"I was you. I was Byron's doll." Yikes. Definitely puts things into perspective.
Was not expecting the cancer reveal though. Sadly, he still went back to Diane lol
"You know, you make fun of Diane, but you're starting to take on a lot of her traits." LMAO. Okay, creepy dad.
"No such thing as starting over, okay? It's a fantasy. But there's moving forward. It's okay to get a life."
"Like, a life here? I mean, come on. This is not what I was running to, either."
"It's what you got for now."
Wow. That's... actually kind of deep, coming from a doll-loving pervert. Also personally pretty relatable for me right now (live your life now, stop thinking of possibilities of starting over since I literally can't go anywhere else) so I latched onto this little exchange lol.
Before anything, guys, I know petitions to save shows are sometimes long shots, but it's worth a try: https://www.change.org/p/freeform-save-motherland-fort-salem. There's so much they could do with motherf*ing Witch Soldiers! This definitely deserves more seasons (and a better network than unfreeform).
So many thoughts about this episode! Some highlights:
• I loved the Doctor dude telling Batan that she was responsible for helping turn the public opinion against witches because, regardless of their intentions and the message they really wanted to convey, their means was horrible. It's not up for debate. And she needs to acknowledge that. Especially because I think I'm going to enjoy her character a lot more than I was expecting.
• Sometimes when I start to see Petra show some vulnerability and actual care for her daughter, there's always just something... lacking, and she quickly turns to caring more about her potential. Sure hope this changes in the future because damn it, Abigail just needs to be loved, come on.
• "The union of Earth and Sky must be prevented at all costs." Hmm, this season highlighted Raelle's power a lot with the mycelium (with some hints of what Abs could be capable of on her own), but looks like with this little comment, Abi's power season is coming!
• Oh god, Penelope... that was too bad, I definitely joined a bit of the hype train and thought she would play a bigger role as a potentially strong "lost lineage" witch in later seasons. ... But ugh, yeah, I just knew that the VP was sketchy. The thought of anyone willing to kill their own child for a fucked up mindset becoming President? Uh-uh. shivers
• "You two can move the earth, right?" - UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR
• The rescue scene, yasss! Tarim, Spree, Unit power! And wow I love that Raelle immediately got "shit's about to rain down and through your windows babe" from the S on her hand? LOL
• I was honestly scared for this finale, what with the title ominously being a Part 1 (and the idea that the season would end in a cliffhanger, with Part 2 months away), and with the horrifying ending to the penultimate episode (I honestly thought the Fort battle was gonna be much longer), but how it turned out is pretty exciting! Oh, the fun road trip potential for this ragtag group of fugitives, it almost sounds like the beginnings of a joke: 3 War College cadets, 2 members of the Spree, and a Dodger (?) walk into a Camarilla cell...
• The rest of my review and ramblings for this episode, because this got way too long and if anyone cares, are here: https://addictedtothese.wordpress.com/2021/08/27/motherland-fort-salem-revolution-part-1-s2s-bewitching-finale/
Side note that I would love perhaps a book spin-off series, I've wanted it ever since and even more when I saw Eliot's interview about his original plan for the series being books. I would prefer that these characters be continued on the show and maybe a different set of characters (maybe even from a different time period) be explored in a potential book series, so I hope to god that this gets renewed beyond Season 3... and soon, because if they finish drafting Season 3 without a confirmed Season 4, they might end up rushing through Eliot's vision for the rest of the show. :(
It's the little things I am enjoying about this show. Byron's Empty Glass:tm: scent. Hazel talking to Byron through the mirrors lol (and how is she so brave blatantly stealing from people out in the open, in a world with screen-less displays, are there not CCTVs everywhere? lol just a thought). Byron thinking it's his adoring little lackey's fault that Hazel left... because he didn't bring her doughnut holes. Said adoring little lackey looking horny after Bangles' show lol. The secret Simlish-like language. Diane's still f*cking creepy.
And I guess I do get how Hazel could have gotten into that situation now, can see how exciting the idea of being with someone who would get you literally anything and anywhere (sort of) you wanted, esp. if you were someone who realistically didn't seem like was headed anywhere close any time soon. How could she have known she would get stuck inside a box with a narcissistic control freak with no social skills beyond 'I can buy you and everything you want' and idk taking Gaslighting 101? I am glad Hazel at least somewhat questioned it: "But I don't know you." "Isn't that the exciting part?" - I do think even considering this should only apply to potential relationships though, but marriage... honey, no. In dearest Elsa's words, "You can't marry a man you just met."
And holy crap that last scene. Byron is the adult equivalent of a child who'd rather see their toy broken than let someone else have it (in this case, than to let the girl run free).
I am wondering how and why Byron chose Hazel though.. Did he somehow stumble into her scams, or did he see her one day by complete (unlucky) chance? Did he just see her as someone he could easily manipulate, or was he really just delusional enough that he "fell in love" with Hazel just by looking at her and her records? Why was he in such a rush? Was he looking for a wife for the sole purpose of Made for Love?
Holy crap, Byron sure is creepy. The kind of psychopath/narcissist you wouldn't see coming, with his typical white boy charm, subtle gaslighting, and, in this case, that genius-level intellect and claims of philanthropism. Not a very good one though based on his confrontation with Hazel ("I'm crying." "You are the thing --" "Person." "--person!" lmao).
The fact that Hazel met, dated, was married to, and ultimately locked into the Hub with Byron all in one day is a scary thought (am curious about the circumstances though, because how the actual f does that happen?). She has a pretty big flaw though, one I've noticed even in earlier episodes: she doesn't communicate, something that's to her detriment. She had a chance to voice out her concerns when she saw the ad (though I suppose she knew well enough at this point that Byron is not the type to listen).
But why, why, would she stay for 10 years? It makes me wonder if she had just asked to leave within that time, would Byron have let her go?
And damn, Byron was actually convinced that she was actually happy and in love with him (despite possibly some doubts given her secrecy), or was Byron just in complete denial of her true feelings for him? I suppose one has to be delusional enough to even think something like Made for Love is a good idea...
I am confused as to why Byron let Hazel go. He had a whole squad with him, and it did look like he would have been willing to use force to keep her (when one of his lackeys offered to follow her). Will he really just stop after this?
Side note: girl didn't at least come up for a gulp of air before leaving the panel in the pool, and that took her all the way out of the hub. Did she get gills implanted in her too? lol
"This is a very frustrating conversation."
I don't know about you guys.. but this episode was hilarious to me. :joy:
AND NOW WE'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT THE TATTOO WAS
Wow. There's a lot to unpack here. What a penultimate episode! Season 3 renewal announcement, come through!
First off...
• LOL at whoever wanted to use their super soldier (Raelle) for a recruitment tour... our very own witch Captain America, love it :joy:
• Goosebumps at the mycelium origin story scene! Way to turn things around, and I think anyone still questioning Alder's intentions especially after the doubts planted by this season would be swayed back into her corner after that (very Season 1 finale feels, actually, so I guess she will always be a complex character); Raelle, of all people, sympathized with her!
• Morrigan's whisper, holy sh---!!!
• And the Rite of Proxy scene. God damn, that was intense!
• No offense to Victor Webster (guy who plays the VP), but I have seen him on a couple of other shows as the bad guy or an unlikeable one, or so I can't help but think that his character here is shady lmao (he has been to me since day 1 lolol). The way he's been all season about his daughter being a witch is sketchy to me. "He's actually a pretty good guy" my ass — if you have to say that about a character, it's almost guaranteed to backfire eventually lol. If the guy that stays behind turns out to be a means to distract or keep tabs from within the Fort, I wouldn't be surprised.
I've seen some reactions where people are genuinely worried that Alder is getting killed off in the next episode but I really don't think so, because if they stick with the decision made here (Petra replacing Alder), I think it would definitely be interesting to see Alder as a "regular" witch/soldier who isn't the Army General (and if there's one thing I've gleaned from Eliot's interviews, this seems right up his alley (hopefully).
In Petra and Alder's words, Alder has lived as the General for so long she's forgotten how to deal with consequences like a human and has made some... questionable decisions to protect the witches (and to some extent, her position). After her dismissal, she would be watching the new General eventually make similar big decisions, and possibly similar mistakes, like she did, but this time as a spectator... either making her introspective and see what she could do differently, or just smug and satisfied like "I told you it wasn't easy" (I wouldn't mind her being petty like that, I probably would be too lol).
I don't doubt that she would eventually try to scramble back into the seat of power (and that she might succeed at one point), but this should be a good arc for her... if she survives. This whole comment would be for naught if she ends up actually dying like people think and I'm a fool lol.
Didn't really like this season all that much; considering how much I enjoyed Season 4, I was so looking forward to this season.
Watching this season felt like such a chore (I had to drop it a couple of times and came back now after the S6 trailer came out). The season was such a rollercoaster for me... and not in a good way: the rollercoaster symbolizes my feelings about the show while watching the season, with each other episode taking me from "I still like this" to "WTF am I watching?".
Throughout, it made me question how much we actually know the characters, I feel like they've re-written their personalities (esp. Chloe and Ella) so poorly and inconsistently, to the point that they went from my favorite characters in earlier seasons... to almost unlikeable here, which I think also says a lot considering how little growth (imo) Lucifer himself has shown (aside from his obligatory story-progressing character development). I even ended up re-watching bits of the first season after this and it feels like such a different (much better) show.
I also found it ridiculous how... really, NONE (except the one actually convinced by Luci's speech about love lmao) of the angels sided with Lucifer, choosing to side with the dude who's literally threatening them with the angel-killing sword and already killed one of their sisters, when they have an actual alternative (no matter how... odd the choice of Lucifer being God would be)? Really?
The very last scene also felt like they ran out of time and couldn't come up with a better final scene. Geez.
An underwhelming finale for an underwhelming season altogether.
Didn't really like this season all that much; considering how much I enjoyed Season 4, I was so looking forward to this season.
Watching this season felt like such a chore (I had to drop it a couple of times and came back now after the S6 trailer came out). The season was such a rollercoaster for me... and not in a good way: the rollercoaster symbolizes my feelings about the show while watching the season, with each other episode taking me from "I still like this" to "WTF am I watching?".
Throughout, it made me question how much we actually know the characters, I feel like they've re-written their personalities (esp. Chloe and Ella) so poorly and inconsistently, to the point that they went from my favorite characters in earlier seasons... to almost unlikeable here, which I think also says a lot considering how little growth (imo) Lucifer himself has shown (aside from his obligatory story-progressing character development). I even ended up re-watching bits of the first season after this and it feels like such a different (much better) show.
Anyway, this episode... Dan's death led to a couple of good scenes (aside maybe from the obvious culmination of the whole season): Ella telling Amenadiel in the previous episode that he turned in his police academy application, Maze reminiscing about their "good" moments was hilarious, and Ella praying for a sign and Decker appearing to ask for her help (though honestly that would have been tons more satisfying, though obvious, if it had been Lucifer who came in, what with Ella talking to the "Big Guy" and all). Aside from that? Meh. I was honestly hoping I could have written more here.
Also.. WTH was with that "demon army", and what was up with it being made up of just the random bus of criminals shown in the beginning of the episode? Did they use up the extras casting budget to rent out the LA Memorial Coliseum?
And really, none (except the one actually convinced by Luci's speech about love lmao) of the angels siding with Lucifer, choosing to side with the dude who's literally threatening them with the angel-killing sword and already killed one of their sisters, when they have an actual alternative (no matter how... odd the choice of Lucifer being God would be)? Really?
I did like the Deckerstar scene in Heaven, though, and Decker's temporary bout of super strength to kick Michael's stupid ass.
The last scene also felt like they ran out of time and couldn't come up with a better final scene. Geez.
An underwhelming finale altogether.
Oh dear god (pun intended), please let this be good. Or at least better than whatever the Hell Season 5 was.
And very happy to know it's a shorter 10-episode one. I do think shorter seasons work out better for certain shows, and I think it does for Lucifer. Each episode would be packed with stuff we'll actually care about — instead of the filler-like, procedural formula with just (if we're lucky) 10 minutes worth of actual story content.
That bottom 2 choice.. Nope. Just nope. (Brooke vs Vanjie vibes. Chosen for the drama and the queen who (debatably) should have gone home was "safe". TF. And my god, the favoritism, I can't.)
And Bimini was so fucking good this episode!
I almost got excited that Linda was calling Lucifer out for being selfish and all, then of course they had to turn around and make Lucifer actually be on the right (at least for that particular scene). Someone really needs to snap him out of his daddy-issue complex. Before the final season, preferably?
They were all so good this episode. :( Would have been sad to see anyone go.
Also, wth was that lip sync song choice? Kameron vs Ra'Jah was wasted on Boom Clap.
Finally, a win for Scarlett! Because seriously, did the Canada DR producers have something against her all season, or was the rigging of the game just too set in stone to mess up with unexpected wins? So many maxi challenges, including this one, that she could have won.
Definitely thought Scarlet had this in the bag.
And LOL at the 2 bottom queens trying to blow a kiss at Lemon as she walked off the stage after what went down in Untucked and Lemon (whether intentional or not) ignoring them lmao. Also, it was definitely time for the eliminated queen to go home.
The judges are making this pretty hard to watch tbh. (The preview for the next episode is scaring me already...)
I expected so much better from Brooke because I'm biased and loved her in her season, but sometimes her critiques just sound like snide comments she might say during confessionals as a contestant. Yikes.
Meanwhile, JBC... sometimes, he interacts with the queens and I think, okay, he's being nice and giving constructive criticism, maybe — then nope, he turns around and says something mean. His delivery and his judgmental face as he says it make it so much worse; it's like he's trying so hard to be the bitchier version of Simon Cowell, Idek. Hope the production team, if they were the ones who coached him through his behavior, would learn from this.
And well, the irony of the lip-sync song and their comments. Damn. Would have loved for Ilona to have mooned them during the song to prove a point lol
... well, fudge, I knew something like that would happen. Poor Raelle... again... :(
Okay, I kind of liked this better than the first episode..
I felt so bad for Raelle! :(
I like Cheryl enough, but I feel like Blu actually did better in that lip sync? It kind of felt like they just didn't want the queen inspired by the guest judge to be the one to get sent home. Though I guess to be fair, the eliminated queen's ad was the worst of the 5.
I love Zachary Levi and wanted to like this so bad... But this was just... bad.
I'm really loving this season so far! Would it be such a stretch to say this feels like one of the best RPDR seasons yet?
I am sad about the eliminated queen, but at this point it feels like all of them are really killing it, so any one of them going home tonight onwards would have been a shame. I will miss Crystal's gender-fuck armpit hair looks though! That was legit not something I expected to see and enjoy so much before she graced our TVs with it lol
So good! This episode definitely showed me that these queens are up there (and coming from RPDR Down Under, I definitely needed a good DR season)!
So good! Wasn't the vibe I was expecting at all, but I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely thought we were at least going to see more of the Red Room, though, so that was a bit disappointing. Still, entertaining overall, and hopefully we'll see the Red Room in future installments.
Such a shame that this had to come out only after her character's death in Endgame, but I think a good BW future is still a big possibility either in Yelena taking on the mantle eventually, or Nat being brought back once the multiverse gets effed up.
Also, that post-credits scene! I wonder how weird that appearance would have felt if the viewer hadn't seen TFATWS yet (or, if as originally planned, this movie came out before that). Also just realized that she's being very Nick Fury-esque now, assembling an Evil Avengers crew lol.
Dare I say it, I think this is by far the best batch of finalists of Rupaul's Drag Race. They were all fantastic and, really, it was anyone's game. Very happy about the winner though! She slayed all throughout, especially considering that she never seemed overconfident about her performances.
A series that made chess feel exciting. I mean let's be real, I like and enjoy chess at times, but chess is admittedly not something I would have expected to be as intense as depicted here. Made me curious how accurate and truly powerful Beth's chess game was and what real competitive chess players thought of this (I Googled, and I wasn't disappointed).
Anya Taylor-Joy was so good! She takes us on a 7-episode trip of Beth's life highlighted by her triumphs and lows, her relationships and losses. At one point, I was pretty sure we weren't going to get e 'happy ending' after everything we've seen, but I'm glad to have been proven wrong. I loved that in the end, Beth learned to accept help and love and family where she can.
The only reason I'm even giving this stars at all is John Ambrose.
Season 6, in my opinion, probably has one of the most put-together plots of the show thus far. Maybe because, to me, it feels like it involves the pay-off of seasons and seasons of problems and solutions set up by the show. The monoliths and the fear dimension, the LMDs, their time traveling, and of course the characters' relationships. The shortened season also helped a lot with the pacing, but this now makes me feel like a shortened final season will not be enough. I am excited at the prospect of getting Agent Carter closure next season, though!
This season was amazing! Hands down my favorite of the show.
Ah, the superhero movie of my childhood.
