‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8 Episode 5 Recap: The Last War Turns King’s Landing to Ashes

May 13, 2019

I cannot believe there are only two episodes left – ever – of Game of Thrones! (I’m not ready!) So much has been packed into the previous four episodes in season eight, but there is still so much more we still need to know! (e.g. whose coffee cup was that? Seriously, I’m more concerned with the fact that we didn’t get to see Arya and Sansa’s reactions to Jon’s big reveal. And is Sansa plotting Dany’s downfall?) The internet’s opinion was pretty divided on “The Last of the Starks,” particularly about Jon’s (Kit Harington) seemingly cold farewell to Ghost and especially, Missandei’s (Nathalie Emmanuel) death, whether or not she needed to die and what her last word (“Dracarys”) meant. My opinion? It meant “light these mofos up!” giving Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) an excuse to do what she wanted to do all along.

I’m pretty sure that’s what we’re in for tonight with season eight episode five. As Emilia Clarke has said, “Episode five is a bigger episode. Five is…like…find the biggest TV you can!”

I do know that a lot of things have to happen in the next two episodes before what remains of Westeros can get back to the business of living. The Hound (Rory McCann) has to kill The Mountain. It must happen. And given that the latter has superhuman undead strength, I think the former will do it with the one thing he’s most afraid of – fire. It would have a beautiful symmetry to it, don’t you think?

Cersei (Lena Headey) has always been at the top of Arya’s (Maisie Williams) kill list. I believe that’s why she’s headed south and I believe she thinks she’ll die in the process. (Her family is everything to her, but she doesn’t plan to return to Winterfell?)

I’ve not read the books, but I’ve read enough interviews with George R.R. Martin to know that his main goal has always been to get beyond the fight for the throne. As Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Varys (Conleth Hill) discussed in last week’s episode, whoever wins the “The Last War” might not be the best person to rule the new world order once the fighting is done. That said, I’m officially throwing my vote to Tyrion. I won’t get into the theories that say he might be another secret Targaryen. No, I’m going back to the fact that he’s always the smartest in the room, except possibly when Sansa’s in the room. Solution: King Tyrion rules with Queen Sansa (Sophie Turner) by his side, as co-regent. (I would have thought that impossible until two weeks ago.)

Jon can be Warden of the North, which is what he really wants. (And he WILL be reunited with Ghost. It cannot be otherwise.)

Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) can ride off into the sunset together. (After Cersei somehow, by someone, gets settled in for a long dirt nap first. I firmly believe that Jaime left Winterfell not to join forces with Cersei but to try to kill her. It may be the end of him.)

Of course, all of my surmisings assume that all the good guys make it through the upcoming battle. It’s more than likely that a lot of our favorites have been spared only to come to a horrible end one of these next two Sundays. (Not to mention, D.B. Weiss and David Benioff have hinted that we may not have seen the last of the White Walkers. Was Jon brought back from the dead to become the new Night King? My money’s on him killing his aunt/lover and saving the world first.)

Also, could I just take a sec to say how gorgeous the music has been this season? Ramin Djawadi’s score for GoT has always been brilliant, but this season has been next level (and at times has reminded me of his even more brilliant score for Westworld, particularly in season eight episode three.) I could go on, but let’s just get to this week’s installment, shall we? Director Miguel Sapochnik (“Hardhomme” “The Battle of the Bastards” “The Long Night”) is back. As Margo Channing* so eloquently put it, “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”

We open on Varys composing a letter (to whom?) that very clearly deals with the news of Jon’s birth. We’re back at Dragonstone. A child/a servant enters to tell him that “she won’t eat.” Obviously, they are talking about Dany who must be prostrate with grief over Missandei.

Jon and Varys are walking on the beach discussing Dany, her current mental state and that they both know she’s about to reign hell on King’s Landing. Varys repeats the old maxim, “whenever a Targaryen is born, the God’s flip a coin.” (Usually taken to refer to the question of whether they will turn out to be mad or not.) Varys goes on to say that he still doesn’t know how “her coin” has landed, but he’s “quite certain” about Jon’s. So now Jon knows that Varys knows. He tells Varys that he doesn’t want it. Varys is convinced he will “rule wisely, while she…” Jon interrupts, “She is my queen.”

Tyrion enters the Queen’s chambers. He says, ‘There’s something you need to know.” Dany answers, “Someone has betrayed me.” Dany thinks it’s Jon. Tyrion says it’s Varys. She lists all the people who know and it comes back to Jon. Tyrion is still trying to bring it back to Varys. But now Dany is pissed that Tyrion spoke to Varys about the situation before he told her.

Dany, who looks the worst we’ve ever seen her, is going down a dark, paranoid rabbit hole and is not convinced that Tyrion still has her best interests at heart. She says, “It doesn’t matter now.”

Varys removes rings as we hear the sound of approaching footsteps. He’s waiting to be arrested. He’s taken to the beach in the dark where Tyrion, Jon, and Daenerys wait. An obviously conflicted Tyrion admits to Varys that it was he who turned him in. Varys says, “I hope I’m wrong. Goodbye old friend.”

Daenerys sentences him to die. By dragon fire. Holy crap that was harsh! The electric chair is walking across a carpet in winter compared with death by dragon.

Dany and Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) are alone together. She gives him Missandei’s “only possession.” It’s the slave collar she brought with her across the narrow sea. He throws it into the fire.

Jon enters and Dany tells him Sansa betrayed his trust and told his secret. “This is a victory for her…She killed Varys as much as I did.” She says that the people of Westeros love him and not her. “I don’t have love here. I only have fear.” Jon says that he loves her and she will always be his queen. She wants to know if that’s all she is, his queen. They kiss and again it’s Jon who breaks away. It’s clear the answer is yes. She is not pleased. “All right then, let it be fear.”

Tyrion and Dany are arguing about burning King’s Landing. She thinks showing mercy by sparing the city is weakness. She sends Grey Worm to take the Unsullied and wait outside the city. Dany tells Tyrion that Jaime was stopped trying to get past her lines. She blames Tyrion for his brother trying to get back to Cersei. She tells him, “The next time you fail me will be the last time you fail me.”

Tyrion and Jon meet up with Ser Davos and the rest of the army. Dany wants to attack by daybreak. Tyrion asks Davos for a favor. “I’m not going to like this favor, am I?”

The Hound and Arya are stopped outside King’s Landing. A guard asks who she is and where she’s going. Not one to beat around the bush, Arya gives him the truth. “I’m Arya Stark. I’m here to kill Queen Cersei.” The Hound adds, “Think about it. She kills Cersei, the war’s over.” The hapless guard actually says, “I have to talk to my captain.”

Back with Dany’s army, Tyrion is attempting to speak Valyrian to an Unsullied soldier. After several bad, but humorous attempts, a soldier tells him, “We speak the common tongue.” Thank the lord. This could have gone on forever. He wants to be alone with “the prisoner.” It must be Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.)

Jaime tells him they recognized him by his golden hand. Tyrion wants to know why he didn’t take it off. “Cersei once called me the ‘stupidest Lannister.’” Tyrion is incredulous that his brother is “going back to die with her.” He suggests Jaime convince her to give up, because of her child. Jaime says the “child is the reason she’ll never give an inch.”

Tyrion is convinced the city will fall in the morning. He doesn’t want his brother to die. He tells him to get Cersei out of the city. He gives him a plan to get out. Jaime gives his brother his word he’ll try to get out. Tyrion believes he’s repaying his brother. I don’t think Jaime means to keep his word. In any case, Tyrion gives him the signal about the bells and brushes off Jaime’s observation that “his queen” will kill him if she finds out. He thinks that in the end if she can take the throne, she’ll thank him for making it possible without “wading through a river of blood.” “Tens of thousands of innocent lives, one not particularly innocent dwarf. Seems like a fair trade.” They are saying goodbye. Tyrion tells Jaime, “if it weren’t for you, I’d never have survived my childhood…You were the only one who didn’t treat me like a monster.” They are crying in each other’s arms! I can’t take this. It can’t be the last time we see either of them!

Then, next morning, Euron the Despicable (Pilou Asbaek) is on a boat looking out over the harbor and arming the Scorpions. The city is preparing for battle. Citizens are gathering their children and locking their shutters. The Hound and Arya are among the crowd heading into the Red Keep. It does appear that a cloaked Jaime is headed there as well.

The Golden Company, with Harry Strickland (Marc Rissmann) at the head, is waiting outside the gates, facing Dany’s army. Tyrion tells Jon, “If you hear the bells ring, they’ve surrendered. Call off your men.”

Cersei is looking smug, with The Mountain at her back, safe inside the Keep. She’s closing the gates! Thousands of people (Arya and Jaime among them) are locked outside! So much for keeping the people safe!

The Iron fleet is in the harbor. Euron hears something. He looks up. Is it a dragon? Yes! It’s Drogon with Dany aboard. Of course, he’s got his infernal machines ready. But Drogon is setting things on fire before he can get off a bolt! Dany comes back around. The fleet is ablaze! Finally, the damn dragon is doing some damage. She got the upper hand and the fleet is destroyed! (Is Euron dead? Doubtful. Too easy.)

Suddenly the walls of King’s Landing explode outward! The vaunted Golden Company is decimated. Goodbye Harry, we hardly knew ye. Then they are overrun by the remaining Dothraki Screamers! (Sweet baby jeebus that was quick!) Drogon and Dany’s armies are making mincemeat of the Lannister army and the Golden Company!

Cersei is still in the Keep, no longer looking smug as her city burns. Lickspittle Qyburn enters. He tells her the Iron Fleet is burning, the Scorpions have been destroyed. Cersei says, “The Red Keep’s never fallen. It won’t fall today.” Qyburn (Anton Lesser) says, “Yes, Your Grace,” but does not sound convinced.

Tyrion looks toward the Keep, waiting for the bells. Jon watches as Drogon lands on the city walls. He’s obviously waiting for Dany to light it up and dreading it. Huzzah! The Lannisters drop their swords in surrender. Jon looks relieved.

Jaime is still trying to get to Cersei. Tyrion still waits. Dany is atop Drogon. And yeah, she looks bonkers. The bells ring signaling the surrender! Dany hears them but doesn’t freaking care. She and Drogon fly to the Red Keep. Cersei sees them coming. Below citizens are running in terror. Drogon is indeed lighting the mofos up. As Drogon’s fire boxes in the Lannister army, Grey Worm and the Unsullied wait on the other side. He is clearly out for revenge.

Jon tries to keep the army from charging since he knows there has been a surrender. Cersei looks frightened for the first time as she watches from her perch. This is not how she thought this morning would go.

The armies are all running amok. Civilians are being murdered in the streets. Jon is watching his worst fears come true.

Jaime has made it to the boat Tyrion promised. Who emerges from the sea but Euron. Jaime says he wants to get Cersei out. Euron wants to fight him. This idiot thinks he’s a king because he f*cked the queen. Jaime has had enough and lunges at him as Drogon is still overhead blowing shit up and the world is ending. Euron and Jaime are fighting. Jaime’s sword is on the ground. Euron grabs it and stabs Jaime!! NO! Are you freaking kidding me?!? That asshole gets to end Jaime after all he’s been through and right under Cersei’s nose?!? What an ignominious end! I protest!

Cersei is in tears as Qyburn comes for her. She knows it’s over.

Euron is boasting as Jaime wheezes. He’s not dead! F**K! Euron stabs him some more. Jaime stabs Euron! Jaime, who is somehow still on his feet, walks away as Euron yells, “I got you! I’m the man who killed Jaime Lannister.”

Arya and Clegane are inside the Keep, watching the dragon outside. He tries to tell Arya to go home. (He thinks he’s going to keep her safe.) He says, “If you come with me, you die here.” Arya uses his name and says, “Sandor, thank you.” Arya looks frightened, but I liked this ending to their journey.

Qyburn, Cersei, and The Mountain are trying to leave the Keep. The walls are crashing down around them. Clegane is there to meet his brother. Cersei commands Ser Gregor to stay by her side. When Qyburn insists he “obey” his queen, The Mountain kills him! Good! The monster killed his creator! Cersei keeps walking as the brothers face each other.

Sandor is trying to fight with his sword which is becoming more ineffective with every thrust. He knocks The Mountain’s helmet off. We see what’s under there and it ain’t pretty.

Cersei is looking for escape as the Keep continues to crumble. She can hear Drogon. Suddenly she’s face to face with Jaime! He’s still alive. She whimpers and they go to each other and embrace. The Keep is falling apart around them. Jaime is obviously gravely wounded. She notices. He tries to get her away.

Back to Clegane Bowl. Sandor runs his brother through but the monster won’t die. He swats Sandor away and down the stairs then pulls the sword from his body.

Arya is trying to get out of the city – or is she still looking for Cersei? The city is about to become dust. Everywhere there are wounded and dying civilians and fleeing soldiers. It’s complete chaos. She’s down and being trampled.

This is intercut with scenes of The Mountain beating his brother to a pulp. It’s as if Arya can feel it. A civilian finds her and helps her up. She’s caught in a mad crush!

Sandor is bleeding profusely. The Mountain is choking him but he won’t give up. He stabs at his older brother, begging him to die. The Mountain is trying to do an Oberyn on Sandor when the latter stabs his brother in the eye. Though he’s now blind in one eye, he manages to rush his brother and they both fall from the Keep into the burning city below. They die together!! A fitting end for them both! (And in fire so I was sorta right.)

Where’s Arya?? She’s bleeding and unconscious among the rubble! Now she’s up. Where is she going to go? She’s badly hurt but still upright. She sees the woman who helped her earlier. Tells her she must keep moving. She exhorts everyone to follow her out of the city! The Dothraki are killing anything that moves! WHAT THE ACTUAL F**K JUST HAPPENED?!?! Did Drogon just torch Arya?!?! NOOOOOOOO I do not accept that that is how the hero of the Battle of Winterfell is going to die!

Jaime and Cersei are trying to get to the boat. Cersei is crying. She doesn’t want to die. Doesn’t want her baby to die. Jaime is trying to reassure her that nothing else matters except them. He calms her down but it’s too late. The Keep falls on top of them. This is how Cersei and Jaime end. In each other’s arms. (I don’t know what his motives actually were when he left Winterfell. If she hadn’t been a whimpering mess, maybe he had planned to kill her. I choose to believe this.)

OH MY GOD ARYA IS ALIVE! YES!!! Not even singed, but, holy crap is she in bad shape! She’s as battered as King’s Landing! As she looks around, a white horse appears. Is it the one she rode in on or is it a figment of her imagination? She extends her hand to take the reins and whispers to soothe it. It must be real since she’s now riding out of the city that is now a pile of ashes as Tyrion had predicted and feared.

And fade to black! Sweet baby jeebus I’m spent! There’s nothing left and yet still so much for the final episode to handle! I need a drink.

*All About Eve” (1950) – written/directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz

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‘The Spanish Princess’ Episode 2 Recap: “Fever Dream” is Princess Catherine’s Nightmare

Rebecca Murray

May 12, 2019

The Spanish Princess Episode 2 — Stephanie Levi-John, Charlotte Hope, Alan McKenna, Nadia Parkes, Laura Carmichael, and Olly Rix in ‘The Spanish Princess’ (Photo Credit: Starz)

Episode two of Starz’s gorgeous period drama The Spanish Princess begins with the newly married Prince Arthur (Angus Imrie) and Princess Catherine (Charlotte Hope) exiting the church to the roar of the crowd. Once at home, Prince Arthur wonders if being the Princess of Wales scares Catherine, and she assures her new husband she’s it doesn’t. She’s happy the marriage has brought peace.

Catherine welcomes Arthur to their wedding bed, but he seems lost and unsure of what’s expected. They kiss and Arthur moves quickly on top of her, while Catherine urges him to remain calm. When she slowly moves her hand up his leg, she discovers he’s flaccid.

Arthur turns his back on his wife.

On her wedding night, Catherine dreams of Prince Henry.

The next morning Arthur tells his wife she speaks in Spanish in her sleep. He also informs her there’s a banquet planned that the day and they’ll be required to dance.

Princess Catherine’s ladies-in-waiting, Rosa (Nadia Parkes) and Lina (Stephanie Levi-John), discuss the eligible men in court. Lina knows they all have lands and then pointedly reminds Rosa not all of them already have wives.

Prince Henry (Ruairi O’Connor) picks on his older brother, calling him a celibate monk. Henry thinks Catherine’s too much of a woman for him, but Arthur fights back. He tells Henry and his two cohorts, “Gentleman, last night I was in Spain.”

Catherine breaks up the brothers’ conversation, getting her own dig in at Henry by hinting she burned his letters last night.

Lina attends to the bed and discovers Catherine did not have sex with Arthur. She’s sent out to fetch rosemary but stopped in her task by a man who introduces himself as a potential suitor. Lina’s shocked to learn it will be Lady Margaret and not Princess Catherine selecting her husband.

Lina insults the man, saying she’ll choose her own husband, adding he’ll be a man, not a boy.

Lady Margaret (Harriet Walter) gives Maggie Pole (Laura Carmichael) instructions for minding Arthur. She inquires as to why Maggie avoids Princess Catherine, and Maggie doesn’t provide an answer. Lady Margaret demands to be kept up on any news of a potential pregnancy. If Princess Catherine’s pregnant, Spain will be forced to send the remaining balance of Catherine’s dowry.

Queen Elizabeth (Alexandra Moen) and King Henry VII (Elliot Cowan) address members of the court, congratulating Princess Catherine and Prince Arthur – the future of the kingdom. “England and Spain united in you,” says King Henry.

The banquet begins and Princess Catherine is seated next to King Henry. Princess Margaret (“Meg”) teases her brother Henry when she finds him fixated on Princess Catherine. “Poor thing, climbing under the sheets with my cadaverous brother,” says Henry.

Prince Arthur takes Princess Catherine’s hand to lead her in a dance. Queen Elizabeth corners Maggie Pole to ask again about plots against the King, and Maggie denies having any knowledge. She breaks away from the Queen to help poor Catherine who doesn’t know the English dances.

Princess Catherine tries to follow the dance steps but shortly gives up to follow Maggie from the hall. She sinks to her knees and begs forgiveness for what was done in her name. “I throw myself upon your mercy. I did not know,” pleads Catherine.

Maggie’s obviously struggling with her emotions as Princess Catherine confesses she’s only now aware Maggie’s brother, who was an innocent, was put to death because of his possible claim to the throne. Princess Catherine, again, delivers a heartfelt apology before returning to the banquet.

Prince Arthur and Prince Henry taunt each other on the dance floor before Henry lifts Princess Catherine in the air. Arthur demands his brother leave Catherine alone.

At just that moment Moors arrive and Princess Catherine is clearly displeased. They’ve come to strike a marriage arrangement for Princess Margaret to wed King James IV so there may be peace between England and Scotland.

That evening, Prince Arthur asks his bride if she enjoyed the day. He’s jealous of his brother and of the letters his wife and Henry exchanged prior to her arrival. For her part, Princess Catherine feels responsible for the murder of Edward Plantagenet. Princess Arthur blames her mother for Edward’s death; Princess Catherine is equally convinced the death was commanded by Queen Elizabeth.

The Royal newlyweds have not consummated their marriage, and Princess Catherine is frustrated by Prince Arthur’s lack of desire. She notes the cold and damp shrink all desire and joy, and he’s preventing her from performing her duties.

Morning arrives and Prince Henry’s jealous of his brother, who it’s assumed will become the King of England, and of his sister who’s set to become the Queen of Scotland. Lady Margaret assures him he has the heart of a lion, the soul of a poet, and that God has plans for him.

Princess Catherine and Prince Arthur prepare for their trip to the first municipality the Royal couple will rule. It’s basically a training exercise for when they become King and Queen of England. Richard Pole and Margaret Pole will be attending to them. It’s clear from Edward Stafford’s short description of what’s in store that Princess Catherine’s lady-in-waiting Rosa has divulged secrets about Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine’s wedding bed to her lover.

Princess Catherine, Prince Arthur, and their party arrive at Ludlow Castle in Shropshire on the Welsh border. Catherine’s unhappy no one warned her about the dull English light.

Prince Arthur has a heart-to-heart with Margaret Pole (“Aunt Maggie”), worried because Catherine never saw a portrait of him prior to their marriage. They talk about missing Edward and the games they’d play if he were there with them. They hug and console each other before Arthur confesses his mother asked him to spy on her. “We out here have a chance to be happy,” replies Aunt Maggie.

Prince Arthur returns to his room to find the room lit by dozens of candles. Princess Catherine wishes to calm his fears and tells him her story so that he’ll be less afraid of their union. She explains her family made all of Spain Catholic but there’s another side to her family. They eat at low tables, live in rooms studded with jewels, and she respects the beauty of Islam although she’s a Catholic.

Prince Arthur asks to know more about her home. She describes the first room as small, which shocks Arthur since he’s heard it was a lavish palace. She explains you go through the small room and then encounter the massive Golden Chamber. Prince Arthur admits he can’t remember a time when he wasn’t betrothed to her. Catherine believes they’re masters of their own destinies now and they have time to learn about each other.

They kiss and Arthur helps Catherine to her feet. He helps her undress and does not shy away from her body this time. The marriage is finally consummated.

Maggie Pole hears the murmurs of sex from outside the door and smiles before walking away.

After, they relax in bed and Catherine looks genuinely happy as Arthur reads aloud the adventures of King Arthur and Camelot. He promises to make his reign echo King Arthur’s and assures her he’ll be a fair and just ruler.

Lady Margaret receives a note confirming Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine have consummated their marriage.

Princess Margaret complains to her grandmother about the behavior of the men representing Scotland’s King James. They’re drunkards and they leer at the married women in court. They’ve given her the nickname Little Fishy and treat the Royal family and the palace with great disrespect.

Lady Margaret is not a sympathetic ear, although one point did hit its mark. Princess Margaret thinks it’s possible King James will be dead in a year, and will his successor want peace or choose war? England’s paying good money for this marriage arrangement, yet there’s no guarantee whoever succeeds King James to the throne will honor the agreement with England.

King Henry VII will not be able to pay Princess Margaret’s dowry if Spain doesn’t pay the remaining dowry owed for Princess Catherine. Lady Margaret believes they should hold onto Princess Margaret until they receive Spain’s money. It’s unlikely Scotland will attack now that England and Spain have signed a treaty. King Henry’s sure Spain will pay, but his adviser agrees with Lady Margaret.

“The Scottish peace will hold without an expensive wedding,” says Lady Margaret. “It has to.”

Time away from court and the Royal family has given Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine room to truly get acquainted. They share a romantic kiss while on a walk through the garden, and Arthur stops to retrieve a note nestled among the flowers. It’s a poem and Princess Catherine calls it “very fine,” not quite the reaction Prince Arthur was hoping for.

Lina and Rose walk by as Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine are huddled together, and they note how the couple are spending a lot of time playing games and just being alone together. They discuss potential husbands and what’s expected of them, but Rosa is set on continuing her affair with Edward Stafford.

Lina becomes ill while they’re talking and races away. Oviedo (Aaron Cobham) finds her passed out and takes her to the barn. He stripes off her confining dress as Rosa watches, concerned. Oviedo places wet rags on her shoulders and forehead, asking her to think of home and relax.

Lina admits she’s frightened and Oviedo tells her his story to calm her down. He remains by her side as she fights off the illness.

Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine join the others in the garden. The children play as the adults relax.

The next morning Princess Catherine wakes up alone in bed. Prince Arthur’s side of the bed is wet and she calls out for her ladies. No one responds.

Princess Catherine tracks down Prince Arthur in another wing of the castle. He’s gravely ill and Catherine’s kept away from him as the doctor tends to his illness. Princess Catherine wants to stay with her husband, but Maggie pulls her away. “It is ‘the sweat.’ Thousands died when the Tudor army brought it to England,” explains Maggie.

As the outbreak takes hold, Maggie sends her children away to keep them safe.

King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth receive a message from Ludlow and immediately set out to be with Prince Arthur.

Prince Arthur’s bed-ridden and Princess Catherine will not be dissuaded from being at his side. She’s determined to care for him and sends everyone out of his room.

Arthur warns her to stay away but Catherine remains. She asks what he wants and Arthur, sweating and in great pain, replies, “I want to live.”

Princess Catherine assures him his father is on the way. He apologizes because he believes Catherine will be sent back to Spain. “I dreamed of Camelot and Teddy was a Knight of the Round Table,” says Arthur. “You had a place set for me.”

Catherine cries as she holds tight to his trembling hand.

Prince Arthur’s siblings and grandmother receive word Arthur has died. Lady Margaret and Prince Henry exchange a glance, conveying much without speaking.

Lina survives the sweat.

King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth arrive too late to say goodbye to their oldest son. Elizabeth falls to her knees and screams out, “No!”

Prince Arthur’s body is prayed over and prepared for burial. His heart’s removed for separate burial.

King Henry VII wants assurance Arthur found happiness with Catherine. When Catherine says he did, he orders her to return to Westminster where they’ll wait to learn if she’s with child. He adds, “Pray God you are,” before leaving the burial of Arthur’s heart.

Maggie and Queen Elizabeth remain behind and Maggie reminds her of the Tudor curse. “I told you this would happen, Lizzie. When you let Teddy and your own brother die on that scaffold, I told you the Tudor curse would rip you and your children,” says Maggie through tears.

Maggie warns, “Perhaps you and the King have enemies after all, Your Grace.”

Lady Margaret speaks with her granddaughter Princess Margaret and explains circumstances have changed. England will need Scotland more than ever following the death of Prince Arthur.

Prince Arthur’s body is moved onto the carriage for the trip back to Westminster. Maggie asks Queen Elizabeth what will happen to Princess Catherine and Queen Elizabeth reveals she does not care what happens to the Spanish princess.

‘Lucifer’ Season 4 Episode 4 Recap: “All About Eve”

Rebecca Murray

May 11, 2019

Lucifer Season 4 Episode 4 — Tom Ellis and Inbar Lavi in ‘Lucifer’ season 4 (Photo Credit: John P. Fleenor/Netflix)

Her partnership with Lucifer’s over, according to Chloe, as season four episode four of Netflix’s Lucifer begins. Dan’s fine with that as long as Chloe’s okay, which she claims to be.

This episode’s murder involves a jewelry designer named Pablo Silva who was strangled after exiting a private plane. There are pistachio shells under the body but none on board. However, there’s a wide variety of drugs on the plane. Ella (Aimee Garcia) warns to keep Luci away from the evidence and then realizes he’s not around. Chloe (Lauren German) confirms Luci won’t be working with them anymore.

Apparently, Pablo was transporting a super expensive necklace which has now gone missing. Pablo’s business partner, Toby Golden (Chris McGarry), explains he was going to meet Pablo after receiving a frantic voice mail from him. The jewelry designer was mixed up with dangerous dudes (in the background of the call speaking Arabic) who wanted the necklace. Toby had no idea Pablo was in trouble until he listened to the phone call.

Dan (Kevin Alejandro) remembers a guy named Turkish Pete who speaks Arabic and likes pistachios. Case solved. Episode over, right? Nope.

Dan takes off to do some investigating while Ella demands the deets on Chloe’s split with Lucifer. Chloe doesn’t think their issues can be resolved, but she’s sure Luci’s handling it all just fine.

He’s not.

A disheveled Luci enters his club, hairy messy and robe open. He grabs a few bottles and the bartender thinks he should stay and hang out, indicating the gorgeous woman who showed up at the end of episode three.

She’s dancing with abandoned enthusiasm and Luci looks mesmerized as he approaches the packed dance floor.

Dressed in white and barefoot, the woman’s glistening from sweat and obviously enjoying the music. Lucifer immediately recognizes her as Eve (Inbar Lavi). Yes, that Eve!

The two head upstairs to his place where they can talk in private. She found a way out of Heaven and came straight to LA, even though that’s not supposed to be possible. Adam, on the other hand, is still in Heaven where everyone is so happy. (Eve says happy like it’s a nasty word.)

Eve confesses something’s been missing and she reminds Luci she never chose Adam. They got along but he didn’t love the real her. Plus, paradise is just too predictable. Eve decided to take in all the stories she could from every human she met in Heaven. She realized what she truly desires is excitement and thrills.

Eve came to Earth to party and see her ex, Lucifer. However, Luci’s not ready for a hook-up and books her a room at his friend’s prestigious hotel.

After helping her into an Uber (or Lyft, whatever), he realizes the guy behind the wheel isn’t the right driver. The driver demands the necklace and Luci immediately declares he’s canceling the ride. (No five-star rating for this imposter!) The guy fires, hitting Luci square in the face. Eve panics and the driver takes off.

She’s amazed to see Luci sit up with no noticeable wound. Luci realizes Eve hasn’t been completely forthcoming about what she’s been up to. (You think?!)

Back in his apartment, Luci demands to know what’s going on. Eve explains Pablo gave her a ride on his jet and was showing off the expensive necklace he made for an Arab guy. With Luci’s prompting, she remembers it was meant for Bashir Al-Fassad. Luci knows Bashir is dangerous and he’ll stop at nothing to get the necklace back. But, Eve doesn’t have the necklace.

Catching up with Linda (Rachael Harris), Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt) and Amenadiel (DB Woodside) hover over her as her doctor checks on the baby. Maze reacts violently when the doctor tries to spread the ultra-sound gel over Linda’s belly and Linda has to calm her down.

Maze, now under control, watches the monitor and tells Linda, “Better luck next time,” when the doctor declares it’s a boy. Amenadiel wonders if there’s a second or third protrusion – a question the doctor’s likely never been asked before. When he explains he was looking for the wings, the doctor laughs when Linda covers for the papa-to-be and says everyone likes to think of their babies as angels.

Back with Chloe and Dan, Chloe’s busy trying to convince herself she’s better off without Luci as her partner. (Boo!) Dan doesn’t need any convincing.

Bashir welcomes them to his home and Chloe cuts right to the chase, asking about Pablo. One of Bashir’s men – the same guy who shot Luci in the face – blurts out that Pablo was alive when they left him. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Dan grabs pistachios away from Turkish Pete and Chloe whispers to him to relax. She thought he would be calmer than Lucifer. Bashir hears the comment and says he loves Lucifer (who doesn’t?) and realizes Chloe’s the partner Luci “gushes” about. Chloe assumes he owes Luci a favor and she’s collecting.

Bashir admits he knows Pablo and that Pablo was in debt to him. Bashir agreed to call the debt paid in exchange for the one-of-a-kind necklace. However, Pablo lost the necklace.

Bashir and his men roughed him up but left him alive. Bashir even has a video from Pablo on the plane and it confirms Pablo was on his way with the necklace. The video features two women (one is Eve) partying with Pablo during the flight.

Lucifer and Eve show up at Bashir’s just as Chloe and Dan are leaving, and the Devil and his ex hide in the bushes until they’re gone.

Eve’s thrilled about the prospect of Luci bashing Bashir in the balls – she’s always wanted to bash a guy in his privates – but Luci doesn’t think any bashing will take place today. (Eve’s enthusiasm and energy level are through the roof! She’s quite the perky little thing.)

Bashir’s happy to see Luci and explains Chloe was there asking about Pablo’s death. Eve claims she had nothing to do with the missing necklace and didn’t even know Pablo was dead. The dude who shot Luci in the face walks up with a drink for his uncle, Bashir, shocked to see Lucifer walking around with no visible wound. The dude, whose name is George, is scolded by Bashir for shooting someone without his permission.

Bashir realizes Eve is the woman from the plane. Luci offers to wipe Bashir’s debt to him clean if he leaves Eve alone. Unfortunately, that debt’s already been paid thanks to Chloe arriving first. Luci offers to pay Bashir for the necklace, but he won’t go for it. The necklace was supposed to be a gift for his wife.

Eve totally confuses Bashir when she explains her history with Luci, dating back to the Garden of Eden and the forbidden fruit. She says it wasn’t an apple but more like a…very…large…banana. Luci grins and agrees.

Luci offers a new deal: Bashir will leave Eve alone and Luci will find the necklace.

Linda arrives home with Amenadiel and he’s ecstatic about raising a son, teaching him to fight and to fly. He even comes up with a name for the baby: Aminidiel. Get it? A “mini” diel. He thinks his child will be a baby warrior angel.

Linda’s been staring at the ceiling fan since the minute she arrived home. The idea of a flying baby is freaking her out. Her house isn’t ready for a baby who flies. She wonders how they’ll keep an angel baby safe and Amenadiel admits no one has ever seen a baby angel before. This is uncharted territory!

Angels appeared fully formed so Linda’s baby is a first in all of human and angel history. Amenadiel is thrilled but Linda’s terrified because no one knows what to expect.

Back at Luci’s, Eve cleans up while Luci asks if she has any idea where the necklace might be. He promises not to let anything happen to her as they work through possible scenarios of the necklace’s location. She remembers there was another girl on board the plane. Her name was Odessa and she liked to flirt and giggle. She also tried on the necklace.

Eve recalls Odessa had a friend named Dalton and she spent time at his place. Luci corrects her saying Dalton’s Place is a bar. Off they go to find Odessa.

Meanwhile, over at the station the investigation is also narrowing its focus to Odessa. She’s a con artist who meets guys in bars, goes home with them, and then rips them off. She likes to hang out at bars and the list of her common haunts is lengthy.

Luci and Eve arrive at Dalton’s Place and spot Odessa right off the bat. She flirts with Luci and then says hi to Eve who she recognizes from the plane. They ask her to hand over the necklace, but Odessa calls in backup (a bunch of rough-looking dudes in the bar). Eve’s super excited she might get to participate in her first bar fight and check ball bashing off her bucket list.

As Luci backs a guy off by flashing his Devil eyes, another dude roughly grabs Eve. She jerks away and Luci launches the guy onto a chair. The taser dude attacks again but it has no effect on the Devil. It does, however, knock out another guy after Luci redirects its aim. Luci turns the weapon on his attacker, knocking him out also.

More guys jump into the fight, one of whom is armed with a knife. Luci, of course, doesn’t break a sweat as he tosses each attacker aside. Eve, who’s absolutely gleeful about this turn of events, picks up a bottle and smashes another combatant over the head. He’s hurt but not badly and he turns to punch her. Stupid idea as a waitress steps in and knocks him out before high-fiving Eve.

A full-on brawl has taken over the bar. Eve can’t take her eyes off Lucifer as he uses anything at hand, including a pool rack, to take down any and all comers. He’s doing fantastic until Chloe arrives which means he’s vulnerable. A pool stick skewers his shoulder.

Chloe got the call about a bar fight connected to her case. Luci isn’t happy to see her and refuses to say why he’s in the bar. In fact, he barely looks at Chloe as he walks out of the bar.

Dan grabs Odessa for questioning as Eve chases Luci out of the bar. Eve realizes Luci and Chloe used to be an item, and she wonders why the pool stick hurt him. He promises he’ll explain later.

Chloe and Dan question Odessa at the station, and Chloe’s first question is how she knows Lucifer. Odessa says she just met him and then spills the beans about the necklace. She was onboard the plane to steal the necklace but didn’t kill Pablo. She turned over the necklace to the independent broker who hired her. She doesn’t know his name but does know where to find him if they agree not to charge her for stealing the necklace.

Odessa explains there’s a black-market jewelry auction the following night. The necklace will be put up for sale there and because Pablo’s dead, it will sell for twice as much.

Chloe returns home and Maze is there. They’ve been avoiding each other but now they’re ready to talk. Maze calls Chloe a backstabbing liar who plotted against Lucifer and kept her from Trixie. Chloe admits that’s true but wants Maze to think about how it feels to be the only human who knows Heaven and Hell are real.

Maze says Chloe’s weak and offers to move out. Chloe doesn’t object. As Maze is leaving, she tosses out the tidbit that Linda handled the truth much better than Chloe.

The news sends Chloe straight to Linda’s place. Linda admits she’s known for quite a while and Chloe opens up about running away for a month. Linda reveals she’s also seen Lucifer’s face and when Chloe asks how she handled that, and knowing Maze is a demon, Linda says it wasn’t easy. “None of it is. The Devil…demon…dating an angel…having his baby,” says Linda, ticking down the list.

Chloe’s stunned to learn Linda’s going to have an angel baby. Linda finally admits she’s freaking out because it’s hitting her all at once how dangerous her friends are and how dangerous the baby might be. “There’s a good chance it could come out with wings. Wings! Is that even safe for a human to deliver?! Should I have a C-section? Will insurance cover any of this?” asks Linda, definitely in full freak-out mode. (Rachael Harris is nailing this scene – not that she doesn’t usually do so!)

Chloe assures Linda if anyone can handle this, it’s her. Linda admits she didn’t run because, despite all the bad, there’s a lot of good. She and Maze are best friends and Lucifer’s the most fascinating patient. Plus, now there’s a baby to look forward to. She can’t wait to meet her son.

Chloe calls her relationship with Lucifer complicated. Linda suggests it all boils down to whether Chloe wants Luci in her life or not.

Eve shows up at the station and offers to help Chloe with the investigation. Chloe questions Eve on her involvement and Eve, who knows darn well what’s up, mentions the name Bashir to be helpful. She doesn’t know anyone who wanted to hurt Pablo.

Eve tells Chloe she seems kind, smart, and a little sad. Chloe wonders what Eve’s talking about and Eve assures her there’s someone for everyone.

Lucifer’s lurking around as Eve keeps Chloe busy.

Chloe finishes up and checks in with Ella. Immediately Ella acts guilty and Chloe spots two mugs, one of which is filled with whiskey. Ella assures her she wouldn’t drink on the job and then spills the beans that Luci stopped by with her favorite coffee. Chloe’s okay with that but not with the fact Ella told Luci about the jewelry action that very evening.

A tuxedoed Lucifer joins a stunning Eve for the auction. Their plan is to grab the necklace and take off before Chloe arrives. Lucifer heads backstage where the necklace has just been placed around a model’s neck. He’s introducing himself to the woman when she says, “Yes.” Yes, what? Yes, to anything. Luci’s pleased he’s still got it.

Luci and Eve toast to their success in grabbing the necklace and are about to leave when Chloe walks up. She’s dressed as a waitress and demands to know how Luci and Eve know each other. All Luci says is Eve’s his date.

Chloe reminds him she needs the necklace to catch a killer, but Luci pretends not to care. Chloe asks for help and Luci says he will if she lets them leave with the necklace. Chloe can’t promise that, but Eve convinces Lucifer to stay anyway.

Eve takes to the runway wearing the necklace as the bidding begins. Luci’s bidding, using the 69 auction paddle of course, and the bidding reaches $4 million. Luci takes matters into his own hands and bids $10 million to end the auction.

Chloe and Lucifer walk over to meet the necklace’s owner who…surprise!…is Turkish Pete. Turkish Pete hired Odessa to steal the necklace from Pablo, but he’s not the killer. Pete’s alibi checks out. However, Pete reveals Pablo was constantly getting bailed out by his business partner, Toby Golden. A lightbulb goes off and Chloe remembers the partner claimed not to know about Pablo’s problems.

While they’re talking, Eve’s backstage admiring the necklace in the mirror… Cue Pablo’s business partner.

Toby holds a gun to Eve’s head, forcing her to hand over the necklace. She screams for Lucifer and he and Chloe immediately react. Toby’s still got the gun to Eve’s head and Chloe tries to talk him down, saying she understands he’s always the reasonable one who had to clean up his partner’s messes. Toby says Pablo wasted their money, but everyone thought he was the fun one. He killed Pablo after discovering the necklace was missing.

The stand-off ends when Luci tells Eve she can do that thing she always wanted to do. She smacks Toby in his balls and Luci rushes in to toss Toby on the ground. Dan and the other cops arrive to place Toby under arrest as Lucifer asks for the necklace. Dan refuses to give it to him and so does Chloe, despite the fact Eve needs it to stay safe.

Back to the soon-to-be-mama, Linda’s place is now flying baby safe. There’s bubble wrap around the ceiling fan and around any corners or spots the baby may hurt himself. They’ve just completed the work when Maze arrives, luggage in tow. She’s moved out of Chloe’s and moving into somewhere she’s wanted – Linda’s place.

“Auntie Maze is here to help with the baby, whether you like it or not,” declares a very determined demon. Linda says she does like it and Maze has the greenlight to move in.

Ella thinks Chloe’s giving her the silent treatment at the station, but actually Chloe’s just thinking about Lucifer. She admits she gets so angry at him and can’t accept everything about him, but she misses him. “I’d rather have him in my life than not,” confesses Chloe.

Luci’s back home and pissed they were cheated out of the necklace. Eve suggests they steal it back from the cops and that they should celebrate. As she gets up to grab champagne, the necklace falls out of her purse. Luci’s confused and Eve reminds him that after they found the necklace, he said they would go their separate ways. She didn’t want that. She also admits she came back to Earth to be with him, like old times.

That period thousands of years ago was the best time of Eve’s life. Luci apologizes, telling her she’s made a mistake. Eve knows it’s because of Chloe, but also realizes Chloe doesn’t accept him for who he is. Eve claims she wouldn’t do that, and Luci says she doesn’t know him for who he really is. She asks he show himself and he does. Eve gently takes his face in her hands and calls him amazing. They kiss and are still holding each other when Chloe arrives at Lux and sees them together. She retreats without saying a word.

Recaps of Season 3 and 4:

– Lucifer Season 4 Episode 1 “Everything’s Okay” Recap
– Lucifer Season 4 Episode 2 “Somebody’s Been Reading Dante’s Inferno” Recap
– Lucifer Season 4 Episode 3 “O, Ye of Little Faith, Father” Recap
– Lucifer Season 4 Episode 5 “Expire Erect” Recap

‘Where’d You Go, Bernadette’ New Trailer: Cate Blanchett Takes Off on an Adventure

Rebecca Murray

May 10, 2019

Annapurna Pictures just released the second official trailer for the comedy, Where’d You Go, Bernadette. The 2019 release is based on the bestselling novel by Maria Semple and stars two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine, The Aviator) in the title role.

The cast of Where’d You Go, Bernadette includes Billy Crudup (Alien:Covenant), Kristen Wiig (The Last Man on Earth), Emma Nelson, James Urbaniak (Difficult People), Judy Greer (Ant-Man and the Wasp), Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars), Zoe Chao (The Comeback), and Laurence Fishburne (Last Flag Flying). Five-time Oscar nominee Richard Linklater directed from a script he co-wrote with Holly Gent and Vince Palmo.

Linklater’s behind the scenes team includes director of photography Shane F. Kelly, editor Sandra Adair, production designer Bruce Curtis, and costume designer Kari Perkins. Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, and Ginger Sledge produced, with Megan Ellison and Jillian Longnecker executive producing.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette will open in theaters on August 16, 2019. The film’s rated PG-13 for some strong language and drug material.

The Plot:

Based on the runaway bestseller, Where’d You Go, Bernadette is an inspiring comedy about Bernadette Fox (Blanchett), a loving mom who becomes compelled to reconnect with her creative passions after years of sacrificing herself for her family. Bernadette’s leap of faith takes her on an epic adventure that jump-starts her life and leads to her triumphant rediscovery.

‘The Voice’ Coaching Lineup Announced for Season 17

Rebecca Murray

May 10, 2019

The Voice Season 16 — John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Carson Daly, Blake Shelton, and Adam Levine return to ‘The Voice’ (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)

It doesn’t happen often but apparently The Voice is sticking with its current lineup of coaches. Three-time Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson and EGOT* winner John Legend will once again be joining original The Voice coaches Adam Levine and Blake Shelton for the upcoming 17th season of NBC’s popular singing competition.

Carson Daly is also confirmed to return to handle hosting duties.

The Voice was created by John de Mol and is executive produced by de Mol, Mark Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Amanda Zucker, Kyra Thompson, and Stijn Bakkers. The Voice has earned four Emmy Awards over its 16 season run. The current season is averaging 11.1 million viewers and the Monday shows have been beating their competition 22 of the last 23 telecasts.

Season 16 continues with the top eight performing on Monday, May 13th at 8pm ET/PT. The episode will feature the remaining artists pairing up and performing classic hits of The Beatles.

Coach Adam Levine once again will not be represented in the finals as he lost his remaining two contestants on Tuesday, May 7th. The eight finalists include five from Team Blake (Dexter Roberts, Gyth Rigdon, Kim Cherry, Carter Lloyd Horne, Andrew Sevener), two from Team Legend (Maelyn Jarmon, Shawn Sounds), and one from Team Clarkson (Rod Stokes).

On Tuesday, May 14th the season 16 top four finalists will be revealed.

A Rundown of Season 16, Courtesy of NBC:

The show’s innovative format features six stages of competition: the first begins with the Blind Auditions, then the Battle Rounds, Live Cross Battles and the Live Performance Shows. Additionally, the digital companion series, “The Comeback Stage,” returns in Season 16 and is more challenging than before. The series offers six artists, who were previously eliminated from the competition, a chance to return and compete for a spot in the Live Shows with help from a “fifth coach.” It will take more work to be awarded that coveted last spot in the live shows this season, however. Not only will the six artists who did not make teams in the Blinds return to compete against each other for a spot in the Live Shows with the help from this season’s “fifth coach” (Grammy-nominated artist Bebe Rexha), they will also perform against eliminated artists from later rounds, making the competition even more exciting.

During the Blind Auditions, the decisions from the musician coaches are based solely on voice and not on looks. The coaches hear the artists perform, but they don’t get to see them — thanks to rotating chairs. If a coach is impressed by the artist’s voice, he/she pushes a button to select the artist for his/her team. At this point, the coach’s chair will swivel so that he/she can face the artist he/she has selected. If more than one coach pushes his/her button, the power then shifts to the artists to choose which coach they want to work with. If no coach pushes his/her button, the artist is eliminated from the competition.

Also returning this season is the “block,” which adds another layer of excitement during the Blind Auditions. The recently redesigned coach chairs each have an extra set of buttons with the other three coaches’ names. The block button prevents a coach from adding a new artist to their team. The coaches can only use their block buttons on one artist for the entire first round of the competition. When a coach hits the block button with the name of the other three coaches, the coach who hit it automatically turns around. The “blocked” coach only discovers they are blocked if they press their button. The blocked coach’s chair will still turn, however, instead of their lane lighting up with their name, it says “BLOCKED.” If the coach doesn’t press their button, the block is still available for another audition.

Once the teams are set, the battle is on. The coaches dedicate themselves to developing their team of artists, giving them advice and sharing the secrets of their success, along with help from their celebrity advisers. This season the coaches enlisted music industry heavyweights to prepare their artists for the Battle Rounds. Legend teams up with Khalid, Clarkson with Kelsea Ballerini, Levine with Charlie Puth, and Blake Shelton with Brooks and Dunn.

During the Battle Rounds, the coaches will pit two of their own team members against each other to sing the same song together in front of a studio audience. After the vocal battle, the coach must choose which of his/her singers will advance to the next round of competition, while the losing artist is available to be stolen by another coach. Each coach has two steals available during the Battle Rounds.

At the end of the Battle Rounds, only the strongest members of each coach’s roster remain and proceed to the brand-new round, the Live Cross Battles.

For the first time in “Voice” history, the coaches will go head-to-head, pairing their artists against other coaches’ teams for the Live Cross Battles. All 32 artists will be seated by team on dramatically lit benches around each side of the stage. The coaches will put up artists on their team to go against an artist from another team. Each artist will perform an individual song and their fate is in America’s hands. America will get to vote overnight to decide the winner of each Cross Battle. The next day, Tuesday, Carson Daly will reveal the winners of each Cross Battle live on stage.

For the first time ever, the coaches will have the opportunity to Save or Steal eliminated artists live in the moment. After Daly reveals America’s vote for a particular pairing, a live countdown clock will appear. Coaches will only have 10 seconds to decide if they want to push their button to save or steal. Each coach will have one steal and one save to use over the course of Cross Battles, giving us the opportunity for multi-button steal/save moments!

We will leave the Cross Battles with a Top 24 heading into the next week of Live Shows.

In the Live Top 24 Elimination show, America will vote 8 artists through and each coach will have one save. The Voice’ ‘Fifth Coach,” Bebe Rexha will appear to support the final two Comeback Artists as they perform live for a chance to re-enter the competition as part of the Top 13 through the Instant Save. The winning artist will then indicate which team they would like to join.

In the final live performance phase of the competition, the top 13 artists will compete each week against each other and the television audience will vote to save their favorite artists. The artists with the lowest number of votes will be sent home immediately, leaving the middle three eligible to compete for the “Instant Save.” These artists will each perform a new song that represents why they should earn the save. America will then have the opportunity to save their favorite performer by tweeting out #VoiceSave along with the artist’s name. The two singers with the lowest number of votes during the “Instant Save” will be sent home each week. In the end, one will be named “The Voice” and will receive the grand prize of a recording contract.

* – Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards

‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Station 19’ and ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ Pick Up New Seasons

Rebecca Murray

May 10, 2019

Station 19 Season 2 Episode 10 — Danielle Savre and Grey Damon in ‘Station 19’ season 2 episode 10 (ABC/Mitch Haaseth)

Grey’s Anatomy has officially been renewed for two more seasons. ABC announced the record-setting medical drama will return for seasons 16 and 17.

Station 19 also received a renewal order from ABC and will be back on the network’s primetime schedule for the 2019-2020 season. In addition, the award-winning drama How to Get Away with Murder has been picked up for a sixth season.

The Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 universe will feel even more cohesive in the upcoming season. The network’s set Krista Vernoff (Shameless, Law & Order) to executive produce and handle showrunning duties on both series, “giving fans two hours of feels on Thursdays and providing a seamless crossover narrative on both series.”

“I’m thrilled to continue at the helm of Grey’s Anatomy, and I’m honored and energized by the opportunity to run Station 19, as well. To expand upon the world Stacy McKee created, and further merge it with the world of Grey’s, is an exciting challenge,” said Vernoff.

The Grey’s Anatomy/Station 19 crossover event was a rating success for both series. Per the network, Grey’s tied their five week high while Station 19 scored its second highest broadcast.

“Everyone at Shondaland is thrilled that our fans’ commitment to TGIT continues,” stated Shonda Rhimes and producing partner Betsy Beers. “We are so proud of Krista and Pete and the work they do. Making the choice to have Krista oversee Station 19 was easy — the creativity she brings to the Grey’s Anatomy universe continues a tradition of storytelling we hold dear.”

How to Get Away with Murder held the top spot in the Thursday at 10pm ET/PT rankings over its fifth season. The series has earned American Film Institute Award for Television Program of the Year, a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series, a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series, an Emmy Award and SAG Awards.

‘Judy’ Teaser Trailer: Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland

Rebecca Murray

May 10, 2019

The first teaser trailer for Judy features Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The one minute trailer shows off clips of Zellweger at different stages of Judy’s life and on stage as she performs Garland’s hits.

In addition to Oscar winner Renee Zellweger (Cold Mountain), the cast includes Jessie Buckley as Rosalyn Wilder, Finn Wittrock as Mickey Deans, Rufus Sewell as Sidney Luft, and Michael Gambon as Bernard Delfont. Rupert Goold (True Story) directed from a screenplay by Tom Edge.

“I had always wanted to make a film that explores great performance and its cost. The most fertile ground for such exploration seemed to be at the end of a lifetime of performance,” explained director Rupert Goold. “For over 40 years Judy Garland had laughed and loved and entertained no matter what life threw at her, and her public adored her for it. But she paid a price in a childhood lost to Hollywood, an emotional exhaustion and a yearning for a ‘normal’ life beyond the rainbow. It is a powerful and moving story that I hope will inspire new audiences to discover Judy Garland’s joyous legacy.

I felt Renee was uniquely qualified to play Judy. First, because she is a great, Oscar-winning dramatic actress. Second, she is a wonderful comedienne. And third, I knew from Chicago that she could sing. I made it clear to Renee that I wasn’t looking for an impersonation of Judy Garland’s inimitable voice, but what I wanted was for Renee to make the songs her own and this she did to thrilling effect.”

Roadside Attractions and LD Entertainment have set a September 27, 2019 theatrical release date.

The Plot:

“Winter 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland arrives in Swinging London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in The Wizard of Oz, but if her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown. As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of love seem undimmed as she embarks on a whirlwind romance with Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband.

Featuring some of her best-known songs, the film celebrates the voice, the capacity for love, and the sheer pizzazz of ‘the world’s greatest entertainer.'”

Judy star Renee Zellweger — Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland in ‘Judy’ (Photo Photo by David Hindley Courtesy of LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions)

Review: ‘Tolkien’ Starring Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins

Kevin Finnerty

May 10, 2019

“Since childhood I have been fascinated with language. I’ve invented my own,” says John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult) to Edith Bratt (Lily Collins), the young woman he’s hopelessly in love with in the biographical drama, Tolkien.

The film explores the early years of famous author J.R.R. Tolkien, beginning with the future novelist orphaned after the untimely death of his mother and becoming a ward of the Catholic Church. Father Francis (Colm Meaney) becomes his guardian and is in charge of his education.

While trying to fit in at school Tolkien becomes friends with three young lads: Robert Gilson, Christopher Wiseman, and Geoffrey Smith. It’s not long before the four kids become inseparable, more than friends and more like brothers.

As Tolkien enters his teenage years, he falls deeply in love with a young orphan lady named Edith Bratt. The two have known each other and been friends since they were children. Together, they sneak out to dine at a fancy tea room. They also attempt to see an opera since Edith is a big fan. Their relationship distracts Tolkien from his studies, affecting his grades and displeasing Father Francis. Concerned Tolkien might fail academically, Father Francis tells the 16-year-old boy he can’t see Edith anymore. If he still loves her when he turns 21, he can seek her hand then.

It’s while Tolkien’s at Oxford that WWI begins. Tolkien, along with his three friends who call themselves the fellowship, sign up and head to the front to serve their country. Tolkien experiences first-hand the horrors of war on the battleground which threatens to tear the fellowship he has with George, Christopher, and Robert apart and end any chance of him being with the love of his life, Edith.

All these early experiences and relationships would inspire Tolkien to write his iconic fantasy novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Tolkien stars Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins — Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins in ‘Tolkien’ (Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures © 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)

With beautiful cinematography, strong performances, and a sweet and romantic love story at its heart, Tolkien is an insightful and moving film about a man who uses the tragedies and triumphs in his life to create a fantastical and magical world of adventure and heroics.

Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins are perfectly cast as J.R.R. Tolkien and Edith Bratt, two young, talented, artistic dreamers who can’t help but fall for each other and inspire one another to follow their dreams. The scenes with Hoult and Collins are tender, poetic, and full of underlying passion. The charming romance is one of the best – and most emotional – elements of the film.

Director Dome Karukoski leaps back and forth in time between the brutality and carnage of the war at the front to Tolkien’s days as a school boy and teenager with a smoothness and direct sense of purpose in his style of filmmaking. The horrors of war and the scenes of death all around are powerful, shocking, and raw.

Tolkien is a well-written, superbly acted and crafted film that’s a worthy tribute to the famous author who created some of the most beloved characters and thrilling adventures in fantasy literature.

GRADE: B

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sequences of war violence

Running Time: 1 hour 52 minutes

Release Date: May 10, 2019

‘Lucifer’ Season 4 Episode 3 Recap: “O, Ye of Little Faith, Father”

Rebecca Murray

May 10, 2019

Lucifer Season 4 Episode 3 — Kevin Alejandro, Aimee Garcia and Lauren German in season 4 (Photo Credit: John P. Fleenor/Netflix)

Netflix’s Lucifer season four episode three picks up with Father Kinley (Graham McTavish) paying an unexpected visit to Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis). He introduces himself as a Vatican investigator and lies when he tells Luci he doesn’t believe he’s the actual Devil. He places the blame completely on Chloe’s shoulders, explaining he’s shown up at Lux to warn Lucifer he may be in danger. Chloe turned to the Church to “send the Devil back to Hell.”

Father Kinley confirms what Luci suspected: Chloe is having a difficult time accepting his true identity.

Ella (Aimee Garcia) shows up at work, hungover from too much Tequila. She’s been skipping church and explains to Chloe she and God are on a break.

Dan (Kevin Alejandro) is in a pissy mood but this time with good reason. Lucifer’s posted Chewbacca Voice Contest flyers all over the precinct with Dan’s phone number. Dan’s completely fed up with Luci but Chloe defends him, saying he’s trying to be better (in his own way).

Over at Lux, Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside) is looking forlorn at the bar but Luci’s sure his own troubles are much worse than his bro’s. They’re not. Amenadiel blurts out that Linda’s pregnant, and they both wonder how an angel impregnated a mortal. Amenadiel thinks Linda might be an angel, but Luci figures out that when Amenadiel lost his wings, he was just as human as Linda.

Lucifer shows up at work and Chloe (Lauren German) is trying to rehabilitate his image. She suggests he stop drinking while they’re working on cases. He drops a little Devil trivia: he only drinks because he likes the taste and not to get drunk because normal amounts of alcohol don’t affect him.

Their new case is the murder of rocket scientist Susan Ochoa. She has a knife in the back and Luci quips, “A bit on the nose.” Ella puts Luci on edge when she says, “It’s always the ones you least suspect, the ones you trust the most that hurt you. They wait until your guard is down and then wham!”

Chloe and Luci interrogate Susan’s friend, Oscar, who’s in town from El Salvador. Both Susan and Oscar were in a gang and they met when he helped her change her life. He asks Luci to promise he’ll punish whoever killed his friend.

Lucifer finally gets what’s been eating at him off his chest. He assures Chloe if she needs to talk to someone about him, that’s totally fine. She claims not to have told anyone about him, and of course Luci knows that’s a lie. (The look on Luci’s face as he realizes Chloe’s false is devastating.)

Luci immediately heads over to Dr. Linda’s, booting out her current patient because his needs ALWAYS come first. He needs help figuring out what to do with Chloe now that he knows she’s betrayed him. When he reveals Chloe might be plotting to send him to Hell, Linda (Rachael Harris) wants all the details. Linda warns him to talk to Chloe because if he falsely accuses her, it will end their relationship.

Back at the station, Chloe and Dan discuss Charlotte’s murder, God, and flowers. The flowers found at the crime scene are rare and only a few markets sell them. Only one sold a bouquet the night of the murder. The receipt shows millionaire/tech genius Anders Brody, owner of Brody Aerospace, bought the flowers. He’s the murder victim’s boss.

Chloe and Lucifer show up at Anders’ charity regatta and Luci, for once, doesn’t jump at the opportunity to make a penis joke when it’s served up. Chloe wonders if Luci’s ever donated to charity and he says he’s put several women named Charity through college. (There’s the Luci we know and love!)

Luci uses every opening in the conversation to hint at Chloe’s betrayal, but she doesn’t bite.

Luci confronts Anders and he lies and says he doesn’t even know her. When Chloe reveals they’re aware of his flower purchase, Anders attempts to make a break for it. Luci grabs him, ties a rope around his neck and sets the attached boat free. As it floats out of the dock, the rope tightens. Rather than die of strangulation, Anders comes clean and admits he betrayed Susan.

Back at Linda’s office, Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt) is nearly orgasmic as she asks if human babies “erupt from their mother’s body’s in a ceremony of blood and pain.” Maze then reveals torture by birth was a favorite down in Hell. She has tons of questions but Linda’s not ready for this discussion. A gleeful demon asking baby questions is a little too much for even Linda to take.

Lucifer Season 4 Tom Ellis — Tom Ellis and Lauren German in ‘Lucifer’ season 4 (Photo Credit: John P. Fleenor/Netflix)

Over at the station, Luci suggests it was probably pretty freeing for Anders to come clean. A call from Ella interrupts what could have been a lengthy conversation about betrayals. It turns out Anders didn’t kill Susan. Another victim’s been found with a knife in his back.

David Ramirez, a mechanic, is their new victim. He was also in the same gang as Susan when they were younger. Chloe believes the killer might be someone from their past, but she doesn’t have any idea what the motive could be.

This particular gang is now a major player in the LA drug market. Dan becomes frustrated when Chloe reminds him they need a warrant before they can visit the gang’s leader.

Anders has been released from custody, but Luci’s not done with him. He demands to know what Anders meant when he said he betrayed Susan and uses his Devil mind trick to get Anders to confess he wanted forgiveness. When he learned about Susan’s past, he demoted her. But then he looked through her record and discovered how much she’d changed and that she was a model employee. Anders arrived at her house to apologize but she was already dead.

Confessing what happened is freeing, Anders gives Luci a bear hug…talk about your uncomfortable moments! Chloe’s impressed that Luci displayed empathy. (She’s annoyingly into changing Lucifer this episode. Leave our sexy Devil alone to be his irresistible self!)

Their night’s free, so Chloe suggests they meet up later.

Amenadiel’s the next celestial being to visit Dr. Linda. He’s loaded down with bags of baby stuff and wants to be there for her. He has Dr. Spock’s book as well as one that will show the baby everyone poops. (Hearing D.B. Woodside say “poop” is pretty much the cutest thing ever.)

Amenadiel’s well-meaning but Linda stops him and says it’s too soon. She doesn’t want to pressure him into helping out and thinks she can raise the baby on her own. She’s used to being independent.

Maze is all about the baby right now, too, and she’s got a selection of knives with cute little handles that might be the perfect gift. Trixie’s at the police station helping her select the best knife when Dan barges into the office. He reminds Maze Trixie isn’t allowed to play with knives.

“Relax, Dan. These knives aren’t for Trixie. They’re for a baby,” says Maze. Dan lays down the law and says Trixie isn’t allowed to be around any more knives. As she exits the office, Maze slips her one on the sly.

Maze wonders why Dan’s in such a rotten mood and he confesses he’s frustrated with the inability to stop a killer because they have to wait for a warrant. Maze, never one to let the law get in her way, thinks they shouldn’t wait.

Lucifer rings up Father Kinley for a meet-up at the church. Luci tells the priest he’s wrong and that Chloe would never betray him. Father Kinley asks if Luci has seen Chloe with a vial. In it’s something that can banish the Devil from earth and trap him in Hell. Father Kinley lies and says it was another priest who told Chloe about the secret ceremony that could send the Devil away forever.

Father Kinley informs Lucifer the poison in the vial could kill a normal man. He warns Luci to be careful.

When Lucifer exits the church, another priest joins Father Kinley. Kinley tells him the trap is set and “everything will come together soon.”

That evening Chloe leads Lucifer down a dark street. He gets a little nervous when she says what they’re about to do might be painful for him. She asks him to forgive her and he hangs back, growing increasingly anxious as she walks on ahead.

Dan shows up at the gang’s headquarters with his badge on his belt. He asks what they know about Susan Ochoa and David Ramirez, warning them he knows they’re involved. He gets into a fistfight with a few of the members and a gun’s put to his head. Maze jumps into the action, leaping down from upstairs and immediately mixing it up. Dan and Maze take down a dozen or so gang members but then an even larger group arrives.

Chloe’s big plan is to have them volunteer at a soup kitchen. Nope, no way, not gonna happen… Lucifer is not going to serve people and thinks Chloe misunderstands the definition of a fun date. Lucifer’s had enough of Chloe’s weird behavior (asking him to drink less, act nice, and be charitable) and reveals he knows she’s been lying. She claims she hasn’t been, and he demands her purse. He looks through it and finds the vial.

Chloe acts innocent and says it’s just perfume. But when Luci’s about to drink it, she makes him stop. Luci reveals he’s aware she met with Father Kinley. Unfortunately, they can’t continue this conversation because Dan calls with the news he knows the killer’s identity and he’s about to skip town.

Dan’s still on an adrenaline high after their fight with the gang. He thanks Maze and she assures him he can call her anytime he wants to beat someone up. She’s happy the darker Dan’s back.

Chloe and Luci drive in silence until Dan calls again and texts a photo of the killer. It’s Oscar, Susan’s drug counselor. The head of the gang named Oscar as the killer.

They arrive at Oscar’s place and Luci locks Chloe out after busting through the front door. He’s in a vengeful mood when he finds Oscar calmly sitting in a chair in the middle of the living room. Luci demands to know why he killed Susan and David, reminding him they trusted him with their darkest truths. Lucifer slams him into the wall as Oscar says he’d do it again.

Lucifer tosses him across the room and Oscar seems strangely fine with facing Luci’s wrath. He invites Lucifer to show his true self, which catches Luci off guard. Oscar says David and Susan had reverted to their old ways and calls them trash. Lucifer grabs him by the shoulders, forcing him to his knees as Oscar asks him to show him what he’s got. “Show us who you really are,” says Oscar, which causes Lucifer to pause.

Luci lets Oscar go, unsure of why Oscar wants to be punished. Chloe finally makes her way into the living room as Oscar says he’s failed and asks for God’s forgiveness. Luci notices Oscar glancing toward a mirror as he’s asking for forgiveness.

Oscar impales himself on the broken chair and dies.

The forensics team arrives to go over the crime scene and Ella thinks Oscar must have been terrified of something to kill himself with a stake through the neck. Lucifer and Chloe talk privately, and he’s convinced something else was going on. He reveals Oscar knew about his true face and he remembers Oscar saying show “us” your face.

Lucifer throws a gold pitcher through the mirror, revealing a hidden room.

It turns out the Catholic Church owns the house. Luci and Chloe figure out Father Kinley arranged everything and was trying to get proof of Lucifer’s true identity. Chloe rambles on about needing to explain and that he’s in danger, but Lucifer angrily stalks away.

Father Kinley and the other priest return to the church and Father Kinley remains convinced Lucifer Morningstar is the Devil. He set everything up perfectly, but it didn’t work. Chloe arrives and tells the other priest Father Kinley knew Oscar and used him. Father Kinley admits Oscar was a true believer and willing to do whatever it took to battle evil. Oscar killed two people just to get Lucifer to reveal his identity.

Chloe realizes Father Kinley’s acting without the Church’s blessings or knowledge. She places him under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder. He claims she doesn’t have proof, but Chloe doesn’t back down. Fortunately, the other priest says he’ll testify against Father Kinley.

Linda’s in the doctor’s crowded waiting room when Amenadiel arrives. He says he wants to be there for her and the baby and whips out an engagement ring. In a booming voice he asks her to marry him, but Linda quietly says no. She calls him amazing and heroic but believes he’s there for the wrong reasons. He asks what she needs, and she says, “I think I just need someone to hold my hand and tell me everything’s going to be okay.” He promises it will be.

Case closed and work done for the day, Lucifer’s at home, alone, when Chloe shows up. She tells him about Father Kinley’s arrest and a devastated Luci says he doesn’t care about that. He only cares that she was trying to hurt him. (Tom Ellis is nailing an injured Lucifer.)

Chloe explains she had to leave and process things after seeing his face. She went to Rome, Father Kinley found her, and she didn’t know what he was up to. She admits she lied and that for just a moment she was helping to send him back to Hell. Heartbroken, Luci asks how she could do that. Chloe, overcome with emotion, admits it’s because she’s terrified.

She tries to get Lucifer to understand that every story has the Devil as the embodiment of evil. She also confesses that as Chloe Decker – a nobody – she doesn’t know how she’s supposed to deal with that.

Lucifer can only shake his head and turn away without responding. (I’m not crying; you’re crying!)

Chloe continues, reminding him she came back. She really saw him and remembers how he made her feel. She knows he’s not that guy or if he is, he can change. Lucifer turns to her but with his Devil face and asks if she can accept him like that. Chloe looks away and says she wants to and will try. Tears in her eyes, she admits she doesn’t know.

Lucifer, also with tears in his eyes, replies, “Then I have my answer.”

Father Kinley is visited in jail by his fellow priest. Kinley’s obsessed with the prophecy that states when the Devil finds his first love, evil shall be released. Although he’s temporarily failed, he hopes pushing Chloe and Lucifer apart will stop the prophecy.

The episode ends back at Lux with a lovely lady walking through the crowd. She sits at the bar, asks for an appletini, and then glances at the crowd with a satisfied smile on her face.

Recaps of Season 3 and 4:

– Lucifer Season 3 Bonus Episode “Boo Normal” Recap
– Lucifer Season 3 Bonus Episode “Once Upon a Time” Recap

– Lucifer Season 4 Episode 1 “Everything’s Okay” Recap
– Lucifer Season 4 Episode 2 “Somebody’s Been Reading Dante’s Inferno” Recap
– Lucifer Season 4 Episode 4 “All About Eve” Recap
– Lucifer Season 4 Episode 5 “Expire Erect” Recap

CBS Renews ‘SEAL Team,’ ‘S.W.A.T.’ and 6 Other Series

Rebecca Murray

May 9, 2019

SEAL Team Season 2 Episode 19 — David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes, Judd Lormand as Lieutenant Commander Eric Blackburn, and Neil Brown Jr. as Ray Perry in season 2 episode 19 (Photo: Warrick Page © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

CBS announced the renewal of six more dramas as well as two news programs. SEAL Team and S.W.A.T. will return for season three, and Madam Secretary has been renewed for a sixth season. Bull and MacGyver earned fourth seasons and Hawaii Five-0 will stick around for season 10.

Primetime news shows 60 Minutes and 48 Hours also officially earned renewals for the 2019-2020 season. All told, 18 CBS series have been renewed for the upcoming season.

According to CBS, 60 Minutes‘ 51st season averages 10.9 million viewers while season 29 of 48 Hours draws in 4.4 million viewers on average. Among the primetime dramas, Bull is averaging 11.4 million, Hawaii Five-0 10.1 million, and Madam Secretary 8.8 million. Both SEAL Team and S.W.A.T. pull in 8.6 million and MacGyver is averaging 7.6 million.

CBS previously announced the renewals of Young Sheldon, Mom, Criminal Minds, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, Blue Bloods, FBI, God Friended Me, Magnum P.I., and The Neighborhood.

Series Details, Courtesy of CBS:

SEAL TEAM is a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train for, plan and execute the most dangerous missions that our country can ask of them.
Inspired by the classic television series and feature film, S.W.A.T. tells the story of a locally born-and-raised sergeant tasked with running a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles.
MADAM SECRETARY follows shrewd, determined Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, who drives international diplomacy and circumvents protocol as she negotiates global and domestic issues, both at the White House and at home.
BULL is the head of one of the most prolific trial-consulting firms of all time. Brilliant, brash and charming, Dr. Bull is the ultimate puppet master as he combines psychology, human intuition and high-tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorneys, witnesses and the accused tick.
HAWAII FIVE-0 is a contemporary take on the classic series about an elite federalized task force whose mission is to wipe out the crime that washes up on the islands’ sun-drenched beaches.
MACGYVER is an action-adventure drama about 20-something Angus “Mac” MacGyver, who creates a clandestine organization within the U.S. government, where he uses his extraordinary talent for unconventional problem-solving and his vast scientific knowledge to save lives.

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