The good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful — they all make us who we are. 

Read on as we discuss TV characters who allowed themselves to grow and become stronger, not only despite but because of, the pain and tragedy of their pasts. 

Dean and Sam Winchester – Supernatural

Their tragic lives started with the loss of their mother at the hands of Yellow Eyes. Mary Winchester's death set in motion a chain of events that shaped Dean and Sam's lives. The brothers were dealt blow after blow.

From John dragging them into the hunting business instead of letting them live normal lives, to Sam's fiance Jess being murdered by the same demon who killed their mother, to John dying, and that was all before the second episode of Supernatural Season 2.

All of the loss that was thrown at them by the supernatural world only served to make Sam and Dean the strongest hunters around. 

Dex Parois – Stumptown

We are just starting to get to know Dex, but we already know that Dex has been through a lot in her life. 

Her ex-boyfriend Benny's mother drove them apart. After joining the military, Benny followed her in hopes of winning her back, only to get killed in the line of duty. 

Benny's death, and her experience in the military in general, Dex suffers from PTSD, but her experiences led to an inner strength that has made her the badass that we already love. 

Meredith Grey – Grey's Anatomy

There aren't many people on television that have gone through as much trauma as Meredith Grey.

After Meredith's parents split up, Meredith was left to be raised by Ellis alone. Ellis was an absentee mother who left Meredith feeling inadequate, even in her adult years. 

As a child, Meredith found Ellis after what appeared to be a failed suicide attempt, but what Meredith later realized through therapy was a cry for help. 

As a young intern her streak of bad luck continued. 

Finding out the love of her life was married, having her hand on live ammunition, and surviving a near-drowning experience to name a few. 

It isn't until Ellis dies and her spirit gives Meredith the push to be extraordinary, that Meredith becomes the strong woman that we see today. 

Meredith continues to face obstacles but she always manages to come out stronger. 

Jason Street – Friday Night Lights

Jason had everything going for him. He was good looking, popular, and on the way to being a professional football player. Everything changed in an instant, though.

After an improper tackle, Jason is left paralyzed from the waist down, ending his football career and changing his life forever.

Jason's struggles pushed him to the lowest place he had ever been in, but he was eventually able to grow from it and realize that just because he can't play football anymore, doesn't mean that his life is over.

This realization allowed him to become a strong adult and an incredible father to his child.

Veronica Mars – Veronica Mars

Veronica was just a normal teenage girl before her best friend Lily was murdered.

Lily's murder set her on a much different path than she ever could have imagined.

While grieving the death of Lily, she also becomes the victim of sexual assault. 

Veronica became hardened by her losses, but as her best friend Wallace reminds us, she is just a marshmallow. 

Veronica is arguably one of the strongest female characters ever on television, but that would have never been possible without her tragic past.

Angel – Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel

Angel was turned into a vampire when he was in his mid-twenties.

For over 100 years he killed countless people and was one of the most notorious vampires in existence.

After being cursed with a soul by a gypsy clan, Angel was forced to live with the guilt of the horrors of his past. 

For years, Angel let this guilt hold him back from the world before finally finding his calling in being a force of good. 

Ryan Atwood – The OC

Ryan enters the lives of the Cohen family after being put in jail thanks to being there when his brother stole a car. 

After getting out of jail, Ryan is abandoned by his mom, leaving him with nowhere to go.

Being raised by an alcoholic mom, with no father in the picture, forced Ryan to be independent. 

Ryan showed us, though, that sometimes showing that you're strong doesn't mean doing everything alone, but instead being willing to let people in, which he slowly can do with Cohens. 

Dylan Mckay – Beverly Hills, 90210

An abusive father raised Dylan due to his absentee mother. 

Dylan fended for himself the majority of the time, which wasn't always a bad thing because things were less than perfect when his father was around.

After spending time in prison, Dylan's father fakes his death and joins the witness protection program — a fact that Dylan doesn't learn until years later.

Despite Dylan's upbringing, Dylan was mature beyond his years. 

Caleb Rivers – Pretty Little Liars

Caleb got abandoned by both his mother and his father as a child. Caleb spent his life in the foster system, and when he meets the Liars he is living out of the school after a foster situation goes wrong. 

Caleb spent his time hacking as a means to an end and even spied on Hanna for Jenna to get money. 

Caleb eventually rose above his past, though, and became one of the best assets the Liars had. 

Jo Wilson – Grey's Anatomy

Jo spent her youth in foster care and then homeless. 

In her early adulthood she ended up married to a man who was so abusive that she had to change her name and flee to get away from him. 

Jo's past lead her to be incredibly independent. 

The recent revelation that she was the product of a sexual assault threw her into a depression. Her storyline showed that no matter how strong someone is, we all can use help sometimes.

It takes real courage to admit that you need help and Jo showed that courage when she checked in for an inpatient psychiatric stay. 

Shawn Hunter – Boy Meets World

Shawn's parents went in and out of his life with no sense of responsibility for him whatsoever. 

Shawn was never really alone, though, and was taken in as an unofficial member of the Matthews family. 

After Shawn's dad's death, Shawn considers running from his life, but eventually, realizes that between the Matthews and his half brother Jack he has everything he needs to stay strong. 

Shawn never believed he would amount to much, but we learned in Girl Meets World that he is a successful photojournalist, proving that we do not have to be the products of our upbringing. 

Alex Karev – Grey's Anatomy

Alex was raised by a drug addict father and a mother with significant mental health issues. 

Alex was not the greatest person when Grey's Anatomy began.

However, after going through what he has on the show like dealing with Ava having a mental breakdown and helping Izzie through cancer only to later be left by her, Alex grew so much as a person. 

Alex is one of the rocks of the show now and holds things together. 

Sansa Stark – Game of Thrones

When we met Sansa, she was an unlikeable spoiled brat who felt entitled to the world.

After watching her father get killed on the orders of Jothri, her betrothed, she was effectively held captive by his family, eventually getting forced into marrying his uncle Tyrion. 

Once she finally escapes the clutches of the Lannisters, she thought her troubles would be over, but they were only beginning.

Forced into yet another marriage, she is raped and tortured. 

The Sansa we knew during Game of Thrones Season 1 would have never been able to handle such horrors, but Sansa rose like a phoenix from the ashes and eventually become the Queen of the North. 

Jessica Davis – 13 Reasons Why

Hannah may have been the focus of 13 Reasons Why Season 1, but she wasn't the only one who had been hiding a secret that was leading them to terrible pain.

Bryce had raped Jessica, and Justin had let him do it. 

Fueled by the loss of Hannah, Jessica found the strength to fight back against her attacker. 

Even though Jessica didn't get the retribution she had hoped for in going after Bryce, her experience changed her and she became a leader and a voice for change. 

Kelly Taylor – Beverly Hills, 90210/90210

Kelly's mom Jackie was a drug addict alcoholic who didn't do much parenting. 

Kelly may have had her fair share of ups and downs, even facing her problems with addiction.

However, she came out the other side as a strong woman and wonderful role model to Silver, who she ends up taking in even though she is already a single mother. 

Zoe Benson – AHS: Coven

Zoe's gift that she is cursed with is the ability to make a man die from a hemorrhage during intercourse. When she loses her virginity, oblivious to her gift, she kills her boyfriend. 

Zoe is then ripped out of her home and brought to New Orleans to get trained in the ways of witchcraft. 

Because of Zoe's powers, she is unable to be physically intimate with anyone unless she wants them to die at her hands. She finds inner strength in her witchcraft, though, and goes on to train the next generation of witches. 

Alison Dilaurentis – Pretty Little Liars 

Alison may have started as Rosewood's resident mean girl, but she went through her fair share of nightmares. 

After being tormented by Mona under the guise of "A", Alison is buried alive by her mother. Scared to let her attempted murderer know she is alive, Alison is forced to stay on the run. 

Once she returns she is framed for Mona's "murder" and is even found guilty of the murder and goes to jail. 

She is then lied to by Charlotte, making her believe that she is her sister. Charlotte's boyfriend Archer tricks Alison into marrying him, and then he has her locked up in a psychiatric institute, and her money gets stolen by Archer and her aunt Mary. 

Alison still, after everything that she was put through, ended up coming out as the most changed and most improved Liar. 

Daenerys Targaryen – Game of Thrones

Daenerys started Game of Thrones as an orphan who was being married off to a man much older than her to a secure an army for her power-hungry brother. 

After losing her husband, who she grew to love, and bringing to life three dragons, Daenerys finds herself the ruler of her own people.

Daenerys faces many threats and betrayals over the years, but all her hardships hardened her and made her a fearless leader. 

Say what you will about Daenerys by the end of Game of Thrones, but she was one bad bitch. 

Carter Wilson – Finding Carter

Carter spent the majority of her life thinking she was being raised by a loving mother, Lori, only to find out that she had been abducted as a child by her.

Carter is forced back into her birth family where she feels like a stranger and struggles to bond with them. 

Just when she finally starts to feel like part of the family, Lori kidnaps her again and reveals she is her biological mother as she was a surrogate for Carter's parents. 

To add to Carter's troubles, she witnesses her boyfriend shoot her best friend accidentally, almost killing him, giving her no choice but to help turn him in to the police.

So many other people would have crumbled under the stress of Carter's dramatic life, but Carter remains a strong independent woman. 

Jon Snow – Game of Thrones

Jon was raised as a bastard and spent his whole life being treated as such.

After going to the Nightwatch he felt like he had a sense of purpose, but still, he found himself suffering more pain. 

Jon had not one, but two of the woman he loved, die in his arms, one at his own hands.

Jon rose from the dead after being murdered by his men. The betrayal only made him an even greater leader though. 

As King of the North, he showed his strength, and even would have probably become the King of Westeros if he hadn't been the one to put an end to Daenerys. Not bad former bastard. 

Emily Thorne – Revenge

Emily, also known as Amanda, had the only person she loved ripped away from her when her father went to prison for a terrorist act that he got framed for. 

Emily finds herself in and out of foster homes and even spending time in juvie. 

As strong as she may have felt as a rebellious teenager, her real strength comes when she finds out the truth about her father and his set on a path to avenge his name. 

Maeve – Westworld 

Maeve may be an AI, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't have feelings.

Living the story of a mother — one who saw her child murdered — left an imprint on her that she couldn't shake, and aided in her becoming aware of her reality.

Maeve's new found consciouness forces her to live out the horrors of being a host. 

Maeve finds power in this though and eventually helps to lead a rebellion. 

Callie Adams Foster – The Fosters/Good Trouble

Callie spent her childhood being tossed around various foster homes.

Through it all she is forced to be a mother figure to her brother, as just a teenager herself. 

During her time in foster care she is faced with abuse. 

As she finally finds a safe place to land with the Adams Fosters, she is allowed to deal with her trauma and becomes an advocate for other foster children. 

Over to you TV Fanatics! What other characters on the shows that you love are stronger because of their pasts? Comment below! 

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The post These Characters Found Strength From Their Tragic Pasts appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The news was first announced by Zac Pullam, the actor who played Carter's brother Grant on the series, via his Twitter stream. 

The series first began as a story about Carter, who had been kidnapped as a small child, being returned to her birth family and all the drama that entailed. 

The further away from that original plot the storyline fell the more the ratings plunged, even after Finding Carter was granted an additional 12 episodes for a super-sized 24 installment Season 2.

The second season wrapped in December with an abortion, a beating and a fan-favorite character turning himself in for committing murder. 

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Honestly. Did you ever imagine I'd be back here, for Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 12? Yeah, me neither, yet here we are. Suspending our disbelief together, like a bunch of crazies. The amazing thing is there were actually some good points to the hour.

Who would have guessed we might be done with the Peanuts-esque (look it up) world these kids live in when there was a chance for a whole new teenage bachelor pad to open up with the death of Kyle? Not me. That, at least, is a plus.

Since I haven't had my say yet about Kyle's death, I'm going to weigh in. While I pretty much agree with everyone else that it was rather pointless given where he and Elizabeth ended up, I have to give a shout out to Eddie Matos for the scene when he was shot.

He didn't go for the brave hero, but conveyed fear, love, loss and so many emotions on his face and through the way he used his body – it was amazing. Truly. I've always liked the guy and will miss him.

The after effects were well done. David offering Elizabeth not only an ear if she needed to talk about the loss of her former lover, but opening his home to his son, was in keeping with the way their relationship has progressed. Watching Gabe struggle with his father's disappearance from his life was also very unsettling and realistic.

Elizabeth walking in on Gabe swilling beers and angrily thanking her for nothing reminded us how much he wanted to be a part of a family. He had pinned his hopes on her, and he lost.

When his father died, he lost everything. It was very brave of him to admit he didn't want to be alone in that apartment after all and to take Damon up on his offer to stay with him and his mother.

The timing of the stories of Bird and Madison could have been better. Bird's peripheral character has never really fit well with the others, and her parents are a bigger mess than most of the kids.

Now that Madison is returning home, I wouldn't be at all upset if Bird was either written off or rewritten in a way to make her story a little more compelling (i.e., relatable). The next 12 will tell, I suppose.

In the great news category, we don't have to worry about Maxlor anymore, as they seem to be back in each others arms. Max is back in his old (and ridiculously cool) efficiency apartment, and Taylor has forgotten all about his blip with Carter. What happened on the road, stays on the road. Plus, Max can make pancakes in a crockpot (that looks suspiciously like a plant). Win.

The crux of the hour falls upon the Wilsons, who had to suffer through the ridiculous notion that Lori would have been found fit to stand trial and then that she would have dressed like Mama from Mama's Family to make herself more identifiable to the jury. That alone was laughable. 

Television has taken on a brutal tone of late, with a lot of violence and rough waters that make it a little less entertaining than it should be, given we're here to be, ahem, entertained.

The evening news is just a click away if we're all that into being miserable. I never watch it. Hate it. I feel like I watch it all the time with my choices of programming lately.

Forcing Carter to say she loved Lori without the context of the kidnapping felt very dirty. It was very unpleasant and watching Lori with that smug look on her face left me with no other choice than to book a flight to Atlanta and prepare to slap the crap out of her when the opportunity presents itself. That's apparently where they film. 

As soon as Carter designated her new name as Carter Wilson and walked outside the courtroom, it was obvious the young man she met was Lori and David's son. What's not so obvious is where the hell he was the entire time Carter was living with Lori. 

I mean, the kid is a witness for Lori, for goodness sakes, so we have to assume he knows his mother pretty well, right? Or has he been brainwashed, as well? Carter lived with Lori for 14 years and never knew the guy. Is that really the kind of image of a doting mother Lori wants to portray to the jury? How in the hell are they going to spin that?

The amount of sense that doesn't make just kills me. All Lori wanted to do was waltz him before the Wilsons to prove to Elizabeth she was oh, so very fertile and Elizabeth wasn't. Well guess what, lunatic, Elizabeth still got the guy in the end, so you LOSE. 

The ratings have been dropping to below Eye Candy levels week by week. It's not up to Finding Carter Season 1 standards by a long shot. If they aren't forced to do some serious rewrites for the remaining 12 episodes, I'll be extremely surprised. One of them should be to drop Lori like a hot potato. Put her in prison and lose the story. It's so unbelievable that it's unwatchable, and that's never good.

The thing is, this cast is terrific. They work their butts off even with the terrible material they've been getting. The series creator is really cool and so is her roommate. (Trust me on this.) The show shouldn't be wasted, so that means something's gotta give. Agree? Disagree? Are you going to keep coming back for the amazing cast with the hope it gets better? Let me know what you think.

If you have missed what's gone down so far, you can watch Finding Carter online to catch up. Why not?

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The post Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 12 Review: I’m Not the Only One appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Lori petitioned the court to stand trial and was granted it. Her defense attorney is going to try to prove that she was Carter's legal parent and therefore the kidnapping was merely a misdemeanor and she might get custody of Carter, as well.

There's another house where kids can hang out without parents. This time Taylor can clean. Sweet!

Bird's parents are back, so Max heads back to his old apartment. He and Taylor share a kiss inside the bare walls. 

David's name is first on Lori's witness list. Carter knows it's what Lori has wanted all along — to humiliate her parents for taking Carter and Taylor away from her.

Carter meets with Lori and asks her to take the plea deal, assuring her she will do everything in her power to put her away, and their relationship will never be the same. 

Carter warns Grant he might hear things about their parents in the trial. He's okay with that and knows they'll try to defame his parents. He's learned things as the captain of mock trail in Jr. High. OK, not really. He learned it from The Good Wife.

Elizabeth just wants to get the kids through the trial. She doesn't even care what comes out anymore, as long as they come through it anymore. David wonders how things are going, especially at the station. He can talk to her about Kyle if she wants. As we thought, Elizabeth asks David about Gabe staying with them. David is okay with it if that's what she needs.

Damon also offers for Gabe to stay with him and his mom, and Gabe admits it probably hasn't hit him that his dad is dead yet as he imagines him walking through the door. Then Gabe doesn't want Damon to drop by again.

Taylor and Max reconvene at his apartment. She's not ready for tomorrow. He's there for her. Always. She knows that.

Elizabeth goes to see Gabe, who is swilling down beer. She's bringing him Kyle's things and he's pretending he's okay. He's not. Now we know why he wanted to be a part of their family so badly. After looking through his father's box, Gabe decides to go stay with Damon.

At trial, Lori is dressed like an 80 year old school secretary with a patterned blouse, a cardigan and a pencil skirt below the knees.

Madison appears to be going home. Thank God.

Carter decides to use her legal name of Carter Wilson. She meets a dude outside in the hallway at court. Since she's using her real name, the guy doesn't know who she is, but he's no doubt going to be Lori's son.

The defense forces Carter to say she still loves Lori and then they introduce Ben Wallace. He's Lori's son. With David. Load of crap. 

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Kyle's death definitely ended Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 11 on a sour note, but it wasn't the only "surprise" of the evening. Crash was (predictably) back, and we had to wrap up other story arcs before the mid-season finale.

The burning question is, of course, was Kyle's death really necessary? Elizabeth had already dumped him, and although he was being a bit of a jerk about it, he had accepted her decision. He had even put in for a transfer – despite the fact his son was about to start his senior year.

Kyle was moving on. Seems a bit excessive to kill the poor sod.

The only way his death can effectively contribute to moving a story forward is through Gabe. I can't see any attempt to have this overly affect Elizabeth (or her relationship with David) as ending well. Their marriage has just been happily resolved, and to up end it again would be a disservice to the fans and to storytelling.

Kyle's death will provide Gabe with some interesting room for growth in the back half of this season. Here's hoping he's not left alone in that Ikea-tastic house, or worse, the guidance counselor moves in! While I don't like stories resolved in just one episode, that was ridiculous, so please, leave it be. 

If nothing else, I did appreciate how the storylines came together for Kyle's demise. While Crash's sudden reformation and acceptance by the senior Wilsons was about as crazy as his enlistment, his story was a dangling participle of the season. The plots converged naturally, and allowed Crash to continue to reveal how much boot camp has changed him.

Of course, Crash's return also meant we spent even more time rehashing Max and Carter's indiscretion. That was going to happen anyway, since Taylor needed a chance to work through her feelings. For once, her anger didn't feel petulant. This was something worth being pissed off about.

Watching Taylor process this devastating information felt so true. I was right there with her, in her shock, in her obsessing, in her vindictiveness, and in her remorse. And the way she arrived at her understanding and forgiveness was gratifying. It didn't just happen, she had to work through it, with intentional and unintentional guidance. 

Max went beyond denying Taylor details of the hookup, and finally got to say what I've been shouting at the television for weeks now. He was right to not give her more to obsess over, and his explanation was a good example that loving somebody sometimes means telling hard truths and not just telling them what they want to hear. 

Max: Taylor, my best friend was really hurting and she and I did something that we used to do whenever life got messed up, okay? It’s a leftover from a long time ago when everything was different for the both of us. But you gotta believe me, hurting you was the last thing I ever wanted to do.

_{🔗 permalink: Taylor, my best friend was really hurting and she and I did something that we used to do…}

Honestly, with so much happening, I'm even more frustrated that Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 10 accomplished so little. A lot of Taylor's progress could have started then, and more time tonight could have been spent on David and Elizabeth. 

It's such a relief to finally have their relationship back on steady ground. In addition to their adorable lovey-dovey scenes, we witnessed the end of their extra-marital relationships. Although Kyle (as discussed above) eventually accepted the lay of the land, he was a jerk about it initially. 

For all Kyle's whining that Elizabeth used him, he was fully aware of what was going on. You don't get to play chicken with a train and then be surprised when you get run over. And even if he had thought it was really true love on her part, asking her to move in before she's divorced was just tacky. 

David's "breakup" on the other hand, was nothing short of hilarious. The fact that Hillary was angry and surprised was outrageous. Of the four adults, she always seemed the most aware that David and Elizabeth were going to get back together. And a phone call was a legit way to end what was really more of a flirtation than an actual relationship. 

David: I texted back “Call me” and she texted back “O-M-G G-T-H.”

Elizabeth: *confused look*

David: “Go to hell.” I know. I wouldn’t say it’s so much of an age difference is the big problem, it’s more like an entire cultural revolution.

Elizabeth: How did you even know what it was?

David: Looked it up.

_{🔗 permalink: Looked it up.}

What was lacking tonight (again) was Grant. There's never enough Grant. The fact that Grant still didn't know about his parents had me worried Kyle would leave and that Elizabeth would go back to him. And now I'm worried that she'll mourn him excessively and ruin her marriage again. Until Grant finds out, it won't seem real. Of course, he'll have to show up for more than five minutes for that to happen.

There's still quite a few plot lines to be resolved in next week's (now) mid-season finale. With last month's announcement of an additional twelve episodes ordered for the season, there will be some wiggle room to wrapping everything up. That's a good thing, because with the focus being on Lori's trial, I doubt we'll find out WTH is up with Damon or Bird's situation. 

Watch Finding Carter online and get back to us in the comments with your thoughts. What storylines are left outstanding? Did you find the shaky camera work during the restaurant scenes as annoying as I did? What are your opinions on Crash 2.0? 

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Taylor's pissed off.

David and Elizabeth put their rings back on, and discuss the logistics of ending the separation.

Taylor, Max, and Carter hash it out.

Elizabeth and David are psyched about SAT scores. Taylor tries to get out of family dinner. 

Carter tries to explain, but Taylor blows her off.

Crash shows up.

David and Elizabeth invited him. Crash is invited to dinner.

After catching up with Carter, Elizabeth fills Crash in on his uncle.

Elizabeth leaves to break things off with Kyle. She tries to let him down gently, but he's very upset.

Crash apologizes to Carter for the trouble with his uncle, who is watching the two in the parking lot.

The Wilson family dinner is turning out to be more than a little awkward.

Gabe is glad about the breakup, and immediately sets Kyle up on Tinder. 

Crash fills everyone in on boot camp. Max makes toast to Taylor, prompting her to leave the table.

Taylor demands details from Max, but he refuses, instead telling her how it was just an old habit.

Taylor vindictively tells Crash about Max and Taylor on her way back from the bathroom.

David broke up with Hillary by text. 

Crash and Carter talk about how she and Max ended up sleeping together. He takes it better than Tay.

Crash's uncle is waiting for him back at the hotel, with a henchman and a gun. He essentially takes Crash hostage.

Crash calls Carter to say goodbye before his uncle forces him to leave.

David and Elizabeth tell Taylor about their reconciliation, leading her to own realization.

Carter questions the desk clerk about the men Crash left with.

Taylor visits Max and talks to him about her parents and telling Crash.

Carter finds Crash's smashed phone and calls Elizabeth.

Elizabeth and Kyle show up to the hotel and send Carter home. 

At the house, Carter finds out that David and Elizabeth are together.

Kyle and Elizabeth review security footage and start tracking Crash and Shay.

Taylor forgives Carter and apologizes for telling Crash.

Kyle requested a transfer because he's still in love with Elizabeth. They locate the car Shay stole, and approach. A chase and a shootout follow; Kyle is shot taking down Shay. 

Elizabeth and Crash try to save Kyle. 

Crash shows up at the house, and he and Carter work things out. 

Elizabeth arrives home, and shares the news that Kyle died.

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There was some egregious product placement in Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 10 as the teenage set escaped to a cabin in the woods, where a whole lot of nothing happened. 

I don't mind episodes that are mainly discussion as long as that discussion leads somewhere, and that was sadly not the case tonight. All that was accomplished was Taylor's friends found out about Max and Carter first. I guess no one ever told Carter, "Three people can keep a secret, if two of them are dead."

But since Max and Carter started the episode determined to tell Taylor everything, the whole hour felt like a never ending committee meeting. Everyone's pretty much in agreement, or just doesn't care, but has to spend a ridiculous amount of time explaining why they feel that way. Repeatedly.

In the end, we avoided my fear that this was going to turn into some terrible 16 & Pregnant tie in. When Taylor found Carter's necklace in the back of the truck (and thank god it was a necklace), the whole will they/won't they/when will they tell her round robin we were forced to sit through became completely moot. 

Amongst the teenagers, more time should have been spent on Madison coming clean to Carter about Lori. There was some crafty double speak in her initial advice to Carter, but we didn't get to the meat of this arc until later. Once she fessed up, it was a knowledge bomb.

Turns out she spent time on the road with Lori. This revelation leaves a lot of potential to explore Lori's motivations and thwarted plans. But what I want to know is how Madison was able to track down a fugitive who was able to avoid several ostensibly competent government agencies that were devoting resources pursuing her. 

When Carter finds out that Madison knew Lori had kidnapped her again, she responds with appropriate indignation to the explanation that it was because Lori loved her. 

Carter: Are you hearing yourself? She kidnapped me again because she loved me? Threatened my entire family because she loved me?

_{🔗 permalink: Are you hearing yourself? She kidnapped me again because she loved me? Threatened my entire…}

All the kvetching about Max and Carter also took time away from Damon's character development. He's still just a flat facade of a blandly good looking boy who is, unfortunately, attracted to a girl just as she's exploring her sexuality. Sure, he punched Gabe, but what was his real motivation? So Taylor didn't find out the secret? Why does he care? 

There was another missed opportunity when the kids were standing around talking about the Kyle-Elizabeth-David love triangle. I've mentioned this before, but if Gabe wants to break up his dad and Elizabeth, he should enlist his natural allies, the Wilson children, instead of behaving as if he already is their brother. 

Back in civilization, apparently it takes legal paperwork and drinks with her husband's paramour to snap Elizabeth out of her divorce delusion. I appreciated that the story she told to Hillary paid off at the end of the episode when David repeated the action. 

Elizabeth: He has a very sweet side. He used to say this thing. You know when your necklace, the back of it is in front? He would adjust it for me like this, and he would say, “Make a wish.”

_{🔗 permalink: He has a very sweet side. He used to say this thing. You know when your necklace, the back of…}

Even better that it finally opened her eyes to what we've all seen the past few weeks – that although this marriage has problems, she still loves David. I wish that her aha moment could have been at least a little logic based (he slept with Lori once, and she stalked him), but the necklace thing was really sweet. 

I'm hoping the resolution to this story arc brings us some more interesting moments. While Hillary can just fade into the background, Kyle needs to exit with flare. At least the TA has been hip to the fact that David and Elizabeth aren't as over as either one of them thinks, while Kyle has been living in la la land.  

And finally, what could have saved this episode and made it bearable? More Grant. Grant is the best. Grant realizes how ridiculous everyone else is and just doesn't care anymore. 

Grant: Okay, well, I’m going to Peter Cho’s house to play laser tag. See you when I get back from college.

_{🔗 permalink: Okay, well, I’m going to Peter Cho’s house to play laser tag. See you when I get back from…}

Watch Finding Carter online and let us know what you think. Questions to consider: Will we ever see Ofe or Grandpa Buddy again? How will Carter and Max save their bacon from Taylor's fire? How will Elizabeth break the news to Kyle? How and when will Lori strike next?

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The post Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 10 Review: Rumour Has It appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Elizabeth and David receive papers to make their separation official.

Taylor and Carter decide to go to Gammy's cabin, and to invite Max.

Taylor invites Max, it's hella awkward. 

Madison, Bird, Gabe, and Damon show up to crash the camping trip.

On the ride to the cabin, Carter is contemplative as everyone discusses Max and Taylor.

In the other car, Max fills Taylor in on the visit to the hospital. She feels bad she wasn't there for Carter.

The teens sort out sleeping arrangements and such, and Taylor apologizes to Carter, making Carter feel terrible.

Bird and Madison flirt on the porch, while Damon and Gabe discuss the the two girls. Damon tries to suss out their relationship status.

Hillary shows up at the house, but David isn't there. Elizabeth invites her to wait. 

Madison and Carter talk about Lori, and about the merits of lying to people to protect them. Carter tells Madison about Max.

Madison reassures Carter about what happened. Carter decides to tell Taylor when they return home.

Bird figures out the secret after talking to Madison.

Elizabeth tells Hillary stories about David, and it's obvious she still has feelings for him.

Max and Carter agree to tell Taylor the first chance they get.

Madison, Bird, and Gabe talk about Kyle, Elizabeth, and David. He and Damon figure out the secret as well. There's debate over to tell Taylor or not. 

Gabe didn't spill to Taylor. The kids watch the first Insidious movie, and decide to go night swimming.

Max and Carter are watching Damon, Bird, Madison, and Taylor splash around when Gabe approaches and confronts them about having sex with each other. Damon intervenes and throws Gabe to the ground. Taylor walks Gabe in. Max and Carter realize everyone knows.

After Max goes to stop Gabe from telling Taylor, Madison admits to Carter that she was with Lori while she was on the run. Carter is outraged. 

Gabe warns Taylor to be careful with Max, when Max walks in. 

Elizabeth and David talk about Hillary, and Elizabeth leave to meet up with Kyle.

Max and Taylor discuss their relationship. She thinks he slept with Bird. He chickens out of telling her.

Carter and Max go over whether to tell Taylor or not once more.

David and Elizabeth are looking over the papers and he fixes her necklace. She says she wishes they weren't signing the papers. 

Back at the house, Taylor finds Carter's necklace in the truck bed. 

The post Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 10 Recap: Rumour Has It appeared first on TV Fanatic.

For me, that was one of the least interesting things to happen on Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 9.

Ok, I was little shocked that they moved beyond a make-out session, but we've known from the beginning Carter and Max had a history.

As much as fans have been getting all up in arms about Carter making a move on her sister's man, technically, Max and Carter were together long before he was with Taylor. This was just a return to old. familiar ways for both of them.

The whole road trip with Max (including the sexy times) served to reinforce to us how important Max and Carter are to each other. Their interlude is more about setting up drama down the road than any rekindling of romance. Two important questions were raised: When will Taylor find out? and Why does Max drive around with a set a sheets in his truck?

Of course the whole reason that the two were even in a position to "rekindle" things was because of Lori. Tonight's episode did a fair job trying to deal with mental illness and the impact it has patient, as well as those around them. Madison got to play mental illness advocate, her lines sounding a little trite when you consider the extreme consequences of Lori's illness.

Madison: She’s obviously sick. Seriously, if she had cancer, would you abandon her?

_{🔗 permalink: She’s obviously sick. Seriously, if she had cancer, would you abandon her?}

That isn't to say that she was wrong. Mental health issues do have an unfair stigma attached to them. I wish Carter had been more explicit when she said that you can't compare the two, and reminded Madison (and us) that Lori had previously been treated for mental illness and she chose to stop her treatment.  

The analogy is also undermined by Lori's manipulative behavior. Props to Milena Govich for playing the scene so well. I was sold on the drugged out disassociation right up until she turned to the nurse, revealing to us that Lori's deceptive tendencies are stronger than the mood stabilizers. 

The use of flashbacks to show us Carter's internal processing of the situation was effective, but it would have been nice to have three original scenes instead of two and a montage. It was interesting how she acknowledged she hadn't been dealing with the Lori situation, especially after her discussion with Taylor in Finding Carter Season Two Episode 7. 

Remind me again why no one except Grant seems to be in therapy?

Taylor's story this evening was centered on the charity event (pageant? fashion show? general objectification of women? opportunity for moderately wealthy bored women to one up each other?) she was "chairing." She didn't really seem to do much for the event except show up, but it'll look good on her college applications. 

Elizabeth: Why does it look like a beauty pageant blew up in my house?!

_{🔗 permalink: Why does it look like a beauty pageant blew up in my house?!}

Mainly, she spent her day being annoyed that Elizabeth was freaking out over Carter and her Lori problems. This is where I wish her drug "problem" hadn't been Jessie Spano-ed but instead drawn out for a more satisfying conclusion. It would have made her a more interesting character, and it also would have been more realistic to have her slowly spiral out of control until her parents meet her. 

The scene between sisters at the end was, as always, touching, if not more than a little bittersweet tonight. I'm hoping Max and Carter don't have to reveal their secret to Taylor because of a pregnancy scare, even if it would be good drama. Their relationship is delicate after 13 years apart, and it might not survive.

I was disappointed there was no Grant tonight, especially after Gabe's scenes. The two of them need to pair up and reverse Parent Trap Elizabeth and Kyle. Gabe was actually insightful with Elizabeth, even if I couldn't decide whether he was motivated out of true concern for his dad or because living with two cops might mean he would actually get caught at the stupid stuff he pulls.

Elizabeth: Things are, uh, very complicated

Gabe: Yeah well, most everything in life is. But, the people who want to be together tend to make it work. So I’m just saying, maybe the whole complicated thing, is just an excuse.

_{🔗 permalink: Yeah well, most everything in life is. But, the people who want to be together tend to make…}

Side note:  Since when are 17 year olds allowed to tend bar?

Kyle would have done well to listen to his son. David and Elizabeth are rehabilitating their relationship, albeit slowly. The only positive thing to come out of this storyline is watching them get back together.

It never rang true that Elizabeth, who had a recent, prolonged affair (with a coworker!) would be able to justify enough anger at David's one night stand 10 years ago to warrant a divorce. Still, it's been touching watching them support each other even as they officially separate.

I'll continue to say that the core of the show is a family recovering from an unimaginable trauma, and the show is its strongest when it remembers that. Unlike last season, David is supporting Elizabeth through her pain and insecurity instead of resenting her for it. His reassurances to her are strengthening to both of them.

Elizabeth: Lori doesn’t deserve her

David: Liz, I know you’re afraid, but she’s coming back. She’s ours. Yours and mine.

_{🔗 permalink: She’s ours. Yours and mine.}

In the far background of the episode was a B plot (okay, more like C or D plot) about Bird being abandoned by her parents (which is tragic,) and having her country club membership canceled (less tragic to everyone but Bird). Her adventure with Madison ended predictably for the young artist, some kissing with a side of liquid courage.  

Watch Finding Carter online and let us know what you thought about the infamous hookup, what Lori's long con could be, and if you think Damon will ever manage to become an interesting character.

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The post Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 9 Review: I Knew You Were Trouble appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Cater fields a phone call from Lori's doctor, leading to a disagreement with Taylor. Carter leaves to see Max, Taylor reminds her of the charity event that evening.

Carter fills Max, Bird, and Madison in on Lori's suicide attempt. She tells them she won't be visiting Lori, but Madison thinks she should.

Max and Carter discuss her going to the hospital more — he thinks it's a bad idea but agrees to take her anyway.

Taylor gets a call from Max  and she is upset that Elizabeth would skip the pageant because of Lori. Elizabeth eventually agrees to stay in town.

Carter reminisces about Lori and contemplates opening the letters from Lori.

David and Elizabeth share a moment as they discuss Carter and Lori.

Carter is reading the letters and feeling responsible for Lori's suicide attempt. Max reassures her.

Flashback: Lori wakes little Carter up after a nightmare about losing her, and then tells Carter they're moving because the lady across the hall gave her candy. She makes Carter pack everything in 20 minutes and leave the rest behind.

Taylor is being fitted for a dress, she's annoyed that Lori's interfering with her life again. 

Kyle wants to take Elizabeth to dinner. Elizabeth turns him down, citing other obligations.

Madison reveals to Bird that Lori sent her to Carter. Bird invites Madison to the country club.

Flashback:  Little Carter gets stung by a bee, and Lori takes care of her. Lori promises to take care of Carter forever, and Carter promises the same.

At the hospital, Carter realizes that Lori was likely ill the whole time she was in Lori's custody. She decides to visit with Lori after all.

Max is afraid that Lori will mess with Carter again. Carter explains why she has to see Lori.

Gammy, Elizabeth, and Taylor arrive at the country club to prepare, but Elizabeth leaves to call David

Damon and Gabe are waiters. The country club moms are gossiping about Bird.  Madison confronts them.

The doctor speaks to Max and Carter about Lori and her condition. 

Lori and Carter discuss their past and Lori's actions.

Elizabeth has a discussion about Kyle with Gabe at the bar.

As Taylor, Bird, and Madison discuss Carter, an employee tries to eject Bird.  Gammy saves the day.

Carter feels guilty and tells Lori she loves her. Lori is unresponsive until Carter leaves. The whole thing was a manipulation. 

Madison tries to call Lori. 

David arrives at the club. He spoke to doctor. Taylor is shocked that Carter saw Lori. She wishes Lori had managed to kill herself.

Kyle shows up at the charity event. Gabe tries to mess things up between Gabe and Elizabeth. 

Carter is crying on the way back home. Max pulls over. They kiss. 

Carter wakes up in the back of Max's truck. They did more than kiss. 

Elizabeth talks to Taylor about accepting Lori's importance to Carter. 

Kyle wants Elizabeth to come back to his place, but Elizabeth turns him down.  She walks away and over to David.

Bird and Madison talk about Bird's parents and Carter, and about their "date".  Bird kisses Madison.

Carter and Max arrive home.  Max tries to discuss what happened, but Carter tells him to just forget it.

Taylor apologizes to Carter. They reaffirm that they love each other.  Carter looks miserable.

The post Finding Carter Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: I Knew You Were Trouble appeared first on TV Fanatic.