Take a Chance: This Is Us "Flip a Coin"

Sometimes the way to face fear is to flip a coin and go for it.

"Flip a Coin" was another well written and well-performed episode so far this season. The episode deals with our characters dealing with issues whether it's Kate and Toby trying to figure out if Jack is ready for baby music class, Kevin dealing with the cancellation of The Manny; also trying to help Cassidey, who's dealing with a possible divorce with her husband, and Nicky, who's mobile home is leaking again.

We jump to see when Randall and Rebecca first met Beth's mother at college. While she may not have thought that Randall was strong enough for Beth, he has proven her wrong. Even more when she sees how he helps with the family during Beth's dance class crises. Rebecca learns a bit from Beth's mother about moving on and after dancing with Kate decides to move out of the depressing apartment.

This was just another good and powerful episode. The ensemble cast gives a solid performance. It was moving and even at times had those good awkward moments as well that you know felt real. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

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

For Love and Truth: All Rise "Devotees in the Courthouse of Love"

Well, last night's episode of "All Rise" was a doozy.

"Devotees in the Courthouse of Love" was a very good and unique type of episode that talked about love, truth, and having fun. Judge Carmichael not only deals with a trial of a nun being accused of stolen money from the church; but for Emily who had to choose between going with a lie or the truth. Callan deals with another round with a friendly foe, Amy, during the trial of a woman who was extortion from her many dates at restaurants. 

I mention love and boy there was plenty of love as well. Not only was Emily dealing with her trial but dealing with how to lose her engagement ring that belonged to her ex's mother. Callan and Amy show signs that maybe they should be together after their trial. This all happens on a day where weddings were in the air at the courthouse; even Carmichael help marry quickly to be parents. But also Judge Lisa Benner, who doesn't show up till near the end, was dealing with a personal issue.

I found this episode very good and so well performed from this ensemble cast. The stories were so solid and unique. Carmichael's story was fun; mainly when she's trying to sneak out to get a muffin and learn how much it costs to be in court. Emily not only deals with her trial; but dealing with trying to get her wedding ring off so she could start fresh with Watkins. The Callan and Amy story was good; even making me think that these two are really meant to be as a couple. And this is probably the first episode that I've enjoyed Marg Helgenberger; as her character deals with a personal issue that connects with the many weddings at the courthouse.

Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch All Rise Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.

Chicago Med "Got a Friend in Me" Episode Preview

After last week's epic Crossover event, here's a preview of this week's new episode of Chicago Med titled, "Got a Friend in Me."

"Got a Friend in Me"

Dr. Choi and Dr. Marcel don't see eye-to-eye over the treatment o a patient's chronic pain; while rumors start to circulate about Maggie. Dr. Manning works to help a young boy, but her treatment suggestions are challenged by the parents who believe in only using holistic remedies.

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Promo:

Could Dr. Manning go too far this time? I don't know about you, but I feel that this promo is making Natalie look like she's losing it. I think Maggie will come forward to her colleagues and friends about her condition. I can't wait for this week's new episode.

You can catch Chicago Med Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

Chicago Fire "Buckle Up" Episode Preview

Here's a preview of this Wednesday's episode of Chicago Fire titled, "Buckle Up."

"Buckle Up"

While Kidd must prove herself at the National Firefighter Leadership Conference; the rest of the Firehouse 51 is called to two early similar car wrecks. Mouch tries to keep everyone in the firehouse informed by starting a newsletter, but things quickly get out of hand. Cruz deals with heartbreak.

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Promo:

After coming off a super incredible crossover event, I can't wait to see where we left off with Kidd going to the Firefighters conference. It just seems from the idea that Mouch wants to do a newsletter that would probably get out of hand with everyone who wants to have their input. But with the mystery/crime of the week type of story, I think we must see how Cruz is dealing with the split from Chloe.

You can catch Chicago Fire Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

Who's Who?: The Good Place "Chapter 43: Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy"

Could the Bad Place been playing Eleanor and gang this whole time? Here's a recap!

As Eleanor's plan to get the group closer with a fun activity of magic Pictionary; it turned south with Chidi's Frankenstein of a house monster; Eleanor calls it a night and tries to think of more ideas. But Michael believes that they should take a break and have a slumber party. That is until they get a notification that someone is coming, which turns to be Glen from the Bad Place.

Thinking that Shawn is about to ruin their experiment once again; turns out that Glen wants to inform Eleanor that Michael isn't really Michael that it's Vicky in a Michael suit. This becomes the whole dilemma and with twists.

Eleanor, Tahanui, and Jason try to figure out who's telling the truth. Even trying to get Michael to take off his suit; which he can't or else it would ruin the experiment, as a 6,000 fire squid with lots of tentacles, teeth and juice...lots and lots of juice.

Eleanor asks Janet to make a lie detector to prove who's telling the truth and when using it; it blew up Glen. After picking up all of Glen; Michael decides to blow himself up since Eleanor and them don't believe him. And just when he's about ready, Jason handcuffs Janet and appears to be Bad Janet. Jason tells them how he figured it out; only the real Janet would correct Jason that she's not a girl, Bad Janet didn't do that. The next day Michael and Jason went to go get their Janet back while Eleanor and Tahauni take control of The Good Place for a while.

"Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy" was a very good episode; even though maybe most of the viewers and fans had already new about this; I surely didn't think about it. But I think we're all agreed that Manny Jacinto probably gave his best performance while Jason tries to play to Glen's story; it's near the end when he talks about Shawn that stole the whole episode. Good writing and story plot and not to mention the performances from the cast were very good too. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch The Good Place Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.

Thrill Ride of the Year: One Chicago Crossover "Infection"

Last night's One Chicago Crossover event was intense and thrilling in that it felt like the Super Bowl of all Crossover events. Here's a recap!

The three-hour crossover event started like any other day as the gang from Fire, Med, and PD had a tailgating party outside of Solider Stadium. But soon, they notice a mysterious man drawing a big crowd and collapse; when they check on him, they see his leg has been infected. What turns into a baffling mystery turns into a horror as not only the guy from the game but four more people (including a mother and her child) showing the same symptoms of the flesh-eating bacteria.

As soon as Fire, Med, and PD work, an arson occurs at the University of Chicago bio-lab. Voight and the team take a foot on the case, and soon Hailey finds the next victim but also has contact with the victim with her blood on her. As Hailey is in quarantine along with everyone from that building as its placement zero, Will and a former colleague work with the scientist from the university laboratory to find a cure for this disease. If that wasn't enough, Goodwin is getting killed by the press as they're just trying to put fear into the news, while those in quarantine escape because they don't want to be there.

But PD gets their first lead, a man posing as an exterminator spraying bug spray around that apartment, and Ruzek and Burgess find their suspect, who just so happens to be working with Will at Med. Will spots the scientist destroying their work for a cure and attacks Will and leaves. As PD goes on the hunt, Chicago has been taking their own hands with their fears from the internet, including attacking a local favorite restaurant. 

As the suspect plays with PD, Voight turns the tables and searches history on the guy going six months, which leads to a place at the docks. Ruzek spots a map of the following location, the Octoberfest parade route, but nothing happens. It wasn't until Burgess and Ruzek found a pattern that BRT Health Corp. decided to cut the suspect's funding and planned to be at the board meeting scheduled for that day.

As Fire and PD get there, Halstead comes with the cure; Jay locates the suspect with hostages, some infected with the disease. As Jay talks with him, Hailey tries to get a shot from across the building, but nothing. Jay takes a risk by cutting his arm to place the bacteria, but Voight has other plans. Hailey takes a distraction shot, and Voight comes in, shooting the suspect dead. As all calms down, life returns to being expected in Chicago.

To note: During the episode, Cruz gets awkward with Chloe, and when Brett and Mouch demand answers from him, he tells them that he will pop the question. But it seems that Chloe had other plans as she calls their relationship off. Also, as the episode ends, we see Ruzek asking Burgess if she would like to go with him; she does.

"Infection" was the best crossover event since the Fire and PD began seven years ago. I thought they couldn't have topped the last couple, but they sure have. While watching the first 30 minutes of the first episode, it felt like an hour and a half with so much to take in. There were moments of fear, like when Burgess looked at the mother in the van, who was still alive with the infection.

The performance of the cast was excellent; they did a fabulous job. There might be technical issues, like hearing Jesse Spencer's authentic voice when throwing the football, but it wasn't a whole letdown. There were emotional moments with intense thrills, too, from Hailey bonding with Amanda to even Trudy telling CPD officers what was at stake. I thought I knew what television high was, but after this crossover event, I know now what it feels like—strong writing and story plot. Overall, I give this episode event a 10/10.

You can catch Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD on Wednesdays beginning at 8/7c on NBC.

Welcome to the Unit: Chicago PD "Assets"/"Familia"

"Assets" 

When an undercover job goes wrong, will the Intelligence Unit suffer? Here's a recap!

When the Intelligence Unit goes undercover to take down the Robin Hood of drug dealers, Atwater tries to play the game to get to meet Darius Walker. After a couple of bumpy roads, he finally meets, but Halstead and Upton get a call of a shooting, which leads to a couple of members of Walker's dead when they look into the cameras that capture an automobile leaving the scene.

The next day, as Atwater awaits Walker, the car shows up, and when he sees who it sees, it just so happens to be the bartender at Walker's bar. So Atwater and Halstead make a deal with her and her partner, but what the Intelligence Unit doesn't know is that they are undercover cops, too. And so the two groups work together; Atwater meets Vanessa Rajos, a rookie cop on the team. 

Vanessa agrees to place a wire in Walker's office, even if she does get caught by Walker. The team learns there will be a drop-off in two different spots; one is for a college student delivering baked goods to people who can't afford them. The other was where the drug droop-drop-own place, and they took down Walker and his associates.

But Atwater and the Intelligence Unit find out that Walker isn't really what they all thought he was as he explains that he might be Robin Hood, but it's the other way around. He takes from the weak and gives it to the strongest as it goes to those who can do good in the future, and Walker gets a deal with the CPD to keep what he's doing.

Also, Ruzek is having the most challenging time adjusting to life, not being a cop. He even tries to help take down someone that was selling a product. Both Trudy and Voight are worried, and he tries to work things out with the ASA. There was a plea deal, but Ruzek turned it down. But Voight got one even better for him, asked the acting intern chief, and got Ruzek his badge and gun back.

"Assets" was a good episode with a fine story and character development. Michael Beach, as Walker, gave a veteran excellent performance. Ruzek had a nice, solid story and good character development to see how he suffers from waiting to know what will happen to him next. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

"Familia"

Rojas' first day in the Intelligence Unit didn't go well; could she prove the team wrong and stay? Here's a recap!

It's Rojas' first day in the Intelligence Unit, and after a first-day run with Trudy, Rojas and Atwater spot someone screaming for help. As they chase, Rojas gets close to the suspects, but with one driving, she chases the other on foot, but by the time she catches him, he dies with wounds. Voight isn't too pleased, and they look into what turns out to be drug smuggling.

They interview the victim, Rub. She doesn't give a whole lot, but when they see her again, they find the dead outside her apartment. Her roommate Karla works alongside Wity at a restaurant owned by Alexa Rivera, who uses her girls to smuggle drugs with drug dealers. But when Karla learns that Alexa had Ruby killed, she helps the Intelligence Unit to get the confession, but instead, it turns into a standoff that ends with Karla stabbing Alexa, killing her.

After that, Voight sees how Rojas does, and after getting a report from Upton, who was partnered with her, she gives him the okay. Upton tells Rojas that she has to work together with this unit as a family but also that she got the job and a new roommate.

"Familia" was an excellent episode from start to finish. Lisseth Chavez was perfect as Vanessa Rojas in this first full episode. Also, Lisa Vidal as Alexa Rivera was amazing, too. Good story and character development. I very much enjoyed this episode. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

You can catch Chicago PD in an epic three-hour #OneChicagoCrossover event on Wednesday, Oct. 16th at 8/7c on NBC.