#merrin dungey

[booasaur]

Shining Vale - 2x06

[atwellfilm]

CONVICTION [2016]

↳ Ep. 05x1 • The 1% Solution

[robntunney]

get yourself a friend that looks at you the way sydney looks at francie

[kimberlyshaws]

[movies-tv-more]

SHINING VALE season 2 premieres tonight at 9pm on Starz

[juliareed]

I'm opening a restaurant. I just decided. I feel like I've been sitting around, waiting for my life to start. I'm on that couch, like, twelve hours a day. I’m about to graduate, but then what? I don't have a plan. Here's a plan.

[hjbirthdaywishes]

August 6, 2024

Happy 53 Birthday to Merrin Dungey.

[stardreamer28]

"Partner? Not a chance." "....She's an excellent judge of character." more from 3x06. Sark finds out Allison is alive, they have their thing, Syd sees Allison in a club and a shootout breaks out. once again I love seeing the business deal part of his job & these scenes were awesome! Covenant is after yet another device. love the coats he was wearing lol sorry for the coloring, all these scenes were nighttime which makes contrast hard to edit. I do have the actual clips if anyone prefers.

[postguiltypleasures]

My Peak TV Journey *Shining Vale*

I watched both seasons of Shining Vale late last year right before it was cancelled and removed from Starz streaming service. I loved it, but thought that if it had been more popular it would have inspired some kind of backlash where it would involve jeering at the fans for clearly being bad people for cheering for such a harmful  leading character and not careful depiction of mental illness. It would also likely have staunch defenders, though I am not sure I would have been vocally there. But it's not, so I should say how much I liked it and wish there was more.

So let’s talk about the cast which is headed by Courtney Cox (also a producer), Greg Kinnear respectively as Pat and Terry Phelps, all of whom I’ve lived for a while. I’m a more recent fan of Gus Birney, who was great on Dickenson as Jane, (the young hot widow) as their daughter Gaynor, and Dylan Gage who plays their son, Jake.

This is the story of Phelps family that moves from Brooklyn to Shining Vale, Connecticut in the aftermath of the mother Pat’s affair with a contractor. Terry found the house and purchased it without the any of the rest of the family’s input. This does create suspicions especially in regards to the real estate agent Robyn Court, who is played by Sherilyn Fenn (always a joy to see). Also delightful to see Merrin Dungey as Pat’s editor/friend who balances these rolls in funny ways. And then the alway delightful Judith Light shows up as Pat’s mother, who has her own history with mental illness and creates more interesting mirrors between Pat and Gaynor. 

But I’ve been neglecting the series other star, Mira Sorvino! Sorvino plays multiple characters over the seasons starting with Rosemary, who’s a ghost, a demon or figment of Pat’s imagination who “helps” write her long awaited second novel. Her first was an erotic romp with the goal of self definition. The second novel, which is released early in the second season is very different, though still have some filthy bits because that’s Pat’s “brand”. 

The house is TARDIS like in that they keep finding new rooms that were otherwise hidden, most notably a tiki bar that becomes an important location for many scenes, as well as a harbinger of the kinds of substance abuses. It also hints at the building’s secret history as an insane asylum in the 19th century. This history was only partially unraveled in the two seasons that were made.

In addition to liking the cast, I like the series creators Jeff Astrof and Sharon Horgan. Astor created the two season true crime parody sitcom Trial and Error which I still wish had more time. Horgan co-created and started in Catastrophe and Bad Sisters, both of which I’ve written about here. I kind of want to divide the qualities of the series between the two creators, though I know that it is at best misleading. The series has a melange of horror films reference that was like the  melange of true crime narratives that Astor worked with in Trial and Error. All the things about the dysfunctional married couple and parental relationships with children I associate with Horgan’s work. (Not to mention her treatment of Pat’s alcohol abuse is similar to that of her character’s on Catastrophe)

The references to other horror films are direct, and what I saw of how they add up to something intriguingly different. First as the title and concept of a parent-writer loosing their mind over their latest writing project and the history of their new home suggests, there are plenty of references to The Shining. At least in the first season. The second season, in which Pat’s menopause is reversed by new neighbor Ruth’s (also played by Mira Sorvino) herbal tea, is more inspired by Rosemary’s Baby. There are also liberal references to The Omen and The Exorcist, among other films. And plenty of opportunity to wonder how “real” what we are seeing, especially in the second season where there is an increase in cartoonish-ness. Over the course of the season multiple people get hit by a bus and explode while the bus doesn’t stop. It gets funnier every time. Going in the opposite direction from funny to startling is a gag involving a mysterious Walkman. Three members of it find it at random times, put it on, each hearing a different song, but all doing the same dance. I will forever wonder where they were going with this. 

Tonally the closest comparison I can think is Evil. Sad there will be neither of them soon. 

[ouatsqincorrect]

we can complain all we want about ouat but holy shit is the casting incredible

[cakeinabasket]

Once Upon A Time Appreciation Week 2024!

Day 3: Favorite Origin Story: The Queens of Darkness.

Three villains who became besties after Rumplestiltskin pulled a massive dick move (affectionate). Cruella, Ursula and Maleficent survived the Chernobog by working together and their mutual dislike of The Dark One drew them together for many years.

Victoria Smurfit, Merrin Dungey and Kristin Bauer had such amazing chemistry. Still holding out hope for a Queens of Darkness spinoff.

[kimberlyshaws]

[blackfemmecharacterdependency]

Black Femme Character Dependency Dark Skin Directory: M

M: The Characters

Ma Rainey | Mabel Wisbech | Madi | Mae Morton | Mae Turner | Margot Rivers | Mariah Dillard | Master Raven | Matar Kubileya Leader | Maura Lee Karupt | Maxine Shaw | May Day | Maya COTC | Maya Abeola | Maya Wilkes | Meeka | Meg | Mel Medarda | Melody Valentine | Melusi | Mercedes Jones | Mercedes Woodbine | Mia Vallens | Michonne | Mickey BAPS | Mika Macklin | Millie Morris | Millie NIckerson | Mina Okorafor | Minerva | Miranda Carroll | Miss Mississippi | Missouri Moseley | Mistress East | Misty Holloway | Misty Knight | Molly Carter | Mona | Monica Dawson | Monica Rambeau | Monie | Mozelle Batiste Delacroix

M: The Entertainers

MaameYaa Boafo | Madisin Rian | Madison Curry | Mame Adjei | Marcia McBroom | Maria Borges | Mariah Iman Wilson |  Marlene Clark |  Marsai Martin |  Mary Alice |  Mary Oyaya | Mayowa Nicolas |  Medina Senghore | Melinda Berry (Melrose) | Melodie Wakivuamina |  Melody Lulu-Briggs | Merrin Dungey |  Michaela Coel |  Miji Awakyr |  Milauna Jackson |   Mimi Ndiweni | Miqueal-Symone Williams | Morgan Dawson |  Moses Ingram |  Moshidi Motshegwa |  Mouna Fadiga | Mouna Traoré |  Mumbi Maina | Musabey

[abriefingwithmichael]

“The Lincoln Lawyer” s3e7 (2024)

Great!

It establishes early on what Mickey’s goals are in the courtroom. Then, in a great twist, it all falls apart.

But a scheme that has been alluded to in previous episodes pays off. Very exciting.

Becki Newton is even more adorable than usual in this episode.

Loving Merrin Dungey as the judge, while John Pirruccello is the prosecutor I love to hate.

10/10

[hjbirthdaywishes]

August 6, 2023

Happy 52 Birthday to Merrin Dungey. 

[stardreamer28]

editing gifs was giving me trouble so this was all I could get from 3x06. there was just something about the scene where he gets out of the van I found perfect - the lighting, his shocked reaction to her, even the coat he was wearing. very well done! the bedroom scene I found a little awkward 'cause I don't completely ship them, but I love both actors separately so I enjoyed they were in the episode. and the way he was playing with her fingers is something I find adorable in any scene like that on a show <3 and from the funny stories in the commentaries I applaud the way Merrin & David work together :)