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People’s Choice Awards 2017 Nominees Announced

Captain America Civil War Team Cap
Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans, Elizabeth Olsen, and Sebastian Stan in ‘Captain America: Civil War’ (Photo © Marvel 2016)

Captain America: Civil War tops the list of People’s Choice Awards 2017 nominees, earning seven nominations including Favorite Movie and Favorite Action Movie. Kevin Hart earned the most nominations of any individual, picking up five nominations including Favorite Movie Actor and Favorite Comedic Collaboration. Rihanna, Britney Spears, and Drake share top honors in the music categories with four nominations each.

The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony on January 18, 2017 to be held at Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. The People’s Choice Awards will air live on the East Coast beginning at 9pm (taped delayed on the West Coast).


Voting is now open online in the 64 categories representing fan favorites in films, television, music, and digital. To vote, visit peopleschoice.com, vote on Facebook at facebook.com/peopleschoice, or vote via Facebook Messenger at messenger.com/t/peopleschoice. Voting will close on Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 11:59pm ET.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2017 Nominees:

FAVORITE MOVIE

Captain America: Civil War

Deadpool

Finding Dory

Suicide Squad

Zootopia

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTOR

Kevin Hart

Robert Downey Jr.

Ryan Reynolds

Tom Hanks

Will Smith

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTRESS

Anna Kendrick

Jennifer Lawrence

Margot Robbie

Melissa McCarthy

Scarlett Johansson

FAVORITE ACTION MOVIE

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

Captain America: Civil War

Deadpool

Suicide Squad

X-Men: Apocalypse

FAVORITE ACTION MOVIE ACTOR

Chris Evans

Liam Hemsworth

Robert Downey Jr.

Ryan Reynolds

Will Smith

FAVORITE ACTION MOVIE ACTRESS

Jennifer Lawrence

Margot Robbie

Scarlett Johansson

Shailene Woodley

Zoe Saldana

FAVORITE ANIMATED MOVIE VOICE

Bill Murray (The Jungle Book)

Ellen DeGeneres (Finding Dory)

Ginnifer Goodwin (Zootopia)

Jason Bateman (Zootopia)

Kevin Hart (The Secret Life of Pets)

FAVORITE COMEDIC MOVIE

Bad Moms

Central Intelligence

Ghostbusters

How to Be Single

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising

FAVORITE COMEDIC MOVIE ACTOR

Chris Hemsworth

Dwayne Johnson

Kevin Hart

Ryan Gosling

Zac Efron

FAVORITE COMEDIC MOVIE ACTRESS

Anna Kendrick

Kristen Bell

Kristen Wiig

Melissa McCarthy

Rebel Wilson

FAVORITE DRAMATIC MOVIE

Deepwater Horizon

Me before You

Miracles from Heaven

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Sully

FAVORITE DRAMATIC MOVIE ACTOR

Ben Affleck

Chris Pine

George Clooney

Mark Wahlberg

Tom Hanks

FAVORITE DRAMATIC MOVIE ACTRESS

Amy Adams

Blake Lively

Emily Blunt

Julia Roberts

Meryl Streep

FAVORITE FAMILY MOVIE

Alice through the Looking Glass

Finding Dory

The Jungle Book

The Secret Life of Pets

Zootopia

FAVORITE THRILLER MOVIE

The Conjuring 2

The Girl on the Train

Nerve

The Purge: Election Year

The Shallows

FAVORITE MOVIE ICON

Denzel Washington

Johnny Depp

Samuel L. Jackson

Tom Cruise

Tom Hanks

TV

FAVORITE TV SHOW

The Big Bang Theory

Grey’s Anatomy

Outlander

Stranger Things

The Walking Dead

FAVORITE NETWORK TV COMEDY

The Big Bang Theory

Black-ish

Jane the Virgin

Modern Family

New Girl

FAVORITE COMEDIC TV ACTOR

Andy Samberg

Anthony Anderson

Jim Parsons

Matthew Perry

Tim Allen

FAVORITE COMEDIC TV ACTRESS

Anna Faris

Gina Rodriguez

Kaley Cuoco

Sofia Vergara

Zooey Deschanel

FAVORITE NETWORK TV DRAMA

Chicago Fire

Empire

Grey’s Anatomy

How to Get Away with Murder

Quantico

FAVORITE DRAMATIC TV ACTOR

Jesse Williams

Justin Chambers

Scott Foley

Taylor Kinney

Terrence Howard

FAVORITE DRAMATIC TV ACTRESS

Ellen Pompeo

Kerry Washington

Priyanka Chopra

Taraji P. Henson

Viola Davis

FAVORITE CABLE TV COMEDY

Atlanta

Baby Daddy

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Real Husbands of Hollywood

Younger

FAVORITE CABLE TV DRAMA

The Americans

Bates Motel

Mr. Robot

Pretty Little Liars

Queen Sugar

FAVORITE CABLE TV ACTOR

Adam Devine

Freddie Highmore

Kevin Hart

Rami Malek

Zach Galifianakis

FAVORITE CABLE TV ACTRESS

Ashley Benson

Hilary Duff

Keri Russell

Lucy Hale

Vera Farmiga

FAVORITE TV CRIME DRAMA

The Blacklist

Criminal Minds

Law & Order: SVU

Lucifer

NCIS

FAVORITE TV CRIME DRAMA ACTOR

Chris O’Donnell

Donnie Wahlberg

LL Cool J

Mark Harmon

Tom Selleck

FAVORITE TV CRIME DRAMA ACTRESS

Jennifer Lopez

Lucy Liu

Mariska Hargitay

Pauley Perrette

Sophia Bush

FAVORITE PREMIUM DRAMA SERIES

Homeland

House of Cards

Narcos

Orange is the New Black

Power

FAVORITE PREMIUM COMEDY SERIES

Fuller House

The Mindy Project

Shameless

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Veep

FAVORITE PREMIUM SERIES ACTOR

Aziz Ansari

Dwayne Johnson

Joshua Jackson

Kevin Spacey

Nick Jonas

FAVORITE PREMIUM SERIES ACTRESS

Claire Danes

Jane Fonda

Julia Louis Dreyfus

Sarah Jessica Parker

Taylor Schilling

FAVORITE NETWORK SCI-FI/FANTASY TV SHOW

Arrow

The Flash

Once Upon a Time

Supernatural

The Vampire Diaries

FAVORITE CABLE SCI-FI/FANTASY TV SHOW

American Horror Story

Orphan Black

Shadowhunters

Teen Wolf

The Walking Dead

FAVORITE PREMIUM SCI-FI/FANTASY SERIES

Game of Thrones

Marvel’s Luke Cage

Outlander

Stranger Things

Westworld

FAVORITE SCI-FI/FANTASY TV ACTOR

Andrew Lincoln

Ian Somerhalder

Jensen Ackles

Sam Heughan

Tyler Posey

FAVORITE SCI-FI/FANTASY TV ACTRESS

Caitriona Balfe

Emilia Clarke

Jennifer Morrison

Lauren Cohan

Millie Bobby Brown

FAVORITE COMPETITION TV SHOW

America’s Got Talent

American Ninja Warrior

Dancing with the Stars

Masterchef

The Voice

FAVORITE DAYTIME TV HOST

Dr. Phil

Ellen DeGeneres

Kelly Ripa

Rachael Ray

Steve Harvey

FAVORITE DAYTIME TV HOSTING TEAM

The Chew

Good Morning America

The Talk

Today

The View

FAVORITE LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST

Conan O’Brien

James Corden

Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Kimmel

Stephen Colbert

FAVORITE ANIMATED TV SHOW

American Dad!

Bob’s Burgers

Family Guy

The Simpsons

South Park

FAVORITE ACTOR IN A NEW TV SERIES

Damon Wayans

Kevin James

Kiefer Sutherland

Matt LeBlanc

Milo Ventimiglia

FAVORITE ACTRESS IN A NEW TV SERIES

Jordana Brewster

Kristen Bell

Mandy Moore

Minnie Driver

Piper Perabo

FAVORITE NEW TV COMEDY

American Housewife

The Good Place

The Great Indoors

Kevin Can Wait

Man with a Plan

Son of Zorn

Speechless

FAVORITE NEW TV DRAMA

Bull

Conviction

Designated Survivor

The Exorcist

Frequency

Lethal Weapon

MacGyver

No Tomorrow

Notorious

Pitch

Pure Genius

This Is Us

Timeless

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST

Blake Shelton

Drake

Justin Timberlake

Shawn Mendes

The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST

Adele

Ariana Grande

Beyonce

Britney Spears

Rihanna

FAVORITE GROUP

The Chainsmokers

Coldplay

Fifth Harmony

Panic! at the Disco

Twenty One Pilots

FAVORITE BREAKOUT ARTIST

Alessia Cara

The Chainsmokers

DNCE

Niall Horan

Zayn

FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST

Blake Shelton

Keith Urban

Luke Bryan

Sam Hunt

Tim McGraw

FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST

Carrie Underwood

Dolly Parton

Kelsea Ballerini

Miranda Lambert

Reba McEntire

FAVORITE COUNTRY GROUP

The Band Perry

Florida Georgia Line

Little Big Town

Lonestar

Zac Brown Band

FAVORITE POP ARTIST

Adele

Ariana Grande

Britney Spears

Justin Timberlake

Sia

FAVORITE HIP-HOP ARTIST

DJ Khaled

G-Eazy

Kanye West

Kendrick Lamar

Wiz Khalifa

FAVORITE R&B ARTIST

Beyonce

Drake

Rihanna

Usher

The Weeknd

FAVORITE ALBUM

ANTI / Rihanna

Dangerous Woman / Ariana Grande

If I’m Honest / Blake Shelton

Lemonade / Beyonce

Views / Drake

FAVORITE SONG

“Can’t Stop the Feeling” / Justin Timberlake

“No” / Meghan Trainor

“One Dance” / Drake feat. Kyla and Wizkid “Pillowtalk” Zayn

“Work” / Rihanna feat. Drake

FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA CELEBRITY

Britney Spears

Kim Kardashian

Lady Gaga

Shakira

Stephen Amell

FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA STAR

Baby Ariel

Cameron Dallas

Jacob Sartorius

Liza Koshy

Nash Grier

FAVORITE YOUTUBE STAR

Lilly Singh

Miranda Sings

PewDiePie

Shane Dawson

Tyler Oakley

FAVORITE COMEDIC COLLABORATION

Conan O’Brien’s Ride Along with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart

Ellen DeGeneres and Britney Spears’ Mall Mischief

James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke with Adele

Lip Sync Battle with Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan Tatum

Saturday Night Live with Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon




‘Vikings’ Season 4: Alex Hogh Andersen Interview on Ivar the Boneless

Vikings season 4 stars Travis Fimmel and Alex Andersen
Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and Ivar the Boneless (Alex Hogh Andersen) in ‘Vikings’ season 4 (Photo by Jonathan Hession / History)

History’s riveting dramatic action series Vikings returns for the second half of season four on November 30, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT. The second half of the fourth season will find Ragnar Lothbrok’s grown sons playing a larger role, with Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen) emerging as a key player. Series creator Michael Hirst says the storylines in the upcoming Vikings episodes are inspired by real life events including Bjorn Ironside’s Mediterranean journey and Ivar the Boneless’ rise as one of the most feared warriors of the Vikings era.

With the fourth season’s second half about to premiere, I had the opportunity to speak with Andersen about tackling the role of Ivar the Boneless and what Vikings viewers can expect from the upcoming episodes. Andersen was on a brief six day break from the set and was home in Denmark during our interview, happy for a short break from filming Vikings but excited for fans to catch up with the lives of Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) and his sons. During our interview Andersen discussed playing a character who is unable to walk, researching the role, working with Travis Fimmel and his co-stars, and what sort of man Ivar the Boneless is in season four of Vikings.

Alex Høgh Andersen Exclusive Interview:

Ivar the Boneless is a such demanding role, in part because you have to concentrate on not moving your legs while acting. How do you approach that?

Alex Høgh Andersen: “Well, it is a challenge, really. But the thing is when you’re sitting down and doing a scene, that’s actually not the biggest challenge. You have to get used to it because, yes, when you constantly act with not just your face, but your entire body, it is sometimes hard not to move the right leg or something. The most frustrating thing actually was not being able to choreograph your own scenes. That’s so frustrating that as an actor you want to do something but you just can’t do it. A lot of the time we’ve just been settling down with, ‘Where’s Alex going to sit?’ I’ll try to act clever and find a good spot to sit. Usually the toughest challenge is actually just crawling around, physically, that’s the biggest challenge, really. If he’s been crippled his entire life, he would have been settled with the fact that he’s just not moving around.”

Is there a point when you’re filming that you forget about it and it’s kind of like not necessarily natural, but at least you don’t have to think about that aspect of it?

Alex Høgh Andersen: (Laughing) “Well, I think actually I’ve been pretty good about it. I think when you get into character and you sit there, that has not actually been the biggest challenge of this character, not to move my legs or not use them. But it has been frustrating, as an actor, not being able to move and choreograph your own scenes, really. That has been very, very horrible, actually. But it’s a good exercise as well, because I just move all my acting up to my face and my hands because that’s the only way I can do it, right? That’s very interesting as well, because you have to compensate for not being able to move. You have to do it all with your face, your facial expression, your hands, but still you can’t do that too much because it doesn’t work on the camera. It’s a great exercise, really.”

What sort of man is Ivar when we catch up with him at the start of the second half of season four? How would you describe his feelings toward his family?

Alex Høgh Andersen: “He’s a troubled, troubled, young man, really. He’s very troubled. He’s schooled by Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), he’s the son of Ragnar, and he’s raised by Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland), so he’s one kind of a man already there. He’s also, somehow, he’s very independent. He’s chosen to be independent and to be able to do things on his own. Just to be physically handicapped in a Viking culture, that comes with a lot of challenges and obstacles. He’s always been the one sitting on the beach looking at his brothers fishing or something like that. So because of that, he’s also very lonely. He’s not physically able to participate in the same way.

He’s a challenged, poor kid, who actually just wants to be loved in the correct way, because Aslaug is, oh my god, she’s suffocating him with the wrong kind of love. She’s compensating for his disease, so she’s giving him too much. He doesn’t have a father. He really needs a father figure, because who doesn’t need that? Plus, the fact that he’s completely challenged, double as challenged as everybody else. When we see him he is in his teenage years where you really need a father figure to put some f**king ambition into him, to give him something extra, something to move on to, because I think he feels a little bit stuck right now. He’s also very determined; he does not give up. I think you’re going to see a lot of interesting stuff with him.”

Is Floki kind of filling that father role at this point, or is he more just a mentor and not a father figure?

Alex Høgh Andersen: “Well, I think if you don’t have a father, you know, you try to fill that gap with somebody. I think Floki has really stepped up. But still, if you’re the son of Ragnar Lothbrok, you know that he’s your father and you want him to be your father because he’s the most famous Viking of all time. I think he forces Floki somehow to just stay his mentor and not pull him in too much, to actually become a father figure. But, it’s a balance between those two things, being a father and a mentor, because he has definitely helped Ivar out. Definitely.”

Did you do a lot of research into the time period, into the Vikings, before you took on the role?

Alex Høgh Andersen: “Yes, I did. Just on watching the show you get a really good understanding of the entire vibe to the Vikings and the TV show and who they were. Just observing Travis Fimmel working as Ragnar Lothbrok, that’s interesting on its own. I’ve picked up a lot of stuff working with Travis. I’m very spoiled to have worked with Travis a lot. He’s a great, great actor and very fun to watch. His way of saying his lines and his accent, his Viking accent, I really picked that one up from just watching the show.

But I did do a lot of research myself, as well. I did a lot of research on the disease that we went with with Ivar the Boneless – osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone disease. That was very interesting to learn about what am I capable of doing and what am I definitely not? What are my real obstacles. Trying to keep it authentic.

But the cool thing about Vikings is it’s also just a show between characters and real people. I think it’s also very important not to get caught up in the history and all that, but actually keep it relatable. Keep it about human beings. Ivar could just has easily have been a guy in 21st century, right, struggling with the same thing, of being handicapped in a culture where you are limited. I think that’s the core of it. That’s what acting really is. Make it relatable so people can feel you and create some sympathy with you, and empathy, and all that. That’s really what it’s about. That’s really my main ambition of creating this character was really just to make him relatable, and make people understand him.”

Vikings star Alex Hogh Andersen as Ivar the Boneless
Alex Hogh Andersen in History’s ‘Vikings’ (Photo by Bernard Walsh /
Copyright 2016)

You touched on it briefly, but after listening to the cadence and listening to how Travis Fimmel brought the Viking voice to life, how tough was that for you to actually do?

Alex Høgh Andersen: “Well, that’s the thing. As an actor, what you do is you really just pretend. You know, impersonations and all that. I’ve been doing that all my life, been doing different accents and all that. It was actually pretty easy to pick up, because it’s so unique in a way. But also we have a great voice coach on Vikings who helps us a lot. I think it also helps me, personally, a little bit, that I’m from Denmark; I don’t have a perfect English accent, so it’s almost strange to me, in a way. It’s already something that I have to work on. Maybe it’s actually tougher if you have an English accent and then you have to do Viking with that. For me it was strange, the whole thing, I don’t know how to describe it. It wasn’t actually that bad. I think maybe that kind of Swedish/Scandinavian accent that’s to it and a little bit of Icelandic as well, I think that maybe helped me a little bit out that I’m from Denmark.”

I think it’s really fascinating that you’re so into photography. Does that change the way you view a set and how you approach a character, because you’re more visually tuned into the setting itself?

Alex Høgh Andersen: “Well, it definitely helps an actor working with cameras. If you’re an actor and you don’t understand the little black box that shoots you, you have a lot to learn. And, I’m still working on that. But it really helps me a lot to understand the different angles, to communicate better with my camera operators, with DPs, trying to figure out what’s going on. You just have a more profound understanding of what’s going on on set. That has helped me a lot. I can ask the camera operator what lens he has on the camera, and if he says it’s a 50, I know within the framing and what limits I have for acting. If he’s like five meters away from me and he puts on a 50, then I act completely different than if he was up in my face. It’s that basic understanding of what’s going on cinematography-wise.”

That’s fascinating. Are you going to do a book with all the photos you’ve taken behind the scenes?

Alex Høgh Andersen: “That’s actually an interesting question. I’ve been working on that idea a little bit, yeah. Mostly it’s just for fun, really being a hobby. It’s almost kind of a therapy for me when I go home to my apartment after work and I can just sit there and enjoy a glass of red wine while I’m just editing my photos. It’s just a way for me to come down in a way, because it is a very stressful job. There’s a lot of pressure and 14 hours a day working, and all that.


I’ve been thinking about it. I shoot a lot of the extras and I really think that, in general, that extras and all the stuff that’s in the background, it’s easily forgotten. In Denmark where it’s usually small-time set and not all this Hollywood big budget stuff, I’m used to working with everybody and helping out with the camera guys, carrying the cameras and stuff to wherever we’re shooting next. That whole thing of being a team culture, or something like that…I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s just natural for me to invite them or include them in this whole thing. And oh my god, they’re so good-looking, the extras. It’s so easy to take a great photo of them. They have beards down to their belly button, and the makeup and the blood on their face, and the body is perfect. Of course I’m going to shoot it!

I’m thinking about working on maybe some kind of a book, as you said, with all the extras. Some portraits or something like that, yeah.”

Speaking of the hard work on the set, series creator/writer Michael Hirst has given you so much praise for this upcoming season, saying you’re going to be the breakout star. People are going to be as fascinated with you and your character as they are with Travis Fimmel and Ragnar. How does it feel to receive that kind of praise from the man who created the series?

Alex Høgh Andersen: “Well, I know that some of the guys on the show would probably say that I paid him to say so, but that’s not true. (Laughing) It’s outstanding. My face is already red now by just talking about. It’s great because you’re nervous when you’re getting into the job. The first days on the set were absolutely…you know, I can’t even remember them because I was just in a weird zone and you’re so nervous.

I remember the first day on set where it was the four brothers. It’s the scene in episode 10 at the cabin outside where Bjorn comes up and tells us about the fact that the settlement was killed and destroyed. The first scene where we see the four brothers, when we shot that that was the first day ever on set and I remember this Irish guy coming up to me. We were all nervous, I mean we were green. This Irish dude comes up to us and looks us in the eye, and he has a smoke in his mouth, and he’s like, ‘Well, you guys, do you see these 200 guys working behind me? They do not have a job next year if you f**k up,’ and he walked away. You know when it’s a joke and you’re laughing a little bit, but you also realize the seriousness of what he just said? I will never forget that.

It’s great that Michael says stuff like that, but I’ve just been spoiled by working with some great, great directors and some great co-stars who are so giving. The entire set of Vikings is absolutely outstanding. It’s a small family of 200 or 300 people, which is something I never thought I would experience. Not even here in Denmark I’ve experienced a set where you’re that connected with each other, and you’re almost more friends than you are colleagues. It’s a huge help, because as an actor you need to relax with your work and what you’re doing before it can really be great. Just working with these lovely people, Irish people, on Vikings are just outstanding because they help you relax. They help you feel welcome. It’s just been a great experience. I could not have done this without a bunch of great actors and a bunch of great directors.

Michael Hirst just wrote a phenomenal character that was a bullseye straight off. I didn’t have to do anything. I think he’s one of the best characters written right now, one of the most interesting characters right now, I have to say. (Laughing) Completely objectively, of course.”

I’ve watched the first three episodes of the second half and they’re fascinating. Ivar is a captivating character and you’re terrific in the role.

Alex Høgh Andersen: “Thank you very much. You’ve seen more than I have! He’s just such a wonderful character, so interesting. There’s so much armor to that character. I’m spoiled as a young actor to be able to work with such a challenged character in such a young age, so to speak. He’s a great character. I’ve learned already.”

One final question that actually has nothing to do with Vikings. I noticed on your Twitter feed that you’re a San Diego Chargers fan. How did that come about?

Alex Høgh Andersen: “Lovely! Oh my god, good stuff. I love American football, really. The San Diego Chargers aren’t doing a very good job. They lost last night.”

Philip Rivers threw four interceptions.

Alex Høgh Andersen: “American football is actually getting bigger and bigger in Denmark, and Europe in general. I think the first game I watched was with the old Chargers with LaDainian Tomlinson and Rivers. I was like, ‘Oh my god, these guys are awesome.’ I bought the Madden game and always played with the Chargers. I think it just became the Chargers straight off because it was the first game. Another thing on the bucket list is definitely San Diego, to go to San Diego.”

I’m a lifelong Chargers fan, born and raised in San Diego so I had to ask that question.

Alex Høgh Andersen: (Laughing) “Oh, great stuff! Go Chargers!”

Also of Interest: Alex Høgh Andersen Interview on Season 5





FX Announces ‘Taboo’ Season 1’s Premiere Date

Taboo with Tom Hardy

FX has given the dramatic series Taboo a January 10, 2017 premiere date. The series was created by Steven Knight, Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road), and Chips Hardy and will air on Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT. Tom Hardy leads the cast which includes Jonathan Pryce, Oona Chaplin, Stephen Graham, Michael Kelly, Jessie Buckley, David Hayman, Tom Hollander, Jason Watkins, Franka Potente, Jefferson Hall, Ed Hogg, Leo Bill, Christopher Fairbank, Richard Dixon, Mark Gatiss, Nicholas Woodeson, Lucian Msamati, and newcomer Robert Parker.


Hardy, Knight, Ridley Scott, Kate Crowe, and Dean Baker executive produce, with Scott Free and Hardy Son & Baker producing. Episodes one through four were directed by Kristoffer Nyholm. Episodes five through eight were helmed by Anders Engström. Taboo marks the third collaboration between Tom Hardy and Steven Knight following Peaky Blinders and Locke.

The Taboo Plot: Set in 1814, Taboo follows “James Keziah Delaney,” a man who has been to the ends of the earth and comes back irrevocably changed. Believed to be long dead, he returns home to London from Africa to inherit what is left of his father’s shipping empire and rebuild a life for himself. But his father’s legacy is a poisoned chalice, and with enemies lurking in every dark corner, James must navigate increasingly complex territories to avoid his own death sentence. Encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal, a dark family mystery unfolds in a combustible tale of love and treachery.





‘Lucifer’ Season 2 Episode 8 Recap: Trip to Stabby Town

Lucifer season 2 episode 8 Tom Ellis and Aimee Garcia
Tom Ellis and Aimee Garcia in the “Trip To Stabby Town” episode of ‘Lucifer’ (Photo by Bettina Strauss © 2016 Fox Broadcasting Co)

Lucifer, Amenadiel, and Maze team up to try and find Azrael’s blade in Fox’s Lucifer season two episode eight. Titled ‘Trip to Stabby Town’ because of all the people who wind up stabbed to death by the Angel of Death’s missing weapon, episode eight starts off with a woman riding her bike through a park, minding her own business. She’s attacked and before being stabbed to death, she recognizes the man holding the knife.

Lucifer (Tom Ellis) is allowed back at Dr. Linda’s just in time to discuss the Chloe Sandwich Situation. Chloe made him a sandwich but he doesn’t know if there’s more to the gesture than just feeding him when he was hungry. Dr. Linda (Rachael Harris) isn’t really listening and she isn’t doing any real analysis of Lucifer’s sandwich dilemma. Was it just a sandwich or do the slices of bread represent trust? Dr. Linda ignores the sandwich and asks about Hitler, which confuses Lucifer into believing the sandwich is Hitler. No, that’s not it – Dr. Linda needs to know how Hitler was tortured in Hell. Is there a tyrant wing? (Pausing here to recognize the fact the Lucifer writers outdo themselves each week.) Lucifer should have known she’d have questions, and he admits he never expected to see his therapist again. Thanks to Maze, his doctor appointments are back on and he really needs to have this sandwich question answered. Nope, Dr. Linda has moved on to asking about her evil uncle.

Lucifer hits the streets with Chloe (Lauren German), telling his partner he thinks he’s broken Dr. Linda. Chloe’s not useful but does offer to lend an ear if he wants to talk. Since what he needs help figuring out is Chloe, that’s not helpful and Lucifer’s happy when they spot Detective Douche (Kevin Alejandro) standing over a dead body. Isn’t Lucifer done with the douche nickname? The two had a bromance going on by the end of episode seven, but it must have been a brief fling. Lucifer looks at the woman’s stab wounds and Dan says the witnesses all give conflicting descriptions, which makes Lucifer wonder if the killer is a shape-shifter.

Ella (Aimee Garcia) arrives at the crime scene and describes the wounds. Dan shows them a photo someone snapped with the killer holding up the weapon and Lucifer immediately recognizes it as his brother Uriel’s weapon of choice, Azrael’s blade.

Lucifer brings Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside) and Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt) to Uriel’s grave and it’s been dug up. Uriel is still there but Azrael’s blade is missing. Somewhere in LA, a human has the Angel of Death’s weapon and Amenadiel and Lucifer explain to Maze that it’s more dangerous in a human’s hands because the blade wants to kill. It can convince a human easier than it can convince an angel. It amplifies a person’s anger, giving a person with a minor grudge a reason to kill.

Maze doesn’t care if they find the blade, but Amenadiel says the killing will just keep accelerating. Lucifer knows they need to retrieve it, and Amenadiel’s still in a pissy mood and congratulates Lucifer on being willing to admit he messed up. Maze takes a pass on helping since she has a job, but then Lucifer asks her what if Chloe finds the blade and brings it home? Maze would likely be killed over a minor roommate infraction since the blade can kill celestial beings. Maze is back on board and they have to keep Chloe out of the investigation. Maze is charged with re-burying Uriel in a different location without messing up the grave. There’s a footprint that could belong to the person who dug it up and Lucifer will call on an expert to collect that evidence. The expert? Ella, of course.

Lucifer tells Ella he needs a favor but it must be discreet. She asks if it’s a paternity test and Lucifer’s insulted by the implication. She agrees but doesn’t want a favor in exchange. He insists and she finally comes up with something, however, she’s not sure he can handle it. She whispers it in his ear as Chloe watches from outside the office. Lucifer’s smiling until the end when he says, “Definitely not!” He finally gives in, but very reluctantly.

Lucifer shows Ella the empty grave and she thinks he’s going to push her into it. He teases that he’s ready to push her in, and she’s completely confused about why he needs her at this particular site. He points out the footprints and she agrees to take a mold, but she thinks the pool of possible suspects will be huge. Then she spots what looks like a burned letter, and she’ll take it back to the lab to try and reconstruct it. Before taking off, he makes her promise again to keep it a secret.

Lucifer and Chloe pay a visit to the victim Maddie’s place of employment where Lucifer mistakes the yoga studio’s “the glory way” for “the glory hole.” Anyway…Lucifer’s not impressed with the studio or its philosophies at all. Maddie’s co-manager Corinna doesn’t know of anyone who would have had a reason to kill her. Lucifer pipes up and asks if anyone had even a minor grudge against Maddie, and Chloe drags him away, telling him that’s not the killer’s profile. It actually is, but no way is Lucifer going to clue Chloe in on Azrael’s blade. Ella’s name is brought into the conversation and Chloe sounds very jealous about the amount of time Lucifer’s spending with her.

Back at the station, Ella’s been busy analyzing the evidence from the grave. She’s working on the paper found at the site and it has a map that leads from downtown LA to the grave site. It also has a logo from the law firm where Charlotte (Tricia Helfer) is currently working.

Lucifer pays a visit to his mom and she’s busy at work. Bored, she read all the law books and she’s been teaching her husband new bedroom tricks. But Lucifer doesn’t really care about that and wants to know why she drew a map to Uriel’s grave. Turns out mom didn’t just tell one person, she told about 15 hoping one of them would dig the blade up. She thought he wanted it found since he left it in a hole in the ground. Lucifer wonders where she would have rather he buried it – definitely not at Lux or in his bedroom, given the number of people who traipse through both each week. She released the blade to get his father’s attention since God didn’t answer her when she reached out. Maybe he’ll answer when his creations die due to Azrael’s blade. Charlotte doesn’t care about humans and has no idea why Lucifer is attached to them. He gives her a choice: help him get the blade back willingly or Maze will convince her to do so.

Chloe’s at the station going through the list of people who might have had any reason to be upset with Maddie. She’s not having any luck, and Dan’s not really as worried about that as he is about his missing pudding from the station’s fridge. Chloe asks if she should post a stake-out, and Dan says a man’s snacks are sacred. Chloe mentions Lucifer and Ella are spending a lot of time together and Dan smiles, asking if she’s jealous. Of course, Chloe denies it, but she’s not in the least bit convincing. She claims it’s all about partnerships and secrets, but it’s adorable to watch her squirm telling that lie. Lucifer walks up just then and somehow Chloe covers their discussion by saying Dan wanted to invite him to his monthly poker game. That settled, Lucifer checks a list on his hand against a list of possible suspects Chloe’s come up with and one name matches: Duncan Watts. Duncan is Maddie’s landlord and his business is above the yoga studio. Plus, he was mad at Maddie for taking his parking spot.

Amenadiel and Maze go through Duncan’s office but don’t find the blade. Lucifer gave them the heads up that it might be there but after ripping the place apart, they come up empty. Maze, frustrated, yells at Amenadiel for coddling his mom and tells him the momma’s boy thing is a turn-off. Amenadiel insults her back, saying her skintight leather thing is not…great. He can’t finish the insult because he doesn’t mean it.

Lucifer beats Chloe into the building, Maze and Amenadiel report the blade wasn’t found, and he sends them off out the back door before Chloe comes in the front. He’s acting weirder than usual so Chloe asks him what he’s hiding. Just then she spots blood on a door behind him and finds their suspect dead in the yoga studio. He’s also been stabbed with the blade and then Lucifer walks further in the room and discovers the entire yoga class has been killed.

Lucifer season 2 episode 8 Lauren German
Lauren German in ‘Lucifer’ (Photo by Bettina Strauss. © 2016 Fox Broadcasting Co)

Officers and Ella arrive at the scene, and Chloe tries to figure out how it went down. Lucifer suggests the weapon was passed from one student to another “in a game of murderous hot potato.” Chloe, thinking logically, says that’s insane. Ella volunteers to help demonstrate how Lucifer is right, walking step by step through the crime scene. She uses Lucifer as the killer, manipulating him into different positions including one R-rated position that makes Chloe fidget. Chloe doesn’t believe them and points out there’s one body missing. Chloe figures out it’s the teacher who survived the mass killing spree, and the teacher that day was the founder of the place, Jensen Glory. He’s either a missing victim or the attacker.

At the station, Chloe lays out all the research she’s come up with on Jensen Glory. Apparently, he has a lot of issues, along with a handful of harassment suits.

Dr. Linda is now the one who needs to relax on the couch as Lucifer takes her customary seat. She’s floored by the fact there’s a magic blade in LA that belongs to the Angel of Death. She’s stuck on the Angel of Death thing and Lucifer says it’s his sister which also shocks Dr. Linda. Lucifer just wishes they could return to talking in metaphors because he’s not getting any of his questions answered or problems solved during their sessions. Dr. Linda promises to listen to his problem and he reveals his mom asked him why he likes humans and he doesn’t know the answer. Dr. Linda’s barely keeping her questions contained as she listens to him talk about people trading their souls to lose tummy fat. He keeps talking and then asks, “Why am I doing my own therapy?!” Dr. Linda apologizes and says she’s still working her way through it all. Chloe texts him to say they’ve picked up Jensen Glory and Lucifer leaves, telling Dr. Linda to call him if she needs to reschedule. So many questions, so little time… I feel so sorry for Dr. Linda!

Jensen claims he wasn’t at the studio and Lucifer finally shows up to help Chloe with the interrogation. Jensen didn’t swipe his key card; he’s been home for a few days. Lucifer suggests a new toy has been whispering to him to do terrible things, meaning Azrael’s blade. Unfortunately, what Jensen really wants is a raspberry cream cheese muffin and it’s food that’s whispering to him. He’s gained a little weight and says carbs are the devil’s spawn and, yes, Lucifer’s once again insulted that he’s blamed for something he has nothing to do with. Jensen confesses he skipped the class because he gained a lot of weight. He demands his lawyer and Lucifer warns him not to eat him.

Back at Lucifer’s, Maze and Amenadiel report in. They didn’t find the blade at Jensen’s house but they did find Pop-Tarts that Maze stole…because Pop-Tarts. Lucifer wants Amenadiel and Maze to check out Jensen’s second house and they head out as Ella heads in. She discovered the tread on the shoes Duncan Watts had on when he was murdered match the tread on the shoe print at the grave. The cases are connected and she demands he start talking. Ella thinks Lucifer has something to do with the murders but he can’t come clean with her like she’s demanding. He tries to explain he’s dealing with “a matter of cosmic importance” and wants her to indulge him just a little bit longer. She interprets that to mean she should have faith in him and she agrees. They hug and of course that’s when Chloe arrives. Ella fumbles through an excuse for being there involving a store with special soap and leaves quickly.

Chloe’s discovered Maddie’s co-manager Corinna was the yoga teacher subbing for Jensen when all the students were murdered. She didn’t kill anyone so she’s probably taken off, but Lucifer doesn’t think Corinna’s on the run. He heads out without explaining the conclusion he just leaped to.

Lucifer heads to Jensen’s and finds Corinna standing over Jensen’s dead body. She explains she witnessed all the killings and the knife called to her. She doesn’t remember killing Jensen but she did have a reason to want him dead. He raped her years ago and the knife knew she wanted revenge, even though she had been trying to bury the memory. Chloe, Dan, and other officers show up to place Corinna under arrest and Lucifer tries to explain it was self-defense. Jensen attacked Corinna first and she had no choice but to kill him.

While Lucifer was talking to Chloe, someone pulled the knife out of the dead body without taking photos or gathering evidence. Lucifer asks if anyone is feeling a murderous urge and then he spots Dan with the knife standing outside by the pool. He asks Dan to put down the knife, telling him they’re friends now. Dan points the knife and says Lucifer ruined his marriage. Dan attacks Lucifer and Lucifer tells him to be careful or he’ll die. Dan’s hoping for that and keeps attacking Lucifer, stabbing him but not deeply. Lucifer tells him to put down the knife, but Dan blames him for the end of his marriage. And even worse than that, he blames him for eating his pudding! Lucifer tells him his marriage was already on the rocks but admits to eating the pudding, however, he claims he didn’t know it was Dan’s. He asks how he was supposed to know and Dan puts the knife at his throat, hissing, “Because it was labeled!” Dan manages to fight the blade, which is a strength Lucifer didn’t realize Dan possessed. He makes Dan tell the truth about his marriage (they were separated before Chloe met Lucifer) and Dan lets go of the blade, not understanding why he’s out by the pool with Lucifer.

The next morning, Chloe is in a horrible mood because someone took the murder weapon and they can’t find it. Lucifer says it’s probably for the best, and that they got the murderer. Chloe changes the subject, telling Lucifer she thought they shared a moment while they were discussing her dad. She thought they were friends and Lucifer figures out she’s talking about Ella. Chloe claims it doesn’t matter who he sleeps with but she thinks sleeping with the lab tech is inappropriate. Lucifer assures her everything between him and Ella is strictly work-related, swearing he’ll always tell her the truth. But, he adds that if she ever does want to cross boundaries… Chloe leaves the room.

And now we’re back at Dr. Linda’s for yet another visit. Lucifer says they can talk about Caligula, Stalin, Trump… He knows Trump’s not dead but says he’s definitely going to hell. Dr. Linda apologizes, saying it was less complicated when she thought he was delusional. Then it dawns on her she had sex with the Devil. Lucifer points out they had sex many, many times and she’s welcome. She then decides he is just another screwed-up patient and they get back to work on Lucifer’s many problems.

Finally, Ella is cashing in on the payment for the favor she did for Lucifer. They’re about to go into a church and Lucifer warns her this might not end well. She wants him to go with her because she thinks he’s searching for something. He might find answers if he develops a relationship with the big guy, and Lucifer says they’re actually closer than she thinks already. When a gorgeous woman walks by, Lucifer decides to give church a try after all. Ella simply smiles and rolls her eyes.

Favor completed, Lucifer’s back home with Amenadiel but he isn’t quick enough hiding the blade. Charlotte shows up, disappointed he found it before she could hear from his father. Lucifer wants to know what it is she wants from his father, and she says she wants her family back together. Charlotte believes with Amenadiel and Lucifer by her side, God will be forced to listen to reason. Lucifer disagrees, but Amenadiel’s on Charlotte’s side. Amenadiel says humanity and divinity do not mix and they shouldn’t be on Earth. Charlotte wants them all to go home to heaven but Lucifer is firmly against that, explaining, “Hell wasn’t home and Heaven was Hell.” He’s only felt wanted on Earth and he says this is his home. As he speaks, a charge goes up the blade. Charlotte sees that and tells Amenadiel it’s time to leave. Out of Lucifer’s hearing, she tells Amenadiel a window has just opened.




‘Quantico’ Season 2 Episode 7 Recap: LCFLUTTER

Quantico Season 2 Episode 7
Johanna Braddy and Priyanka Chopra in ‘Quantico’ season 2 episode 7 (Photo by Giovanni Rufino / ABC)

There’s no messing about with the seventh episode of Quantico season two, because there is SO MUCH to cover. Let’s cut the intro and get right down to it, shall we folks? When last week’s episode ended, we saw Alex put in a precarious situation thanks to the shenanigans of Lydia Hall (Tracy Ifeachor) who tied up Alex to a structure with the hopes she would be found and eventually killed. This week’s episode picked up right where that ended, and you see Alex trying to figure out how to get out of this situation. I’m a huge Quantico fan and I’ve seen Alex Parrish, played by the lovely and talented Priyanka Chopra, be the quintessential modern badass, and once again she took it up a notch. In order to release herself from the structure she was tied to, she basically knocked her shoulder out of the ball and socket joint so she could undo the cuffs. Of course it hurt, and we all winced in pain with her. And, of course, we winced once more when she got up and pushed her shoulder back into the socket and played on. Let’s take a moment and absorb this image, shall we?

The next part of the episode takes us back to the Farm. Alex and Shelby (Johanna Braddy) arrive at their secret hiding spot on the Farm where they meet with Miranda (Aunjanue Ellis) to discuss their progress on the mission. When Alex and Shelby arrived, we see Ryan (Jake McLaughlin), Nimah (Yasmine Al Massri), and Miranda already in conversation. Alex’s suspicions are raised and can’t ignore the possibility that something odd is happening between those three. Shelby tries to placate Alex and tells her to calm down and move on. Alex pushes down her angst and joins the group to discuss the progress on the mission.

Per Miranda’s notes, there hasn’t been much progress on the mission and she doesn’t appear to be pleased. Seven weeks in and too many eyebrows are raised, but no fall guy or woman has been identified. Miranda presents the group with a diagram of Owen’s house where she indicates there is a secret wall in the house where something could be hidden. As a result of this discovery, the task at hand is to get close to Owen and discover what he’s really hiding. Ryan officially takes on the task and Alex is eager to do the same, because she feels like she’s gotten closer to Owen in the past several weeks. Ryan indicates he wants to work on this alone, which further raises Alex’s suspicions about the pre-meeting they had without her and Shelby.

In the next scene, the recruits have a little fun at their local watering hole where they’re playing a riveting game of darts but with a CIA twist! Their goal is of course to land on the bullseye and anytime they don’t, they must answer a question posed by the other recruits. Ryan, Alex, and Dayana (Pearl Thusi) each play darts and some witty and relevant banter is revealed. However, the key moments come when Sebastian (David Lim) comes to play and he lands on the bullseye on his first attempt. This is key because Sebastian has been quite mysterious so far this whole season. He is attacked on his faith, his introversion, his decision-making abilities, and his sexuality.

When Harry (Russell Tovey) comes to play, he doesn’t exactly nail the bullseye. At all. Sebastian uses this as an opportunity to seize on Harry’s vulnerability and asks him about his friend who committed suicide and whether he loved him or not. You see Sebastian able to break through the tough, witty, sarcastic persona Harry plays consistently and expose his vulnerabilities about this traumatic experience in his life. Score: Sebastian – 1, Harry – 1. While at the bar, Ryan steps away from the crew a bit to refresh his adult beverage and runs into Owen. He uses this as an attempt to get close to Owen, but he’s shot down cold. In that moment, Ryan learns that Owen is one hard nut to crack!

After a night of fun and camaraderie at the bar, we check into the training room and learn the next exercise in store for the recruits. The recruits will be put under tough duress to test their emotional and physical strength. When a CIA recruit is undercover, they need to be ready for anything – and they mean anything. Regardless of the circumstance, the recruit needs to be ready to handle it in order to protect the mission and the country they serve. We see Harry wearing headphones with heavy metal music blasting in his ears to test his ability to handle excessive noise. Ryan is put in a chair under bright lights, while Owen is trying to break him emotionally with a barrage of rapid-far inquiries. Alex does a low squat with her hands behind her back and a wood beam tucked in between to test her physicality, her balance, and strength.

Although it may be interesting to see how the recruits do under duress, it gets exciting when they are the ones who have to “break” someone and that someone is Owen. Owen makes himself the guinea pig, so to speak, and puts himself in a room in 90 degree plus heat where he hasn’t slept or eaten in hours. The purpose of this is to give the recruits an opportunity to use their skills to try to break Owen within government parameters and practices.


Time travel to the present day and we see Alex running around to make sense of the situation. She gets a hold of one of the black phones the terrorists are using and reaches Shelby. Alex tries to make this phone call fast, because the battery is dying. (Of course it is! It wouldn’t be Quantico if it weren’t.) She makes a call to Shelby and tells her someone is communicating from the outside and asks her to write down the phone number the call is coming from. Before she could get all 10 digits out, the phone dies. As she makes her next move, the terrorists see her. She tries to run away and then she runs into the fist of another dynamic duo of terrorists who cornered her. On the outside, Shelby reports Alex’s call to Miranda and pretends it’s good news, but the wheels in her scheming mind start to turn again.

Alex is dragged into another quiet room where she wakes up from her daze and is tied to a chair in the middle of a dimly lit room. Moments later, a young gentleman by the name of Mike is thrown to the ground in front of her, begging Alex to give up what she knows to save his life. Alex believes it’s tradecraft, where the terrorists are using one of their folks on the inside to play innocent and manipulate Alex into thinking he’s an innocent civilian. Mike claims he isn’t a terrorist and Alex continues to not believe him. Alex is proven wrong in the cruelest of ways after the terrorists come in and shoot Mike in the head, execution style.

Let’s time travel back to the Farm and we see Alex essentially lived through what they put Owen through. The recruits start going in one by one and try to break Owen. They go individually and it doesn’t work. Collectively, they go in and cut off his clothes and he’s left exposed down to his boxer briefs. Alex takes advantage of this situation and steals Owen’s keys from his back pocket, so she can fulfill her role in the mission. Recruits try to drown him in a big bucket of ice water and once again it doesn’t work.

The recruits take a break to figure out their next steps on how to break Owen. In the meantime, Alex sneaks into Owen’s place to see what is beyond that mystery wall. She uncovers what appears to be a laptop and some pre-paid cell phones, but can’t do much with it because the chivalrous Harry sees Alex through his own window and warns her that Lydia is en route. Lydia came back to Owen’s house to get him a fresh set of clothes, because she feels her dad pushed the exercise a tad too far. Harry tries to derail Lydia and he does so with moderate success – just enough for Alex to sneak out of the window and jump off the roof, landing with everything in perfect place and with just a twig in her hair. (Come on, ABC!)

While Alex is jumping off a roof, Shelby and Nimah are continuing to scheme. Nimah eventually proposes that Shelby become part of the mission full-time. Nimah wants Shelby to use her connection to Velez to work him (pun intended) full-time to see if he is one to watch. Since this requires full-time commitment, that will require her to cut ties with Alex as her handler. In the end, Shelby chose danger and excitement over loyalty to her friend Alex.

After getting frustrated that nothing is working, all the recruits come back, engage in a little bit of group-think, and decide to push on Owen harder. Dayana steps up and comes up with a solution: use something or someone close to Owen to break him. Answer – Lydia. The recruits collectively capture Lydia, bring her into the room, lay her back in a chair, and start waterboarding her. Dayana keeps giving the instructions to waterboard Lydia – not once, not twice, but three times. Each time she gives the go ahead, she says, “MORE!” with a certain shrewd and cunning disposition that is a far departure from what we’ve seen from the more demure and timid Dayana. Eventually, Owen breaks and gives up his alias to the recruits. Lydia is in shock and looks at Owen with a sense of disgust. Later, she tells Owen that she isn’t proud of him and understands that he definitely isn’t capable of being in the field and is barely qualified to instruct future recruits.

In addition to Dayana confronting her past experiences with torture, the waterboarding exercise had an effect on other recruits as well. Sebastian threw up like a kid who just walked off a roller coast after eating a corn dog, cotton candy, and popcorn. The friction between Alex and Ryan continue to grow stronger because Alex can’t believe Ryan was comfortable with that approach. Ryan responded, saying it’s all about the job. The tension between Sebastian/Harry keeps building, because Harry keeps pushing Sebastian’s buttons about his closeted sexuality. They come close to getting physical, but it doesn’t quite reach that level….yet!

Back to the present day, Alex is still in the room where Mike is shot, then Dayana is brought in front of Alex. This is the point where we really see how strong Dayana truly is. As the terrorists prep to torture Dayana, Alex tells Dayana, “Be strong!” Dayana responds, “You too!” A tad ominous, eh?! The terrorists start out by stabbing Dayana and she doesn’t even flinch, wince, scream, nada. She’s a boss! That broke down Dayana little bit as she is bleeding out, but the terrorists decide to go harder themselves and pull out a hammer. They indicate four places where they could hit Dayana with the hammer on the spine, which could be prevented if Alex just gives up who has the drives. Right before they attack Dayana, Alex breaks, just like Owen did in the training exercise. Alex saves Dayana and says Lydia Hall has the drives. Although Dayana is quite thankful to Alex for not having to go through the pain, there is also a sense of defeat on her face.

We all know Miranda is up to no good and she wants to continue to throw suspicion off of her and her role in this fiasco. Miranda kisses her CIA/FBI boyfriend and takes the phone from her purse and plants it in her boyfriend’s bag. Shelby, with the help of her team, eventually uncover the four digits Alex couldn’t give earlier, dial the phone, and they nab Miranda’s boyfriend. As he’s taken away, he senses she had something to do with this while Miranda plays all kinds of innocent and deals the “love is blind” card.

Soon enough, Alex and Dayana are rescued from the room where they were held captive by Harry, Velez, and Sebastian. Alex takes them to a bunker where medical supplies are plentiful and can be used to save Dayana and patch up her wounds. Question is, why are they there and are they trustworthy?

One final time travel back to the Farm reveals Shelby is now a full-fledged member of the mission. Alex realizes she’s left out when Miranda, Nimah, Shelby, and Ryan are colluding together about the next steps. Alex makes her way to a bar where she runs into Owen and possibly has a breakthrough with him. This affirms that she’s the person to break him and she may not need her colleagues to discover what’s behind that secret wall in Owen’s house.

The final scenes of episode seven basically heighten the endless OMG moments of the episode. Harry and Sebastian make out briefly. You see Ryan lying in the dirt in the middle of nowhere. He answers a phone call from someone who says, “You’ve been selected. Take this phone. You must go.” Ryan takes this as an order and moves forward. Dayana tests her ability to handle torture by pouring scalding water from a kettle on her hands. Once again, she doesn’t flinch.

This episode has raised so many questions rather than providing more answers. Is Dayana the terrorist? Are Harry, Sebastian, and Velez truly genuine people? Why is Miranda doing this? And what is happening to Ryan’s character this season? Is he truly loyal to Alex and his country? I’ll be taking a break next week because the American Music Awards will be taking the Sunday night time slot, but I’ll be back with my final recap of the year with the latest and greatest from Quantico’s Winter Finale. Gosh, it’s going to be a brutal December with reruns and bad weather.




‘Gotham’ Season 3 Episode 9 Recap: Executioner

Gotham Season 3 Episode 9
David Mazouz, Maggie Geha, and Camren Bicondova in the “Mad City: Executioner” episode of ‘Gotham’ (Photo by Jeff Neumann © 2016 Fox Broadcasting Co)

Captain Barnes continues his downward spiral in Fox’s Gotham season three episode nine. The ninth episode also brings the more mature Ivy back into the storyline and finds poor Edward Nygma learning the devastating fate of his new girlfriend, Isabella. Airing on November 14, 2016 and titled ‘Executioner,’ episode nine begins with Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) investigating Dr. Symon’s murder which took place at Lee’s party. He asks Lee (Morena Baccarin) what time she spoke with Captain Barnes at the party, but he won’t tell her why he’s asking. She’s a smart cookie and figures it out anyway, warning him to be careful.

Jim also hits up his partner, Harvey (Donal Logue), with his suspicion Barnes was responsible for Symon’s death, but Harvey will have none of it. Harvey wants to know the motive and Jim thinks Barnes might have lost it when he saw Symon was loose. Again, that makes no sense to Harvey since Barnes has a spotless 20-year career. Jim doesn’t want Barnes to be guilty but he thinks something doesn’t feel right. Harvey finally agrees to help, but he’s doing it to prove Barnes is innocent not guilty.

Barnes (Michael Chiklis) is torturing three men while talking about whispers turning to roars, explaining the voice – his voice – tells him what he must do. The men are guilty of sex trafficking, drugs, and murder, and he’s tried to get all the proof necessary for years to bring them in. This new Barnes is no longer willing to wait for the men to be punished. He kicks the chairs out under them and they hang from the rafters. “Justice is served,” says Barnes to their dead bodies.

A rich man is showing Ivy (Maggie Geha) around his mansion, and for some strange reason he brags that his most valuable acquisitions are in his vault. She wants to check it out, telling him she’s always able to get men to do what she wants. She pulls out a perfume she made from plants and he’s instantly under her spell. After he opens the vault, she knocks him out and steals a large necklace. But, when she tries to leave she discovers the man is no longer unconscious outside the vault’s door. Before she can leave, he grabs her by the throat, demanding to know who sent her. She’s able to get away but he swears he’ll find her.

Edward (Cory Michael Smith) and Oswald (Robin Lord Taylor) are going over some paperwork while eating breakfast, and Ed’s nervous because Isabella hasn’t called and checked in from the librarian conference. Just then the phone rings and it’s the GCPD. They want Ed to come to the station but won’t say why.

At the station, Ed looks at Isabella’s dead body while Oswald says he found out she ran a red light and crashed into a train. Oswald is sorry and believes Isabella didn’t suffer. They share a lengthy hug.

Selina (Camren Bicondova) is feeding stray cats when Ivy surprises her, asking if she’s still collecting strays. Selina doesn’t understand how Ivy is now so much older.

Harvey calls in from the murder scene and says they found Barnes’ prints in the bathroom, and now Harvey wants Jim to tell Barnes what Symon said before he died. Jim’s not quite ready to do that and instead checks out the files on Barnes’ desk. Barnes catches him doing it, and Jim makes up an excuse. Barnes asks if Symon said anything to him and Jim lies and says no, that he tried to talk but died almost right away. Barnes thinks the mob had Symon killed and that a man named Sugar is the one who actually did the killing. Barnes doesn’t want Jim to say anything to anyone else, and asks him to take a ride to find Sugar. While Barnes is busy getting a gun from the trunk of his car, Jim makes a quick phone call and leaves a message telling Harvey where he’s heading.

As they drive to Sugar’s, Barnes says he’s disappointed Jim hasn’t collected his statement since he was present at the party. Since Barnes wants to be questioned, Jim complies, and Barnes denies seeing Symon go into the bathroom but admits he went into it earlier that night. Barnes asks if Jim’s ever wanted to do something about this cesspool of a city, and Jim says he’s back at the GCPD to do things right. Barnes believes their job is to protect the city, even if it means bending or breaking the law. Will good men fight for the city, wonders Barnes, and then Jim notices they’ve driven past where Barnes said Sugar was hiding out. Turns out Barnes deliberately told him the wrong address.

Meanwhile at Selina’s place, Ivy’s eating as if she’s never tasted food before, and Bruce can’t believe this is the same Ivy. Selina thinks she should have realized what Marv could do and that he aged Ivy. Selina tells Bruce Ivy has now eaten all her food, and Selina punches her in the arm because she’s pissed Ivy didn’t tell her she was still alive. Ivy apologizes, they hug, and Bruce asks why she came back. Selina wants to know everything and Ivy says when you look hot, guys just give you stuff. Bruce compliments her which doesn’t win any points with Selina. Ivy finally admits she’s in trouble because she stole a necklace, and Bruce shushes both of them when he hears a noise in the other room. There are men armed with crossbows after them and they barely escape.

Barnes breaks down a door and tells Sugar not to move. He asks him where he was last night during the murder, and Jim asks if the name Symon means anything to him. He says he’s innocent and Barnes thinks he’s telling the truth about not killing anyone. But, that doesn’t mean he’s innocent so Barnes blows him away. He turns the gun on a stunned Jim.

Bruce, Ivy, and Selina are on the run and Selina’s upset because these men have now chased her out of her crash pad. Bruce wants Ivy to return the necklace but she won’t, so young Mr. Wayne offers to buy it off her and then return it. She wants $1,000 for it and Bruce agrees, while Selina calls her an idiot for selling it for such a low amount. She ups the asking price and Bruce keeps saying fine, and then finally just offers her $5,000 in cash. She agrees and hands over the necklace. Bruce asks for the address so he can return it.

Oswald’s having his portrait painted while Ed has somber music cranked up as he’s curled up with a blanket. All Ed wants to do is just sit there by himself and mourn the loss of his new love, but Oswald tells him it’s not healthy behavior. Healing is about moving on, says Oswald, and Ed agrees. He’s going to the accident scene and say goodbye.

Barnes makes Jim move Sugar’s body and then admits he knows Jim’s investigating him for Symon’s death. Barnes knows Symon said something to him before he died and Jim figures out Barnes also killed Paulie Pennies. Barnes says, angrily, that he’s the law and that this new Barnes is who he’s always been. He confesses he’s never been so strong or clear, and Jim now knows Barnes is infected with Alice’s blood. That means Barnes is innocent, but the Captain won’t give himself up. He thinks Jim isn’t seeing the big picture, and there’s only innocence and guilt. Barnes thinks Jim should join him in this new crusade in which he’s drawn a line in the sand. He points the gun at Jim and asks where he stands. Jim, without hesitation, replies, “Against you.” Fortunately, right before Barnes can shoot Jim, one of Sugar’s cohorts shows up and Jim escapes while Barnes is distracted.

Ed reads a poem to Isabella while standing on the train tracks. He places flowers where her car was hit and then notices they are just four blocks from her apartment. A homeless man asks for change, but although he was there the night before, he’s blind and didn’t see the accident. However, he heard Isabella screaming for help before her car hit the train. The homeless man describes it as blood-curdling screaming.

Bruce is still determined to do the right thing and brings Selina and Ivy with him to return the necklace. Ivy’s not sure she should go in since she hit the guy with a vase, but they all enter the house anyway when they notice the door’s open. The homeowner is dead on the floor, an arrow through his eye. That means the men who came after Ivy are the same men who killed her robbery victim. Bruce wants to know why the necklace is so important and Selina grabs it and throws it. It breaks open and there’s a key inside, but to what? Selina thinks they should leave and Ivy finally realizes they’re a couple. Bruce says they are, Selina says they aren’t. When he asks her why she said no, Selina doesn’t want to talk about it. Bruce suggests they head to his house.

Back at GCPD, all the cops are frantically getting ready to hit the street because Barnes called in an alert saying Jim shot an unarmed suspect. Barnes also reported that Jim took a shot at him, so now the cops are forced to hunt down Jim. Harvey keeps saying this isn’t right, but no one listens. He walks away when Jim calls, saying Barnes murdered Paulie Pennies, Symon, and some other guy right in front of him. Harvey can’t believe it, saying he was only gone for an hour. Jim explains Barnes is infected with Alice’s blood and has lost his mind. Barnes takes another shot at Jim but not before Jim can tell Harvey where to find him.


Harvey bursts into the lab and tells Lee that Barnes is infected. Lee remembers Barnes was there when Alice died, but no cops will believe Harvey if he tries to explain what’s really going on. He needs Lee to tell the rest of the officers what’s happening since they’ll believe her more than they’ll believe him.

Jim’s still running for his life with Barnes close on his heels. Unfortunately, Barnes catches up to him and tells him it’s the end of the line.

Ed inspects Isabella’s car that’s been towed to GCPD’s impound lot. He discovers the brake lines were cut and wants to know why no one else figured that out. He knows someone paid them off and it had to be someone with money and influence.

As Barnes approaches Jim, sirens are heard in the background. Barnes tells him his fellow officers will arrive and find Jim dead, but that they could have made a great team. Jim tells Barnes to go to hell as Harvey yells from the street that Barnes is under arrest. All the officers know he’s infected and has killed multiple people because Lee said she has proof. Barnes knows Lee lied and he’s angry, but Jim’s able to launch himself at Barnes when he looks away. Now it’s a hand-to-hand fight and both men are getting in hits when Jim’s finally able to grab his gun off the floor and pull it on Barnes before Barnes can pull his gun on Jim. Jim tells him to drop it and Barnes refuses. Barnes wants Jim to let him go, but Jim refuses. Jim doesn’t give in when Barnes snarls at him to stand down, and Barnes prepares to fire. Jim fires first and Harvey and the officers find a wounded Barnes on the ground, clutching his shoulder.

Ivy’s impressed by Wayne Manor and Bruce offers them food and beds. However, Bruce is obviously unhappy with Selina after she denied they were a thing.

The armed men look through Selina’s place and find a newspaper clipping behind a wall about the murder of Bruce’s parents.

Back at the station, Jim thanks Lee for her help and she tries to say it was nothing. He tells her she’s wrong, that she could have done nothing but instead she saved his life. She admits she did fabricate a blood test that claimed Barnes had a psychosis-inducing virus. They stare into each other’s eyes, and Lee’s the first to look away. Jim stops her as she’s about to leave, thanking her again.

Oswald apologizes to Ed for not being as compassionate as he should have been, and shows Ed he’s added him to the painting. Ed reveals Isabella was murdered because no one falls asleep four blocks from home. Plus, the homeless man heard her scream. He pulls out the severed brake lines, saying it leads to just one conclusion: Butch killed Isabella in retaliation. Oswald says that makes sense, vowing to find him and make him pay for what he’s done.

Harvey apologizes for initially doubting Jim, but Jim told him he believed him when it mattered.

Barnes is being held at Arkham where he yells, “Guilty!” over and over again.




‘Once Upon a Time’ Season 6 Episode 8 Recap: “I’ll Be Your Mirror”

Once Upon a Time season 6 episode 8 star Josh Dallas
Josh Dallas in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 6 episode 8 (Photo by Jack Rowand / ABC)

ABC’s Once Upon a Time season six episode seven found Snow and David’s lives turned upside down by the Evil Queen who cursed them with a twisted sleeping spell. David and Snow can not be awake at the same time, which means they’ll never see each other again unless someone figures out how to break the spell. Episode eight, titled ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ and airing on November 13, 2016, opened with Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) talking to a sleeping David (Josh Dallas), and with Regina (Lana Parrilla) insisting it’s all her fault. She wants to sacrifice herself to kill off the Evil Queen, but Emma convinces her they’ll find another way solution.

Snow has had her turn awake and is about to kiss David to swap places when she figures out the Evil Queen is watching them. Snow smashes the mirror, while elsewhere, the Evil Queen looks into her mirror and smiles.

David whips up breakfast for Snow, leaves her a note, and then swaps places. They go through each day this way, taking care of their baby, and leaving notes and videos on their phones for each other. They seem to have made the adjustment as well as could be expected and are making the best out of a horrible situation.

Emma visits Regina in her vault, letting her know she hasn’t been able to track down the Dragon – the one person who might have a cure. But now Regina has an idea: they can trap the Evil Queen in the world behind the mirror. Regina wants to use Henry (Jared Gilmore) as bait, and he’s fine with it because he needs a distraction from the school dance. Violet stood him up for their John Hughes film date, and he doesn’t know if she even likes him anymore. Emma gives him advice, reminding him she won’t always be there to dispense it in the future.

Henry meets up with the Evil Queen on the lake’s shore, and she tells him someday he’ll understand they’ll all have to make hard choices. Henry claims he’s not afraid of her anymore, but when the Evil Queen reaches out to touch him, it turns out he’s not actually there. Emma and Regina are though, and the Evil Queen’s mad they used her son to trap her. Regina holds up the mirror and thinks she’s going to enchant her sister, but it turns out the Evil Queen traded mirrors. She uses the real enchanted mirror to trap Regina and Emma, telling them they’ll be imprisoned behind the glass for the rest of their lives.

Emma and Regina wind up in a world full of mirrors but no doors. Emma can see Storybrooke through the mirrors, but she can’t actually visit the town. She’s surrounded by mirrors, and she randomly touches them. No one on the other side can see or hear her, and Regina tells Emma to stop trying to get through to anyone in Storybrooke. They don’t have magic in this world, and Regina says it was the perfect prison for the Evil Queen which makes it the perfect prison for them. But, Emma reminds Regina she has people who care about her and Regina figures out Henry is the key to their release.

Back in Storybrooke, the Evil Queen transforms into Regina and visits Henry, Snow, and Hook (Colin O’Donoghue). She tells them the spell to trap the Evil Queen worked and that she finally feels free, and she lets Hook know Emma is driving to New York to find the Dragon by herself. Snow’s happy Regina got rid of “that monster,” and the Evil Queen has a hard time maintaining her masquerade as Regina while being insulted. She changes the subject, helping Henry get ready for his dance.

Elsewhere in Storybrooke, Belle (Emilie de Ravin) tells Zelena (Rebecca Mader) that Gold has closed the shop, and she wants Zelena to help her keep him away from her son. Belle refuses to leave until Zelena does help her with Gold, reminding Zelena she knows what it’s like to love someone who always lets them down. She’s not going to let her son go through this, and she believes Zelena can get her out of Storybrooke safely. Zelena needs the sorcerer’s wand, and Gold has it under lock and key.

Belle and Zelena sit down at the diner with Jasmine (Karen David) and Aladdin (Deniz Akdeniz), and they want to hire Aladdin to steal the wand since he’s the best thief in any town. Jasmine doesn’t want him to do it, but Belle tells him that if any part of him is still a hero, he’ll help her escape from “this beast.”

The Evil Queen, still dressed as Regina, visits Gold and he knows right away she’s the Evil Queen. She needs the Hammer of Festus, an item that is useful for people who want to use magic but have none. She wants to give it to Henry and Gold decides to give it to her, but she must give something in return. She says if he gives it to her, they’ll be on the same team. He reminds her love is weakness and she turns it around, saying love can also be a weapon, a weapon she can use on Henry.

Hook tries returning Emma’s call, but his call goes straight to her voice mail. It doesn’t feel right and as he hangs up, he spots pieces of the shattered mirror on the ground and Emma’s cell phone. The Evil Queen shows up and knocks him out after telling him she won’t say what she did with Emma and Regina.

Back in the world behind the mirrors, Regina tries to figure out which mirror will show them Henry. Emma remembers Henry was going to take Violet to Granny’s before the dance.

In Storybrooke, Henry sits alone in a booth at Granny’s, glancing at his watch. He gets up and looks at himself in a mirror and Emma and Regina watch him. They know he’s terrified, and try banging on the mirror. He hears it making noises but can’t see them or hear their voices. The Evil Queen, still disguised as Regina, shows up and asks him what’s wrong.

Emma and Regina realize Henry doesn’t even know they’re missing, while the Evil Queen gives him advice on Violet. She tells him Violet’s a commoner who’s lucky to have a “prince” like him. She also tells him he’ll always be royalty no matter what world they live in, and the Evil Queen says one day they may return to her castle and he’ll be king. She tries to convince him being royalty is in the way he carries himself, and to act like the prince he is. She reminds him to stop slouching, and it appears Henry realizes something’s up.

Once Upon a Time Season 6 Episode 8
Olivia Steele Falconer and Jared Gilmore in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (Photo by Jack Rowand / ABC)

Violet (Olivia Steele Falconer) shows up and Henry hands her a rose, and she asks if the homecoming dance is like a ball. As they’re talking, the Evil Queen remains behind Henry in the doorway. She can’t hear what he’s saying, so Henry tells Violet to just smile no matter what he says. He tells her the woman behind him is the Evil Queen and Violet needs to come up with a reason for them to leave. She asks if she can show him the dress she really wanted in a dress shop window, and he tells the Evil Queen he’ll be back soon.

Regina and Emma are upset the Evil Queen is going after Henry and as they talk, Emma is convinced someone else is there with them. She’s right as the Dragon appears. The Evil Queen paid a visit to his shop after they left her for dead. He’s angry at Regina for letting out the evil within, telling her this is a lesson learned at a great cost. They tell him they just want to get back to Henry, and the Dragon says he’s found a back door but hasn’t been able to open it.

Back in Storybrooke, Aladdin breaks into Gold’s and searches for the sorcerer’s wand. He spots Gold in a back room, weaving, and Gold looks up when he hears a noise. Fortunately, a little toy monkey starts moving and Gold believes that’s what made the noise. Aladdin hides, thanks the monkey, and finds the wand.

Back in the mirror world, the Dragon is sorry he can’t break Emma’s parents’ curse. He does, however, think the three of them may be able to put a mirror back together that’s possibly the way out.

Henry visits his mom’s vault and speaks into her mirror. He asks Emma and Regina to say something if they’re in there. Just then the Evil Queen arrives and catches him, telling him she’s the mother who made him face his fears as a child. She just wants him to be great and have whatever he wants, he just has to stand on his own. He tells her she can’t “Darth Vader” him and promises he’ll never join her. She claims to not really be evil – although she’s not a hero, either. She picks up a beating heart and tells him she’s a leader who will do whatever is necessary.

Returning to the mirror world, it turns out the Dragon is being controlled by the Evil Queen. She put the Dragon’s body in the mirror, but she kept his heart. The Evil Queen lets them see Henry, and Henry see them as the Dragon groans in pain. He says he doesn’t want to do this as he transforms into a fire-breathing dragon.

The Evil Queen commands it kill Emma and Regina, and Henry tells her to make it stop. She’s giving him a choice: use the hammer to smash the Dragon’s heart or leave his mothers to die. He thinks he’ll turn evil if he smashes the heart. Meanwhile, Emma and Regina decide to aim the dragon’s fire at the mirror. They have a short argument about who should risk their life to do it, and Regina admits she’s scared to raise Henry by herself while Emma reminds her she has a death sentence anyway. They decide to do it together as Henry attempts to make up his mind about using the hammer.

Emma and Regina yell for Henry’s help and the Evil Queen keeps telling him to smash the dragon’s heart. He decides instead to smash the mirror. The Dragon aims his fire at the mirror and it cracks. Henry grabs the heart and Emma and Regina come flying through the mirror. The Evil Queen accuses Henry of being weak and needing to hide behind his moms, but he stands up to her and says family makes him strong. He tells the Evil Queen she’ll always be alone and as she approaches Henry about to do something evil, Hook comes up from behind and threatens to put his hook through her neck. She disappears.

Aladdin and Jasmine take a nighttime walk down Storybrooke’s main street, and she’s proud of him for being a hero. She, on the other hand, isn’t happy with herself for not helping him with Belle’s problem. Aladdin makes her feel better by revealing he snagged a magic lamp that, unfortunately, doesn’t house their old friend the genie. But, Aladdin thinks whoever is inside it now might be able to help Jasmine with her kingdom.

Apparently, Aladdin wasn’t as clever a burglar as he thought he was. Gold shows up at Zelena’s as Zelena and Belle are about to get underway with the spell using the sorcerer’s wand. Gold takes it back and slaps a gold bracelet on Belle’s arm, telling her he’ll always be able to find her. He says it’s love, but Belle says he’s just scared. She threatens to run away fast and far, and he’ll never see their son. He reminds her Rumple takes children, not the other way around.

As he attempts to silence Zelena’s retort, he groans in pain. When he tried to grab her throat using magic, he brought on a heart attack. Zelena got him to agree on a deal when she saved him all those months ago in New York: if he hurts her, he hurts himself. Rumple says he’ll find a loophole and leaves.

Snow tries to write another note for David, but starts crying and says she can’t do it anymore. She says she misses him before kissing him.

Henry apologizes to Violet for missing the dance and he’s decorated Granny’s to look like a prom. He asks if she’s getting bored with him and she admits she’s having a hard time adjusting to school. She feels out of place, and then starts wondering which of the Breakfast Club characters she is. He tells her she’s Violet and doesn’t need a label, and then asks her to dance. His moms watch from outside, and Regina finally notices he’s grown up and they both did a great job raising him.

Gold is looking at the sonogram again when the Evil Queen arrives. She says Henry will realize some day what she’s doing to make him strong, and Gold asks her how far she’s willing to go to get her new beginning. She says she’ll do anything, and they kiss. Gold says maybe they’ll both get their happy endings, but first he wants the Evil Queen to kill Zelena.





‘Westworld,’ ‘Divorce’ and ‘Insecure’ Renewed for Second Seasons

Westworld season 1 episode 5 stars Evan Rachel Wood and Jimmi Simpson
Evan Rachel Wood and Jimmi Simpson in ‘Westworld’ season 1 episode 5 (Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO)

HBO has officially announced the renewals of Westworld, Divorce, and Insecure. The network will bring all three shows back for second seasons, although Westworld fans may have to wait until 2018 for season two. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, HBO Programming President Casey Bloys said due to the size of the production, Westworld season two might not be ready for a fall 2017 premiere.

“I am thrilled to announce the pickup of our three fall series, all of which have distinctive, original voices,” stated Bloys. “Critics and viewers alike have welcomed Westworld and Insecure, as well as the return of Sarah Jessica Parker to the network after 12 years with Divorce.”


Season one of Westworld has been averaging 11.7 million viewers while Insecure averages 3.2 million and Divorce has been drawing in an average of 4.4 million viewers per episode. Westworld was created by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, and is based on the 1973 Michael Crichton film starring Yul Brynner. Divorce comes from Sharon Horgan and Insecure was created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore.

Westworld premiered on October 2, 2016 and airs on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT. The series stars Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jimmi Simpson, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Ben Barnes, Simon Quarterman, Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth, and Clifton Collins, Jr.

Divorce reunites Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker with HBO after a 12 year series TV break. Thomas Haden Church co-stars in the half hour comedy as Parker’s character’s husband. The plot follows Frances (Parker) who has “suddenly begun to reassess her life and her strained relationship with her husband after more than a decade of marriage and two children. But she soon discovers that making a clean break and a fresh start is harder than she thought.”

Insecure airs on Sundays at 10:30pm ET/PT and stars Issa Rae and Yvonne Orji as best friends who “must deal with their own real-life flaws as they attempt to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences.”




‘Jackie’ Official Trailer Arrives Starring Natalie Portman

Jackie star Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy
Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy in ‘Jackie’ (Photo by Stephanie Branchu. © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)

Natalie Portman stars as one of America’s most beloved First Ladies in Jackie, directed by Pablo Larrain. Fox Searchlight’s just released the first official trailer for the dramatic film which examines the days following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The cast also includes Peter Sarsgaard as Robert Kennedy, Max Casella as Jack Valenti, Beth Grant as Ladybird Johnson, Greta Gerwig as Nancy Tuckerman, Billy Crudup, and John Hurt. Fox Searchlight is opening Jackie in theaters on December 2, 2016.

The Plot: Jackie is a searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (Portman). Jackie places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband’s assassination. Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a psychological portrait of the First Lady as she struggles to maintain her husband’s legacy and the world of “Camelot” that they created and loved so well.

Watch the Jackie trailer:





‘The Walking Dead’ Season 7 Episode 4 Recap and Review: Service

Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 4 Andrew Lincoln and Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 7, Episode 4 – (Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC)

“Little pigs, little pigs, let me in,” yells Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) as he bangs on the gates of Alexandria days earlier than he had said he would, ready to take what he decides is his in season seven episode four of AMC’s horror/drama series The Walking Dead.

As the episode begins, Michonne (Danai Gurira) gets up early and sneaks out to go hunting, taking with her a sharpshooter rifle along with her sword. She arrives in a field and is just enjoying the quiet and sun on her body when she hears something. A walker approaches in the distance and she uses the scope on her rifle and fires but misses. She does this several more times until finally getting fed up. The zombie’s close now so she uses her sword to slice his head in half. It seems as a sharpshooter Michonne stinks.

Back at Alexandria, Rosita (Christian Serratos) and Spencer (Austin Nichols) are just about to make a food and supply run when who should come knocking at the gate…Negan, joined by a large party of his people and Daryl (Norman Reedus). Negan is there to take anything his group desires because Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and his people work for him now. They let them in and the taunting and bullying begins immediately, with Dwight (Austin Amelio) taking Rosita and Spencer’s weapons and ordering Rosita to get him Daryl’s bike. (It’s back where by the railroad tracks where they had that gun fight in late season six.)

Negan spends most of his time at Alexandria gloating and staying in Rick’s face about how he needs everyone on board. He tells Rick that even though they got off on the wrong foot, he thinks this will be a promising relationship. Rick tries to talk to Daryl who’s wearing what looks to be a big sack with the letter A on the front. As soon as Rick tries to say something to him, Negan shuts him down, telling him that Daryl is nothing more than the help and he is not to be spoken to.

As the day goes on, Negan and his Saviors take the mattresses, most of the medicine, and basically anything they feel like. Negan asks Rick where the sick-looking woman who lost her husband on the night he used Lucille on Rick’s group, and Rick gets a look on his face that seems to indicate she didn’t make it. Negan is disappointed by this, saying he was going to ask her to come back with him. This is when Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) startles Negan by asking him if he would like to pay his respects. He takes them to the graveyard and shows them a grave with Maggie’s name on it. Negan says it was a shame that he had to kill the first guy to show who was boss and in revenge for all the Saviors Rick and his people killed, but Maggie’s husband Glenn’s death is on Daryl. That’s when they all hear a gunshot and head over to see what’s going on.

Carl (Chandler Riggs) is trying to stop one of the Saviors from taking all their medication, and is threatening him with a gun. Negan laughs but actually is quite annoyed that Carl feels he can stand up to his people and to him. Negan tells Carl that he decides what half is and asks if he needs to remind him how things will go if he does not comply. Carl, knowing Negan will kill someone in Alexandria if he doesn’t back down, gives the gun to Rick who has been pleading with him to do so. Negan decides because of Carl’s actions that he can’t allow Rick and his group to have guns so now they’re going to take them all.

While they’re at the armory, one of the Saviors discovers that two pistols are missing. Olivia (Ann Mahoney) is in charge of keeping the records at the armory, so if the guns are not found Negan says she will have to die – even though he claims to hate killing women. Rick tells him that he’ll find them and gets most of the town in the church to try to convince whoever is hiding the guns to give them up. “Let me make this as clear as I can. I’m not in charge anymore…Negan is,” says the whipped and scared ex-sheriff. This is when Eugene (Josh McDermitt) notices that not everyone is at the meeting. Rosita and Spencer are still out looking for Daryl’s motorcycle.

Speaking of those two, they’re in the woods and have reached the tracks when Spencer starts doing all the work loading up Daryl’s bike. He’s running off at the mouth about how everything is Rick’s fault and how they should have made a deal with Negan and the Saviors earlier so some lives could have been saved. Rosita doesn’t seem to be listening and goes off into the woods to take down a group of walkers. She seems to have two goals in doing this. First, to work off some frustration by killing walkers. And secondly, looking for a pistol which is on one of the zombies who used to be a Savior. It’s unloaded but she keeps the gun and tells Spencer that Negan and his Saviors are going to take all their firearms, something she figured out when Dwight took their guns before they left. As she gets ready to go back to Alexandria, she acknowledges that she she heard Spencer’s complaints, saying, “This is not our life,” referring to his closing sentence that obeying Negan was their life now.

Back at Alexandria, Rick is frantically looking for the two missing guns in order to save Olivia. He’s searching Spencer’s house, knowing Spencer’s hidden items from the group before. Father Gabriel is helping Rick and tells him he has faith in him and that their people will get through this. Rick doesn’t believe there is a way out, but Gabriel reminds him that things change. “You and I are friends. That wasn’t always the case,” says the optimistic priest. Rick notices the floorboard making a sound near the vent and pries it up. He find food supplies hidden along with the two missing guns.


Outside, Rick hands over the guns to Negan who asks which person almost got poor Olivia (who is still crying and whimpering) killed. Rick says it’s not important but Negan tells him it is. He tells Rick that he expects him to get everyone on board about their little arrangement or it will go all the way back to day one, and he knows they don’t want that.

As Negan and his Saviors are heading out, Michonne has returned and is hiding in a house. Both Rick and Negan see her and Rick asks for a minute, which Negan denies him. Rick asks again using the word please and this time Negan smiles and says okay. Rick confronts Michonne about the sniper rifle and says they have to give it to Negan. She tries to protest but Rick tells her that if they find it someone will die and he won’t take that chance. Reluctantly, she turns it over. Negan laughs again when he gets both the gun and the dead deer Michonne killed by accident when she was shooting at the walker. (She really is a terrible shot.) He warns Rick that next time he wants him to have something special for them or otherwise Lucille, which Rick has been holding onto all day on Negan’s orders, will be thirsty again. Wanting to make sure Rick understands him and it’s clear, Negan says again, “Have something special waiting for me next time or someone dies.”

Rick confronts Spencer about what he did with the guns and supplies, telling him it almost got Olivia killed. Spencer doesn’t care and makes a comment about how lucky they all are having Rick in charge, especially Glenn and Abraham. Rick, who was walking away, stops but doesn’t turn around. You can hear the rage in his voice as he firmly tells Spencer that if he ever says that again, he will break his jaw. Rick then tells Spencer to acknowledge what he has just said, and being the selfish, spineless creep he is, Spencer does.

Later in day, Rick and Michonne have a talk and she encourages him to team up with The Hilltop and stage a fight against The Saviors, reminding Rick everything they have and how they got this far is because they are fighters. This is when Rick finally tells Michonne about Shane and his wife getting together when they thought he was dead and that he knows baby Judith isn’t his biologically but she’s still his daughter all the same. “I know I’ll die before she does. Hopefully not for a long time,” says the exhausted and emotionally drained leader of Alexandria. Rick tells Michonne she has to accept their new way of life, and to give the man she hopes to make a new life with some peace of mind she tells him what he needs to hear and says, “I’m gonna try.”

The last scene takes place later that night when Rosita knocks on Eugene’s door. When he opens it, she tells him she needs him to make her a bullet and shows him a shell casing from the shot Negan fired while testing the guns.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 4 Review:

Tense and uncomfortable, episode four titled ‘Service’ reinforces Negan’s power over Rick and his people and demonstrates just how broken Rick is over losing Glenn and Abraham. The episode shows that Negan is not a fool, showing up earlier than expected to make sure Rick never knows exactly what to expect from him. His early appearance at Alexandria also thwarts anyone in the group from coming up with a battle plan.

There are two stand-out performances in this episode. The first is Andrew Lincoln who shows just the right amount of fear and rage his character feels towards Negan. The scene where he grips the bat tightly and shows via his body language he’s thinking about using it on Negan is nerve-wracking. Also strong is the scene where he finally tells Michonne about Shane and his wife and how he feels responsible not just for Judith’s life and well-being but for everyone, confessing how desperate he is not to lose anyone else.

The second stand-out performance goes again to Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the show’s new major villain, Negan. His bravado and constantly switching from all smiles and obnoxious laughs to stone-faced killer is extremely effective and makes him the best villain since The Governor. The overall enjoyment he takes in letting everyone in Alexandria know that he is now their master, especially Rick, is sickening, infuriating, and terrifying.

With Rick seemingly broken, Daryl not willing to save himself yet, and Rosita looking to turn herself into a lone assassin, here’s hoping the eventual teaming up of Rick and the Alexandrians with The Hilltop crew doesn’t take too much longer this season to happen.

GRADE: B-




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