#mollie pearce

[fuckyeahbananafreak]

mollie made the right decision buying this gorgeous green jacket though

[aliferousdreamer]

the traitor uk's season 2 finale was ✨ cinematic excellence ✨

[gracieblood]

the traitors s2 finale is actually the most gut wrenching thing ever

[jbaileyfansite]

Jonathan Bailey starring as Harry Clark in 'The Traitors: The Movie', a sketch for Comic Relief, airing on BBC One on March 15, at 7pm [x]

[ad-j]

WATCHLIST 2023: The Road

[vintagewarhol]

[cantsayidont]

Moviez:

INHERENT VICE (2014): Excellent Paul Thomas Anderson adaptation of the 2008 Thomas Pynchon novel, a '70s hippie-stoner riff on Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe, starring Joachim Phoenix as pothead P.I. Doc Sportello, who is drawn into a complex scheme involving his ex-girlfriend Shasta (Katherine Waterston) and her missing real estate mogul boyfriend (Eric Roberts). Long and leisurely paced, retaining most of the novel's convoluted plot and a good deal of Pynchon's deadpan humor, INHERENT VICE is not nearly as bleak as the detective films of the era in which it's set (e.g., Robert Altman and Leigh Brackett's cruel 1973 adaptation of Chandler's THE LONG GOODBYE, to which both versions of VICE are often compared), but Anderson plays reasonably fair with the mystery, and, like the novel, treads a pleasingly considered line between the doomed romanticism of the genre's hard-boiled antecedents and wistful nostalgia for the dreams of a mostly vanished era. It's also one of Phoenix's career-best performances (although his gruesome muttonchops aren't easy to stomach), with a strong supporting cast (including Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio Del Toro, and Martin Short), and Anderson makes the inspired decision to translate big chunks of the novel's third-person prose to a voiceover by Joanna Newsom (as Doc's hippie friend Sortilège). CONTAINS LESBIANS? In passing, courtesy of the ever-delightful Hong Chau. VERDICT: Extremely satisfying if you can tune into its particular wavelength — the only PTA film to date that I actually enjoy.

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997): Glossy but annoyingly defanged Curtis Hanson adaptation of the hardboiled James Ellroy novel, about a battle of wills between three LAPD detectives — twitchy thug Bud White (Russell Crowe), slick hustler Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), and brittle college boy Edmund Exley (Guy Pearce) — surrounding a high-profile robbery/homicide and its politically charged aftermath in 1953 Los Angeles. Highly acclaimed at the time, the film hasn't aged well: It's well-cast and well-acted, and it still looks great, but Hanson and Brian Helgeland's script excises about half of the novel's sprawling, squalid plot (sometimes neatly, sometimes not) and eventually squanders too much credibility trying to contrive a facile good-guys-vs.-bad-guys resolution, culminating in a preposterous new ending that ties everything up in a neat bow in ways the novel pointedly does not. (Ellroy has since disowned the film, although it's still better than the disastrous Brian De Palma adaptation of Ellroy's THE BLACK DAHLIA a decade later.) CONTAINS LESBIANS? Only fleetingly. VERDICT: Scaling down the novel's scope and nastiness isn't always a bad thing, but it sacrifices far too much moral complexity in the process.

LAST EXMAS (2024): Cute but very slight lesbian romcom about two former high school girlfriends (Elena Milo and Shaeane Jimenez), who are drawn together again when they both return to their small hometown for Christmas 10 years after their breakup. Appealing leads compensate some for the lulls in the sitcomish script and the frequent overacting of costar Raven Maducdoc, as a gossipy busybody the protagonists knew in high school. CONTAINS LESBIANS? Prominently! VERDICT: Never really departs from formula, but pleasant gay background noise for those who can't resist a seasonal glass of eggnog.

NEXT OF KIN (1982): Well-crafted if deliberately paced Australian horror-thriller about a young woman named Linda Stevens (Jackie Kerin) inheriting the small nursing home on her estranged mother's rural estate, which might be haunted. Has definite overtones of THE SHINING with a soupçon of PSYCHO, with strong atmosphere and a very '80s synth score by Klaus Schulze of Tangerine Dream, although the understated story withholds any real action until nearly the end, and the explosive finale (which loops back around to the opening scene) lacks a certain final punch. Kerin is very good — she's nearly the whole show — as is John Jarratt as Linda's hunky lunkhead ex-boyfriend, who's hoping for another shot. CONTAINS LESBIANS? No. VERDICT: Doesn't quite live up to its lofty modern critical standing, but an interesting, effective slow-burn thriller. CW for sexual assault near the end.

Teevee:

ANGELYNE (2022): Smugly malicious, fictionalized five-part pseudo-documentary about self-made Los Angeles celebrity Angelyne (here played by Emmy Rossum), whose cryptic self-promoting billboards and pink Corvettes were L.A. local color for years. There are several ways one could potentially approach Angelyne as a phenomenon, from a commentary on celebrities becoming famous for being famous to just leaning into her fantastical internal narrative like a Francesca Lia Block novel, but the show is mostly a mean-spirited, self-conscious period piece whose main object is to sneer contemptuously at self-deluded losers à la Paul Thomas Anderson's repulsive BOOGIE NIGHTS. There are occasional flashes of visual inspiration, like the "Galaxina" sequence in Ep. 3 and the fantasy sequences in the finale, but nothing in the story ever really justifies the nastiness of the narrative approach, which I found almost as off-putting as Rossum's lead performance, an unsympathetic caricature that becomes particularly indefensible in the final episode, dealing with Angelyne's generational trauma as the daughter of Holocaust survivors. CONTAINS LESBIANS? No. VERDICT: No matter how full of shit the real Angelyne might be, she's done nothing to deserve this sneering hatchet job.

THE FIRM (2012): Terrible one-season TV spinoff of the John Grisham legal thriller, with attorney Mitch McDeere (Josh Lucas) and his too-loyal wife Abby (Molly Parker) trying to rebuild their lives 10 years after bringing down Mitch's mobbed-up previous firm, only to find they've made some even more dangerous enemies. The first three-fourths of the season, with Martin Donovan and Tricia Helfer (of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) as villains, is unbearably stupid and frequently offensive, and Mitch might well be the least competent TV defense lawyer in the entire history of the medium. The final half-dozen episodes, which shift focus to the mob catching up with Mitch, are better, but still not very good. Josh Lucas is a hopelessly uncharismatic lead, a real millstone around the show's neck; Callum Keith Rennie has charisma, but is hopelessly miscast as Mitch's ex-con brother/investigator, and Juliette Lewis is completely wasted as Mitch's sassy secretary. CONTAINS LESBIANS? No. VERDICT: Decidedly infirm. CW for an upsetting sequence in Ep. 14 where Abby is kidnapped and tortured.

[keenenthusiastinfluencer]

Since I’m in the spirit of the season I thought I’d gift some of my audios from this year feel free to trade and gift as normal

Evita Leicester Curve January 11 2024

Martha Kirby (Eva Peron) Harry Chandler (u/s Che) Gary Milner (Peron) Dan Partridge (Magaldi) Chumisa Dornford-May (Perons Mistress)

Harry’s only performance as Che

Evita Leicester Curve January 13 2024

Martha Kirby (Eva Peron) Tyrone Huntley (Che) Gary Milner (Peron) Dan Partridge (Magaldi) Chumisa Dornford-May (Perons mistress)

A Chorus Line UK tour July 13 2024

Adam Cooper (Zach) Carly Mercedes Dyer (Cassie) Jocasta Almgill (Diana) Lydia Bannister (Bebe) Bradley Delarosbel (Greg) Archie Durant (Mark) Joshua Lay (Al) Katie Lee (Kristine) Mireia Mambo (Richie) Kanako Nakano (Judy) Manuel Pacific (Paul) Ashley Jordan Packer (Paul) Kate Parr (Maggie) Rachel Jayne Picar (Connie) Chloe Saunders ((Val Clarke) Toby Seddon (Bobby) Amy Thornton (Sheila) Louie Wood (Don)

Zach calls on Bobby first instead of Mike leading to the song that I can do being cut

Phantom of the opera West End July 20 2024

Jon Robyns (the Phantom of the opera) Chumisa Dornford-May (alt.Christine daae) Joe Griffiths-Brown (Raoul vicomte de chagny) Kelly Glyptis (Carlotta) Samuel Haughton (u/sAndre) Matt Harrop (Firmin) Simon Whitaker (u/s Piangi) Francesca Ellks(Madame Giry) Maiya Hikasa (Meg Giry)

les Miserables West end August 2 2024

Chris Jacobsen (alt. Jean Valjean) Jordan Simon Pollard (u/s Javert) Katie Hall (Fantine) Amena El-Kindy(Eponine’) Luke Kempner (thernardier) Bonnie Langford (t/r Madame thernardier) Jac Yarrow (t/r Marius) Lulu Mae Pears (Cosette) Djavan Van de Fliert (enjolras)

Les Miserables west end November 2 2024

Ian Mcintosh (Jean Valjean) Stewart Clarke (Javert) Anouk van Laake (Fantine) Amena El Kindy (Eponine) Luke Kempner (thernardier) Clare Machin (Madame thernardier) Jacob Dachtler (Marius) Annabelle Aquino (Cosette) Robson Broad (Enjolras)

Phantom of the opera West End November 2 2024

Dean Chisnall (The Phantom of the opera) Colleen Rose Curran ((u/s Christine Daae) Joe Griffiths-Brown (Raoul Vicomte de Changy) Joanna Ampill (Carlotta) Samuel Haughton (u/s Andre) Martin Ball (Firmin) Hywel Dowsell (u/s Piangi) Helen Hobson (Madame Giry) Millie Lyon (Meg Giry)

My Fair Lady Leicester Curve November 23 2024

Molly Lynch (Eliza Doolittle) David Seddon-Young (Henry Higgins) Minal Patel (Colonel Pickering) Steve Furst (Alfre P. Doolittle) Djavan van de Fliert (Freddy Eynsford-Hill) Cathy Tyson (Mrs Higgins) Sarah Moyle (Mrs Eynsford-Hill Mrs Pearce) Jonathan Dryden-Taylor (Harry) Ying ue Li (Jamie) Damian Buhagiar (Zoltan Kaparthy)

During get me to the church on time cast members run down the front row which is caught on the audio causing some disruption

)

[sororfeminarum]

My Dianic/Female Centered witch reading list (will update as I get more)!

The Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries by Z. Budapest (because obviously)

The Chalice and the Blade by Riane Eisler

Who Cooked the Last Supper? by Rosalind Miles

The Skeptical Feminist by Barbara G. Walker

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

Women’s Rites, Women’s Mysteries by Ruth Barrett

The Pagan Book of Living and Dying by Starhawk

Moon Time by Lucy H. Pearce

Witches, Midwives, and Nurses by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English

Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

WomanRunes by Starhawk and Molly Remer

Whole and Holy: A Goddess Devotional by Molly Remer

You are the Placebo by Joe Dispenza

The Power of Ritual by Casper Ter Kuile

Feel free to leave some recommendations! I really like hearing especially about non-pagan books that influenced your practice (like the last two listed here were for me)!

Blessed be! 🌙💫✨

[blankspacefanfics]

Okay to ask for: age regression, adhd, autism, ocd, anxiety, depression, self harm, smut, fluff, angst, poly relationships, canonxcanon, canonxreader

Do not ask: dubcon, rape, animal abuse and other forms of abuse

TV SHOWS

BONES - Temperance Brennan, Seeley Booth, Zack Addy, Jack Hodgins, Camille Saroyan, James Aurbey, Lance Sweets, Wendell Bray, Finn Abernathy

CRIMINAL MINDS - Aaron Hotchner, Spencer Reid, Derek Morgan, Jennifer Jareau, David Rossi, Jason Gideon, Emily Prentiss, Penelope Garcia, Elle Greenaway

NCIS - Anthony DiNozzo, Ziva David, Abigail Sciuto, Donald Mallard, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, James Palmer, Timothy McGee, Jennifer Shepard, Tobias Fornell, Mike Franks

SUPERNATURAL - Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, John Winchester, Crowley, Castiel, Bobby Singer

TEEN WOLF - Scott McCall, Stiles Stilinski, Derek Hale, Peter Hale, Malia Tate, Allison Argent, Lydia Martin, Theo Raeken, Liam Dunbar, Jackson Whittmore, Kira Yukimura, Isaac Lahey, Melissa McCall, Noah Stilinski, Chris Argent, Jordan Parrish. Bobby Finstock, Alan Deaton, Erica Reyes

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY - Five, Diego Hargreeves, Allison Hargreeves, Klaus Hargreeves, Luther Hargreeves, Ben Hargreeves, Viktor Hargreeves

Z NATION - Addison Carver, Steven Beck ‘Doc’, Thomas ‘10k, Roberta Warren, Alvin Murphy, Cassandra, Kaya, Simon Cruller

MOVIES

FAST AND FURIOUS - Han Lue, Dominic Toretto, Leticia Ortiz, Deckard Shaw, Roman Pearce, Tej Parker, Giselle Yashar, Suki, Hattie Shaw, Dante Reyes, Mia Toretto, Jakob Toretto, Lucas Hobbs, Megan Ramsey

HARRY POTTER - Harry Potter, Ronald Weasely, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Sirius Black, James Potter, Severus Snape, Remus Lupin, Rubeus Hagrid, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ginerva Weasley, Bellatrix Lestrange, Molly Weasley, Cedric Diggory, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Seamus Finnigan, Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy, Lily Evans, Tom Riddle

MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE - Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova, Steve Rogers, James Barnes, Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, Loki Laufeyson, Thor Odinson, Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Clint Barton, Steven Strange, Carol Danvers, Vision, Gamora, Sam Wilson, Jessica Jones

ANIMATION

TOKYO GHOUL - Kaneki Ken, Rize Kamishiro, Koutarou Amon, Juuzou Suzuya, Nishio Nishiki, Hideyoshi Nagachika, Seidou Takizawa, Touka Kirishima, Ayato Kirishima, Yoshimura, Haise Sasaki

[fuckyeahbananafreak]

okay but why has no one said mollie

[callmebrycelee]

9-1-1: LONE STAR REACTION

This reaction is for the season 4, tenth episode "Sellouts" which originally aired March 28, 2023. The episode was written by Molly Green and James Leffler and directed by Tessa Blake. Spoilers ahead!

***LAST TIME ON 9-1-1: LONE STAR***

A young girl named Mouse is involved in an accident that kills her best friend and his parents. Marjan sells her bike and gives the money to Kylie, the young woman she rescued from an abusive relationship. The 126 prepare for Marjan's return to Austin but worry when she doesn't show up to her welcome back party. Marjan is accosted by Kylie's abusive ex and ends up driving off the road. She encounters Mouse in the woods and the two work together to escape Kylie's ex. Marjan is rescued by her 126 family and we learn that Mouse was the nickname her parents gave her when she was younger. 

Now that we're all up to speed, let's have a chat about episode ten - SELLOUTS.

We start the episode with my favorite trio - Tommy, Nancy, and TK. They arrive at the home of an older couple - Arthur (Leonard Kelly-Young) and Edith (Betsy Baker) - and we get the first of two emergencies that truly made me squirm in my seat. It should be noted when Arthur answered the door, he seemed surprised to see Tommy, Nancy, and TK even though he was the one who made the 9-1-1 call. He ushers them inside and Tommy does an assessment of his wife, Edith. Edith tells Tommy she has pain on the side of her head. Tommy checks her pupils and she asks if Edith wears contacts. Edith says she does wear contacts and upon closer inspection Tommy sees quite a few disposable contact lenses in her right eye. More than a dozen disposable contact lenses actually. Tommy assures Edith (and the viewers) this is a lot more common than most people think. In fact, there was a woman in the United Kingdom who had 27 disposable contact lenses removed. Now I wear glasses but I did wear disposable contact lenses in my early-20s. Ultimately they weren't for me - too much hassle - but I can assure you I always made sure to remove them at the end of the day, especially before I went to bed. But I digress. I did think it was funny when Edith calls Tommy pretty and then sees Nancy and TK and calls them pretty as well. You're absolutely right, Edith. Tommy, Nancy, and TK are all very pretty. 

Tommy tells Edith they will transport her to the hospital just as a follow-up and Edith is very appreciative. When they roll the gurney outside, another ambulance pulls up. The ambulance belongs to Paragon - a private paramedic service (remember them from last season?). Tommy asks Arthur if he called another ambulance. We then see our good friend Pearce Risher (Andy Favreau) and his partner get out of the ambulance. He tells Tommy that Arthur didn't call them. They saw a call come through from the address and dropped everything to come right over. Pearce refers to Arthur and Edith as his most-valued clients which Nancy takes offense to. Edith tells Tommy that Pearce and his partner have come to their home quite a few times whenever Arthur has had one of his spells. Tommy is clearly not impressed by Pearce's new employer. Pearce is a smug asshat in this scene which makes his comeuppance at the end of the episode all the more satisfying. Pearce chastises Arthur for calling 9-1-1 instead of the number that links him directly to Paragon. Pearce tells Tommy that he and his partner will take things over from here. He tells Edith that the LED lighting in their ambulance will be a lot easier on her eyes and he will even throw in a complementary herbal smoothie which definitely appeals to Arthur. Pearce and his partner leave with Arthur and Edith. Nancy asks if they are allowed to do what they just did and Tommy says she is going to find out. 

Title card!

The 126 hosts a Stand Up to Cancer event at their firehouse. It should be noted that Stand Up to Cancer is a real organization and for more information, I encourage you to visit their website here. Owen gives a speech talking about firefighters suffering from lung cancer. Being that Owen has battled lung cancer at least twice, I can think of no better person to deliver the speech. It was so fun seeing everyone dressed up. Everyone looked amazing including Carlos who looked quite debonair in a black tux. This is the second time we've seen our Office Reyes in a tux this season. Hopefully the third time will be when he's exchanging vows with TK. I also want to give a shout out to our resident 9-1-1 dispatcher, Grace who looked absolutely stunning with her hair in a ponytail and a mid-drift baring black dress. 

After Owen's speech, we get to see each of our characters mingling with the wealthy guests in attendance. Judd does a horrible job wooing a donor. Judd is usually so charming but in this scene he was a rambling hot mess. With some gentle nudging from Grace he is finally able to properly schmooze the older gentleman. Meanwhile, Marjan talks about getting shot recently while Carlos regales an older woman about his abduction by a serial killer. Tommy vents to a besuited man about the cheap gloves her and her team are forced to use due to poor funding. She also alludes to her recent experience with Paragon. 

The funniest interaction involves Mateo, Nancy, and another wealthy donor. Nancy points out that the wine they're drinking is from the Hill Country which, hey - all my Texans out there, is Hill Country a real place near Austin? I'm curious! Anywho, when the donor comments on the taste of the wine, Mateo says this:

Mateo: "Familiar yet unexpected. It's kinda like reading Dostoyevsky in the original Russian."

The donor agrees and is quite impressed with Mateo. He tells him that his wife has the checkbook and that he will be back. Nancy tells Mateo that she loves Dostoyevsky and is shocked that he does as well. Mateo comes clean and tells her he doesn't like the author and that the only reason he knew his name is because he heard Owen say the same thing when describing wine he was drinking. Of course, Owen Strand would compare wine to a Russian novelist! 

Speaking of Captain Strand, he orders tequila from an attractive bartender named Kendra Harrington (Michaela McManus). They have some flirty banter. The chemistry between the two of them is palpable. He gives her a tip and he says it's a token of solidarity between two normal, non-rich people. She compliments his speech and he admits it's not easy for him to talk about his cancer journey. This is a rare moment of vulnerability we rarely get from Owen so I really appreciate him saying that. I've always suspected that underneath all that bravado and expensive hair product, is someone who has experienced more than his share of pain, hurt, and heartbreak. An older couple approaches the bar and they talk to Kendra. Owen figures out very quickly that she is not one of the have-nots like he initially assumed. Kendra comes clean about not being a bartender but Owen doesn't seem to mind the deception because in our next scene the two of them are back at his house ripping each other's clothes off. All I kept thinking during this scene is that Owen has a roommate and how awkward must it be for Mateo anytime his captain has a booty call. I can imagine him coming downstairs the following morning to have some cereal and he has to step over clothes to get to the kitchen. I'd like to also point out that Mr. Rob Lowe recently celebrated his birthday. The man is nearing his 60s and he's still fine as hell!  

The morning after, Owen wakes up in the most golden room I've ever seen. Whoever lit this scene did a great job. I would seriously love it if every morning I woke up completely bathed in golden light coming through my bedroom window. Owen heads downstairs and finds Nancy and Mateo still talking about Dostoyevsky. Owen asks them if they've seen a hot blonde and Mateo says she just left. Owen tells them that Kendra isn't a bartender - she's a wealthy heiress. Owen seems pretty smitten with her and tells his two subordinates that he and Kendra hit it off physically and mentally and then physically again. Ew, Owen! It's one thing to live with your boss. It's quite another to hear about his sex life. Mateo and Nancy seem unfazed by this. I imagine they've had similar morning after conversations before. Nancy points out the note on the counter that Kendra left before she left their booty call. When he opens the envelope, he sees a check. Mateo insinuates that she paid Owen for the sexytimes they had the night before. Owen is stunned.

Tommy goes to see Chief Reynolds (Amy Farrington) to inquire about the city of Augtin cutting a deal with Paragon. Chief Reynolds tells her she didn't want to say anything until the press release. Tommy tells her to cancel it and refers to Paragon as greedy vampires. Tommy doesn't realize that Paragon's CEO, Jacques Lundy (Adam Ray) is also sitting in the office. I'd totally forgotten that when the firehouse got burned down towards the end of the second season, Tommy, Nancy, and TK were temporarily reassigned. Chief Reynolds tells Tommy that Paragon will share 35% of their profits with the city. This is so disgusting but hey, this is America where we often take advantage of the least of us so it sort of tracks that something like this could happen. Tommy tells the chief that Paragon's code of ethics and safety are not up to their standards. Jacques disagrees and shows her his business card. Chief Reynolds is on board and Jacques assures Tommy he is here to help anyway he can. Doubtful ...

Tommy reports her findings to the rest of the 126. Nancy wonders if things go private, what happens to her and Tommy and TK. Tommy's solution is that they'll have to arrive at each emergency quicker in order to beat Paragon. Owen and Mateo join them and Owen the former is upset because the latter has compared him to Richard Gere. The others are quite amused with what happened between Owen and Kendra and they give him some good-natured teasing. Paul assumes it's a Pretty Woman situation where Owen's the one who paid for sex with Kendra. TK reminds everyone that his dad doesn't have to pay for it which kudos to defending your dad but ew. If I were TK I would want no part of this conversation. Mateo clarifies by telling everyone he is not referring to Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. In this case, Owen is Richard Gere from American Gigolo. Judd tells Owen that Kendra Harrington that her family owns a LOT of land in the area. Owen insists that Kendra did not pay for sex with him and that the money she gave him was a donation for charity. Mateo reminds him the check was not made out to charity. It was made out to Owen. Judd asks him what Kendra wrote on the memo line. Owen says that no one uses the memo line. Tommy cuts to the chase by asking how much the check was for and Owen tells her it was for $100,000. Owen defends Kendra's honor and says that someone who looks like her doesn't need to pay for sex. Owen gets a text from Kendra asking if he's available or rather 'avail'. Owen tells the others he will get to the bottom of this misunderstanding.

Our next emergency is perhaps one of the worst situations I have seen on either 9-1-1 show. A man named Dan (Jared Gertner) boards a city bus and sits down next to a woman (Mary Claire Garcia). He sees that she's upset and asks her if she's okay. She tells him that she just got laid off after seven years. She tells him she feels useless and he assures her she's not. He then tells her that the hot pants he's wearing aren't a fashion statement. He's wearing them because he has a dialysis catheter in his thigh. He's been going to treatment three times a week for over a year. He tells her that having it sucks because he can't play soccer or go swimming with his son. He says there was a time he wanted to give up but he's just found out he will be the recipient of a new kidney. She congratulates him and introduces herself. Her name is Martha.

Dan sees a pregnant woman board the bus and gets up so she can have his seat. As he is trying to get up, the dialysis catheter gets caught on another passenger's cart. It snaps off and blood immediately starts spraying everywhere. Blood splatters across Martha's forehead. There's nothing cute about this meet-cute. Dan passes out and Martha calls 9-1-1. Back at the firehouse, Tommy receives word of a patient hemorrhaging and she tells Nancy and TK they need to get moving. Nancy is confused because there hasn't been a call. Tommy tells her that dispatch gave the call to Paragon and she heard it over the radio. The three of them load up in the ambulance and Tommy calls Grace on her personal line so she can help them get to the scene first. It was fun seeing Nancy drive the ambulance. Poor TK got tossed all about in the back of the ambulance as Nancy took every sharp curve. The 126 paramedics beat the Paragon paramedics to the scene and they immediately go to work. The 126 firefighters arrive soon thereafter. The Paragon paramedics finally arrive and Pearce tells Tommy this is their call. Tommy pulls rank and tells them they can start handing out water and towels to the crowd slowly forming around the bus. Pearce is pissed but he backs down.

Nancy boards the bus and finds Martha putting pressure on Dan's legs. Mateo and Paul arrive with a backboard to transport Dan and they keep slipping and falling because of all the blood on the floor. Speaking of blood, the bus is covered in Dan's life essence. At this point there has to be more blood in the bus than inside Dan's body but somehow he is still conscious through all of this. I haven't seen this much blood since that scene in Scream IV where Ghostface absolutely brutalizes this girl in her room and the walls and floors are covered in blood. Nancy applies a tourniquet to Dan's leg which temporarily stops the bleeding. Mateo and Paul finally manage to get over to Dan and they are able to get him loaded onto the backboard. They run into an issue when they attempt to move him because the floor is slippery. So, their solution is to slide Dan down the aisle like he's a hockey puck. 

Paul and Mateo are able to carry Dan off the bus and TK begins hooking him up to a lifepak. Dan's blood pressure starts to plummet because he needs a blood transfusion due to too much blood loss. Tommy calls out to Pearce and asks if he has whole blood on his rig. Pearce says of course. Tommy tells him that if he can transfuse Dan then she will give him over to him. Pearce begins the transfusion while his partner administers compressions. Martha watches as they work on Dan. Dan's blood pressure levels out and Pearce and his partner roll him away to their ambulance. Pearce calls Tommy second best and Tommy's dislike for the guy intensifies. 

We head over to the Strand residence where Owen is prepping for his second evening with Kendra Harrington. He's broken out the fine channel because he wants this evening to be more about romance than sex. Mateo asks Owen how he plans on asking her if the money was intended for charity or for sex. Owen says he plans on asking her to a high-brow event and if she says yes, he'll know that the money wasn't for sex. Mateo thinks he should be more pointed when he asks her about the intention of the money she gave him but Owen says that will be uncouth. Mateo brings up Dostoyevsky again and tells Owen that Nancy has him reading Crime and Punishment. I found this tidbit of information so sweet because when we were first introduced to Mateo in season one, we saw him struggle with dyslexia. Becoming a firefighter was an uphill battle for him and now he's reading huge-ass Russian novels. Good for you, Mateo! 

Kendra arrives with a bag of hamburgers which doesn't exactly flow with Owen's special romantic evening. Kendra recognizes the china on the dining room table and she wonders if her hamburgers are disappointing. Owen assures her they aren't. Owen asks her about the artist Joan Miro and tells her there's a special exhibit he would like for them to attend after they have their burgers. Kendra wants to stay in and have some more sexytimes. Buttercup interrupts the moment and Owen tells Kendra that he adopted him from a rescue that works with dogs with cancer. Kendra is impressed by this information and starts kissing Owen. Owen wants to take it slow but Kendra wants to put the pedal to the metal.

The next morning, Mateo finds Owen in the kitchen alone. Owen tells Mateo that he and Kendra had a great evening and that no money was exchanged. Owen monologues about how Kendra likes him for him and then he gets a Venmo notification on his phone. Kendra has sent him $40,000. Mateo jokes that the reduction in payment is a customer loyalty discount. 

At the firehouse, Owen is conflicted about what to do with the $140,000 he has received from Kendra. Judd comes to his office and asks him about his second date with Kendra Harrington. Owen tells him about the $40,000 and how this payment did come with a memo line - a bone emoji. Owen calls himself a cheap himbo but Judd tells him there's nothing cheap about $140,000. Owen admits that the money is a bit of an ego boost but he's also bummed because he really likes Kendra and thinks they might have something special. Judd tells him to just give the money to charity.

In our next scene, Tommy, Nancy, and TK arrive at a perfume factory where there's possibly a toxic, airborne event taking place. Paragon beats them to the scene and Pearce asks one of the employees about what insurance he has which is super gross. Pearce tells Tommy that she, Nancy, and TK are on hydration duty. Nancy gets upset but Tommy says they will do it. Nancy and TK are pissed and annoyed with Pearce but Tommy admits that he is good at his job. She reminds them about how he saved Dan. Nancy asks her what happens when Paragon takes over and they don't have jobs anymore. Tommy says they will help as much as they can for as long as they can.

Tommy receives notification that it's a false alarm and the three of them start to leave. They see Pearce and his partner load one of the factory workers into the Paragon ambulance. Tommy confronts them and Pearce tells her that they're taking the man to the hospital due to exposure. Tommy tells him it was a false alarm and Pearce tells her that she's out of line. Tommy calls him son and he pulls rank on her. Tommy apologizes for calling him son and says she should have called him a profiteering sociopath. TK calls him a sellout and Nancy calls him a coward. Pearce says he will report them to the chief and they will get suspended. He and his partner load the man onto the ambulance and then it explodes. Tommy, Nancy, and TK run towards the ambulance . Pearce stumbles out of the ambulance with injuries and Tommy and Nancy go to his aid while TK and Pearce's partner go to check on the factory worker. Tommy sees that Pearce's chest is not rising evenly. She performs a thoracostomy which is rare to do in the field and is successful. Tommy saves Pearce's life.

Owen gets a visit from Kendra and he decides to confront her about the money. Owen accuses her of treating him like a sex worker. Kendra explains to him that her brother died of lung cancer which is why she was at the benefit gala. She then tells him that the $100,000 is for the cancer charity while the $40,000 is for the dog charity. The bone that was in the memo line was a dog bone.

Kendra: "In what bronzer-soaked universe would I spend $100,00 to sleep with you?"

Kendra says this always happens to her. Money ruins everything. She never knows if people like her for her or if they want something out of her. Owen tells her he doesn't care about her money. He asks her on another date - a real date. 

Tommy goes to see Pearce in the hospital. I thought it was very sweet that she brought him a peace lily (or at least I think that was a peace lily). Either way it was a sweet gesture. Tommy tells him she is there to check on the incision she made. Pearce tells her that the doctor says it was a good incision and that she's in the wrong field. Pearce tells Tommy she is doing exactly what she is meant to do. I find it interesting that Tommy performed the same procedure in the field that Hen Wilson did on 9-1-1.  Pearce tells Tommy he is planning on suing Paragon right before Jacques shows up with flowers and other gifts. Pearce tells him he wants $20 million dollars. He then says he plans on suing Jacques for everything he's worth ... and then some. Jacques says that everything that happened was an accident. Pearce reminds him that the accident was caused by faulty equipment in the rig which Pearce had already warned him about. Tommy tells Jacques that if Pearce lodged a complaint already then this accident is due to negligence. Jacques leaves to call his lawyer. Tommy looks to Pearce and tells him that karma is a beautiful thing.

What a fun episode! This season has been filled with serial killers, sociopathic exes, and plots to blow up greater Austin. Now that all of that is behind us, it's great that we're back to episodes where we get humor and some fun emergency sequences. I really like that we got to focus on the paramedics this episode. I really enjoyed Tommy's pettiness while dealing with the insufferable Pearce. One thing Lone Star does well is its recurring characters. We got Ty O'Brien earlier this season and now we have Pearce back for his third episode. Hopefully we'll see Dave from the dispatch center before this season is over.

Owen's plot is everything I want from that character. Rob Lowe is a comedic actor first and foremost. He is not an action hero. When the show lets him be silly, that's where he really shines in my opinion. Of all the women we have seen him with, I like Kendra the most. I hope we get to see more of her and I have a feeling we will.  

I know some folks will call this a filler episode but so far I don't think we've gotten any filler episodes this season. I think season 2 is the best season of Lone Star but this season may just snatch the number one spot for me if it continues on this trajectory. If you're reading this, what did you think of this episode? Which plot did you like the best? The Tommy versus Paragon storyline or the American Gigolo storyline with Owen? Feel free to comment! I'm excited to see what happens next! Until next time ...

[allthingsdancingonice]

Traitorous ice awaits as Molly Pearce swaps the round table for spins around the rink 💫

Aaron #DancingOnIce

[jbaileyfansite]

The entire The Traitors: The Movie's sketch for Comic Relief (if you can't see it, try using an UK VPN)

[chorusfm]

The Best Albums of 2024 (So Far)

Hello July. We are once again halfway through the year, and that means it’s time to reflect on the best albums of the year (so far). Below, you will find both our combined staff top 30, as well as individual lists from our contributors and moderators. Hopefully, you will find something new to love. Note: You can share your own list in our music forum. The Top Albums of 2024 (So Far) * Green Day – Saviors * Maggie Rogers – Don’t Forget Me * Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism * Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department * Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well * Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft * Bleachers – Bleachers * Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To * Barely Civil – I’d Say I’m Not Fine * Super American – Gangster of Love * SeeYouSpaceCowboy – Coup De Grace * Alkaline Trio – Blood Hair & Eyeballs * Sum 41 – Heaven :x: Hell * Charli XCX – Brat * Twenty One Pilots – Clancy * Cold Years – A Different Life * The Early November – The Early November * Hovvdy – Hovvdy * DIIV – Frog in Boiling Water * Casey – How To Disappear * Bayside – There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive * Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood * Snarls – With Love, * Katie Pruitt – Mantras * Carly Pearce – Hummingbird * Yellowcard – A Hopeful Sign * Gracie Abrams – The Secret of Us * Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us * Dustin Kensrue – Desert Dreaming * The Dangerous Summer – Gravity The Playlist Looking for an easy way to check out all of the albums in our top thirty? We’ve got a playlist for that. You’ll find one on Apple Music and one on Spotify with one great song from each great album. The Nerd Stat Stuff Our final compiled list was put together using our ranking algorithm. There were 6 contributors and 102 unique albums across all of the lists. In total, 30 albums out of the 102 were on more than one list with the number one album appearing on 5 of the 6 lists. Contributor Lists Jason Tate * Super American – Gangster of Love * Florrie – The Lost Ones * Sum 41 – Heaven :x: Hell * Cold Years – A Different Life * The Early November – The Early November * Bleachers – Bleachers * Yellowcard – A Hopeful Sign * Alkaline Trio – Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs * One Step Closer – All You Embrace * Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism * Green Day – Saviors * Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To * Kacy Hill – Bug * Maggie Rogers – Don’t Forget Me * The Odorants – Love Songs Never Die * Casey – How to Disappear * Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department * Sasha Alex Sloan – Me Again * SeeYouSpaceCowboy – Coup De Grace * DK The Drummer – Temporal * Gracie Abrams – The Secret of Us * Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well * The Speakeasy – The Speakeasy * Dustin Kensrue – Desert Dreaming * Twenty One Pilots – Clancy * Lost Stars – I Think I Love You Lately * Charli XCX – Brat * Strung Out – Dead Rebellion * Stand Still – Steps Ascending * Hot Water Music – Vows In my opinion, it’s been a real fun year of music so far. Some familiar names, some new faces, and a great year for punk and pop-punk adjacent music. Dare I say the scene is alive and well? That Super American album has just flat out dominated the last few months for me, and with the summer weather ahead, I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. It’s the most fun I’ve had with an album this year and takes the top spot (so far). I’m excited to see what the back half of 2024 has in store for us. The Stats: For the first half of the year, I’ve listened to 856 albums, 366 artists, and 7,784 songs (12,382 scrobbles). My most played album of the year so far is Sum 41’s Heaven :x: Hell. My most played artist so far this year is MxPx. If you’d like to follow my weekly listening habits, please subscribe to my newsletter. Aaron Mook * Hovvdy – Hovvdy * Mannequin Pussy – I Got Heaven * Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft * The Fever Haze – Moonbow * DIIV – Frog in Boiling Water * Molly Lewis – On the Lips *… https://chorus.fm/features/articles/the-best-albums-of-2024-so-far/