Help! This Is Us "So Long, Marianne" Fall Finale

It's another Thanksgiving episode with the Pearsons, you know there will be a lot of cry time in this episode. Here's a recap!

It's Thanksgiving and as the Pearson family prepares for their holiday tradition; Deja and her mother reunited, but with how well Deja's mother has been with work and hanging out with friends it upsets Deja to the point that why couldn't she had been like that with her. But the upside she forgave and enjoyed her mother's presence.

Toby gets a truth bomb about baby Jack's first solid food (for which I have no clue why tell him) that didn't go so well. Even though that upset Toby, Kate was mainly upset about how Toby has changed since doing CrossFit classes. After talking to Beth about it, she was going to tell him how she feels; but instead wished him happy Thanksgiving and proceed on but reads a text message from what seems to be a lady in Toby's class. Uh Oh!
Randall takes Anne and Nicky on a road trip to the old house to get the Pearson Family Thanksgiving traditions and while getting it; there happens to be a collection of CDs. One of the music playings happens to be a song called "So Long, Marianne" that Nicky got emotional; because it brought memories back to when he and Jack celebrated Thanksgiving together. As they got back Nicky had Randall make a stop to get some stuff to make a shrimp plate; that is now added to the family tradition, which a grownup baby Jack displays for his family Thanksgiving.

Kevin helps with Tess' problem of how to come out in public. As they went for a Thanksgiving pre snack; they stopped at a fast food joint and he advises her to use the drive-thru intercom to come out and once she did it was all good that even she posted her celebrity crush; which got a ton of likes. Even after Nicky's speech, he tells Kevin that it's time for him to move back and if they needed each other that they would call. Kevin was thinking of living in a smaller environment.

I know that we all be worried about since the last episode is about Rebecca. While Randall tries to apologize to her for his concern. She decides to go out for a walk to see a movie, but as we see her go out it turns out to be a flashback to what's to come in the nine months. We see her lose her way around the town, forgot her phone, and couldn't find her credit card. She then ended up being dropped off at the cabin by police; where we see Kevin, Kate, and Miguel celebrating their 40th birthday, without Randall due to a fight.

But when we come back to the present time; we see Rebecca back at Randall's house with a bake good and tells him that when she went to see a movie she couldn't remember what movie she was seeing during a trailer for Cats. But she admits to him that she needs to see someone.

"So Long, Marianne" was such an emotionally powerful episode; that really plays to your heartstrings like all of the holiday episodes from this series. This one really hit hard with me due to the fact that I've seen how people are with either Alzheimer's and dementia due to seeing my mother take care of patients at nursing homes and me being a homecare aide that we have to learn the signs of these diseases. I think we're going to see Mandy Moore give some of the best performance this season and beyond because after the fall finale I thought she really played the character so well. Also, I thought that Griffin Dunne gives another strong performance as well. This episode was not only written well but had so much strong character development that it was done so well. Overall, I give this episode a 9.5/10.

You can catch This Is Us returns on Tuesday, Jan. 14th at 9/8c on NBC.

For Love and Feelings: This Is Us "The Club"/"The Dinner and The Date"/"Sorry"

"The Club"

"The Club" was such a good episode from beginning to finish as it dives into the relationship of fathers and sons; but also relationships that ended with a not so much of a twist. After learning about Randall's new teacher that he admires, Jack tries to bond with him even more. Even Jack tries to bond with Randall as if it's just like when he was at the golf course with Rebecca's father but it's not. While Randall tries to get one of his bills passed; he offers a couple of councilmen to a game of golf, but while he's not so good, he learns enough to win their respect.

Toby feels unloved after the birth of their son and tries to get Kate out on a date night. But during their time together at a fancy hotel, things don't go so well and ended up watching TCM. As they call it a night, they return home and found their spark before their son returns home. Kevin tries to find a way to kill time after online stalking his ex-girlfriend, while at the gym he and Cassidy connect well and even picked a date with one of the employees. Kevins takes Donna out for lunch and while they headed back to his place, Cassidy is there. The two talk and we learn later that she didn't leave like we thought she did but instead slept with Kevin.

As I said this was a good episode, so funny moments and memorable moments. There was some good solid character development with Randall, Jack, and Toby. And the writing was solid too. Overall I give this episode an 8/10.

"The Dinner and The Date" 

They could have called this episode two dinners and a date.
After Jack invited Randall's teacher for dinner at his house, he soon becomes jealous of the two's relationship. But after a talk with Rebecca and soon Randall's teacher, Jack comes to terms and connects with Randall with a book that he is reading.

Meanwhile, after skipping one day of school, Deja pushes the limit to Beth and Randall as she spent the day with Malik. The families agreed to dinner and while it might not be the best first dinner at first; it got better as Deja comes clean about what really happened and both parents decide that they will be supervised when together at their house.

"The Dinner and the Date" was probably the best episode of the fall season so far. I just love Asante Blackk in this episode as he performed the hell out of his character Malik. I think that he'll get nominated for awards. While the performances from the rest of the cast were strong, the writing was as too. Overall, I give this episode a 9.5/10.

 

 

"Sorry"

This episode is a precursor to what's to come.
Kevin is broken to what had happened in the previous episode, going to a bar and picking up a fight. Nicky and Cassidy pick him up and while it's a big day for Nicky, Kevin forgot and learned an upside. When Nicky tells the judge why he isn't sorry for what he had done; it's because if he hadn't had done that he wouldn't have bonded with Kevin or him making a new friend. Plus all three with being at the Thanksgiving dinner.

Kate has a hard time feeding baby Jack, but when she goes next door and helps with Gregory. He so happens to get baby Jack to eat, his first was guacamole. After that when Toby comes back from work it was like nothing had happened and he got to see Jack's first bite. 

As Beth watches over Deja and Malik, she notices that the two have their first argument. That argument happens to be that Deja wants to see her mother again and when she tells Beth she not only wants to see her but have her come over for Thanksgiving, which she and Randall will be happy. 
On the other side, we see the relationship of the R&R (Rebecca and Randall) and how after Jack died and Randall at college, he makes visits to help Rebecca out with stuff. When Rebecca was up for a job, he helped her get that too after he noticed that after her interview that he wanted to see more people. But in the present, when Randall invites Rebecca on a Philly Tour; something doesn't quite seem right with her from taking photos and even losing her phone. Miguel even mentions that she's been losing her phone for the past month and when Randall confronts Rebecca about it, we see a side of Rebecca, unlike any other time. She seems to be showing signs of Alzheimer's. 

"Sorry" was a powerful episode with the stories between Kevin/Cassidy/Nicky and Rebecca and Randall. There was so many emotions going into this episode at times; I even had to grab tissues during Rebecca, even when I figured that she might have early Alzheimer's. I can hardly wait to see what the fall finale will bring. Overall, I give this episode a 9.5/10.

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

Bluff City Law Season 1: Why You Should Tune In

(Written Nov. of 2019)

There's one new show that I've been watching, and that is Bluff City Law and why you should tune in.

Wake up and Smell the Roses: The Good Place "Chapter 45: A Chip Driver Mystery"/Chapter 46: Help is Other People"

"Chapter 45: A Chip Driver Mystery"

The Good Place isn't just about being good over bad; but how you should never give up on something when trying to make things work. In this episode, Michael tells Bad Janet, who's in Janet's void, a story about what had happened in the last six months with their group and how much things seemed so doomed that really turned into a positive outcome.

It was basically how the group tries to get Brent to be apologetic after a book that he wrote was totally offensive to the group. But after what seemed to be a failed attempted, Eleanor and the group started coming up with another plan. That's when Michael tells Bad Janet that that's what they're doing coming up another plan after the other had failed because they don't give up. Soon instead of turning bad Janet into a marble, he lets her go and gives her a book to take back.

"A Chip Driver Mystery" was a good episode from start to finish. It was a good character development with some of the supportive characters from Brent and even John. There are still on the edge moments in this show when it comes to when John learns that Jason isn't a monk and Brent trying to apologies. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

"Chapter 46: Help Is Other People"

With only hours till the experiment is over, will Eleanor and gang make it? Here's a recap!

As the clock is clocking down to the end of the experiment; Eleanor and gang feel pretty good about how this all will end; that is until Simone has been putting the pieces together of what she really thinks is going on. When Tahani and Jason learn of this, she tries to blow the idea away until John blew Jason's cover of not being a monk. 

With only a few hours till the celebration; Eleanor and the team figure out a way to stall until the clock strikes midnight. They use Michael and his sad magic trick show and when bringing up Brent for a trick an earthquake comes and shallow him only hanging on. Eleanor and Michael get Chidi, Simone and John to stay to help Brent while they wait to see what happens next. Turns out only Chidi stayed with Brent while Simone and John left. 

With minutes to spare Eleanor and Michael pull off one more trick: admitting they are in the bad place. While leaving Chidi and Brent to think; they were hoping that Brent could pull off a hell mary that ended up not happening at the buzzer. 

"Help Is Other People" is a hilarious episode that really kind of gave us the perspective of what Michael was going through in the first and second season of the series. The pace and the development of the characters were brilliant as we just hope that Brent would pull off that one miracle moment of saying, "I'm sorry." Now with the experiment over what will happen now? Hell, what happened to Simone and John? Could Michael and Eleanor pull off a reset? Oh man, I can't wait to see where this will be going. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

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

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Renewed for Season 8

It looks like there will be more cases to solve at the Nine-Nine.

On Thursday, NBC has announced that Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been renewed for an eighth season. The seventh season premieres in an hour premiere on Thursday, Feb. 6th at 9/8c, before moving to its new timeslot on Feb. 13 at 8:30/7:30c.

Renewing the show ahead of its seventh season is a very good sign that this upcoming season will be very good. Also, it could also mean that they need a veteran show for next year with the newer shows not performing well. Whatever the reason, we get more Nine-Nine.

Entertainment and Love: All Rise: "Fool For Live"/"Uncommon Women and Mothers"

"Fool for Liv"

It's probably one of the most intense episodes of the season "Fool for Liv" felt like it had everything thrown into one episode with Lola taking on a high celebrity trial. But along with the trial, she sees one of the trickiest lawyers in the state, who uses every trick in the book to get this trial in his favor. After a couple of setbacks and a nice B&B stay with Sherri, Lola finally got her courtroom on track and got the convection too.

Meanwhile, Emily tries to get Mark to help her client with a plea that not only he complies with what he knows of the crimes his family had done but not to mention get him out of jail time after his grandmother said he's not protected there. After Emily gives a strong talk to Mark about family, he decides to give the kid a good plea deal that was fair.

I enjoyed this episode very much. It had some intense moments mainly between Lola and the tricky lawyer but heart and growth between Lola and Sherri and Mark and Emily. I thought hat Ruthie Ann Miles gave a nice performance that really stood out. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

"Uncommon Women and Mothers"

While this episode had some good moments, I felt that this episode didn't execute as well as it should have. When an earthquake hits the courthouse, not doing a whole lot in the episode we see Lola reuniting with her mother as she testifies in court for Mark and Emily for an arson case. That case ended pretty well after Lola's mother decided to give her testimony about the accused that ended up with a slap on the wrist.

Meanwhile, Sara and Sherri try to outdo each other as they think they could be better during an emergency situation. Also, Sherri might have a cop stalker who apparently doesn't know how to do the proper paperwork for a warrant.  This, of course, I felt that this was just humor which was quite good. 

While Lola was dealing with her mother, she was dealing with an issue with a cop that wanted a signed warrant to take down a resident that might have illegal guns. While Lola wanted more evidence to this claim but instead the cop goes over her head and gets the warrant signed by another person and was proven right that the residents in the house had a butt-load of guns.

"Uncommon Women and Mothers" was good with character development and story but some just didn't execute the way that I had hoped it would turn out. I would think that with the earthquake that they would be going through something but instead it was just a minor story that could have been something much bigger. The episode had good humor and some good back and forth moments mainly with Simone Missick and Michael Beach. Overall, I give this episode a 7.5/10.

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

Homeland Season 8 Teaser

The first teaser for the final season of television most critically acclaimed drama, Homeland. Could this be it or Carrie?

Here's the teaser:

The final season of Homeland begins Sunday, Feb. 9th on Showtime.