Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 was an intense episode that somehow felt like every other story in this beautiful series.

If it had to end, this was how to do it, and the final scene came close to my dream ending. But it also made the point that there COULD have been many more stories to tell if only CBS had found a way to keep it on the air.

Losing Badillo Was Expected, Yet Sad

Rumors swirled for months about Badillo’s death in Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18, and by last week, it was clear it had to be Badillo.

No one else made any sense once the photos of the funeral sequence were released. All the Reagans were in attendance and so was Mayor Chase.

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If we had to lose someone, I’d rather it be a secondary character like Badillo. It would have been a horrible ending if any of the Reagans had died or been severely injured.

This story also gave Eddie one last chance to shine. She was fierce both in trying to save Badillo and her reaction after learning he was gone.

Eddie: Can you do something for me?

Danny: Anything.

Eddie: Then you don’t baby me and you don’t sideline me and you don’t tell me it’s too hard or that it’s too personal and you let me help.

Danny: Why would I baby one of the toughest cops I’ve ever known?

The opening scene started like any other episode, but as soon as Eddie and Badillo got that call, my heart jumped into my throat, and I KNEW, without a shadow of a doubt, that Badillo’s fate was sealed.

That almost made these scenes worse because I was waiting for the exact moment of his death, and when Eddie called for him, and he didn’t answer, it broke my heart even more than if it had been a surprise.

Despite The Danger, The Reagans Were Mostly Unafraid On Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18

Erin was afraid she would lose another brother, and Frank mentioned Joe’s death, but for the most part, it was business as usual for the Reagans.

I wasn’t sure whether to admire their bravery or whether it cheapened the threat to all cops that Danny, Jamie, and Joe didn’t seem to have much concern about their own safety, even after visiting Eddie in the hospital.

In some ways, though, it added to the suspense of this final hour.

Although I knew it wasn’t going to end with a terrible tragedy for the Reagans, I kept expecting someone to come around a corner with a gun, especially when Jamie and Joe were walking out to their cars after interrogating Emilio’s girlfriend.

I didn’t like how Emilio looked at Frank as he was being led away near the end of the episode.

That was one of the things that made this feel more like a season finale than a series finale. That scene seemed like a set-up for a future episode that will never come.

Frank’s Confrontation Of An Elderly Gangster Was The Most Chilling Part Of The Hour

After Mayor Chase gave Frank the keys to the city, Frank used his newfound power to try to convince a lifer to give up the location of his son, who was the gangster guilty of shooting the mayor, leading to some scenes that made a shiver go up my spine.

These scenes included just Frank and the prisoner (special guest Edward James Olmo) in a room. They were reminiscent of Frank’s confrontation with Sonny Malevsky after learning he was responsible for Joe Reagan’s death on Blue Bloods Season 1 Episode 22.

This confrontation was quieter but no less intense.

At first, it seemed like a waste of Frank’s time. The prisoner wasn’t going to budge and was convinced that he was the true hero, protecting his son from the evil cops who wanted him to ruin the relationship by ratting him out.

But boy, did Frank have an ace up his sleeve. The way he used his feelings about his own son’s death to get Lorenzo to budge was nothing short of masterful.

Frank: I had a son who was killed, by the police actually. And if before it happened, someone said to me, here’s your choice: we kill him now or he spends the rest of his life in prison. You know what? I wouldn’t blink. I would be at that prison every chance I got with hamburgers for us and a deck of cards so we could spend some time together. And I’d be thrilled to be there. Cause I know the cold dark of the other choice. I live with it every single day.

What a beautiful tribute to the 14 years of missing Joe that we’ve all lived through with Frank and the rest of the Reagan family.

That was the perfect way to wrap up that tragic storyline.

Throughout the entire series, the family has never lost their sense of grief that Joe cannot join them at any more Reagan family dinners, and meeting Joe Hill made it worse in some ways.

They will never fully recover from that death. As Frank’s beautiful speech on Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 points out, he will always miss his son.

But Joe would probably be proud that in some way, he helped save the city from the gang’s violent rampage.

That doesn’t make it any better that he’s gone, but Frank certainly honored his memory during this story.

The Amelia Story Was The Weakest Part Of Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18

I’m loathe to criticize any part of the finale. I’m so grateful we had this final episode and that CBS gave Blue Bloods this final half-season to wrap things up that I don’t want to admit it was less than perfect.

However, the Amelia story confused me.

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Amelia was terrified when she called Eddie, but by the time Danny finally tracked her down, she didn’t seem scared of anybody but the cops.

I guess she could have had a bit of Stockholm Syndrome, but it came off as weird.

This was a kid who was so traumatized after witnessing her father kill her mother that she didn’t speak for three days, and this was the second time her dad had attempted to kidnap her.

Yet after that initial phone call, she took it all in stride.

Additionally, it felt like Carlos Ramirez gave up too quickly.

A few words from Danny about how fathers should lead by example did it. Ramirez sent Amelia upstairs with Baez, made a half-hearted attempt at suicide, and then surrendered peacefully.

Considering he blamed Danny for his not being in Amelia’s life and had kidnapped her while his gang was shooting public servants all over the city, that solution seemed all too easy.

This is why Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 should have been two hours.

There was too much to fit into the final hour, so this story was shortchanged so that they could get to the final wrap-up.

Blue Bloods’ Happy Ending Was Perfect, Yet It Didn’t Feel Different Than Any Other Episode

After all the cases were resolved, Badillo’s funeral and the final family dinner were the only remaining events.

These scenes could just as easily have been part of a season finale as a series finale.

I’m thrilled that Eddie and Jamie are having a baby, but I wish we could have the chance to get to know them. And I LOVE the tacit acknowledgment that Joe Hill is a full-fledged family member now.

But if Blue Bloods were returning, Season 15 could begin after Eddie’s baby was born so that she has to adjust to a new partner and to being a mother who is working as a cop, and nothing else would fundamentally change.

The final family dinner wasn’t much different from any other family dinner, either. Danny is always in a hurry to get to the food while everyone catches up with each other and expresses gratitude for the time they spend together.

Although that doesn’t sound exciting or final, the family all together — including a returning Jack Reagan and Nicky — was the absolute perfect way to end this series.

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The family dinners were the heart of this series, so a huge one was the right note to end on.

I had hoped the final lines would be a toast to the entire Reagan family, and while that didn’t happen, Frank’s expression of gratitude and pride in his family came pretty damn close.

After the credits rolled, I didn’t cry because of the episode’s events (even though Badillo’s death was sad). I cried because that was the last family dinner I’d get to share with the Reagans, not counting reruns streaming on Paramount+.

And now, I turn it over to you so that I can hear your thoughts on a new episode of Blue Bloods for the very last time, fellow Blue Bloods fanatics.

I’d love your takes on Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18, especially your thoughts on how the series wrapped up (or didn’t).

Maybe someday we will all get to discuss a reunion movie or spinoff, but for now, vote in our poll to rate the episode and then post your thoughts in the comments.

Every episode of Blue Bloods is currently available to stream on Paramount+

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The post Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 18 Wrapped Up A 14-Year Run With A Reminder Of Everything That Makes This Cancelation Hurt appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Fire Country Season 3 Episode 8 review analyzes its events and aftermath and what we might expect when the show returns in 2025.

Like most Bruckheimer productions, Fire Country Season 3 Episode 8 had plenty of action, heart-pounding terror, insubordination, and personal angst to tide us over through the holiday break.

And several of our favorite firefighters were left in mortal danger. Could we perhaps see the demise and exit of any of the Fire Country cast? We haven’t received word of anyone leaving the show.

Three seasons in, and we still have the same core characters, minus a few small roles from supporting characters like Cara, Freddy, and Rebecca.

The show has been building up to these events since the start, pushing each character through life predicaments that eventually affected how each of them reacted during the Fire Country Season 3 fall finale.

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As a finale goes, this one was as good as any I’ve seen in the 2024 season, and it’s certainly miles better than the delayed seasonal start and shortened ten-episode second season.

And yet, despite how well the show did setting up its seasonal break so fans would stay in a state of intrigue and torment, there was a lot of UGH and OMG really’s from the episode itself. Really, the whole season.

Starting with the typical drama surrounding Gabriela. Go ahead and weigh in real quick, Fanatics, on the first exchange between Gabriela and Jake. It’s hard for this reviewer to decide which person is right.

While Jake feels they should tell Bode about their drunken hook-up, Gabriela thinks that it’s none of his business, since they are not together.

But like Jake said, Bode is his best friend and Gabreila is his ex-obsession. However, like Gabs said, she was with Jake before Bode. So should they tell Bode or let it stay a drunken episode of no consequence?

Although this reviewer’s twisted mind could totally see that one lapse of judgement resulting in an unplanned pregnancy for Gabriela and Jake, who’s still tortured by the loss of Cara and the recent decision of Cara’s daughter to move in with her real father instead of Jake.

At first, Gabriela seemed to be doing better this episode, less hell-bent on beating herself to death and doing risky crap. Like father, like daughter.

And then, we saw her mental status deteriorate, resulting in her disobeying direct orders from a superior, breaking the law, and being fully insubordinate. How many times does she get to yell at her boss (this time, it was Jake instead of Sharon) before she faces disciplinary action?

I’m on her side for helping out the desperate mother and child who ran out of gas while trying to evacuate. Their vehicle was the only home they had left, and it didn’t seem fair that they’d lose everything again.

Truthfully, this viewer probably would have done the same thing by siphoning the gas from the car parked in front of a fire hydrant. Criminal charges be damned.

But I can’t condone the rest of her behavior.

She seems to have a major problem separating her past from her job, often letting her personal experiences affect her performance. Something she frequently scolds Bode and her father for doing.

It was freaking amazing seeing Jake put Gabriela in her place. Her hissy fit response was typical of her self-indulgent pity party, where she wants everyone to feel bad for her situation despite the fact that where she’s at in life is all her own doing.

And then, as usual, she acts all melodramatically, stripping off her fire gear and walking off in the middle of a fire call. Only to end up meeting a wall of flames as she wandered aimlessly down the road.

She says she’s done but done with what? Her actions are as clear as any resignation letter. Could we be saying goodbye to Gabriela Perez when the show returns?

Or maybe the Fire Country Season 3 finale is the end of the line for inmate firefighter Manny Perez. We’ve seen Manny experience a full 360 of his life since the first season.

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He was once the captain of the Three Rock prison camp, mentoring Bode post-prison so he could be successful once released, only to flip places by Fire Country Season 3.

While Bode is a free man and now an official member of CalFire since Captain Camden Casey passed him in fire training in Fire Country Season 3 Episode 7, Manny is now a firefighter inmate at Three Rock, with Eve as Captain.

Seeing Manny falling so far from his original redemption has been hard, but it’s been a great way to explore more of his character. Unfortunately, going back to prison seems to have dulled Manny’s righteousness.

He’s acted out of character several times during Fire Country Season 3, almost as if he’s given up on a future due to his setback.

Manny went from being my favorite character to an annoyance this season as he tries to make repairs with Gabriela while simultaneously expressing his self-anger at anyone around him.

He struggled in this episode between being a supportive first saw firefighter and being a sullen inmate pissed about doing time. Seeing him talk down Cole when he almost had words with Eve’s cousin was great.

Unfortunately, Manny is unlikely to be as willing to follow Cole’s advice about not going out on his own to find Gabriela.

The show ended with a cliffhanger involving him and Three Rock on the Edwards ranch, miles away from where Gabriela went missing. Due to her tantrum, she walked straight into a fire zone.

Manny just requested a parole hearing. Going AWOL during a fire call, even if it’s because his daughter is in danger, isn’t going to look good. Will the second half of Fire Country Season 3 have Manny stuck in prison longer for an “attempted escape,” or could Perez be the show’s first regular cast member to exit?

How did everyone like their first visit to the Edwards ranch? Geez, there was a lot of tension between the Edwards patriarch and everyone around him.

Elroy Edwards was exactly as we expected when we found out Eve hadn’t talked to her family in six years. After meeting them, I understand why there’s discord there.

Seeing her go to bat for her crew against her father’s prejudice was great. He’s a stubborn old man who thinks Eve chose firefighting and the Leones over her family, both in the past and presently.

If you read our Fire Country Season 3 Episode 8 spoilers, I lamented how cool it would have been to see Eve on horseback, fighting fires. We saw her on horseback, so I half got my wish.

However, I’ll settle because it was so cool that she delivered a foal and had a moment with her dad.

But while she was playing rancher, she neglected her firefighting duties. Vince had to come out and check on things, ruining her progress. Elroy had multiple grievances against Vince and CFD.

The two debated creating a backburn on the ranch to prevent the fire from spreading into Edgewater. Vince thought he had the authority to do it, even on private property. Elroy felt that he had the right to say no because it was his land.

Eve ended up between her blood family and her fire fam. She disappointed Elroy by siding with the job over her kin.

We have to wonder if her setting the fire was symbolic of burning her last bridge with her family. It was supposed to protect the ranch.

But shifting winds carried embers across the fire line and onto the barn, where the ranch hands had just put all the horses, including the new baby foal Eve had just delivered.

Eve wasn’t the only one whose plan to protect something backfired. Bode and Audrey went on a fire call, thinking they would only be doing preventative measures. Leave it to their luck to stumble upon a massive zombie fire.

Huh? That’s one way to add a unique twist to the typical zombie outbreak.

Show of hands: Before this episode, who had heard of a zombie fire or holdover fire? Not this TV fanatic, and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every fire movie or series available.

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It’s pretty gnarly but totally awesome, too.

How crazy would it be to have to face a fire that’s been burning underground for months to years? That sounds like some Tommy Lee Jones ’90s Volcano or the La Brea intro or something.

Bode’s a badass ex-convict, so it’s always a pleasure to see his softer side, from the teddy bear in his locker to the family portrait in his helmet to the near tears he had when he listened to the sob story of a local with a beautiful home and a dead wife.

Bode made a promise to save his house, and things seemed to be going well until James jinxed it by talking crap. Never test the universe with an early celebration, especially when it comes to fighting fires.

Sharon continued to issue orders to Leone and James to abandon the location and handle other fires. But the couple ignored her calls, freaking Momma Bear out.

Bode should face serious reprimand for ignoring direct orders. In his desperation to keep a promise and supposedly leave behind the old Bode, he put himself and Audrey in a very dangerous situation.

Does anyone else find it irritating that after Bode screwed up and put both of them at risk, he made a plan and tried to talk about how to save them like their being trapped wasn’t his fault?

As the fire consumed everything around them, James held onto Bode for literal life as they dove underwater to avoid the flames. And then the credits rolled.

Will Bode and Audrey’s first kiss be a mermaid breath of life as they share air? Will Audrey forgive Bode for putting her into the terrifying situation of getting burned alive or drowning because she couldn’t swim?

If they had left earlier, as she had wanted and as she had ordered, they would not have been trapped on all sides by a wall of flames.

My favorite part of the day was when Eve asked how to reason with a stubborn old man, and Sharon and Bode both shot ‘that’ look at Vince. Priceless! Is that a hint at Vince’s own father issues? Or are they calling him a stubborn old man?

And what was with this episode and people ignoring their radio calls? Does anyone else notice a theme where all the various scenes and people tend to focus on one narrative?

In Fire Country Season 3 Episode 7, subordinates lashed out at their superiors, which in real life would have resulted in numerous firefighters being dismissed from their stations.

So, fanatics, what did you think of the Fire Country Season 3 fall finale? Are you excited for the show to return so we can get answers? Where do you hope the story goes from here?

What did you like about the episode? Hate? Is it better than previous episodes, which have been borderline daytime soap with basic or regurgitated storylines?

Join the conversation in our comments!

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Sometimes, the iconic dinner scenes were in a hotel, hospital, or diner, but there was guaranteed to be a scene where the Reagans got together, put all their problems aside, and spent time together as a family.

These Blue Bloods family dinners were as important to the cast and writers as they were to the audience, and they were a true labor of love, considering how much work went into them.

The Iconic Blue Bloods Family Dinners Were The Intentional Centerpiece Of The Series

The family dinner scenes are more associated with Blue Bloods than any other aspect of the police/family drama, and that was on purpose.

From the beginning, late producer Leonard Goldberg wanted the dinners to be central because he intended the show to be about a family of cops, not just a police procedural.

It’s a sentiment that Tom Selleck so heartily endorsed that when the series drifted away from family scenes in the first few episodes, he put his foot down about what needed to happen if he was to continue with the project.

Thus, it makes sense that the first scene the actors filmed was the debut of the Reagan family dinner. Amazingly, the cast didn’t know each other well then; other than Bridget Moynahan and Donnie Wahlberg, they had all just met.

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The fact that they were able to make the Reagans seem like a real family at that early juncture speaks not only to the actors’ talents but also to how dedicated they all were to making family front and center in their new show.

That first dinner took several hours to film, and the producers weren’t even sure what the final structure of the show would be, but everyone jumped in and did it, and the results were nothing short of brilliant.

The Blue Bloods Family Dinners Were The Longest Scenes To Film

Although it’s hard to tell from the finished product, the iconic dinner scenes were a huge commitment.

CBS’ special, Blue Bloods: Celebrating A Family Legacy, went behind the scenes at the dinner table. I knew that these scenes were long because I’d read about them elsewhere, but some of the other facts about them showed what a labor of love they were.

These scenes took at least three hours to shoot, with multiple takes where the Reagans had to appear to be eating the same food on their plates the same way.

It’s a joke among the crew that Donnie Wahlberg is the only one who eats all the food during each scene.

When Danny said on Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 17 that he couldn’t wait for that pork chop, it didn’t seem that far off from how Wahlberg is in real life, judging from the anecdotes about him and food!

I was impressed by several things about how hard everyone works to make those Blue Bloods family dinners come alive.

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The actors sit on soft cushions to ensure they’re high enough for the cameras and comfortable after sitting for long periods.

A chef is employed behind the scenes to ensure the food is edible (for those who choose to eat during multiple takes), and everyone stays for hours, doing the scene over and over so that there are enough different takes to edit into a polished, fun, and love-filled Reagan family dinner.

The actors have to find inventive ways to make it look like they’re eating, while behind the scenes, a prop person must refill each plate between takes and put food items in exactly the same location so nothing looks weird when they edit multiple takes together.

Talk about dedication!

Considering how much work went into them, these scenes were truly a labor of love.

It’s not surprising that they are usually the first thing people discuss when they’re asked why they love Blue Bloods. The family love shines through, and it’s hard to believe that it took so much work to get them on the air.

The Blue Bloods Family Dinner Scenes Allowed The Cast To Bond

In some ways, the family dinner scenes didn’t involve acting at all, at least not by Blue Bloods Season 14.

The cast got to know each other at these dinners, especially once Eddie (Vanessa Ray) became part of the family. According to multiple interviews, Ray and Donnie Wahlberg constantly joke around and crack everyone else up during the dinner scenes.

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This is an amazing testimonial to how life imitates art. The fictional Reagans became like a real family off-screen the more time they spent together on these Blue Bloods family dinner scenes, and doubly so when you consider that they were all strangers when they filmed their first one.

Everyone on set embraced the family values at the center of the series, and it shows on-screen and off, which you can see in more detail below when Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg joined The Talk Today.

Despite the effort required for the Blue Bloods family dinner scenes, Tom Selleck mentioned on the special that there was never a bad one.

We have done many articles about the cancelation of Blue Bloods, but nothing hits home as much as seeing the stars weep, knowing they will never be a part of the Reagan family dinners again.

When Selleck and Wahlberg joined The Talk today on CBS, they discussed filming their last dinner scene and what 14 years of friendship and on-set camaraderie have meant to them.

Selleck feels that the last dinner scene, whether it was the final scene filmed or not, was truly the last for them all. He said of filming the scene, “You know, we’re trying to stay professional and stay focused on the scene and ignore the fact that we’re all going to feel emotional.

“And when they said cut on the final take of the final dinner scene, it was silence…We all knew as soon as somebody spoke, we’re all going to lose it.”

Tonight, we will be in the same boat. Grab those tissues; we’re going to need them.

Over to you, Blue Bloods fanatics.

Did you love the Blue Bloods family dinners? Were you aware of how much effort went into them?

Hit the comments with your thoughts.

Blue Bloods’ series finale will air on CBS on December 13, 2024, at 10/9c and on Paramount+ on December 14.

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The CBS drama entered its second season as one of the most popular shows on television. The momentum from a solid but not flawless Tracker Season 1 has carried over, making the series among the most watched on television.

But what has the product been like? Has it improved upon its first year? Or has it fallen into the familiar television sophomore slump?

At the midseason point of the season, Tracker has only gotten better.

That’s not to say the show has been perfect. Still, they’ve upped the ante in many regards, giving Colter a storyline outside of the Shaw Family drama.

They’ve delivered on the cases of the week while continuing to center the best part of the series: Colter connecting with people and saving the day.

We’re breaking down the highs and lows of a stellar start to Tracker Season 2, so come check it out!

Best Episode – Tracker Season 2 Episode 8 Review: The Night Movers

Tracker Season 2 Episode 8 was not only the best of the season but also one of the best of the series overall.

The case of the week, which involved Colter seemingly looking for a dead man, was intriguing and had the right amount of twists and turns to make it feel unpredictable.

The dead man in question, Lucas, was a guy who needed to fake his own death to save himself from death, as he had some damning information that would have sullied the political career of a local politician.

Colter soon found himself involved with a crooked cop and the leader of the “night movers,” a low-key company specializing in helping people disappear when needed.

But Lucas broke protocol when he returned to town, and things got out of control rather quickly.

If not for Colter, his knack for being in the right place at the right time, his ability to solve every situation with quick thinking, and his particular set of survival skills, there may have been a much worse outcome.

This hour was also noteworthy for its ending, which brought the Gina Picket case back around, with Colter’s new friend Keaton delivering him a person of interest on a silver platter.

Colter may have finally gotten the break he’s been waiting for (we’ll have to wait and see, of course!), but Keaton was torturing the man for information, which isn’t necessarily Colter’s MO.

Plus, they got a nickname, not the government name of a suspect, so he’s still got a ways to go before he makes progress.

But it’s the most significant break he’s had in years, and it’s an appealing cliffhanger to leave us on as we await the series’ return.

Worst Episode – Tracker Season 2 Episode 3: Bloodlines

Billie has been a polarizing character since she appeared on Tracker Season 1 Episode 6, and she made her return during this hour when she called Colter in to help with a missing teen from her hometown.

This was a bit of a Billie backstory episode, which probably landed better with those who enjoy Billie’s character.

But even if you are a Billie fan, we didn’t necessarily need a deep dive into her history when we still have much to learn about some of our main characters who are there every week.

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The case started promising in that a talented young baseball player was missing, and while the story could have spun off in many different directions, it ended up with blood donations and biohacking.

The hour was weird; not even the connection between real-life husband and wife Justin Hartley and Sofia Pernas could save it.

Character We Need More Of – Velma

When news broke that Robin Weigert’s Teddi would not return for the second season, many people wondered what that would mean for that character and Teddie’s wife, Velma.

And eight episodes into said season, the answer is still to be determined.

Velma is Colter’s handler, so while she’s not usually involved in the actual case-solving, the series still struggles to incorporate her in a way that allows her to be a fully formed character who exists beyond giving Colter his latest case.

Teaming her up with Reenie was a good first step, but they’ve done very little with it. Instead of always being at her home, she’s now just always at Reenie’s office for seemingly no real reason.

They also teased that Velma and Teddi might be having marital issues during Tracker Season 2 Episode 1 but haven’t followed up on it at all. As of right now, they’re apart, and they haven’t even mentioned Teddi’s name since then.

Tracker has always struggled with finding ways to develop everyone not named Colter, but they’re dropping the ball with Velma this season, which is saying something considering how little they did with her in Season 1.  

Best Storyline – Gina Picket’s Disappearance

On the surface, you could say, “How can Gina Picket be the best storyline when it hasn’t even started?” And you wouldn’t be wrong to pose that question, but introducing Colter’s white whale case brings something fresh to the series.

Outside of the cases of the week, Season 1 honed in on Colter’s personal drama with his family (more on that soon).

While that was highly intriguing, it was wise to introduce something else from Colter’s past to continue shading in his character and giving the audience an overarching mystery to get invested in.

Colter and Camille’s romantic connection also adds something to the series. We’ve seen Colter be a bit of a lady’s man but not have many romantic conquests that go beyond some little flirting and wondering about what could be if things were different.

Colter and Camille have a past that existed before Gina disappeared and has morphed into something else in the years since. They seem to be bound by grief, and the minute Camille decides she needs to start moving beyond that pain, Colter gets the biggest break he’s gotten in the last decade.

The story has been slow-growing and not a major factor thus far, but it’s new and intriguing.

Missing Storyline – Shaw Family Drama

The Shaw Family drama was hands down one of the best aspects of the first season.

We quickly learned this thing lingering in the background helped shape Colter into the man we were now getting to know.

Bringing in Dory and Russell only upped the stakes, as they became more than just Colter’s estranged siblings whom he was ignoring.

Instead, they became tangible pieces in his life’s mission to better understand both his parents and his father’s death.

It’s a gripping story on its surface, yet they’ve acted as if it didn’t exist thus far.

Outside of Russell’s appearance during Tracker Season 2 Episode 2, Colter has barely touched on what happened at the end of last season, which was that Dory had this box of Ashton’s things that no one knew about.

It wasn’t exactly the most tantalizing cliffhanger. Still, considering how much of Colter’s existence revolves around his unresolved feelings about his childhood, you’d think he’d be more eager to jump back into things.

If you were jumping into the story now, you wouldn’t even realize Colter had significant issues with his past because, as it relates to his family, it feels like they’re almost going out of their way to get away from it.

But why? God if I know, but that needs to be rectified in the second half of the season.

Best Guest Star – Jensen Ackles

Let’s call a spade a spade here: Jensen Ackles tends to make everything better. That’s why the man is all over the television these days.

His on-screen presence is unmatched, and he and Justin Hartley have tremendous chemistry.

It truly feels like these two are brothers with a complicated past who bicker and try to one-up one another but also have a lot of love and respect for each other.

His appearance this season was in an hour centered around extraterrestrials, and the brothers had to work together to help one another and find a missing man caught up in a government conspiracy.

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Russell wasn’t there for a long time, but he was there for a good time, and the little tease about him and Reenie going on a date was a nice way of introducing Colter’s jealous side because doesn’t a tiny part of everyone hopes Colter and Reenie may give it a go one day?

Well, maybe not everyone, but Russell always brings some fresh energy to the show.

Ackles is a treat as the accomplished, rough-around-the-edges but incredibly skilled older brother who lives to crack a joke and reminds his little brother who’s the boss when they’re out saving the day.

Overall Grade – A-

Tracker Season 2 has not been perfect, but it’s been damn fun.

Some cases may have been overly convoluted, but they’ve been entertaining and put Colter in some situations we have yet to see him in.

From aliens to the supernatural to animals and trying to find someone presumed dead, they’ve gone outside the box, and generally, it’s worked.

All things run through Colter, and continuing to send him around the country and place him in these new situations allows the audience to continue getting to know the survivalist and career tracker.

Overall, we still need more Reenie, Velma, and Bobby. Every hour without them feels like a wasted opportunity, and they need to address this.

It’s the Colter show, not an ensemble, but you have a great supporting cast with great chemistry. If you can come up with biohacking blood banks, you can craft storylines that will get all these characters in the same city at the same time multiple times a season!

Drop all your thoughts into the comments below about the start of Tracker Season 2!

We’ll return in the new year to discuss everything when the series returns!

Tracker Season 2 returns to CBS on February 16 at 8/7c.

Watch Tracker Online

The post Tracker Season 2 Midseason Report Card: Lots of Thrills & Room to Grow appeared first on TV Fanatic.

While the show is known for its lightness and general wrapping things up in a nice and neat little bow, “One Angry Woman” gave viewers a crash course in what this show is capable of.

Elsbeth continues to raise the stakes and keep things fresh in exciting ways that not even die-hard fans can anticipate, yours truly included. Then again, it doesn’t hurt to play against the love of your life.

Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 introduced Micheal Emerson’s killer, Judge Milton, in the most exhilarating way. Not to mention a giant easter egg from Emerson’s previous and most prominent role in Evil.

Elsbeth Gives Audiences A Massive Evil Easter Egg

I just have to get this out of the way now. If you’re a fan of Evil and Elsbeth, you may be like this TV Fanatic and noticed a massive crossover between the two shows.

Are you ready for this? The courtroom in Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7, “One Angry Woman,” is the exact same courtroom from Evil Season 1 Episode 1, where audiences first meet Emerson’s character.

How mind-blowing is that? While it’s not unheard of for shows, especially those on the same network, to share locations, this seemed remarkably purposeful and is deeply appreciated.

Easter eggs aside, Michael Emerson is a force of nature once he steps into a role.

As mentioned in the Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 Spoilers, Carries Preston had initially hoped for Emerson to play a character opposite to the creep roles he is usually cast in.

Suffice it to say, we are quite glad that did not happen because, within one episode, Judge Milton left such an impression on viewers that there’s a good chance the judge could become a staple of the show.

Everyone loves a good rival origin story, and there’s something so juicy about keeping it close to home and in the family.

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Elsbeth Dips Its Toes Into An Old But Still Beloved Series From The ‘80s

Weirdly, “One Angry Woman” is set up so similarly to the first episode of Matlock. No, I’m not talking about the Kathy Bates one. I’m referring to the Andy Griffith run.

In that late ‘80s episode, Dick Van Dyke murders a woman he is sleeping with and frames the lover. Later, it is revealed that he is the judge on the case.

Much like this episode of Elsbeth, Dick Van Dyke’s Judge Carter Addison did all he could to derail the defense, much to the titular character’s confusion and anger.

Those feelings are going around because we saw a fired-up Elsbeth ready to jump into the fray for justice. Seriously, she looked ready to blow a gasket at any moment.

It was bad enough that he kept bringing up his family coming over on the Mayflower. That’s a weird flex. I don’t know why that’s impressive. My ancestors were already here.

Thankfully, Elsbeth’s keen sleuthing skills and expert eye for detail secured her spot on the jury by outing a garbage podcast host with questionable views on women.

That guy’s podcast was called “Nut Job Sluts Who Kill.” Not even Judge Milton could find a way to justify having him on the jury.

However, it wasn’t all intense stare-offs between Elsbeth and Milton. There were plenty of light and comedic moments to break up the tension.

Family Will Forever Be A Part Of The Heart Of Elsbeth

If you were along for the ride with TV Fanatic through Elsbeth Season 1, you know I had a chip on my shoulder about Teddy being a terrible son who never called or visited.

I am so glad to say that I was incredibly wrong. Teddy is as sweet as his mama and just so darn adorable. He really is just as kind and thoughtful as Elsbeth.

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Teddy wasn’t mentioned in this episode’s promo, photos, or description. So, even though he was in Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 6 at the end, there was no guarantee he would stick around.

Like Elsbeth, we’d love it if Teddy made a trip to NYC more often, especially if his new guy, Roy, lives in Brooklyn.

Didn’t it just melt your heart when Kaya (Carra Patterson) got so excited about showing Teddy around the city? This show depicts how people can come into our lives as if they were always family.

There’s more to that precinct than meets the eye.

Carrie Preston And Michael Emerson Brought Incredible Chemistry That Translated Into The Very Best Episode Of The Series

After multiple random pop-ups, viewers finally got a clearer picture of what is going on with Lieutenant Connor. Apparently, he was salty about the captain giving Elsbeth Noonan’s office.

To be fair, I have always found it really strange when characters who do the same job as other employees have MUCH nicer offices.

It’s been present in popular shows like Emily in Paris and the original run for Charmed, where Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), the advice columnist, had her own private office away from the bullpen.

It’s a weird storytelling tool that is slowly but surely making its way out of TV, namely on shows like Matlock, where Kathy Bates shares an office with two other associates.

However, as Lieutenant Connor did in this episode, we see Elsbeth’s worth and why she should, in fact, have her own private space. She needs a lot of room for all that thinking.

We can officially take Lieutenant Connor off the naughty list, as he is no longer gunning for Elsbeth or making things difficult for Captain Wagner.

Also, this could just be me, but did anyone else notice a slight sparkle in the lieutenant’s eyes whenever he addressed Teddy? It might just be me, but seeing those two together would make for hysterical TV.

Either way, it’s great to have one less person for Elsbeth to worry about because by the end of “One Angry Woman,” everyone’s favorite Chicago attorney caught the scent of murder from Judge Milton.

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Carrie Preston and Michael Emerson brought incredible chemistry that translated into the best episode of the series. If Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 doesn’t stir some awards feathers, then the system is broken.

Thankfully, there is one more episode before CBS‘s Elsbeth takes a slight pause through the winter holidays. The series will be back and ready for more campy fun in early 2025.

However, if the next episode is anything like “One Angry Woman,” wear a helmet because we will likely have our minds blown again.

Did you notice the Easter Egg from Evil and the similarity to Matlock?

This episode had so many incredible moments; what was your favorite?

Please drop a comment below to let me know what you think, and join me again when I review another episode of Elsbeth!

Watch Elsbeth Online

The post Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 Sees Justice Take A Day Off As The Titular Character Squares Off Against Her Greatest Threat Yet appeared first on TV Fanatic.

There was no shortage of baby mama drama in “No, No Monsters,” with the gaggle of gossiping moms driving Olympia over the edge. To be fair, some viewers shared in that outrage.

So much went down in this one episode; you would be forgiven if one or two things slipped through the cracks. Luckily, most Matlock fans know the show can be very “blink and you miss it” sometimes.

However, there were so many intense and incredible moments that we have to at least get to the juiciest of meats from Matlock Season 1 Episode 8. Most of them revolve unsurprisingly around Olympia.

Matlock Proves Through Olympia That Knowing The Truth Can Be A Double-Edged Sword

Poor Olympia Lawrence just can’t catch a break. First, there was the, as Matty put it, “philandering dumb dumb,” Julian. It just goes to show you that even the nice guys can mess up occasionally.

If you read the Matlock Season 1 Episode 8 Spoilers, you know I asked, “Should Olympia realistically be upset about Julian’s affair from years ago?”

After watching “No, No Monsters,” I’ve concluded that if it matters to her, then it matters. Emotions are complicated, and we can’t always control how we feel, no matter how much we want to.

As Olympia said herself, she was struggling with what to do because while she wanted to know who the woman was, she was self-aware enough to know she wouldn’t be able to get through her day without seeing the woman’s face.

So, while Julian may be in the dog house for a minute, at least it’s not like Olympia called everything off. It could be so much worse. Just ask Billy.

Billy’s Quick Emotional Recovery Is Worth Suspending Belief For

Some characters are incredibly sweet and caring, so you only want good things for them. However, this is CBS, not Disney+.

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Even though it was painful to see Billy and Claudia break up in Matlock Season 1 Episode 7, he seems to be doing fine for the most part.

Sure, Sarah was acting like she was trying to convince herself of Billy’s emotional state, but she wasn’t too far from the mark. By the end of the episode, Billy was ready to move on and take his life back.

I’m willing to suspend my belief for the story’s sake because no one gets over a relationship that almost lasted a decade that fast.

I mean, Billy was listening to the first two albums from Adele. Everyone knows Adele’s saddest albums are her last two, but that could just be me.

Either way, Billy made monumental strides in processing his emotions and finding a healthy state of mind. Sadly, the same cannot be said for Madeline Matlock.

Matlock Makes Good Use Of Matty’s Vulnerable Moments And The Sad State Of What It Meant To Be A Career Woman In Her Day

Matty is far past the point of no return. Every step she takes towards her goal is another piece of her life she has to sacrifice. That sounds heavy, but it’s the truth of the situation.

What became evident in “No, No Monsters” is that justice is not driving Matty’s (Kathy Bates) revenge. It’s her guilt. It’s every moment she missed while raising Ellie.

While I still believe her mission is about getting justice for her daughter, it’s also to put to rest all the pain and guilt she puts on herself as a form of penance.

At this point, I’m hoping we never have an episode of Matlock that doesn’t show how vulnerable Matty is and everything she is willing to do in the memory of her daughter.

However, possibly the most unexpected best part of Matlock is the continued references to what the workplace was like in Matty’s day.

Each time she describes what the world was like back in the day, it’s a window into everything that helped shape Matty into the brassy broad that she is.

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What’s sad is that while it is very much illegal to deny employment because the candidate has a child or children, that doesn’t mean employers don’t still find other ways around it.

The world is not very kind to mothers, and what’s worse is that it’s all too common for other mothers to judge one another.

The Goal Of Any Scripted Show Is To Inspire Emotions, Even If Those Emotions Are Just A Bit Hostile

“No, No Monsters” was filled to the brim with “Mama Bear” energy. From Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) to Nadira and especially Matty, the mothers were not having it in this episode, and many of us were right there with them.

If you’re anything like this TV Fanatic, you cuss out the screen when a truly awful character gets too much speaking time. And, boy, were there a lot of cuss-worthy moments in Matlock Season 1 Episode 8. For one thing, that judge was a colossal (fill in the blank.)

Is it “mean judge week” or something? Elsbeth is dealing with an equally, if not more, infuriating judge getting in the way of righting a wrong.

And then there was the opposing counsel, who was apparently in Matlock Season 1 Episode 3, but honestly, I did not remember or recognize her.

If she’s going to keep popping up, we should at least know who we are dealing with. Natalie Ceballos plays the very annoying Veronica Cabrera.

Did anyone else want Matty to throw a stapler at her just to shut her up so Matty could get one complete sentence out? I had mine already in hand.

That said, the level of emotion the actress evokes proves that she knows what she’s doing. So, while the character is not great, the actor can be seen flexing her acting chops in Law & Order: Organized Crime, 9-1-1, and NCIS: Los Angeles.

While Madeline Matlock Focuses On Olympia And Julian, The Culprit Could Be Right Under Her Nose

Now let’s get to the most crucial part of “No, No Monster,” the fact that after all that work to get into Senior’s email, it was a damn photo of him on vacation.

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Luckily, CBS was kind enough to give viewers a heads-up with the promo because that would have been the letdown of letdowns.

Still, knowing about it and seeing it in action are two different things. It was painful watching Matty break down on the phone with Edwin.

As for the plan, I think the viewer who said the culprit is likely someone we’ve only seen once or twice is more accurate than ever. It’s Stuart, right? Or is that too obvious?

The show has slowly but surely been making Stuart’s presence more known with each passing episode. In fact, it seems to focus solely on how closely involved Stuart is with Senior.

While that wouldn’t make the biggest splash at Jacobson Moore, it would at least allow all the main characters to continue into the next season without being seen behind bars.

More than anything, it would be great if Olympia had not been involved, but considering her more apathetic lawyer past, it is a strong possibility.

If it isn’t her, she’s still in for some bad news because she and Matty keep getting closer, but what will happen when the truth comes out?

There’s no going back now. Matty is in too deep. She is so deep, in fact, that she continually finds herself smack dab in the middle of Olympia and Julian’s (Jason Ritter) drama, no matter how hard she tries to stay out of it.

That said, it’s still hilarious to see Matty’s facial expression whenever she finds herself literally standing in the middle of another Olympia and Julian argument.

Matlock has undoubtedly left an impression on viewers that will last them through the holidays. The series will now take a little pause through the New Year until January 30.

Until then, fans of the show can relive the incredible first half of Matlock Season 1 on Paramount+. And if you notice a clue or something we might have missed, feel free to share it with the class.

Do you agree that the Wellbrexa culprit could be a minor character we’ve only seen a few times?

Do you think Julian had an affair with someone from Jacobson Moore?

Please drop a comment below to let me know what you liked about this episode, and join me again when I review another episode of Matlock!

And keep an eye out for Matlock Spoilers, posted before each new episode!

Watch Matlock Online

The post Matlock Season 1 Episode 8 Shows The True Driving Force Behind Matty’s Revenge, And It Is As Heartbreaking As You Might Think appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 7 had a lot of heart. It perfectly blended comedy and drama while telling an emotional and relatable story.

Even better, it gave Connor something more to do than pass through the kitchen, making quirky demands that everyone rolled their eyes at. He’s not the butt of jokes anymore — he’s finally a full-fledged character with hopes, dreams, and frustrations with his relationships with his parents.

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 7 Featured A Random Road Trip, But It Worked

I’m not exactly sure why Georgie and Jim decided to take a road trip.

It had something to do with that Mustang they were trying to fix, but I missed what it was.

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Whatever their mission was, they didn’t accomplish it on-screen, but that’s okay. The point of the road trip was for Connor to discover an ally in Georgie.

I could relate to Connor’s frustration with his parents.

Jim hadn’t tried to steer Connor toward a job or career path that might interest him; he just assumed that because Connor is different (aka neurodivergent in the 1990s), he’d never be able to support himself.

The good news for Connor is that the Internet revolution is just around the corner, which will lead to all sorts of jobs that weren’t possible before, so he may be able to carve out a career path by the time he’s in his mid-30s.

Of course, if he’s working from home online, his parents might not have any idea what he’s doing and continue to worry about what will happen to him after they’re gone, but at least he’ll have options that he doesn’t have now.

I totally get where they’re coming from, but I also strongly relate to how Connor felt.

I’ve been on the receiving end of conversations like that.

Even though the people who are worried are well-meaning, the inadvertent message is that you’re broken in some unnameable way because you aren’t able to do things the way you’re “supposed” to.

In the 1990s, Connor’s parents may have been aware he was different in some ways, but it’s unlikely they’d realize he was autistic or otherwise neurodivergent.

That makes it even more frustrating. When you’re expected to understand things that you just don’t understand because your brain is wired differently, you feel like there’s a code to success that you can’t crack and begin to wonder what the hell is wrong with you.

(This is also likely why Young Sheldon had Sheldon be evaluated and determined to be neurotypical when he very clearly is not — there wasn’t nearly as much awareness about autism then, and anyone who was able to communicate verbally was assumed to be neurotypical even if they were “weird.”)

Connor wanted so badly for his father to be proud of him or at least happy with him that he took his instructions to get a job literally and tried to become the busboy in the diner they stopped to eat at. Then, he was confused about why that wasn’t an acceptable solution.

Georgie’s Acceptance Of Connor Came From Growing Up With Sheldon

Georgie had a rough time growing up with Sheldon. He was pegged as the “stupid brother” while everyone made a big deal out of Sheldon’s intelligence, so it’s natural that he didn’t try to understand what it was like for Sheldon to be so different than most people.

He told Mandy he regretted not trying to understand, and though he didn’t want to pick up the phone and rectify that situation, it made him try harder with Connor.

That was why Connor shocked Audrey by saying that Georgie was a “great person.”

Georgie didn’t think Connor wearing headphones to block out the world while on the road trip was weird or unacceptable. While Jim saw that as yet another reason Connor was impossible to relate to, Georgie saw that was just Connor being Connor.

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 7 Made It Clear What Audrey’s Real Problem Is

The scenes with Audrey and Mandy helped humanize Audrey.

She doesn’t like Georgie for the same reason that All In The Family‘s Archie Bunker didn’t like his son-in-law: she sees Georgie as an obstacle to her child having the life she deserves and a loser who can’t support his family on his own.

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Audrey’s surprising dream of getting involved in politics never came true, so she wants Mandy to have the freedom to make her own dreams into realities. Having a baby young and being tied to an even younger father wasn’t supposed to be part of the plan.

Ironically, Audrey didn’t understand why Mandy wanted gender-neutral decorations for CeeCee’s nursery even though Mandy only wanted CeeCee to grow up to realize she could become whoever and whatever she wanted to become.

Audrey and Mandy have this in common, but Mandy is so busy resisting Audrey’s ideas about what her life should be like, and Audrey is so busy imposing her opinions that neither one of them realizes it.

Despite Heavy Themes, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 7 Was Hilarious

The best thing about “An Old Mustang” was that it had heart and substance without losing sight of the fact that it’s supposed to be a comedy.

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 7 had several hilarious moments.

Audrey: The first night you slept in your own room, I cried.

Mandy: You did no.

Audrey: Of course I did. You were my sweet little angel and I loved you. Then you learned to talk and ruined everything.

There were some great one-liners and jokey conversations, but my favorite was the sequence in which Georgie negotiates a higher price for the water pump than Jim had planned on paying, unaware that the “other guy” he is competing with is Jim.

The two of them screwed themselves out of the original, low price with all that unnecessary negotiation, and I couldn’t stop laughing about it.

Random Thoughts

• It really is a shame that Georgie and Mandy will eventually break up. Georgie seems such an important part of the McAllister family that I feel Jim and Connor should get him in the eventual divorce.
• No Ruben on Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 7. I didn’t miss him.
• The laugh track/studio audience seemed muted today, which made it much more tolerable.
• I almost forgot this takes place in the 1990s and was confused by Audrey’s description of Friends until I remembered.

Over to you, Georgie & Mandy fanatics!

What did you think of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 7?

Vote in our poll to rank the episode, and then hit the comments with your thoughts.

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage airs on CBS on Thursdays at 8/7c and on Paramount+ on Fridays. It returns with all new episodes on January 30, 2025.

Watch Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Online

The post Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Episode 7 Finally Delivered The Connor Story I’ve Been Waiting For appeared first on TV Fanatic.

But not everyone enjoys the holidays. Some people have bad memories of Christmas, while others would rather mope at home alone.

Some TV characters love the holidays, turning them into a winter wonderland, while others hibernate until January and forget Christmas exists.

We’ve examined which characters have the most and least holiday spirit for this list.

This list may have you reconsider some of your holiday traditions.

The Most Festive TV Characters

These TV characters are the essence of the holiday spirit. They carry on family traditions and bring warmth, laughter, and love to their everyday lives.

Some of them love planning elaborate gatherings, while others prefer sharing joy.

Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Lorelai Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls has an abundance of holiday spirit. She’d be a delight to spend the holidays with.

Lorelai loves snow and had the uncanny ability to smell the first snowflakes as snow as they began to fall.

Since she ran an inn for years with Sookie, she also excelled at planning events, so Lorelai would be the ideal candidate for planning a holiday dinner or a winter carnival with snow sculpting and ice skating.

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In fact, Lorelai and Sookie hosted a Victorian-themed holiday dinner for all of their Stars Hollow friends and family when snow stopped the original guests from attending. That was Lorelai in her element.

With Lorelai around, the holidays would consist of outdoor winter fun and watching holiday movies with hot chocolate. It would be the best of both worlds.

Watch Gilmore Girls Online

Cassie Nightingale (Good Witch)

Cassie Nightingale from Good Witch possesses the ideal amount of magic and cheer to make the holidays perfect.

Cassie’s gifts and magic would come in handy near the holidays when it’s the perfect time to pamper yourself or repair relationships — two of Cassie’s specialties.

She always had that extraordinary intuition, which often kicked in harder when it was a loved one like Grace or Abigail.

Grey House would be the ideal place to visit for the holidays since Cassie would go out of her way to make you feel special, and there would often be holiday chocolates or homemade treats.

She made it a point to open her family home to others and carry on essential traditions.

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Jack Pearson (This is Us)

Many traditions would be missing without Jack Pearson from This is Us. He was the essence of family and holiday spirit.

Jack Pearson’s love of family traditions and stories would be crucial in having three children, from passing on the baton of Pilgrim Rick to teaching them how to show kindness and include others in their family dinner.

He inspired his family and friends by enjoying the simple things in life and spending time with those he loved.

While more significant gifts like jewelry were appreciated, they were memories that people would remember for longer.

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Georgia Miller (Ginny & Georgia)

Who wouldn’t want to celebrate the holidays with a Southern belle like Georgia Miller from Ginny & Georgia? First and foremost, she’s a mom who strives to make the holidays magical for her children.

Georgia never experienced a loving home life, making her more determined to provide one for Ginny and Austin. While she partly worked for Paul to maintain the perfect image, working for the mayor had perks.

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It allowed her to use her planning skills to host a winter festival and use the proceeds for other needy families. After everything she had been through, she wanted to give back.

Georgia would be so fun to hang out with for the holidays because she understands the balance of sexy fun and family traditions needed to spice them up.

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DJ Tanner-Fuller (Fuller House)

There is something heartwarming about spending Christmas with a mom. Most go out to please their children, but DJ Tanner from Fuller House learned from her dad, Danny Tanner, the master of going overboard.

Like her dad, DJ would have her work cut out from wrangling children and the family dog to pose for holiday photos when they would instead do anything but that.

It’s often difficult to keep the magic alive as children grow older, especially as they miss a parent or nostalgic traditions.

DJ knew that one well and understood when it was time to let go of elaborate holiday plans and instead watch home movies and give thanks for the blessings they did have.

She was the type of mom who tried to instill this kind of gratitude all year long.

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The Least Festive TV Characters

Some of these TV characters may despise the holidays, while others prefer hibernating inside, away from others, to forget the season existed. We all know someone like that.

Then, a few characters began mean or evil but reformed, like Ebenezer Scrooge. We hope you’ll find these selections enlightening.

Regina Mills (Once Upon a Time)

Regina Mills from Once Upon a Time embodies Ebenezer Scrooge. She was downright deliciously evil and wished everyone to be as miserable as she was.

For years, the holidays were probably lonely because she pushed everyone away. She was estranged from her mother, and her father could only do so much.

Adopting Henry helped some because then she had a child to shower love on and spoil, but it wasn’t until Henry was kidnapped that Regina truly reformed.

Even after she got Henry back, Regina remained a loner because she was known as the “Evil Queen.” It was still challenging for her to socialize and be part of an extended family.

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Will Trent (Will Trent)

Will Trent was the first of several characters who would probably prefer to be left alone than join an office holiday party.

Even though he considers his colleagues his found family, it doesn’t mean he wants to exchange gifts with them or toast them.

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Will would prefer to stay home with Betty on Christmas Eve. He has no holiday traditions since he was bounced around from foster home to foster home.

This holiday season may be worse than usual since he doesn’t even have Angie.

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Gil Grissom (CSI/CSI: Vegas)

Gil Grissom from CSI was an anti-social workaholic. While he occasionally joined his team for breakfast at the local diner, he avoided formal celebrations.

He rarely gave anyone on his team holiday gifts except Sara, and even then, it was often a book about bugs, something he was interested in.

Gil Grissom didn’t like the holidays, partly because his dad died when he was young, and his mom continued to buy his father gifts.

While he understood that obsession, it wasn’t easy on him. It made it easier to avoid significant dates like holidays and birthdays.

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Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory has always been intelligent and intellectual and never saw the need for something as frivolous as Christmas.

He’d much rather hang out with his buddies and play Dungeon and Dragons or Magic of the Gathering. He’s like my husband in that way.

Like many of these other characters, Sheldon lost someone he loved as a child, his grandfather. When Santa Claus failed to return his grandfather, Sheldon stopped believing in the magical holiday.

It’s challenging to believe when you see the world in black and white and facts like Sheldon does. He likes predictability and has been steadfast in his hate of Christmas.

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Frank Costanza (Seinfeld)

Frank Costanza from Seinfeld is an oldie but a goodie. Holiday shopping has always been chaotic and frustrating, and it overwhelmed Frank so much that he got into a fight with another customer.

Nowadays, that would be a common occurrence on Black Friday, but it angered Frank, and he gave up on the holidays.

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There are times I wouldn’t blame him. People are rude when they are shoving for the best toy.

Frank Costanza created Festivus, where guests discussed their grievances and yelled at each other instead of counting their blessings. A modern Scrooge, indeed.

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Severus Snape (Harry Potter)

Severus Snape was one of the most complex characters in the Harry Potter franchise. He often wanted to make everyone as miserable as he was by being necessarily cruel to his students, especially Harry and his friends.

While Snape is the villain, he often despises Harry because he reminds him of James, his rival for Lily’s affections.

For many years, Snape would have let Lord Voldemort kill and torture anyone but Lily. It was only in his final moments that he realized his ways.

He’s also the essence of Scrooge in that he realizes the error of way almost too late. While Harry named one of his children after Snape, there was no natural way to make peace.

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Over to you, TV Fanatics.

Which TV characters have the most or least festive holiday spirit?

Let us know in the comments below.

The post Holiday Spirit or Total Scrooge? Ranking TV’s Most Festive (and Least Festive) Characters appeared first on TV Fanatic.

That’s right. Everyone’s favorite psycho from Evil, Michael Emerson, is bringing his cold, dead smile to the courtroom. CBS sure does like to keep everything in the Paramount family.

Preston and Emerson are best known for their roles on shows like Elsbeth and Evil, which are not only Paramount+ residents but stem from the same showrunners.

I wasn’t kidding when I called this episode a family affair. Both series have showrunners and married couple Robert and Michelle King’s hands working behind the scenes.

So, with two married couples in front and behind the camera, there’s bound to be a ridiculous amount of entertaining chemistry. Plus, don’t you love it when real-life couples play foils for each other?

It’s “Bring Your Spouse To Work” Day On Elsbeth

It’s certainly not unheard of for couples in the acting world to play opposite each other. Many times, actors begin relationships while working on a project together.

While I could go down a rabbit hole of iconic actors who fit the bill, we would be here all day, and I’m not trying to take away Wikipedia’s job. Suffice it to say, the chemistry almost always comes through.

For example, fans of the Hulu series Tell Me Lies can have firsthand experience of watching real-life couple Jackson White and Grace Van Patten rip into each other in every episode.

It’s kind of a trend at this point for couples to play antagonists to one another in whatever project they are starring in. Maybe it’s some form of couple’s therapy.

Either way, that’s exactly what viewers have in store with “One Angry Woman.”

Michael Emerson Is Bringing His Years Of Creepiness On Evil Over To Elsbeth

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• Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 Spoilers: Michael Emerson Makes The Switch From Evil To Elsbeth
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The official synopses for Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 reads: “Elsbeth finally makes it as a true New Yorker when she is summoned to jury duty.

“She lands on a murder trial where she faces off with the unusually difficult Judge Milton Crawford (Michael Emerson), who will prove a formidable adversary.

Yep, there it is. Funnily enough, the tension between the characters does not come across in the promo, so thank goodness for that episode description.

Around the time of the Elsbeth Season 1 Episode 10, Carries Preston talked with TVLine about the possibilities for the following season. During the interview, her husband was a hot topic for the show.

While Preston expressed a desire for Emerson to play against the type he is typically cast as, i.e., a creep, the man knows where his strengths lie.

Michael was one of the most exciting, infuriating, and fascinating characters on the Paramount+ series Evil. If you haven’t seen the show, I won’t spoil it for you. All I’ll say is that the devil is in the details.

Interestingly enough, the actor’s debut in both series starts in a courtroom, albeit in very different roles. Nonetheless, he’s good at getting in the way of the law.

Elsbeth Is Keeping Things As Close To Home As Possible

The description says explicitly that Emerson’s character, Milton, will be a “formidable adversary” for Elsbeth. So, he’ll probably be sticking around for a few episodes.

However, the real question is why a judge would be so antagonistic towards a juror, let alone a lawyer who works with the NYPD. Shouldn’t they be on the same side?

Is it a matter of not liking lawyers? Because he chose the wrong career if that is the case. Or does he have a past with Elsbeth that he hasn’t overcome?

Maybe they dated, and she ghosted him? Probably not, since we learned in Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 6 that Elsbeth is catnip for firemen. Lucky girl.

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We also finally saw Elsbeth’s son, Teddy, make his first appearance in The Good Wife universe. Teddy is played by Ben Levi Ross, known for his stage role in Dear Evan Hansen, where he was an understudy for Evan.

While he is not mentioned in the description, promo, or photos for “One Angry Woman,” it would be a boon for viewers to see at least one scene of Elsbeth and her son spending time together.

Granted, it will have to be a quick scene if Elsbeth is going to be caught up in jury duty.

Elsbeth May Be Packing In More Stories Than It Has Time For

In the promo for Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7, the first thing viewers will hear is a woman telling Elsbeth, “She supposedly snuck into her neighbor’s apartment and beat him to death.”

Not to point out a strange development, but this will be the fourth female killer in a row, even if she is possibly innocent. Is that strange?

The first three episodes all had male killers, and every episode since Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 4 has featured a female killer. The episodes were so fun; who would’ve even noticed? This TV Fanatic, that’s who.

Again, though, for once, the killer may actually be innocent, as Elsbeth is heard in the promo saying, “She’s being railroaded. What I can’t figure out is why.”

So, not only will Elsbeth not technically work a case, but she’ll also be dipping back into her lawyer roots and trying to find a way to exonerate the defendant.

Sadly, this will be the last episode before Elsbeth takes a little pause through the New Year. Whatever this episode has in store for audiences, it likely sets up the plot for the second half of Elsbeth Season 2.

Hopefully, with all this focus on Carrie Preston and her husband, we still get some scenes with the lovable Officer Kaya and the recently much more comedic Captain Wagner.

Seriously, what is going on with Lieutenant Connor? The character only pops up when it’s time to make the good captain sweat about being popular.

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Then there was that BS he pulled with Kaya in Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 1, which pretty much derailed Kaya’s becoming a detective.

However, in “Gold, Frankincense, and Murder,” it was all good news regarding her detective exams.

Between Connor, Kaya, and the captain, there are enough sub-plots for a spinoff, but let’s get through the holidays before we start that talk. That would make it the third spinoff of the franchise.

Then again, CBS loves to expand almost every show that falls into its lap. From NCIS to FBI, the network is a veritable playground for expansion.

All in all, this episode will take the story in a new direction with the introduction of Emerson’s character. But is that wise, given that so many other arcs still hang in the air?

I’m speaking, of course, about the publicized divorce in Chicago that Elsbeth is still caught up in. Then again, maybe that’s the connection to why Emerson’s character will be so antagonistic towards Elsbeth.

At this point, all we can do is sit back and enjoy this incredibly entertaining and campy series with all its ridiculousness and heartwarming fun.

Now, check out the promo for CBS‘s Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 below!

Do you think we’ll see Teddy again in this episode?

Why do you think Emerson’s Judge Milton will be so antagonistic with Elsbeth?

Please drop a comment below to let me know what you think, and join me again when I review this episode of Elsbeth!

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The post Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 Spoilers: Michael Emerson Makes The Switch From Evil To Elsbeth appeared first on TV Fanatic.

As any fan who lived through it can tell you, the decade was a golden era for three-camera, live-studio-audience comedies.

Shows like Seinfeld, Friends, Home Improvement, Frasier, and Roseanne were averaging close to 30 million viewers per episode, a figure that would make any network exec do a little happy dance in 2024.

By 2000, hourlong dramas and reality shows had taken over the TV landscape, with only Friends and Everybody Loves Raymond landing spots among the year’s 10 most-watched shows.

Those viewing trends have remained in place ever since, but for a long time, the sitcom continued to show signs of life.

The Office and Modern Family switched up the formula, going with a cinema verite mockumentary style and ditching the laugh track.

And in doing so, they seemed to have breathed new life into the art form.

Then the 2010s saw the rise of a hip new brand of TV comedy.

Shows like Community, New Girl, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine kept the format fresh for a new generation of young adults.

But in the 2020s one of TV’s oldest genres has been showing signs of age.

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The Big Four networks are still offering quality comedy, of course:

Abbott Elementary, Ghosts, and several other new sitcoms have found success with both critics and audiences.

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And newcomers like St. Denis Medical and Happy’s Place are off to promising starts.

But the broadcast networks are offering far fewer sitcoms in 2024 than in years past.

And several of the current comedies are rebooted or spun-off from previously successful series, as is the case with Night Court and Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage, a trend that reflects a reluctance to take risks with what was once considered the most safely bankable genre.

There are many factors behind this trend:

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For one thing, cable and streaming outlets are not limited by FCC standards and practices guidelines, meaning that when it comes to comedy, HBO, Netflix, and their ilk can offer writers a lot more freedom.

Thus, in the world of edgy humor, the broadcast networks just can’t push the envelope as far.

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And, of course, dramas have an easier time molding their storylines into the serialized, season-long plots that audiences seem to prefer nowadays.

Then there’s the rise of reality TV, which seems to have taken the place that lighthearted sitcoms used to occupy in millions of American households.

And then there’s the fact that Americans are currently so divided that we can’t even agree on what’s funny and what’s not.

When Seinfeld and Home Improvement ruled the roost, they routinely pulled in over 30 million viewers a week.

With audiences that size, there had to be some significant overlap.

But it’s tough to imagine millions of modern-day viewers would be equally amused by the plights of both Manhattan singles and a Midwestern family.

Both shows might find decent-sized niches nowadays, but the sort of broad cross-demographic appeal they enjoyed in the ’90s is almost certainly a thing of the past.

Yes, for numerous reasons, the sitcom is not as dominant as it used to be in today’s TV landscape.

Perhaps it will eventually make a comeback. But for now, dramas and reality TV are the dominant forces on broadcast.

And that’s a shame, as it seems that come the prime time hours, most of us have already experienced more than enough drama and reality.

What we could really use is to share a laugh with our neighbors. Or at least with a studio audience.

The post Fading Laugh Tracks: Is the Traditional Broadcast Sitcom On Its Way Out? appeared first on TV Fanatic.