Minority Mindset

Claude Whelan was never really equipped for the job. I suspect he realized that himself, maybe even from the beginning, despite trying to convince himself he could lead a team of spies like a simple summer program. He became head of MI5 because those who appointed him wanted someone predictable, someone who wouldn’t take risks. He lacked cunning and mistakenly thought he was brilliant, a dangerous combination in the world of espionage. Now he’s likely gone, forced to resign after pushing his luck too far. Though he was a poor leader who hindered crucial intelligence gathering and nearly caused a catastrophe with his delusions of grandeur, it was certainly entertaining to watch him struggle.

Amazon Prime Video benefits from the huge financial resources of its parent company, Amazon, so its shows generally have high production values. But, as with any streaming service, a large budget doesn’t guarantee a good show, and some of their series haven’t been successful.

As a big fan of the Avatar films, I just saw some news that Avatar 3 will also be rated PG-13 when it hits theaters on December 19th. Apparently, that’s been officially confirmed – and it continues the pattern for the series, as all the previous Avatar movies, including the upcoming Fire and Ash, have all been PG-13.

Much of the discussion around A House of Dynamite centers on its ending: an incoming ICBM is destined to hit Chicago, and nothing can stop it. The filmmakers deliberately avoid showing the impact, leaving it ambiguous whether the warhead actually explodes. Earlier in the film, a malfunction is suggested as a possibility, and we never learn how the President reacts to his advisors’ conflicting advice. The movie concludes with scenes of characters arriving at Raven Rock, a military complex with a large underground bunker, and a shot of the commander at Fort Greely breaking down, before the credits roll.

According to Variety, the show is exploring filming locations at high-end hotels in Paris and the French Riviera. Previously, the last three seasons were all filmed at Four Seasons hotels, but HBO isn’t currently partnered with Four Seasons and is now considering other options.

Charles feels sorry for the grieving Howard, and they finally have a private conversation during a farewell party in the building. Howard confesses he’s envious of the close relationship between the three main investigators. He explains that his mother’s death left a void, and while he knew the robot he relied on didn’t truly care, it was comforting to have a companion. This conversation helps both Howard and the investigation. He notices a mark in Charles’s apartment that matches those left by his mother’s scooter, leading them to suspect the head of the Caccimelio crime family. This discovery ultimately points to New York mayor Beau Tillman as the murderer – a dramatic twist coinciding with a tense mayoral election. Finally, it’s Howard who pushes the investigative trio to consider a new mystery when they find the body of podcaster Cinda Canning, leaving them to figure out if she died inside the Arconia building or just outside its entrance.

Ariana Grande first showed off her blonde hair – and eyebrows! – on Instagram on October 26, 2022, playfully captioning the photo “new earrings.” Since then, she’s continued to embrace the blonde look, performing at the Oscars, during her Eternal Sunshine period, and even while supporting Cynthia Erivo. Before going blonde, Grande was famous for her long, brunette ponytails – like in the memorable photo of her with Pete Davidson. She also sported bright red hair from 2010 to 2013 while starring in Nickelodeon shows Victorious and Sam & Cat. This return to blonde feels like a nostalgic throwback to a happier time in Grande’s career, reminiscent of her early days. It’s wonderful to see the Ariana we first fell in love with, the one who sang “The Way” back in 2013.