Paul and Caroline Daley review TV - Handmaid's Tale | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | This Is US | Westworld | Stranger Things

Our dumb pooch from last week's podcast gets his own episode in the week's "Lost Boy". And what does he do with it? He makes his character deeper and harder to figure out mostly. He also kills a guy and lies to his parents about it. Spoiler Alert.

We have one member of the Bowman clan, Maddie, doing everything she can to stay out of enemy crosshairs and another, Bram, doing everything he can to stay firmly inside them.

This week, Maddie had to make a choice between a life with Nolan, the Green Zone, status, and perceived safety -and- her sister Katie. She didn't even think twice. From Maddie's point of view, Katie put her in harm's way when she stole the file from Nolan's computer. It's not like she -wants- Katie to burn... But it's turned into one of those "it's better her than me," situations for her. Whether or not her conscience will rise up in her and cause her to change course is anyone's guess, but I think things in the Green Zone would need to get a LOT worse before that happens.

The Big 3 (Will, Katie, and Broussard) all had an action-oriented misadventure where we got see Will mow down a couple Blackjack enforcers and a Blackjack Lieutenant use human technology to control a drone strike. Will wants to leave more than ever now, but Broussard, having just learned that Will appears on an international Wanted List, insists on laying low. Their difference in opinion is only getting started.

Bram is a headache. In flashbacks and early season one episodes we get the sense that he's been a headache for a while. Now, after just returning home from a stint at the labor camp, he jets as soon as no one is looking. That's the crap a headache of a person would pull. I don't get the sense he's planning on coming back at this point. He's allowed himself to be sucked in by this season's mastermind: The Cardinal (aka Karen, aka Frankie's mom). Listen to the podcast as Caroline explains Bram's headspace as a person with survivor's guilt AND get Caroline's review of the techniques abusers use to groom their victims. This is the same stuff the Cardinal does to Bram.

We have one member of the Bowman clan, Maddie, doing everything she can to stay out of enemy crosshairs and another, Bram, doing everything he can to stay firmly inside them.

This week, Maddie had to make a choice between a life with Nolan, the Green Zone, status, and perceived safety -and- her sister Katie. She didn't even think twice. From Maddie's point of view, Katie put her in harm's way when she stole the file from Nolan's computer. It's not like she -wants- Katie to burn... But it's turned into one of those "it's better her than me," situations for her. Whether or not her conscience will rise up in her and cause her to change course is anyone's guess, but I think things in the Green Zone would need to get a LOT worse before that happens.

The Big 3 (Will, Katie, and Broussard) all had an action-oriented misadventure where we got see Will mow down a couple Blackjack enforcers and a Blackjack Lieutenant use human technology to control a drone strike. Will wants to leave more than ever now, but Broussard, having just learned that Will appears on an international Wanted List, insists on laying low. Their difference in opinion is only getting started.

Bram is a headache. In flashbacks and early season one episodes we get the sense that he's been a headache for a while. Now, after just returning home from a stint at the labor camp, he jets as soon as no one is looking. That's the crap a headache of a person would pull. I don't get the sense he's planning on coming back at this point. He's allowed himself to be sucked in by this season's mastermind: The Cardinal (aka Karen, aka Frankie's mom). Listen to the podcast as Caroline explains Bram's headspace as a person with survivor's guilt AND get Caroline's review of the techniques abusers use to groom their victims. This is the same stuff the Cardinal does to Bram.

The jig is officially up on the Bowmans' double life. They had a sense about it when the day started, but what else could they do except play along? Will bobs and weaves super effectively though. He picked up his tail, he led the redhats away from Katie and Broussard, and he used the pilot to stall for time until a refreshing, orange opportunity presented itself. That guy is good.

The introduction of the pilot and her people opens up the show quite a bit. Previously this season we found out about the larger Global Authority government. Now, we've seen that there are also resistance groups on the the other side of the wall. This raises all kinds of questions (which I am sure will not be answered satisfyingly any time soon). I'm really intrigued by the world-building aspects of this part of the story, like if the continents aren't honeycombed with colonies, then what is happening outside those walls? Who governs there? Do the hosts even bother the people outside the walls? Did they already make a sweep trying to neutralize the people outside the wall? Maybe the colonies captured large population centers and left more rural parts alone... Aren't those rural parts where we keep our ICBM silos, hidden under corn fields? It feels like there's a lot more story now, but it's outside the bloc.

Alas, poor Burke! We knew ye as much as we wanted and that was plenty. Here at Daley Review HQ we're hoping our benevolent hosts don't resort to any heroic measures when it comes to saving Burke's life. It looked pretty messy from our seats. Definitely didn't look like anything Burke had anticipated. Shouldn't have brought a magazine to a broken bottle fight, Burke old boy.

The jig is officially up on the Bowmans' double life. They had a sense about it when the day started, but what else could they do except play along? Will bobs and weaves super effectively though. He picked up his tail, he led the redhats away from Katie and Broussard, and he used the pilot to stall for time until a refreshing, orange opportunity presented itself. That guy is good.

The introduction of the pilot and her people opens up the show quite a bit. Previously this season we found out about the larger Global Authority government. Now, we've seen that there are also resistance groups on the the other side of the wall. This raises all kinds of questions (which I am sure will not be answered satisfyingly any time soon). I'm really intrigued by the world-building aspects of this part of the story, like if the continents aren't honeycombed with colonies, then what is happening outside those walls? Who governs there? Do the hosts even bother the people outside the walls? Did they already make a sweep trying to neutralize the people outside the wall? Maybe the colonies captured large population centers and left more rural parts alone... Aren't those rural parts where we keep our ICBM silos, hidden under corn fields? It feels like there's a lot more story now, but it's outside the bloc.

Alas, poor Burke! We knew ye as much as we wanted and that was plenty. Here at Daley Review HQ we're hoping our benevolent hosts don't resort to any heroic measures when it comes to saving Burke's life. It looked pretty messy from our seats. Definitely didn't look like anything Burke had anticipated. Shouldn't have brought a magazine to a broken bottle fight, Burke old boy.

After last week's explosive climax, I thought the LA bloc would be in store for hellish retribution. We got to meet a recently-minted Proxy Alcala in Governor General Helena Goldwin's damage control meeting. Is he another Greatest Day true believer, or cunning opportunist? In this world, at these levels, I'm going with opportunist. Damage control meeting or no, the real decision-making power lies with a higher (literally, greater altitude from the surface of Earth) authority.

Former-proxy Snyder was super-busy over at the labor camp trying to erase any proof the conspiracy originated at the labor camp. He operates with a level of ruthlessness we need to remember he's capable of. Perhaps when he was selected as the first LA bloc proxy, this was one of the skills he was chosen for. Something about what he knew to be the seriousness of the crime and the finality of host punishments made me question his sanity a little after the fact. If you missed it, spoiler alert, the hosts obliterated the labor camp and everyone there, staff and inmates. Helena started a daisy chain of "you owe me ones" when she rescues Snyder and then when he in turn rescued Bram. I've always thought Snyder would be with our heroes in on e way or another until the end. Will Helena be with him?

Caroline enjoys the heck out of watching Josh Holloway clear a room. I agree with her. He is pretty convincing as he goes around killing the Red Hand assassins in his home. He was a couple minutes late to save Lindsey (RIP), but I think Charlie might have murdered her pretty soon anyway. Lindsey was a pain, but we'll miss Erin Way, the actress that played Lindsey. She's been very interactive with fans on Twitter and it's a shame to see her go.

Busy, exciting episode and we still have 5 to go!

After last week's explosive climax, I thought the LA bloc would be in store for hellish retribution. We got to meet a recently-minted Proxy Alcala in Governor General Helena Goldwin's damage control meeting. Is he another Greatest Day true believer, or cunning opportunist? In this world, at these levels, I'm going with opportunist. Damage control meeting or no, the real decision-making power lies with a higher (literally, greater altitude from the surface of Earth) authority.

Former-proxy Snyder was super-busy over at the labor camp trying to erase any proof the conspiracy originated at the labor camp. He operates with a level of ruthlessness we need to remember he's capable of. Perhaps when he was selected as the first LA bloc proxy, this was one of the skills he was chosen for. Something about what he knew to be the seriousness of the crime and the finality of host punishments made me question his sanity a little after the fact. If you missed it, spoiler alert, the hosts obliterated the labor camp and everyone there, staff and inmates. Helena started a daisy chain of "you owe me ones" when she rescues Snyder and then when he in turn rescued Bram. I've always thought Snyder would be with our heroes in on e way or another until the end. Will Helena be with him?

Caroline enjoys the heck out of watching Josh Holloway clear a room. I agree with her. He is pretty convincing as he goes around killing the Red Hand assassins in his home. He was a couple minutes late to save Lindsey (RIP), but I think Charlie might have murdered her pretty soon anyway. Lindsey was a pain, but we'll miss Erin Way, the actress that played Lindsey. She's been very interactive with fans on Twitter and it's a shame to see her go.

Busy, exciting episode and we still have 5 to go!

Last episode we had bookend scenes concerning Simon and his poor mum. This episode, we had another storytelling device (foreshadowing), but they tweaked it a little to keep the audience guessing. The sequences of Frankie prepping that nameless dumbass for his day in the sun and Maya's get-ready routine with Bram were mirrors. Caroline and I agree that a storytelling opportunity was missed though by keeping Bram in the camera's focus without a break. Wouldn't it have been a little more exciting if the ship had exploded and we didn't know where Bram was? We think so and wouldn't have required much more than more clever editing.

We also got to see what Will's new work situation is -really- going to look like with Bob "the jerk" Burke as his partner. If the constantly looking over his shoulder and needing to keep one hand on a firearm at all times don't appeal to him, there's the executions and torture to look forward to. I'm convinced Burke was a complete nobody before the Arrival. I don't want to denigrate any specific loser-ey type profession by saying Bob was a fill-in-the-blank, but... I think he's getting a chance to work out a lot of pent up aggression from a previously unfulfilling career. Homicidal, insane vocal inflection-filled aggression.

I mean, really! Did he think just putting the emphasis on a different word was going to yield a different result? WHO leads your cell? BLAM. Who LEADS your cell? BLAM. Who leads your CELL? BLAM. It's fair to say Bob was only 1 for 2 on the day's total interview count.

In all, peeves aside, a LOT happened this episode. The Resistance blew up a ship! Yay? LA was already on probation from that "Total Rendition" vote. How's that going to play? AND... Will is ready to throw in with the Resistance. But really, I think regardless of affiliation, Will's first plan is going to be get the family out of the bloc. I bet that's what we see in episode 8.

Last episode we had bookend scenes concerning Simon and his poor mum. This episode, we had another storytelling device (foreshadowing), but they tweaked it a little to keep the audience guessing. The sequences of Frankie prepping that nameless dumbass for his day in the sun and Maya's get-ready routine with Bram were mirrors. Caroline and I agree that a storytelling opportunity was missed though by keeping Bram in the camera's focus without a break. Wouldn't it have been a little more exciting if the ship had exploded and we didn't know where Bram was? We think so and wouldn't have required much more than more clever editing.

We also got to see what Will's new work situation is -really- going to look like with Bob "the jerk" Burke as his partner. If the constantly looking over his shoulder and needing to keep one hand on a firearm at all times don't appeal to him, there's the executions and torture to look forward to. I'm convinced Burke was a complete nobody before the Arrival. I don't want to denigrate any specific loser-ey type profession by saying Bob was a fill-in-the-blank, but... I think he's getting a chance to work out a lot of pent up aggression from a previously unfulfilling career. Homicidal, insane vocal inflection-filled aggression.

I mean, really! Did he think just putting the emphasis on a different word was going to yield a different result? WHO leads your cell? BLAM. Who LEADS your cell? BLAM. Who leads your CELL? BLAM. It's fair to say Bob was only 1 for 2 on the day's total interview count.

In all, peeves aside, a LOT happened this episode. The Resistance blew up a ship! Yay? LA was already on probation from that "Total Rendition" vote. How's that going to play? AND... Will is ready to throw in with the Resistance. But really, I think regardless of affiliation, Will's first plan is going to be get the family out of the bloc. I bet that's what we see in episode 8.

This was an entertaining episode to watch, but it should give you some pause for some brain-thinking. Who cares about BB? Morgan does, but who cares about Morgan? The audience? I think we're indifferent to her/them. So why spend a whole episode on BB choking up his own guts?  There's something we're supposed to learn here. The most accessible part of the lesson is that something having to do with the Hosts is radioactive and harmful to us. We saw a guy in the factory get dragged off last season when he started to cough up blood. Being a worker at the factory, it's safe to assume he was waist-deep Host-iness. Now we have BB, simply fiddling with alien tech also coughing up blood. OG-Morgan (last season's) said something to the effect of, "are the host's suits protecting them from us, or us from them." I think we're getting that answer this episode. It may be too bad for the Bowmans that they burned their one doctor friend on trying to save BB.

Also, the bookend scenes should give you a creepy shudder. German goons storm a refugee-looking camp to find Simon's mom. At the end of the episode, Simon sees her face on a wanted poster (well, several of them) on the other side of the world in the LA bloc. The Authority wants Simon off the board -that- bad. Maybe that put a fresh light on Broussard's command that he should stay put in their bunker (especially considering the posters, found right outside his door, were probably hung by red hats).

Like I said, an entertaining watch, but Team Daley was left with one huge, unanswered question: Who was watching the kids!?! The fired Lindsey and both parents were gone the whole day!