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Maddie got quite the scare in episode 6 when her husband, Cal plummeted down the stairs in a terrifying way. Episode 7 takes romance in Serenity to a deeper level, and Isaac makes his long-awaited return.  The episode titled “Hide and Seek,” started with Maddie walking Cal into the house from the hospital. Maddie tries to help, but Cal asks her to stop scolding him because he’s not a child. She admits that this is new to her because she’s only ever taken care of her kids and that Bill only wanted to take care of himself.  Cal opens up as well, saying that baseball has trained him to continue playing while hurt and that he carried that into his adult relationships. He wants to be more vulnerable with Maddie.  At Helen’s place, Erik is getting ready to leave after staying with her. She tells him that she hopes he’ll leave some things, and that she’ll set a drawer and kitchen cabinet just for him. They’ve really come a long way in their relationship, which they both express.  After asking Erik for a letter of recommendation, Annie confides in Dana Sue while they’re fishing that she wants to attend college in California. Dana Sue reassures her that she never has to be afraid to confide about her dreams.  While playing cards with Cal and Katie, Kyle asks for some advice about handling fame. Cal tells him that whenever someone is in a position of power and influence, they should use it to be in service to others.  It’s margarita night and Erik graciously made blueberry lemonade margaritas and brownie bites. The beautiful trio discuss their relationships, and Dana Sue proclaims that she will return to her high school alter ego, “Danger Sue,” to get Ronnie to stop doing the things he’s been doing.  Later at Sullivans and friends, Dana Sue asks Erik about Annie’s letter of recommendation. The conversation is warm, and Erik reminds her that when she gives the people she loves her confidence, they soar. She can’t always make everything better for everyone because growth often involves pain.  Annie gets a response from the Monterey Institute for the Arts. They love her portfolio, which makes her very happy, but she’s flooded with worry when they ask her for a self-portrait that reveals who she is. She’s concerned that she doesn’t know who she is.  Isaac finally returns home and runs into Noreen. He apologizes for not telling her about Bill and that he can’t imagine life in Serenity without her. She hugs him and assures him that he can share all his burdens with her.  Erik shows Helen his house and she’s in awe. She sees a picture of Vera, Erik’s wife who passed away, and Helen tells him she’s lovely. They start dancing, but their time gets interrupted by Isaac, who’s shocked yet ecstatic to see Helen there.  Isaac also reunites with Dana Sue, and she asks him if he’s really back. He declares that he’s back for good. Later, Maddie asks Isaac to dinner at her house, reminding him that he also has a family in Serenity. Ronnie advises Annie to embrace who she is in the moment, because who you are isn’t finite. You change and grow.  Maddie, Cal, and the kids have dinner, Dana Sue, Ronnie, and Annie take family photos, and Helen and Erik cook together. It’s a beautiful sight. Kyle pulls Isaac aside and tells him that he is now the man of the family, if he wants to be.  The episode ends in a shocking way, with Helen alerting Dana Sue and Maddie that their children have been arrested. What happened? Will our favorite trio get the kids out of trouble? The full season 4 of Sweet Magnolias is now streaming on Netflix.

Finally, some movement towards our end goal in this week’s episode of 1923. Spencer caught a huge break this episode as Marshall Fossett wondered upon him sleeping in the middle of nowhere. She brought him back to the local sheriff’s station and called Sheriff McDowell to verify if Spencer had any warrants. When she gave Spencer the phone, he and McDowell had an intense conversation in which McDowell tried to warn Spencer that Montana is not the same place he left. Spencer in turn warned McDowell that he was coming for the men that came for his family period.   Fossett had promised if Spencer’s story checked out, they would give him a train ticket home and that is exactly what happened. Spencer is finally on his way home. I am just hoping this good luck lasts and next time we see Spencer he is on horseback coming to the farm. The tearful reunion between he and Cara is all I want to see. Spencer did tell McDowell to tell is aunt that he is coming home. We see McDowell leave the station but did not see him again so maybe he is heading to the farm or may be not.   Banner dumps the woman’s body in the lawless country that apparently is very famous in Yellowstone (again have not started that series yet). As he says while doing it “such a waste” and he is right, it is a waste that Banner is on the wrong side of this. One can safely assume that he is going to lose this war. I understand he wants to better his family but stealing from someone else that built it, never ends well.   My girl Alex finally fought back this episode. She ends up having to work as a server on the train so she can get free meals. She ends up being assaulted again by a passenger and beats him with a piping hot coffee pot. Luckily a British couple is able to verify her story and she is not arrested. However, the train to Fargo is cancelled due to snow. The British couple takes her in and I do not trust them. Anytime I see Janet Montgomery in something, I know she is scheming.   The Marshall and the Priest catch up with Pete who is wondering looking for water after leaving Teonna and her father. The episode ends with Pete and the Marshall firing on each other. Of course, we want Pete to survive but this is 1923 so my hopes are not strong.   Overall, another great episode of 1923. What did you think of the episode? Drop a comment and remember to vote in our poll.

Beyond The Gates Weekly Recap (03/17 - 03/21/2025) The week kicked off by picking up where we had left off the previous week. Nicole was curious about  Sheri, and Dani woke up from her drunken stupor. Let’s dive right in. Nicole/Sheri/Eva/Ted Eva tried fishing for details about Sheri, but Nicole wasn't budging, citing confidentiality. Eva agreed to help track Sheri down, unaware that Ted overheard. Ted is a disappointment, we knew that he likely cheated but, his sketchy handling of Leslie makes me side-eye him. However, we do love a sharp-dressed man in a turtleneck. Maybe it is the turtleneck. I'm split 50/50 on him, patiently watching it all unfold. Ted confronts Nicole about Sheri, clearly uneasy about her intentions, but Nicole challenges him. Eva interrupts, announcing she couldn't reach the banquet manager. Andre drops in, seeking advice from Nicole about Ashley. Nicole is genuinely a good aunt. Ted circles back again, insisting Nicole drop her search for Sheri. Nicole, believing fate intervened since Sheri was at her gala, isn't easily swayed. Ted hints that Sheri is dangerously fixated. Hmm—does Ted know Sheri's a bit... how did Martin Lawrence put it? "Crazyyy… deranged"? My patience with him will evaporate if he knows and isn't forthright. Eva overhears their conversation and is later surprised when Ted tells her to stop looking for Sheri. Dani Dani Dani Oh, Dani. Wakes up panicked after trashing Bill's home, drinking his expensive wines, and breaking a wedding photo. Thankfully, Pam arrives, keeping it real while cleaning up Dani's chaos, even replacing the wine. Just in time, too, since Bill and Hayley returned home immediately afterward. Monday ends for Dani with a comforting makeout-turned-cuddle session with Andre. I'm reluctantly rooting for these two, though fearing the eventual fallout. Andre/Ashley/Derek Ashley tells Andre that they could never happen, leaving him heartbroken. Derek is discharged, and their continued flirtations fail to spark interest. Frankly, they're boring. Ashley might need a hot, cocky doctor to spice things up. Martin and Family Twins Samantha and Tyrel return from school, talking in a whisper. Smitty, the more involved parent, instantly picks up on the two's secretiveness. Samantha deflects attention by sharing that she's been asked out, prompting the family to reconsider her dating rules. Eventually, Tyrel admits his struggle with calculus but insists he has it handled. The Audacitans Bill and Hayley's honeymoon abruptly ends as Bill has a high priority client that needs him. Bill continued to try to impress his doe-eyed bride with dollar signs in her eyes by getting them escorted by police to a location where they would take a helicopter. Returning home, Hayley instantly senses something amiss—cue dramatic eye-roll. Discovering that Dani was in their home messing with their things, Bill swears vengeance, but Hayley, conveniently forgetting Dani's punch, insists on confronting Dani herself. Ashley boldly arrives at Dani's, flaunting her honeymoon happiness. Initially likable, Ashley's manipulative side emerges as she confronts Dani, disrespectfully calling her out and attempting intimidation. She still hasn't accepted accountability for her own actions. Though Dani remains cool, Ashley's newfound entitlement since marrying Bill has made her increasingly irritating. Hayley later falsely brags to Bill about ripping Dani apart. My suspicion is that she is more fixated on Dani than she thinks. She wanted her life, and this week has increased my suspicion. Tuesday Highlights Dani and Chelsea share an emotional mother-daughter moment, though Chelsea hides her true intentions from Dani regarding a new endeavor covered by Ebony Magazine. Marcel and Jacob bond slightly on the stakeout, though Marcel remains hard to read. Jacob, overeager, is ready to act before it is time, proving his rookie status. Bill checks creepy Mike several times. He is increasingly creepy about Tomas' date with Kat and openly ogles Hayley. Meanwhile, Naomi meets associates planning a harassment suit—against none other than Mike, predictably enough. They choose for Naomi to represent them in spite of and because of her last name. The Duprees Kat, has a breakfast date with Tomas. Kat is not willing to introduce him to the family yet so they watch from afar. Chelsea discreetly asks Kat to hide their plans from Dani. Eva, welcomed by the Duprees, stirs jealousy in Kat. Kat reclaims her spot at the table, ending her date early. When Eva flirts with Tomas, Kat notices. The Homewrecker Hayley expects immediate country club service and storms out dramatically when delayed. Blaming the Duprees, she whines incessantly to Bill about her invisible status, oblivious to her earned disdain. Tuesday ends dramatically: Vernon and Anita enjoy some romance. Kat confronts Eva and accuses her of wanting her life. She plainly tells her that her life is out of her league, and Tomas is too. Tomas radiates player energy, and Kat might be his next conquest. Please, no repeats of Zende/Nicole/Sasha. Bill vows to destroy the city for Hayley's respect. Meanwhile, Dani spirals alone, drinking herself into unconsciousness. Wednesday Recap Leslie pushes Eva to host an anniversary party to expose secrets, warning her away from Tomas. Eva successfully convinces the Richardsons to agree. Andre finds Dani unconscious and expresses concern about her drinking. I'm fully on the "Dandre" ship despite fearing it's temporary. Andre later alerts Nicole that Dani might be struggling beneath her facade of happiness. Hayley continues complaining about life as Bill's wife, revealing deeper envy toward Dani. Bill appeases her with expensive earrings, but her obsession with the respect and bonds Dani has is causing her to be unfulfilled even with the ring and the title. Derek and Ashley remain dull, discussing careers over dinner without generating any spark. Weekly Highlights Kat vs. Eva's rivalry heating up—I predict more drama when they learn they're sisters. Vernon and Anita's enduring romance is sweet, but are there secrets lingering. "Dandre" officially has me hooked. Writers, if you're reading, friends-with-benefits who are also trying to get over other people works well here. I say run with it. Final Thoughts for Hayley: Dani's Queen Bee status is earned through deep community roots and respect. It is the community her family was instrumental in building. You betrayed her and the family in the worst way. You aren’t invisible, beloved; you are looked past. It is intentional. That is the shade of it all. There are more married women than side chicks in the community, perhaps. Once you wreck a home, to many of those women, you are forever a homewrecker. Your obsession with the good life you thought you were entitled to once you got your BFF’s father and your bonus mother’s husband led you to want to live in their community. Force said community to attend your wedding. Have the wedding at the country club. Your calculated attempts to insert yourself into Dani's world have backfired spectacularly. You made your bed—now hump in it. Thursday and Friday's episodes were preempted by March Madness. Until next week!

A delivery man enters the clinic with a teddy bear and flowers gift. It has a card addressed to Shinwell Johnson. Shinwell takes the gift and reads the card. It says “YOU HAVEN’T SWITCHED YET.” The envelope contains pictures, and he suddenly knows who it’s from. The other message says “SWITCH.” He looks around nervously, and hastily stuffs everything back into the envelope. It’s Moriarty telling him to switch Watson’s pills. Outside the hospital ER, a woman, Ginny, runs in with a bloodied abdomen, asking for help. They patch her cut, but she suddenly struggles to remember who they are and where she is. The nurse tells her she’s experiencing memory problems, because she has already explained to her what happened several times. They will transport her to psych. Ginny doesn’t want to go, and knows her problem is not psych-related.  She leaves the ER, prompting a Code Green. At that time, Watson and The Team brainstorm on a patient’s case. A tedious Dr. Watson, interrupts the twins’ conversation and gives them a new nickname, Dr.Croft Number 1/Adam, Dr. Croft Number 2/Stephens. He wants information on the current observation. Adam describes it as “body at war,” face mites. They are usually harmless unless there is a buildup of them. Adam describes the symptoms of dermatomycosis. Watson also affirms the mites can cause decreased vision quickly. Dr. Lubbuck attributes the patient’s face mites outbreak to their immunosuppressive meds currently taken for lupus. Watson tells Sasha what medication to use to clear up the face mites. Mystery solved. In Watson’s Office, Shinwell is surprised by Ginny who snuck in, while switching Watson’s medication. She threatens him with a broken glass.  He drops the medicine, and Ginny picks it up. She asks if he’s Shinwell Johnson. Watson enters, and Ginny begs him for help. Watson is shocked when she tells him the dosage of his pills. In the Team’s Office, Ginny sits writing in her planner as Watson asks her questions. Sasha records the session, Ingrid looks on curiously, and the Twins are in Observation Mode. Ginny can’t remember anything that happened in the ER. Ginny scribbles in her planner, and suddenly asks who they are. Sasha timed her memory reset and it’s three minutes and eight seconds since the last reset. Watson knows exactly what’s happening to her, episodic memory loss. Ingrid looks at her planner and sees Ginny’s drawn a clock. Ginny remembers studying the clock test in her college neuro class. Ingrid tells them the notes show she’s trying to gauge her own executive function. Adam says she solved her own clock test. Ingrid recommends a head CT scan not a psych eval. Ginny knows her condition is not a psych problem. Watson tells her they are admitting her, and will help her. Watson asks Shinwell how Ginny knew the medication he was taking. Shinwell lies and tells Watson Ginny got in the office and found his medication herself. He recalls Holmes’ explanation of a coincidence, the universe is rarely so lazy. Shinwell shares William of Ockham’s thoughts on coincidence, the simplest explanation is usually the right one. A moment later, Dr. Mary Morsten, Watson’s future ex-wife, walks in asking them about Ginny. Shinwell reminds Watson to follow Ockham’s saying, and leaves. Watson assures Mary that Ginny’s not a threat. Mary realizes the name is similar to her grandmother’s name and leaves a little disconcerted..  Ginny’s CT scan revealed cerebral edema, swelling of the brain. Proves it’s not a psychological problem. Watson asks for theories on what happened to Ginny Roberts' memory. Adam suggests a brain injury or stroke, but the CT Scan rules that out. Stephens suggests Dengue Fever causes encephalopathy,  Sasha suggests Reye’s Syndrome. Watson suggests they check Ginny for the symptoms for these conditions. Meanwhile, Ingrid gets a text from an anonymous person asking to meet with her. Watson gives The Team their assignments to find clues that will help them solve Ginny’s mysterious memory loss condition. A new mystery! Watson and Sasha gather information on Ginny’s history. Adam learns Ginny went to Machu Picchu, Peru a week ago. She went on an Ayahuasca Retreat, a treatment for depression and trauma. She spent time at high altitudes taking hallucinogens. Ingrid tells Adam it can have serious side effects if you suffer from anxiety. Stephens learns that Ginny’s glass was from a microbrewery in town. Ginny was there earlier that day, started screaming, broke a glass and cut in her stomach. Watson and The Team meet for a case update.  They brainstorm to discover what caused and how to treat Ginny’s condition. Back in his office, Watson hears violin music and Holmes’ voice. It tells him to look for the “teeth marks,”  the lasting impression, and she has the answers. Watson thinks he’s hallucinating again. The next morning, Watson types Holmes’ words on his old analog typewriter. He tells Shinwell about his hallucinations. Ginny’s girlfriend comes to see her, and Ginny freaks out. Watson later explains that Ginny is not rational. He asks if Ginny blames her for the miscarriage. Mary nervously leaves. Ginny’s girlfriend tells Watson about the pregnancy and what happened.  She can’t handle it anymore, and leaves.  Watson hears Holmes’ voice again. He goes and types the words on his typewriter, and takes another pill. A bored Stephens, Sasha and Ingrid noisily check Adam’s list. He tells them he’s writing a book on using genetic testing on the best diet for individuals, but can’t think of a good title. Watson walks in and updates them on Ginny’s condition. She doesn’t have bromo-dragonfly toxicity, and her autonomic nervous system is regulating properly. He came to talk with Stephens privately. Watson asks Stephens to discreetly test his pills. They theorize someone’s been switching out his medication. Watson tells Stephens he can report him, if he’s wrong. He says Ginny wrote the exact dosage of his meds in her planner. He thinks she walked in when Shinwell was there. At that moment, Shinwell sneaks into Watson’s Office and reads what he’s been typing. Shinwell texts Moriarty’s Agent that Watson is suspicious. He plans for when Watson discovers he switched his pills. Moriarty’s Agent texts him to do nothing. Watson finally discovers the connection between Holmes’ words and Ginny’s claims. He goes to see Ginny and finds she has left. He sees her running away outside, and apologizes for not listening to her. She comes in for an x-ray. They find an ovarian teratoma. A tumor with teeth. Surgery removes it. Mary asks how he knew. He tells her he had to listen to Ginny. She has anti-NMDA Receptor encephalitis. All the symptoms were caused by the teratoma. Mary was monitoring Ginny’s case. He remembers Mary’s previous actions after she learned of Ginny’s name. The name was the one they would name their daughter. Watson discovers Mary had a miscarriage after he left to help Holmes. Shinwell’s about to confess to Watson in the clinic’s hallway, when a stranger, Lloyd, wanders in. He’s a pharmacist at the hospital. He tells Watson he knows him, and that he’s been the one switching his pills. He did it to satisfy a gambling debt. Lloyd warns him that someone’s watching him. He apologizes to Watson before he dies. This was Moriarty’s doing to clear Shinwell. Ginny’s stable now after surgery. Watson checks on her and apologizes for not listening to her. She thanks him as they await her memory reset. Time passes and nothing happens. Mystery solved. The Team is about to leave for the day, Stephens gives Adam a title for his book, “Eat Right for Your Genotype.” Adam thanks him. Ingrid asks if they believe what happened to Lloyd was a coincidence, or a Sherlock Holmes conspiracy theory. Sasha asks if it’s any of their business. Ingrid gets another text asking her where she was, and a startling picture. Outside, Watson tells Shinwell he suspected he had switched his pills. Shinwell understands. Watson says Moriarty is Alive, and Shinwell agrees. Ingrid goes to the area in the picture. A stranger  walks up and talks to her. He tells her it’s sacred ground. He knows her, and wants her to work for him. He hands her someone’s index finger in a bag, tells her he’ll contact her again, and leaves. It’s Moriarty. This episode had a lot of science and an unusual medical condition. The writing skillfully intertwined the mini-plots. It was also good to see the ever present cute twin antagonism. Ingrid’s on the verge of collaborating with Moriarty. Shinwell was saved. Moriarty is back.

And, just like that, we are in the thick of it. It’s Day 1 of the trial of the century… okay, okay, maybe, that’s a bit of a stretch, even in this age of sensationalized TV.  So, let’s go with trial of the season for now— at least, for this first season of Suits L.A, anyway. Episode 5 of NBC’s newest must-see law drama opens with Ted Black, played by former Green Arrow frontman Stephen Amell, preparing his opening  arguments for defense of Hollywood producer Lester Thompson (Kevin Weisman), accused of murdering his creative parter, Simon. As the motives for Lester to do so keep mounting, Ted digs in to defend the producer’s professed innocence. Trying to keep his cool despite his anxiety bleeding into his dreams, Ted arrives to his law offices in the heart of the entertainment capitol of the world, only to be greeted by his private investigator friend, Kevin, and a surprise delivery of bagels, both of whom hail from New York City. But, not together. Trying to keep any apparent anxiety about the trial close to his Armani vest, Ted drops in to see pro-bono lawyer in residence Amanda (Maggie Grace), as she is setting up her new office, now on the 25th floor, generously gifted to her by Ted in episode 4. Not so casually enamored with his colleague, but still playing it cool, Ted asks Amanda to be his second chair on Lester’s trial. Giddy to go up against assistant DA Elizabeth Smith, her nemesis from another case, Amanda accepts. Though, she may want to be careful what she wishes for. Across town at Railsback Lane law firm, Samantha (Rachelle Goulding) and Stuart (Josh McDermitt), also aware of the start of the Talk-of-Tinseltown trial, are enjoying a bagel delivery of their own. What’s up with these tasty treats from afar? Stuart, still bitter from Ted pilfering his client, Lester, is almost giddy, himself in his anticipation of his former partner’s downfall with the trial. In court, ADA Smith opens the trial with her damning words to assert Lester’s guilt of Simon’s murder, laying out the state’s case. Just as Ted moves in to lay out the defense’s rebuttal opener calling for acquittal, he is interrupted with an unexpected motion by the prosecution, citing damning new evidence (regarding the apparent divorce proceedings for the accused and his wife) about to be released by the media. No doubt, the exposure of which could seriously impact the case. And, if you know case law, then you know a spouse cannot be compelled to testify against the other in open court. So, to know Ted’s client and his wife are, indeed, getting a divorce…well, that would be a sticky fact the defense may have wanted to keep under wraps. With the idea of the new evidence’s admissibility coming into question, the judge  allows Ted an opportunity to finish his opening statements before he rules on the impromptu motion. In chambers, Ted argues client privilege and the confidentiality of those divorce negotiations should render this “new” information inadmissible — all good arguments, but not enough to completely squash the motion.   Back at the office — while the lawyers are away, Roslyn confronts law associate Leah, played by Alice Lee, on whether or not she wants to stay, with Black & Associates law firm, that is. It seems Leah was caught using company time and resources to update her resume, fearing the proverbial ship’s about to go down at the entertainment law firm, if Ted is unsuccessful with Lester’s trial. Note to self, while it easier to find a job when you have a job, actively looking for the next job while you should be doing work of the current job is never a good idea.  Roslyn presses Leah to make a decision. While the scene lends nothing substantial to the overall storyline, it does speak to the lack of direction the show currently has for Leah, the character. More than just comic relief, I fear there could be  a missed opportunity to explore Leah as a moral compass, if you will, for the firm. With all of her authenticity and naïveté, she could serve as that eager-beaver, want-to-do-good-in-the-world reminder to the more seasoned lawyers of why they initially got into law. It would be a nice dynamic to explore in future storylines — it felt like they toyed with the idea in the first episode with the actress Dylan’s story, but have not revisited the idea since. Just something to consider because I am sure Lee has what it takes to make that character arc work. Back to the story at hand.  Furious about Stuart’s perceived involvement in releasing the divorce negotiation details that would put Lester’s soon-to-be-ex on the stand for the prosecution, Ted confronts his former partner at his office. As the accusations start flying between the once-friends, so do the hands, until Samantha must step in and throw Ted out of the building for disrupting the peace. Yeah, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. This week’s flashback to Ted’s past in NYC gives important insight into his relationship with Samantha — where it was previously headed and how the love connection was repeatedly impacted by his work. We also get to see the importance of how both Kevin and his younger brother, Eddie, contribute to his inner circle.  While the pieces of who Ted is are beginning to emerge through these long-forgotten memories, there still lacks a deeper connection with these moments for the audience. If these windows into the past are meant to reconcile Ted’s history to why he is the way he is in the present, absent are the emotional beats needed to sufficiently  tie the two time periods together.  At present, we are simply getting to see what happened to Ted in NYC and what is happening to Ted now in LA, as if the two are mutually exclusive. At times, it is hard to tell if the character longs for a return to his previous life or not. I, for one, am still holding out for the spot on the timeline that it will all come together to make sense. It just feels as if it is supposed to be building to something more. Fast forward back to the present, Samantha confronts Stuart about his behavior with Ted, tip-toeing around their betrayal of their mutual ex with the exclusion of him in their recent merger. Stuart, in turn, apologizes to fellow attorney Rick Dodsen for having to witness him losing his composure and not setting a better example. What is shaping up to be a nice secondary storyline is the relationship between Rick, played by Bryan Greenberg, and Erica Rollins, played by Lex Scott Davis. What has been hinted at since the start of the series, the two entertainment lawyers have a shared history outside of the office, that goes far beyond their mutual love of the law.  It was Rick who calls Erica to give her a play by play of their respective bosses’ fisticuffs showdown earlier in the day. Erica, in turn, asks for Rick’s assistance to confirm a growing fear that Black & Associates’ high-profile client on trial for murder may have fumbled his original testimony.  The two continue their reminiscing over a dinner of shared spicy tuna and baked crab. And, with the sweet and forlorn way Rick looks at his colleague between the bites of Sushi takeout, it is evident who was NOT the one to call it quits with the relationship.  I am hopeful, the showrunners see that this onscreen dynamic is working and will allow us an opportunity to revisit what might have been between the two characters before the curtain falls on this season. There could be something good there, if they let it play out. But, don’t mind me, I am just a sappy romantic. I digress, yet again. We get more insight into Amanda’s tension with Assistant DA Smith, as Lester’s trial proceeds. It seems the suspicious information coming to light for the Thompsons’ divorce about to be released by the media, is a film that Amanda had seen before and, safe to say, she did not like the ending. The sudden appearance of such triggered a memory for her that a similar situation surfaced in a previous trial of hers. Amanda’s suspicions were confirmed when the reporter, in question, was one and the same in that trial and Lester’s. Amanda and Kevin tag team to confront… I mean, question the reporter for more answers. Despite getting what they needed from the reporter, both in admissions and affidavits, Valerie Thompson, Lester’s soon-to-be ex-wife’s, time on the stand proved to be as damaging for the defense as feared. Even more so when it is discovered by the defense team, unbeknownst to Ted, that Lester’s own words of his innocence may not be, of all things… original . So, here we are, now halfway through the season, and things are getting good. I will not lie, I am anxious to see how Lester’s trial continues to unfold. Despite, as Ted affirmed in an apology call to Samantha as they each downed their respective bagels, opening day for his firm and Lester was NOT a good one. Nevertheless, it did make for good TV. Because, when we get to see the attorneys flex their legal muscle in court, the show really does shine. But, what has really been the pleasant surprise, and what I did not see coming until this episode is that Kevin (Troy Winbush) is proving to be THE most interesting character on canvas for the series.  Ted’s PI bestie seems to be everywhere and nowhere, all at once. He also appears to be the constant in Ted’s life — in the big moments, the almost big moments, stating the facts, dispensing advice, playing the heavy, and making things happen for Ted, whether he knows it or not. And, for someone who is NOT from the City of Angels, he seems to come by needed answers as a visitor when others native to the area cannot.  Is Kevin too good of a Good Guy to be true? Only time will tell — but, for now, I like what he represents and how HE may prove to be the bridge to connect Ted’s past to his present. If anything, Kevin seems to be the man that gets things done — no doubt, the last five minutes of this episode certainly proves that. No spoilers here. You’ll have to watch for yourself ‘til the end. In the meantime, if you need to catch up on the first half of the season, check out our Recaps/Reviews of the first four episodes of Suits L.A. @ jereereviews.com . Suits L.A. airs Sundays each week on NBC and streams the following Monday on Peacock.

It was a jam-packed week with some slower moments in between, but overall, a lot went down! We kicked things off with Johnny confronting his father, EJ, about the sexual assault against his mother, Sami. Johnny called out EJ, stating it was always about power and control. EJ tried to deflect blame onto Kate, but Johnny held him accountable. Grappling with the harsh truth that he is a product of rape, Johnny made it clear that if and when he has children, EJ will not be part of their lives. As Johnny yelled for him to leave, Chanel stepped in to comfort him, while EJ broke down alone in the hallway. Paulina, still reeling from Belle recusing herself from EJ’s case, shared the news with Rafe and Jada. Jada apologized for interrupting the adoption meeting with Amy Choi, but Paulina reassured her and announced she wants to reinstate her as commissioner. As Rafe and Jada strategized on how to take down EJ, they suspected Rachel Blake may have been involved in the Ava kidnapping, possibly to keep the Rafe/Arnold switch secret. Meanwhile, Ava and Melinda had a heart-to-heart. Ava opened up about her risky dealings with Rachel Blake and her lack of protection. Melinda handed over a gun—an ominous gesture that likely sets up future drama. Kristen struggled to keep track of her mother but eventually found her at their old home. There, Rachel Blake was holding a gun, claiming she needed it for protection in case Ava sought revenge. Rafe and Jada soon arrived demanding answers. Kristen managed to get her mother out of the situation, but Jada vowed to return with a warrant, convinced they were hiding something. Belle and Brady shared a sibling chat about their complicated love lives—Brady still reeling from Rachel's meddling in his relationship with Ava, and Belle struggling to let go of EJ. Later, Rachel joined them for a rare calm moment together. In Washington, Steve and Marlena arrived in D.C. to track down John. They met with Shane, who initially refused to help. But after Marlena made a personal appeal, Shane revealed that they had lost John. Determined, Steve and Marlena began planning their next steps. Back in Salem, Theresa and Xander had tense words in Horton Town Square. She apologized for her role in Victoria’s kidnapping and concealing the paternity, but Xander wanted nothing to do with her. Later, Theresa learned from her father that her mother’s cancer had returned. Stephanie had a dream about Joy being pregnant. Alex comforted her, saying they’d focus on the future. Meanwhile, Joy confirmed her pregnancy with a positive test before Phillip walked in. She shared her insecurities about everything happening with Johnny and Alex. Phillip encouraged her to speak with Alex, but instead of revealing the pregnancy, she quit her job at Titan and left for New York, calling her mom before taking one last look at the positive test. Roman felt guilty for revealing EJ’s crime to Johnny. He tried to reach out but couldn’t get through. Later, he and Kayla discussed John and their growing worries. Stephanie and Phillip had a private chat, overheard (in part) by Xander, who misinterpreted it as an affair. Xander later confronted Sarah, telling her he believed Phillip and Stephanie were hiding something. Sarah urged him not to tell Alex, warning it could destroy his relationship with Phillip. Tate and Brady had a touching conversation about John and the adoption plans for Tate’s child. Theresa arrived with news of her mother’s condition. Though Tate wanted to go with her, she insisted he stay in Salem. They shared an emotional goodbye. Javi was excited about Leo moving into the Hernandez household, but Gabi was dead set against it. She brought up Leo’s past with Will and Sonny. Javi pushed back, saying if Leo goes, so does he. Gabi relented but set one rule: when Ari is home, Leo has to leave. Jada updated Paulina, confident she could get Rachel Blake to flip on EJ. Kristen and Rachel had a tense exchange about Kristen never rescuing her from the DiMeras. When Jada arrived, she offered Rachel immunity if she testified against EJ. Initially hesitant, Rachel accepted to protect her mother. Kate and EJ had a brutal showdown. EJ accused Roman, but Kate revealed she told Johnny the truth about Sami’s rape. EJ turned on her, threatening her sons. Kate fired back, vowing to destroy him if he came for her children. Rachel later confronted EJ, revealing she knew he planned to inject her with the memory-erasing serum to cover up his crimes. However, she had switched the serum. As EJ vowed to move to plan B, things took a darker turn. Johnny ran into Rafe and confided in him about the truth of his conception. Rafe acknowledged he knew but reminded Johnny that Sami is still his mother and did what she could to protect him. The two shared an emotional hug before parting. JJ and Rafe discussed Gabi’s push for justice. Meanwhile, Doug III talked to Julie about his grandfather’s poems and asked for advice about confessing feelings to a girl. They made plans to visit the Bistro, where they spotted JJ. Inside, Julie noticed Melinda wearing her grandmother’s stolen necklace. Melinda used her legal smarts to deflect, noting no police report had been filed. JJ took Julie to the station to finally report it. Kristen met with Melinda to confirm the immunity deal for her mother. All was in order. Later, Holly visited Tate to work through the recent bumps in their relationship. They bonded over family issues and the adoption process and spent a heartfelt day together. After Kristen left, Rafe and Jada shared a quiet moment, hopeful things were turning in their favor. They mention Jada’s missing engagement ring, believing Arnold had it, but were just happy to be together. Kristen returned home to find her mother missing. She confronted EJ, accusing him of doing something to her, but he smugly denied it. As EJ walked away, Kristen picked up the gun...

Ridge and Eric are thrilled that Carter has agreed to return the company to them. In a surprising show of unity, Carter and Ridge even share a hug. It's clear the Forresters still place much of the blame on Hope for Carter’s original takeover. When Carter rips up the agreement, Ridge and Eric can barely contain their joy as they rush to share the news with Steffy, Taylor, and Daphne. Meanwhile, Carter is left with the difficult task of breaking the news to Hope. At the mansion, there's a celebratory air. The family is elated to have the company back, feeling that Carter recognized the time had come. Steffy thanks Daphne, who simply says Carter is a good man. Eric agrees, admitting he always believed Carter would ultimately do the right thing. Still, Steffy remains wary—she’s not over Carter’s relationship with Hope and makes it clear: she has no intention of working with Hope again. When Carter arrives home, he finds Hope has prepared a romantic dinner. But she can tell something is off. Carter tells her Ridge and Eric came to the office. Hope assumes they’ve come to their senses and are ready to back Carter’s expansion vision. Instead, Carter asks whether she’d stand by him even if he no longer controls the LLC. Hope brushes it off, not wanting to have that conversation. But Carter presses forward—he’s returned the company. Hope is shocked and hurt, reminding him she stood by him and even says she “loved” him, a declaration that visibly shakes Carter. Meanwhile, the confrontation between Poppy and Luna continues to unravel. Luna accuses Poppy of deliberately sleeping with Tom and Bill to draw suspicion away from the disturbing truth—that she slept with her own nephew (by marriage, but still deeply unsettling). Luna expresses interest in building a relationship with Will Spencer and with her mother, but the past is hard to escape. Poppy refuses to accept full accountability for grooming and seducing Finn, which remains disgusting no matter how she tries to frame it. She eventually disowns Luna, saying she’ll take the blame because Luna never had a proper childhood. With nowhere else to turn, Luna goes to see her biological grandmother—Sheila. Sheila initially urges Luna to leave, pointing fingers over Luna’s past as if she hasn't committed her own share of atrocities. But Luna drops a bombshell: she’s Sheila’s granddaughter. Shocked, Sheila weirdly kisses Luna on the lips and ultimately accepts her into the fold. Strange behavior—though, coming from Sheila, perhaps not surprising. Back at Forrester, Brooke, Carter, and Hope anxiously await their fate. With Ridge, Eric, and Steffy now back in control, all eyes are on what comes next. Steffy steps forward to deliver the verdict. She acknowledges the contributions Brooke and Carter have made to the company, though she makes it clear that the way they handled the takeover was deeply disappointing. Everyone gets a verbal lashing. Still, Brooke and Carter are invited to stay on. But Hope isn’t so lucky. Steffy announces that "Hope For The Future" is suspended immediately, and despite their promise to Carter to keep the team intact, she says traitors still face consequences. Hope, stunned, tries to remind them that she is family—that Stephanie Forrester was her grandmother, and her siblings are Forresters. But Steffy is unmoved. Hope quietly prepares to leave and tells Carter to come with her. Before he can respond, Steffy cuts in with a chilling ultimatum: if Carter walks out that door, he’s done at Forrester. This is his last chance.

At Crimson Lights, Nick and Sharon share a heartfelt conversation about their children. Sharon reflects on her reunion with them—whether by phone or in person—and opens up about how they were all she could think about during her kidnapping. She talks about how, in captivity, she and Phyllis initially suspected each other of being the kidnapper, but quickly realized they needed to rely on one another to survive—for their children's sake. Over at the Athletic Club, Phyllis reunites with her own children. She expresses the emotional toll of what she and Sharon endured—the mind games, the life-or-death situations, and how they had to literally save each other’s lives. They wonder if their captor will ever be caught. Sally and Billy discuss the rescue mission, with Sally praising Billy and Nick's heroics. Billy hopes justice will be served. When Phyllis arrives, Sally leaves to give them privacy. Phyllis admits she’s not okay after everything that happened and insists that only Billy can help her. He encourages her to rest and heal, but Phyllis tells him that her children and her job were the only things that kept her going. She thanks Billy for being her hero, and they share an emotional embrace. Meanwhile, Chance visits the clinic, hoping to collect new evidence. Later, at Crimson Lights, he informs Nick and Sharon that they believe the kidnapper is someone they know. After he leaves, Nick suggests Sharon take Faith to visit Noah—and invites her to take a break. Sharon asks if he’ll join them. Elsewhere, Alan and Traci are enjoying their time together, though his phone keeps buzzing. Traci suggests he get a new one when he claims he may have been hacked. They discuss wedding plans, and Alan insists he’d marry her anywhere. However, when his phone goes off again and he snaps at her, Traci grows concerned. He apologizes and suggests they take the Abbott jet and get out of Genoa City. At Crimson Lights, Summer and Kyle discuss the recent kidnapping and how strange it was that clues led them to Sharon and Phyllis. Claire joins them, exchanging a look with Kyle and Summer. Summer, bitterly, blames Sharon for her mother being kidnapped (insert eye roll here). They talk about how they explained the situation to Harrison after he was teased at school. Claire is relieved things worked out, but as Summer leaves, she looks quietly heartbroken. At Society, Holden spots Audra, who is clearly annoyed that he’s still in town. He says his flight was canceled and that he respects her relationship with Nate. Audra, skeptical, says she’s waiting for Nate and mentions a suspiciously vague “friend” text Nate sent. Holden hopes they can at least be friends. Damian later interrupts a meeting between Nate, Lily, and Devon to tell Nate that Amy was accepted into the clinical trial. Nate had missed calls from Amy and her doctor and feels guilty. He decides to accompany Damian to Chicago to support Amy, informing Audra of the change in plans. She’s thrilled about Amy’s progress. Holden, conveniently, offers to take her to lunch instead. As Audra and Holden enjoy their time at Society, the mood quickly shifts when Lily and Devon arrive. Tension simmers, especially with Audra on the defensive. Holden notes that while Nate may like her, his family clearly doesn’t. Lily grows suspicious again of the Holden-Audra dynamic, but Devon advises her not to jump to conclusions. Still, Lily feels there’s more to the Damian-Holden connection and doesn't want to be caught off guard. At the Athletic Club, Kyle and Summer run into Victor, who, surprisingly, is polite to Kyle. They discuss Victor’s complicated definition of “family” and how unfairly he's treated Claire. Meanwhile, Traci meets with Jack and Diane and excitedly shares her engagement news. She asks Jack for the Abbott jet, and his reaction is less than enthusiastic. Jack and Diane worry the engagement might be rushed. Traci defends Alan, even mentioning his hacked phone, which raises further red flags. She wants all the Abbotts at the wedding and asks Jack to walk her down the aisle—he tearfully accepts. They reflect on her past marriage and their father, John. Kyle joins them, sees the ring, and congratulates Traci. But when she mentions Alan’s phone issues and a possible security breach at the clinic, suspicions rise. The clinic being the same one where Sharon and Phyllis were held doesn’t sit well with anyone. Traci steps away to take a call from Alan—he's just booked a last-minute flight to Paris. They try to rationalize it, but Traci is visibly worried. Back at Crimson Lights, Sharon again brings up the idea of Nick joining her and Faith to visit Noah. Nick gently declines, saying she needs uninterrupted time with her children to heal. He asks if she ever thinks about them (as a couple), but says she doesn’t have to answer. Sharon admits she has, and acknowledges the pain, but they agree they’re in a good place and don’t want to ruin it. Still, they leave the door open for what could be. Sharon asks if she can change her mind about the trip—Nick says he’ll think about it. Summer arrives, voicing her concerns about Phyllis. Nick promises to check on her, and Sharon offers her support if needed. Later, Adam and Chelsea share a quiet dinner that evolves into something more—they reconnect emotionally and end up spending the night together.

Doc is FOX’s new medical drama that is a bonafide hit with viewers. Already renewed for a second season, the season one finale concluded this week, and it was nothing short of a exciting episode. I cannot wait for season two to premiere. Amy has been all of the place this season and you really cannot blame her. She lost her son and was not there to try and save his life. Then her relationship with her daughter became strained along with everyone she works with at the hospital, not to mention her husband. She divorced, lived alone and Richard, an old friend, caused a patient to die. Before she could deal with all of that, she got into a car accident, lost her memory, having to relearn everything. On the one hand, it worked out as she was able to rebuild broken relationships but on the other hand this injury left her open and vulnerable, easily manipulated and taken advantage of. Throughout the first season, we saw Amy gain some great character development. You end up rooting for her even though she was made out to be the villain in the pilot episode. Her character was able to drive the story forward for a successful first season. It’s not easy to do with so many medical shows out right now. All of this was thanks to the incredible performance of Molly Parker. Her ability to go from soft to cold in an instant is fun to watch. She is an amazing actress, and she works really well with any other actor she has a scene with. The chemistry between her character and Jake as well as Michael leaves you not knowing who you want to root for. She also has great “frenemy” energy with Scott Wolf’s Richard. You just want these rivals to go at it. This is why Molly Parker is crowned Performer of the Week at Je-Ree Reviews Media.

After surviving the ordeal with sharks and orcas last week, you might think the Odyssey crew couldn’t face any more dangerous situations, but Casino Week proves to be just as life-threatening.  Episode 11 provides riveting drama and a 9-1-1 crossover with the one and only Angela Bassett guest starring. The episode started with Captain Massey, Max, Avery, and Tristan looking over the Odyssey lobby, seeing all the guests coming in for Casino Week. Avery admits that she loves the glitz, glamour, and games that come with it. As Avery tells Max she just wants to have fun, possibly for the last time during Casino Week, she hears a woman screaming for help from the storage closet.  When Max opens the door, it’s Athena Grant, Bassett’s character. Her anxiety increases and she starts breathing hard, declaring that she needs to get off the ship. For those who don’t know, on 9-1-1 Athena and her husband, Bobby Nash, almost died on a similar cruise ship on their honeymoon when it was hijacked by terrorists. With a miracle, they escaped, but those painful and traumatizing memories started flooding back to her.  Max takes care of Athena’s arm in the infirmary and asks how she found her way onto the Odyssey if she hates cruise ships so much. She explains that the LAPD received a call from the FBI to pick up Henry Methvin, who attempted to board the ship with a fake passport and was carrying an “AI-powered safe-cracking device.”  When they went to cuff him, she discovered that he had already checked a bag that was on board. So, she told her partner to take him in while she grabbed the bag. Unfortunately, when Athena stopped to help a crew member who had cut her hand in the closet, it closed and locked them in.  Max reassures her that the Odyssey cruise is happening for 3 days, and everyone is going to make sure she has a great experience. Captain Massey escorts Athena to Methvin’s room and tells her that he’s grateful she’s on the ship. He surprises her with refreshments and clothes for the trip, which Avery brings out.  Athena, Avery, and a nice old woman who pops named June all have a fashion show with champagne. When Athena and June notice Avery hasn’t drunk any, June asks how far along Avery is. She says it’s still early, and Athena assures her that children are a joy and a lot of work.  The night has officially begun with games everywhere. The Odyssey might as well be Vegas. Max spots Athena in a stunning red gown, and they play together. Max notices a man checking Athena out, but Athena accuses Max of trying to distract her while they’re playing. She ends up winning the round.  Avery, Tristan, Daphne, played by Jade Pettyjohn, and others are playing a different game across the room, but Daphne faints in the middle of it. Daphne admits that she’s in late-stage heart failure from cardiomyopathy. She asks them to just patch her up so she can continue to have fun while she still can. She and Avery decide to hit the slots.  Athena receives a call from the FBI and informs Massey that Henry Methvin is part of a three-person crew, with his partners being named Bonnie and Clyde. She also believes that those two are targeting their safe.  Max sees June having a seizure and they continue to take care of her the next morning. On night 2, Athena raises suspicions with Max about two people she thinks may be Bonnie and Clyde. She tasks Max with wearing an earpiece to see if they cheat.  Athena predicts everything the two do, but the plan comes to a halt when the woman, Cynthia, has trouble breathing and continues to cough. Max goes to help her.  Tristan and Avery tend to Daphne when her fingers turn blue, but in a light moment, they bring the games to her.  As Max attempts to examine Cynthia, Athena interrogates her, accusing her of lying, which causes her heart rate to increase due to stress. However, Max determines that she’s simply having an allergic reaction to her necklace which is actually made of nickel, not diamonds.  Massey gets alerted that the smoke alarm is going off in the passenger hallway. Athena starts getting flashbacks of her traumatic honeymoon. Rosie finds out that what caused the alarm to go off was a smoke bomb, which she shows to Athena. Athena proclaims that this is a diversion and notices the same dust on Rosie’s hand that Avery saw on June’s… A major twist is revealed when a crew member attempts to help June to her room. She says she can make it on her own. Turns out June is Bonnie, and her grandson is Clyde. She pulls out a diamond necklace that he exclaims is worth 100 grand.  Earlier in the episode, June stated that she and her grandson are two peas in a pod, but nobody would have ever thought they’d be the ones working with Methvin on the heist.  June and her grandson are met by Athena and Max who confront them. Athena explains that no one would consider a “sweet and innocent” grandmother mingling with the crowd while her grandson replaces the guests’ real jewelry with fakes made by a 3D printer. Athena also reveals that Henry Methvin is June’s son.  Massey and the LAPD come and arrest the two, and Massey thanks Athena for all her help.  The episode ends with Max pulling Avery aside, admitting that he can see a life with her and the baby. She then tells him that she’s made a decision, that she’s going to have the baby. This leaves Max smiling and Tristan across the room stewing.  Next week is “Sophisticated Ladies Week.” It will bring more crises and medical drama. Episode 12 is set to air on Thursday, March 27, on ABC. It will also stream on Hulu the next day.

In an announcement that has shocked Beyond the Gates fans over the weekend, Keith Robinson will assume the role of Ted Richardson on the recently launched soap opera, taking over the role from Maurice Johnson nicknamed “Turtleneck Ted” by fans due to Ted always sporting a fine turtleneck. Ted Richardson is the doctor husband of Nicole Richardson, a psychiatrist and Dupree daughter. The Duprees are the first family of Fairmont Crest, an upscale gated community near Washington, D.C. The soap opera launched February 24th and is the first soap opera in decades to feature a black family at the helm. A ratings hit for CBS, Beyond the Gates draws millions of viewers each week besting veteran soaps in the same time slot. The character of Ted Richardson may be in some hot water if it is ever discovered that he cheated on his wife and possibly fathered a daughter. Keith Robinson is known for his roles in Dreamgirls where he played Jennifer Hudson’s (Effie White) brother C.C. White. Millennials will recognize him as the Lightspeed Green Power Ranger Joel Rawlings. This recasting marks the first for the new soap, however recasts are very common in the genre. No news as to why Maurice Johnson is leaving the role yet. While we here at Soap Wire will be sad to see Maurice go, we welcome Keith to the role and know he will make it his own. Look out for Keith’s first episodes to begin airing in May. Let us know your thoughts in the comments and look out for more news, scoops, spoilers and interviews with your favorite Daytime TV stars right here!

Legendary boxer and businessman George Foreman has passed away at the age of 76. Foreman had many businesses but was best known for the George Foreman grill. He also dabbled in acting with the sitcom ' George ' where he played George Foster a retired boxer who ran an after-school program for kids that had problems at home. The sitcom ran from November 1993 to January 1994 and starred Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph as Maggie Foster and Lawrence Gilliard Jr. Internationally known however for his illustrious boxing career, George Foreman was a two-time heavyweight champion. He set his sights on the Olympics and won a medal. He returned to boxing and bested the undefeated Joe Frazier in one of the most famous boxing matches of all time. After winning against Joe Frazier, he went on to fight against the greatest of all time Muhammad Ali in The Rumble In The Jungle. He and Ali remained friends until his passing in 2016. The two legends can now rest easy. His family released a statement on social media confirming his passing to the world. In their statement they talked about how he was an amazing family man above all else. "A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose. A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected, a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name for his family We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own." George Foreman will always be remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time.