heavenly44

 I haven't posted in awhile since my computer has been out of commission. I have been think a lot lately about my creative influences or entertainment that has had a profound impact on my life. So, I came up with this meme

Name:

1. An album that had a profound effect on you
2. A movie that means something to you
3. A book that changed your life

#1)  Whitney Houston's self-titled debut album. It just means so much to me on so many levels, but above all its what helped me meet my bestfriend. We are still close today cause I was sitting on my front step with my brothers boombox (Yes that ages me) listening to my brand new tape of the album and belting away (albeit badly) to Greatest Love of All. She came up started singing along and a life long friendship was formed with a pair of erstwhile six year olds.

#2) This one is harder since there are a lot of movies that mean something to me, but the one I feel like that's truly stuck with me over the years is "Leaves of Grass" You are probably wondering why a depressing love story from the sixties means something to me. I think it was due to who shared it with me. My father took me to an old theatre in my hometown when I was 14 to see this movie. At the end, we talked about our favorite parts. I think I was struck by Natalie Woods performance the most. She was such a tragic figure and I thought the love story while sweet was like a side plot. I was totally obsessed with how it had ended on such a bittersweet note.

#3) The Native Son. It embodies that sort of dark underbelly of racism. How black people are not allowed dignity and there is this part of us that wants to seek revenge for crimes of others. But, if anything it was an interesting analysis of the racial structures that still impact our society today.

 I am not sure what timeless is but a lot of people are sad that it got canceled.

As for Renewals, I am not sure how I feel about the originals being picked up since I am only on episode 7. I am so happy about Riverdale, Jane the Virgin, The Flash, and Empire all being renewed. Now I have a new show to add to my roster: The Resident. It has Emily Van Camp and Matt Czuchry. Love both of them so I am super stoked about that.

I thought I would place all my reviews for this week in one post. 


The Flash

This episode was a bit of a downer, but the glaring costume changes really took a big part of the emotional impact away for me. I just couldn't see past the awful wig placed on Grant Gustin's head. I thought he did a great job playing present day Barry who was overtaken with emotion by seeing how broken his future self is. But, I wasn't really feeling emo Barry. I felt bad for him but much like the end of s1, beginning of s2, he was far too up his own ass to see that he was neglecting the city and Joe/Wally. My heart broke to see what had become of Wally. I was amazed that Joe was able to hold it together at all. Poor Cisco lost his hands yet managed to keep a sense of hope. Team Flash really means so much to him. 

Caitlin, I like her when she's just scientist, but this bad ass evil wannabee just isn't working. I keep seeing the disney princess popping through. I have a theory about who Savitar is, but I am probably wrong since my speccing skills are so rusty. If I had to guess, I'd say its Ronnie or Eddie. I am not sure which one, but I think Ronnie is too easy so I'd say Eddie. 


Empire

Finally Angelo and Cookie are done. I just don't like him. He's a nearly fifty year old mama's boy. That's just straight up weird, plus he had every sign in the world that she wasn't done with Luscious. I hope they actually get together and she stops whining about the 17 years cause one) it was her idea two) she's always going to go back to Luscious. I want to know who this Nia Long character is. She seems sketchy af. Also its just an excuse to do a new triangle. I hope there is some pay off for all this heavy handed drama. I also think that Andre is going to end up sleeping with Anika. 

I don't know what he is on about tbh? I just don't get his motivation. IF he is pissed about Rhonda he should be taking it out on Anika and not his father unless this is just another pissing contest between Luscious and his boy. 
 
Okay back to Angelo and Cookie. A public proposal? Really? What the hell was he thinking? They haven't even been together long enough to justify something like that. Also his verbal assault on Cookie? Um no! She owes you nothing! You didn't have to do those things, you chose too. Also check your mic dumbass. I just can't feel sorry for someone who let an innocent girl drown and still acts holier than though. Luscious is a snake, but at least he knows he is snake and doesn't act like he is a good guy. 

Either way, it should be interesting what comes next especially now that Guiliana is in the picture. Will Cookie fight for Luscious or go back to swearing at his existence.

Riverdale

This show has really become my new guilty pleasure. Betty and Jughead are definitely giving me Dan and Serena feels (albeit they are less sexual than those too were). I loved Betty's declaration that she loved Jughead. I have been fearing the reemergence of the love triangle from the comic books and thus put off watching this episode. Apparently, there was nothing for me to worry about because Betty was all about Juggie and couldn't care less about Veronica/Archie in a romantic sense. She was merely mad at them for trying to dig up dirt on FP because she saw it as a betrayal of Jughead. Jughead is such a hot-head. He needs to trust in Betty's feelings for him and stop projecting his insecurities on to her.

I love FP. He is sketchy, but there is still something so endearing about him. Alice is fifty shades of cray cray. Hal can join her in that realm. 

Speaking of cray--omg those wigs. Creepy as all hell. I still think Mr. Blossom is the actual crazy one. 

Polly is dumb. Real dumb.

I don't know what to think about Cheryl. One minute I feel for her, the next I want her to take a flying leap.

Veronica and Archie were cute trying to do the sleuthing thing, but JB did it better. I do like their chem though. Archie actually seems like he is genuinely into her.

Other than FP/Hal/ Alice I have like 0 interest in the Adults. I am not interested in the romantic quandries of dylan mckay.


Pretty Little Liars

Um I don't know who AD is, but they are creepy as all hell. Poor Emily. Why is she stuck in this love triangle from hell?
Spencer needs to ease up on Veronica, the woman took you in and loved you despite the fact that you were the love child of her husband and some rando crazy chick.

 

This new Netflix Series is something people can't seem to be talking about and for good reason. It's thought-provoking and tells a story that very much needs to be told. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of this show and how I feel about the tapes, I must address the fact that this show was very hard for me to get through on a personal level. I am going to lay these facts out there not because I want attention or for people to feel sorry for me, but to address the magnitude of sexual violence and how much it seeps into every part of you. You can recover, but it will always be a part of you. I am not going to lie and say that I have never contemplated suicide I have. But, for the same reasons I hated how the Reign rape sl was framed, I was glad that they addressed the rapes in question. It wasn't used as a plot point to move along a love triangle or to create angst for a couple, but it addressed the very real experiences that many young women face today. Hannah was slutshamed and eventually raped before eventually taking her life. Her counselor told her to either have hard facts or get over it. I think for me that was the most shocking part of his whole show-- the suicide wasn't all that graphic or triggering for me as an individual, but the rape scenes were. The way they focused in on Hannah's face during her rape was so heartbreaking that it tore into me, but what was even more horrific for me was how Mr. Porter treated her afterwards. It brought back the very nightmare of what I had endured after I finally told someone. 

The whole idea that she had these tapes were she indicted all these people for big and small crimes was disturbing and annoying to me at first until I got to the last episode and I suddenly understood why she did it? She needed to understand how she got to where she was and if she could stop herself from doing the inevitable. Did the others all deserve to get those tapes?Some yes, others no. But, it was her truth to tell and tell it she did. I am still a little bothered that a lot of Hannah's story circled around Clay and his feelings for her. But, the tapes helped in restructuring the pov to Hannah's. 

I really didn't appreciate the show trying to make me feel sorry for Justin. I felt 0 empathy for him. He allowed his girlfriend to be raped and then hid hit from her all in the name of protecting her. Justin was a grade A Asshole. Bryce was also typical and if there is  season 2, I hope they stick it to the asshole real good. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the show for what it was: a chilling exploration into the ramifications of bullying, sexual violence and suicide.