Longmire 5.10 "The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of" Review

                                            
As Walt (Robert Taylor) and Henry (Lou Diamond Phillips) sit in different rooms at the Res police station, Henry tells Mathias (Zahn McClarnon) about Walt's suspicions of him being Hector.  Mathias reminding him that Walt has samples of Henry's blood when he collected samples where Malachi (Graham Greene) was beaten.  Mathias can't remove the evidence without breaking the law.  Milgrom  (Patch Darragh) tells Walt that he can't let this feuding get out in public cos of the civil trial and Walt tells him Henry is his best friend, which kinda makes it worse.  Mathias tells Milgrom Henry will drop all charges if Walt doesn't pursue the Hector issue anymore and accuse him of being Hector, which Walt agrees to, as both men leave the station injured and dejected.

Walt arrives home to find Donna (Ally Walker) waiting for him, she's been subpoenaed to give a deposition and Walt tells her when she was missing, he and Vic (Katee Sackhoff) broke in and stole some of her patient files and if they hadn't done that, they wouldn't have found her.  She doesn't blame them but he tells her to go ahead with the deposition.  Knighthorse (A Martinez) has new bodyguards and Henry tells him about the Malachi situation and Walt too and he doesn't know if he and Walt are still friends.  He's grateful to Knighthorse for getting his bar back, but he wants to know if Knighthorse went back and killed Malachi.  He didn't, but Henry tells him he's confused since someone wrote "Hector Lives" there with stones.  Knighthorse thinks it could be Malachi himself to throw the scent off him being alive and if he is, then Henry adds that makes him more of a threat.  Should've heeded his own warning.

Cady (Cassidy Freeman) comes in to get Darius out and she thinks Mathias has spoken to him without her being there.  He says Darius is bad news and she shouldn't be doing this.  However she reminds him of how everyone's entitled to a defence and she won't go into that with him.  Mathias still thinks she's making a big mistake.  Which she was but as she said when called upon, lawyers have to defend no matter how abhorrent the defendant, otherwise they're not doing their job.  Cady returns to the office and finds Mandy (Tamara Duarte) already there and she tells her she can play her $25,000 a year and then see how it goes.  After getting Knighthorse to foot the bill for one more employee after she tells him she's hired all the people on his list.  She also warns him about Walt when she says the same thing she did to Walt about him being tunnel visioned when it comes to Knighthorse.  Who tells her how he and Walt have had that volatile relationship for years.  She loves her father but she wants to do what's right with her job.  She sees him laying down his stakes for when he meditates.  Obviously that's going to be relevant for the end.

Vic hears that Chance Gilbert (Peter Stormare) has been found guilty and will serve at least twenty years inside.  She's relieved and Ferg (Adam Bartley) breaks the news to Walt.  Chance later calls Walt and tells him he wants to get to death row cos he can't live cooped up without his freedom.  Well tell that to the people he killed.  He calls it a cruel and unusual punishment for himself.  However Walt refuses cos he deserves what he gets and cos he can suffer behind bars.  What is usually cruel and unusual is languishing on death row for years.  Walt tells Vic what he wanted which was a mistake cos she wants to see him die and he tells her he's not going to act on it since the judge gave him his sentence and that's how the law operates.  he's been accused of doing too much outside of the law.  Chance tells Vic where to find the gun when he murdered the courier.  When she goes to find it she's met by his brother's wife and she fights her.  With Vic getting kicked in the stomach.  The DA takes the gun and it has his DNA on it.

Travis (Derek Phillips) is moving into the trailer park to keep an eye on Vic and he takes her to the hospital the next day as they hear the baby's heartbeat during the ultrasound.  The mayor buys Walt a milkshake cos he's temporarily suspending him and has gone to the county commissioners to do this.  He wants to be treated with respect and he knows it' re-election year so he wants a smooth ride.  Walt isn't happy and as we later see the mayor wants Walt out co he has big plans for the county and a stickler for doing the right thing like Walt will only get in the way.  He recruits Knighthorse onto his campaign for this reason.  Also telling him that the FBI has info on Walt pertinent to the case.

Walt asks Ferg to find Monte (Stephen Louis Grush) and when he does, he breaks into his house and finds the FBI flashdrive, as Ferg distracts Monte with the threat of a ticket for running a stop sign.  The flashdrive reveals details of a phonecall Walt supposedly made to Barlow from his house.  A call lasting five seconds.  But Walt didn't make the call and it wouldn't have been enough time to invite him over.  Besides why would Barlow even entertain the idea of being summoned by Walt when Walt could've just gone to see him at his place as he always did.  He tells Tucker (Brett Rice) he's been withholding this vital information and Tucker reveals Barlow handed him over the reigns of his company making him CEO.  Walt telling him Barlow wanted it to be a case of 'suicide by cop.'  Tucker also saying when he finishes with Walt he won't have all this land cos he'll have to sell up in   the settlement the judge will order.  As he calls his phone and makes a call in four seconds.  Er, he didn't take into account how many seconds the call would actually take to connect and for Barlow to pick up, cos he wouldn't answer right away!!  Not so clever Tucker!!

Milgrom tells Walt to see his accountant and to give his money away.  So I said he should just give his property to Cady now and put it in her name, or sell it to her dirt cheap instead so greedy guts can't get his hands on it.  Wanting to build a golf course resort.  Oh man if that ain't bloody Drumpf I don't know what is!  That's all Absaroka needs after a casino!  Donna and Walt share a Rainier and she plays truth or dare, asking him who's the better kisser, her or Vic, as he sips his beer.  He does the same asking if it's him or her husband, as she also takes a sip of beer.  Their relationship isn't really going anywhere romantically.

Henry is duped into taking Tina (Tinsel Korey) to her home as she's lost her coat with her car keys where Henry sees Malachi.  He then ties Henry up after beating him to the same stakes that Knighthorse uses to call his dog soldiers.  Leaving him there to bake in the sun.  Cady undergoes a sweat ritual as Mandy's aunt wants to initiate her into the tribe.  Here she sees many images such as Henry hanging from a tree with his phone in his hand, as well as seeing the empty sheriff's station with Walt's hat on the rack, she sees the land and walking in blood.  Obviously a warning, foreboding of what's to come next season.  With Walt having another fight on his hands with the civil trial and the golf course plans now and this time on his own land.  They don't do things by half in this show!!  Roll on the sixth and final season!!

Venus In Fur (Play) Review

A magnificent feast for the senses, a tour de force, comedy of fun errors, what can I use to describe this delightful piece of writing, acting, directing.  A must see for anyone who loves comedy and more appropriately it's almost "ripped from several headlines" message.  It's meant to be based in around 1870 when women were mere objects to be ogled, lusted after and put on pedestals.  Treated as goddesses (hence the title in some ways) and yet it slowly turns all the stereotypes onto their heads and ends up with a winning formula and taking the gender roles, the archetypal gender roles and reversing them to achieve an immensely satisfying conclusion!!  The book of the same title written by Leopold Sacher-Masoch and as Thomas says in the play that's where the term "sado masochism" originated.  However at the time the book was written the man's 'quest' to be physically abused wasn't thought of as pornographic or perverse in any way.  But shows how society came to view it as such and it culminated in Vanda adding that's what it really is about.

Bravo and kudos to brilliantly great acting, 90 minutes of marvel.  Vanda Jordan comes to audition for the part of Vanda in Thomas Novachek's play.  Remarkably and not coincidentally, as I saw it, she  really did ingratiate herself into the audition and she shares the same name as the female protagonist in the play.  She thinks Thomas wrote the play but he's merely "adapting" it.  This repeated several times over as if trying to make us believe that's really the case, or convince us Thomas actually adapted Sacher-Masoch's book of the same name; as Thomas explains to ditzy Vanda, however, don't be fooled by her blonde tresses, she's not what she appears to be.  But a cunning vixen, who really plays him and does set his heart afire.  "The inexplicable becomes the inextricable" in many ways.  As she keeps getting "ambivalent" and "ambiguous" mixed up.

Thunder, lightning and Vanda arrives wet at Thomas's attic studio.  The train was late and everyone's gone but through her clever tactics and manoeuvrability, she manages to convince Thomas into giving her an audition.  As they read the play, she questions why Thomas doesn't play the part for himself.  As they read, their innermost thoughts and desires are revealed, as are their tremendous American accents, Vanda's New Yawk accent becomes posh English when reading the script, allowing Thomas to be more enamoured with her.  She also gets him to talk 'posh' and then we get a little German accent; ooh it was Earnest (Victoria) all over again.  As Natalie also finally slips in a German accent too.

Thomas says he's taken in by her and falls like the thunder and lightning.  Plenty of this followed, painting the picture that each time there was that roar, it was Thomas falling deeper and more deeply for Vanda.  The astute vixen has the script already and says her agent gave it to her.  But she's also secretly read the book as she produces it when remarking on the cover, if he used that as a poster it'd be reminiscent of "porn" and he'll sell lots of tickets.

That's what this revolved around: the abuses suffered and endured by women at the hands of men for centuries.  Seen by Vanda's heartfelt machinations that she longs for a woman to be an individual and to be seen as such.  Not admired for her beauty alone and to be 'used' for the needs of men, but to be given an equal footing.  Therein lies the modern aspect to this.  All the scandals appearing in the news now, the abuses (suffered by men and women alike).  It was akin to Thomas as he talks of the abuse suffered at the hands of his aunt, as his pants were pulled down and she beat him, over and over.  It was so poignant a moment that it felt as if it were true.  That he really suffered this and wasn't just spoken by the character he was playing within the play.  Hence also their talk of fur stemming from this and how the fur plays a pivotal role in that abuse and yet it's so appealing.

After much 'seduction' and many home truths being revealed, more thunder and more times that Thomas fell for this Venus in Fur, this Aphrodite.  "All hail Aphrodite"  Vanda finally gets Thomas where she wants him: succumbing and finally playing her role, as she ties him up and shows him how women are treated.  As said, roles reversed, she's now the dominant one, in the position of power.  And as the heavens rained red, Aphrodite is finally hailed; also as exacting her revenge.  The goddess wins!  The "idiot woman...idiot actress" reveals in the depths of her victory!

It felt to me as if Thomas was actually imagining this, writing, I mean, adapting his own play and his own version of events.  Especially with that "twisty" ending!  It was such a pleasure to watch Natalie Dormer and David Oakes live on stage; that it's no wonder many have flocked to see this many times over.  It does deserve more than one viewing.  That atmosphere, there's so much to take in.  The costumes without being too lavish suit the entire play and it's good there wasn't an interval which would've distracted from the main scenes, which were actually all the scenes in my opinion.  Every moment, every scene had an enormous impact on everything being said and acted.

Thomas mentions he was beaten by his aunt and it was watched by the servants and even the cat.  It was hilarious in a way, not the beating aspect, but that cats were mentioned in this and I gave David a silly cat painting I did!  Hey another uncanny moment of mine!

I would say this should be filmed and shown in theatres/cinemas in all its glory.  Loved it and as said, one visit wasn't enough, neither were two!  Third time's the charm.  Amazingly directed by Patrick Marber and a gorgeous set by Rob Howell.  Breathtaking, exuding sexiness and so very dark!

Venus In Fur Theatre Royal Haymarket until 9th December!! Hurry!!

Once Upon A Time 7.6 "Wake Up Call " Review

                                                   
Another episode where it was all happening.  Said that Ivy (Adelaide Kane) made Reggie (Lana Parilla) find that pic on purpose and wanted to use her for her own ends against Victoria (Gabrielle Anwar).  It was apparent and poor Reggie fell for it, or rather had to.  As we got flashes to the Other Realm again where Reggie tried to help Drizella with magic as she saw potential in her.  Yet she didn't realize she'd be the one who would be taken advantage of and surely she should have realized the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  Especially with all her dealings as the Evil Queen.  Drizella would be just as evil, manipulative as her mother.  Being rescued from the man-eating giant plant was probably just another rouse on her part to get rescued by her and she'd have a soft spot for her if she lied about how she hates her mother.  Well, not so much a lie as a manipulation.  Reggie warning her not to become dark.  Hey if only Rumples (Robert Carlyle) could've got Drizella to become the Dark One. 

Speaking of, he managed to show up in the Other Realm this ep and told Reggie his sad story of how he and Belle spent time together and how she grew old and died and how it changed him.  He now wants to get rid of his darkness and well, if Reggie could do it, then so could he.  He also tells; reminds her how she too was like Drizella when she was the Evil Queen and how her mother knew everything she was doing.  But Reggie is genuinely fooled into thinking Drizella is as innocent as she appears.  Drizella telling her Victoria intends to bring back Anastasia with a pure heart and how that will be Drizella 's so she wants Reggie to help kill her.  However Reggie says that's not her anymore and she'll be making a big mistake.  She doesn't want Drizella to become evil.  Sorry she already is.  Reggie also despairs when Henry (Andrew J West) doesn't need her anymore as he and Cinders (Dania Ramirez) fight off rebels in the woods and she doesn't have to use her magic to help.  She tells the same to Rumples.

Later Drizella beings her betrothed Prince Gregor (Julian Haig) to do the dirty deed for her which Reggie also believes she'll get him to do.  However Drizella gets the plant to kill the prince instead, now her heart is black and she won't be able to use it for Anastasia.  Reggie tells her that heroes always find a way to break curses and Drizella vanishes.  Ah Reggie you shouldn't have said that, cos she recalled it back in Hyperion heights and used it against her.

In Hyperion Heights Ivy gets the Witch (Emma Booth) to conjure up the flower/plant again, as she brings her soil from the garden.  The Witch telling her it was a mistake to let Ronnie/Reggie find the photo.  Reggie shows the picture to Henry again and he thinks it could've been Photoshopped for his book, with Reggie actually being Emma.  Reggie thinks she and Henry could convince Lucy (Alison Fernandez) they believe her about the book and the curse and this way she'll get out of her 'fantasy' phase.  Which is unlikely.  Also telling Henry he should ask Jacinda on a date.  He sees Ivy's uploaded all sorts of pics of her and Henry drinking and he doesn't want Jacinda to get the wrong idea.  Reggie talks to Lucy at the apartment, where she's not supposed to be and she mentions the book turning up in the closest.  Reggie thinks they should form a pact and find out about the photo.  Having also told Henry that she was turned down for an adoption once.

Reggie asks Rumples/Weaver for help in looking up a 'Regina Mills' and whether she was in the system for an adoption.  She adds she'll owe him a favour.  Ooh Dearie, we know he's gonna collect on that!  He even mentions it later when he brings her the info and there was a Regina after all.  Naturally, but then he already knew that anyway now he knows who he really is.  Henry brings along a mix tape when he helps Jacinda fix the truck, trying to explain the pics with Ivy.  She doesn't need an explanation from him and they can have a date now since he's good at fixing things.  Seriously can't believe Jacinda said "food" truck cos it sounded more like "foot" truck coming from her!!  Some better pronouncation please and less loud music which drowns out and garbles half of what is said!

Ivy pours Reggie a drink from the top shelf and adds some potion to it which will make her recall everything.  Knew there was something in it but Reggie did you really need a drink poured by her.  She wants her to know enough so she can help Ivy with her plans and go back to being the Evil Queen.  True love's kiss will break the curse, so she wants Reggie to break up Henry and Jacinda.  Later on the bench, she tells Henry how good it is they're trying to get to know one another and he should keep her abreast on things with Jacinda and how they go.

Hook Rogers (Colin O'Donoghue) takes Alice (Rose Reynolds) to her shack and she wants him to play chess.  Reminding him he should look at the pieces he's played.  He brings out his black book and finds the tattoo again which he calls a rune.  Wouldn't it be great if Rumples found out Reggie knows who she really is and they could get together to rid the curse and Ivy/Victoria once and for all and then everyone could go their own ways with their true happy endings.  Ending the show on a high.  There's so much repetition going on from past stories/episodes that it'll become tedious.  But Henry you do need your mother(s) and it's not just about growing up and using their magic, or then using it for him.  What would he be without them.

Longmire 5.9 "Continual Soiree" Review

                                                
Vic (Katee Sackhoff) wakes Walt (Robert Taylor) up the next morning when Malachi hasn't turned up.  She thinks he was probably using it as a distraction to make his escape.  Since it seems he wouldn't have anything to offer Walt especially since Knighthorse (A Martinez) had the ledgers, even if he wasn't 'abducted' by Knighthorse and Henry (Lou Diamond Phillips) doubt if he would've turned up as said.  At the office Walt gets them to check out if Malachi's turned up for work and Walt is convinced Knighthorse is behind it all.  Well that's not being paranoid, he is right, Knighthorse is far from trustworthy with his past, but also that he might have had a hand in Malachi's disappearance.  He also wants them to check when David Wabash checked out of the motel, which Ferg (Adam Bartley) tells him was two days ago.

Vic has a court date in the Chance Gilbert (Peter Stormare) trial brought up as Ruby (Louanne Stephens) and ADA Brigitte Holder (Catherine Dent) needs her to testify today.  Walt listens in and later he heads to the court but Milgrom (Patch Darragh) tells Walt he shouldn't go in.  Finally telling him that Tucker is continuing with his civil suit as Barlow's estate refused to settle.  He's been trying to call him, well any attorney would've left messages but also turned up in person to  ell their client such news.  He warns him against going inside even to sit in the gallery as the reporters will make fodder out of it, especially with the pending civil suit.  Walt sees Henry who tells him about the ledgers and getting the Red Pony back, but he gave the ledgers to Knighthorse.  Walt is angry he didn't get them cos he is the law around here and he would've put them to good use.  Henry says Walt's paranoid with Knighthorse continually on his radar and just for once he might not be bad.

It's understandable Walt would feel that way, first there was everything with his wife, then Cady and Henry is also now keeping secrets from him.  He seems to be losing his friends aside from his deputies, but they shouldn't really count cos that's more work.  Ferg finds Malachi's phone has been pinging and is located in the same location without moving.  A spot on the Res and he has to get Mathias (Zahn McClarnon) to go with him.  He finds the phone and they also find blood and 'Hector Lives' composed of stones.  Mathias tells him he tries to mix some good into his work to remind him it does exist and Walt replies unfortunately the bad always keeps him from doing that.  Travis (Derek Phillips) brings by some motor home stuff and finds the pregnancy tests in the trash, wanting to have it out with Vic before the trial.  He was presumptuous in thinking that he'd be the only one she'd be involved with, as he mentions how she's into law enforcement men: they're her type. When she replies she doesn't "have a type."  Well he was right there with Walt and Eammon.

At the trial the ADA asks Vic how she's coping, physically she's fine but the emotional side isn't so good at times.  Before we get courtroom theatrics from Chance.  Not only about her 'relationship' with Walt, non-existent of course, but mentions witnesses seeing them and their kiss.  Accusing Walt of bad policing but also having his own harem, knew that was coming.  Continually badgering her and finally the judge has enough of it too and allows Vic to be excused from further testimony.  What sort of a defence was that, no compelling questions or evidence, or witnesses to cross-examine.  Even bringing up why her ex-husband wanted to divorce her, which she said was none of his business and rightly so. As well as going on about entering his place without identifying herself a a deputy, why would she, trespass and all the other spiel.

Walt finally sees Cady and he doesn't ask who she's doing but talks of Knighthorse and how he's coming between them as she and Henry are taken in by him.  She mentions his paranoia too and suggests he should talk his feelings over with his psychiatrist if he's still seeing her.  He asks about anything unusual and mentions Henry wanting to adopt Mingan as his father died of a drug overdose.  But Mingan killed himself which was on the 13th.  Back at the office he puts together dates and photos of when Hector's activities began in chasing after drug dealers, such as Jamie and burning his stash.  Which all leads back to one person.  Well Walt's not just a pretty face ya know; he would piece it altogether.

He comes up with Henry being a suspect again in Malachi's disappearance and he talks with Knighthorse asking for the ledgers.  But he won't turn them over cos Walt will use them against him and he's no fool since he's been gunning for him since his wife's death.  Adding even if he knew who Hector was, he wouldn't tell him cos he wouldn't believe him even if he did.  Henry also tells Mathias how Walt's going to suspect Hector of being a killer and so they have to find Malachi or his DB and fast.  They follow Darius (Joseph Daniel Havenstar) after Henry fired him, which was quite a scene to see.  Adding his Polaroid to the board not to be served and also showing him that Malachi signed over the Red Pony.  They find Darius digging up money.  He won't talk and asks for a lwyer.  Guess that'd be Cady then, knew that before she got the call.  Kinda conflicted there with being Walt's daughter and obviously she still has her integrity as a lawyer.

Knighthorse turns up and says she needs help so he wants her to take on some people and he'll increase the budget for her.  Giving her a list of people, adding he's thinking of getting security from outside the Res and the people here won't be happy about that.  All the names she says aren't right for the job, but they're part of the Tribal Council so they'll have to do.  Knighthorse touching the feather on the gun he gave her and saying sometimes they have to do these things.  Don't trust him at all and that's my paranoia coming through, ha.  Particularly as he now brings up the Tribal Council so he must have some ulterior motive for that too.  or was it just so her clinic would continue.

Finally the showdown we were waiting for, Walt's realization that Henry must be Hector.  Walt asking for a Rainier to get some Dutch courage and then confronts him about it.  Henry adding that sometimes they keep secrets from him out of love and nothing more, to protect him.  Mentioning he did tell him about Shane Muldoon and Walt didn't turn him into the FBI, in the same way he allowed Malachi to escape justice by not turning him in.  Less about justice for Walt in some ways, but more about getting Knighthorse.  But Walt is too riled up to take that from him.  As punches are thrown and friendships won't be the same anymore, especially since trust has been broken.  As things hot up for the season 5 finale!

Vic telling Travis he might be the father as we get flashbacks to their drunken one night stand.  But also ther  might be someone else.  He gives her a babysitting voucher since he knows what it's like to grow up with a single mother.  Also he'll be there for her as a friend.   Henry's back to his "Red Pony and Continual Soiree" when he answers the phone and thinking that all's right now he's got his place back.  If only things were so simple and straightforward, but this is Absaroka, Walt's county!

The Halcyon Series 1 Episode 7 Review

                                            
Adil (Akshay Kumar) steals more documents from Toby (Edward Bluemel) after another night of passion between the two and hands them to D'Abberville (Charles Edwards). At which time Adil tells him he won't be doing this anymore, but of course D'Abberville is conniving and convinces him to carry on with it.  D'Abberville also meets with his contact to whom he's selling the secrets and he asks for more information, as well as some important documents.  Later Mortimer (Danny Webb) from Special Branch arrives and wants to question Toby as the leak has been found out and is potentially threatening to their ships.  Other members in his Department are being investigated too but obviously he's going to be the main suspect.  His room is searched and Priscilla (Olivia Williams) is angry.  Toby is later taken in for questioning, which of course is more of an interrogation and he declares he loves his job and wouldn't do anything like that.

Freddie (Jamie Blackley) returns home, timely for two reasons: firstly to help Toby and secondly to get Emma (Hermione Corfield) back as he was hasty in his decision.  Freddie wants to get Toby out but Garland (Steven Mackintosh) says his contact might be able to help.  Of course it would mean that his name won't be cleared and he won't be free from suspicion.  Joe (Matt Ryan) overhears them talking but is kept out of the loop.  Later Joe says he might be able to help and asks if there's anything he can do in the meantime, he heard the news and isn't writing a story on it.  But there's not much he can do.  Garland tells Freddie that Lord Ambrose (Geoffrey McGivern) is head of MI6 and also knew their father, but then there was bad blood between them cos of his wife, but he might be a good bet to contact.  Freddie meets with him all in a civilized manner and Ambrose is impressed with that, since his father was all gung ho, but Freddie is refined, if a little feminine, in his approach.  Especially since his father, previous Lord Hamilton had Nazi sympathies, trying to appease Hitler.  Thus betrayal and treason may run int he Hamilton family, beginning with Toby.  He can have Toby released but the investigation will continue.  Freddie asking why his brother would do such a thing against him especially since Freddie is a commended officer and has his wings.

Toby meanwhile gets a clip round his ear hole for shouting to Mortimer and he tells Toby to raise his voice again so he can get him good this time.  Freddie and Ambrose having spoken about the Great War and the changes it brought to the aristocracy.  How they're not respected at all now, which is what Mortimer says to Toby when he's released, that his position got him out.  Obviously he'll pursue this relentlessly.  When Toby is released he wants to see Adil for coffee, yeah coffee being the codeword!  He knows it was Adil and is angry, upset and kinda ashamed he trusted him.  Adil admits he was threatened and it was D'Abberville.  Toby goes to confront him.

Joe prepares a story for broadcast and asks Emma what she thinks of the US president, [what current: no comment but would have plenty to say - sorry] describing her as an English lady.  Then embellishes what she says.
Joe: "The first US president to be elected to a third term...your country’s at war...justice and due process don’t always win out."  being as topical as ever.
Joe invites her to a club and she accepts.  Apparently developing a love triangle here.  But I don't think there would've been much of a love triangle as she's still in love with Freddie and Joe seems to be just a distraction (and what beautiful distraction Joe is!) and cos she's more infatuated with him, not having met anyone like him before.  More like just leading him on in some ways cos when she sees Freddie she can't help but look at him in that way, as if they didn't really break up.  At the club Joe and Emma get closer and as said especially after the events of the previous episode (boy did I have pangs of deja vu when I watched this for the first time on ITV - the scene where they were in the warehouse with the DB during the air raid.)  She tells him how she's succumbed to his charm and she reminds her how she hated him when they met.  He had that effect on her.

Freddie thanks Garland for helping him and he wants his permission to speak with Emma again.  Garland agrees but doesn't want her hurt.  On their night back from the club. Emma is disappointed that she never took Joe for being a gentlemen and so they kiss, watched by Freddie.  (That's they all they do in here spy on each other!)  So when Freddie speaks with her he doesn't get a chance to tell her his feelings since Joe interrupts them and tells Emma he can help with the 50th anniversary party for the Halcyon, all she needs is her notebook and they may get a little snogging action in too (my sentiments).  Well Freddie was despondent, you left it too late man!  At least too late for this ep.

Peggy (Liz White) is still in mourning and feels Dora (Bella Padden) will be safer if she's evacuated along with the other children even if she's loathe to see her go.  As she feels Feldman (Mark Benton) is avoiding her.  As he confides in Garland he is, but only cos he misses Billy and doesn't know how to handle it and his grief in front of Peggy.  he later gives Peggy a poem he wrote and she and Garland share a laugh over how bloody awful it is.  Well he tried.

Betsy (Kara Tointon) is pursued by a man and she doesn't want to have drinks with him.  He later spies on her kissing Sonny (Sope Dirisu) and obviously he then threatens Sonny with losing his job and how they let 'them' into their country and he steal their women.  Calling him an ape and showing how racism seeps into the hotel.  He pushed him and Sonny overpowers him.  Later he complains to Garland and he says the matter will go way with an apology.  Of course Sonny won't apologize as he tells Betsy he's apologized too many times.  Garland however believes Sonny and knows how he can help him out.  He asks the man about the number of rats they have at the hotel, especially at the back.  But Sonny apologizes to him and shakes his hand.  The man asks for a bottle of champagne on the house, calling it the end of the matter.  Sonny tells Garland he apologized for him and not cos he meant it.  Referring to Betsy and how she's singing like her heart is breaking but it's all an act.  Well isn't it always when you're entertaining.

James Bond, er, Joe in his tux!!  Keep having to get that in everywhere I can!!  Actually was also thinking if they ever did a remake of Remington Steele, then Matt would be perfect in that role too!  You know, all suave, sophisticated sweet talker!!  He's got a certain Pierce vibe going, but not cos of the James Bond bit, they're both charming in their own ways!!

Heck critics once again you push the knife in Joe's back and twist it deeply as one critic described his date with Emma and Joe having "dubious charms" - really another ep where I have to strongly disagree.  What's so dubious about him, what you see is what you get with him and he didn't actively pursue her when she was with Freddie, though they did have their moments, they were all innocent and now Freddie's back, well it's every man for himself.  "All's fair in love and war..."  And jokingly let me add: "  "one more drink and then we’ll go...one or two more drinks."  Joe was winning her over with his use of Jim Beam!! ha

There you have it the penultimate ep of the show and things culminating in the epic series finale next week, cliff hanger 'n' all which is a shame cos really, it could've been given another series at least just to tie up loose ends and could've been a shorter episode run, or maybe just a film to finish it off.  But no, no one thinks of such things to end shows when they're not brought back for another series.  Especially as D'Abberville and Priscilla announce their engagement and you know the cad will be found out.

Once Upon A Time 7.5 "Greenbacks" Review

                                                 
Victoria (Gabrielle Anwar) decides she'll raise the rent in her continuing spate of bombarding Jacinda (Dania Ramiriz) with everything she can throw at her.  Really that's the sort of example she's setting her granddaughter and yet she feigns to care.  So Sabine (Mekia Cox) gets the idea of making her Beignets and selling them cos everyone loves them.  Thus she convinces Jacinda to let her make them at the chicken shop, eeww salmonella!! Ha.  But they were all burnt and as sis pointed out, I wouldn't even buy them in that condition!! Even Victoria enjoys a burnt offering and schemes to get the business gone by hiring someone to set fire to it.  Obviously it wouldn't be an accident and especially not with the fire engine teaser in the credits at the beginning.  As Hook Rogers (well I like that name so I'm sticking with it) tells Sabine at the end when she brings the station Beignets too (yeah cops and Beignets!) that it wasn't an accident and we know who'd gain by doing this.

Jacinda wants her gone from their apartment cos she's angry after the shop burns down, when is she not, but later changes her mind cos she's always there for her when she needs someone.  Henry (Andrew J West) thinks it's a good idea to get Ivy (Adelaide Kane) on side but Ronnie (Lana Parilla) warns him against it cos she can't be trusted like Victoria and Ronnie is always right, well she's not really Reggie for nothing.  She later deletes texts from his phone when Ivy tells him she's got info for him.  Ronnie also telling him he should steer clear of her romantically and she saw the way Ivy looked at him.  Since there's a perfectly good single mother out there whom he should ask out for a date.  Erm, tried that last ep, almost.  Ronnie follows up on the lead herself and Ivy takes her to the room via the elevator where she finds two cups of 'smelly feet' tea and wonders why have tea here.  Then Ronnie finds the bait that was put there for her in the locker.  Later she shows Henry a photo of her and a boy, but she's never been there and she doesn't know who the boy is.  Henry recognizes him as himself.

Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) brings over some boxes to store at the bar with Ronnie as personal bodyguard to watch over them and mentions a black book he carries around with poetry and the like which he reads when he's feeling down.  He has pics of tats inside and he comes across a man who has a tat of a ship's wheel on his wrist.  He asks about a girl who vanished but he has an alibi.  He is in league with Victoria of course and tells her about Hook.  Ivy later reveals herself to the witch (Emma Booth) and it seems they are both in league against Victoria as she recalls she's actually Drizilla.  Making the witch hide when Ronnie was here.  You see mommie dearest doesn't like Drizilla and Anastasia was her favourite as she tells her "not all daughters are equal."

This ep however was about Tiana and how after her father died, there wasn't much they could do for their kingdom, short of Tiana marrying a prince.  So she goes in search for one, looking for a fortune teller.  Drizilla was there of course looking for some wares to buy from their sale and eyes Tiana's father's medal.  The ruby is meant to be magical.  Tiana doesn't know how it got there but it shouldn't be for sale.  Funny how Drizilla just happened to be there.  She finds the fortune teller who tells her she'll meet a prince and as she heads to the tavern, she's rescued by one Prince Marius (Kevin Ryan) at least he appears to be one.  As they watch the fireflies he tries to steal the ruby and was made to do it but the fortune teller, Dr Facilier (Daniel Francis) in return for his love whom he kidnapped and is holding hostage.  His true love being a frog and can only be cured by true love's kiss.  She takes the ruby to him herself and demands the return of the frog.  He refuses and tries to use her voodoo doll on Tiana but she draws her sword and takes the frog, with him vanishing with the ruby.  Releasing the frog Marius tells her he hasn't been honest with her, not only is he not a prince but he's also a frog.  Thus the story of the frog prince turned around on its lily pad.

Tiana's mother, Eudora (Robin Givens) tells her it wasn't money they needed but her legacy: the medal and this gave her the courage to act.  Anyway as said Hook kinda seemed smitten with her in this realm and will that be carried over to Hyperion Heights, especially as she brought the Beignets to thank him for putting Jacinda onto the impounded truck auction which they can now use for their business.  Hook telling her to clean it out thoroughly!  See like the chicken shop! Ha. 

Just more scenes setting up more questions than providing us with answers in this ep, now Rumples knows who he is, it's revealed Drizilla/Ivy also knows, which doesn't leave up much hope for Hyperion Heights lasting for long.  Was Reggie's and Henry's photo just a ploy on her part for them to rid Victoria and save her the trouble of doing it herself.  As well as Ivy getting closer to Henry.  Was the photo also for Henry to have found rather than Ronnie.  Who is this Dr Facilier, someone who Rumples may know and can use for his own purposes.

The Halcyon Series 1 Episode 6 Review

                                               
October 1940 and it's business as usual, with bombing attacks, making the most of a bad situation.  Emma (Hermione Corfield) is now part of the Woman's Volunteer Service, driving ambulances and helping where needed on the streets after bombings and Lillian (Annabelle Apsion) says she didn't think she'd last but she's proven herself.  Emma also needs to get a uniform, which she has to pay for herself and Joe (Matt Ryan) wonders why she doesn't get a pay advance from her father as he must be proud of her.  Yeah Joe hanging around the staff entrance again!!  She thinks he's looking for a story but he's already on one, she doesn't want to be 'written' about, i.e. mentioned in his radio broadcasts.  Adding "anyone would think you're incapable of finding a story."  Which he responds isn't fair.  Yeah take it back!! ha.  Well for starters would've thought he'd have much more to say than it not being fair, I mean he's more articulate than that!  Silly writers!  Actually he asks if her father's prevented her from signing up and a personal angle would be good.  Yet she and everyone else found a worthwhile job.  Garland (Steven Mackintosh) waited for her all night and he doesn't like her being out on the streets at night.  She wants to carry on with work and asks if anyone's complained about her work at the hotel.

Toby (Edward Bluemel) and Adil (Akshay Kumar) are caught out by D'Abberville (Charles Edwards) knew that was coming as Adil leaves Toby's room and forgets his watch.  Well it was pointless looking out into the hall before he left, if they didn't do that second time round and besides it could've been anyone's watch and Adil could've been there for any reason.  But D'Abberville and his mind of course, always looking for an angle knows otherwise.  So there's no point in Toby and Adil coming up with a story to put him off the scent, cos he was a bloodhound wherever and however his interest may be served.  We saw that in episode 3 with the Comte and how he stood by him until bigger and better came along in the form of Priscilla (Olivia Williams) and Toby.  As he threatens Adil at the end with deportation and being deported for "unnatural acts," how it would be humiliating for his family, seeing as only one of his brother's was born here.  D'Abberville doing his homework.  He wants Adil to get secrets from Toby about his work and Adil tells him Toby wouldn't be so indiscreet.  However Toby would be saved by his mother.  D'Abberville even telling Toby he understands him just to get him on side.  Adil tells D'Abberville Priscilla will find out sooner or later as she's not stupid.  (Episode 8 for our purposes.)

Joe's "professionally irritating" and says Emma doesn't think much of him.  That'll change as he gets to play a hero of sorts when he stays with her later in the night.  No, not in that way.  At least he's a gentlemen towards her, always. Oh heck I said that this review and she repeats that in ep 7!!  Pre-empting again on my part!

Garland buys Emma a uniform and can't believe they must pay for them.  He wants her to take good care of it as it cost a lot.  He's proud of her as he said before in an earlier episode and he tells Peggy (Liz White) he's proud of her now, but he worries waiting for Emma to come back.  When he sees her it's the last time he thinks.  But he should now understand how she feels about Freddie (Jamie Blackley) and how things turned out in the longrun.

Joe is riding with the fire crews and he manages (yeah no coincidence that for our purposes) to be where Emma is stationed and she thinks he's following her for his story.  But out of 400 stations/fire crew, it's unlikely he'd have found her.  As another raid ensues, they're told to evacuate the area  as the fire can't be put out, where a woman asks for help.  She won't leave her mother's DB, as the foxes/dogs got to other DB's and Emma promises to stay with her during the air raid, Mary Elizabeth Shaw, is her name, until they come for her.  Joe helps Lillian take the woman to the centre for treatment.  Then returns for Emma.  She refuses to leave and so he stays with her.  She tells him of her own mother and how she was there when she died, it was expected, she was only 9 but her father was at work.  Also how she grew up with Freddie and when he'd come home from school, she expected him to have the same feelings for her.  Well she and Freddie are destined to be together you see.

They talk of Freddie and how he was right to say what he did about their "different stations" and she's glad Joe did not say "I told you so."  Joe doesn't recall saying that.  Then asks what she'll do when the men come home, asking what her job was before at the hotel.  Hey he can't recall she was a receptionist.  Ahh Joe getting ideas here as he throws off his blanket (Ha and consequences be damned!!)  Joe probably thinking he's got a chance with her.  Thus the love triangle that didn't really transpire.  Especially since she and Joe are meant to be closer in "station" and Joe's more worldly.  He's seen plenty and Emma, is still rather naive.  Lo and behold, the all clear sounds and they must end their little bonding session!

Billy (Ewan Mitchell) brings Kate (Lauren Coe) an orange he managed to get, but she doesn't want to eat it now.  They'll share it tomorrow before her shift, as she kisses him on his cheek!  Heck you know what's coming next.  Forget about Emma and Freddie, or Emma and Joe, as Kate and Billy don't even get off the ground.  Peggy is staying at the hotel temporarily as Priscilla was shown the story in the paper and the picture of her house.  Peggy tells Garland that Billy thought she thought he wasn't good enough for what he did, but he understands now after almost losing Dora (Bella Padden).  Another air raid and this time, Dora finds it hard to sleep as she's been through it before.  But Peggy's with her now.  Also Garland reassures her by telling her that the sound she hears is Billy in Hyde Park, with the 'Ack Ack' guns.  Peggy adding he's protecting them, which he was.  Kate waits for Billy the next morning but he doesn't show up, as Joe and Emma return, her mentioning how he's educated.  The kitchen is deserted and she finds out Billy didn't make it.  It was a parachute mine as Garland tells the others.  Peggy is distraught and has to be alone to let her emotions out.  The same with Emma, but Joe's there for her and she actually hugs him back.

Everyone also seeing Freddie's photo on the front page of the paper earlier on as 'Heroes Of the Sky.'  Priscilla telling D'Abberville, as if he's interested that she encouraged Freddie to fly and join the RAF as she had a passion for flying.  Her father was in the navy.  D'Abberville feigning to understand her.  In the cellar, everyone sees her and D'Abberville on beds next to each other.

Sonny (Sope Dirisu) finds out about Betsy (Kara Tointon) leaving for another singing gig and she won't tell him why.  So as the air raid was ongoing he refused to leave and played piano, as did she.  Telling him she's had men from here every night, but he's good and he's had only respectable women who go to church.  He tells her he likes her, loves her.  He even recalls the date they met on 6 June 1938, she sang for him for two years now.  She can't believe he feels anything for her.  Singing "the West End is the best end."  They get together right there in that ballroom, obviously no one was going to disturb them.  Sonny telling her no one should know about them, but she "don't give a fig" if they do.

Plenty to take in this ep with their lives all intersecting with each other in some small way.  D'Abberville finding the right time to pounce and make a fortune for himself using blackmail, neither caring about his country or fellow countrymen, certified Nazi that he is.  No, so not right for Priscilla and she's just been duped into thinking he actually feels anything for her.  More feelings at play here too with Emma opening up to Joe after showing her disdain for him all this time.  Which was just a front she put up.  But Emma doesn't know who she wants as she tells Joe about Freddie showing she does have real feelings for him, cos why else mention another man to Joe.  Then again Joe did that too last ep with his admiring him in his uniform and how she was the one who said they weren't right for one another.  "Not suited!"  Though it was more or less than a 400 per cent chance that Joe would end with the same fire crew as Emma, so much for saying it, cos that's what happened.  Besides if Emma hadn't told Joe he can't find "stories outside of these walls" then he wouldn't have met her on the street and kept her company!
Oh stop calling Joe's broadcasts "cringeworthy" silly critics know nothing about cringeworthy.  I shouldn't have to defend him every ep!!

At least the emotional scenes were done well with Peggy rescuing one child, only to lose another.  One she thought would be safer at home than away.  But she was right, Billy was protecting them that night and every night like nameless and countless others.  As The Halcyon suffers its first casualty: one of their own and as Garland said it often enough "we look out for our own."  Not quite this time.