Netflix
Firefly Lane Review – Sweet Child O’ Mine (1×05)
Motherhood, what a complex, scary, and beautiful thing all wrapped up into one.
Firefly Lane Season 1 Episode 5 digs into the idea of motherhood, the stages of motherhood, and the different mother’s in this world in a beautifully crafted and highly-emotional episode.
It also observes the idea of birth, death, and rebirth through several characters, even the four-legged friend ones.
I’ve been waiting to see Johnny and Kate in their “prime” when they welcomed Marah and started this new life together, and this episode delivered all that and more. Though, I’m still hoping we get to see the moment the duo decided they had feelings for each other back at the station as we’ve only seen Kate “crushing” on Johnny.
In the flashbacks, Kate went through the typical range of emotions for a pregnant woman — she was terrified of losing herself, her career, and the life that she’s grown accustomed to. As Tully put it, there’s nothing more terrifying than getting your heart’s desire (Brooke Davis taught me that one). However, all of Kate’s problems just disappeared the moment she went into labor — she drove herself because Tully was tequila-drunk, naturally — and when she held her baby girl in her arms.
Tully was supportive throughout Kate’s entire pregnancy, but it was heartbreaking to see that little girl who got lost at the protest come to the surface once the baby was born.
She’s been so dependent on Kate throughout her life, and now Kate was moving into this new chapter that didn’t necessarily prioritize her.
Kate had the husband, the baby, the family, while Tully was left all alone.
But the episode also showed the ebbs and flows of life, which come at you hard and unexpectedly.
In the present-day, Tully was the one who had it “all” — the career, the guy, and the pregnancy, while Kate was left all alone. The life that she knew and was used to was falling apart, and that was underscored even more profoundly by the death of their dog.
Dog scenes hit me in a different way, and if you’re a dog-lover and/or owner, you were likely in shambles watching the Ryan family say goodbye to their long time friend.
After they put him to sleep, Marah decided she wanted to go to her best friend’s house, while Johnny packed up his things and went back to his bachelor pad. And Kate was left all by herself for the first time ever.
While I fully expected her to grab a glass of wine and cry it out by the fireplace, she did something more liberating instead: she went skinny dipping in her pool. It was a change of pace for the usually conservative Kate.
It was also symbolic of rebirth as she entered this new chapter in her life.
Also entering a new chapter was Tully and she had some big decisions. Between puking sessions, she had to decide if she was going to keep this baby and be a mother, which is something she seems to have avoided all her life out of the fear of repeating her mother’s mistakes.
In the same way that she was there for Kate, Kate was now there for her all these years later.
The only way Tully would arrive at the right decision was by reaching out to the father, Max, and when she did, she was pleasantly surprised.
Tully kept herself pretty closed off from emotions and feelings while with Max previously, but this time, she really gave it a shot and got to know him. They went on a date and held hands and enjoyed each other’s company. I liked Max from the beginning because he brings out a more vulnerable side of Tully, but after seeing them spend the day together, I like him even more. He’s the perfect gentleman and cares about her a lot.
It seemed as though Tully wasn’t going to drop the bomb on him after their perfect day, but then she blurted out “I’m pregnant” as the elevator doors began to close, and well, Max’s reaction was exactly what you’d expect.
It’s good that we know he and his ex broke up because he wanted a family because knowing Tully is pregnant is going to allow him to embrace the part of his life that he’s always wanted. That is if Tully can come to terms with it.
Tully also agreed to do the interview with Kimber Watts, Kate’s boss, and it seems we all underestimated her talents and how determined she is to get ahead. We’ve seen that kind of determination and dedication from Tully back in the day when she wanted her “big break,” so we have to admire it, but there’s no excuse for going behind Kate’s back and putting Tully on blast like that. At least not without giving Tully the opportunity to provide a comment or defend herself and her character.
Though, I have to toot my own horn and tap myself on the shoulder for correctly guessing that Cloud was still alive and simply “dead” to Tully metaphorically.
Do you think Kimber overstepped? Or is this her being a good journalist?
In a flashback scene to Kate’s baby shower, we also see Sean’s wife/ baby momma, who explains that the duo had trouble conceiving and that he always said it felt like work, which I don’t doubt, but that means that Sean’s been repressing his truth since about the late 80s/early 90s as it looks to be the same woman he showed up to the recital with.
He’s clearly tortured by having to pretend to be someone he’s not, and I can’t wait till he finally comes clean and comes out to his family!
The wait is almost over.
On June 18, Elite returns for its fourth season, but aside from a few new faces and a new principal hellbent on making a difference, things at Las Encinas haven’t changed much at all.
In fact, things are more dramatic than ever.
The premiere of Elite evokes the same feelings as the start of the school year — there’s a rush of excitement for what’s to come.
The series indulges in more of what has made it such a success: scandal, parties, threesomes, love triangles, intrigue, crime, and sex. So. Much. Sex.
I always forget just how many vivid sex scenes there are until I get pulled into a new season, but I’m very quickly reminded.
The first day of school for Guzman (Miguel Bernardeau), Samu (Itzan Escamilla), Ander (Arón Piper), Rebeka (Claudia Salas), Cayetana (Georgina Amorós), and Omar (Omar Ayuso) is bittersweet. While they may be getting another shot at repeating their final year, their classmates Carla, Lu, Nadia, and Valerio have moved on to bigger and better things. It’s a bummer to lose such a great group of characters, but you almost don’t feel their absence when the new crop of students takes their place, flips the world upside down for current students, and simultaneously ushers in a brand new mystery.
ÉLITE (L to R) MIGUEL BERNADEU as GUZMÁN, MARTINA CARIDDI as MENCÍA, ARÓN PIPER as ANDER, MANU RÍOS as PATRICK, CLAUDIA SALAS as REBECA, CARLA DÍAZ as ARI in ÉLITE. Cr. NIETE/NETFLIX © 2020
The new mystery anchors the story, and like in seasons past, it plays out with flashbacks that lead up to the fated moment.
However, unlike in previous seasons, we find out pretty early on who is at the center of the mystery with the how remaining the big question mark.
But there’s no question about whether the Blanco family is involved.
As Ander tells the investigator, the toxic family’s arrival “tainted everything.”
Benjamin (Diego Martin) is the extremely rich new school director. He comes in like a bulldozer with big plans to rehabilitate Las Encinas and its reputation after a tumultuous few years that led to two student deaths. He begins his reign by setting his sights on Samu and Omar, who he doesn’t believe belong at the elite school.
Credit: Elite/ Netflix
It’s honestly surprising anyone wants to send their children to get an education there at this point.
Benjamin doesn’t waste any time making changes, but with his focus solely on “discipline, excellence, and achievement,” he fails to realize that his family’s arrival brings the bulk of the drama.
Immediately, you begin to wonder how Benjamin plans to fix a whole school if he can’t even control his own children — Ari (Carla Diaz), Patrick (Manu Rios), and Mencia (Martina Cariddi).
Benjamin has a fraught relationship with his youngest, Mencia, who has brought the family pain in the past and continues to rebel and defy her father at every turn.
Credit: Netflix/ Elite
She has a genuine connection with new girlfriend, Rebeka, but the relationship stirs up even more problems for Mencia as Benjamin disapproves and thinks Rebe is a bad influence considering her mother’s reputation as a drug kingpin.
Little does he know, Mencia has gotten into a world of trouble all on her own.
While Rebe’s relationship with Mencia grows into one of the purest this season, following Samu’s betrayal last season, she’s understandably closed off and cautious with her heart.
Ander and Omar are still going strong but find their relationship is tested in unexpected ways when they invite Patrick, Benjamin’s son, into the fold.
Patrick knows the power he wields over them and intentionally meddles in their lives, but there’s also much more to him than meets the eye.
Ari is Benjamin’s star child who respects and listens to her father, but to her peers, she’s the resident mean girl who is oftentimes uptight and has a chip on her shoulder.
She catches the eye of both Samu and Guzman, which fractures their budding friendship. These two have always fought over women, but last time, Samu was being protective over his best friend, Nadia, who Guzman is still dating when the season commences.
ÉLITE (L to R) CARLA DÍAZ as ARI in EPISODE 08 of ÉLITE. Cr. NIETE/NETFLIX © 2020
Nadia appears only via video chat from her New York apartment, and their relationship allows the series to explore the trials and tribulations of a long-distance relationship that’s tested as temptation lurks right around the corner for Guzman.
While Guzman stands a chance with Ari based solely on social class and standing, Ari and Samu connect unexpectedly in an academic setting.
Who will the love triangle favor in the end?
Additionally, the school has attracted the youngest royal heir in Europe, Prince Philippe (Pol Granch). The series flips the classic “princess and the pauper” narrative to “prince and the pauper” as he connects with the school’s janitor Cayetana, making all of her fantasies come true.
But as the saying goes, “be careful what you wish for” as this fairytale quickly turns into a nightmare when it’s revealed the prince has a dark secret, and Cayetana’s past secrets with the late Polo and Valerio come back to haunt her.
Overall, you know exactly what you’re getting into when you press play on the fourth season. The writers have managed to deliver yet another incredibly intoxicating season about a group of lost souls looking for a purpose and tapping into the extreme lengths they’ll go to numb their pain.
Elite hits Netflix on Friday, June 18 with eight brand-new episodes.
*This review is based on the first four episodes of season 4 that were available to the press*
There’s plenty of baby talk going around in the Virgin River Season 3 trailer!
Netflix dropped the trailer for the upcoming drama on Friday, June 11 and it doesn’t waste any time answering the question on everyone’s mind: does Jack survive?
It’s quite an obvious answer considering there is no show without Jack, but if it’s been keeping you up at night, the good news is that he does.
Of course, that doesn’t put the question of who shot him to rest. (And we have some theories you can check out right here!)
As he recovers, he’s blessed to have Nurse Mel by his side.
With their romance finally heating up, the nosy locals in town begin asking questions about their future — is marriage in the cards? And what about babies?
Mel’s history will definitely come into play, especially as it was always her dream to have a child. But Jack is a new father to twins (at least we think they’re his) with his ex Charmaine.
Luckily, Charmaine is no longer hung up on him as she’s found a new man who is there for her and the kids!
The adventures of the Pogues will continue on Netflix.
The streaming giant renewed Outer Banks for a second season last year, but now, we have a summer premiere date and the first trailer!
The drama will officially return on Friday, July 30!
Check it out:
The season will pick up with the JJ, Kiara and Pope paying tribute to their friends John B and Sarah, who they think died at sea. However, John B and Sarah Cameron were saved by a boat on its way to Nassau where Ward stashed his gold.
Here’s the official synopsis for season 2:
“The $400M is still in the game, but will the uncovering of a new-found secret reunite the group for a fresh mission? The adventure of a lifetime awaits, but uncharted waters ahead mean our Pogues must do all they can to make it out alive,” per the official description.
-
The Bold Type3 weeks agoThe Bold Type Season Premiere Review – Trust Fall (5×01)
-
Chicago P.D3 weeks agoChicago PD Season Finale Review – The Other Side (8×16)
-
Netflix5 days ago‘Outer Banks’ Gets Season 2 Summer Premiere Date on Netflix – Watch the Trailer
-
The Baker and the Beauty3 weeks agoMemorial Day Weekend: 5 Best TV Shows and Movies to Binge-Watch
-
Debris3 weeks agoDebris Season Finale Review – Finola Is Betrayed (1×13)
-
This Is Us3 weeks agoThis Is Us Season Finale Review – The Wedding Twist No One Saw Coming (5×16)
-
Chicago Fire3 weeks agoChicago Fire Season Finale Review – No Survivors (9×16)
-
Superman & Lois3 weeks agoSuperman & Lois Review – Man of Steel (1×07)