Sherlock - Season 4

     The fourth and final season of Sherlock wraps up with one very intense theme. Family. When we first meet Sherlock and John, they were both alone. John had no close relatives and Sherlock...was well Sherlock. He didn't get attached to people, showed no sentiment and allowed reason and deduction to take the place of generosity and kindness. Then John appears and he brings together a small family made up of him and Sherlock, Mrs. Hudson, Molly Hooper, Greg Lestrade and eventually John's wife, Mary and their daughter. 

     Over the course of the series, Sherlock begins to shift in his opinions of the world and the people in it. The fall from St. Barts showed his absolute love for his friends, meeting Mary showed his ability to accept change and he is slowly coming around to accepting his growing celebrity status in London. However, Sherlock has many addictions and demons. And his addiction to 'the game' will become his greatest demon. It's how he controls that demon by still remaining a good man that will alter and ultimately save the lives of the family he has grown to love. 

Episode 1 - The Six Thatchers

     As punishment for the murder of Charles Magnussen, Sherlock was going to be sent out of the country to work on a case in Eastern Europe. However, the most unexpected happens. Moriarty shows up...all over London and Sherlock's Eastern plans are cancelled. As usual, Mycroft and the government are all scrambling as to how Moriarty is still alive and what his plans for Sherlock and John might be. Sherlock takes a slightly more calm approach to the situation and believes the best thing he can do is wait and continue his work. Dead or alive, Sherlock knows Moriarty and his terrorist group better than anyone. 

     Meanwhile, John and Mary welcome the birth of their daughter, Rosamund. Although, hesitant at first, Sherlock becomes attached to his new goddaughter, which only reinforces his love for the growing Watson family and his vow to always protect them. During his waiting game, Lestrade presents Sherlock to the most bizarre case. After a car is hit and explodes, officers find a one week old corpse inside. 

     While interviewing the family, Sherlock comes across something infinitely more strange. The family has a special dedication table to former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Yet, something is out of the ordinary about this table that is covered with pictures and memorabilia. The family informs him that there was a plaster bust of Thatcher centered on the table, but a robbery had taken place a few days before and the bust was destroyed. Sherlock digs deeper and soon finds out that all over London there are break-ins to private homes. All these homes have one thing in common; the same replica bust of Margaret Thatcher that ends up destroyed.

     This case takes an absolute shocking turn when it points to Mary Watson and her former life as a agent/spy/assassin. Prior to meeting and marrying John, Mary had been part of an elite group of agents that were sent on the most dangerous and deadly missions. After a botched assignment in Serbia, Mary was thought to be the only agent that got out alive. However, one of her former members did survive and blamed Mary for leaving him to be tortured by Serbian terrorists.

    After years of trying to settle down into a normal life, Mary now realizes that her past has caught up with her. Sherlock, is not deterred by any of this and continues to keep his vow to protect the Watsons. Yet, Sherlock should know that the past cannot remain hidden forever; and when lies and secrets are revealed, the truth comes at the most devastating cost.

Episode 2 - The Lying Detective

     Sherlock Holmes has found himself in many dark places, but the death of a loved one sends him literally to the darkest parts of hell. When Mary is killed, John blames Sherlock for breaking his vow to protect them. Cutting off all communication, John wants nothing more to do with his former best friend. Truly heartbroken by this, Sherlock turns to his drug addiction to cope with this triple loss (three including Rosie Watson). Both men are falling at a rapid rate, John in his grief and his refusal to accept Mary's death. Sherlock at his failure as a detective and a friend. 

     While on a drug high, Sherlock gets a visit from Faith Smith a client who claims that her father, wealthy philanthropist, Culverton Smith, has admitted to killing someone. However, her father made this confession to her and a group of friends while they were drugged up on a new medication and she has no idea who this person was. When Sherlock gets somewhat clearheaded he sets out to put Culverton in the news as a serial killer. 

     John reluctantly assists Sherlock in this bizarre investigation that has both men face to face with the menacing Smith. While at a hospital that Culverton funds, he reveals to both men his oftentimes sadistic nature and his love of the dead. Sherlock's still drug addled mind believes that he has caught him in confessing, yet is shocked when he finds out that Faith Smith never went to his flat and told him about the case at all. Furious at Sherlock's insolence, stupidity and lack of self respect, while also holding him responsible for Mary's death, John lets loose on Sherlock. All his pain, rage and fear put onto the one man he thought he could trust.

     Yet, John comes across an unexpected message that was meant for Sherlock. And in this message is a case, possibly Sherlock's hardest case. "Save John Watson. Go to hell Sherlock. Pick a fight with an enemy. Do all of this for John." Sherlock has literally gone to hell and back all for the purpose to save his friend. And for John to be saved, he must save Sherlock from the murderous hands of Culverton Smith. 

Episode 3 - The Final Problem

    There's an East Wind coming....and that wind comes in the form of Eurus Holmes. The thought to be dead sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. Unknown by almost everybody, including Sherlock himself. For years Sherlock had no knowledge or memory of his sister who left when he was six years old. Mycroft relays to him who Eurus was, her extreme intelligence, but also her growing sinister side. When Eurus kills Sherlock's beloved dog and then proceeds to try and kill Sherlock, she is sent away to an asylum. Several years later she set fire to the asylum and was proclaimed dead. Or that that was the story that Mycroft told everyone.

     According to Mycroft after Eurus killed Sherlock's dog, Redbeard, Sherlock went through intense trauma. Slowly he began to forget his sister all together and for some reason, his family never thought it important to remind him of her at all. For years, Eurus has been sheltered on an maximum security island with other lunatics. Kept away from her parents knowledge of her, Mycroft uses Euros' intelligence for government profit in spite of her insane and sadistic nature.

     In The Lying Detective, Eurus has broken free and wants to see Sherlock again. She wants to play a game, test Sherlock's intelligence and his emotional context. When Eurus is found by Mycroft and sent back to the island, Sherlock, John and Mycroft tread the dangerous North Sea to see her. Sherlock meets his sister, who has the capability to be beautiful and even charming. Yet, it doesn't take long for him to witness her ability to manipulate and use people.

     Eurus is controlling the entire asylum and she sends her brothers and John through hellish challenges that will test their deduction skills and their own humanity. To save his friend, Sherlock must uncover foggy memories of a past long forgotten and in the process he saves Eurus as well. Sherlock may have won the game, but he now sees Eurus no longer as the lunatic killer, but as the lonely little sister craving her brother's love and affection. He may not have been able to save Mary, but he will work tirelessly to bring his own family back together.

     And so life moves on for Sherlock and John. They rebuild their former flat, raise John and Mary's daughter, continue to care for Eurus, take refuge and love with their extended family of Mrs. Hudson, Molly and Lestrade and do what they do best. In Mary's final message to them, she deducts them both in absolute Sherlockian perfection:

There is a last refuge for the desperate, the unloved, the persecuted. 

There is a final court of appeal for everyone

When life gets too strange, too impossible, too frightening, there is always one last hope. 

When all else fails there are two men sitting, arguing in a scruffy flat. Like they've always been there and they always will. 

The best and wisest men, I know. 

My Baker Street Boys.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Period Talk (You know...that kind of period)

    It's that time of the month. Mother Nature is making her rounds, bringing with her heavy bleeding, cramping, headaches, exhaustion and an insatiable appetite for anything sweet. To top all that off, my Mom made pizza and my salty cravings are hitting an all time high as well. The annual celebration of my body rewarding me for not being pregnant has come and will be gone by the end of the week. Getting your period can be a misery, but getting it when you have to go into work on a Sunday just adds to a new level of "Why God??" Then I got home, showered and actually feel quite pleasant (until tonight comes. I tend to bleed heavier when I'm asleep).

    In all my time on Blogger (8 years this year), I don't think I've read a post about menstruation from any of the people I follow. It's not really a taboo subject in society anymore. And while periods can well and truly suck, I don't think that complaining about them really does anyone any good at all. Menstruation is the one of the biological factors that unites all women together; our bodies simply functioning as God created us to be. It's a young girls natural transition into womanhood. And lets not lie, there's quite a double standard when it comes to attitudes about the monthly cycle.

     Women whine, moan, cry and feel absolute despair with the onset of menstruation. Yet, will rejoice when it announces that there won't be a new addition 9 months down the road. And I'm primarily referring to cases when they allowed irresponsibility to take hold instead of moral common sense. Certainly not in cases of rape, where a woman was victimized and had no choice.

(And lets be honest, the idea of 'accidental pregnancy' is practically laughable and shouldn't even be a term at all. If you have sex, there's a 50% you'll get pregnant. Science and fact.)

    I started my period when I was very young. I had just turned 10 and at the point in my life, I certainly wasn't ready, but nature thought otherwise. My first several years were miserable though. My cramps especially were so terrible, I was almost ill. Then when I was diagnosed with epilepsy and put on medication, my periods were shorter because the medicine was a partial birth control. I still get heavy bleeding and horrible cramping, but thankfully it's over in 24 hours. I usually don't have very bad mood swings, but I'm tired all the time and I tend to get bad headaches. All in all, I think I fare better than a lot of other women out there. 

     I'm a very organized person. When I get frustrated I start cleaning and putting things into order. Knowing that there is a system and a way to keep to that system is satisfying for me. For a long time, I was completely unorganized when it came to the planning of my periods. I had a tracker of course, but all my products were shoved in my drawers and I could barely reach them. Or I would be completely out of products and would have to borrow from my sisters.

    I finally took the initiative to create a period or hygiene basket. I keep it close by and when I notice I'm getting low on products, I buy and restock before my period hits.

     The basic feminine products including Summer's Eve wipes for those nauseating menstruation smells. I highly recommend those wipes too. They smell wonderful and you do feel clean afterwards. I also keep a set of disposable razors and an extra toothbrush (you're suppose to get a new toothbrush every three months). I keep this hygiene basket on my shelf and I'm able to just grab a pad and the wipes without having to dig through my closet or my drawers. Keeping my razors in there as well has been helpful too.

     Now onto the portable period pack. Way back when I was still a teen, I was reading the Lily Series and in one of the books, they hit on the topic of getting your period. It was suggested that all girl's carry a portable period pack with them. Ever since I read that book, I've always kept one with me.

     Pretty much the same as the hygiene basket, but just kept in a convenient makeup bag that can be carried in your purse. And it's definitely a lot easier and less conspicuous to take a little period pack with you to the bathroom, then having to risk explaining why you're taking your purse. This cute pack (from Wal-Mart in case you were wondering) is about the size of my hand, but I can fit a great deal into it. I keep a medicine case fill with ibuprofen that usually helps with he cramping and headaches and a couple of the Summer's Eve travel wipes. That's all you pretty much need when you're away from home. 

     And it's also great to have when helping someone else. Women supporting women : )

     Mother nature can be cruel and heartless at times, but we are what we are. Menstruation is the one factor that all women can truly be on the same page. We all understand the sickness, the misery, the attitude changes and the constant question "Are you on your period?" when we are remotely angry about anything. Accept it, love it and never regret and never be ashamed of being created as a woman. 

Sherlock - Season 3

     Never was such a fandom on the edge of their seats during the finale episode of season 2 of Sherlock, when the consulting detective leap from the heights of St. Barts and crash lands on the ground. Sherlock Holmes, the Reichenbach Hero turned fraud and now turned martyr for all of London. At his grave site a bereft John Watson, who was the last person to see and hear Sherlock alive, begs Sherlock for one miracle. Don't be dead.

     And as well all know, Sherlock is very unpredictable. 

     Now knowing that Sherlock Holmes was indeed alive, the ever expanding Sherlock fandom spent the next two years trying to solve Holmes biggest mystery. How did he survive the fall at St. Barts?

Episode 1 - The Empty Hearse

     After the heroic death of Sherlock Holmes that makes international news, Moriarty's once perfectly woven net begins to fall apart. Sherlock's name is cleared when it's revealed that Jim Moriarty did indeed fabricate his lies and that the 'consulting detective' was completely honest in all his work. In spite of his 'death,' Sherlock is still a big name in London with a growing fanbase that refuse to accept that he's dead.

     So if Sherlock isn't dead than where is he?

     With the help of Mycroft, Sherlock manages to sneak into Eastern Europe where he spends the next two years bringing down Moriarty's network. However, when a terrorist threat is detected in London, Mycroft informs Sherlock that it's time to come back from the dead. London needs their beloved detective back. And Sherlock needs London...and his best friend.

     Meanwhile, John Watson has managed to pull his life back together. He has a real house, a real job and a real solid relationship. One that he hopes to make permanent. Mary Morstan arrived in John's life right when he needed her. Pretty, bubbly and full of fun, Mary is exactly that type of women that John needs. And just when John is about to propose, the absolute unpexpected happens. His best friend stands right in front of him. A not so dead Sherlock Holmes. 

     If you thought that John was going to be overjoyed at his friends return. Well, you're wrong. John is so overcome with emotional grief that he takes Sherlock out three times. Only Mary can get him to calm down. While the rest of London rejoices at the return of the consulting detective, Sherlock wastes no time in getting back to work. He eventually gets John to work alongside him as they try to track down this impending terrorist threat and in the process, they find their friendship again. Even though they may have saved the day (or actually Sherlock and Mary save John), this case is only the beginning of something darker and infintely more evil.

     An evil that Sherlock Holmes would kill himself if he had the opportunity.

Episode 2 - The Sign of Three

     It's wedding planning mayhem at 221B Baker Street as John and Mary count down the days to their happily ever after. Yet, not everyone is full of merriment for the couple. Sherlock, who already hates public functions is not entirely in line with the idea of John marrying. Either that he doesn't care for the institution of marriage, abhors weddings or simply doesn't want to lose his best friend. Then the inevitable happens when John makes Sherlock his best man. A fate worse than death in Sherlock's mind and he's already died once. 

    Yet, the ever steadfast Brit he is, Sherlock puts away his personal negative feelings and gets down to work as the best man. A job he takes a little too seriously at times, but still manages to go above and beyond his own expectations. When the big day comes, everything goes off without a hitch and Sherlock behaves admirably. However, his best man's speech may go down as the most life saving one in history.

     While at the reception, Sherlock recounts a murder that was never solved. An invisible killer that took the life of a young guard at Buckingham Palace. While it may be a good story another mystery soon follows. Shortly before the wedding a young woman claims that she is dating a ghost. As Sherlock looks into the case, he is surprised that this is not an isolated occurrence. Multiple woman have said the same thing. Unlike his other cases and laughable as it might be, Sherlock can't let this one go and is determined to solve it. 

    As Sherlock's speech continues, he soon puts together both cases and discovers that the invisible murderer and the ghost are both at the wedding. Both of them connected by a tragedy years before. Sherlock, John, Lestrade and even Mary have a limited amount of time to save one man's life and put away another. However, Sherlock's deductions aren't completely over when he makes the most shocking of announcements to John and Mary. 

Episode 3 - His Last Vow

      Sherlock Holmes is known for being unconventional in his methods for solving a case. However, no one was prepared to find him in a drug house, completely high and yet still completely functioning. Although, Sherlock has had drug problems in the past, he insists to everyone that he is getting stoned to catch down a notorious blackmailer. A man that Sherlock considers the most evil of all the enemies he's had to deal with. Charles Augustus Magnussen.

     Magnussen is definitely more than meets the eye. As brilliant as Sherlock, cunning as Moriarty and as slippery as Irene Adler, he uses his intelligence to prey upon the weaknesses of others and then proceeds to blackmail them if not given his way. He reads people in the same way Sherlock does and then stores all his information in 'his vaults' at his home, Appledore. Sherlock wants more than anything to get into those vaults and finally put an end to Magnussen.

      That's easier said than done seeing as Magnussen's immense wealth from his media mogul career has afforded him the best security. Yet Sherlock puts his devious nature to an all new level to break into his office. Only when he gets there, he is shocked to come face to face with another of Magnussen's enemies. Someone he certainly didn't except to be connected to Magnussen.

  

     In the midst of this three-way confrontation, Sherlock is shot and would have died immediately if not for his subconscious working through his brilliant mind palace. In less than a couple of seconds Sherlock manages to evade death due to his disciplined mental construction; not too different from the inception theory, only in this case information within information. Both mental and emotional.

    Even though Sherlock survives, there is now a bigger more dangerous case to solve. Badly wounded and wracked with pain, Sherlock will not stop until he has found the answers to this ever evolving mystery, while also trying to protect John and Mary in the process. After several months in recovery which has led to a good amount of time to plan, Sherlock now he now believes that he can bring down Magnussen. Yet, even Sherlock's intelligence could not prepare him for what Magnussen has in store for him, which only increases the lengths that Sherlock will take to end this extreme evil.

Celebrities Born in 1990 - My Favorites and Not-so Favorites

     For some reason (and it's probably not just me), I love it when I find out that I'm the same age as a celebrity. So, I decided to do a post of 8 well known celebrities that were all born the same year as me and give my own personal opinion on them. Some I like while others could probably do better with their fame that they've achieved in life.

So, lets start off with the bad ones who could be doing better...

Liam Hemsworth - @liamhemsworth

Full Name: Liam Hemsworth

Born: January 13, 1990 - Melbourne, Australia

Profession: Actor

Spouse: Miley Cyrus

Films: The Hunger Games Trilogy, The Last Song, The Expendables 2

Liam Hemsworth does seem to have it all, looks, a good career, Australian heritage...however, he doesn't seem to have a great deal of self respect. I mean, any guy who is married to Miley Cyrus must have absolutely no degree of dignity whatsoever! Cruel to say, but the truth remains that Miley Cyrus has gone from being the wholesome country girl of the late 00's to one of the trashiest celebrities out there. Love is what it is, but I would think that a guy who oftentimes comes off as so charming and intelligent would have better taste in his significant other.

Jennifer Lawrence

Full Name: Jennifer Shrader Lawrence

Born: August 15, 1990 - Indian Hills, Kentucky

Profession: Actress, model

Films: The Hunger Games Trilogy, X-Men prequels, Winter's Bone, Passengers, Silver Linings Playbook

After the release of The Hunger Games where Jennifer Lawrence played the heroine, Katniss Everdeen, she was shot to absolute top stardom. She became Hollywood's Darling, the new golden girl. Hailed as inspirational and modern. Yet, even celebrities are human and after a nude photo scandal that could have ruined her, Jennifer still remained on top. In my opinion she's incredibly overrated and her liberal politics have won her no favors as well. She has done a great deal of damage to herself and her career with her criticism of the President and Conservatives.

Kristen Stewart

Full Name: Kristen Jaymes Stewart

Born: April 9, 1990 - Las Angeles, California 

Profession: Actress

Films: The Twilight Saga, Snow White and The Huntsman, Panic Room

Oh dear, Kristen Stewart. Although she was fairly well known in the indie film circle, Kristen Stewart gained international fame when she was cast as Bella Swan in the Twilight movie series. However, Kristen's awkwardness and clear distaste for the public spotlight became glaringly evident. She rarely smiled and always seemed to be dissatisfied about something. As an actress, she's ok, but definitely not award material. Now she's a free roaming lesbian who for some reason is the face of Chanel. And I'm still trying to wrap my mind around how anyone could choose her of all people to represent the class of Chanel. She has none. 

Emma Watson - @emmawatson 

Full Name: Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson

Born: April 15, 1990 - Paris, France

Profession: Actress, model, activist

Movies: Harry Potter series, Beauty and The Beast, Ballet Shoes, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Noah

If there was anyone that I admired as a kid, it was Emma Watson. I spent my teen years growing up with her as she played the brainy Hogwarts student Hermione Granger in the 8 movie Harry Potter series. I wouldn't consider Emma as annoying, however, her liberal feminist activism has taken a greater hold of her fame and a great deal of it I don't care for. From women's rights (including abortion), to somehow believing that she is the savior of men and the destroyer of their 'toxic masculinity.' Another problem with Emma is she uses emotion instead of reason and facts with her politics and she oftentimes comes off as too sentimental and completely non-credible. 

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Princess Eugenie of York - @princesseugenie

Full Name: Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena

Born: April 23, 1990 - London, United Kingdom

Occupation: Public figure, Director for Hauser & Wirth art gallery

Spouse: Jack Brooksbank 

For almost 30 years, Princess Eugenie has lived a rather obscure life. Although overshadowed by Prince William and Prince Harry, Eugenie and her sister, Beatrice were oftentimes seen and noted at many public family events. Yet, the spotlight was not always a warm one. After Catherine Middleton married into the family, the media respect for the York Sisters, went into full blown hate and vitriol. For a long time they were looked down upon for simply not being able to measure up to their new cousin, Duchess Catherine. 

Then in 2018, Eugenie announced her engagement to her longtime boyfriend, Jack Brooksbank and there was a sudden shift in people's opinion of the York Sisters. The girls are now being presented as wonderful examples of royalty and groundbreaking modern princesses (they are the first princesses in their family's history to attend university). While the media goes back and forth with its opinion of the royals, I have always admired and loved Princess Eugenie! Even during the years of neverending harassment from the public, I always believed both Eugenie and Beatrice to be respectable and perfectly capable of handling their own, with or without their family.

Bill Skarsgård

Full Name: Bill Istvan Günther Skarsgård

Born: August 9, 1990 - Stockholm, Sweden

Occupation: Actor

Partner: Alida Morberg (1 child)

Films: It, Hemlock Grove, Divergent, Deadpool 2, Castle Rock 

Hailing from acting royalty, Bill is the 4th child of actor Stellan Skarsgård's eight children--6 from his first wife and 2 from his second. Bill has been acting since he was nine, primarily in Swedish films, but he got recognition when he played the wealthy upir (vampire), Roman Godfrey in the Netflix series, Hemlock Grove, which is based on the novel by Brian McGreevy. However, in 2017 Bill reached international fame when he played Pennywise the child eating clown from Stephen King's novel, It. Tall and ridiculously handsome, I was surprised when I found out that Bill was the same age as me...not complaining either. It's nice to come across an actor that isn't 5 years younger or 15 years older than you! He also comes from a big family too! His siblings are Alexander, Gustaf, Sam, Eija, Valter, Ossian and Kolbjorn.

Margot Robbie - @margotrobbie

Full Name: Margot Elise Robbie

Born: July 2, 1990 - Dalby, Australia

Occupation: Actor

Spouse: Tom Ackerly

Films: Suicide Squad, Goodbye Christopher Robin, The Legend of Tarzan, I, Tonya

I honestly thought that Margot Robbie was in her early 30's! Maybe it's the roles that she plays or just the way that she carries herself, but she seems so much older. Age set aside, she's so beautiful she doesn't even look real! I've seen Margot in a couple of films (Goodbye, Christopher Robin and The Legend of Tarzan), but I'm hoping to see more, such as I, Tonya and Mary, Queen of Scots. 

Sarah Hyland - @sarahhyland

Full Name: Sarah Jane Hyland 

Born: November 24, 1990 - Manhattan, New York, NY

Occupation: Actress

Partner: Adam Wells 

Films: Modern Family, Geek Charming, Dirty Dancing (2017), See You in Valhalla 

This petite beauty is most well known for her role as Haley Dunphey in ABC's long running series, Modern Family. I actually know Sarah primarily for her role as Lisa Houseman in the remake of the 1987 classic, Dirty Dancing. I could never stand Lisa in the original story, however, Sarah's performance gave a deeper insight to the oftentimes overlooked older sister. In the remake, Lisa is much more intelligent and feisty and actually cares about her sister. She herself embarks on her own questionable relationship, which added so much to the story.