The Spirit of Toledo: A.P. Bio: "Ride the Ram"/"Kinda Sorta" Season Finale

"Ride the Ram" 

It's school spirit week, and as the school is battling its rival in the annual Ram Championship, Whitlock tries to do what it can to win. Even though the blood drive was ruined, Helen saved the day by giving enough blood to win. But when it came to the principal challenge, Ralph couldn't do it due to his procedure.

 

Jack comes in to help Ralph after he had ruined their time at his birthday dinner the other night. Jack gets on the mechanical ram, and instead of going up against the rival principal, he's going up against Heather's former love crush. After Heather's move on Chad, he gets thrown off, and Jack wins it for the school and Ralph's friendship.

"Ride the Ram" was a delightful and hilarious episode. The Ralph and Jack character relationship is so good in this episode that it gives Jack a rethinking of their friendship that, at times, he denies it. Paula Pell does it once again with another standout supporting performance. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

"Kinda Sorta"

In the season two finale, Jack has a one-shot out of Toledo if he helps Sarika get into Harvard. But he and the class must help Sarika make a good impression by changing her outlook and not being so rude-looking. After training, Jack and Sarika meet with the advisor of Harvard, who happens to be someone Jack dated. Yikes!

Jack tries his best not to get sexual with the advisor, but after seeing Lynette with someone else at the bar that night, he is considering going for it. But that all ended when he stopped it and ran to see Lynette, telling her about this dream he had with her and their four fat Toledo kids. The two finally become exclusive as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Jack learned that Sarika had snuck her paper into the advisor's bag and that her aunt was impressed with his book. Jack's got an appointment to see her, but will he go? Also, Jack learns from Ralph that he has a new student...Helen! Helen didn't graduate high school. Oh boy!

"Kinda Sorta" While it felt like two parts of the series finale and season finale, I'm glad that the series was saved and moved to the Peacock Streaming Service. I love this episode! This episode was such a good development for the character of Jack to realize that staying in Toledo isn't all that bad with someone that he has feelings for in Lynette. Also, I can't get enough of the Jack and class dynamic, and helping Sarika was just the icing on the cake. I can't wait to see what Season Three has in store. I hope Elizabeth Alderfer, who played Lynette, returns because she was so good in season two.

Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch A.P. Bio on NBC.com, the NBC app, and the Peacock Streaming Service.

Powers to Believe: A.P.: Bio: "Handcuffed"/"Spectacle"

"Handcuffed" 

When Jack needs a new cell phone, he asked Mary to be on her plan; but in return must help her get rid of her boyfriend. Trying to give the bad news to her boyfriend, he doesn't accept and his handcuffed to Jack's mother's stairlift. Jack plays into Mary until it was too late and she goes back to him. That is until Jack stops her and tells her that she can do a lot better than with that guy; in return, the two will share a phone plan and get out of being handcuffed as well.

Principal Ralph can't take the stress of informing his staff of the cuts and moves. But that's when Anthony came in to interview Ralph for the school paper; Anthony helps give the bad news and is given the power to tell everyone from the gym coach to janitor about the changes. Even trying to get out of a B- grade but Helen took care of that after noticing he dipping the chip into way too much dip.

"Handcuffed" was a very good episode. I enjoyed a lot from Mary and Jack's friendship story to Anthony's reign of power. But the one that really had me laughing was Paula Pell's performance as Helen stealing scenes and that dipping the chip into way too much dip was so funny. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

"Spectacle" 

There's a talent show but will Jack and his class win it?

As the school talent show is about to begin, Jack thinks he can win it with his class and after searching for some talent from his class he had found it. It was a play and while at first, it was a good idea; Jack turned it and went a whole other direction by using what everyone likes in entertainment from dub music to dancing. At first, it wasn't going so well until Jack went back to the original idea and won the show.

Meanwhile, Mary and Stef try to help Michelle out with her bell concert for the talent show but instead Michelle does it all on her own. While Helen and Ralph come up with who will be the new M.C. the talent show; spoiler alert it's them!

"Spectacle" was so good with the performances from Paula Pell and Patton Oswalt with their chemistry just put to a whole new level. When watching these two I don't think they're doing it on scripted but improvising. I didn't really like the whole bell concert storyline in this episode because it just left too predictable. While Jack and the classmate's story was good on average but had a nice ending to it. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

You can catch A.P. Bio available on NBC.com, NBC app, and Peacock streaming service.

The Umbrella Academy Season 1

After learning the date for Season Two of The Umbrella Academy, I have finally watched the first season of the comic book series. Here are my thoughts.

It's been over a year since the first season of Netflix's comic book series The Umbrella Academy debuted, and while it's been on my must-see list to watch, I have finally just finished watching it this week and loved every episode. Yes, I was a fool not to watch this when it first debuted, as it's the one issue for me with binge-watching.

I love the first season of The Umbrella Academy as it was so well written, with such in-depth characters that have a little resemblance to X-Men, but better. The season deals with the team assembling after learning about the death of their adopted father. While reunited, the team deals with issues of their own, but when a team member returns from the future to learn of the apocalypse to happen in a few days.

There are many twists and turns as we watch a lot of backstories that don't mess up anything with the story and characters. But the one thing about this series with a strong theme is family. Superhero may be one thing, but this series is about family.

This ensemble cast gives such a strong performance for each of their characters. Aidan Gallagher, playing Number Five, was one of the most fun and exciting characters in this series. Robert Sheehan gave one of the best performances of the character, as he showed a lot of character growth. Also, Sheehan's Klaus was one of my favorite characters. But it was Ellen Page as Vayna/Number Seven stole season one with her performance, still leaving me thinking about her character and what comes next.

That also implies how the season ended, as the apocalypse was still coming to the team after saving Vayna, joined hands with Number Five to time travel. What happens next, I'm dying to see. I will not make the same mistake I did a year ago by waiting over a year to watch the first season. When July 31st comes, I'll be tuning in to Netflix to watch it.

Overall, I give this season of The Umbrella Academy a 9/10. You can now catch The Umbrella Academy's first season on Netflix, with Season 2 coming on July 31st.

Still the Best Drama: The Blacklist Season 6-7 Review

Season 6

After the shocking moment in the fifth season finale, the sixth season took off with exciting thrills and drama that pushed the level of Liz and Red's relationship. As Liz knows that her father, Raymond Reddington is dead and someone is impersonating Reddington, she betrayed him by setting him up to get arrested.

Throughout the season, as Reddington's trial goes underway, Liz has a change of heart with Reddington as she learns the truth about what really had happened between him and her mother. Soon as Red is free, both Red and the task force are put against the United States of America President and his staff, the way that Red and the team helped get Liz out of custody against the Director back in season three.

The season ended well enough to have a cliffhanger of Reddington meeting with Liz's mother, who kidnaps Reddington at the end.

Season Six was one of the best seasons so far in the series. The season elevated to another level with brilliant wiring, character development, and performances from the cast. While Season three and five were the top two best seasons of the series, this one ranks right along with them. Overall, I give this season a 9.5/10.

Season 7

The Seventh Season of The Blacklist was as good as it could have gotten. The season saw Liz learning of her mother, who happened to be staying across the hall from her. Liz is divided between Red and her mother on who is telling the truth. Still, with Red not telling what she needs to know, she leans more towards her mother by the end of the season as she finally embraces the evil power that she's been feeling this season during the season finale.

This season we saw Ressler's backstory dealing with his brother, who helped him get rid of a dead body of a cop that had killed their dad twenty years ago. And the team takes on a new team member, Aliana Park, who has a history with Reddington and is not the good one.

The seventh season of The Blacklist has proven that it's not running out of gas. The show still brings the best out of these characters. Week to week, episode after episode, the series still shows it's got teeth, and there are times when shows do show that they're running out of gas. Brilliant writing and character development, along with another season of great performances from the cast, mostly Megan Boone, who's given such a strong performance this season. Al Roker deserves an Emmy nomination for his guest-starring role this season in the 150th episode. Overall, I give this season of The Blacklist a 9.5/10.

You can catch The Blacklist available now on the NBC app. NBC.com and Netflix.

An Emotional Goodbye: The Good Place "The Final Chapter: Whenever You're Ready" Series Finale

Note: I apologize for not writing this up and posting it. It's been almost four months since this aired. And well, let me say that after watching it the first time, it was tough to protect it during the second time because it was so emotionally powerful.

The series finale of The Good Place might be one of the best finale endings in quite a long time, and saying goodbye to these characters is overwhelming emotions. The episode picks up as everyone enjoys their time in A Good Place, from learning ethics to seeing everyone doing their own thing and being happy. The new system looks to work for the best as the Judge learns from Michael and Chidi.

But things took a turn quickly when Justin won the Super Bowl in the video game with his dad, and he felt it was time for him to leave. After throwing a party, Justin walks with Janet to the doors to the universe. Tahani reunited with her sister and learned that their parents had passed the system, but what they had expected wasn't the case with their parents as they showed love and affection. After many moments, she decides she's ready, but instead of leaving, she wants to be like Michael and work as an intern.

Later, Eleanor learns that Chidi is on the verge of wanting to leave and tries to keep him here by taking him to all the places he loves. But Eleanor knows that to be happy, she can't ruin someone's happiness, too. After an emotional and memorable scene of the two at sunset, Chidi leaves Eleanor while sleeping. But a surprise comes when, just as Chidi walks into the door to the universe, Justin pops out to give Janet the necklace he had made for her, and after another moment, he walks with Chidi.

Soon, Eleanor felt it was time; she brought Mindy St.Clare to The Good Place to agree to take the test. She gets the Judge to grant one last favor for Michael; he becomes a real-life boy who goes to Earth and lives out his best life, from learning guitar to cooking a meal in the microwave.

Just before Eleanor leaves, she talks with Janet and has one last drink with her. Soon, she walks into the door to the universe to see her body turn into stars, where one falls to Earth to a man who almost threw out someone's mail but returned it, that happens to be Michael.

"Whenever You're Ready" was one of the best series finales since Parks and Recreation. The finale felt like a natural closure to the series, with the characters deciding to leave or stay and become something else, like Tahani wanting to do what Michael has done. Each character had a memorable moment; the one that stuck was Chidi and Eleanor with that sunset, in which Chidi described the ocean waves. This episode should get an Emmy nomination for best writing. Overall, I give this episode a 10/10, while the season gets a 9.5/10.

You can catch The Good Place on Netflix and Google Play. 

Single Parents Canceled; ABC and Hulu Should Saved It

The news on Thursday wasn't what I had expected. ABC announced that it had canceled Single Parents after two seasons.

The series was about single parents helping raise each other and their children. If you're a fan of New Girl and Friends, this show might be the one to watch. The recently canceled series was my favorite comedy out of the ABC network, with The Conners. The series wasn't just well-written; the characters were so grounded and well-connected. The chemistry of this ensemble cast is so irresistible no matter who you pair one another within an episode.

But if I had to choose one pair I'd enjoyed through this series, it was Taran Killam and Leighton Meester's Will Copper and Angie D'Amato. While the two are best friends, they come to terms in the second season that they have feelings for one another. It was in the season finale (that's now a series finale) that Angie learned Will's feelings for her. And you can't tell me we can't get the third season after that moment?

Yes, I'm very much upset and sad about the news. I looked forward to seeing where Will and Angie would go after that cliffhanger. With what's going on with COVID-19, the network would want to keep a good chunk of their shows (they picked up 13 shows for renewal). While a few of the shows that got picked up over, Single Parents had about the same Live+3 Days DVR rating, but Single Parents had a higher DVR in the L+7 rating.

But the thing that has stuck in my mind since the announcement that ABC is renewing shows that build a strategy to bring people together, create cultural moments, and make content that entertains and inspires across generations and demographics. Single Parents fits that model that the network's plan for the new season. The series has a substantial diversity that appeals to many people who are single and raising kids.

While ABC made a wrong decision, they could have placed the series on their streaming service, whether it's Hulu or Disney+. This would have been more like what NBC did with A.P. Bio. The series ran for two seasons until it was canceled, and then NBC picked it up and placed it on their streaming service, Peacock Streaming Service. Hulu fits the show best because of its humorous content. I would plead with ABC to reconsider saving the show.

After hearing about it from many people, this show spoke to me over a year ago. I watched the entire first season and fell in love with it after the second episode. The characters just spoke out; the humor was so funny, and I got all the jokes. The show has a lot of heart, with moments that made me want to grab a tissue or another glass of wine. Back in April, my grandmother and I watched the first season and caught up in the second season. She loved it. It's a different family show without taking the meaning of family out of it.

I'm just hoping there's a miracle for another show, like The Mind Project, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, One Day at a Time, and The Last Man Standing, that got saved from other networks and streaming services. A show like Single Parents shouldn't be left out; it deserves to be on, as it has five to seven seasons ahead of it.

The hashtag #SaveSingleParents trended yesterday as fans voiced their opinions and even signed a petition. Could this help? I hope so; we've seen shows get picked up before because of fans speaking out. We can get Single Parents to be the next one. Come on, ABC, don't be like Netflix or make the same mistake with Last Man Standing.

Batwoman Season 1 Review

Exciting, character-driven, and full of action!  Here are my thoughts on the first season of Batwoman.

While the first season had some issues; I still quite enjoyed it very much. The series keeps the Batman anthology theme of dark, gritty, and very, very action-packed. But the one that I do enjoy the most out of this series was the strong character development. While Rudy Rose shows a lot of growth in the first season, she plays very well in the dramatic fashion; but also in the humor category too when Kate tries to learn the ropes of being Batwoman.

Along with Rose, Rachel Skarsten steals the show with her performance as Alice/Beth Kane. Skarsten's character was so interested that she had me more invested in the show than just watching Batwoman fight crime.  While both Kate and Alice have this Batman-Joker dynamic going; their relationship of sisters adds more depth. But it's the character's strong background story and development that wins the season over the other characters.

One of the things that I had an issue was the character development of Sohpie Moore. Moore, at the first half of the season, felt like a soap opera character; with one of the storylines being that her going to tell Kate's dad that she's Batwoman. But by the second half of the season, the character develops well enough.

While Crisis Part 2 was my favorite episode of the crossover event; other episodes like "Tell Me the Truth" with both Kate and Luke teaming with Julie Pennyworth, who I wish to stay on from time to time as they play well with one another. "Take Your Choice," "A Narrow Escape," "Off with Her Head" and "Through the Looking Glass" were a few of the episodes that stood out this first season with such entertaining, action, and amazing character development. And while the season finale ended with HUSH becoming the doppelganger of Bruce Wayne; I don't believe the show will ruin Bruce Wayne's character. Overall, I give this season one an 8.5/10.

I can't wait for Season two, but sad that Rudy Rose left the show. while I respect her for her decision to leave. I just hope that the show will find a way to address the change; whether it's a new actress taking on Kate Kane or a new character.

You can catch Season One of Batwoman available now on The CW app and On Demand. The new season begins in January 2021.