Best New TV Shows of 2021

*I apologize for the delay in posting. I should have written this before New Year’s Eve.

1. Loki: Tom Hiddleston shines once more as Loki, the complicated immortal who has become much more than the standard antagonist. Forced into new circumstances, he goes on a journey that forever changes him.
2. The Wonder Years: This reboot of the beloved 1980’s/1990’s series is just as poignant as its predecessor. The choice of making the main character and his family African-American only adds to its relevancy.
3. Law & Order: Organized Crime: This spinoff of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit starring Chris Meloni as returning Detective Elliot Stabler is a thrilling and spine tingling hour of television.
4. Ordinary Joe: This new NBC series is the story of one man and three distinct life paths before him. Told concurrently and using different colors for each decision, is is a reminder of how one choice can affect the rest of our lives.
5. Impeachment: American Crime Story: The latest chapter of this long running F/X series focuses on the affair between Monica Lewinsky (Beanie Feldstein) and former President Clinton (Clive Owen) and the impeachment trial that followed. Instead of focusing on Clinton, the story is about the women who were directly affected by his less than honorable actions.
6. WandaVision: This first foray by the MCU via DisneyPlus is everything it promised to be. Wanda Maxmioff and Vision (Elisabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany) are living in family sitcom wedded bliss. But it not what it seems to be. With a star making turn by Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, this series is a must see.
7. All Creatures Great and Small: Ths unexpectedly Masterpeice/PBS series is adorable and charming. A rookie vetenarian starts his career in rural Yorkshire in the 1930’s and grows in unexpected ways. The new season starts tonight at 9PM ET/ 8PM CT.
8. Atlantic Crossing: This second Masterpeice/PBS series tells the story of the friendship/supposed affair between Franklin Delanor Roosevelt and Crown Princess Martha of Sweden during World War II. Forgotten for nearly a century, this tale of one woman’s drive to save her nation is truly worth watching.
9. The Book of Boba Fett: This latest entry into the Star Wars universe from DisneyPlus just premiered on December 29th. Though only two episodes have been released, it is already asking questions that are begging for answers.
10. Behind Her Eyes: Based on the book by Sarah Pinborough, this six part Netflix series about a married man’s affair with his secretary has a delicious ending that is jaw dropping and completely out of left field. Few endings have wowed me as this did.

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This is How Presidential Transitions are Supposed to be

One of the cornerstones of our democracy is the peaceful transition from one administration to another. It signals that there is a respect for the country and for the end result of a Presidential election.

As we all are too keenly aware of, you know who has far too many people believing that his loss was due to voter fraud. In denying the Biden/Harris transition team access to the necessary materials needed to do their job, the message from the current administration is loud and clear. They are concerned with soothing their boss’s fragile ego than following the will of the people.

Over the last few days, former First Daughter and granddaughter Jenna Bush Hager has been reflecting on how her late grandfather, George H.W. Bush and father, George W. Bush graciously welcomed the next President into the White House.

The letter from her grandfather to then President elect Bill Clinton states the following:

“Dear Bill, when I walked into this office just now I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too. I wish you great happiness here,”

She also fondly recalls how she, her sister, and her mother were tour guides for Michelle Obama and her girls when President Obama won the election twelve years ago.

This is how Presidential transitions are supposed to be. But it cannot happen if you know who refuses to concede the election.

Thoughts On the Mueller Hearing

There are few things that can either bring citizens together or divide them like politics. In the United States, there is doubt that politically, culturally and socially, we are becoming a divided nation.

This morning, former Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller testified in front of Congress and millions of Americans about his report and the conclusions in regards to the accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 Presidential election.

Several points hit me as I listened:

1. Mr. Mueller is an honorable man who has served his country for decades. Though it would have been easy to cross a moral or legal boundary to reach his conclusions, he chose to stay within the barriers of his position and Department of Justice protocol.
2. There is without a doubt, something not right about the way you know who and those around him acted during the campaign. It felt like the win was more important than following the rules or established political traditions.
3. Depending on where your political beliefs lie, you either believe that you know who is guilty and should be impeached or is a victim, as he calls it, a “witch hunt”.
4. Based on today’s testimony, I am still not sure that impeaching him is the right thing to do. Impeachment does not always mean that the President is forced out of office. Former President Bill Clinton was also impeached, but remained in office to complete his second term.
5. However, if the decision is to not find a way to force you know who out of office, that leaves the door open for him to possibly win the 2020 Presidential election.

Readers, what do you think? Do you think today’s hearing exonerates you know who or is just another reminder that he is unworthy of being President?

What If We Had Spoken Up?

Hindsight is always 20/20.

On April 20th, 1999, twelve students and one teacher were murdered in a mass shooting at Columbine High School.

Two weeks ago, fourteen students and three teachers were murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

What if, nineteen years ago, my generation reacted as the kids who survived the massacre are reacting now? What if we had an Emma Gonzalez and a David Hogg back then? Would we have had a public audience with then President Clinton and a televised town hall, meeting with our elected representatives and speaking up for those whose lives were lost? Would we have walked out of school and marched in solidarity against gun violence?  Would we have publicly shamed our elected officials for taking money from the NRA? Would we have demanded the legislation of sensible gun laws and the strengthening of our mental heath system? Could we have prevented the unnecessary future loss of too many innocent lives, had we spoken up then?

I honestly don’t know. I only know that these kids are speaking up in a way that should have happened a long time ago and perhaps now, in 2018, change will finally come.