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The Wheel of Time's exemplary freshman outing ends with a bang with Rand taking centre stage in the conflict with the Dark One. I am beyond impressed with the Dark One's subtle manipulation and seductive behavior. Fares Fares brought his A game for this final episode, managing to be both chilling and charming at the same time. Hopefully this isn't the last we see of him.
Rand certainly gets the quieter, more introspective part of the finale, spending most of it trapped inside a dream world with Egwene and their possible future child. Even from the beginning, he doubted it was real because Egwene would never give up wanting to go to the White Tower and become an Aes Sedai but it took him a while to see the truth past his own dreams of a peaceful and happy life.
The Dark One plays off these dreams masterfully, trying to convince him to make it real and give into the Shadow. He made it sound so reasonable and innocent as well and even I half believed it as I was watching.
The battle for Rand's soul was suitably tense and ultimately he used the sa'angreal Moiraine gave him and channelled his magic to attack the Dark One. I'm not a big fan of that smirk on his face as he vanished and this is definitely proof that this isn't the Last Battle as Moiraine had believed.
Rand ends up departing for parts unknown, afraid that the inevitable madness the saidin brings will make him hurt the people he loves. It's the kind of noble thing Rand would do and I look forward to the inevitable moment everyone finds out he is not in fact 'gone', as Moiraine so elegantly put it.
Elsewhere in the episode an army of Trollocs and Fades descends on Fal Dara, laying waste to everything in its path. Egwene and Nynaeve team up with a few other channellers to become the last line of defence for the city. They end up drawing on too much power and burning from the inside out.
Nynaeve proves once more how badass and powerful she is by sacrificing herself to save Egwene and you know, I was pretty sure she died. 100% dead. So unless I'm 100% mistaken, Egwene brought her back to life? Seems like there should be some kind of consequence for that in the second season. Unless I misread the scene of course.
Perrin meanwhile briefly discovers the Horn of Valere, a powerful artefact, before it falls into the hands of Padan Fain who is revealed to be a Darkfriend. He tells Perrin that he came to the Two Rivers because it is highly unnatural for five ta'veren (people who can reshape the Pattern, changing the course of the other threads the Wheel weaves) to be found in one place. It is good to know that even though four of them aren't the Dragon Reborn, they still have an important part to play in the fate of the world.
It's an interesting ending for the show to leave us on while we wait for the second season. Rand and Mat are loose in the world though the latter looks to be back in Shadar Logoth, I assume to seek out more of the darkness like an addiction. It was good to have one final glimpse of Mat before the actor change and I'm excited to see where his character goes in the next season.
I'm looking forward to Moiraine's storyline as well now that she's been cut off from the One Power and it'll be interesting to see how she reforges her connection to it. And then of course there's the mysterious and enigmatic ending of a fleet of ships arriving, using a host of channellers to create a gigantic wave and I'm sure their significance will become more apparent when the show returns.
What did you think of the season finale of The Wheel of Time? Impressed with how the first season went? Which storylines are you most looking forward to seeing play out in the next season? Sound off in the comments below and see you in season 2!
The 2021 SpoilerTV Advent Calendar Countdown - December 24th
This year, once again, the SpoilerTV team came together for the holidays to share our wishes for the new year. Every day two of us will share what we asked for for the new year and maybe beyond... And we are eager to see what's on your lists, so please, share your wishes in the comments bellow !!
December 24
Jessica C - An Upstead Wedding
Prpleight - When I first started working from home, I started rewatching beloved series. I, eventually, got around to re-watching Eureka. My Christmas wish would be an update TV Movie...just to check in on the citizens of Eureka. One more wacky adventure.
December 23
2021 has been an amazing year to be a Marvel fan, from WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier to Shang-Chi and No Way Home. All I can wish for is for 2022 to be just as awesome... especially the Doctor Strange and Black Panther sequels, please be good, Marvel does not have a good track record with sequels as is...
Alajandra Gil - I wish for more lesbian weddings in both movies and tv.
December 22
Cecile - Make medical shows good again
Laura Wanberg - Ted Lasso Emmys Schweep 2022
Like Schitt's Creek's Sweep in 2020, I would die to have Ted Lasso sweep all of the major categories at the 2022 Emmy's. Because it's good, of course, but also because it deserves it. The show is wonderful and the cast is wonderful and all around it deserves an insane amount of recognition, even if that requires an entire Emmy's Sweep.
December 21
Lisa Macklem - Christmas Specials
Shirleena - Saved by the Bell
If there is a third season of Saved by the Bell, I hope there is more of Zack and Kelly storylines. I know it is not about the older generation, but I use to watch that show when I was a young child, and it just makes me happy to see them back. Also, I would like to see Slater and Jesse be together. They were great together back in high school, although they did fight a lot back then. But now, they both have grown up a little bit and Slater is no long a "sexist pig."
December 20
Eve - Someone to be happy on Succession?!
Laura Wanberg - Revel in the Short Movie
Suddenly, what feels like overnight but surely isn't, it seems as if every movie being released is two hours or longer. Remember the days when a movie was 120 minutes on TV, with commercials? Those were the days. Bring back 70-90 minute movies.
December 19
Lucas O.G - The game begins where you end and ends where you began
Thomas Cori - The new and improved Charlie's Angels
Though remakes aren’t always the most popular thing, there were talks of a Charlie’s Angels remake over at CBS led by Peter Lenkov. Obviously, I don’t want to support anything by him in the future, but a meaningful, female-led show would be so great and could be a good way to subtly discuss the recent changes in our society a-la- Mary Tyler Moore.
December 18
Lucas O.G - The price of getting what you want...
Folie-lex - TimxLucy AND/OR MagnumxHiggins to become canon
For four seasons now Tim/Lucy (on the Rookie) and Magnum/Higgins (on Magnum PI) have been dancing around each other. Each show started out their season with positive indications on those fronts only to have things thaw off as we hit the tail end of the fall. I think it's about time my two major ships on my two favourite procedurals (and I would argue the main romances/ships on either show that are of the biggest draws on either show) to gain some proper traction on screen, instead of stringing and baiting the fans along.
December 17
Lisa Macklem - Bridgerton Save Us!
Thomas Cori - Yet another remake!
Another show that could be very successfully re-made is the A-team, now, I, like many people who grew up watching it, love this show, but it has a lot to update and amend for to stay relevant in future years (amongst which were some black face and obvious anti-Asian racism). I also love team-as-family dynamics on TV and since Hawaii 5-0 and MacGyver were cancelled, I’ve been needing my fix !
December 16
Ali - Let’s Make a Deal
Beth - My wish is for Voight on Chicago PD to finally be punished for all he’s done. No more getting out of it! It is more than time that he pays for his crimes.
December 15
Darthlocke - Evil
Lucas O.G - A Christmas Gift
This December, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist is getting a Christmas movie, and as far as I know, if it's successful enough, we may get a third season after all, on Roku Channel this time. That's my wish for next year: another season of this wonderful, emotional show.
December 14
Eve - Wheel of Time to be the next Game of Thrones
Dahne - The Equalizer
I adore Robyn but I would also love a background episode focusing on Harry and Mel. Those two are adorable and I find myself very curious about their lives before they became a two-person support team for Robyn. Also, I think adding more flashbacks of the three of them working together would flesh out their characters more as well.
December 13
Lucas O.G - It's always someone you know
Darthlocke - Star Wars 2022
For the first time ever there is going to be a lot of Star Wars on TV next year, but it's taken Disney-owned Lucasfilm some time to get their ducks in row. I don't really have a specific wish for any known specific show, only that I hope that they are successful, being able to give different kinds of SW fans a little of something for everyone.
December 12
Folie-lex - Hoping Commandos & Dragons finds international streaming distribution
Lucas O.G - Keep your kisses to yourself
I wish for more movies or series adapting Arthurian legends. Regarding this, the New Camelot Trilogy by Sierra Simone would be an appealing choice. Especially when I remember how successful Bridgerton was; maybe some streaming could pick Simone's work and develop it into a show full of fantasy, drama, and erotic romance. Personally, I'd watch it without a second thought.
December 11
DJRiter - The Dynamic Acting Duo of Chyler Leigh and Melissa Benoist
The dynamic between these two actresses often elevated Supergirl scenes to something very special. Now that the show has ended and they are no longer playing the heart and soul of the show Danvers sisters, it would be amazing to see them work together again as soon as possible.
Lucas O.G - More projects involving the Scarlet Witch
Among other things, WandaVision was about Wanda Maximoff becoming the Scarlet Witch. Since then, I want to know if Marvel will ever give us a Scarlet Witch show or movie. I wish for any of these projects, movie or TV series, to be announced next year.
December 10
Ali - Size Matters
Alajandra Gil - Honestly my biggest wish for tv/movie related content is for remakes to stop altogether.
I’m sure there are original ideas out there that deserve to be heard and given a chance, I’m so tired of seeing the same idea recycled every few years. I just want new things, all the time.
December 9
Chloe - Abby and Co. in The Last of Us
When The Last of Us airs, I hope we get to see Abby, her dad and Owen guest star in the hospital arc that will inevitably happen in the final stretch of episodes. I wouldn't be averse to the rest of the Salt Lake Crew from The Last of Us Part 2 making an appearance either. It would make sense considering the overlap in Abby's story and Joel and Ellie's and it would be pretty cool to get a live-action glimpse at some of part 2's major and supporting players and start planting the seeds for any future seasons of the show.
Lucas O.G - Mirror Mirror
I would be so happy if a new season of Black Mirror was announced by Netflix next year. I'm not a big fan of season five, though, so if it ever happens, I hope the new content will be as remarkable as the previous seasons are.
December 8
Bex Wright - My wish is for season 4 of Hudson & Rex to end with a big, real Sarah/Charlie (Charah) moment.
These characters have grown close enough now that having them date other people is just stalling. It's dragging out the slow burn beyond the necessary point. Charah fans will still tune in once their ship is together, because there's so much fun to be had in watching two characters navigate a new relationship - and, beyond that, the majority of us aren't here solely for the UST.
I point to ships like Densi (on NCIS: Los Angeles), who continue to melt us to this day. End of year 4 is the perfect time for Charah to take that next step.
PS: I spoke to Rex and he agrees.
Dahne - The Big Leap
I have been surprised at how much I enjoy The Big Leap. One of the biggest surprises has been Mike's 3 friends. They are the exact opposite of what you normally see on TV when talking about blue collar bar buddies. It's been so refreshing that I am rooting for a spin-off of them.
December 7
Lisa Macklem - More BOYS!
All I want for Christmas, is more boys - THE Boys. Love this series from the cursing to the fighting to the music. I'm confident that Eric Kripke will deliver a third spectacular season of this show - so I can't get it soon enough - and I'm hoping that the "rumor" on Twitter that it's already been renewed for season 4 - which will start filming in 2022 - is true!
Chloe - Kanan Jarrus Flashback in Ahsoka
With the recent casting announcement of Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren and the hunt for Ezra Bridger continuing on from the end of Star Wars Rebels, is it too much to hope for at least one Rebels oriented flashback with the whole crew. I'm specifically hoping for Kanan though as I would kill to see my favourite Star Wars character in live-action. (As an aside, can we get Rahul Kohli for Ezra please? He'd be a perfect fit).
December 6
Giulia - Alias 2.0
In the age of reboot, it would be nice to see my favorite show being revived with new storylines and characters, with the original cast members being part of the story. I know that Jennifer Garner and JJ Abrams have been discussing a possible return to the Alias universe and I am here for it. I'm just waiting for that news to drop. Can you imagine how thrilling and exciting it would be, maybe with Sydney's daughter? I'm already in front of the TV watching.
Lucas O.G - More shows like Chucky and Dickinson
At first sight, I feel no one would say these two shows are alike. However, for me, they both represent some of the best qualities a show can have, as stories so unapologetically conscious of where they want to get, all while being creative, queer, funny, surprising, and deeply touching. That's why I wish for more shows like Chucky and Dickinson next year.
December 5
Raina - New "The Haunting of...." TV show, please!
I loved The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor and would be thrilled if there was another show in the works. Hill House was the perfect amount of horror and drama. Bly Manor was emotional and heartbreaking. Fingers crossed they announce a new "The Haunting of..." TV show in 2022!
Thomas Cori - A good reason for me to brag about knowing the books (for once)!
I’ve been re-discovering the SIGMA book series by James Rollins and falling in love with its intelligently put together spy stories, tied to historical events all over again. Though the project to make a movie out of it seems to have fallen apart, I can’t even begin to explain how amazing a SIGMA TV-series would be, especially on streaming with a larger budget!
December 4
Maximilian - Grey's Needs to Un-ban the Last OG
While Grey's Anatomy has welcomed back everyone from T.R. Knight, Patrick Dempsey, Isaiah Washington, and most recently Kate Walsh, one former series regular remains noticeably absent – Katherine Heigl. For whatever reason, Shonda seems to still hold a grudge, and I'm ready for that to end. There would be no possible bigger Grey's event (especially if this is the final season!) then an episode featuring the return of Alex and Izzie.
Katherine's treatment was largely unfair, and I'd even argue that she was ahead of her time and punished for many things that she'd be championed for today (calling out unfair work hours for cast/crew, refusing to be silenced when T.R. was called a homophobic slur, etc.).
Naomi Anna - The Flash
So, last year I am pretty sure I wished that the show would tighten up and that the main ship would get some much needed face time. Season 7 was a total bust, so I am here again begging for a full retooling of the show. What I've seen of the special 5 episode event makes me more hopeful that I'll get my wishes. High on my list are Barry showcasing his powers AND independence. Iris getting the Lois Lane treatment and an interesting/sinister villain. Is this really too much to ask after 7 years together Flash?
December 3
Dahne - Universal Streaming Service
My biggest TV wish of all would be to have one large streaming site where I could watch all the things I am interested in instead of a hundred little sites with each only having a few things I am interested in.
Laura Wanberg - More Themed TV Episodes, Please!
Even if it's a crazy dramatic show, can we have one episode a season that's themed somewhere? Halloween, Christmas, even Valentine's Day! Some of the best episodes of TV are ones that are themed, because holidays are a time when people are overjoyed and (usually) filled with happiness. Show me my favorite characters celebrating Christmas, damnit!
December 2
Lucas O.G - More Carlos, please!
When it comes to 9-1-1: Lone Star, my wish is simple: more Carlos. While I think his relationship with T.K. is compelling and beautiful to watch, I want to see more of Carlos as an individual: his work as a police officer, his relationship with his family, or even his bonding with other characters such as Paul, Marjan, Tommy, and Nancy. Anyway, if we think of Carlos as this show's equivalent of Athena, he could receive more major, significant plots.
Chloe - More Sihtric Screen time on The Last Kingdom.
Yeah, so my favourite character in The Last Kingdom is kinda niche and hardly ever gets storylines. I'm not holding out much hope that will change in the final season but it would be nice for him to have something to do, you know? As a treat. And if not, maybe the movie that's been announced? I'll even settle for more of his dynamic with Finan, I'm not picky.
December 1
Folie-lex - Wishing that David Aja gets proper credit and compensation from the Hawkeye TV show.
Yes Disney+ 's Hawkeye is mainly inspired by the Fraction-Aja run of the property... but the fact that the show has ripped off David Aja's artwork and style, shamelessly flaunting it, and coasting on the absolute talent of the man while he gets no credit or money for it is a travesty, that I think a multi-billion dollar company like Disney can afford to rectify.
Lucas O.G - I gave you a rare gift. But you didn't want it.
I'm wishing for many announcements next year, but none of them surpass my need for a fourth season of Hannibal. I love this show so much, and I'm eager to see Hugh Dancy, Gillian Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, and Mads Mikkelsen on my TV again as these powerful characters.
The penultimate episode of The Wheel of Time ratchets up the drama and tension as our group of travellers gets ever closer to the Eye of the World and the fate that awaits them there. Much of this tension comes from the lack of knowledge over who the Dragon Reborn is. Is it Mat who decided not to come with them? Nynaeve who seems to be one of the most powerful people in the world? Or is it really none of them and Moiraine has had it wrong this entire time?
The episode starts with their journey through the Ways, a dark and winding path haunted by Machin Shin, the Black Wind, which is drawn to the One Power. After encountering a Trolloc, Egwene uses the One Power to repel it and then the race is on to get to the closest Waygate before Machin Shin can get to them. In a fraught scene, Machin Shin taunts our heroes with their greatest fears and nightmares before Nynaeve repels him in yet another stunning display of the One Power and Moiraine opens the Waygate to Fal Dara.
The strongest thing this episode does is build on and develop the relationships between the Two Rivers' companions, giving them much the same kind of focus that Moiraine had in the previous episode. Much of the tension and conflict stems from Mat being left behind. Rand is his staunchest supporter, stubbornly refusing to see that Egwene was right that he left them.
Nynaeve, as a protector, also struggles with the fact that they lost Mat and is afraid of losing everyone else, especially considering that it's highly likely anyone who's not the Dragon Reborn will die if they enter the Eye of the World. It is especially sad then that after a big fight in which Rand accuses Egwene of not caring about Mat and Nynaeve accidentally reveals Perrin's crush on Egwene, they all go separate ways, leaving Nynaeve alone.
She ends up following Lan around as he departs to meet with a family who treat him like their own. It is revealed that he grew up in Fal Dara after his kingdom, Malkier was lost to the Blight and that he is the last surviving member of the royal family. This provides another emotional level of insight into his relationship with Moiraine with her giving him a purpose and a place to belong after he lost everything.
I'm loving the relationship development between Lan and Nynaeve as well. She becomes softer and a lot less guarded around him and he becomes more playful in a nice contrast to his usual stoic demeanour. Daniel Henney and Zoë Robins are two of the biggest powerhouse performers on this show so the sparks are always brightest when they're sharing the screen.
The biggest reveal of the episode comes towards the end when we finally learn the identity of the Dragon Reborn. From a combination of Machin Shin's whispers and his own memories, Rand learns that he has the ability to channel, recalling slamming down the door way back when he was trapped with a Darkfriend while also realising it was him who saved them from the Trolloc rather than Egwene. Fresh off this revelation, the episode ends with Moiraine and Rand leaving everyone behind to head to the Eye of the World but I don't get the feeling the rest of them are just going to sit around and wait.
Heading into the finale, this show keeps going from strength to strength, weaving everything together with flawless flair. We're finally introduced to Min, a fan favourite from the books who can see the patterns in the Wheel, effectively looking into the future of our characters, including an ominous warning that the Amyrlin Seat will be Moiraine's downfall. We also learn that Trollocs have been travelling through the Ways which is how they've been getting around unseen while Perrin thinks he catches a glimpse of peddler Padan Fain.
Fain was also seen briefly during Rand and Mat's arrival in Tar Valon a couple episodes back. With the characters presuming him to be dead however, it begs the question as to why he keeps popping up wherever they go (he was definitely the figure who emerged from the Waygate after them, right?).
What did you think of the episode? Happy with the development of Lan and Nynaeve's relationship? Surprised by the reveal that Rand is the Dragon Reborn? What do you think the significance of Padan Fain's random appearances is? Sound off in the comments below!
The
Flash’s 5-episode Armageddon event ended this week. We
saw DC’s finest teaming up and fighting it out for the fate of the world. Our
SpoilerTV roundtable will let you know if Armageddon lived up the hype or if it
simply fizzled out?
1. Did you favorite heroes meet your expectations?
2. If you had to give Despero a villain rating from 1-5, 1 being terrible and 5 being amazing, what would you give him? Why?
3. Eobard Thawne turned out to be up to his old tricks in trying to destroy Barry , but Damien Darkh took a different path in Armageddon. What did you think about how their storylines played out?
NaomiAnna- I was not excited at the idea of Thawne, but I do love that he changed
the timeline to steal EVERY part of Barry’s life- even making him the villain.
Giving Barry the chance to don the yellow Reverse Flash suit was pretty bad
ass.
4. Did any episode, scene, and/or character stand out to you in a good way? Which one(s)? Why?
NaomiAnna- Of course, the gold boots were epic! It was great to see Flash as an
independent and powerful hero with all kinds of speed tricks up his sleeve. I
also loved seeing Ryan and Iris’ friendship. I hope that it can be developed on
the respective shows this season.
5. Was there anything that you could have done without? Anything the creators could have added to make the event better?
6. In one word, describe your final reaction to Armageddon.
Performers Of The Month - November 2021 Results
The results will be revealed in a YouTube Premiere event and we look forward to having all of you join us for the reveal of the extraordinary Top 5 for each side and the brilliant winners. You can join via the YouTube link below. We look forward to finding out what you all think about the results. After the premiere, the video will be available immediately following the broadcast.
Another wild ride this month. The Reader side had one leader dominant for the majority of the voting round and they looked like they had the win locked in, however, one nominee trailed close the whole time but didn't seem to have the momentum to overtake. Then in a wildly unexpected turn of events, the Reader leader changed and the nominee who had been trailing in second took the lead and the prior leader just ran out of time to retake the lead. The Staff side was a wild slide of performers coming in and out of the Top 5. The winner wasn't even locked in until the final minutes of voting. Who do you think won on both sides? Take some time to post your thoughts in the comments while you wait for the announcement to start.
Thank you to everyone who turned out to vote and participate this month. This was another hard month to determine which comments to use. The quality of the comments this month was on a whole new level. Each month the comments have grown better, but this month definitely delivered some of the very best.
Now, for the fun part, either join us live or check out the video below after the live broadcast has completed to see which of the Top 5 from each group won in their competition. After you watch the video, drop on down to the comments and let us know your thoughts regarding the winners and their amazing fellow nominees.
The winner slides will be available on Twitter and Instagram immediately following the premiere. All of the winner slides will be available on my Twitter. If you utilize any of these slides beyond a RT or share, please provide appropriate credit to SpoilerTV.
Please click on this YouTube link to go directly to our channel if the below link won't work for you.
PREMIERE AT 6 PM ET/3 PM PT/11 PM BST
SPOILERTV POTM RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT - Video Version
Day of the Dead - To Anyone Who Can Hear My Voice & Death Comes to Paymart - Double Review
To Anyone Who Can Hear My Voice
This episode is mostly concerned with getting us up to date with the flashforward we saw in the pilot episode with a little bit of reconciliation along the way for Cam and Luke. It's kind of sad to see McDermott reaching out for Cam when everyone else is pulling Cam away but I think there's an interesting reunion on the cards for the finale.
The group of Luke, Cam, Lauren, Jai and Paula run into Sarah and after a brief fight in an ale house, the group sans Sarah is picked up by Cleargenix and Cam notices that a dead body comes to life after being doused by a water hose. This strikes me as another new sort of twist to the zombie genre. It's just a shame that the show just feels too lifeless and inconsistent for these twists to make much of an impact.
Back in Paymart, the survivors are experiencing a moral dilemma concerning letting in any more survivors after the zombies start getting closer, delivering Bobby, the sniper guy, an ultimately fatal bite. This is another blow to Jai, inspiring him to go on the rescue mission to get Cam and Luke in order to feel like he can still save people and get a win over the apocalypse.
Other survivors come knocking after the lockdown comes into effect, leaving the group divided. Amy and Captain Pike are on the side of letting them in but Paula's political rival, Pops, is adamant that if they open the doors, it will effectively kill them all. Pike holds him at gunpoint but can't pull the trigger and they're forced to listen as the men outside get torn apart. This leads to Pike having an emotional breakdown in probably the best performance of the episode.
Death Comes to Paymart
So the best character in the whole show gets killed off. That sucks. But Jai did go out a hero, effectively sacrificing himself to kick open the vent and release the exhaust fumes. I hoped there was some way for him to survive but no such luck. Fortunately a couple of the other characters like Amy and Lauren are becoming more and more dynamic and interesting. Not interesting enough to fill the void left by Jai, but it'll have to suffice for the final episode.
Speaking of Amy, she is having the worst day out of everyone. She's lost her best friend, her mother, her father and her newlywed husband all in the space of a few hours and she doesn't even know that last one's dead yet. They have just piled the trauma on this girl, but she seems to be getting stronger because of it. She's not the same person she was when we first saw her during wedding preparations.
Captain Pike continues her guilt fueled breakdown by trying to force herself to kill a girl with the loosest possible connection to the deaths of Pops and Herb. She wants to feel like she's done something to protect the survivors in the face of letting two men die in the previous episode. She ultimately doesn't go through with it, but her line, "All this death. What's one more life?" gave me chills with the broken, hopeless way it was delivered.
Meanwhile before getting locked in a room and almost gassed to death, Cam, Lauren and Jai realise that the zombies have all been coming back to life after coming into contact with water. There were sprinklers on at the graveyard, there was a man watering the grounds at the golf club and Lauren washed down the dead body in the morgue.
But the water problem is going to have to wait until they've saved the other survivors from Cleargenix who are on their way to Paymart to continue to cover up their crimes. I am a little confused as to Cleargenix's role in this mini-apocalypse. Perhaps I missed something in an earlier episode but did they release the virus on accident or was it their purpose and intention all along? Perhaps we'll find out in the finale.
The Hitlist - Amy's asshole dad bites the bucket twice, once by dying of his wound sustained in an earlier episode and then again from being impaled on a bit of metal. I like how cathartic it was for Amy to beat up her zombified father, she really needed that.
Pops also dies in a bit of a non-event which is fine because the only character who was more annoying than him was Shaun. Now all that's left is for Rhodes to die and the hitlist will be complete (Paula was also on the hitlist but the show seems determined to redeem her so she's probably not going to die).
What did you think of these episodes? Gutted Jai's dead? What do you think is in store for the final episode? Sound off in the comments below!
The season finale of Chucky brought everything that a strong finale should to the table. It began to plant seeds for future storylines for the series to explore, as well as offering closure to some of its current characters who have been tortured by the killer doll. The young cast who has been involved throughout the series led the emotional finale, making their talent another huge takeaway.
It all comes down to this; in “An Affair To Dismember,” the seven-episode journey Chucky has taken fans on came to a head. Along the way, viewers have seen everything from clever kills to emotional character moments that filled the series with plenty of unexpected heart. Last time around, we argued that the show has struggled to balance its focus on new characters and its utilization of the franchise’s past. It was fair to hope that the season finale would finally find a solid middle ground between the two, and in the end, it delivered the best compromise hardcore fans and casual viewers alike could hope for.From start to finish, characters from the past and present play meaningful parts in the story, both to help Chucky’s evil plot and to hurt it. As seen in the previous episode, Charles Lee Ray’s mission is centered around his ability to splinter his soul into multiple bodies. In fact, he intends to branch out into dozens of Good Guy dolls in order to produce an army of evil killing machines. This time around, the viewer gets a much-needed explanation as to how Charles can do such a thing. (Nica Pierce is an exception to the rule; otherwise, his spirit can only enter identical Good Guy dolls.) For a franchise that’s admittedly based on a bizarre concept to begin with, lumping another method to the madness into the mix is not a big ask. Instead, giving fans a clearer picture of the mythos makes the show stronger as a whole.
One of the best aspects of the finale has nothing to do with the episode itself; the day before the show aired, Chucky was greenlit for a second season. So this eighth episode had the chance to plant some seeds for the future. Most notably, it establishes a new potential antagonist moving forward. When Andy Barclay first arrived in the series, it seemed like he was destined for one final showdown with Chucky, and he gets it here. Kind of. He helps save Devon from Chucky’s clutches before the franchise OG is seemingly killed off. Andy comes back near the end of the episode, and he initially helps Jake and his friends save the day. But the surprising return of another familiar face derails his intent to stop Chucky once and for all. With a gun pointed at him, Andy gets roped into the doll’s vile scheme against his will.
The last time we see Andy, he’s literally riding off into the sunset, not as a hero, but as an unwilling accomplice that might be forced to help Charles carry out his vision after all. This visual, along with previous teases that Andy might not purely be a good guy beneath the surface, leads the viewer to wonder if he might ultimately turn to the dark side. If so, he’d be a compelling villain for the second season, as he knows Chucky better than anybody. Jake and his friends barely stopped the doll this round; with Andy potentially on his side, Chucky might just be unstoppable. For now, let’s focus on the present and the way Chucky‘s season finale executed the specific story that kicked off in the pilot. In the first episode, the show set Jake up as a killer-to-be, as he was clearly ripe for the picking for someone like Chucky to give him one final push toward madness. Since then, viewers have seen Jake come frighteningly close to giving in and unleashing his inner monster. But eventually, he defied the killer doll’s manipulation; powered by his own desire to be a good person and aided by a budding friendship (and romance) with Devon, Jake finds the strength to do the right thing and fight Chucky.
Like Junior and Tiffany, Lexy, Devon, and Jake all have their own emotional struggles throughout the episode. After the Charles Lee Ray house is blown up following the arrival of Kyle and Andy, Jake and Lexy believe that Devon is one of the fatalities. Fortunately, he isn't, but that isn't revealed before Lexy and Jake are able to showcase their own emotional range. Jake has an intense scene wandering Devon's vacant room, clouded with guilt for bringing him into this danger. Devon makes his appearance soon after and the two share a heartfelt reunion. Lexy's own emotional battle begins with Devon but doesn't take its full form until the climactic event that is the charity screening of Frankenstein.
The charity event is the pinnacle of "An Affair to Dismember." For the event's celebrity guest, the Mayor introduces Jennifer Tilly, who announces that she will be giving Good Guy dolls away to sick children across the world. During her speech, Junior lures Lexy away by pretending to be in danger because of one of the dolls. This leads to an emotional exchange between the two, where Lexy reveals that she loved Junior because he was always innocent and good, the perfect contrast to her once horrid and cold behavior. This scene is arguably one of Lexy and Junior's best scenes throughout the entire series, as it feels incredibly raw and real. It also reminds viewers where these characters began and how they've developed over the series, which has been remarkable. Junior is then reminded of his parents and becoming the man that they would've wanted him to become. Once Chucky barks another order at Junior, telling him to kill Lexy, Junior stabs him instead. The moment is soon ruined by the shock that Chucky also managed to stab Junior, killing him.
This arc concludes in “Affair To Dismember,” both as it relates to Jake’s romance with Devon and his battle with Chucky. Jake and Devon finally kiss, and in the final showdown (for now) between the doll and his former owner, Jake ironically shows Chucky the killer he always thought the boy was. At the climax of a fight between the two, Jake brutally squeezes Chucky until his eyes pop out of his head. Here, it’s clear that Jake has embraced exactly who he is, warts and all, and that’s a powerful message to send. But any celebration of his victory over Chucky won’t last long; with the knowledge that the series will return for a second season, viewers know that it’s only a matter of time before Charles seeks revenge as he always does.
Following the climactic scene are the beautifully crafted clues for future storylines. Andy is also revealed to have survived the explosion at the house and hijacks the truck filled with Good Guys dolls. As he cruises down the road, he is then held at gunpoint by the Tiffany doll (marking her first appearance in the television series). Nica is shown to have suffered an unimaginable fate because of Tiffany and Chucky's battle over her body, as Tiffany has now amputated both of Nica's arms and legs. Perhaps the most mysterious piece of the finale is the owner of the gloved hand seen watching over Lexy, Devon, and Jake as they leave flowers on Junior's grave. While it could be Kyle who is thought to have died in the explosion, there is also a chance that this could be another character from Child's Play coming to join the fray.
All in all, “An Affair To Dismember” wraps up Chucky‘s first season. It doesn’t conclude the story in a neat little bow, but that’s most definitely a good thing. By leaving distinct loose threads at the end of this episode, the series leaves the fans eagerly waiting for the next adventures of Jake, Charles Lee Ray, and this colorful cast of characters. In the moment, this finale successfully closes up the opening season and sets the stage for what promises to be an equally captivating future. "An Affair to Dismember" ends with a scenic and incredibly comedic narration from Chucky where he recaps his 21-victim kill count. With all the events that take place within Chucky's finale, the development of Lexy, Jake, Devon, and Junior is the true highlight. None of these characters end in the same place that they began in, as Lexy has found a true sense of belonging with Devon and Jake. They have all experienced an insurmountable amount of loss in a short time period, making their fates in Chucky's second season an interesting point to uncover. Junior's own emotional journey has a tragic end, but it is a fitting end given the trajectory his character was headed toward following the loss of his mother. The trauma Chucky has put them through will bond them for the rest of their lives, and unfortunately, that trauma is just getting started.
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