Aniela Krajewska

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WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COMMENT IS RATED S FOR "SAPPY AS HELL". PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

We all know a bad series finale can ruin the entire show, which is why I've been feeling on edge all week. I just wanted a satisfying ending for my team. And, for the most part, I got one.

I started crying as soon as they said the team would never be all in the same room again. And then Deke made a sacrifice to stay in the altered timeline! It made me so emotional, but it was also funny (the way Sousa tried to be all heroic only for Deke to just… go full Deke on him). He’s gonna be just fine. I almost dread to think what SHIELD looks like under his leadership, but I'm sure it's equal parts hilarious and insane.

Fitz guiding Jemma to get her to remember was lovely. Iain and Elizabeth brought their A game, as always. I’ve missed that good old Caestridge magic.

The way they brought the whole thing full circle to the season 6 finale… Genius. The logistics of time travel made my head hurt, though. It’s way too complex for me.

”- Nice flying there.
- That used to be all I did.”
Yeah, like a million years ago. That line got a smile out of me. The season 1 nostalgia is real. Everybody gives the pre-Winter Soldier episodes so much flack, but I really enjoyed those early case-of-the-week shenanigans.

Daisy and Bitch Boy’s showdown paired with Cavalry dropping from the ceiling made me SCREAM. When Daisy blew up those Chronicom ships... Avengers? I don't know them. I only know one superhero and her name is Daisy freaking Johnson. The movies wish they had her. For a minute I really thought she was dead and my heart stopped. I wouldn't put it past the writers to kill her off. The Whedons have never met a surprise death scene they didn't like. But she’s okay! And Kora saved her! I’m fine (* narrator voice * she was not fine).

So like I predicted FitzSimmons had a child. A very blonde, very cute child. Her little voice made me tear up even more, if that’s even possible. That adorable accent!

I'm glad we didn't see the actual goodbye because that would've been too much for me. But I also don't fully understand why they decided to break up the band in the end other than because Enoch and Fitz told them they would. Even though they're still in each other's lives at the end, after 7 seasons of watching them become a family it hurts to see that they're all separated. It's just not the same.

During the last 10 minutes of the episode all the remaining self-control I had went out the window. The waterworks were flowing. Especially when Daisy was the last one left in the room, it really felt like we were watching the character as much as we were watching Chloe herself get hit with the realization that it's over. That broke me. Also, I don't buy for a second that they only do the futuristic Zoom thing once a year. Sure, maybe not all together, but Daisy and Jemma definitely talk like three times a week and they all 100% have a group chat going on that consists mostly of cute videos of Alya and Daisy sending memes (May never says anything but she reads every single message and Coulson uses the wrong emojis all the time). This is what I choose to believe. And none of it contradicts what's been said in canon, so I'm sticking by it. But aside from that minor gripe about the frequency of their communication, I really liked the ending. FitzSimmons are happy with their daughter, May is teaching (which oddly suits her) at a new SHIELD academy named after Coulson and Flint is one of her students, Daisy is in space with Sousa and Kora, Mack and YoYo are still in the field, Coulson and Lola are reunited (the real OTP of this show), even Davis is back! All my babies are okay! That’s all I wanted!

Well, not true. All I wanted was for this show to never end. But it did, as all good things must. And it did so on its own terms, despite everything working against it.

Now comes the truly sappy part.

7 seasons. 136 episodes. And it all ends here.

In October 2014, I was a 16-year-old casual Marvel fan who stumbled upon this show by chance one Saturday afternoon and pressed play on the pilot episode without thinking too much of it. It’s been nearly 6 years since that fateful day and out of all my shows I’ve been watching this one the longest and the most consistently by far. It’s been such a steady presence in my life that I still can’t fully comprehend that there’s not going to be any more episodes to look forward to. Agents of SHIELD has taken root in my heart and ingrained itself in me more deeply than any other piece of media has ever done, which makes this goodbye all the more difficult for me.

Now, I am not going to claim that this show was perfect. But at its best, Agents of SHIELD was an absolute non-stop thrill ride filled with awe-inspiring CGI (especially for a network show!) and exciting fight scenes, jaw-dropping plot twists and well-crafted intrigues, laugh-out-loud humor and heart-wrenching angst, brilliant acting and skillful writing. And most importantly, it had a group of amazing characters at its center, characters who got under my skin and never left, whose adventures I followed with bated breath, whose joy and laughter and pain and tears I felt and shared time and time again. For those characters, for everything I got to experience with them and through them, for all the ways they have enriched my life, I am truly, deeply grateful. I can only say, from the bottom of my heart: thank you.

Thank you for Phil Coulson, the dad to outdad all dads, who gave his life to the cause more than once; whose unwavering belief in his team and everything they stood for was a foundation that the entire show rested on; and whose cheesy one-liners never failed to get a smile from me.

Thank you for Melinda May, our Cavalry, whose many demons never managed to consume her heart; who fashioned her jagged edges into a weapon to protect the people she cared about; who went through hell and unspeakable trauma and came out the other side fighting, always fighting the good fight.

Thank you for Leo Fitz, the man who loved a woman so much that he jumped through a hole in the universe to find her; whose brilliant mind saved the day too many times to count; who suffered so much but always stood for what he believed in, no matter the cost.

Thank you for Jemma Simmons, the girl with two PhDs and a million questions who looked to the stars and yearned for an adventure; who survived being stranded on an alien planet and traveled farther than she ever could’ve imagined; who never backed down, never gave up, never surrendered, even in the face of the most insurmountable odds.

Thank you for my darling Daisy Johnson, a lonely girl without a home or a name who dreamt of a family and built herself one; who went from a hacktivist living in a van to an earth-quaking superhero; who carried the weight of the world on her shoulders but refused to let it break her; who had a blazing fire burning within that nothing, no matter how painful or horrible, could ever snuff out.

Thank you for Mack, YoYo and Deke, who joined the team a little further down the line and became invaluable members of SHIELD. Thank you for Bobbi, Hunter and Lincoln, who I was sad to say goodbye to. Thank you for Ward, who all of us loved to hate. Thank you for every single character, whether main, recurring or guest, for every hero and villain, ally and enemy, everyone who contributed to making Agents of SHIELD what it was.

To my favorite cast, especially my OGs Clark, Ming, Chloe, Lil and Iain, who brought these characters to life and blessed us with their talent every week, and to everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the best show possible: you guys absolutely rock. I wish all of you the best of luck and many, many more successful projects in the future.

Goodbye, my favorite team. I’ll miss you like hell.

If you’re still reading this, thank you for sticking by me while I went through 5 stages of grief in roughly 1,200 words. I feel like I need to stare at the ceiling for a while until the void that this show left inside of me feels a little less cold and overwhelming.

Me, circa a week ago: Okay, I have to prepare myself. This episode is titled "The End", the ratings are low, there's no way we're getting another season. This show's had a good run. I'll always love it, but it's 100% getting canceled.
Agents of SHIELD, crashing through the window and punching me in the face: YOU FOOL. YOU ABSOLUTE BUFFOON. YOU GODDAMN COWARD.

Whoever in Marvel fought so hard to get us season 6, I am forever in your debt (even though we won't see those guys again until summer 2019, but that's still better than nothing) because WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT?

I don't remember the last time I cried during an episode of any show. But what happened with Fitz was so completely unexpected that I froze in shock, and then, when I saw Jemma's smile slowly fade as the realization set in, I broke down in tears. Sure, one could argue that his struggle with the darkness inside of him this season was a bit of a foreshadowing, but I didn't see his death coming at all. I could barely watch the rest of the episode because everything was blurry. I couldn't believe it. FitzSimmons have spent 5 seasons getting ripped apart over and over again, and now that they've finally gotten married, Fitz dies. I had the most horrible, nauseating feeling in my stomach. The only thing I could think about was "They better bring him back or so help me God, I will burn Marvel Television to the ground". When they mentioned the other version of Fitz floating in space, I felt like the biggest weight was lifted off my shoulders. It's going to be fine. My babies are going to be fine.

Coulson going to Tahiti is a nice full circle kind of thing for him. I know they'll probably find a way to keep him alive anyway, but I enjoyed that moment.

Daisy and Talbot's fight was so damn good. When she launched herself at him, I felt like I was watching a proper Marvel movie. I'll never understand why this show doesn't get the respect and the recognition it deserves. It's a goddamn gem in every way and every Marvel fan should watch it.

Oh, and I saw some people getting upset about the fact that half of the team didn't vanish at the end there, but personally I think it makes sense not to do that. Season 6 is going to air in the summer of 2019, after the release of the next Avengers movie, in which, let's face it, they're going to use the Time Stone or whatever to bring everyone back. So on the show we'd have half our characters vanish and then next year they'd just be there again as if nothing happened, without explanation. I'm glad they didn't do it.

So, I guess see y'all in a year when season 6 starts! Even though I have no idea how I'm supposed to wait that long!

Am I crying? Yes. Yes, I am. Damn it, Flash. You did it again. You managed to turn me into a sobbing mess.

First of all, what was Mark fucking Hamill doing there? I've never seen him in anything other than Star Wars, so my first thought was a horrified "L-Luke?". Amazing. It takes some serious balls to cast such an iconic actor and then have him appear in just one scene. I applaud the showrunners.

Yay, Wally got his suit. Maybe he will finally stop whining.

I can't decide if I like Julian or not. Sure, he's not a bad guy, but he can still be an asshole when he wants to be.

"One shall betray you. One shall fall. One will suffer fate far worse than death."

Fuck off, Savitar. Nobody messes with Team Flash. And stay away from Iris. We've already lost Laurel, I won't let another plant-named love interest/moral compass/badass die on my watch.

So, Caitlin can control her powers now? It would be so cool (no pun intended) if she could use them without fear of turning into Killer Frost.

Drunk H.R. is hilarious. And his little happy dance with Wally in the park was absolutely adorable.

The Flash sure knows how to do a Christmas episode. I don't get nearly as excited about Christmas as I used to, but even my cold, dead heart warmed up a little when I saw all those decorations and all the characters together and happy for once. I was afraid something would happen and the episode would end on a cliffhanger, but no. Instead we got Barry and Iris being cute and in love. Someone punch me in the face, I can't handle the feels.

So, I guess this is the mid-season finale? In that case, see you all in 2017! And early Merry Christmas wishes to all of you!

You know how I said the season 5 finale was kind of lame? This was better, but far from totally satisfying. I know a few decades is nothing when you have an eternity to look forward to, but it still sucks that Chloe had to be a single mother. It's not fair to her. I cried so much when Deckerstar were saying goodbye (a really messy, snotty cry). All the little callbacks like Chloe playing that simple melody on the piano were so sweet and Lauren and Tom really did a breathtaking job. But still, it didn't have to be this way. I think it would've been much better if Lucifer had chosen to commute to Hell and still be in Rory's life, and that moment had created an alternate timeline - so that Rory from the original timeline still arrived to fullfil her purpose, but everything from that point on was different. IMO that would've been much better than the time loop idea. When it comes to time travel, you can pretty much get away with any bullshit explanation anyway. Everyone else ended up in a really good place, so at least that was nice. Maze and Eve kicking ass and taking names together, Charlie sprouting wings... I liked all of that. Also they really got Tricia Helfer to come back without giving her any dialogue lmao.

I will miss this show. Even though I feel like it had run its course and there weren't any stories left to tell, I'm still a little sad to see it go. It wasn't a perfect show, but it had some great moments, especially when it rose above the case of the week stuff and focused more on the celestial side of things and the relationships between the characters. It had such an interesting, diverse and lovable bunch of characters who all changed and grew in organic ways. The humor was always top notch, but the show also had some genuine emotion and a lot of heart. All in all, I will remember Lucifer fondly.

EDIT: After giving myself some time to fully digest this season and this final episode, I realized that there is something deeply messed up about a show that has always been about free will - Lucifer choosing to stay on Earth, Amenadiel choosing humanity, Chloe choosing to love Lucifer (remember how big of a deal the "does she only have feelings for me because she's a gift from God?" debacle was?), Maze choosing to develop human emotions and form connections with people, Eve choosing her own path after literally being made for someone else - not giving its leads any choice in the end and forcing them to follow a predetermined path. Again, the alternate timeline idea was right there and it would've reaffirmed the show's message that you make your own fate.

I was so confused for the first 15 minutes of this episode. I suspected for most of the season that Amalia was either an alien or from the future, so it was nice to have that confirmed, but the origin story left me with more questions than answers. We know that in the future there are two factions at war, but it's not clear what exactly their motivations are aside from one wanting to save the world and the other determined to... keep it shitty and post-apocalyptic, I guess? Also there was so much jargon/made-up lingo that wasn't explained. I have no idea what a Stripe is. I know exposition dumps are not great most of the time, but I feel like we could've used one here.

Once we got back to Victorian times the episode got much better. It was fun to see how Amalia ended up running the orphanage and how she became the posh badass that we've gotten to know over the course of the season.

"I left Penance behind because you said 'Find me'. I left my heart to come talk to you" Did she just... literally call Penance her heart? AND she told her her real name that she protected all this time and didn't even tell her spouses? And this show wants me to believe that their relationship is platonic? Sounds fake but okay.

"Call her Nichole."

And just like that, my pathetic bitch ass is back on the June/Serena train. No regrets.

I could write a 1,000-word review of this episode and I still don't think I would cover everything. So, I'll try to list some of the things that absolutely blew my mind:

1. Aunt Lydia getting wrecked by Emily. Of course it's what she deserved, but it was brutal as fuck. Alexis Bledel's acting was everything. That initial rush of adrenaline followed by absolute terror and panic. So good.

2. How many more times is Serena going to allow Gilead to crush her before she finally rebels? I think she's near her breaking point. Give me the June/Serena team-up I deserve in season 3, you cowards. The way she gave up the child she'd wanted for so long so Nichole could have a better life was beautiful. Yvonne Strahovski, man.

3. Emily's getting out! Lawrence, you are officially my favorite man on the show (not that there's a lot of options there). I want to see her find her wife and son. I'm going to cry so much when that happens, I already know it.

4. So Marthas seem to have some kind of a secret operation going on, huh? That's gonna be interesting to explore.

5. I knew June would stay in Gilead. She needs to get Hannah out too, she can't just leave her behind. The last 10 minutes of the episode made me very emotional. Some good writing and even better acting in there.

What an excellent season finale. I have to say, I was afraid there would be a decline in quality in season 2 seeing as they were going beyond the events of the book, but that was certainly not the case. I liked this season more than the first one. Now, please give Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski and Alexis Bledel (The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit of acting on this show) Emmys and I'll be happy. I absolutely cannot wait for season 3.

Goddammit, I don't even know what to think anymore. That last scene was pure and good and gentle, but at the same time I don't think I'll ever be able to get rid of the horrible taste that the rape scene from 2 episodes ago left in my mouth. I keep going back and forth between wanting to kill Serena my damn self and feeling for her. This twisted dynamic between her and June evokes all kinds of mixed emotions. And I'm getting tired of the two steps forward, one step back thing which has been prevalent in Serena's arc this season. She needs to pick a side already. You're either holding a woman down while your husband rapes her or you're crying your eyes out and letting her nurse her child. You can't have both.

Eden, you poor, poor thing. I'm sorry, but this is all Nick's fault. She was a 15-year-old kid who was indoctrinated into thinking that her sole purpose in life was to bear children and be a good wife. If he had thought to be a little nicer and more empathetic towards her instead of acting like a moody teenager (which is ironic, considering she was the only actual teenager in that mess), maybe she wouldn't have fallen for the first dude who showed the slightest interest in what she was doing. I'm so sad for her, but also really angry. She didn't deserve this.

Shoutout to Elisabeth Moss for yet another masterclass in acting. The way her eyes go dead whenever Waterford is in her general vicinity is awe-inspiring.

I'm a slut for any and all Emily content, so I absolutely loved seeing her in more than one scene in this episode. This whole storyline is so interesting and it's a shame that we're getting it so late in the season. I was holding my breath throughout her whole conversation with Lawrence. What does he want from her? Is what his wife said true? So many questions, so little time to answer them!

Shit. That ending took me completely by surprise. I can't believe Yo-Yo did what she did. Okay, Ruby was a total psychopath with a knack for violence, but in her final moments, she really was just a scared kid who was in way over her head. In some way, I felt bad for her. She had no chance from the beginning, spent her whole life getting indoctrinated by HYDRA and being pushed beyond her limits. If she wasn't crazy before, fusing with Gravitonium definitely would've driven her insane. I get that Yo-Yo truly thought she was saving the world and there was no other choice, but I have a feeling that she's only made things worse.

I was 100% convinced that Talbot would really shoot himself. Smart move on Coulson's part to use HYDRA's programming to stop him.

Deke's crush on Daisy is annoying, but the lemon thing made me laugh. We should totally start confessing our feelings like this.

I'm seeing Infinity War in 3 days. I can't tell you how terrified I am. It's going to be a total game changer for the entire MCU, and I'm sure that it will impact the show in some way. And I'm even more scared because this episode had the lowest ratings in the show's history, plus the show has already crossed the 100-episode mark, so Marvel might decide to end it here. I want to cry just thinking about it. All I want is one more season, even a shorter one. I want a proper ending and closure. We deserve that.

Me? Crying about Avalance? It's more likely than you think. I wish they would stop toying with my emotions. Yes, Sara's done some bad things in the past, but she's working so hard to redeem herself. She's been through so much, she's overcome so much pain and darkness. She deserves to be happy. I love her. And Ava is amazing as well. Her jealousy was fantastic. And she was so heartbroken at the end! I want to die.

This was such an intense episode, but they still managed to put some of LoT's trademark humor in there. It's really impressive how they manage to balance all the serious, intense moments with bits of levity and it never feels forced or overdone (which is my problem with a lot of Marvel movies, for example). Good job, writers.

It's always great to see John Consantine. Sara's right, they should just get him a bed on the Waverider. And how happy was Gary when John kissed him? Nobody on this show is straight, I'm telling you.

Rory has the Fire Totem, Zari has Air, Amaya's going to get her Spirit Totem back eventually, Kuasa has Water, Sara's got Death (I wonder if they'll ever let her use it, though). I'm curious as to who's going to wield Earth. It didn't seem to work for Nate.

You know, my first thought after reading the synopsis of this episode was that we have been absolutely robbed. As much as I love Fitzsimmons, can you imagine how much more interesting, not to mention revolutionary, would Skimmons (or I guess BioQuake now?) be? Can you imagine space girlfriends Jemma and Daisy? Sigh. My heart aches for all the wonderful possibilities that will never come to be. And the worst part? There's not nearly enough fanfiction about this ship. When both canon AND fanon let you down, where are you supposed to go?

That aside, I guess there's a reason Deke's name is only one sound away from "dick". What a traitorous bastard.

"Quake, Destroyer of Worlds"

On one hand, hell yeah, my wife is powerful and you all should be afraid! On the other, fuck you. Daisy Johnson has done nothing wrong, ever, in her life. She already carries so much guilt on her shoulders, can they please stop adding more?

Poor Abby. I feel so bad for her. She'll just end up as a gladiator fighting for her life while rich people watch. That better life she dreamt of was nothing but a lie.

Jemma Simmons giving inspiring speeches about the stars? My heart!

So... are Phil and Melinda getting together anytime soon or nah? There are slowburns and then there are SLOWBURNS. It's been 4 years! Ya'll ain't getting any younger!

Who the hell managed to survive on the Earth's surface? And how is the team supposed to get down there? I need answers!

Going into this episode, I thought there was no way it would be satisfying. Turns out Teen Wolf still had one last trick left up its sleeve. I'm actually emotional. Stiles and Derek coming back made it feel like the good old days. There were some genuinely funny moments here thanks to them. I also liked the way this episode was framed as a story that Scott was telling Alec. That was an interesting choice. And Gerard finally got what he deserved, from his own daughter no less. I loved Kate way back when she was Allison's cool aunt, then kind of hated her, now I once again like her for tearing that old asshole to shreds. And Jennifer! I shipped her and Derek so fucking hard in season 3. Before she turned out to be a disgusting old hag, that is. Also, Scott and Malia were CUTE. And that last shot of the pack walking together felt like the perfect ending. Overall, much better than I expected.

Of course, it had its flaws as well: The Anuk-Ite was defeated way too quickly (although I half-expected them to kill it with a fucking mirror, so props to them for, you know, not doing that). And Monroe didn't die, which is a sin. But then again, I kind of like the implication that there are still more battles to fight and that our characters still have a mission that will last beyond the show.

To sum up: as far as series finales go, this wasn't half bad. It was the right moment for Teen Wolf to end. My memories of this show will be pretty good. Sure, they dropped characters like hot potatoes without explanation (anyone remember Isaac? Danny? Cora?), some storylines were weak, the lighting got progressively worse over the years (daylight? What is daylight?), season 4 was mostly forgettable, season 5 was messy as fuck (it seemed to me like they were trying to be super clever and dark and whatnot, but the final product was just incomprehensible and unsatisfying), season 6B was rushed and introduced a plethora of one-dimensional characters no one asked for that took the focus away from our pack. But even those seasons had their moments and for the most part, this show was entertaining with some good humor, suspense, action, a healthy dose of teenage romance and The Feels™, and a lovely cast of talented people whom I wish all the best and hope to see in new successful projects soon.

P.S. To the people who keep complaining about That Gay Shit™: this might be a shock to you, but gay people aren't something Hollywood made up. Gay people are real. We exist, we live our lives, fall in love, pay taxes, buy groceries, watch TV. If two guys kissing offends you so much, just skip the scene. No one's forcing you to watch. But somewhere out there is a teenage boy who will see Mason and Corey or Jackson and Ethan, and he will be thrilled. He will feel validated, he will know that there's nothing wrong with him, that he can have a happy life, no matter what his conservative Christian parents say. Those characters are for him, not for you. Don't worry, you'll still have your bajillion straight male leads. No one's taking them away from you.

I'm just going to start off by listing the 3 shittiest things that He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named did in this episode, okay? By the way, please enlighten me, how does a dude who does multiple shitty things per episode even stand a chance with Kara, let alone actually get together with her?

1. Calling Kara helping people as Supergirl "little superhero-ing".

2. Immediately disregarding Kara's wishes and telling everyone about their relationship.

3. Ignoring what Kara said (again) and trying to brush it off (again).

I just don't get it. A part of me thinks, or hopes, that the writers are doing this on purpose to show what a toxic relationship looks like and how not to treat your significant other, but let's be real, that's probably not it. They actually seem to think that this shit is cute and romantic. And it makes me sick.

Sure, Man-Hell was right about Jeremiah. But contrary to popular belief, the end doesn't justify the means. He could have proved his point without being an asshole. But I guess that's just how he rolls, right? And we're supposed to let it slide because... he's conventionally attractive?

Honestly, fuck this guy.

Alex's confrontation with Jeremiah was a powerful moment and Chyler Leigh once again brought her A-game.

How long will I have to scream into the void about Maggie's lack of screentime before someone finally hears me? I can't believe the showrunners think I'm more interested in What's-His-Face than in this amazing woman, who:

1. is simultaneously an absolute badass and the softest human being I have ever seen (those dimples, man, Jesus Christ, what a bae)

2. was outed to her parents and kicked out of the house at 14

3. is such a good detective that she figured out Kara's secret by herself

4. is a good, pure, unproblematic fave who deserves better.

I have no dignity left anymore, I will literally beg if I have to. I'll sell my soul if that's what it takes to get her a proper storyline. Sure, the family dinner thing was cute, and the way she comforted Alex was wonderful. Maggie Sawyer is a kind, supportive girlfriend who listens to Alex and is always there for her, and the way they keep trying to draw parallels between Sanvers and Karamel lowkey makes me want to die. They're not similar! At all! Not in a million years! One is based on mutual love, respect and support, and the other is an abusive garbage fire. I'm starting a campaign. Let Maggie Sawyer deck Fuckboy in the face 2017.

And another thing: I guess Karamel can be all over each other, make out, wake up in bed naked after obviously having sex, but God forbid Maggie and Alex do anything more than kiss for exactly 1.5 seconds. No, I'm not bitter, why do you ask?

Does Cadmus want to send all aliens back into space? Hey, here's a thought: maybe they can use that big-ass ship to launch Mayo-El into the Phantom Zone? Pretty please?

Geez, this episode was a rollercoaster. I have so many thoughts and I’m not sure if I can express all of them properly, but I’ll try.

First of all, Mon-El is not bad, but he’s not particularly interesting either. I really hope he and Kara will stay friends and nothing more. His scenes with Winn were pretty great, though. And hungover Winn is absolutely hilarious.

Something about Lena Luthor’s accent has been bothering me since the season premiere, and I finally got around to looking up Katie McGrath. She’s Irish, as it turns out. My ears weren’t deceiving me. By the way, is Lena evil? Does she know Kara is Supergirl? Something about their conversation and the way she stared after Kara seemed shady. Frankly, I don’t care if she’s one of the good guys or a villain. I’m fine with either.

Miss Martian is a White Martian! I’m having an aneurysm! I didn’t see that one coming at all. What an awesome plot twist. I really enjoyed the relationship between her and J’onn in this episode and I can’t wait to see what will happen when J’onn finds out who she really is.

"- I offered to merge with her in the Martian way.
- But you guys just met."

I literally had to pause the episode because I was laughing too hard. Oh, Kara.

Dichen Lachman is always a win. Dichen Lachman playing a villain in a red dress with sick tattoos? Double win. I hope we’ll see Roulette again at some point.

Alex „Fight Me” Danvers, the same Alex Danvers who throws herself at aliens twice her size without hesitation, stutters and gets flustered when a pretty girl compliments her. What an awkward baby gay. I love her so much.

Why did Maggie take Alex’s hand? Don’t tell me it was for the mission because there was no need for them to hold hands. I’m pretty sure the writers only threw that in to give me (and Alex) a heart attack.

Of course Maggie has a girlfriend who conveniently showed up when Alex was trying to ask Maggie out. I hate it when they do that. We all know that the girlfriend is just a plot device created for the sole purpose of keeping Alex pining for Maggie for a little longer. They did basically the same thing with Kara, James and Lucy last season, except Lucy ended up actually getting some character development and being relevant to the plot. I’m willing to bet it won’t be the case here.

Shoutout to Chyler Leigh for her phenomenal work. She did an amazing job of showing Alex’s inner turmoil, sadness and disappointment with just her facial expressions as she watched Maggie leave. It was stunning to watch.

Warning: some mild spoilers for the books ahead!

As someone who loved season 1 so much that I proceeded to read all the books in the Grishaverse (and ended up becoming a HUGE fan of the books), watching season 2 was kind of like a fever dream. I've been waiting for it for 2 years, basically counting down the days, and now that I've binged the whole thing I feel overwhelmed and underwhelmed at once.

Season 1 already wasn't a very faithful adaptation since the Crows don't exist in the original trilogy at all and their storyline and the way it intersected with Alina's was completely made up for the show, but it worked nicely. In season 2, they took even more creative liberties, and the result is basically a huge remix of no less than 4 (FOUR!) books (the remaining two installments in the Shadow and Bone trilogy + both Six of Crows books to some degree). It's just... way too much to cram into eight episodes. I understand the decision to add the Crows into the show since the S&B trilogy IMO doesn't have enough material to fill that much screentime (especially the second book, Siege and Storm, which is weirdly paced and not that much happens), but they really tried to do too much too fast. They also messed with the book timeline and chronology beyond recognition, especially in regards to the Crows. The Ice Court heist from the first book in the duology is set up in the last minutes of the finale with Kaz talking about "their biggest job yet" and the jurda parem reveal, but at the same time they... basically blew the plot of the second book (except watered down) on the whole Pekka Rollins conflict from the first half of the season? Choices were made.

I also have to criticize the fact that the writers seem so eager to get their SoC spin-off that they are completely uninterested in properly exploring Alina's story. And don't get me wrong, the S&B trilogy is probably my least favorite series in the Grishaverse, and the Crows are BY FAR the most popular characters in this fandom, and I actually liked s1 Alina much more than her book counterpart, but there were still so many elements in her arc and her relationship with the Darkling that were worth exploring in more depth on screen. Their dynamic in the books is complex and Alina struggles with the pull towards darkness and towards him much more. In the show, it seems that she's made up her mind about him being beyond redemption and stuck to it the whole season, which is kind of boring since it doesn't allow for character growth. She has some very brief moments where we see the conflicting emotions, but overall it's not really given much spotlight. Considering that the show is called Shadow & Bone and Jessie Mei Li is the first person on the call sheet, they could've done a better job of properly telling the actual Shadow and Bone story.

(But I do have to say, I appreciated the ending they gave Alina in the show compared to the book. The corruption arc of Alina Starkov is certainly a compelling setup that I'd love to see explored further.)

There were a few aspects of the trilogy that were well done. Genya's arc was beautiful and Daisy Head SLAYED (best acting this season alongside Ben Barnes and Freddy Carter). Nikolai was pretty much perfect, as were Tamar and Tolya. Zoya, my favorite bitch, was given a tiny bit more screentime, which is a win in my book. On the Crows' side, Wylan's introduction and Nina's incorporation into the group were both great. The cast has always been this show's strongest part for me and it's genuinely incredible how perfectly everyone embodies their characters. I just wish the Crows' arc had been done better and that they hadn't blown every impactful emotional beat from the books so willy-nilly, and I wish we'd spent more time exploring Alina's mindset and her connection with the Darkling.

Overall, this was kind of a mess, but there was some good stuff in there and the cast really delivered for me. The main reason why I still want a season 3 (though we all know how cancellation-happy Netflix is) is because the actors are just an amazing bunch and I love watching them, even if the writing and the story leave something to be desired. I'm curious to see how they would proceed with adapting the book material now that they've majorly changed the S&B ending. At this point, I basically approach the show like I'd approach a fanfic, and that way, I actually had a pretty good time watching this season, especially with friends who are not book readers. As long as you can separate the book canon from the show canon and don't expect a word-for-word adaptation, it's a fun ride. It could've been improved with some better writing and cramming less stuff in there, though.

Nice episode, quite disappointing and rushed resolution (the super powerful villains defeated in a 30-second scene), really great underlying message that it's okay to struggle with your mental health and other issues and that you should seek help if you need it. Loved Graham sharing his fears with Thirteen and her response that she's still socially awkward - that's the Doctor I know and love. I also enjoyed Yaz's storyline and the moment she shared with the older police officer when she visited her to pay the 50 pence she owed. I'm starting to wonder if one or more companions will leave at the end of the season given Ryan's doubts about how their time in the Tardis affects them. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Thirteen with just one companion, I think it would allow the writers to really develop a proper relationship between the two. It's quite crowded right now and I feel like the individual dynamics aren't super fleshed out. Overall, it was an okay episode with a few standout scenes. Next week looks more exciting, I love Mary Shelley and the circumstances in which she wrote Frankenstein are fascinating, so I think it'll make for a very cool episode.

Hold up for a second. Did Savitar say "I am the future, Flash" or "I am the future Flash"? Because one little comma makes an enormous difference here.

Does Iris want to die? It certainly seems like she has some kind of death wish. I understand her whole speech about Barry proposing to her out of love, not fear, but god dammit, girl, wear the bloody ring! It can't hurt. If anything, it might actually increase your chances of survival.

I don't love Wally all that much, but I want them to get him back, if for no other reason than the fact that I can't bear to look at sad Joe. Stop hurting this wonderful man. He doesn't deserve it.

I'm totally here for Jesse and H.R. bonding. I think it's totally cool that she has someone by her side that looks exactly like her dad, but is his complete opposite inside. Where Harry fails (like comforting people and, you know, being nice to others), H.R. excels. And if she wants to visit grumpy ol' dad on Earth-2, she can do so anytime thanks to Cisco. It's a win-win situation.

This hot-and-cold (no pun intended, I guess) situation with Caitlin and Julian is getting annoying. First he kisses her and 5 seconds later he's all dramatic because he thinks she wants to use him to get rid of her powers. Which... she doesn't? She didn't say anything like that. She invited him to join the team because she's a nice fucking person. Someone punch Malfoy in the face, he's being an idiot.

This was such an enjoyable episode. Mr. Mxyzptlk was a good villain and Kara was an absolute badass. I didn't know drinking orange juice could be sassy, but she totally pulled it off. And the way she tricked him was so damn clever. But somehow I think Clark will have something to say about her destroying the statue of his dad.

Can we please get a break from men falling in love with Kara? I get it. I really do. I'm in love with her too. But let that poor girl rest. First Winn's feelings for her almost ruined their friendship, then the guy she just wanted to mentor started pursuing her, and in this episode a dude literally threatened to destroy the world to get her to marry him. Stop. She doesn't need this shit. She needs a hug, a dog and a chance to focus on herself instead of some ain't-shit fuckboy who thinks that he can get away with not listening to her and being the epitome of toxic masculinity, and that respecting her is a super impressive thing to do. No, dickhead, you don't promise to respect her just because she's mad at you and you want to get her off your back. You respect her because it's what decent people do. Also because she's obviously smarter and more experienced than you, and she's the best, kindest, most selfless person you'll ever meet. She deserves respect and that trashcan of a person is only willing to give it to her when it's convenient for him. This is why I hate Mon-El. The bar is set so fucking low for him at this point - just like for any other cishet white male in the history of everything - and he still fails to reach it. And he gets the girl anyway. This is bullshit.

Wow, good for Winn. I'm really happy for him. I definitely want to see more of Lyra. Let's just hope that she doesn't turn out to be evil, or the DEO might just officially ban Winn from dating ever again.

Maggie is a nerd who loves bonsai trees. Your fave could never. And her story absolutely broke my heart. I had tears in my eyes when she was telling it. She's a good, pure cinnamon roll that needs to be protected at all costs. I wish she got enough screentime for us to actually get to know her. She's such an interesting character with so much potential, but she practically doesn't exist outside of her relationship with Alex. I mean, I adore Sanvers. I live for Sanvers. And what Maggie did for Alex at the end of the episode made me weep like a little bitch. But let her be her own person too.

Oh, and stop interrupting beautiful, moving, heartwarming Sanvers scenes with Karamel crap. This isn't the first time this has happened and I hate it.

This episode made me realize two things:

1. Who is going to be the Big Bad next season? The stakes don't really get any higher than the actual god of speed. How can they possibly top Savitar?

2. Barry is pretty slow for someone who calls himself "the fastest man alive", eh? He's not even in the top 10 if fucking Kid Flash has a better shot at saving Iris.

My stomach hurts from laughing. The Flash's had its ups and downs, but the one thing it consistently excels at is comedy. Cisco flirting with Gypsy, H.R.'s narration at the beginning of the episode, Joe and Iris' conversation at the precinct (poor Joe looked like he was about to have a stroke), Julian's complete lack of bedside manner, the list goes on. I love the humor on this show.

I'll never get over the way H.R. pronounces "Francisco". It's gold.

Cisco, my brave, selfless son. He kicked some serious ass in this eisode. I guess they're just beginning to really explore the extent of his powers.

Cisco and Gypsy were kind of cute. Once they got past the "I'm going to kill you" phase, that is.

I love that they jumped to Supergirl's Earth and fought in Cat's office at CatCo.

I want to see more of Iris the Badass Reporter. More often than not, she gets sidelined and doesn't do much except hang around S.T.A.R. Labs with no real purpose. Give her the storylines she deserves. Please. By the way, that scene where she faced the arms dealer at the warehouse got me thinking. She made a good point. If she's supposed to die 4 months from now, that means she's effectively immortal until then, right? I mean, what would happen if she went skydiving without a parachute? Or jumped into a pool full of hungry sharks? Or tried to learn to juggle chainsaws? Would she die, thus changing the future? I get dizzy trying to wrap my head around it.

Okay, raise your hand if you were surprised by the fact that Julian is Alchemy.

awkward cricket sounds

Yeah, I didn't think so. It was one of the most obvious reveals ever.

Savitar is super cool. Special effects were out of control in this episode.

I honestly laughed at Iris telling Barry that the CSI lab is his life. We hardly ever see him there. I think he'll be fine.

Wally was so happy and excited when they were testing his speed. It was adorable.

Oh, Caitlin. My beautiful baby. I really hope that they will find a way to get her powers under ontrol. I'm glad that the team didn't turn their backs on her.

Barry's confrontation with Killer Frost was such an amazing scene. It was so intense and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, even though I knew that there was no way they were going to kill Barry. Still, it definitely stood out to me.

I love Barry and Cisco's relationship. I don't want to see either of them sad. Just please, make up and be happy.

Nice Game of Thrones reference there, Cisco!

We're getting the crossover next week and I couldn't be more excited! I love big superhero team-ups!

That was a good episode. Looks like another thing that changed when Barry altered the timeline was that the writers remembered how to make a superhero show.

The whole "Wild Dog screws up, Oliver gets angry and walks away" formula is getting annoying. We get it, he's the Impulsive One. No need to bring it up for the 50th time since the beginning of the season.

Both storylines were decently executed. Oliver breaking John out of prison was all right, although personally I thought that the rest of the team going after Church was a lot more interesting. The baby vigilantes are growing on me and the whole team dynamic is getting better. I'm starting to like both Evelyn and Rory.

I really enjoyed all the Felicity/Rory scenes. They felt very genuine and heartfelt. I already love their friendship.

I'm no scientist, and I certainly don't know a lot about physics, but I'm pretty sure that getting pulled up by a plane with a harness around your waist would hurt. A lot. Possibly even injure you? Break some bones? Rip your spine out? I don't know.

Superhero costumes aren't exactly notorious for being practical, I realize that, but what the hell is up with Curtis' mask? How does he manage to keep it on his face when he's fighting? Sheer force of will? Superglue? I know that his superhero name is Mr Terrific, but was slapping a piece of cloth shaped like the letter T on his face the best they could come up with?

"Was he waiting for an entrance line?"

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was the first time in years that Arrow has genuinely made me laugh.

No. No. I refuse to believe this.

I'm not crying, not yet. But I have this horrible, cold, twisting sensation in my stomach that usually means I'm nervous. Right now it means that my worst nightmares have come true.

I can't say that I didn't expect Root to die, but I didn't expect it to happen before the series finale, and even then, my silly, naive heart still hoped against all hope that she'd miraculously survive.

Root died protecting Harold, fighting for a cause she believed in. She transcended death and became The Machine's voice. They couldn't have possibly come up with a more fitting end for her character, but that doesn't mean I'm the tiniest bit okay with her dying. I feel sick, to be honest. I can't breathe. I don't know how to process this. Is this what heartbreak feels like? It sucks. It sucks so badly.

It's no secret that I loved Root. I absolutely adored her. She was one of my favorite characters of all time, and her journey from an antagonist to a hero was nothing short of extraordinary. I feel like a part of me died with her, and I don't think I'll ever get it back.

I can't focus because my feelings are overwhelming me. It was a brilliant episode. Great action, great Harold speech in that interrogation room, great Root/Shaw scenes... I need to scream into my pillow. Root just got Shaw back! It's not fair!

How am I supposed to live after this?

Everything hurts, and nothing matters anymore.

I think I need a hug.