Supergirl 3x22 Review: "Make It Reign" (Make It Stop) [Contributor: Deborah MacArthur]

“Make It Reign”

Original Airdate: June 11, 2018 

Fun fact: I almost fell asleep while watching this episode, because whatever the penultimate episode of a television season should be, this one was the opposite: boring, borderline inconsequential, repetitive, and unbalanced. “Make It Reign” is more like “Make It A Lazy Summer Drizzle When You Got Nothing to Do,” and I haven’t studied it with anything close to a scientific eye, but there was something... off about the pacing, which might have been 80% of the problem.

Did scenes last too long? Did action, emotion, and exposition scenes not come in the right order to keep up momentum? Or was it just a case of the show, once again, un-solving a problem we thought was solved, rather than simply streamlining their storytelling in a way that prevents the tedious treading of old ground?

Jeez. One episode after this one, guys. Just gotta hold on for one more episode.

HERE COMES THE REIGN... AGAIN

Kara and Mon-El are still stuck on Argo, unable to communicate with Earth because of Argo’s shielding situation. Meanwhile, the Worldkiller priestesses have arrived on Earth and are ready to start their ritual to raise Reign again (note to Supergirl writers: “again” should not be a word I use in describing the main event of your main plot), with the added bonus of now having all the yellow sun powers Kryptonians get. So three evil, super-powered individuals are on Earth, National City’s primary protector is on a floating asteroid city light-years away, and the other good Kryptonian on the planet is absent, probably for legal reasons. Great.

Back on Argo, Kara, Mon-El, and Kara’s mom discover the evil Worldkiller Priestess cave where all the Worldkiller Priestesses have been doing evil things. A hologram of the lead priestess, Selena, pops up just to tell Kara and Company that Sam and Reign are in a Harry Potter/Voldemort “neither can live while the other survives” situation, and the Big Plan is now not to cleanse the universe of wrongdoers, as we have been lead to believe throughout this ENTIRE Reign plot, but to terraform the Earth into a new Krypton. Would that mean turning some Earth rocks into Kryptonite? Because under the yellow sun, that might be a serious flaw in their evil plan.

The Worldkiller Priestess room explodes, hurting Kara’s old friend from Krypton just to get her out of the story and conveniently damaging the Legion of Superheroes beacon that Mon-El has been carrying around, because clumsily eliminating extraneous or potentially helpful elements is this episode’s forte. Kara and Alura scope out ways to get a message back to Earth, finally landing on using the hologram crystals that are used like Kryptonian USB drives, I guess? Kara contacts Winn through the AI hologram of Alura, which is sectioned off in its own AI-specific room in the DEO, and drops all the info the folks on Argo know about the Worldkiller master plan. Alex is there too.

Meanwhile the Worldkiller priestesses have arrived at their Earth-based evil headquarters and, with the help of Thomas “I Started a Cult and All I Got For It Was Inevitable Betrayal” Coville, begin the ritual to bring Reign back in her non-Sam (but still played by Odette Annable) form. They hit a snag in their ritual when they realize that the other two Worldkillers’ blood isn’t in the mix, so it’s real convenient for them that Coville knows vials of Purity and Pestilence’s blood are being stored at the DEO. How does he know this? I don’t know. It’s never explained. Even I didn’t know the DEO was storing Worldkiller blood, and I review this show every week. Did I miss this little tidbit of information? It’s possible, but it’s also possible that the show just pulled this out of thin air because they knew they wanted to have the Worldkillers fight at DEO headquarters and wanted to kill off poor Demos for the drama.

So the Worldkillers attack the DEO, just in time for Kara, Alura, and Mon-El to use a portal cobbled together by old tech Kara’s dad was working on before he died and some mimicry from Winn’s side of things. Winn being able to duplicate Kryptonian technology made by never completed by a now-dead man is just Convenient Plot Point #3,402 of this season. Using the portal, Kara, Alura (wearing a nifty costume!), and Mon-El return to Earth just in time to see the chaos of the Worldkiller attack.

Speaking of the DEO/Worldkiller priestess battle: I noticed two things that struck me as odd. One of those things is, apparently heat vision doesn’t burn people anymore? The priestesses seemed to use their heat vision as more of a concussive blast. The other thing is that Alex fires kryptonite bullets at the priestesses and nothing happens. Why not? I don’t think it was ever established that Selena and her cohorts are particularly stronger than the average Kryptonian, although I suppose it could be handwaved as a side effect of their Kryptonian magics... but it’s more likely that the writers just wanted to up the stakes of the fight without really upping any stakes. So Alex shoots them with kryptonite bullets because you gotta make the audience think the good guys are gonna win! But the bullets do nothing. Just like much of the plot this season, the writers rely heavily on the implication of progress, without actually allowing any progress to happen — it’s the “treadmill to nowhere” approach to storytelling.

Oh, and they killed off a character just because. Way to stick to your comic book roots in some way, Supergirl. It's just a pity that killing off characters for the sake of drama is the worst way to do that.

Kara tries to trick the priestesses by throwing the vials of Worldkiller blood their way and then heat-blasting them in Selena’s hand, but it backfires when the three escape and Selena cuts open her wound and it’s apparently enough blended Worldkiller blood to complete the ritual. Gross.

Reign is back! Again!

Other Things:

• Selena and her Priestess Pals say they have powers “beyond reason” on Earth, which just feels like a tongue-in-cheek jab at how illogical the Kryptonian powers are.
• For a second I thought the Selena hologram was a recording and half expected it to interrupt Alura’s shaming-speech.
• If Earth resets itself, wouldn’t they have to wait a few million years for all the magma to cool down?
• “Always the hero!” says Winn about Mon-El. I’m pretty sure the entire point of Mon-El was that he spent 99% of his time not being a hero and sucking at trying to be a hero and it was only getting flung into the future that gave him even an ounce of heroism, and even that was lackluster and limited to cape tricks. So... nah, Winn. Not really.
• Sam has to get her strength back by going to that dark evil Reign forest and finding The Fountain of Lilith. Sweet merciful skies, Supergirl, stop just adding lore to this plot in order to make it last longer.

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Younger 5x02 Recap: “A Titanic Problem” (Rollercoaster) [Guest Poster: Kay-B]

“A Titanic Problem”

Original Airdate: June 12, 2018

Welcome back to your favorite Younger recap! Ready to dive in? Good!

This episode picked back up with Charles obsessing over the files that Edward gave him about Liza. All episode was focused heavily on Charles as he processed being lied to for years by Liza. Charles, giving us very much a two-sided conundrum, is professionally struggling from the hit on Empirical’s finances due to Edward’s sexual harassment revelations. Personally, he obviously loves Liza (and finally admits it this episode, eek!), but is having a hard time reconciling being fooled and foolish.

While he processes this professional and personal struggle with Liza, Pauline is at home hoping to reconcile with him as husband and wife. Charles avoids giving her an answer all episode, because he is still trying to sort out his feelings for Liza. He looks for clues as to how he could’ve missed this and without stating names, confides in his lawyer and friend, who — unbeknownst to him — also knows Liza. Charles’s attorney advises him to try to avoid this mystery woman at all costs.

Instead of fully focusing on the current demise of the Edward L.L. Moore brand, Liza and Kelsey get a welcomed distraction when Marriage Vacation is selected by Reese Witherspoon for her monthly book club. Historically, those books go on to become huge bestsellers, so this news couldn’t come at a more perfect time. Liza slides into Reese’s DM to propose a film adaptation with Reese portraying Pauline. And during the staff meeting, Reese responds to Liza, and a meeting is arranged. During the meeting, Reese’s people say they’d love to do a film. Pauline is incredibly shocked and offers to take the girls out to celebrate. Liza goes back inside and pitches an even better, long-term incubator deal to Reese’s team and they are immediately intrigued.

Liza, understandably thrilled about this new lucrative deal she just proposed to Reese’s team, goes back to the office to give Charles a heads up. The lengths that Charles goes to in an attempt to avoid Liza are both ridiculous and rude, especially in a work environment. Charles lets his heart do the work instead of his head and tells Reese’s team that he has to think about this deal. Liza's hand-delivered a monetary godsend in the wake of their financial woes, and Charles couldn’t look beyond his current knowledge of her double life to see the value and worth in it.

Meanwhile, Josh and Liza have an awkward run-in at his apartment, where Josh is awaiting the arrival of his new bride. However, later we find out she isn’t coming and truly only got married for the opportunity to live in the States — not for love. Josh is feeling broken and finds comfort in Liza. He probably should stay single for a while, and figure out who he is and — ultimately — a bit more about what he wants out of life.

After Diana puts things into financial perspective for Charles, he publicly agrees to the deal with Reese’s team at the Marriage Vacation book release party, stating he has no other choice when asked by Liza what changed his mind. Charles also makes a decision about Pauline and decides they need to proceed with a divorce. Professionally this was the greatest night of Pauline’s life; but personally, all of her hopes of having her family together again are crushed.

This season of Younger so far is moving at a much slower pace than I would like it to be. While this episode did show some career growth for Lisa, it never directly addressed the aftermath of Charles finding out Liza’s secret. I was hoping they would use this episode to have them talk directly and give Liza a chance to explain herself. Instead, "A Titanic Problem" danced around the actual problem, and Charles spoke largely in metaphors — when he wasn’t avoiding direct eye contact.

Also, I need more of a storyline for Maggie, apart from just being a part of the tour bus scam. And Lauren needs help with her PR firm and that film she designed! I am looking forward to seeing Maggie and Josh develop a real friendship outside of Liza (per the trailer) and for Lauren to really make her mark in the industry. Also, Zane needs a client and not be so prideful when Kelsey is trying to help him by letting him consult on Millennial books.

What did you like about the episode? What did you dislike? I feel like Charles’s decision to divorce Pauline was clear as day. He never really allowed space for her back in his heart and if Pauline was honest with herself, she knew that. Does Josh need to be in a relationship right now?  Will Charles ever confront Liza for lying? Guess we will just have to wait and see next week on Younger!

Image credit: TVFanatic

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The Bachelorette 14x01 & 14x02 Roundtable: Let's Do It Again [Contributors: Chelsea, Alisa, Jen K., and Rebecca]

It's baaaaaaaaack! We've finally entered summertime and that means that The Bachelorette has returned. Chelsea, Alisa, and Rebecca are also back and they're ready to chat about all things related to their favorite (and sometimes frustrating) reality franchise. Joining them this season is your favorite Blindspot reviewer, Jen K.!

Let's dive in, kids.

Who had the best or most memorable introduction gimmick? Who had the worst? 

Alisa: Okay, so I thought the chicken guy would turn out to be the worst, but fortunately he was super sweet and even though I’m not a fan of people dressing up in costumes to be memorable, his personality ended up making it work and he became the most memorable in a good way! The worst was the guy who brought the cardboard cut-out of Arie. It was bad enough that like half the contestants mentioned Arie during their introductions (and we had to re-watch that agonizing break-up), but the cut-out was too much!

Also, I think I was the only one in America who didn’t like the whole pulling up in a van thing? Even before I knew Garrett was problematic, I thought the van thing was cringe-worthy and slightly Stepford Wife-y, but to each their own. Becca obviously liked it.

Rebecca: The best gimmick for me happened a while ago, back on After the Final Rose. I loved Blake’s cheesy “get back up on the horse” metaphor, complete with an actual horse! And then he rode in an ox on the first “real” night... absolute legend. I love how Becca was like, “Where does he keep getting these animals from?”

Seconding Alisa, the guy (don’t even remember his name) with the cardboard cutout of Arie had the worst entrance. Who wants a life-size photo of their ex when they’re trying to meet 30 new guys? I also didn’t like the guy (again, don’t remember his name) who wanted Becca to compromise 60/40 with him. Yikes.

Jen K.: I’m going to give best to Garrett because the minivan was an inspired choice. Also, that’s zeroing in on my demographic so I might be biased. #MinivanMom Chicken guy was also extremely memorable and — shock of shocks — pretty darn cute. I’m with Alisa. Cut-out Arie was the worst.

Chelsea: I was really charmed by the chicken guy and problematic Garrett’s entrances. I’m definitely the type who likes a goofy partner and they nailed it. Worst EASILY goes to the 60/40 guy who was later cut. Becca even mentioned him needing to turn around and leave after his entrance. Rude with a bad haircut doesn’t go far with the ladies. Overall, most of the entrances were pretty dang forgettable.

Garrett might have received Becca’s first impression rose but he certainly didn’t get America’s. Who left the best impression on you night one? When will the producers hire social media investigators for the contestants? 

Alisa: I’m in love with Clay! He was so, so sweet and adorable and just seemed like such a genuine down-to-earth dude who’s — wait for it — HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS! But for real, y’all. I don’t really see Becca choosing him in the end, but I hope he goes far enough that he gets chosen to be the next Bachelor. Also, I don’t believe for a second the producers aren’t well aware of their problematic picks like Garrett (and Lee last season). They’re totally putting guys like that in to ramp up the drama.

Rebecca: My favorites so far are Clay, Blake, and Leo. Clay and Blake are absolute sweethearts, totally here for the right reasons, and seem super genuine and open to finding love. Leo... we don’t know too much about him yet, but I’m super into him and his luscious hair. And ABC totally already has social media investigators, they just don’t care. Like with Lee on Rachel’s season, how are the producers not going to know they brought on a racist for the first season featuring a black Bachelorette? I think the producers like to stir up the pot by bringing on controversial contestants. To be fair, someone did some absolutely insane digging to get the dirt on Garrett, but the type of person who “likes” things on social media making fun of trans folks and school shooting survivors most likely isn’t the greatest person IRL.

Jen K.: I’m here for Clay. Clay is my guy. I really liked Garrett until I found out about his Instagram. I’m new to all of this. The last time I watched The Bachelorette, Instagram didn’t exist (all my love Trista and Ryan). So I was rather floored that the producers didn’t know because they have to know, right? It’s super shady they keep people like this around. More worrisome is Becca on every morning show defending Garrett, so sadly, he sticks around.

Chelsea: Again, I’m so disappointed with the whole Garrett thing because I love a goofy dude. I know he didn’t post anything and that somebody went through a whole lot of work to find those likes, but still. Producers are just gonna have to keep stepping up their vetting game because this one was pretty difficult to find unless you were friends with him and followed a bunch of the same accounts he was liking.

I’m completely biased because Clay is an alum of my college and I briefly met him before; he was super nice then and even sweeter on the show. He’s the kind of dude that you get what you see and is such a cool and charming human — my frontrunner for the Bachelor. Blake, Wills, Leo, and Jason also really left me with really good vibes.

The only thing better than finding love on this show is finding a villain. Who has good villain potential? Is the male model there to stir the pot or is he just a doofus? 

Alisa: I think the male model — while fun to laugh at/with — doesn’t have what it takes to be this season’s villain. He’s just pompous fluff in great shoes. It seems like Garrett’s true colors didn’t surface until after the season wrapped, so I’m guessing he’s not the villain either. I don’t know. I didn’t get strong bad guy vibes from any of them on night one, but enough of them look like your typical Disney villian that I figure someone will step forward to claim that title soon enough.

Rebecca: Jordan is definitely the Corinne of this season, although probably not quite as conniving and sneaky. He brings the goofy drama though, and he’s a total diva. I actually laughed out loud when he said there were less than 100 male models in the United States and compared his footsteps to a gentleman’s heartbeat. He’s entertaining and annoying, but not mean (at least not yet), so I don’t see him becoming a villain. I think it’s a bit early to tell who will be this season’s villain yet, especially when there are still so many guys left that I can’t keep their names or stories straight.

Jen K.: I feel like to be a villain you have to be somewhat self-aware of your villainy. Male model is just too self-absorbed to be remotely self-aware in any regard, which makes him all the more ridiculous, but not necessarily evil. I find him more amusing than anything else. He is literally a Ken doll. Villain for me is someone who stirs the pot, is out for himself, or is just plain old mean. Then again, Male Model could be the devil. I can’t really tell who is going to be a villain yet, but I am on red alert. By the way, am I supposed to learn names? Because I’m calling him Male Model forever.

Chelsea: Jordan is more of the jester this season than a villain. He isn’t malicious with his actions and really is there to be silly. Lincoln, on the other hand, cheated his way through a date and stirred up drama with the guys immediately after. That’s who I would watch out for.

Group dates got weird quick this season with a race to the altar obstacle course and a kid-coached dodgeball tournament. Adding in Blake’s bizarre one-on-one date, which date would you liked to have been on? Would any of the men get your rose? 

Alisa: Uhhh yeah, those dates were not great. And at this point the obligatory obstacle course and sporty dates have gone stale. Like, we get it. These are macho men who are big and strong! Enough. How about a date that actually teaches you something about the guy? Instead of a "ball and chain" obstacle course complete with tuxes and wedding cakes, maybe a panel discussion on who the men voted for in 2016 and why, and a debate on contemporary issues like poverty, immigration, and gun control. But I suppose that wouldn’t make great TV. Ah, well. I’ll just have to pretend to be shocked when the happy couple inevitably ends their engagement because they (shockingly!) didn’t find out anything useful about each other during the season. Also, Clay would get all my roses; the other men can leave.

Rebecca: All right, I loved the dodgeball date. The kids were absolute savages, and I probably rewatched the scene of the kids screaming “TRAAAASH” at least four times. The obstacle date was fine enough, but the drama with Lincoln’s picture was just annoying. Like, just don’t touch stuff that isn’t yours? Blake’s date was infuriating to watch. While I’m sure destroying Arie’s things is therapeutic for Becca, that’s something to do on her own time with her girlfriends, not as a first date with her potential future husband. I agree with Alisa about needing dates that dig deeper into the men’s personal lives and political beliefs, although ratings won’t go up to hear a bunch of Ken dolls talk about social issues that most likely don’t even affect them.

Jen K.: What is with this show’s incessant need to remind Becca she was dumped? Arie is getting more airplay than he did on his season, which is many levels of gross. The whole Arie-themed date was really uncomfortable and weird. Epic fail. Let us never speak of Arie again. I’m also confused on how obstacle courses are illuminating marriage potential, but whatevs, producers. Wedding themes this early on in the competition feels like jumping the gun, but it’s also possible I’m watching The Bachelorette wrong.

And I’m with y’all. Let’s run through religious and political leanings. Maybe explore money management styles. Those kids were savage though, and I loved it. I feel like Connor escalated quickly over something pretty small. It’s a picture, dude. Calm down. So his temper is wildly concerning. Then Lincoln tattled and cried over a photo with a woman he’s known for five minutes. Are these guys for real? I’m looking forward to when it stops feeling like a sales pitch whenever these dudes sit down with her. Do they always kiss after first conversations? We don’t work up to kissing? I might be too old for this. Random thought: Becca slayed in the red jumpsuit.

Chelsea: Somebody PLEASE get me a GIF of those kids yelling "TRAAAAAASH" at the men. Best moment of the entire show.

I’m with Rebecca in that destroying all the Arie stuff is something you should do with your friends, not on a first date. That should’ve been a montage in the first episode with Caroline, Seinne, Kendall, Bekah, and Tia. I am so impressed though that they got a real artist with a recognizable hit song on the show. I’ve been convinced for several seasons now that they just grab a person off the street who can carry a tune and give them a fake name.

The dudes always bring the best kind of petty drama that shows their true colors, and that’s why I like these competitive dates. It’s not so much who wins as much as how can they handle the pressure. I really found myself loving Wills and how he stayed out of all the messes. Him, Clay, and Leo would get my roses for sure.

The men always bring bigger drama than the women and this year is no exception with Lincoln vs. Connor, Model vs. Chicken, and the Tia/Colton of it all. What is your favorite mess to cheer for? Who’s the most cringeworthy guy? 

Alisa: Lincoln’s a literal hot mess and I’m so bummed by the rumors that he’s a jerk IRL, but he does make great TV so I hope he sticks around for a while. The male model has already started grating on my nerves and it’s only week two, so I’d be happy to see him leave next week. Connor’s temper is just downright troubling and he does not need to be there anymore. And Colton? Okay, there is a guy obviously there for all the wrong reasons, and I can’t wait for Tia to spill the tea on this situation next week. I hope she gives us ALL the dirt!

Rebecca: I agree with Alisa about Lincoln; I’m so disappointed if the rumors are true! He is one of my favorites so far, and he’s totally entertaining. Model vs. Chicken is definitely my favorite feud as of now, because Jordan is a mess and David (is that the chicken’s name?) is turning out to be more and more normal and sweet. It’s hilarious to watch the guys get so mad he stayed around. Colton and Connor are both cringeworthy and should see themselves out.

Jen K.: My biggest question with Male Model’s stunt is where does Becca pin the rose? The self-involvement with that guy is unreal. He can go. Is Colton just working his way through bachelorettes? Umm... no. The whole Tia thing is a big red flag. Colton also should have fessed up on night one; he can go. Lincoln feels untrustworthy; he can go. Connor has anger issues; he can go. Stick with me, Becca! I’ll have whittled this down to the one in no time.

Chelsea: Colton is the Arie of football players in that he’s never really done anything and is just looking to capitalize on fame (see Aly Raisman viral video), and I am already so over him. You know this drama will let him go far but he’s gonna end up on Paradise trying to win back Tia. The show is literally writing itself.

Model vs. Chicken is definitely the funniest one to watch because they’re both driving each other crazy and there are no real stakes. Lincoln v Connor seems like where the real mess is at and both guys are coming out of it looking really bad.

Looking ahead, who do you have in your final four going to hometowns this season? Do any of these men have Bachelor potential? 

Alisa: Can we just have a moment of silence for the loss of the Fantasy League? I’m super bummed they’re not doing it this season. Okay, moment over.

So I’m not ever good at guessing this early in the game, but I do think Garrett is final four for sure, based on how quick the producers, Becca, and he have been to put distance on his Instagram actions. I think Clay is doing hometowns as well because they already showed his family sitting down to dinner in the night one intros which I think is a good sign — like, I’m guessing that was footage from a hometown date. You can’t tell me the producers would waste precious time filming some big, staged family dinner for a rando who gets let go in week three.

I’d really like to see Lincoln go to hometowns, mostly so I can just stare at him and listen to that accent for as long as possible. The only other guy that even made the remotest impression on me was Leo, because my goodness, that hair. So, yeah, those are my picks: Garrett, Clay, Lincoln, and Leo.

Rebecca: My final four are Garrett, Clay, Blake, and Lincoln, mainly for the same reasons as Alisa stated above. I traded out Leo for Blake though because her one-on-one with him seemed to go so well.

Jen K.: Can I pick Clay four times? No? That’s not a thing? Okay. Alisa is 100% on point with Garrett so I’ll say Clay, Garrett, Blake and... I can’t remember a fourth name.

Chelsea: I miss Fantasy League so much. Pouring one out for all the dumb questions we’ll never get asked.

My personal Final Four would be Clay, Wills, Blake, and Jason but I think Becca will go with Blake, Garrett, Colton, and maybe someone who hasn’t had a lot of screen time yet. There’s always one person who jumps out around episode five or so — like a Kendall — and captures our hearts. I’m feeling pretty meh on her batch of dudes, but her season is already more fun to watch than Rachel’s or Arie’s because I think Becca is more game for it all.

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Younger 5x01 Recap: “LizaToo” (A Hit Dog Will Holler) [Guest Poster: Kay-B]

“LizaToo”

Original Airdate: June 5, 2018

It’s season five, y'all! Woo-hoo! Our favorite publishing gurus are back to bring the secrets, love, and corporate drama just in time for summer. I, for one, have been waiting for this new season ever since the season four finale, so let’s dive right into what Liza and co. are up to!

This season’s premiere episode of Younger picks up right where we left off. Liza — fresh off the plane from Josh and Claire’s slightly-fraudulent and slightly-real nuptials — runs into Kelsey on her way to the office. Kelsey tells her point blank that if anyone can convince Josh that this marriage is a mistake, it is her. Now my only question is this: is Liza really in a position to tell Josh this? They are friends and lovers at the core of it, and Liza knows Josh’s heart better than anyone. However, Liza has made some pretty colossal mistakes since they’ve met and Josh needs to make some of his own. It’s a balance between not wanting your friends to make the same mistakes you did, but also listening enough to know when they are or are not ready and willing to receive that advice.

At the office, Charles calls Liza into his office to ask, albeit very vaguely, if anything in the office has made her uncomfortable. Liza — thinking that he is referring to them — FINALLY confesses her feelings to Charles. Charles, seemingly delighted (he was super hard to read to me at that moment), in turn confesses he is talking about a specific case... and that case is Edward L.L. Moore. Apparently, Moore has been a pervy thorn in Empirical’s side since the moment he signed with them. The only thing is, like most of corporate America before the #MeToo movement, a blind eye was turned since he was garnering the company buckets of money. Someone however has submitted an anonymous complaint on a message board about Moore and an HR investigation and training ensues as a result.

Before the mandatory workplace etiquette training begins, Liza — always hiding from her past and present simultaneously — runs into Caitlin’s roommate’s father on an errand for Diana. Turns out he is the corporate bigwig that Empirical hired to be the legal consultant for the aforementioned training on sexual harassment. A panicked Liza tells Kelsey what is happening, and the young woman tells Liza to duck out of the meeting. Diana follows Liza to her bathroom stall. Thinking that Liza was triggered by something said in the meeting, she goes off on a tangent which — per usual — isn’t actually warranted or effective.

In preparation for Moore's latest book announcement and release, Liza has to suit up once again as Princess Pam-Pam. After talking to the other Princess Pam-Pams for the day, the women realize that they all have similar stories about Moore’s sexual harassment. Liza immediately voices all concerns and encounters on behalf of all the Princess Pam-Pams to Charles. In the right move, Charles stops the big announcement mid-event and decides to put a pause on Edward’s new book.

While Empirical tries to sort out what to do in this situation with Moore, the author himself reaches out to Charles and says they need to meet at the office as soon as possible because he has new. When they meet, Edward claims that Liza cannot be trusted with her claims of sexual harassment because (gasps!) she is a fraud and has been lying about her age and life this entire time. Charles is understandably shook, as he is presented with evidence of Liza's real age.

Meanwhile, the less exciting parts of the episode for me were the interactions with Kelsey and Zane. While Zane takes Kelsey for drinks to see how they can work together more effectively, I just need more from them. All last season we saw them at odds, and I need something fresh this season! I will also say Charles’s lack of communication with Kelsey about her imprint is beyond annoying and unprofessional. So I hope he finds the balance in managing both rising stars while remembering his already established relationship with Kelsey.

Also, can’t wait to see what additional successes and strains Marriage Vacation will bring to the love triangle of Liza, Charles, and Pauline. Definitely cannot wait for Josh’s return and I always need more of Maggie’s gut-punching honesty!

What did you like about the premiere? What did you dislike? I feel like that shocker was a long time coming and a good end to a slower premiere episode. What are you looking forward to overall in season five? Also, based on previews, is Diana going to get another hook-up this season?! Will Maggie and Josh become new BFFs? Will Charles forgive Liza for lying? Also, we need more Lauren!

Guess we will just have to wait and see what’s in store for our faves on this season of Younger!

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Supergirl 3x21 Review: "Not Kansas" (Not Interesting) [Contributor: Deborah MacArthur]

“Not Kansas”

Original Airdate: June 4, 2018 

Question: Is National City in Kansas? The episode’s called “Not Kansas” and I know Kansas plays a big role in the Superman mythos (Smallville, where Clark grew up, has usually been placed in Kansas, and occasionally Metropolis is placed there, too) but I have no idea where National City is supposed to be. Like, I get that the title is a play on the Wizard of Oz “not in Kansas anymore” line because Kara zips on back to Argo to hang out with her fellow living Kryptonians, but I was just wondering if they were trying to give it a double meaning and set National City in Kansas.

Anyway, this episode’s a mess.

EVEN THE SHOW WANTS THE SEASON TO END

The fight we ended on last week is over in less than a minute: Lena injects Reign with some black goo she developed from that black rock from Argo and Reign splits off from Sam in a shower of sparkles. With the major threat of the season out of the way, Kara thinks it’s time for her to get back to Argo and visit her people for an indefinite amount of time. And speaking of Argo, a quick kudos (they’ll be sparing in this review, so enjoy it) to the show for not bringing Clark/Superman into this Argo find and making it a dual Kryptonian reunion. I mean, yes, Clark is Kryptonian, but it would make sense that Kara would be far more eager to revisit a piece of her planet than Clark would, since Clark has no memories of Krypton and Kara spent twelve to thirteen years of her life there. Discovering Argo is definitely more for Kara than it is for Clark, though I suppose an offhand comment from Kara about telling Clark and him brushing the knowledge away wouldn’t have gone amiss.

Anyway, from the beginning, “Not Kansas” gives me season finale vibes, as if the universe were trying desperately to end this season as soon as possible and failing. It would have been a pretty good finale, too, with a little restructuring. Imagine: the penultimate episode is all about Kara getting the rock to defeat Reign, and she does, but Reign breaks free at the end. The finale starts, with Reign on a rampage and Lena spending the first two acts desperately trying to create the formula that would separate Reign from Sam. Rising action! And then the climax would be Reign going after Ruby again, but Sam fighting her from the inside long enough for Lena to create the cure, Kara to dose her, and allow everything to end happily. Having discovered Argo, the final scene would be Kara deciding to spend at least a few months on a floating piece of Krypton, destined to return to Earth for next season.

But, no. Instead, we get another one of season three’s “two steps forward, one step back” episodes, in which everyone thinks Reign is defeated because of the black rock, but she’s secretly not defeated! Because one of the Worldkiller priestesses was the person who gave Kara the black rock! So Reign will return and we’ll be right back where we were last episode and why does this show love wasting our time like this? This isn’t narrative pacing, it’s a narrative drunken stumble.

The problem is that the Argo concept is really interesting, but not dramatically interesting. It’s interesting to think about a piece of Krypton getting found and Kara reuniting with her people, but there’s nothing intrinsically compelling about it from a long-term narrative perspective. It’s great for Kara’s emotional turmoil and her struggle with identity, and maybe it has potential for a very good episode or two of Kara reconnecting with her Kryptonian roots and discovering that her place really is on Earth, but we are way too close to the end of the season for something like that. And “Not Kansas” squanders its potential anyway, so this episode is something of a double failure on the Argo front.

Most of Kara’s time on Argo isn’t spent in deep contemplation of her place in the universe, her identity as either a Kryptonian or a citizen of Earth, or whether she feels welcome or alienated by being not-quite home. It’s spent with Kara in a state of near-insane paranoia over some lady in the marketplace hanging out around where a crane fell over, and then getting proven right when the lady reveals herself — and one of the Kryptonian leaders — to be a follower of the Worldkillers.

Kara and Mon-El realize that the black rock they’d used to cure Sam of her Reign issues might not be as functional as they’d originally assumed, but it’s too late. Worldkiller followers have taken their ship back to Earth, leaving them stranded on Argo and unable to send word of the impending danger to the folks back home.

SECOND VERSE, SAME AS THE FIRST

Does anyone else remember when Arrow did that clunky, tone deaf episode inspired by the gun debate? Well, Supergirl is here with Gun Debate Episode Part II: The Quest for More Cringe, and while the environment for hot button political topics on Supergirl is more welcoming than it is on Arrow, this still falls flat. I’m starting to think that maybe — just maybe! — corny comic book shows shouldn’t try to chime in on this particular topic, because the result is uncomfortable oversimplification and a storyline made entirely of platitude. I don’t even know how you can generate an entire storyline out of platitude, but Supergirl managed it!

A summary: Guardian interrupts a shoot-out between a masked man and some everyday cops, saves the cop, and uses his shield to, well, shield himself from gunfire. The gun that fires at him is a super special, ultra-powerful type specifically made for the DEO. When J’onn confronts the gun manufacturer about this situation, the manufacturer admits that they do make a civilian version of the gun and refuses to take it off the market. J’onn decides to take the DEO’s business elsewhere, but I’m pretty sure that gun manufacturer dude doesn’t care because he just admitted that the DEO isn’t their only buyer.

After looking into civilians who have bought the DEO-style gun, Winn finds one in particular with a manifesto and James confirms it’s probably that guy. Said guy wants to shoot up his former employers because... “former” employers, I suppose. DEO agents clear the law firm where the guy used to work, J’onn talks him out of committing mass murder, and he’ll probably just go to jail for shooting at a cop. And attempted murder, since he also shot at James/Guardian and wanted to kill a bunch of his former co-workers. In the end, J’onn announces that the DEO will no longer be using lethal weaponry. Again, I have to point out that DEO agents were not the only ones using highly lethal weaponry, and that gun manufacturing company made no promises to stop selling their wares to civilians, so... I guess it’s noble of J’onn to have the DEO lead by example, but I’m not sure how this will work out.

My biggest problem with this story, other than the fact that the DCTV shows keeps trying and failing to handle it in any meaningful or thoughtful way, is that it’s probably the most filler-y filler they’ve thrown at us all season — and they tried to disguise it as a Very Special Episode™! The absolute gall, Supergirl.

Other Things:

• It sure is convenient that the fake black rock worked just well enough to give Kara a false sense of security and make Sam appear normal just long enough to regain her freedom and custody of Ruby.
• I sure hope Alex’s new, cool gun has non-lethal settings, because she really liked that gun.
• Speaking of Alex: She starts looking at adoption websites at the end of this episode.

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The Many Colors of the Ever-Prismatic Picnic at Hanging Rock [Contributor: Melanie]

Picnic at Hanging Rock began its enigmatic life as a book in 1967 by Joan Lindsey. It received international attention and a place as a lasting legend in Peter Weir’s 1975 film adaptation. In 2018, it has suddenly seen a stunning and eerie revival as an Amazon limited series. Coming out of nowhere to grace the internet with its presence last Friday, Amazon’s new six-episode miniseries tells the classic story with a decidedly Lynchian approach and blunt examination of the story’s originally subtle themes.

On Valentine’s Day in 1900, in the rural Australian colony of Victoria, three young women and a teacher go missing from a finishing school during a picnic outing to a local wonder known as Hanging Rock. The resulting frenzy and paranoia in the town makes up a sinister and threatening story about the breakdown of the Old Order, the fluidity of female intimacy, and the dangers of colonization in a wild land. The original novel — written as a nonfiction account — has become a legend similar to Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera, blending history with fiction to pass into folklore. The 1975 film gave an ethereal aura to the story and still features one of the most blood curdling screams I’ve heard in film before.

In 2018, the story gets an expert update.

The series stars Natalie Dormer as Mrs. Hester Appleyard, a widow and the headmistress of Appleyard College with — as you might imagine in any role Natalie Dormer plays — a mysterious past. Lily Sullivan plays Miranda Reid, the daughter of a cattle farmer who serves as the mischievous ringleader to the senior girls. Samara Weaving is Irma Leopold, the highest ranking girl at the college and the only missing girl to return from the rock. Madeleine Madden is Marion Quade, the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy Australian who is among the missing girls. Lola Bessis is Dianne de Poitiers, the college’s French tutor. And Harrison Gilbert is Michael Fitzhubert, the nephew of a local landowner who was sent to Australia “for his own good.”

EAT THE RICH

The story is, first and foremost, about the breakdown of traditional aristocracy and the decay of the Old Order at the end of the Victorian era (the story is chronologically placed less than a year before Queen Victoria’s death). Irma Leopold, a member of the Rothschild family, ranks highest among the wealthy schoolgirls at Appleyard College. Yet she defers to Miranda Reid, the daughter of a cattle farmer. In fact, in one of the show’s more forward scenes depicting the thin line of sensuality in female intimacy, Irma’s outright romantic experimentation with Miranda is rejected. This flashback is followed not long after by Irma’s proclamation in the present that she had always hated Miranda. Their antagonistic, intimate, and competitive relationship is a metric for the world around them that they represent: the supplantation of the Old Order of aristocracy by the nouveau riche.

Mrs. Appleyard herself represents this infiltration from one of her first lines, musing that anyone can play the part of an aristocrat. Her origins remain one of the show’s underlying points of tension and her obvious position as a social climber is a catalyst for paranoia as she’s sucked farther and farther into a hole when the girls go missing without a trace. Her unraveling mind, vivid nightmares, and alcohol-induced hallucinations tell a story of burgeoning disorder within an age-old institution, undone by the sudden power structure shift.

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

Another major theme of the show is female sexuality, both as a repressed part of women’s identities and a fluid part of their romantic world. There are moments that are more straightforward than others: Marion and Miss McCraw — the teacher who went missing with the three girls — have a clandestine and not overtly defined personal relationship. Miranda commands a magnetism from her female companions. Sara’s misplaced, schoolgirl crush on the older girl and Irma’s resentful attraction to her are driving forces behind both characters and serve as the backdrop to many interactions. Michael Fitzhubert, the last person to see the girls before they went missing, is drawn to Miranda’s freedom (he himself is heavily implied to be a gay man in a Victorian world).

Miranda’s freedom also represents a female awakening, precariously placed at the turn of the century. Miranda refuses to wear corsets, immediately takes her stockings off once they’re at the picnic, and wears pants when she’s back at home. As the girls climb higher and higher up the rock, they shed more and more clothes and fall asleep in sensual piles on the formation. There’s also a poignant scene where Miranda is stripped naked by her two friends when they help ready her for bed.

In the end, Miranda, her freedom, and her sexuality win out as the world collapses around the rock and she remains mysteriously absent and — ultimately — untouched by the chaos she brought upon the town and the world it represents.

STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND

The final major theme of this story is that of colonization, and the dangers posed against a group of people who enter into a world they know nothing about. The rock itself seems to be fighting back against its own colonization. This is even more prominent in the original film where the rock itself seems to be a character. But, in all versions of the story, time seems to stop around the rock: watches stall, people fall into deep slumbers for hours, we watch as time speeds ahead and overlaps itself in an amazingly well done final sequence showing the missing girls, the days of searching for them, and the escalating madness of Mrs. Appleyard all seemingly happening at once upon Hanging Rock.

It’s a commentary on the rejection of foreign colonizers by the land and the inability of these foreigners to exert any control over it. Ultimately, our main characters either succumb to the land or find themselves leaving completely. Only the rock remains standing when all is said and done.

You won’t find answers to any secrets in Picnic at Hanging Rock but you will find a tantalizing story interwoven with enough criticisms and metaphors to fill up a college lecture (and they have). You can watch Picnic at Hanging Rock on Amazon Prime now.

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Supergirl 3x20 Review: "Dark Side of the Moon" (Not All That Dark, Actually) [Contributor: Deborah MacArthur]

“Dark Side of the Moon”

Original Airdate: May 28, 2018 

This week on a Supergirl episode that shares the title of my second-favorite Pink Floyd album: Kara and Mon-El hurtle through space in J’onn’s personal spaceship, on a quest to find a special rock that might un-Worldkiller Sam. The floating asteroid they thought they were heading toward actually has a very advanced, futuristic city on it. The city is not welcoming — I mean literally, the city is protected by laser-firing robots. The citizens are fine, though, since they’re Kryptonians. Surprise!

Also, Alex gets targeted by an old enemy, which leads her to ponder how she can possibly balance her incredibly dangerous job with being a parent when she becomes a mother. Reign is getting stronger minute by minute. Lena gets taunted by her. Generally speaking, “Dark Side of the Moon” is pretty solid. Not spectacular, but okay.

KICKING AROUND ON A PIECE OF GROUND IN YOUR HOME TOWN

The old theme of Kara struggling with her identity comes up in her and Mon-El’s plot this week. While sitting in the space ship heading toward what they both think is a floating hunk of space rock, Kara mentions that it’s peaceful being in a situation where she doesn’t have to lie about who she is. Then they discover that the asteroid has a whole dang city on top of it, dodge the tractor beam that tries capturing them, and land. Much to Kara’s disappointment, the first thing they have to do when they enter the market area of the city is don a couple disguises.

What good luck, then, that Kara discovers a Kryptonian memorial and figures out what the city must be: Argo, a city on Krypton that was encased in an atmosphere dome as a last-ditch effort to save at least some of the citizens, then flung into space when the planet exploded. Argo has survived, led by Kryptonian elders (I guess?) and Alura, Kara’s mother, who is also alive. Oh, and the rock that Kara and Mon-El need to stop Reign and save Earth? That’s what’s keeping the whole city alive, and it’s critical to Argo’s survival down to the last ounce.

So the mission is to convince the leaders on Argo to let Kara and Mon-El leave with some of the rock. Kara must give a big speech about why Earth deserves a chance against the Worldkiller, and it is a very nice speech. As with most nice, epic speeches (especially on this show), it’s made over a montage of events: While Kara talks about people on Earth trying to clean up the mess Krypton landed them with, Alex is chasing down the guy who’s been trying to kill her all episode and we learn he’s the brother of a Fort Rozz prisoner who had killed twelve people. When Kara mentions the Worldkiller, we get a shot of Reign herself as she leers at Lena from inside her ever-weakening prison. Most of all, though, the speech emphasizes how much respect and love Kara has for her adoptive home. Considering that I know next week’s episode is about Kara wanting to leave Earth and go live on Argo, it’s kinda weird.

The speechifying seems to fail, because drama, but in the end, the final vote falls in Kara’s favor. Unfortunately, that final vote comes from a supporter of the Worldkillers, so there’s no telling what the rock Kara and Mon-El get at the end of the episode will actually do.

OUT OF THE WAY, IT'S A BUSY DAY

Meanwhile, Alex is still primary caretaker of Ruby (does Ruby not go to school?) while Reign has control of Sam’s body, and their day out in the city takes a turn. Some guy shoots a few bullets Alex’s way, then throws a grenade at her, which she tosses into a cement trash can to muffle the explosion. Alex quickly determines someone wants her dead, and I can tell we’re nearing finale time because the first suspect she tracks down is the sheriff who killed her friend Kenny when she and Kara were in high school.

Actually, credit to the show for even the implication that the villain was someone from the Danvers sisters’ past, and someone established in an earlier episode of the season. It doesn’t turn out to mean anything, of course, but them putting thought into the season’s continuity is still admirable. The same goes for the appearance of Kara’s mother in that part of the narrative, since Alura was hinted at at the beginning of the season, and she shows up towards the end. These small plot points, the bigger idea of Kara’s struggle with identity — it all helps to connect the first and second halves of the season a lot better than I expected.

Anyway, Alex’s motorcycle blows up when she tries to leave the bar where she met with the sheriff. Was that the bike she was bragging to Ruby about buying in last week’s episode? No wonder Alex goes into full-on Agent Danvers mode. Forget saving her own life, she probably just wants revenge.

As part of her plan to lure her would-be killer to her, J’onn pretends to be Alex jogging while the real Alex keeps watch from on top of a nearby building. The ruse fails to work, though. Alex still gets targeted, and when she spots the culprit she immediately follows him while J’onn does absolutely nothing. Seriously, J’onn. You can freaking fly. Lend a hand, dude. But whatever, Alex is perfectly capable of getting the job done. She even jumps off a building, catches herself on the neighboring building, and hangs from one hand while the villain explains that he’s getting back at Alex for arresting his murderous brother. Then she does a cool leap-flip move and captures him. And THEN J’onn shows up. Thanks, buddy. Real helpful.

Alex is afraid of the dueling instincts within her: the jump-off-buildings instinct that tells her to do whatever it takes to get a job done, and the motherly instincts she still hasn’t been able to fully explore, but her time with Ruby has really been making her think about. She tells J’onn that she doesn’t know if she can really be the DEO agent she’s meant to be, and still go home to a future child every night, knowing that her job jeopardizes the kid’s future. J’onn assures her that she’s smart, and very capable, and she’ll know what to do when the time comes. It’s a pretty sweet scene between them. I always like it when J’onn gets to be Adoptive Martian Father to the Danvers ladies.

At the end of the episode, while Alex is dealing with her situation, Kara and Mon-El have arrived back on Earth and inside Lena’s lab. Lena has just about had it with Reign, who keeps going on about how she and Lena are the same and Lena’s full of evil and blah blah blah. After increasing the amount of kryptonite pumping into Reign, but not yet allowing the full flood that Lena predicts would kill both Reign and Sam, Reign takes a swing at the invisible wall keeping her imprisoned. The way the wall flickers indicates that the kryptonite increase didn’t do much to weaken Reign, and that’s only confirmed when Kara and Mon-El arrive with the special rock, Reign rips the kryptonite feeding tube off her chest, and launches herself at our hero.

Other Things:

• See that paragraph up there, where I describe how the episode ended mid-fight? Like I said even earlier in the review, the preview for next week has Kara leaving Earth to live on Argo. Uh... how, though?
• I still haven’t figured out why this episode is called “Dark Side of the Moon” but I did have fun titling my review sections with Pink Floyd lyrics.

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