tag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:/rssTV Fanatic2024-03-18T16:00:00-04:00tag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078532024-03-18T16:00:00-04:002024-03-18T16:00:01-04:00TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far<p>
Hollywood strikes set television back, but audiences came back even stronger despite the delays. </p>
<p>
Many shows break even or have even increased ratings from the 2022-2023 season. </p>
<p>
Here's a look at some of the best of the season so far. </p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/wrapping-up-young-sheldon/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--ABCYUrQg--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708374633/wrapping-up-young-sheldon.png" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--kHpoPFfP--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708374633/wrapping-up-young-sheldon.png" class="lazyload" alt="Wrapping Up - Young Sheldon"></div></a>
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<h4>
Winners of the 2024 Television Season</h4>
<p>
Several shows are doing well this season, even if viewership is down from last season. </p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/greys-anatomy/">Grey's Anatomy</a>'s latest season debuted with 3.6 million viewers, up from 3.3 million last season. Though some believe that the series is worth letting go of, it's clear that there's still a fanbase excited to watch and stream the show. </p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/scared-simone-tall-greys-anatomy-s20e1/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--2IeRbVxs--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710483066/scared-simone-tall-greys-anatomy-s20e1.jpg" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--rGXPOqbf--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710483066/scared-simone-tall-greys-anatomy-s20e1.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Scared Simone -tall - Grey's Anatomy Season 20 Episode 1"></div></a>
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<p>
Earlier this year, Grey's Anatomy placed 4 out of 10 for the most streamed show on Nielsen, so there's still a huge audience out there for the hospital drama.</p>
<p>
Abbott Elementary is down 4% from last year but still pulling 3.78 million viewers. However, that number doesn't include streaming numbers. </p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/strikes-ratings-tv-top-hits-audiences-came-back-1235851857/" target="_blank">According to ABC</a>, the show often doubles its first-night audience after three days of cross-platform viewing, with most of the traffic coming from Hulu. </p>
<p>
The comedy series is a hit on streaming platforms, and although Season 3 isn't finished airing, <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/abbott-elementary/">Abott Elementary</a> has already been renewed for Season 4. </p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/janine-in-a-striped-dress-abbott-elementary-s3e7/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--b8g1YZ0A--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710370286/janine-in-a-striped-dress-abbott-elementary-s3e7.jpg" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--F29_aOWn--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710370286/janine-in-a-striped-dress-abbott-elementary-s3e7.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Janine in a Striped Dress - Abbott Elementary Season 3 Episode 7"></div></a>
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<p>
Another hit ABC show this year is <a href="https://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/categories/the-bachelor/" target="_blank">The Bachelor</a>, up 9% from last year, with 4.11 million viewers. </p>
<p>
The series had previously been on a decline, but after the success of The Golden Bachelor spin-off, things are looking up for the reality series. </p>
<p>
Plus, we haven't even gotten to the final episodes of the season, which are generally watched more heavily than early episodes due to the dramatic coming together of everyone involved. </p>
<p>
After all, there's nothing like the arguments that come from a reality series about finding love, especially when some of the bachelors in question don't always seem to have the best intentions.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/barbara-and-janine-abbott-elementary-s3e7/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--4nLACQUq--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710370173/barbara-and-janine-abbott-elementary-s3e7.jpg" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Q_CfLMg1--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710370173/barbara-and-janine-abbott-elementary-s3e7.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Barbara and Janine - Abbott Elementary Season 3 Episode 7"></div></a>
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<p>
Over on CBS, <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/has-so-help-me-todd-taken-its-cliches-from-the-sublime-to-ridicu/">So Help Me Todd</a> is bringing in a steady amount of viewers, with 4.2 million tuning in. The cheesy comedy may not be the most-watched show on CBS, but it's one that keeps viewers coming back for more.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/9-1-1/">9-1-1</a> debuted on its new network, ABC, and brought in 4.93 million total viewers with a 0.6 demo rating.</p>
<p>
This is the best the show has done in quite some time, though some expected it to do better given the amount of promotion it was given. </p>
<p>
Only time will tell if the series can be saved by ABC or if it will ultimately be shut down. </p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/bathena-dances-9-1-1-season-7-episode-1/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--CQ3wfWO5--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709954519/bathena-dances-9-1-1-season-7-episode-1.jpg" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--YAJsUtqi--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709954519/bathena-dances-9-1-1-season-7-episode-1.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Bathena Dances - 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 1"></div></a>
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<p>
CBS's Ghosts brought in 5.5 million viewers, a steady amount needed as the show just got its <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/ghosts-renewed-for-season-4-at-cbs/">Season 4 renewal</a>. With new ghosts coming into Woodstone, it seems there are plenty of laughs to go around.</p>
<p>
Breaking even for NBC is <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/chicago-med/">Chicago Med</a>, pulling in 8.45 million viewers. </p>
<p>
Despite the fact that three series regulars left last season, the numbers seem to be unimpacted by the departures. </p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/chicago-fire/">Chicago Fire</a> (9.04 million viewers) and Chicago P.D. (8.24 million viewers) are within 2% of last season's averages, rounding out all-Chicago Wednesdays with some incredible ratings. </p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/sharon-gets-news-chicago-med-s9e6/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6teEvNMv--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709157016/sharon-gets-news-chicago-med-s9e6.jpg" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--w_ioVNT5--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709157016/sharon-gets-news-chicago-med-s9e6.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Sharon Gets News - Chicago Med Season 9 Episode 6"></div></a>
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<p>
The One Chicago series were definitely impacted by the strikes last year, so it's good to have them back up and running even if some of the cast members have left.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/law-and-order/">Law & Order: SVU</a> has a claim to the gold on Thursday nights as well, with 7.28 million viewers, which is up 6% from last year. </p>
<p>
The longest-running primetime drama in American television history shows no signs of slowing down, either, as the show celebrates Season 25 with the largest seven-day audience since 2018-19. </p>
<p>
Not only has the show been leading its Thursday night hour every week since its premiere in January, but it also has a large streaming audience on Hulu and Peacock. </p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/how-low-can-people-go-law-and-order-svu-s25e6/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--UjNulaWj--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709244289/how-low-can-people-go-law-and-order-svu-s25e6.jpg" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--a_J35NcV--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709244289/how-low-can-people-go-law-and-order-svu-s25e6.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="How Low Can People Go? - Law & Order: SVU Season 25 Episode 6"></div></a>
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<p>
A comfort show for many, Law & Order: SVU will likely maintain its viewership through primetime and streaming. After all, we're all waiting to see if Benson and Stabler ever end up together. </p>
<p>
Up 2% from last season with 9.48 million viewers is <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/young-sheldon/">Young Sheldon</a>, the final season for this spin-off.</p>
<p>
The final season of Young Sheldon is anticipated to go out as the most-watched comedy on television, following in the footsteps of the original series, The Big Bang Theory. </p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/georgie-and-mandy-of-young-sheldon-s6e19/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--XM4nVNSN--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1705090036/georgie-and-mandy-of-young-sheldon-s6e19.jpg" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--euhtM223--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1705090036/georgie-and-mandy-of-young-sheldon-s6e19.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Georgie and Mandy of Young Sheldon Season 6 Episode 19"></div></a>
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<p>
Given the large success of Young Sheldon and <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/the-big-bang-theory/">The Big Bang Theory</a>, it's no surprise that another spin-off has been ordered -- hopefully, the latest spin-off can continue to win over comedy fans.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/ncis/">NCIS</a> is among the top-rated shows this season, with 10.32 million viewers, up 5% from last year. </p>
<p>
NCIS has changed a lot over the years from cast members leaving and cast members arriving, but it's still a fan-favorite beloved by many. </p>
<p>
Between the flagship series and its many spin-offs, we're anticipating to see a lot of NCIS in the future. </p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/a-very-dramatic-scene-ncis/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--3ShNtNOM--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709156070/a-very-dramatic-scene-ncis.jpg" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--A8H4Y_PU--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709156070/a-very-dramatic-scene-ncis.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="A Very Dramatic Scene - NCIS"></div></a>
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<p>
Following in NCIS's footsteps is CBS's new series Tracker, at 10.59 million viewers for the first season. <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-exclusive-clip-colter-gets-knocked-out/">Tracker</a> is set to be the most-watched series (excluding live sports) on a broadcast network this season. </p>
<p>
These numbers don't include the big showcase following the Super Bowl this year. The season premiere drew in over 20 million viewers over seven days, but since it aired outside of primetime, it isn't part of Tracker's official season average. </p>
<p>
To say that Tracker is a hit is a vast understatement. It certainly is a hit, and it has the potential to be the number-one show in our hearts this year. We love a good crime drama, and Tracker is delivering and exceeding our expectations.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/all-in-tracker-season-1-episode-5/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--dDuskHlQ--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351035/all-in-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" data-pin-description="TV Ratings Winners of the 2024 Season So Far" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tv-ratings-winners-of-the-2024-season-so-far/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--ll6Eg_gp--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351035/all-in-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="All In - Tracker Season 1 Episode 5"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
What do you think of this season's television winners so far?</p>
<p>
Let us know in the comments below. </p>
<p>
In the meantime, stay tuned at TV Fanatic for the latest news in television. </p>
Devin Pieltag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078602024-03-18T14:00:09-04:002024-03-18T14:09:18-04:00Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch<p>
Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV kicked off with a bang, taking everything you knew about the beloved children’s network and crushing it to bits.</p>
<p>
The Discovery premiere, which can now be seen in its entirety on Max, is a shocking and scurrilous look at arguably the most beloved children’s network for decades: Nickelodeon.</p>
<p>
Nickelodeon began the careers of many actors, including Ariana Grande, Josh Peck, Keenan Thompson, Keke Palmer, Melissa Joan Hart, Zendaya, Nick Cannon, and Ryan Reynolds, among many others.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-kids-tv/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--1RkApSMF--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710783913/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-kids-tv.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--UrKq2GzG--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710783913/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-kids-tv.png" class="lazyload" alt="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Quite on the Set doesn’t suggest that all Nickelodeon shows are at issue, as it ties the corruption to a writer and producer named Dan Schneider, who created The Amanda Show with Amanda Bynes, elevating her to a household name.</p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
When you look at Amanda Bynes now, it’s hard not to imagine that had someone saved her from Schneider’s mechanizations, she’d be a less troubled young woman today.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/amanda-bynes-screenshot/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--fRTgUO7c--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784541/amanda-bynes-screenshot.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--lpUH4HI6--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784541/amanda-bynes-screenshot.png" class="lazyload" alt="Amanda Bynes Screenshot"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Schneider, a heavy-set man whose career began with roles as the fat kid, became the producer de jour, first with a late-night show called All Set, and catapulted he and Bynes to superstardom with The Amanda Show.</p>
<p>
However, producers and shows do not live in a vacuum, and to suggest that nobody at Nickelodeon knew what was happening on Schneider’s productions seems disingenuous, at best.</p>
<p>
The story doesn’t start with the kids. It begins with Schneider, his writers’ room, and the content that made it to air.</p>
<p>
Nickelodeon and misogyny don’t seem synonymous. Yet at Nickelodeon, during the late nineties and early aughts, they certainly were.</p>
<p>
Quiet on the Set pulls back the cover on seemingly harmless things to reveal how children were being sexualized and traumatized by what became staple segments across the Nickelodeon universe.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/jenny-kilgen/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--C7r_Da8w--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784142/jenny-kilgen.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--R-YC9cx5--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784142/jenny-kilgen.png" class="lazyload" alt="Jenny Kilgen"></div></a>
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<p>
When you pull back the cover on the frequent goo shots to the face that occurred pretty much daily on some of those shows, what you have is a traditional cum shot. For kids.</p>
<p>
You won’t be able to unsee that.</p>
<p>
In one disturbing scene, a young Ariana Granda rolled around on a bed, pouring water on herself while screaming and moaning.</p>
<p>
A foot fetish is a very particular type of sexual play that revolves around the foot. All That leaned heavily on foot shots in multiple segments, from kids licking feet to adults rubbing children’s feet and vice versa.</p>
<p>
Scenes like these were played for laughs, and kids at the time didn’t know enough to question what was happening. It’s hard to imagine whether having the internet to look up such things would have made things better or worse. Alas, access to the internet at that time was nothing like it is now.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/scaachi-koul/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--y_zjoS3M--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784550/scaachi-koul.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--AxR_rNp5--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784550/scaachi-koul.png" class="lazyload" alt="Scaachi Koul"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
It wasn’t only happening with or to the kids, either. When The Amanda Show premiered, you might think they’d work hard to ensure women behind the scenes were supporting Amanda and writing stories that advocated for the young comedic actress to sour.</p>
<p>
But the female writers on The Amanda Show, Jenny Killeen and Christy Stratton, were known as “the girls” and actually shared one writer’s salary.</p>
<p>
Yet when things moved beyond the more subtle goo and foot shots, which, let’s face it, the network would have gone to great lengths to explain was nothing more than kid-suitable fun, they had little to no effect in toning things down.</p>
<p>
When the character Penelope Taint was created, Schneider wanted the writers to “keep it a secret” that the definition of “taint” was not referencing someone who has been tainted but a very specific and well-known sexual part of a male’s body.</p>
<p>
“It was clear that there was a permissibility around these sexualized jokes with children,” said culture writer Scaachi Koul, after noting how abnormal it was to see Amanda as Penelope Taint in a twin bed praying angrily.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/kyle-sullivan-from-nickelodeon-days/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--vfOCD1je--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784094/kyle-sullivan-from-nickelodeon-days.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--QoJIly0Z--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784094/kyle-sullivan-from-nickelodeon-days.png" class="lazyload" alt="Kyle Sullivan from Nickelodeon Days"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
“It was par for the course,” said Stratton.</p>
<p>
Writer Jenny Kilgen recalls Schneider sending messages around the office making little demands like “Scream ‘hammers’!”</p>
<p>
And they’d do it, and then it would come around to Scream Slut!, and when it wasn’t done with as much excitement as screaming hammers, he’d send more demanding messages until they did it.</p>
<p>
Schneider’s oddities weren’t just for the kids.</p>
<p>
When asked, Stratton ate two pints of ice cream for $30 because, with half a salary, she needed the money, and she thought it was a goofy, fun thing to do. When he never paid the bet, and she called him out on it later, she recalls being scared that the fun had become a darker endeavor.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/dan-schneider-flanked-by-josh-peck-and-keenan-thompson/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s---ySJ--vz--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784240/dan-schneider-flanked-by-josh-peck-and-keenan-thompson.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Ru05Hv0W--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784240/dan-schneider-flanked-by-josh-peck-and-keenan-thompson.png" class="lazyload" alt="Dan Schneider Flanked by Josh Peck and Keenan Thompson"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Kilgen also recalled how often Schneider asked for a massage, sometimes with a quid pro quo request like If you give me a massage, I’ll put one of your sketches in the show.</p>
<p>
Schneider got away with this in part because this was Kilgen’s first job, and she didn’t know if this was just the way writers’ rooms worked. She did feel that if she stood up for herself, she would get fired.</p>
<p>
The first episode of Quiet on the Set is filled with these stories, and as they lived them, they were one-off, if still happening regularly. Seeing it all laid out in under 60 minutes is nauseating enough, but it’s worse when you realize they were writing television for kids.</p>
<p>
The pattern of abuse is frightening, and it says a lot about the state of our entertainment and our corporate world in general.</p>
<p>
Working with Dan Schneider looks like an emotional roller coaster. There were bursts of fun and friendliness one moment and desperation and fear the next.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/nickelodeon-stars/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6fouhMd7--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784304/nickelodeon-stars.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--tZO0T3z4--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784304/nickelodeon-stars.png" class="lazyload" alt="Nickelodeon Stars"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
The premiere episode focuses almost entirely on women on screen and behind the scenes. Schneider’s treatment of women was abysmal (a claim he denies, of course), but what he managed to get on screen proves that what happened behind the scenes is more than likely true.</p>
<p>
Keep in mind that this was Dan Schneider’s first show. He went on to create Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, and iCarly, among others.</p>
<p>
The second episode dives even deeper into the miserable mayhem that Schneider wrought on unsuspecting people hoping to live their dreams in entertainment.</p>
<p>
Dan got a kick out of walking a line with kids on set, and that included skirting child labor laws, pushing them to do grueling physical work, and carrying on like adults in skits that emulate Schneider’s own backstage antics and programming him on screen as a god.</p>
<p>
Koul brings up a good point. “The person at the top sets up the tone for the entire production. If you run a show dealing overwhelmingly with children, then you are responsible for creating an environment where those kids feel beyond comfortable to tell you that they’re not comfortable.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/sexual-predators/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Joidwm7M--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784125/sexual-predators.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--5ujdio6z--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784125/sexual-predators.png" class="lazyload" alt="Sexual Predators"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
"It needs to be so safe that your most vulnerable person on set needs to be able to say you, the most powerful person there, ‘I don’t want to do this.’”</p>
<p>
That was not the case with Schneider’s productions.</p>
<p>
Actor Bryan Hearne recalls being traumatized by the On Air Dare segments. They’re a children’s version of Fear Factor.</p>
<p>
In one segment, Hearne was covered in peanut butter before dogs were let loose to lick it off of him. “That sounds like some kind of awkward fantasy from some freaky dude,” Hearne said. “I was uncomfortable. I didn’t like that.”</p>
<p>
Hearne’s mother recalls how the production worked to make parents feel as if these activities were normal and nothing to be alarmed about.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/pickle-guy/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--8DOLaZIt--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784082/pickle-guy.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--dEePsYaA--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784082/pickle-guy.png" class="lazyload" alt="Pickle Guy"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Transmogrifying adult entertainment to kids subjects kids to things they shouldn’t be subjected to. However, Schneider’s success gave him even more confidence to create an unhealthy environment for the shows he produced.</p>
<p>
A woman in the editor’s bay worked 16-hour days to the point that she was hospitalized and eventually left when a job promised to her went to a young male with no experience.</p>
<p>
Nickelodeon’s comments, when asked, are rote, touting their policies and claiming ignorance about much of this, pointing to safeguards they have in place to blah blah blah.</p>
<p>
In this world of streaming, we have often wondered when traditional cable networks might slip away, and if any of what this docuseries portrays continues, this could be devastating for the network, but it is worth noting Schneider no longer works at the network. After claims of abuse by his staff, ties were severed.</p>
<p>
Parents are careful with what their kids watch, and knowing what happened to these kids behind the scenes and the adult-inspired sketches that made it on screen could be a death knell.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/nickelodeon-kids/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--gU7MHf2e--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784032/nickelodeon-kids.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--xgb4y18a--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784032/nickelodeon-kids.png" class="lazyload" alt="Nickelodeon Kids"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Could is the operative word. We’ve seen much worse revealed about entities and individuals, but they’re never forced to pay the piper.</p>
<p>
Child predator Jason Michael Handy worked on The Amanda Show, sharing a nude photo of himself masturbating with a young girl named Brandi. He was one of the adults in charge who were left with the kids when their parents weren’t present.</p>
<p>
What they found in Handy’s house in April 2003 was devastating for any children who were unlucky enough to be in his presence, from plastic bags with trophies to a journal detailing his activities.</p>
<p>
If you’ve been watching the news lately, you know that isn’t the only professed pedophile working amongst Nickelodeon kids.</p>
<p>
Brian Peck played Pickle Guy in another attempt to “pull a fast one and get away with it,” Kyle Sullivan said of the overtly sexual nature of some of the skits.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/giovonnnie-samuels/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--j8bnBAZB--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784049/giovonnnie-samuels.png" data-pin-description="Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of TV is Difficult to Watch, Making it Imperative TO Watch" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/quiet-on-the-set-the-dark-side-of-tv-is-difficult-to-watch-makin/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--az71QAB0--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710784049/giovonnnie-samuels.png" class="lazyload" alt="Giovonnnie Samuels"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Giovonnnie Samuels said, “We were there for so many hours, we get comfortable with people. Until you’re not.”</p>
<p>
When he hosted a party for the show at his home, Peck revealed a self-portrait of John Wayne Gary with a personal inscription. The man had forged a relationship with the serial killer, even keeping letters from Gary in his bedside table. Sullivan wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but it wasn’t that easy.</p>
<p>
Peck had just been arrested for charges of child sexual abuse when some “friends” came to the show to talk about it after ushering the parents out of the room.</p>
<p>
The first two episodes go to great lengths to set the stage for abnormal and concerning behavior and a not-so-child-friendly atmosphere to lead up to the main event, which will air tonight.</p>
<p>
Peck’s charges were quite lewd, and when filming the docuseries, nobody involved knew the child actor involved with them was Drake Bell.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LvyULepxgw4?si=ILTXgOifWiplNVk0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>
Bell emerges from the darkness to take a chair before the credits roll.</p>
<p>
Tonight, Bell will discuss his abuse and how it effectively changed him, turning him from a regular kid to a monster in his own right (Proven with multiple convictions of child endangerment and predatorial behavior with kids).</p>
<p>
That couldn't have been an easy conversation to have, but it will be compelling viewing.</p>
<p>
Will you be tuning in for the second half of this gripping look at Nickelodeon's troubled history? How does what you've seen so far affect how you feel about programming that got you through your childhood?</p>
<p>
Here's a sneak peek at what's airing tonight on ID at 9/8c.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l5nvFC8tPbs?si=UYH-0qaduHYMJtpj" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
Carissa Pavlicatag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078562024-03-18T11:00:00-04:002024-03-18T11:00:05-04:00TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait<p>
If there's one thing The Walking Dead universe will always do, it's get the internet talking.</p>
<p>
Through the first three hours of the Rick and Michonne show, we spent much time at the CRM and witnessed the reunion between the lovers who'd been apart for many years.</p>
<p>
And while they technically reunite during <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/02/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episode-1-review-yea/">The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 1</a>, their official reunion comes a little later.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/passionate-embrace-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-e/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--SVbtkwm0--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642048/passionate-embrace-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-e.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--vcEbmRnN--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642048/passionate-embrace-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-e.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Passionate Embrace - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 3"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
While fans have been waiting for this series for years, waiting until now, with the original series concluded and various other spinoffs in their infancy, was the right time to bring this series to light.</p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
It's a love story at its core, but like all the other series that came before it, it's also a tale about survival, both emotionally and physically. And that's a timeless story.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/ready-to-talk-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--TwW1MUE4--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643269/ready-to-talk-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--THN0fXAx--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643269/ready-to-talk-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Ready To Talk - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/the-walking-dead-rick-and-michonne/episodes/season-1/what-we/">The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4</a> is a tour-de-force from beginning to end, buoyed by magnetic performances from Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, which is hardly a surprising revelation.</p>
<p>
During this hour, we finally see Rick and Michonne utterly alone and not trying to steal hidden moments in a dangerous land. They're free to be completely vulnerable and honest with one another without immediate fear.</p>
<p>
They get to have the tough conversation they haven't been afforded the time to have.</p>
<p>
The hour ping pongs between major angst, romance, action sequences, pockets of humor, romance, and back again. And the backdrop is this apartment building, which at first offers stability and then quickly crumbles under the weight of the end of the world.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/outside-kisses-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--fxtyEe2u--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710641621/outside-kisses-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--wzoqBrwc--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710641621/outside-kisses-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Outside Kisses - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 3"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
And the potential end of Rick and Michonne's relationship.</p>
<p>
So much of the first half of the episode is heavy on Michonne being an almost mouthpiece for the viewers, though, unlike Michonne, we are more informed about the genesis of many of Rick's feelings.</p>
<p>
He loves Michonne, and it's that love deep in his gut that is pushing her away, but it's impossible for her to understand that when the Rick Grimes she knew would have never let anything stop him from getting home to his family.</p>
<p>
The early scenes' framing is perfect, from the way Michonne stalks around the apartment while Rick often stays rooted in place.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/rick-listens-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episode/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Hfl9MhNS--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708911677/rick-listens-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episode.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--aufdpzD7--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708911677/rick-listens-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episode.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Rick Listens - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 1"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
They're in two different places, with Michonne already planning their escape and return home to the children while Rick is digging even deeper into the decision he made to return to the CRM and do what he can within his power to save his family.</p>
<p>
The apartment itself is as big a character as anything, which director of the hour <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/">Michael Slovis</a> told us in our exclusive interview with him.</p>
<p>
They've needed a conversation that wasn't rushed or via written letter. They needed to express themselves in a place where they weren't worried about being overheard, and that high-tech apartment with its open floor plan and perfect temperature was the perfect backdrop.</p>
<p>
Michonne is so happy to be safe and together, quickly realizing this is the moment she's been waiting for since she laid eyes on Rick again. It's the moment they can break away and restart their life again.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/michonne-is-back-tall-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--X1A220eZ--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708912154/michonne-is-back-tall-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--4-mVnM5l--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708912154/michonne-is-back-tall-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Michonne Is Back - Tall - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 1"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
But it's different for Rick, who finds himself momentarily free from the CRM's shackles but still beholden to its influence.</p>
<p>
The series made a conscious choice to wait until the limited series was already heading into its final batches of episodes to give us these unfiltered Rick and Michonne conversations, and it allows for a clear reset to lead us toward the finale.</p>
<p>
Six episodes isn't a long time to cover the couple's time apart, and the series doesn't try to pretend they can do it.</p>
<p>
In all honesty, they could have spent even more time at the CRM and had this hour be the finale, leaving a clear path toward a second season (which has not been confirmed but would be universally welcomed) or plopped this actual reunion in even earlier.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/teary-michonne-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--HsfC8DiF--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710644611/teary-michonne-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6qZSAavt--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710644611/teary-michonne-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Teary Michonne - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
But it's saved for this moment, in this atmosphere, because it's a true manifestation of the crossroads they've reached.</p>
<p>
I could wax poetic about this hour forever because everything about it is perfection, from the lighting to the small details like that big open window that highlights so much of their early conversations and that basement area where everything comes to a head.</p>
<p>
This is it for Rick and Michonne. They're leaving that building together, committed to one another, and returning to their life, or they're leaving that building separately and officially closing that chapter of their lives.</p>
<p>
Rick is stoic throughout so much of their talk, sticking steadfastly to the talking points you must imagine filtering through his brain. Andrew Lincoln has always excelled in the moments where he's meant to be in control, but he's slowly coming apart at the seams.</p>
<div style="max-width:397px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/determined-rick-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-epis/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--igtk9ECd--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642091/determined-rick-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-epis.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--RBN9dUZz--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642091/determined-rick-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-epis.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Determined Rick - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
It doesn't seem like Rick believes what he's saying, but he's mostly confident it's the only way. He's pushed and buried certain parts of his feelings so far that he can't access them anymore.</p>
<p>
On the flip side, <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/michonne/">Michonne</a> is wearing her heart on her sleeve and becoming increasingly agitated with the brick wall of a man staring back at her.</p>
<p>
When she laments that basically he's won, she's giving up and heading back to her kids, not theirs, but hers, Danai Gurira has never been better. She storms around, arming herself for a solo battle back home, and the best part is that she doesn't stop until she's forced to.</p>
<p>
Rick and Michonne are endgame, right? They're meant to be together and all that jazz, but this is such a defining moment for them, and the angst is so necessary.</p>
<div style="max-width:397px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/willing-to-listen-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--hNQPUjZV--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643323/willing-to-listen-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--bfDnZsRP--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643323/willing-to-listen-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Willing To Listen - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
They love each other more than anything, but they've changed and aren't the same people. While Michonne never gave up on Rick and never gave up on bringing him home, Rick had a completely different experience.</p>
<p>
He grieved the loss of Michonne, Judith, his people, and the life he could have had. To move forward, he had to bury that part of himself, and he had to die while still alive to exist in a world without Michonne.</p>
<p>
Think about the gravity of what Rick is saying in the heartfelt conversation with Michonne, the most honest moment they have shared since they were brought back together.</p>
<p>
Rick is petrified of having to endure the loss of Michonne a second time, so utterly and entirely haunted by it that he'd rather see her leave him so his brain can conjure up whatever reality he chooses than experience it firsthand.</p>
<div style="max-width:394px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/rick-is-determined-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-e/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--h2aO9mRE--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643125/rick-is-determined-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-e.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6b6O0tan--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643125/rick-is-determined-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-e.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Rick Is Determined - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Think about the gravity of that and how desperate Rick is at that moment.</p>
<p>
Not only does <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/stars/danai-gurira/">Danai Gurira</a> give the performance of a lifetime in the episode, but she also wrote the hour, and no one understands both characters and their bond better than her.</p>
<p>
With years and years of experiences separating them, it comes down to this for Rick.</p>
<p>
He's lost Carl to the point he can't remember him. (And it's such a lovely sentiment to know that Carl proves to be a such a significant factor in bringing two people he loved so much back together.)</p>
<p>
He's lost Michonne, Judith, and so many others he's cared about, and the realization that he might get some of that love back has him spiraling because it's simultaneously all he's ever wanted and the worst thing to happen to him.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/michonne-is-ready-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--iEh3efU---/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643377/michonne-is-ready-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--y2HlbpFb--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643377/michonne-is-ready-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Michonne Is Ready - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
If this story had played out any sooner, we wouldn't have gotten such raw passion from this reunion because they've had to endure what felt like a lifetime apart. That distance heightens this hour to obscene levels.</p>
<p>
As Michonne and Rick drive away together, the building crumbles in the rearview mirror, just as their walls crumble, and they allow the other to take residence in the place inside their hearts, permanently etched out for the other.</p>
<p>
Now, we have to see what's next, but this reunion was worth all the intense angst because they never move forward unless they get this mostly uninterrupted (the walkers stop for no one!) time to explore the annals of their grief.</p>
<p>
It's an almost flawless episode, from the set pieces to the dialogue and the acting. While <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/the-walking-dead/">The Walking Dead</a> hasn't historically been an award-season darling, I dare anyone to walk away from this hour not enraptured with these characters.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/thinking-hard-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--juHGLOAr--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642445/thinking-hard-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod.jpg" data-pin-description="TWD: The Ones Who Live Made Rick and Michonne's Reunion Worth the Wait" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/twd-the-ones-who-live-made-rick-and-michonnes-reunion-worth-the/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s---xp_48zv--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642445/thinking-hard-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Thinking Hard - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
It's more than a 'ship. It's more than an apocalyptic love story.</p>
<p>
It's two broken people loving so deeply they almost don't know what to do with it existing in a world that does everything it can to break that love down.</p>
<p>
I'll send my therapy bill to AMC because how do you walk away from all of this and not wonder if love truly does conquer all?</p>
<p>
<strong>You can watch The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live at 9/8c on Sundays on AMC.</strong></p>
Whitney Evanstag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078572024-03-18T09:00:00-04:002024-03-18T12:26:39-04:00Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?<p>
It's about time for Eric Brady to get the Salem Brain.</p>
<p>
His obliviousness to blatant lies and manipulations has gone beyond being a tired <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/13-tired-tropes-tv-can-turn-on-their-heads/">soap opera trope</a>. It's a joke at this point!</p>
<p>
On Days of Our Lives during the week of 3-18-24, Sloan tries to bar Nicole from the christening ceremony despite Nicole hosting the reception. If that doesn't wake Eric up, nothing will.</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--76SXbZHX--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710641886/spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--sZwToFnt--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710641886/spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24 - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
The Sloan story has dragged on for far too long. It would be one thing if her malevolence were subtle, but it's anything but.</p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
Sloan complains that Eric puts the baby's needs before hers, freaks out whenever she crosses paths with Leo or Nicole, and drinks entire bottles of wine in minutes to deal with her stress. How can Eric possibly think this is a simple case of Sloan needing to adjust to motherhood?</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/harris-tells-ava-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--0nPgUj6w--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642378/harris-tells-ava-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--XYw7leom--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642378/harris-tells-ava-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="Harris Tells Ava - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Unfortunately, those lies probably won't be undone any time soon, although Eric is supposed to observe Nicole and Sloan's fight over the christening.</p>
<p>
But according to spoilers, his doubts have more to do with Holly.</p>
<p>
He noticed she was playing with her hair like she always did when she was little and trying to lie her away out of trouble. And now, he'll continue to doubt her claims about what she does and doesn't remember about the night she overdosed.</p>
<p>
Hopefully, he'll doubt her claim to remember nothing and not her insistence that Tate had nothing to do with it.</p>
<center>
<p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/seASXHq9NTI?si=hW92IctmiSEHvM0C" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
</center>
<p>
Tate doesn't belong in jail, and EJ knows it despite his insistence on putting him there. EJ is playing with fire by messing with the boy Nicole's daughter loves.</p>
<p>
Could this lead to the <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/23-couples-who-split-for-the-sake-of-drama/">split for the sake of drama</a> Days of Our Lives needs to bring Nicole and Eric closer together?</p>
<p>
It might, especially if, as it seems, Eric will be the one to save the day while EJ is focused on using Tate as a scapegoat to protect Stefan.</p>
<p>
Please scroll down to check out all eight Days of Our Lives spoilers for the week of 3-18-24.</p>
<div style="max-width:398px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/ej-plots-stefans-escape-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--mtcLbDC8--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642467/ej-plots-stefans-escape-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--1sGPntwW--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642467/ej-plots-stefans-escape-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="EJ Plots Stefan's Escape - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
EJ works on helping Stefan escape, but Stefan may have another plan.</h4>
<p>
Ej's all in on protecting Stefan. So much for being the ruthless DA who'll come down hard on crime, no matter who commits it!</p>
<p>
This is odd, considering how often he's told Stefan that he will not break the law for him. But now he's hiding him.</p>
<p>
Stefan, however, will do what he should have done in the first place and turn himself in before brokering a deal. That should have been EJ's plan -- why wasn't it?</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/disgusted-ava-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--rZxrudqR--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642421/disgusted-ava-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--UW3hGgtA--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642421/disgusted-ava-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="Disgusted Ava - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
Ava is disgusted to learn about Stefan's involvement in Harris' shooting, but Stefan also reveals another secret.</h4>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/ava/">Ava Vitali</a> shouldn't appreciate being screwed over, but she's been watered down lately, so who knows?</p>
<p>
Harris tells her that Stefan shot him, but Stefan retaliates by telling Harris that he and Ava had sex.</p>
<p>
Harris shouldn't even be surprised -- Ava was faking a relationship with Stefan at the time.</p>
<p>
Stefan's the one who is supposedly devoted to his jailed wife, so revealing this is stupid! Hopefully, Harris and Ava will work through this, and it'll blow up in Stefan's face.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/celebrating-xanders-freedom-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--K0-pztEt--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642318/celebrating-xanders-freedom-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Q_wShCpp--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642318/celebrating-xanders-freedom-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="Celebrating Xander's Freedom - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
Xander finally gets out on bail.</h4>
<p>
Xander should be exonerated, full stop.</p>
<p>
He didn't shoot Harris, and Harris knows it. Why haven't the charges been dropped yet?</p>
<p>
But at least he's free, and according to spoilers, he and Sarah celebrate together, though they'll miss baby Victoria during their alone time.</p>
<div style="max-width:386px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/the-newlyweds-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--R5PyWfe0--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642266/the-newlyweds-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--G9I4B-Me--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642266/the-newlyweds-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="The Newlyweds - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
After making love as newlyweds, Johnny and Chanel solidify their honeymoon plans.</h4>
<p>
Please don't go to the Horton cabin!</p>
<p>
Nothing good ever happens there. It's kidnappers' second favorite place to hold victims, only narrowly edged out by the tunnels in the Dimera mansion.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/days-of-our-lives-13-things-that-only-happen-in-salem/">Only in Salem</a> would a couple even consider a cabin in the middle of nowhere that's been burned down twice and been the gruesome scene of too many violent crimes to count. Does anyone doubt the newlyweds would come face-to-face with Clyde if they honeymooned there?</p>
<div style="max-width:371px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/eric-doubts-holly-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--AdRgDbc5--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642197/eric-doubts-holly-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--hciPyV8D--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642197/eric-doubts-holly-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="Eric Doubts Holly - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
Eric begins to distrust Holly's account of her memory loss.</h4>
<p>
As discussed earlier, it's beyond time for Eric to get the Salem Brain -- now do Sloan's lies!</p>
<p>
Holly's a confused teen, but the guilt over Tate's incarceration and her anger at all the adults who won't listen to her have to boil over soon.</p>
<p>
It needs an outlet, and if Eric saves the day for Tate, it'll clear the way for him to reunite with Nicole once he finally figures things out about Sloan.</p>
<p>
Who else thinks that's precisely what will happen here?</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/johnny-and-chanel-have-a-surprise-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--0NIycY4N--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642152/johnny-and-chanel-have-a-surprise-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--v0dO3pp_--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642152/johnny-and-chanel-have-a-surprise-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="Johnny and Chanel Have a Surprise - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
Johnny and Chanel surprise Abe and Paulina when they come home.</h4>
<p>
I'm glad Johnny and Chanel haven't yet set off for the <strike>Cabin of Death</strike> Horton Cabin.</p>
<p>
Paulina's miraculous healing is ridiculous, but at least <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/abe-and-paulina-in-love-beyond-salem-days-of-our-lives/">Abe and Paulina</a> can walk through their door with Abe's memories intact.</p>
<p>
Despite her magical recovery, a surprise party might not be the best thing for Paulina; she probably should avoid things that make her heart jump for a while.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/will-john-turn-himself-in-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--trJ0oU6x--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642100/will-john-turn-himself-in-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Pcl1Mvl2--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642100/will-john-turn-himself-in-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="Will. John Turn Himself In? - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
John decides to turn himself in for a decades-old crime.</h4>
<p>
Anything that speeds Konstantin off our screens is a good thing, but this is another silly plot point in a ridiculous story.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/john-black/">John Black</a> wants to apologize to Konstantin and then turn himself in for a murder years ago that he doesn't remember committing. What?</p>
<p>
Among other things, Konstantin will never accept John's apology (and killing someone's daughter isn't something that can be fixed with one, anyway.)</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/sloan-bars-nicole-days-of-our-lives/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--AnFb4wWc--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642054/sloan-bars-nicole-days-of-our-lives.png" data-pin-description="Days of Our Lives Spoilers for the Week of 3-18-24: Does Eric Brady Have the Salem Brain Yet?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-for-the-week-of-3-18-24-does-eric-bra/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--a92fn_eu--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642054/sloan-bars-nicole-days-of-our-lives.png" class="lazyload" alt="Sloan Bars Nicole - Days of Our Lives"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
Sloan tries to stop Nicole from attending Jude's christening.</h4>
<p>
How exactly will that work when Nicole is hosting the reception?</p>
<p>
Sloan is getting stupider by the minute. It's hard to believe this woman who can't hold her scheme together is a cutthroat defense attorney who will give EJ a good run for his money.</p>
<p>
Interestingly, Jessica Sefarty is back for these scenes, though Natasha Hall will again take over the role when the christening occurs.</p>
<p>
If Eric had to be with a schemer, why couldn't it have been Eve Donovan instead? She's so much more compelling a character!</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/days-of-our-lives-eve-donovan-from-troubled-teen-to-major-troubl/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--igbVLUjd--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1553006700/slides/3524/a-runaway-teen-arrives-in-salem.jpg" data-pin-description="View Slideshow: Days of Our Lives' Eve Donovan: From Troubled Teen to Major Troublemaker" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/days-of-our-lives-eve-donovan-from-troubled-teen-to-major-troubl/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--TPqVCdhs--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1553006700/slides/3524/a-runaway-teen-arrives-in-salem.jpg" class="lazyload" alt=""></div>
<div class="caption">View Slideshow: Days of Our Lives' Eve Donovan: From Troubled Teen to Major Troublemaker</div></a>
</div>
<p>
Your turn, Days of Our Lives fanatics!</p>
<p>
Hit the big, blue <em><strong>SHOW COMMENTS </strong></em>button and tell us what you think of these spoilers.</p>
<p>
<em><strong>Days of Our Lives streams exclusively on Peacock.</strong></em></p>
<p>
<em><strong>New episodes drop on weekday mornings at 6/5c.</strong></em></p>
Jack Oritag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078552024-03-17T22:11:00-04:002024-03-17T22:35:34-04:00The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode<p>
When you finish a captivating episode of television, after you take a deep breath, often you want to go right back and relive some of the magic you just witnessed.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/the-walking-dead-rick-and-michonne/episodes/season-1/what-we/">The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4</a> is that hour, a magical affair between two stalwart characters in the beloved franchise, slowly breaking your heart and then putting it back together.</p>
<p>
The episode is directed by the effortlessly charismatic Michael Slovis, who was nice enough to speak with TV Fanatic about the massive episode.</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/michonne-contemplates-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--LPxkfRqP--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710644799/michonne-contemplates-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--fzS1w5d9--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710644799/michonne-contemplates-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Michonne Contemplates - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Slovis was not only kind and detailed in his responses but also incredibly knowledgeable and the perfect person to break down the ins and outs of such a pivotal piece of the story.</p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
It was such an honor to get some time with Slovis, and it's a conversation every diehard Walking Dead fan should check out.</p>
<div style="max-width:397px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/determined-rick-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-epis/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--igtk9ECd--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642091/determined-rick-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-epis.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--RBN9dUZz--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642091/determined-rick-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-epis.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Determined Rick - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
<strong>What kind of prep are you doing when you're going into an episode as a director? And especially for an episode like this, which is of such a high magnitude?</strong></p>
<p>
Whitney, we only have 15 minutes, and I talk about this for hours ad nauseam to schools.</p>
<p>
But the most important thing to me is to determine, and it sounds easy, it's like learning the basic moves in chess or checkers, but then playing the game, which is completely different, right?</p>
<p>
For me, it's determining what is the story about, and how do I advance the story.</p>
<p>
Anytime I get stuck on the set with either a performance or a shot or something, I revert back to, "What is the story that we're trying to tell at this moment? How does it advance the story within the act, the scene, the episode, and then ultimately within the structure of the entire series?"</p>
<div style="max-width:395px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/outside-kisses-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--fxtyEe2u--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710641621/outside-kisses-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--wzoqBrwc--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710641621/outside-kisses-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Outside Kisses - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 3"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
For me to distill down what the story is, that is the most important part. Because I come from photography, the actual shots come organically, but I do it through character. I do it through what part of the story are we telling at that moment.</p>
<p>
And that goes for something as performance-driven as this episode, or if it's a short or even something with a lot of action. I need to know what the story is.</p>
<p>
A perfect example is at the end of that episode, where they're running, and they finally...they kiss in episode three, right? The one that precedes that sets us up. Trying to figure out what happened at that breach was really important to me because I knew it was the setup for episode four.</p>
<p>
<strong>The episode hits on so many different beats. There's the drama; there's angst; there's romance; there's a little bit of comedy, back and forth, and all around. How do you make sure that the scenes reflect what you're getting in the script?</strong></p>
<p>
It's a great question, and I'm glad you brought up the comedy because that's been a hallmark of The Walking Dead since it started. It's not slapstick, ha-ha comedy.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/rick-and-michonne-talk-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--_kGsM4qw--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642378/rick-and-michonne-talk-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--oB5CJuCZ--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642378/rick-and-michonne-talk-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Rick & Michonne Talk - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
It's familiar smile comedy, which I think is one of the things that made it such an attractive show because we could all see ourselves in these situations with the tragedy and all the things that are going on.</p>
<p>
With this episode specifically, I have to say that it really was all three of us always working and asking.</p>
<p>
And because Danai wrote this beautiful script and knew it inside, outside, had reworked it, worked it, reworked it, taking the notes from Scott, I guess, and from everywhere where they come from, the network and whatever, and so she knew it like the back of her hand because it had emerged from her.</p>
<p>
I had the unique fortune of having somebody who knew the entire genesis of the show right there with me. And so I just asked, to be honest, and we talked about it. And she was so amazing, wonderful, and open that it never was dogmatic. It always was a conversation.</p>
<p>
<strong>That's nice. And I could be way off base here. I could be overthinking it. But when I was watching it, the vibe that I was getting from that apartment complex felt like the relationship between Rick and Michonne. </strong></p>
<div style="max-width:397px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/willing-to-listen-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--hNQPUjZV--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643323/willing-to-listen-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--bfDnZsRP--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643323/willing-to-listen-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Willing To Listen - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
<strong>It was kind of high-tech and cool, and then it started to crumble, encompassing where they were in their relationship at that time. They had to make a move, or they were going to go down. What kind of vibe were you hoping to achieve with the whole setup of that apartment?</strong></p>
<p>
Right. You just answered your own question. To be totally honest, Whitney, you got it, and you weren't overthinking it, especially the design of that apartment. And by the way, that's a good example of the humor, right?</p>
<p>
The voice saying, "You've achieved the desired temperature or whatever." It's not like breakout laughing, slapstick funny, but it's like, "I get it. I get where it's all adding up to."</p>
<p>
The design of that apartment was tough and challenging. And because you are right, it was really a capsule. If you will, it was a canvas for their relationship. How were we going to paint it onto this canvas? And it can't just be something that's innocuous or not helpful to telling the story.</p>
<p>
We worked a lot on the design of it and what we could do. And when you say design, you can't literally go out and design your dream set because you have the reality of budgets and schedules, and space was a big issue.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/thinking-hard-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--juHGLOAr--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642445/thinking-hard-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s---xp_48zv--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710642445/thinking-hard-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Thinking Hard - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Could it fit in where we were putting it? So, all of those things had to be factored in.</p>
<p>
And so it went through a process. We talked about the story. I looked at it, and I have this thing that I do where I literally sit at my desk, look at the script, close my eyes, imagine the set, and imagine the people moving through it. And so we came up with proposals.</p>
<p>
We knew that that window was very important, that great big picture window, was an important window to the outside. I knew the helicopter was coming in. We knew it was the lake outside, so we had the green screen or the backdrop; it's actually a backdrop out there for much of it.</p>
<p>
Some of it was a green screen or a blue screen.</p>
<p>
We had limits on how big we could go and all that stuff. So, to a certain degree, we had to work backward from that view. Then it was, "Where does the story want us to be?" I knew I wanted a big room because, with all of the dialogue, we needed places for Andy and Danai to move if they so desired.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/michonne-is-ready-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--iEh3efU---/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643377/michonne-is-ready-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--y2HlbpFb--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643377/michonne-is-ready-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-ep.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Michonne Is Ready - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
So, that whole first rounding, rounding around the table and around and all that stuff, was something I encouraged when we got there. I'm a big "There are no mistakes" person. I really like to get there.</p>
<p>
And my process is we get there, we read the words, and then we just throw them in, and I'll start with something humorous or to break the ice, I'll go, "Let me impart the vision on you that I have in my head, the perfect movie," which you never get, but you start here and maybe then see where it takes you.</p>
<p>
And then I call myself a nudger because if they go there a little bit, I'll say, "Maybe a little further, maybe a little left."</p>
<p>
And because of my background in camera, I'm always thinking about how I am putting it together, where they move. And Andy and Danai are such professionals and have done this for so long.</p>
<p>
I can say something to them that's a mixture of story and pragmatism, "If you don't go this way and if you go that way, it will make our day. That way and not this way." This gets a little tough, but I never do it to always be easy, to make it easy on me. I do it because it tells the story properly.</p>
<div style="max-width:394px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/rick-is-determined-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-e/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--h2aO9mRE--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643125/rick-is-determined-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-e.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6b6O0tan--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643125/rick-is-determined-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-e.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Rick Is Determined - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
And I'm looking at the entire day.</p>
<p>
<strong>Working on an episode like this, you're primarily working with just two actors, and there are some scenes with walkers, but it may be easier thinking from the outside like, "Oh, it must be easier. You don't have to worry about so many moving parts and different people."</strong></p>
<p>
<strong>But I have to imagine it's also challenging to have just the two actors. What was it like working with Andy and Danai for most of that episode?</strong></p>
<p>
Well, first of all, any two other actors, I'd probably still be shooting it, but these two, who knew their characters so well and are so skilled and so trusting of each other, and then in bringing me into their fold, it was really interesting.</p>
<p>
And it was an honor to be there to see it as it evolved.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/ready-to-talk-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--TwW1MUE4--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643269/ready-to-talk-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--THN0fXAx--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710643269/ready-to-talk-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episod.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Ready To Talk - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
And I started off thinking, indeed, it was a two-hander, but I've come to the conclusion that it's really a three-hander because I think that space was a character in the show, and it needed to be. And because of the way that we ended up building that space and designing it, it helped the story get told.</p>
<p>
<strong>How did this episode help set up the rest of the season? It's that midway-ish point.</strong></p>
<p>
I look at this as the fulcrum point of the story, if you know what I mean. To me, they have to get by.</p>
<p>
That's what Danai always intended this episode to be. We have to get through that point. Whitney, she says it. She says it when they're in that bed, and he's standing by the side of the bed, and she goes, "We're not going anywhere until we get past this moment."</p>
<p>
Which is so familiar to anybody who's been in love or in a relationship or in a friendship or as a parent or anything, that has somebody that you care about, "We need to deal with this now in order to move forward."</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/teary-michonne-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--HsfC8DiF--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710644611/teary-michonne-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo.jpg" data-pin-description="The Ones Who Live Post-Mortem: Director Michael Slovis Breaks Down Pivotal Episode" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-ones-who-live-post-mortem-director-michael-slovis-breaks-dow/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6qZSAavt--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710644611/teary-michonne-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episo.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Teary Michonne - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
And I always looked at that moment as the breakout moment, which is why I came up with the idea when they go out into the hall.</p>
<p>
I went to the stunt coordinators and the fight coordinator and said, "What I want to do is I want to do a single shot of them coming down the hall, fighting in sync, and helping each other."</p>
<p>
If you look at that piece where, after they break out to the hall and after they've resolved, at least started to resolve their relationship, it's just a single shot of them. We just moved the camera and they did a dance, a little pas de deux, the two of them, which was very important to me structurally.</p>
<p>
<strong><em>***This interview has been edited for length and clarity.***</em></strong></p>
<p>
<strong>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live airs on Sundays on AMC at 9/8c.</strong></p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/new-characters-worth-their-weight-in-gold/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--bdj2CnWw--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1687871877/slideshows/new-characters-worth-their-weight-in-gold.png" data-pin-description="View Slideshow: New Characters Worth Their Weight in Gold" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/new-characters-worth-their-weight-in-gold/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--DORB9tPm--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1687871877/slideshows/new-characters-worth-their-weight-in-gold.png" class="lazyload" alt=""></div>
<div class="caption">View Slideshow: New Characters Worth Their Weight in Gold</div></a>
</div>
Whitney Evanstag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078522024-03-17T22:00:00-04:002024-03-18T17:34:48-04:00The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself<p>
It’s impossible to be in the midst of a Team Elliot vs. Team Thomas situation right now, but I kind of feel like we are there anyway.</p>
<p>
If you’re like me, you may have been a little bereft at leaving 1814 behind to tend to issues in the present, even if it meant we got to see what happened in 2007.</p>
<p>
Then the realization hit: <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/the-way-home/episodes/season-2/">The Way Home Season 2</a> is working because of 1814.</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/the-lingermore-party-the-way-home/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--h4683dqS--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710372833/the-lingermore-party-the-way-home.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--hj_XHchG--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710372833/the-lingermore-party-the-way-home.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="The Lingermore Party - The Way Home"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
If we’re going to say goodbye to the characters of 1814 over the course of the next two episodes, here’s a word for the producers for The Way Home Season 3:</p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
Please reconsider.</p>
<div style="max-width:387px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/the-time-traveler-the-way-home-s2e8/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Et5BW0t9--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452890/the-time-traveler-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--sgQ7mbxL--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452890/the-time-traveler-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="The Time Traveler - The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/the-way-home/episodes/season-2/lose-yourself/">The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8</a> steered mostly clear of the past, and in my estimation, it suffered for it.</p>
<p>
Not even partially discovering what went down at Lingermore helped make the hour any more exciting. Why? Because it doesn’t seem like any wild party could tear apart a mother and daughter for 17 years.</p>
<p>
Given everything we’ve seen so far, they’ve even been suggesting the possibility that Kat and Alice could be similarly at odds after Alice gets wind of what went down at the party.</p>
<p>
And, then we got to the party, and it’s right out of an ‘80s teen movie.</p>
<p>
Kat is the girl torn between two worlds, unhappy with her decision to leave the old one behind, regretting setting her future in stone when she has so much life to live.</p>
<div style="max-width:386px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/kats-growing-up-the-way-home-s2e8/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--VanWbhOZ--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710453097/kats-growing-up-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--MYTb-Foi--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710453097/kats-growing-up-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Kat's Growing Up - The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
At 24 years of age, she’s eager to build something for herself, and a family isn’t it. She’s already gone behind Brady’s back and applied for a journalism program overseas, so you know her heart’s not in the relationship any longer.</p>
<p>
What wasn’t explained was why, out of the blue, Kat is reconsidering her feelings about Elliot. As he says in the present before their fiery (well, awkward to me) kiss, he needs to know he’s not her fallback guy.</p>
<p>
Landing in Elliot’s lap and asking him to go to Europe with her was the epitome of using him as a fallback. For all of her fear of a future set in stone, at that age, she’s not necessarily ready to go it alone, either.</p>
<p>
But even if she was mulling over her potential romantic feelings for Elliot, she failed to see just how far gone he was over her. She couldn’t read him in the past, and she can’t read him in the present.</p>
<p>
How can she not know how he feels about her by now? Yes, he cut things off at the end of <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/the-way-home/episodes/season-1/">The Way Home Season 1</a>, but even then, he didn’t exactly hide the fact that he was doing it to live a little since he’d spent his whole life waiting for her.</p>
<div style="max-width:381px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/not-his-best-night-the-way-home-s2e8/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--CsZAonu2--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452964/not-his-best-night-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--rJkpq3za--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452964/not-his-best-night-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Not His Best Night - The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
He never said his feelings were gone. When he returned, he apparently did it to try again with her, which I also thought was obvious, until he heard she had visited the pond again. That shut him down, and he never uttered a word about how he felt.</p>
<p>
Now that I think about it, who wants to be with a man like that? Why is his action of choice not to act at all? Instead of using his words and asking questions and understanding the woman he supposedly loves, he clams up and assumes. And yes, that does indeed make asses out of both of them.</p>
<p>
They have the worst communication style of any romantic couple I’ve ever seen. Neither of them really listens to what the other says, and they sure as hell don’t read emotional or physical cues, either.</p>
<p>
But let’s go back to the Lingermore party for a minute.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/elliot-augustine/">Elliot</a> and Brady were in an actual brawl, which was embarrassing. Neither of them is cut out for that kind of activity, which led to Elliot slugging Kat and knocking her unconscious.</p>
<div style="max-width:379px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/whats-up-pussycat-the-way-home-s2e8/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s---EkIuK04--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452864/whats-up-pussycat-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--yEb33CUI--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452864/whats-up-pussycat-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="What's Up Pussycat? - The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
This must be how Kat discovers she’s pregnant. It’s not exactly an event that would otherwise cement her future with Brady. She’s obviously going to the hospital, and they’ll probably discover she’s got a bun in the oven.</p>
<p>
Can you think of any other reason she and Brady stay together after this fiasco of a night?</p>
<p>
None of what’s happened so far is deadly to a mother-daughter relationship, though. Well, unless you’re Alice and worried that you may disappear in a puff of smoke when the past changes in an instant.</p>
<p>
What was all of her prattling on about things changing? Nobody had ever spoken with her about Lingermore, so how would she know if anything was changing? Common sense should have told her that if she was still there, things carry on as expected.</p>
<p>
As for Kat and Del, I guess Del was up in arms over the fact her daughter humiliated her. Del was angry during <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/the-way-home/episodes/season-2/somewhere-only-we-know/">The Way Home Season 2 Episode 7</a> because Kat humiliated her again with her Founder’s Day edition of The Herald.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/houseguest-the-way-home-s2e8/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--cCQLM30N--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710453034/houseguest-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--VIcCieU6--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710453034/houseguest-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Houseguest - The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Del cares a bit too much about what other people think. Why wasn’t she concerned about what was going on with Kat in the past and present to ask why? She could still ask why in the past, but given a 17-year rift, it seems unlikely.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/characters/del-landry/">Del</a> apparently shouldered the burden of the house party. Elliot’s dad wouldn’t be able to pony up any cash. But there were lots of other kids there, too. Why did it all rest on Del? She kept saying she could never repay Evelyn. For what?</p>
<p>
Trashing the house seems like a good answer, and perhaps not pressing charges. But wouldn’t Elliot be in the line of fire since the house is his responsibility?</p>
<p>
More importantly, why am I wasting so much time trying to figure out how a party gone bad ruined so many relationships? If that was the criteria, I probably still wouldn’t be talking with my mother.</p>
<p>
We’ll find out on The Way Home Season 2 Episode 9 how badly Del reacts to the party and Kat’s accident. It’s just an odd revelation that this is the event that tore them apart.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/a-romantic-retreat-the-way-home-s2e8/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Ci9yXJDZ--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710453077/a-romantic-retreat-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--UEE2_9Tt--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710453077/a-romantic-retreat-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="A Romantic Retreat - The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
While we’re on the subject of Del and overreacting, it’s been 20 years since her husband died, and she never dated again. When she does, all she thinks about is Colton. I’ve never lost a husband (because I was never married), but doesn’t 20 years seem a little long?</p>
<p>
Shake it the hell off already, Del! You’ve got an incredible man who admires you, and you’re being peevish. It’s silly. Also silly is how she is too proud to accept money from her daughter for the farm in the past and as an investment from Sam in her desire to community farm in the present.</p>
<p>
Del is an enigma. She’s stubbornly proud yet also overly concerned about what others think. I’m still not sure what to make of her. Who is she? What did she do those 20 years? Will we ever find out?</p>
<p>
Speaking of finding out — did Nick just realize that his <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/alice-dhawan/">Alice</a> is present Alice? Will Elliot tell him the truth?</p>
<p>
Of course, the discovery came on the heels of his desire to reunite with Claire, an oddity that should mean nothing since Alice is a child. But you can’t say that it wasn’t written to suggest he’s still not over his childhood crush.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/the-gang-is-back-together-the-way-home-s2e8/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--pCrJLqv3--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710453054/the-gang-is-back-together-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--93pDz5dm--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710453054/the-gang-is-back-together-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="The Gang Is Back Together - The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
This hour was made up of drama for drama’s sake when we could have been spending time in 1814. How could Kat turn her heels just after connecting with Jacob again?</p>
<p>
How unimpressed he is with her being there makes me wonder if the story will end with her saying goodbye and moving on, never sharing with Del that Jacob didn’t die but lived a wonderful life in the past.</p>
<p>
Del would think she was nuts anyway. She isn’t one to believe much of what <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/kat-landry/">Kat</a> says, and she often dismisses it outright because she’s so sure she already knows what Kat is thinking or feeling. Yet, like Elliot, she does not.</p>
<p>
Do you know what’s missing on The Way Home? Happiness. How often have you seen anyone smile? Elliot, especially, is one dour dude. Seeing him in a dance-off was interesting. That he was the one who suggested it shocked me to the core.</p>
<p>
Nick is always smiling. Monica enjoys life. Kat becomes a different person in 1814, which is why I like her there. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. She comes alive when she leaves the present behind. After reading this review, maybe that makes more sense to you.</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/arguing-with-elliot-the-way-home-s2e8/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--h_DMQ6ln--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452905/arguing-with-elliot-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--bOrUmZPl--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452905/arguing-with-elliot-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Arguing with Elliot - The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Kat doesn’t get to be herself with the people who supposedly love her. With Alice, she is. With Del and Elliot, she’s always on tenterhooks, worrying that she’ll say or do the wrong thing. That’s no way to live, and it is definitely no way to love.</p>
<p>
If I were going to choose a man for Kat, I’d want to do the impossible on this show that makes the impossible probable: find a way to bring the past to the present or to drag out our visits to the past indefinitely.</p>
<p>
Kat knows where she stands with Thomas because he doesn’t hide things. Yes, he did have some secrets, but she knew him for all of a minute, so they weren’t exactly mysteries. They just hadn’t come up yet.</p>
<p>
She’s known Elliot all her life, yet she knows relatively nothing about him. What does that say about the two of them? Do you see them changing after all this time and opening up to one another entirely? I don’t see it. Maybe it’s because I don’t want it to happen.</p>
<div style="max-width:393px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/theres-something-over-there-the-way-home-s2e8/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--YqUJH8jI--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452981/theres-something-over-there-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" data-pin-description="The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Lose Yourself" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/the-way-home-season-2-episode-8-review-lose-yourself/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--1LlRynit--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710452981/theres-something-over-there-the-way-home-s2e8.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="There's Something Over There - The Way Home Season 2 Episode 8"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Let’s be honest: I was Team Lucas during the trials and tribulations of the most annoying love triangle on TV over there on <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/when-calls-the-heart/">When Calls the Heart</a>, so it shouldn’t be a shock that I’d be Team 1814, either.</p>
<p>
What about you? Did “Lose Yourself” do it for you? Did the party at Lingermore live up to the lore? Do any of these people know how to have natural relationships?</p>
<p>
Let me know what you think about everything in the comments below!</p>
Carissa Pavlicatag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078582024-03-17T22:00:00-04:002024-03-18T16:42:19-04:00Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis<p>
One of the nice things about Tracker is seeing Colter's compassion each week.</p>
<p>
When the series began, it wasn't wholly clear whether Colter was just looking for a payday by using the skills he had acquired over time or if he genuinely cared about people and wanted to help, all while collecting a paycheck.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/tracker/episodes/season-1/st-louis/">Tracker Season 1 Episode 5</a> was further proof that it's not this or that with Colter necessarily, and at the end of the day, he's someone who wants to do what's right.</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/all-in-tracker-season-1-episode-5/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--dDuskHlQ--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351035/all-in-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--ll6Eg_gp--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351035/all-in-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="All In - Tracker Season 1 Episode 5"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Poor Colter couldn't even get some me-time in before he was needed on another case, but that's the state of the world, right? Over 2,000 people are reported missing every day, and most of those people don't have people who can offer up thousands of dollars for their safe return.</p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
Stephanie Porter didn't have those kinds of funds, but in 2024, there are various ways to raise money for a good cause, and helping her father potentially overturn his murder conviction was one of them.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/content-reenie-tracker-season-1-episode-4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--igiQt5a7--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709409728/content-reenie-tracker-season-1-episode-4.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--ho-jt3Zn--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709409728/content-reenie-tracker-season-1-episode-4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Content Reenie - Tracker Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Even when Colter is skeptical, he always does his due diligence and will hear just about anyone out. He's never ready to believe whatever negative narrative strangers are spewing at him; he's much more content to do a little research and come to his own conclusion.</p>
<p>
Stephanie believed so strongly that Clay was not guilty, and you could tell how much Colter was affected by her conviction.</p>
<p>
<blockquote>
<p>Reenie: You want my opinion? Clay Porter is guilty. End of story. <br>Colter: Well, what about him maintaining his innocence? <br>Reenie: Colter, you may want to sit down for this, but, uh, people who murder often also lie. </p>
<ul class="details hidden-print">
<li>
<i class="fa fa-link"></i> Permalink: <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/colter-you-may-want-to-sit-down-for-this-but-uh-people-who-murde/">Colter, you may want to sit down for this, but, uh, people who murder often also lie.</a>
</li>
<li>
<i class="fa fa-calendar"></i> Added: <time datetime="2024-03-17">March 17, 2024</time>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
</p>
<p>
Most people never want to believe the worst about their parents, but the hard truth is that they're human and capable of mistakes like anyone else. Finding out your father is a murderer is different than discovering they shoplifted once, but they're still forms of betrayal.</p>
<p>
You learn what's good and bad from your parents, and discovering they're not adhering to their own teachings can be a tough pill to swallow.</p>
<p>
Colter knows all about contemplated parental feelings, and I love it when the cases intersect with Colter's personal life, even if it's subtly. It just continues to help shade Colter in as a character.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/colter-and-reenie-team-up-tracker-season-1-episode-5/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--BIORdE5P--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351366/colter-and-reenie-team-up-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--bRahKctK--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351366/colter-and-reenie-team-up-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Colter & Reenie Team Up - Tracker Season 1 Episode 5"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Procedurals often have the challenge of telling stories that can be wrapped up within a specific time frame while also exploring the humanity of the characters who inhabit those stories.</p>
<p>
You might as well have a robot solve these cases if you won't allow the audience time to get to know <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/colter-shaw/">Colter</a>.</p>
<p>
I understand Colter is mostly a lone wolf, but he and Reenie are basically semi-partners now.</p>
<p>
She's always in the area when he needs her, has an excellent legal brain, and has a good heart. She may not be a trained tracker or know the probability of death in any situation, but there are various things she can do that Colter simply can't.</p>
<p>
Maybe she's not needed for every single case, depending on the circumstances, but in a case like this one, without her insight, they may have never fully figured things out in time.</p>
<div style="max-width:398px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/reluctant-partners-tracker-season-1-episode-4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--kvjklr4v--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709409059/reluctant-partners-tracker-season-1-episode-4.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--7OVF_Czn--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709409059/reluctant-partners-tracker-season-1-episode-4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Reluctant Partners - Tracker Season 1 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Clay's case seemed open and shut from the evidence, but seeing as how he was convicted without anyone testifying that they witnessed it, actually finding a witness was worth it.</p>
<p>
Most people wouldn't even know where to start finding someone who may or may not exist with no information whatsoever, but not everyone has a <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/velma-bruin/">Velma</a> and Teddi.</p>
<p>
The key to everything was finding out who sent that anonymous tip to Stephanie. You find that person, and you're much closer to figuring out if it was all a ruse or if the claim was valid.</p>
<p>
Colter's whole schtick is his ability to read situations and people, though I wonder how much reading he could do at that poker table. Isn't the whole thing with playing poker to school your facial expressions and composure to throw your opponents off?</p>
<p>
Well, getting everyone arrested certainly gave Colter more time to do some detective work while they were all at the police station.</p>
<div style="max-width:395px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/high-stakes-tracker-season-1-episode-5/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--z-YxPNvE--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351503/high-stakes-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--EqBw5u57--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351503/high-stakes-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="High Stakes - Tracker Season 1 Episode 5"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
On the one hand, I can understand what a tremendous burden was placed on Leyla once Mallory told her she witnessed Avery's death. It's all very terrifying, and she was betraying Mallory's trust by posting that anonymous message, even if it was incredibly vague.</p>
<p>
But doing the right thing will always be doing the right thing, and finding Mallory was right.</p>
<p>
Colter lives life dangerously, and this is an action-adventure, so fighting, shoot-outs, and the like are expected, but we haven't seen someone catch Colter so unaware.</p>
<p>
For a man so detail-oriented, he did not account for Mallory being with someone, and he promptly found himself knocked out.</p>
<p>
Mallory was always in a tough position, and you can't blame her for immediately going on the run, even if she knew it was wrong.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/deciphering-clues-tracker-season-1-episode-3/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--nWDAGJN9--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708393887/deciphering-clues-tracker-season-1-episode-3.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--21Lu-02A--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708393887/deciphering-clues-tracker-season-1-episode-3.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Deciphering Clues - Tracker Season 1 Episode 3"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
As I said before, doing the right thing will always be doing the right thing, but it's not always easy. It can be very scary, actually, and for Mallory, going to the police felt like a death sentence until she chose to put her faith in Colter.</p>
<p>
Let's talk about Colter pulling out a shotgun in the middle of the street to shoot out some tires like it was no big thing! Colter never gets rattled, which is probably his superpower.</p>
<p>
He can assess everything around him and not panic, which allows him to make the most rational decision given the circumstances.</p>
<p>
I can only imagine how much Mallory regretted her decisions when she was in immediate danger within three seconds of leaving her house but had Colter not found her when he had, she would have been in an even worse spot.</p>
<p>
<blockquote>
<p>Reenie: I think you're in danger. <br>Colter: Yeah, I got that. </p>
<ul class="details hidden-print">
<li>
<i class="fa fa-link"></i> Permalink: <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/colter-yeah-i-got-that/">Colter: Yeah, I got that.</a>
</li>
<li>
<i class="fa fa-calendar"></i> Added: <time datetime="2024-03-17">March 17, 2024</time>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
</p>
<p>
Clay's lawyer was as shady as they come from the minute he suddenly took an interest in Clay's case when speaking with <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/reenie-greene/">Reenie</a>, when the Porters made it very clear he never cared much before.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/colter-takes-a-call-tracker-season-1-episode-2/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--3E45r4iZ--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708299512/colter-takes-a-call-tracker-season-1-episode-2.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--7xpONPH6--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708299512/colter-takes-a-call-tracker-season-1-episode-2.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Colter Takes A Call - Tracker Season 1 Episode 2"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
How horrible to be trusted with someone's defense and accept a payoff to ensure they are charged with a crime they didn't commit.</p>
<p>
The way things spiraled from here was typical Tracker fashion, and I won't lie, I have no idea what Colter's plan was while hiding in that warehouse because he was somehow so far away when everything went to hell.</p>
<p>
Mallory was running for her life, and how she wasn't shot by any of those bullets was a miracle in itself.</p>
<p>
Through the first five episodes of <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/tracker/episodes/season-1/">Tracker Season 1</a>, we've seen many bad guys captured, but this time, Colter was responsible for someone's death.</p>
<p>
In his line of work, which continuously finds him in these unsafe situations, he has to be prepared to protect himself and those in his care by all means necessary. But just heaving someone off a building felt pretty heavy.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/calling-in-tracker-season-1-episode-5/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--rUGSVdD4--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351560/calling-in-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--jztfXis6--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351560/calling-in-tracker-season-1-episode-5.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Calling In - Tracker Season 1 Episode 5"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
It didn't seem to weigh on him in the aftermath, though, and I guess you can justify it when you realize it was him or you.</p>
<p>
This was another happy ending for a case that had the capacity to go off the rails several times. I appreciate that the series shows Colter getting his reward each time, so we are reminded that through all the craziness, he is a reward-seeker, on top of being a resourceful and decent human being.</p>
<p>
And all those things can co-exist and not cloud the other.</p>
<p>
<strong>Tracker Notes</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
Bobby was not in this hour, but I always like it when they throw in a little line to explain why a character you're used to seeing in a certain situation is suddenly unavailable.</li>
</ul>
<div style="max-width:398px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/reenie-greene-tracker-season-1-episode-1/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--a-9i3w0E--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707070113/reenie-greene-tracker-season-1-episode-1.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--GYWlWJVr--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707070113/reenie-greene-tracker-season-1-episode-1.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Reenie Greene - Tracker Season 1 Episode 1"></div></a>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
I hope one of these days Colter has a case near Velma and <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/teddi-bruin/">Teddi</a> so we can see them all interact in the flesh.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
All signs point toward Colter and Reenie eventually giving into the chemistry because it's RIGHT there. I don't know if theirs would be a relationship built to last, but there's certainly a spark there.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
No movement on the Shaw Family drama outside of Colter's little soliloquy about his parents. But it has to circle back around soon. Right?</li>
</ul>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/velma-bruin-tracker-season-1-episode-1/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--vf0CEmGI--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707069717/velma-bruin-tracker-season-1-episode-1.jpg" data-pin-description="Tracker Season 1 Episode 5 Review: St. Louis" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/tracker-season-1-episode-5-review-st-louis/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--0gZRmzvC--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707069717/velma-bruin-tracker-season-1-episode-1.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Velma Bruin - Tracker Season 1 Episode 1"></div></a>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
The fun thing about Tracker is how endless the possibilities are. There are many locations and different ways Colter can find people. Thank goodness we are getting a second season.</li>
</ul>
<p>
Tracker continues its hot streak of solid installments as the series settles into its shoes and determines what show it wants to be.</p>
<p>
As always, let me know all your thoughts about the hour below! </p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/new-shows-that-stole-our-hearts/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--ZkCqAeFo--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1689280320/slideshows/new-shows-that-stole-our-hearts.jpg" data-pin-description="View Slideshow: New Shows That Stole Our Hearts" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/new-shows-that-stole-our-hearts/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--nAoKQMSN--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1689280320/slideshows/new-shows-that-stole-our-hearts.jpg" class="lazyload" alt=""></div>
<div class="caption">View Slideshow: New Shows That Stole Our Hearts</div></a>
</div>
Whitney Evanstag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078412024-03-16T11:00:00-04:002024-03-16T11:00:04-04:00Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?<p>
Australian author Liane Moriarty is known for her layered characters, complex family dynamics, and intriguing mysteries. After the success of her book-to-screen adaptation of <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/big-little-lies/">Big Little Lies</a> on HBO in 2017, she's been in high demand.</p>
<p>
In 2021, Hulu adapted another novel, Nine Perfect Strangers, which expanded on the characters' arcs from the book. It became a hit because of the humor in the series.</p>
<p>
Peacock's Apples Never Fall combines the best of both, but it was most like the book and a fun, binge-worthy watch. I couldn't stop watching because I couldn't wait to see the next twist.</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/apples-never-fall-cast-photo/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s---vfupYWZ--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710367492/apples-never-fall-cast-photo.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--0OvFQxgV--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710367492/apples-never-fall-cast-photo.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Apples Never Fall Cast Photo"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Apples Never Fall explores the complexities of marriage and family when you peel back the layers. This isn't a cookie-cutter happy family. The Delaneys are raw and honest, but they love each other deeply.</p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
It was one of the best book-to-screen adaptations because the series allowed the characters to be developed more in their own episodes while other characters were featured in the background.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/apples-never-fall-vertical-key-art/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--s2VcUUtN--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707947368/apples-never-fall-vertical-key-art.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--62Obz4w9--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707947368/apples-never-fall-vertical-key-art.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Apples Never Fall Vertical Key Art"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
What is the Premise of Apples Never Fall?</h4>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/networks/peacock/">Peacock'</a>s Apples Never Fall focuses on the Delaneys, whose family appears perfect, but that facade drops when the matriarch Joy (Annette Bening) disappears. The title refers to how apples or children never fall far from the tree, meaning how similar they are to their parents.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/apples-never-fall-interviews-reveal-the-crux-of-the-delaney-fami/"><em><strong>Apples Never Fall Interviews Reveal the Crux of the Delaney Family Mystery</strong></em></a></p>
<p>
The series explores how closely the Delaney children mirror their parents' good and bad habits over the seven episodes. When the series begins, Joy is missing, and the children are panicking because she calls them daily.</p>
<p>
Stan keeps lying to them about her whereabouts, and then there's this mysterious visitor -- Savanah -- who landed on the Delaneys' doorstep when they had an empty next. As the story goes back and forth in time, we learn more about the Delaneys and Savannah (Georgia Flood.)</p>
<div style="max-width:392px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/annette-bening-on-apples-never-fall/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--RByICJe3--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707947559/annette-bening-on-apples-never-fall.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--fyA4YAfg--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707947559/annette-bening-on-apples-never-fall.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Annette Bening on Apples Never Fall"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
Did Apples Never Fall Honor the Characters from Liane Moriarty's Novel?</h4>
<p>
Of course, there are differences in the characters from the novel, but most didn't matter and worked in favor of the series, especially when the character arcs were fleshed out.</p>
<p>
In the novel, Joy was obsessed with getting all of her children married and becoming a grandmother. She still was over-involved in Brooke and Gina's and Logan and Indira's relationships, but she had softened around the edges.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/17-terrific-tv-shows-based-on-books/"><em><strong>17 Terrific TV Shows Based on Books</strong></em></a></p>
<p>
She cared more about her children being happy than if they were producing grandchildren.</p>
<p>
Stan Delaney instilled competition as a way of life on and off the court, but when he saw the damage it did to his children, he also softened. He had more layers in the series, mainly because of Sam Neill's acting. He genuinely loved his children, even if he didn't always show it.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/seeking-the-elusive-smile/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6siK4_ya--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271251/seeking-the-elusive-smile.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--khRLghS9--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271251/seeking-the-elusive-smile.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Seeking the Elusive Smile"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/stars/alison-brie/tags/tv-news/">Alison Brie</a> also did a wonderful job portraying Amy. Part of the time, she seemed like a yoga guru, and others, like she was fighting her depression and anxiety. It was so raw and honest, and no one seemed to understand her other than Joy.</p>
<p>
Logan (Conor Merrigan-Turner) played the carefree son. He worked at the marina, and his girlfriend, Indira, was tired of him catering to his family instead of prioritizing their relationship. That was a huge part of the book.</p>
<p>
Here's where things get dicey. The series kept Troy's attitude the same. Jake Lacy did a fantastic job combining both anger at his dad and empathy for his siblings at the proper times. His best scene is when he comforts Brooke after she cheats.</p>
<p>
The problem was no one cared about Troy's added storyline of cheating on his boss's wife. It added nothing to the plot.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/accepting-bad-news/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--EMo_zQzy--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271194/accepting-bad-news.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--rhblfNCI--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271194/accepting-bad-news.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Accepting Bad News"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Brooke was also not like her character in the book. She was engaged to Gina instead of getting a divorce from Grant. Then, the series wrecked that by having her cheat on Gina, who actually supported her and helped her save her physical therapy practice.</p>
<p>
The siblings fought more in the series but were realistic sibling rivalry interactions, such as telling your parents a sibling's secret. Watching Amy think she could mend fences with a bottle of wine like that had worked before was fun.</p>
<h4>
Joy's Disappearance Caused the Family to Choose Sides</h4>
<p>
When Joy disappeared, battle lines were drawn as the two oldest, Amy and Troy, wondered if Stan could have hurt their mom. The younger two, Logan and Brooke, practically worship their dad and hunt for another suspect, landing on an unwanted guest, Savannah.</p>
<p>
It's all about perspective. Troy harbored resentment towards Stan for showing favoritism towards the Delaneys' star tennis student, Harry Haddad. He refused to help Logan buy the tennis academy because he didn't want Logan to become a cheap imitation of their dad.</p>
<div style="max-width:384px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/jake-lacy-on-apples-never-fall/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Z7-WeqXY--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707947650/jake-lacy-on-apples-never-fall.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--cDXmDIiW--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707947650/jake-lacy-on-apples-never-fall.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Jake Lacy on Apples Never Fall"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Troy and Logan also had different perspectives of their father walking out after fights. Logan thought it was preferred if Stan cooled off, but Troy remembered the younger kids being terrified if their dad was ever going to return.</p>
<p>
Some of those experiences probably caused Amy's anxiety and depression, which only Joy understood. It made sense that Amy felt more of a kinship with her mom.</p>
<p>
Brooke was a totally daddy's girl until the end. She was the one that stood by Stan until she was provided with hard evidence to the contrary. It broke her to not stand by him.</p>
<h4>
What's Missing from the Novel for the Series to Succeed?</h4>
<p>
While book-to-screen adaptations must stand independently for new audiences, a few things were missing from this one.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/alison-brie-on-apples-never-fall/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--yOigOou1--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707947549/alison-brie-on-apples-never-fall.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Pp8VAPjc--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1707947549/alison-brie-on-apples-never-fall.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Alison Brie on Apples Never Fall"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
For a great deal of the novel, the characters question their motives. That doesn't necessarily work on television since we want to be shown things, not told, and viewers don't want to watch many internal monologues.</p>
<p>
However, as mentioned above, some of the Delaneys, especially Brooke and Troy, appeared more unlikeable in the series than in the book, where they expanded the context more.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/9-books-about-tv-you-need-to-read/"><em><strong>9 Books About TV You Need to Read</strong></em></a></p>
<p>
Not every character needs to be likable. Family dramas need conflict to thrive, but it took me over half the series to invest in Brooke's character because she played the snarky know-it-all and lashed out at Amy frequently.</p>
<p>
It wasn't until she met her own demise that rooted for her to pick herself up.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/brooke-pouts/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--HSEBGIS---/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271237/brooke-pouts.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Q70rzK3l--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271237/brooke-pouts.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Brooke Pouts"></div></a>
</div>
<h4>
Did the Central Mystery Resolve?</h4>
<p>
Technically, there were two mysteries. One dealt with learning Savanah's identity and why she landed on the Delaneys' doorstep; the other revolved around Joy's disappearance.</p>
<p>
Naturally, they were intertwined, and that's the book, and the series flashed back and forth between "then and now" sequences.</p>
<p>
Both mysteries end with a twist, but the Savannah reveal should have occurred earlier in the series.</p>
<p>
In the book, when the Delaneys are ready to kick her out, Savannah reveals that she's Harry's forgotten sister and how Joy ruined everyone's lives by sending Harry and their dad away for coaching. In the series, Joy admitted her mistake to resolve a fight between Stan and Troy.</p>
<div style="max-width:394px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/the-change-agent/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s---4LvtCYG--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271283/the-change-agent.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--7dMGawr6--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271283/the-change-agent.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="The Change Agent"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Joy ends up being ostracized by her entire family when she tries to have Stan give them the same attention he showered on Harry. It was understandable why she needed time to regroup, feeling like no one appreciated her.</p>
<p>
It just felt like the central mystery held so much back, too, since it almost felt like a letdown after Stan had been charged with murder and the children thought she was dead. It's similar to a Gone Girl vibe, but Joy didn't plan the sinister idea.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/15-movie-to-television-adaptations/"><em><strong>12 Movie to TV Show Adaptations</strong></em></a></p>
<p>
She was an overworked matriarch who felt underappreciated. It would have helped to have one more episode to devote to Joy and the aftermath of her return and one for Savanah and her mindset, making it a total of eight episodes.</p>
<p>
Right now, specific contexts feel underdeveloped.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/overburdened-joy/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--xZBcT_yO--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710367411/overburdened-joy.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--yYgjnbaP--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710367411/overburdened-joy.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Overburdened Joy"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Hopefully, since Apples Never Fall was billed as a "limited series," this was the end.</p>
<p>
Both Big Little Lies and <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/nine-perfect-strangers/">Nine Perfect Strangers</a> received additional seasons after their first seasons were based on the source material. The ratings for Big Little Lies Season 2 fell.</p>
<p>
Even though Moriarty helped by penning the additional seasons, it's not the same as using the original material.</p>
<p>
While we'd love to know how the Delaneys fared after Joy returned or if Savannah ever resurfaced, we're unsure if there's enough drama for more seasons.</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/the-delaney-siblings/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--An0XOQwv--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271156/the-delaney-siblings.jpg" data-pin-description="Did Peacock's Apples Never Fall Honor Liane Moriarty's Novel?" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/did-peacocks-apples-never-fall-honor-liane-moriartys-novel/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--lyXPAUIQ--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710271156/the-delaney-siblings.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="The Delaney Siblings"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Sometimes, it's best to end it as a binge-able limited series and let viewers' imaginations figure out alternate endings.</p>
<p>
What did you think, TV Fanatics?</p>
<p>
Did you think Apples Never Fall honored Liane Moriarty's novel? Did you find the competitive sibling dynamics realistic?</p>
<p>
We want to hear your thoughts, so let us know in the comments below.</p>
Laura Nowaktag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078542024-03-16T00:06:48-04:002024-03-18T08:21:48-04:00Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present<p>
Frank faced a tough decision, but did he do the right thing in the end?</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/blue-bloods/episodes/season-14/past-is-present/">Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4</a> forced him again to confront the tragedy of his son Joe's death. Everyone's emotions were running high, but Frank developed a novel solution that displayed the empathy his critics claim is non-existent.</p>
<p>
Meanwhile, Danny got caught up in trying too hard to help a troubled teenager, but what does this mean for him going forward?</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/jamie-worries-about-henry-blue-bloods-s14e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--DodRuKdz--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351790/jamie-worries-about-henry-blue-bloods-s14e4.png" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6_-pRYGj--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351790/jamie-worries-about-henry-blue-bloods-s14e4.png" class="lazyload" alt="Jamie Worries About Henry - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Unsurprisingly, Danny's troubled kid was Trina, the girl from <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/blue-bloods/episodes/season-13/collision-course/">Blue Bloods Season 13 Episode 14</a> who got caught with. a body in her trunk. But this time, the roles were reversed.</p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
Instead of Baez wanting to help the girl while Danny's suspicious meter was set to 10,000, this time, Danny was the one who had a soft spot for the kid. What was going on with that?</p>
<div style="max-width:383px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/investigating-the-webseries-blue-bloods-s14e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--tzjaigHl--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710352173/investigating-the-webseries-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Ltq8J8iy--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710352173/investigating-the-webseries-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Investigating the Webseries - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Danny claimed he wanted to treat her with the kindness she'd never experienced before, but Baez was right that he was acting like a surrogate parent.</p>
<p>
It's too bad that this NYPD exists in a separate universe from the one on <a href="https://tvfanatic.com/shows/law-and-order-svu">Law & Order: SVU </a>because Danny and Olivia Benson could benefit from the same support group for cops who want to be social workers!</p>
<h4>
Who Was Trina, Anyway?</h4>
<p>
Although there were a few references to having helped Trina in the past, Blue Bloods didn't make it clear what her story was.</p>
<p>
Last time around, she'd crashed into Danny and Baez's car while high, and they found a body in her trunk. At the end of a convoluted story, she snitched on the real killer -- that's who Jayden was.</p>
<div style="max-width:350px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/facing-the-past-blue-bloods-s14e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--S3oitC-y--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710352130/facing-the-past-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--KctFHojP--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710352130/facing-the-past-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Facing The Past - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
This story was a great follow-up, though it seemed odd that Danny took such an interest in Trina. He had next to no use for her during her original appearance, and the feeling appeared to be mutual.</p>
<h4>
Danny's Been Questioning His Future</h4>
<p>
After Linda died, Danny planned to remain a widower forever like Frank had done, but recently, he admitted he would like a new relationship but doesn't want to risk getting hurt again if the person dies.</p>
<p>
One of his sons is gone, and the other is a young adult with his own life -- could Baez be right that Danny wants to parent Trina, and that's why he got so involved with her?</p>
<p>
Let's hope she doesn't pop up again. She made Danny look bad by stealing money from a guy he got to give her a job. She got involved with the bad crowd she was supposed to stay away from, so she wasn't headed anywhere good even before Jayden came back into the picture.</p>
<div style="max-width:336px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/webseries-interview-blue-bloods-s14e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--TdeI9Go9--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710352074/webseries-interview-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--VvVh72OE--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710352074/webseries-interview-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Webseries Interview - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Why did Danny and Baez fall for the <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/13-tired-tropes-tv-can-turn-on-their-heads/">tired TV trope</a> of a perp asking to go to the bathroom so they could escape? It was obvious what Trina intended, and these two aren't rookies!</p>
<p>
Someone should also do something about the cop escorting her being so inept that she quickly overpowered him and took his gun. Considering that she didn't know how to use it, everyone is lucky that this didn't end tragically.</p>
<h4>
Danny Was Also The Only One With Compassion For McFadden</h4>
<p>
The name Sonny Malevsky brought up strong feelings for everyone, and with good reason. When Malevsky killed Joe Sr., he took a son, brother, and father away from his family.</p>
<div style="max-width:363px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/protective-of-his-grandfather-blue-bloods-s14e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--4DP8KX9D--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710352039/protective-of-his-grandfather-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--KY2Wl1Tu--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710352039/protective-of-his-grandfather-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Protective of His Grandfather - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
But no one was thinking clearly.</p>
<p>
<blockquote>
<p>Frank: How would you feel if you met him on the street?<br>Erin: I'd feel fine... after I punched him in the nose.<br>Frank: But why?<br>Erin: Because of who his father is. The apple can't fall far from the tree, and that fruit is poisoned.</p>
<ul class="details hidden-print">
<li>
<i class="fa fa-link"></i> Permalink: <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/because-of-who-his-father-is-the-apple-cant-fall-far-from-the-tr/">Because of who his father is. The apple can't fall far from the tree, and that fruit is...</a>
</li>
<li>
<i class="fa fa-calendar"></i> Added: <time datetime="2024-03-15">March 15, 2024</time>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
</p>
<p>
Erin's comments were especially annoying. It made no sense to assume that McFadden, who was a kid at the time Joe was killed, had become a cop because he was a troublemaker like his father.</p>
<p>
I hope she's fairer toward criminal defendants than she was to this guy, whose only transgression was keeping his birth name secret so that Frank would consider his application to join the NYPD.</p>
<p>
Ironically, no one would have found out his true identity if he'd sucked it up and accepted Frank's commendation in person. Frank only learned who he was because another cop spoke up about why McFadden was absent.</p>
<div style="max-width:392px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/protecting-a-troubled-kid-blue-bloods-s14e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--BSXTmzBp--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351974/protecting-a-troubled-kid-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Q4UykLMy--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351974/protecting-a-troubled-kid-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Protecting A Troubled Kid - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Shouldn't his birth name have popped up during a background check? There's no way the NYPD would have hired him without one.</p>
<p>
Details like that made this situation seem contrived, but that's a minor issue. Once Frank became aware of who this cop was, he had an emotional decision to make.</p>
<p>
I'm surprised Garrett was squarely on the side of firing McFadden. Wouldn't that have been a public relations nightmare?</p>
<p>
The NYPD didn't need headlines in the Ledger suggesting that <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/frank-reagan/">Frank Reagan</a> fired a cop who had recently helped a pregnant victim deliver her baby to settle an old score.</p>
<h4>
Frank Eventually Made the Right Decision</h4>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/reconnecting-with-a-troubled-kid-blue-bloods-s14e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--FkfIiZ0t--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351921/reconnecting-with-a-troubled-kid-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--3NBlKTAz--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351921/reconnecting-with-a-troubled-kid-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Reconnecting With a Troubled Kid - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Frank grappled with whether to fire the cop for lying on his application by not sharing his birth name. This technicality irritated me even though I understand why the NYPD needs former names.</p>
<p>
Criminals should not be able to change their names and become cops. But it felt like Frank was debating whether to punish a cop who had kept his name change secret to protect himself from prejudice.</p>
<p>
In this case, Frank knew the cop was not a criminal and was one of his best officers, so it felt like the rule wasn't meant to catch people like him. But Frank couldn't ignore it, either, because the rules have to apply to everyone equally.</p>
<p>
Bringing Joe Hill in to talk to McFadden was a brilliant solution. Frank could gauge what kind of person McFadden was based on his interactions with the son of the man McFadden's father had killed, and McFadden passed that test with flying colors.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/a-painful-situation-blue-bloods-s14e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--wgtNzATS--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351856/a-painful-situation-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Cjbijt0V--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710351856/a-painful-situation-blue-bloods-s14e4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="A Painful Situation - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
As I suspected, McFadden was little more than a kid when his father killed Joe Reagan, which was another reason not to judge him solely by his father's misdeeds.</p>
<p>
Fortunately, Frank realized that after witnessing the conversation with Joe Hill, who was surprisingly mature about the whole thing.</p>
<p>
Joe has never been one of my favorite characters because he's a lone wolf who often has a negative attitude toward the Reagans. However, this time, he handled the situation calmly and had the humility to admit he had no idea what to do.</p>
<p>
Frank also demonstrated again that he's one of <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/slideshows/31-of-the-finest-gentlemen-on-television/">TV's finest gentlemen</a> by allowing Joe and McFadden to address each other's pain instead of rushing to judgment.</p>
<h4>
Henry Got A Chance To Shine</h4>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/trying-to-help-tess-blue-bloods-s14e3/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--A-fL2Rz6--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709148206/trying-to-help-tess-blue-bloods-s14e3.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--CJ63XD5Z--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709148206/trying-to-help-tess-blue-bloods-s14e3.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Trying to Help Tess - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 3"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Henry hasn't had much screen time lately, so I was thrilled he had a side story.</p>
<p>
He and Jamie have gotten into it before. Jamie almost always underestimates Henry, and this was no exception. Henry turned the tables on a reporter looking for a dramatic story of police misconduct.</p>
<p>
I applauded Blue Bloods for touching on the subject of the race for clicks. This is a massive problem with media, regardless of where it lands on the political spectrum.</p>
<p>
Journalists' priorities are often stirring up drama and getting clicks and ratings rather than reporting the truth, which can lead to biased pieces reinforcing the audience's beliefs.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/investigating-a-tricky-case-blue-bloods-s14e2/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--rEAxjLyh--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708542843/investigating-a-tricky-case-blue-bloods-s14e2.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--6la3Z-a---/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708542843/investigating-a-tricky-case-blue-bloods-s14e2.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Investigating a Tricky Case - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 2"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
This is one of the driving factors of the polarization and inability to agree on the facts in the United States, and Blue Bloods called it out gently.</p>
<p>
Blue Bloods isn't afraid to support the police even though that's unpopular in some parts of American society. I loved Henry's advice to Alison and the speech he gave.</p>
<p>
Alison could have painted him in a terrible light. Henry was commissioner when civil rights weren't considered as important as getting bad guys off the street. </p>
<p>
Police officers in his day were allowed to beat confessions out of suspects and otherwise violate their rights, so a biased reporter could have easily used that to paint Henry as a demagogue and an example of what's wrong with police culture.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/talking-to-a-rape-victim-blue-bloods-s14e2/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--LWO0ptff--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708542751/talking-to-a-rape-victim-blue-bloods-s14e2.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--YtIWFX8u--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708542751/talking-to-a-rape-victim-blue-bloods-s14e2.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Talking to a Rape Victim - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 2"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Instead, Henry got her to understand a different perspective, and now there's a potentially viral clip of him explaining why police work is important. Go, Henry!</p>
<h4>
Who Shot At Erin Was Less Important than Vengalis Bothering Her</h4>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/characters/erin-reagan-boyle/">Erin Reagan's</a> storylines are often the least compelling of the hour, and this one was no exception. The Vengalis stuff was mainly silly, and the case was wrapped up quickly after the same idiot tried to run Anthony over and got himself arrested.</p>
<p>
There was little investigating, so viewers didn't get to follow along and try to guess who the bad guy was. The answer was tacked on, along with a threat of more Vengalis bothering Erin.</p>
<div style="max-width:400px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/danny-helps-jackie-blue-bloods-s14e2/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--h9WcBZFE--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708542716/danny-helps-jackie-blue-bloods-s14e2.jpg" data-pin-description="Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/blue-bloods-season-14-episode-4-review-past-is-present/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--7oApXXOL--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1708542716/danny-helps-jackie-blue-bloods-s14e2.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Danny Helps Jackie - Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 2"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
What did you think, Blue Bloods fanatics?</p>
<p>
Has Danny gone soft? Did Frank make the right decision? And did anyone like Erin's storyline?</p>
<p>
Hit the big, blue <em><strong>SHOW COMMENTS </strong></em>button and let us know!</p>
<p>
<em><strong>Blue Bloods airs on CBS on Fridays at 10/9c.</strong></em></p>
Jack Oritag:www.tvfanatic.com,2005:Post/1078002024-03-15T22:00:00-04:002024-03-16T12:12:32-04:00Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns<p>
As we've discussed in our previous <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/02/fire-country-season-2-episode-2-review-like-breathing-again/">Fire Country reviews</a>, if the current season has a fatal flaw, it's the writers' apparent desire to cram 22 episodes worth of drama into a season that's been shortened by the writer and actors' guild strikes.</p>
<p>
In fairness, recent episodes have delivered some of the series' most gripping action sequences to date, but we can't help but think that all of this breakneck pacing is coming at the expense of characterization.</p>
<p>
So it was a welcome change of pace when <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/fire-country/episodes/season-2/too-many-unknowns/">Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4</a> opened with Bode and Cole spreading homemade skunk repellant and discussing their kids instead of their recent brushes with death (of which there have been many).</p>
<div style="max-width:520px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/bode-and-cole-on-fire-country-s2e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--bzUFMm82--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709832358/bode-and-cole-on-fire-country-s2e4.jpg" data-pin-description="Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/fire-country-season-2-episode-4-review-too-many-unknowns/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--0wNr5oDw--/t_xlarge_l/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709832358/bode-and-cole-on-fire-country-s2e4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Bode and Cole on Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
And the focus on non-flammable matters continues as Vince and Sharon work to rebuild their relationship, and <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/gabriela-perez/">Gabriela</a> celebrates getting one step closer to becoming a licensed medic.</p><div id="stp_target"></div>
<p>
But the job is never far from these folks' minds, so it comes as no surprise when Eve receives a troubling letter and shares her concerns with Manny.</p>
<div style="max-width:399px;margin:0 auto 10px;text-align:center;" class="thumbnail">
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/sharon-by-her-engine-fire-country-s2e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--GTabpIzi--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710531803/sharon-by-her-engine-fire-country-s2e4.jpg" data-pin-description="Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/fire-country-season-2-episode-4-review-too-many-unknowns/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--xDm1u0Ee--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710531803/sharon-by-her-engine-fire-country-s2e4.jpg" class="lazyload" alt="Sharon By Her Engine - Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
It seems that Cole, Bode's friend and former cellmate, is a convicted murderer, and his victim's family is protesting his placement at Three Rock.</p>
<p>
Now, this is the kind of storyline we look for from this show.</p>
<p>
As thrilling as the recent action set-pieces have been, the thing that sets <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/fire-country/">Fire Country</a> apart from other first-responder dramas is its thorny premise:</p>
<p>
It's a show that asks us to root for society's most marginalized figures and urges us to believe that no one is beyond redemption.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/eve-edwards/">Eve Edwards</a> believes in the importance of the work that she's doing, but the moral complexities of her position are not lost on her.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/manny-enters-the-fray-fire-country-s2e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Pf3p0SCl--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835338/manny-enters-the-fray-fire-country-s2e4.png" data-pin-description="Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/fire-country-season-2-episode-4-review-too-many-unknowns/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--2T4Q30YD--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835338/manny-enters-the-fray-fire-country-s2e4.png" class="lazyload" alt="Manny Enters the Fray - Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4"></div></a>
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<p>
And Manny is happy to be able to wash his hands of her present predicament.</p>
<p>
From there, Jake finds himself in a similarly sticky situation, as Genevieve reveals that she wants to visit Bode, who may or may not be her father (but, let's face it, almost certainly is).</p>
<p>
In a scene reminiscent of the goat scare from the beginning of <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2023/01/fire-country-season-1-episode-10-spoilers-bodes-ex-girlfriend-is/">Fire Country Season 1</a> (hey, network dramas can be forgiven for going back to the same wells. Those are tall episode orders!), Bode and Cole experience some comic relief in the form of a run-in with a skunk.</p>
<p>
Bode then receives word that Genevieve wants to visit him, and we learn that Jake is planning to pop the question.</p>
<p>
Okay, this show never really stops to catch its breath, but the pacing here is downright deliberate compared to what we've seen so far this season.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/jake-looks-concerned-fire-country-s2e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--D1lp6FKF--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835228/jake-looks-concerned-fire-country-s2e4.png" data-pin-description="Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/fire-country-season-2-episode-4-review-too-many-unknowns/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--HCqNDFDZ--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835228/jake-looks-concerned-fire-country-s2e4.png" class="lazyload" alt="Jake Looks Concerned - Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4"></div></a>
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<p>
But it wouldn't be an episode of Fire Country if we didn't have an emergency of some kind before the opening title card, and this time, there are several in rapid succession:</p>
<p>
A manganese-fueled fire breaks out at a chemical plant; a young girl gets lost in the woods; <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2023/02/fire-country-round-table-why-is-bode-so-annoying/">Bode</a> oversteps his bounds by trying to help, and Genevieve looks on aghast as her dad (yeah, we're just calling him her dad at this point) gets disciplined by a surly guard.</p>
<p>
Oh, and inside the chem plant there's a dude stuck under a shelf and several other employees trapped in an inaccessible room.</p>
<p>
Hey, it's not like we wanted this show to slow the pacing down <em>forever! </em>We just wanted some time to catch up with the characters!</p>
<p>
And with that, we're off to the races.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/bode-does-some-coloring-fire-country-s2e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--En964Pde--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835673/bode-does-some-coloring-fire-country-s2e4.png" data-pin-description="Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/fire-country-season-2-episode-4-review-too-many-unknowns/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--AEIekO3y--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835673/bode-does-some-coloring-fire-country-s2e4.png" class="lazyload" alt="Bode Does Some Coloring - Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4"></div></a>
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<p>
Folks, without delving too deep into industry jargon, your standard hourlong network primetime dramas can be usually be divided up into procedurals and nighttime soaps.</p>
<p>
Fire Country straddles the line between the two, and we'd like to pause and credit the writers for continually coming up with unique emergency scenarios that also underscore the interpersonal turmoil that's keeping these characters up nights.</p>
<p>
Last week, <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/vince-leone/">Vince Leone</a> healed his marriage by using his words to help guide Sharon through a crisis.</p>
<p>
This week, Bode explores his conflicted feelings over learning that he might be a father by interacting with young Isla, the lost girl who won't talk to anyone but him.</p>
<p>
He extracts valuable information from Isla, but just as importantly, he walks away from their interview confident that he has the skills necessary to be a good dad -- even though he's currently locked up, and he spent most of his daughter's life thinking she was just an ex's kid.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/sharon-suits-up-fire-country-s2e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--h6fIQeEu--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835576/sharon-suits-up-fire-country-s2e4.png" data-pin-description="Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/fire-country-season-2-episode-4-review-too-many-unknowns/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Az2TvK-0--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835576/sharon-suits-up-fire-country-s2e4.png" class="lazyload" alt="Sharon Suits Up - Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Speaking of infusing action scenes with a touch of humanity, the plant fire turns out to be complicated for reasons other than the presence of weird chemicals.</p>
<p>
The guy stuck under a shelf responded in homophobic fashion when his brother (who's also trapped in the building) came out, and now he's pleading with our heroes to rescue him so he can make amends.</p>
<p>
And Bode finds out that Genevieve was standing just feet away when he was restrained by a guard earlier.</p>
<p>
It wasn't his fault this time, but Cara makes a valid point when she reminds him that she's been hearing such excuses from him for years.</p>
<p>
The fact that Cara goes from stressing over Bode's behavior to stressing over Jake's contamination reminds us how weird it is that pretty much everyone on this show works alongside an ex or significant other -- but hey, nighttime soaps are gonna nighttime soap.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/manny-prepares-fire-country-s2e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--DxfoTf-T--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835428/manny-prepares-fire-country-s2e4.png" data-pin-description="Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/fire-country-season-2-episode-4-review-too-many-unknowns/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--lWE9Fzi_--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835428/manny-prepares-fire-country-s2e4.png" class="lazyload" alt="Manny Prepares - Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4"></div></a>
</div>
<p>
Perhaps anticipating that criticism, the writers have Gabi point out to Diego that spouses working together in emergency situations probably isn't the best idea. If only someone had told Vince and Sharon that years ago!</p>
<p>
Sharon urges <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/characters/jake-crawford/">Jake</a> to learn from the lesson of Shelf Guy and not wait too long to express his true feelings to Cara.</p>
<p>
Now, using emergency situations to explore the emotional lives of the characters is what this show does best, but the connection in this case is a bit of a reach -- and about as subtle as the chemical explosion that follows.</p>
<p>
Fortunately, the scene in which Eve dings Cole for fist-bumping a civilian offers a lot more in the way of nuance and moral ambiguity.</p>
<p>
And the scene in which Cole shares his low point with Bode is made all the more poignant by the viewer's knowledge that he's soon to be kicked off the crew.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/eve-fights-fire-fire-country-s2e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--CnKHnanS--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710532095/eve-fights-fire-fire-country-s2e4.png" data-pin-description="Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/fire-country-season-2-episode-4-review-too-many-unknowns/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--Na6NuLMo--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1710532095/eve-fights-fire-fire-country-s2e4.png" class="lazyload" alt="Eve Fights Fire - Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4"></div></a>
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<p>
We then get another healthy dose of moral ambiguity when Cole endangers the life of Green Glasses Guy by following Eve's orders.</p>
<p>
The ensuing rescue effort shows Eve that the line between <a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2022/11/fire-country-adds-a-redemption-arc-to-the-firefighting-genre-but/">inmates and firefighters</a> is a blurrier than she thought -- and, well, it's not really clear how she could've been in this line of work for so long and not realized that before, but it's a powerful scene nonetheless.</p>
<p>
Thankfully, a sequence in which we're led to believe that Bode might have punched his ticket is cut short.</p>
<p>
TV writers are savvy enough nowadays to know that audiences don't actually believe they're gonna kill off a lead character a quarter of the way into the show's second season.</p>
<p>
Dude goes on to pledge his love for Gabi while still regaining consciousness. From there, he underscores Eve's lesson about treating inmates like humans when he receives a grateful phone call from Isla's mom.</p>
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<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/gallery/jake-suits-up-fire-country-s2e4/"><div class="image_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:0%;"><img data-pin-media="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--cUoRJXBl--/t_full/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835485/jake-suits-up-fire-country-s2e4.png" data-pin-description="Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns" data-pin-url="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/03/fire-country-season-2-episode-4-review-too-many-unknowns/" data-src="https://tv-fanatic-res.cloudinary.com/iu/s--UvPZkeGQ--/t_xlarge_p/cs_srgb,d_tv-fanatic-placeholder-square.png,f_auto,fl_strip_profile.lossy,q_auto:420/v1709835485/jake-suits-up-fire-country-s2e4.png" class="lazyload" alt="Jake Suits Up - Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4"></div></a>
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<p>
Yeah, no way is a show gonna randomly kill off a guy who's currently juggling like 16 different storylines!</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tvfanatic.com/2019/12/our-favorite-procedurals-of-the-decade/">Procedurals</a> and nighttime soaps both tend to stick with the proven formulas more often than not, but the good ones can still surprise you with moments of genuine humanity.</p>
<p>
Take, for example, the back-to-back scenes in which Cole clashes with Eve, and Bode pleads his case to an unconvinced Cara. All four parties are making solid arguments and offering relatable perspectives!</p>
<p>
Then Diego butts in, and the forest gods punish him by hurling a tree in front of his ambulance. Hey, nighttime soaps are gonna nighttime soap! But we're sure Bode will be fine. The show has too much invested in him!</p>
<p>
What do you think, TV fanatics? Did Fire Country mess up a solid episode with an overly bonkers ending? Hit the comments section below to share your thoughts.</p>
Tyler Johnson