Minority Mindset

Last week was full of drama: Lucy and Pippa had a confrontation with Chris, Stephen introduced a new girlfriend, Pippa and Diana were unfaithful to Wrigley, Stephen harassed Diana, Evan mistreated women, and Lucy and Alex seemed to thrive on Lucy’s insecurities. This week, they’re repeating all the same behaviors, but with a goth Valentine’s Day theme – everyone’s wearing black eyeliner and drawing teardrops on their faces. It’s so unsettling that I immediately wondered if someone had been murdered, and Pippa voiced the same thought – wondering if the actions meant someone was killed in prison! It was a strangely synchronized thought.

The choice of D’Amaro as CEO wasn’t a surprise. For months, he and Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, were leading candidates, with many believing D’Amaro was the frontrunner. His long career with Disney and the significant role theme parks play in the company’s success were key factors in the board’s decision. While he lacked experience in TV and film production – something both previous CEOs, Bob Iger and Michael Eisner, had – his other strengths proved decisive. Disney is also appointing Walden as president and chief creative officer, likely to bolster the company’s creative leadership.

A truly unpleasant new character has entered the scene in the third episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, titled “The Squire.” As Dunk and his young squire, Egg, prepare for the tournament at Ashford, they encounter the powerful Targaryen family: Prince Baelor, the future king, his brother Prince Maekor, and their nephew, Prince Aerion—known as Brightflame—who is portrayed by Finn Bennett, known for his role in True Detective: Night Country. Aerion quickly establishes himself as a cruel and formidable presence.

The atmosphere shifts dramatically. During sex, Emma hits Charlie with excessive force, then angrily accuses him of being preoccupied with a secret she’s hiding. She even threatens him with a kitchen knife. Charlie is left completely shaken and distraught. A wedding photographer, played by Zoë Winters from Materialists, observes their unraveling, noting they don’t seem to know each other anymore. The couple’s problems stem from a terrible thing Emma has done – something truly awful.

Detective thrillers are a popular genre, but because audiences have seen so many, they’re familiar with common plot devices like mysterious women, misleading clues, and objects everyone is searching for. This often means viewers can guess the ending or feel like they know what’s coming. From classics like The Maltese Falcon to darker films like Seven, many stories follow a predictable path. However, some films successfully avoid these clichés, offering genuinely surprising and original narratives. These films might play with the story’s format, create unexpected motivations for characters, or even blend in humor. Ultimately, these unique detective stories still deliver exciting thrills, but in a fresh and unconventional way.