Squawking Dead

These Fragile Lives continues the trend of attempting to move several storylines across a very short period of time: which makes for a really good bite-sized watch, but doesn't leave a lot of room for analysis (the ol' "wait-n-see, DAVE!"). Will Elgin, Sara Meyers, and Victor Kavanaugh save the town or die trying? Will Fatima Stevens become one of the THEY in FROMville? Or will Officer Acosta (assuming that's her real name) just go full Abby Stevens on everyone?

The penultimate chapter of The Book Of Carol allowed us to go even deeper than we thought: Laurent Carriere's lot, clarity on Carol Peletier, Daryl Dixon's destiny, sympathy for Stéphane Codron, Losang's lost balance, and even an amusing Ash Patel.

Every character who appears in this episode is being tortured. Even Dave goes from absolutely believing that Fabby/Fatri/Fom (Fake Abby Stevens/Father Khatri/Bartender Tom) were merely agents of distraction to incredibly annoying information brokers. If this place can alter reality on a whim, does anything anyone try to do to escape FROMville really work?

I LOVE splitting the room, but this episode really divided #TWDFamily! Carol Peletier finally reaching Daryl Dixon was inarguably what we all wanted: It's what/who was sacrificed to get it. But this episode matured after every watch: to the effect of turning what might've been initially perceived as one of the worst episodes of the season to - quite surprisingly - the best.

Everything, including this episode, looks better in the light of day. Nobody can catch a break, as we reel from one crisis/fatality to another. Boyd Stevens incrementally unravels. Bonds that (we thought) grew stronger start to buckle. Victor Kavanaugh reunites with his father, but even that proves to be a grandiose distraction (among many others) keeping he and Sara Meyers from finding Jasper (Christopher's dummy).

This episode contains a tremendous amount of momentum occurring over a very short period of time! Tabitha Matthews, Officer Acosta, and Randall all look as sus as Sara Meyers, now. Speaking of Sara, Victor Kavanaugh and she look like they're about to make a big mistake, speaking to Christopher's ventriloquist dummy. And is Elgin the demon baby in Fatima's belly (currently being fed Nicky's guts)?

After deliberately writing Daryl Dixon (AKA Peter Pan) & Isabelle Carriere (AKA Wendy Darling) into a corner, the writers constructed a narrative whereby Carol Peletier (AKA Tinkerbell / Fée Clochette) is, quite literally, their only way out. Losang, 3 strikes and you've fallen from grace. Marion Genet shows us how overlooked everyone can be... but like Losang (and many TWDU villains), she takes it too far.

Another shorter-than-normal episode (the ladies are not only funnier than Dave, but more efficient)! This episode contains many layers and an abundance symmetry, firmly rooted in Rene Descartes' phrase Doubt is the Origin of Wisdom. Isabelle Carriere is compelled to kill her friend, Emile Thibaut, while Ash Patel (who continues to mirror Carol Peletier's journey on The Walking Dead) kills Hanna, who was also compelled to kill her own friend, Eun. With L'Union de L'Espoir breaking bad, it's a good thing Carol is there to scoop-up Daryl Dixon, et al... but that remains to be seen.

With Dave & Bridget recording this episode at Spookala, this episode is probably half as short. Up until Tabitha Matthews wound up in the suck-place with Henry Kavanaugh, this episode was becoming reminiscent of Seasons 1 & 2: too much mystery, not enough movement. Instead, the groundwork has layers of pavement laid for story movement for the remaining episodes of Season 3

Talk about devastation: the way characters show up for Tien-Chan Liu's funeral, Ricky He's performance as Kenny Liu, all the way to the extremely thoughtful and intentional writing. Who says bad thing's come in threes? Season 3 is proving to be the show's strongest.

We knew Carol Peletier had baggage, but what was revealing was how deep she repressed the death of her daughter, Sophia Peletier, and how difficult it was to lie to herself (AKA Ash Patel). What is L'Union De L'Espoir prepping Laurent for and will Daryl Dixon have to put a stop to it?

Finally! Our first single episode breakdown of FROM! Which broke some of us! ...for a handful of perfectly valid reasons. Will Boyd Stevens remain unbroken? Tabitha Matthews faces her next challenge as The Cromenockle: being back in the real(?) world. Will everyone in the stuck place even make it through the night?!

While Rachael & Sherrandy play the part of Jim Matthews & Randall (Walsh, respectively) - seeking logical explanations, but still trapped in FROM's Stuck Place - Bridget & Dave further articulate what makes this series so good. What's becoming clear: you don't have to know exactly how this universe works to remark on human suffering and cheer when characters triumph over adversity.

I know it might not sound like it (at first), but the creators/show-runners of FROM have trapped us in the stuck place: and we don't hate it, at all. We go through season 1's lowlights and highlights while shooting buckshot at its growing swarm of mysteries. After listening to this recap, we are definitely going to want your takes in the comments/podcast reviews!

Bridget and Dave rehash key takeaways from the 1st season of AppleTV+'s murder-mystery, layered on top of post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama SILO in prep for it's return on November 17th. Despite describing all the ways in which it excellently wrapped-up it's first season, we were still left with many questions!

Not only have characters shifted positions, but the audience has been moved as well, at the close of House of the Dragon's 8-episode season. Alicent sacrifices her name and son, Aegon Targaryen, to procure freedom for she, Helaena Targaryen, and Jaehaera Targaryen. Daemon Targaryen sacrifices his free spirit to serve the highest of purposes. Rhaenyra Targaryen sets aside The Conciliator, Jaehaerys Targaryen, and becomes Aegon The Conqueror, as all sides - and more - march to total war.

Each character could've easily stepped away and everything would've been fine. Most plowed forward. In doing so, who do they become? Rhaenyra Targaryen proved the lowborn were viable Dragonriders but only after throwing the majority into Vermithor's dragons fire. Daemon Targaryen unprecedently holds his tongue to get what he desperately needs from Lord Oscar Tully. Alicent Hightower is the only one who steps away from it all, but even she returns with renewed resolve.

We went

House of the Dragon reminds us that those who shirk honor/power/glory often have the burden thrust upon them. Both Rhaenyra Targaryen's & Alicent Hightower's collective loss and abandonment run parallel. Aemond Targaryen is hot on Daemon Targaryen's (coat) t(r)ails. We're suspicious of both Daemon & Rhaenyra recent blessings.

Formerly titled Assassination Run, Eric Kripke has finally found his line after doing the Mexican Hat(e) Dance on it for most of Season 4; KUDOS, however: pulling their punches resulted in a worthy close to The Boys' 4th season! Billy Butcher has gone full T-800. More than we imagined, Ryan Butcher may be far more powerful than Homelander. We'll probably see you again to cover Gen-V as we transition into the New World Order before Season 5.