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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Combat Fatigue (2024)
EMDR Therapy
I haven't been enthralled with Maddie's story line this season, it seemed like they were having to work too hard to make everyone sympathetic and the perpetrator too despicable. (It's also no secret that white people get more police attention, I think they should have made the kidnap victim a person of color.) However, if that's what it took to get this longest-running show to introduce EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming - Therapy, then I'll trumpet it from the rooftops. EMDR was essential to me recovering from a long past trauma - 7/5/85, to be exact - after regular talk therapy with 3 therapists couldn't get me all the way to being able to live in peace. It's a shame that it took so long, but it's in the show's canon now, more power to them for finally introducing it.
If you watch SVU to try to heal something that is in your past (as I did) but it lives in your here and now, please find an EMDR therapist near you, Google "EMDR near me". I don't understand the science behind it, but EMDR helped me, weekly over 3-4 months, remember my incident in a less threatening and violent way. It still comes back to me almost daily, but the re-visualization process took away the shock and jagged edges that would hurt me every single day since it happened. I can still remember it as it happened if necessary, but for day-to-day living it has been literally life-changing. As is SVU <3.
Bake Off: Crème de la Crème (2016)
Rewatch GBBO, pass on this
It's really too bad, Liam was charming on his season of the real show, but stacked against the bald doofus and the overanimated judges, he doesn't stand a chance.
The worst part of all of this is that after 2 episodes I don't know much at all about the chefs, because the 2 judges devour center stage. The woman is just loud, and the guy is fine till he likes something, then it's "boom *mic drop* boom BOOM" ridiculously.
Also, the male judge is French. Does he or the gal not know the difference between Macarons, a French delicacy, and Macaroons, an American invention?
I watched because I thought Paul & Prue would be working with other professionals. The chefs have the short end of the stick here, it's a waste of their time and talent. Skip it.
A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
All CGI, no substance
I read this book countless times growing up, and was terribly disappointed in the TV movie. When I saw that Oprah, whose Book Club was so inspired and inspiring, was taking this on, I really couldn't wait.
Well.
The money, energy and time dumped into this "movie" was blown on stroking her and the others' egos with almost no regard for the actual story. Little Meg tried her best, but it wasn't about her, it was about 3 stiff, bedazzled queens who bore zero resemblance to the characters they were "based on." Why invent a green flower-snake when the Centaur is so grand... and why did they go to the trouble of creating Aunt Beast's world and appearance and show it for just a brief moment? I could go on for days.
Wasted time, money and opportunity to bring a stellar story to this generation, who might have discovered the splendid book series. It actually makes me wonder if these "movie makers" set out to ruin it.
Law & Order: Organized Crime: New World Order (2021)
Ellen Burstyn
Ellen Burstyn is a National treasure. Splendid to see her as Elliot's mom again, such a treat to see her on screen.
Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star: TV Makeup: POSE (2021)
Did anyone ask...
...Alex's model if she was ok? Alex's makeup was to represent freedom after sexual assault. As she was describing it, the model's face changed, I wondered instantly if she was carrying that load as well. When you've survived that particular hell, it's often easier to see a person in the same pain. I don't know, just hope someone else noticed and checked on her.
Which brings me to another point, why don't we get to "meet" the models? I'm sure time is it constraint, but the folks in those chairs sit through a lot without much interaction.
Queer Eye: Below Average Joe (2018)
#BelowAverageJoe
This one seemed rushed. One huge missed opportunity: you go on and on about his eyes, his brows could have used some attention. Love the FabFive!
Eric (1975)
I loved the book as a kid...
I loved the book as a kid, and reordered it and read it again recently. I'm amazed at how many lines of it make up part of my internal dialogue even still today. The movie is good enough, but misses some of the fun and life described so keenly in the book. I do love seeing Lisa's daughter's comments, I really can't imagine.
I was sorry to read mom Doris' obituary, she was a splendid story-teller. If you haven't, read it the book, and take your time... this is a young man and family you'll want to get to know even more.
Chicago Fire: Then Nick Porter Happened (2020)
Worst. Storyline. Ever.
Wimps who can't set boundaries with a boorish roommate, and public servants who can't give an all-school assembly on fire alarms being felonies? I want my 41 minutes back.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Alta Kockers (2018)
Great story, but...
Wallace Shawn and Judd Hirsch are splendid in this episode, but it fell prey to what has happened in other SVU episodes. Who killed "Tammy," who performed the reading? Great story of the traumatized brothers, but no resolution of the present-day crime.