THE FLASH - Season 5.4

REVIEW:  THE FLASH - SEASON 5, EP. 4:  "News Flash"

This week's installment of the adventures of the Scarlet Speedster brought us a nice mix of humor, some drama, and more layers of a mystery being peeled back.  This season thus far has done a fairly nice job of providing that balancing act, while not bogging down the overall story.

We find out a few more things with the Allen family this week.  In so much as Iris can't cook worth a damn, has a love for Cyndi Lauper, Barry is an incredibly BAD softball player (thought athletics was never Mr. Allen's strong suit), and Nora apparently loves social media, which is the crux of the villain of the week.  We also get the heaviest dose of family drama, as that took center stage this week.  With Nora having her own cell phone, she's happily enjoying what most millenials do---social media.  Inasmuch as following a gal named Spencer Young's blog about The Flash and Central City's newest hero:  XS.  Iris does pass along that she knows Spencer from when she worked at Jitters, and always felt that Spencer was just a gloryhound---for which Nora says that Spencer's blog is out pacing Iris' in viewership...a nice bit of shade thrown Iris' way, showing the animosity Nora has for her mother.  Things LOOKED like it would improve when Spencer's metahuman (or "Meta Tech", as it's later discovered), uses signage to create sensationalistic headlines before they happen, because the headlines she creates and sends to various signs around the city seem to hypnotize people---including Barry and Nora.  At first, her powers effected Nora and a cop who was supposed to be at the game, but instead showed up with a bomb, which Nora pulled the save on everybody, but neither had any recollection of the incident.

Iris decided to have a little chat with Spencer, telling her to quit while she's ahead, and someone gets hurt, but Spencer just laughs it off.  Later on, a fire breaks out in town, and both Barry & Nora go to put it out.  But Spencer strikes again, and Barry's zapped by the headline she throws up on a marquee...prompting Barry to take off, and wind up in Vegas.  Iris then coaches Nora on how to put the fire out.  Nora gets the job done, and it looks like the ice might be broken a bit between the two.  Once Barry returns, they figure out what Spencer is up to, and try to stop her before she strikes again.  They try to use Nora in the set up, but she ends up getting flirted with by Spencer, to which Iris has to intervene.  

Apparently, Nora's temper gets the best of her, and she fesses up WHY she's so pissed at Iris:  When Nora was younger, Iris put a speed dampener on her to prevent her from using her powers.  Nora feels that a choice was taken out of her hands, and Iris, at first, feels guilty about it, but Barry reassures her that if she did it, she did it for a good reason.  When Iris tells Nora that, it creates an even bigger rift, and she takes off.  The team then finds out Spencer's next story, and they head to the stadium, where Nora gets hypnotized by the new headline....to where she's supposed to kill her dad.  Barry & Nora zip through the stadium, and Nora eventually trips up Barry, and is about to kill him.  Iris, having had enough, and figured out where Spencer was, breached through with a tranq gun, and managed to subdue Nora.  Barry then captured Spencer, and off to Iron Heights she goes.

However, Nora and Iris are on opposite sides, and when Barry comes in to defend Iris, it's a big blow to Nora, who takes off yet again, only to show up at Joe and Cecile's door.  She'll end up crashing there for awhile, and probably have a chat with Joe.  We can only hope Joe can set her on the right path.  Iris cries, as Barry tries to comfort her.  

Another part of the episode that took place was Sherloque and Ralph tracking down info on Cicada.  Ralph figured out something about the mask, and how, when in battle with Cicada, he was breathing heavily the more he exerted.  Ralph's deductive skills prove to be a big key in Cicada's mystery as they find the plant that Hesh actually works at, and see that the employees there use the masks for protection.  Later on, Wells has the same mask, asks Caitlin to punch him, and when she does, he begins to breath heavily, just like Cicada.  So, between the two sleuths, the managed to figure out that he's weak, but also a metahuman, who got his powers during the Thinker's "Enlightenment".  With the combination of Dark Matter and the falling satellite pieces, that's where Cicada probably got his powers, as they deduced.  Wells actually gives credit to Ralph for the piece of the puzzle, showing a mutual respect there.  I should also note that that's the same time Spin (as Spencer has been called for this episode---NOT by Cisco!  The streak is over!), had her phone infected with dark matter, hence the now dangerous "Meta Tech", which has infected technology all over Central City---putting meta power in the hands of EVERYONE.  

We get a brief glimpse of Cicada this episode, as Hersh is shown to be in tremendous pain, due to his own ill heath as a result of the shrapnel he took to the shoulder during the Enlightenment.  But we also witness him discover his super strength, as he crushes a beam with his bear hands.

This episode I enjoyed for the fact that we got some decent humor between Iris' attempt to play wife AND mother for Barry & Nora---and fail miserably at it, Barry's ineptitude with sports, plus Ralph and Wells' interaction of one-upsmanship over who's the better detective.  Finally getting some insight on Nora's beef with her Mom took a turn that I had KIND of figured out for the most part---Iris WAS responsible for holding her daughter back, but had no idea about the power dampener.  I believe it was future Iris' fear of losing Nora the same way she loses Barry.  To lose Barry was devastating enough...to lose Nora would be unthinkable.  So I DO see Iris' point on this issue.  However, the fact that she held Nora back, and took that choice OUT of Nora's hands, I can see WHY Nora has such resentment towards her mother.  And with Barry siding with Iris, it now puts a wet blanket over the feelgood aspects of Barry and Nora's relationship.  Still...I KNOW that Nora is STILL keeping secrets from BOTH of them.  She may have given her reason for coming to the past to see her Dad was one thing, but as Wells pointed out last episode, he knows there's more.  Her finally fessing up as to what made her pissed at her Mom is one thing, but she's still hiding the fact that she's here to attempt to save her dad from ever disappearing. There's more drama along the way for the Allen family before it's going to get better.  Will Iris and Nora manage to ever mend their bridge?  And will Nora suddenly just start avoiding Barry now because he took her mother's side?  And can Joe and Cecile knock some sense in to her?  

We got no movement on Caitlin's Dad this week, which was fine, it's a backup story, and the Allen Family dysfunction needed to be center stage.  Plus, Ralph and Wells putting their heads together and actually having to work together to solve the Cicada mystery was needed so that teamwork could be established between the two.  There's still egos to be had there, but at least there's a more mutual respect and understanding.  I feel Joe and Cecile's roles will be a tad less due to them spending more time with daughter Jenna, and Cisco taking a break keeps him out of Cicada's sights, and gives him a break from having to be the total comic relief on the show.  Ralph and Wells can carry that for awhile, being more productive in the process.  Iris and Caitlin are more than capable of holding down the fort at STAR Labs without Cisco's help as he recovers from his injuries.

While Spin felt like the "flavor of the week" villain, and had very little backstory, aside from what was provided by Iris, and what we saw at the beginning of the episode, she didn't die, and she's someone that can be used again at a later date.  Many may complain that she's used as filler, and to the extent, yes.  It gave Flash and XS a new villain to deal with, but not one they couldn't eventually handle.  Not every villain has to be as intense, or have the exceptional depth that Cicada does because he's the "Big Bad" of the season.  The focus can't ALWAYS be on him, and him alone.  There are several other bad guys looking to make their mark in Central City, and it's okay to have the occasional "geek villain" to get through an episode.  She provided a way to increase the tension between Nora and Iris, as well as give Barry fits as well.  Flash already has a huge Rogues Gallery...it doesn't need to be Justice League size.  And as I said....being put into Iron Heights, just means that she can be used at a later date to cause more problems.  Hazard, Black Bison, and Kilg%re served that purpose last year...as minor villains who were eventually expendable because they served a greater purpose.  But overall, they were minor league villains.  Flash's "core" Rogues such as Heat Wave (who does his stint with the Legends now), Weather Wizard, Grodd, Trickster, and The Reverse-Flash are still out there (and trust me...Eobard's going to pop up again...book it!).  So, expect a couple of more "geek villains" to show up before the season is over...if only to lighten up the drama of the show if it gets weighed down.  Thankfully, this season is a lot like the first two, where the balance between humor and drama was there.  

Anyway, that's my take on this week's episode.  Please feel free to leave a comment, they're always appreciated, as well as you guys checking out my blog...I'm grateful beyond belief.  There will be NO review next week, as Election Day coverage on the 6th will preempt any new episode.  So, join us back here in two weeks for another review of this show.

Until two weeks from now....keep on running!

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - Season 4.2

REVIEW:  DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - SEASON 4, EP. 2:  "Witch Hunt"

The new adventures of our time travelling gang are just getting started---and more fun!  This week saw the team travel to Salem, Massachusettes of 1692---sight of the Salem Witch Trials, where they have to track down their newest magical beast to battle and vanquish....well...."beast" wouldn't quite be the term I'd use for THIS particular episode.  But It DID provide us with a lesson learned, like in the old Fat Albert cartoons...lots of laughs and fun, but if you aren't careful, you may learn something when you're done.

Ray has created a new system to track the magical beasts and anomalies causing havoc in time, and just as it's up and running, they get a hit:  Salem 1692.  Off they travel to prevent whatever magical beast is messing up history.  Meanwhile, Nate is back in 2018, having dinner with his Dad, Hank...trying to reconcile their relationship.  Doesn't go well when he balks about what he does when asked by dear old Dad....and having all his credit cards rejected because he's broke.  He winds up shacking up at the Time Bureau as Ava catches him wandering around in his robe.  She's concerned about the budget cuts, because she feels the Bureau might be cut period.  Nate says he'd help handle the situation (since, after all, his old man is the one doing the budget cutting).  He said he'd smooth things over.

Jane Hawthorne is the woman accused of witchcraft as the team lands in Salem.  And she's pulled away from her daughter Prudence (okay...a CW show with an episode about witches, with a character named "Prue" in it----sound familiar?!), and put in jail---facing a trial and eventual hanging.  The team then witnesses a flock of crows flying down and attacking the citizens.  They eventually get called off, and Prue wanders off into the forest, where the team meets up with her.  Constantine (who was reluctant to joint the crew, but finally decides "what the hell...they'll be useless without me"), shows up to cast a spell on Prue to find out what powers she has---turns out the magical "beast" they're looking for is----a Fairy Godmother.  

Nate, Ava, and Gary try to woo Hank into giving them the budget to continue with the Time Bureau, but haven't been able to get through to him.  Gary spills the beans about the Legends' success in stopping Mallus, but informing Hank of the magical beasts that have been released into the time stream.  Hank isn't buying it, and he shuts the Bureau down.  Ava goes to Nate to try and convince his Dad, and he says he has a plan.  Prove to his Dad that magic exists.

Back in 1692, the Fairy Godmother explains why she's there---to protect Prue.  She then starts breaking out into song (I thought I was watching a Disney movie, I swear.  I was wondering when the rest of the cast was going to break out into song as well).  Either way, Prue gets stowed on board the Waverider, while they try and find a way to vanquish the Godmother.  Noting that they can't alter history, Sara informs Zari that they can't save the June, because it would alter time.  Zari can't stand around and see Prue's mother get murdered, feeling that the prejudice has to stop somehow.  And if she saves Prue's Mom...as she promised...the world would be a better place.  

Zari, of course, can't stay out of it and let history run its course.  She goes to free June, but June has accepted her fate.  She tells Zari that she will forgive her accusers, because that is the only way to win.  Zari asks about Prue having to suffer, growing up without her mother, and June says that Prue is strong and she'll get through it.  If June fights, then what example does that set for her daughter?  The cycle has to end, and June feels this is the only way to do it.  Zari won't buy into it, saying that she can save her, and they must go as the guards approach.  Zari leaves but returns to June's trail, and, sure enough, interferes using her amulet powers to cause trouble.  She's then captured by the citizens, and they are sentenced to burn at the stake.

Sara sees Zari's in trouble, and she goes to rescue her.  As that is happening, dear Fairy Godmother gets on board the Waverider to free Prue, but John is there to try and stop her, revealing her TRUE intentions---to send these little bastards to hell for their wrongdoings by latching onto someone itching for revenge---Prue.  She manages to make John's mouth disappear, turn Mick and Ray into pigs, and grab Prue, where she intends to burn the town and the people down.  The Legends manage to get to Prue and it's Zari herself that convinces her that she's better than this...and Prue released the Godmother, and the day is saved, without harm to the timeline.  Later on, we see John try and work a deal with the Godmother to see if she'd help him in his quest against this unseen evil he's dealing with---she flat out refuses, and says she'd rather rot in Hell before she helped him...so, he obliges her.

While the rest of the team was out saving the day, Nate proved to his Dad that magic DOES exist by bringing back Ray as a pig.  At first nothing happened, but as the Godmother was defeated, her spells were reversed, and Ray returned to normal, although naked, in front of Hank....Nate also decided to come clean about being a super hero by showing off his powers.  Ava is approved the 4.2 million budget, and Hank finally sees the good work Nate is doing.  The end sees Ava offering Nate a chance to do some real work at the Bureau, and he takes her up on the offer when he decides to stick around when Ray is about to head back to the Waverider.

Zari and Sara have a heart to heart, as Zari learns that she can't save her mother from being killed, as much as it killed her to see herself and her Mom when she was younger from last episode.  Sara reminds her that she has those thoughts as well (referring to both Laurel and Quentin).  But if Zari needs to talk, she's there.  


Overall...this episode had it's usual amount of camp and slapstick, with the Fairy Godmother a GREAT choice for the "villain" of the week.  The breakout in song was just classic, and it was only hampered by the fact we didn't get a full musical number WITH the Legends themselves (Mick singing and dancing would've made me lose it).  It also had a touch of drama, as we got to see Zari see another child's mother about to be taken from her.  In her vain efforts to save June for Prue, Zari's own disillusions with the people of Salem were reminiscent of her own ordeal in the future with her own Mother.  But June's strength and stance allowed Zari to see that her own mother instilled in her the will to go on and be a force of change for the better.  It gives more depth to Zari, and allows her to grow, and gives her a renewed sense of purpose.  I think she will come to see Sara as something of a big sister, since they are kindered spirits in a way.

Nate's new direction is an interesting one.  Less super heroics, and more in helping the Time Bureau sort things out.  It also give him a chance to reconnect with his family, which was sorely needed for him to shed some weight of stress and anguish on his part.  I look to see the interactions with his father in the future to be fairly heartwarming, if not somewhat comical if Nate's powers and interaction with the Legends comes into play.  As a character, Nate was being less used anyway, and this will give that character a new direction, plus, it doesn't require him to be in the background doing nothing....as he'd pretty much done in the last episode.  Gary is still the perfect comic relief, and Ava gets to be a little lighthearted herself, which will be a good balance for her relationship with the often more serious Sara.  Although, Sara has lightened up more this season, and seeing Caity Lotz exercise her comic chops is a hoot.  

The cast has such great chemistry and synergy, and I love the fact that the show is becoming more of a wink and a nod to the audience, not taking everything too dramatic and serious, and just having some good old fashioned comic book fun with itself.  It's a good amalgamation between the seriousness and dark nature of Arrow, while embracing the more lighter portions of The Flash and Supergirl.  It allows them to be incredibly more outlandish, and isn't strict about adhering to too much grounded reality.  Of all the current DC shows, it's the one that's the free spirit, where the rules are looser.  I'm enjoying this season immensely, and look forward to the other surprises they have in store for us down the road.

As always, feel free to leave a comment.  I love hearing from you all and your ideas.  They make this all worth it!  

As always....Same time, next week.

ARROW - Season 7.3

REVIEW:  ARROW - SEASON 7, EP. 3: "Crossing Lines"

The Emerald Archer is still battling his way through prison life, and having to learn how the game is played behind bars, Felicity enlists the aid of Agent Watson, the woman responsible for putting Ollie away, Lila, Diggle, and Curtis run an operation to get some intel, but NO flash forward moments with William and Roy this week.

The main focus of this episode was about the extent our heroes will take in order to bring down Diaz and The Longbow Hunters...what lines are they willing to blur and actually cross.  

Ollie's stint in prison has been nooooo pleasure cruise.  Having to dirty deal with Brick to get information about Diaz, and protect not himself, but his new pal Stanley.  Ollie had completed the task last week of having the guard Brick hated removed---although Brick wanted him dead.  Brick decided that he was going to play hardball with Ollie, make him jump a few hoops, and give him a morsel of info about a man named "The Demon", who seems to be running the show behind these walls.  Brick sends Ollie on a wild goose chase through the prison in order to bump him off.  He ends up running into Bronze Tiger, and the two fight, only for Ollie to beat him down enough and hold him at knife point to get more info out of him.  Tiger tries to tell Ollie he's just like them, but Ollie says no.  Tiger says you don't know him at all.  Tiger manages to get Ollie into Brick's little "clubhouse", only to find out that Sampson and the other members of Brick's gang are in a "Fight Club" kind of gang.  Brick makes Ollie fight Sampson, and Ollie not only beats him, but breaks his shoulder in the process.  Ollie then leaps up and goes after Brick.  Brick informs him that the only way Ollie can get to this "Demon", is to get sent down to Level Two.  Ollie roughs up some guards to get sent down there.  Brick taunts him one last time, and lets him know that he'll never make it out of there.

Felicity going to Agent Watson is a bold move.  She tries to convince Watson that sometimes you have to color outside the lines in order to get justice.  Agent Watson remains true to the system and says they'll get Diaz by the book.  However, she later finds out that Diaz isn't exactly on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.  He's not a priority.  But with him looking for more Marakuru, which would infect the whole city, time is wasting on stopping him.  Felicity is willing to break into the CDC with Rene to get Diaz, since there's a shipment coming in.  Agent Watson agrees to help out, along with Dinah for support.  They pose as FBI Agents (except Watson), to get into the CDC, so Felicity and trap Diaz, and grab him.  Diaz manages to get in with the rest of the Longbow Hunters, but Felicity can't manage to lock down the doors to trap Diaz.  Dinah and Agent Watson go to make sure they can get Diaz.  Diaz is securing the vials of Marakuru as Agent Watson battles Red Dart, while Rene had his hands full with Kodiak, and the big battle was Dinah taking on Silencer once again.  Silencer manages to get the best of Dinah, and drag a shelf on her.  Rene gives chase, but Diaz and the Hunters managed to get a clean getaway.  Agent Watson pays the price as she's transferred to Washington, and away from the Diaz case.  Felicity and Watson come to an understanding.  Later on, we see Rene and Felicity talk as they head down to some lower level of a wherehouse, and there we see a captured Silencer, who gives them a warning that it's not over yet.

Diaz got his Marakuru, and injects himself with some as he continues to plot against Team Arrow.  He's unconcerned with Silencer's capture, he says she'll handle herself.

Diggle and Lila reminisce about their honeymoon, as they plan a new mission with Curtis.  They head to Zurich to secure some information from a bank that apparently has been doing some shady dealing itself.  They managed to get the intel needed and successfully return home.  Later on, however, Curtis makes it known to Dig that their info has been copied, and only him, Dig, and Lila have access to that information.  And since NEITHER of them did it, it only leaves one person---Lila.  When confronted, Lila admits to Diggle that she's tired of seeing the bad guys get away, and the system failing them.  She completely understands why Diggle did what he did with Ollie.  All Diggle wants is to be in on the action.  

This episode did a nice job of balancing all three stories and keeping things moving along.  While Agent Watson still is bent on doing things the right way, I think she finally understands why Felicity was willing to cross the line to get Diaz...and she admitted she liked it.  Also, this woman is pretty damn capable of handing herself in a fight.  While she may have been transferred, I feel it's NOT the last time we see her.  Felicity is showing more of a leadership role and improvisational skills, managing to capture Silencer without the FBI knowing.  Rene is all in on the plan to use a little vigilantism to get justice done.  One thing I can say is that we're not bogged down by Rene, Curtis, or Dinah's personal issues this season.  They're there for support for Felicity, and they're helping the story move along, as well as provide some comic relief---which has fallen on Rene a little, and Curtis A LOT.  

Diggle, Lila, and Curtis also have an interesting arc going on---as Lila is willing to seek help outside of normal channels to get information on some other form of evil going on out there, but have no idea what it is.  I kind of wonder if she's getting ready to reassemble the Suicide Squad just in case she needs the help.  The man she handed the info to...I wonder if he's The Monitor---who was the main character in DC's Crisis On Infinite Earths back in 1985?  Is she closer to becoming the Harbinger?  This is an interesting development.  Curtis, as always, provides great comic relief.

Ollie has been through the darkness before, and isn't afraid to get down and dirty when he has to.  But is he going to cost himself a chance to reunite with his family.  Brick has done well to make Ollie's life difficult.  Great fight scene with him and Sampson (Cody Rhodes is always fun to see when he guest stars on the show).  It showed how vicious Ollie can be when pushed to his limit, but refuses to kill.  His new prison friend Stanley has stuck by his side...but I have to wonder.  This was a theory thrown out to me from a friend, and he said "What if the Demon is Stanley".  It would provide an interesting Verbal Kint-kind of twist.  The man sticking close to Ollie at all time is the guy pulling the strings.  I won't be surprised to see it coming.

It's great to see all the players involved facing that dilemma of whether or not to blur the lines, cross over, and take risks to your moral compass in order to seek justice.  They have given just enough to the supporting players to help the main characters along, and give the story more depth.  A friend of mine mentioned just how tired of Diaz they were, but I had commented back that Diaz's story didn't start until late last season, and this is the middle of his story---and I feel his arc WILL end at some point.  With what's going on with Lila and the conspiracy with ARGUS there, I feel there's something bigger coming along.  Like I had mentioned in my Supergirl blog...this could be the season where they don't have just ONE "Big Bad" to fight.  There's more meat on this bone, and it's going to hopefully pay off well.

That's it for this week's worth of Arrow---feel free to comment and leave your thoughts...would love to hear 'em.

Until then:  keep your sights on the bullseye!

SUPERGIRL - Season 4.3

REVIEW:  SUPERGIRL - SEASON 4, EP. 3:  "Man Of Steel"

The political theme coursing through the veins of this show are deeply running a risk of creating a dark cloud over it.  While a good storyteller will make sure all sides are accounted for and given equal space to define their narrative, it can often times spark controversy that can alienate an audience and create further dissention from the program.

This week's installment of The Girl of Steel tells the story of Agent Liberty, who's identity is Ben Lockwood, a teacher at a university who's father Peter runs a steel mill in National City, that has aliens among its employees.  Peter isn't thrilled that aliens are roaming the Earth, calling them "roaches", and feeling that they're taking everything away from average Americans.  Ben, trying to reassure his father that this isn't bad, cannot reach his father.  It's at the steel mill, where Peter's employees are attacking two alien co-workers, where things begin to fall apart for the Lockwood family.  In the throes of the attack, one of the aliens dragged out of a delivery truck has spikes that come out of his body, and one hits Ben.  Things get out of hand until Supergirl and the DEO show up.  Ben is saved and taken to the hospital, though he wonders WHY Supergirl is working with the FBI (as Alex had told him for her cover).  

The following had taken place two years ago, when President Marsdin had pushed her bill through on equality between aliens and humans.  Lockwood starts teaching about "progress" in his class, but his words become more harsh, and begin to take on an anti-alien slant, especially in the wake of L-Corp cancelling their contract with Peter's company, and him having to close the plant due to not being able to secure a loan to keep it open.  It also doesn't help that at this time, it was when Queen Rhea of the Daxamites had appeared on their TV, talking about reshaping Earth into a new Daxam.  The seeds of Ben's turn also get further sown when he witnesses a battle between J'Onn and an alien that accidently causes his home to catch fire.  Ben goes to CatCo to talk to James Olsen about the issues not being front page news, and James tells him that they cover the story as honestly as possible, and appreicates Lockwood's concern, but seems to give him the brush.  James then takes a call from Lena Luthor, whom Ben finds out bought CatCo.  His lectures become more anti-alien, causing one of the students who is alien, to leave his class.  He finds out later from the Dean that the school as given him an indefinite leave after several warnings about his lectures taking a personal, anti-alien stance.  Upset, he manages to find said alien student, and accosts her in a karoke bar, and is interrupted by Kara, who was trying to figure out what song to sing.

Lockwood then starts handing out anti-alien leaflets, and gets Otis Graves' attention.  Then he's caught up in another battle between Supergirl and the World Dominators (Reign), and escapes, only to get a call from his wife about his father Peter.  He finds Peter at the plant, with a beam collapsed on him.  Peter dies, and it sends Ben over the edge.  He later meets up with some of his father's co-workers, and they start firebombing the plant, causing a fire, and seeing the same alien that had injured him earlier, escape the fire.  And in an act of senseless violence, Ben kills the alien.  Ben is then approached by Mercy Graves, who wants to encite the people into rebelling against President Marsdin's new bill, and expose her as an alien.  She tells Ben he's got a gift to rally people around him through public speaking.  She supplies him with body armor, and while getting the suit out, finds an iron mask.  

The episode began with J'Onn saving Supergirl from crashing to Earth after Mercy, Otis, and Agent Jensen activated the K-Bomb that is now infected the entire atmosphere, making Supergirl unable to survive unless they find a way to remove the Kryptonite from the atmosphere.  Alex calls upon Lena for help, and despite their differences, Lena agrees.  She'll have to wear a suit to survive, until the Kryptonite is out of her system, and out of the atmosphere.

The episode ends with Mercy looking to tie up loose ends by killing Agent Jensen.  But Ben stops her, getting the idea that Jensen can get them into the DEO.

This episode was good in that it gave the backstory into Agent Liberty, and watching his descent into evil.  It shows how easily one can take circumstances often beyond their control and twist the narrative negatively.  Ben losing his father was the final straw that bent his back, and allowed him to actively harm and kill an innocent---alien or human otherwise---in order to feel justified about his new way of thinking.  A lot of his situation, however, was of his own doing----bringing his personal politics into his teaching, when instead of allowing students to come up with their own ideas and solutions, but driving home a specific narrative in order to manipulate the minds of those to his own way of thinking.  It's a fairly dangerous route to take, and here, the writers have to be careful NOT to drive or hammer a specific narrative down the viewers' throats---whether or not they're trying to tell a story looking to entertain.  Often times, some stories taking on such serious subject matter can come off as preachy, and that's not a good thing.  It can turn off a viewer who can see it as one sided, and can hurt the show in the long run.  It's good we have seen how he got to where he's at, and we know the full story of what his and Mercy's plans are.  Again, however, it has to walk a very fine line.  If they're looking to tell the story about how radicalism and violence isn't the answer to solve a problem, that's good.  It's good to show that there are examples of people taking things too far, to the point of debasing into a violent nature.  But they also need to handle those that, while they don't like the alien presence on Earth, are not lowering themselves into violence in order to get across their narrative.  Going back over this episode again, one person I follow on YouTube pointed out that Lockwood DID make valid points in that the people who are collateral damage in these battles suffer the most---and THEIR stories aren't being told.  That is truly unfair.  So this is what I wanted to have happen, to make sure ALL sides have their voices heard---equally.  So that everyone gets an overall perspective of how these changes to the world effect EVERYONE.

Supergirl's appearances in this episode are brief, with really no hero action to make real note of, outside of the flashback scenes.  How long she'll have to wear the body suit remains to be seen.  As for this episode, it wasn't a great episode, more of a filler show, that at least gives us the skinny on our villain, and with that out of the way, they can now kick the plot into high gear.  No Kaznia Kara again, and I'm thinking she's being saved for the 2nd half of the season.  I think this Agent Liberty arc should not last the full season.  I have a feeling that if it does, it will drag the show down severly, and turn people off who want to get AWAY from politics and political rhetoric after the midterm elections.  Fans want a good superhero story with these shows, while having SOME tie to reality.  But again, as I've stated before, the show runs the risk of turning viewers off with the political backdrop.  It would behoove the showrunners to get this arc into high gear, and come to a conclusion by midsesaon.  It also allows a buildup with the Kaznian Kara storyline to kick in the rest of the way.  I feel that's how the show SHOULD go, but I'm not the writers or show creators, so we'll have to sit back and see what happens.

Anyone else here happy for the Cat Grant sighting this week?  I was!

As per the usual, please leave a comment down below---I'm always grateful for interaction and an intelligent, healthy, and non-aggresive debate.  We work on the honor system here, boys and girls!

Until next week...Up, up, and away!

WWE'S EVOLUTION: Thoughts, Precictions, & Analysis

WWE'S EVOLUTION:  THOUGHTS, PREDICTIONS, & ANALYSIS

WWE's "Evolution" PPV is only hours away, and will take place at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY.  As it is the 1st all women's PPV wrestling show from WWE (they can say 1st ever, but I'm sure there was an all woman's PPV SOMEWHERE in the world---if anyone can prove me RIGHT---leave a comment below!), there are sure to be some "historical" moments for this program---ones that I know WWE will pat themselves on the back for---even if they did little to NO real promotion for this show, and it seemed put together in a rush, but more on that in a bit.  WWE is banking on a sold out crowd, and the faces of RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey and "Total Divas" star Nikki Bella to helm the main event of the card, and their mainstream popularity to gain big ratings for the show, and, quite possibly, new subscribers to the WWE Network.  Tonight, I'll be going a little in depth about what I feel is right about the show, what and where WWE has gone wrong, and my predictions for the matches.

As with everything else on this blog---this is just MY assessment of the card, MY opinions on it, so I don't expect everyone to believe everything I say.  Formulate your own opinions.  If you wish to leave comments, please...I encourage it.  But let's play honorably, kids.  No sniping or name calling, let's be adults about it.  Remember---it's okay to disagree with an opinion....ESPECIALLY mine!  But let's go about this from a logical standpoint, instead of demeaning ourselves for the sake of substantiating your argument.  

This PPV was announced back on July 23rd, 2018 on Monday Night RAW by Stephanie McMahon.  It was then that the date of October 28th would be the date of the show.  Mind you, also on the docket for WWE was their 3rd "super show" on foreign soil, Crown Jewel, which is to take place in Saudi Arabia on November 2nd.  This is the 2nd "super show" that WWE will have had scheduled in Saudi Arabia since Greatest Royal Rumble back in April.  I make note of these shows, because BOTH of them being held in Saudi Arabia means that the women aren't allowed to perform there, as per Saudi culture.  Evolution is the response to making sure that the women get a chance to have their own spotlight, while Crown Jewel will feature only the male Superstars of WWE.

Now, you can look at this two ways:  1.  Yes.  It's incredibly historical and a great advancement for women's wrestling...especially in WWE, who--for many years--had to wipe off the tarnish of the "Divas Era", when 4-5 minute bra-and-panty matches, mud wrestling, pillow fights, and other such silly stipulation matches had been put on by the company.  The women were kind of seen more as "eye candy" than taken seriously as wrestlers or performers.  It was also during that time that you started to see standouts like Trish Stratus, Lita, Ivory, Molly Holly, Chyna, and many others display the technical skills IN the ring, instead of just being objects for men to drool over.  Trish and Lita especially led the way for the women through the forest with their great rivalry...and add in Mickie James, Beth Phoenix, Melina, Rosa Mendes, Michelle McCool and Layla, and the in ring product improved.  

The Women's Championship which many of those women fought over was replaced by  the butterfly shaped "Divas Championship".  While the women got better, they still weren't taken seriously.  Some like Nikki & Brie Bella still embraced a lot of the old "Divas" mentality, while superstars like AJ Lee and Natalya were trying to change the culture.  At one point, AJ Lee borrowed a page out of her husband CM Punk's playbook by dropping a "pipebomb" promo on the cast of Total Divas back on August 23, 2013.  In 2015, she criticized Stephanie McMahon about the treatment of the women on the roster, which led to the #GiveDivasAChance movment that made WWE reconsider their stance on their female Superstars.

Down in their developmental league, NXT, they had the makings of the new movement...the "Revolution" with stars in the making like Paige, Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Bayley.  Paige would become the inaugural NXT Women's Champion, and pretty much immediately after won the Divas Championship on her call up to RAW.  After relenquishing the NXT title, Charlotte, Becky, Sasha, and Bayley would battle over the belt over the next year plus, along with newcomers Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella. Sasha and Becky put on a 30 minute "Ironwoman" match for the NXT Women's Title that is still talked about to this day, and showed the world at large that women are just as capable of giving the crowd a spectacular show just as well as their male counterparts.  That match was the spark that lit the fuse for the new Revolution, and in the coming months, Sasha, Becky, and Charlotte got called up to the main roster, and started putting on the kind of performances that captivated audiences around the country.  

Eventually, Stephanie and her husband Paul (Triple H) Levesque, did away with the "Divas" moniker AND the Butterfly belt, and introduced a new "Women's Championship", which is now the RAW Women's Championship.  Sasha and Charlotte would compete in a series of new types of matches for the women such as Hell in the Cell,  steel cage, and other types of specialty matches, allowing the women to take more risks, and henceforth, a better chance to entertain the audience.  They traded off the Championship several times, each time upping the stakes of the matches.  When WWE went back to the "brand split", they created a Women's title for Smackdown Live!, and Becky Lynch was crowned the first champion of that brand.  Becky, Alexa Bliss, Naomi, Charlotte, and Natalya have been Champions of the Smackdown brand in it's time.

Bayley was the last of the original "Four Horsewomen" of WWE to join the main roster, having lost her NXT Women's Title to up and comer, and Japanese sensation, Asuka.  New talent was beginning to flourish in the Women's division in NXT, and Auska led the way after Bayley's departure to RAW.  Asuka's strong style and "silent but deadly", cocky and arrogant character not only amazed audiences in NXT, but she ended up carrying the entire brand on her shoulder for more than a year, while the women's roster down there got replenished.  The likes of Ember Moon, Lacey Evans, Nikki Cross, and more battled the Empress of Tomorrow as she held her crown for 523 days until a broken collarbone forced her to vacate the title.  She was on the bubble to join the main roster in 2016, at Vince McMahon's request, but Levesque refuted McMahon, stating that SHE was carrying the entire brand.  Her call up in late 2017 after her collarbone had healed marked a new beginning.

In December of 2017, Stephanie McMahon made the announcement that the women themselves would have their own battle royal match at the annual Royal Rumble.  There had been rumors that former UFC star Ronda Rousey would be a participant, but she had been shooting the movie "Mile 22" with Mark Wahlberg at the time.  At the Rumble, Asuka became the first winner of the match, and was offered a title shot either against Charlotte Flair of Smackdown, or Alexa Bliss of RAW.  Before she could answer, Ronda Rousey arrived, and stated she was going to be at the biggest show of WWE's year, Wrestlemania.

Within that year, and through 2018, there as been new matches for the women to compete in:  Money in the Bank, Elimination Chamber, and now their own PPV.  Ronda's performance, as well as Asuka and Charlotte's performance at Wrestlemania proved that women COULD main event, if given the chance.  Now...we come here...Evolution.

I went through this history to give you and idea of WHY this show SHOULD be historic, and an EVOLUTION of the Women's Division in WWE as it stands (or SHOULD stand, anyway), now.  But I have a few reservations about just HOW WWE has gone about promoting this show, how it's treating some of it's top stars, and WHY the Division is NOT in as good a shape as it SHOULD be.

That brings us to #2:  This division...on BOTH brands, is being treated like nothing more than what they've tried to get AWAY from...Divas.  This PPV was announced back in July, but putting together this show has been---shall we say---rather lackluster in effort.  There's been A LOT of talk about it on RAW and Smackdown...but the execution of putting together a memorable card that gets everyone talking at the water cooler Monday morning?  Not so much.  For one thing---you look at the overall product on BOTH WWE shows---for ALL the Superstars---and the writing has been outright horrible.  ESPECIALLY if you're watching RAW, which has just been nothing but a recycled trainwreck week in and week out.  Lazy writing has accounted for ZERO consistency in storytelling, no continuity with the characters these athletes have developed, and the reuse of the prior week's matches all add up to a bad product with incredibly sinking ratings.  Even though WWE stock has done well, and they have announced their new deal to bring Smackdown Live! to FOX next fall, hence having a hefty amount of money to play with, it's as if they figure the overall product doesn't matter.  RAW suffers from being 3 hours, and having to fill that 3 hours, the creative team doesn't have the ingenuity to come up with quality matches, or for that matter, compelling storytelling to keep not only the audience in attendance interested, but the viewers at home.  Smackdown also suffers from a lack of creativity, as well as the regurgitating of matches from the week before.  However, they have had better quality matches, and SOME of the storytelling has been slightly better.  Overall, though, the product suffers.  And the women are getting the worst of it.  Some of THE most talented stars on the main roster have had little to nothing to do, and not gotten the pushes the SHOULD have in favor of those who, quite frankly, fit Vince McMahon's type---blonde or Barbie doll like.  I also believe that if Vince himself does not invent or have much to do with the development of your character, your look, or how you speak on the mic---you're not worth his time.

You see, Vince is THE final word on anything that goes on with the main roster.  Men and women alike are overly scripted in long, overdrawn, often boring promos---because he's gotta fill airtime with something OTHER than a match.  For him, the "entertainment" part is more important than whether or not that superstar can actually WRESTLE.  If you aren't good at cutting the long promo, or doing goofy comedy sketches, you're really of no use to him.  Regardless of how talented you are in the ring---if he didn't create you from scratch, he'll tear down everything about you and mold you into what HE thinks you should be.  This day and age isn't anything close to the "Attitude Era", where you had HUGE stars get over with the audience by simply winging it a lot of the time.  IF the gimmick you had worked, the audience would let you know.  They TRY to say that these days, but sadly, Vince wants who HE wants to push, even at the detriment of the fans' wishes---despite what Steph says about "listening" to them.  I'm convinced that Vince doesn't like talent that gets over organically, or on their own.  It has to be crafted and put together piece by piece by Vince himself.  He has to OWN every aspect of your character.  

With the big push of Crown Jewel, WWE has spent more time focusing on that, than they did with Evolution.  Evolution has suffered huge backlash--especially in the wake of a leak a couple months ago about the possible "card" of the show.  It raised the ire of the fans, and analysts and podcasters alike.  This PPV also has suffered in the wake of Crown Jewel---Crown Jewel seems to be the event WWE REALLY wants to push, and Evolution is nothing more than a consolation prize to the women.  It's truly being treated like an afterthought...and you can see that shine through with the booking of these matches.  It's WWE throwing their women a bone, while focusing their energies elsewere.  As some have indicated...they feel it's nothing more than a PR move for the company, give themselves a HUGE pat on the back for a "historical" moment and night....meanwhile, instead of EVOLVING....they're actually DEVOLVING...and it's hurting the product.  

One of the things that will PROBABLY happen at this PPV is the introduction of the Women's Tag Team Titles---something that---quite honestly---has been on the backburner for MONTHS.  Now, honestly, as many have mentioned, if they DO introduce these belts at this PPV, it's going to have to be a cross-branded affair.  It would be foolish and stupid to have two sets of tag titles for the women, when you don't have enough women teams on the roster, much less enough women IN GENERAL on EITHER show.  You have two capable women on the Smackdown brand fighting for their title---and no one else on that show has anything else to do.  Same with RAW.  You have the all-powerful women who's supposed to be unbeatable as your champion, with NOBODY, it seems, truly able to challenge her.  I would've introduced these titles on either RAW or Smackdown, and had a tournament to see which teams would meet in the Finals at Evolution.  Could've made it two teams, or, hell, as one of the podcasters I listen to said---make it a fatal 4 way.  I could've gone for that.  But WWE dropped the ball on that one.  They dropped the ball on many stories during the spring and summer months of 2018.  Sasha and Bayley's story looked like it was headed for a showdown at one of the PPV's, but was scrapped when they sent the two to "therapy".  Isn't the point of two wrestlers with issues to resolve their issues IN THE RING?!  They ruined a good story for a comedy bit.  Another was having Natalya win the Money in the Bank, and turn on BFF Ronda Rousey---a compelling story to be told there, but they instead had Alexa Bliss win it, only to be a transitional champion for Ronda.  Now you have Nikki Bella...who hasn't wrestled regularly for nearly, what, 2 years?   And SHE is the credible choice to face Ronda Rousey?  How is this believable?  A reality TV star an a former wrestler who's has a neck injury issue, against a former UFC champion, and quite at the top of her game, and getting better at pro wrestling by the minute?  It's another problem I have---using the popularity of one of the most gifted athletes this country has ever seen, and the mainstream star quality of a TV darling, and you're going to make them believable competitors?  I don't buy it.  And some of your top talents---because you couldn't find anything ELSE better for them to do---are booked into a cheesy battle royal.  That's like the THIRD one the women have had this year---it's overdone.  And reeks of lazy writing, and uncreativity by a staff that's shown NO INTEREST in promoting these women AT ALL.

When it comes right down to it---there are only a few matches on this card I feel will really stand out---and that's if the women involved are allowed to do their thing.  With that said, let's get to the card, and I'll give my thoughts and predictions on them...

Battle Royal:  In the greatest example of WWE Creative putting themselves in a corner, and looking REAL damn lazy, they have taken the majority of their rosters, which includes an exceptional pool of talent, and tossed them into a silly battle royal---the THIRD battle royal as I have mentioned in the calendar year for these ladies.  This is just horrible.  This is the prime example of rushing to push, as Stephanie stated, "Over 50 women" competing on this card.  When they couldn't find anything to do for some of their top talent, put them in meaningful matches that would've gotten the audience captivated, they decided on a battle royal where the winner gets a future title shot.  I see---it's the Royal Rumble, Part 2.  Only these women AREN'T coming in every 90 seconds, and getting their theme music, or a little entrance.  They'll all be introduced, go down to the ring, and in traditional Battle Royal manner, get down to eliminating each other until one is left standing.  Now, my question is this:  does the winner, regardless of what brand she's on, get to choose her opponent, or is it only relegated to the brand she's on?  Looking at a good portion of the contestants, they are:  Auska, Peyton Royce, Lana, Carmella, Naomi, Billie Kay, Sonya DeVille, Mandy Rose, Ember Moon, Nia Jax, Tamina, Zelina Vega, and Hall of Famers such as Molly Holly, Ivory, Kelly Kelly, and Alundra Blayze.  Now, I can tell you right off the bat, the Legends will get a few high spots, maybe even eliminate a gal or two...but NONE of them are winning, let's get that straight right now.  They are there for the nostalgia and pop of the crowd...nothing more.  Now the disappointing thing here, is you have talents like Asuka and Ember Moon...probably two of the very best (well, Asuka, in MY opinion, IS the best woman ON the main roster, bar none, and has been SEVERELY misused since Wrestlemania), and they're in this really meaningless battle royal.  But this is pretty much all the women they have had NOTHING for the last few months on EITHER show.  Now, I'm not sure if any women from NXT will get thrown in, I didn't see any listed, but I wouldn't expect THEM to win, either.  I see it coming down to Ember Moon and Asuka as the final two in the ring.  

Winner:  Asuka.  If there is ANYONE who can challenge either Becky Lynch OR Charlotte Flair LEGITIMATELY for the Smackdown Title, it's the Empress of Tomorrow.  She's the only woman on that show who is popular enough AND talented enough to give EITHER Charlotte or Becky a great program either going into Survivor Series or beyond.  If anyone also needs a shot in the arm after the damage WWE creative did to her after Wrestlemania 34, it's Asuka.  Vince needs to get over his "she doesn't speak English great" crap.  If you knew ANYTHING about her character, you know shes the strong, silent, but DEADLY type.  Few words, cocky, confident, but will give you her blood, sweat, and tears in that ring.  It's TIME to give her another title chance.

Natalya, Sasha Banks, & Bayley v. The Riott Squad:  This is a RAW "match of the week" retread that we've already seen in some variation or another about half a dozen times over the last 3-4 months on this show.  This story is old, stale, and has no more legs to stand on....not that it had any to begin with.  With Sasha losing this last Monday night...it's time for the babyfaces in this little "spat" to finally get one over on the sophomore class of Ruby, Sarah, and Liv.  And at SOME point----Ruby has GOT to break away from the other two---she's FAR outclassed them talent wise, and needs to be a singles star now.  Not sure what Natalya's role is anymore, and they blew a really good angle with Ronda by not making her the winner of MITB.  Sasha and Bayley should be positioned to be one of the finalists of the tag team tournament, should the titles be announced at the show.

Winners: Natalya, Sasha, & Bayley

Mae Young Classic Final:  Io Shirai v. Toni Storm:  For the last 2 years, the Mae Young Classic has been the BEST thing about women's wrestling in WWE.  The first year saw talents like Toni Storm, Tessa Blanchard, Rhea Ripley, Shayna Baszler, and eventual winner Kairi Sane make their mark, and bring exciting matches to the crowd.  This year has topped last years by leaps and bounds.  And the two finalists:  Australia's Toni Storm, and Japan's Io Shirai, are pretty much THE two greatest women wrestlers in the world right now.  Both come with immensely strong reputations, and a history of epic battles from their time in the STARDOM promotion.  THIS is going to be the match that embarasses every other women on this program, by far.  If these two women are allowed to perform like they did in this tournament---you are going to see the very best women's wrestling has to offer.  Both will have their "A" game, both will be performing for the first time in front of a MASSIVE American audience, and TRUST ME when I say they WILL leave an impression that EVERY woman on the main roster will stand up and pay attention to.  This match will easily steal the show.  And while I AM rooting for Io Shirai to claim the trophy for Japan for the 2nd year in a row, it's hard to dismiss Toni Storm's exceptional ability, fortitude, and strength to be the very best.  This is going to be an amazing match.

Winner:  Toni Storm.  My heart and my cheers will be for The Genius of the Sky, but Toni is SOOOOO over with EVERYONE right now.  She has ALL the earmarks of a superstar that can carry the torch for women's wrestling for years to come.  She's only 22, and she's already made a mark in pro wrestling.  There is no limit for her, and she WILL be the Women's Champion on the main roster when her time comes.  But this will be a culmination of her hard work and just missing out on last year's final.  For Io...she's already a legend, and her legend will continue to grow after this match, even in a loss.  She also has no ceiling when it comes to her opportunity to be a Superstar in WWE---providing Vince doesn't screw her up---which is my fear for not only her, but her best friend Kairi.  But Io in a loss is still a winner, and the FANS will win no matter WHOSE hand is raised at the end of this.  THIS is your Evolution right here.

NXT Women's Championship - Shayna Baszler v. Kairi Sane (C):  This rivalry goes back to last year's Mae Young Final, when Kairi beat Shayna with an Insane Elbow to score the pinfall.  Later on, Shayna got revenge by beating Kairi in a match prior to Shayna becoming NXT Women's Champion.  At the last Takeover show, Kairi finally proved she's as tough as can be by beating Shayna by pinfall to win her first NXT Women's Title, following in the footsteps of her mentor, Asuka.  Shayna has invoked her rematch clause, and looks to take back what she feels is rightfully hers.  If this match can live up to the battle they had at Takeover---this will be the other great match of the night.  Hopefully, Vince will keep his hands off this one---this is Triple H's baby---and should be left to him.  I do feel that at this point...having beaten everyone there is in the Women's Division in NXT---Shayna has nothing more to prove, and really no one who's ready to face her if she were to become champion again---and NXT has pretty much had a habit of only having one title reign for each woman.  But again, things change.  However, I truly believe that Shayna has done all there is to do in NXT, and it's time for her to face new challenges on the main roster.  Kairi is just beginning to have her run, and she's a champion everyone has gotten behind.  There are many challenges awaiting her in the form of Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Lacey Evans, Aliyah, the newly signed Mia Yim and Chelsea Green---and, of course, a match EVERYONE has talked about happening---Kairi vs. her best friend, Io Shirai.  So, I feel it's not quite time yet for Kairi to leave NXT, nor give up the title yet.

Winner:  Kairi Sane.  The Pirate Princess' voyage will continue.

Trish Stratus & Lita v. Mickie James & Alicia Fox:  This match has had more twists and turns as the hype for this PPV has gone on.  When Evolution was first announced, the first match that was booked was Alexa Bliss vs. Trish Stratus.  Many in WWE thought this match...with a current WWE star who's been a former champion, vs. her predecessor, the one who many refer to as the greatest WWE Women's champion in history.  Trish and Alex did their talking up points---with Alexa having BFF and former Trish rival Mickie James at her side.  Now, one would wonder WHY they'd book ALEXA against Trish, when Sasha Banks herself made it known she wanted to wrestle Trish.  That match would've gotten me...but no, they opted for Alexa.  But...somewhere down the road, this got twisted into a tag team match when Alexa AND Mickie challenged Trish, and Trish brought out HER BFF and former rival, Lita.  Now it's a tag team match with 3 Legends, and a current star.  I honestly would've liked to have seen Mickie and Trish one on one---that rivalry is still there, and they know they can put on a good match.  But instead, we get this tag match, that, according to WWE, was the plan all along (Not buying it.  When Alexa v. Trish was first announced, they were hoping THAT would spark ticket sales...which it didn't, so they had to think on the fly).  NOW...the new twist is that---due to injury---Alexa is unable to perform and has been ruled out by officials as unable to wrestle.  In her place---Alicia Fox.  The longest tenured woman on the roster currently, and she's the fill in.  Alicia hasn't really had a meaningful match in awhile, so this will be good for her, but I see her as the scapegoat in this match.  Mickie, Trish, and Lita will give the crowd a reminder of what the old days were like, and show they can still go...but Alicia's the one that gets to eat the pin in this match.

Winners:  Trish Stratus & Lita.  It's been rumored that after this PPV, Trish & Lita will be sticking around for awhile.  Could a possible tag team title be in their future?  Hard to say, but not sure what they'll do with two legends against this younger crop of talent.  Stay tuned.

Smackdown Women's Championship:  Charlotte Flair v. Becky Lynch (C).  Last Woman Standing Match:  The attacks and promos Becky Lynch has been cutting lately keep her as THE most talked about story on Smackdown Live!  She's taken every single advantage to put a beatdown on Charlotte at every turn---even so recent as the WWE Performance Center, where she attacked the Queen while she was delivering a speech to the NXT gals.  It's gotten to the point in this feud where something has to give, and there has to be an end.  There should be NO MORE matches between these two after a Last Woman Standing match.  Becky has proven she's superior to Charlotte at every turn, and no matter what WWE Creative has done to try and draw heat on Becky, to make her seem more like a heel---it hasn't worked.  No matter how dastardly Becky gets (I mean, the woman could strut into Wendy's with the belt, crap on he salad bar, and walk out like nothing's happening, and STILL get cheered!), the woman will NOT be hated by the audience.  Something WWE should've picked up on---but refuses to listen to their audience---despite what Stephanie says.  But Becky is the hottest thing around, and it should STAY that way for awhile longer.  I can only see Charlotte winning this with daddy Slick Ric by her side, and they want to "make history" by having her be the 8 time champion---surpassing Trish Stratus.  But I feel that Charlotte herself needs to start moving onto bigger things:  Ronda Rousey.  And if they're shooting for Wrestlemania for THAT match...I'd have Charlotte get prepped for that, while Becky can have a champ vs. champ match with Ronda at Survivor Series.  Either way, it's too soon to end Becky's run at the top.  She's done all WWE has asked of her, and she's owning it.  They may try to use Ric Flair in some way to help Charlotte, but who knows.  All I know is that Becky is the best thing happening on the roster today, and I know she'll be able to carry the division, and elevate everyone around her.

Winner:  Charlotte Flair.  I know I haven't had a title change hands in my predictions, but if there IS going to be one---they MIGHT do it here----but with what Becky's doing lately, I find it hard to let her lose.  But I feel The Queen will reign again for the "historic" 8th time.

RAW Women's Championship:  Nikki Bella v. Ronda Rousey (C):  This is the main event, and the match WWE counted on to put butts in the seats.  We all know the marketability and mainstream popularity Ronda Rousey brings WWE.  And she's learned the art of pro wrestling at an accelerated rate.  She's still green, but she's making improvements as quickly as she can.  She still needs help on the mic, but the wrestling aspect is getting there in leaps and bounds.  Nikki Bella is one of the main stars (and producers) of Total Bellas, and her life has been front page news in tabloids and all over social media with her relationship with John Cena.  Nikki is coming back to challenge a former UFC champion for a title she's never held.  Nikki was the longest reigning DIVAS Champion....but that's an era long gone.  She's like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole.  I cannot see how this woman is going to actually LOOK like she can beat Ronda Rousey UNLESS her AND Brie (which, let's face it, she'll be in her sister's corner), find a way to cheat, swindle, and do everything they can to score a pin.  I just can't see that happening.  In a perfect world---this is a squash match, and Nikki would be tapping out in about 2 minutes, if that.  Ronda should be tossing her around like a rag doll, then putting on the armbar, and DONE.  But I feel Nikki will get her shots in, and Brie will help her cheat at every cost...but I can also see Natalya coming down to her rescue, or even Shayna Baszler.  I would NOT have put the Bellas in this match.  The Bellas would've been better served facing the IIconics in a tag match---would've been more evenly matched.  But I've heard that this is the match they may keep short...for obvious reasons.  

Winner:  Ronda Rousey.  There is NO WAY the WWE is going to let their Golden Goose lose her precious title.  She's been built like Brock Lesnar---seemingly unstoppable.  No chance she loses to, of ALL people, Nikki Bella.  

As I said...these are MY predictions---I have NO idea how it all will play out.  But what I DO know...is that I'm very disappointed in this card, and expect better for ALL the women who currently bust their asses night in and night out for this company, only to have to either be shoved into a stupid battle royal, or in matches that EVERYONE has seen on RAW about half a million times.  This is supposed to be about the women of TODAY...not yesteryear.  Don't get me wrong---I fully appreciate what the women of the past have done to pave the way for the current women---but it's the current women's time---and I feel they're not getting a proper spotlight.  I know that my predictions have one title change, and if there IS going to be one....I feel it will be Charlotte v. Becky, even though I feel Becky should win.  I'd hate to see Kairi lose, and have to go for a rematch at Takeover.  I feel her and Shayna's story has been told...or WILL be with this match.  Shayna's beaten up everyone on the roster down in NXT...there's no more mountains for her to climb there.  Making her the champion again I feel sets the rest of the NXT roster back.  I think BOTH these women need to move onto bigger and better things.  I don't see Kairi being ready for the main roster yet...and I fear that once she DOES get up to the main roster---Vince will shit on her like he did Asuka.  The language issue would become a problem.  Shayna...you don't have that issue, and the roster needs more heels anyway, and she's the perfect fit.  

Either way, I know a good portion of you out there will probably enjoy this show, and for you women looking at this PPV, I'm sure you'll shed some tears of joy, and feel woman empowerment.  I just wish for MORE for these ladies---they long deserve better than what they've been given thus far.  

Hope you enjoyed my take on this show, and, as always, leave a comment.  I can take some criticism, but keep it clean and respectful...we're all adults here, let's act like it.

Thanks, gang!