In light of the end of season eight, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and recall some of the most outrageous instances from the show “Love Is Blind” to remind us all of how captivatingly crazy (and entertaining) this social experiment can be.
Stepping into the theater for the premier of “The Righteous Gemstones” season finale, I was struck yet again by the captivating presence of Bradley Cooper. This time, however, he’s not just charming the audience – he’s playing an unapologetic jerk. It’s a refreshing return to form that allows us to appreciate both his pathetic and handsome sides in equal measure.
In the premiere of HBO’s latest season of “The White Lotus,” a portrayal of her character made it to the final cut. This role, for which she was Emmy-nominated as Belinda, the spa manager, is reprised by Rothwell. During the previous season, viewers saw Belinda dealing with Jennifer Coolidge’s demanding behavior. Now, Belinda journeys to the resort depicted in the title, set in Thailand, to take part in a wellness-training program. On her first day, as she puts it, pretending to be a guest, Belinda offers a friendly wave to a stylish Black couple having dinner. “When we, as Black people, see other Black travelers, especially in spaces predominantly or historically white,” Rothwell explains, “it feels like a celebration that we’re here.” She shared this sentiment with her friend and series creator Mike White, based on an experience they had in Ireland.
Although Danús and Leveille reached the wedding altar, she acknowledges now that she “ought to have departed” earlier, making their season’s portrayal quite “awkward” to watch. In her moment within it, she was deeply immersed in emotions, envisioning the future, and cherishing every second of every day, she explains. However, viewing it back, she feels like, “Girl, he’s not on your level.” Today, Danús describes their encounters as being “friendly” when they cross paths in Minneapolis, but admits that “we still bump into each other even when we don’t particularly want to.
In this episode, Danny McBride, the co-writer and director, presents the Gemstone origin story from a different perspective – not as the virtuous becoming corrupt, but as the corrupt finding their way back to righteousness. In a surprising twist that was skillfully kept under wraps before the premiere, Bradley Cooper makes an appearance as Elijah Gemstone, a deceitful swindler who uncovers Abel Grieves’ fraudulent scheme and retaliates by shooting him. Initially, Elijah aims only to pocket the money and flee, but destiny offers him a chance to emulate Abel Grieves, which could ensure his wealth if he can maintain his disguise and evade the bullets fired by the Union that narrowly miss him. Given the Gemstones’ history of overcoming scandals and various threats to their ministry, it is unsurprising that Elijah appears invincible, much like Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now.
Are you wondering who he ends up dismissing or what valuable insights we gain from this situation? In actuality, no one is dismissed, and no lessons are learned. Instead, the next occasion when Samantha and Rick are together, she instructs him to discard the names because they no longer matter. If you want to evaluate a character as being lazy, then at least stick with that assessment. I’d appreciate it if this man demonstrated some intrigue or appeal, or if he were simply removed from the scene altogether. We constantly hear about how extraordinary and bold these characters are, but we never get to witness their greatness firsthand.
Prior to sharing the latest from our season eight cast, it’s important to note that this reunion serves not only as a catch-up but also as a celebration marking Love Is Blind‘s five-year anniversary! This special occasion is commemorated by revisiting some of the most memorable moments in the show’s history, as chosen by viewers – I seem to have missed the vote. A classic oversight on my part, I must admit. Here are the highlights:
The episode titled “Hide and Seek” seemed incomplete or, perhaps more positively, a precursor to an exhilarating two-part series. We embarked on Gary’s luxurious yacht, yet didn’t reach the full-moon party. The girls stumbled upon a club with an appealing atmosphere, but no regrettable choices have been made so far. Following breakfast, Rick and Amrita parted ways affectionately, though Rick still lingers in Samui. Piper’s parents are seated at the dinner table, yet she hasn’t revealed her secret. More ominously, Timothy Ratliff has swiped Gaitok’s gun from the hotel security booth, but he hasn’t fired it … not yet.
The “White Lotus Kill-or-Be-Killed Report” is a weekly discussion about the hotel’s guests and staff, predicting who might commit a murder or become a victim of one after this week’s episode titled “Hide and Seek.
According to Chris Eyre, who directed the premiere of season three, titled “Ye’iitsoh (Big Monster),” the idea had been floating around since the initial season. However, it wasn’t until the third season that they managed to shoot a scene featuring George R.R. Martin, the author of “A Game of Thrones,” and both a star and director from some iconic films, who are also executive producers on AMC’s series about Navajo tribal police in the 1970s.