Okay, this is certainly the only season of this show, so it really is a mini series, but there certainly could be more.
Though Doctor Thorne (Tom Hollander) is the title character, he isn't the most interesting, that would be his illegitimate niece, Mary (Stefanie Martini). She is kind-hearted and precious to all, but she has no money and confusing parentage, something which must be horrible, especially in 1850s England.
Mary has eyes only for Frank (Harry Richardson), but his family is in deep debt and only wants him to marry a woman with money. His mother, Lady Arabella (Rebecca Front) and nasty aunt, Lady Decroacy (Phoebe Nicholls) want him to marry the wealthy and elusive Ms. Dunstable (Alison Brie) from America. She is another interesting character, who only likes the chase and enjoys collecting and refusing marriage proposals, including one from the wealthy but annoying and pompous Mr. Moffatt (Danny Kirrane), who is, for a time engaged to Frank's sister, Augusta (Gwenyth Keyworth).
Then, he disappears, never to be seen from again. It is no big loss.
Now, then there is the owner and former criminal Sir Roger (Ian McShane), who killed Mary's father after the father impregnated Sir Roger's sister and spent ten years in prison for the crime and then he came out and made tons of money and got a title. He also owns the land that Frank's family lives on and after he dies, it all goes to his alcoholic son, Sir. Louis (Edward Franklin), who is nasty and wants Mary to himself, but fortunately she refuses his offer.
Though this isn't written by Jane Austen, it sure could have been, with a mostly tidy ending. Mary inherits Sir Roger's fortune after Sir Louis's death as you should never drink and ride as she is his eldest niece. So Lady Arabella has to come begging back to Mary, urging her to take Frank back, which she does.
They get married, Frank's one sister marries the vicar while his other sister shoots daggers at her cousin who is engaged to the lawyer she liked. And the American has actual eyes for the bachelor doctor.
The show is pretty good. The sets are inconsistent, however, with the village scenes looking like they are on a sound stage while the gorgeous estates are lovely and realistic looking. The costumes are great along with the acting, especially since most of the actors are unknown. I have seen a lot of British dramas lately, though this one wasn't as funny as the film I saw earlier. Again, I will watch this show again. Grade: B+
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Love and Friendship
This was an interesting, quirky little film.
Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale) is a poor widow, forced to visit friends and relatives or else she will be homeless. She is desperate to find another husband for herself as well as her daughter, Frederica (Morfydd Clark). Kicked out of the Manwaring house, Susan is forced to go her relatives house, her late husband's brother and his wife, Catherine (a great Emma Greenwell). Catherine is not a big fan, but Catherine's brother, Reginald (Xavier Samuel) quickly takes a shine as Susan is the biggest flirt in the country. She is cunning and manipulative, encouraging Reginald's affections while carrying on with Mr. Manwaring (Lochlann O'Mearain). After her daughter is kicked out of the boarding school, for reasons that should have been explained better, it becomes clear that Reginald is truly in love with the mousy Frederica. Susan is so manipulative that she orders her daughter to obey her as the commandments tell her that she must honor thy mother. Susan wants Frederica to marry the clueless James Martin (Tom Bennett). He doesn't know what peas are or how long it would take a woman to get pregnant.
Susan wants to push off Reginald's proposal though it would be a good match for her but it would not a popular one, but he discovers that she is still seeing Mr. Manwaring privately though she makes every excuse in the book as to why she was alone with him.
Fortunately, Frederica is well liked by her aunt and after some careful persuasion Frederica is allowed to accompany her aunt and uncle (Justin Edwards) back to their home. Now, I would love to know how Susan did come up with money to stay in London. Once that happens, things fall into place, Susan marries Martin as she is pregnant with Mr. Manwaring's child but he is still married to his wife and the film ends with Frederica marries Reginald. Though the film cuts off abruptly with Frederica finally singing as everyone proclaims that she has the voice of an angel, it was a happy ending, as happy as it could be.
The film is good, filled with good performances by largely little known actors. Chloe Sevigny is great as another cool character, the American Alicia Johnson who is just as sly as Susan. The set is also great, with good costumes and sets. And it is funny in a sneaky way. Sure, there are a few problems with it, including the sudden ending, but overall, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Grade: B+
Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale) is a poor widow, forced to visit friends and relatives or else she will be homeless. She is desperate to find another husband for herself as well as her daughter, Frederica (Morfydd Clark). Kicked out of the Manwaring house, Susan is forced to go her relatives house, her late husband's brother and his wife, Catherine (a great Emma Greenwell). Catherine is not a big fan, but Catherine's brother, Reginald (Xavier Samuel) quickly takes a shine as Susan is the biggest flirt in the country. She is cunning and manipulative, encouraging Reginald's affections while carrying on with Mr. Manwaring (Lochlann O'Mearain). After her daughter is kicked out of the boarding school, for reasons that should have been explained better, it becomes clear that Reginald is truly in love with the mousy Frederica. Susan is so manipulative that she orders her daughter to obey her as the commandments tell her that she must honor thy mother. Susan wants Frederica to marry the clueless James Martin (Tom Bennett). He doesn't know what peas are or how long it would take a woman to get pregnant.
Susan wants to push off Reginald's proposal though it would be a good match for her but it would not a popular one, but he discovers that she is still seeing Mr. Manwaring privately though she makes every excuse in the book as to why she was alone with him.
Fortunately, Frederica is well liked by her aunt and after some careful persuasion Frederica is allowed to accompany her aunt and uncle (Justin Edwards) back to their home. Now, I would love to know how Susan did come up with money to stay in London. Once that happens, things fall into place, Susan marries Martin as she is pregnant with Mr. Manwaring's child but he is still married to his wife and the film ends with Frederica marries Reginald. Though the film cuts off abruptly with Frederica finally singing as everyone proclaims that she has the voice of an angel, it was a happy ending, as happy as it could be.
The film is good, filled with good performances by largely little known actors. Chloe Sevigny is great as another cool character, the American Alicia Johnson who is just as sly as Susan. The set is also great, with good costumes and sets. And it is funny in a sneaky way. Sure, there are a few problems with it, including the sudden ending, but overall, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Grade: B+
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Testament of Youth (2015)
This is a great, beautiful but painfully sad film.
Vera Brittain (Alicia Vikander) wants to go to Oxford. It is 1914, England. She is livid when her father surprises her with a piano when all she wanted was to sit for the entrance exams to get into Oxford with her brother, Edward (Taron Egerton). I can't figure out if they are twins, or if she is older or younger than him. She also swears that she will never marry.
That is until she meets Roland Leighton (Kit Harington), one of her brother's friends. They develop an attraction immediately, and grow as close as two people can be with a chaperon near-by at all times.
Then, the war comes and Roland enlists though Vera naively believed that he wouldn't do such a thing. She even pleaded with her father (Dominic West), a surprisingly emotional man, to let Edward enlist so others wouldn't have to do his duty for him.
Vera miraclously gets into Oxford despite translating everything into German instead of Latin because her German skills were stronger than her Latin ones. But she finds it an empty victory without her brother, boyfriend and regular friend, Victor (Colin Morgan) there to make the journey enjoyable. She can't bury her face in books.
Thus, she becomes a nurse and loves it, though the work is grueling and the nurses are often harsh, but it occupies her mind and keeps it off Roland.
She and Roland do become engaged on his leave but he is struggling fitting into normal life and even pushes her down, accidentally, but there was so much death surrounding him and she doesn't understand what he dealt with and he doesn't understand what she deals with in the hospital.
However, just before he is supposed to get more leave and return home for their wedding, he dies. She is literally already in her wedding outfit.
Vera continues nursing and proposes to Victor, who is now blind, but he turns her down, politely of course, and then he dies, perhaps even at his own hand. At the front, she rescues her brother from a dead pile, nurses him back to health and then he returns to the front, but in Italy this time. Vera has to return home because her mother (Emily Watson) nearly has a breakdown because of the lack of servants and food stuffs. Here, her father sobs as he receives a telegram that Edward has also been killed.
The war does end, finally, four years after it began. And Vera starts speaking out against the war. She wants to remember the lives lost, so that they will not be forgotten.
Also, pay attention to the officer who was there when Roland died, he plays an important part in Vera's life. His name is George Catlin (Henry Garrett).
The film is brilliantly done, with realistic gritty hospital scenes and lush scenery. You feel like you have been transported back to 1914 England. There are very few problems with the film. After Edward's death, Vera goes into a muddy road and smears mud over herself, to get close to how her brother would have died. That was an odd scene. You also wonder when the film will end.
However, these are minor details. The performances are brilliant and Vikander proves herself a force to be reckoned with. She will have a great career ahead of her. Grade: A-
Vera Brittain (Alicia Vikander) wants to go to Oxford. It is 1914, England. She is livid when her father surprises her with a piano when all she wanted was to sit for the entrance exams to get into Oxford with her brother, Edward (Taron Egerton). I can't figure out if they are twins, or if she is older or younger than him. She also swears that she will never marry.
That is until she meets Roland Leighton (Kit Harington), one of her brother's friends. They develop an attraction immediately, and grow as close as two people can be with a chaperon near-by at all times.
Then, the war comes and Roland enlists though Vera naively believed that he wouldn't do such a thing. She even pleaded with her father (Dominic West), a surprisingly emotional man, to let Edward enlist so others wouldn't have to do his duty for him.
Vera miraclously gets into Oxford despite translating everything into German instead of Latin because her German skills were stronger than her Latin ones. But she finds it an empty victory without her brother, boyfriend and regular friend, Victor (Colin Morgan) there to make the journey enjoyable. She can't bury her face in books.
Thus, she becomes a nurse and loves it, though the work is grueling and the nurses are often harsh, but it occupies her mind and keeps it off Roland.
She and Roland do become engaged on his leave but he is struggling fitting into normal life and even pushes her down, accidentally, but there was so much death surrounding him and she doesn't understand what he dealt with and he doesn't understand what she deals with in the hospital.
However, just before he is supposed to get more leave and return home for their wedding, he dies. She is literally already in her wedding outfit.
Vera continues nursing and proposes to Victor, who is now blind, but he turns her down, politely of course, and then he dies, perhaps even at his own hand. At the front, she rescues her brother from a dead pile, nurses him back to health and then he returns to the front, but in Italy this time. Vera has to return home because her mother (Emily Watson) nearly has a breakdown because of the lack of servants and food stuffs. Here, her father sobs as he receives a telegram that Edward has also been killed.
The war does end, finally, four years after it began. And Vera starts speaking out against the war. She wants to remember the lives lost, so that they will not be forgotten.
Also, pay attention to the officer who was there when Roland died, he plays an important part in Vera's life. His name is George Catlin (Henry Garrett).
The film is brilliantly done, with realistic gritty hospital scenes and lush scenery. You feel like you have been transported back to 1914 England. There are very few problems with the film. After Edward's death, Vera goes into a muddy road and smears mud over herself, to get close to how her brother would have died. That was an odd scene. You also wonder when the film will end.
However, these are minor details. The performances are brilliant and Vikander proves herself a force to be reckoned with. She will have a great career ahead of her. Grade: A-
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Call the Midwife: Season Five Recap and Reaction
Well, season five
of Call the Midwife has come to a
close. This year, an overlaying theme was the horrible drug, thalidomide. The
first episode features a baby born without real arms or legs, just little stubs
instead, but at least this baby is healthy. A few episodes later, a baby is
born with deformations so bad that you can’t distinguish its gender and it
doesn’t survive the night, leaving the mother devastated, having never even
held her baby. Dr. Turner (Stephen McGann) is likewise upset and confused when
the drug is recalled without much evidence of its failure until he and his wife
(Laura Main) do their own research, revealing that though the mothers
themselves were not prescribed the drug, they had family members who were and
they took the pills, perhaps the true cause behind their babies’ problems.
This show dealt
with plenty of heavy issues, including an unmarried teacher who becomes
pregnant after having an affair with a married man. She loses her job, her room
at a boarding house and nearly dies after self-aborting. She was sadly left
with little choice. It is not like today where it is illegal to fire a woman solely
for becoming pregnant. Sister Winifred (Victoria Yeates) feels dreadful for
having judged her so harshly. In the end, the patient survives, isn’t
prosecuted but lost everything, having had a hysterectomy.
Typhoid is had,
nearly killing a new mother. There is also a Pretty Woman like plot, with a former prostitute unable to deal
with her good fortune, having married a wealthy older man and even leaves her
newborn daughter before finally finding her way and realizing that she is good
enough. She returns home.
A young man almost
kills himself, resigned to a life of factory work after impregnating his young
girlfriend, only then she suffers a miscarriage. Despite her extreme albeit
short-lived sadness, this is ultimately better. The father is able to go to the
university and have a real future, one that he wanted.
There is also
attacks on young women in the streets including Sister Mary Cynthia (Bryony
Hannah) who finally comes forward to the police allowing the man to be
arrested. The other women do not, and who can blame them? One was afraid that
she would get in trouble for selling her body while the other thought she would
be blamed for temporarily leaving her infant alone in his pram.
And then there is
Trixie (Helen George) who still attends her AA meetings, though she is private
and mostly close to the vest about the nature of her standing appointment. But
she is moving on, teaching an aerobics class and getting over Tom (Jack Ashton).
Speaking of Tom,
he is dating Barbara (Charlotte Ritchie) and though it does get off to a rocky
start as Barbara does not wish to hurt Trixie, she does have deep feelings for
him and they work through the issues. In fact, I am surprised that they do not
get engaged at the end of the season.
Instead, we lose
Sister Evangelina (Pam Ferris) a devastating loss all-around. She died, happy
having regained her nerve to help with a newborn beautiful baby. She had
recently suffered a stroke.
This season
covered a lot of ground and there were both plenty of good times and bad times,
just as all the other seasons also had. There was magnificent performances both
by series regulars and the numerous guest stars each episode features. The
setting, costumes and authenticity cannot be matched. Everything is so
painfully accurate. This is easily my favorite show of all time.
One can only
wonder what lies ahead as the pill has been introduced.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Jane the Virgin: Season Two Recap and Reaction
This season was crazy, certainly crazier and more far-fetched than season one, but at least the finale didn't make me as angry as last year's.
A lot did happen this season. Baby Mateo went from being a newborn to a newly walking one-year-old, still as cute as a button. There is the difficult area of shared custody between Jane (Gina Rodriguez) and Rafael (Justin Baldoni). Poor baby spends half his time with Jane and the rest with Rafael, which is just awful. I don't like the shared custody while I understand why they came to that decision, but it is horribly unfair to the baby, never getting used to a familiar touch.
Petra (Yael Grobglas) also had heard twins, and managed to deliver them naturally but after that, she wanted nothing to do with them. She suffers from post-partum depression and barely even holds them, leaving the dirty work to the two nannies. Though Rafael does love them, Mateo is still number one, over Anna and Elsa (and no, it is not because of the film Frozen). And that rightfully saddens Petra.
Jane's love life is still interesting. Though she and Michael (Brett Dier) part ways as the Sin Rostro and Mutter case nearly takes over his life, and Rafael meddled too much and cost Michael his job, they nevertheless marry in the season finale though Rafael is still in love with her. But Jane and Michael are happy and that is all that matters. The wedding is lovely. This is only after Jane dates a skater guy and nearly loses her virginity to her divorced advisor (Adam Rodriguez). But I am glad that she ended up with Michael in the end, though I still will forever remember the fight he and Rafael got in that ended with tiny Mateo being injured. But Jane should have gotten the baby out of there sooner.
Now, Jane and her mother Xiomara (Andrea Navedo) also get into a huge fight because she thought that it would be a good idea to get Jane a stripper and have him show up at her work, where she is a TA. Yeah, that was a horrible idea. Of course they mend fences. Xiomara is also briefly engaged to Rogelio (Jaime Camil) only to end it because he wants children. Ironically, Xiomara is the one holding a positive pregnancy test at the end of the season, though how she can be pregnant only one week after sleeping with Rogelio's nemesis is beyond me. Whatever.
Now comes the plot I don't like. They give Petra a twin sister, Anezka. It is awkward and ridiculous not to mention unnecessary. And the season finale only makes me hate it more. Anezka shoots Petra with a paralyzing drug putting her in a coma-like state, where she is aware of everything. Only Anezka disguises herself as Petra and becomes Petra herself. Yikes, messy and complicated.
Though I still like this show as there is nothing else like it on TV, this season wasn't nearly as good as last season. Jane is no longer my favorite character on TV, though I don't know who exactly took her place. That being said, she is still a good character, strong and fully developed but I just don't understand her decisions as much. Rafael is still one of my least favorite characters and though he is not over Jane and probably never will be, he still has sex with Anezka, a bad decision. Michael did gain some ground back and I do hope he survives into next season as he was shot on his wedding night. So that happened too, just as Jane was changing into a sexy nightgown.
Well, with everything that happened next season will be interesting. Grade: B+
A lot did happen this season. Baby Mateo went from being a newborn to a newly walking one-year-old, still as cute as a button. There is the difficult area of shared custody between Jane (Gina Rodriguez) and Rafael (Justin Baldoni). Poor baby spends half his time with Jane and the rest with Rafael, which is just awful. I don't like the shared custody while I understand why they came to that decision, but it is horribly unfair to the baby, never getting used to a familiar touch.
Petra (Yael Grobglas) also had heard twins, and managed to deliver them naturally but after that, she wanted nothing to do with them. She suffers from post-partum depression and barely even holds them, leaving the dirty work to the two nannies. Though Rafael does love them, Mateo is still number one, over Anna and Elsa (and no, it is not because of the film Frozen). And that rightfully saddens Petra.
Jane's love life is still interesting. Though she and Michael (Brett Dier) part ways as the Sin Rostro and Mutter case nearly takes over his life, and Rafael meddled too much and cost Michael his job, they nevertheless marry in the season finale though Rafael is still in love with her. But Jane and Michael are happy and that is all that matters. The wedding is lovely. This is only after Jane dates a skater guy and nearly loses her virginity to her divorced advisor (Adam Rodriguez). But I am glad that she ended up with Michael in the end, though I still will forever remember the fight he and Rafael got in that ended with tiny Mateo being injured. But Jane should have gotten the baby out of there sooner.
Now, Jane and her mother Xiomara (Andrea Navedo) also get into a huge fight because she thought that it would be a good idea to get Jane a stripper and have him show up at her work, where she is a TA. Yeah, that was a horrible idea. Of course they mend fences. Xiomara is also briefly engaged to Rogelio (Jaime Camil) only to end it because he wants children. Ironically, Xiomara is the one holding a positive pregnancy test at the end of the season, though how she can be pregnant only one week after sleeping with Rogelio's nemesis is beyond me. Whatever.
Now comes the plot I don't like. They give Petra a twin sister, Anezka. It is awkward and ridiculous not to mention unnecessary. And the season finale only makes me hate it more. Anezka shoots Petra with a paralyzing drug putting her in a coma-like state, where she is aware of everything. Only Anezka disguises herself as Petra and becomes Petra herself. Yikes, messy and complicated.
Though I still like this show as there is nothing else like it on TV, this season wasn't nearly as good as last season. Jane is no longer my favorite character on TV, though I don't know who exactly took her place. That being said, she is still a good character, strong and fully developed but I just don't understand her decisions as much. Rafael is still one of my least favorite characters and though he is not over Jane and probably never will be, he still has sex with Anezka, a bad decision. Michael did gain some ground back and I do hope he survives into next season as he was shot on his wedding night. So that happened too, just as Jane was changing into a sexy nightgown.
Well, with everything that happened next season will be interesting. Grade: B+
Thursday, May 19, 2016
The Middle: The Show Must Go On
Well, the time has come. The season finale. My least favorite day of the year.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is finally graduating and he is thrilled that he gets to sing at the graduation. Yikes. But then, his performance is cut. The teachers felt that too many kids had signed up for the talent portion and that it would drag down the ceremony and make it far too long. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is shockingly furious. She feels bad that she never fought enough for Brick, that he long got the shortest end of the stick. She is just about to march down to the school when Mike (Neil Flynn) decides that he will go instead. Frankie is delighted that he is going instead of her. However, he accomplishes nothing and Frankie is pissed. She rattles off an email and things turn ugly. Now, because of her complaint, none of the kids get to perform and Nancy Donohue (Jen Ray) is livid. She has to do the opposite, her daughter won't get to recite her poem which she spent weeks perfecting. Brick is even taken into the principal's office where he decides that the only reason he wanted to perform was to make his mom happy. Frankie's turn to be furious. So Brick is allowed to perform but he doesn't want to, then he does, but only a duet with Troy (Jovan Armand). Which isn't allowed, until once again, Frankie raises a stink. So that is now also allowed.
Sue (Eden Sher) has her own problems. She is shocked to learn that she and Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) need to be at Dollywood the same day as Brick's graduation and thus she tries to get out of his graduation. But he won't let her, point blank. Thanks to Brad's improvising, Sue is able to miss orientation but does have to leave by four.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) does have a job this summer. It is a cushy summer counselor position at the Country Club. He is in charge of small children and though he claims to be the cool counselor who doesn't give a crap, he really does, especially when he meets a younger version of himself in the form of ten-year-old Colton (Caleb Brown). Axl finally encourages him to join in with the cardboard boat race and it works. His wise words make all the difference. He is finally growing up.
Just as Brick is. The performances are mostly truly dreadful, with Brick's and Troy's duet being a rare bright light. Brick can actually sing, something Frankie never knew before. Yes, she's that bad of a mother.
Unfortunately, Sue and Mike need to leave right after his performance but then the rest of the family ends up making the trek down to Dollywood with them. Brick knows of some good bookstores in the area while Frankie doesn't want to be left alone with the all the boys so she is dragging out all the time she has left with Sue. Axl can't miss the opportunity to see Sue in a dorky costume.
And then the show does something it hasn't done before, leaves us with a cliffhanger. While working at the club, Axl apparently meets the love of his life. But, as Frankie's narration tells us, that is a story for another time.
All-in-all, this was a good way to wrap up the season though Axl's plot line didn't have the significance it deserved. But Brick's plot line was excellent and finally showed off all of his true talents. That was the highlight of the episode, just as it deserved to be. Grade: A-, Season: B+
Side Notes:
-I would love to play the love of Axl's life. Keep me in mind, casting agents.
-Brad loves improvising and even says that Sue is very close to her brother and that she is the only one who he lets change the breathing tube. Yes, Brad went there.
-Also, in reality, he hates drama. Moving up the start day so that it interfered with Brick's graduation is drama in real life and that he doesn't like.
-Bill (Pat Finn) is not happy at whoever caused him to sit through all of the performances.
-Sue struggles to manage her southern accent.
-Frankie has merely put a star on the day of Brick's graduation while Mike thought that it was something free that will get cut off.
-Sue doesn't get a going away party.
-Young Colton says that Axl peaked in high school, which so far appears to be the sad truth and that he has lines on his forehead.
-Great callback, Brick won't let Sue miss his graduation as he sat through three performances of the awful Loneliest Locker.
-Brad can't put his Lady Gaga calendar in the trash so that is why he got the dates mixed up, even though this is a minor problem as this year happens to be a leap year.
-Frankie believes that Brick's performance is pulled because she doesn't volunteer.
-The Hecks also forgot to mark Brick's height on the wall so maybe that is the true reason why he is so short.
-Also, they have often left him behind at restaurants.
-Frankie wishes that she had Mike's height so she could accomplish more.
-This episode also has some great flashbacks of young Brick and how much he really meant to the family. This year did manage to be the year of Brick.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is finally graduating and he is thrilled that he gets to sing at the graduation. Yikes. But then, his performance is cut. The teachers felt that too many kids had signed up for the talent portion and that it would drag down the ceremony and make it far too long. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is shockingly furious. She feels bad that she never fought enough for Brick, that he long got the shortest end of the stick. She is just about to march down to the school when Mike (Neil Flynn) decides that he will go instead. Frankie is delighted that he is going instead of her. However, he accomplishes nothing and Frankie is pissed. She rattles off an email and things turn ugly. Now, because of her complaint, none of the kids get to perform and Nancy Donohue (Jen Ray) is livid. She has to do the opposite, her daughter won't get to recite her poem which she spent weeks perfecting. Brick is even taken into the principal's office where he decides that the only reason he wanted to perform was to make his mom happy. Frankie's turn to be furious. So Brick is allowed to perform but he doesn't want to, then he does, but only a duet with Troy (Jovan Armand). Which isn't allowed, until once again, Frankie raises a stink. So that is now also allowed.
Sue (Eden Sher) has her own problems. She is shocked to learn that she and Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) need to be at Dollywood the same day as Brick's graduation and thus she tries to get out of his graduation. But he won't let her, point blank. Thanks to Brad's improvising, Sue is able to miss orientation but does have to leave by four.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) does have a job this summer. It is a cushy summer counselor position at the Country Club. He is in charge of small children and though he claims to be the cool counselor who doesn't give a crap, he really does, especially when he meets a younger version of himself in the form of ten-year-old Colton (Caleb Brown). Axl finally encourages him to join in with the cardboard boat race and it works. His wise words make all the difference. He is finally growing up.
Just as Brick is. The performances are mostly truly dreadful, with Brick's and Troy's duet being a rare bright light. Brick can actually sing, something Frankie never knew before. Yes, she's that bad of a mother.
Unfortunately, Sue and Mike need to leave right after his performance but then the rest of the family ends up making the trek down to Dollywood with them. Brick knows of some good bookstores in the area while Frankie doesn't want to be left alone with the all the boys so she is dragging out all the time she has left with Sue. Axl can't miss the opportunity to see Sue in a dorky costume.
And then the show does something it hasn't done before, leaves us with a cliffhanger. While working at the club, Axl apparently meets the love of his life. But, as Frankie's narration tells us, that is a story for another time.
All-in-all, this was a good way to wrap up the season though Axl's plot line didn't have the significance it deserved. But Brick's plot line was excellent and finally showed off all of his true talents. That was the highlight of the episode, just as it deserved to be. Grade: A-, Season: B+
Side Notes:
-I would love to play the love of Axl's life. Keep me in mind, casting agents.
-Brad loves improvising and even says that Sue is very close to her brother and that she is the only one who he lets change the breathing tube. Yes, Brad went there.
-Also, in reality, he hates drama. Moving up the start day so that it interfered with Brick's graduation is drama in real life and that he doesn't like.
-Bill (Pat Finn) is not happy at whoever caused him to sit through all of the performances.
-Sue struggles to manage her southern accent.
-Frankie has merely put a star on the day of Brick's graduation while Mike thought that it was something free that will get cut off.
-Sue doesn't get a going away party.
-Young Colton says that Axl peaked in high school, which so far appears to be the sad truth and that he has lines on his forehead.
-Great callback, Brick won't let Sue miss his graduation as he sat through three performances of the awful Loneliest Locker.
-Brad can't put his Lady Gaga calendar in the trash so that is why he got the dates mixed up, even though this is a minor problem as this year happens to be a leap year.
-Frankie believes that Brick's performance is pulled because she doesn't volunteer.
-The Hecks also forgot to mark Brick's height on the wall so maybe that is the true reason why he is so short.
-Also, they have often left him behind at restaurants.
-Frankie wishes that she had Mike's height so she could accomplish more.
-This episode also has some great flashbacks of young Brick and how much he really meant to the family. This year did manage to be the year of Brick.
Thursday, May 12, 2016
The Middle: Find My Hecks
Poor Brick (Atticus Shaffer). He has such dreams. He wants to be the valedictorian and but might not be in the bag. There is another student who is just as smart as he is. Brick tries and fails to bribe the officer secretary but fortunately, he has an in. His girlfriend, Cindy (Casey Burke) works in the officer and doesn't even take Brick's small bribe to tell him who his competition is. She is just as surprised as anyone when the person competing with Brick is herself. It will come down to whoever does better on the geometry test. Brick would like to fail it on purpose but Sue (Eden Sher) says that cannot be the case as women have had it hard enough and they don't want anything handed to them. So Brick confronts Cindy and tells her that they each must give it there all. Then she drops the 'l' bomb. That's right, she tells him that she loves him. He is shocked. Axl (Charlie McDermott) says that Brick is dating a minx. She is devious and told him solely so that he wouldn't be thinking about the test. He fires back at her. Right before the test, he politely informs her that they need to talk. Cindy is prepared. She pulls the ear flaps off her hat. Her ears have never seen the sun before. However, despite Brick being shocked, he still manages a 99 on the test. Upon texting Cindy immediately, he is thrilled to report that he will be valedictorian as Cindy only received a 98.
Unfortunately for Brick, he doesn't get to bask for too long. He missed the extra credit on the back. That's right, he missed the question where he had to write three sentences about any book he's ever read. He won't be valedictorian.
In the meantime, Axl is for whatever reason being super sweet to Sue. They are going to parties together. I don't understand what has happened. But neither are obeying their curfew, not even after Mike (Neil Flynn) tries to lay down the law. Axl fires back with the gauntlet of "Whatever." Sue almost gets hives when Axl refuses to follow Mike's new rule. Needless to say, Mike is furious that the kids won't listen to him but Frankie (Patricia Heaton) seems oddly unworried. Turns out that she has the app find my phone so she can secretly monitor the movements of all her children. Mike latches on to that new device like it is a lifeline. But he's not as good as Frankie at keeping it a secret. He also monitors the locations of the kids far too much and he doesn't hide it well such as confronting Sue after she sees a movie when she had never told him that was what she was doing in the first place.
Perhaps his meddling is a good thing as he discovers that Sue is in a ditch. I thought that her phone would be in the ditch along the side of the road next to a dumpster but the app was malfunctioning. The shoe is on the other foot when Axl and Sue arrive home and find the parents gone without a note, worried to death over the fate of their children. Axl is livid that they didn't tell him where they were going and uses the app to find them. The cat is out of the bag. Frankie blames Mike; Mike says that it was all Frankie's idea and Axl snaps back with the fact that his parents don't trust anyone. Mike declares that it is hard to trust someone when they are actually at Cracker Barrel instead of Curves and Frankie is still peeved that Mike will park a block away from the house and just sit in his car for half an hour.
In the end, Mike declares that the app causes people to worry more and orders Axl to remove it from their phones. Frankie sadly narrates that this is the price you must pay when you love someone.
Also, as it turns out, Cindy does truly love Brick. She's incapable of saying stuff she doesn't mean. Brick also loves her. They are happy and thrilled that they found each other, given that they have odd quirks. He is also glad that she got valedictorian instead of him and she doesn't even care.
This was a good episode, with two solid plot lines and great lines from each character. Cindy also delivered a great guest turn. She is truly creating a solid secondary character. This was perhaps one of the strongest episodes of this season. Grade: A
Side Notes:
-Sue will leave for DollyWorld in just a week and doesn't feel the need to pack away her stuff in the meantime.
-Axl doesn't get Mike a taco despite being close to Taco Jasons. He also will be late to his internship and stops at Cinnabon first. That's right. He stops at the enemy first.
-When Mike discovers that Sue is in a ditch, they leave so fast Frankie doesn't have the opportunity to put a bra on so she insists on taking her car because she already has a bra in it.
-Frankie already has the text on her phone as big as it can get.
-Axl uses the app so he can know when to throw wild parties, soak in the tub and eat a huge amount of lunch meat. So that's where all the lunch meat goes.
-Sue can't believe that she has been to three wild parties in the same week. She proclaims that this must be how Jennifer Lawrence feels during Oscar season.
-Axl gives Brick good advice and Brick even tips him like a bartender.
-Brick likes ears. I don't know what to say about that.
-Good callback to Brick's pizza bag book bag. And he still must be occupying Sue's room.
-After Cindy tells him that she loves him, Brick is not thinking about death and the futility of the universe. Also his test.
-Brick goes to Mayfield Park at the end and Frankie is worried because that is where he goes when he feels down but not in this case. He is happy because he is with Cindy.
Unfortunately for Brick, he doesn't get to bask for too long. He missed the extra credit on the back. That's right, he missed the question where he had to write three sentences about any book he's ever read. He won't be valedictorian.
In the meantime, Axl is for whatever reason being super sweet to Sue. They are going to parties together. I don't understand what has happened. But neither are obeying their curfew, not even after Mike (Neil Flynn) tries to lay down the law. Axl fires back with the gauntlet of "Whatever." Sue almost gets hives when Axl refuses to follow Mike's new rule. Needless to say, Mike is furious that the kids won't listen to him but Frankie (Patricia Heaton) seems oddly unworried. Turns out that she has the app find my phone so she can secretly monitor the movements of all her children. Mike latches on to that new device like it is a lifeline. But he's not as good as Frankie at keeping it a secret. He also monitors the locations of the kids far too much and he doesn't hide it well such as confronting Sue after she sees a movie when she had never told him that was what she was doing in the first place.
Perhaps his meddling is a good thing as he discovers that Sue is in a ditch. I thought that her phone would be in the ditch along the side of the road next to a dumpster but the app was malfunctioning. The shoe is on the other foot when Axl and Sue arrive home and find the parents gone without a note, worried to death over the fate of their children. Axl is livid that they didn't tell him where they were going and uses the app to find them. The cat is out of the bag. Frankie blames Mike; Mike says that it was all Frankie's idea and Axl snaps back with the fact that his parents don't trust anyone. Mike declares that it is hard to trust someone when they are actually at Cracker Barrel instead of Curves and Frankie is still peeved that Mike will park a block away from the house and just sit in his car for half an hour.
In the end, Mike declares that the app causes people to worry more and orders Axl to remove it from their phones. Frankie sadly narrates that this is the price you must pay when you love someone.
Also, as it turns out, Cindy does truly love Brick. She's incapable of saying stuff she doesn't mean. Brick also loves her. They are happy and thrilled that they found each other, given that they have odd quirks. He is also glad that she got valedictorian instead of him and she doesn't even care.
This was a good episode, with two solid plot lines and great lines from each character. Cindy also delivered a great guest turn. She is truly creating a solid secondary character. This was perhaps one of the strongest episodes of this season. Grade: A
Side Notes:
-Sue will leave for DollyWorld in just a week and doesn't feel the need to pack away her stuff in the meantime.
-Axl doesn't get Mike a taco despite being close to Taco Jasons. He also will be late to his internship and stops at Cinnabon first. That's right. He stops at the enemy first.
-When Mike discovers that Sue is in a ditch, they leave so fast Frankie doesn't have the opportunity to put a bra on so she insists on taking her car because she already has a bra in it.
-Frankie already has the text on her phone as big as it can get.
-Axl uses the app so he can know when to throw wild parties, soak in the tub and eat a huge amount of lunch meat. So that's where all the lunch meat goes.
-Sue can't believe that she has been to three wild parties in the same week. She proclaims that this must be how Jennifer Lawrence feels during Oscar season.
-Axl gives Brick good advice and Brick even tips him like a bartender.
-Brick likes ears. I don't know what to say about that.
-Good callback to Brick's pizza bag book bag. And he still must be occupying Sue's room.
-After Cindy tells him that she loves him, Brick is not thinking about death and the futility of the universe. Also his test.
-Brick goes to Mayfield Park at the end and Frankie is worried because that is where he goes when he feels down but not in this case. He is happy because he is with Cindy.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
The Middle: Not Mother's Day
Well, this year Frankie (Patricia Heaton) decided to just give up on Mother's Day before it even disappointed her. Which was wise, after all, she has had the worst luck with Mother's Day as her family doesn't appreciate her.
And then something good happens. While in the check-out lane at the grocery store, she realizes that she forgot her wallet. Fortunately, a kind older gentleman behind her in line, pays her bill though Frankie admentely insists on paying him back. He tells her to just 'pay it forward'. And she actually takes that advice to heart.
She rips up the names of the family members and puts them in a hat and each member picks the name of someone else. Which name is picked means that person needs to do a good deed for that person. Sue (Eden Sher) is overly generous with her good deed. She offers Brick (Atticus Shaffer) her room as she is going away for the summer. Brick is thrilled, to say the least and moves his millions of books in almost immediately, leaving Sue's stuff out in the cold and nowhere for her to sleep.
Frankie's mom, Pat (Marsha Mason) picks Mike's (Neil Flynn's) name and decides to give him a life time pass on dancing with her as she is still embarrassed and upset about the time he didn't dance with her at Janet's wedding, now about two decades ago. Mike doesn't think that it is a big deal and though she assures him that it isn't, the way she acts clearly proves that that isn't the case.
Mike selects Sue's name and tries, and he really does. He takes her beloved Woofy Dog, a stuffed toy she has had since childhood, to the doll hospital. There, the dog is given a bizarre and terrifying face, plus there is a chemical smell as Woofy Dog is now waterproof. In reality, the dog is demented.
Brick has selected Frankie's name and makes her this dull, uninspiring card while taking full advantage of Sue's good deed.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) doesn't have much to do as he picks out his own name. He buys himself some cowboy boots from a secondhand shop but they disagree with his feet, causing them to itch. Thus, he exchanges the shoes for some t-shirts but these seem to be having the same effect on him. But at least he gives Sue some good advice. She is afraid of going to DollyWorld, and of truly being alone for the first time ever. Axl says that she will be okay and even offers her Brick's bed. He also lovingly ruins Woofy Dog. That is his true good deed, helping Sue find her way.
Now, poor Frankie picks her mom's name but before she has the time to 'pay it forward' Pat decides to leave so Frankie decides to pay for some random stranger's groceries, only she is sort of tricked. She believes that the woman only has two items, but her husband is still shopping with a million other items. Though she pays and everyone claps, she confronts them in the parking lot and says that the amount of groceries they had is beyond her budget. She wants them to pay for half but they look at Frankie like she's crazy. Instead, she does something worse. She merely takes a few of their groceries, trying to still be nice but getting something back for herself.
Fortunately, Mike comes out looking good. While driving Pat back to her house, he stops for gas and the station is playing a song and he invites her out of the car and dances with her out in the parking lot. As Frankie's voice over states, Mike finally got a Mother's Day right, just for another mother.
This was a better episode than last week. Axl was more sweet than stupid which is always a nice change. Mike was also great, finally actually being thoughtful, though it didn't always work out. I also like when the Heck family members guest star on the show. It is always welcome. Sure, Frankie's plot line with the failed 'pay it forward' should have ended differently somehow, but that is only a minor problem. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie's voice over says that she didn't know why she had lettuce in the fridge as only rabbits eat it and then remembers that they did have a rabbit at one point. She (and the audience) wonder what happened to the rabbit.
-Brick divides his books into interesting sub-genres, including alternate history, apocalyptic and post apocalyptic and several others.
-Frankie loves the chicken at the fancy grocery store, she is convinced that there is crack in it.
-Mike states that he doesn't just not want to dance with Pat, he doesn't want to dance at all.
-Pat loves Castle so much that when she forgot to DVR it, she insists on leaving immediately, and no argument can get her to stay.
-Sue secretly named her room Tina while Brick changes that to Santiago, for some reason.
-Brick also believes that the move is more permanent than she does. He also disobeys her rules on eats on her bed.
-Axl is gross. He rubs two Popsicles on his legs before eating them.
-The episode ends with Frankie trying to help Pat over the phone set the DVR to tape Castle which fails miserably as Pat doesn't get what the arrows do on a remote control. As a result, she leaves to drive there to help her mom.
And then something good happens. While in the check-out lane at the grocery store, she realizes that she forgot her wallet. Fortunately, a kind older gentleman behind her in line, pays her bill though Frankie admentely insists on paying him back. He tells her to just 'pay it forward'. And she actually takes that advice to heart.
She rips up the names of the family members and puts them in a hat and each member picks the name of someone else. Which name is picked means that person needs to do a good deed for that person. Sue (Eden Sher) is overly generous with her good deed. She offers Brick (Atticus Shaffer) her room as she is going away for the summer. Brick is thrilled, to say the least and moves his millions of books in almost immediately, leaving Sue's stuff out in the cold and nowhere for her to sleep.
Frankie's mom, Pat (Marsha Mason) picks Mike's (Neil Flynn's) name and decides to give him a life time pass on dancing with her as she is still embarrassed and upset about the time he didn't dance with her at Janet's wedding, now about two decades ago. Mike doesn't think that it is a big deal and though she assures him that it isn't, the way she acts clearly proves that that isn't the case.
Mike selects Sue's name and tries, and he really does. He takes her beloved Woofy Dog, a stuffed toy she has had since childhood, to the doll hospital. There, the dog is given a bizarre and terrifying face, plus there is a chemical smell as Woofy Dog is now waterproof. In reality, the dog is demented.
Brick has selected Frankie's name and makes her this dull, uninspiring card while taking full advantage of Sue's good deed.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) doesn't have much to do as he picks out his own name. He buys himself some cowboy boots from a secondhand shop but they disagree with his feet, causing them to itch. Thus, he exchanges the shoes for some t-shirts but these seem to be having the same effect on him. But at least he gives Sue some good advice. She is afraid of going to DollyWorld, and of truly being alone for the first time ever. Axl says that she will be okay and even offers her Brick's bed. He also lovingly ruins Woofy Dog. That is his true good deed, helping Sue find her way.
Now, poor Frankie picks her mom's name but before she has the time to 'pay it forward' Pat decides to leave so Frankie decides to pay for some random stranger's groceries, only she is sort of tricked. She believes that the woman only has two items, but her husband is still shopping with a million other items. Though she pays and everyone claps, she confronts them in the parking lot and says that the amount of groceries they had is beyond her budget. She wants them to pay for half but they look at Frankie like she's crazy. Instead, she does something worse. She merely takes a few of their groceries, trying to still be nice but getting something back for herself.
Fortunately, Mike comes out looking good. While driving Pat back to her house, he stops for gas and the station is playing a song and he invites her out of the car and dances with her out in the parking lot. As Frankie's voice over states, Mike finally got a Mother's Day right, just for another mother.
This was a better episode than last week. Axl was more sweet than stupid which is always a nice change. Mike was also great, finally actually being thoughtful, though it didn't always work out. I also like when the Heck family members guest star on the show. It is always welcome. Sure, Frankie's plot line with the failed 'pay it forward' should have ended differently somehow, but that is only a minor problem. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie's voice over says that she didn't know why she had lettuce in the fridge as only rabbits eat it and then remembers that they did have a rabbit at one point. She (and the audience) wonder what happened to the rabbit.
-Brick divides his books into interesting sub-genres, including alternate history, apocalyptic and post apocalyptic and several others.
-Frankie loves the chicken at the fancy grocery store, she is convinced that there is crack in it.
-Mike states that he doesn't just not want to dance with Pat, he doesn't want to dance at all.
-Pat loves Castle so much that when she forgot to DVR it, she insists on leaving immediately, and no argument can get her to stay.
-Sue secretly named her room Tina while Brick changes that to Santiago, for some reason.
-Brick also believes that the move is more permanent than she does. He also disobeys her rules on eats on her bed.
-Axl is gross. He rubs two Popsicles on his legs before eating them.
-The episode ends with Frankie trying to help Pat over the phone set the DVR to tape Castle which fails miserably as Pat doesn't get what the arrows do on a remote control. As a result, she leaves to drive there to help her mom.
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