there’s going to be this conflict with if what he thinks is happening is happening, what’s he going to do? Because he’s been given the mantle for the business and the control of the family, which affects everybody’s life. What’s he going to do with the information? If he acts on it, he could potentially destroy his family, but his family is his work.
I can’t reveal anything because that’s kind of coming up in the next couple of episodes. But that is the really big problem.
And I think that’s probably, or at least that’s what we’re going to find out why Dottie gave him all this power that the rest of the family don’t know about yet. And how he wields that power is really telling about his character. We’ll find out in the next couple of episodes.
That’s interesting. It feels like he needed something of an edge because he feels like the outcast of the family a bit, presumably because he’s not as musically inclined as the others. Are we not going to see you singing at any point this season?
Oh, no, I wouldn’t say that.
Ohh! Awesome.
I think we’ll find out later in the season, but the decision for Luke to go to business school and Ivy League universities to take that path wasn’t that he couldn’t do it. It was that it was a conscious decision of his mother that somebody needed to because Albie wasn’t going to do it, and she knew neither of her daughters was.
It was a constant decision because she knew Luke was smart and he had the brains to do it. She pushed him, and we’ll find out later whether that was something he was copasetic with or not.
And certainly, Albie wasn’t, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have that in him because, as the CEO, he constantly has to judge talent, and he’s around it all the time, so he knows what’s good and what isn’t. It doesn’t mean that he can’t do it. It’s just that running a business is a full-time job.
But it’s something that, and we’ll put it this way, the door’s not closed.
Amazing. I can’t wait to see that. What exactly attracted you to this role? It’s such a fun series. A very different one from a lot of things we’ve seen currently on the air right now. But how did you get drawn into this role?
I’ve never played a character like like Luke before. There’s a side of him that is really straight, and that enticed me because I like having a challenge.
The big challenge with Luke is how you play that problem with the mother and father. If you’re really needy as a son, that emasculates you in a way. I have never done anything like this before, and I always try and pick roles that are divorced from something that I’ve done before so that it’s a new experience, and then I can challenge myself.
So that’s one thing. But I’ve never played a suit or anything similar, and there’s a control and level-headedness there. And also, the family thing was enticing to me because being a middle child and having it come from all angles was something I’ve never done before. I’m the youngest.
Oh, lucky you.
Yeah. So I got a very different upbringing. It just all felt like new territory. And it’s something that I hadn’t explored yet, and that was appealing to me.
And on top of that, I love acting in a different accent is an enormous challenge, so that was just really appealing to me. When doing a character in a different accent, your ability to play nuance is naturally impeded.
The timbre of your voice and the cadence of your speech patterns completely change, so you’re not just taking on a character; you’ve got to take on a culture at the same time. I find that challenging, and I sort of relish it. The last three jobs I’ve done have all been in different accents. It’s a lovely extra string to it that fires me up.
You do it so well!
Well, I hope so. Because if you don’t, that fourth wall is broken down.
As we were filming, Trace didn’t know I was English for the first month. He said, “Wait a minute, you ain’t from West Texas? I don’t understand.” I won’t swear, but Trace said something along those lines but with a couple of curses in there.
[Laughs] I can only imagine! You did a very good Trace impression, too.
I need to go about four octaves lower.
I know his voice is just so deep and gravelly!
It’s unbelievable. It literally shakes the glass.
Do you have any final teases for the season or final thoughts you can share with us?
I’m not really sure what I’m allowed to say without getting a phone call from FOX saying, what are you doing?
As the season progresses, we’ll slowly be leaving the wake of Dottie’s death and start moving into the next chapter of how they take the business to the next level.
And for Luke, it’s him choosing a new direction for the company. And we’ll see where the midseason changes because of the decisions that he’s making. It’s that power shift of how Nicky’s fame, she’s controlling the media, and how Luke is controlling the actual steering of the ship. And that’s all I can say, maybe a crumb of an easter egg.
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You can catch Joshua Sasse as Luke Roman in Monarch Tuesdays at 9 /8c on FOX. If you missed anything, you can watch Monarch online here via TV Fanatic.
Tune in for an all-new episode, and don’t forget to check back in with us for a full review!
Jasmine Blu is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.
Some were battling for survival, and some were fighting politics inside an oppressed community.
“Lockdown” was one of the few times throughout The Walking Dead Season 11 that it genuinely felt like the series was ending a chapter.
It’s hard to be excited knowing that many characters survive, but this final midseason premiere upped the ante to hone in on this battle for survival.
It was strange the episode didn’t give us the resolution to the Lance cliffhanger, and it wasn’t immediately clear if the final moments of The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 16 were set in the future.
I’m going with Lance at the Commonwealth tossing a coin to assess the fate of everyone having not happened, but that also takes away from what could have been a stellar cliffhanger at the close of “Lockdown.”
Pamela: You’ve humiliated me. And yourself. Sebastian: I told you I shouldn’t have come here.
Lance met his match in Daryl, Maggie, Mary, and everyone else. He’s hid behind his schtick that the Commonwealth is a safe haven for everyone.
That sounds like heaven to people on the road, but our survivors have come up against some terrible communities during their time on the show.
For that reason alone, they will never roll over and let someone take them out willingly.
The survivors also know that Lance would have them killed whenever they catch up with him, so there’s never going to be a point at which they ally with them.
That’s off the table now, but they will probably make a deal with Pamela.
Sebastian is a royal pain in the ass who has had everything handed to him with a silver spoon. He knows he can get away with murder, but he isn’t very good at covering up his crimes.
It was fun to see how much the people inside the Commonwealth turned on him and, by extension, his mother.
It’s always satisfying to see those types of characters get their comeuppance. Pamela was vocal about her ancestors going through rebellious phases, and maybe they’d make for a worthwhile Tales of the Walking Dead episode.
Pamela: Would you like one? Yumiko: It’s a little early for me. Thank you. You tear-gassed my friends. Pamela: If they were there, they were in defiance of lockdown. Yumiko: And did it help? Did it actually make the troopers’ jobs easier outside the walls? Pamela: It was about what could have happened. It was about safety. It always is. Yumiko: And you don’t care that it makes you look guilty? Pamela: If you have an accusation, Yumiko, make it. Yumiko: Look. Can you really sit there and say there is no way your son did the things he was accused of? Pamela: He’s always been something of a renegade, it’s true. But his grandfather and uncles were the same way, and they mellowed over time. Became leaders of men. Maybe he’s having his youthful rebellions later than most, but he’s not a murderer. Yumiko: Pamela, I am trying to figure out how much you knew. It might be my job to defend you. Pamela: How can I talk to my lawyer freely when she’s also friends with the most prominent journalist around?
Pamela has been in control of the narrative inside the Commonwealth for years, but now that people like Connie are in control of some aspects of the media, it makes things tricky.
To date, Pamela has gone with the flow because the chips have fallen in her favor, but it makes you wonder how far she’ll go now that everything has been called into question.
Carol bringing Lance’s involvement to her will surely go a long way to keep our heroes safe, at least for a short while.
The truth is, Lance has a way with words, and he’s tried to manipulate Pamela before. He knows she isn’t a pushover and will call him out when she sees fit, but now that she can blame him for everything, well, maybe he will take a shot at her.
Intriguingly, Carol managed to make Pamela think that they will all benefit from turning on Lance, but Lance will also be mad to know that Carol played a part in his downfall.
Carol’s back was against the wall. She’s been trying to gather information ever since her people arrived inside the compound, and it’s not a bad idea.
She knows how these communities work, so it’s always nice to see her scheming to keep everyone she loves safe.
Her shock at Negan’s arrival completely changed when he told her he was married and had a kid on the way.
Their relationship has never been strong, but they’ve come together in recent years because they both understand they need to be ruthless when the going gets tough.
From the outside looking in, they should hate each other, but they both have these shades of darkness they recognize in each other.
Negan: Hey, did I, uh… Did I tell you I got married? Carol: Mm. Why are you telling me this now? Negan: Well, I don’t know. Because… Because she is out there, and… she is carrying our child. Carol: It’s gonna be okay. Negan: Thank you. Carol: Yeah.
It’s a spectacle watching them both on-screen because Melissa McBride and Jeffrey Dean Morgan have a chemistry that bounces off each other whenever they share the screen.
Maggie, Daryl, and the rest of the people on the road trying to disarm the soldiers and ruin Lance’s plans was gnarly because everyone was dealing with something.
Daryl had just put down his one-time lover in the name of saving Maggie, someone he’s known for years. In the moment, it was an easy decision for him to make, but one second later and Maggie could have been dead.
Maggie thanking him and recognizing the weight of his actions was beautiful because it showed that she understood what it was like losing someone she loved.
“Lockdown” clearly wanted to tug on the heartstrings with callbacks, and that’s okay because we’re on a fast-paced ride to the finish line.
Judith narrating the beginning of the episode, followed by the extended opening montage, hit me right in the feels.
Magna also hit me in the feels when she told Yumiko she would be dragging her and Tomi along if the going gets too harsh inside the Commonwealth.
Magna and Yumiko’s relationship should be strained because of how differently their lives are inside this compound, but it’s clear the message from the show is that true love prevails, even when you’re pulled in different directions.
My concern, however, is that Pamela knows Magna and Tomi are Yumiko’s weaknesses, and if things continue to fall apart, Pamela can manipulate Yumiko by promising these people safety.
Initiating a lockdown was something I never expected to see on The Walking Dead, but Pamela needs to find a way to keep these people in line.
I can’t even begin to imagine what must have been going through everyone’s minds when that happened because most of these people have spent most of their lives hiding from the undead and tyrants.
Maggie: Daryl, what y… What you did back there… I know that Leah meant something to you. I’m sorry. Daryl: Glen would’ve wanted me to look after you. You don’t have to ever say sorry. Not to me.
“Lockdown” sent the narrative in a completely different direction. I’m cautiously optimistic this direction is necessary to give closure to the characters and arcs that won’t be spilling on to the spinoffs.
What are your thoughts on the drama surrounding Pamela and her family?
Which moment hit you in the feels the most?
Do you think there is a future inside the Commonwealth if the bad guys are taken down?
Hit the comments.
The Walking Dead continues Sundays on AMC and AMC+.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
Abigail’s killer was found, and EJ shot him! EJ and Chad bonded over attempted murder. Gwen was run down in front of the police station. And Chloe insisted Brady was the love of her life.
Our TV Fanatics, Jack and Christine, are joined by Trey from MyHourglass, a Days of Our Lives fan forum, to rate the murder storyline, decide if Clyde should have died, and debate what Jack will do if Jennifer hit Gwen this week in Salem.
Now that we know who the killer is, rate Abigail’s murder story from 1 (I hated it) to 10( It was one of the best storylines of the year)
Trey: I would honestly rate this story as a five. It had moments when it was interesting and intriguing and kept you guessing throughout.
However, I did not like that the writers took the easy way out and made the killer Clyde. It seemed anticlimactic.
Jack: Blah. This was a 2, and that’s generous. I was curious about who killed Abigail, and when Sonny was attacked, it was a real twist that made me wonder who it could be.
But the writers didn’t provide us with many clues throughout the story. We had months of the police arbitrarily arresting wrong suspects, only for clues to come out at the last minute.
Viewers didn’t have a fair chance to solve the mystery, and the solution felt tacked on at the last minute. No wonder many fans are waiting for a further twist despite Clyde’s confession and flashbacks of the murder!
Christine: I’m giving it a 7. It was better than any of the other murder mysteries we’ve had in recent years. Although, I will admit that having Rafe arrest multiple people and then Chad trying to kill them all was silly.
But I thought Clyde was a reasonable choice and completely capable of the attacks on Abigail and Sonny. Plus, having him be the murderer and surviving leaves us with some credible drama.
You tell us, Days fans. How would you rate Abigail’s murder storyline?
Clyde was shot but survived. Are you happy he didn’t die, or would you prefer him gone for good?
Trey: Clyde is not a character that I would miss. The writers keep bringing him back. This time around, he was actually tolerable with Nancy, but I still don’t care for the character.
Jack: I don’t root for characters’ deaths, even evil characters. Besides, even though Clyde is an awful character, James Read is a phenomenal actor. I’d rather Clyde be in prison until the next time he’s needed. (Hopefully without Orpheus as a cellmate this time.)
Christine: I’m surprisingly happy about it. I think Clyde is despicable, but James Read makes him everything from creepy to charming, which can be very entertaining.
Plus, Clyde being alive leaves the possibility for plenty of drama in the future.
When EJ and Chad were waiting for Clyde to die, did you find it horrifying or humorous?
Trey: I found EJ and Chad’s bonding over Clyde’s shooting to be hilarious. It’s good to have a little humor with such dark content.
And it’s nice to see EJ and Chad getting along. I hope they are brotherly connection continues.
Jack: That was cold, and I didn’t like it. I’m not a fan of vigilante justice stories in the first place, and Chad and EJ’s exchanges weren’t helping.
Christine: I loved it! It was darkly funny and perfect for the characters, considering Clyde once had EJ shot, left for dead, and killed Abigail.
EJ and Chad making snarky comments while watching Clyde suffer and hoping he’d die was a good reminder that these two are Dimeras at heart.
Do you think Jennifer ran down Gwen? And if so, and Jack figures it out, what do you think he’ll do?
Trey: Yes, I think Jennifer did hit Gwen with her car. Days seems to be writing the good guys as bad guys and vice versa lately. I hope Jack stands by Jennifer to get her the help she needs. She is spiraling, and it’s understandable with Abigail’s death.
Jack: I’m 100% sure Jennifer ran down Gwen. It would be an awfully big coincidence if something else happened. I’m betting Jack will quietly send Jennifer off to rehab and hope no one learns the truth.
Conversely, if Gwen remembers that Jennifer hit her, Jack will likely pressure her not to press charges and point out that he’s given Gwen a billion chances so she can give Jennifer one.
Christine: Yeah, I think Jennifer ran down Gwen, and Jack will figure it out. There’s probably some sort of evidence on Jennifer’s car, and if Jack finds it first, he’ll likely cover for Jennifer and try to get her to leave town and get herself into rehab.
If Gwen remembers seeing Jennifer and tells Jack, he’ll likely beg her to keep her mouth shut, and then Gwen can use it to be a part of their lives for years to come.
But you’d think there would be cameras right outside the police station. Even Rafe should be able to solve this case.
Chloe says Brady is “the love of her life.” Do you buy that? And if not Brady, then whom?
Trey: Once upon a time, I used to think that Philip was Chloe’s love.
However, after this last round of Philip and Chloe and how quickly she abandoned searching for Philip to be with Brady, I feel that Chloe and Brady deserve each other.
Jack: Chloe and Brady both have had a dozen loves of their lives.
I think Philip was the best match for Chloe before they ruined his character this time around. But I wish Chloe would meet someone new and stop repeatedly cycling through her exes.
Christine: I’ve lost count of how many loves of their lives Chloe and Brady have had.
It obviously wasn’t Philip. After chastizing Philip for being jealous over her feelings for Brady, she fell into Brady’s arms pretty fast after Philip disappears.
There are moments I don’t mind Chloe and Brady together, but I hate how possessive Brady sounds when he’s around her. It’s kind of grating.
Was Allie right to kick Johnny out of her apartment? Did she do it because she’s annoyed with Johnny or because she fears Chanel will fall back in love with him?
Trey: Allie is totally insecure. I don’t know if it’s because she loves Chanel or if she’s afraid Johnny will take her toy away. I am getting more control vibes from her than love vibes.
I like that Johnny was annoying and hurt, as only a sibling can.
Jack: That was more bratty, insecure behavior from Sami, I mean Allie. She is jealous of any attention Chanel pays him at all.
That said, we had months of Chanel accidentally seeing a naked Eli when she was living with him and Lani, so do we need to do this again with her and Johnny?
It’s not unreasonable for Allie to ask him to wear a bathrobe if he’s in a public area of the house.
Christine: Allie was very insecure about her brother being too close to Chanel. Allie has an immaturity streak that shows through pretty often and probably doesn’t bode well for her and Chanel’s future.
Granted, Johnny could use some manners as their houseguest, but Allie could have told him he had to wear clothes and clean up after himself instead of kicking him out with nowhere to go.
Was Stephanie right to be angry that her parents don’t share information about their health and welfare with her? Do they treat her like a child?
Trey: She was absolutely right to be upset with her parents for keeping the illness away from her. If something were to happen to Kayla and she didn’t know about it, it would have strained things with her dad even more.
Jack: Absolutely. They kept her in the dark about the kidnapping and this disease “so that she wouldn’t worry.” What if Kayla died or ended up in a coma before Stephanie knew she was sick?
Christine: Yeah, Steve and Kayla are being unfair to Stephanie. She’s a grown woman who should know when her parents are in trouble or ill, even if it will make her worry.
That Stephanie had to learn her mother was in the hospital with a serious illness from Eric was maddening, and she had every right to be angry.
What disappointed you the most this week in Salem?
Trey: Clyde survived being shot. Jennifer’s character being assassinated for Gwen. And my least favorite character, Bonnie, is back on the screen.
Jack: There was far too much violence in the climax of the Clyde killing Abigail story.
I also thought that Shawn should have more of a reaction to Belle and EJ being together when they called him, considering the past.
And I am saddened by what they’ve done to Jennifer’s character. It’s hard for me to buy this is drug-based behavior when we’ve barely seen any of her addiction story. I feel like we came in on the tail end of this.
Also, I wish JJ had stuck around for this story. He’s never even mentioned, and given his history with addiction, there could have been some fantastic writing involving him trying to take care of his mother and battling guilt over how he acted when he was the one using.
Also, while it’s par for the course, Kristen’s tantrums bore me to tears. And I hope I’m wrong about what she’s going to do next because I don’t have any interest in her using the antidote as a bargaining chip to force Brady and Chloe apart.
Christine: That Chloe would have ditched her Mom’s wedding. I know she had reason to hate Clyde, but it would have hurt Nancy horribly. Chloe can be a great friend, but she’s not the best daughter.
And I wish I cared more about the poisoning story, but thus far, I don’t.
What was your favorite quote, scene, or storyline on this week’s Days of Our Lives?
Trey: I loved EJ and Chad’s bonding after an intense scene with Clyde. EJ’s line that he didn’t shoot Clyde for Chad but because he wanted to shoot Clyde was hilarious.
I also liked Chad being able to say goodbye to Abby.
Jack: I was glad that Nancy refused to forgive or reconcile with Clyde. He poured it on thick, but she didn’t fall for it. I was so proud of her!
Christine: EJ and Chad were fantastic. Billy Flynn knocked it out of the park during this storyline and continued to do so when confronting Clyde.
And I loved everything about EJ and Chad bonding over Clyde’s body and then their hug at the police station. EJ continues to be a fun character as he can be vulnerable one moment and then cynical and selfish the next.
Also, oddly enough, I liked that Xander was there for Gwen and that Sarah was okay with it. And that Sarah was completely professional when treating Gwen, despite all that’s happened between them.
Okay, Days fans. Hit that SHOW COMMENTS button below to leave your thoughts on this week’s round table. Then check out Jack Ori’s Days of Our Lives review here at TV Fanatic.
C. Orlando is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.
With just eight episodes of The Walking Dead left, the stakes are higher than ever.
The series returns at a breakneck pace as we delve deeper into the conflict behind the walls of the Commonwealth and the desperate battle for survival.
Pamela Milton (Laila Robins) is the leader of this compound, and she’s been left vulnerable for the first time following an explosive story in the town paper.
Robins tells TV Fanatic that Pamela is “determined” when the series picks back up because her entire family legacy is at stake.
“Pamela carries the weight,” Laila adds of Pamela.
“Carrying that weight has warped her personality a little.”
Laila doesn’t think Pamela thinks about her own mental health because she’s so focused on the Commonwealth and the responsibility she holds.
Mercer was tirelessly devoted to the cause of the Commonwealth, but he’s starting to put together the fact that some shady things are going on.
“He’s in a shit storm, and he’s trying to figure out how to solve it,” Shaw tells TV Fanatic of his character’s mindset.
“He’s got a lot of decisions to make. He’s got to start taking action at this point,” Shaw adds, noting that it’s time to make a move if he wants to save his family.
Eleanor Matsuura, who plays Yumiko, thinks her character’s mindset is similar to Pamela’s, but she also desires to keep everyone safe.
Eleanor believes that Yumiko has a pursuit of freedom.
“It’s like a real burning drive for her,” but Yumiko is on the wrong side of the Commonwealth and has been thrust back into a role she never thought she’d be in again.
“I think we’re seeing a full circle moment for Yumiko,” Matsuura adds.
“All of her past is coming suddenly into her future, and it’s like, how can she do the right thing here?”
“How can she do these jobs within these rules and fight for what she believes is right and fight to keep her people alive?”
“Yumiko has to use all of her tricks, and there are so many more things to unravel this season.”
Eleanor adds that Yumiko is pushed to the limit, but she always aims to do what’s right for her people.
Matsuura delved into playing this side of Yumiko in a world that’s filled with peril.
“As an actor, I’ve loved every second of it.”
“I spent the last few seasons covered in mud in the woods, getting covered in bites, and getting bruised,” she adds, saying that while there’s a great joy to that, the evolution of her character has been satisfying.
“I’m in a suit, chopped all my hair off, and I’m suddenly getting to play on a courtroom drama.”
Eleanor says it is surreal because she looked at her co-stars while filming these scenes and thought she was on a different show.
“This is The Walking Dead, right?” she recalls saying with a laugh. She says that it is a great privilege to work on the show.
Naturally, there are questions about how some of these characters would fare if they were back on the road.
Mercer’s situation is tricky because he’s built up this strong track record inside the Commonwealth, but his sister Max (Margot Bingham) leads what can only be described as a rebellion.
Mike believes Mercer would thrive if he had to go back on the road.
“He’s definitely a survivor and has all the tools to survive.”
Mike added that he thinks Mercer has survived so long because he has a purpose at the Commonwealth.
As for Pamela surviving away from a cushy community, Laila notes that she wasn’t a girl scout, so she might lack the skills.
“She’s a hunter, though,” Eleanor interjects, referencing an episode in which Pamela hunts with Maggie (Lauren Cohan).
“Yeah, but does she know how to put up a tent?” Laila responds with a laugh.
“Can’t you just see me for hours trying to put a tent up?”
“The soldiers may have handled that,” Mike offers.
Laila said she could imagine Pamela having a hissy fit about being unable to put up a tent and having no soldiers to help.
“I have a feeling she’d find some, though. Even out on the road, she’d quickly assemble some stuff and a group,” Eleanor says, noting that “we’ve all been led by Pamela Milton.”
“She might be able to pull it together, but she wouldn’t be a happy camper. Let’s put it that way,” Laila says of Pamela in the great outdoors.
Undoubtedly, there is a lot of excitement about the final season, so I asked the cast how the series finale would challenge expectations.
Eleanor believes that ending a show after such a long time naturally leads to many expectations.
“This show has a huge following,” she warns, adding that living up to everyone’s expectations is tough.
“The only thing I can say is that it will go places you don’t imagine it to go to.”
“You think you might know how it ends, but I don’t think you do. I don’t think anyone will ever guess how it goes.”
“Even though it is the end of the main series, the universe is still thriving,” but the star says this is a definite end to this chapter.
Eleanor said making every viewer happy is tough, but plenty of spinoffs on the horizon will give fans the option of which characters to follow.
Laila spoke about the conclusion of The Sopranos because there was a lot of debate about how it wrapped up.
“In some ways, it was perfect,” but it all comes down to the person watching and their expectations, she notes.
The Walking Dead returns Sunday at 9 p.m. on AMC and AMC+.
Return to TV Fanatic for more TWD interviews ahead of the premiere and as the series is airing.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
Losing a child is one of the hardest things anyone can ever go through.
Although Jennifer’s been down this road before with Abigail’s fake death, Abby is gone for real this time, and her mother can’t handle the heartbreak.
But did Jennifer go too far on Days of Our Lives during the week of 9-26-22 when she drove drugged and ran over Gwen?
The writers have done a grave injustice by bringing viewers in only for the tail end of Jennifer’s drug relapse. Her decision to get her hands on painkillers, her efforts to do it, and her growing addiction to them were all off-screen.
All we got was one scene where Maggie tried to get her to throw away the pills and took her to a meeting. We then quickly shifted to Gwen’s discovery of the drugs, and even that was short-lived as Gwen waited all of one day before telling Jack the truth.
The accident could lead to fantastic drama. Jennifer ran over Jack’s wayward daughter, and she had more than one motive to do it on purpose. But the story isn’t as compelling as it would have been if we’d followed Jennifer through this journey.
She’s been one of Days of Our Lives’ leading ladies for over 30 years. She’s such an important character that the soap took the unusual step of recasting her when Melissa Reeves wasn’t available, even though Reeves has played her for decades.
So why didn’t she get a complete story this time? Cady McClain has the acting chops to pull it off; the few scenes she was given were powerful. Opioid addiction is far too common, which means this would have been a relatable story; sadly, many viewers have either struggled with it themselves or know someone who has.
If written correctly, this might have been an empowering story, but viewers were cheated out of that. Instead, it seemed like the writers wanted to turn Jennifer into a semi-villain and make the usually despicable Gwen into the hero. Ugh.
Jennifer seems to have a lot in common with her arch-nemesis Eve nowadays.
They both have done terrible things after a Weston killed their daughter, and now they have also both run someone over while inebriated. (In the late 1980s, Eve had been drinking before she stole a car and ran over an eight-year-old Sarah Horton.)
Eve’s reaction to all this would have been fascinating, but she’s not in town. What a shame! This would have been an excellent opportunity to add some more layers to Eve and Jennifer’s complex relationship.
In any case, neither Jennifer nor Gwen seems to remember that Jennifer ran Gwen over. What will happen when that truth comes out?
Will Jack protect his wife, or will he stand up for the daughter he’s so desperate to forgive?
Fans may feel betrayed if Jack chooses Gwen. While Gwen wasn’t at fault this time, he’s forgiven her repeatedly for horrible things she’s done to his family. She tried to break him and Jennifer up out of spite, and that was only the beginning of her reign of terror.
It wasn’t that long ago that Jack believed Gwen killed Abigail; even though he was wrong, the fact that he found it plausible that she did is a gigantic red flag. Gwen should be out of second chances by now.
Of course, Jennifer did almost kill Gwen, and that isn’t right either. She should, at the very least, confess to her crime and be sentenced to complete rehab. She should also temporarily lose her driver’s license.
Most of that probably won’t happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jennifer goes off to rehab without anyone ever knowing that she hit Gwen and the case goes cold.
Even if Gwen uses this incident to finally turn her life around and stop being so hateful, it’s too little too late. She’s done far too much to the Deverauxx family to be forgiven any too easily. Her character needs a new direction ASAP, and it would be best if she left town for a reset.
Instead, the Gwen/Xander/Sarah triangle will heat up again. Even though Xander and Sarah are married, Xander was eager to rush to Gwen’s bedside to keep her company until Jack could arrive.
Sarah can’t possibly be okay with that. Plus, Rex is back in town and working at the hospital. That could add more complications for Sarah and Xander.
I’d rather Rex’s sole purpose be to work on the antidote to the toxin that Marlena, Kate, and Kayla are infected with, but he always turns into a lovesick 15-year-old when he runs into Sarah. It’s hard to imagine that this time will be any different.
The toxin story was mostly backburnered, which was fine. We don’t need scene after scene of the women struggling to breathe while the men stand around helplessly.
Friday’s scenes were enough drama of that nature. John’s impassioned plea for God to save Marlena was moving, but too much of this would have crossed the line into depressing.
There was some unnecessary drama there, too, thanks to Stephanie being resentful that no one told her.
I’m surprised she went along with Kayla’s plan to downplay the severity of her illness to Joey and Tripp. You’d think Stephanie wouldn’t be eager to do the same thing to her brothers after being kept in the dark herself.
Kate is supposedly also seriously ill, but I didn’t buy that. She seemed like she had nothing worse than the tail end of the flu as she lay in bed discussing the situation with Roman and Rex.
This toxin story is a nice nod to the past, but I’d think the Dimeras would want Orpheus to suffer consequences for stealing a toxin from the Dimeras and using it against women who were important to Stefano.
Once Kristen stopped throwing a tantrum about Rolf’s refusal to brainwash Chloe for her, she should have sworn revenge.
Instead, I have a sinking feeling that my prediction from last week was correct: Kristen will offer John the antidote if and only if Brady agrees to break up with Chloe.
At least if we go that route, it’ll kick this Stefan story into higher gear. Stefan’s attempt to win Chloe by remembering her birthday was as tedious as ineffective.
Predictably, Chloe understood that Brady’s stepmother being on death’s door took precedence over celebrating her birthday. Brady didn’t doubt her fidelity for a second when he walked in on her and Stefan having a toast.
There was no drama there. These scenes were pointless and silly, and Stefan seemed delusional when his takeaway from it was that he was “making progress.”
Similarly, there was zero reason for Li to visit Chloe to check up on her, and she should have been suspicious of his questions. 90% of the conversation was about whether she was sure she didn’t want to get back together with Stefan!
Since Chloe already suspects Kristen’s involvement in Stefan’s resurrection, it shouldn’t be a leap for her to realize that Li is involved, especially since he’s being so obvious about it.
This story has just started, but it needs to go. It’s far less interesting than everything else. If we must have Stefan, he’s far more compelling as EJ’s partner in crime.
EJ’s constant attempt to regain his position as CEO is annoying, though. How much of this drama remains behind the scenes? Customers would lose confidence in this company if they knew about the constant battles in the boardroom, especially since EJ keeps trying and failing to oust Gabi.
This latest attempt may fail, too. I’d put even odds on Stefan regaining his memory right before the vote and throwing his weight behind Gabi.
The week’s biggest story was the fallout from the discovery that Clyde killed Abigail.
For some reason, some viewers doubt Clyde is the killer even now, but at this point, there’s no way out of this conclusion. Clyde had flashbacks of both Sonny’s attack and Abigail’s murder. He did it. It wasn’t Craig or anyone else in a Clyde mask.
The only one who has access to new masks is Kristen, anyway, and she would have no reason to help anyone frame Clyde for Abigail and Sonny’s attacks.
Great. I have a murderer on the loose and two Dimera brothers out for revenge.
Shawn
Instead of telling Rafe what he knew, Chad took matters into his own hands, nearly getting himself killed. As usual, the police force was worse than useless so that Chad could have his big confrontation.
Clyde’s reason for killing Abigail was ridiculous. Supposedly, he was trying to kill Belle and only stabbed Abigail because she threatened to call the cops. There were people with far more motive to kill Abigail than Clyde, and his explanation didn’t make this any easier.
Clyde keeps saying that Abigail was a slut who turned Ben into a serial killer. Leaving aside the fact that this is the first time he’s complained about this in all the years since Ben’s arrest, was Abigail’s murder random, or did he want revenge?
The writers can’t seem to make up their minds about this, making it seem like they hadn’t decided on a killer and tacked on this solution to the mystery at the last second.
Jack’s attempt to confront Clyde was as much of a waste of time as Steve’s confrontation with Orpheus. But Nancy and Clyde’s scenes were interesting.
Clyde displayed a softer side to Nancy. Abusers often engage in love bombing to keep the object of their torment bonded to them, and in part, this is what he was doing. But I also did not doubt that Clyde loved Nancy as much as someone like him could love anyone.
His desire to avenge Nancy’s heartbreak by framing Leo for Sonny’s attack seemed more logical than his reason for killing Abigail in the first place.
But Nancy showed the backbone that’s been missing since she fell for Clyde when she told him that she was so desperate for love after Craig that she jumped into a relationship with the first man who showed any interest in her and refused to do anything with him other than pray for him.
It’s also time for Joy to come back to Salem. She has been mentioned several times, missed both of her parents’ wedding disasters, and could be an extra shoulder for Nancy to cry on.
Finally, Abigail appeared to Chad as a ghost — unlike when Jennifer hallucinated, she spoke.
Her scenes with Chad were a beautiful ending to their love story. Abigail encouraged Chad to move on with his life and gave him tacit permission to fall in love again.
It should take Chad years to be ready to date, but three months’ worth of grief is a long time for most soap characters. Now that he’s got the closure he needs, he’s probably going to move on to the next love of his life.
He had chemistry with Stephanie, and she’s now annoyed with Alex. Could this be where Chad’s story is going?
Your turn, Days of Our Lives fanatics! Hit the big, blue SHOW COMMENTS button and let us know your thoughts about the aftermath of the Clyde reveal, whether Kristen will use the antidote to get her way, and anything else on your mind about Days of Our Lives.
Mary McDonnell is closing in on a more permanent return to the small screen.
The Major Crimes actress has landed her first series regular role since The Closer spinoff concluded.
According to Deadline, McDonnell is set to star opposite Justin Hartley (This Is Us) on the CBS adaptation of The Never Game.
McDonnell is set to play Mary Dove Shaw, Colter’s (Hartley) solid, strong, and uncompromising mother, who raised her three children on the remote California compound where her husband took them before his mysterious death.
She still lives there, self-reliant and upright, the emotional center of Colter’s restless life—and the key to the secrets of his past.
Based on the bestselling novel by Jeffrey Deaver, The Never Game features Hartley as lone-wolf survivalist Colter Shaw, who roams the country as a “reward seeker.”
He uses his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement to solve all manner of mysteries while contending with his own fractured family.
“I couldn’t be happier that The Never Game is coming to CBS and that Colter Shaw will be brought to life on screen soon,” Hartley said in a statement last year when the project was announced to be in the works.
“When I read the book, I was immediately drawn to the character and the story; developing this project with Ken has been a true labor of love.”
“Colter is going to kick some serious ass, and I can’t wait for audiences to meet him.”
Hartley is coming off a six year stint on This Is Us, which wrapped its run earlier this year.
The Never Game is currently at pilot stage at the network, but given that Hartley and McDonnell are big draws, it would be a shocker if the series doesn’t get a pickup.
However, it will all come down to how the network’s other pilots come in.
What are your thoughts on the news?
Hit the comments below.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
The Woodstone Manor bed and breakfast is open for business! And all hands were on deck to make it a successful launch.
The first guests’ arrival on Ghosts Season 2 Episode 1 taught Sam and Jay a big lesson about not pleasing everyone.
Plenty of shenanigans were afoot to get the must-have 5-star review. And in typical Ghosts fashion, the group got more than they bargained for.
Sam and Jay were only going to do the best they could on “Spies” based on the situation.
Debbie and Tom were criticizing everything about the Manor, from the food to the bed sheets to the lighting. Sure, a level of hospitality needs to be met for their guests, especially since everyone is creating this new business.
There is one other possibility. We spy on them! Not for our entertainment, but to help you guys. See what they’re really saying behind closed doors.
Alberta
However, the roadblock Sam and Jay would’ve faced regardless was that Debbie and Tom weren’t sharing their feedback with them. How can they fix the issues if they don’t know of any problems?
If the ghosts have access to direct feedback, they should take advantage of it.
Listening in for them solved a lot of hurdles that kept coming up, which helped everyone overall. Plus, it was a great use of the ghosts’ time and abilities during a crucial moment for the business.
The big lesson from “Spies” came from Sam, Jay, and the ghosts learning that they can’t please everyone.
Pete hit it right on the money that Debbie and Tom weren’t going to be honest about their feedback. Trevor, Alberta, Pete, and Flower listening in helped put out some small fires, but it exposed the wave of notes that couldn’t be fixed.
They got the unfiltered truth when they heard everything: the good and the bad.
Sam: Pete says he saw them. He dealt with this all the time back when travel agents were still a thing. Pete: Hurtful.
Sometimes it’s constructive criticism, and other times, it’s petty venting, like when they commented on Sam’s perfume. And “Spies” did an excellent job of showing Sam’s perfectionism getting out of hand and the complaints/demands escalating.
If the ghosts ever decide to listen in on guests in the future, they’ll have to determine what’s the most important thing to tackle. Same with Sam and Jay; they can’t fix everything, and they need to be happy with the experience that comes up.
I’m glad Woodstone Manor got its official 5-star review.
Since Ghosts Season 1, Jay and Sam have worked tirelessly to get the bed and breakfast off the ground. Also, the ghosts finally were won over to support the business and help Jay/Sam.
The Yelp review was a great culmination of all their hard work.
Welcome to the Woodstone B and B!
Sam
Though, the scene that took the cake was Jay defending Sam and calling out Debbie and Tom for their bad behavior. Jay was ready to say what needed to be said!
We love it whenever Jay goes for it and when Sam and Jay have romantic moments. They’ve got good chemistry as a couple, and it shows.
In the case of Isaac and Thorfinn, Isaac should’ve treated his friend better than he did.
New relationships have a bit of growing room, and Isaac didn’t want to ruin things with Nigel. However, Thorfinn has been his friend for centuries. They have a long-standing history that makes them almost family.
Jay: Oh my God, Pete?! Pete: Jay? You can see me?! Gadzukes, Jay, say yes. Jay: I don’t believe it. Pete: I don’t either. Bring it in big fella! [Jay passes through Pete’s ghost form]
Isaac should’ve worded the issues to Thorfinn in a better way.
His comments only made things worse, especially in that tone about blaming Thorfinn. It’s no wonder he moved into the basement with the Cholera ghosts.
Thorfinn is a big strong warrior, but he has a soft side. Isaac hurt his feelings in a big way.
The apology was pretty sweet, all things considered. We can thank the Spice Girls for making it happen. (What can’t they do!)
Isaac needed to be there for his friend, and if he wanted to make the relationship with Nigel work, he needed to be honest with him. They both had to respect Thorfinn’s position and his general fun-loving attitude.
At least Nigel and Thorfinn buried the hatchet and found common ground.
Watching ants move along a path isn’t my type of thing, but whatever works for them. A similar hobby is the first step toward a brand new friendship.
Last Thoughts From Woodstone Manor:
Sam and Jay fixed that termite hole quickly! They got the job done in barely any time before their next guests.
Debbie and Tom, not realizing their Yelp reviews were public, was the perfect dose of karma. If they want to dish out all the negative complaints, they must be brave enough to take it. Guess they weren’t.
Jay seeing ghosts would’ve been an obvious twist. I loved the fakeout of him believing the delivery driver was Pete. It was a touch of a gag that caught us off guard.
What else will Sam have the ghosts spy for her next?
Now, over to you, Ghosts fans!
What did you think of “Spies”?
Did you side with Isaac or Thorfinn in the fight? Will Woodstone Manor get more 5-star reviews? Should Debbie and Tom have just told Sam and Jay the truth?
If you missed the latest episode of Ghosts, you can watch Ghosts online via TV Fanatic. Come back here and share your thoughts in the comments below.
Justin Carreiro is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
I’ve always maintained that a Ferengi-centered sitcom procedural would be a winning formula, and Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 3 Episode 6 proves me right as Quark’s edgy business acumen nearly gets him Gamma-ed by the equally edgy business-minded Karemma.
Meanwhile, Mariner, on her best behavior, is incredibly awkward and hilarious. Like a “wild animal wearing an evening gown” level of awkwardness. Also, “wild animal wearing an evening gown” level of hilarious.
Once again, Lower Decks succeeds in exploring a unifying theme with diverse plotlines. In this case, the message is one of valuing oneself and recognizing how important it is to be true to that. Even if it means stunning all your significant others’ friends into unconsciousness.
The nostalgic value of returning to Deep Space Nine twenty-three years after the series’s finale is immeasurable. Scoring both Nana Visitor and Armin Shimerman as guest voices to reprise their roles of Kira Nerys and Quark, respectively, is a triumph.
And to pick up on post-war sentiments and lingering Bajoran resistance while the Federation moves forward with Gamma Quadrant commerce is incredibly nuanced politicking for a show ostensibly out for laughs.
Depending on how you parse the narrative, there are as many as five conflicts in play in a twenty-six-minute script.
First, Freeman’s sudden promotion (?) from the mere bearer of gifts to lead trade negotiator thrusts our intrepid captain into a role of placation and soothing of bruised egos when the Karemma arrive, intent on finding fault with the Federation’s offers of trade.
Admiral Buenamigo: The Vancouver has been rerouted to the Asparagus System to evacuate a colony being threatened by a brown hole. Captain Freeman: Wait, wait, that’s not even a thing.
That leads us directly into DS9’s legacy conflict between Quark and his pursuit of profit and Kira’s intent to keep things on the station running on the up and up.
Despite her commander rank in Starfleet, Kira’s still battle-born and street-smart when dealing with the likes of Quark. So when he refuses to deal with the Karemma, she’s sensitive to his motives.
Kira: What is wrong with you? Quark: I have principles! Kira: No, you don’t!
And then, of course, Quark and the Karemma form the episode’s highest profile conflict involving tech theft, kidnapping, an EMP grenade, and a dash to the wormhole.
Behind the scenes, we’re treated to Tendi confronting her Orion heritage and learning to take pride in the skills her pirating family trained her in.
Of course, it all comes at the price of putting up with shanty-singing poser Mesk.
I got adopted by humans and everything I know about Orion I learned from holo-novels. Bad ones too. The ones with the boobs on the cover.
Mesk
Since only Rutherford witnessed Tendi’s pirate-ninja alter ego, it might be interesting to see her break out those skills on a team away mission and blow everyone’s mind.
With everyone else tied up in deep, soul-searching, self-actualizing experiences, leaving Boimler to hit a winning streak at the dabo table is pretty brilliant.
Back on the ship, Mariner’s introduction to Jennifer’s sorority… er, friends is a masterclass in demonstrating how much a character values a relationship by showing what they’re willing to give up.
In this case, Mariner gives up her essence — her snark, her sass, her confidence — in order to make a “good impression” on the friends.
Jennifer: Why are you being so polite? This doesn’t sound like you. Mariner: Because I’ve been trying this whole time not to be bossy or mean to your friends. Jennifer: Why? Mariner: Because if they didn’t like me, you’d get mad and then this wouldn’t work out. Jennifer: Beckett, I like that you don’t take sh*t from anyone. Mariner: Really? Jennifer: Yes! I know my friends can be a bit much. I’ve been looking forward to you tearing them a new one. Go, destroy them! Mariner: [Sighs] Thanks, babe.
I’m loving this relationship for Mariner. Suddenly, she not only has someone who gets her, but she also has someone she wants to want to be with her.
And yeah, it’s counter-intuitive to think that being disingenuous at a social gathering is going to impress someone who has fallen for the real you, but who among us hasn’t tried to be the best version of ourselves — i.e., not ourselves — because we don’t think the real us will make the grade?
I’m also fascinated by the idea of a girlfriend sleepover in one of those hallway bunks. How exactly does that work? Is there soundproofing or a divider?
Not that I’m here to discuss the sex lives of Star Trek cartoon characters (especially after the Shaxs and T’Ana overshare on Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 3 Episode 4), but doesn’t Jennifer have quarters? Would sleepovers there just make more sense?
Mariner: Well, I definitely didn’t have ‘Phaser all your friends’ on my bingo card. Jennifer: That’s what I like about us. You keep things unexpected.
Overall, we’re seeing a LOT of character development in our core four this season.
Whether it’s Bold Boimler or Berserker Boimler, our Boim-Boim is growing up. Of course, it’s Jennifer’s friends who have to point this out to Mariner, who has put on some Big Sister blinders when it comes to Ensign Bradford.
Jennifer Friend 1: Hey girl, can we talk Boimler? Mariner: Oh, I know what you’re going to ask. And no, he actually not reverse aging, he just doesn’t get enough vitamins… Jennifer Friend 1: Is he single? Mariner: What? Jennifer Friend 2: Purple hair is so sexy!
Tendi’s stepped up with her Senior Officer training and learned to embrace the parts of her she’s tried to divorce herself from. Of the four, she’s the only non-human, but it’s only when her Orion-ness becomes a focus that we remember she has a dramatically different backstory from the others. More of that, please.
Alpha Ensign Mariner has proven (to herself as much as anyone) that she can toe the line given enough motivation.
From rising to meet Ransom’s most unrealistic expectations to falling into relationship tropes because she’s never cared for someone the way she cares for Jennifer, she’s showing layers of vulnerability I could never have predicted in Season 1.
Mariner: Everyone, shut the f*ck up! Castro: Ugh, you can’t tell us what to do! This is my salon! Mariner: And this is my phaser. Hey, did you know that when you’re unconscious, you actually consume way less oxygen? Castro: So? What does that have to do… [Mariner stuns her with the phaser]
And discovering that much of Rutherford’s growth happened before we ever met him is a genius bit of wraparound storytelling. We still have the mystery of his implant/memory wipe to solve.
For the record, my money’s on Jellico.
This foray to Deep Space Nine ends elegantly, with everyone concluding their adventure with a drink at Quark’s.
Between dinner at Sisko’s Creole Kitchen, the visit to Bozeman, Montana, and this stopover at one of the most historically, politically, and strategically important space stations in the Alpha Quadrant, Season 3 has been a guided tour of some of Trek’s most significant landmarks.
Tacky Cardassian fascist eyesore.
Shaxs
Where would you like them to go next?
Will Shaxs ever even the score with Kira?
Who will be the next juicy guest star to sign onto the Cerritos?
Hit our comments with your wishlist!
Diana Keng is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.
Being a newlywed can be a serious adjustment, and The Conners Season 5 Episode 2 had their two recently married couples experiencing some bumps in the road to marital bliss.
You’d think that after all of the breakups and heartache that Darlene and Ben have put one another through, they’d be thrilled to finally be married.
But it turns out those rings on their fingers haven’t solved their problems.
Ben was frustrated and maybe a little depressed.
I need to be around creativity. You know, I don’t write anymore, and I work at a hardware store all day long. And your Dad went on the other day for 20 minutes about toggle bolts versus anchor bolts, and at one point, I looked over at the rat poison, and I thought, Oh, man, if only I had the guts.
Ben
Running his late father’s hardware store to make a living isn’t Ben’s dream job, and I have sympathy for how that’s wearing him down.
I might have more sympathy if he’d been more empathetic when Darlene faced similar difficulties adjusting to working at the factory.
I should probably let it go, considering Darlene has, but it still bugs me that Ben wasn’t even willing to go away for a long weekend to give Darlene the mental health break even when she pleaded with him.
All Ben wanted was a night out doing something different, and Darlene agreed until things took a turn she hadn’t expected.
Ben: Oh, come on. Loosen up. It’ll be hilariously bad, and everyone will have a good laugh. Darlene: Oh, now that I know I’m going to be humiliated, I’d love to stay. Ben: I’m sorry it’s not as exciting as checking your jitterbug for messages and falling asleep to Blue Bloods. Darlene: Oh, so I’m old now. Ben: You’re becoming your father. Darlene: No, my father never would have allowed himself to be dragged here. Ben: You said you wanted to make me happy. Darlene: Well, that was a mistake I’ll never be making again. You know what? I’m done going out altogether.
To Ben, Darlene just needed to loosen up because he was having fun. But as someone who would rather hide under my seat than be a part of that type of audience participation, I felt Darlene’s pain.
You’d think after all the time they’ve known one another, Ben would know how much Darlene would dread something like that. And even when she was overwhelmingly uncomfortable, he tried to push her into it. That felt mean.
Perhaps we’re supposed to find it comforting that marriage hasn’t changed Darlene and Ben’s fights, but I find it disheartening.
Darlene did admit that Ben had a point. She was falling into well-worn patterns that were similar to her father’s. But when Darlene realized that, she owned up to it.
Look, there’s no shame in that. You have a family. You work hard, and eventually, your couch becomes your big cushiony friend that really gets you.
Dan
What bugs me about Ben and Darlene is that when Darlene recognizes she’s in the wrong, she apologizes and tries to make things right.
Here, she said she was sorry for ruining Ben’s night and formulated a plan that could give Ben the outings he craved while not pulling Darlene so far out of her comfort zone that she’d be miserable.
But I never heard Ben apologize for pushing Darlene to do something that made her feel humiliated. That feels like a problem.
I’m sure that renovating the house and still not having their own place to live is adding to the stress of being newly married. And let’s face it, Darlene and Ben got back together after a lengthy breakup and almost immediately walked down the aisle.
It made for great TV, but they probably should have taken a beat or two before tying the knot, or even better, go for some couples therapy so they don’t continually repeat the same old, destructive patterns.
Jackie and Neville had an entirely different set of problems, and who would have guessed that they’d stem from Neville’s insecurities and not Jackie’s?
Having Neville bring home half a petting zoo was a great sight gag, especially when the goat walked up to get a better look at the TV.
Poor Neville thought he was too dull to keep Jackie interested.
Neville: All this keeps life pretty interesting, doesn’t it? Jackie: Interesting is a puppy. This is a documentary that ends with the neighbors going, Well, we saw that coming.
It’s a nice change that in this relationship, Jackie can be the strong, rational one from time to time.
I was proud of Jackie when she talked to Neville. She was kind but firm. Having all of those animals in the house wasn’t working for her, and it certainly wasn’t giving them more alone time the way Neville claimed it would.
Thankfully, Neville was honest about his fears, and their relationship took a big step forward.
Where the animals brought the humorous element to this story, Neville and Jackie brought the affection, which made it all the sweeter.
This episode focused on the two newlyweds, but it left me wondering about Louise.
I know Katey Sagal is only a recurring cast member so she won’t be in every installment, but we’re only two episodes in, and I miss her. Dan needs her back to get him up off that couch.
Plus, will Louise be okay with Harris sticking around? Have they even had that discussion yet?
And how long will it be before Darlene’s house is finished? I can’t imagine what it will be like to have everyone but Dan and Louise out of the Conner house, but I hope we get to experience it soon.
So what did you think, TV Fanatics?
Am I being too hard on Ben or was he being too hard on Darlene? Do I need to let go of their past and move on, or should I continue to call out Ben and Darlene’s patterns?
Were you happy that Jackie got to be the person who confronted the problems in their relationship and helped solve them?
And do you miss Louise as much as I do?
Hit that big, blue, SHOW COMMENTS button below to share your thoughts, then check back in for our review of The Conners Season 2.
The promotional train for Dahmer may have started late, but the lack of publicity for the series has seemingly resulted in more interest.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story beat Netflix records in its first week on the streaming service.
After just five days available, it secured 196.2 million hours of viewership, allowing it to hit the #1 spot in several countries.
The numbers make Dahmer the highest first week of viewership for a series debut on Netflix.
Granted, the numbers were probably helped by the fact that the series dropped on a Wednesday instead of a Friday.
We’ll have more concrete numbers when the show has been available for longer.
The series narrowly beat Inventing Anna, which netted 195.97 million hours viewed.
Squid Game, which became the streamer’s most-watched show ever, kicked off with just over 63 million hours viewed.
The series is headlined by Evan Peters (American Horror Story), in a role that reunites the star with Ryan Murphy.
“Between 1978 and 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer gruesomely took the lives of seventeen innocent victims. DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a series that exposes these unconscionable crimes, centered around the underserved victims and their communities impacted by the systemic racism and institutional failures of the police that allowed one of America’s most notorious serial killers to continue his murderous spree in plain sight for over a decade,” the logline reads.
In addition to Peters, the cast includes Richard Jenkins (Lionel Dahmer), Molly Ringwald (Shari Dahmer), Michael Learned (Catherine Dahmer), and Niecy Nash (Glenda Cleveland).
The expansive list of guest stars includes Penelope Ann Miller (Joyce Dahmer), Michael Beach (Detective Murphy), Colby French (Detective Kennedy), Shaun J. Brown (Tracy Edwards), Mac Brandt (Officer Rauth), Grant Harvey (Officer Mueller), Matthew Alan (Officer Gabrish), and Scott Michael Morgan (Officer Balcerzak).
Josh Braaten (Young Lionel Dahmer), Savannah Brown (Young Joyce Dahmer), Nick A. Fisher (Young Jeffrey Dahmer), Cameron Cowperthwaite (Steven Hicks), Vince Hill-Bedford (Steven Tuomi), Blake Cooper Griffin (Charles), Matt Cordova (Detective Rauss), and Rodney Burford (Tony Hughes) also star.
While the acting has had rave reviews, the series has had its fair share of criticism since its launch.
Many have questioned whether another retelling of this harrowing tale was necessary.
What are your thoughts on the numbers?
Hit the comments below.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
