OITNB, S4

OK, for those of you watching season 4, and not finished yet - spoiler alert!  I'm about to rant a bit, because I just finished watching.   I spaced it out over two weeks so that I'd be able to enjoy it a bit.  And I have to admit, the first few episodes I was quite disappointed in.  It felt as if they were trying to cram so much detail and story building with all the new additional people they added that parts of it weren't enjoyable.  I would sum it up like this:   I enjoy the journey, the story telling, I'm not about the destination.

However, the cliffhanger they left us with .... OMG.   By episode 12, I was both crying and mad.  I don't like when my fav characters are done away with!   And Samira Wiley was, to me, one of the best in the show!   And the pipes on that girl!   Sometimes I cue up season 1, episode 13, just to hear her sing Amazing Grace --again and again!    love it!

Watching the last 3 episodes of season 4 really riled me up, stirred up a lot of emotions - hate for the guards, sadness for the women stuck in their situations like Sophia, and empathy for Caputo.  Being the guy who tries to make things right for these women, with his back stuck against corporate greed and the almighty dollar is never easy.  I'm glad he did things right in the end, calling the father, and going off program from what MCC wanted him to say.

I know, I know, it's only a TV show.  But kudos to Netflix for producing a good show in such a way that we're clearly drawn in to each of the womens' stories!

If you've followed past posts, I don't do drama, I don't get involved in situations full of drama because of the effect it has on me in a personal way (ie, dreams).  Orange is the New Black is the one piece of drama that I seek out, something about the show resonates in me.

Well done, Netflix!
Hurry up June 2017!

Antiques Roadshow

There aren't many TV shows that catch and hold my attention over a span of time, but Antiques Roadshow on PBS is one that does.  In my market, this show is on Monday evenings, 7pm.  I just love the stories behind the things people bring in.  So many folks have stuff they don't know anything about, its just "always sat on a shelf" somewhere.

And there are all types of different things ... from jewelry to furniture, rugs to swords, paintings to toys.  The ones who are collectors already, who buy and sell for a profit bore me; they already know they have a treasure, they just want to know some monetary value.  There are beautiful paintings, and others that make me exclaims "... that much for THAT??" because sometimes things with a lot of value aren't so pretty to look at.  hehehe  I especially like the things people bring in because it has sentimental value.  They don't intend on auctioning it off, they just want to know more about the history of the item.

If you ever get to wondering what I'm doing on a Monday night at 7pm ... now you know!  Its a good show to putter around the room as I watch - putting away laundry or getting things ready for the next day.  And if you have some spare time, check out PBS in your area and see if you don't get hooked on this show like I did! 

FireFly

Have you ever watched Firefly, the series?  It only lasted one season, and I confess, I didn't watch it when it aired in 2002.  I've only recently discovered it, and am thoroughly enjoying it.

While its somewhat futuristic with its flying space vehicle, there are moments when it looks like an old western, riding horses, fist fights.  The mix of old and new is very fascinating.  The characters are well written, and have a depth to them that is at times surprising.  There are nine people who live aboard this spaceship called Serenity, and each of them sees life through different eyes.  The Captain, Malcolm Reynolds, is sort of the father figure, and there's a feeling of familial in the episodes.  Joss Whedon's creation can be action packed and fast paced, while also interspersed with moments of tender emotions as these nine people figure out life and love for themselves.


I just watched an episode called "Heart of Gold", an involved story line.  But the focus for me was the relationship between Inara and Captain Mal.  Inara is a very beautiful "companion" of the times, but has very deep feelings for Mal.  When Mal stays overnight with a friend of Inara's, the next morning she puts on a brave face and tells Mal its ok.  But in the next scene, you find her sitting on the floor, curled up, trying to stifle her tears, unsuccessfully.  In the end of the episode, she tells a lot of truth here:

"I learned something from Mandy.... the family she made, the strength of her love for them is what kept them together.  When you live with that kind of strength, you get tied to it, you can't break away, you never want to."

After she gives him this speech, she tells him "I'm going to do something I should have done a long time ago. I'm leaving."  And with that, she turns and walks away.

This episode made me sad, a bit moody, and got me wondering about my own choices.  When do you decide its time to walk away?  With ex husbands, its easy if there's something they do that isn't tolerable.  But how do you know when its time to cut losses and walk?  Saying goodbye to someone, or something, is the hardest thing to do.  I watched as Inara walked away from Mal, and now I'm left wondering if he went after her? did she ever come back to him? 

I recommend you borrow this dvd from your local library, give it a try !