Kreuk began with teen dramas and classic fairytale films, then moved to sci-fi films and procedural dramas.

No matter the role, she’s a force to be reckoned with and lights up the screen.

Since she began acting nearly 25 years ago, Kreuk has gone from acting project to project with little break. She’s become one of Canada’s leading leading ladies and has earned that right in the United States, too.

Kreuk will be starring in Murder in a Small Town beginning Tuesday, September 24.

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In honor of her new role, we thought it would be fun to discuss her best 11 movie and television roles.

Edgemont (2000-2005)

Role: Laurel. Available to stream on Prime Video and The Roku Channel.

Have you ever wondered what some of your favorites, like Dominic Zamprogna and Grace Park, looked like as teenagers? Check out this this Canadian teen series.

Edgemont was Canada’s premiere teen drama, and they packed many relationship issues into the weekly 30-minute series.

In many ways, it showcased the reality of being a teenager, from the fun and innocent times to the harsh dilemmas of bullying, teen pregnancy, or coming out of the closet.

Kreuk played Laurel, the hip and artistic new girl who had instant sparks with Mark (Dominic Zamprogna). The two struggled with an on-and-off relationship for many seasons.

After Edgemont’s first season, Kreuk began working on other projects, and at one point, she worked on Edgemont and Smallville simultaneously.

Watch Edgemont Online

Snow White: The Fairest of Them All (2001)

Role: Snow White. Available for purchase.

Snow White was my favorite fairytale when I was young, and Kristin Kreuk certainly fit the part.

She was ideal for the role, portraying 16-year-old Snow White as she fell in love with Prince Alfred and dealt with her stepmother, Queen Elspeth.

While the film initially aired in the United States on ABC as part of their The Wonderful of Disney series, it’s not based on the Disney version.

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It’s adapted from the fantasy Brothers Grimm folktale and combines darker elements, slapstick comedy, and the important message of adapting to changes in life.

This film was delightful because the dwarves were named after the days of the week, and each had their own personalities. It was a wonderful beginning role for Kreuk.

Legend of Earthsea (2004)

Role: Tenar. Available to stream on Prime Video and The Roku Channel

Back in the early 2000s, Hallmark Entertainment worked with many companies. This time, they worked with the Sci-Fi Channel to produce a two-part miniseries that adapted the first two Earth Sea novels.

The story follows Ged (Shawn Ashmore), a reckless mage-in-training drawn to a young priestess, Tenar (Kreuk). They team up to battle ancient Demons called the Nameless ones.

Kreuk shined in, portraying a young priestess. She’s all alone, but she’s strong and has core beliefs. It was very much about her beliefs and faith,

While diehard fans criticized the miniseries, it earned seven Leo awards, largely due to its talented cast, including Kreuk and Shawn Ashmore. Interesting fact: Shawn Ashmore guest starred on Smallville, and his twin brother later starred in the series as Jimmy Olson.

Watch Legend of Earthsea Online

Space Milkshake (2012)

Role: Tilda. Available for Rent or Purchase

Have you ever been to the Sci-Fi Diner at Disney World? Space Milkshake is an old-school sci-fi comedy that’s goofy and fun.

It was a low-budget film filled with Canadian actors like Amanda Tapping, Billy Boyd, and Kristin Kreuk to entice viewers.

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It was a delightful film as four sanitation workers are stranded on a space station and terrorized by a talking rubber duck voiced by George Takei.

Kreuk played Hilda, to whom Anton (Billy Boyd) was attracted. All the characters have been stranded on the ship and have been irritating each other for a while now. At first, she attempted to ignore Anton, but once she started talking more, her personality became alive.

Watch Space Milkshake Online

Reacher Season 1 (2022)

Role: Charlene Hubble. Available to stream on Prime Video.

Kreuk’s character, Charlene Hubble, played an essential role during Reacher Season 1. While she wasn’t a main character, Charlie’s husband, Paul, was in danger.

She was important in keeping her daughters safe and feeding Roscoe and Reacher information about Paul’s role in the Kliner organization.

While many fans would have preferred Kreuk to have a more action-packed story, seeing her play a loving wife and mom was also refreshing.

Watch Reacher Online

EuroTrip

Role: Fiona. Available for rent or purchase.

EuroTrip remains a cult classic. It’s such an entertaining comedy, and while Kreuk only had a minor part in the film, her role kicked off the plot.

Kreuk starred as Fiona, who broke up with Scotty (Scott Mechlowicz) at their high school graduation.

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At a graduation party, Matt Damon made hilarious cameo appearance as Donny and sang a memorable number “Scotty Doesn’t Know,” outing his affair with Fiona, which devastated Scotty.

The rest of the film follows Scotty and his friends traveling to Europe, trying to heal his broken his heart, and trying to find a new girl, Mieke. It’s pure entertainment. If you want to revisit your high school years, check out one of these shows.

Watch Eurotrip Unrated Online

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)

Role: Chun-Li. Available for rent or purchase

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li was adapted from the Street Fighter video game series.

As a child, Chun-Li saw her father captured by a wealthy crime boss, so she vowed to bring him to justice.

Kreuk often plays roles that specialize in bringing people to justice, but this is one of the few that focuses on her character’s culture and family.

The best part of the movie was watching Chin-Li (Kreuk) learn martial arts moves from Gen, as Robin Shou is a martial arts master.

Watch Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Online

Beauty and the Beast (2012-2016)

Role: Catherine Chandler. Available to stream on The CW App.

Playing Catherine Chandler in The CW’s Beauty and the Beast cemented Kreuk’s place among her adult roles.

She excelled at wanting justice for her mother’s death, and it was the first of many roles where she
worked in law enforcement.

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From working on Smallville, Kreuk was used to stories with her leading men having secret identities and it was a classic twist that Vincent saved Catherine all those years ago, and they’d reunite again as adults.

Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite fairytales, so I loved seeing this version. Kreuk and Ryan exhibited such an angsty and romantic connection throughout the series that made you root for them.

Watch Beauty and The Beast Online

Burden of Truth (2018-2021)

Role: Joanna Chang. Available to stream on Hulu and Disney +

Burden of Truth was a different type of procedural, covering small-town issues like discrimination against the Indigenous folks.

Kreuk portrayed Joanna Chang, and excelled at playing a lawyer who fought for her clients. She was often conflicted because of her family history, which haunted her in later seasons.

Joanna was determined not to be like her parents, but that vow sometimes affected her professionally and personally.

The series worked because it covered a different arc each season, which often included some of Joanna’s family secrets. Utilizing her rich character history kept viewers interested, though many wished the series would’ve focused more on Joanna and Billy’s romantic relationship.

Watch Burden of Truth Online

Smallville (2001-2011)

Role: Lana Lang. Available to stream on Hulu and Disney +

Kristin Kreuk was Lana Lang. It’s the role she’s most well-known for.

It didn’t matter if you shipped her with Clark or Lex; it was her role, and she owned it from the minute she started on Smallville. She was the typical girl next door and a loyal best friend.

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As the years passed, Lana grew wiser, and Kreuk’s performances became more layered as she grew wary of Clark or Lex at different times.

She had wonderful chemistry with both of her leading men, which was a rare treat.

Watch Smallville Online

Murder In A Small Town (2024)

Role: Cassandra Mitchell. Premieres September 24 on FOX

Kreuk is back with a new television series, Murder in a Small Town, and her character is so much fun.

She plays Cassandra Mitchell, the local librarian. She’s fiercely independent and recently connected with the new police chief, Karl Alberg.

They have a fun instant connection but don’t always agree on how he solves his cases.

They both have a history with the coastal town as crimes keep popping up, so put this murder mystery show on your radar.

Which Kristin Kreuk movie or show was your favorite? Did we miss any of your favorites?

We love hearing from you, so let us know in the comments.

The post Essential Viewing: 11 Kristin Kreuk Movies and TV Shows You Must See appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Saying goodbye is always tough. But it's worse when the characters don't even get the send-off they deserve.

There have been many awful send-offs, ranging from characters just disappearing, never to be heard from again, to being killed off in ridiculous ways.

Many characters seem to suffer from Chuckie Cunningham Syndrome — here one week, gone the next, never to be heard from again.

Every classic series does this.

TV Shows That Ended Too Soon

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Golden Girls' pilot featured Coco, a gay servant who quietly disappeared before the show's official first episode.

All in the Family had a decent send-off for Henry Jefferson, but after his going-away party, he disappeared from the characters' memories as well as from the Jeffersons' home.

And of course, there's Chuckie Cunningham himself, who went upstairs one day and never came down.

There are lots of TV characters who didn't get the send-off they deserved both on classic and modern series. We chose 13 of TV's worst send-offs; please scroll down to check out our picks!

Paige Larson – Days of Our Lives

Days of Our Lives has had some ridiculous exits over the years (Don Craig going to the mailbox, completely disappearing, and not even being mentioned again until 30+ years later comes to mind!). But one of the most egregious was Paige Larson's death in 2015.

JJ and Paige had a promising love story until the writers destroyed it.

Twisting JJ out of character to turn him into a drunk who slept with Paige's evil mother was bad enough, but Paige's unnecessary death at the hands of the Necktie Killer just as the two were finding their way back to each other was unforgivable.

And to add insult to injury, Paige is barely mentioned in the years since, unless it's part of a revenge plot against Ben for killing her. The character deserved better than this!

Mateo Rendón Osma – The Good Doctor

The Good Doctor went to all the trouble of bringing Mateo back from Guatemala to be Lim's love interest and controversial addition to the staff at St. Bonaventure.

But then he disappeared.

Did anyone buy the after-the-fact explanation from his ex-girlfriend that Mateo compulsively travels to save the world? He and Lim didn't even get a goodbye scene, making his short inclusion in the series seem pointless.

Stevie Hammer – Chicago Med

Similarly, Stevie was supposed to be yet another of Will Halstead's love interests. She showed up at the beginning of Chicago Med Season 5 with an arrogant attitude and a history with Will.

While she wasn't a particularly likable character, the way she was written out made no sense. After spending half her time at Med dealing with her mentally ill mother's homelessness, Stevie suddenly left town to finalize her divorce… and reconciled with her ex-husband offscreen.

This was a silly and abrupt exit, and she was quickly replaced with another blond that Will had history with. Was there a point to her being there in the first place?

Dana Lewis – Law & Order: SVU

We weren't happy with Stabler's sudden disappearance in 2012, but Law & Order: SVU rectified that when he returned to the franchise. His foil, Dana Lewis, is another story.

Dana was a relatively minor character, but still. Her primary purpose was to accidentally make life difficult for Stabler while pursuing justice.

So why bring her back after Stabler left, especially if the only reason was to reveal that she'd been covering up a murder for years? They could have left her character alone.

Richard Wheatley – Law & Order: Organized Crime

Wheatley was the Moriarity to Stabler's Sherlock. After being unfairly exonerated in Kathy's death, he and Stabler began a dangerous competition of one-upmanship. They pushed each other's buttons while Wheatley wreaked havoc throughout New York City.

Since he was such an important character, he deserved a better send-off than a missing body after a theoretically unsurvivable auto accident.

The writers wanted to keep the door open in case Dylan McDermott is available to return (he's migrated over to the other side of the law on FBI: Most Wanted now). But come on! What kind of ending was that?

Linda Reagan – Blue Bloods

The decision to kill off Linda Reagan was one of the long-running cop family drama's most controversial.

Amy Carlson chose not to return for Blue Bloods Season 8, so the writers killed her off. But fans found out after the fact; her death was offscreen.

When actors aren't available, writing out their characters becomes tricky. Still, Linda was the closest thing to a Reagan family matriarch and allowing her to die offscreen felt disrespectful.

Mon-El – Supergirl

Mon-El had a life in the present that included a romantic relationship, yet he randomly had to return to the future.

Supposedly, this was the only way to save it, but his exit made no sense.

He and Kara had been through a lot, yet neither of them had a problem with him needing to disappear into another timeline. This decision was clearly not character-driven.

Mulan – Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time has a bad habit of writing poor character exits, but Mulan's was among the worst.

Her heartbreak over Philip and Aurora was understandable, but her disappearance without explanation right after she joined the Merry Men was not.

Her sudden disappearance was a blow to both the LGBTQ+ community and viewers of color. And to make matters worse, when she finally came back on Once Upon a Time Season 5, we STILL weren't given any explanation, nor was she given anything more to do than be a sounding board for Ruby's love life.

Prue Halliwell – Charmed

This is another case of a character dying between seasons. At least there was some indication this one might be coming, but still.

Prue's life hung in the balance at the end of Charmed Season 3, only for the new season to open with her already dead.

While the actress' unavailability played a part in this, just as Amy Carlson's did on Blue Bloods Season 8 Episode 1, it still felt too abrupt. Fans needed closure that they never got, and the series never seemed the same afterward.

Molly – Burden of Truth

Molly and Luna's breakup was understandable. Luna was stuck in jail for a crime she didn't commit, and there was no telling when she might get out.

But did that mean Molly had to disappear into thin air?

She was still Billy's niece, and they didn't have a falling out, as far as we know. Yet she was never mentioned again as if she never existed.

Jimmy/Henry James Olsen – Smallville

This exit wasn't just senseless. It was confusing, too.

Jimmy died just after learning the truth about Clark. But wait! He wasn't Jimmy.

Henry James Olsen went by his middle name even though his younger brother had the same first name. Seriously?

Dave Rygalski – Gilmore Girls

It's okay to break up because one person moves away. It's even acceptable to do it after trying to do long-distance and finding it's not working.

But it's not okay that Dave simply disappeared. All of a sudden, Lane was single again.

After investing emotionally in this couple, the least we deserved is a scene where they agreed to go their separate ways.

Cordelia Chase – Angel/Buffy the Vampire Slayer

This one is a bit different from the rest of our list. Cordelia did get a touching, beautiful swan song, after all.

But we have a problem with the way it was handled behind the scenes. Charisma Carpenter had been promised that her character wouldn't be killed off if she returned for a final episode.

The writers broke that promise, and that's not cool.

13 TV Characters Who Died Before Their Story Could Begin

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Your turn, TV Fanatics! Was your least favorite send-off on this list? Or is there one we missed that you'd love to rant about?

Hit the big, blue SHOW COMMENTS button and let us know!

The post 13 TV Characters That Got the Worst Sendoffs appeared first on TV Fanatic.

We covered many different storyline arcs and character journeys on Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 8.

We'll discuss them one by one, leaving Billy and Joanna for the end. We'll start with Taylor.

Taylor had to confront a past she never thought she'd have to again, her dad. She arrested him for drunk driving, and at the station, things between them were tense.

Ben Matheson tried to make amends with his daughter, but Taylor did not want to hear it. Instead, she tried to remain professional and in cop mode, pointing out how high his blood-alcohol level was.

Ben Matheson: I didn’t know that you were here. If I had known I would have tried to reach out.

Taylor: I can’t do this, Dad.

Ben Matheson: I’ve apologized so many times.

_{🔗 permalink: I’ve apologized so many times.}

It only gets worse after Taylor learns that her dad has a job running another steel mill. She felt like he just never learned from his mistakes. She confided in Owen later that it infuriated her that her dad only got a slap on the wrist.

Taylor: I’ve been going after bad guys for years. I guess this whole time I’ve been going after him, and he just got a slap on the wrist. Again.

_{🔗 permalink: I’ve been going after bad guys for years. I guess this whole time I’ve been going after him,…}

Taylor felt frustrated since he's the only dad she has. Owen spoke about chosen family, which is true; we choose who we spend time with and consider our true family. It's a hard lesson to learn, but Taylor has grown so much since Burden of Truth Season 1.

She's become a cop and has had a wonderful mentor in Owen. She's made wonderful friends, especially in her best friend Luna, and her fighting and protective instinct helped her save the girls in Burden of Truth Season 4.

Taylor will continue being a wonderful cop and advocate for survivors. I felt so proud that she was ready to put down roots in Millwood after everything she's been through.

Owen also tried to build a chosen family, but he tried too hard at first. He pushed Kip away by offering adoption, forgetting that Kip had a wonderful relationship with his dad before being murdered. He then insinuated that the teen would get into trouble left to his own devices,

Owen: I think the world of you of you. That’s the problem. You can do anything. You’re smart and now you’re throwing it all away. I think you’re making a huge mistake. You’re on your own now, son.

Kip: I’m not your son.

_{🔗 permalink: You’re on your own now, son.}

He apologized later and offered Kip a solution that everyone would agree to — emancipation papers. Once Kip signed them, he'd legally be an adult.

That seemed important to Kip since he was already 17 years old, and he kept stating he'd be 18 in nine months. However, he did seem scared to be on his own, though he didn't want to admit it.

Owen and Diane made him a deal. He could stay with them, like good friends, but Diane wanted him to enroll in the high school where she taught at.

Kip: Thank you. No one has ever been this nice to me before.

_{🔗 permalink: Thank you. No one has ever been this nice to me before.}

Luna had some moments of self-discovery as well. In the moments before Joanna's hearing, the sisters found a way to go after Tillman, the mine's owner. They asked Dee to identify him, and she's positive it's him.

The sisters are united in their decision to sue him, and they confront him.

Luna: The women weren’t there by choice.

Tillman: I didn’t know that.

Joanna: The law says you should have known.

_{🔗 permalink: The law says you should have known.}

Eventually, they got him to agree to settle if there is a confidentiality clause. Joanna complimented her sister on how far she's come. She said she felt at peace quitting, especially knowing her younger sister would be helping clients now.

Luna had her hands full with decisions to make. Both Nevin Page and Stevie came to support Luna while she waited during Joanna's hearing. Nevin offered her a position again at his firm. Stevie wanted them to figure out their career goals.

Stevie: I don’t want to waste time fixing things if that’s not going to happen. We’re in law school and we’re about to start our careers, if that’s going to be a thing? If it isn’t then your work habits will be someone else’s problem.

Luna: I want them to be your problem.

_{🔗 permalink: I want them to be your problem.}

Upon Owen's advice, Luna contacts the ancestors to learn who she really is. That scene with the Native American Indians was gorgeous.

It was telling that the leader referred to Luna as the wise one who brings the past, present, and future together.

That makes sense. Luna was nervous about working with Nevin since he hurt her sister in the past, but he proved to be a fair attorney for her in the present, and he and Luna could be an unbeatable pair in the future.

Sadly, the case that lasted all of Burden of Truth Season 4 ended without Dee getting the justice she needed. When she heard about that confidential clause, Dee turned down the settlement.

I'm not sure who I felt worse for — Dee, Taylor, or Luna. I understood Dee wanted it on the record that a crime was committed. It felt like a slap in the face as a survivor.

I felt so bad for Luna because she worked so hard on this case, and she almost lost her girlfriend with all the time and effort she put into the case.

Poor Taylor looked like she lost another close friend when she hugged Dee goodbye. Taylor couldn't help herself when she got close to Dee, and now she's gone.

Joanna and Billy had quite a roller coaster as they dealt with the disciplinary committee. Billy was rightfully angry that Joanna offered to resign without consulting him.

Billy: You want to quit, fine. But we’re supposed to be partners in work and if life. You don’t make a life decision like that on your own.

_{🔗 permalink: You want to quit, fine. But we’re supposed to be partners in work and if life. You don’t make…}

Poor Billy becomes depressed since he can't convince the union president to hire him. The president reminds Billy he's a one-man show now.

Billy is so depressed that he confides in Hank that he doesn't think the firm will make it now.

I've enjoyed seeing Hank and Billy bond more lately. It meant something when Hank said he believed in his son, and he thought Billy belonged in the big leagues.

Billy: Without Joanna, we’re not much of an operation.

Hank: Sure, Joanna’s a great lawyer and she’s smart, but she’s piss poor with people. That’s your gift.

_{🔗 permalink: Sure, Joanna’s a great lawyer and she’s smart, but she’s piss poor with people. That’s your…}

While Joanna was out with Luna, she learned Helen woke up from her coma. Billy met her at the hospital. Joanna was so relieved that all her hard work paid off and that Helen and Sam reconciled. Joanna hoped that these things would convince the board she's a good person.

Billy: You are not your past. You are a good lawyer.

Joanna: This isn’t about being a good lawyer. This hearing is about being a good person.

_{🔗 permalink: This isn’t about being a good lawyer. This hearing is about being a good person.}

At the hearing, the lawyer debates if Joanna is a good person and if a person with good character would have signed that opinion letter. Billy tries to argue that Joanna was afraid of her father, who was controlling and abusive.

The disciplinary board finds Joanna didn't act accordingly when signing the opinion letter but has done a good job in Millwood the last four years. They suspend her license for one year. The looks Billy and Joanna exchange tell us they think it's fair.

Joanna realized that Billy had been her true rock through this ordeal and thanked him for always standing by her. She said she'd be there for him forever.

Billy: Are you proposing to me?

Joanna: It’s a counter-proposal. I’m just saying I want it to be you and me for good.

_{🔗 permalink: It’s a counter-proposal. I’m just saying I want it to be you and me for good.}

I'm so relieved that Joanna and Billy ended up together in the end. It was a rough season for them, but they are stronger together. I wish we could've seen the wedding in the epilogue, but I'm satisfied with how it ended.

Over to you, TV Fanatics. Are you happy with the way Burden of Truth ended? Chime in below.

Remember, you can watch Burden of Truth online via TV Fanatic.

The post Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 8 Review: Standing By the Peaceful Water appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Luna and Joanna use the time Joanna has left to find a way to sue Tillman, the mine's owner for exploitation of women and trafficking. Dee identifies him.

He swears he knew nothing about it, but agrees to a settlement if there is a confidentiality clause. That makes Dee feel like he's getting away with it and she turns the settlement down.

Helen wakes up, and Samatha calls Joanna.

After Kip and Owen have a fight, Diane tells Owen to be real with him. Owen apologizes for trying to take Kip's dad's place.

Nevin Page offers Luna a job again. She approaches the ancestors for guidance. She and Stevie also discuss their priorities.

At Joanna's disciplinary hearing, they questioned her character, while Billy argued those things were done to please her controlling father. The board finds that Joanna didn't act in good faith when she signed the opinion letter, but she's done well in Millwood.

They suspend her license for one year.

With Luna's help in preparing emancipation papers, Owen and Diane present Kip with another option. He can legally be an adult and stay with them as friends, but Diane wants him to go back to school.

Joanna tells Billy how much she appreciates him for standing by her, and vows to always stand by him. In essence, she proposes to him.

We see an epilogue where Stevie has joined Crawford Chang,  and Luna has joined Nevin Page's firm. Owen, Diane, and Kip seem happy, and so do Billy, Joanna, and Cassidy.

The post Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 8 Recap: Standing By the Peaceful Water appeared first on TV Fanatic.

I'm relieved they wrapped up the Oro North mining storyline in Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 7 since I found it the weakest storyline of the season.

They kept repeating things and having Joanna look incompetent, which only made her doubt herself more.

Once again, Billy and Joanna were on opposite sides as they argued about the mining case versus her defense.

Joanna: Billy, this could be my last day as lawyer.

Billy: If we don’t focus on your hearing, it almost most certainly will be.

_{🔗 permalink: If we don’t focus on your hearing, it almost most certainly will be.}

Billy wanted Joanna to fight for herself and their family. Joanna wanted to save Millwood to prove she was worth fighting for. What a mess. They see the world so differently. Joanna is such a perfectionist that she always has to win.

It wasn't easy, but the two of them had to prove to the mayor that the mine had no gold in it, which meant using the best lawyer tactics they had. I loved when Joanna appealed to Elise, using what she'd learned from signing an opinion letter too quickly.

Joanna: Elise has an ethical duty to upload. I know how weight one of these letters can carry, and I’m pretty sure Elise does too.

_{🔗 permalink: Elise has an ethical duty to upload. I know how weight one of these letters can carry, and…}

Joanna realized she only repeated her dad's cutthroat mistakes and should never have mentored Elise. She told Elise what she'd been longing to hear — Elise was a better lawyer. It only took this long, trying case for Joanna to realize her faults.

Joanna was so busy handling the crisis in her life that she didn't see how badly Luna's life was falling apart until it was too late.

I think Luna has evolved the most over the series. She's taken what she's learned from her life and applied it to helping other survivors and clients without much money. I can understand why both she and Taylor became so invested in helping Dee.

21 TV Lawyers That Will Fight For Your Rights!

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They're relieved it wasn't them when it could've been. Therefore, both of them were determined to prove a connection between the trafficked women and the mine.

Stevie started to get impatient since all they did was search.

Luna: We can’t just sit around here doing nothing.

Stevie: The place has been under full lockdown since the cops showed up.

Luna: That wouldn’t stop Joanna.

Stevie: Well, Joanna isn’t here, remember? Just me.

_{🔗 permalink: Well, Joanna isn’t here, remember? Just me.}

Luna poured herself into this case. I think she and Taylor should have teamed up the entire time since Taylor also shared that grit, determination, and passion.

After Taylor shared the security guard's name that let the vans into Oro North, Luna and Stevie took Dee up to confront him.

Luna was fierce, reminding him that his missing daughter was only a few years younger than Dee. She broke him and got him to admit the truth.

He didn't work for Oro North, so Luna deemed him useless.

Luna was determined to get Dee justice, especially since Dee looked crushed that the mine would walk. She tried everything from reckless indifference to corporate negligence.

It didn't matter because poor Luna lost everything she worked so hard for.

Stevie: Today, I saw this beautiful, smart amazing lawyer pull out something incredible, but I also what our future would look like and it reminded me of our parents.

_{🔗 permalink: Today, I saw this beautiful, smart amazing lawyer pull out something incredible, but I also…}

It was one of the first times we saw Luna literally fall apart. She was sobbing and feeling like she failed Dee and the rest of the victims.

She is more like her older sister than she realizes, always trying to be a perfectionist.

Luna: I failed her. I failed all of those women.

Joanna: Honey, you did not. You didn’t fail them.

_{🔗 permalink: Honey, you did not. You didn’t fail them.}

Taylor did her best as well to put this case this rest. She got a tip from Dee where Wes might be hiding and followed him.

I nearly jumped when Taylor saw a trapped girl in the window of that house.

Trapped woman: “Help, please!

_{🔗 permalink: “Help, please!}

I loved those fight scenes between Taylor and Wes. She showed no fear when he tried to attack her with a knife.

She was a badass! She showed him who was in charge and arrested him.

I have totally felt for Kip during Season 4 of Burden of Truth. The teen has to feel unwanted since his uncle only wanted him to commit petty crimes.

He's now living a safer life with Owen and Diane, and his uncle files a complaint against Owen, accusing him of kidnapping Kip. When Owen confronted him, he acted like he did not even care about Kip. He just didn't want Owen to have him.

Terry: You want Kip

Owen: And you don’t.

Terry: Doesn’t matter what I want. The court says he’s rightfully mine.

_{🔗 permalink: Doesn’t matter what I want. The court says he’s rightfully mine.}

Poor Kip. He's being passed around like a basketball. Unwanted teenagers often commit crimes unless they find a guiding influence like Owen has been for Kip.

Kip worried that would end when Diane returned, and he felt he was ruining their marriage. He felt displaced like he didn't fit in anywhere. That needs to change soon before something happens to him or he commits another crime, and Owen can't help.

Somehow, Owen convinced Terry to give him custody of Kip, and Owen and Diane filed adoption papers. Kip didn't look impressed.

Kip: Why would I want that?

_{🔗 permalink: Kip: Why would I}

We don't know why Kip doesn't want to be adopted. Is it because he thinks he's old enough to be on his own by now and resents authority? Hopefully, we'll learn more in the series finale.

What do you think, TV Fanatics? Will Joanna still practice law after she resigned at the hearing.? Will Joanna and Billy and Luna, and Stevie's relationships survive? Will Owen and Diane get custody of Kip? These questions and more will be answered in the series finale.

Remember, you can watch Burden of Truth online via TV Fanatic.

Burden of Truth airs at 8/7c on Fridays on the CW.

The post Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 7 Review: Where The Shadows Lie Waiting… appeared first on TV Fanatic.

In Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 6, some people returned home, like Helen's daughter Samantha and Owen's wife Diane, while others learned the meaning of home.

Joanna was positive that having Samantha back would help, and Billy had to give her a reality check.

Joanna: Samantha breathes new life into this. It’s a fresh start.

Billy : She didn’t just wander into town. They found her locked in the basement of a meth house.

_{🔗 permalink: She didn’t just wander into town. They found her locked in the basement of a meth house.}

Mother and daughter relationships can be difficult, but Helen's and Samantha's seemed especially strained.

Despite all the hard work Helen put into the land, her efforts were in vain. Samantha never planned to return.

Samantha was totally disinterested in what Oro North did to Helen.

Samantha: Sorry, I am only good at fighting with my mother. Not for her. We haven’t talked in years. It doesn’t look like we’re going to have a chance to any time soon now.

_{🔗 permalink: Sorry, I am only good at fighting with my mother. Not for her. We haven’t talked in years. It…}

Samantha may not care about her mother much, but she didn't appreciate Joanna sticking her nose in the family business either.

Families are complicated. You can say or think one thing about your siblings or parents, but when an outsider does, it's over.

Joanna means well, but Helen is not her mother, even though she felt closer to her than her own mother for a month.

It's partly her pride that won't let her settle since Joanna hates losing, as Diane said when they caught up.

Joanna showed more self-awareness this week than she has all this, beginning with her admitting how much being a lawyer means to her.

Joanna: Who am I if I’m not a lawyer?

_{🔗 permalink: Who am I if I’m not a lawyer?}

Joanna has tried mommy and baby groups and chatting with friends during the middle of the day. She is one of those women that need to work to feel fulfilled.

As Joanna yet again found herself pulled further into this case, she wondered if her post-partum disorder was affecting her.

Joanna: If I have a post-partem disorder, could that affect the way I evaluate things?

Therapist: Evaluate?

Joanna: If my mental wellness is an issue, could that compromise my ability to assess facts and law?

_{🔗 permalink: If my mental wellness is an issue, could that compromise my ability to assess facts and law?}

While she wanted a quick answer, she went to the right person, her therapist.

There is no quick and easy solution. Joanna has become so anxious and stressed and is a perfectionist because she fears displeasing her father.

If she learns to let go of that and realizes truly that he's gone and can't hurt her anymore, she will live a freer life.

Joanna strives to win every case to prove to her father that she's the best in many ways. It's why she's afraid she'll fail at parenting since she never had a good role model.

Dee also didn't have any good role models until she moved in with Tayler, Luna, and Stevie.

Those four reminded me of four friends sharing their first apartment and eating macaroni and cheese for breakfast. I how determined Luna is to fight for Dee.

She was determined to make Wesley pay. I hope she continues to work at legal aid. The underdogs need someone with Luna's grit, heart, and determination on their side.

She wanted to sue Wesley, but they need proof that he was Dee's pimp.

Luna has such big ideas, and everyone, including Joanna and Stevie, must be the people to remind her it's risky accusing a pimp of grooming.

Luna: I don’t suppose you have anything in writing?

Dee: I’m not sure Wes can write.

Taylor: He does text her.

Dee: I do have a lot of texts.

_{🔗 permalink: I do have a lot of texts.}

I've been so bored of the mining case, so I was intrigued when trafficking and the mining case interconnected on this episode.

I've never seen anyone tell directions by hearing sounds, so that was a new way to find a crime scene for me. I watch many crime TV shows, so I loved learning something new.

The directions took them directly to the Oro North mine. Lune was determined than ever to make them pay. Stevie was more cautious.

This makes me nervous. Will this case tear them apart, or will Luna pull Stevie over to the Millwood crew?

The two of them bring Joanna on board, and it was so nice to see all of them fighting for the same cause. Dee has finally found a home with these women.

In Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 5, Owen's wife finally returned home, but they hadn't truly reunited.

Diane was annoyed that Owen never told about fostering Kip.

Like most wives, she thought it was an admirable thing to do, and she didn't want to send the teen back out on the street.

She wanted to be involved in the process.

Diane: We don’t talk Owen.

Owen: What are we doing right now?

Diane: You know what I mean. You bottle stuff up. It’s not good for you, and it’s not good for us.

_{🔗 permalink: You know what I mean. You bottle stuff up. It’s not good for you, and it’s not good for us.}

I thought Diane was rather nice about it since most wives would have been furious if their husbands fostered a teen boy without so much as a phone call.

She hated being left out of Owen's life more than anything.

Unfortunately, Kip heard them arguing and ran away, thinking he was in their way.

That poor kid keeps feeling like no one wants him, and so far, Owen has been the only person who has shown him any kindness.

I'm relieved that Diane and Owen convinced Kip to return home with them and that they reaffirmed their love for each other.

We don't see enough of them, and they obviously love each other very much. I hope they can be a family.

We're nearing the end of the final season. What do you think, TV Fanatics?

What's really in the mine? Will Joanna still be able to practice law? Will the trafficking case come between Luna and Stevie?

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Chime in below in the comments.

Remember, you can watch Burden of Truth online via TV Fanatic.

Burden of Truth airs at 8/7c on Fridays on the CW.

The post Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 6 Review: The Homecoming appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Taylor is terrified when she gets a rose from Wes.

Stevie is getting annoyed with how much work they're putting into this case, and that Joanna hasn't helped.

Taylor received a complaint from Terry, Kip's uncle. Owen goes to confront him. It's obvious he doesn't care about the teen but wants to taunt Owen.

Billy is frustrated that Joanna wants to work on the mining case instead of preparing her defense for the disciplinary hearing.

Mayor Freeman is panicking because if there is no gold, then the mine is useless. Joanna and Billy need new samples to prove fraud. Billy asks Larry, the union president, to help.

Luna, Stevie, and Dee approach the security guard. After threatening him, Luna realizes he doesn't work for the mine and is useless. She needs a new plan.

Taylor finds a trapped girl in Wes's place of hiding. Wes and Taylor struggle. She arrests him.

Stevie leaves Millwood, saying Luna all her time into this case but none into their relationship.

Owen comes home with adoption papers. Kip doesn't seem impressed.

Joanna asks Elise if she is willing to re-sign the lawyer’s opinion letter saying the Oro Mine deal is sound and should proceed. Tillman says that Elise will sign the opinion letter but she looks hesitant.

Joanna tells Elise she has an ethical duty to do the right thing. Millwood is saved. Joanna and Elise make peace.

Joanna comforts Luna after she loses the case and Stevie leaves. She says she was inspired by her younger sister.

Joanna surprises everyone by resigning.

The post Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 7 Recap: Where The Shadows Lie Waiting… appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Joanna and Diane catch up about all the issues in their lives.

Luna is determined to make Wes pay. Joanna says to only sue if he has deep pockets. Joanna meets with Elise who offers her a lower offer than before for Helen's land and says it's not a high priority anymore.

Wes showed up at Taylor's and wanted Dee back. Luna scared him off. Dee is worried about the girls. Luna, Taylor, and Stevie realize Dee can tell directions by sound. This leads them to the Oro North plant.

Kip heard Diane and Owen arguing about him living there and ran off. They searched all his old hiding places and convinced him to return. They also reaffirmed their marriage and agreed to communicate better.

Joanna is terrified that her post-partem disorder will cause her to make a horrible decision so she sees her therapist who thinks her anxiousness stems from trying to please her father.

Joanna and Billy study the land assessments and realize they are a direct copy of the 1982 ones, and there never was a new one done. They're suspicious of what the mine is hiding.

Luna and Stevie come over and announce they want to sue Oro North for being the base for human trafficking

Billy wonders if there is no gold in the mine.

The post Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 6 Recap: The Homecoming appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Joanna went to therapy in Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 5. It was obvious she didn't want to be there.

During a single session, we learned more about the state of Billy and Joanna's relationship and their opposing viewpoints on parenting and families.

As someone who has worked in psychology and social work before, I found Joanna's responses very telling. There isn't an easy fix for post-partum anxiety. There is no magic happy pill.

When Joanna was asked about her family, she didn't even mention Luna. She mentioned every issue she had with her parents, but she did not mention her half-sister and their fight. Does Joanna really feel that alone and unsupported?

Billy doesn't talk much about his family, either, except how much he loved his mom. Joanna takes that as an insult since he told the therapist that Joanna went back to work right away.

Joanna felt betrayed, while Billy was confused and concerned. They're disconnected, yet Joanna thought they needed to focus on the case instead.

Joanna: We can’t afford to just sit around and talk.

Billy: We can’t afford not to

_{🔗 permalink: We can’t afford not to}

I'm really growing bored with the mining storyline, and we're only halfway through the season. Every week, Joanna and Billy find some new evidence and then hit a setback that only depresses them further and makes Joanna's anxiety worse.

Finding out the adjunction had been overturned only fueled Joanna to prove that Farrell Jackson was the Oro North driver to run Helen off the road. He almost confessed that the truck company was behind it, but sure enough, Elise blocked that.

As Joanna and Billy searched for new evidence, they realized they made a great legal team and pushed each other, but their personal and parenting values differed greatly. Joanna hated not being able to bond with her baby or breastfeed her.

She hated that everyone, including Billy, judged her for not being the perfect mom that just stays home, and she finally admitted she needed help with the baby.

While Joanna never mentioned her sister, Luna had to stop everyone from inquiring about her fight with Joanna. Both Taylor and Stevie wanted them to make up. Stevie wanted to meet Joanna and was enchanted by the small town of Millwood.

Stevie: This place is adorable.

Luna: Adorable is a word that never came to mind. Don’t be sucked in by small-town Main street.

_{🔗 permalink: Adorable is a word that never came to mind. Don’t be sucked in by small-town Main street.}

I loved seeing Luna, Stevie, and Taylor work together. I would love it if they all moved in together into Taylor's new place. Taylor and Luna are best friends and understand each other, and the three of them could work together to save women like Dee.

Dee has been running for so long that she doesn't feel comfortable with many people.

It's telling that she ended up at Taylor's new place, even if she was scared for herself and them.

Dee: No one has talked to me like a person in a while, so it kind of freaked me out.

_{🔗 permalink: No one has talked to me like a person in a while, so it kind of freaked me out.}

Both Taylor and Luna have complicated pasts that they shared with Dee to show her she's not alone. Luna had such a hard opening that this was the first time Stevie heard the story about Luna's mom being a kept woman or what an awful jerk her dad was.

It's because of Luna's past why she is so motivated to help Dee. She understands needing a fresh part. From Stevie's reaction, I think part of her suspects they are never getting back to their office.

Luna is very much like Taylor and Joanna and has a bleeding heart for victims that need help.

Will she pull Stevie in, too, and will all the women work together to save the trafficking survivors?

Luckily, Joanna joined the fight, too, and finally received some good news.

Like many big sisters, she arrived at Luna's with a pizza peace offering hoping Luna would forgive her.

At first, Luna rebuffed her efforts; then, she realized they needed her sister's expertise more than she needed to be angry. Sibling rivalry at its best.

After Joanna agreed to help, Taylor revealed how the two cases were connected. Samantha Roy was one of the girls Taylor found.

Owen found himself in a heap of trouble when his wife Diane came home early.

I'm not sure why he had not told her that Kip was staying with them. It was obvious she wouldn't kick the teen out.

However, most women would like a heads up if their husbands decided to foster a troubled teenager.

Diane: I came to surprise you, but you beat me to it. Anything big happen while I was away?

_{🔗 permalink: I came to surprise you, but you beat me to it. Anything big happen while I was away?}

Poor Owen already had a rough day trying to get answers out Crystal and sensing corruption in Millwood.

Owen is one of the good guys. While he thought the mill was good for additional jobs, he wouldn't ignore a crime.

When the mayor wants him to ignore the Oro North hit and run, he's suspicious like Billy and Joanna were.

Owen almost felt dirty when he had to take a photo with the mining crew and the mayor.

Will he, Joanna, and Billy discover the truth before it's too late?

What did you think, TV Fanatics?

Are you tired of the mining case too?

Can Billy and Joanna's relationship be saved by the end of the final season?

Chime in below and remember you can watch Burden of Truth online via TV Fanatic.

Burden of Truth airs Fridays at 8/7 c on the CW.

The post Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 5 Review: Spirits in the Material World appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Owen, Taylor, and Thorpe raid Crystal's place and find more girls. Crystal won't give Owen any more information.

Joanna and Billy get Farell Jackson to admit that Oro North wanted Helen out of the way, but before he says anything else, Elise stops him. He ends up saying he acted alone.

They try to find evidence that will invalidate the mining license but keep coming up dry.

Diane returns home to find Kip staying with them. She reassures the teen he is welcome but gives Owen a hard time about not telling her. Owen is suspicious of the mayor since he won't let him dig into the Oro North drivers and makes him get in a group photo.

Dee showed up at Taylor's new place.

Taylor finds Dee wanting to run again. Luna reaches her by telling her how her mom was a kept woman and her jerk of a father, She offers to get her some meds to help with her withdrawal symptoms. Luna says she and her girlfriend work in legal aid and will help her get a fresh start.

Joanna stops by Luna's with a pizza peace offering. She's resistant at first but then asks her sister to help them with Dee.

Taylor tells Joanna that one of the girls at the raid was Samantha, her client's daughter.

The post Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 5 Recap: Spirits in the Material World appeared first on TV Fanatic.