TV Review: Shadowhunters Season 3 Episode 1 "On Infernal Ground" [Emz]

So,, the latest Season on Shadowhunters has begun on Freeform (America) and Netflix (UK). This series will be based roughly on the 4th book (City Of Fallen Angels) and possibly the 5th book (City Of Lost Souls).

Here is the Synopsis:

Secrets abound as the Shadowhunters and Downworlders attempt to return to normal following Valentine's death; Clary struggles with keeping her secret about Raziel's wish; Lilith sets a plan in motion as Simon spends time in the Seelie Court.

Brief Explanation of The Episode

This episode kicks off a little while after the Death of Valentine and Cary using the Angel Raziel to bring Jace back to life (unbeknownst to everyone else.) We start with Cary officially becoming a Shadowhunter after ridding the world of Valentine.

Alec is, of course, suspicious following the disappearance and reappearance of his Parabatai rune. Clary tells Jace she wants to tell him what is going on, but Jace says they can't

Luke's Police Partner Ollie finds out about the Shadow world after figuring out that he is a Werewolf and pushes Luke until he stops denying and admits it.

Simon is being held in the Seelie Court and is very confused as to why. Eventually after being pushed she lets him go but only after working him... without telling him what it's all about.

Clary finds her signature Weapon, Double blades she later learns from Luke that the Blades belonged to her mother and father.

We meet Lilith (but not yet by name) who through Possession control a man to kill his wife and then whilst, being searched for by the Shadowhunters after Luke noticing that it was no ordinary murder, Ollie (Luke's Police Partner) tries to arrest him and is knocked out Luke tries to attack also but is knocked away also. The demon climbs out of the human and attacks Clary she is eventually able to kill it using her Anglic Rune, of course, Luke chirps up mentioning that perhaps the blades are not her signature weapons.

Alec learns that Magnus is no longer the High Warlock of Brooklyn following his alliance with the Seelies that fell apart.

Jace is having nightmares of Jonathan trying to kill Clary or telling Jace to kill her. 

Review:

This was a brilliant return for this series, I have been so excited everytime that it gets renewed for another series after the failed movie.

I enjoyed seeing Clary being.. I think the right phrase is 'Badass' during her fight with the demon.

I also laughed at Isabelle's frustration with the Vending Machine and the flirting with a Doctor who helped her get the candy out of the Machine.

After knowing what happens in the books with Jace after his resurrection, I am intrigued to see if Jonathan is in his nightmares or if there is more to it.

Finally, I believe that we haven't seen the last of Lilith, what happened in this episode was just the tip of the iceberg.

I can't wait for the next episode.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: The Sarah-Jane Adventures Pilot Episode "Invasion Of The Bane" [Emz]

So as it was announced that all episodes on The Sarah-Jane Adventures are now on BBC iPlayer, I decided to start watching it.

I decided to start right at the beginning with the Pilot episode, Invasion Of The Bane.

This episode starred Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah-Jane Smith, Yasmin Paige as Maria Jackson and Tommy Knight as Luke.

This Pilot and the series that followed were produced off the back of Elisabeth Sladen portraying Sarah-Jane Smith in Doctor Who, School Reunion (series 2, episode 3) 

This first aired on BBC One on the 1st January 2007.

Here is the Synopsis:

Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith teams up with her new, thirteen-year-old neighbour, Maria Jackson, to face the scheming Mrs Wormwood, the head of a company producing a popular and addictive soft drink called "Bubble Shock!"

Review:

I remember watching this episode when it was first aired on BBC One, New Years Day 2007.

If you weren't already aware this was the second spin-off from Doctor Who, after Torchwood.

So we begin with a new family moving to Bannerman Road, The Jackson Family. The family consists of Alan Jackson and his Daughter Maria.

Maria attempts to introduce herself to Sarah-Jane who lives across the road but with no success.

Her first night in her new home, she is woken by a bright light, she heads over and finds Sarah-Jane communicating with an alien. Maria is quite shocked but at the same time fascinated.

The next day she meet Kelsey Hooper who randomly shows up on her doorstep and they use the Bubbleshock bus to go to the factory. Sarah-Jane follows them in her car after hearing of the plans they made.

Whilst on a tour of the factory Maria refuses to drink Bubble Shock and then Kelsey tries to use her phone to call a friend, this effects the Bane Mother and scares Kelsey.

Sarah-Jane gets caught investigating the factory and meets with Mrs Wormwood, who is very vague with Srash-Janes questions, she tries to force her to drink Bubble Shock and Sarah-Jane keeps saying Mrs Wormwood is from another Planet. After her exit the assisstant is ordered to kill her.

Also in this episode we meet the character that we come to know as Luke. When a power surge from the mobile phones wake up the Archetype who resembles a human boy. Maria befriends him after he escapes and they along with Sarah-Jane and Kelsey leave the building and go back to Sarah-Jane's house. they were followed by another member of staff who happens to be a Bane in disguise.

He chases the kids and Sarah-Jane though the house untill Sarah finds something in her attic to freeze him.

The eventually discover all the artifacts in her attic that are alien in origin and she tells them about her travels with The Doctor.

We meet Mr. Smith who is her supercomputer built into the wall of her Attic and we are greeted to a brief appearence of K-9.

The Archetype (Luke) notices that Sarah-Janes watch that deetects Alien life forms has been beeping and she didn't notice. It is eventually noted that the "organic-ness" of Bubble Shock is actually pieces of Bane, a live Alien. Sarah-Jane uses Mr Smith to hack into Mrs Wormwoods computer to chat with her, she tries to get her to leave or she will stop her. Mrs wordwood just says "Bring it on."

The Bane in the Bubbleshock drinks in then activated and all humans who have drank it are but under some sort of hypnotic spell to try and get other to drink it. This includes Maria's dad and Kelsey

Sarah-Jane, The Arcitype and Maria they go back to the factory and break through the wall using the Bubble Shock Bus after the gates are deadlock sealed. Revealing that the Archetype was created to deal with the "2%", Wormwood declares he is no longer needed as plans have been sped up and disables the Archetype by manipulating her ring. Follwoing Maria temporarily affecting Bane mother with her mobile phone,The Archetype uses the communiations device given to Sarah-Jane by the visiting Alien earlier in the episode, uses the number he memorised from Mr Smith, he calls the universe. This affects all of The Bane and it kills the Bane Mother. Mrs Wormwood escapes vowing revenge.

At the end of the episode, Kelsey is denyinng any knowledge of Aliens and everyone is back to normal. Srah-Jane Offically adopts the Archetype and names him Luke.

I enjoyed this episode, even though this is aimed even more at kids than Doctor Who is, It was great to see what happened to Sarah-Jane after School Reunion. We meet brand new characters and aliens/ monsters.It was interesting to see what The Doctor left Sarah-Jane with after he left, K-9, Sonic Lipstock and tracker for Alien life forms. She also seems to have changed cars since we met her last. She tries to go it alone and make sure that Maria forgets about her, but that doesn't work so she accepts her help.

It is also discovered by the time the first episode of Series 1 airs that we never see or hear from Kelsey again.

Thats all for now.

Till next time.

Emz x

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Miss Potter (Zee Tay Film review)

Title:Miss Potter
Classification: PG
Year: 2006
Directed by: Chris Noonan
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson and Bill Peterson.
Running time:88

Miss Potter is a enchanting love story which follows the story of the Author of them world famous Peter Rabbit Miss Beatrix Potter and her publisher Norman Warns and the love affair that happened between them.

Review:

Even though well I was growing up, and even to this day never read Peter Rabbit. Despite this it was the one story that I always wanted, and always had a special place in my heart.

I always admire authors and how they work, so seeing a film based on one of the world famous children author is very inspiration, and Renée plays Beatrix Potter wonderful she brings such confidence to the character, and that despite most people disapproval she kept on trying because she loved the world in which she creates. In a sense we just needs that one person approval to push her.

The costume was spot on something it fitted in with each character and their personality. For example Beatrix mother thought out the film she wore nothing but black, which show how she doesn't have much soul, and that she doesn't really care for her daughter only that she finds a men of high society and merry.

The story has a nice steady flow, even when there was a few flash back to when Beatrix was a child, it made sense. They placed it where needed.

Overall I give this film 4.5 stars out of 5

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 2 Episode 4 "The Girl In The Fireplace" [Emz]

So the next episode is The Girl in The Fireplace.

This episode originally aired on BBC One on the 6th May 2006.

This episode also starred Noel Clarke as Mickey Smith and Guest starred Sophia Myles as Reinette/ Madame de Pompadour.

This was the first appearence of the Clockwork Droids. They next appear in Deep Breath (Series 8, Episode 1)

Here is the Synopsis:

Madame de Pompadour finds the court at Versailles under attack by sinister clockwork killers and her only hope of salvation lies with the Doctor.

Review:

I enjoyed this episode. It was written by Steven Moffat who as we know later took over from Russel T Davies as the 'Showrunner.'

So the TARDIS lands on a Space Ship that seems to be empty. After exploring the ship they find a fireplace from the 18th Century. The doctor finds a young girl on the other side called Reinette who lives in Paris in 1727.

The Doctor works out that the Fireplace is a time window.

As the story progresses, it is worked out that the Clockwork droids that are discovered in the Spaceship are after Madame Du Pompadour. They want to use her to fix the ship, but they have to find her at the right age.

The doctor has to trap himself in 18th Century France to stop the droids from killing her. As he breaks the time windows the droids give up and shut down. 

The doctor invites Reinette to travel with him in the TARDIS after he finds the time window in the Fireplace still works. When he goes back to collect her however, he discovers 7 years have passed and she has died. She left him a letter as a final goodbye.

The last part of the story was quite sad, but it was enjoyable not many young people would know who Madame Dy Pompadour is so it was an interesting link to history... with some obvious changes.

I have a few favorite quotes from this episode.

Rose: Oh, here’s trouble. What you been up to?

The Doctor: Oh, this and that. Became the imaginary friend of a future French aristocrat, picked a fight with a clockwork man… [A horse whinnies off screen] Oh, and I met a horse.

Mickey: What’s a horse doing on a spaceship?

The Doctor: Mickey, what’s pre-revolutionary France doing on a spaceship? Get a little perspective!

Rose: Oh, look at what the cat dragged in. The Oncoming Storm.

The Doctor: Mm. You sound just like your mother.

Rose: What have you been doing? Where have you been?

The Doctor: Well… among other things I think I just invented the banana daiquiri a couple of centuries early. Do you know they’d never even seen a banana before. Always take a banana to a party, Rose. Bananas are good.

Rose: You’re NOT keeping the horse!

The Doctor: I let you keep Mickey, now lets go!

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Black Lightning Series 1 Episode 4 "Black Jesus" [Emz]

So here is Episode 4. I am a few episodes behind in writing, but I will be reviewing all episodes asap.

So this episode is called Black Jesus. The episode aired on Netflix on the 13th February 2018.

Here is the synopsis:

Black Lightning is recruited to rally against the 100 gang; Anissa investigates the new drug hitting the streets; familiar faces begin to reappear.

Review:

This episode has very strong themes of Gang Violence and Drug Use.

The theme of drug use start at the beginning of the episode with Jefferson responding to a situation in the boys bathroom. Jefferson arrives to see a student acting irrationally, to stop the boy from hurting himself on anyone else, Jefferson has to use his powers to knock him out. As it later turns out the boy was high on a new drug called Green Light.

Anissa later spots some of her students being sold Green Light and manages to get them away from the drug dealers empty handed.

Jefferson, as Black Lightning interrogates a drug dealer to find out who is supplying them. He is given the name 2-Bits.

After hearing the boy is going to be expelled for the school, Jefferson tries to get him a second chance at the school.

Tobias finds out that Black Lightning is not dead and has the Mortician who identified him originally killed.

Following the previous episode Jennifer visits Khalil during Physio therapy and overhears that Khalil may never walk again.

After a heated discussion over dinner with her parents and the Inspector, Anissa confronts two drug dealers and uses her power on them. She ends up knocking them unconcious and then calls 911 and leaves the scene..

The episode ends with Jefferson greeting 2-Bits.

I enjoyed this episode. Emotions are everywhere though, you feel angry about the damage the drug is doing and how easy it is for kids to get their hands on it, sad for Khalil and the situation he is in and at the same time sad for Jennifer who is trying to be there for him. 

I can't wait to see Anissa grow in confidence and eventually learn who Black Lightning actually is, that will be interesting.

I will have the next episode up next week.

Till then

Emz x

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TV Review: Jessica Jones Season 2 Episode 1 "AKA Start At The Beginning" [Emz]

So here we are with a new review for a different series.

Season 2 of Jessica Jones Premiered on Netflix on the 8th March 2018.

I loved the first season of this show and I have just watched the first episode of Season 2 and am looking forward to more episodes.

Here is the Synopsis:

While Jessica deals with a rival PI and a paranoid would-be client, Trish digs up a medical file that could unlock the mystery of Jessica's powers.

Review:

I felt like this was a great first episode. 

#i enjoyed that fact that everything that happened last season and The defenders is hanging over her head like a luminous sign - Super Vigilante for Hire.

But this season is bringing along it's own issues for Jessica. We find out that Trish dressed up as Patsy and sang at a kids birthday party to get information from a hospital about Jessica from when she was brought in following the Car accident that killed her Brother and Parents. Apparently she is missing a chunk of days between arriving at the hospital and getting a bed.

Jessica is having issues with another P.I who has been sent to absorb Jessica into his business by Jeri Hogarth.

We also meet Whizzer. He was experimented on by IGH along with Jessica.  He wants to hire Jessica as he belives someone is out to kill him. He can run really fast when scared. To begin with Jessica just thinks that he is crazy, but realises too late that he was genuinely in need of her help. 

After his death, This makes Jessica rethink Trish's look into her past and she goes investigating. Thre episodes ends where her powers began.

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and can't wait to watch the next one.

Till then

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 2 Episode 3 "School Reunion" [Emz]

So finally I am posting again for my Doctor Who reviews!

This episode originally aired on the 26th April 2006, on BBC One.

"School Reunion" is one of my favourite episodes of  Series 2 as we have familiar faces that we know from previous episodes of Series 2 and 1, but also from the some of the past seasons before Doctor Who was cancelled in 1989.

Along side Rose (Billie Piper) and the 10th Doctor (David Tennant) we have Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke) and the return on Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) as well as K-9.

Here is the Synopsis:

The Doctor investigates a haunted London school and runs into an old friend.

Review:

I loved this episode as we start with The Doctor and Rose undercover. Mickey had been in touch and informed them of some strange goings on at a school.  The Children are suddenly becoming extremely intelligent and it has attracted Media attention.

So we have The Doctor undercover as a Science Teacher called 'John Smith' and Rose having to pose as a Dinner Lady - much to her annoyance.

Investigative Journalist Sarah-Jane Smith arrives at the school and The Doctor immediately knows who she is but has to act as if she doesn't.

Of course, that night after the school is closed both Sarah-Jane and Rose, The Doctor and Mickey are looking around the building and Sarah-Jane comes across the TARDIS and the Doctor reveals who he is. Of course we all know that Sarah-Jane is no stranger to The Doctor or the TARDIS. 

So she joins up with The Doctor and Rose, who is a little jealous and has no idea who she is as The Doctor has never mentioned her.

They search the school and find 13 bat-like creatures asleep in the Headmaster, Mr Finch's (Anthony Head) Office. The Doctor informs them that they are Krillitanes. They return to Sarah-Janes car to find K-9 Mark III in the boot, unfortunately he isn't working.  After The Doctor fixes him he identifies the oil at Krillitane Oil.  

The next day The doctor confronts Mr Finch who confirms they are Krillitanes. Rose and Sarah-Jane bond over how the The Doctor treats the TARDIS. 

Later it is discovered that the Krillitanes are using the children to solve the "Skasis Paradigm" a theory of everything. Mr Finch tries to persuade The Doctor into joining him in solving it, trying to tempt him to save the Timelords and stop human's dying.

Sarah-Jane manages to set him straight and they rescue the Schoolchildren before K-9 blows up the school with the Krillitanes and K-9 still inside.

The episode ends with Sarah-Jane rejecting the offer to travel in the TARDIS again and Mickey joining Rose and The Doctor. 

After the farewells and TARDIS disappears Sarah-Jane is left with K-9 Mark IV. 

I througherly enjoyed this episode, as I had never really watched anything for the 'Classic' Series I wasn't really that familiar with Sarah-Jane Smith but I had heard of her and seen the advertisements for her Audio Series. 

The most enjoyable thing following this episode is that she gets her own TV Series The Sarah-Jane Adventures, then reappears at the end of Series 4 and again before the end of the 10th Doctor's final episode before 11th Doctor takes over, "The End Of Time". Of course both Doctors (10th and 11th) appear in The Sarah-Jane adventures also.

The saddest thing is that Elisabeth Sladen passed away in 2011.

I will be starting reviews for The Sarah-Jane Adventures soon. 

Till next time

Emz x.

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TV Review: Black Lightning Series 1 Episode 3 "LaWanda: The Book of Burial" [Emz]

On to episode 3 of Black Lightning.

This episode picks up not too long after episode 2 and we begin with the funeral of Lawanda White.

Here is the synopsis:

HOLDING OUT HOPE — As Jefferson Pierce tries to determine if the community can survive without the help of Black Lightning, Anissa starts to come into her own. Meanwhile, Jefferson and Lynn try and figure out their new dynamic. Finally, Jennifer reveals to her parents that she has been grappling with something big.

Review:

The theme of Gang violence is a strong theme throughout this series and continues once again in this episode. Sex is also a theme of this episode.

Following the death of Lawanda White, a march is planned, which Jefferson is against. But both of his girls and his ex-wife plan on attending.

The theme of Sex comes into this episode. Jennifer discusses having sex with her boyfriend and proceeds to inform her parents that she will be having sex with her at the weekend.

Anissa is looking into what is happening to her, she records herself testing out her strength at the city dump. for the reason she is suddenly bulletproof and super-strong. She then meets Grace at the library and gets invited to a costume party. During the costume party he is accused on cheating by her girlfriend. We later learn that she broke up with her.

During the March which, Lyn, Anissa, Jennifer and Khalil attend, Jefferson as Black Lightning stops a shooter, but whilst protecting them, Tobias and his associate, try another attempt. They manage to shoot the Pastor and the bullet goes straight through and hits Khalil.

I enjoyed seeing Anissa testing out her powers but found it emotional seeing Jennifer getting upset over Khalil.

Till next time

Emz x

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Movie Review: Jem and the Holograms [Emz]

So I recently watched this film on Netflix. I was aware of the bad reviews and the Box Office flop, but I thought I would give it a go.

The film was released on 23rd October 2015.

This film is based around the animated TV Series Jem that aired between 1985 and 1988.

The film stars: Aubrey Peeples (Nashville) as Jerrica Benton/ Jem, Stephanie Scott (ANT Farm) as Kimber, Hayley Kiyoko (Lemondae Mouth) as Aja, Aurora Perrineau  as Shana and Juliette Lewis as Erica Raymond.

Here is the Synopsis:

As a small-town girl catapults from underground video sensation to global superstar, she and her three sisters begin a one-in-a-million journey of discovering that some talents are too special to keep hidden. In Universal Pictures’ Jem and the Holograms, four aspiring musicians will take the world by storm when they see that the key to creating your own destiny lies in finding your own voice.

Review:

I surprisingly enjoyed this film. The film is set in present day where Social Media is a big thing. This is different to the TV Series that was set in the 80's.

The songs in this film were very catchy. I liked Hit Me Up and Youngblood. 

The theme of Jem being a mystery in an age where Social Media is huge and there is no place to hide, was a great idea, but could have been worked on a bit more I think.. not quite sure how.

We learn that Jerrica (Jem) and Kmber are sisters who lost their father at a young age. They were raised by their Aunt along with her two foster daughters , Aja and Shana.

Jerrica records herself singing and thinks she has deleted the footage afterwards as she is too shy to even think about uploading it, she even refers to herself as Jem in the Video. 

Her sister Kimber finds that the video had not been deleted and uploads it to YouTube.

The video goes Viral overnight at Jerrica under the name of Jem becomes huge on Social Media.

Jerrica is contacted by Erica Raymond from Starlight Productions and offers Jerrica a record deal. After originally only wanted to sign Jerrica, with alot of pushing from Jerrica she agrees that all the girls can go.

Before Jerrica's debut performance as Jem, the Robot that Jerrica and Kimber's dad supposedly made but didn't finish, activates during their first night in LA since they were children. it leads them around LA finding the missing pieces to put in the Robot known as 51N3RG.Y (Synergy.)

During her time in L.A. Jerrica learns that her aunts house is going to be taken from her and determined to help she asks Erica for her first payment in advance so she can help her Aunt. The only trouble is that Erica persuades her to continue with her Sisters.

This is a scene that has been replicated thousands of times in movies, not exactly the same but a similar idea.

Eventually things do come together and they reunite for their last performance. Jerrica finds that the earrings she was given by her father  were the last piece to getting Syngery to work. inside was a hidden message from her father telling her that she was his best invention and tells her how much he loves her.

 The film ends with Erica being fired and her Son taking control of the company. Followed by their next performance where get named Jem and The Holograms.

The mid credits scene introduces a rival band that Erica dropped years ago called The Misfits. As, she is out to get revenge she teams up with them. The leader of the band is called Pizzazz and is portrayed by Kesha.

There were Cameo scene from a few Orignal Cast members but it would have been nice for that to have been expanded a little more.

I enjoyed the song and parts of the storyline but there was alot I wasn't so keen on. There was alot of 'fans' shown during songs and after songs and some bits made it very corny. I feel that things were solved too quickly and there was much more that could have been shown. That being said I would listen to the songs over and over again.

The 80's theme from the cartoon was very present in the girls choice of wardrobe but only at the beginning, I felt they were modernized when they were styled in LA, It would be been nice to see a little more 80's glam.

At the end of  the day This was teenage film and although fans of the original Jem cartoon were disappointed (from what I read), it still works even if you have never heard of it before.

Thats all for now, till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Black Lightning Series 1 Episode 2 "Lawanda: The Book of Hope" [Emz]

So here we are with episode 2. This episode is called "Lawanda: Book Of Hope."

This episode picks up not too long after the first episode.

Here is the synopsis:

IS HE BACK? — As the community struggles with the violence surrounding them, a glimmer of hope appears: Is Black Lightning back? Lynn Stewart, noticing the changes in the community, is also left wondering. While Jefferson Pierce struggles with his decision, Gambi urges him to take up the mantle once more and return to life as Black Lightning. Anissa and Jennifer try to deal with the aftermath of their jolting experience.

Review:

This episode keeps the recurring themes of Gang Violence, drugs and alcohol. There is also the theme of sexuality as we delve a little deeper into Jefferson's daughters love lives.

Gang violence is shown in quite a but of this episode.

Following the last episode, Jennifer stays at home and gets threatened by a young child that has been sent by Lala. This scares not only Jennifer but also Jefferson and sparks him into going to see Lala, but as himself, not Black Lightning.

We meet Lawanda who is the mother of a missing person who was a former student at the High School. She is asking the question that is on many peoples lips, why did Black Lightning save his children only? She ends up becoming a bit of a Vigilante in order to save her daughter. This results in Lala killing her.

The themes of alcohol are recurring as the pressure of having to act 'perfect' being the Principal's daughter constantly leads Jennifer to act out and drink.

The theme of Sexuality is explored through the love lives of Jefferson's daughters. I mean Jefferson's love life is clearly complicated with his ex-wife but we don't really know much about his daughters. We discover that Anissa has a long term girlfriend and that her parents are aware of her sexuality. Also Jennifer starts a relationship with her friend Khalil.

The death of Lawanda eventually leads Jefferson to become Black Lightning again after feeling guilty for her death as he feels he could have helped.

I think this series grows with each episode and there is more to uncover.

Till next time

Emz x

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