nolden + hands 2/?
io9: And yet amid all of this chaos, somehow the bond between Naomi and Holden still feels very strong. What do you think it is about their relationship that makes that possible?
Tipper: I think any relationship that lasts requires a choice, a choosing of that person day in, day out, regardless of how difficult it is, regardless of where you differ, and finding a common ground. I think there’s a deep maturity to their relationship at this point. And also I think with what Naomi went through in season five, it reconfirmed that if she wants to be with anyone or anywhere, it’s with Holden. So, I think we find them at this point: They’re so happy to be together, even under these really awful circumstances and in the middle of a war. They are each other’s dinghy boat, and they hold each other up. He’s really learned, especially, how to deal with her in the best way, and her him I think, and they’re leaning on each other through this whole thing. I think it’s a really beautiful version of them. They’re pretty solid throughout this season, which is cool.
Strait: I agree. I think this year really just shows how much they rely on each other to get through these things. And I think for Holden, the responsibility to her and to the family and to the overall macro environment becomes very, very important in the decisions that he makes through the season. There’s just a level of respect and love that allows them to pull through all of this. I’ve always seen them as two people just clutching each other in the middle of a storm. They’ve found a way to keep each other on the ground with all of this chaos going on.
- The Expanse’s Holden and Naomi Explain How Love Can Endure Through Extreme Sci-Fi Chaos, Season 6 interview
you guard against pain. you guard against joy. but when you allow yourself to be blindsided by love… two worlds make a universe. he’s not my weakness. he’s my universe.
- Sankta Neyar
the fact the majority of us experience rushed mornings is…cruel to say the least. mornings are meant to be calm. mornings are meant to be sweet hellos.
Netflix’s The Night Agent is a trope-filled daze that moves the narrative forward in a heart-squeezing fashion. High-action spy dramas often include some sort of a romantic arc to ground the overall story, but what viewers see with Rose Larkin and Peter Sutherland is akin to series like Chuck and, dare I say, the best of Casino Royale. Where some shows fumble with questionable characters, Netflix’s The Night Agent crystalizes that we’re meant to root for this romance’s endgame.
At the same time, the series utilizes some of the best romance tropes as effectively as content geared specifically toward the genre. The relationship between Peter and Rose progresses organically through familiar beats that maneuver the narrative with sufficient tension and matchless longing. It’s elating when the finest moments occur subtly—stolen glances when they think the other isn’t looking or gazes lingering a little too long. Netflix’s The Night Agent takes a single moment in time and orchestrates an entire tapestry of reasons why the two of them work better together, underscoring the significance of innate loyalty at the crux of their attachment.
Some answers come in the form of long, essential conversations, but few series can show what’s crucial through a thoughtfully compelling montage, and Blindspotting is one of them. The series’ attention to detail and unique craftsmanship of combining poetry and dance with vulnerable performances make it a must-watch success. This fact comes from its first season, but the closing moments of Blindspotting’s Season 2 finale take it to new heights, elevating the series’ heart by bringing romance to the forefront.
Miles and Ashley’s relationship defines loyalty in a manner so few shows have mastered, and the montage finally answers burning questions while concurrently grounding them to a foundation from where they can undeniably sprout higher. Blindspotting’s use of movement and performances ensures that these beats effectively establish Miles and Ashley’s love for one another while, at the same time, subverting the cheating trope through the one form where it works.
Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 11, “Mom City,” is yet another wild ride that doesn’t clarify whether this is indeed the end of the show. It feels like a setup more than anything else, but the conclusion still feels incredibly far away, forcing us to grasp at straws and parallels to harness something indicative. (Writer’s Note: I would have happily done this if screeners didn’t arrive at the very last minute during hectic weeks every single time, but hey, that’s what scene breakdowns will be for, right?)
In more ways than one, “Mom City” is “Man City’s” distant cousin that comes to town after years away, blurting all the family secrets before asking you if you’re ready to learn everything all at once. It provides plenty of great individual character moments, but the bombshell of a climax after two seasons with comforting penultimates has me dangling from a cliff, begging for someone to tell me what’s going on before I burst into tears. It’s an episode that addresses the idea of second chances through some incredibly memorable moments, looking toward some of the breakthrough moments in the dark forest.
Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 10, “International Break,” brings necessary conversations to the forefront while still leaping from one time jump to another. Written by Jane Becker and directed by Matt Lipsey, the episode again separates characters from an overarching story to dive deeper into more intimate moments. Much of it works in more ways than one, but where the words fail, the performances thankfully do all the talking.
Still, the largest issue in the episode and, perhaps, throughout the entire season is the detail that much of the vital developments continue to take place off-screen. It’s challenging not to wonder why we wasted time with characters like Zava when we could’ve spent more time with Sam or any of the other players. More than anything, it’s frustrating that to see the big picture, we need to step back and look at everything once it’s complete. Because, like Keeley Jones receiving news late, even the critics aren’t given enough time to prepare for advance coverage, which sadly contributes to the inability to see much of what’s happening until a rewatch or two later down the line.

