A Winning HBO Series with THE WHITE LOTUS Season 3

 

Jeri Jacquin

Now on DVD from creator Mike White is the HBO Original THE WHITE LOTUS: The Complete Third Season.

Zion (Nicholas Duvernay) is attempting to try meditation with Amrita (Shalini Peiris) when gunfire breaks out leaving him wondering where mom Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) is. A week prior, a boat comes to port with Rick (Walton Goggins), girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), Timothy (Jason Isaacs), wife Victoria (Parker Posey) and their kids Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Piper (Sarah Hook) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola). Also, actress Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) and friends Kate (Leslie Bibb) and Laurie (Carrie Coon). Already on shore is Chloe (Charlotte Le Bonn) and Greg (Jon Gries). Fabian (Christian Friedel) meets the guests along with hotel owner Sritala (Lek Patravadi).

The resort is already a buzz with Rick being upset that the person he came to see isn’t there, Kate and Jaclyn talk divorce, Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) finally talks with health mentor Mook (Lalisa Manobal) about his feelings. Belinda and Pomchai (Dom Hetrakul) have something going, Saxon can’t stop himself from being inappropriate, and Timothy tries hard to avoid the calls that are plaguing him. Victoria is dealing with a big of worry about a tsunami which sets Piper off believing it is a foreboding. Piper finally gets to do what she came for and visits a monastery for her thesis. Belinda might know someone and does what anyone would do.

Fabian might have made a mistake by giving Gaitok a gun but Mook sees it as promotion potential. Ricks detachment from Chelsea has her wondering what is happening and gets an unexpected answer. Lochlan also gets an unexpected discussion with Piper about her monastery visit. Timothy can’t get away from his problems and finds a questionable way to deal with it and Gaitok confronts him. Chloe takes the younger crowd to a Full Moon party and supplies the ‘party favors. Jaclyn, Kate and Laurie go clubbing and meets up with guys and makes a night of it, literally.

Belinda is surprised by her son Zion catching her in an awkward situation. Greg is suspicious of the happenings around Saxon and Lochlan. Timothy’s situation has caused him to think about doing the worst things possible. Rick is not done trying to meet Jim Hollinger (Scott Glen) and involves Sritala in his scheming. It doesn’t take but a moment for Rick to make it clear why he is in Thailand and it isn’t for his mental health. Mook decides to go out on a date with Gaitok and she learns his security guard secret. Chelsea tries to help Saxon with his wileyness, but some guys you can’t help.

Piper finally tells her parents the truth of her visit to Thailand, after a girlfriend disagreement, Laurie remembers why she is friends with Jaclyn and Kate and Timothy turns everything upside down in a blender of pina coladas. Jim and Rick finally have their moment and it is after that Sritala changes everything and it seems the only one walking away from this in a positive way is Gaitok!

Goggins as Rick doesn’t have the same thrill as his girlfriend about being in Thailand. That could be because he is there with a mission in mind and it has nothing to do with a vacation. Watching him unpack with health mentor Amrita, he blurts out a past that might explain the present.  I have to say that honestly, I love everything Goggins does so when I heard he was on this season, I tuned in for it. I love when he takes on a character that is spicey or standoffish and the character of Rick gives me both. Wood as Chelsea is a young woman who can’t understand why Rick is behaving a bit mean with her. This is a rather cheerful and outgoing young lady and her man is starting to take the joy out of her.

Isaacs as Timothy is a man with a problem, and that problem is the law. Trying to stay out of it is proving to be a challenge no matter how many phone calls he takes. It is his thoughts about how to get out of it that are disturbing. Posey as wife Victoria seems disjointed on this trip but things begin to happen around her that make it impossible to not have an all-out reaction. Hook as Piper has brought her family to Thailand for one reason but it is clear she has another reason. Out of all the people at the hotel, I think she is the sanest one of all.

Schwarzenegger as Saxon is a sex starved degenerate of a son who doesn’t hesitate to see that he has a problem – but that’s what narcissism does. He is absolutely the peacock of the hotel and doesn’t mind what anyone thinks of what he says or does. Nivola as brother Lochlan admits that he is a people pleaser but finds himself going way to far. Caught between what sister Piper is doing and how brother Saxon behaves may be the thing that pushes him over the edge.

Monaghan as Jaclyn is an actress taking time away to rekindle her friendships. Getting the gossip in person feels so much better than their yearly telephone calls. Bibb as Kate doesn’t mind filling Jaclyn in on what has been happening as their first dinner. The scene between Monaghan and Bibb is girl talk but also feels like a chipping away at a friend yet I loved it. Coon as Laurie is going through problems of her own and trying to hide it from the others. I just love Coon and especially her latest role as Bertha Russell in the wildly successful hit THE GILDED AGE also on HBO.

Rothwell as Belinda is such a charming character. She is at the hotel on her own but it is clear that she feels like she is missing something in her life. Finding it in Hetrakul as Pomchai, it makes her wonder whether staying is something she really wants but at the same time so cute! Manobal as Mook gets the joy (and I laugh when I say that) to deal with the guests and their idiosyncrasies. So charming and lovely, I don’t think I’d be as gracious as Mook and well done Manobal. Thapthimthong as Gaitok is not only a little love sick, but will do anything to move up the ladder and impress Mook. He is equally as charming as Manobal and if I were a big roller I’d tip both of them beyond belief.

Shout out to Patravadi as Sritala, the colorful and outspoken hotel owner who comes in and out at will. She is also a wonderful singer. Also, Friedel as Fabian who tries to keep things running smoothly but his facial expressions say it all.

Other cast include Ke Huy Quan as Kenneth, Scott Galloway as Chuck, Rob Carlton as Rupert, Yothin Udomsanti as Pee Lek, Suthichai Yoon as Luang Poor Teera, Yuri Kolokolnikov as Vlad, Julian Kostov as Aleksei, Morgana O’Reilly as Pam, and Arnas Fedaravicius as Valentin.

HBO Home Entertainment brings critically acclaimed and groundbreaking programming throughout the world. Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Entourage. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including Big Little Lies and Band of Brothers. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

The episodes include Same Spirits New Forms, Special Treatments, The Meaning of Dreams, Hide or Seek, Full-Moon Party, Denials, Killer Instincts, and Amor Fati.

The Special Features include Invitation to Set: Welcome to Thailand, Thai Tea, Closet Tour, Unpacking Each Episode, and Get to Know the Characters.

THE WHITE LOTUS: The Complete Third Season gives so much complexity, twists and turns, and getting to learn about each guest is so intriguing. Taking on some dark topics, they are wrapped in the kind of humor that I like. Like a warmed towel, the story slowly unwraps and keeps us comfortable so that we have no issues waiting for it all to explode. Carbon based units are difficult enough, those at THE WHITE LOTUS are ripe with their insecurities and fears but have no problem having a few drinks under the sun.

Watching all these problems under the stunning setting of Thailand, it would normally make one wonder how it’s possible to have any problems at all. Of course, the monkeys probably knew these were human train wrecks before their feet could make an impression in the sand upon arrival. Goggins is sublime, Isaacs has me as nervous as a turkey at Thanksgiving, Posey had me laughing, Schwarzenegger was good at being ridiculous, the trio of Monaghan, Bibb and Coon reminded me of groups of girlfriends I know, and Manobal and Rothwell are so endearing and charming.

This series definitely deserves to be binge-watched because one at a time is just torture. I intentionally left off details because I hate when someone gives everything away. It is much more fun to have a clue about the characters but get the deep dive while watching on one’s own. Also, this is a perfect series to have friends over to share and with the DVD you can do just that. No commercials only a fun get together with strangers in Thailand!

In the end – same luxury new reservations!

DUNE: Prophecy Brings Season on to 4K Ultra HD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray, DVD and currently on Digital from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, Legendary, HBO and creators Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker is DUNE: Prophecy.

It is ten thousand years before the Kwisatz Haderach when sisters Valya (Jessica Barden) and Tula (Emma Canning) Harkonnen join the Sisterhood. The women are trained to be Truthsayers to the Great Houses of the Imperium. Valya (Emily Watson) eventually becomes Mother Superior and works to solidify Emperor Javicco Corrino’s (Mark Strong) bloodline while at the same time dealing with Arrakis and spice. Soldier Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) has caused a disturbance for Truthsayer Kasha Jinjo (Jihae) while Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) is being rebellious in her own way.

Empress Natalya (Jodhi May) is making claims against Duke Ferdinand (Brendan Cowell) and Valya uses Sister Lila (Chloe Lea) to reach out to a deceased Mother Superior. Constantine tells Richese (Laura Howard) the truth about Ynez husband and it is clear that Desmond is a force that no one can control as he moves like a ninja through the politics. Valya realizes that he wants to totally destroy the Sisterhood and attempts to subdue him. Valya’s past has much to do with her history with the Atredies and her sister Tula (Olivia Williams) but both are dealing with it still in the present with Lila.

Valya is now the truthsayer to the Harkonnens yet Desmond tells Javicco to remove them from the Landraad. Tula uses acolytes and their dreams to learn about Shai-Hulud but also, Lila wakes from her deep sleep. Using Theodosia’s (Jade Anouka) ability to shapeshift, Valya tries something unusual. Once Javicco makes Desmond a Bashar, he wants to find a way to catch Valya for her hand in the spice and after a raid, she gets Mikaela (Shalom Burne-Franklin) to Arrakis. Javicco decides to send Constantine (Josh Heuston) to Arrakis to quell problems.

The shock becomes who Desmond is and each of the pieces in the game change up but not before Valya, Keiran (Chris Mason) and Ynez arrive on Arrakis!

Watson as Valya is just perfection in that she is exactly how I would see a Bene Gesserit looking. She has the amazing ability to do the most underhanded things with a straight face and a glare in her eye. Her performance is intense, and adds to the mystery of the story that is constantly in flux. Williams as Tula and Valya’s sister means there is a lot of family drama to unfold in the package. Learning what she has done and what she plans to do is equally as intense as Watson and Williams make the perfect pair.

Strong as Javicco is an actor that I have followed for so many years. Each performance and character he brings to life will either be full of sympathy or wrath, Javicco is a hard package to unwrap but I am here for every second of it. Lea as Sister Lila doesn’t realize what she is in for with the Harkonnen sisters who seem to be on their own path. Then again that is true for any of the characters that get in their way.

Fimmel as Desmond, oh my gosh have I missed him on screen. He left us all emotionally stranded after the A&E series VIKINGS and he did television series work with RAISED BY WOLVES and BLACK SNOW. When I learned he was to be in this serious, I have to admit that it pushed me toward the show even more. As Desmond, he is a man on a mission even if others don’t know what that is or why. I am thrilled to see what his character is capable of next, as are the 15+ million viewers.

Other cast include Edward Davis as Harrow Harkonnen, Faoileann Cunningham as Sister Jen, Aoife Hinds as Sister Emeline, Barbara Marten as Sister Avila, Camilla Beeput as Reverend Mother Dorotea, Cathy Tyson as Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul, Hannah Khalique-Brown as Sister Farouz, Tessa Bonham Jones as Lady Richese, Charlie Hodson-Prior as Pruwet Richese, Sam Spruell as Horace, Karima McAdams as Sister Nazir, Mark Addy as Evgeny Harkonnen, Polly Walker as Sonia Harkonnen, Earl Cave as Griffin Harkonnen, Milo Callaghan as Orry Atredies, David Bark Jones as Vergyl Harkonnen, Archie Barnes as Albert, Tabu as Sister Francesca.

The episodes include The Hidden Hand, Two Wolves, Sisterhood Above All, Twice Born, In Blood Truty, and The High-Handed Enemy. Also included are over an hour of bonus content, five extended featurettes including Building Worlds and Behind the Veil, and one all-new-bonus features exclusive to the 4K UHD, Bluray and DVD.

Warner Brothers is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, television and home entertainments with worldwide distribution to DVD and Bluray, animation, comic books, videogames and broadcasting. For more please visit www.warnerbros.com.

Legendary Entertainment is a leading media company with Legendary Pictures, Legendary Television and Digital Media and Legendary Comics divisions dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to worldwide audiences. Legendary has built a library of marquee media properties and has established itself as a trusted brand which consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment including some of the world’s most popular intellectual property. For more please visit www.legendary.com.

HBO Home Entertainment brings critically acclaimed and groundbreaking programming throughout the world. Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Entourage. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including Big Little Lies and Band of Brothers. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

DUNE: Prophecy is inspired by the novel Sisterhood of Dune written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The series is a stunner or “fire” as the kids say now. As a fan of the original 1984 film, it was always a question of history for me. How and why did the Bene Gesserit start, what was their goal and why? These are just very basic questions because I actually have two sheets of paper with more. For fans of the story, they also have questions about the Bene Gesserit that I probably haven’t even thought of.

Not to mention, there are lines from the film that have found their way into every day life, like when someone says to you, “who does the/she think he/she is?” the reply would be, “he is the Kwisarts Hatarak!” and DUNE: Prophecy is well on its way. When someone asks you about today’s political climate, the response is “The Imperium is a circus of fear and rumor”. That is one way to know that your audience is being reached effectively!

DUNE: Prophecy has amazing cinematography that is absolutely part of the story. This is a world put together with the brushstrokes of a masterpiece and details that are unforgettable. To say it is a dark tale is pretty much an understatement as every character is twisting and turning the story at their own whim. As a fan of intrigue and the war of houses vying for supremacy, this series needs, honestly, more than six episodes for a season. You listening HBO?

The patriarchy thinks they are in charge and the sisterhood is fine with letting them think so because it offers them a chance to do what they want in shuffling their world. It brings about the supernatural world that each character is trying to control and bend for their own reasons. Each step is choreographed by one of the characters and in lies the intrigue and juicy scheming that audiences crave in their series viewing. The bonus to all this is the excellent casting choices that bringing all of this together in a bow of perfection. Congratulations all around and with a second season coming, DUNE: Prophecy on 4K UHD, Bluray and DVD is a great way to rewatch and catch things you might have missed!

In the end – power lies in the shadows!

 

 

The HBO Hit Series SUCCESSION Comes to Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray is the massively successful HBO hit series for fans who want to revisit the family of SUCCESSION: The Complete Series.

The Roy clan owns a media conglomerate called Waystar RoyCo. headed by the family patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox). The family also includes son Kendall (Jeremy Strong), daughter Shiv (Sarah Snook) and her husband Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), son Roman (Kieran Culkin), son Connor (Alan Ruck) and nephew Greg (Nicholas Braun). At a family party, Logan sends shockwaves through his family by announcing major shake ups and changes to the company. When Logan collapses, emotionally entitled son Kendall rushes to make deals but learns from general counsel Gerri Kellman (J. Smith-Cameron) that not everything is as it seems.

As Kendall shifts and twists with maneuvers, Roman and Shiv have other ideas along with Frank Vernon (Peter Friedman). He is not the only one that can play the conglomerate game. When things don’t go according to plan, meaning Logan is not one to be toyed with, Kendall is left in the cold but has plans of his own to go up against his own father. In England, a wedding is happening but that doesn’t stop Logan and the family from as the family is dealing with affairs, hostile takeovers, relapses and cover ups – more than usual for the family.

Back in the states, the family gathers again in the Hamptons as Logan tries to get an honest opinion from his family about the company. Shiv learns of her fathers plans but so do Logan and Kendall who are trying to find a way to deal with Logan. Connor has decided to run for president much to the amusement of his family. While all of this is happening, Logan rehires Frank and wants to go after a rival media company but finds out that someone has been telling a writer about his personal life history and is furious.

Logan and Kendall off a price to PGM, the media company they want but during the meeting, a gun shot rings out. Keeping the meeting going, Greg and Tom are going at it in a blackmail way while Roman is having a freak fest with Gerri. That doesn’t slow down a deal with PGM and Kendall is back on his self-destructive tour. Thinking they are celebrating a deal; the Roy’s learn of a potential scandal that could destroy everything. But, as with the Roy’s, there is always juggling happening. Tom is dealing with the investigation; Logan believes his daughter has not been loyal and Shiv suspects that another woman is trying to sabotage her plans.

Over in Dundee, Scotland, Logan is celebrating 50 years at Waystar and Shiv isn’t going to let anything get in her way. Gerri tells her that there is a whistleblower about the cruise rumors and Shiv finds a way to put all the blame on someone else. At the Senate hearing, things become a bigger disaster as Tom can’t string two believable sentences together. Escaping to the Mediterranean, its time for each to try and smooth over the problems plaguing the Roy family. Logan decides who will be the fall guy for the cruise ship disaster but there is one person that is not going to let that happen.

Logan makes changes in his inner circle sending Roman, Gerri and Shiv are back in New York and thinks about who will temporarily take over. Kendall decides it is time to re-vamp and re-create his public image with the thought of still going after his father and trying to convince his siblings to join him. Shiv has other plans and if she can wait it out, things might just go her way. In the meantime, Logan has made it clear he will not help the Department of Justice in anyway wanting the President to favor him. Kendall is still on a tear and his aim now is to his sister Shiv in the most brutal way forgetting that she can be just as lethal as he is.

Dealing with Stewy and Sandi, Shiv manages to find a way to keep Waystar functional while Logan recuperates from an illness. Kendall decides to go to the DOJ against his father but things don’t, once again, go as he plans. In Tuscany, Italy, the siblings learn their mother is engaged but Kendall decides to use the moment to once again attempt family to his side to no avail. In the meantime, Logan wants to meet the CEO of GoJo Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard) to obtaining the streaming service but Roman wants a way in. Soon Roman discovers that business is a more brutal and unforgiving business than he could have imagined for himself.

As the siblings decide to fight Logan using a small piece of information, they are equally shocked when it is discovered that Tom was not on their side. As time passes, Kendall, Shiv and Roman decide they want to purchase PGM and rival bid against their father. Returning to New York, Logan and Matsson seem to be on a high of their own but Logan isn’t done playing the siblings against one another. At a very gloomy gathering at Logan’s apartment, the fight once again takes on sibling form were once together, now at cross purposes with each other.

Making separate decisions, it all comes to a head with Matsson causing senior management to make a crucial decision about Waystar. Shiv, Roman and Kendall can’t seem to get out of their own way but only one thing is going to save them – a lie that is not coming out of their mouths. That doesn’t take care of their problem with GoJo, especially with election night happening as everyone is running around insane trying to control every little event. Once again, the siblings are against one another as there is a made scramble for power and even more lies are being told and betrayed against one another.

No one sees how it is all going to end!

Cox as Logan Roy is a powerhouse that I have always admired as an actor. He has a stellar presence and a voice that forces you to listen whether you want to or not. As Logan, he has spent his life making deals and crushing anyone that gets in his way – including his own family members. I loved watching him play this role and it seemed to much fun to do. There is something to be said about playing a devious character and Cox absolutely nails it.

Strong as Kendall is a hot mess who can not seem to get it right. He fights against his father and it is like hitting a brick wall again and again. He definetly doesn’t seem to have the ability to understand why there are problems instead of recognizing that he IS the problem. Strong plays this role masterfully and has left an impression on his ability to chose such a complex role. Snook as Shiv is exactly like Logan Roy with her attitude. She wants something from her father that he dangles in front of her like a pot of gold continually and she tries to find ways around him to get it on her own terms. Shiv is such an amazing character and the Snook makes it every bit hers and the show would have a huge void without her.

Culkin as Roman is a character with a magazine rack full of insane issues. One minutes he is just the wisecracking son enjoying the rich life and the next he shows that he has potential to be a leader and then he switches it up again. Culkin may be the ‘comic’ relief of the show but his penchant for bizarre behavior is stunning. Macfadyen as Tom knows which side his bread is buttered on but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to try and get a slice of bread all on his own. He is insecure for sure and not someone I’d tell a secret to, but he makes it work in his favor in the oddest and most unexpected ways. Well done, Macfadyen! Ruck as Connor is that family member that people know about but don’t expect anything from. In this case, it is absolutely true. The family basically keeps him out of everything and when he does silly things like running for President, they say, “that’s great” out loud but privately they are rolling their eyes and laughing.

Smith-Cameron as Gerri is a keeper of secrets, keeper of keys to the vault of family lies and deceptions and most of all, the most loyal to Logan Roy. Watching her always remain calm is the most stunning performance in the four seasons of this show. Smith-Cameron is always the strongest person in the room and spins lies into truth with precision. Braun as Greg is slightly under equal footing to that of Tom. He brings a childlike presence who seem oblivious to the real world, cannot be trusted with company secrets (or private family ones for that matter). He had me slapping my head consistently with his inability to read the room but Logan keeps him around anyway. Alexander Skarsgard as Matsson comes in to be the final adversary in the show. He is sleek, charming and a bit ditzy, but when it comes to what he wants for his company, he is enjoying the game of who is going to get what in the end. Skarsgard stands out and watching his performance is sharp, sly and enjoyable to watch.

Other cast include Hiam Abbass as Marcia Roy, Natalie Gold as Rava Roy, Rob Yang as Lawrence Yee, Dagmara Dominczyk as Karolina Novotney, Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan,Arian Moayed as Stewy Hosseini, Justine Lupe as Willa, Scott Nicholson as Colin, David Rasche as Karl Muller, and Fisher Stevens as Hugo Baker.

HBO Home Entertainment brings critically acclaimed and groundbreaking programming throughout the world. Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Entourage. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including Big Little Lies and Band of Brothers. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

Warner Brothers is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, television and home entertainments with worldwide distribution to DVD and Bluray, animation, comic books, videogames and broadcasting. For more please visit www.warnerbros.com.

Special Features include Over Two Hours of Bonus Content, Including INSIDE THE EPISODE Featurettes, Character Recaps, Cast and Crew Interviews, and much more!

This is a family that is brutally verbal from the first scene to the last and I absolutely loved it. SUCCESSION is an absolute four season joy no matter how you slice it. This is a family that is loyal to no one yet loyal to who ever is on their side till they are not on their side – you follow? The games they play with each other and their thought process should be on someone’s psychology curriculum because they are all a hot mess in the grand scheme of things. Speaking of schemes, there are plenty, an absolute plethora of them which means there is never a boring episode or break in the game they are all playing.

I watched the series when it ran on HBO but trust me when I saw I spent most of my time stunned at the performances. Being able to revisit the complete series on Blu-ray, I had the opportunity to remember why I feel SUCCESSION was one of the greatest HBO shows ever. I once again cheered for my favorite characters and boo’d those who tried to take them down. The family one-liners are still my favorite and the cutting way they interact with each other reminds me that my family isn’t so bad after all.

As summer comes to a close and we spend more time indoors, get your own copy of SUCCESSION: The Complete Series and let the heat from the Roy family keep you warm.

In the end – take what’s yours!

HBO Continues its Success with TRUE DETECTIVE: Night Country

 

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray this week from the series creator Nic Pizzolatto and HBO is the fourth season of the crime drama TRUE DETECTIVE: Night Country.

Tsalal Research Station, located in the remote town of Ennis Alaska, is bustling with scientists. Something has made its way inside the work station bringing police Chief Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) to the location. What they find is basically nothing, oh, except for a woman’s tongue and a loud television. Also on the case is trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) who has a beef with the police chief as she believes this could be connected to an Inupiat woman’s death.

Local Rose (Fiona Shaw) calls the police because of the horror she has found near the frozen local lake. It is bizarre and cannot be explained. A pile of frozen bodies and a spiral symbol just confuses the situation all the more. Danvers isn’t happy when the dog brass Captain Ted Connolly (Christopher Eccleston) wants her to tie up the case quickly. Frozen scientists aren’t Navarro’s only problem as her sister Julia (Aka Niviana) is someone the trooper has to consistently be watching out for and Danvers is dealing with her rebellious teen Inupiat stepdaughter Leah (Isabella Star LaBlanc).

More pressure is coming from Silver Sky execs Kate McKitterick and Conolly is a part of that. Both warn Danvers to steer clear of the case but, honestly, who is going to stop her from doing her job. Leading them back to the lab, Danvers and Navarro work together and discover and underground lab where a local was murdered leading to Raymond Clark (Owen McDonnell). Continuing to look for evidence, Danvers and Navarro have visions of things that are personally painful.

The two women push back against what they uncover about Silver Sky, the murders and disappearances and the spirit world that knows the truth of it all!

Foster as Danvers is like a dog with a huge chunk of juicy steak and refuses to let go of the case no matter who comes up against her. I love when Foster takes on these types of roles where she doesn’t have to scream and holler to get the answers her character wants. Instead, she kind of puffs up and spikes whenever anyone tries to tell Danvers anything that goes against what she knows to be true. That being said, Foster gives Danvers a “softer” side when it comes to figuring out how to be a compassionate but stern step-parent. All of this in the midst of an icy mystery that needs her qualities if its going to be solved. I just love Foster in this role!

Reis as Navarro may butt heads against Danvers for a perceived wrong she feels but she is equally a force to be reckoned with. As much as these two characters feel they are at odds, it is their strength together (once they get past the animosity). Reis gives as good as she gets but also has the issue of her sister’s mental state and trying to bring to light the lack of concern about missing Inupiat women which angers her to no end. Reis gives a strong performance and doesn’t let up even to the very end. A wonderful and riveting performance.

Shaw as Rose is what I’d imagine I would be like in my senior age, living out in the middle of no where and being happy about it. It is when strange things begin to happen that she has something to say about it all. Shaw is such a wonderful and undervalued actress but slowly finding her way into her own (see the film IF and she’ll make you cry). Niviana as Julia portrays a character that suffers from a mental illness and shows the personal impact it has on family and the lack of resources available for the native peoples.

Shout out to John Hawkes as Captain Hank Prior. Watching him go up against Foster’s character is twisted and filled with emotional history. It’s always a joy to see him on the screen.

Other cast include Anna Lambe as Kayla Malee,Erling Eliasson as Travis, Nivi Pedersen as Annie, Joel D. Montgrand as Eddie, Finn Bennett as Officer Peter Prior and John Hawkes as Captain Hank Prior.

HBO Home Entertainment brings critically acclaimed and groundbreaking programming throughout the world. Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Entourage. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including Big Little Lies and Band of Brothers. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

Bonus Features include Meet the True Detectives: Cast Q&A, New Chapter – Showrunner/Writer/Director Issa Lopez and Cast Discuss Night Country’s Unique Role in the Series, Exploring Indigenous Themes – Delves into Alaska Native Culture and How it has Informed This Season, Max Inkblots – Get to Know Cast Through Show-Themed Inkblot Interpretations, Setting Featurette – Sets Up Alaska as a Pivotal Character in the Story and Atmospheric Teases – Social Environmental Shots to Tease Key Moments From the Series.

TRUE DETECTIVE: Night Country is brilliant story telling by Nic Pizzolatto and the perfect cast to bring it all off. Set in Alaska, the surrounding environment is another player in the game of mystery and murder. The series also takes on the issue of the lack of help regarding the native women. Not only in Alaska but on reservations there are women who are missing or murdered yet getting help seems to be the least of law enforcements concerns.

It is the twists and turns that had my jaw dropping constantly thinking I had figured things out early but clearly was very, very wrong. To be honest, I actually watched the series with the lights out giving the series an even spookier feel. Watching Foster and Reis together is a winning combination and these two women have brought a stunning fourth season to the TRUE DETECTIVE series.

In the end – uncover the truth and unravel the evidence!

 

THE PRINCESS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently streaming on HBO and director Ed Perkins is the story of the woman we all know as THE PRINCESS.

Slightly faded in memory of most unless you are English, especially with all the ruckus Prince Harry and wife have caused in recent years, THE PRINCESS is a reminder of the late Princess Diana Spencer. Told through pictures and archival footage, it begins with the excitement surrounding young Diana as she becomes engaged to the most eligible bachelor of the day – Prince Charles.

Their early interviews show a sweet Diana with Charles as they answer questions about what their hopes are for their upcoming marriage. Charles seems to be the one in charge and Diana stays true to her man!

The wedding is the event of a generation with all the glamor and spectacle one would expect in a Hollywood production. Diana looked ravishing and the people of England could not have been happier with something wonderful to celebrate. Some time later, Prince William is born bringing more happiness to the country followed by Prince Harry.

But behind closed doors, Princess Diana is struggling with unspoken rumors of infidelity by Prince Charles with his former mistress Camilla Parker-Bowles. Now the media becomes involved as he goes on the defensive with family issues and secrets. Princess Diana finds ways to spend her time with charities for AIDS, homelessness and land mines.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana finally given their release papers from one another after she gives her own television interview that shocks the country, the books and newspapers do not let up. Charles goes his way and Princess Diana agrees to drop the HRH from her title, is given a settlement and walks away with her two sons.

Life becomes different but not any less media worthy as Princess Diana is constantly being followed, not by one or two photographers but dozens and dozens. Trying to have time with her boys without the paparazzi becomes impossible.

Being seen with other men also causes a fervor for the tabloids and when she is seen with Dodi Al Fayed. He is an Egyptian film producer but more so is that he is the son of billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed. Seen boarding planes and vacationing on fabulous yachts, readers of the papers cannot get enough.

That is until August 31, 1997, in Paris, France as Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed try to escape a barrage of paparazzi into a tunnel and never coming out the other side. Instead, a crash that takes the life of Al Fayed and Princess Diana. Now the world knows, and the shock reverberates everywhere.

The funeral is one that takes over as the world, the same as witnessed the wedding 1981. The emotion was everywhere in the people but less so with the royal family. Keeping a “stiff upper lip”, Charles brings Princess Diana home as her brother Earl Spencer, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Phillip walk behind her casket.

HBO Home Entertainment brings critically acclaimed and groundbreaking programming throughout the world. Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Entourage. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including Big Little Lies and Band of Brothers. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

As the 25^th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death approaches, director Perkins does not interview anyone but instead, lets the photographs and footage speak instead. What makes the documentary so revealing in a way is that the world knows more about her struggle with bulimia, depression, the emotional abuse and the monarchy that dug in its heels to a changing time.

Princess Diana did the one thing that had not been done since Queen Elizabeth became the reigning monarch, she captivated the world with every move she made. Not always a good thing for Diana but she was beginning to make head way into a life of her own when she died.

It is important to remember the work that she did for her country and around the world because it is the work that continues today. Her boys have grown up and found happiness in the way that suites them the best, even if the world does not always agree with the choices.

That being said, PRINCESS DIANA tells its own story, and we have the chance to remember, once again, that she may have been complicated but she was still, after all, the People’s Princess.

 

 

 

 

 

HBO Takes a Look at FOUR HOURS AT THE CAPITOL

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming from director Jamie Roberts and HBO is a look at one day that has changed the way we look at our politicians and political system with the documentary FOUR HOURS AT THE CAPITOL.

This documentary starts off with Officer Mike Fanone from the D.C. Metro Police Department with twenty years of duty. Explaining how his day would start it would be even more difficult to experience how his day would end.

At the White House, the then 45^th President was giving a hell-fire speech to his supporters but down at the Capitol, proud boy Eddie Block was at the Washington Monument because he could not get to the speech. He sees people moving toward the Capitol, so he follows the group and records what he sees.

Many in the Capitol know there are people gathering outside including Rep. Buddy Carter and Rep. Jim McGovern but neither could have seen where it was going. Liah Han, assistant to the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi also was becoming aware of the gathering.

Tayler Hansen, a reporter for The Gateway Pundit was in the crowd at the White House speech and is witnessing the reaction of the crowd to what they were hearing. He followed the proud boys even before the violent outbreak. Ashley Gilbertson of The New York Times recalls the crowd as showing “blind devotion”.

Bobby Pickles, also a proud boy explained, “the president says, ‘go to the capitol’ so we went to the capitol.” Soon after began the pushing past barriers with crowds following and it is when “all hell broke loose”.

Officer Winston Pingeon from the U.S. Capitol police reports that the incident actually began 19 minutes before the White House speech ended. Already the police are overwhelmed as the crowd grows even larger, chanting gets louder and tempers flare like a flash fire. Trying to enter the Capitol building, the officers are overtaken.

Inside the chamber, Rep. Eric Swalwell and Rep. Ruben Gallego are there to certify the electoral votes of the election and have no idea what is happening outside. Violence erupts as pepper balls are shot into the crowd and pushing past the police now turns to violence against them. Videographer Brendan Gutenschwager feared what was going and for very good reason.

Couy Griffin representing cowboys for the then standing president, saw the outburst along with activist filmmaker Nick Alvear, and car salesman Domic Box all have their opinions about stolen votes and frustrations. As the crowds escalated, Commander Ramey Kyle of D.C. Metro was making his way to the Capitol saying, “we knew we were in for a fight”.

Inspector Robert Glover, also of D.C. Metro talks about officers beginning to fall and becoming injured by the crowds. Civilians were now attacking and beating police officer to get further into the building. Rep. Jim McGovern began getting txt from family about what was happening. The police are now outnumbered and the break in begins as fire alarms go off and Capitol police sweep in to take people away.

Rep. Jason Crow speaks on how everything quickly became intense, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro was told to continue on with government business. It also became quickly clear that those still in the building knew it was time to protect themselves any way they could as the protestors were becoming insurrectionists.

Officer Goodman tires to keep the crowd away from the Senate Chambers as Officer Byron Evans hears on the radio of the escalation and Officer Keith Robishaw helps to hold the line. Both Majority Whip Dick Durbin and Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer both tell of their experience and how quickly it happened.

The crowds inside grow larger and they are looking for the Vice-President and the Speaker of the House. Finding the Senate Chamber, the intruders ransacked papers and sat in seats while outside it had become complete bedlam as more officers like Daniel Hodge are assaulted and to survive they had to retreat.

The House of Representatives and those inside can now hear the insurrectionists and had to run. Trying to escape to the chant of “stop the steal” reverberating on the floor. There were people in the gallery hiding and making calls to loved ones. Finally, Rep. Adam Kinzinger is led with others to a protective location and is angry that the then president said – nothing.

Officer Fanone arrives at the Capitol and, along with partner Jimmy Albright get to the Capitol tunnel and see that the insurrectionists were attempting to push their way in as the police hold the line. Other officers begin to show up as well and they managed to push the crowd completely back out the tunnel.

As control is resumed, so is the business of the government and the continuation of certifying the election. In the end, 140 officers are injured with one officer dead and four protesters die.

Arrests begin to happen and the reality of it is that the man who pushed the crowds forward promising to be there with them to the Capitol is the same man who stayed behind.

HBO Home Entertainment brings critically acclaimed and groundbreaking programming throughout the world. Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Entourage. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including Big Little Lies and Band of Brothers. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

FOUR HOURS AT THE CAPITOL is a look at the timeline of the attack on the Capitol building on January 6, 2020. I know where I was, because it was hours before I could get up from my seat. Sitting at home with family watching the news about the certification, it started as a low murmur and almost in a blink it became violent, and my jaw dropped. Calling out to my family who were in the next room to join me because there was no way I was seeing what I thought I was seeing.

They looked at the television set and I saw the look on their faces so it became clear that we were witnessing something frightening which would be followed by horror. It became a day that is still talked about 21 months later.

What director Roberts was able to do was gather those who lived and, in some cases, survived the day. Even more poignant are the stories that we did not know about that reignited the horror for my family who thought we had seen it all. It is in these stories and the faces of those telling it that will break hearts.

That day also bring the realization that since September 11^th has our country been united in a cause like we all were that day. Now, there is arguing, fighting, accusing, lying, deceiving just to name a few of the divisive things that are happening in the country. The idea of fair play and people who run for office congratulate the winner and look to the next challenge has been damaged, perhaps beyond repair.

Watching FOUR HOURS AT THE CAPITOL, all I could think was that those protecting the Capitol and its occupants inside must have felt like the day was never going to end. The fear and anxiety was palpable then and it seemed to still be with those telling their story. Each frame of the story lets us know what happened and we have certainly learned why it happened even before January 6, 2020.

The importance of this documentary is to never, ever let this happen again and to do that we have to understand how it all got to this point. Not that many of need a grand outline of that but it is important in the telling about this day.

In the end – the ramifications are still being felt today!

 

 

HIS DARK MATERIALS

From HBO Executive Producers Jane Tranter and Jack Thorne

Dafne Keen

Ruth Wilson

Ariyon Bakare

Amir Wilson

Andrew Scott

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Moderator Stacey Wilson Hunt

The trailer for Season 2 is amazing but then what else would you expect?

What has meant the most to you about HIS DARK MATERIALS?

Jane: Obviously the most gratifying thing is that the fans of the book have become fans of the television adaptation. It is the thing you kind of dread thinking are they going to like it? Readers of the material have a lot of good things to say. The gratifying thing is how they have embraced what we have done. There was a sense of ‘how is that happening?’ but the fact that Boreal is such a big character in season one and when Boreal is put together with Will Parry and they saw us play out Will's back story. That was probably one of the most interactive and exciting audience experiences we could hope for. We are very proud. You are all very wonderful.

Jack: The denseness of Philip Pullman's world is not one thing but instead these things. If you sit and look at your phone and you look up you will have no idea what's going on. That's the thing more than anything. This is a show that people can watch with their families. That thing of trying to make sure everything went with it in some degree was tricky but amazing. Phillip was a wonder and trying to do justice by him was one of the hardest things I've done in my life but also a wonderful job. We've gotten his blessing and he's been lovely.

Jane: I can say that so spare his blushes, Phillip has reached out to everybody. It was actually a gratifying thing to watch his reaction to the show and was very appreciative.

Dafne: Lyra's emotions in Season Two I feel like when you first meet Lyra that she's an outgoing person that trusts easily. But when going into season two the only thing that gave her stability was the alethiometer and Roger and now she has lost both and she can trust no one and nothing. Season two she starts out closed in her own shell and Will brings her out and back to Lyra.

Amir: When I knew that Will wasn't in book one and put Will in season one, I wasn't sure how fans would react to that. When it comes to books and adaptations, they want you to stick to the story. It was a little bit of pressure because when you're bringing to life a character from a book or anyone there is a pressure to make sure you present them as they are in the book but adding a bit of yourself to make it your own. I felt the freedom to do my thing and I hope I did a good job. Meeting Dafne in Madrid and when I got the part and we shared in common that we both moved away from home and talk about how we hate school and stuff like that. They split the room with Dafne on one side.

Dafne: We couldn't even talk to each other and couldn't hear each other.

Amir: We went to the park and go for walks and it was nice and fun.

Dafne: He was the only kid that I didn't meet, and I really wanted to get on with him.

Mrs. Coulter is the character of good and evil, how do you see her?

Ruth: The best characters in fiction are ones you never truly understand. I said to Phillip that you never get to know who she is or a struggle to know who she is. She constantly challenges me, and the emotions are mixed up moment by moment. This season I get to see her circumstances and get underneath and what she has had to deal with as a woman in a very male world and the sacrifices she made and the costs. Losing her daughter and choosing her daughter mainly. We were given more license to go further and Jack dug into that. It’s a really great angle to look at Mrs. Coulter. She does such horrific things that you have to balance that as to why. By season three we will see her as a completely different person. That was really glorious and it’s much more about self-discover because she's on her own in season two. Shamefully I had never read the books and had heard about them, but I never read them. This was my first introduction when I was reading them with Jane. They are extraordinary books. The more you dig the more you find with a never-ending pool of choices and options and the psychology. For an actor it is fun because each character has so many layers. It's been a joy and I love playing her.

These books are important to you Lin, what is your relationship to them?

Lin: I fell in love with these books around 2005. Most couples when they first meet, they have their first date nights etc but we both read the books. My wife Vanessa was a book ahead of me and so we fell in love with that world while falling in love with each other. To be invited by Jane and Jack to see how the sausage gets made and put on the pantaloons is very surreal to be in this world. It's a joy, it's like Space Camp for me.

The chemistry between Scoresby and Lyra?

Lin: Dafne and I both speak Spanish and love show tunes so that was a quick foundation for our friendship. I missed her so much in season two because my character was looking for Lyra. We were filming in literally different worlds so I would leave my world and see Lyra's world. We bonded in the first season and a lot of Lee's journey feels an incredible sense of feeling she was dealt the worst hand by her parents. My job is to have her back. He does her best to have her back even in absentia.

What is driving Boreal?

Ariyon: His internal drive is ambition. He always felt like he was an outsider and he wants more power and has no sense of feeling and doesn't care about anyone else. He would step on as many toes as possible. There are a lot of dead bodies behind him. It's really strange, I've never paid a villain ever and the director told me once that I'd make a delightful villain. He told me to never put any emotion on my face and I'll be a great villain. I really love the books and really wanted the job, but I had to be cold and that's what I did. I didn't give anything away.

Jane: Jack and I saw his audition and everything he said was true. It was chilling and scary and at that time Jack was still working on how he was going to thread the backstory of Will through the first season. It was one of those amazing things and I've never seen before when a writer is looking at the daily's and watching the whole season come together and see it all come together. It was the power of what Ariyon was doing as Boreal and took it in a great direction.

How did you adjust to coming into this series?

Andrew: It was really exciting and everyone when ballistic about the first season. Hopefully the photo will be not as disappointing. It was really brilliant, and I got to work with incredible actors. A lot of my stuff was with Lin and it was a total joy. The relationship with the daemons and I have a relationship with mine and it’s the first time we are revealing this but my daemon will be played by someone who is close to me in real life - Phoebe Walter Bridge. Its all about companionship and loyalty so it’s wonderful that this is happening.

The new season and did the quarantine affect it at all?

Jane: The good news is that we have managed to keep going because we have the most amazing postproduction team and we are on course. We had an incredible piece of luck and we were filming when the pandemic hit but our main unit wrapped, and we had one standalone episode that was separate from the others. Jack had written it with the blessing of Phillip Pullman talking about what Lord Asriel was doing because he is talked about and presence felt so we played detective with a subtle knife and found out what he was doing. That mean we could do the postproduction and put the stand alone episode and maybe some point in the future we can revisit it. We were really lucky.

Jack: There is a beautiful piece in the book that I have dreamt about writing for a very long time. It is heartbreaking and magnificent but there are so many bits. In season one and getting ready to write season two there were things that I could work with the actors that they do. There are lots and it is interesting that the series is all about trust. I think what Phillip has written is a poem all about trust. Its about how characters have to trust again. My favorite moment in season one is one without words for obvious reasons is Mrs. Coulter. That think that we all just trust these people to tell the story with their eyes. They have beautiful faces, all of them.

What is the strangest thing you learned about each other?

Lin: Andrew, you have no idea what it's like to be trapped in a hot air balloon with him. We got to be very good friends and hang over a lot. I think the thing that we bonded most over is the television show JUDGE JUDY and Mr. Scott is an enormous fan. We spent a lot of time talking about it.

Andrew: I also introduced Lin to a British snack called the Percy Pig, it’s a gelatinous pig.

Amir: Me and Dafne watched TOP BOY and I forced her into watching it.

Fan reaction?

Ariyon: I got some very strange DM's, I was just impressed by how people were taken by it all. They were shocked that I was so young, shocked that I was so cold, and I get stopped on the street and someone asked me to do a birthday message Boreal style.

Amir: In set he made everyone say "Boreal, because you're worth it!".

Dafne: He made everyone do it!

HBO Brings a Riveting Series with CHERNOBYL

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on HBO is a five-part series created by Craig Mazin and director Johan Renck to tell the story of the 1986 disaster we all know as CHERNOBYL.

In April of 1986, an explosion rocks the Soviet Union in more ways than one. A nuclear power plant known as Chernobyl has exploded and from the moment it happened, no one realized exactly how devastating it would all become.

With a cast that stars Jared Harris as scientist Valery Legasov, it is his knowledge of what he saw once called in for his expertise by Boris Shcherbina played by Stellan Skarsgard that is riveting. Adding Emily Watson as Ulana Khomyuk, another scientist who fills in even more terrifying news that has so far rounded out those in the know about what to do next.

Director Renck doesn’t leave a single thing out in the way of devastation both to the building and the human beings left inside trying to discover how bad it is. Once Legasov and Shcherbina comes together, they are the brain and the mouthpiece that need to convince Mikhail Gorbachev (David Dencik) that action, although late, needs to be swift.

From the moment of the explosion, reality may be in front of the eyes of the crew and firefighters with an almost instant effect, but it is those in charge who fail to accept what is truly happening.

That is another riveting aspect of CHERNOBYL, watching the average citizen slowly become aware that something is seriously wrong and knowing at the same time it is unlikely their government would tell them the truth. One woman who isn’t about to wait around for answers is Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley), wife of firefighter Vasily (Adam Nagaitis).

There is no doubt that CHERNOBYL does not have happy moments in the first few episodes because there can’t be. In fact what the first few episodes show us is nothing short of a hellish nightmare filled with not only the instant horror but the horror to come for the people living around the plant and other countries in the path of a nuclear cloud.

Harris as Legasov knows immediately what they are up against but also knows that he has a partial gag in being allowed to speak. There is a presence in Harris’ performance that is just short of him wanting to scream out the truth yet has the good sense to tread lightly. That is until its time to not treat lightly. His performance continues to astound me and I can not wait to see the final three episodes.

Skarsgard is one of my favorite actors and in this role he gets a chance to play both sides against the middle. Almost immediately believing Legasov (especially when he sees with his own eyes what has happened at the power plant), Skarsgard takes his character to a dangerous place and that is in making decisions without the direct approval of Gorbachev.

Watson as Ulana comes in before an even larger disaster takes place. She becomes the second scientific voice of reason and both Legasov and Shcherbina trust her immediately. Watson continues to choose roles that are challenging and I enjoy everything she does and CHERNOBYL is brilliant.

The cast is filled with outstanding performances that also include Paul Ritter as Anatoly Dyatlov, Sam Troughton as Aleksandr Akimov, Robert Emms as Leonid Toptunov, Adam Lundgren as Vyacheslav Brazhnik, Karl Davies as Viktor Proskuryakov, Jay Simpson as Valery Perevozchenko, Billy Postlethwaite as Boris Stolyarchuk, and Adrian Rawlins as Nikolai Formin.

Also starring Con O’Neill as Viktor Bryukhanov, Donald Sumpter as Zharkov, Barry Keoghan as Pavel, Ralph Ineson as Nikolai Tarakanov, Mark Jones as Vladimir Pikalov, Alex Ferns as Blukhov, Michael Colgan as Mikhail Shchadov, Alan Williams as Chairman Charkov and David Dencik as Mikhail Gorbachev.

The show is jaw dropping and even heart breaking in the story it tells. When looking for a show that is absolutely worthy of your time, might I suggest you tune in and see for yourself as CHERNOBYL can be seen on HBO.

Finale of GAME OF THRONES Brings Emotional Duality

(...and a Few Worthy Memes)

Jeri Jacquin

Well, our time in Westeros has come to an end and that saddens me in a dual way. I came to enjoy my Sunday evenings all cured up with my yarn crocheting while watching (yes I can crochet without looking) the antics of heroes and villains I either openly cheered and jeered or even secretly cheered.

The cast of GAME OF THRONES is one fans have felt they have watched grow into their characters. From the first season even I wasn't sure what this was all about having not read the books but was immediately curious with each episode. I'm not sure if it was because I wanted to see if Sean Bean lived (as he tended not to do with his characters) or my love of period pieces but week after week I stayed.

The journey of the Stark clan with Ned (Bean), Catelyn (Michelle Fairley), Robb (Richard Madden), Sansa (Sophie Turner), Arya (Maisie Williams), Bran (Isaac Wright) and the bastard Jon Snow (Kit Harington) didn't take long to be put under the thumb of the Lannisters’.

Speaking of a dysfunctional family led by Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance), daughter Cersei Lannister-Baratheon (Lena Headey), along with sons Jamie (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) made sure fans appreciated their own families more. Of course dangling on that family tree was also the kid most likely to be strangled by the masses Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) amongst the rest of the kids.

Then there was this little blonde Targaryen girl named Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) who was traded to a very tall Dothraki leader in the form of Jason Momoa. Of course there is a history of craziness in her own family that she needs to come to terms with. That little marriage brought out the Mother of Dragons who flew her way into creating an army as we all cheered her on.

Of course behind the two families were such characters as Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), Samwell Tarly (John Bradley), Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), Lord Varys (Conleth Hill), Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham), Lord Baelish (Aidan Gillen), Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), The Hound (Rory McCann), Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel), Bronn (Jerome Flynn), Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson), Melisandre (Carice van Houten), and the beloved Hodor (Kristian Nairn).

There are so many characters to name that I just don't have enough room or time to write this all out so let’s move on and know that I am giving credit to every character as they are due with our humble thanks.

Onward, each season the story line grew bigger and bigger, so much so that I couldn't wait to go to Comic Con and sit in on the panel AND happily receive a goodie that included an awesome bag and inside a book so that I could read what I was missing, Seeing the casts on panels, it was fun to hear them talk about their time on the show as well as trying so very hard not to give anything away.

As the story unfolded season after season there was plans, survival, death, secrets, destruction, betrayal, power struggles (with family and with distant family) and all in the name of the Iron Throne and who will end up sitting on it. We began with Robert Baratheon and his friendship with Ned Stark and ended up with Joffrey being the next king (and I use a small 'k' because it fits him). Joffrey was the kind of king who would burn the wings of flies with a magnifying glass while his mother Cersei stands behind egging him on.

That's when Sansa gets put into play between the Starks and Lannisters but there is oh so much more to that story. As the houses begin to shift and loyalties become apparent, the one person who isn't loyal to anyone is Tyrion and that's when I started cheering for him. Yes, I understand that he has a problem with prostitutes and he likes to spout that 'That's what I do, I drink and I know things!' becoming his (and our) mantra.

We watched weddings, funerals, battles, enemies from far away and enemies close up fighting for supremacy, lack of love, a few crushes, women being passed on and men being passed over, magic, dragons, friendships (both faked and deserved), honesty wrapped in lies, and oh so much more in Westeros. Our loyalties, like the characters in Westeros, were solid - until they weren't.

The break between season 7 and 8 was the longest break in the show and fans believed, as I did, that it was because the last season would be epic. We bit our collective tongues when it was announced that there would only be six episodes, and we bit even harder when we learned collectively that it would be almost two years before the end would happen. Okay, we are die-hards, we can take it…right….RIGHT?

And so we all did, rumors would drop here and there and speculation about what would happen in the final season kept fans going until the first trailer dropped. I think the world might have stopped spinning for a second or two when that happened. It didn't give us much but it was something and we were raised to believe that it was better than nothing.

Then that first Sunday brought us all back, and sometimes in groups, to see who would finally sit on the Iron Throne. Bets were placed, surveys taken, and polls done with different opinions varying with Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys, Arya and Sansa being the top picks. Of course I had my pick which I will save till the end of this rant, rave or otherwise.

Each episode brought out grumbling fans who weren't to happy with how the stories were playing out. The grumblings were a bit low until the infamous 'coffee cup' screw up that hit the internet like wildfire. It started out as funny until people begin writing that this isn't the first 'ooops' that had been caught in this season and many began to see it as lack of caring. That translated into fans feeling slapped with a freshly caught trout across the kisser by the creators.

Along with that petitions started wandering around the internet demanding that the entire 8th season be redone. I actually thought that myself but in a more amused way because we all know that it would never happen. With all the complaining it was only a matter of time before creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss tried to humor there way out of the complaining. I read an article about it and laughed myself thinking 'well this is one way to thumb your nose at fans'. 

As the finale drew near, I put my favorite Westeros shirt on and filled up my Tyrion "that's what I do is drink and I know things' cup and prepared to see who would finally sit on the Iron Throne. Yet, there was a nagging feeling I couldn't shake that with the way the final season had been going, I should just take a deep breath and suck it up that I wasn't going to get what I wanted.

That's exactly what happened, I didn't get what I wanted. Now its easy to say 'well no one is going to always be happy with the way things end on a long running series', tis true enough, however - that's not what disappointed me.

What caught me was the duality of feeling regarding the final season. So here’s the pros and cons of what went on inside my head these past few weeks (insert deep breath here, a crack of the knuckles and fingers on the keys…here we go!).

Let’s start with the downers shall we? What disappointed me is just the 'lack-of' I felt in the final season. The waste of time with these long drawn on scenes of longing looks or pull back camera work instead of putting the effort into talking, telling the story and really getting in there to let the characters hands get really dirty before its all over. It felt like a lack of umph that we would never have come to expect from GAME OF THRONES.

Each episode was about an hour and a half and yet there wasn't anything there that made me feel like my subscription to HBO was worth it. I felt like, without reading the final book, that there was so much room to play out the story effectively instead of special effects. Sure, I have no idea what it takes to bring a show like GAME OF THRONES to the screen and sure I don't have any idea how much it costs but lets be honest - that's not my job and it's not the viewers job to know that.

I don't want dark battles, I don't want long battles - I get it, there's a dragon that they used sparingly and you can't kill white walkers because the Night King has a wavering hands that revives them. Did I need a whole hour and a half of that? Nope. Did I need to see and hour and a half of Cersei staring at the destruction of Kings Landing? Nope. Did I need an hour and a half of a dragon burning innocent people into ash? Nope. Such a waste of time - my time - everyone's time. THEN, the finale ends up being an hour and 20 minutes? Seriously?

My remark on Twitter that the season was "lazy" is exactly how I feel, and even more-so with the finale. The only character I was riveted by was Tyrion because Dinklage showed me something, made me feel something even if I didn't like his choice. The only character I thought had a pair was Sansa and her declaration that was basically, 'screw you all, I'm doing what I want….period…so peace out!'.

We aren't even hours after the finale when, once again, a mysterious item shows up on the screen. Behind the leg of Samwell when the leaders bring Tyrion to them at the hands of Grey Worm - a plastic water bottle. Do you see what I mean by lazy? With each mistake that is on screen the suspension of disbelief is crushed and we only went to Westeros each week to be taken OUT of reality.

On the other hand…….

What did we learn on our journey? We learned that absolute power corrupts absolutely so sometimes melting a throne is best and love doesn't conqueror all, in fact in Westeros love could get you killed and usually did. We understood many things about the trials of some characters and we embraced others who seemed un-embraceable. Twisted life lessons but lessons all the same.

From the very beginning we all knew this was a game, a game among men and women for a throne, something that didn’t care about any of them was easily taken away. A game of life and death and there was plenty of that to go around from all the seven kingdoms.

We also learned that loyalty exists, friendships can come from the most unlikely places, that family (even dysfunctional ones) will beat each other up but let no one else do it and that magic is in the eyes of the beholder. All of these things are what makes us love GAME OF THRONES even when we are disgruntled by it.

We will all settle in time, we will watch and re-watch until a comfortability sets in. We will wait to see if the prequels that are rumored will give us back our Sunday's evenings of being whisked away to another time, another place and another story and restore our suspension of disbelief.

In Westeros, after everything, they are beginning again. Perhaps not as they wished and not as we wish but we are left knowing that they do go on in some form or another. In our own imaginations let us hope that the choices made in the finale send them all on their way to a peace not known in Westeros for eight season.

So we should all take a collective deep breath and remember, there are always box sets coming of every season to enjoy whenever you feel the need to visit old friends and enemies. It should keep us busy until we see the first trailer to the prequel to GAME OF THRONES.

In the words of Tyrion and the truth is in it, even after everything that has happened in the years we've all invested in GAME OF THRONES, "even knowing what I know now, I'd do it again" - and we will.