Spoilers Ahead “There’s such a thing as having too much empathy. You leave nothing for yourself.” Case Summary: When an entire family is brutally murdered, their youngest daughter and the only survivor has seen who’s done it. The only problem is, she’s heavily traumatized and disoriented leaving it up to Dr. Charles, Lindsay, and Halstead to find ways to get through to her. And after the events from last week, Roman can no longer return to patrol. Review | Analysis: “She’s Got Us” was an exceptional episode showcasing why this show is so special. It was great to be reminded of
Category: reviews
Once Upon A Time 5×22 “Only You” and 5×23 “An Untold Story” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Episode Summary: Gold uses the Olympian Crystal to save Belle and tethers all of Storybrooke’s magic to it, but when Henry runs off to New York in order to destroy magic, Gold, Regina, and Emma must change course in order to stop him. After they send the Camelot folks back home, Snow, Charming, Killian, and Zelena are taken through the portal to the Land of Untold Stories. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time from the very beginning has emphasized the importance of choice. There’s great power in all of us and it is the ability to decide
Read moreChicago P.D. 3×20 “In a Duffel Bag” and 3×21 “Justice” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Case Summary: “In a Duffel Bag” the Intelligence unit’s surprising find sends them off on a seemingly never-ending quest, but also manages to reveal a part about Voight’s past we would’ve probably otherwise not have known. In “Justice” after Roman’s shot through the car door, Kim goes to trial when the kid she shoots claims he’s innocent. Review | Analysis: Chicago P.D. gave viewers a bit sneak peek of what Chicago Law will look like if the pilot’s picked up, and it made for an interesting episode. For the most part, despite the fact that it wasn’t my
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×21 “Last Rites” Recap
Spoilers Ahead “Keep your chin up, there will be happiness again.” Episode Summary: When our heroes return to Storybrooke, Zelena is hesitant to believe Hades has actually teamed up against them, and after replacing the Olympian Crystal, Hades attempts to use it to kill everyone in order to create a new kingdom with Zelena. Back in the underworld, a newly deceased Arthur teams up with Killian in order to help the heroes defeat Hades. One soul dies, while another returns. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time is a show about hope — a reflection of the real world, only
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×20 “Firebird” Recap
Spoilers Ahead To quote the 80s classic, The Princess Bride: “death cannot stop true love, it can only delay it for a while.” Episode Summary: In Flashbacks, while Emma’s searching for her birth parents, a Bail Bonds woman, Cleo, manages to convince her to let go and after her death, Emma pursues the same career. In the underworld, True Love’s kiss restarts Hades’ heart and the quest Killian and Emma are sent on doesn’t go as planned forcing the heroes to once again say goodbye as they return home without the man they set out to rescue. Review | Analysis:
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×19 “Sisters” Recap
Spoilers Ahead “Sisters” is one of Once Upon A Time’s most beautiful and thematically powerful episodes. Episode Summary: Flashbacks reveal that there was a time when little Regina and Zelena got along incredibly well only to have their bond broken by Cora and their memories of one another completely wiped. In the present day, once Regina overhears Hades’ plans to leave the underworld and make a living with Zelena in Storybrooke, she seeks out her mother in order to stop Zelena from giving Hades “True Love’s” kiss. James switches places with Charming and attempts to kill those closest to him.
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×18 “Ruby Slippers” Recap
Spoilers Ahead A little courage could do wonders. Episode Summary: Flashbacks to a specific time none of us really know reveal Dorothy’s first meeting with Ruby and Mulan. And when Dorothy escapes to find Zelena, she’s put under a sleeping curse forcing Ruby to use the slippers in order to get revenge. When she ends up in the underworld and tells the heroes what she’s there for, they set out on a quest to find Aunt Em — who’ll be able to give Dorothy true love’s kiss. However, when Hades interferes, Snow comes to the realization that Ruby should be the
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×17 “Her Handsome Hero” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Once again, do not make the deals with the devil, kids — there’s always a trick with him. Episode Summary: Flashbacks reveal Belle and Gaston’s first meeting followed by an adventure that showcased what a powerful team they could’ve been if their story evolved further. However, when they’re reunited in the underworld, Gaston reveals she was a weakness and his quest to kill Rumple is the unfinished business he’s doomed with. And unfortunately, when Rumple’s involved, souls don’t move forward to eternal bliss, instead, they decay in the “River of Lost Souls”. In an attempt to stop the
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×16 “Our Decay” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Love is enough … or at least for some. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn that at the time when Zelena was first concocting her time travel spell, Hades was there to help her; only instead, he fell in love, but Zelena chose to carry on with her plans. In the present day, Belle, “baby green bean,” and Zelena are teleported to the underworld where Hades and Zelena unite and Henry’s time as the author isn’t as peachy as imagined. Review | Analysis: Once Upon A Time is always here to remind us that love is not only
Read moreChicago P.D. 3×19 “If We Were Normal” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Case Summary: When a disheveled female is found hiding out from a man she attempted to stab, the Intelligence unit learns she was held captive and sexually assaulted. When they eventually find the man responsible, they also learn he’s married to a woman who’d gone missing years ago with a different identity and he’s murdered another. After finally convincing Madison that she’s actually Jamie Lynne, she agrees to testify against the man she believed was her husband, and Ruby, who’s now pregnant with Drew’s child decides to keep him/her in order to have one good thing come from her
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×15 “The Brothers Jones” Recap
Spoilers Ahead It’s not enough to have others forgive you, you have to forgive yourself, too. Episode Summary: Flashbacks reveal the terrible deal Liam took with Hades to ensure his and Killian’s place in the King’s Navy. And when Liam doesn’t choose to see the best in Emma, she needs to put her heartache aside to fight and make sure Killian forgives himself. The heroes go on a quest to find the underworld’s version of the storybook, but in order to keep his secret hidden, Liam does Hades another favor by tearing his story from the book. However, when he’s
Read moreChicago P.D. 3×18 “Kasual With a K” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Case Summary: When a crime breaks out at a Battered Women’s Shelter, it’s up to Intelligence unit to figure out who’s behind the crimes. And with the help of the head woman in charge Jessica surviving, it becomes much easier. Review | Analysis: Chicago P.D. is great for a number of reasons, but the reason I’ve stuck around for this long is because of how well the women are treated. And especially because of how well women treat one another. For the most part, “Kasual With a K” was a well-written episode, but it wasn’t one of my
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×14 “Devil’s Due” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Don’t make deals. Don’t ever make deals. Don’t make deals with Rumplestiltskin. Don’t make deals with Hades. Don’t make deals with Cruella. Just don’t make deals okay? Episode Summary: When a rare snake in flashbacks threatens Bae’s life, Milah and Rumple seek a man who can magically help him, but they cannot afford his asking price. Milah asks Rumple to kill him in order to steal the elixir, but instead, his naiveté inspires another decision instead: their second-born child will be given away. We also see Milah and Killian’s first meeting after he defended her from a drunken man
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×13 “Labor of Love” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Snow White is back and all’s well in the world again. Episode Summary: Bailee Madison reprised her role as young Snow as she became a better warrior due to the help she received from her demigod friend, Hercules (Jonathan Whitesell). In the underworld, Killian helps Megara (Kacey Rohl) escape in order to give Emma a message, but the three-headed beast Cerberus goes after them forcing Mary Margaret to retire her Storybrooke alias because, in order to win, she needs to channel bandit Snow. Hercules, Snow, and Megara slay the beast and the two dead souls are finally given
Read moreOnce Upon A Time 5×12 “Souls of the Departed” Recap
Spoilers Ahead 100 episodes. 100 beautiful stories told. Episode Summary: In flashbacks, we learn about the time Cora took Snow White’s heart only to have Henry Mills Sr. return it, which then sends Regina into a fury, and she shrinks her father. In the underworld, we learn that the souls of the departed found each has unfinished business. Cora tells Regina to leave or she’ll send her father to the worst part, but when Henry Mills Sr. convinces Regina to do the right thing by helping her friends, he finds himself finally free to rest peacefully in the best place.
Read moreChicago P.D. 3×17 “Forty-Caliber Bread Crumb” Recap
Spoilers Ahead The backstory is always the most remarkable type of storytelling. Case Summary: When an operation goes south at Jay’s second job, Terry loses his life. The Intelligence unit questions Brianna and then learns the facility was bugged. And we get a little bit more on Jay’s past. Review | Analysis: Episodes that challenge the characters always manage to be the best. “Forty-Caliber Bread Crumb” took a man away from his family, and as he grieved for his friend, Halstead also dealt with the horrific return of war memories. At this point, it’s no surprise that the reason I’ve
Read moreChicago P.D. 3×16 “The Cases That Need Be Solved” Recap
Spoilers Ahead “The Cases That Need to Be Solved” was undoubtedly one of the most powerful episodes in Chicago P.D. history. Case Summary: When a six-year-old boy is found brutally murdered in a park, the Intelligence goes through his father’s past life in a gang in order to find out if it’s one of the reasons. Antonio’s son is staying with him for a while. And we get a tiny glimpse into Jay’s past. Review | Analysis: There’s never been a title in Chicago P.D. history that’s illustrated the significance of an entire cause so powerfully. The cases that need
Read moreChicago P.D. 3×15 “A Night Owl” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Love makes us do crazy things. Case Summary: When Burgess’ instincts tell her to dig further into a professor’s car during a checkpoint, Intelligence discovers 10 kilos of heroin in his trunk. A little boy was brutally murdered by a gang linked to an inmate the professor was in love with. And when the Intelligence unit finds letters addressed to multiple inmates they also come to learn that despite being married with a child, the professor was secretly in a relationship with an inmate, and the reason he was smuggling the drugs was in order to cover a
Read moreChicago P.D. 3×14 “The Song of Gregory Yates” Recap
Spoilers Ahead featuring spoilers from Law and Order: SVU’s “Nationwide Manhunt”. Ding dong the creep is dead. Case Summary: Yates escapes from prison and targets Lindsay, but it all comes down to his past with his biological family. Review | Analysis: While I thought tonight’s episode was incredibly intriguing, it’s one of those that sadly leaves me with very little to analyze. And for those who are familiar with my work, you know my favorite part of the series involves discussing the core characters. That said, though there’s not much I can analyze, there are a few things worth mentioning, and
Read moreChicago P.D. 3×13 “Hit Me” Recap
Spoilers Ahead Case Summary: Lindsay and Halstead go undercover at a casino in order to catch men who presumably go undercover as cops in order to steal money from drunken people. After learning who’s behind the entire thing, Trudy helps the team in the best way she can using her words. Kim files for a transfer and Erin talks her out of it. Review | Analysis: It breaks my heart that this is the second episode in a row I’ve watched completely disappointed because this just doesn’t happen often with Chicago P.D. It’s not easy writing reviews when I find
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