Since 2023, fans have been waiting to “pour it out” and dish about Season 4 of Netflix’s charming series Sweet Magnolias.  Episode 1, titled “The Other Side of the Veil,” starts off with a Halloween time jump a year after Dana Sue and Ronnie’s wedding, where everyone’s favorite trio, Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen are trying to figure out what to toast to, revealing that Sullivan’s is rebranding, Maddie’s book tour is a huge success, and Maddie is engaged to her handsome guy, Cal.  At the gathering, Helen and Erik’s chemistry is still as palpable as ever, but Erik is with Genevieve, and Helen has a new man of her own, Alexander. Alex is an architect from Nashville who worked on the renovation for Sullivan’s and Friends.  At Maddie’s house, the lingering feelings between Ty and Annie become apparent as Annie takes photos of Kyle and his friends for their stream, with Ty implying that Annie is even more perfect than the photos she’s taken.  Later, Mayor Peggy Martin visits Helen at her house, bringing milkshakes to win her over before asking her to become the new town manager, but Helen declines the offer, instead suggesting she can help in another capacity.  Maddie hosts a library reading with her book for the children of Serenity, but she soon gets bad news from Carla that Saturday readings might be cut due to budget cuts.  During a romantic walk, Ronnie senses that Dana Sue wasn’t as thrilled as she pretended to be at the Sullivan’s and Friends tasting. She opens up to her husband that she feels she may be deserting her friends who work with her at the restaurant. She also expresses her nervousness yet excitement about her new job as a teacher.  The sweetest surprise revealed is that Jodi Benson, the one and only, now plays Cal’s mom, Iris Maddox. She is a fantastic addition to the show. Also, while decorating for Halloween, Helen confirms to Maddie that the library is indeed in trouble.  Before Dana Sue begins her first day as the new cooking teacher for the vo-tech program, Ronnie confirms to Cal, Erik and Isaac that Dana Sue loved the meal at Sullivan’s and Friends, and that she’s simply going to miss them all.  The season 4 premiere concludes with a lively Halloween party at the spa, featuring line dancing and a long-awaited love confession from Ty to Annie, which leads to their first kiss. It’s going to be great to see these crazy kids in their couple era.  The Halloween bash would also facilitate a cliffhanger: Maddie and Cal’s surprise wedding, a trick and treat all wrapped into one. The start of season 4 is off to a great start. What will happen in the future for the beloved citizens of Serenity? You’ll have to see for yourself.

This episode has Alan Ruck of “Succession” and Ethan Herschenfeld of “Manifest, Blue Bloods” appearing.  It begins with Bill Hepson telling his twin brother he’s resigning from their firm, Hepson Capital. He was shaken after his private jet almost crashed, and it changed him. He was giving away all his material things.  Peter is in disbelief.  He tells his brother he won’t last a week, and practices his golf swing in his office.  Later, Peter Hepson is being interviewed on a Financial News Show, and he tells Ava Mornier about his brother, Bill, retiring.  He didn’t want to discuss his brother.  She shows a photo of his brother on a city bus, and tells him he also donated money to help others. Peter gets upset and leaves.  Peter meets a man on the street who mistakes him for his brother Bill.  He thanks him for a shelter he built there in town.  Pete tells him to “Buzz off!”.  His angry attitude continues when he has a bad golf game with office friends.   They tell him the latest thing his brother did.  The next day, Pete is dressed like his brother, and enters the apartment building where he lived.  He goes to see him and they fight in the hallway.  Peter pushes Bill out the hallway window.  All the while he continues on a business call.  He takes his brother's wallet and returns to the office to play golf. Meanwhile, Elsbeth is in a van talking about the big Van Ness divorce case she was on, while Officer Blanke sat in the front seat with headphones on.  That way Elsbeth didn’t violate the attorney-client privilege.  Blanke tells her she should be able to defend herself, since someone in that previous case hid her client’s abuse police report. They broke the law.  Detective Smullen interrupts them and asks them to come in and help with the murder investigation.   Officer Blanke promises Elsbeth she won’t say a word about what she told her.They go see Bill Hepson’s body, and Elsbeth looks around doing her investigative thing.  Smullen gives them a background on Bill.  Officer Blanke shows them a ten dollar bill that was stuck to the body.  It is a little strange, and Smullen pulls one from his wallet to compare.  At that moment, Pete Hepson drives up and angrily pushes his way into the crime scene area.  He yells and asks who’s in charge.  Detective Smullen addresses his irate attitude.  Elsbeth and Officer Blanke observe and remark on his terrible temper.  Officer Blanke goes to talk with him, while Elsbeth goes to the nearby donut vendor, Duncan’s Donuts. She tells him about Bill’s death, and Duncan (played by Ethan Herschenfeld) knows him and tells her what a nice guy Bill was.  He always talked to him, but that morning he didn’t, and acted like he didn’t know him and seemed very angry yelling into his cell phone.  Elsbeth watches Pete Hepson yelling into his cell nearby.  Smullen and Officer Blanke come to tell her about a potential suspect.   Detective Smullen updates CPT Wagner on the Bill Hepsen murder in his office.  He thinks the suspect lived in the area, and may have robbed him.  Elsbeth is sitting in the office, but doesn’t believe the theory.  She’s reading a book on the Hepson Brothers.  She found it odd that Bill’s tv was on.  So, she questions when the killer killed Bill.  She’s curious about the brothers’ relationship.  She suddenly leaves when she sees her old lawyer friend, Carter, go to her office.  He tells her Van Ness is in town.  The firm is accusing her of burying the abuse police report. She could lose her job.   Officer Blanke comes in to tell Elsbeth Detective Smullen wants them to visit the brother, Pete Hepson, while Smullen talks to the suspect.  She notices Elsbeth’s not listening and asks what’s wrong.  Elsbeth tells her what just happened with Carter, while they wait to speak with Pete.  Pete takes them to the conference room.  Smullen contacts Officer Blanke that the suspect had an alibi.  Elsbeth asks Pete why anyone would want to kill his brother.  He tells her about himself and his brother, and how they got rich.  Elsbeth asked about the dollar bills in a case on the wall.  It was from the Grant administration.  He said his brother collected rare paper currency.  Elsbeth asked about Bill’s transformation, and shared her experience with a twin.  She told him about the donut cart vendor and that he might have seen him there.  Peter says he didn’t spend time at Bill’s place. Officer Blanke tells Peter his brother’s time of death, and asks him for his whereabouts.  She has more questions, but he rushes out and tells her to leave them with his assistant.    In CPT Wagner’s office, Smullen tells everyone that the neighborhood loved Bill, and no one would harm him.  If they did, the neighborhood people would turn them in.  Elsbeth suggests it could have been his brother.   CPT Wagner says Peter’s alibi is Ava Mornier, Financial News.  He was on tv giving her a live interview.  They find another possible suspect, Conrad Deckels, Telnon Technology.  Elsbeth’s in investigative mode, and asks if Peter was really on live tv, or was the episode pre-recorded.  They go to talk with Ava.  Elsbeth questions Peter’s manipulation of the market or activist adventure.  Back at the station, Smullen interrogates Conrad.  Officer Blanke tells Elsbeth Carter issued the press release, and LT Connor says it doesn’t look good.  She volunteers to resign, but CPT Wagner stops her.  Elsbeth reviews Peter Hepson’s interview with Ava in her office. Officer Blanke offers to help her with the Van Ness case problem, but Elsbeth tells her no.  She pivots back to Bill Hepson’s murder, and tells Officer Blanke she’s been watching Peter’s interviews with Ava.  She tells her what she found out. She theorizes that he may be guilty.  She walks into Peter’s office and asks him about his alibi.  She thinks he took his brother’s life change personally.  Elsbeth goes to the office poker game and announces Peter wasn’t in his office, but called Ava when Bill died.  CPT Wagner and LT Connor want to brainstorm to help Elsbeth with her Van Ness case problem.  Elsbeth asks Detective Smullen to meet her at the crime scene, and she recreates what may have happened with Bill and his murderer.  Officer Blanke is there, too, and has figured out the motive.   It has to do with Virtual Private Network (VPN). Hepson Capital invested in the company.  They explain how it worked, and how Peter murdered his brother.Ava and Pete are having dinner at a restaurant, and the waiter mistakes him for his brother Bill.  Ava tells him the police came to review her metadata on his interview.  She unsuccessfully tries to blackmail him.  He doesn’t give in, and threatens her.  Elsbeth comes to speak with Ava after he leaves.  She asks her why Bill’s death affected the cost of cobalt. Ava explains the price spike. Ava showed Elsbeth the money Peter left to pay for his half of the meal.  Elsbeth took the $5 bill as evidence.Peter and his company celebrate acquiring Telnon Technology.  Hepson’s stock prices soar, then suffer a sudden drastic drop in price.  Ava texts his assistant about a heavy law enforcement presence outside her office. Detective Smullen, Elsbeth and Officer Blanke enter Peter’s office to arrest him.  Elsbeth proves why and shows him the $5 bill he left Ava. Bill collected rare bills, and that was one of his.  Peter resented his brother for the attention he always got from their mother, and everyone.  He taunts Elsbeth as he’s taken away.Elsbeth goes to meet Van Ness to discuss his old divorce case and police report.  He threatens her.  Hearing it all, Officer Blanke walks over to arrest him for menacing and threatening Elsbeth.  She’s no longer bound by attorney-client privilege and can now defend herself.  Carter gives her an approving look.  Van Ness goes down.  LT Connor gives Elsbeth a nod of approval at the station.  Officer Blanke reminds Elsbeth she has more work to do, which includes taking down Judge Milton Crawford.This episode is quite good!  It had lots of twists and turns with interesting mini-plots.   There were times when I thought Elsbeth wasn’t going to get Pete, but of course she figured it out with the help of her partners Blanke and Smullen.  Loved how they also showed the closeness and camaraderie of the police station team.  Alan Ruck played the duo roles perfectly!  Could really believe there were two brothers.  Ethan Herschenfeld actually made you want to buy a donut, a real believable character! Elsbeth’s donut looked yummy!  This was one of the best episodes this half of the season. Funny Side Note :  Elsbeth was carrying an awful lot of bags, don’t have a clue why!

Matlock  Season 1, Episode 10, titled "Crash Helmets On,"  was an absolute rollercoaster from start to finish. The episode starts with Olympia diving into a wrongful death lawsuit at a nursing home, a case that quickly gets complicated. Madeline, ever the pro, goes undercover to investigate the death of a resident, tricking the man’s girlfriend into spilling the beans. It’s a clever move, and you can’t help but admire Madeline’s ability to manipulate a situation in her favor, even when the stakes are high. But the episode doesn’t just focus on the case; it also sheds some light on Madeline’s growing relationship with Sarah, as the two bond over a personal story about Sarah’s adoptive grandmother. This was a moment I wasn’t expecting, and it gave Sarah a chance to show a lighter, more human side that we haven’t seen much of. Then, Madeline shifts the spotlight to Sarah, picking her to lead a case involving Autry Tucker—a character we first met earlier this season. Autry, an elderly man, is being evicted from his apartment, and the case is a perfect way for Sarah and Billy to get some trial experience. I was pretty excited for Sarah to get a chance to step up, but things quickly go off track. Madeline, in a move that feels a bit cold, ends up making an enemy out of Sarah when she has to hand over the first chair position to Billy after he catches Madeline trying to retrieve the recording pen she’d planted. This moment hit hard. It’s obvious Madeline’s decision was to keep things clean, and in true Matlock  fashion, she managed to switch out the pens so nothing could be traced back to her. But, man, the fallout from this little move was huge. Billy does an amazing job at trial, and it’s clear he’s learning fast, but the real drama unfolds after the case. Now Sarah is furious, and her grudge against Madeline changes the whole dynamic between the three of them. Sarah is no longer just a rookie trying to impress Olympia—she’s out for blood, and I can already sense this rivalry brewing even more. Pictured (L-R): Leah Lewis as “Sarah Franklin”. Photo: Erik Voake/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. On top of all this, there’s Madeline’s ongoing manipulation of Olympia. Madeline keeps feeding her the idea of going after Julian, even suggesting that Julian might have left the recording pen in Olympia’s office. This is a setup of course—Madeline is just too calculated sometimes. Sure enough, Olympia plans to order a forensic accounting of Julian’s accounts, giving Madeline the chance to confirm that it was indeed Julian who hid the documents. I was really rooting for Julian and Olympia to make it work, but now I’m starting to question everything. We barely see Julian in this episode or the series for that matter, and Olympia seems more interested in fixing things with Elijah than getting back on track with Julian. Is she using him? Or is there more going on behind the scenes? Is Olympia really the one behind the missing documents? The episode also touches on a deeper, more emotional theme: the inevitability of death. With Madeline being elderly and having to face her own mortality, she starts to think about who will look after Alfie. Madeline wants to look for Alife's father but Edwin isn't sure that is a good idea. It was a poignant moment that added a layer of emotional weight to the otherwise tense and dramatic casework. All in all, Crash Helmets On  was a solid episode, but it left me with a lot of questions. I’m starting to doubt whether Julian is really the one hiding the documents, and if Olympia is behind it all, it’s going to be a huge blow to Madeline. Their friendship has been growing, but is it built on a lie so are they really friends? The shifting dynamics between these characters are getting more and more complex, and I can’t wait to see where it all leads. Rating: ★★★★

Tuesday’s all new episode of The Rookie  brought one of the most frustrating storylines to an end (I hope) and we all cheered. Bailey’s ex-husband, Jason, is assumed to be headed out of LA, but it turns out he’s been in LA the entire time. He’s been waiting for his chance to get back at Bailey.  At one of her calls, Bailey finds out that Jason never left and is still a threat to her life. As this news unfolds, Jason comes speeding down the street and, without hesitation, hits Bailey. He then attempts to kidnap her, but of course, I mean, luckily, Bailey manages to thwart his plans. I will say, I commend Bailey on her bravery. There was a time where Jason made her fear living life, but even with her life in danger, she continued to stay in her power, letting him know she’s not afraid of him anymore.  I do wish that she opened up to Nolan about being in contact with Malvado though. When Jason is cornered by LAPD, he warns them that Malvado is after him and he needs protection. Of course they don’t believe him and Malvado uses this opportunity and takes him out. Jason problem solved. Later at the hospital Nolan finds Bailey’s burner phone and sees that she’s been in contact with Malvado and alerts him to Jason’s assumed whereabouts. As a cop, Nolan has no choice but to turn her in now right? Right? Lucy is still having trouble shaking the fact that Seth isn’t being completely honest. She goes to his old school to get some intel on his past, hoping a school counselor could help put the puzzle pieces together. She doesn’t like what she learned and gave Seth another chance to tell her the truth and he finally does. Lying helps him get out of situations rather than dealing with consequences – kinda the wrong profession to be in for that, Seth.  We’ll circle back to Lucy and Seth in a bit, but let’s talk about Lucy’s win of the episode. The victim that Nyla and Angela helped did not survive the attack from the second serial killer, leaving Nyla as his only surviving victim and the only witness to possibly ID him. Here’s the thing, Nyla didn’t get a clear look at him and this man has contaminated every crime scene, making a positive ID nearly impossible. Back to how Lucy scores a win here – she gives Nyla something to work with after reviewing Antoinette’s autopsy reports: the serial killer’s first victim. Upon further investigation, Lucy concludes that a man named Liam Glasser may be involved.  Grey suggests they check Liam out, but Nyla doesn’t want to alarm him – Lucy (for another win) comes up with a plan to get him to the station without knowing he’s a potential suspect. Knowing that Liam runs a vending machine company, Lucy’s idea is to have him come in under the guise of potential business. This gives Nyla the chance to confirm whether or not he’s who attacked her in the basement.  (Disney/Mike Taing) JENNA DEWAN, NATHAN FILLION There isn’t enough substantial evidence, but there’s no doubt in Nyla’s mind that Liam is the second serial killer. Now it’s time to play the long game with him. I hope that letting him know that there will be eyes on him at all times is how they plan on ending this storyline. I’m looking forward to the continuation of this bit.  Circling back to Seth and his many stories – Lucy confides in Tim that she’s thinking of kicking Seth out of the FTO program and wants his input. He basically tells her to do what she thinks is the right move. As she’s walking to Grey’s office to tell him that Seth needs to be bounced, Seth is already there, having had a conversation with him. Now, I thought that Seth was going to share with the class that he’s deciding to leave on his own, but no. He says that his cancer is back, but the doctors caught it early and that he’s able to manage that while still being able to work. Lucy agreed to continue training him. I don’t want to say that he is lying, but man, Seth it is so hard to root for you right now. Is he telling the truth or is this desperation to stay in the FTO program when he knows he’s not cutting it? What’d you think of The Rookie ’s new episode “Till Death”? Let me know!

This episode opens with a bloodied man in a bathtub.  Will Trent’s name is scrawled on the side of the tub.  It looks like a room in Faith's new condo. Faith is finishing moving in.  Her Mom, Evelyn Mitchell, comes to visit.  She needs to stay because of a health issue. She lets her stay, bringing all her passive aggressive remarks and attitude, frustrating Faith. She’ll be there for two weeks.  Faith wants to set boundaries, but has to go to class later. Faith’s at the GBI Office venting to Will and Amanda about her Mom.  Faith tries to talk Amanda into letting her stay with her, and do old lady things together.  Amanda refuses.  Will says don't even ask him.  At that moment, Faith gets an urgent call from her Mom.  Rushing home, she finds out the emergency is that Evelyn discovered something odd happened at a neighbor’s place.  It has to do with his cat.  Faith doesn't think that's an emergency, and they argue.  Faith leaves for her dance class.   (Disney/Wilford Harewood) IANTHA RICHARDSON, RAMÓN RODRÍGUEZ Evelyn sees something happening at the neighbor’s place and calls 911.  Faith comes home and sees the police there.  She rushes in to see if her Mom is all right.  The place looks like someone broke in.  Faith is upset and takes her anger out on the investigating cops.  Will gets her to help him look for clues and focus on her Mom's possible actions.   Ormwood and Angie go to the condo rental agency, and ask BJ for a list of condo residents banned from the building.  The building manager, Juanita, has a list of the addresses of those people, but she didn't come to work.  She only lives in one of the condos.  Angie and Ormwood go check the unit, but no one's there.  They think that's the unit Evelyn was spying on. Will and Faith go talk to one of the residents banned from the building, Stacy Cole.  He runs when they tell him who they are.   Evelyn wakes in a dark room and sees another person there.  They are both handcuffed and unable to move.  Evelyn is hallucinating and sees Faith.  Two men come in and talk to the lady asking why she didn't warn them that they were breaking into a cop’s house.  Evelyn surmises that Juanita has what they want, but won't give it to them. Back at the GBI, Faith talks to Stacy Cole, and asks him what the two kidnappers want.  He won't tell her anything.  Will called an ambulance for Faith because she passed out from low blood sugar.  Amanda is threatening to have an EMT follow Faith around to make sure she's all right.  Later, Will, Amanda and Faith figure out what the two guys want.  It's something to do with antique coins.   Evelyn is trying to escape but can't.  She's hallucinating and thinks Faith is there.  She sees a tape of the guy dying in the bathtub at Faith's condo.   After Faith and Will return to the GBI, Angie tells them about the owner at the antique coin store.  They go to see him, and get him to contact the buyer about the upside down lion coin.   Faith interrogates the buyer, Scotty.  She tells him he kidnapped her Mom.  Faith threatens him, and he tells her where they took Evelyn. Evelyn comes up with a way to escape.  She talks Juanita into trying to slip the cuffs off.  She’s successful, but Evelyn can't get hers off before the kidnapper, Grant, returns.  Evelyn injects him with insulin and he passes out.  Juanita leaves Evelyn.  Faith and Will get the location of Evelyn from Scotty and race to save her. Faith's remembering past times her Mom was there to help her.  One poignant one was when she was giving birth.  Meanwhile, Grant wakes and starts beating Evelyn.  She fights hard.  Faith, Will and the police find where Evelyn’s held.  Faith bursts in and pulls Grant off her Mom.   A relieved Amanda goes to visit Evelyn at the hospital.  She gives her an update on Juanita.  Amanda tells her friend she’s taking her rock climbing to help her get healthy.  She can't lose her friend.  Faith sits in the hall talking to Will about not listening to her Mom, and almost losing her.  Will gives Faith Betty to hold and comfort her.  She thanks him. At the police station, Angie talks to Ormwood and asks how he's doing.  He's having money problems because of his divorce.  She says she's there to listen when he wants to talk, as he leaves.  A woman comes to see Angie.  Ms. Lamb.  She's with the DOC and John Shelly’s parole officer.  She asks if Angie can be his reference for a job.  She refuses. Back at home, Faith and her Mom relax and talk about all their issues.  They forgive each other for the anger and hurt they caused each other.  Evelyn apologizes.  She tells Faith to take her dance classes because she knows she'll be great.  This episode had some tough scenes.  It was still Fantastic.  Betty was cutely adorable, and an official heartwarming treasure.  Will Trent episodes continue surprising and intriguing!

The episode starts with Poppa scoring tickets to a Mets game and extending the invite to Junior. But Junior has other plans—he and Nina are catching up with an old buddy in town. He casually suggests Poppa take a friend instead. The problem is that Poppa only had one real friend, Leon, who passed away in a previous episode. That leaves him scrambling to remember the name of a guy he once had great chemistry with… but whose name completely escapes him. Later, Poppa runs the idea by Ivy, telling her he plans to track the guy down and see if they click. Understanding the feeling, Ivy shares how most of her friends ditched her once they married. Poppa wants to see if the friendship is worth exploring, so he sets off to reconnect. After their podcast, he heads to the guy’s workplace, and, in a hilarious elevator moment, the mystery man is revealed—played by Tommy Davidson ! A nostalgic nod to In Living Color , and their comedic timing still works like a charm. Poppa asks if he wants to hang out, and while the guy—still a bit awkward—is hesitant, he eventually agrees. Meanwhile, over at Junior and Nina’s place, Junior’s old film school buddy, Preston, makes an appearance. Nina immediately calls him by his government name—Todd—which sets the tone for their playful back-and-forth. Another fun reference: Damon Wayans Jr. previously starred in New Girl , and his friend is played by Lamorne Morris who also starred in New Girl. Preston hands Junior a script he once passed on, Loud Place —essentially a Black version of A Quiet Place . It is the sequel to the movie. They act out a scene, which quickly reveals itself to be an indirect jab at Nina (whom Preston clearly can’t stand). The script is awful , but oddly enough, Junior seems intrigued despite the shade thrown at his family. Back at Poppa’s, things with his new-old friend are… painfully awkward. Their dynamic just isn’t clicking. That is until Poppa notices the guy’s class ring and realizes they went to the same high school. Just like that, the energy shifts—they find common ground, and Jarnold (yes, Jarnold) finally starts to warm up. His friends call him Jarny, but Poppa? He hasn’t earned that privilege yet. For now, he’s stuck with “J.” Their newly rekindled friendship takes an unexpected turn when they end up in a closet, then an even tighter  crawl space, more awkwardness ensures and we can tell that the friendship will not work out. Meanwhile, Preston and Junior have a heart-to-heart. Preston bluntly tells Junior that he’s given up on his dreams, trading ambition for what he sees as baggage. He extends an offer—a directing gig in L.A., starting next week. It’s the kind of opportunity that once would have been a no-brainer. But Junior doesn’t bite. Instead, he stands his ground, choosing his family over an uncertain future. He tells Preston that while he may have a flashy career, he doesn’t have a home —real happiness. Poppa overhears and is quietly proud. As for the Mets game? Poppa bails on Jarnold, and Junior—feeling guilty—turns it down to make things right with Nina. That leaves Poppa taking Ivy, as expected. No shocker here: they end up on the Kiss Cam. But instead of going in for the smooch, Ivy chugs her beer in pure Ivy fashion. Unfortunately, this episode doesn’t quite hit the usual sweet spot. While there are a few heartfelt moments, they don’t pack the same emotional punch that normally saves a weak script. Overall, this one’s a D—the show just hasn't managed to bring on the laughs.

The episode picks up right where last week’s shocking reveal left off—the child killer and Nikky’s kidnapper have been unmasked. If you haven’t seen the previous episode, consider this your spoiler warning. We open with a gloved hand, crushing pills into a water bottle. Moments later, poor Nikky, starving and desperate, gulps down the tainted drink, oblivious to the danger. The kidnapper returns, and in his drugged haze, Nikky instinctively calls him "Dad." The camera pans up to reveal the culprit—Captain Spencer. Just like that, Dexter’s suspicions are confirmed. Meanwhile, Deb is nowhere to be found at the Morgan household. Dexter casually mentions that she’s with Gio, prompting an immediate reaction from Harry. Harry orders Dexter to find her once he learns that Gio is far too old for Deb. But Dexter has other things on his mind—namely, his mounting suspicions about Captain Spencer. Harry shuts him down, accusing Dexter of letting his dark passenger cloud his judgment, twisting facts to justify his cravings. He knows the captain personally and was just at Nikky’s confirmation. It is absurd to Harry that Dexter would even suspect Spencer.  Elsewhere, Deb is tangled up in Gio’s satin sheets, pretending to be the adult she’s not. Gio is headed on a "business trip," and when Deb confesses that she was suspended from school, he barely reacts. Instead, he offers to take her along. This grown man is perfectly fine dating a teenage high schooler—where are the cops when you need them? Dexter swings by the high school, looking for answers. While we’re on the subject, let's not forget that Dexter himself, though younger than Gio, was also dating a high schooler. He checks in with Sofia, concerned about Deb’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Harry picks up LaGuerta, giving us a glimpse of Miguel Prado, a nostalgic callback for fans of the original series. Over their conversation, Harry vents about Deb’s situation. At 17, she might legally be able to date a 25-year-old in certain states, but it’s still creepy. LaGuerta reminisces about her rebellious days, assuring Harry that no matter how far she strayed, she always found her way home. The flashbacks continue, though one glaring omission remains: Dexter’s brother, Bryan. He’s an essential part of the Dexter  story, yet these sequences rarely acknowledge him. Hopefully, that changes next season. In another memory, Harry reassures Laura, but she tells him she can’t keep holding on. His attachment to Dexter seems deeply rooted in the loss of his son. Unbeknownst to them, the cartel is watching, and just like that, Laura’s cover is blown. At the station, Captain Spencer puts on a convincing performance, but Dexter isn’t buying it. Still, to appease Harry, he shifts his focus to finding Deb. Spencer, sensing Dexter’s growing suspicions, attempts to bury him in cold cases. It’s a weak distraction—Dexter already found blood evidence that could crack the kidnapping case wide open. Intrigued, he starts tailing the captain, but in the process, he begins questioning his own instincts. While Dexter hunts for answers, Deb lives it up on Gio’s yacht, sipping champagne like she’s in an MTV  special. But as Dexter’s pursuit intensifies, Harry drops an urgent 911  text. Dexter reports that Sofia told him Deb did not want to be found. However, he sees the captain acting suspiciously, but Harry explodes, refusing to hear it. Another flashback brings us back to Laura. Cartel members storm into her home, and before we can process the implications, we’re abruptly back to Gio’s lavish lifestyle. He introduces Deb to his friends, and suddenly, his "business trip" looks less like corporate travel and more like international crime. As Rico Suave  plays in the background, Deb stumbles upon drugs, partying, and a shady exchange while going to get water. She spots crates being loaded onto Gio’s boat. It doesn’t take a detective to realize what’s going on—Gio isn’t just dating high schoolers, he’s drug trafficking. Meanwhile, Dexter tracks down Gio’s house and meets his adult fiancé . Yes, fiancé—because, of course, this guy is engaged while parading Deb around like a trophy. Back at the station, Harry and LaGuerta’s case leads them to a box of files. As Harry sifts through them, he is horrified. One of the files contains records on Laura, and he’s identified as her lover. Just as LaGuerta reenters the room, Harry discreetly swipes the file. He flashes back to the day of Laura’s murder, arriving at her home only to find it eerily empty. Laura and the children have been taken. Cut to them crammed into a boxcar with other cartel victims, sealing her tragic fate. Deb’s fantasy with Gio crumbles fast. She snoops around his yacht, discovering things she shouldn’t, and when he catches her, he doesn’t bother with pleasantries—he kicks her off the boat, leaving her stranded on a dark beach alone. Lucky for her, Dexter finds her in time. Still rattled, she chucks the diamond bracelet Gio gave her into the ocean, only to immediately regret it because, as she laments, she could’ve pawned it. They return home, and Deb, in true Deb fashion, decides the best way to recover from a near-death experience is to order pizza. But Dexter’s not done for the night—duty calls, leaving Deb alone with her terrible choices and regret. The episode closes with a SWAT raid on a suspected cartel hideout where they believe Nikky is being held. Dexter is now convinced he was wrong about the captain and watches as the team moves in. But the audience knows better. The house is empty—no Nikky, no traffickers. They find only his jersey, a chilling reminder that the boy is still missing. Before the dust settles, a shootout erupts, possibly costing Detective Bobby his life. As Dexter watches Captain Spencer closely, reality clicks into place. He wasn’t wrong. The darkness he’s always sought—the thing that he can see in the killers he hunts—he sees it now. He sees it in the captain.  Another gripping episode that lays the groundwork for Bryan Moser’s storyline—whose file Harry now has. It’ll be fascinating to see how that thread unfolds next season. Ten out of ten.

Title:  Spring Awakening (ARC) Author: J.S Jasper Genre:   Sports Romance Rating: Loved Spice: Flamin Hot Cheeto  Synopsis: Mali has just landed her dream job with a Rugby team, she and her family have been supporting for years. Now she has to work side by side with her grumpy Rugby playing crush.  Zach is the black sheep of the Titans rugby club and not just because he’s a black bi man. He’s never been good with words and last year his words caused his current team to hate him. Now there’s a new beautiful bird working in the office this season. Will he be able to find the words needed to get her attention, and keep it?  Thoughts:  This book has some of the most mushy, heart-warming, cute and quirky banter, and I am HERE FOR IT! These two awkward babes are just the cutest.  The way they both truly grow to care for the other is so sweet and really beautiful. Mali really wants what's best for Zach, his family and his career. Zach just wants to see her happy.  The ease with which they integrate themselves in one another's lives and families, gives me all the ‘warm and fuzzies’. However, Mali’s father Mosi steals the show with his child-like giddiness and fanboying of Zach and the rest of the Titans team. He had some of the funniest scenes, he truly is a gem.  I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a sweet and slightly spicy love story featuring grumpy/sunshine vibes between roommates and black queer rep.   Quotes:  Twenty-six is basically still a fetus. -Mali “I’m a fucking delight, after all.” -Zach Rugby is some of the most homoerotic shit she’s ever seen. -Mali “I’m so tired of playing acoustic pussy.”  -Mali Spring Awakening comes out February 2nd, 2025 **************                                                                                       @booksteantravel Rating: LOVED= 5 Stars. A new fav. Will be talking about every chance I get.  ENJOYED= 4-3 Stars.  It wasn’t a life changer but I would recommend.  0-2 Stars/ DNF= I will not post a review about a book I didn’t enjoy or did not finish. Good vibes only. I support anyone who’s brave enough to create their own work and put it out into the world for others.  Spice:  Puffy Cheeto- No Spice.  Crunchy Cheeto- Closed Door/Fade to Black Flamin Hot Cheeto- Spicy. A few detailed scenes.  Takis- Erotica. With more mature themes.

Elsbeth’s Back!  This episode opens in a relaxing spa, Heiwa Zen (Peaceful Peace) Center, that helps celebrities detox, and heal other physical and emotional problems.  It’s run by Tom Murphy (played by Eric McCormick). One of the patients, Billy/Cole Campbell, asks him for Madori, an extreme venom treatment.  It causes Cole to throw up and pass up.  He wakes and reveals he’s the younger brother of June Campbell, a former patient.  Cole’s reaction to the venom treatment causes his face to swell.  Tom calls it “Frog Face” and assures him it will go down in a few days.  Cole gets in his car that’s filled with junk food.  He scarfs down powdered donuts and drives off, to later crash into a road barrier on the offramp under a bridge and die.   Meanwhile, Elsbeth’s on her way to work and sees the latest paper plastering her last case and her face, the Van Ness Divorce Case, all over the front page, stating there was a cover up.  Everyone in the station is reading the story.  Officer Blanke asks Elsbeth if she was a part of covering up the wife’s abuse claims.  Elsbeth can’t tell her anything due to attorney-client privilege.  CPT Wagner walks into her office also reading the story.  He asked why the judge unsealed the court papers.  Elsbeth suggests that a certain judge may have done it.  CPT Wagner wants her to keep him informed.  He sends her and Officer Blanke out to help Detective Smullen investigate Cole’s ‘accidental’ death.   At the murder scene, Elsbeth notices Cole’s excessively puffy face.  Smullen says it might be an allergic reaction.  They look in his car and she sorts through the junk food.  She also found his unused epinephrine pen in his bag.  They go to the Zen Center to find answers about Cole and the accident.  At that time, Tom is conducting a screaming session, and Cheryl, Billy’s journey partner, asks where Billy is.  Tom deflects and asks them to send Billy some positive energy.     Elsbeth, Blanke and Smullen get to the Zen Center and are overwhelmed with the stuff available and the treatment prices.  They ask Starlight, the receptionist, about Cole Campbell.  She doesn’t recognize the name but does know him by Billy, Cheryl’s journey partner.  Tom appears out of nowhere  and begins massaging Elsbeth’s shoulders.  He creepily analyzes their auras.  He tells them about June Campbell, Cole’s sister, and her death.  He explains why Cole was there, and that he left.   They tell him Cole’s dead.  Tom asks them to leave while he contacts Cole’s parents. Outside, Elsbeth is curious about Tom knowing Billy’s real name.  They ruminate about Cole, June and Tom’s relationship.  Officer Blanke asks Smullen if she can shadow him, since CPT Wagner told her she could learn a lot from him.  He’s impressed and allows it.  Elsbeth decides to check into the Zen Center.  Smullen makes sure she keeps in touch.   Elsbeth checks in and begins her first session.  She goes to sit with her journey partner, Cheryl.  Cheryl sings Tom’s praises and shows Elsbeth around.  They quickly become fun friends.  Cheryl tells her Elsbeth is more fun than Billy.  In the Truth Ball session, Elsbeth asks Tom how he knew Billy’s real name, angering him a little.  Later that night, Elsbeth tells Cheryl she’s there to investigate Billy’s death.  She also shares her personal problems, specifically her Van Ness case feelings.  Cheryl gives her good advice.  She tells her to ask Tom about Midori.  The same treatment Cole got.  Elsbeth goes to see Tom, but.he claims he knows nothing about it.   Officer Blanke and Detective Smullen talk with a former Zen patient at the station.  She tells them about the monkey tree frog that secretes a waxy substance when stressed.  Tom brought the practice of combo ceremony to the Zen Center which used that venom.  She tells them about June and how she got sick and died.  Tom performed the combo ceremony on her instead of taking her to the hospital.  Officer Blanke and Detective Smullen called Elsbeth and they figured out why Cole went to the Zen Center.   They work well together without Elsbeth.   Later, Elsbeth goes to the sauna and finds Tom there.  Elsbeth’s investigative skills go into action, she tells him about Cole’s parents and their settlement.  She also mentions monkey tree frog venom, and Cole’s puffy face.  Tom tells her Cole was the one who brought combo to the center and asked Tom to perform it on him.  He refused to do it, because he banned it after June’s death.  Tom tells her he loves her, and begins analyzing her again, making her very uncomfortable.   Elsbeth contacts Officer Blanke and Detective Smullen, they discuss the fact that Tom would be required to pay the Campbells another $2 Million if he administered the combo treatment again.  That’s why Cole was headed to the diagnostic lab after Tom performed the combo treatment on him.  Smullen stated lab results show combo was present in his system, but he died of anaphylactic shock.  Cole was deathly allergic to sesame oil. Elsbeth searches for the oil.   Smullen and Blanke bring their case findings to CPT Wagner and LT Connor.  He tells them to get Elsbeth out of there.  They call the center, but can’t talk with Elsbeth because she’s in radical unplugging and can’t be disturbed.  Meanwhile, Elsbeth continues her search which leads her to the closed-in garden where the Midori tree frog and butterflies are kept.  The temperature is kept at 104o F.  She collapses, and Starlight later finds and revives her.  Starlight tells her she needs to get the antidote administered by Tom with a hypodermic needle. Another question about Cole’s death answered.  Elsbeth interrupts Tom’s Truth Ball ceremony, and walks through what led to Cole’s death.  Officer Blanke and Detective Smullen arrive and fill in all the additional facts impressively.  They arrest Tom.  Elsbeth asks Officer Blanke for help, and agrees to tell her everything about her involvement in the Van Ness case.     CPT Wagner stops by a bar and talks with CPT Kershaw about Judge Crawford’s case, the Baseball Bat/Andy Murder case (Elsbeth’s jury duty case).  He suggests she reopen the case, after revealing a clue that was missed. Excellent episode and a great way for Elsbeth to return!  The performances were great, so in sync. I especially enjoyed seeing the Officer Blanke-Detective Smullen Team-Up. There was more LT Connor character development, too.  Eric McCormick was very good as a bad guy.  Looking forward to the next episode!

I need to lay down. Did that just happen?! In the middle of the season? Between the case of the week and the avalanche of reveals, FOUND was an emotionally packed episode bursting from beginning to end. Grab some Kleenex as we recap the episode [SPOILERS] At first, I thought Gina confronting Sir with a shotgun was the ultimate reveal. I was wrong. In the most unexpected way, Sir walked into M&A to see his beloved Gabrielle, who apparently knew he would come to her. And as a good host, she had a gift waiting for him – the police. Yes friends, Sir is officially captured.  Non-stop revelations unfold throughout this episode as we see unlikely but highly welcomed scenes connecting characters. The highlight for me was the face-off between Gina and Sir. That was not on my bingo card. And Gina, one of the best voices on the show, had a college level thesis paper ready for him. Along with her shotgun.  The level of excitement I had during this scene is indescribable. Gina had a trap ready for Sir and she caught him! Well prepared, Gina unloaded all the research she did on him. She wanted the man who recked her life know she studied him. And all she feels is pity. Though fiercely protective, Gina does not shoot Sir as he called her bluff. Instead, she hit the panic button, and he ran away, leaving behind a roll of duct tape.  The case of the week is a heart-felt, patch work story of fathers and sons. If you are familiar with Elijah McClain, you will see several notes interweaved in this important story. The writers did an extraordinary job layering the many emotional beats within this case. TJ, a neurodivergent, ran away to meet his long-lost brother, Max, who is unaware that he has a brother or that his adopted parents paid his biological father to stay away. Once Max’s father sees TJ, he sends him away and tells him not to come back. This leads to an unfortunate set of events where the police arrests TJ and send him to a group home. When the M&A team arrives at the home, TJ is no longer there, but they meet a sweet young boy name Jordan who became friends with TJ. As the team pools all the clues together, they find TJ buried in a punishment box behind the group home. A painful reminder of how cruel people can be to those who are a little different. It made my heart ache for all the lost TJs in the world. This case also showed the love of fathers for their children. So many healing hearts as everyone embraced each other and became an expanded family unit, including Jordan who now has a foster dad. This was a well done, thought-provoking case of the week filled with compassion and love. Back to the search for Sir. Surprisingly, an odd twist of events led to Gabi and Heather finally meeting. On her way to meet Trent, Heather said Christian drove up next to her and shot into her car. When Gabi meets her at the hospital for questioning, Heather realizes she is the one who broke Trent’s heart. Marking her territory, Heather says, “I’ll take good care of him.” Heather plans to stay for a while. I do wonder though if she is connected to Sir. Time will tell. In a flash back to young Bella and Gabi, I think the ultimate, sweetest surprise was learning how Bella got her new name, Lacey. From a book of names, Bella and Gabi choose Lacey which means cheerful. And as Gabi prepares to leave, we hear Lacey’s sweet voice say, “Thank you Gabi.” Pass the Kleenex!  As the episode closes, Gabi can move on with her life knowing that Sir is captured. That includes turning herself in to the police. As the M&A team process their new reality without her, Margaret goes back to her sanctuary – the bus station. “Hi mom,” she hears and turns around to see a young man with brown hair. Is that Jamie?! Could it be that simple? Standing outside the bus station? And now we wait for the next episode to get our questions answered. Is that Jamie? And where has he been?  FOUND airs Thursday nights on NBC, streaming next day on Peacock.

Matlock is back! In Matlock  Season 1, Episode 9, titled "Friends,"  we see the unraveling of several complex personal dynamics, both professionally and privately. The episode kicks off with Madeline Matlock (Kathy Bates) at a bar, engaging in some light flirting with Irv Lambert (Ron Roggé). Across from Irv sits Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), who is there to represent her client, Sam Prince (Allyson Brown), a woman who was wrongfully fired from her job at Stead Track, a delivery company, while pregnant. As Sam is about to give birth in six weeks, Olympia is determined to fight for her right to return to work, setting the stage for an emotional and high-stakes battle. As the episode progresses, we see Matlock juggle her personal life and her professional duties. She talks to Edwin (Sam Anderson) about how they have to take a less traditional route in handling the case because potential witnesses are too scared to come forward. But Edwin remains skeptical, especially about Matlock’s growing connection with Olympia. It’s clear that there’s some unresolved tension between the two, especially given Olympia’s past involvement in withholding crucial evidence in another case. As much as Matlock tries to brush this off, it’s hard to ignore the tension—and I couldn't help but wonder how this would impact the case in the long run. Matlock has a trusting nature, but when it comes to Olympia, I couldn't shake the feeling that there’s more beneath the surface. At home, Matlock’s relationship with Edwin is tested once again, this time over how to handle their son Alfie (Aaron Harris), who’s being bullied at school. Matlock wants to intervene by calling the principal, but Edwin insists Alfie should handle it on his own. The parenting divide between them really hit me in this episode. I totally understood Matlock's instinct to protect her son, especially after everything he’s been through, but I also saw Edwin’s point about not coddling him. As a parent, it’s difficult to know when to step in and when to let go. It made me reflect on my own parenting struggles—how much is too much when it comes to shielding our children from the harshness of the world? Meanwhile, Billy (David Del Rio) is dealing with his own problems, as he’s now living with his mother after refusing to kick his ex-girlfriend Claudia out of his apartment. Sarah (Leah Lewis) doesn't hold back in teasing him about his situation, which I found both funny and a bit heartbreaking. Billy is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I couldn’t help but feel for him. It’s easy to make judgments, but relationships can be messy, and sometimes the decisions we make aren’t as black and white as we’d like them to be. Pictured (L-R): David Del Rio as “Billy Martinez”. Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. As the case against Sam intensifies, it’s revealed that she’s been arrested for grand larceny, accused of stealing $50,000 worth of property from a stolen delivery truck. The company insists Sam was involved in the theft, but Olympia maintains that the charges are fabricated retaliation for her lawsuit. I was on the edge of my seat as the team uncovered more and more strange details surrounding the case, like the mysterious packing slip found in Sam’s locker. The whole situation felt like a web of lies and manipulation, and I couldn’t help but admire Olympia’s determination to fight for Sam’s innocence, even when it seemed like everything was stacked against them. But it was the janitor, Portia (Jill Johnson), who became the key to cracking the case wide open. When Portia reveals that Ahmed Hassan (Sriram Emani), a manager at Stead Track, had been oddly supervising her while she cleaned Sam’s locker, it added a whole new layer of mystery. This felt like a turning point in the case—one of those "ah-ha!" moments where the truth started to emerge. I could feel Olympia’s frustration mounting as she realized just how deep the conspiracy went. On the witness stand, the truth about Irv’s involvement in framing Sam is finally revealed. Irv admits to planting evidence against her, all while pretending to be a union buster for Stead Track. This revelation was a game-changer, and I found myself feeling both vindicated and disturbed by the lengths Irv went to in order to sabotage Sam. It was a reminder of how people can hide behind facades, pretending to be something they’re not, all for personal gain. On a more personal note, Olympia’s emotional turmoil started to hit home for me. As she confides in Matlock about her past, particularly her relationship with Julian (Jason Ritter) and the affair he had with Shae (Yael Grobglas), I saw a woman grappling with the weight of her choices. The past isn’t something we can easily outrun, and Olympia’s decision to confront the people in her life about her unresolved feelings felt like a pivotal moment in her character’s development. I found myself torn between sympathizing with Olympia’s pain and questioning her motivations. Pictured (L-R): Kathy Bates as “Madeline Matlock” and Skye P. Marshall as “Olympia Lawrence”. Photo: Erik Voake/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. As the episode draws to a close, Matlock and Olympia’s friendship is tested further. Matlock is beginning to trust Olympia more, even as Edwin remains skeptical. I appreciated Matlock’s instinct to give Olympia the benefit of the doubt, but I could also understand Edwin’s concerns. It’s a delicate balance—how much should we trust others when we know their past actions might not align with their current intentions? It was clear that Matlock was willing to give Olympia a chance, but I couldn’t help but feel there were more layers to Olympia’s story that we weren’t seeing yet. In the end, this episode left me with a lot to think about—not just in terms of the case, but in terms of the emotional stakes. How do we balance loyalty and trust in our relationships? How far are we willing to go for the people we care about? As always, Matlock  keeps us on our toes, and this episode was no exception. I’m left eagerly awaiting what’s next, wondering if Olympia’s secrets will ultimately come to light and what consequences that might have for everyone involved. All episodes of Matlock  are available to stream on Paramount+. Rating: ★★★★☆

All American returned with its seventh season premiere last night on The CW. Although the audience was met with cast changes, the exciting revamped storylines offered a twist while paying homage to the show’s origin. Notably, Daniel Ezra (Spencer James) and Samantha Logan (Olivia Baker-Spencer) are no longer series regulars, however Ezra will be making guest appearances and directing episodes during the season.  Veteran characters Coop (Bre-Z), Layla (Greta Onieogou), and Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) are now adjusting to adult jobs and responsibilities while their relationship with new characters are established. Introducing the Jeremy family, Coach Cassius Jeremy (Osy Ikhile) and his son Kingston “KJ” Jeremy (Nathaniel McIntyre), who are visiting from Oakland for a football camp. Little does KJ know, his parents are trying a trial separation, sending him and his father to coach and now play for Beverly High. Tensions arise within the family, yet towards the end of the episode KJ accepts the changes for something that may be for the better instead of the worse! Kareem J. Grimes returns as the character Preach, navigating his role as father to Amina (Alexis Chikaeze), now enrolled at South Crenshaw High School. Amina, while trying to make her crush Khalil (Antonio J. Bell) jealous, randomly kisses KJ at a beach party. As conflict erupted between the two, one of Khalil’s friend’s pulled a gun on KJ, highlighting Amina’s fears of Khalil hanging with the wrong crowd.  After graduation, we find Jordan Baker balancing mentorship, brotherhood, and coaching at South Crenshaw High. As the new quarterback coach, he’s learning to set personal boundaries with the players as respect and friendship lines are blurred. After a disagreement with his star player Yasi (Elijah M. Cooper), he sets his Instagram page as personal. Yet, head coach Bobby (Rett Terrell) is noy letting him off the hook. But why? Coop is headed for her first semester of law school, at GAU’s law program of course! I hope that her growth and maturity will finally peak this season as she deals with the complicated journey of furthering her education. Layla, now Layla Keating-Baker wonders if her accomplishments are peaking after being awarded a Top 25 Under 25 award for her career. The season is promising to give many twists and turns in the coming episodes! Will you be watching? Let us know how you enjoyed the premiere below.  All American airs on The CW Wednesday’s at 8/7c.