Reboot and Glue: The Good Place "Chapter 47: The Funeral to End All Funerals"

The results are in! Did they win or fail? Here's the recap!

With the experiment done, Eleanor, Jason, Tahani, and Janet awaited the final verdict from the judge at the Excellent Place while Michael met with Shawn to hear the final ruling. After trying to make a comeback remark to Shawn, the judge sees the results, with three members improving scores except for Brent. But Michael argues about how the other people that Eleanor and the gang have changed in their lives and also says that Brent was improving until the final second.

Eleanor and the gang pass the time by giving each one a proper funeral while a frozen-in-state Chidi pulls a Weekend at Bernie's vibe at the pool. Tahani gets a plane funeral, Jason receives a pool funeral, and Eleanor gets a funeral while holding a bottle of tequila. She even gives Chidi a funeral but gets interrupted by the judge making her ruling.

While Eleanor and the gang meet with Michael, the judge rules in favor of Michael. But instead of just improving on the point system, she will reboot Earth. Trying to figure out how to stop the judge, Janet takes away the judge's remote, but Bad Janet takes it after reading Michael's book. Not only did Bad Janet come, but a ton of Janets, too, even Disco Janet. At the same time, the Judge tries to find the remote in one of Janet's voids. Eleanor comes up with an idea to use Chidi to help them fix the point system.

The Funeral to End All Funerals" was such a good episode. There were so many good moments, from Michael and Shawn's insults to the Judge talking about rebooting Ally McBeal (which I'm not objecting to that idea). Even the funerals for each member were excellent and heartwarming from the characters. Once again, D'Arcy Carden does it again as Janet and other Janets. And given that this was Kristen Bell's first directorial debut, I thought she did a great job.

Moving forward, the idea of Chidi trying to fix the point system would be a brilliant idea for how it would go. With all the knowledge of being a good person in moral philosophy, could Chidi help rewrite the universal?

Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

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

Standing Up for What's Right: Chicago Fire "Welcome to Crazytown"/"Seeing Is Believing"

"Welcome to Crazytown"

When 51 is called during a hostage situation; a fire breaks out and Kelly and Severide perform the Batman and Robin rescue. But during a high stakes situation, Herrmann and a cop have a beef with one another that doesn't go so well with Herrmann. The cop writes a report on Herrmann that might end his career.
Herrmann tries to make amends with the cop by apologizing and offering him a free beer at Molly's. But that didn't end so well with him. After talking to Severide about the situation, Severide, who's been offered a job but turns it down. But when Severide sees an opportunity that could help Herrmann and that was to take the job and make the report go away; which it did. 

Brett goes out for lunch but doesn't think it was a date; while everyone else thinks it is. When she goes after having lunch the guy was about to kiss her until she stopped him. Turning him down, she thought it was a friendly lunch outing and not a date. After using her method during a call, Casey bought her wine and told her that he's gonna bet money that she'll find that special someone.

And not to mention Cruz is about to give his slamigan public marker, for the wedding. After getting a spot by the bathroom; there was another firefighter who had the same model. After getting everyone from 51 t-shirts, Cruz hoped they would come to support and not only did they do but the firefighter's ripoff model broke down and Cruz made a big sale. 

"Welcome to Crazytown" was a very good exciting episode. It was intense at times between stories from Herrmann and Severide. The Cruz story might have been the humor story but it had a good story that if Cruz didn't win against the other firefighter, things will be thrown. And the Casey and Brett just seem to be like Manstead in away building slowly. Overall I give this episode an 8.5/10.

"Seeing Is Believing"

When Herrmann and the team go to a house fire; they learn that the fire was started by a lit candle that was too close to the couch. It just so happens that happens to be made by the factory that killed Otis. Herrmann goes far and beyond to talk to the CEO of the company to tell him that their products are dangerous.

Herrmann protested along with 51 to meet with the CEO outside the building. A week later Herrmann had a plan and needed the 51 team's help; which was to show the CEO what their furniture can do near flames. Later that day the CEO came down to show his respects to Otis with his kids and told Herrmann that things will change.

Severide begins his new job and looks into an arson case that turns out to be accidental. But it's his partner that could be an interesting tag team, even though she might have a crush on Casey. Stella had a difficult time balancing out work and her new training class session that even not Casey upset during a call. And while Foster is in need of money, Brett gives her the solution of being the bike instructor at the local spin cycle gym. Even though Foster was rough, she got the company to have signups that crashed their website.

"Seeing is Believing" was such a great and powerful episode; mainly Herrmann who deals with the mattress factory that killed Otis. Not only was the scene when Herrmann and everyone from 51 in front of the company building were powerful but that scene when Herrmann talking to the CEO and liting the couch on fire was so damn good. I think Stella will adjust to her jobs, at first it might be overwhelming but she'll pull through. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

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

Hang On to Your Butts: Chicago Fire "Buckle Up"/"What Went Wrong"

"Buckle Up"

After a rough but heroic crossover week, firehouse 51 deals with strange car accidents that have been occurring and more. Here's a recap!

After being called to multiple car accidents, one of which Mouch is in trouble for getting an independent worker to help, Seveide investigates to which comes to learn that the independent car towing company is the one causing the accidents.  Of course, Halstead comes in and busts them out of the business.

Stella goes off to fire training camp, at first it seemed to be like a new kid at school with no one bonding with her. But that all changed when she showed off how good of a firefighter she is by answering the questions correctly and even thinking that she's got a future.

Mouch comes up with an idea to have the firehouse informed more by creating The Burn Notice, the weekly newsletter. Well, that idea didn't turn out the way that he had hoped as Brett and the others get involved to be more informed. When Bowden sees whats been going on he had ended the letter altogether. All Mouch wanted was some cake for his birthday.

And not to forget, was last week the end of Cruz and Chloe? Oh man, I'm glad it wasn't and thanks to Brett by talking with her about the life of a firefighter; I'm so glad that she went back to Cruz with a lovely cake pops to ask him to ask her.

"Buckle Up" was a nice easy episode after an eventful week. Yes, it was fun, even with the newsletter storyline. The Stella story was very good of showing how she's the better firefighter than the others that are a bit higher up. And the mystery of the week was good but not as solid as the others. I don't blame the writers to come up with something light, I can understand. But that ending was so well damn good! Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

"What Went Wrong"

When a house fire kills a family member, was it an accident or on purpose?

When 51 gets called to a house fire that kills a grandmother; Severide and Cruz question the fire as it might have been set up by the grandmother's son-in-law. Soon after looking through and bring in CPD, it was the grandmother's daughter that did it.

Meanwhile, during that house call, Galo was ordered to open the backdoor to vent and not to go in. Well, after seeing the kid who lived in that house come running, Gallo goes in but almost gets burned from the backfire when Cruz and Severide went in. Casey knew after seeing him what had happened and asked him for his perspective of what had happened.

But instead, he tells how it went but Casey doesn't believe him. After being ordered to do a whole bunch of chorus around the firehouse, Gallo finally opened up to Casey about that night he was rescued and his family died in the fire. Turns out that's what Casey wanted to hear from the beginning and talked to him about talking about those moments will make him a better firefighter.

Oher around the episode: Brett, Foster, and Stella take on the idea of a female lounge. While it seemed like a good idea turns into a disaster with other female firefighters trashing the place. Also, with everyone knowing about Cruz's engagement (thanks Brett), he asked Severide to be his best man. All I got to say is watch out.

"What Went Wrong" was a very good episode from beginning to end. Loved the storyline between Casey and Gallo, while things start off good turns bad after Gallo's bad decision making; in-which got him to tell Casey the events of that fire that killed his family. That was som great writing right there. The case of the week was pretty good; as I thought it was the son-in-law and not the daughter that killed her own mother. And the female lounge was a nice humor story, didn't win overall the best one but it was good. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

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

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.