He’s back! Stephen Amell returns to the small screen in Suits L.A. - NBCUniversal’s highly-anticipated law drama set against the glitz and glamour of the City of Angels. However, if after five minutes it feels like you seen this show before, you probably have — this newest legal drama is now one of no less than 10 shows of this ilk currently airing on either broadcast television or a streaming platform.  While right out of the gate, the new series, which premiered February 23, seemingly brings nothing substantially new to the legal genre, you still find yourself locked-in over here on the left coast to see if it will, at the very least, live up to the hype of its well-heeled east coast mentor. With only one episode in, that still remains to be seen. But, hey, I am certainly willing to give it time.  Set up as a companion series to its predecessor, Suits — the gorgeously styled, brilliantly written show starring Patrick J. Adams and Gabriel Macht, airing for nine seasons following its 2011 debut on the USA Network — this new iteration is once again the brainchild of producer Aaron Korsh. The west coast offering takes us into the world of Ted Black (Amell) as the self-assured, bordering on arrogant, former New York prosecutor-turned-managing partner at a prestigious Los Angeles law firm, newly crowned as Black and Associates.  As the series opens, we find Ted and his long-time partner, Stuart Lane, played by Josh McDermitt of The Walking Dead fame, knee-deep in final negotiations of a merger set to propel their firm into one of the largest entertainment law operations in the city, all while balancing the needs and cases of their high-profile clients, and managing, or dare I say, encouraging, in-fighting of junior associates clamoring to catch their bosses’ attention to snag that proverbial promotion. And, of course, what would be the point of explosive success of corporate big-wigs, without the growing-pains lessons to humble them in the face of it.  While the show is reminiscent of the former Suits , at times, it actually feels more like a call-back for OG L.A. Law fans of the mid-80s must-see TV. Those who know will definitely know.  SUITS LA -- "Seven Days a Week and Twice on Sunday" Episode 101 -- Pictured: Bryan Greenberg as Rick Dodson -- (Photo by: David Astorga/NBC) Though, most of the action in Suits L.A.’s season debut takes place outside of the courtroom, there are a fair amount of similarities to the original series. The writing still works to strike a delicate balance between wit and drama. And, visually, it also maintains the polished aesthetic that reflects its upscale setting — to include the high-rise glass offices packed with silver-tongued, razor sharp, beautiful people, quick with the legalese quips and jabs, forever walking with a purpose from office to office, making no apologies for their ambitions.  At first blush the series’ opener appears to have it all, exploring gray areas of the law, questioning what true justice is and how personal morals can conflict with legal obligations, and even dipping a toe into controversial issues, such as men and women competing for the same job — and the politics vs. qualifications that go into making those final decisions. Tack on the contract negotiations, corporate betrayal, high-stakes drama involving both the mob and murder, and even finding purpose in your work, and it is apparent we are meant to feel as if this is just another jam-packed day at the law office. However, I fear, it is merely a day we have already repeatedly lived in this space. Still nothing new to see here.  So, where does the appeal for this newest law series lie if it all feels very been-there, done-that, you ask? I believe it can be found in the hope that it will find a lane similar to its cross-country counterpart and pick up the pace on its character-driven storytelling, legal intrigue, while capitalizing on the onscreen dynamic of the strong supporting cast, lead by Amell.  Amell has found a nice rhythm and chemistry with his current co-stars. His onscreen interactions with fellow cast members, such McDermitt, as well as Lex Scott Davis (Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart) and Bryan Greenberg (One Tree Hill ), as entertainment attorneys Erica Rollins and Rick Dodson, respectively, have a natural, somewhat familiar ease to them. It will be nice to see where the dynamics of these relationships can lead while exploring the backstories of how each character arrived at the present moment.  SUITS LA -- "Seven Days a Week and Twice on Sunday" Episode 101 -- Pictured: Lex Scott Davis as Erica Rollins -- (Photo by: David Astorga/NBC) No stranger to carrying the weight of an episodic series on his shoulders, Amell is best known for his role as Oliver Queen (aka “the Green Arrow”) in his previous hit series, Arrow , which ran for eight seasons on the CW. And though, Amell has ditched the makeshift mask and crossbow for tailored Armani suits and French cuffs, we still find him firmly entrenched in his stoic, yet reluctant hero era. This early narrative reinforces the Ted Black character’s duality as both a savior and a man grappling with the circumstances of his past. And, though set in present day, we spend a considerable amount of time throughout the debut episode revisiting that fact in the back-and-forth trips down memory lane that come in and out of frame as flashback sequences.  Out of those memories, a theme that feels as if we will continue revisit as the season progresses is Black’s relationship with his estranged father, who may have skirted the law a time or two himself, and a brother who may hold the key to the vulnerability buried deep beneath the chiseled facade of a man who seemingly has all the answers to life’s questions, or, at least, HE would like to think he does. Through it all, Amell continues to fall back on his less-is-more acting style that has been the hallmark of his past performances. With his subtle movements and gestures, deep and pensive stares off into the abyss to reflect the emotional restraint of his character, we, as the audience continue to feel the limits of his range and lack of nuance required for those more delicate scenes.  It still feels as if he is portraying the same intense demeanor as before, which can make it difficult for viewers to connect with his more vulnerable moments on screen. That is not to say there are not surprising moments where Amell comes dangerously close to hitting emotional beats that are more genuine and authentic that have not been as apparent in his other roles. The show does provide the actor an opening or two to balance the character’s decidedly challenging moments with a certain charm to make an attempt at creating a more well-rounded leading man, making Ted Black, the character, somewhat more relatable and human in the process. One of the standout scenes for Amell to showcase that effort comes in a cameo appearance of veteran actor John Amos (Good Times and Roots) , playing himself as one of the firm’s celebrity clients. Unexpectedly serving as Black’s character of conscience, Amos reminds the lawyer to do the right thing in terms of his relationship with his father. It was a quiet, but well-played scene for one of TV’s iconic fathers bestowing his best father-knows-best sage advice.  No doubt, Suits L.A. may still have a ways to go in matching the critically-acclaimed success of Suits , there is still considerable room for this new series to grow and find it its own footing in the theatrical world of the law drama. And, if anything, at the very least, as fans of this universe, we still have the promise of a return of Harvey Specter with Gabriel Macht slated for a limited three-episode arc later in the season. I think I can hang in there until then.  Scheduled for a 10-episode season, new episodes of Suits L.A. will drop each week on Sundays on NBC. Episodes will be available to stream on Peacock shortly after airing on broadcast.

Episode 3 of Sweet Magnolias showcases the power of friendship and the importance of having family support, along with a hint of drama.  The episode titled “Abundant Grace” begins with Annie lamenting about her boyfriend, Ty, serving as her personal driver. Not long after, the pair share a kiss, despite the school’s no-PDA policy.  Back at Maddie and Cal’s house, Bill’s mom, Bonnie, explains to Maddie that Bill died of a heart attack and that Kathy has been a huge support. Despite Cal, Maddie, and Paula’s warm and empathetic hospitality, Bonnie proves to be difficult to deal with.  Helen and Dana Sue receive an emergency text while they are separately with Alex and Erik. They both rush to Maddie’s side. Cal, Paula, Bonnie, and our favorite trio all decide that the kids must be made aware of the devastating news before anything is done.  In a silent, yet gut-wrenching moment, Maddie, Paula, and the kids hug each other tightly with tears on their faces.  Bonnie and Helen discover that Bill wanted to be buried in Serenity, and he wants everyone to wear Serenity blue at his funeral, with “How Great Thou Art” playing.  When Maddie asks Ty if he’d like to go to work, and Kyle and Katie if they’d like to go to school or need more time, Bonnie continues to cause more trouble. She accuses Maddie of being a lenient parent, failing to teach the kids the etiquette of grief and mourning, but Paula checks Bonnie, emphasizing that they are Maddie’s kids. Speaking of the kids, Ty, Kyle, and Katie have a slumber party, demonstrating that their bond will remain strong, and they’ll be there for one another.  Later on, Erik comforts Isaac who is drowning his grief in cutting carrots for carrot and ginger soup. Isaac opens up saying that Bill is hurting people he loves once again, and he doesn’t know what to do. Erik realizes that doing what they love most of all, cooking, can help soothe some of the pain.  Helen, Maddie, and Dana Sue “pour it out” and discuss Maddie’s issues with Bonnie, her grief, and the grief of her kids. Their margarita night ends on a lighter note, as they laugh about how they summoned Bonnie on Halloween.  Paula checks Bonnie once again about sleeping in Maddie’s house, sitting at her table, and yet criticizing her every move. Cal tries to play peacemaker, especially in front of Katie, but Katie leaves upset after listening to the chaos.  Despite the challenges, Cal, Maddie, Dana Sue, Helen, Erik, and Isaac go above and beyond to make sure Bonnie’s requests are granted, even opening the doors to Sullivan’s and Friends a little early.  The episode ends at dinner. Ronnie’s heartfelt speech initially touches the group, but the moment is ruined when Noreen and Bonnie get into it. Noreen tells Bonnie that she can’t control how others mourn Bill, and Bonnie then reveals that Isaac is Bill’s son, leaving Noreen stunned. It’s quite the moment.   Isaac and Noreen’s friendship is definitely heading for a shift. Will they recover from this? The entire Season 4 of Sweet Magnolias is now streaming on Netflix.

pen·ance /ˈpenəns/   - voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong. To atone is to find peace and Gabi is many miles away from it. The guilt for hiding Sir weighs heavy and she is desperate to break free. The tether that seems to bind Gabi to Sir continues to stretch and coil, leaving her consumed for penance. Every time she moves a step forward, there is a detour that navigates her five steps away. As Gabi seeks a sense of refuge from her past decisions, we embark on the road of faith, forgiveness and freedom. Can she break away from Sir for good?  [SPOILERS]   As Sir adapts to his new reality (no shower in two days? Yikes), Gabi and team move forward with a new mystery hovering them. And there is no one in the basement for Gabi to banter ideas with. Something new for her to maneuver as the team collaborates on the investigation. The case of the week involves Bernie, a pastor and dear friend to Gabi. Bernie is accused of harming his sister and care giver, Violet, who goes missing after a heated exchange. With a history of arguments and calls to the police, Bernie is the prime suspect even though he is blind. After the death of Maria, Bernie’s wife, he spiraled and left his congregation. Filled with anguish and despair, Bernie can’t move forward. He feels alone, abandoned and forsaken. And it’s all Violet’s fault. She had the proxy over Maria’s medical care and had to make a difficult choice. As the team slowly gathers clues and conduct interviews, Gabi struggles with them questioning her instincts when it comes to Bernie and the case. It’s an interesting pivotal point for Margaret who knows Gabi’s instincts are always right and she is not ready to hear them regarding Jamie.  Unable to shake this tether to Sir, Gabi goes to the prison for answers about Christian, his brother who claims to need help. But Sir’s focus is on Gabi’s gratitude or the lack of gratitude which set her free from possible jail time. “You have no more control over me,” Gabi said. “Yet here you are,” Sir counters. And he’s right, she is back in his presence, but before she leaves, Sir gives one more gift to Gabi regarding Bernie’s case. “Find out who else is mad with Violet, then you will find her.” We also see Margaret and Jamie slowly getting acquainted with very little information being exchanged. We don’t know where Jamie was, and he doesn’t want to share. We do know he is interested in Gabi and the case they are working on. Margaret agrees to include him but with reservations. Dhan also seeks more information on Jamie’s past which causes a rift between him, Margaret and Jamie.  At the M&A office, Gabi finds a sleeping Jamie on the couch. As she lays his coat over him, a brooch falls out of his coat pocket as Margaret also enters the room. Looks like Jamie has quick hands and admits to taking the brooch which Margaret recognizes. It belongs to Mrs. Pearl, a member of Bernie’s church, and Gabi realizes she too was upset with Violet. After interviewing Pearl once more, Gabi finds Violet praying in a private room at the church. Gabi has also used this same room during times of self-doubt with her relationship with her father. The ache and guilt Violet feels is unbearable and she too needs penance. The yearning for atonement unravels as everyone faces their fears. Bernie, who felt abandoned by God in his deepest hour, apologizes to Violet. He shouldn’t have blamed Violet for his pain. Bernie says he can feel Maria at the church and believes Gabi will feel her father again when she lets go. But Gabi feels broken. Sir took away her opportunity for penance and doesn’t know how to move forward without it.  I think many can relate to feeling abandoned by their faith which made this episode so touching and vulnerable. When Bernie said GOD abandoned him – he needed GOD, and he didn’t save Maria, it was a release he needed to unload while also asking for forgiveness. A very moving scene between Shanola and Willie C. Carpenter who played Bernie. Meeting with Sir one more time, Gabi said she is not playing with him anymore. He will rot in here and she will heal outside. With Christian found dead, could this be the final thread broken between Gabi and Sir? “Goodbye Hugh – it is finally over,” Gabi says as she leaves the prison.  Breaking the tether from Sir, Gabi begins her purge to create a clean slate. And she starts with her books: Taming of the Shrew, Native Son, Catcher in The Rye, Don Quixote, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, The Crucible – books I’m sure Sir had Gabi read over the years. As the episode closes, Margaret arrives at Gabi’s home and shares that she also found a toy train in Jamie’s jacket. The train was initially in his room after he disappeared. How is it in his pocket? Was the kidnapper in her house. Is it someone she knows? Someone close to the family? Margaret needs Gabi’s help. Someone she knows took Jamie. Who? NBC airs Thursday night and streams next day on Peacock.

This episode opens with  Lawrence Grey/Matthew Broderick, working as an Admissions Consultant at Outmatch. They prepare students from wealthy families for admission to Baden University, an Ivy League University.  He receives a call from one of the students’ parents about his son being denied admission to that prestigious university.  There were messages from other parents with the same issue. Lawrence talks to the Baden University’s Director of Admissions, Ethan Brooks.  Ethan is setting up his office. He still harbors animosity against his parents and Lawrence for pushing him into a university and career path he didn’t want. He wanted to attend a drama school.  He was forced into fencing to get into Baden. Ethan has asthma, and shooed a cat away that had gotten in his office’s open window. He takes a few inhaler puffs. Ethan threatens to reject any other students from Outmatch.  He didn’t care for the shifty methods used to get students admitted to Baden. He vows to expose Lawrence as a charlatan, and throws him out of his office. Lawrence challenges Ethan to a fencing match in exchange for Bobby Shane Jr.’s admission to Baden University. Ethan can’t resist the offer. That night, Lawrence sits at home with his cat in his lap devising a plan. The next day, he administers a practice LSAT exam to a Baden student with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) in the Baden Library.  He gives the kid some ear plugs so he doesn’t get distracted.  He warns he’ll restart the exam if he’s distracted.  Lawrence sets the timer for 1H:10Min, and sneaks out of the room.  He meets Ethan at Baden University’s Fencing Gym for their match.  Lawrence adjusts a fencing mask and puts something inside.  He then places something in his suit.  He hands the mask to Ethan, and helps him put it on.  He zip ties it on the back.  They begin.  Being the school’s expert fencing coach, Ethan toys with Lawrence, showing off his fencing prowess.  Lawrence gets a couple of touches in, but Ethan outmatches him.  Suddenly Ethan starts struggling for breath and collapses.  He asks Lawrence to get his inhaler.  Instead Lawrence steps on his chest, while Ethan struggles and dies.  Lawrence removes the orange zip tie and sprinkles dust on the cabinet near an open window.  He leaves and returns to the Baden Library at the end of the student’s exam.Enter Officer Blanke, Detective Donnelly and Elsbeth.  They are at the crime scene as Detective Donnelly tells them about the victim. They surmise Ethan was practicing alone and just died.  He wore a medical alert bracelet because of his asthma, and they assume something triggered it.  Elsbeth looks into the mask and sees a light blue thread.  She sneezes when she gets close to it cuz she’s allergic to cats.  Detective Donnelly says a cat was near the body, but it jumped out the window. Elsbeth searches through Ethan’s bag and finds his inhaler. She asks why he didn’t pull off his mask and get his inhaler when he felt an attack happening.  She also asks why a cat was in the gym.  Officer Blanke makes a clever joke.  Elsbeth finds the dust on the cabinet top, and thinks it’s oregano.  Elsbeth sees two scores on the scoreboard and asks if they were from Ethan’s last match. She pulls out an epee sword and Officer Blanke asks why the other person didn’t help Ethan.  They wonder what kind of person watches someone die.  In the meantime, Lawrence tells Bobbie’s Dad his son has a good chance of attending Baden University. Officer Blanke, Detective Donnelly, LT Connor, and Elsbeth meet in CPT Wagner’s Office to discuss Ethan’s case.  CPT Wagner says the death of a college admissions director is a significant event, amazing everyone. Detective Donnelly’s glad her kids are dummies.  She tells them about the bruising on Ethan’s chest, which isn’t from fencing injuries.  Elsbeth says something or someone kept him from getting his inhaler.  Donnelly also says the ‘oregano’ dust on the window  sill was actually catnip.  Elsbeth thinks someone lured the cat into the gym to trigger Ethan’s asthma.  Toxicology report identifies cat dander inside Ethan’s mask.  The lab’s still trying to identify the mysterious, light blue thread.  Elsbeth keeps looking over Detective Donnelly’s shoulder while she reads this information.  They assume someone had to put the cat dander in the mask.  Officer Blanke shows them a picture of the cute cat that tried to enter Ethan’s office the other day, Quad Cat.  She’s a Baden University celebrity.  CPT Wagner sends Elsbeth, Detective Donnelly and Officer Blanke back to school.  Officer Blanke announces she successfully completed all her training courses, and Elsbeth invites everyone over to her place to celebrate.  She also shares what happened with her Scottish beau, Angus. They leave the captain’s office, and Teddy’s waiting for Elsbeth outside her office.  He’s there to help Roy move into his new place.  (Yay!  Teddy’s Back!)  Elsbeth invites Teddy and Roy to the party.  Detective Donnelly talks to the Admissions Secretary, and asks about the “No Way” applications on Ethan’s desk.  She said Ethan had his own way of doing things.  Elsbeth searching the office finds Lawrence Grey’s gift basket and asks why it’s not opened. The secretary tells her about Lawrence Grey, an admissions consultant, someone people hire to get their kids into Baden.  Elsbeth questions the ethics.  The secretary shares the Lawrence and Ethan history.  Officer Blanke introduces Kelly Davis, the Quad Cat IG Account creator.  She explains the cat’s unique four toes on each front paw.  Detective Donnelly tells her the cat was seen in the fencing gym, and asks if it could have triggered an asthma attack.  Kelly says it’s not possible cuz Quad Cat is hypoallergenic.  Interesting.  Elsbeth questions what or who had it in for Ethan.  The secretary suggests they look through the rejected applications.  They interview the parents of the rejected student applicants.  They finally admit paying a fee for their kids to get into Baden University to Outmatch.Officer Blanke and Elsbeth visit Lawrence Grey at Outmatch since the rejected applicants were all their referrals. Lawrence explains what they do.  He  lets it slip that he heard Ethan’s demise was triggered by Quad Cat. Officer Blanke tells him the cat was hypoallergenic.  Elsbeth tells him she’s allergic to cats, too, and only sneezed when she got near Ethan’s mask.  Officer Blanke tells him about the mysterious fiber, too.  Officer Blanke tells Lawrence the story of Quad Cat, while Elsbeth tries to sniff him.  He’s a little perturbed with Elsbeth getting too close.  She sneezes, and he gives her his handkerchief.  It’s blue. He lies when Elsbeth asks if he has a cat.  Later, Lawrence gets home that night and tells Veritas, his cat, it has to go. Lawrence and Elsbeth meet again at Ethan Brook’s Memorial display in the Baden Fencing Gym.   She asks him for a consultation for future grandchildren.   Elsbeth asks to fence with him as part of her consultation. Elsbeth and Lawrence fence in the gym.  She points out the mask is easy to put on and take off, and wonders why Ethan couldn’t do that.  They begin. He taps her twice, and she gets one in.  Elsbeth points out the scoreboard, and both their scores.  They continue a fierce battle.  Elsbeth gets Lawrence to talk about his daughter, Mandy, and he suddenly twists his ankle ending their match.  That night, they have Officer Blanke’s Celebration Party at Elsbeth’s apartment.  LT Connor suggests Elsbeth file a report for injuring a suspect, but CPT Wagner tells them to wait. Teddy arrives.  Everyone talks about their past educational memories.  Teddy points out to Elsbeth that she wasn’t around much while he grew up.  CPT Wagner lets something slip about Teddy getting his job, Oh OH.  Teddy leaves angry.  Lawrence is surprised by the return of his daughter, Mandy.  She had been in a hiking and creativity program.  He tells her about the death of her cat.  She tells him he’s the worst father ever.  Elsbeth delivers a gift to Lawrence, and gives it to his doorman, Martin.  The gift is an apology for Lawrence’s accident.  Mandy comes in just as Elsbeth drops off the gift, and invites her upstairs.  They get to know each other, and Mandy tells Elsbeth about her cat dying.  Lawrence comes in and rudely asks Elsbeth to leave.  She returns his handkerchief, and he asks if it matched the mystery fiber.  She tells him no.  Elsbeth and Officer Blanke review more rejected Baden applications.  Teddy arrives, and Officer Blanke leaves them to talk.  Roy made him come apologize, and brought Roy to see Elsbeth.  She hugs Roy and basically interrogates him.  83 mins later, they are still not done.  Teddy’s worried.  Officer Blanke tells Teddy about Angus.  Teddy asks if Angus is a fireman.  Interesting.Elsbeth has Roy telling her everything he’s ever done in his past.  He mentions his dog dying and his parents not telling him.  This sparked something in Elsbeth, and she tells him might have solved her case.  Elsbeth revisits Lawrence and tells him she was very proud of her son, Teddy, and that he turned out just fine.  She tells Lawrence that Mandy helped solve Ethan’s murder.  She tells him how he killed Ethan.  She motions to Officer Blanke and Mandy to come in.  Mandy has her cat, Veritas.   Lawrence couldn’t kill him, and Mandy found him at a shelter.  They found the origin of the blue fiber, a cat toy mouse.  Lawrence lies and claims that’s not his cat.  Elsbeth tells him they can  compare the cat ashes on his mantle to the sandbox in his office.  Lawrence snidely tells Mandy she finally did something.  Elsbeth defends her.  Officer Blanke arrests him. Teddy tells Elsbeth about the latest on Mark Van Ness. He’s proud of what she did.  She tells him she may not have done everything right when raising him, but she ended up with the perfect son!  They hug, and he leaves with her LSAT book.  Elsbeth’s out walking Gonzo, when Judge Milton Crawford pulls up and tells her to get into his vehicle.  He’s been keeping an eye on her, and admires how she got out of the Van Ness scandal.  He threatens Delia, and a determined Elsbeth tells him she won’t stop searching for the personal stake he has in the case.  He lets her and Gonzo out and drives off.  They’re confrontation is coming to a head, and it will be Spectacular to see them Together Again! This episode was So Very Good, and it was interesting to see kitties, fencing and asthma as a central parts of the case. Returning to the Wonderful halls of education is always Fun!  Loved seeing the fencing matches. Kitties foiled the murderer.  Elsbeth and Matthew Broderick fencing was fantastic!  It was Great to see Teddy again, too.  We finally got to see Roy, just when I thought he didn’t exist.  He breezed through Elsbeth’s grueling interrogation.  It was a delight to see Detective Donnelly, too!  She adds a calming, determined, shrewd, no nonsense, clear, focused perspective to crime solving.  LT Connor is getting more and more adorable.  He’s becoming a blended, loved member of the team despite his pretense of a cold, standoffish persona.  The characters and guests were Great mix in this episode. It worked Well!

Matlock  Season 1, Episode 12, "This is That Moment," delivers everything I have been craving, especially with Julian finally getting the spotlight he's so rightfully earned. For weeks, the show has hinted at deeper layers to his character, and this episode lets him shine in a big way. His tension-filled dynamic with Olympia over their divorce and custody battle mirrors the case of the week, where they each represent clients in a similar fight. The resulting drama makes for a gripping episode, not just because of the legal intrigue, but also because it taps into deeper emotional territory. One of the most striking aspects of the episode is the way it parallels Maddy’s own history with her husband Edwin and their custody battle with their daughter, Ellie over Alfie. The flashbacks, which show Maddy in a tense courtroom with Edwin, are a brilliant addition. They give us a deeper understanding of her personal struggles, and watching her now try to help her clients while processing those memories is a reminder of why Kathy Bates is a powerhouse of an actress. She effortlessly navigates between the sharp legal mind of Maddy and the raw emotions of a mother who's experienced unimaginable pain. The flashbacks also provide insight into the complexities of Maddy and Ellie’s relationship, especially when Edwin admits to hiding the email and confesses he sometimes blames Maddy for Ellie’s death. It’s raw, emotional, and heartbreaking. As for the legal drama of the week, the courtroom battle between Julian and Olympia was nothing short of riveting. Their personal animosity clearly influences their legal strategies, making the case feel all the more intense. But in the end, both characters come to a realization—just like their clients—that they need to put their kids’ best interests above their own egos. Olympia’s line, "being happy instead of right," lands like a gut punch, hitting both Julian and Olympia as hard as it hits the audience. It’s a pivotal moment for them, offering some emotional growth for the characters and some much-needed resolution to their ongoing tension. Elsewhere, Sarah brought some much-needed levity to the episode, offering a comedic counterbalance to the heavy emotional content. Her reconciliation with Billy was a nice touch and added a hopeful note to the otherwise intense atmosphere. Meanwhile, Simone's introduction as a potential love interest for Billy adds another layer of drama that’s sure to keep things interesting in future episodes. Overall, "This is That Moment" is one of the strongest episodes of the season. It balances emotional depth, compelling courtroom drama, and character growth, making for a rollercoaster of an experience that’s definitely worth watching. The performances across the board are stellar, and the show continues to impress with its ability to tackle complex emotions while keeping the legal drama front and center.

Tuesday’s all new episode was a cause for celebration in more ways than one. Tim went to therapy ( and I am so proud of him ), Celina graduated and is no longer a rookie, and Bailey got some much needed closure in the aftermath of Jason’s death. Not to mention, Lucy’s rookie did great on his first undercover gig – sort of.  Tamara is back and she enlists Lucy’s help in shutting down a drug dealer named Andy on campus. I personally thought Lucy would be able to pass as a college student, but Tamara didn’t think so. Seth volunteers himself and despite her suspicions of him, Lucy allows him to go undercover. He did well, but later that night, Seth found himself in some trouble. When he went off script in the earlier sting operation, stating he had a friend who would be willing to buy more “candy”, Andy and his friends insist that he goes for a drive. Now, Seth was an idiot for going with them, but I can appreciate that he didn’t allow Tamara to go with him.  Thankfully, Lucy comes up with a plan that gets Seth out of harm's way – but she truly can’t help herself when she sees Tamara and Seth getting close. She tells Tamara her concerns, but it doesn’t seem to bother her. I feel like she’s still going to be in contact with Seth, and you know what? I’m not mad at it.  I never thought this day would come, but Celina Juarez is no longer a rookie! I did shed a tear ( more like a few ) because she has come so far from when we first met her. She’s made so many rookie mistakes (see what I did there?) that I thought would’ve gotten her bounced from the FTO program, but she has instincts that can’t be taught. With some redirection, she managed to get it together and I believe she has what it takes to be a great cop.  As upset as I was that Bailey saw no repercussions for the crime she committed, I will say that this storyline of hers was so important. A lot of people believe that domestic violence means that there should be physical signs of abuse before something is done. Like she said she “didn’t look like the women on lifetime” and the violence wasn’t physical, which is why no one knew she needed help.  What we saw ( despite it being a crime ) was a woman who was desperate and in fear for her life. When you’re in constant survival mode with no scars to get the help you need, you’re left with the choice to stay and endure the abuse or save yourself. Bailey, in the best way she saw fit, saved herself. I can see both sides of why John was upset at how she handled it, and I could see why Bailey thought she had no other choice. I’m glad in the end they had the conversation they needed to have.  Let’s keep the conversation going – what’d you think of the latest episode of The Rookie ?

This episode brings back Titan and other villains like Machine Head, Liu, Multi-Paul and Isotope from Season 1!  It begins with Titan, the new mob boss, taking his daughter to school.  He drops her off.  Isotope teleports in to tell Titan there's a problem.   Meanwhile, Multi-Paul is still in a GDA maximum security prison that suppresses his powers until it didn't.  He duplicated copies of himself that literally forced the door open.  The OG Paul positioned on the cell ceiling, escapes but is stopped by a guard clasping an immovable collar on him.  It suppressed him and his powers. He was knocked unconscious. Multi-Paul wakes to Multi-Kate, his sister, reprimanding him.  Paul still thinks The Order will break him out someday.  She reminds him of their Dad's Birthday.  A flashback of their origin story shows them with their Dad before he was arrested.GDA took and trained them.  Paul left the training facility as a teen and became an assassin with The Order. He tells her he couldn't leave The Order even if he wanted. She leaves saddened.  The story continues with Mark and Eve commingling in his room at the Grayson home.  Debbie calls Mark down for breakfast.  Oliver's helping his Mom, and the amount of pancakes show his healthy appetite is still growing.  ‘Someone’ rings their doorbell and Mark answers.  Surprise, it's Eve!  She joins them for breakfast.  Oliver tells everyone about Mark and Eve’s sleepover and which earns him kicks under the table from his brother.  Mark asks his Mom for apartment rental information.  Mark and Eve later decide to move in together.  He suggests she build a cool place for them somewhere in the city, but Eve tells him it's not feasible.  Mark decides to get a job to rent a place instead.  That leads to their joint business venture, Invincible, Inc.  Later, Peyton Penitentiary, a prison with numerous problems, is offered an Invincible Security opportunity by a ‘Ms. Wilson’ with a private firm.  Titan meets with Liu, The Order Leader, about his deal, breaking his assassin(s),  Multi-Paul, out of prison.  Liu extends the deadline, but threatens Titan’s family as he leaves.  Titan rushes home to ensure his family is safe.  He tells Fiona to stay home with her Mom for a while.  Titan and Isotope brainstorm how to get rid of Liu.  Titan goes to Peyton Pen to see Machine Head, but realizes getting his help is hopeless . Mark and Eve search for Oliver after Debbie tells Mark he sneaked out.  They find him doing skateboard tricks in the park with normal friends.  Some older kids come up and try to start a fight.  Oliver stops them hilariously.  Mark tells his Mom about Oliver and his new friends, and proudly tells her how Oliver handled himself in a threatening situation now.  He says they should let him be a kid.  At Guardians New Place, Shrinking Rae gets a knock on her door to find an envelope with a note from Rex inviting her to  a midnight dinner date.  It's cutely comical. She goes and finds him cooking dinner.  He CAN follow instructions.  Rae loves what Rex has done for her.   It’s nice to see Rex growing, too. Mark gets a text and rushes off to the Peyton Penitentiary just in time to save some guards from Titan’s assault.  Mark and Titan face-off and make tenuous peace.  Titan gives Invincible a tour around the changed neighborhood downtown and asks for his help.  He tells Mark about The Order, and them wanting Multi-Paul back.  Mark refuses.  He discusses how conflicted he is with Eve.  She tells him he did the right thing. Liu revisits Titan at his office, and is upset because Multi-Paul is not free.  Isotope turns against Titan and joins The Order.  Liu transforms into a gargantuan dragon!  Titan tries to fight but is thrown out the window.  The dragon goes to the prison to break out Multi-Paul.   Mark gets a text from Peyton Pen, and he and Eve go to fight the dragon.  The dragon destroys the prison power dampening systems.  Machine Head and Multi-Paul and other prisoners escape.  Eve fights Multi-Paul, and thinks she restrained him.  The dragon injures Mark as he saves the warden, and Mark discovers the dragon can't be killed.   Machine Head returns to Titan’s/His Office, and finds Liu’s bodyguard holding his body. He threatens to kill Liu’s body.  Isotope teleports in and takes the bodyguard into the sky and drops him while Machine Head kills Liu’s body, making the dragon disappear.  Titan thanks Invincible for his help.  Isotope teleports Titan and himself away, leaving Mark babbling about taking Titan to jail.   Mark and Eve later do an after action review of what happened.  Mark's upset that he just helped Titan kill his biggest rival.  Eve cheers him up by telling him they made enough for rent.  Mark and Eve rethink moving out, and Eve’s glad cuz she wants to slow down their relationship. They're keeping their joint venture, Invincible, Inc. Debbie tells Mark she had a good talk with Oliver about his sneaking out, and realizes he should be allowed to just be a kid.  She's glad Mark’s staying, and he and Eve are slowing down their relationship.  Debbie scares Mark off when she tries to give him the sex ed talk.   Machine Head takes over at The Order, and Titan tells him he’s keeping the city territory and wants out of The Order.  Machine Head lets him out, but threatens him and his family if he double-crosses him again.  At the Guardians' New Place, Multi-Kate finds a gift reminding her of her past.  She knows it's from Multi-Paul.  In a temple, Liu's bodyguard cleans Liu's body, and revives him!   This episode was Another Good One! They did a great job bringing characters from Season 1 into Mark's current life.  It also had more family and personal issues with a lot less galactic destruction.  Liked the short Multi-Kate and Multi-Paul back story, too.  It was amazing to see the Titan and Isotope deception of Liu.  They outsmarted Mark, and tricked him and Machine Head into ridding them of Liu, so they thought.  A lot going on in this episode, but the best part was seeing Oliver return to being a kid!  Looking forward to seeing the next episode!

Today’s episode continues from last week’s episode.  There’s a terrible storm rolling in.  Angie and Ormewood are working late at the APD, Atlanta Police Department.  Angie goes to check on John in his cell, to assure him she’s going to help.  John is close to giving up.  She asks him about something in his Mom’s journals, and will talk with his sister about it.  John asks if Joyce and Keynan were there at the station.  His brother-in-law hates him.  Angie tells him about a witness, Mia Elken, who was coming in to see a photo lineup on Peggy’s killer.   Angie takes John’s photo.Angie, Will, ADAs Marion and Freddy meet to discuss new evidence, and Angie asks for time to follow-up on John’s case.  There’s a little tension between Angie and Marion.  Angie’s going to talk to John’s sister.  She state’s there’s tension between Keynan and John.  Caroline comes in to get a case number for a witness statement.   After she leaves, Will tells Marion they are doing a witness photo lineup to confirm the killer’s identity.  Angie still thinks Mia’s coming in.  Freddie says the review clears everything.  Will and Marion subtly flirt.Amanda comes into the office with a beautifully wrapped gift.  It’s for Caroline.  She goes to check with Sonny and Rafael to get the handcrafted card.  Amanda’s throwing Caroline a surprise birthday party.  Will stops her and asks about the witness statement in the file room.   He thought Faith was going to get it, but she’s on a special case.  Angie and Will continue down the hall. Will stops Rafael to ask him if he could stay.  He needs to talk to him.  At that moment, Joyce and Keynan Peters step off the elevator.  Angie introduces them to Will.  ADA Freddie Markovich walks up and introduces himself. Freddie recognizes Keynan. They went to high school together. Keynan is upset and tells Angie, Will and Freddie they don’t want anything to do with John. He angrily tells Joyce they need to get this over with.  Mia’s still not there.  Angie and Will go to find her in the parking lot. Ormewood shows off his decorating skills. Amanda’s a little disappointed with the party decorations, and tells them it looks a little shabby.  She asks if they can make it look more festive.  CPT Heller escorts the Mariachi Band into the station area. The lights flicker then go out, and the generator doesn’t kick in. The Mariachi Band’s Hats light up the area.  CPT Heller, Ormewood and Franklin go get the portable power station. Amanda and Faith take the party, food, attendees and the band to the GBI. They will surprise Caroline when the power comes back on.   Angie and Will are trapped in the elevator.  Neither have cell service. Will tries some small talk but Angie cuts him off. He later shows her an app on his phone that he uses to swap faces with Betty. Angie abruptly asks if he’s hooking up with Marion.  Will comes back with what Angie told him when they broke up.  She expected him to date someone who doesn’t work in their work building. He defends Marion from Angie’s comments made earlier in the meeting. Something drips on Angie’s face.  It’s red, and looks like blood. Will hoists Angie up to the elevator ceiling opening.  She breaks it open.  Will’s precariously trying not to drop Angie and accidently grabs her but as he pushes her up through the ceiling opening.  She freaks out when she sees Mia’s body.  Mia was thrown down the elevator shaft.  Will and Angie get out of the elevator to examine the body.  It’s still warm, and they determine she hadn’t been dead long.  She had been killed somewhere else, and dumped there.  Angie had just been on the phone with her.  John couldn’t have killed her, but Angie surmises it was Keynan.  They don’t know how he got the body in the building.  The killer had to have an elevator key.  They need to alert everyone that a killer is loose in the building.  They start yelling, but no one’s there.  Everyone has gone to the GBI for the party.  Faith, Amanda and Marion gather everyone in the conference room.  Marion’s struck by the way Rafael holds and protects his daughter, Sonny in a corner.  The main generator has failed, so there’s still no lights. Amanda goes to check for stragglers. Faith stops in the hall facing the elevator.  It looks like she hears something.  It is eerie.in the dark.  Downstairs, CPT Heller, Franklin and Ormewood go to get the portable generator. It ’s heavy and takes all three of them to lift it.  Franklin and Ormewood start making jokes, and start laughing.  Faith did hear Will and Angie, and lets them out.  They plan their response, and how to find the killer.  Faith goes to tell Amanda what’s happened.  Angie goes to get Keynan.  Will gets a walkie talkie from the breakroom, and sees Marion in the hallway.   Marion is concerned about Rafael, a gang leader being in the conference room.  Will tells her he’s taking care of his daughter.  He tells her about the serial killer loose in the building.  tells her to return to the conference room, and keep everyone calm. He gives her a walkie talkie.  She kisses him and tells him to be careful, as she leaves.   Angie comes running up to tell Will Keynan is missing.  They go to sweep the building.  Amanda hears someone crying, and finds Caroline bleeding on the floor near the morgue.  She calls Will for help.  Amanda calls for Pete, who comes out of the morgue. Keynan runs past them, but Amanda catches and cuffs him.  He said he didn’t do anything, as Will and Angie arrived.  Pete says Caroline needs to get to a hospital.  Angie goes to call for an ambulance on the LAN line.   Will goes into the file room and finds the weapon, a cake knife. Keynan continues pleading his innocence, and says he found her like this.  Amanda tries to get Caroline to tell her who stabbed her, but she’s in pain and can’t answer.  Pete says he doesn’t have any pain meds cuz his patients are always dead.  Angie returns and says the flooding is bad, and they may not get an ambulance for an hour.  Amanda tells everyone to stay calm, and directs Will to get a confession out of Keynan.  She tells Pete he’s going to save Caroline’s life. They move Caroline to the morgue, and Amanda asks Pete for help.  Faith is there with lights.  Pete’s panicking but is accessing Caroline’s injuries.  He tells them she needs an ambulance, cuz Caroline’s not going to last long.  Amanda refuses to hear that, and asks him what he needs to save Caroline.  He tells her, and Faith goes to get everything he needs.  Upstairs in the conference room, everyone is partying as the Mariachi plays.  Marion comes in asking if anyone has O- blood.  Freddie asks if there is a problem.  She tells him she’ll tell him later, and takes the person with the blood type she needs, the Mariachi Band Leader,with her.  A patrolman escorts him to the morgue.  The hallway’s spooky, and it seems like someone’s out there.  Will and Angie interrogate Keynan in a room.  Angie goes through his backpack and finds the elevator key.  Keynan says he never saw it before.  Will asks him where the missing witness statement is.  Keynan says he was trying to find a quiet place to take some drugs, cuz he’s a drug addict.  He proves it, and begs them not to tell Joyce.  Will takes his oxycodone pills to Caroline.  Meanwhile, CPT Heller, Ormewood and Franklin are carrying the portable power station up the stairs. They stop for a break, and the power station falls back down the stairs. Faith comes to see what’s going on.  She tells them about Caroline, and they need to get the power station to the morgue.  She helps them carry it up the stairs. In the morgue, Pete sets the band leader up for a direct blood transfusion to Caroline.  Will comes in with the oxys and Pete tells him to crush up two.  He tells Amanda to rub the powder under Caroline’s tongue.  Will asks Pete about Caroline’s injuries.  They begin the operation. Will returns to the room where Angie and Keynan are and tells him to draw a smiley face.  He notices Keynan is right handed.  Pete told him the killer stabbed cross body favoring the left side.  Angie and Will talk outside the room.  Neither believe Keynan’s the killer.  They plan to find out Who, Where, How the stabbing happened.  Will calls Rafael. Will and Rafael go to the elevator shaft to look at Mia’s body.  Will tells him it’s about the same size as a prison cell.  He asks him to help him remove Mia’s watch.  He tells everyone on the walkie talkie to be quiet while finds his phone.  Rafael shows him how to make a call from Mia’s watch, but they hear nothing.  The crew carrying the power station hear a noise.  They put it down, and Faith tells Will it’s in the stairwell.  They continue carrying the power station up the stairs, as they start joking again.  Angie is walking the darkened halls to get to John’s cell.  She asks him about the night Alice Finney was killed.  She tells him the killer’s not Keynan, and they need to figure out who the killer is.   Pete continues operating on Caroline.  He finishes suturing Caroline’s wounds.  Amanda tells him he’s very good at this.  He shares that he used to be a surgeon and why he wasn’t anymore.  He sees bleeding from Caroline’s abdomen.  The crew gets the powerstation hooked up.  CPT Heller says he is O- if they need more blood.  They get the lights and suction machine on.  Pete sees a laceration on her spleen.  He needs to remove it.  Caroline’s pulse stops.  Marion and a police officer do a vending machine run because everyone’s getting hungry in the conference room. Downstairs, Angie walks John through what happened before Alice was killed.  He remembers someone else, named Rick, was there.  Will and Rafael find the phone and Mia’s wallet on a stairwell, where she was attacked.  Rafael’s a little miffed at Will’s comment on his watch.  He tells him he got his watch from someone very much alive, and that it was a business arrangement.  Will continues looking around for clues. He does his Will Thing, and walks through how Mia’s murder happened.  Rafael listens quietly, slightly amazed.  He tells Will he’s taking over the Grove Park Boys business.  Will tells him he already knows about his ‘business’, and he was demonstrating how he figures things out.Angie continues asking John for information on that night Alice was killed.  He remembers that Rick might have had a Polish last name,  had acne and was awkward.  He also had a weird tick.  A blinking thing, Angie suggested and John said yes.   Angie knows who the killer is, and runs off!    Will picks up an American Flag pin off the floor, and suddenly knows who the killer is.  Marion gets a call from Will on her walkie talkie telling her to go to channel 2, and moves to the squad room.  Will asks her if Freddie had an American Flag pin, and suddenly a sound of the police officer being knocked out startles her. She drops her walkie talkie as Freddie steps out of the shadows.  He has a gun and approaches her.  Will races up the stairs to get to Marion.  Meanwhile, Freddie tells her how he felt overlooked for years, and confesses he felt power when he killed Alice.  He grabs Marion and tells her he’s like a god.  He tells her if she stays quiet he’ll let her keep her tongue, and knocks her out.  Angie gets to the squad room and finds the cop knocked out on the floor.  The thunder and lightning make the room more spooky.  She hears a noise and follows the blood stains on the floor into the CPT’s office.  A terrified Marion is there hiding behind the desk.  Angie tries to calm her as she checks her head wound.  She tells her she’s going to find Freddie, but Marion doesn’t want her to leave.  Angie leaves Marion her gun.  Freddie shoots at her through the office window.  Will approaches and Angie tells him the killer is Freddie.  He asks if she’s seen Marion.  She tells him she’ll be okay.  She points to a gun on an office chair, and Will tries to go get it, but is fired at.  Down in the morgue, Pete applies lifesaving measures to revive Caroline.  Faith stops the blood with  bandages.  Still no pulse.  Pete continues chest compressions.Will and Angie continue searching for Freddie in the squad room.  Angie gets a gun, and they canvas the room working their way back to the party table. They don’t know Freddie’s watching them with night vision goggles.  He’s sneaking up on Will from the rear, and starts shooting.  Will ducks behind a desk, while Angie comes up behind Freddie.  He turns and she jumps him.  They fight as Will tries to get a clear shot at Freddie.  He can’t, and Freddie disarms Angie, and grabs her by the hair.  He backs away from Will smiling.  Will looks like he’s putting down his gun, but flashes a bright light at Freddie who is blinded.  Will shoots him and Angie falls to the floor.  He hears Marion crying in the office, and rushes off to her.  He leaves Angie stunned.  He takes the gun out of Marion’s hands, and hugs and softly comforts her. Angie came in and saw what was happening, then sadly left. Pete continues with the chest compressions on Caroline in the morgue. The lights come on, and the EMTs get there and take over.  They shock her once with the defibrillator and get a faint pulse.  They rushed her to the hospital.  Pete saved Caroline. The storm’s cleared.  Ormewood, Faith, Franklin start cleaning up the squad room.  Ormewood’s grumbling about not getting any cake.  Angie comes in with John. She asks him if he wants to see the killer. He identifies him as the weird person from the night Alice was killed.  Angie asks if he needs a place to stay, and he says Joyce said he can come home with her.  John thanks Angie for giving him his life back. Amanda announces that Caroline is going to pull through. Angie asks about Marion, and Amanda says she’ll be fine. Amanda’s going to the hospital to see Caroline and take her the birthday gift.  She tells Angie she did a Great Job!  Faith asks if anyone got the Mariachi Band’s name and walks off.  This episode was another great one!  This show keeps building on previous epis and getting better and better!  The storm and power outage set the scary backdrop.  There were points when I got perturbed when the commercial breaks happened. Angie was relentless and the only one who believed in John, except his mom.  Glad she was able to free him.  I thought it was definitely Keynan or maybe his sister.   The clear and impressive character development continues with Pete and Rafael.  Loved how the writers intertwined the different subplots, a birthday party, serial killer, Rafael and Will’s relationship, and Angie saving John. Marion surprised me.  She worked with Freddie, but never felt he was a killer.  Loved Amanda and Faith’s calmness and take charge ability under pressure.  Also loved the Mariachi Band music!  Sad to see Angie and Will aren’t getting back together. The Excitement Keeps mounting for this show!  Looking forward to seeing Jake Ballard in the next epi.

This week on All American, tensions rose high on and off the field for both South Crenshaw and Beverly High. Khalil (Antonio J. Bell) works to establish himself as a new player on the team for South Crenshaw while KJ (Nathaniel McIntyre) is hype for spirit week at Beverly… which to his disappointment, turns out to be very unspirited.  Meanwhile, challenges prove to be difficult for the coaches as Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) struggles to see eye to eye with Coach Bobby regarding Khalil. Khalil has been putting in the effort off the field, but will he ever be given a chance to assert himself and be respected by his teammates?  Amina (Alexis Chikaeze) seeks independence during her first day working at Layla’s  in an attempt to prove her father’s reins are a little too tight. She’s tired of being looked at as a baby in the eyes of all the adults in her life. Even still, she finds time to check in on KJ, giving him some words of encouragement before his game.  Back in South Crenshaw’s weight room, Khalil and Yasi (Elijah M. Cooper) work to earn respect from each other, gaining acceptance from Coach Bobby. But, on the other side of town, KJ and Coach Cassius (Osy Ikhile) suffer through disappointment and humiliation after losing their first game.  Tori (Lauryn Hardy) is back in her cheerleading uniform and giving KJ a hard reality on what support and teamwork from Beverly High looks like, as it’s been taken for granted. Over at Layla’s, Amina has a conversation with Layla (Greta Onieogou) on Adulting 101, hoping to get through to her.  In an attempt to teach KJ a lesson about teamwork, both him and Coach Cassius are seen at South Crenshaw’s first game. On the field, the Chargers  are having a rough go as quarterback but after some tough love, South Crenshaw came back stronger and united in the 2nd half, winning the game! S/o to Khalil and Jordan for taking a chance against Coach Bobby, and putting him into the game.  After watching the teamwork and encouragement from Khalil, KJ’s perspective is influenced as he realizes his errors with his own teammates. Coach Bobby finally shows his resentment for Billy Baker by taking his frustration out on Jordan after the game.  Caught in the excitement from the win and acting on her emotions, Amina leans in to kiss Khalil, only to be rejected. However, in an attempt to comfort her, KJ causes more embarrassment as she struggles to hide her feelings, eventually lashing out at Coop (Bre-Z). With a renewed spirit, KJ was able to find kinship with the other players on the team as well as support Tori and the rest of the cheerleaders at Beverly High, proving himself a teammate on and off the field.  Reflecting on the conversation with Coach Bobby, Jordan realized the beef goes back past his resentment with his dad, Billy Baker (Taye Diggs). Old family secrets are beginning to rear its ugly head within the Baker family. But who will pay the most?  You can catch new episodes of All American on Mondays at 8pm on the CW. Episodes are also streaming on the CW app!

Episode 2 of Sweet Magnolias, titled “Practical Dreams,” picked up right where it left off from the anticipated season premiere, with Maddie and Cal getting hitched.  The sweet pair exchanged beautiful vows, especially from Cal, stating that he will never interrupt Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue’s margarita night. They concluded their union with a warm kiss in front of their dearest family and friends.  Not long after Maddie and Cal’s first dance, Maddie checks in with her besties to make sure they aren’t mad at her for the surprise wedding. Also, Ty and Annie ask Kyle and Katie to let them tell everyone about their relationship on their own time, which they gleefully agree to.  Iris and Paula gaze out at the dance floor, where everyone is having an amazing time, dancing their hearts out. They gush about finally being in-laws.  Ty and Annie share a romantic moment, reaffirming their love for each other, and Maddie and Cal bond with their mothers, radiating happiness. The newlyweds, Cal and Maddie, depart to start their wedding night, with Cal lifting Maddie up to take her to his place.  The next morning, Dana Sue and Helen open up to Maddie about how they really wanted to be a part of the process for planning the wedding, and how they’re a little disappointed that it was kept a secret. Maddie assured them that they are, and will always be, a part of her life in every aspect. They seal their friendship with a toast.  At Cal’s house, the boys are helping him pack his stuff for moving in with Maddie and the kids. Cal says he’s excited to move in and that he and his new bride will tackle any challenges together.  In a warm family moment, Ty tells Maddie and Cal, along with Katie and Kyle, that he and Annie are officially a couple. Maddie is overjoyed at the news and expresses that she’s been waiting for this to happen. Our favorite trio is over the moon that their children are finally together.  Maddie and Paula share a sweet moment when Paula says that Maddie’s dad would have loved Cal, and that she’s so happy to welcome a worthy son-in-law.  Things get chaotic when CJ Camp, the man who mows the seniors’ yards for the foundation, tells Dana Sue that he quit because of Helen firing his dad. Dana Sue is left too stunned to speak. Meanwhile, Helen opens up to Alex about how much it took to rebuild her parents’ home.  Helen tells Dana Sue that CJ’s dad actually quit. Serenity’s favorite trio gets together to solve the rising problems in their beloved city, but Helen is in for a shock when she finds out from Mayor Peggy that the city has four months before going bankrupt.  The episode ends with a shocking cliffhanger, with Mama Townsend bringing Maddie devastating news that Bill is dead. This will surely rock Maddie and the kids. How will they get through it? You’ll have to keep watching to find out. Season 4 of Sweet Magnolias is fully on Netflix to stream.

It’s Black History Month mi gente, so with Valentine’s also in this month, the only logical thing for me to do was make a list of books celebrating Black Love. Cause we love amor! Here are some of my favorite books featuring black love. Most of these I’ve read, others are on my TBR and hope to read soon. All of these books have spice of varying levels. For those looking to diversify your shelves, I’ve added notes regarding plus size rep, queer rep and mental health rep.  Contemporary:   Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop  Them Boys trilogy by Alexandria House  Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen (Plus Size Rep) The McClain Brothers series by Alexandria House Make a Scene by Mimi Grace  The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest Seven Days in June by Tia Williams Outdrawn by Deanna Grey (Queer Rep) Fantasy/Paranormal: Essence & Runes by Taylor Lynn (Magic) (Queer Rep) I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend by Jessica Cage (Demons)(Plus Size Rep) Brothers Unholy by Nastee (Vampires) Sweet Vengeance by Viano Oniomoh (Demons)(Plus Size Rep) Baited by the Beast trilogy by Journee Jordan (Werewolves) Elemental Magic by Celestine Martin (Witches) The Chosen Luna (Werewolves) (Disability rep) by Troinetta Nichole Short Story/Novella: Drop, Cover and Hold On by Jasmine Guillory (Valentine’s Day story) Let It Snow by Michelle Stimpson (Christmas story) Coming Home by Kennedy Ryan A Walk in the Park by Rebekah Weatherspoon (Plus Size Rep) The A.I Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole Sports: Spring Awakening by J.S Jasper (Rugby)(Mental Health Rep & Queer Rep) Played by Naima Simone (Hockey)(Grief & Mental Health Rep) St. Louis Sirens by Alexandria House (Hockey)(Mental Health Rep & Plus Size Rep) Hoops by Kennedy Ryan (Basketball)(Mental Health & Plus Size Rep) St. Louis Cyclones by Alexandria House (Basketball)(Mental Health Rep) Mendell Hawks series by Deanna Grey (College Hockey) (Mental Health Rep & Queer Rep) As always remember to check those trigger warnings, some of these books deal with heavy themes. Enjoy responsibility and happy reading!

The season finale delivers an unrelenting mix of tension, tragedy, and blood, pulling viewers into the darkest corners of Dexter’s origins. A fair warning—this episode is not for the faint of heart. A Childhood Stained in Blood The episode opens with a change in narrative inside the shipping container. We see that horrific moment from Brian’s point of view. Young Dexter, trembling, searches the dim space. His tiny voice calls out, “Mommy?” Brian, his older brother and always his protector, shields him from the horror around them. His voice is eerily calm as he soothes Dexter with a fairy tale— The Three Little Pigs.  Only in this setting does the story seem haunting. The chilling truth lies beneath the words of a child forced to grow up too soon: He must keep Dexter protected; he cannot let him fully grasp the carnage around them. Then comes the moment that changes everything for Brian. A moment that shows him in depth what abandonment is. A man who had spent so much time in his home, though that man was more fatherly toward his brother, he had come to trust him. He had come to get used to having him around. That man, Harry, appears, tearing Dexter from Brian’s arms. Brian’s voice in narration carries a chilling finality: "That was the first time they took my brother from me. But it wouldn’t be the last." We quickly move into Brian’s memory of the day he was moved out of the Morgan household. As the social worker leads him away, Brian looks on helplessly, noticing that Dexter remains with the Morgans. “Is Dexter coming with me?” The response is firm. “No. We’ve found a family that is a better fit for you.” Brian notes that a better fit was the polite way of saying, “You are unwanted.” Brian’s Spiral into Darkness Years later, Brian recounts his past in a therapist’s office, though his stillness is deceptive. He has a motive: He needs to see Dexter. He finally manages to be released from the institution and agrees to therapy so that he could finally be reunited with his brother. "A better fit was just a polite way of saying someone didn’t want you," he states. His next home, the Kirstens, was no Tanners or anything like the family shows seen on TV. A boy locked him in a dark closet, triggering the suffocating terror of the shipping container. When they let him out, his instincts took over. The foster mother bore the brunt of it, leading to the social worker having to find yet another ‘better fit’. Every new home brought another bully. Brian was never one to suffer fools; he was quick to react when threatened. However, in a system that doesn’t see the child—only the behavior—Brian was labeled a problem. Eventually, the world stopped pretending he was salvageable. He was institutionalized.  He was labeled as having anti-social personality disorder, someone who lacked empathy, a psychopath, they called him. I cannot help but wonder if trauma on top of trauma created the monster that Brian would become. Could he have been saved if he received proper treatment that considered said trauma instead of labeling a seven-year-old who, before his trauma, didn’t seem to display the behaviors he would develop?  If they could have seen that the monster was made, not born. Not born, this will be important at the end of the episode. Something to think about. He had lost so much. In the institution, he grew up, and he bonded with an orderly named Raul. That trust would soon be betrayed. Raul stole his meds, causing violent outbursts that landed Brian in solitary confinement. Back in the present, Dr. Petrie sits across from Brian, trying to reach him. “I’m proud of you, Brian. You’ve finally opened up without spiraling.”  It is just what Brian had been waiting on, the reason he had agreed to the sessions. “Then let me see Dexter.” The doctor hesitates. “That wouldn’t be healthy for you. It could undo your progress.” The warmth drains from Brian’s expression. His voice sharpens. “Then what am I doing this for?” A standoff. A battle of wills. Dr. Petrie makes the wrong choice; he threatens to send Brian back to the institution. He doesn’t live to regret it. The Hunt Begins Captain Spencer speeds down the interstate, unaware that Dexter is tailing him like a predator stalking prey. He tails him all the way to a boat. Once inside I wonder who is actually the predator versus the prey. Did Spencer lead Dexter into a trap? Meanwhile, at the hospital, Bobby’s wife sifts through photos beside her unconscious husband as Deb and Harry visit, offering quiet support. In an episode filled with brutality, this moment of human connection is a rare flicker of warmth. The team had really rallied around Bobby. It is nice to see the bonds that can be created in the workforce. LaGuerta arrives. Her tone is sharp and urgent. She needs Harry; he tries to back out of it, but it is imperative to the case they have been working on.  Out in the hallway, she tells him that a body has been found. Harry hesitates—until he hears the details. The victim is Barbara. Dismembered. With a chainsaw. Harry goes white. His thoughts immediately drift to one person, Brian. When questioned on whether the victim’s name rings a bell, he remains stoic, calculating, and utterly shaken. He lies, saying that he doesn’t. A Deadly Game of Choices Spencer leads Dexter to a boat half a mile from the station. Its dim lights flicker, and reflections dance eerily on the water. At the same time, Harry spots Brian watching from the rooftop and gives chase. Inside the boat, chaos erupts. Spencer is ruthless, shooting at Dexter and hitting him with a fire extinguisher. They fight, Dexter is down and we see that Spencer’s focus isn’t on Dexter; it isn’t a trap. He is on a mission, and that mission is Nicky. He runs down in the hull where Nicky is chained; he opens the portal, allowing water to rush in. Dexter tries talking him out of it. The captain hears none of it, so he gives Dexter a choice. A choice that means he would have to control his urges and choose humanity or give in to them, becoming more monster than human; "Save the kid… or come after me." Humanity wins, and Dexter pulls Nicky to safety, but the second the boy is secure, the hunt resumes. The killer within Dexter reawakens. Spencer won’t escape this time, but did he really escape before, or was it part of Dex’s plan so that he could save Nicky? The Final Confrontations At the crime scene, Brian waits on the roof. He stalks his own crime scenes, hoping to draw out Dexter. However, it isn’t Dexter who finds him—it’s Harry. Harry’s hands are steady with his gun drawn, but his eyes reveal his turmoil. Brian’s victims weren’t random. They were his tormentors and the people who failed him. This leads me to wonder, did Harry really die by suicide? That is something that could be explored in later seasons. Brian’s victims weren’t just revenge. They were a message to Dexter. A trail of blood, leading him home. Brian’s voice drips with venom. He lays into Harry about his mistakes, beginning with sleeping with his mother. Forcing her to get deeper into the cartel.  He tells Harry that he isn’t honest, he’s never told Dexter the truth. Harry remains firm. "I couldn’t save you. But I could save Dexter." Harry feels that Brian doesn’t have to like him, but he should be grateful that he gave Dex a better life. Brian laughs, but it’s empty. He challenges Harry; he isn’t going to prison, so Harry will have to kill him. The Final Kill Spencer flees to his ex-wife’s house, seething and frothing at the mouth like a rabid animal. Nicky isn’t his son; his ex never told him the truth, allowing him to raise Nicky as his own. She must pay for her crimes.  Her husband tumbles down a flight of stairs, and she narrowly escapes into the bathroom, locking herself inside. Spencer bangs on the door, he’s completely gone, and then Dexter arrives, syringe in hand. This time, there’s no plastic wrap. No elaborate setup. Just Dex and Spencer on Dex’s boat. Dexter taunts him that those he tried to kill that night are alive and will be a happy family. Spencer tells him that he doesn’t know all the ways in which Harry failed him. It seems that Harry didn’t want to believe the truth about Spencer partly because Spencer knew his secrets. Dexter is unfazed; he has an unshakeable faith in Harry despite Harry enabling him. Spencer spits his last words. "Get it over with." The knife comes down; parts get put into plastic garbage bags and thrown to the gators. The Aftermath Just when I thought I could not lose more respect for Harry, I did. What he says to Dexter is downright appalling. It is sick; one has to wonder how damaged his own psyche is. I will leave that scene and its interpretations to you. Still, it is another pivotal moment in the series with far-reaching implications that span the entire Dexter universe. Sofia and Deb make up. At the station, LaGuerta overhears a damning conversation. Suspicion darkens her features. Dexter is no longer an intern but a full-time employee. Deb is accepted into the academy. And Brian Moser? He watches through the window as the Morgans celebrate their achievements. This is a chilling moment that highlights how his protectiveness turned into obsession. I hope this is explored more in the coming seasons. Final Verdict: A Perfect End to Season One This episode delivers a masterclass in tension and psychological horror. Roby Attal’s portrayal of Brian Moser is chillingly brilliant, bringing new depth to an already fascinating character. A 10/10 finale that cements Dexter: Original Sin  as a must-watch. Rating: ★★★★★