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.

Tuesday’s all new episode of The Rookie  was another great one – they’re starting to pick up the pace with this season and this episode proves that. Before I could get into what I liked most about the episode, I should get into what I didn’t like.  This “Bailey in danger” / “Jason on the run” storyline needs to come to an end. In last week’s episode, we saw that Bailey returned home, except now she wasn’t allowed to be home because John is obsessed with keeping her safe. So much so, Bailey is hiding out at Lucy’s apartment while Celina plays decoy just in case Jason, Bailey’s ex-husband, tries to break in and hurt Bailey.  This was a bit much – admittedly, when I saw the sneak peek clip for the episode and saw that Bailey was staying at Lucy’s, I was excited at the idea that Bailey would finally interact with other people apart from John and Celina. Unfortunately, that clip was all we got this episode. I don’t like being on Bailey’s side here, but John went a little too hard at the protection detail. That scene at the station when John asks Grey ( his boss btw ) to “watch her”. Bailey is grown and doesn’t need a babysitter. What is she up to though? Hunting down Malvado ( did she always own a gun? ), and hiding this from John. I hope she knows what she’s doing.  Seth is a storyteller, huh? Something is off with him and I don’t want to think that he’s being deceptive, I really don’t, but the signs are there. He’s always prepared with an excuse for not being “quite himself” at crime scenes which is interesting. Also, why do bad things keep happening to his girlfriends in his stories? At the scene of a car wreck, the team finds a woman trapped in the trunk of an abandoned car. The victim, Savannah, recalls the details prior to her abduction. The car is registered to Harrison Novak and after looking into him, the team finds a connection with one of their own, Wesley. Turns out Wesley was Novak’s defense attorney a few years back and got the charges dropped on a technicality. As all of this is unraveling, Novak calls Wesley saying he will be needing his services again ( and was basically admitting he’s going to attack again ).  Thankfully with the help of Wesley and Del Monte, Angela and Nyla were able to get a trace on Novak’s phone and find his location before he could hurt anyone. Once they got him in interrogation, Novak wasted no time and confessed. This man needed to be locked up with the way he was describing his urge to kill (as if they weren’t human, but more like an itch he needed to scratch and keep scratching). He then told Angela and Nyla that he would give them the location of where he buried his victims, but that he would need to go with them and show them.  Now this is where things got a little wonky – when they started to dig up the bodies (this man is sick), the dogs then moved further out from where Novak buried his victims and more  bodies were discovered. They’re wrapped the same as his victims but here’s the odd thing: Novak doesn’t claim them as his. With the genuine confusion on Novak’s face at this discovery, Angela and Nyla believe they’re dealing with a copycat.  Since this person is copying Novak, it must be someone from his past, right? That’s what Angela and Nyla thought and they dug a little deeper into Novak’s past. This led them to a psychiatric facility where Novak spent some time when he was younger. The woman at the facility wasn’t too helpful, but as they were leaving Nyla and Angela notice a tarp matching Novak and the second serial killer’s hanging from a seemingly abandoned home and they go in to investigate ( I’m so glad they called for backup because that was a scary scene ). They find a victim there and Angela takes him out to safety as Nyla stays behind to search for potentially the second serial killer. Bad idea – she’s attacked and it wasn’t looking good for her before Angela came back and scared whoever was there off. That was the scariest few moments I’ve witnessed in a while on this show, but I’m glad Nyla made it out okay. I’m a bit concerned at the fact that she doesn’t want to talk about what happened to her. Something tells me this incident is going to come back up at the wrong time and I hope she’s able to deal.  Now, on to some happiness that we’ve all been waiting for (though it’s still not enough). We finally have a Chenford moment and we get to see Tim’s home for the first time in a long time ( another fun surprise was seeing Kojo! ). Lucy stops by to talk to Tim about her concerns regarding Seth. When his stories don’t add up, she asks Tim how extensive the background checks are at the LAPD. Once he puts her worries at ease, Tim hesitantly asks Lucy if she wants to stay and order take out. She declined, but it did look like she thought about saying yes ( and she should have) . Can these two please sit down and talk to each other? The feelings are clearly still there so I don’t get where the writers are going with having them have these awkward encounters. I’m not losing hope for them, but they need to speed things along with these two– enough time has passed.  What’d you think of the new episode of The Rookie ? Share your thoughts!

This episode opens on a masked man sitting in a dark room with a gun. He shoots the person who enters the home.   At Amanda's House, Sunny and Amanda are still getting used to each other. The next morning, Will Trent enters the crime scene, and is surprised to see Angie Polaski there standing on the couch because there's lava stains and footsteps on the carpet. It's her first day back. Things are awkward.  GBI is there because the victim, Lloyd Withum, had DOD connections, and there may be national security concerns.  Ormwood and Faith enter the house and things get more awkward.  They join them and climb on other furniture, looking for evidence.  The victim developed a new style drone.  The killer got in through a broken window.   Ormwood and Angie describe how the crime may have occurred.  The shooter left  footprints on the carpet.  As if things aren't comical enough, Angie wants to know where everyone got laser pointers.  Anyway, Will continues describing how the crime possibly occurred.  Faith questions why the shooter didn't leave immediately with the victim’s laptop.  Faith climbs over furniture to get to a closet in the room.  She finds a hand vacuum.  While Ormwood accuses Angie of gender bias, Will continues his special way of investigating, and finds something, the suspect's id.  Her name’s Helen Anderson. They get to the suspect’s house, and Faith aggravates Will with questions about working with Angie.  They enter from the front door, while Angie and Ormwood come in the back.  They find Ms. Anderson inside grooming a cute dog.  Will arrests her and takes her to the GBI.  Angie gives Will a form they found in her bag.  It's an immunity letter.  Will asks Helen who gave it to her.  She tells him the CIA did.   (Disney/Wilford Harewood) RAMON RODRIGUEZ Ormwood tells Will he nearly became a CIA agent, while they wait for a teleconference to go live with the CIA.  Officer Case confirms the letter was not legitimate, and Helen's not a CIA agent.  The victim was a possible target.  They need to find out where Helen hid the laptop and who is her ‘handler’.   Ormwood goes to talk to Helen, pretending to be a CIA agent.  He gets her to talk.  She left the laptop at the deadrop, and gave him the name of her handler, Cutter.  Helen’s not fooled and knows it's Ormwood questioning her.  She doesn't give him any more information.   Will’s trying to find a stapler in his new office when ADA Marion Alba stops by to ask to use his CI, Confidential Informant, to help with her case.  He referred her to Faith.  He also points out Marion spilled something on her shirt.  Will  gives her his dry cleaned shirt, which is really rare.   Later, Angie comes by to see Will and let him know Lloyd is out of surgery, He and Faith can talk to him.  Will’s standing nervously outside his office when Marion comes out wearing his shirt.  He introduces her to Angie.  Will hurriedly leaves with Faith to see Lloyd.  They question him about the drone and who would want it.  They find out no one can access the laptop without an encryption key.  They put Cole, Lloyd and  Glen under protective custody, since they are the only ones with keys. Sonny’s school calls Amanda about Sonny being in a fight.  Amanda leaves to pick her up.  She brings her back to her office, and asks what happened.  Sonny refuses to tell her anything. Will and Faith go to Cole's house and find him dead.  They find the suspect in the bathtub bloodied and crying over the crime he just committed.   Will and Faith question Ken.  He tells them about his mission, and how he met Cutter.  Will and Faith talk to Ormwood and Angie, and discover Cutter was the key figure tying their suspects together.  They tease Ormwood for eagerly contacting their CIA contact, Officer Case.   Will goes to the restaurant to pick up his takeout, and sees Angie there.  They talk about her first day back at work.  He triggers her anger, and she tries to leave, but the restaurant’s door’s locked.  They have to wait for the manager to unlock the door.  Will takes the opportunity to tell Angie why he turned her in, and what she did.  They finally argue about everything that happened, and Angie leaves.   Officer Case walks into the Atlanta PD, and Ormwood hurries to greet her.  Officer Case gives them background on what could happen to the laptop.  Will hears ADA Alba arguing with someone on the phone in his office.  He waits outside nervously when she finally sees him.  She came to return his shirt and told him she’d been talking to her ex-husband.  They bond while discussing  past relationships.   Faith interrupts with an update on her search for Cutter on the Alias message boards.  Helen's still not talking.  Marion joins Will and Faith to review Alias episodes in their office.  Will goes to see Helen when he gets a clue.  He asks her about her past and how Cutter came into her life.  He tells her Cutter wasn't a CIA agent.  He tells her she was used by Cutter, and needs her help.  Faith and Will go to see Glen at the safe house, but he's missing.  Faith calls Ormwood, and tells where they might find him.   They go to a chess tournament downtown.  Amanda and Agent Chase lead the investigation.  Amanda also brought Sonny.  Will, Faith, Angie and Ormwood are quietly walking the room looking for Cutter and Glen.  Ormwood is promoting himself to Officer Case, and tells her about his background.  He tells her why he’d make a good CIA agent.  Faith spots Glen, and Will follows him toward the target.  A woman walks into Will and her friend yells at Will.  Glen signals someone and gunshots ring out.  Everyone runs.  Faith tackles  the shooter, and Will goes for Glen.  Amanda knocks out the other suspect.  A woman comes up behind Will, but Angie tackles her.  There were a lot of false CIA agents there. Amanda asks Sunny again about what happened at school that caused the fight. Her friend, Daphne, teased about a boy, then called her a druggy brat, a reference to her Dad.  She tried to walk away.  Amanda suggests she talk to a therapist, but Sonny refuses. Amanda teaches her to box to release her rage.  Faith and Ormwood meet at the GBI, and he tells her Officer Case really wanted Polaski to work for them.  He vents about his personal life and gives Faith advice about marriage.  She invites him out to cheer him up.  Ormwood is excited to take her to his favorite restaurant.  Meanwhile, Will’s recording facts about the case in his office, and Angie comes by to tell him where to find their case paperwork.  Angie can’t forgive him for turning her in, and ends their relationship.   It was sad to see these two break up!  But, Angie actually noticed Will had begun to move on.   This episode had a touch of comedy, lots of drama, mystery, espionage, a dose of teen anger and a very sad breakup.  Had hopes for Will and Angie, but it wasn't meant to be. Thought the parkouring the furniture was funny.  This episode was very good!  No Betty in this episode.

The episode opens with the family gathered for dinner, including Ivy, setting the stage for another chaotic evening. Poppa, true to form, attempts to rush everyone out after dinner. However, Junior tries to lighten the mood with games, but Nina sees through his antics, calling him out for avoiding home. They’ve taken a vow of celibacy to deepen their connection beyond the physical, much to Junior’s frustration. Ivy chimes in with her own commentary, noting that celibacy can be good for couples to forge a deeper connection. Poppa jokes that he practiced celibacy once too—with his ex-wife, which he calls “marriage.” Cue the board game session, where old wounds resurface as they bicker about how cheap and mean Poppa was when Junior was growing up. Ivy, ever the peacemaker, pulls Poppa aside. She points out that Junior’s feelings about celibacy are stirring up unresolved childhood issues. Her advice? A grand gesture to show Junior that he’s loved and appreciated. Poppa takes her advice to heart and buys Junior a puppy—a callback to a childhood argument when Junior was denied a dog. At the time, Poppa claimed Junior was allergic, though Junior didn’t buy it. Poppa had a motive for buying the puppy, causing household disharmony in Junior's house. As it turns out, Junior is  allergic—something Poppa smugly confirms when Junior starts sneezing when he holds the puppy. At Junior’s house, the allergic reaction is in full swing. His red eyes and constant sneezing are proof enough, but Junior refuses to give in. The kids have already fallen in love with the puppy, now named Popcorn, and Junior promises they can keep him. It’s less about the dog and more about not letting Poppa win this round. Of course, chaos ensues when Popcorn escapes and bolts over to Poppa’s house. By now, it’s obvious where this is heading—the dog has found his true home. Junior storms over, desperate to reclaim Popcorn, but he’s clearly worse for wear. His face is swollen, and he looks like he’s lost a fight with a hive of bees. Left with no choice, Junior finally admits to his allergy. The episode wraps on a heartfelt note. Poppa sits down with Popcorn, confessing the real reason he’s been reluctant to have a dog in his life. As a child, he witnessed his beloved dog getting hit by a car—a memory that’s haunted him ever since. The little pup has worked his way into Poppa’s grumpy heart despite this. Though they initially find another home for Popcorn, Poppa ultimately decides to keep him. The pup has softened the edges of his home—and his heart. While the show continues to miss the comedic mark, it has a wholesome, touching feel about it reminiscent of some 90s family sitcoms. Think TGIF. The show handles family bonds well, and the episode served as a touching reminder that sometimes, a little heart can go a long way, even in Poppa’s house.

The episode picks up right where the last cliffhanger left off. Dexter has finally dismembered Levi Reed, and as he drives with the body stashed in his trunk, he gets pulled over. Thinking quickly, he flashes his badge, claiming he’s headed to a dangerous crime scene. While waiting, he can’t help but wonder what would happen if he were caught—life in prison or the electric chair? Neither option feels appealing. Masuka appears at his window, surprised to see him but ready to put him to work. Patrick Gibson as Dexter Morgan in Dexter: Original Sin, episode 7, season 1, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Adam Rose/Paramount+ with Showtime. At the scene, there is a lone piece of evidence, a body part, triggering Dexter to flashback to the kill. This disposal hits a nerve: the gators didn’t do their job. Faced with the problem of a leftover arm, Dexter devises a backup plan. He pretends the gator came for the arm, nearly taking him with it. The evidence is lost, and Dexter is off the hook again. With his gator plan derailed, Dexter dumps Levi’s remains in a dumpster on trash day. Meanwhile, the Captain’s son, Nikky, is still missing and plotting his escape, resourcefully using whatever he can find. Back at home, murder seemingly makes Dex hungry—cue cold spaghetti for breakfast. Deb interrupts, commenting on his stench and cracking the code on Sophia's messages. She also scolds him for ghosting her since their last date. In a quick catch-up with Harry, Dexter updates him on his disposal methods, promising a concerned Harry not to worry that he will improve. Harry advises him to burn his clothes. On his way to work, Sophia confronts Dexter about not calling her back. She spots a condom wrapper in his car and immediately assumes the worst. Dexter insists it was stuck to his shoe, which sounds ridiculous—but in his case, it’s actually true. At the station, Nikky’s disappearance has hit the four-day mark and the team awaits the inevitable, a finger signaling that time is running out. At school, Deb tells Sophia that Dexter isn’t the type to cheat, but this only causes friction between the two best friends. At the precinct, LaGuerta suggests a serial killer may be on the loose, but the Captain talks over her. Harry backs her up, convincing the Captain to let them run with the theory. A flashback shows Harry promising Laura she’ll be free of the cartel soon. Young Dexter runs to Harry, calling him “Daddy,” but Laura corrects him, saying he isn’t. Later, Harry returns home to an angry Doris, who’s folding laundry for their newborn. He apologizes, and though Doris isn’t ready to talk, she acknowledges it’s the first time he’s ever apologized. As baby Deb cries, Harry comforts her. L-R: Christian Slater as Harry Morgan, Christina Milian as LaGuerta and Patrick Dempsey as Captain Aaron Spencer in Dexter: Original Sin episode 7, season 1, streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, 2024. Photo Credit: Adam Rose/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. In the present, Dexter tries to shift Angel’s focus to Nikky’s case, arguing that no one will mourn the killer Angel is obsessing over. Unfortunately for Nikky, his kidnapper escalates by removing one of his fingers. Dexter dives into serial killer research for disposal inspiration, envisioning past killers, but finds no solutions. At soccer practice, Sophia, still angry, betrays Deb, leading to Deb punching a bully square in the nose. In a flashback, Laura is summoned for what looks like her final mission. She meets cartel boss Hector Estrada, who is both impressed by her and suspicious of her motives. While flirting, she may have revealed too much, putting herself in danger. Meanwhile, Dexter notices hesitation marks on Nikky’s severed finger, a sign that Nikky fought back against his captor or the captor feels some sort of connection with him. With blood evidence from the box the finger came in, Dexter is closing in on a lead. Deb’s actions at soccer practice get her suspended from school and kicked off the team, shattering her dreams of playing for scouts and earning a full-ride scholarship. Back at the station, Dexter makes a shocking breakthrough in Nikky’s case—one so unexpected that it’s better left unspoiled here. The episode concludes with a jaw-dropping twist as Dexter realizes his next target is someone much closer to home. The flashbacks, while occasionally distracting, continue to serve the overarching story. It’s another strong episode, leaving us eager to see how Dexter pulls off his next move.