Tag: Season

Categories
Health

'The Big Bang Theory' Season 11 Episode 5 Recap: The Problem With Sheldon in 'The Collaboration Contamination'


Good luck getting Sheldon Cooper to solve this problem: At what point in this season of The Big Bang Theory did Sheldon turn into someone almost completely unrecognizable from the man he’s become over the last few years?

On tonight’s episode, Sheldon seemed to fall deeper into self-absorbed territory by becoming territorial over his fiancé’s work hours and work partner. It follows a pattern of unusual behavior this season that seems to have undone some of his profound personal growth over the latter half of the series. So what gives? Where’s the Sheldon who was vulnerable, supportive, and, yes, even romantic?

In “The Collaboration Contamination,” Sheldon and Raj confide in Bernadette that they can’t handle Amy and Howard working together. Raj is just lonely without his “work wife” Howard to keep him company—no point in dissecting that one—but Sheldon acts possessive over Amy, demanding to know why she’s working late after her first day with Howard. This was after he already dropped in on them at work to make sure everything was going alright. Then, in another scene, he complains that they’re working on a Saturday. “Is this how you envisioned your weekend?” he angrily asks Bernadette. Who is this guy?

It’s a question I’ve been thinking about since the season 11 premiere, when he got jealous that he wasn’t being peppered with questions about his success while meeting Amy’s work colleagues. Of that episode, I wrote: “Perhaps the only downside [of the episode] was Sheldon being a complete ass…when Amy was shown more attention by colleagues at a work dinner than him.”

Things didn’t get better in episode two, when Amy had to deal with Sheldon acting like a jealous child after she confided that she got special lab equipment at work. To make matters worse, we also found out Amy often keeps her success a secret from him so he doesn’t get upset. Much to my disappointment, I noted that Sheldon had turned into a mopey, outdated stereotype of a man who can’t handle a woman’s success.

PHOTO: Michael Yarish/Warner Bros.

Maybe that’s why I was beyond bored when episode three spent nearly 20 minutes having Sheldon drive himself mad trying to pick a perfect wedding date. I would have rather he spent that time in therapy trying to figure out why he’s become so frustratingly annoying this season. He briefly redeemed himself in episode four while assuring Howard he’d be a good father to his son, but it all seemed to unravel tonight. “This whole thing is maddening,” he vented to Bernadette about Amy’s work schedule. “I just wish I could make Howard feel as angry as I’m feeling.” What? He’s angry that his fiancé is working on a big laboratory project with their friend, a fellow physicist? Haven’t we moved past this old-fashioned trope of being jealous over working with a member of the opposite sex?

Later in the episode, when Leonard tells Sheldon that he needs to get over it (finally, someone with some common sense), Sheldon shuts him down and says, “It is a big deal! Howard is getting Amy used to laughing and listening to music! What if she expects that madness at home?” It’s all meant to be cute and funny, but I wasn’t laughing. Sheldon sounds like he wants to keep Amy trapped in the 1950s rather than embark on a lifetime of happiness. If I’m supposed to be excited that these two are heading toward a wedding, then here’s a news flash: I’m not.

Perhaps the reason I’m most annoyed with Sheldon’s arc this season is that the show has done such a stellar job in recent years of truly growing these characters. It’s no longer a series about four clueless male scientists who ogle the girl next door. The series has embraced real-life issues such as pre-and post-partum depression, gender stereotypes, marital issues, and mental health and done so with humor. To go back now seems like such a waste. And if anything is going to make Sheldon angry, that should be it.



Source link

Categories
Health

'Outlander' Season 3, Episode 6 Recap: Jamie and Claire Finally Reunite, and Yes, the Sex Is Fire


This article centers on Season 3, Episode 6 of Outlander, “Malcolm.” If you’re not yet caught up with the show, be warned: Spoilers abound.

This is the episode we’ve been waiting all season for and friends, I assure you, it does not disappoint. Our beloved Jamie and Claire reunite after twenty years apart, and yes, there is plenty of rousing sex, so let’s get right to it.

The episode opens with the same scene Episode 5 closed on—except this round, we see things from Jamie’s perspective. Jamie looks dapper and colonial, walking through Edinburgh on his way to work, tricorne and all. When he gets to his print shop, he hears men whispering and pulls out a blade before realizing it’s just two of his kinsmen who were sleeping a hard night off. Jamie gives them some treasonous pamphlets to deliver. As they leave, Geordie, Jamie’s apprentice, arrives for the workday. He’s the cranky sort and has a goiter, which can’t be pleasant in the 18th century. Jamie dispatches Geordie to get something for the press and look, I’m pretending to be interested in all this, but I’m not, and you’re not because it doesn’t involve Jamie and Claire, naked.

There Jamie is, wearing his cute little spectacles, preparing to print something—omg who cares—and he calls out to Geordie when he hears the door open. (We know who it really is.) A lady’s delicate voice says, “It isn’t Geordie. It’s me, Claire.” Slowly, Jamie turns around, looks up at his long lost wife beaming down on him, and does what you might expect—passes out!

When he comes to, Jamie still can’t believe it’s really Claire. They gaze at each other and then Jamie is on his feet because his pants are wet (worry not; he did not “piss himself”). He starts to take off his pants and is suddenly modest, but Claire reminds him that they are, you know, married. After he takes off his pants and they say words at each other, Jamie says, “I would very much like to kiss you. May I?” Claire breathes, “Yes,” because of course, and Jamie says, “I have not done this in a very long time,” and finally their lips lock and it’s a moment. (We know it’s a moment, because the score rises loudly and unnecessarily—we were already deep in our feelings. Thanks, composer!)

Sadly, they do not continue disrobing to have sex right then and there. There is so much sadness in the world.

PHOTO: Aimee Spinks/STARZ

Their kiss is interrupted by Geordie returning from his errand. When he sees his boss and Claire in the throes of tongue wrestling, Geordie, disgusted, declares that he quits. Jamie needs a new pair of pants, and I certainly disagree with that. Jamie needs no pants, ever, but fine, whatever. He heads to the back room but insists Claire go with him. It’s as if he can’t really believe she’s there, with him, in the flesh. Believe it, Jamie! It’s all about to go down.

Like a good father, Jamie asks about Brianna and seems glad that his daughter knows who he is. Claire shows him pictures, quickly explaining that photographs aren’t the devil’s work, just the product of a thing called a camera. They talk about their child, and I suppose it’s all very sweet and tender. Claire tells Jamie she’s a surgeon, and he says, “You always were one. Now you have the title to go with it.”

Jamie shares that he has a son, “Willie,” and all Claire needs to know is, “Did you love his mother?” to which Jamie says no. They discuss Frank, very briefly because he’s dead and no one but his sidepiece likes Frank. All of the talk is shy and tentative; really what they are trying to gauge is if there will be anyone in the way of their reunion. GREEN MEANS GO, JAMIE & CLAIRE! GREEN MEANS GO! THE LIGHT IS GREEN!

Suddenly, Jamie remembers he has an appointment, and he and Claire head to a tavern. On the way, they run into Fergus, who is delighted to see Claire. He’s quite grown up and handsome now. Fergus needs to talk to Jamie about a Mr. Willoughby. They step aside and Fergus says, “What about?” implying that there’s something we do not yet know. We’re not going to figure it out in this episode, though, so let’s just worry about all that later.

At the tavern, Mr. Willoughby is in a bit of trouble because he licked a barmaid’s elbow without paying her. Things were not so different in the 1800s, I guess. While Claire and Willoughby get to know one another, Jamie goes off to a dark cellar to talk to Sir Percival, an Englishman who thinks none too highly of Jamie and to whom Jamie pays some kind of tax for selling something on “High Street.” Jamie is obviously up to some kind of illegal hustle, and the show is setting up the next major plotline, so I reckon we’ll have to keep an eye on this.

As their day ends, the Frasers go to a brothel where the Madame Jeanne, the proprietress, is none too pleased to learn Jamie has a wife. Jamie lives in the brothel and Claire is quietly seething. She asks if he’s living there because he’s such a good customer but Jamie assures his wife that Madame Jeanne is his customer, and the brothel is just a comfortable place to lay his head. As one does.

If you can believe it, this couple still has more questions before getting it on. “Sassenach, why have you come back?” Jamie asks, wanting to know if Claire is just passing through to let him know about Brianna or if she is there to be his wife. They talk more, and holy hell, all of this preamble is excruciating. Sure, it’s kind of romantic and true to what a reunion after twenty years would look like, but just as we have waited for six episodes, we’re now being forced to wait still longer within the episode. Jamie and Claire continue to reassure each other that the fire still roars between them. Still no sex, though, because now it is time for dinner.

After dinner—and yet more catching up—finally, FINALLY, Jamie invites Claire to bed, and she accepts his invitation. I accept his invitation. We all accept his invitation. They stare lovingly into each other’s eyes and start undressing as a fire crackles in the background. (The score is back to reminds us that they are about to bone. Bone tones. HA!) We are also painfully reminded that in ye olde times, people wore quite a lot of layers with complicated systems of fastening and closure. My god.

Jamie Claire Fraser Sex Outlander 306

PHOTO: Aimee Spinks/STARZ

When they are finally unwrapped, Claire is nervous as hell. Jamie reassures her, “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” You would think they would be getting down to it, but first they blabber a bit more about their wedding night. When they do kiss and fall onto the bed, Jamie practically breaks Claire’s nose. They try again and bump awkwardly again, and at this point the show is just being cruel but fine because once Jamie and Claire get going, it’s great. After she is revved all the way up, Claire orders, “Do it now and don’t be gentle.” Jamie does as he is told. It’s incredibly hot and breathy and grunty, and Claire and Jamie are both assured that they’ve still got it. High fives all around.

As far as I’m concerned, they should spend the rest of the episode in bed having incredible sex because that’s why I watch this show, but alas, I did not write this episode. They blabber some more during the afterglow, reaffirming their mutual admiration and sexual compatibility. Claire also tries to figure out what Jamie really does to make a living. Given the outstanding condition of his body, he is not merely working as a printer. She runs through some disreputable career options, but Jamie remains coy. He admits to being a traitor, arrested for sedition “six times in the past two years.” After a bit more cajoling, he also admits he’s a booze smuggler.

Thankfully, they stop talking and start having sex again, slower this time, now that the primal urge has been somewhat satisfied.

Then it’s time for more love talk. Claire asks Jamie, “Did you ever fall in love with anyone else, after I left?” and he says, “No, Sassenach. I never loved anyone but you.”

Reassured for the umpteenth time, Jamie and Claire start making love yet again (praises!). There’s a knock on the door because breakfast is ready, but Jamie sends the food away. Claire asks, “Don’t you want to eat?” and Jamie grins, while sliding down Claire’s body because he knows where breakfast is really at: between a woman’s thighs.

When they have finally satiated themselves, Jamie leaves Claire in bed because he has to go handle some smuggler business. While she is lounging, Ian Murray, Claire’s nephew, shows up and they have a mini-family reunion. It’s kind of hilarious how everyone handles Claire’s return with bemusement more than shock.

Claire heads downstairs to find some food and sits down to eat with some of the women working at the brothel who mistake Claire for the new girl. It’s a charming, bawdy little scene where they discuss bathing techniques, birth control methods, and how to get a customer off fast. Unfortunately, Madame Jeanne interrupts and doesn’t at all appreciate Claire dining with the women. There’s something going on with the madam—perhaps she has feelings for Jamie, who knows.

When Claire returns to her room, there’s trouble—a man waiting, threatening Claire and wanting to know where Jamie’s ledgers are. She orders him to get out but he is unmoved, grabbing her by the throat—a strange way to end such a lovely episode. This show will never stop relying on the imperiled woman as a plot device and it’s particularly infuriating to do so at the end of an episode filled with such love, passion, and overall sexiness. It’s as if the show is determined to remind viewers that women on this show are never, ever safe. There are some things, I guess, that cannot be escaped, not even in fantasy.

Roxane Gay is the author of Bad Feminist, Difficult Women, and most recently, Hunger. She is also the author of World of Wakanda for Marvel and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times.

Watch Claire and Jamie’s reunion—at last!—here:

More Outlander:



Source link

Categories
Health

'Riverdale' Season 2 Episode 2 Recap: More Bloodshed, and More Cheryl


Tonight’s Riverdale was dark, bloody, and, honestly, pretty terrifying. Two more people were shot. Betty blackmailed Cheryl. This wholesome town is falling apart. I won’t waste your time with more build-up, so let’s just get to the good stuff. Spoilers ahead, obviously.

Some miserable troll has vandalized Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. The owner, Pop, is devastated by this, and I seriously can’t handle this normally-jolly man looking so sad.

Remember, Archie’s now on a mission to protect his father, Fred, from the shooter who’s still at large. His method for doing this last week was sitting in the hallway wielding a bat; this week, it’s guzzling soda and bringing Fred toast in bed. Archie seriously needs to simmer down; he keeps calling Sheriff Keller to learn more about the shooter, but Keller (smartly) isn’t returning his calls. Archie’s an unstable child, people. He should just drop this case and go back to being shirtless and singing or whatever he did last season.

Veronica’s very hot (but probably still evil) father, Hiram, pesters her about having dinner with him and her mother. Privy to her father’s criminal ways, she says “never.” Again, smart move. He’s sketch.

PHOTO: CW

The Core Four is very sad that Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe is in shambles, so Betty and Veronica start planning an event to save it. Meanwhile, Jughead meets his father’s (F.P.) lawyer at the sheriff’s station. I literally forgot F.P. was in jail because I care so little about the Jones family. F.P.’s facing 20 years in jail, so Jughead’s naturally shook about that. He starts crying. Even his beanie quivers. Archie’s too distracted with Fred’s shooter to be a good friend about this.

Jughead asks a South Side Serpent to help him bust F.P. out of jail; the Serpent laughs at this, calls Jughead a child (he is), and says a “Snake Charmer”—whatever that is—is who Jughead needs to contact. The “Snake Charmer” is, apparently, a Serpent lawyer named Penny Peabody. She tells Jughead having the Blossom family forgive F.P. in front of a judge would help his case. But taking advice from Penny was a mistake: F.P. frantically calls Jughead and tells him not to talk to her anymore and that he doesn’t want to “be in bed” with a “Snake Charmer.”

Archie confronts Sherriff Keller about why the police is sleeping on Fred’s shooter. He volunteers to go patrolling with the police to find the perp, which sounds like something a 9-year-old boy would say. Archie’s essentially a toddler who wants to play Cops and Robbers, and Sherrif Keller’s like, “Yo, just chill and drink your Capri Sun.”

Lurking Betty notices Archie hasn’t been sleeping in his room, so she asks Veronica to confront him about it. He tells Veronica’s he’s been staying up all night downstairs with a baseball bat to stop Fred’s shooter if/when he shows up. Veronica’s response to this is pretty much, “I’m rich and gorgeous and don’t know how to handle this; go see the school counselor.” Honestly, that’s how I’d react too.

Jughead and Betty go to Mayor McCoy and ask her to turn Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe into a town landmark; she refuses, and then Jughead asks her if she’s cool sending F.P. to jail for a murder he didn’t commit. She’s pretty whatever about it, which means she’s my new favorite character. Jughead threatens Mayor McCoy and tells her to remember this as the day she turned her back on Pop and F.P. This is supposed to be dramatic, but I think Jughead is ridiculous, so I’m unfazed.

Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks

PHOTO: The CW

A new character, Midge Klump, asks Reggie Mantle about something called “Jingle Jangle.” Spoiler: It’s a drug, because Reggie says he can “score some” for Midge and her boyfriend, Moose. Archie also asks Reggie for “Jingle Jangle” to help him stay awake and keep guard of his house. Reggie agrees, and also adds that “Jingle Jangle” will give Archie a lengthy erection, which, gross.

Betty goes on some rant to Veronica and Kevin about how Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe is sentimental to her, which is why she wants to save it. Blah blah blah. Their powwow is interrupted by Veronica’s dad, who shows up with flowers to talk to her. Veronica says she can’t go back to the way things with were with him because she now knows what a crook he is. I mean, true, but he’s also a damn snack.

Cheryl. Is. Here. The first thing she does is call Veronica and Betty “Humpty” and “Dumpty.” Thank God. Josie is the Riverdale Vixens’ newest recruit, but she has one request: to be in front. Betty asks Cheryl if the Vixens would perform at their “Save Pop’s” event, to which she replies, “I did not emerge from the frozen depths of Sweetwater River nor the flames of Thornhill to allow my Vixens to sling milkshakes at some death-cursed diner.” She’s a national treasure.

Archie finds out about Ms. Grundy getting murdered, and he flips. He obviously thinks this hit and his father’s shooting are connected, and he asks Alice Cooper to investigate. Because Grundy was strangled with a cello bow and Fred was shot, Alice says the likelihood of the crimes being committed by the same person is slim. Obviously, Archie doesn’t believe this. He thinks Grundy’s unstable ex committed both crimes, but Sheriff Keller shuts down his hysterics. Again, just drink your juice, Archie.

In a heated confrontation at the Lodge house, Hiram claims he isn’t responsible for Fred’s shooting. Veronica then asks Hiram about the letter she received that said Hermione would get hurt if she didn’t testify on his behalf. As it turns out, Hermione herself wrote that letter to coerce Veronica into testifying. This family is shady, shady, shady (but also sexy, so it’s fine).

Jughead and Betty go to Cheryl’s new house to beg Cheryl and her creepy mom to accept F.P.’s in-court apology. Cheryl calls Betty and Jughead “Hobo” and “Bride of Hobo” and refuses their request.

But wait! Dark Betty makes a brief, psycho appearance to blackmail Cheryl into testifying on F.P.’s behalf; she says she’ll wide-release the video of Clifford Blossom shooting Jason if Cheryl doesn’t. Cheryl complies—and even tells the court Clifford threatened F.P. to force him into covering up Jason’s murder. Damn. After Cheryl does this, Betty honors her word and gives Jason’s death tape back.

Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks

PHOTO: The CW

A chat with Jughead suddenly gives Veronica a change of heart about her hot-but-evil parents: She wants to start over with them, but this is a bad idea. Hiram and Hermione told Veronica they made a “charitable donation” to save Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe; however, they actually bought it from under Pop’s nose.

Wait! Hermione lied! Hiram really did write that letter threatening Hermione’s life if Veronica didn’t testify for him. And they definitely have a suspicious agenda for buying the Chock’lit Shoppe! These two are slimy snakes, and Veronica has no idea! S.O.S!

At the “Save Pop’s” event, Archie can’t stop staring at this dude in the parking lot wearing glasses. His name is Dilton Doiley, and Archie apparently asked him to get him a gun. They meet on a deserted bridge to complete the transaction. Archie’s officially off the rails.

But not as off the rails as this masked shooter. At the end of the episode, he shoots two more people: Midge and Moose, who were high off the “Jingle Jangle” Reggie gave them. More carnage! Why is this friggin’ show so violent now?!? I need an adult.



Source link

Categories
Health

'This Is Us' Season 2 Episode 4 Recap: Kate Finds Out Something Life-Changing


Tonight’s episode of This Is Us revealed something huge—and I mean huge. I don’t even want to do any throat-clearing; let’s just get right to the recap, which is organized by character and time period this week. (Spoilers ahead, of course.)

The ’80s:

It’s snowing. The Pearson clan is at a video store, and Rebecca’s trying to force everyone to watch Broadcast News. Hmm, first Tom Hanks movies and now this; Rebecca has some vanilla-AF taste. Young Kevin apparently has the chicken pox, and I know I should feel sorry for him, but he’s a terror, so I’m ambivalent.

Child Kate also has the chicken pox, and a doctor encourages Child Randall to also contract them because of…reasons. It’s allegedly good for siblings to get this sickness at the same time. Moving on. Rebecca’s horrible mom shows up unexpectedly to help with the chicken pox-infected children, which will obviously end badly. If you forgot, this woman sucks. She literally bought Child Kate a Little Mermaid costume that was too small and said it can be her “goal dress.” She then gives Randall a basketball because…he’s black?! She’s a monster.

Jack’s grand plan to help Child Kevin deal with his chicken pox is having him growl like a tiger. It’s supposed to be cute, but it’s mostly just loud. Rebecca’s mom walks by and tells them to STFU, which is the first (and only) time this episode I liked her.

She quickly fell back into my bad graces when she insulted Child Randall’s science project. How can you be mean to Child Randall? He’s the most angelic creature on Earth. Oh, Jack now also has the chicken pox, which means Rebecca’s going to be stuck alone with her maybe-racist mom and the sick kids.

“Did Grandma shoot him?!” — Child Randall, asking if his racist grandmother killed Martin Luther King Jr.

Yup, Rebecca’s mom is definitely racist. She makes some disgusting comment about how it’s shocking Randall got into private school and not Kevin and Kate. Rebecca, naturally, blows up at her mom, saying she’s not going to expose Randall to such demeaning behavior. She flat-out calls her mom a racist…and Child Randall is right behind her, hearing this entire thing. Oof. So difficult to watch—and also, true to This Is Us form, emotional whiplash. We went from 0 to 100 in five seconds. White Jack explaining to 10-year-old Randall what micro-aggressive racism is might be the most awkward, cringe-worthy thing that’s ever happened on this show.

Rebecca and Jack are so desperate to get Rebecca’s mom out of their house that Jack goes outside—with the chicken pox—to shovel snow off the driveway so she can drive home. Rebecca’s mom says Randall is “foreign” to her and that she has to “try” to see him as part of their family. Rebecca, obviously, is having none of this, but things end on a somewhat sweet note: Rebecca’s mom looks at Randall’s final, finished science project and calls him a special boy. Randall, the shady icon he is, simply responds, “It took you long enough [to realize that].” Kid Randall for all the Emmys.

Present Day Randall

Randall and Beth’s foster child, Déjà, still DGAF about connecting with their family. They notice that Déjà hasn’t washed her hair since she’s moved in, and Beth says they need to have a hygiene talk with her about it. Randall doesn’t want to because he’s afraid it’ll push her further away—which is understandable. That’s a difficult conversation to have!

Oh no. Adult Randall takes the girls bowling, and one of the girls at the alley makes a joke about Déjà’s “nasty” hair. This causes Randall and the girl’s father to get into a full-on fight, which ends in Déjà saying she isn’t Randall’s daughter. This is all very sad and difficult to watch. I miss when Randall was just hot and made dad jokes. Randall gives in and asks Beth to chat with Déjà about her hair.

“Are we seriously having a conversation right now about the order of Annie’s boo-boo kiss?” — Beth

Which was the right decision all along. Beth gives Déjà a genuinely moving speech about how her sisters bonded by doing each other’s hair. This softens Déjà up, and she asks Beth to do her hair. Beth is the best person on this show, and I’m crying.

Déjà apparently has a hair condition that causes locks to fall out when she’s stressed—and it appears her traumatic childhood has only made that worse. Beth offers to braid Déjà’s hair in order to cover up the patches. Again, this is all so beautiful and wonderful, and that’s all I have to say.

Randall opens up about his panic attacks to Déjà in an attempt to connect with her. I get why he’s choosing this method, but isn’t that a little deep for a pre-teen? He tells Déjà Beth told him about her stress-related hair problems; Déjà’s understandably upset by this. She cuts all her braids off in retaliation, and Beth is devastated.

Present Day Kate and Kevin

Kate’s working out and trying to distract herself from the muffin placed in front of her. Meh, this is exactly the kind of reductive weight-loss crap I thought we were done with. Anyway, Toby tells Kate her weight-loss goals have turned obsessive and that they haven’t been connecting (read: boning). This is annoying; like, Kate has her plate full, man. Stop making her feel bad for not sleeping with you! Apparently, her first big singing gig is happening soon, and she has a dress she’s determined to fit into. This is similar to the “goal” dress her grandmother bought her as a child. Yikes, what a destructive concept! Just buy clothes that fit!

This isn’t the only destructive thing Kate does, though. It appears she wants to buy herself pills or laxatives to help accelerate her weight-loss process. Maybe Toby’s right about this turning into an obsession. She ultimately fits into the singing-gig dress, but for some reason she isn’t happy about it. WTF?

Adult Kevin’s a colossal idiot and didn’t tell the medic on the set of his movie that his knee is messed up. One of the producers is pissed about this, and now they have to change the shooting schedule. Kevin has to get surgery on his knee, and while under anesthesia he starts having flashbacks about his dad. It’s sad, but also, like, Kevin wouldn’t be in this situation if he wasn’t a flop actor.

“Look at all of that kiwi on a stick.” — Kevin

Kevin’s out of the hospital, and Toby and Kate agree to care for him. However, Toby flips out when Kate wants to go to her yoga class minutes after Kevin comes home, further confirming his controlling worm tendencies. Just let Kate live. Kevin refuses to take the pain medication prescribed to him, which is more evidence he has addiction issues. (Remember last week when we saw him take those pills and Kate made some ominous comment about how he’s just like Jack? Subtlety isn’t this show’s strong suit.) He tells Toby he’s going to rip his cast off so he can recover faster, which seems like a dumb idea. But this is Kevin, so I’m not surprised.

Awww, now I’m feeling a little sympathy for him, though. A production assistant drops off a revised movie script to his house, and it looks like they’ve cut some of his lines due to this injury. Toby walks in on Kevin working out his knee on the treadmill—the exact opposite of what the doctors told him to do. Kevin finally opens up about why he has such a complex about this: He was a star athlete in high school, but a knee injury forced him to stop playing, which irrevocably changed his future. Now he’s afraid the same thing will happen to his acting career if his knee doesn’t get under control. Here’s the thing, though: This is why he needs to rest! Ultimately, Kevin chooses to take the pain medication and go back to work which, if last week is any indication, is a bad, bad idea.

But who cares about any of this, because This Is Us just dropped the biggest bombshell to end all bombshells: Kate. Is. Pregnant. That‘s why she’s been such a stickler about her diet and fitness regimen. That‘s why she was eyeing laxatives/pills at the pharmacy (there were pregnancy tests in that store too). The final scene of this episode shows Kate having an ultrasound done; she’s six weeks along, and nobody knows. You guys, everything is about to change now. My body is covered head to toe in goosebumps, and I don’t care how ridiculous that makes me. This show is lit.

Parting thoughts: KATE IS PREGNANT!!!!

Related Stories:

The Story Behind Kate and Rebecca’s Explosive Fight on This Is Us



Source link

Categories
Health

The First Look at 'Glow' Season 2 Is Here


PHOTO: Erica Parise/Netflix

Netflix’s Glow is coming back next summer, and dare we say it? Their hair is even better than season one. At least, that’s what it seems from an Instagram Alison Brie posted of herself posing with Betty Gilpin in full hair and makeup. “We’re back…,” the caption reads.

But in case you somehow missed the 10-episode series (your loss, by the way), Glow—an acronym for Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling—is set in the world of 1980s female wrestling and features a stellar cast, including Brie, Gilpin, and Marc Maron. The female-driven show made a huge impact on its audience—as well as the cast. “I don’t even think this show is just about ‘girls can do it too,'” Brie told us ahead of the show’s release. “It’s about the world of wrestling and learning what that is and learning about your body and what your body is capable of. It’s about watching a group of people discover this unknown power that’s within themselves. It’s not just girls being like, ‘We can do it all!’ I think it’s also them sometimes doubting they can do it, wondering if they are doing it the right way, working with each other or against each other.”

“It never felt heavy-handed, and the situations were just situations that were challenging,” Maron added. “But I don’t think the show at all reads as ‘over the top with the feminist shit.’ It was played very straight-ahead, not melodramatic, not preaching in any way, and very organic. But it is 14 women—and a cranky guy.”

Here’s hoping season two will be just as effective. Until then, we’ll just be over here, twiddling our thumbs, and patiently waiting for it to premiere.

See More:

How Netflix Is Using Shows Like ‘GLOW’ to Change the TV Landscape for Women

The ’80s Trends You Probably Forgot About Until You Watched Glow

7 TV Shows with Body-Positive Messages



Source link

Categories
Health

'Dancing With the Stars' Season 25 Week 5: Sasha Pieterse and Gleb Savchenko Go Home on Disney Night


Last week’s Dancing With the Stars was all about tears, emotion, and more tears, so naturally the follow-up to that would be sparkles, dreams, and smiles in the form of Disney night. Truthfully, I’m here for it. But unfortunately, Sasha Pieterse and Gleb Savchenko aren’t—they’re the latest pair to get eliminated in season 25. I can’t say I’m shocked—I mean, this is DWTS after all; just because you have a built-in audience from a popular show doesn’t guarantee anything—but I also thought they’d last a few weeks longer. Sasha is a beautiful dancer and showed growth each week, which usually is the perfect formula for this show. Furthermore, she had been extremely open about her battle with Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome and learning to love her body. Regardless, she admitted it was hard to say goodbye, adding, “this is such a sad moment for me, but I’m grateful for the experience and to share my story.”

Fortunately, that was the only sad moment on Disney night, as everything else was pretty much rainbows and magic. Let’s get to the dances!

Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy: Len Goodman said Victoria and Val’s jazz routine was “fabulous” and “just like a Disney movie.” But seriously, their Steamboat Willie routine was pretty adorable, even if I found myself a little bored. Score: 27/30

Vanessa Lachey and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Sleeping Beauty and her Prince did a French-themed Waltz, but I was bored again. Bruno said it was “simply beautiful,” but Carrie Ann said there were moments where Vanessa “stopped herself mid-movement.” Maybe she fell asleep. I almost did. Score: 24/30

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: “When You Wish Upon a Star” gets the Foxtrot treatment from Lindsey and Mark, and once again—as beautiful as it was—I was bored. Maybe it’s because the press room didn’t get the Mickey Mouse ears treatment like the rest of the audience did, but I just wanted to be wowed. Or maybe I’m just out of emotion after last week. Anyway, Carrie Ann said the dance featured one of the “best holds I’ve ever seen,” and Len called it “delightful.” Score: 28/30

Nick Lachey and Peta Murgatroyd: Guess what, you guys? I won’t be using “bored” to describe this routine! The Jungle Book‘s been done before on DWTS, but it was nice to see a faster-paced dance this episode (the Quickstep pretty much ensures that). We may not have seen the best hold like Lindsey and Mark, or the smoothness of Victoria and Val, but it was fun and loose, and that’s worth a few votes in my book. Score: 22/30

Drew Scott and Emma Slater: OK, just so you guys don’t think I’m against all slow dances tonight, I was fully on board with Drew and Emma’s Viennese Waltz to “The Rainbow Connection.” (Extra points for Emma’s kaleidoscope of colors dress). The dance was creative, beautiful, and mesmerizing. I’m awake! Score: 25/30

Sasha Pieterse and Gleb Savchenko: If ABC ever wants to resurrect their idea to do a live-action Little Mermaid, they should look to Sasha and Gleb as Eric and Ariel because they nailed it. Carrie Ann praised Sasha for her “mesmerizing” movement, while Len told Gleb it was a “well-crafted routine.” Unfortunately, it’s now the last we’ll see of these two until the finale next month. Score: 24/30

Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke: Has there ever been a better Simba than Terrell Owens? Len agreed with me—finally!—and said, “for a big guy, you danced with speed and control.” Bruno said the footwork was better than usual, while Carrie Ann noted that something has shifted and there’s a new connectedness between him and Cheryl. I think it’s safe to say that Terrell is now the biggest surprise of the season. Score: 25/30

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: Frankie said being sexy has never really been his thing, but Witney brought out his inner swagger and he dominated as Captain Jack Sparrow in his Pirates of the Caribbean routine. “There was so much intensity, and you nailed it,” Carrie Ann said of their Argentine Tango. Len couldn’t stop raving either. Suddenly, Frankie has all the momentum in this competition. Score: 29/30

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: Jordan and Lindsay danced a stellar Foxtrot to Moana, and Bruno said the technique was absolutely perfect. Len added that the dance was so good he’s willing to overlook any slight mistake (I’m not sure there even was one to begin with). Their hard work paid off, because they get the first perfect score of the season. Score: 30/30

Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev: Nikki said she couldn’t wait to connect to her Mexican roots by dancing a Jazz routine to the new Pixar movie, Coco. She proved this by speaking Spanish to Artem and said that all her nieces and nephews call her Coco, so this was a perfect match. Len said the dance summed up the entire night: It was joyous, fun, and all the flavors of Mexico. Score: 27/30



Source link