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How The Cleaning Lady Said Goodbye To Arman Morales

The entirety of The Cleaning Lady Season 3 was building to this hour.

While the series has introduced new characters and showed Fiona and Chris’s journey back to the States, at some point, Arman’s kidnapping was going to reach its conclusion.

And we saw the story end on The Cleaning Lady Season 3 Episode 6 when Thony found the man she’d grown so fond of and longed to save him in the same way she felt he had saved her. But their story wasn’t meant to end like that.

After Adan Canto’s unfortunate passing in January of this year, The Cleaning Lady series was irrevocably changed, as his character, Arman Morales, was a central character in the twisted and complicated world they so brilliantly crafted.

This was always Thony’s story.

The story of a mother willing to do anything for her child, subjecting herself to whatever was necessary if it meant her son could see another day.

Thony and Arman’s bond was built from The Cleaning Lady Season 1 Episode 1 and will remain until the series is complete.

Thony has always felt a sense of loyalty toward Arman because she was dead to rights if not for his influence after she found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

From there, the relationship between the two only deepened, even though they would find themselves at odds at various times, primarily due to their conflicting agendas.

But even when they weren’t on the same side, there was still a lot of love and respect between them.

Whether that love skewed more platonic than romantic? We never got a clear answer, though a lot more was shaded in from Thony’s perspective during this hour.

Arman, while married, always seemed to be a bit in awe of Thony. Helping her felt like he was doing something good when his livelihood relied on him doing bad things.

One of the more exciting parts of the third season has been the addition of Ramona and Jorge, who have two different visions of Arman and what he could mean for their future.

It was never obvious why their ideas of Arman were so different, but through a brief but essential flashback, we saw that Ramona had a soft spot for her nephew in a way that made Jorge a bit jealous.

Based on various things Arman had said over time, the relationship between him and his father was strained because of his choices, and when a younger Eduardo showed up to see his sister bestowing a young Arman with gifts, he lost it.

And it’s not hard to see why Arman was drawn away from his father’s terseness and strict nature.

Arman must have felt like he didn’t have much of a choice growing up with a father like Eduardo, and when he finally made his choice to pursue a life his father wouldn’t be proud of, to him, it must have felt like at least a choice he could make for himself.

Jorge has resisted the idea of bringing Arman into the fold once he was returned home, and while I wondered if there was some big thing in the past that happened between them, it appears Jorge wanted a change in the business that he didn’t feel like Arman could help with.

This hour did a lot to make sense of the complicated dynamics between Arman, Ramona, and Jorge, and it came at the perfect time, as the series finally closed the Arman Morales chapter.

There was no way to execute this story without it being heartbreaking.

Thony took it upon herself, with Fiona’s help, to find Arman and bring him home, and god, my heart broke for her throughout the hour.

Arman’s feelings for Thony have always been louder and a bit clearer, though always mudded by the Nadia of it all.

I firmly believe he had a deep affection and love for each woman, and had there been more time to explore the connection with Thony, the foundation for a romantic entanglement was there.

Several moments during the hour showed a real peek into Thony’s feelings for Arman, and my heart just broke for her, knowing that she would never get to explore her feelings with the man who made such an impression on her.

I wondered before the season began how the series would honor Adan Canto’s Arman, and all season long, they’ve done a beautiful job of reinforcing his importance to the overall narrative and keeping the character a significant piece of the current storyline.

Once the ransom and exchange were set up, you could tell we were approaching an answer to the looming ‘where is Arman?’ question, and I loved that it was Thony, with Fiona’s help, searching for Arman and ultimately finding him.

Fiona hasn’t always understood Thony’s decisions, but she did understand that Arman was important to Thony, and therefore, she wouldn’t let her search for him alone.

A lot of things didn’t add up with the final sequence, but what did make sense was Thony and Arman locking eyes for the last time and Arman saving Thony like he always did.

Words can’t express how emotional that scene was and just how gut-wrenching it was to see that car go over the cliff and know that Arman went out protecting Thony.

Arman’s parents disowned him, thinking he was this career criminal and not worthy to be a part of their family.

And Arman was far from perfect. He was a flawed man. He wasn’t always truthful and wasn’t always the man I think he wanted to be.

But damn, he was a brave guy. He put himself in harm’s way more times than I can remember for the people he loved.

And he died being brave.

This was a touching and supremely emotional hour that genuinely honored the legacy of Arman Morales, but more importantly, Adan Canto.

He was brilliant during the short time we were blessed to see him on The Cleaning Lady, and this was such a fitting end for his character.

The show will ultimately go on as the characters grieve Arman’s passing and figure out what’s next, but we’ll always remember what Adan Canto brought to this role.

And we’ll never forget Arman Morales.

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Will Trent Season 2 Episode 6 Review: We Are Family

Will Trent’s cast shine in family and group scenes. They provide entertainment and fun and have delved into numerous backstories.

It’s always a treat when the GBI and the APD solve cases together. Both divisions teamed up on Will Trent Season 2 Episode 6 to investigate Judge Ringgold’s murder.

Elsewhere, Will learned how to balance his career with family when he met his long-lost uncle, Antonio Miranda.

For so long, Will’s career at the GBI has been his entire life. It’s the first way he identifies as a GBI Special Agent. When he met his Uncle Antonio, things changed.

It was unbelievable how similar they were. Antonio brought his dog along for their first meeting, and he was overwhelmed by how much Will reminded him of Lucy.

I’m sorry. You look just like your mother.

Antonio

This episode explored Will’s neurodiversity, from showing how overwhelmed Will looked when Antonio first embraced him to Will being relieved that his uncle struggled with dyslexia, too.

He has always felt alone, so watching the two men bond over their dislike of reading new menus or finding directions was pivotal.

Antonio wanted to meet Angie as much as she wanted to meet him, and Angie was right that Will couldn’t keep all his compartments of life separate.

It almost seemed like their relationship took another jump forward as she joked about joining him in Puerto Rico with his uncle.

Angie also reminded Will that bonding with his new uncle was more important than solving another murder. In Will Trent Season 2, Angie has become more mature and realizes what matters.

Only Angie could make Will leave a homicide investigation to meet his uncle again. I hated that his uncle’s friends made Will feel that being a cop was unhonorable.

Things might have been different if someone had protected Will as a child as he protected Amanda.

Will Trent Season 2 has had an optimistic tone, fueling viewers with hope even in dark times. The series has demonstrated that even characters like Will and Angie took their trauma and now fight for others.

Antonio: Now you’re that guy.
Will: Yeah, I am.

We haven’t seen Will and Angie work on a case together in ages. This was a treat because they knew each other well, which was amusing or valuable in different parts of the investigation.

I loved that the entire team worked on a more lighthearted case. Will looked out of a place in the drag queen club, especially when they started flirting with him.

Glinda: Well, well. Well. If it isn’t Anita Subpoena.
Angie: Did you just give him a drag name?

It became a more serious case when the drag queens reported that they’d been recently harassed, but they didn’t have footage because not all of their customers had come out publically yet.

I’m relieved they addressed that. That became a more significant issue when Will and Angie learned that one of the drag queens, Gabe, was Judge Ringgold’s son.

Did she know you worked as a drag queen?

Will

The judge’s murder explored the Ringgold family drama and showcased that the family you create is often more critical. Gabe’s stepfather, Dalton, quoted the Bible and had difficulty accepting that Gabe was gay and kicked him out when he was a teenager.

His sister, Rowen, felt betrayed because he left her there, so she sided with their stepdad and accused Gabe of murdering their mom.

It seemed like so much resentment and anger, and it was challenging to decipher the truth.

It almost seemed like the judge wanted to leave her jewelry to her son, not her daughter, inciting more fights.

Seeing Faith and Det. Ormewood work together was also amusing. I never thought they’d bond over anything, but Faith commiserated with Michael over being a new single parent.

The two of them were more skeptical than Will and Angie about why Judge Ringgold would suddenly make amends with her son until Faith and Angie discovered the judge almost died in a car accident, which prompted regrets.

Gabe really was his mother’s son since as soon as he realized his sister Rowen committed the murder, he attempted to take the blame, but Angie saw through the lies.

It’s disheartening that Gabe’s family pretended he never existed after they kicked him out. Rowen felt alone, and it makes sense why she felt betrayed when their mom went to see him.

I appreciated that Angie and Will explained that they had felt alone and isolated before convincing Rowen to drop the gun.

Sonja Sohn predicted that the tension between Amanda and Faith wouldn’t disappear anytime soon. I’m unsure if Amanda was more upset that Faith was dating a reporter involved with the case or that she didn’t know about it yet.

Amanda chastised Faith like a teenager when she caught Faith flirting with Luke in her office.

Since Faith still felt betrayed by Amanda’s secrets, she almost responded like an angry teenager.

She first taunted her about her mistake, which crossed the line, and then almost reported Amanda to HR for harassment. These two have many underlying issues to work out before they become close again.

When the GBI and the APD interact together, it’s delightful. We already discussed the unexpected fun of seeing Faith and Det. Ormewood teaming up, but how much fun was his daughter, Cooper, organizing a group pot-luck?

The poor little girl has been lonely without Gina. She was apparently everyone’s darling at the precinct, and no one could refuse her. I loved that both Angie and Nico insisted that Will attend.

Better yet, it was great that Nico was included, and they pushed for Antonio to come with Will.

It finally showed Will that his co-workers had become like family since they all looked pleased he had reunited with his long-lost uncle.

We need more scenes with all of them hanging out like that, forgetting petty squabbles, and acting like family.

What did you think of “We Are Family,” Will Trent Fanatics? Did you enjoy seeing the team hang out together?

What did you think of the similarities between Antonio and Will? Would you like to see him again?

Let us know in the comments.

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Thomas Tuchel rages as Bayern Munich denied ‘deserved penalty’ in moment you may have missed amid Bukayo Saka controversy

Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has been left furious after his side were denied a ‘deserved penalty’ in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal.

It was the Gunners that were left feeling aggrieved after Bukayo Saka’s late shout was waved away, but the German giants have been left feeling just as angry.

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Thomas Tuchel was left furious after Bayern were denied a penalty[/caption]

The Bavarian outfit appealed for a penalty after Gabriel Magalhaes literally picked up a pass from a David Raya goal kick – believing the ball wasn’t in play despite the referee’s whistle clearly being heard.

The handball offence happened when Bayern were leading 2-1 midway through the second half of the Champions League quarter-final first leg tie.

It proved crucial as Leandro Trossard equalised shortly after, before Saka, who opened the scoring, appeared to be clattered over by Manuel Neuer in the closing stages.

Mikel Arteta and Thomas Tuchel had contrasting opinions when discussing their respective incidents, with the latter accusing match official Glenn Nyberg of lacking courage.

Speaking to TNT Sports, the ex-Chelsea manager raged: “I think the referee did not have the courage today to give a deserved penalty in a bit of a crazy and awkward situation.

“But he admitted on the pitch that he saw the situation, but the quarter-final is not enough for him to give a penalty for a kid’s mistake.

“So he admitted that he knows about the mistake the player made, that is a bit frustrating.”

In his press conference, he then raged: “The referee made a huge mistake. I know it was a crazy situation.

Gabriel picked up the ball following a goal kick which left Tuchel furious

Arsenal were denied a penalty following Saka’s collision with Neuer
AFP

“They put the ball down, he whistles and the defender takes the ball with his hands.

“What makes us really angry is the explanation on the pitch. He told our players it was a ‘kid’s mistake’ and he won’t give a penalty for that in a Champions League quarter-final.

“It’s a horrible, horrible explanation. Kid’s mistake, adult’s mistake, whatever – we feel angry because it was a huge decision against us.”

As for Arteta, he chose to be restrained when talking about the Saka incident, as he stated: “I haven’t seen it [again].

“The officials said they checked it and it wasn’t a penalty. The decision is made. We can’t change it.”

Though goalscorer Trossard was left in no doubt his side should have been awarded a spot-kick to win the first leg.

He remarked: “It looked like a penalty to me, it looked like clear contact.

“We’re not pleased but when you are 2-1 down at half-time you will take point at the end.”

Arteta’s side took the lead at the Emirates, before fighting back to earn a draw
AFP
Trossard grabbed a late equaliser for the Gunners at the Emirates

The four-goal thriller in north London leaves the tie perfectly poised ahead of next Wednesday’s return leg at the Allianz Arena.

And in a further blow for Bayern, they will be without Alphonso Davies due to suspension, while Serge Gnabry is a doubt having gone off with a suspected hamstring injury.

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‘Shameless’ Arsenal fans slammed for singing ‘Liverpool song’ during Bayern Munich clash

talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy branded Arsenal fans ‘shameless’ by suggesting they stole a Liverpool song in their Champions League clash.

Arsenal will travel to the Allianz Arena next Wednesday with the scores level in their Champions League tie against Bayern Munich after an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal and Bayern drew 2-2 at the Emirates on Tuesday
AFP

However, Mikel Arteta might feel this was a missed opportunity with Bayern fans not allowed in at the Arsenal stadium while the 60,000-ground was full of Gooners.

They made for a fine atmosphere but one moment got under Cundy’s skin after Arsenal fans starting singing ‘Allez, Allez, Allez’ in the second half.

When asked by Jamie O’Hara on talkSPORT what he thought about the atmosphere, Cundy said: “Can I ask Arsenal fans? They are singing ‘Allez, Allez, Allez’?

“The Liverpool Champions League song? It is shameless! They have got no shame!

“Liverpool won the Champions League and they are signing a Liverpool song? I mean come on, Gooners. You must have your own song.

“Allez, Allez, Allez? Halfway through the game? And you’re not even in the lead at that stage!

“And you are singing a Liverpool song when they won the Champions League! Shameless. They are shameless.”

While the original chant goes back many years, Liverpool fans popularised it at the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv.

Cundy could not believe what the Arsenal fans were chanting
Only Arsenal fans were allowed into the Emirates on Tuesday

The Reds went on to lose the final to Real Madrid but the chant stuck around, being continually sung by Liverpool supporters throughout their escapades around Europe.

It became their anthem for the following season’s Champions League run where they went all the way, beating Tottenham in the final.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have never won the Champions League, though they did reach the final in 2006 where they lost to Barcelona.

This season, some Gunners fans might believe they have a chance to finally lift the trophy amid a brilliant campaign where they currently sit at the top of the Premier League.

Trossard grabbed a late equaliser for Arsenal

Their first leg against Bayern ended 2-2 with Bukayo Saka scoring the opener only for two former north Londoners in Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane to put the visitors ahead.

Leandro Trossard netted a late equaliser after coming on from the bench but there was controversy when Saka thought he was fouled in the box in the fifth minute of stoppage time by Manuel Neuer.

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39 lecturers indicted for sexual harassment in five years – Report

No fewer than 39 lecturers in the nation’s tertiary institutions have been indicted and dismissed over sexual misconduct in the past five years, analysis of media reports by The PUNCH has revealed. Sexual harassment has been recurring in Nigerian higher educational institutions with a survey conducted in 2018 by the World Bank Group’s Women revealing

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You lack power to sack Abure, Labour Party tells NLC

The leadership of the Labour Party on Tuesday warned the Nigeria Labour Congress against trying to hijack the political platform, saying it lacked the power to sack the Julius Abure-National Working Committee as recently declared. The party’s response was a reaction to Monday’s resolution taken by the NLC Political Commission at a stakeholders meeting in

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The Shows That Best Depict Being a Gen-Z Teenager

Life as a teenager has drastically changed since technology’s inception and the evolution of world views.

I am, admittedly, on the older side of Gen-Z. I only recently realized I was not technically a millennial, having been born in 1997.

This is mainly because being in high school for me (2012-2016) is worlds away from what being in high school looks like now.

It feels like the world switched right after I graduated high school, and I have experienced both the older and the younger side of the generation.

People tend to forget that being born in 1997 and 2006 gives each a completely different experience, despite being grouped as one generation that MUST all act and think the same.

I looked at the girls only a couple of years younger than me, and clearly, the ‘awkward phase’ of Hollister tees and oddly lengthed shorts was no longer a thing.

It’s like they knew how to do makeup and wear trendy clothes out of the womb. And there are many more examples I could list.

Gen-Zers reflect a more accepting society than previous ones, rule social media and care about the environment and mental health.

Along with that, authenticity and uniqueness are of utmost importance.

The idea this generation only cares about their phones easily comes to mind. I am not trying to say that’s a wrong perspective.

However, the missing point is that we can put them down and have intellectual conversations on political and social issues.

Just because there is a new wave of characteristics doesn’t mean high school has become any easier.

The pressure is more intense than ever, and navigating the world as a teenager or young adult in this generation is stressful.

Depicting this environment in TV has created many hit series, and here are our top picks that depict life as a Gen-Z teenager.

Remember that we’re not just talking about teenagers in 2024, so when you think, ‘That’s so 2016,’ remember, we are part of Gen-Z, too.

Also, remember that people in different areas, and even different friend groups in the same school, all have differing experiences.

Euphoria

One show that seems to indeed hit the mark for capturing Gen-Z is Euphoria.

It doesn’t focus too much on phones or social media or use incorrect dialogue, which can likely be credited to Zendaya’s creative input.

Its depiction of drug use, toxic relationships, partying, spreading nudes, and the ups and downs of girl friendships hit the spot.

It is unrelenting and dark and a scary close representation of some of the stuff that went on when I was in high school.

It stars Rue Bennett (Zendaya) as a 17-year-old who battles addiction. She narrates the series, and we meet the other characters through her.

From her eyes, we see life as a high schooler, the good and the bad.

Critics hate it. Parents hate it. Far-right politicians hate it. Good. It’s not made for them.

The so-called “glorification” of the aspects they call “vile” is not a glorification at all.

It’s not like the show is telling teens to act and do as these characters.

In my case, no one needed to do that. It was already happening.

We get a mirror of teens expressing themselves and a journey of self-discovery through hard lessons learned.

Not only is it relatable through the characters and topics, but from its atheistic as well.

It captures the emotion behind the events. While sometimes over the top, it still validates the fears, anxiety, and social media struggle faced by many.

Elite

Elite is a Spanish series created for Netflix and set in a fictional elite high school. However, it has become an international hit.

It focuses on three working-class students on scholarships and their relationships with their wealthier schoolmates.

Now, a lot happens over the numerous seasons of the show. Think Gossip Girl but with a murder mystery twist.

The actors don’t seem to be trying, which creates a natural and believable Gen-Z culture of partying, locker-room fights, and all the betrayal and gossip that comes with high school.

It features the development of beautiful queer relationships, accepting yourself, and breaking class barriers.

The juxtaposition of the not-so-wealthy and the extremely rich come together to create friendships you wouldn’t expect, something I feel is more common amongst teens now than in previous generations.

However, that didn’t come at first. When new kids come to town, they tend to disrupt the “natural hierarchy” of the social order.

There is bullying, tormenting, and the determination to expose the affluent’s wrongdoings.

It has a lot of relatable content, such as the top girl being insecure, boys who like to hide their sensitivity, and the righteous girl who likes to take on a project (a troubled boy).

There is more than meets the eye in this series, even depicting a “throuple” that helps two characters in their journey of self-discovery.

The nuance of the show and its ability to cover topics like never before makes it relatable to Gen-Z.

Heartbreak High

Heartbreak High is an Australian Netflix series that also hits internationally, like Elite.

It is hilarious, shocking, diverse, and gritty.

It has many LGBTQIA+ characters, and one of the main characters has Autism, which adds a perspective we rarely see in shows in such a natural and accepting way.

It hits a lot of teenage drama that occurs in real life. First, starting with the discovery of a “sex map.”

Although that may seem far-fetched, the idea behind it, your sexual secrets on full display, is not improbable as a high schooler.

People love to talk about that stuff.

It has ghosting of a best friend, friends betraying others by sleeping with ex and current boyfriends, public displays of fighting the patriarchy, and boys not publically acknowledging the girls they sleep with.

The list could go on.

The sexual urges of a teenager are on full display, and so is the representation of characters constantly overlooked in mainstream media.

It represents teenage life and 2024 Gen-Z students in twists and turns.

Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi Vishwakumar, an Indian-American Tamil girl, and the ups and downs that come with the last three years of high school.

At the start of the series, Devi is determined to change her social status after a rough first year.

The sudden death of her father means the show adds an aspect that not all can relate to, but seeing how she deals with the grief and life with her mother provides a mirror into something that should be acknowledged.

The amount of relatability to Never Have I Ever seems to vary.

Some aspects are on point, and others don’t go over well.

For example, the dialogue in the show could use some work. It has some cringe-worthy moments and can be overdramatic.

It also focuses heavily on virginity and having sex in general. This reliability varies from person to person and on where you live.

In places that are lower income or don’t have a lot to do, then sex tends to be more prevalent than in affluent areas or places with things for teens to do.

The same goes for drugs and drinking for a lot of shows in this article. Some people are more desensitized to these things than others.

However, Devi’s emotional reactions, graduating and leaving friends, the idea of spreading rumors, being ghosted by a boy, arguments with friends, and stressing about your dream college are all pretty accurate.

Full disclosure: I am not South Asian. So, I did have to read a lot about how people felt about the portrayal of being a South Asian teen.

Bullying is horrible, and feeling alienated is soul-crushing.

Unless you attend an extraordinarily diverse and accepting school, then chances are race-related bullying and stereotypes run rampant.

However, it seems that the depiction of Devi’s feelings and thoughts stemming from finding her identity and being South Asian is realistic.

When all is said and done, there is far more relatable content, for most, in the show than outlandish.

Sex Education

Sex Education is a British series that mainly follows Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield), whose single mother is a sex therapist.

Even though his mom is highly casual about sex and her own sex life, Otis is very uncomfortable with any sexual encounter.

The show is full of awkward conversations and relatable moments.

Creator Laurie Nunn’s goal was to create a show highlighting how the conversations around sex, identity, and gender have changed.

Nunn explores these ideas from many perspectives, creating an essential Gen-Z hit.

The series tackles the ideas of coming out, slut-shamming, insecurities about one’s body, and confusion around sexual desires.

There are also themes of having a troubled family past, bullying, self-loathing, pressures of high expectations, cliques, secret friendships, being a gay son of immigrants, and dealing with a parent who has an addiction.

There is even a girl who writes alien erotica and desperately wants to lose her virginity.

This sex-positive show was made for modern-day teens, and the writing, directing, and acting are top-notch.

Ginny & Georgia

Ginny & Georgia, created by Sarah Lampert, has been highly critiqued for its depiction of certain things.

Some moments will make you cringe, but its premise and storylines are done very well.

I started questioning whether this show was more relatable to older Gen-Zers after reading a rant on Hunter’s Snapchat scene saying, “That’s so 2016.”

Which is where my earlier comment stems from.

Maybe they forgot some of us were in high school when the app took over.

The parts that I want to point out specifically are the conversations around self-harm, racism, body image, breaking someone’s heart, and questioning where you belong.

One of the main characters, Ginny (Antonia Gentry), is bi-racial.

Being half-white and half-Black leads her to question where she fits. Many events in the show shed light on things that not everyone has to consider and are essential to understanding.

Such as when the school’s party has a woman giving girls ponytails or everything her ignorant English teacher says and does.

We also get to relate to heartbreak, first loves, liking a boy who only cares about hooking up, non-conventional parents, and the turbulence of friendships.

That’s not even the tip of the iceberg, either. Her mom, Georgia, comes with a whole other side of crazy.

This show may have Swifties angered, but it is worth a watch for the rest of us.

On My Block

On My Block is a story about four friends living in a rough inner-city LA neighborhood who experience their lifelong friendship tested by high school problems.

Its focus is on underrepresented communities, bringing up timely societal issues from a natural and authentic perspective. 

It stars Sierra Capri as Monsé Finnie, an Afro-Latina tomboy and leader of the group.

Jason Genao, as Ruben “Ruby” Martinez Jr., is a math prodigy of Mexican background and the group’s conscience.

Brett Gray as Jamal Turner, the nerd in the group and African-American.

As well as Diego Tinoco as Cesar Diaz, a genius Latino forced into a gang after his brother’s release from prison.

It’s hard to find TV shows depicting young people of color facing issues in their community like the ones brought up in the show.

Plus, this is such an influential time in the character’s lives, making it even more unique because they are in their very early years of high school when the show starts.

The acting, writing, and storylines are magnificent.

It is beautifully comedic but also tackles severe issues simultaneously, like all the situations they encounter while trying to save Cesar from the gang.

The show features typical teen dilemmas while also facing police harassment and violence.

The way they set up the characters breaks away from stereotypes, which is highly refreshing.

They have each other and know that where they grew up doesn’t have to be where their future is.

Outer Banks

Treasure hunting aside, Outer Banks is a fun and adventurous show that gained extreme popularity soon after it emerged.

Its depiction of the Barrier Island teen life is very close to accurate.

I grew up in a similar environment in Florida, and I couldn’t stop reminiscing about my high school years when I watched it.

But that isn’t the only reason for its relatability. You can find class gaps that create stereotypes and differing friend groups almost anywhere.

While usually, they aren’t nearly as extreme as depicted in Outer Banks, it still sadly exists. They show how to overcome family expectations and naive preconceptions and create strong relationships despite that.

We also see how not all rich people are happy and how dangerous those kinds of families can be.

At the end of the day, sometimes water is thicker than blood.

It is a little deeper than your average teen show.

Sarah must constantly rethink her life because her brother and father care more about treasure than her life.

Kie deals with parents who truly don’t understand her, hate her boyfriend, and are borderline overprotective.

They want what’s best for her. However, they go about it horribly.

John B. (Chase Stokes) raised himself, and so did JJ.

Each has a different parental issue and background, giving way to kids forced to be independent and bitter.

Conversely, Pope’s parents are pretty strict, and he cares about school with eyes set on a bright future, bringing a different perspective.

The teen drama mixes heartbreak, cheating, relationships, differing parental styles, overcoming socio-economic gaps, and the journey of finding one’s self with treasure hunting, mystery, and near-death experiences in a captivating way.

There is no denying that teen dramas have taken over. 

Finding one that can hit home is easy with the many different shows. Sometimes, this is precisely what we need.

Being able to connect to a show and its characters can surprisingly actually help in the real world.

Share your thoughts below in the comments and what show you hold dear to your teenage experience!

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Zach Edey ‘beefs’ with UConn head coach Dan Hurley as fans roast Huskies coach for ‘classless’ behavior following heated rant at referee

Tensions spilled over in the first half of the 2024 NCAA title game.

Zach Edey was having everything his own way and put on an absolute clinic on both sides of the floor in a back-and-forth contest at ‘The Big Dance’.

UConn head coach Dan Hurley was extremely animated on the sidelines in the first half
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UConn found themselves in foul trouble early on with nobody able to handle Edey.

With six minutes to go, UConn already had six fouls and had two players with two fouls each and Huskies head coach couldn’t contain his frustrations.

According to The Athletic’s Brendan Marks, Hurley hurled expletives at the referee over an uncalled foul.

“Hurley to referee Roger Ayers after Edey stonewalled Stephon Castle on that last screen, and no foul was called: “Yo, what the f*** is that?” Marks wrote on X.

Barstool Sports claimed Hurley yelled: “That’s a f***ing flop”.

The Connecticut coach also got into with Edey and was seen jawing at the Boilermakers big man during a timeout earlier in the first half.

“Hurley came onto the court complaining that Edey set an illegal screen as Edey walked by,” Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde reprted.

“Edey said something to Hurley. Hurley returned fire. This game is running hot.”

Fans weren’t impressed with what they were seeing from the UConn man and called Hurley out for his ‘classless’ behavior.

Hurley wasn’t happy with some of the calls and let officials know about it
X@barstoolsports
Edey and Hurley had words during a timeout in the first half
X@barstoolsports

“Dan Hurley barking at Zach Edey just shows what a classless piece of (s***) he is. Coach your own kids Dan,” one fan wrote.

“Hurley is classless. Talking to a player what a loser,” another added.

“Pathetic. No coach should ever start jawing with an opposing player,” a third added.

Gregg Doyel of IndyStar wrote: “I’ve been busy with Purdue, so I don’t know but … is UConn coach Dan Hurley always like this with the officials?

“Not just complaining, but pleading and gesturing and stomping and pouting and running onto the court and looking on the verge of tears at times. This what he does?”.

Skip Bayless posted: “Dan Hurley, a much bigger star than he was a year ago when he was just “the brother of,” is really playing to the cameras tonight.”

It was an electrifying first half between the two No.1 seeds as UConn headed in at overtime with a 36-30 lead.

Edey had 16 points and five rebounds, as well as two big-time blocks, while teammate Braden Smith had nine points.

UConn’s scoring was much more evenly spread with Tristen Newton putting up 11 points, and Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer and Hassan Diarra each having seven points.

The Huskies are bidding for back-to-back championship wins following their victory in the tournament last season.

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Shannon Sharpe, Skip Bayless and basketball world in total awe of Zach Edey’s monstrous NCAA title game

Zach Edey is playing like a man possessed.

The Purdue Boilermakers star showed exactly why he’s the two-time National Player of the Year with an absolutely dominant display on both sides of the ball in the first half of the NCAA title game against UConn.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - APRIL 08: Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts in the first half against the Connecticut Huskies during the NCAA Men
Edey could not be stopped
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Edey scored 11 straight points for Purdue and at one point had 14 of their 23 total points.

The Canadian also had back-to-back big time blocks and sports pundits and fans alike were in awe at his Herculean effort.

Skip Bayless tweeted: “Edey is playing POSSESSED. NBA scouts no doubt IMPRESSED.”

Meanwhile, Shannon Sharpe posted: “Z. Edey asking 4 the barbecue platter with all the fixings.”

Fans were in agreement that Edey looked unstoppable during the first half.

“He’s playin damn good. Best I’ve seen him play all year,” wrote one fan.

“People Said Edey can’t be in the league are crazy cause this man is too good,” wrote another.

“yeah he is currently ballin’ offensively & defensively sheesh!,” a third added.

Edey finished the half with 16 points and five boards
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Edey has been a menace at ‘The Big Dance’ this year.

The 7fter finished the Final Four against NC State with 20 points and 12 rebounds – a Big Ten-record 29th double-double for the 21-year-old center.

In doing so, he surpassed David Robinson and Larry Bird in an all-time NCAA Tournament record.

He now has the most consecutive 20 points, 10 rebounds games (6) in the NCAA Tournament over the past 50 years.

Against Tennessee in the Elite Eight, he scored a career-high 40 points and 16 rebounds in the Boilermakers’ 72-66 win.

Edey and the Boilermakers face a fellow No. 1 seed in the Huskies, who have their own 7ft star in Donovan Clingan.

However, in the first half it was Edey who was dominating the marquee match-up between the two giants.

But it was the Huskies who led at halftime, 36-30.

Edey had 16 points and five rebounds at the break while teammate Braden Smith had nine points.

UConn’s scoring was much more evenly spread with Tristen Newton putting up 11 points, and Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer and Hassan Diarra each having seven points.

Tensions were running high during the first 20 minutes of the contest with UConn head coach Dan Hurley hurling an NSFW tirade at referees and ‘beefing’ with Edey.

The Boilermakers will need a big second half it they’re to secure their first ever NCAA Tournament victory.

The Huskies, meanwhile, are looking for their second consecutive national title.

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FG tackles mounting electricity debt, hikes tariff for Band A

Despite the hues and cries of Nigerians who are still battling with the aftermath of the petrol subsidy removal, the Federal Government last week removed the subsidy on electricity being consumed by customers on Band A feeders in a bid to tackle its mounting debt in the sector, writes DARE OLAWIN A few months after

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FG may get $1bn Afreximbank loan in May

Nigeria is set to receive a $1.05bn syndicated loan backed by oil from the African Import Export Bank next month. The loan is part of a larger $3.3bn prepayment facility arranged by Afreximbank, with repayment terms tied to crude cargoes from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. According to Bloomberg, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President

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When Calls the Heart Season 11 Episode 1 Review: When Stars Align

Welcome back to Hope Valley, Hearties! 

A lot changed in When Calls the Heart Season 10, and we’re here to review what happened in When Calls the Heart Season 11 Episode 1 Episode 1 and if it was worth it. 

Honestly, things seemed to go a little slow in this first episode, but there are mysteries arising that we’re hoping to see play out before too long. 

The new season began with a bang, literally. Actually, it started with two bangs as it was revealed that Lucas had been shot shortly after being elected governor. 

This was a dramatic move,  but do not worry; it was revealed very shortly that Lucas is okay and recovering pretty well, from what we can see in the episode. 

We knew something big was happening to Lucas after When Calls the Heart Season 10 Episode 12, but it seemed a little too dramatic that he got his heart broken and got shot at almost the same time. 

However, When Calls the Heart isn’t always known for its dramatic tactics, so we’ll still hang tight and give it some grace as they tries a flare for the theatrics.

Speaking of dramatics, it’s a relief that Rosemary is the same after all these years. She’s calmed down, but she’s still the biggest drama queen in Hope Valley, and we love seeing it. 

Although we could have seen more of Rosemary and Lee in this first episode, we’re certain that they will be more prominent as the season continues. 

He’s not a secondary character, but there is someone we can’t ignore: Nathan Grant

Oh, Nathan. 

It’s clear to everyone but Elizabeth that he still has feelings for her, and it seems obvious that Elizabeth still has feelings for Nathan. Will these two ever get together? Will Elizabeth ever take the risk of loving a Mountie again? Only time will tell. 

Nathan will never be Jack Thornton, that’s for sure. He’s an entirely different and new character, but one that was like a breath of fresh air. After all, we can’t have a town without a Mountie, and Nathan didn’t take long to become part of the community. 

So what is going on between him and Elizabeth?! They went from being friendly friends to being awkward counterparts between the seasons.

We saw them share a close and intimate moment at the end of When Calls the Heart Season 10 when Elizabeth is visiting Jack’s grave, but the moment was interrupted by the news of Lucas being shot. 

Watching Lucas’s recovery reminded me that what we make of our lives is up to us. Moment by moment. And I’m really enjoying the feeling of being open to… infinite possibilities.

Elizabeth

It’s evident that Elizabeth still cares for Lucas even if she doesn’t love him romantically. After all, she was quick to ride away on horseback and leave Baby Jack with Rosemary and Lee to run to Capitol City to be by his side. 

Will Lucas and Elizabeth reconnect? Honestly, hopefully they don’t. There have been many ups and downs in that relationship, and we’re ready for something fresh and new. 

Lucas Bouchard always seemed to be doing too much for Elizabeth; his gestures were too grand for this big-city girl turned small-town widow. 

However, seeing a new character introduced for Lucas would be fun. Someone who wants those grand gestures a little more than Elizabeth, who is content in her little life. 

Always remember, you may feel lonely, but you’re not alone.

Minnie

That’s not a dig at Elizabeth, either. She has a content life full of friends, love, and joy despite her struggles and hardships, and even though she lost Jack, who remains at the forefront of her mind very often. 

The episode started a bit dramatic but slowed as things became more apparent. 

Lucas is still Lucas with his grand gestures for the townspeople as he announced his plan for the Territorial Fund and his plan to use it to build a hotel and resort right in Hope Valley. 

I was elected to make a change. To set this territory on a new course.

Lucas

It would have been nice to see more of Nathan, as we’re anticipating a romance to bloom between him and Elizabeth this season.

Maybe the romance won’t happen, but love is a central theme of the show in all ways, and it doesn’t seem right for Elizabeth not to have a romantic interest. 

We still see love blossom between Mei and Hickam, which is so sweet to watch. Even sweeter was when he gifted her a bicycle to go to the hot spring to collect clay more easily. How thoughtful! 

She was stressed about her time management with Fiona gone, and he found a way to save her some time — Hickam is a sweetheart. 

We will miss Fiona this season. Her arrival was shocking to Hope Valley, and her departure was surprising, even though it was quieter than her first modern steps in the town.

One mystery we’re waiting to solve is the identity of the actual shooter.

Was the man arrested the one who did it? Was Montague the one involved? And does Lucas not remember who shot him, or is he just protecting someone? 

Overall, we give the episode a 3.5/5 rating.

It wasn’t a bad episode, but the exciting parts moved a little too quickly and left much to be desired.

What did you think of When Calls the Heart Season 11 Episode 1? Let us know in the comments below.  

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Will Trent Season 2 Episode 6 Spoilers: Will Meets His Uncle

After the heaviness of the previous episode, Will Trent will return to heartwarming drama, levity, and humor in this upcoming installment.

The series excels at balancing both kinds of cases and character arcs, and spoilers for Will Trent Season 2 Episode 6 tease that Will will finally meet and connect with his long-lost uncle, Antonio Miranda.

Elsewhere in the episode, the GBI and the APD team up to solve a judge’s murder, so they work together for two episodes in a row. From the spoiler photos, this case looks entertaining.

At the end of Will Trent Season 2 Episode 5,  Will’s Uncle Antonio reached out to him. Antonio Miranda is as curious about his nephew as Will is about him.

John Ortiz guest-stars as Antonio Miranda, who seems kind and charismatic and is eager to bond with Will.

While I’m anxious for Will to have a positive male role model, it feels like Lucy’s brother got a total rewrite. Where was he when Lucy went missing in Season 1?

In the novels, her brother barely cared and was ultra-religious, judging her for being a prostitute, so it feels like the series did a complete 180.

James Ulster mentioned in Will Trent Season 2 Episode 2 that Antonio changed his name for a reason. We can’t wait to see if he put the past behind him and he became a better person.

After the year Will has had, he needs someone else to support him, and it will be fascinating to see him interact with an influential male. Hopefully, Will will learn many stories about his mom that will help him to accept himself better and forgive Amanda for her choices.

The case of the week looks entertaining, and the entire episode explores relationships. While Angie and Will spent the first half of Will Trent Season 2 in separate storylines, it appears “We Are Family” will be fun for their fans.

While they are together, Will and Angie find a dead body in the backseat of the car. It’s a judge who has as many supporters as she does enemies.

Amanda assigns the GBI and the APD to work on the case together, and those are always entertaining. Erika Christensen teased the team worked together in more episodes in Season 2, and the team dynamics are always fun.

It’s always fascinating to learn what secrets a judge has, and this time, the team heads to a drag queen club. What’s more entertaining was how they split up—Will and Angie, and Faith and Michael. Talk about an unlikely team-up.

The series explores different worlds and secrets, and the judge’s son works as a drag queen. The club’s emblem was found on the judge.

Family secrets can be difficult, especially when someone works in a powerful position, so maybe the judge didn’t handle her son’s lifestyle well.

Maybe one of the drag queens murdered the judge in support.

Faith mentions in the promo that the hair fibers look like they came from a wig, which opens up many suspects.

While this is a serious topic, it also looks like they infused some humor into it.

From finding a body in the car to seeing Will uncomfortable at a drag queen club, this will provide some laughs. Ramon Rodriguez and Erika Christensen will get to flex their comedic chops with the drag queens.

Since Will Trent has been using big-name actors and used some of the Real Housewives recently, maybe we’ll see some actual big-name drag queens in these scenes, and we can’t.

Since the series rarely drops stories entirely, Amanda may have difficulty re-establishing close ties with Faith and Will.

Both of them are professionals and will get the job done, but Faith may hold a grudge against Amanda as they explore how investigating her mom, Evelyn, affected her. T

his is when working with someone close becomes tricky.

Hopefully, we’ll see Evelyn Mitchell sometime in Will Trent Season 2. Without her, many story threads seem lacking.

Sonja Sohn teased that more character arcs were following Amanda’s.  The spoilers for the next episode seem more case-of-the-week than a character arc, but perhaps we’ll learn more about Faith.

The spoilers teased that she and Luke take their relationship to the next level. So far, they’ve been fun and flirty, but she seemed to have more of a serious connection with her ex, Charles, or the convict, Sam, with whom she was on the run.

It would help if we saw more of their romance on-screen. We haven’t seen Luke since he followed Faith to Mathis and the Inn in Will Trent Season 2 Episode 4. We need to see him cooking dinner and having intimate conversations to become invested.

Hopefully, this episode will explore their actual connection more.



So, Will Trent Fanatics, what are you hoping to see in “We Are Family?’ Are you excited to see Will meet his long-lost uncle? Do you enjoy seeing the team work together?

We’d like to hear your thoughts, so let us know in the comments.

Will Trent airs at 8/7c on ABC on Tuesdays and streams the next day on Hulu.


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WWE’s Undertaker and John Cena take out The Rock to help Cody Rhodes realise WrestleMania dream

Cody Rhodes finally became Undisputed Universal WWE Champion by beating Roman Reigns with help from John Cena and The Undertaker at WrestleMania.

A frenzied finish to the main event saw the iconic legends return to help fend off The Rock and the rest of the Bloodline to ensure Rhodes secured a hugely popular win in Philadelphia.

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With a little help from some of WWE’s biggest legends, Cody Rhodes finally won the top title after defeating Roman Reigns[/caption]

WWE supremo Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was then among those to celebrate with the new champ who was lifted aloft in the ring by the likes of Randy Orton, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

Rhodes unseating Reigns ended one of the longest title runs in the history of the industry.

Going into WrestleMania Sunday, the former Shield member had held top gold in WWE for a phenomenal 1,317 days.

Many had expected the former AEW star to topple The Tribal Chief at last year’s WrestleMania, only for Reigns to retain thanks to interference by Solo Sikoa.

Rhodes bagged himself a second consecutive Mania title bout against Reigns at WrestleMania by winning January’s Royal Rumble, but had stepped aside to allow The Rock to face off against his cousin instead before fan reaction resulted in a major reshuffle of plans.

Reigns controlled much of the opening portion of the match, the second night in succession the duo had wrestled following Saturday’s epic tag-team match that triggered Sunday’s Bloodline Rules stipulation.

Rhodes had kicked out of a Cross Rhodes from Reigns as the champ tried to use the challenger’s own move against him, following up with a low blow and powerbomb through a table.

Jimmy Uso was the first to interfere in the clash, before brother Jey evened up the odds.

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John Cena saw off Solo Sikoa in the main event of WrestleMania before being taken out by old rival Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson[/caption]

WWE

Rhodes thankfully had another helping hand on standby as The Undertaker emerged to deliver a chokeslam to The Rock[/caption]

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Cody Rhodes finally pinned Roman Reigns to end an historic title reign for the leader of The Bloodline[/caption]

Sikoa then did his bid to aid Reigns, albeit unsuccessfully, and Cena emerged to take out the man who’d defeated him convincingly in Cena’s last match.

The chaos continued as The Rock then entered the fray to take out Cena, the 72,000 crowd then becoming unglued at the arrival of The Undertaker, who menacingly stood behind The Great One before delivering a chokeslam.

Seth Rollins had also been run out of the ring by Reigns in the midst of it all, but the madness of it all was enough for Rhodes to notch an incredible win courtesy of a Cross Rhodes.

With The Bloodline finally toppled, Rhodes’ title celebration lasted several minutes as he introduced Levesque, before celebrating further with Michael Cole and fans at ringside.

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ISHOWSPEED hit with RKO through a table in a Prime suit as Logan Paul steals WrestleMania win

ISHOWSPEED appeared at WrestleMania in a Prime suit to aid buddy Logan Paul – and paid the price with a brutal RKO through a table from Randy Orton.

The football influencer stepped in to help Paul successfully defend his United States Championship, but at a considerable cost.

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ISHOWSPEED involved himself in the United States Championship triple-threat match at WrestleMania, and didn’t escape without punishment[/caption]

After Paul had come up short in being able to put away opponents Randy Orton and Kevin Owens through his own means – including a pair of brass knuckles – Speed tried to lend a hand.

The 19-year-old found out the hard way, though, that crossing Orton in particular rarely ends well.

The Viper, enraged by the American’s interference, launched an attack on him that ended with the grappler delivering his trademark RKO through a ringside commentary table.

The chaos of it all ended up helping Paul, however, and thanks to a frog splash, he pinned Owens in the middle of the ring to retain his title.

The victory ended a hectic match-up that originally saw Owens and Orton team up on Paul before eventually being forced to battle each other in the triple-threat affair.

Orton showed his true colours by turning first, attempting to strike with an RKO on Owens before the Canadian escaped.

Paul prevailed in the end, having also nailed both rivals with the brass knuckles and going for a top rope moonsault, all before Speed got involved.

It extends Paul’s tenure holding the US gold that began back in November last year following a win over veteran Rey Mysterio.

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WWE veteran Randy Orton showed no mercy to the footballing influencer and left him laying with an RKO through a table[/caption]

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Logan Paul successfully overcame rivals Randy Orton and Kevin Owens on night two of WrestleMania 39[/caption]

Despite being a vicious rival of Paul’s on screen, Owens had admitted earlier in WrestleMania week that Paul had impressed many of his WWE colleagues by putting in the hard yards for his transition into the world of professional wrestling.

He told talkSPORT: “[Nobody] can deny how hard he works in the ring and how much of himself he gives when he’s out there.

“He wants to make everything he does as memorable as possible and as good as possible.

“That’s the right attitude to earn respect in WWE, and he has a lot of people’s respect.”

The outing was a third WrestleMania for the 29-year-old following a maiden showing in 2022 in teaming with The Miz to defeat Rey and Dominik Mysterio.

At WrestleMania 39 last year he was beaten by Seth Rollins, who prior to Paul’s match in Philadelphia had lost his World Heavyweight title to Drew McIntyre.

McIntyre’s reign would last less than six minutes, however, after an attack by CM Punk and a cash-in by Money in the Bank holder Damian Priest.

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Imo hotelier in custody for allegedly torturing man to death

The operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested the 38-year-old owner of Our Guest Hotel, Ibe Obasi, located in the Obowo Local Government Area of the state for allegedly torturing to death a youth in the area, Ebuka Udemba. A statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, on Sunday, stated that the

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$2.3bn Siemens power project transformers, substations arrive Nigeria

Electricity transformers and substations meant for the $2.3bn Siemens power project have arrived in the country as the project gains traction, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said on Sunday. The development came a few months after the Federal Government renewed the mega power project contract with the German government and Siemens, following several months of

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Lifetime True Crime Movies That Hit the Mark

Lifetime is known for its original ‘Ripped From the Headlines’ movies that retell the events that grip the nation and even the world.

If you have ever seen one, you know it can be challenging to get over the low-budget production and corny writing, but that’s part of their addiction.

They tend to get filmed quickly, air quickly, and hire people looking to make a breakthrough acting debut.

However, the astonishing cases they feature are the ones that had a stranglehold over the media for their horrifying uniqueness, and the ones we recommend have some surprisingly big names.

These movies somehow come together in a way that makes them ‘so bad, they’re good,’ just like the breeds of dogs that are ‘so ugly, they’re cute.’

No matter which side of the fence you may land on, here are the Lifetime movies that genuinely hit the mark.

Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey

This is a Canadian-American true crime film starring Katie Douglas, a Canadian actor who some might know from Ginny & Georgia.

Douglas plays Lisa McVey, a 17-year-old living in Tampa, Florida, with her negligent grandmother, Diane (Kim Horsman), and Diane’s boyfriend, Morris Elwood (Bruno Verdoni).

Her grandmother is relatively indifferent to the abuse Lisa endures at the hands of Morris, and Douglas’s portrayal of this character is part of what makes the movie a step above others.

One night, on the way home from her job at a doughnut shop, Lisa is kidnapped by Bobby Joe Long (Rossif Sutherland).

The movie has some frustrating parts, as real cases do, and many aspects are hard to digest, but they did an excellent job of not prolonging them to the point of discomfort.

Lisa is brilliant and inspiringly resilient. Everything she thinks about and remembers while being held captive is only to her benefit.

Despite a horrible home situation, she never gives up. She is strength to its very core.

The story is intriguing and gripping. The action is spot on, and Douglas’s acting is way above Lifetime’s norm.

Surprisingly, so is the script for the movie as well. It can be difficult to convey such harrowing events.

Things like sexual assault, child abuse, incest, rape, and kidnapping are triggering subjects, but this movie does a great job of bringing awareness to the world of the real problems that most are lucky to be sheltered from.

Abducted: The Carlina White Story

This Lifetime ripped from the headlines movie is shocking, horrifying, and a parent’s worst nightmare.

It tells the story of Carlina White (Keke Palmer), who was taken from a New York Hospital as a baby by Ann Pettway (Aunjanue Ellis).

In 1987, White’s biological parents, Joy (Heather-Claire Nortey) and Carl (Eli Goree), took Carlina to the hospital when she was just 19 days old for a high fever.

Pettway experienced many miscarriages but fiercely wanted a baby.

After getting out of the psych ward, Pettway pretends to be a hospital nurse and secretly kidnaps Carlina and brings her to Bridgeport, CT.

Joy and Carl are distraught when they realize their daughter is missing. They put up posters, file a police report, and talk to the press.

Meanwhile, Pettway brings the new baby home to her family and raises her as her own with the help of her sister Cassandra (Afton Williamson).

The movie then fast forwards to Carlina, renamed Nedra/Netty by Pettway, as a teenager who we soon find out is pregnant.

We also see that Joy (now played by Sherri Shepherd) and Carly (Roger Cross) have split up and have their own families.

However, Joy never gives up looking for Carlina. This shows just how much of a toll losing a child takes on people.

Once again, the actors like Palmer, Ellis, Williamson, and Shepherd are part of the reason this movie is so highly recommended.

As much as the astonishing crime is part of the appeal, the movie is about so much more than that due to Elizabeth Hunter’s crafty storytelling.

It broaches topics of hope, exploitation, recovery, class conflict, family issues, and nature vs. nurture without going over the top.

Hunter highlights what results from trauma rather than the more excitable, dramatic moments.

It is a real story showing the raw emotions of uncertainty, heartbreak, love, and the scars humans can leave on our lives.

Murdaugh Murders: The Movie

In 2023, it was hard not to know the name, Murdaugh. Despite this being considered a dramatic reenactment, it is not too far off base.

The litany of allegations and crimes committed by a family that really came down to one man is genuinely jaw-dropping.

The drama was already there, but no one really knows what transpired during these crimes in the sense of the exact words said and the true thoughts of Alex Murdaugh.

This is a two-part movie that follows Alex (Bill Pullman), Maggie (Lauren K. Robek), and Paul (Curtis Tweedie) Murdaugh through Pual’s fatal boat accident, their maides death, and the eventual death of Paul and Maggie with all the cover-ups in between.

Not to mention all the legal cases brought to Alex from his work at his family’s law firm in South Carolina’s low country.

He wanted so badly to maintain his privileged life that he was willing to do anything, and I mean anything, to keep it.

They were a highly respected family in South Carolina, or highly feared, whichever you deem fit, and the power they held was unsurmountable.

I mean, they were the judge, the jury, the prosecution, and the police.

Alex did whatever was necessary to protect his family, which included his other son, Buster, but he was not as big of a thorn in his father’s side.

One of the first heinous cover-ups that is talked about is the death of Paul’s friend Mallory, caused by him driving his boat drunk.

That gave the first look at how easy it is for Alex to devise a plan that puts the blame on someone else and is far away from the Murdaughs, and just how much pull he has with the legal system.

Not only that, but he has a lack of remorse as well.

The fact that one family got away with everything they did for so long makes this movie shocking and puts it on this list.

There is so much content. It is unbelievable.

Each crime, the boat crash, the maid’s murder, Alex’s embezzlement, and the murder of his wife and son, could each stand alone, each being their own movie.

What’s even crazier, those are just the crimes that could be proven.

More than just following a family, it shows the sadly true side of reality. The rich and powerful can get away with almost anything.

It’s not just the Murdaughs. They are just the most public family who probably could’ve kept going if Alex hadn’t murdered his son and wife.

All of it came together to be the last straw for the people around them, and during his actual trial, I was prepared to see him walk.

This addictive storyline made for an addictive movie. If you don’t know all the details, sit down and enjoy.

Cleveland Abduction

This recommendation does not come lightly. It is terrifying, some parts are hard to watch, and it reveals the evil in this world.

Michelle Knight (Taryn Manning), Amanda Berry (Samantha Droke), and Georgina “Gina” DeJesus (Katie Sarife) went through hell and back, to say the least, at the hands of Ariel Castro (Raymond Cruz) in Cleveland, OH.

So, while the true-crime movie can teeter on the edge of being ‘too agonizing to profit off of,’ it reveals the brutal truth those women faced, making it hit the mark.

No one was sugarcoating their experience. Plus, Knight has done interviews with Dr. Phil and wrote the book on which the movie is based.

If you are unfamiliar, Ariel Castro abducted Michelle Knight, a 21-year-old single mother, while on the way to court.

She accepted a ride from him because she was in a rush, and he was the father of someone she knew.

However, he held her captive and soon after abducted two more girls, Amanda Berry and Georgina DeJesus.

Knight’s survival strength came through her faith in God and being reunited with her son.

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In their years of captivity, the three became friends, and together, they created a force against Castro’s torture that is the definition of inspiration.

One of the girls, Amanda Berry, became pregnant with Castro’s kid, and Knight delivered the baby.

Cruz and Manning’s acting is top-notch, filling the roles with dexterity and awe.

That, along with the emotionally touching aspect of the girls’ determination, makes it one of the best Lifetime movies.

Who Killed JonBenét?

This Lifetime movie looks at the notorious murder of JonBenét Ramsey, a 6-year-old beauty queen who was found dead in her home in Boulder, CO, in 1996.

As someone who lived a street down from the Ramsey house in Boulder, I assure you that the house and this case are still being discussed.

Many theories and pointed fingers are still circulating about JonBenét’s murder (Payton Lepinski).

The first finger was directed at 9-year-old brother, Burke Ramsey (Kiefer O’Reilly), who was accused and interrogated.

Patsy (Julia Campbell) and John Ramsey’s (Michel Gill) reluctance to cooperate, plus a ransom note in Patsy’s handwriting, made the guilt fall on them for quite some time.

The possibility of a random intruder and a kidnapping gone wrong is also a theory held by many.

The latter was brushed off fairly quickly by the police and the movie but not by the family or members of the public, making it disagreeable for some viewers. 

It’s frustrating, yes, but so was the case itself.

The police had tunnel vision and BPD, and the lead investigator in real life was borderline incompetent, later being demoted for mishandling cases.

The crime scene was beyond what is considered to be disturbed, and the infamous ransom note left more questions than answers.

It’s a case of competing theories, without a doubt.

What makes this dramatic reconstruction worth watching is how the sordid details are described in the movie.

It provides an understanding of a case that is one of the country’s most absurd and enthralling mysteries.

I Am Elizabeth Smart

This movie details the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, who narrates it and, after watching it once, did not watch it again due to its accuracy.

In 2002, Smart (Alana Boden) was kidnapped in the middle of the night by Brian David Mitchell (Skeet Ulrich) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee (Deirdre Lovejoy), were religious fanatics who subjected Smart to crazy religious rituals while holding her in an encampment for nine months.

Mitchell abuses Smart and tells her that his followers will kill her family if she doesn’t listen to him.

She then becomes his ‘second wife’ and makes her pick a new biblical name.

He claims to receive visions from God and is a prophet named Immanuel.

It’s an intense and unprecedented movie for Lifetime, completely recontextualizing suffering.

In one scene, you hear Smart screaming and begging Brian to stop raping her. The camera then goes to the real-life Smart.

She asks, “Do you want it to stop?” then says, “So did I.”

It’s chilling. But it’s this very aspect that makes it a triumph. Smart’s narration adds depth in a way we never see.

She is impactful, poised, and astounding, only elevating the movie to something beyond comparison.

Girl in the Box

Girl in the Box is one of the most intense Lifetime movies.

It’s the true story of Colleen Stan (Addison Timlin), a girl who, in 1977, tries to hitchhike from Eugene, Oregon, to California to surprise her friend on their birthday.

A couple named Cameron (Zane Holtz) and Janice Hooker (Zelda Williams) offer a ride, but only to kidnap her to keep her for Cameron’s twisted sexual desires for seven years.

They looked trusting, were young, and didn’t seem bad.

However, this movie is a reminder that looks can be deceiving, as viewers realize in the beginning.

The two kept Colleen trapped in a box for up to 23 hours a day under their bed.

Cameron has seriously sick “desires,” and Janice goes along with his torturing of other women because if it weren’t for them, it would be her.

It’s a story of brainwashing, brutality, and heartbreak.

However, it is also a story of triumph and a grim reminder of the evils in this world who wear inviting faces.

A lot happens in this movie, making it hard to believe someone endured this and that anyone could do it.

Lifetime movies. The term “hit-or-miss” would be an understatement.

However, the movies in the article are beyond “hits” and will have you rethinking the classic Lifetime movie stereotype.

Comment below which ones you agree or disagree with!

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Station 19 Fans Are Desperate to Save the Show … But Is It Actually Ending at the Perfect Time?

TV fans are no strangers to the whims of network decisions. We’ve suffered numerous heartbreaks when a network chooses to axe a show, often without warning.

The WGA/AMPTP writer strikes of 2023 significantly affected the future of the series across all prime networks like CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC. Plenty of shows have ended in the year since.

Many shows, like Home Economics and The Rookie: FEDS, surprised loyal viewers. One recently canceled series that has experienced major upheaval is the Grey’s Anatomy firefighting spinoff Station 19.

Station 19 is currently on its seventh — and final — season, much to viewers’ dismay.

Since the announcement in late 2023, fans everywhere have risen in protest. We’ve seen billboards, ads, social media posts, and more, all with the hashtag #SaveStation19.

Is Now the Right Time to Cancel Station 19?

Station 19 is the brainchild of Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy. Grey’s has seen major success across three decades.

The renewal for yet another season just dropped in March. Fans of Shondaland are equally thrilled at getting a 21st season of Grey’s while dismayed at the ending of Station 19.

Station 19 has captured the hearts of loyal fans over its seven years. And these loyal fans aren’t ready to give up hope on keeping Station 19 around longer.

Everyone hopes to save the show. Except maybe me?

And why wouldn’t fans expect to be able to save it when numerous shows got a cancellation order and were picked up by a new network?

But for a show to get claimed by a new company for additional seasons, you need a potent formula that Station 19 might not possess.

If you’ve read any reviews or roundtables for this season of Station 19, you’ll see an ongoing trend.

Dissatisfaction with how the newest season is progressing.

We held out high hopes that the final ten episodes would equal happy endings for our favorite firefighters.

But so far, the storylines are rushed, the characters are acting out of character, and each episode has been congested with too much happening.

It’s the same icky feeling about how the network is handling the final season of The Good Doctor.

Are the writers trying to ensure fans don’t get the renewal they want? Or are they so busy trying to tie up storylines and keep the action going that they’ve developed ADHD neurodivergent who experience the “oh, look, a squirrel” syndrome?

As loyal devotees, many first experienced trauma and the five stages of grief as they tried to come to terms with losing even more of their favorite people.

When you begin watching a show, it’s easy to become deeply invested in its future and the characters it portrays. For Station 19, many fell in love with the troubled yet loving Jack.

However, in the first few final season episodes, I’ve become highly resentful of how they’re doing his character.

He’s been absent since discovering he’ll never be a firefighter again. Hopefully, he’ll reappear to finish the series.

But Jack isn’t the only character the writers have changed in the final season.

Most of us are distraught and downright angry at how the writers are portraying the sweet, moral, openly gay firefighter Travis.

Would the writers have made him this way if there was hope for a new season? Are they intentionally making us hate him so we won’t grieve for him when the show ends?

Or are the writers just sadistic a-holes who give up on sticking to their character development since they don’t have to worry about a season renewal?

Regardless of their plans, we’re beginning to accept and even be thankful that this will be the last season at Station 19 before they ruin everyone.

There are so many storylines up in the air they won’t be able to resolve within their limited ten-episode season. They seem to have abandoned their original plans to shove as much as possible into the last ten episodes.

Truthfully, even if they didn’t end the series this season, they’ve taken the story so far from its roots that it’s possibly irredeemable.

And with many unhappy fans out there, you can feel comfort knowing you’re not the only one.

What is Station 19?

Station 19 hit the small screen in 2018 as a firefighting spinoff for the highly successful medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.

Over the years, there have been numerous overlaps between the two series, with a few characters moving from one show to the other.

If you’re like me, you have gotten into the Shondaland orbit late in the game. When I tuned in, Station 19 was already in its fourth season, and Grey’s Anatomy was well into its second decade.

Grey’s was the obvious starting point, and until watching it, I was oblivious to Station 19’s existence.

As is typical for many, devotion to the characters comes first. Then, once you pick up on the Grey’s-Station 19 crossover events, you have to stop your Grey’s viewing party to get caught up with the firehouse.

Infatuation with Ben Warren and his love of badass Doctor Miranda Bailey from Grey’s Anatomy sealed the deal between the two series.

And who could blame us for shifting focus when Ben decided to leave the ER for the fire station?

That’s the lure of franchise television. In no time at all, you’ve connected with characters on a crossover show while being quite disappointed in others.

The storyline and characters hook you, and you keep both shows on your agenda.

It could be the natural progression of a series, but the longer Station 19 stayed on the air, the more stale everything became.

What are the Reasons Behind the Cancellation?

Fans were shocked to learn that Station 19 would not be renewed for an eighth season. With high ratings and millions of viewers, it seemed like a renewal would be a guarantee.

Alas, the ABC network had other ideas and sliced Station 19 from the roster for future seasons.

While there have not been any reasons for the cancellation, we can speculate that it was a combination of lower viewing numbers and having to compete with the long-running hit first responder series, 9-1-1, airing on the same night.

Station 19 Season 1 began with low ratings. But the network held its faith and continued to renew the show for additional seasons. Every season, it got better ratings than the last.

Then trouble in paradise started to rear its head when the rankings dropped in Season 5. Many fans felt cheated by the death of series regular Miller.

Station 19 Season 6 was honored to be ABC Network’s highest-rated and most-watched drama for the 2022-2023 season (live+ same-day results).

So, rating-wise, it’s confusing to many fans as to why a show getting such good results is getting canceled.

The same thing happened to the competition, 9-1-1, which started on FOX. It aired for six seasons before being unceremoniously canceled.

During its run, it averaged 7.3 million viewers a season. That’s high enough to make it the Number 1 watched FOX drama — ditto for achieving the top-rated and watched show on ABC.

Rather than let the show vanish into thin air, ABC decided to give 9-1-1 a new home. With Disney’s resources, keeping up with the extended cast their rising costs was much easier than it would have been for FOX to continue airing it even with its remarkable success.

It was exciting news at first — until we learned it would be in the prime time slot previously held as Station 19.

What was once a night of the firefighters of 19 saving lives, followed by the docs at Grey-Sloan Memorial, is no more. Now, the lineup starts with the intensity of 9-1-1, followed by Grey’s Anatomy, and then late into the night, Station 19.

Another potential reason for ABC’s decision to cancel both Station 19 and The Good Doctor is budgeting.

One source said, “It came down to ABC wanting to save money in a push for an economical schedule balancing scripted fare with reality and live sports.”

Is There Hope That Station 19 Could Be Saved?

Given that 9-1-1 originally received a cancelation notice that was reversed by moving to a new network, it gives many fans hope.

While their valiant efforts to keep Station 19 on ABC with their ongoing petition seems moot, could there be redemption from another network?

The petition hosted on Change.org started in December of 2023. It lists several networks in hopes that one will see the show’s profound impact on its fans and take action.

Fans listed NBC, FOX, ABC, The Walt Disney Company, Hulu, HBO, Netflix, AppleTV, and OWN as the decision-makers.

Despite being started in 2023, the petition remains strong under the tag #SaveStation19.

In honor of the upcoming 100th episode amid a shortened 10-episode final season, the petition requests that fans send pictures and a statement to explain why they feel Station 19 should stay on the air.

These admissions are then turned into postcards sent to the network. Only time will tell if these pleas will bear any fruit.

Will Station 19’s Cancellation Affect Grey’s Anatomy?

Currently, the cancellation of Station 19 will not affect the status of Grey’s Anatomy. While Station 19 received a cancellation notice, it’s the opposite for the sister show.

Grey’s Anatomy barely made it through airing the first five episodes of the new season before it got renewed for another season. Grey’s 21st season will be a major achievement in a field where very few shows make it to the 10-year mark.

Grey’s renewal makes it the third longest-running scripted TV show, behind the Dick Wolf masterpieces Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU and Gunsmoke.

It will be disappointing that there won’t be any more crossovers between the cast of Grey’s and the heroes of Station 19. But does that free up energy for a new series spinoff at a future date?

Please drop your comments and tell us what you think. Are you okay with ABC’s choice to cancel Station 19? Or will you sign the petition to keep the show on the air?

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