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What’s with Teen Wolf’s Romantic Storylines:

Posted on September 5, 2017 Written by Pinar Tarhan

What’s with Teen Wolf’s Romantic Storylines: They’re Coming Out of Nowhere! Spoilers Galore

Scott (Tyler Posey) and Malia (Shelley Henning).

Ah, remember the simple times when Scott (Tyler Posey) was crushing on the new girl Allison (Crystal Reed), who was “bff”ed by the popular yet incredibly smart Lydia (Holland Roden), and Scott’ bestie Stiles (Dylan O’Brien) was hopelessly in love with Lydia?

Good times.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Teen Wolf. I’ve seen all the episodes. Even though some seasons and episodes prove superior to others, and the humor from the first seasons got overshadowed by the darkness and villains in the later years, it remained must-watch TV for me.

I’ll be sad to say goodbye to the show as when it airs its final episode this summer.

But no show is perfect, and things can get a bit weird after the show has been running for a long time. Just like it was weird to watch Caroline hook up with the killer of her ex-boyfriend’ mother/killer of best friend’s aunt and countless others in The Vampire Diaries, or that Joey and Rachel’s attraction toward each other came literally out of nowhere in seasons 8,9, and 10 in Friends, Teen Wolf has welcomed itself into WTF category with its couplings and decouplings.

Malia and Stiles had a sweet romance, which later got a bit more fiery and then what happened? I honestly don’t remember why they broke up. I don’t recall when they called it quits, or if they even showed that on screen.

Many of the hook-ups and couplings can be explained logically one way or the other. I’m quite fond of the thing going on between Melissa (Melissa Ponzio ) and Argent (JR Bourne).

But the one that got me to write this piece is the latest development between Scott and Malia. They are sooooo into each other. Have you seen the looks? Or the kiss?

scott-malia-kiss-teen-wolf-sneak-video — Scott (Tyler Posey) and Malia (Shelley Henning) kiss. Image via justjaredjr.com

Not that they don’t look cute together, they do.

But…

Since when are these two attracted to each other? From the beginning of season 6B…

When there are so many couplings in friends group, especially when best friends hook up with each other’s exes, I’m annoyed. And slightly amused at the same time. Were they bored?

I get that they didn’t exactly have the time to look around for dating people since their world is often going to hell, but come on!

After confirming that I wasn’t the only feeling like this, I decided to vent on my entertainment blog.

How do you feel about Teen Wolf’s romantic storylines? Who are your favorite couples? Who are your least favorites? Write away in the comments!

Younger The Gelato and The Pube Episode Recap: Recap For Younger Season 4, Episode 8

Posted on August 23, 2017 Written by Pinar Tarhan

“Younger” Ep. 408. Sutton Foster and Peter Hermann. Image via TVLand.

Hey, everyone! If you want to refresh your memory about what happened on episode 7, here’s the episode recap. Enjoy!

The Gelato and the Pube: Younger Season 4, Episode 8

At home, Diana (Miriam Shor) reads Marriage Vacation, the full “novel” of Charles’ wife. At the gym, Kelsey (Hillary Duff) and Lauren are reading the book.

At home, Liza (Sutton Foster) and Maggie (Debi Mazar) talk about the book before work. Maggie and Liza hear cock sounds early in the morning. When they go to the roof to check it out, they meet their married gay couple neighbors, who tell them that this is for their restaurant. To thank them for putting up with the noise, they invite them to their restaurant.

At work, it is all they can talk about. When Charles (Peter Hermann) arrives, he talks to Diana, and she advises him to publish it so that he can control the narrative. Charles wonders if lawyers can stop her from publishing the book at all. Liza advises that Charles has dinner with Pauline before lawyers get involved, and tells him that she can watch the kids.

Diana gets a text from her boyfriend Richard that he has a surprise at home waiting for her. When she gets homes, she’s shocked to discover that the “surprise” is his college-aged son lounging on the sofa. She learns that the son, Ethan, is taking a pause from college, even though he has only a semester left. And that his mother is pissed. Richard asks if he can stay with them, and Diana unwillingly agrees.

Charles gets ready to meet Charles’ wife Pauline (Jennifer Westfield). Liza wishes him luck, and he asks her to text him in an hour so that he can leave. He also tells her how grateful that he is in her life.

Pauline starts by apologizing and telling Charles she is not the same woman she was a year ago. Liza texts him as planned, but Charles asks if she can stay for a little while. And texts her again. And again.

Liza is resting on the sofa in the hall when Charles arrives. He is withdrawn and tired, and has already called Liza a car.

In the morning, Diana asks Richard how long the boy would be staying with them.

Kelsey wants to know everything about the dinner – she isn’t sure they just talked. Charles asks to see Liza in his office. He apologizes for his behavior for the other night. He talks about what being a marriage is like, and Liza has to pretend she understands through her imagination. He has decided to publish the book as there is truth to the book. Pauline insisted on working with Millennial, and Liza in particular. Charles tells Liza that he has told Pauline it won’t happen, but Liza says it is okay. When Charles asks if it won’t be too uncomfortable, Liza asks “More uncomfortable than page 58?” And Charles smiles.

Later, Liza and Maggie go to their neighbors’ restaurant and are treated to a nice, long meal- where they talk about Liza’s situation with Charles.

At Josh’s, Josh (Nico Tortorella) and Kelsey talk about their previous failed relationships and tease each other about the other one’s bad choices. Then they go out to a bar.

At the restaurant, Liza and Maggie find out that the owners expect them to pay $500, and are understandably shocked. Later, they find themselves at the same bar as Josh and Kelsey. While getting drinks, Liza talks to the cute Irish bartender Claire, and corrects her assumptions about Josh being a player. When Josh comes, she introduces them and leaves them talk.

Josh and Claire walk together after her shift. They really hit it off, and they only separate so that she can go to her day job as a coder at a video game design company. But not before they kiss. Josh has a massive crush.

The next day for lunch, Liza meets with Charles’ wife about editing her book, and they get off on a good start. Liza tells her how women might not understand her leaving her kids to write the book. She says she wrote the book for her daughters so they don’t get into a marriage and become non-people – in the sense that they carry all the emotional labor. She also confesses to loving Charles.

At her living room at night, Diana goes crazy when she finds her boyfriend’s “fleshlight” –his son’s masturbation device and freaks out, telling him that he will buy her a new couch.

Maggie is cooking chickens for their meal. Josh texts Liza to thank her about introducing him to Claire. Maggie is shocked that Liza seems to be helping the men in her life get with other women. Liza jokes that she will end up like Jane Austen. Angry restaurant owner neighbors knock on the door, demanding to know where their chickens are. Maggie shows them to cooked chicken. They are outraged and attempt to call the police, and Maggie threatens that she will tell the police about their illegal garden on the roof. Before they can answer, she slams the door in their faces. She tells Liza that the chickens are actually from the market; she just had the chickens removed by calling the health department. Liza is impressed.

Diana is at work very early and tells about the son’s masturbation habits to Liza.

Liza goes to Charles’ office. She tells him about how Pauline made a mistake and wants her family back. Charles is adamant that he won’t let her ruin his relationship with Liza. Liza leaves the office with a confused smile.

Younger Fever Pitch Episode Recap: Recap For Younger Season 4, Episode 7

Posted on August 23, 2017 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Younger's delicious love triangle: Charles (Peter Hermann), Liza (Sutton Foster) and Josh (Nico Tortorrella). — Younger’s delicious love triangle: Charles (Peter Hermann), Liza (Sutton Foster) and Josh (Nico Tortorrella).

Younger quickly became one of my favorite shows of all time.

It tells the story of Liza Miller, a 40-year-old woman with a college-aged daughter. When her marriage breaks down and she needs to go back to the publishing industry, she quickly learns she is too old for the job. But her artist best friend Maggie comes with an unconventional idea, inspired by the cute 26-year-old Liza met at a bar. He thought she was his age! So why not tell the whole world she is? In deed, after Maggie’s colorful makeover, Liza quickly lands the job of a marketing assistant. She also starts dating the cute 26-year-old from the bar Josh. But now she actually has to keep acting like a millennial. Can she pull off her two lives?

With the very exciting episode 9 coming up, I included a detailed recap of the events of episode. Recap of 8 is on the way. Enjoy!

Episode Recap: Younger Fever Pitch: Season 4, Episode 7

Peter Hermann and Sutton Foster, Younger.

Liza goes into Charles’ office to talk about his passionate and accidental confession, and they end up having amazing sex…only for Liza and us to realize it was one hell of a dream.

After Liza tells Maggie about it, Maggie tells her to just get it over with since Liza has obvious feelings for Charles, but Liza is hesitant.

Liza and Kelsey walk to work together with an anxious Kelsey who is still stressed. She is worried she might lose her job after her relationship with the editor – Zane – of a rival publishing house cost them their biggest earner. When Kelsey realizes her options for the day is either going to a pitchfest and listen to horrible pitches or face Charles, she takes Liza’s advice and goes back home, where Lauren has persuaded her to take a little getaway for girls. Josh gets himself invited with his weed.

Liza doesn’t see Charles in the office.

She goes to the pitchfest and listens to weird and indeed horrible pitches, until a woman named Pauline pitches a mature, realistic novel about being a woman who needs to take a vacation from her family after married life stifles her. Liza loves the idea.

During their getaway, Lauren realizes that Josh and Kelsey are attracted to each other, and says their relationship will go down the typical romantic comedy route. Kelsey denies this. But at night, Kelsey and Josh are outside, talking about trusting the wrong people. They share a moment and kiss, but Kelsey stops the kissing, saying it is not crazy but the wrong thing to do.

The same night, Liza sees Charles come into the office. They are the only souls there. She prints out the chapters, mostly as an excuse to talk to him. She goes into his office. She is nervous. She comments on Charles’ uneaten birthday cupcake. She babbles on, and when Charles comments that she seems jumpy, she just kisses him. They start making out, but the passionate session gets interrupted by the janitor. They panic and pretend everything is normal. After the janitor leaves, Charles really looks at the chapters and sees the name. He asks Liza how she got it, and what the woman looked like. Then he shows a picture from his drawer: Pauline is the ex-wife who left him! Charles abruptly leaves saying he has to leave and take care of it.

Liza is at home, lies on her bed. Charles calls, apologizing for his abrupt exit and that Liza got pulled into his family drama. He says some of the stuff that his ex put in the novel is honest. He also says he regrets that they got interrupted, not that it happened. A happy and conflicted Liza texts Pauline asking for more chapters.

Designated Survivor starring Kiefer Sutherland, Natasha McElhone and Maggie Q

Posted on May 21, 2017 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Designated Survivor starring Kiefer Sutherland, Natasha McElhone, Maggie Q and Adan Canto. Image via pinterest.

With Designated Survivor renewed for a second season, and the season finale already having aired, it’s time I reviewed this engaging political drama/thriller starring Kiefer Sutherland. Watch out for a separate post dedicated to the finale.

Premise of Designated Survivor

Secretary of Urban Development and Housing Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is an idealistic and decent man who doesn’t care about power. He’s happily married to lawyer Alex (Natasha McElhone) with two kids, little Penny (Mckenna Grace, Gifted) and teenager Leo.

But soon after he is “reassigned” from the cabinet, the unthinkable happens. First, he is addressed as the Designated Survivor during the President’s state of union address. Second, Capital Hill is blown up – killing everyone, making Tom the president of the United States.

He agrees to the job in a state of shock. His family is located to the White House, and Tom is left to handle a grieving country, a second designated survivor from the opposing party, two qualified but disagreeing candidates for Chief of Staff, a governor who is ready for a coup, a general who wants to see him gone and many, many more complicated-as-hell problems. Can Tom handle it?

Thoughts on the show

Designated Survivor has a great premise with a cast to match. Kiefer Sutherland has always been a joy to watch. I’ve been a fan of his acting long before 24 aired, and I remain so to this day. And while 24 got us used to Kiefer saving the president and the country in the field as an agent with unparalleled skills and perseverance, he definitely has the voice, attitude and looks to make one hell of a president, even though he is initially unprepared for the job.

This is my second time watching Adan Canto (who plays Aaron Shore) in a regular and much more likeable role. Sure, he can stab you in the back any moment as he has his own plans for his career, but a politically ambitious and succesful young man is still more likable than a serial killer groupie, like the one he played in The Following.

Maggie Q returns as an FBI agent. Sure, Nikita was not FBI, but she enforced law, justice, or both, one way or the other. However, she makes sure she adds subtle nuances and lets us know Hannah Wells is a different, albeit still impressive, badass character that holds her own. She’s immune to bullshit, and she won’t let public perception betray her gut. She is, however, still a human being, occasionally influenced by her grief and questions her own abilities.

I always rejoice when we have a fictional president who is a loyal and loving family man. We haven’t seen that enough in real life, and we surely haven’t seen it enough on TV.

The show also does a good job with strong female characters. Hannah is one. Natasha McElhone’s Alex is a good lawyer, and a dedicated wife and mother who does her best to make sure her family adapts to this unique situation. She tries her best so that her clients, immigrants or immigrant candidates in difficult situations, aren’t negatively affected by her change in circumstance. She is not drunk by her new status, but she is not afraid to call in favors if it means she will massively help someone in need.

Then we have Emily (Italia Ricci), Tom’s assitant and friend who is totally the opposite of the political warrior Aaron is. She is direct, honest and cares more about doing what’s right than what’s convenient. This of course hinders her career advancement in the White House, but she is not completely without ambition . She is also not shy in reminding Aaron that staff changes happen all the time.

And let’s not forget our antagonist, congresswoman Kimble (Virgina Madsen). She is confident, pretty honest for a politician and ambitious. She wants to be president next term, right after the country will, according to her, have gone to hell under the Kirkman presidency. While she pisses off us of as viewers, she pleases me as a writer. She is strong. She steals scenes. We know she can’t be trusted, but yet, we can’t predict her every move. It also helps that so far she has proven that, while she is not to be trusted, she is not evil.

Who are the villains that blew up the capital? Well, they are way too close to home for us to ever be comfortable…

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Conflicts and Antagonists

Luckily for the audience, Tom’s marriage is the only place where his abilities and whether he is the rightful person to be the president aren’t questioned every second.

Right now, apart from Emily, and of course appearances can be deceptive, everyone seems to be out to get him. Aaron does research and collects dirt behind Tom’s back, the general wants to replace Tom, the governor of Michigan’s practically given the police to do whatever they want to Muslims, other governors are sceptical and we can see the second survivor’s supporting attitude is just initial smoke screen. Oh, and many more problems and crises to come, personal, professional and nationwide.

Obviously, you expect a show set in Washington and around a new, inexperienced president to be full of conflicts, but writers are taking great advantage of a premise, and sort of a metaphorically post-apocalyptic America. Only the congress is in ruins, but anything and everything can go wrong any second. And it does.

Check out Designated Survivor if:

1) You like quality political dramas
2) You are a fan of the cast, especially Kiefer Sutherland.
3) You are a fan of 24, and want to watch Kiefer take on a role with less action and more conflicts.

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Created by David Guggenheim.