You can say it — it’s definitely an ironic title. But it’s taken a long time for these words to come together and make sense in my own head, so I can write them down for you. As most of us, who take to the vast space of the internet in search of fellow fans, opinions, and thoughts about our television shows will tell you, it can get — to put it politely — dicey.
Continue reading “Why “Bad” TV Can Be Good”
Can a show be resurrected for the second time, two years in a row? Apparently, yes, if that show is called Timeless. In an unprecedented move, NBC decided to bring the cult phenomenon back (again!) for one last ride in the Lifeboat. Timeless returns this holiday season with a two-part series finale to wrap up the story. After all, Clockblockers don’t do anything halfway, do they?
Today marks the end of an excruciating wait for Timeless fans. The show lived in limbo for six weeks after the finale until NBC ultimately decided to cancel it, despite the outcry from fans on social media. Although Clockblockers were incredibly loud online, to the point of trending #RenewTimeless and #Timeless worldwide, ratings still weren’t up to par for the network to consider a renewal, so NBC finally pulled the plug on the beloved show.
(We can all agree Nielsen ratings is an outdated system that doesn’t accurately measure ratings anymore and needs to die)
The thing is, Clockblockers are a resilient and determined bunch, and they didn’t just go quietly into the night. A major fan campaign to save the show was launched then and fans tweeted nonstop at networks and streaming services — really, anyone that would listen — about the merits of the show and why it needed to be saved.
Because, see, Timeless is an incredibly diverse, complex and extremely well-written show with a stellar cast, that has been quite literally changing history. In its time travel adventures, the Time Team — historian Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer), Delta Force Sergeant Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter) and scientist Rufus Carlin (Malcolm Barrett) — serve as conduit to bring amazingly well produced history lessons to our homes in each episode. Teachers across America have been using Timeless as a way to get students more interested in learning history and other subjects, making the show an excellent cross-disciplinary tool for education not only in America, but worldwide.
And then, as if a tweet storm wasn’t already big enough, Clockblockers raised money in record time to fly a gigantic Save Timeless banner over San Diego Comic Con a couple of weeks ago — a move that definitely didn’t go unnoticed by The Powers That Be. After that stunt, we knew there was definitely something happening behind the scenes, especially when the Timeless Writers tweeted the following:
Did that really happen?!! A humble thanks to all the #ClockBlockers who paid for and arranged for that awesome HeliClockter display at #SDCC2018! Your voices were definitely heard. We hope to have some answers/clarity for all of you soon.
— Timeless Writers (@TheTimelessRoom) 23 de julho de 2018
Expectations were through the roof for the past week and today our efforts have finally paid off. The Timeless Writers finally ended their over a week-long suspense and put us all out of our misery with the best news:
You did it again #ClockBlockers! Two hour finale movie coming to NBC this November. #SaveRufus pic.twitter.com/RNRGlbilv4
— Timeless Writers (@TheTimelessRoom) 31 de julho de 2018
Of course we all wanted a season 3, but at least now we’re getting some closure and the chance to save Rufus. After all, wasn’t that what we wanted? And according to Sony president Chris Parnell, not all hope is lost:
Thank you to all of the helicopters, tweets, paperclips, cupcakes, popcorn, cookies, and the fans. Especially to the fans. We’re not done yet. Please encourage everyone to catch up on @hulu and get ready to make the push to watch our show live this holiday. #Timeless #SaveRufus pic.twitter.com/C2mpA7XzXL
— Chris Parnell (@ChrisFParnell) 31 de julho de 2018
It’s time to rejoice, Timeless fans! You did it! We get to save Rufus and go on one last adventure together. What a time to be alive, my friends. What a time to be alive.
The Timeless two-part season finale is scheduled to air this coming holiday season at NBC.
Sweet Jesus.
No joke. Those were the first words out of my mouth after “The Dark Year” closed out. If anyone ever doubts The 100 and its ability to brilliantly throw in surprises no one saw coming, I’ll just casually refer them to this episode. As hard as everyone worked to find the right “side” to be on, the lines were drawn in the sand and war is on their doorstep.
Let’s dive into this, shall we?
The 100 has never been less subtle than it is now about the hell these characters have gone through the last six years. Wonkru’s fight to survive in and out of the bunker, Octavia’s battle with the Red Queen, to each and every person making decisions that turn others into the last one they may ever make.
When you are fighting for the people you are responsible for — or people that you love — the passion drives your actions. You may think you’re acting from a place of caring, but in reality fear is what clouds your choices. It affects everything you do, and as we have seen, it usually blows up in your face.
Octavia’s choice to listen to Abby, and use fear as her weapon molded her into the person she was when she was pulled out of the bunker. Wonkru may have survived, but the trauma will never fade, no matter what Octavia says about it “being worth it.” Clarke narrowing her people down to Madi is not an excuse to act out of fear, and ignore everyone else’s safety for one person’s alone. Kane’s condemnation of Octavia, and fear of a war decimating the valley does not excuse all but ensuring a bloodbath is brought on their doorstep.
The only kind of relief I felt during this hour was finally understanding what path led Octavia to become the Red Queen. I don’t excuse her choices post Bunker — most of them power mad, insane and just flat out shitty to exert her power — but now we know how she got there. I had seen the theory of cannibalism floated around for weeks online, and to see it confirmed was both horrifying, and completely signature to how this show operates. They take the unimaginable, and make it to where we can see how these characters were pushed to this point.
What made my jaw drop, though, came down to two characters alone – Abby and Kane.
Abby’s slow decline has been difficult to watch, but the rapid detox was a thousand times worse. Paige Turco knocked it out of the park showcasing how Abby’s struggle with the pills was truly a deep rooted escape from her guilt. That SHE was the one who told Octavia to enforce cannibalism. The fact that Octavia took the blame and responsibility for it was, as Madi said, not entirely unlike what Clarke did at Mount Weather. How they turned out after defined how Octavia and Clarke, respectively, handled the burden of making these kinds of choices.
The fact that Kane views Octavia as the devil from forcing Wonkru to make that choice, means he has no idea Abby was behind it. Kane would rather help the creepy torturer win the war, and undermine everything Wonkru and Spacekru has done to peacefully take the valley. Soon to be a bloody war ground, for the first time I’m genuinely afraid Eden will not survive the fear driven choices of what’s left of humanity.
The truth tellers in the realm of “calling people out for their shit” fell to Bellamy and Madi this week. Bellamy is done playing nice with his sister after being thrown in a death pit, and I can’t blame him in the slightest. Octavia’s plan to march blind into the valley was indeed monumentally stupid, and his focus on being with his family shut the door on any brother/sister reconciliation possibilities for the moment.
Madi — continuing the Flame saga in her head — gets a full history of what Clarke left out of her stories in the last six years, and I can imagine how illuminating it must have been. Madi’s age doesn’t preclude her experience living in this world, and as harsh as it might have been to Clarke, she needed to be called out. I understand wanting to do everything in your power to protect someone you love, but she needs to remember what she’s forgotten over the last six years of peace. Namely that there is no such thing as “safe” right now, and that won’t happen until this war over Shadow Valley has been put to rest.
I have the distinct feeling Clarke’s going to hit her breaking point and, of course that’s when all hell is literally going to break loose. Due, of course, to the double cross I did NOT see coming. I don’t know how these guys keep these twists fresh, but kudos to the writers on letting cannibalism somehow not be the biggest twist to happen in an episode.
As hard as everyone has worked to stay “safe” and find peace, the fear led straight to war. I can’t even predict who will and won’t live, but I am terrified for SO MANY PEOPLE. Let it never be said The 100 didn’t know how to make your heart beat a million miles an hour, one night a week. Thank god for romance that blooms during the calm moments, and balances out the insanity. Yes, I squealed when Raven and Shaw kissed, because I’ve shipped them since Raven outsmarted him up on the ship in space. Therefore, I declare Shaw will not die — please, show, don’t prove me wrong.
How about you guys? Are you excited for the last two episodes of this season? Who do you think will win this war?
God knows I’m dying to find out — pun not intended!
The 100 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on the CW.
Every time I think there’s no possible way for this show to top itself in how it can blow my mind, it proves me wrong. Frankly, I’m happy to be proved wrong in this instance, as “The Warriors Will” was amazing in every aspect of the word. What The 100 excels at is taking what seems impossible, and letting these characters push the envelope on how their experiences in these situations changes them every second they are on screen.
Let’s dive into this mind twist of an hour, shall we?
Pardon my language, The 100 fans, but HOLY SH*T! “Sic Semper Tyrannis” was not fooling around, I spent the entire hour on the edge of my bed, glued to the screaming at the screen — literally. This show is a powerhouse this season, packing in plot twists and driven by characters’ relationships that change every second.
However, I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. Why don’t we dive in and take a closer look?
Continue reading “The 100: 5×09 “Sic Semper Tyrannis” Review”
GLOW season 2 was an entertaining break from the summer heat and all of the daily chaos that seems to happen in our news cycle. There was a lot — perhaps too much — thrown at viewers in just 10 episodes; but overall, the entertaining, fun, 80’s-spirited second season featuring our favorite female wrestlers was a worthwhile distraction.
GLOW season 2 threw a lot of content at viewers, including a new wrestler, new relationships, and new drama. By the finale, I felt overwhelmed by all of the “extra” stuff thrown into the mix. Don’t get me wrong: the series’ second season was everything that I expected it to be. But the added absurdities almost took away from the heavier content GLOW was attempting to shed light on.
Continue reading “GLOW Season 2 Review: The Glass Ceiling & The Working Woman”
Well, holy crap! Game changer is indeed the appropriate phrase for this week’s The 100 “How We Get To Peace.” I sincerely lost count of the amount of times I screamed at my TV during this episode, which tends to be the mark of a damn good hour of television.
Everyone was searching for a way to find peace, and given the violent undertones of their world, it was easy to rationalize the ends justifying the means. Kane, bless his heart, was able to step outside all of that — even just for one glorious scene — to visualize a world where none of that is necessary. Where people can just live, instead of fighting one battle after another to survive.
They’re all experts at surviving at this point, but living was what they were reminded of in the six year jump. Even in the midst of Wonkru’s descent to violent mayhem, Kane was able to find that peace. I just wish it was that easy for everyone else.
Shadow valley, aptly named Eden has firmly turned into the home base of one “enemy.” Quotes apply here since all the twists, and turns only prove more than ever that villainy is in the eye of the beholder. To Kane, who’s able to bare his thoughts on peace, he’s able to see the side of Diyoza who dreams of a home for her daughter. To Raven — who only got electrocuted because Diyoza has been feeding Abby’s addiction — she’s an irredeemable person who needs only to be defeated.
The juxtaposition of how we see peace coming to life highlights how well this show does in showcasing human struggles. Finding compassion versus relying on ruthlessness, to using newfound weakness against your enemy, to trying to protect someone who isn’t technically “on your side”. It’s all complicated as hell, and I LOVE IT!
Raven’s journey, and then breakdown with Shaw (please God, don’t die), tore me to pieces. I don’t hate Abby, but God, am I pissed off at her choosing pills over literally everyone she cares about, because she’s too deep into the self denial hole of “I will stop, but I need them now.” Now turns into the future one day at a time, and I’m scared she’ll wake up too late to figure that out. Despite the pain she was in, I was really touched by Shaw’s desire to protect Raven, and comforting her when she needed it. I don’t think she’ll let Echo kill him in the end because, quite frankly, kindness and understanding is hard enough to come by.
In a surprising display of quiet humanity, Diyoza and Kane’s conversation about the valley, and her little girl “Hope” nearly made me cry. Despite everything going on, I found myself wishing what Kane visualized could be a reality. Sadly because of the nature of this show, I know it’s not a scenario we’re likely to see. The fact that it made me hope for it in the chaos, is a testament to how well these writers flesh out all their characters, whether they are our heroes or the antagonists of the moment.
Which isn’t the case with Octavia right now…
The Red Queen has finally met her match in the form of her beloved brother. That last scene felt like a culmination of everything Octavia and Bellamy have been through in the last seven years. From the moment they first landed on the ground, their relationship has been a constant tug of back and forth. As much as Bellamy grew into himself during their six-year separation, Octavia became the worst version of herself – a tyrant who’s willing to betray former friends and allies in the blink of an eye because they challenge her power.
I know the last thing Bellamy wanted to do was turn on his sister, but that line was crossed — not when she threatened Echo, but when she threatened Clarke. It wasn’t lost on me that he didn’t even bother denying that he loves Clarke when Octavia tried to use it against him.
Bellamy, and Clarke made the choice they thought would bring them peace, even if it meant barely convincing themselves that the murder of Cooper — an honest threat — was worth the price. The fact that it was all for nothing, and ultimately landed Clarke with a death sentence was painful as hell, especially when she silently begged Bellamy to take the out Octavia was giving him so he wouldn’t die too. Their conversation preceding that was really my favorite scene of theirs to date. Their mutual understanding of how much the other has changed opens the gates of communicating, something they’ve struggled with since reuniting.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it, these two love the hell out of each other, and it’s a struggle to deal with in the midst of danger constantly surrounding them. Recognizing it’s from someone they used to consider an ally is even harder, and while I have zero doubt Bellamy will succeed in saving Clarke’s life, they’ve passed a point of no return. I just hope when Octavia wakes up, it won’t cause all hell to break loose for everyone who’s still alive, and breathing.
The fight for survival is as much at stake as is the fight to live – Monty’s struggle was proof of that, and it was heartbreaking to see him forgo any desire to take part in questionable deeds to survive. I can’t blame him in the slightest, though, and if I had the choice he did, I’d make it every time. Harper’s affirmation and choice to stay with him, essentially saying to hell with anyone else’s war was just one example of how powerful love is.
If I had to pick a theme of this hour, it’d be don’t ever underestimate how powerful love can be in the face of anything or anyone challenging it. Octavia was overthrown because she underestimated how much Clarke loves Madi, and how much Bellamy loves Clarke and her. Choosing to draw that line of “this is too far” is one of the hardest things to do with a loved one, and yet sometimes it’s the best choice we can make for everyone involved.
I can’t predict a damn thing with this show, but I am certain things are only going to get more insane from here on out.
Who’s ready?
The 100 returns on July 10th on the CW at 8/7c.
