douglasjordane

THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK: A SOPRANOS STORY (MY IMDb RATING: 7 OF 10 STARS)

JOHN MAGARO AS STEVEN VAN ZANDT WAS WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION. THAT WAS A HILARIOUS PORTRAYAL, WATCHING MAGARO'S ACTING CRAFT AT WORK, PLAYING A YOUNG SILVIO. AT FIRST IT WAS HARD TO RECOGNIZE THOSE SUPPORTING ROLE CHARACTERS, BUT THE SILVIO CHARACTER HITS YOU ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. IT MADE ME SMILE!

AS FOR THIS "COMING OF AGE OF MICHAEL GANDOLPHINI," THE VERDICT IS STILL OUT. I BELIEVE THE WRITING WAS MORE TO BLAME FOR THIS STORY NOT QUITE HITTING THE MARK OF SOPRANOS' LEVEL SCRIPT WRITING EXCELLENCE. IN FAIRNESS, VERY FEW SCRIPTS WOULD COMPARE TO THE ORIGINAL SOPRANOS SERIES.

THE STORYLINE, THEREFORE, DID NOT LIVE UP TO SOPRANOS LEVEL CHARM AND GENIUS. HOWEVER, THE APPROACH AND PLOT ENDING SUFFICED IN BEING THE OTHER PART OF THE OVERALL APPEAL OF GETTING A PASSING MARK.

7 OF 10 STARS.

I DO NOT KNOW OF WHAT I WATCH. I DO KNOW WHEN WHAT I WATCH IS BAD. BAD IN A GOOD WAY. BAD TO THE BONE. SOMETHING ABOUT KATY SAGALL AND WOMEN WITH BIG DICK ENERGY THAI I FIND INTRIGUING AND TITILLATING!

I JUST ARRIVED AT THE PARTY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON BY HAPPENSTANCE. I WAS IN SEARCH OF SOME BAD-ASSERY OF ANOTHER PERCHANCE WATCHING ENCOUNTER. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, I FOUND THIS BAD INSTEAD. FOR THAT, I AM FORTUNATE AND HAPPY.

TWO THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE PRESENTED IN BLACK IMAGERY: MONKEES AND EMASCULATION. I COULD GO ON BUT THE ORVILLE HAS NOT STRAYED FROM THIS PATH -EVEN WITH MY FIRST WARNING ABOUT CLAIRE TAKINGS ISAACS FILTHY BANANA. FORGIVE ME, I DIGRESS.... BUT KLYDEN AND BORTUS RE-SANCTIFICATION CEREMONY WAS VERY UNSETTLING.

MAYBE THAT IS THE IRONIC HUMOR IN ALL OF THIS: TO SHOW THINGS IN A BAD LIGHT OR BLACK LIGHT. WHERE THE ORVILLE HAS MERIT IS IN THESE VERY CONTROVERSIAL STORIES AND SUBJECTS. THE DRAMA AND THE STORY HAVE A COHERENT COHESION.

MARRIAGE AND WEDDINGS ARE A GREAT WAY TO END A SEASON SINCE THE POPULARITY OF THE SERIAL NUPTIALS OF LUKE AND LAURA FROM THE SOAP OPERAS. WELL IT HAS BEEN FUN AND ENTERTAINING AT TIMES.

THIS EPISODE TITLE IS THE VERY CONCLUSION TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS SHOW. THE ORVILLE CAN CONTINUE. IT MAY EVEN SURPASS STAR TREK IN THE REALM OF THIS MODERN AGE OF A SKITTLES UNIVERSE -AND AS FAR AS SPACE WESTERNS CAN TAKE US IN ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE ARE ENOUGH HOURS TO SPEND ON SUCH AN EXHAUSTED GENRE. THE ANSWER IS APROPOS: THE FUTURE IS UNKNOWN.

ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN THOUGH. THE ORVILLE GIVES THE BEST WEDDINGS AND PARTING CELEBRATIONS -EVEN THOUGH IT IS WAY OFF SCRIPT. THE WRITING IS BOLD ENOUGH TO GO WHERE OTHERS HAVE FAILED.

8 OF 10 STARS

OVERALL SEASON RATING 8.1 STARS.

THE ORVILLE NH: 3:9 DOMINO

ODE TO CHARLIE

CHARLIE BURKE WAS A PURE MANIACAL HATER. YET, ONE IS COMPELLED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER HUMANITY AND HER SACRIFICE. ONE WOULD THINK THAT SOMEHOW THE WRITERS OF THE SHOW WOULD HAVE FOUND A WAY TO SAVE HER. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS NOT HOW THIS STORY GOES.

THE FIGHTING SCENES WERE PREDICTABLY INCREDIBLE IN A BAD WAY. HOWEVER, THE STORY WAS ALIVE AND EPIC FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A VIEWER. THIS WAS IMPRESSIVELY SILVER SCREEN CINEMATIC...AND, DARE I SAY, BETTER THAN ANY STAR TREK MOVIE TO DATE. IN SPITE OF THE OBVIOUS FLAWS, THE STORY MADE ME LAUGH AND CRY. WHAT MORE EVIDENCE WOULD YOU NEED TO GIVE AN ODE TO ENSIGN CHARLIE BURKE!

10 OF 10 STARS.

MESSING WITH THE TIMELINE IS TRICKY BUSINESS; ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG WITH THE PREMISE OR PLOT. FOR INSTANCE, THE KAYLON ATTACK TO WIPE OUT HUMANITY DOES NOT WARRANT REVERSING THE TIMELINE, BUT IMAGINED LIVE DOES WARRANT THE CHANGING IF THE PAST. THE KAYLONS WISH TO ATTACK AND TAKE TIMELINE TECHNOLOGY FROM THE INFERIOR HUMANS, BUT DO NOT POSSESS THE SUPERIOR CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE IT THEMSELVES.

THE THING THAT THIS EPISODE HAS DONE CORRECTLY IS TO CREATE A COMPELLING STORY THAT IS MORE INTERESTING THAN THE TECHNOLOGY THAT CREATED THE SCENARIO IN THE FIRST PLACE. THAT STORY IS BRILLIANT AND INTRIGUING.

ULTIMATELY, IT WAS HARD TO BUILD ENOUGH CREATIVE JUICES TO CONVINCE THE IMAGINATION TO STICK THAT LANDING, BUT WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE A DO-OVER.

9 OF 10 STARS.

CLAIRE HAS A ROBOTIC FETISH THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY. SHE IS STILL INTO ISAAC MORE THAN ISAAC WANTS TO BE IN HER. THIS EPISODE EXPLORES ROBOTIC LOVE AND ITS HISTORY WITH OTHER SPECIES AS DOCILE SLAVES. THE LACK OF FEELING AND EMPATHY THAT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF MACHINE LIFE IS REVOLUTIONIZED. GENDER ROLES AND CONCEPTS OF GROUP EXPLOITATION, MARGINALIZATION AND HATRED ARE CHALLENGED AS PART OF AN INTERTWINING BACK STORY.

ULTIMATELY, THE PLOT REACHES NO COHERENT PURPOSE OR CLOSURE. THE STORY MERELY OPENS THE BEGINNINGS OF NEW INTERACTIONS AT HOME AND ABROAD. HERE WE SEE SOME COMIC RELIEF AND ROMANCE INJECTED INTO THE NARRATIVE TO BALANCE OUT THE SPECTRUM OF CREATIVITY. WHAT WE DO NOT COMPREHEND, AS MUCH, IS WHY IS THIS ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTION IMPORTANT TO VIEWERS.

8 OF 10 STARS.

I DO NOT LIKE DEPICTIONS OF HARM PRESENTED TO CHILDREN. I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS A BIGGER STORY HERE. THE BIGGER PICTURE IS TO THE AWARENESS OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS FOR MERELY HAVING DIFFERENT FEELINGS OF PERSONAL IDENTITY. THE DIFFERENCES, IF NOT ACCEPTED, CAN TEAR APART THE FAMILY; THE COMMUNITY; THE NATION AND THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT.

THE ENDING WAS CHEESY AND PREDICTABLE. HOWEVER, IF THE MESSAGE OF ACCEPTANCE OF OTHERS THAT CHOOSE TO DEFINE THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES IN THEIR TRUTH IS PROMINENTLY CONVEYED, THEN THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT IS WITHIN OURSELVES.

8 OF 10 STARS.

THE DIE CAST AND THE MOLD IS SET

AT LEAST THE CLIMAX TO THIS SEASON FINALE WAS ENTERTAINING AND NOT STUPID. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STORY IS NOT CREDIBLE. A WHOLE SEASON WAS RUINED BECAUSE OF A BIG CREATIVE MISTAKE. AS WITH ALL THE LIVES OF FRANKLIN SAINT AND THE PEOPLE OF HIS STORY, THERE IS NO UNDOING WHAT HAS BEEN SET INTO PLACE.

NOW ALL OF THE GOOD CHARACTERS THAT WE LOVE HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR LIFE. THEY ARE GONE BUT CISSY REMAINS.

9 OF 10 STARS.

THE L. S. D. L. A. P. D. DEBACLE

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE L. S. D. WRITING DEBACLE? SPIKING THE WEDDING FONDUE WITH PSYCHEDELICS MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOST STUPIDEST SABOTAGE OF A DRAMA SERIES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE "FUN" HAD IN CREATING THAT CRAP EITHER HAS TO BE UNDONE OR THE CREDIBILITY OF THE STORY HAS TO BE REINFORCED WITH MORE INCREDULOUS SCENARIOS: OR IN THIS CASE, YOU TRY TO DO BOTH CLEAN-UP METHODS. THIS IS SURELY THE FIRST NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR THIS SERIES.

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT UNFOLDS OR TRANSPIRES AFTER THE LSD DEBACLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS WHAT THIS PRODUCTION IS TRYING TOO HARD TO GET US TO BELIEVE. THIS EPISODE PROVES WHY THE "FUN THEORY" DOES NOT WORK AND WHY THE CLEAN-UP IS THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THAT DEMISE. GOOD LUCK WITH CREDIBILITY ON THIS SHOW FROM HERE ON OUT.

6 OF 10 STARS.

WHO HATES A WEDDING?

SOME CEREBRAL CELEBRATION THIS TURNED OUT TO BE....

L. S. D. IS LESS OF A PHILOSOPHICAL MIND TRIP ON ETHICS AND MORALITY. TO THE CONTRARY, ALL OF YOUR INHIBITIONS AND FEARS BECOME IRRELEVANT IN THE HALLUCINOGENIC PAISLEY PARK. THE VICISSITUDES OF REALITY ARE NOT IN ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATIONS OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS WHILE EXPERIENCING A PSYCHEDELIC TRIP. YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH.

HENCE, THIS IS THE REASON THAT A TRANSCENDENTAL "TRIP" IS DESCRIBED AS A FANTASTIC VOYAGE: A VACATION FROM HEAVY ANALYSIS AND THOUGHT FOR THE MORE SERENE SUBLIME OF VIVIDNESS AND COLOR -REPLACING REAL CONSCIOUSNESS. SOMEHOW THE WRITERS FAILED TO CONVEY THE FANTASTIC. INSTEAD THIS EPISODE IS DEPICTED AS A GROUP NIGHTMARE. THE REALITY IS THAT THIS WAS MORE ABOUT THE SILLY ABERRATIONS THAT TRANSPIRE EVERY TIME SISSY THE OMEN COMES BACK TO THE SCRIPT.

TRIPPING IS A DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL JOURNEY AND EXPERIENCE FOR EACH PERSON ON THE DRUG. THE EFFECT OF THE UNINTENTIONAL GROUP DRUG EXPERIENCE AT THIS WEDDING IS USED INCORRECTLY AND ABSORBED WITHOUT ANY TRUE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE. THIS SEEMS MORE LIKE THE WRITERS WERE ON VACATION AND THE JANITORIAL STAFF WERE TASKED TO FILL IN WITH THIS FILL-IN SCENARIO. THIS WAS VERY POORLY CONVEYED AND SOME TRAVESTY OF A PLOT TO THIS EPISODE ENSUED.

7 OF 10 STARS.

THIS PLACE IS TOO SMALL

THIS PLACE IS TOO SMALL FOR MY FLOOR PLANS. YOU ARE TRYING TO BUILD A STORY OF INTERNATIONAL ESPIONAGE WITH PEOPLE FROM THE PROJECTS. NOT ONLY IS IT NOT GOING TO WORK, IT IS GOING TO CAUSE EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BUILT TO BE DESTROYED.

I TOLD YOU THAT CISSY AND ALTON SAINT WERE THE OUTCASTS TO THIS STORY; AND THAT THEY WERE EXPENDABLE. I CAN NOT BE MORE EXPLICIT AS TO HOW EXPEDIENT IT IS TO EXPUNGE THEIR TOXIC STORYLINE FROM THIS PRODUCTION. EVER SINCE CISSY, AND THE GHOST OF ALTON, RETURNED THIS EPISODE, THEY HAVE BEEN AN OMEN TO THE SUCCESS OF THE SEASON.

LEON IS GOING TO START AN ARMED REVOLUTION IN THE PROJECTS AND CISSY IS GOING TO GET TEDDY KILLED. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY STUPID FLOOR PLAN TO MAP OUT FOR THE REST OF SEASON TO CARRY. AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I AM OUT OF THE GAME.

6 OF 10 STARS.

AND WHAT IS A GUARANTEE WITHOUT THE POWER TO ENFORE IT-EXCEPT THAT IT IS AN EMPTY PROMISE? PEOPLE WITH POWER TO CHANGE THINGS HAVE AN ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL DO SO. YOU CAN GET YOURSELF INTO SOME SERIOUS TROUBLE (EVEN DEATH) IF YOU ASK THE POWERFUL HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY DO.

THE ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE OF DOING BUSINESS HAS CHANGED TO THE DISLIKE AND DISAPPROVAL OF THE MOST POWERFUL PIECES. DO NOT BE TOO SMART TO ASK WHAT ANY OF THIS MEANS. IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW. RATHER, IT IS SIMPLY FOR YOU TO DO! IF YOU QUESTION HOW THE OPERATION IS RUN, YOU DO SO AT YOUR OWN PERIL.

10 OF 10 STARS.

THREATS THAT I PROMISE:

TEDDY LIKE IN ROOSEVELT. T LIKE IN TRUTH. P MEANS THAT I PROMISE THAT TEDDY IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THE POWER TO EXECUTE HIS THREATS -NOR IS FRANKLIN THE ONLY ONE TO FEAR ABOUT BEING SO CALCULATING AND COLD. I PROMISE YOU THAT I AM THE MAKER OF THEM BOTH! DO NOT TEST ME! GOT IT?

8 OF TENS STARS

UNDER CRYPTIC SKEPTICISM.

SEASON 5 IS OFF TO A SLOW START. THERE ARE MANY LOOSE ENDS TO BE TIED UP FROM SEASON 4. INSTEAD, WE GET THESE NEW AND UNEXPLAINED CHARACTERS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INTRIGUING. LET'S HOPE THIS WRITING STRATEGY WORKS. LET'S HOPE THIS IS JUST AN OPENING STRATEGY -RATHER THAN THIS BEING THE OVERALL MYSTERIOUS THEME FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON. I WILL NOT BE SO GENEROUS WITH MY RATING IF THE SCENARIO DOES NOT HAVE A LANDING SPOT.

9 OF 10 STARS.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! THIS FIRST SEASON CAN MAKE OR BREAK A TV SERIES. STAR WARS: KENOBI PASS THIS FIRST TEST VERY EASILY. THE TEST IS SIMILAR TO THE RESPECTIVE STORIES OF MOSES AND JESUS: YOU KNOW THE STORY; YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME; SO THE TRICK IS SHOWING THE STORY FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAT KEEPS THE STORY FROM BEING MONOTONOUS. I THINK DISNEY HAS FIGURED OUT THE TRICK TO TELLING AN OLD AND PREDICTABLE STORY VERY WELL.

OVERALL SEASON RATING: 9.5 OUT OF 10 STARS.

HERE IS TO HOPING THAT ALL ANNOYANCES DIE OFF THIS SEASON (3). MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOWEVER, LET US HOPE THAT THE PRODUCERS REALIZE THAT BLANDNESS, NOR SALTINESS, IS A GOOD RECIPE FOR A SEASON TO BE A SUCCESS.

COME TO FIND OUT THAT THOSE INGREDIENTS ADDED TO THE SNOWFALL SEASON 3 MIX RUINED THE WHOLE POT, SUCCESSFULLY! GIVE MY COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF.

BUT SINCE WE ARE RUINING THINGS: WARNING! PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD!

WHERE IS LUCIA? NO! REALLY! WHERE IS LUCIA??? THE WRITERS REPLACE HER STORYLINE WITH THIS LORENA AND ANDRE SUPER-COPS CRAP.

THE ONLY EPISODES THAT DESERVED A 10 IN SEASON 3 OF SNOWFALL WERE WHEN THEY EACH, RESPECTIVELY, WERE KILLED OFF! SORRY...NOT SORRY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SHARK-JUMPING DAMAGE HAD ALREADY SPREAD TO INFECT THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE WHOLE SHOW!

OK THIS BLACK SUPER COP SOUPY MIX ONLY DEMONSTRATES THAT THE WRITERS AND PRODUCERS ARE ANNOYING AND NAIVE. IT REMINDS ME OF A DECENT SHOW CALLED CHOPPED: WHERE TOO MANY CHEFS INCORPORATE BAD INGREDIENTS TO ILLUSTRATE WHO IS THE BEST CHEF OF AN EPISODE. THE SHOW IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL: NOT FOR THE CONTESTS, BUT FOR THE GENIUS OF THINKING UP BAD INGREDIENTS TO ENSURE A CHALLENGE FAILS.

SO WE HAVE SUPER COP, ANDRE (THE NEIGHBOR), WEARING TOO MANY HATS. THEN THERE IS THE DEA AGENT (TURNED CIA SPECIAL OPS): SOLEDAD TURNED LORENA, WHO SERVES AS AN ADDITIONAL, UNEXPLAINED, ANNOYANCE. SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT IF YOU HATE OR LOVE A CHARACTER'S PERSONALITY, THEN THE WRITERS AND THE STORY HAVE DONE THEIR JOB.

TO THE VERY NARROW CONTRARY, A KEEN EYE MAY SEE SUCH SPORADIC CAREER SHIFTS (OR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES) OF SUCH CHARACTERS AS NOT BEING AUTHENTIC TO THE STORIES MEANS TO AN END. THEREFORE, CHARACTERS CAN NOT ONLY BE OFF-PUTTING BUT ACTUALLY RUINING A PLOT THAT WAS ALREADY PROBLEMATIC.

LET ME ADD FRANKLIN'S PARENTS (CISSY AND ALTON) TO THAT ANNOYANCE FACTOR. ALTON IS A FATHER TURNED DEADBEAT DAD/HOMELESS JUNKIE/FORMER PANTHER THAT CLEANS UP TO HEAD A SECRET INVESTIGATION OF THE CIA OPS MOST TOP SECRET INTERNATIONAL/POLITICAL/ CLANDESTINE DRUG WAR. CISSY IS AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO A LOW-LIFE REAL ESTATE AGENT, TURNED REAL ESTATE INVESTOR MOGUL/ INVESTIGATOR ASSISTANT TO THE BLACK PANTHER UNDERGROUND/ PART-TIME WAITRESS WHO REFUSES TO BENEFIT FROM ILLICIT DRUG MONEY THAT SHE IS INVESTING FOR HER SON, FRANKLIN. I CAN NOT MAKE THIS STUFF UP...WELL MAYBE I CAN.

"BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!" POPULARIZED BY THAT BILLY GUY OF INFOMERCIAL FAME. STAY TUBED FOR PART 2 OF WHY MY RANTS OF THE PROBLEMATIC STUFF IN SNOWFALL (SEASON 3) MAY JUST BE MY OWN UNDOING.

YALL REALLY KNOW HOW TO BANG OUT A SEASON OPENER. AND THIS ONE WAS WAY OUT IN THE BLEACHERS OVERLOOKING A PIT OF DEEP DARKNESS AND DRAMA. THERE ARE A LOT OF POWER MOVES AND DECISIONS THAT WILL EITHER BUILD OR DESTROY RELATIONSHIPS AND ALLIANCES. BRAVO!

CRYING NOW ABOUT THE PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY IS POINTLESS. YOU KNEW THE RULES AND THE PRICE BEFORE YOU PLAYED THIS GAME...

I JUST HAVE TO COME OUT OF CHARACTER FOR A MOMENT TO TELL YALL, YOU EFFED UP. I TOLD YOU ABOUT BEING SMART RATHER THAN EMOTIONAL. YOU WANTED TO RELY HEAVILY ON DRAMA THAT COULD NOT BE REALISTIC, OR SUSTAINABLE, WITHOUT SABOTAGING THE WHOLE STORY.

NOW WHAT? JUST MAKE EVERYTHING ALRIGHT SO THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER SEASON...

SPEAKING OF OFFERS: IT IS IRONIC THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW THE DEVIL'S OFFER IS ALWAYS CHANGING. THE REASON FOR THIS CHANGE IS BECAUSE BUSINESS IS TRANSFERRABLE FROM ONE HAND TO ANOTHER. WHAT ONE MIGHT NOT BE WILLING TO DO, ANOTHER ONE CAN. JUST CONTACT ME IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.

BE CAREFUL IN YOUR MOMENT. WHETHER IT IS YOUR FINEST MOMENT OR YOUR WORST OF TIMES. THE DEVIL IS SPRUNG AT THE POINT WHEN GOD OFFERS REDEMPTION AT YOUR TABLE. THE DEVIL SELLS PREMIUM CUTS OF MEATS, COOKED RARE WITH THE FINEST WINE. BUT TO SOME, HE ONLY SERVES THEM AN APPLE IN HIS GENEROSITY. IT IS UP TO YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT ALL MEANS WHEN HE DISCOVERS THAT YOU HAVE GOT HAIR ON YOUR BALLS. GOD'S OFFER NEVER CHANGES. BUT I SMELL A RAT UNDER THE TABLE.

ITS ABOUT TIME THESE BOYS START GROWING UP AND TIGHTENING UP BEFORE A LOT MORE MISTAKES AND STUPIDITY RUIN A GREAT BUSINESS. HOWEVER, BUSINESS AMONG GODS IS A RUTHLESS GAME OF STRATEGY AND POWER. UNLIKE THE RUDIMENTARY NATURE OF MOVES IN CHECKERS, CHESS, ON THE OTHER HAND REQUIRES FORETHOUGHT AND AFTERTHOUGHT WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE MOST DAMAGE TO AN OPPONENT.

AND YOU EITHER INFLICT RUTHLESS DAMAGE OR ACCEPT MUCH PAIN. BUT SOMETIMES THAT PAIN COMES WITH A HEAVY PRICE. SOMETIMES YOU MUST FORGOE VENGEANCE WHEN IT IS NOT BEST SERVED. YOU ARE NOT IGNORING YOUR NATURAL INCLINATION WHEN SUCH EMOTION IS OVERLOOKED; YOU ARE CONTROLLING YOUR MOVES AS A STRATEGY FOR GAINING A GREATER ADVANTAGE TO WIN.

THE FACT THAT IT IS CHRISTMAS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS ANY REST FOR THE WEARY NOR THE DEAD. IN FACT, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS REST FOR THE WRITERS OF THIS SHOW. I FIND THE PLOT LAZY AND PREDICTABLE IN SOME RESPECTS. BUT THEN ALL THE BREAKS REMINDED TO BE GENEROUS AND GIVE THEM A BREAK. IN FACT IT ENDED SO WELL, THAT I ALMOST FORGOT THAT NOTHING ABOUT THIS WAS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AT ALL.

SO MANY THINGS ARE NOT MAKING SENSE...OR THEY WOULD NEVER HAPPEN THAT WAY IN MY WORLD. RIGHT NOW, I AM BEING ASKED TO TRUST YOUR WAY OF SEEING THE WORLD. IN SPITE OF HOW WACKY AND UNEXPECTED AS YOUR WORLD IS, I AM IN THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WHERE I HAVE TO TRUST SOMEONE TO SURVIVE UNTIL ANOTHER DAY.

PRINCE WROTE A SONG TO TRY TO EXPLAIN HIS DAY. THIS WILL BE MY SONG...WITH NO EXPLANATIONS. I GUESS TODAY WILL BE THE DAY FOR NEW POWER GENERATION AND ALIGNMENTS.

MY PARANOIA HAS ME ON HIGH SECURITY ALERT. I FEEL THAT I AM A PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS ABOUT TO BLOW UP IN MY FACE. I KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES ARE GRAVE, BUT I AM UNABLE TO STOP WATCHING THIS EPISODE.

I HAD HOPED THAT THIS SEASON OPENER WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE OF THE SAME BORING STUPIDITY. THEN I WOULD NOT HAVE TO COMMIT TO WATCHING ANOTHER WHOLE SEASON OF SNOWFALL. THERE WAS NO LACK OF STUPIDITY, TO BE SURE. HOWEVER, I MUST HAVE BECOME ADDICTED TO THE RESIDUAL FUMES. THE PACE OF THE NEW PLOTS AND TWISTS ARE INTRIGUING ENOUGH TO HAVE ME HOOKED AGAIN.

THEREFORE, I AM TAKING A CALCULATED RISK TO COMMIT TO WATCHING AND WRITING ABOUT SEASON 2 -REGARDLESS OF THE FEAR OF WASTING MY PRECIOUS TIME AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

8 OF 10 STARS.