A monthly feature in which we're trying to find the most compelling, best acted, written, directed and just generally great, memorable scenes that we've seen in the past month on TV.
9-1-1, "What's Next?", May 11, 2020, Actors: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kenneth Choi
The Scene: Maddie's pregnant
Klutzy girl: I suspected this storyline was coming for a while now but was still excited when the confirmation came. It also makes me laugh that Maddie whipped out a second (positive) pregnancy test when Chimney asked if she was sure. I'm glad they were both so happy, and I'm looking forward to seeing them as parents next season.
AGENTS OF SHIELD, "The New Deal", May 27, 2020, Actors: Clark Gregg, Chloe Bennet, Natalia Cordova-Buckley and more, The Scenes: Coulson LMD is awakened & Yo-Yo tries on her new arms
Justyna: I missed this show so much. And I really missed Coulson. He's truly the heart and soul of the series for me and it's been hard not having him around last season. Even though we're introduced to Coulson LMD, not his true self, he still seems so much like Coulson I've known and cared about since the first Iron Man movie. This was a memorable season premiere but this is certainly the scene that hit me the most. Daisy doesn't hesitate to wake up our new Coulson and for a brief moment things are as if nothing ever happened. It takes a bit for his mind to catch up to the present. Two years of memories flood him in a matter of seconds. I'm glad that Daisy chooses not to hide the fact that he's a Chronicom LMD, as hard as it is for him to accept it. Becoming a copy of himself is something that Coulson never wanted, nor would he wish to be brought back from the dead. Again. Watching Coulson process this new reality is quite heartbreaking. The realization what happened to Fitz, May, Talbot, everything hurts. His reaction and the repetition of "I'm dead anyway" is too much to take in and Mack chooses to switch off the LMD, at least for a while. Clark Gregg does such a fantastic job in the scene. It's impossible not to care about this new Coulson as he's struggling with so many complicated emotions, all at once. You wouldn't expect such a powerful reaction from a Life Model Decoy. Then again, he truly is one of the kind. Kudos to cast & crew for all their great work on the show. So glad to have it back for this final adventure.
DJRiter: It was a short but such an impactful moment when Yo-Yo tried on her new arms and gently reached up to touch her face for the first time in years. Such a moving moment beautifully played by Cordova.
ALL RISE, "Dancing at Los Angeles", May 4, 2020, Actors: Simone Missick, Lindsay Mendez and more, The Scene: Digital dance party
Luana: At first, I was quite disappointed to learn this would be a Zoom episode, but I was surprised by the amazing job they did and how they managed to give us some great moments with these amazing characters we’ve been seeing all season. And the last scene, with the entire cast dancing with the DJ played by none other than Simone Missick’s husband, Dorian Missick, was just the cherry on top, a wonderful way to make the best of a situation that most of us couldn’t have predicted, and finding some joy.
BLUE BLOODS, "Family Secrets", May 1, 2020, Actors: Bridget Moynahan, Andrew Terraciano, Will Hochman and more, The Scene: The family meets Joe's son at family dinner
DJRiter: For a series that's been on for 10 years and the staple of those years has been the Reagan family dinner scenes the producers found a way to surprise us. Having Danny’s son Sean, invite Joe’s illegitimate son, named Joe, to meet the family for the first time at family dinner was everything good about Blue Bloods.
BROCKMIRE, "The Long Offseason", May 6, 2020, Actors: Hank Azaria, Amanda Peet and more, The Scene: The ending
Luana: I discovered this show thanks to the STV’s Pitch Your Show articles and I couldn’t be more thankful. It has been a hilarious, wild ride, and the way they wrapped it up with this crazy (maybe not so crazy) dystopian future was better than I could’ve expected. This last season gave all of these beloved characters time to grow and we got that last hopeful scene, even if the Titanic’s still sinking. And I wouldn’t expect anything less from Brockmire than this perfect, bittersweet ending.
BROKE, "Losing My Religion" & "Soccer", May 7 and 21, 2020, Actors: Jaime Camil, Natasha Leggero, Pauley Perrette, The Scenes: Lizzie tells Javier to let Luis be the soccer coach & Jackie asks Lizzie and Javier to be Sammy's godparents
Folie-lex: Broke is at its best when it's being mushy and heartwarming and the moment where Jackie asks Lizzie and Javi to be Sammy's godparents is right up there. It's especially poignant after we've sat through an episode long debate about faith and hope and peace.
Dahne: What should have been a joke about two clueless, entitled people has become the heart of Broke for me. I love how Lizzie and Javier support each other even through hard times, but their marriage showed how strong it really is when Lizzie confronts Javier about disappointing Luis. She's able to point out how selfish he is without being cruel. Instead, she helps him make a better choice, solidifying how good they are for each other.
HOLLYWOOD, "A Hollywood Ending", May 1, 2020, Actors: Laura Harrier and more
The Scene: Camille wins the Best Actress Oscar for Meg (picked by Milo)
KILLING EVE, "End of Game" & "Are You Leading or Am I?", May 17 and May 31, 2020, Actors: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Harriet Walter, The Scenes: Eve meets Dasha over a game of bowling & Eve and Villanelle walk away from each other
DJRiter: Having Eve’s first face-to-face meeting with Villanelle’s mentor take place at a bowling alley and having them play a subtle game of one-upmanship was genius and one of the few bright spots in what has been a lackluster season of the show. Sandra Oh and Harriet Walter were glorious in this push and pull scene for dominance and showing each other they will be formidable foes.
Jamie: I really loved this scene, it was so cinematic. The two of them walking away from each other and then both of them turning around without knowing if the other will do the same. It showed that these two are finally on the same page. I can't wait to see where season 4 takes them.
LEGENDS OF TOMORROW, "The One Where We're Trapped on TV", May 26, 2020, Actors: Tala Ashe, Jes Macallan, Nick Zano and more, The Scene: The Legends remember everything
Justyna: There's quite a few memorable scenes with people remembering their lives in all the shows I've watched. And yet, it always gets me when done right. In this moment, the Legends are trapped in a TV land without a recollection of their past or each other. It takes our Original Zari, Mona and Gary to get everyone to remember everything. As the audience we're seeing a key memory from every crew member's history, including Constantine expressing his wish for Astra, Ava watching Sara's death and Nate finally regaining his past with Zari. In fact, everyone remembers both of the timelines, the one spent with OG Zari, and the other with Behrad. For a moment everyone is together, finally reunited before another threat materializes. The actors did a wonderful job with all their reactions to the memories coming back and a special shout-out to the editors for their work on this scene. I was so happy to see OG Zari back in this hour, even if it ultimately didn't last, she's easily one of my favorite characters on the show. Her reunion with Nate was especially emotional and beautifully acted. Our past and our memories are far more powerful than we sometimes realize. Kudos to cast & crew of LoT for this memorable moment.
MAGNUM P.I., "A World of Trouble", May 1, 2020, Actors: Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Billy Malone
The Scene: Rick reveals his trouble with adjusting to civilian life
Dahne: Rick reveals his own trouble with adjusting to civilian life to a troubled vet. One of the best things about Magnum PI is how they never forget that the characters are vets and thus, they showcase a lot about what vets go through. Many times we see vets struggling with physical disabilities or PTSD, but rarely do we see how vets adjust from the strictures of military life to the chaos of civilian life. It was eye-opening to me just how different the two are when Rick talked about his struggles.
NEVER HAVE I EVER, "... said I'm sorry", April 27, 2020, Actors: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, The Scene: The scene at the beach
Jamie: This scene made me so emotional. Seeing this family finally coming together after all the fighting to say goodbye to Mohan. This is the scene that tied the whole first season together for me.
RICK AND MORTY, "The Vat of Acid Episode", May 17, 2020, Voiced by: Justin Roiland, The Scene: The silent montage
Justyna: "Rick and Morty" is easily the craziest story I've ever watched. It's impossible to predict, sometimes not the easiest one to follow and every once in a while I do wonder whether it's for me. But then there are those powerful moments and memorable episodes that make me really glad to be watching (thank you Laura!). This second half of season 4 turned out to be a really good surprise. The highlight from May had to be "The Vat of Acid Episode", it stayed with me for quite some time. The Prestige moment was such a powerful punch, but I decided to choose the silent montage instead. There's a whole lifetime hidden in those few minutes without words. I kept waiting for Monty to hit the reset button but against all odds he kept going, actually committed to this life and his unnamed girlfriend. They fall in love, argue, reunite, get stranded in the mountains after a plane crash, barely survive a nightmare scenario but find their way home, finally safe and happy only for their whole story to end abruptly when Jerry inadvertently activates the reset remote. You expect the sudden end, but not under these circumstances at all, making it hit hard. Add to that the consequences as revealed by Rick later and it's even darker. All this and so much more, everything just to take back Morty's words about Rick's vat of acid being a bad idea. Wow, just wow.
SINGLE PARENTS, "Look, This is Obviously a Sexy Situation" & "No. Wait. What? Hold On.", May 6 and May 13, 2020, Actors: Leighton Meester, Kimrie Lewis, The Scenes: Angie remembers & Angie tells Poppy that she has to be honest with Douglas
Luana: This scene mainly goes up here because, sadly, it seems we won’t be seeing this show again. It has been way better than I expected when I learned there would be so much focus on the kids, but they managed in a way that made it work, not to mention the amazing cast. And this last scene was a hint that all could end well, even if we didn’t see a proper conclusion.
Dahne: I will really miss Angie and Poppy's relationship from Single Parents. What I particularly loved about this scene is how Angie is both supportive but makes her point. Poppy broke up with Douglas over having kids but never even discussed it with him. It takes a true friend to care enough to be honest with you.
SUPERGIRL, "Immortal Kombat", May 17, 2020, Actors: Melissa Benoist, Chyler Leigh and more, The Scene: Alex’s super suit reveal
DJRiter: Having Alex take her sister aside and showing her, her new supersuit courtesy of J’onn’s Martian Manhunter soldier device and Kara’s delighted squeal and reaction was probably one of the best Danvers Sisters moments we’ve had in a long time on the show. Alex was proud of the suit and wanted to show it to the person most important to her first. It was also reaffirmation to Kara that she could protect herself. Kara’s squeal of delight and happiness for her sister was vintage Melissa Benoist. Chyler Leigh and Benoist do sister scenes unlike any other acting team on television. I do think the entire scene was missing something and it was later learned from episode director David Harewood that they had to get creative in the editing of the entire scene because they could not finish filming the episode. They did a good job for the big moment however and it has quickly become one of the favorite Danvers Sisters’ moments.
THE 100, "From the Ashes" & "The Garden", May 20 and 27, 2020, Actors: Eliza Taylor, Marie Avgeropoulos, Ivana Milicevic and more, The Scenes: Clarke lets all her emotions out & Diyoza stops Octavia from leaving the anomaly
Chris: I thought Marie Avgeropoulos gave a standout performance here. Seeing her breakdown was heartbreaking. It went a long way in getting me to like Octavia again.
Luana: Clarke loses it with Russell and finally lets all her emotions out. Clarke has been trying to keep all her emotions in and just focus on moving forward, but in this scene, she lets all her anger out on Russell and finally breaks down with the pain of her mother’s death. After that, she lets the palace burn and gives a speech that gave me chills. I am a little over her always making all the decisions like this, but the power there is undeniable.
THE BAKER AND THE BEAUTY, "I Think She's Coming Out", May 4, 2020, Actors: Michelle Veintimilla, Victor Rasuk, Nathalie Kelley and more, The Scene: Vanessa walks in on a Garcia family dinner with Noa
Folie-lex: As Vanessa shows up with the best of intentions of bringing soup for Mateo who she thinks is sick, she is faced with the Garcias having welcomed Noa to one of their family dinners with open arms. She painfully recalls how hard it was for her to even get a place at the table and how unwelcome she was even then and after 4 years, and calls out the family on how they were so quick to embrace Noa in contrast. It is a painful moment played beautifully by Michelle Veintimilla, who brings such warmth and humanity to Vanessa you can't help but love her, and sit there wondering alongside her, why these people would in fact treat anyone so much better than her.
THE EDDY, "Julie", May 8, 2020, Actors: André Holland, Amandla Stenberg
The Scene: Julie tells Elliot that she doesn't need school (picked by Milo)
THE FLASH, "Pay the Piper", May 5, 2020, Actors: Grant Gustin, BD Wong and more
The Scene: The Flash vs. Godspeed
Chris: It didn't offer much in terms of emotional heft, but it was awesome seeing Barry going up against a speedster properly again. I'm hoping Season 7 will have more speedster villains again.
THE ROOKIE, "The Q Word", May 3, 2020, Actors: Eric Winter, Melissa O'Neil
The Scene: Tim talks to Lucy about her last month
Folie-lex: Tim tells Lucy her last month will be tough because she can take it. Tim and Lucy's dynamic has been one of the show's greatest selling points since day one. But to see how far they've come, where they can talk about their personal lives, he can own up to the fact that she is good and has what it takes, and that is why he pushes her, and her being able to say to his face that "they're friends" without being told to shut it was just lovely!
TOMMY, "Cause of Death", May 7, 2020, Actors: Edie Falco, David St. Louis
The Scene: Michael and Tommy talk about her quitting the fight and their marriage
Folie-lex: One of my favourite things about Tommy was the portayal of her dynamic with her ex-husband (and I am sad we didn't get more of it in the short span of the show). They might not be married anymore, for the obvious reasons, but that doesn't stop them from being family and this scene in the (now series) finale epitomized that. Here are two people who know and love each other deeply. And can rely on one another for support, perspective and honesty.
WESTWORLD, "Crisis Theory", May 3, 2020, Actors: Thandie Newton, Evan Rachel Wood, Aaron Paul and more, The Scene: Dolores helps Maeve make a choice
Justyna: As much as I loved Bernard's moment with Lauren, this one is the scene I've been waiting for since the beginning of the season. I've missed Maeve, or rather her true self, free and outside of anyone's control or manipulation. Despite her often being my favorite part of the previous seasons, she was barely herself in this one, until this honest conversation with Dolores when she finally gets to make her own choice, inspired by Dolores' words. These two have been at the center of the show since its start but they barely interacted. Despite many things in common they took very different paths to achieve their personal goals and ended up fighting against each other at some point. It was such a great change to see them truly interact and understand one another at last. In her final moment Dolores lets Maeve in and shares the truth about her plan and the decisions she has made. Her choice to see the beauty of the world, instead of the pain and the ugliness, is what ultimately makes her a hero in this story. Her sacrifice is meant to save the world, she's not fighting against the humans, but rather to give them back their free will. Her speech inspires Maeve to fight back against Serac and Rehoboam, to stand with Caleb and work to build a better world for both of them. It's such an emotional moment, beautifully acted and edited by cast and crew. It's also a powerful ending for Dolores' journey on the show and at last it helped me see her in a light much brighter than I expected. Despite all the hurt, disarray and the suffering she chose to see the good - love, kindness, beauty. Thanks to her Maeve found a strength to fight back and finally free herself. A warrior with a good heart. Side note: the music in the scene is perfect as always. Kudos to cast & crew for all their great work on the series.
ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST, "Zoey's Extraordinary Dad", May 3, 2020, Actors: Jane Levy, Peter Gallagher, Skylar Astin and more, The Scenes: Zoey dances with her dad for the last time & Everyone sings "American Pie" at the wake & Zoey and Max kiss
Dahne: There was a lot to love about the season finale of Zoey's and season 1 of the series as a whole. However, it was always Zoey's relationship with her dad that hit me in the heart the hardest. As they danced their last dance, it was a touching tribute to that relationship and an endearing way to say goodbye to her dad. It was also a great way to bookend the series by going back to the song, True Colors.
Folie-lex: Season 1 of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist concludes with the whole cast singing a rendition of American Pie in one long (7+ minutes) take which takes place at Mitch's wake. It's a bittersweet ending to the show's main overarching plot of Mitch's deteriorating health and it's exactly as sad and beautiful as it should be.
DJRiter: American Pie rendition. Having the entire cast sing a nearly 8 minute long version of American Pie in one continuous camera shot to encompass the wake following Zoey’s dad’s funeral was a masterful piece of work and the prime example why this warm, touching and unique show should be renewed for a second season.
Luana: Zoey and Max kiss. The first half of this episode seems completely different from the second one and it could only work that way with a good transition. The scene where Zoey finally kisses Max was not only fun and adorable with them trying to figure out how to make him stop singing, but it gathered all the light to contrast with that heart-sinking moment of Howie’s call: “The bad moon. It rose.”
9-1-1, "What's Next?", May 11, 2020, Actors: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kenneth Choi
The Scene: Maddie's pregnant
Klutzy girl: I suspected this storyline was coming for a while now but was still excited when the confirmation came. It also makes me laugh that Maddie whipped out a second (positive) pregnancy test when Chimney asked if she was sure. I'm glad they were both so happy, and I'm looking forward to seeing them as parents next season.
Justyna: I missed this show so much. And I really missed Coulson. He's truly the heart and soul of the series for me and it's been hard not having him around last season. Even though we're introduced to Coulson LMD, not his true self, he still seems so much like Coulson I've known and cared about since the first Iron Man movie. This was a memorable season premiere but this is certainly the scene that hit me the most. Daisy doesn't hesitate to wake up our new Coulson and for a brief moment things are as if nothing ever happened. It takes a bit for his mind to catch up to the present. Two years of memories flood him in a matter of seconds. I'm glad that Daisy chooses not to hide the fact that he's a Chronicom LMD, as hard as it is for him to accept it. Becoming a copy of himself is something that Coulson never wanted, nor would he wish to be brought back from the dead. Again. Watching Coulson process this new reality is quite heartbreaking. The realization what happened to Fitz, May, Talbot, everything hurts. His reaction and the repetition of "I'm dead anyway" is too much to take in and Mack chooses to switch off the LMD, at least for a while. Clark Gregg does such a fantastic job in the scene. It's impossible not to care about this new Coulson as he's struggling with so many complicated emotions, all at once. You wouldn't expect such a powerful reaction from a Life Model Decoy. Then again, he truly is one of the kind. Kudos to cast & crew for all their great work on the show. So glad to have it back for this final adventure.
DJRiter: It was a short but such an impactful moment when Yo-Yo tried on her new arms and gently reached up to touch her face for the first time in years. Such a moving moment beautifully played by Cordova.
Luana: At first, I was quite disappointed to learn this would be a Zoom episode, but I was surprised by the amazing job they did and how they managed to give us some great moments with these amazing characters we’ve been seeing all season. And the last scene, with the entire cast dancing with the DJ played by none other than Simone Missick’s husband, Dorian Missick, was just the cherry on top, a wonderful way to make the best of a situation that most of us couldn’t have predicted, and finding some joy.
BLUE BLOODS, "Family Secrets", May 1, 2020, Actors: Bridget Moynahan, Andrew Terraciano, Will Hochman and more, The Scene: The family meets Joe's son at family dinner
DJRiter: For a series that's been on for 10 years and the staple of those years has been the Reagan family dinner scenes the producers found a way to surprise us. Having Danny’s son Sean, invite Joe’s illegitimate son, named Joe, to meet the family for the first time at family dinner was everything good about Blue Bloods.
Luana: I discovered this show thanks to the STV’s Pitch Your Show articles and I couldn’t be more thankful. It has been a hilarious, wild ride, and the way they wrapped it up with this crazy (maybe not so crazy) dystopian future was better than I could’ve expected. This last season gave all of these beloved characters time to grow and we got that last hopeful scene, even if the Titanic’s still sinking. And I wouldn’t expect anything less from Brockmire than this perfect, bittersweet ending.
Folie-lex: Broke is at its best when it's being mushy and heartwarming and the moment where Jackie asks Lizzie and Javi to be Sammy's godparents is right up there. It's especially poignant after we've sat through an episode long debate about faith and hope and peace.
Dahne: What should have been a joke about two clueless, entitled people has become the heart of Broke for me. I love how Lizzie and Javier support each other even through hard times, but their marriage showed how strong it really is when Lizzie confronts Javier about disappointing Luis. She's able to point out how selfish he is without being cruel. Instead, she helps him make a better choice, solidifying how good they are for each other.
HOLLYWOOD, "A Hollywood Ending", May 1, 2020, Actors: Laura Harrier and more
The Scene: Camille wins the Best Actress Oscar for Meg (picked by Milo)
DJRiter: Having Eve’s first face-to-face meeting with Villanelle’s mentor take place at a bowling alley and having them play a subtle game of one-upmanship was genius and one of the few bright spots in what has been a lackluster season of the show. Sandra Oh and Harriet Walter were glorious in this push and pull scene for dominance and showing each other they will be formidable foes.
Jamie: I really loved this scene, it was so cinematic. The two of them walking away from each other and then both of them turning around without knowing if the other will do the same. It showed that these two are finally on the same page. I can't wait to see where season 4 takes them.
Justyna: There's quite a few memorable scenes with people remembering their lives in all the shows I've watched. And yet, it always gets me when done right. In this moment, the Legends are trapped in a TV land without a recollection of their past or each other. It takes our Original Zari, Mona and Gary to get everyone to remember everything. As the audience we're seeing a key memory from every crew member's history, including Constantine expressing his wish for Astra, Ava watching Sara's death and Nate finally regaining his past with Zari. In fact, everyone remembers both of the timelines, the one spent with OG Zari, and the other with Behrad. For a moment everyone is together, finally reunited before another threat materializes. The actors did a wonderful job with all their reactions to the memories coming back and a special shout-out to the editors for their work on this scene. I was so happy to see OG Zari back in this hour, even if it ultimately didn't last, she's easily one of my favorite characters on the show. Her reunion with Nate was especially emotional and beautifully acted. Our past and our memories are far more powerful than we sometimes realize. Kudos to cast & crew of LoT for this memorable moment.
MAGNUM P.I., "A World of Trouble", May 1, 2020, Actors: Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Billy Malone
The Scene: Rick reveals his trouble with adjusting to civilian life
Dahne: Rick reveals his own trouble with adjusting to civilian life to a troubled vet. One of the best things about Magnum PI is how they never forget that the characters are vets and thus, they showcase a lot about what vets go through. Many times we see vets struggling with physical disabilities or PTSD, but rarely do we see how vets adjust from the strictures of military life to the chaos of civilian life. It was eye-opening to me just how different the two are when Rick talked about his struggles.
NEVER HAVE I EVER, "... said I'm sorry", April 27, 2020, Actors: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, The Scene: The scene at the beach
Jamie: This scene made me so emotional. Seeing this family finally coming together after all the fighting to say goodbye to Mohan. This is the scene that tied the whole first season together for me.
Justyna: "Rick and Morty" is easily the craziest story I've ever watched. It's impossible to predict, sometimes not the easiest one to follow and every once in a while I do wonder whether it's for me. But then there are those powerful moments and memorable episodes that make me really glad to be watching (thank you Laura!). This second half of season 4 turned out to be a really good surprise. The highlight from May had to be "The Vat of Acid Episode", it stayed with me for quite some time. The Prestige moment was such a powerful punch, but I decided to choose the silent montage instead. There's a whole lifetime hidden in those few minutes without words. I kept waiting for Monty to hit the reset button but against all odds he kept going, actually committed to this life and his unnamed girlfriend. They fall in love, argue, reunite, get stranded in the mountains after a plane crash, barely survive a nightmare scenario but find their way home, finally safe and happy only for their whole story to end abruptly when Jerry inadvertently activates the reset remote. You expect the sudden end, but not under these circumstances at all, making it hit hard. Add to that the consequences as revealed by Rick later and it's even darker. All this and so much more, everything just to take back Morty's words about Rick's vat of acid being a bad idea. Wow, just wow.
Luana: This scene mainly goes up here because, sadly, it seems we won’t be seeing this show again. It has been way better than I expected when I learned there would be so much focus on the kids, but they managed in a way that made it work, not to mention the amazing cast. And this last scene was a hint that all could end well, even if we didn’t see a proper conclusion.
Dahne: I will really miss Angie and Poppy's relationship from Single Parents. What I particularly loved about this scene is how Angie is both supportive but makes her point. Poppy broke up with Douglas over having kids but never even discussed it with him. It takes a true friend to care enough to be honest with you.
DJRiter: Having Alex take her sister aside and showing her, her new supersuit courtesy of J’onn’s Martian Manhunter soldier device and Kara’s delighted squeal and reaction was probably one of the best Danvers Sisters moments we’ve had in a long time on the show. Alex was proud of the suit and wanted to show it to the person most important to her first. It was also reaffirmation to Kara that she could protect herself. Kara’s squeal of delight and happiness for her sister was vintage Melissa Benoist. Chyler Leigh and Benoist do sister scenes unlike any other acting team on television. I do think the entire scene was missing something and it was later learned from episode director David Harewood that they had to get creative in the editing of the entire scene because they could not finish filming the episode. They did a good job for the big moment however and it has quickly become one of the favorite Danvers Sisters’ moments.
Chris: I thought Marie Avgeropoulos gave a standout performance here. Seeing her breakdown was heartbreaking. It went a long way in getting me to like Octavia again.
Luana: Clarke loses it with Russell and finally lets all her emotions out. Clarke has been trying to keep all her emotions in and just focus on moving forward, but in this scene, she lets all her anger out on Russell and finally breaks down with the pain of her mother’s death. After that, she lets the palace burn and gives a speech that gave me chills. I am a little over her always making all the decisions like this, but the power there is undeniable.
Folie-lex: As Vanessa shows up with the best of intentions of bringing soup for Mateo who she thinks is sick, she is faced with the Garcias having welcomed Noa to one of their family dinners with open arms. She painfully recalls how hard it was for her to even get a place at the table and how unwelcome she was even then and after 4 years, and calls out the family on how they were so quick to embrace Noa in contrast. It is a painful moment played beautifully by Michelle Veintimilla, who brings such warmth and humanity to Vanessa you can't help but love her, and sit there wondering alongside her, why these people would in fact treat anyone so much better than her.
THE EDDY, "Julie", May 8, 2020, Actors: André Holland, Amandla Stenberg
The Scene: Julie tells Elliot that she doesn't need school (picked by Milo)
THE FLASH, "Pay the Piper", May 5, 2020, Actors: Grant Gustin, BD Wong and more
The Scene: The Flash vs. Godspeed
Chris: It didn't offer much in terms of emotional heft, but it was awesome seeing Barry going up against a speedster properly again. I'm hoping Season 7 will have more speedster villains again.
THE ROOKIE, "The Q Word", May 3, 2020, Actors: Eric Winter, Melissa O'Neil
The Scene: Tim talks to Lucy about her last month
Folie-lex: Tim tells Lucy her last month will be tough because she can take it. Tim and Lucy's dynamic has been one of the show's greatest selling points since day one. But to see how far they've come, where they can talk about their personal lives, he can own up to the fact that she is good and has what it takes, and that is why he pushes her, and her being able to say to his face that "they're friends" without being told to shut it was just lovely!
TOMMY, "Cause of Death", May 7, 2020, Actors: Edie Falco, David St. Louis
The Scene: Michael and Tommy talk about her quitting the fight and their marriage
Folie-lex: One of my favourite things about Tommy was the portayal of her dynamic with her ex-husband (and I am sad we didn't get more of it in the short span of the show). They might not be married anymore, for the obvious reasons, but that doesn't stop them from being family and this scene in the (now series) finale epitomized that. Here are two people who know and love each other deeply. And can rely on one another for support, perspective and honesty.
Justyna: As much as I loved Bernard's moment with Lauren, this one is the scene I've been waiting for since the beginning of the season. I've missed Maeve, or rather her true self, free and outside of anyone's control or manipulation. Despite her often being my favorite part of the previous seasons, she was barely herself in this one, until this honest conversation with Dolores when she finally gets to make her own choice, inspired by Dolores' words. These two have been at the center of the show since its start but they barely interacted. Despite many things in common they took very different paths to achieve their personal goals and ended up fighting against each other at some point. It was such a great change to see them truly interact and understand one another at last. In her final moment Dolores lets Maeve in and shares the truth about her plan and the decisions she has made. Her choice to see the beauty of the world, instead of the pain and the ugliness, is what ultimately makes her a hero in this story. Her sacrifice is meant to save the world, she's not fighting against the humans, but rather to give them back their free will. Her speech inspires Maeve to fight back against Serac and Rehoboam, to stand with Caleb and work to build a better world for both of them. It's such an emotional moment, beautifully acted and edited by cast and crew. It's also a powerful ending for Dolores' journey on the show and at last it helped me see her in a light much brighter than I expected. Despite all the hurt, disarray and the suffering she chose to see the good - love, kindness, beauty. Thanks to her Maeve found a strength to fight back and finally free herself. A warrior with a good heart. Side note: the music in the scene is perfect as always. Kudos to cast & crew for all their great work on the series.
Dahne: There was a lot to love about the season finale of Zoey's and season 1 of the series as a whole. However, it was always Zoey's relationship with her dad that hit me in the heart the hardest. As they danced their last dance, it was a touching tribute to that relationship and an endearing way to say goodbye to her dad. It was also a great way to bookend the series by going back to the song, True Colors.
Folie-lex: Season 1 of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist concludes with the whole cast singing a rendition of American Pie in one long (7+ minutes) take which takes place at Mitch's wake. It's a bittersweet ending to the show's main overarching plot of Mitch's deteriorating health and it's exactly as sad and beautiful as it should be.
DJRiter: American Pie rendition. Having the entire cast sing a nearly 8 minute long version of American Pie in one continuous camera shot to encompass the wake following Zoey’s dad’s funeral was a masterful piece of work and the prime example why this warm, touching and unique show should be renewed for a second season.
Luana: Zoey and Max kiss. The first half of this episode seems completely different from the second one and it could only work that way with a good transition. The scene where Zoey finally kisses Max was not only fun and adorable with them trying to figure out how to make him stop singing, but it gathered all the light to contrast with that heart-sinking moment of Howie’s call: “The bad moon. It rose.”
