Once Upon a Time: Life in Pieces "Four Short Fairy Tales"

From lying about a rat in the house to battling for partnership at a law firm, these are just some of the stories in this episode of Life In Pieces.
The first thing 
"Four Short Fairy Tales" is just what it is with the Short family characters dealing with life moments from a fairy tale perspective, and it works. Tim buying (for his efforts to stay healthy by buying a wired wig) gets the family pretending to like it but not. Jen deals with the work-life in a Cinderella style with evil co-workers, thinking that mommy life takes away from Jen's work life. After staying at work and finishing up paperwork, Jen enjoys the night with her boss and co-workers. The next day,y Jen's co-workers try to take credit for the work she did but prove that she did it because of the breast milk stain that was left on the paper.   

Joan deals with her family through a retirement party, but she gets saved by a rat in the house. After Oscar comes and receives the rat, Joan still uses the rat as an excuse for not having the retirement party. She tells Oscar about it and comes to terms with John, but when she sees a real rat across the room, John doesn't believe her.

Meanwhile, Matt and Greg tried to build a playhouse for their kids that their dad took down twice. After realizing that John didn't make his boys builders, he took the time to create the final and perfect playhouse out of bricks but also have its water source.

This episode was another hilarious one, with many great moments, from Tim's new hair and getting the only support from Colleen. Jen fighting for that partnership in the style of Cinderella was good and tied with Joan's crying rat in the house as the best story in the episode. And the father and sons of John, Greg, and Matt building a playhouse for the kids was perfect. Strong writing and good character development, mainly with Jen and Joan, I think. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch Life In Pieces on Thursdays at 9:30/8:30 on CBS.

Family Bonding: Life In Pieces "Recovery Discipline Psycho Labor"/"Lost Math Art Glam"

From bonding while walking to dealing with labor during a birthday party and trying to take a family photo. Here's a recap of the last episode of Life In Pieces.

"Recovery Discipline Psycho Labor"

Still, in their recovery from their health, Tim gets Joan to walk with him, but as they walk, they bump into a skeet ball arcade. As soon as they play a game, they get hooked every time they go for their walks. But a few days later, they see that the game has been picked. You,p, and Tim killed the meaning of walking with Joan. That ended when Joan came back the next day and got Tim to join her to walk with her to an air hockey game. 

Matt and Colleen have difficulty with their new adoptive son, whom Dougie influences. They soon learn from Heather that being a parent doesn't mean being their child's best friend. After Dougie showed the kid a video of an autopsy of an alien, the kid went to Matt and Colleen because he couldn't sleep, probably due to the autopsy he watched. After getting into bed with them, all seemed fine for Matt and Colleen.

John befriends the creepy janitor at school. Sophia worries that this could be a problem until she sees that her pop pop is depressed and that he's not his friend anymore. Soon, Sophia confronts the janitor and learns he's not so bad and has a heart. But when she shows him off to her classmates, they get freaked out. 

Trying to celebrate Lark's birthday a few weeks before the baby is due, it turns out the baby is ready to come. Jen tries to make it through with the party as Greg tries to rush along as quickly as possible. But they can't make it as Jen's water breaks, and she and Greg tell Lark that her baby sister is coming and tells her that she will have some gifts when she meets her new sister. Soon, they walk out while Matt and Colleen walk in late, forgetting Lark's heritage. 

"Recovery Discipline Psycho Labor" was an excellent episode. The Tim and Jona story was good, with good character development, and watching these two bond together was just hilarious and heartwarming. Matt and Colleen's story was good, as it was fantastic to see the return of Dougie once again. It's funny watching the kid bond with Dougie as Matt and Colleen try to be good parents to both of them. The Sophia story wasn't as strong as the previous one, but it was okay and probably the weakest storyline in the episode. But the Jen and Greg story brought home the funny as they tried to make Lark's birthday the best, but the baby had plans. I think it was Zoe Lister-Jones' best performance so far this season. 

Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10. 

"Lost Math Art Glam" 

As Greg brings Lark to meet her new baby sister, Lark goes on an adventure in the hospital. Greg goes crazy searching for her, thinking that maybe she got on the right floor to see Jen, but when Heather learns what happened, she gets Greg to search. After bumping into a singing teddy gram to a child with the flu, Greg finally finds Lark and brings her to meet her sister, who she loves. But when Greg and Jen take the moment, Heather appears so happy that Lark is okay, giving Jen the idea that Greg lost Lark, but she learns that it happened when a Code Adam was being called on the intercom. 

When Sophia is having a hard time with her math homework, Heather and the family try to figure it out, but with it being the new math that it is, it's not at all as easy as it once was. After grabbing Tim, Jen, Greg, and even Colleen to help, Heather was determined to get this work done. She eventually learned from Sam, who paid and let her go to the new rave. 

Matt gives John an artwork from his new grandson and places it on the fridge. But Matt sees that John accepts his son's artwork and gets him to bond with him. But when Matt comes over to check in, he learns that John took him to the golf course but learns even more than his son doesn't like art but rocks. There's a solid case to make as the kid picks up rocks, talks to them, and kisses them. Soon, Matt gets John to join an art class with Heather but learns that he must put his alcohol in a water bottle and not in a wine glass. 

Colleen wants to do a family portrait, but Joan does not want one. She fears how she looks in photos and that it all began in school. Colleen finally gets her to do one after telling her she can fix her appearance, but that doesn't go well with the rest of the family, including Lark. Colleen and Jen get Joan to sit down at the family table, and as she holds the new baby, they finally get the family photo, even though she doesn't smile very well. She still got it!

"Lost Math Art Glam" was an excellent and robust episode. From Greg losing Lark in the hospital to Heather and their family, learning new math was hilarious and hits close-to-home moments with more on the new math. Even the Family Photo was the icing on the episode cake with good character development with Joan and Colleen. The Matt and John story was good and had some moments but didn't follow through, I thought. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

You can catch Life In Pieces on Thursdays at 9:30/8:30 on CBS.

This Is Us "Ava Maria" Season 3 Premiere Press Release/Clips/ Photos

Here's a look into the season premiere of This Is Us titled "Ava Maria."

"Ava Maria"

Season Premiere: When celebrating their 38th birthday, Randall, Kate and Kevin find themselves on new paths.


Photos: 

Sneak Peak: 

You can catch the season premiere of This Is Us, Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 9/8c on NBC.

Take a Deep Breathe: This Is Us "The Wedding" Season Finale

The season finale of This Is Us, left us grabbing tissues and not to mention some surprises into what happens in the next season.

It's Kate and Toby's wedding and things were looking up til Kate was missing her something old: her dad's old Dayton shirt. With Kevin and Randall handing the wedding stuff, they look for something old that belongs to Jack. But Kate goes on herself a journey not only to find something that connected her with her dad, from the ice cream shop to the stump in the woods where they talked. This going while she talked to Rebecca about these dreams (flashbacks) of the wedding but it was Rebecca and Jack's renewing their vows with everyone there, except for Toby. What could that mean? That Toby isn't the one? He won't live as long as Jack?

In the meantime, Randall and Beth try to handle with the Deja situation as she's showing no interest of going to the wedding. As Beth reconnects with her cousin, her cousin talked with Deja of her experience with her mother leaving her. Thing were going good until Toby's mother makes a comment that she looked like Randall and after that it was Deja pulling a scene from Beyonce's Lemonade video.

With where this season took these characters, it felt that they've come to acceptance of their father's death and who they are as Kevin and Randall making a great toast to Kate and Toby. But as the episode comes to an end, we see flash forward of Randall with Tess asking if she's ready to see her (who? Beth? Deja?), Kate walking into the bedroom of Toby, who doesn't look too good, in bed, and Kevin on a plane looking at a photo of his dad and uncle from Vietnam along with Beth's cousin.

I'd very much enjoyed this episode like every other episode this season. This seemed like a bit of that cherry on top with the stomach for wanting more when finished. I thought the writing was strong and the performances from the cast was amazing. I think that this was Chrissy Metz's best episode performance. Not to mention Chris Sullivan, who's scene with Toby's parents was so good as he stand up to Kate after they didn't think she was the right person for him. I literally couldn't get enough of Kevin and Randall's scenes in this episode from trying to find something old for Kate to trying to find Kate. Overall, I give this episode a 9.5/10 also the season a 10/10.


You can catch This Is Us streaming on the NBC app and Hulu. And catch Season 3 this fall on NBC.

The Show to Watch: Champions "Pilot" Series Premiere

The latest NBC comedy series, Champions premiered last Thursday and it's with all strides as the best new comedy of the season.

Created by Charlie Grandy and Mandy Kaling, the pilot opens up as Vince, a gym owner in Brooklyn, NY along with his brother, Matthew, is about to give up his life for a new one in Florida. But when Priya, an ex high school girlfriend, comes by with a surprise that he has a 15 year old son, Michael, who needs to find a place to stay during the audition process at the Academy of Arts.

After taking him in, things don't go that well when Michael feels that Vince doesn't want him around and that he spilled the beans about selling the gym in front of his brother. Vince comes to terms, finds Michael and gives him the courage at his audition, even though he was a half hour late. When the Academy accepts Michael and tells Vince that there's a place for Michael to stay, he tells them that Michael will be staying with him, but will keep the address in mind for later.

I'm in love with Champions. It's one of the best new shows on the season. The pilot was well written and perfectly told of about these characters of who they are, what their conflict is and their triumph of over coming with inspiration and humor. The cast is amazing from Anders Holm and Andy Favreau, Fortune Feimster and Mindy Kaling, but it's J.J. Totah who shines as the star of the show. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch Champions Thursdays at 9:30/8:30c on NBC.

All in The Family: This Is Us "This Big, Amazing, Beautiful Life"

This week's episode was another emotionally powerful episode of a child's view from birth to where she is now.

"This Big, Amazing, Beautiful Life" was written as a beautiful and powerful view point of one child of Deja from birth, growing up with a mother and grandmother and dealing with the foster care system to even meeting with the Randall's family. Trying to keep hope that her mother, Shauna, would get better and stay on the right track. But when Shauna gets Deja back and comes home along with her new friend that happen to cause more trouble as time goes on that would leave her do that gun charges that really wasn't her gun at all.

You see where she picks up the attitude just a bit when she first comes into Randall's home from a friend in the foster system. But not to mention took one advice by heart that if she's in a home with a bed, she hangs on to it tightly.

As the episode progress, we come back to the present after Randall and Beth found Deja and Shauna sleeping in their car. They take them in, fixed them dinner and watched a movie along, but as all of this was happening Shauna was watching Deja on how happy she was being around Randall's family as if she belongs here. Once Deja goes to her room, Shauna talks with Beth about her life and daughter and decided that it was best for her to stay here and her to go leaving Deja in Randall and Beth's hands.

I thought this episode was so beautifully written and the performance from Lyric Ross as Deja was amazingly and emotionally engaging. I thought that the during certain scenes like the births and such was so interesting and in a way that Deja is like a real part of the Pearsons. The final scene with Shauna leaving was tear-jerking moment of the episode, along with many others. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch the season finale of This Is Us next Tuesday at 9/8c followed by the series premiere of Rise at 10/9c on NBC.

Parson No Fly Zone This Is Us "The Fifth Wheel"

"This Is Us" returns from a it's holiday hiatus and returns with one of the most overwhelming emotional episodes of the season. But just one thing: Stay away from the Parson's No Fly Zone.

After being arrested and placed in a rehab center, Kevin and the family (mainly Kate, Rebecca and Randall)  talked into a therapy session about Kevin's addiction, where true feelings come out. Kevin comes out to Rebecca of how she favors Randall while Jack favors Kate growing up. Meanwhile, Miguel, Beth and Toby have their therapy session about living with the Parsons.

"The Fifth Wheel" comes in strong from start to finish with excellent writing. If you are have been watching this season, you could instantly understand the meaning of the title for the episode. The performances from the cast from Justin Hartley and Mandy Moore was outstanding with full emotional driven. Not to mention that Brown and Metz gave a great performance to, mostly coming during the therapy session that really stood out from the episode.

I'd very much enjoyed this episode from start to finished. The performances from Hartley and Moore deserve award nominations for this episode, with their performance from the therapy session to the end of the episode of why Kevin really doesn't get the love or extra attention that Kate and Randall gotten. The writing was outstanding that should be considered for award consideration.

Overall, I give this episode a 9.5/10.

You can catch This Is Us Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

This Is Us "The 20's"/"The Most Disappointed Man"

"The 20's"

"The 20's" was a fun and emotional episode as well. Watching a lot of flashbacks of the ten year olds of Big Three trick or treating to learning about a death and then flashing forward to their twenties. Kevin, in his twenties, tries to steal a role from a roommate, Randall and Beth are soon to have a baby and a get a surprise for the first time parents.

Meanwhile, Rebecca, who signs up for Facebook, posts her first granddaughter photo, but gets a message from an old friend. Miguel messages her to see how she's been doing in the last eight years, probably since Jack's death or so.

Overall, I give this episode a 8.5/10.

"The Most Disappointed Man"

Just as Jack and Rebecca are about to adopted Randall, the judge somehow doesn't support it. But after Rebecca gives a convincing speech, the judges grants them the right to adoption. William, even though has been clean, pleads guilty on drug charges but when the judge visits him in jail, he offers to reduce his sentence and to get some help. But in return, William must keep the judge's promise, for which he did, until he gets news about his cancer diagnosis.

Randall takes Deja to visit her mother in prison, but the mother declines the visit. But when Randall visits, the mother tells him that she plans to take her daughter back.

While that was going on, Kevin and Sophie's relationship takes another dive and continues to drink and take abuse the pain meds again. And Toby and Kate tells Kevin about their pregnancy announcement and was consider to get married at city hall but decided to have a big one instead.

"The Most Disappointed Man" was another amazing episode that gripped with emotional storytelling. The performances from Mandy Moore and Ron Cephas Jones steal this episode by far from the other cast members, who also did an amazing job. The writing was strong. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch This Is Us Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

Fresh Off The Boat "Four Funerals and a Wedding"

Think that you couldn't be surprised at a funeral, think again.

When one of Jessica's aunts has passed away, her and the Huang family travel to Houston for the funeral. While there the boys meet for the first time Jessica's father. Soon, Louis decides to make it his mission to get Jessica and her father closer. When another aunt passed, Louis tries to get Jessica to sit with her father but failed. But when the next aunt, who had to wait til the others were dead, gets married that's when Louis tries to get them closer, but that failed and he comes clean and was misunderstood about what Jessica meant when she was on the phone.

Meanwhile, Evan has made a decision on who will be the executor of his will. When he decides it'll be Eddie, it turns into who really deserves to be Evan's executor between Eddie and Emery. As much as this story in the episode was funny at times, it really didn't get me laughing a lot like Jessica, Louis and Jessica's father story.

"Four Funerals and a Wedding" was a good episode, most of it coming from Jessica and Louis part of the episode. It was funny and memorable with how much Louis tries to get Jessica and her father close. And learning that he didn't quite has the father that she had growing up. Overall, I give this episode a 8/10.

You can catch Fresh Off the Boat Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.