This is a mad one to review, so bear with me here.
For what it's worth, I took an auditing session in Liverpool (Beatles country for non-Brits) in 1998/99... in a tent, because I am a writer and have always followed the works of Vonnegut, Dick and Hubbard and other SciFi writers. I was with three friends at the time and was directed to come into the tent on my own; but my girlfriend at the time, could sit at a line of chairs in the back of the tent. I noticed that there were people approaching these people with pamphlets, so I asked her if she would get me a burger from Wimpy instead.
A southern (UK) woman began by asking about my religious upbringing and I swear, she was, or it felt like, hitting on me. Tom Cruise and John Travolta was mentioned and I think even Yoda was at one point. Whether this was a ploy or not, I don't know, but there was a guy in a red or blue jacket (I think), standing a few feet behind her, side on, pretending not to listen (in the most idiotic way ever, I could him eyeballing me through his ear).
Anyhow, after this initial pep-talk, I was taken to another desk by the guy and sat down opposite another woman who had a weird American/English accent - it was as if she was a Yank, putting on a torrid English accent, think Johnny Depp in From Hell.
There was a separator on the desk and the woman introduced herself and told me that I was to receive my free auditing session and that I should hold these devices. I really didn't know what these devices were, but I knew enough about electronics to know that I was completing some kind of circuit. I mean, as soon as I held onto them, I felt an instant buzz in my body and then the woman said "Now, squeeze all your feelings into them" (wtf?) - I was massively hungover this day and was hanging like death on a bike. I got a bit paranoid at the time because I remember having this weird feeling in my teeth (yes) and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up.
Now, I got electrocuted as a kid when I reached into a traffic light box thinking there was something inside; I immediately pulled my hand out and pretended like nothing had happened. I instantaneously got that feeling of what it was like ALL the way back then, in one instant - I mean it, it was bizarre man.
I felt weirdly susceptible and she asked me if I was feeling anything that was "stressing me at this moment in time" - at which point, I threw the cans onto the table and said something to the effect of "Yes, these effing cans are electrocuting me and that guy is eyeballing me and you've just asked me if I'm feeling stressed" - it was as if it was set-up in a way... and I was right, the guy was eyeballing me because he came right over to me and escorted me out of the tent (well, he tried).
Anyhow, all those feelings came back when I watched this seeries (no pun intended) - I didn't know who Leah Remini was, but upon watching it, I knew I had seen her face somewhere before and at first, I was thinking "this is either another Scientology ploy, or a vehicle for Remini" - her name is on the series and the focus is all her (with Mike Rinder as the loveable sidekick).
But I've always been interested in Scientology because of my experience and have watched every show from here to timbucktoo on the subject because I swear these guys are indoctrinating people by way of Tesla - those auditing machines, they're the 'crux' for a reason - why is 'Remininder; not investigating this?
After watching a few episodes I got into it and I began to actually like Remini, she seemed cuckoo and the kind of person you'd have colonics with. The series grew on me and I do now have a better understanding of the cult (on a personal level), and this is one of the better shows out there.
I have not give it a thumbs up or thumbs down yet as I want to see it through - if there is no resolution I will feel cheated as shows ike these should have a resolution... a good one. You can't really review a programme of this nature, but you can only watch and make up your own judgement, which is the whole point.
Go. Watch!
