The 100 – “Demons” Review and Analysis

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Jennifer

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Demons of the past come back to haunt the world of The 100 and stir up trouble. A demon comes a callin’ this week as Clarke learns that tying up loose ends may be a bit more important than mercy. And the true monster of this season grows even more powerful as ALIE becomes the defacto Commander in Polis.

We’re getting close to the end of this season and with only four episodes left, I’m starting to feel a sense of dread because I don’t think things are going to end well and we’ll have a long wait until season 4. A long hiatus to freak out, share theories, and wonder what lays in store for us next year. One thing’s for certain, people are going to die and I’m going to need a big fucking hug.

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Continue reading →

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The 100 – “Nevermore” Review and Analysis

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Jennifer

bitey raven 3The Adventure Squad is back! This is not a drill. THE ADVENTURE SQUAD IS BACK! And it is a welcome return to the roots of The 100. It’s like slipping under a nice warm blanket…a warm blanket filled with anger, resentment, and heartbreak. Because our intrepid delinquents have BEEN THROUGH SOME SHIT, y’all, and are quick to play the blame game and lay guilt trips on one another.

But as dysfunctional as this reunion often is, it is glorious. It shows the delinquents at their best, fighting for their friend’s soul. The dynamic between the Adventure Squad members is the heart of this goddamn show. They are family. Believe that. BELIEVE IT.

So, say it with me: ADVENTURE SQUAD ASSEMBLE! I’m so happy right now!

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The 100 – “Fallen” Review and Analysis

Posted on April 10, 2016 by Jennifer

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Has your pulse returned normal after “Fallen,” an absolutely batshit crazy wild adrenaline ride of an episode? Guys, we may have just seen the best episode of season 3 so far and it was INSANE. And fucking great. But unrelentingly insane. Oh my god, it was so good.

You know what else is good? Scotch! And this review is fueled by: Glenfarclas 12. I’ve started writing this on a Friday morning, having taken a PTO day because I deserve one, dammit, so I’m day drinking. SURPRISE. I’ve hit the liquor store for some scotch (at 10 am no less, so I am shame personified), stopped by McDonalds for some egg mcmuffins, and have the Masters on the TV in the background. Folks, I didn’t choose the thug life, the thug life chose me. Then the thug life shook it’s head, sighed, and murmured “our standards are so pitifully low now.”

Hey, when you were a little kid, did you ever ride your bike down a scarily steep hill? The kind of hill where you thought you had a pretty good chance of wiping out and dying? And as you were careening down that hill, barely in control, did you feel a mix of mind-bending exhilaration and absolute butt-clenching fear? Were you on that knife’s edge of being vibrantly alive and a smear on the pavement? Continue reading →

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The 100 – “Stealing Fire” Review and Analysis

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Jennifer

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Welcome back from hiatus, guys! It’s been FOREVER. Or 3 weeks. Whatever. After the last couple of heartbreaking episodes, did you think that maybe they’d ease us into the back half of the season? NOPE. More heartbreak…utter heartbreak.

What goes great with heartbreak? Alcohol! This review is powered by: Old Pulteney 12. If you’re a scotch noob, this is a great “baby’s first single malt scotch.” Surprisingly smooth, very affordable, nice and sweet, with a little bit of salty brine. Trust me, it’s a winner. So smooth I can see myself getting LIT. (amendment: it’s a couple hours later on, and I’m LIT)

So, this weekend is jam packed with things to do. NXT Takeover, the Final Four here in Houston, Wrestlemania…

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…and most importantly, double XP AND double weapon XP on Black Ops 3, but instead I’m going to drink and write. For you, my 3-4 faithful readers. Thank you. I love you.

Let’s get into it! Continue reading →

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The 100 – “Terms and Conditions” Review and Analysis

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Jennifer

So, how y’all doing after last week? Is this about right?

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Yeah, that was me too.

But then things got better, as they always do. Happiness crept back into my world. My doggie did doggie things that always make me smile. I had a pretty good cheeseburger. My University of Illinois and Houston Texans sportsball teams did something exciting (Lovie Smith! Brock Osweiler! Lamar Miller!). I made Brussels sprouts for the first time and they didn’t suck. I dove into crazy Hundyverse theories on Reddit about Ontari and A.L.I.E. and the Clurphy team up and black blood. Like Councilwoman Leslie Knope, I quickly got back on the horse and resumed kicking ass and taking names.

Which really just means I dragged myself out of bed, mumbled, “ugh, time to life again, better pretend like I know what I’m doing,” and got about the business of adulting.  Continue reading →

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The 100 – “Thirteen” Review and Analysis

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Jennifer

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For an updated view on “Thirteen” and my changing thoughts on the real-world issues raised by this episode, please my Season 3 Wrap Up.

Let me say this upfront: I’m a bit scared to write this review. I’m taking a bit of a contrarian stand that won’t please people, especially those that want to condemn this show. So I’m going to get through it using a good friend: scotch. Day drinking, y’all! Lagavulin 16, get in mah belly! Tastes like liquefied Ron Swanson. Ooof.

Disclaimer: This was a heavy episode. It demands more than a cursory or an emotionally inflammatory reaction. Remember, these are only my views, and you may have some very different opinions. I’m doing my best to be analytical. You may feel I’m betraying my own belief system, but my views are nuanced and sometimes conflicted and complicated. I don’t see this episode in black and white. I cannot tell anyone how to react or feel, I can merely present my thoughts and make the best argument possible for my statements and opinions. If you disagree, please engage.

I had to take a more than a day to process the episode, let my emotions calm down and my take is: it was a beautiful, heartbreaking, revelatory, game-changing episode that left me completely drained and shocked. So yeah, it was my jam.

I just want to mention it now: Alycia Debnam-Carey and Eliza Taylor, take all the awards right now for your work together in this episode. All of them. Their acting was raw, emotional, stunning, and moving. I can’t even with these two right now.

I dive deep into the really heavy Lexa and Clarke stuff in the second half of my review, so stick with me folks.

Let’s get into it! Continue reading →

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The 100 – “Bitter Harvest” Review and Analysis

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Jennifer

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When you watched “Bitter Harvest,” did your mind blow out the side of your head violently, or did it slowly leak out of your ears as you freaked the fuck out over the revelations we received throughout the episode? Because my mind was completely blown out the side of my head. Like, y’all, this episode started slow but then the turbo spooled up and “Bitter Harvest” jettisoned forward with zero regard for protecting our fragile squishy brains. Pretty much like how I drive my WRX. Product placement! Where my check at, Subaru?! That’s how this stuff works, right? BUSINESS!

A ton of awesome stuff happened in “Bitter Harvest.” So many revelations to pick over, analyze, and process. Pieces are slowly falling into place and the world-building has never been more vibrant or complex. The speculation has started in full swing over on Reddit about what it all means. Like, holy shit, y’all, this episode was chock full of goodies.

All that AND we get Carl Emerson, Mount Weather Security Detail.

I’m in full swoon…I need a fainting couch.

Trigger warning: if you’re as in love with sexy beardy Rebel Leader Kane like the rest of all humanity, I have a merchandise idea later on in this piece that may cause you to tremble and drool uncontrollably and open and close your hands greedily while you whimper “me want!” You have been aptly warned.

Let’s get into it! Continue reading →

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The 100 – The Rise of Breadheda

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Jennifer

Soooo…context. And context is important here, because without it, people will think I’m smoking the meth. Note: you may need to smoke the meth to get through this.

You know Oprah’s “I LOVE BREAD!” commercials she’s doing now for Weight Watchers? Well, over on the The 100 subreddit, we started taking note of this commercial when it aired during a couple early episodes of this season. The commercial was weirdly out of place and it’s sorta over the top, like Oprah. And it kinda became our running joke. We dubbed Oprah “Breadheda” – the Commander of Bread. It sounds stupid, but this is the way internet things work…silly absurd asides take on a life of their own. I started mentioning Breadheda in my reviews, and well…playfully mentioned on Reddit I was considering writing Breadheda fan fic. But then I thought: why not actually write Breadheda fan fic? This is going to be an unconscionable train wreck of absolute fuckery, so I apologize in advance.

Bread drein, bread daun! Bread must have bread!

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Posted in Pure Tomfoolery, Television, The 100 | 2 Comments

The Walking Dead – “The Next World” Review and Analysis

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Jennifer

TWD_610_GP_0902_0240-RT-1-1200x794I really didn’t intend to do more than maybe one review of The Walking Dead, but last night’s episode was SO FUN y’all! So I’m going to write a bit about it. Not a deep dive, because another show requires most of my brain cells, but I kinda loved “The Next World” and wanted to share my enthusiasm.

Let’s get into it.

The One True Pairing Has Been Revealed!

Am I talking about Michonne and Rick? Am I talking about the bromance between Rick and Daryl? Continue reading →

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The 100 – “Hakeldama” Review and Analysis

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Jennifer

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Note: if you are coming here from Twitter/Reddit/et al., please keep in mind: this review/analysis is MY interpretation of the episode and speculation about future events. Like Jon Snow, I know nothing, save that I love this show and love picking it apart. If you don’t agree with how I read a scene or a character, please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll have a nice polite chat over a dram of scotch. Now serving: Aberlour 12 Non Chill-Filtered. Thanks for stopping by, y’all, and keep watching this fantastic fucking show.

Last week I gave “Watch The Thrones” a very mixed, contentious review. I felt the Arkadia plot line moved too quickly and took great liberties with character evolution.

This week was different. I don’t know how they made last week up to me, but they somehow kinda did? There are still some problems, but “Hakeldama” had my emotions ping-ponging back and forth in the best way possible

Before I get into the review, I feel I should draw on my literature degree (snooty snoot snoot) and give you a poem that I feel fits this episode perfectly and perhaps it hints at things to come this season, because massacring 300 people is going to spiral way out of control and peace will be nigh impossible to achieve. I don’t care what Lexa says or Clarke hopes, jus drein, jus daun. Blood must have blood. Continue reading →

Posted in Review & Analysis, Television, The 100 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 54 Comments