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Gonna miss this view (at Steinway Street)

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This neighborhood, borough, city, state, and country needs universal health care and safety injection sites or this problem is only going to get much worse. And it's already truly horrendous. (at South Bronx)

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Beautiful sky (at Queens Plaza)

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Big Little Lies Season Finale

I want to talk about the finale of Big Little Lies along with the performance of Nicole Kidman. I had written a review of the premiere and was pretty cold on the show as a whole. Check out the review, to get an overall synopsis of the show and please do not read any further if you haven't watched the show. Check out the review, to get an overall synopsis of the show and please do not read any further if you haven't watched the show as I will be absolutely spoiling the ending of it. But before I go any further, I highly recommend watching this show. It really builds to something quite amazing and I do hope they don’t bring it back for another season.

I just want to say from the top that I’m glad I continued watching this show and I’m also glad it was only 7 episodes long. I really did become invested in the characters especially that of Celeste, played by Nicole Kidman, and her therapist Dr. Amanda Reisman, played by Robin Weigert of Deadwood fame. I’m a Licensed Social Worker and nothing, absolutely nothing, irks me more than watching bad therapy portrayed on television, it really will take me right out of it. I can tell that the screenwriter didn’t actually speak to someone in the mental health profession and it frustrates me because many people who may be thinking of seeking professional help, might be turned off by what they see on television. Those scenes in couples’ therapy were so precise in what they said, how they acted, including Perry, played by Alexander Skarsgard, and what was conveyed that evening thinking about it now has sent chills up my arms. I’ve been in those sessions when a profound amount of discomfort, double-speak, and denial occurs and it’s intensely frustrating but that’s therapy. Dr. Reisman’s professional aloofness which she could turn on and off was exceptional and by the book therapy. Change has to be realized and reached by the individual, in this case Celeste, and Dr. Reisman pushed her in the moments when Celeste needed it, comforted her when she needed it, and backed off when she needed it. It was exemplary and I truly do hope that individuals who was in domestic violence situations see these scenes because they were therapy to a t.

Kidman’s portrayal of her relationship to the abuse was an art form as was Skarsgard’s. Her scenes were best in Dr. Reisman’s office, when she tried to deflect, tried to illustrate to Dr. Reisman that she needed to change, because there’s power in that. Her last scene in the office was incredible and both she and Weigert played their characters with such truth that it was amazing to witness. Celeste needed that final push because of what was going to happen later that night. Dr. Reisman and she knew that something was eventually coming but they just didn’t know when. Thank God they were prepared.

I want to jump forward to the scene where Celeste confronts her son, Max, played by Nicholas Crovetti, about what he had been doing to Annabella, played by Ivy George. There was no violence, there was no anger, only a release of tension from both of them. Now we the viewer don’t know if she had discussed this possibility with Dr. Reisman, but it seemed as if she had. She wasn’t disgusted with him, she seemed to understand in that moment why he had been doing what he had been doing and you could sense in that moment the shame that he felt of what he had been doing. It was an excellent scene that was conveyed with very little said. A hug and some crying was all it took.

Now the scene in the car between Perry and Celeste is also worth mentioning because it is truly a destruction of the façade that they had placed around themselves for others and for themselves. It was an understanding as to what their truth was, that Perry wasn’t going to change, that Celeste was going to leave him, and that their child needed help. You could see the arrogance and confidence that was within Perry breaking down as he stuttered his way through some rationalization. And you could see Celeste taking a stand, she realized it was now or never and when an opportunity presented it, she got the hell out of that car.

And finally, I want to talk about the fight that happened. It was so expertly done with the cut away to the aftermath right as it was about to begin. I also loved the final moment right before Perry strikes, when nobody says anything but they all realize something terrible is about to happen. They simply look at each other, Madeline, played by Reese Witherspoon, Jane, played by Shailene Woodley, and Renata, played by Laura Dern. They all realized in that moment that all the pettiness that had been between them before had been washed away. A line was drawn. The best part about this was the inclusion of Bonnie, played by Zoe Kravitz, who seemed to be the only one that noticed the abuse that Perry was directing towards Celeste and she followed him and did something about it. The final reveal was also expertly done as Jane just grips Madeline’s arm and they just look at each other and then Celeste, Madeline, and Jane lock eyes and they now know who Jane’s abuser was. It was an intense scene that was expertly done.

So did you watch all of Big Little Lies? If so what did you think of the finale?

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13 Reasons Why Review

13 Reasons Why is a show that clearly illustrates the Netflix problem. It’s a great show, created by Brian Yorkey, based off the book written by Jay Asher, but it’s long and slow and meanders halfway throughout it. Much like Daredevil season 1 and 2 and Jessica Jones. I’m going to assume the same thing occurred in Luke Cage and Iron Fist, even though I haven’t watched them and I won’t. It’s this Netflix issue that’s keeping me from being excited about The Defenders, because I know, that show will be 13 hours long and it doesn’t need to be.

There is a bright spot here in the Netflix formula and that’s Stranger Things and Netflix needs to replicate this with other shows. Strangers told a solid story with a great cast and it was only 8 episodes. Netflix created the art of the binge but they are breaking it with these 13 hour long shows and they are going to lose it if they continue in this way. Big Little Lies, a show which finished and I will also discuss, was 7 excellent episodes. It’s also a min-series, at least it was advertised as such, there is a chance that they want to bring it back for season 2, which they should NOT do.

But let me bring this back, 13 Reasons Why tells the story of Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) who committed suicide and recorded tapes and sent these tapes to those she felt were responsible. It’s a different take on storytelling and Langford along with Dylan Minette, who plays Clay Jensen, Christian Navarro, who plays Tony, Miles Heizer, who plays Alex and was much better on this then in Parenthood, Brandon Flynn, who plays Justin, and Michele Selene Ang, who plays Courtney, were excellent on the show. The show really allowed this cast to shine and it gets props for casting one that is diverse in both races, ethnicities, and sexual identities. Minnette and Langford deserve a shout out for their performances here as they portrayed teens experiencing all the emotions from all over the spectrum in an exceptional way. But that wasn’t enough for me, because I felt like I had to force myself to finish this show and often times it was grueling. There was an episode involving a rock climb that occurred out of nowhere, there are moments when Clay, for no apparent reason it seems just stops listening to the tapes, and there were moments where I was wondering why somebody didn’t just steal these tapes. This was reminiscent of the Purple Man in Jessica Jones, who he and Jessica appeared to be playing a game of cat and mouse for no other reason than to make the show longer. And this happened in 13 Reasons Why as well. And don’t think I’m stupid, I get the idea that there should be 13 episodes, 1 for each tape, BUT, from what I can recall, there are episodes where he listens to more than one tape. So, we really didn’t need it to be this long. I also want to discuss the ending but I don’t want to spoil anything so before I do, if you’re interested in this subject matter, then check it out, but be warned, it can really drag on.

IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE SHOW THEN LOOK NO FURTHER.

The ending was utter garbage, in my opinion. I liked the idea that all the characters had no idea that they were essentially doing to Tyler, played by Devin Druid, but I did not like that we are going to get another season. I have absolutely zero interest in watching the second season, especially if they try to do it in a similar formula to that of the first, a la Damages, a show that beat their storytelling formula to death until the show became unwatchable. I would have liked it had all the knots been tied up, or not. An inkling as to what happened with Bryce, played by Justin Prentice, would have been great and if we saw Tyler bring the guns to school, the show itself would have felt more cohesive. Dark, but cohesive nonetheless. Instead, that’s going to be held over until the second season and we are going to watch a legal drama involving Bryce, I assume? I’m not here for it, especially, if the show is 13 hours long again. I just won’t be able to sit through it.

So, did you check out 13 Reasons Why? And if so, comment below to let me know!

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Pastel colored sky (at Astoria, New York)

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at Queens Plaza

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at New York, New York

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at Roosevelt Island

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at Washington Square Park

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at East Harlem

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Love you New York. You're where everyone I got a quality education, found my purpose, and where I met the love of my life. You've made me who I am but you're also an incredibly difficult place to live in and nearly impossible to raise a family in. You're changing for better or for worse, you're changing and I've outgrown you. Philly here we come! (at Downtown Brooklyn)

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at Sunnyside, Queens

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at Sunnyside, Queens

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Foggy city (at Third Avenue–149th Street)

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Legion Season 1

I went in with incredibly high expectations and I was very much rewarded. Legion is my favorite comic book series television show that I've ever watched. It was inventive, original, and incredibly entertaining. AND, it was only 8 episodes! This was a real treat because in a world in which we are drowning in television shows, one that is focused as this one deserves attention. Compared to the Netflix Marvel series, which just drag on and on and on, Legion was perfection and a breath of fresh air.

On the whole, i really enjoyed the series, but I particularly liked episode 7. It was more expository then the other episodes, which was actually a relief. Typically in many of these shows, the premiere is where the exposition lies, but all this information was held from us until this particular episode which I liked. It seemed to make more sense to me as we had an understanding as to who the characters were and what their relationship was to one another. I also loved the fight scene and Aubrey Plaza's performance in this episode was astounding. I would highly recommend watching this show just to witness the work she does within it. I also loved the scene in which David finally breaks out and the performance that Dan Stevens brings to this role is incredible. Seriously, just even thinking about that scene gives me chills. I also have found myself incredibly attached to the soundtrack, a playlist of which is available on Spotify. I love listening to these songs as they bring me back to particular scenes within the show, something that I really haven't experience with a television show or a movie in quite some time.

The finale itself was good but not the best episode within the series, particularly the final battle. I felt like we were really building to something incredible and it just seemed cliched. I did however, like the beginning of the episode, which was reminiscent of Fargo. I'm interested to see where this show goes and absolutely look forward to season 2.

What did you think of the first season of Legion? Comment below and let me know!

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The Americans Season 5 Premiere

The Americans are back! Not only is this show one of the best shows on television, it's also become oddly prescient and less fantastical. I remember watching the Americans 2 years ago on Amazon Prime while fighting a fever and loved the action and the spy craft. Now, it seems to cut a little bit closer to home. BUT, that doesn't mean it is any less of a good show, rather it's one that may be a little bit harder for me to watch.

For those of you who have not checked out this show, please do. It's got one more season after this and is probably one of the best bingeable shows out there. I watched some of it on my own and missed a lot the first go round. I watched all of it again with my girlfriend and you pick up on a lot of things that you may forget week to week. It's on Amazon Prime, so watch it!

Now that I've convinced you to watch it, let me give you a little synopsis of the show. The Americans, which is on FX and was created by Joseph Weisberg who also wrote many of the episodes alongside Joel Fields, stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys who are Elizabeth and Phillip Jennings. They seem like the everyday American family in the 1980s. They live in Baltimore, have two kids, Henry (Keidrich Sallati) and Paige (Holly Taylor) and they work as travel agents. But that's not the whole truth. Elizabeth and Phillip are actually undercover Russian spies who live in the United States and provide information back to the USSR in an attempt to undermine the current political agenda. Oh did I mention they live across the street from an FBI agent, Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich) who is tasked with locating Russian spies? Oh I didn't? Well they do and this show handles it deftly along with every single other thing it does. During the season, there is some overarching goal of Phillip and Elizabeth that they work intricately towards as the season goes on and sometimes it's difficult to keep track of all the moving pieces, but, when you pay attention, you won't miss it, this show hides very little.

And it's back! So if you have't watched it yet, read no further as this will contain a number of spoilers.

So the premiere contains a nice twist that is immediately rectified but did set me on edge, as I had no idea what Elizabeth and Philip were doing in that house and who that young Asian teenager was. But that's what I continue to like about this show, nothing is every explained, rather it is just shown to us. Like, the hole seen. Which went on for a very long time, which I think The Americans has earned enough good will to get away with a scene like this. But I liked this scene for the same reasons, we don't know why they are doing this and none of it is revealed until the very end. Phillip isn't explaining the plan to another henchman, rather, they are all doing their jobs. For the most part, the episode was really unremarkable in every other aspect. We are just moving towards an eventual end point that cannot be good. Despite this, I am glad that these characters are back and I'm looking forward to checking in with them every week. What were your thoughts on The Americans? Comment below and let me know!