#cbs zoo comeback project

[televinita]

Zoo 3x08

♫ If you’re looking for truth, don’t come looking for me ♫

-- Echosmith, “Safest Place”

And if you are looking for me, I will be over here playing Mitch's new theme song on repeat while you read.

But first:

WELL ALL RIGHT THEN. Abigail found the secret passcode to earning my wrath, and it's called "emotionally torturing Jackson about his family and failure to save them and/or being responsible for their deaths" (LISTEN ZOO I know you don't know this but I am still pretty emotionally compromised about The O.C. and Ryan's savior complex and the number it did on his head after a certain fiery car accident of his own, so I don't think now is the best time to prod this wound.)

I'm not saying I can't use this footage of Jackson strung up by his wrists, or that I didn't feast like a tiger upon the spoils of said emotional torture, just that.......actually on second thought I can't remember why I came to this review complaining.

(Also wow I really enjoy the part where Jackson started to snap out of Zen mode when he heard she'd compromised Mitch, and him desperately trying to talk Mitch out of Duncan mode. I still do not know quite how to articulate what it is that delights me about their relationship to each other, but Jackson's side of it was on full display)

Alpha Ship

Keep you far, keep you far from what I know You'll be fine, you'll be fine, just don't look closely now

First of all,

"Aunt Jamie can't really hold her liquor" OMG. I'll take "things that definitely still happen in the AU where Mitch and Jamie had a life together" for $200, Alex. (that quote in some context, at least. maybe not the two-man abduction carry)

Anyway I am just gonna be over here making high pitched squeals about Mitch smoothing her hair out of her face and everything else about these 4 seconds before Max starts talking, because I kinda feel like this is as close to an aftermath-of-rescue with them in these positions as we're going to get this year, and I would like to to wring every drop of visible Caring I can out of it.

"If the team finds out what I've done, I will lose everything. I'll lose Clem -- Jamie -- everything."

Well that hurt me good and deep. Can someone please call all the ambulances? My heart is under attack.

He has a fair point to be worried about: even if they understand, how would they in good conscience be able to keep him around if they don't know what he can do as Mr. Duncan, or how Mr. Duncan takes over? How can they be sure of their own safety alone with him, given how the biodrive might affect things?

On bright side: I forgot I had seen the kiss in this episode early, so that was a bolt out of the blue of PURE UNADULTERATED SHIPPY JOY when my eyeballs encountered it after seeing the context of Mitch being Sketchy As Heck and deserving none of Jamie's wholly sincere reassurance*, but desperate for it anyway. I choose to believe he was on the verge of spilling the beans at that point, but maybe not quite all the way there until the kiss sealed it.

*you are hereby forgiven for the Reiden Tower lies

Morgan & Morgan

I love Squirrelly!Mitch and I loved everything about him and Max working together and accidentally almost having some heart to hearts. Especially Max The Number One Mitch/Jamie Shipper giving him advice that Mitch actually takes about coming clean (or tries to take; thanks for being both the solution to and the cause of all our ship problems today, Max!).

The temporary blindness side effect was my favorite part, especially his insistence on hiding it when Jamie needed an actual airplane-crashing scenario to be distracted enough for only moderate concern at his short-circuiting and Max's oddly eager intervention (honestly, at a certain point he might as well have been hopping along singing "We're off on a secret mission!"). I enjoyed the humorous elements, but would not have opposed a multi-episode arc for the more serious, if this show had made room for it.

Bizarro Alpha Ship

Lies unfolding, cover your eyes

I've remained pretty neutral on the whole Duncan Reveal thing, and I think the reason is: listen, if you want to give me two Billy Burke characters at the same time on one show, then that... well, let's just say this is a fair imitation of the list of Billy Burke characters I have scoured the far corners of the internet, libraries and streaming video sites to enjoy.

But. THE ENDING. 100% agree with empress-of-snark's assessment:

I’ve never really wanted to see one of my otp’s beating each other up, but like…. I get it now. There was something immensely satisfying about seeing Jamie elbowing/kicking Mitch in the face, and I don’t understand but I enjoyed it (probably cause it wasn’t really him technically, but).

I also really enjoy when he first turns around with that eerie, dead-eyed stare (oh hey Gary Matheson redux) and she realizes who he is. This is ONE thing I'll admit sci fi does well -- the mind control / body takeover trope. I delighted in this exact same thing once on Under the Dome’s third season. There is nothing more chilling than seeing a character you would have sworn on your life would never harm their significant other be prepared to do exactly that, with no off switch. It's a much better experience as a viewer to know that it’s beyond their control than to find out they are actually human monsters, though.

And it's an even better experience when Jamie just steamrollers over any unhelpful emotions she's about to have with the steely resolve of Fine, It's A Beautiful Day To Kick Your Ass, and suddenly I'm wondering how low-prole it would be to edit and remix this fight with a subtle backing of "Move, Bitch." (why is the chorus of this song always relevant to my interests)

In other words: all fear and trust and betrayal issues can take a backseat for now because Jamie has one job right now, and I love that she has enough confidence and skill to know she can go through him if she has to.

Odds and Ends

I sat through Logan's entire waste of screen time in order not to lose my understanding-the-plot momentum, and so far I regret that decision.

Okay fine the Kenyatta family spooning was pretty adorbs.

Max trying to use the L word = aces

Out of all of AI Logan's comments, "I have an unfortunate announcement" is my very favorite. I want to use that all the time. Why isn't easy embedding of sound clips a thing.

Jackson attempting to strangle Abigail with his legs? Kinda workin' for me.

I think my favorite thing about Max and the Summoning Rod is that it's very much like the things Mitch ran Jackson through last year. Not so fun to be the guinea pig getting told to buck up, is it?

Should it concern me that I didn't even realize Clem was absent (off in Tankland) until they mentioned her?

Overall: minus Logan's non-AI scenes, WHAT A FUN AND WILD RIDE THIS WAS. By far the highest quality-per-minute density of the season for me. Superb sister episode to Howler Sloth.

I've had so much fun skipping back through it and watching the characters run around*, I keep legit forgetting the plane is going crazy because there is an octopus with snake legs (or something) they had to hack to death. There is so much IN this episode I can't possibly cover it all. It feels like lasted 900 years in a good way.

*or in the Morgans' case, sometimes, remain calm and blissfully unaware while the women nearly die following the Bitches Get Stuff Done model; the juxtaposition between the two drastically different panic levels cracks me up every time.

I have already watched a few minutes into episode 9 because that was a WTF cliffhanger, but I think this is as far as I am gonna get before next new episode.

[flauntpage]

Your Wednesday Morning Roundup

The Phillies played 15 innings with the Miami Marlins. They won 9-8 on a Nick Williams walkoff double.

Speaking of their young core, Rhys Hoskins did the thing again. Twice.

Nos. 15 and 16 for No. 17.

( … In *just* career game No. 32.) http://pic.twitter.com/OScNQufbBh

— Phillies (@Phillies) September 13, 2017

Here’s some interesting Rhys stats:

At Bats needed for 16 career homers Babe Ruth – 368 Hank Aaron – 536 Barry Bonds – 378 RHYS HOSKINS – 112

— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) September 13, 2017

Phillies with more HR than Hoskins: Tommy Joseph 21, Maikel Franco, 20. MLB games they've played in 2017: Joseph 131, Franco 137, Hoskins 32

— Ryan Lawrence (@ryanlawrence21) September 13, 2017

Rhys Hoskins in 32 games:

16 HRs, 34 RBIs

Projects over 162 games:

81 HRs, 172 RBIs

#Phillies⚾️ http://pic.twitter.com/7bwheNDp3C

— John Clark CSN/NBC (@JClarkCSN) September 13, 2017

Nick Williams, who also joined MLB Tonight after the win, believes Hoskins is an alien, and Hoskins is fine with that:

Nick Williams on Rhys Hoskins:"He's an alien" Hoskins on Williams comments:"Guy is pretty good too, so I guess we can be alien friends".

— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) September 13, 2017

The lineup was one that we could see come 2018, with a move or two in the infield. JP Crawford started at second base before moving to third in place of Maikel Franco.

Meanwhile, Nick Pivetta continues to struggle. He pitched five innings and gave up seven runs on eight hits while striking out four. He needs more work.

Phils-Fish again tonight. Aaron Nola for the Phils against Miami’s Dan Straily.

The roundup:

The Phillies and the Atlanta Braves joined forces to make special accommodations for Marlin families:

The Braves provided tickets to the Six Flags and Stone Mountain amusement parks and the World of Coca-Cola museum, along with free tickets to the games at SunTrust Park. When the Marlins arrived in the visiting clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, they found a stack of complimentary tickets to the Franklin Institute, the Adventure Aquarium and the Philadelphia Zoo. Reliever Brad Ziegler said the Phillies also told the Marlins players they would be providing catered postgame food for family members.

“The Braves and Phillies have been unbelievable,” Ziegler said. “The Braves gave us a letter when we got there, and it basically said, ‘We’re sorry for the circumstances you’re in and we’re going to make your stay as comfortable as possible.’ They were extremely generous. It was right in line with Southern, Georgia hospitality.”

They also unveiled their 2018 schedule:

Mark your calendars!

We open the 2018 season in Atlanta 198 days from now: https://t.co/ahE8gOjOfI http://pic.twitter.com/zPDZEUBJsd

— Phillies (@Phillies) September 12, 2017

They might play the Mets in Williamsport as part of the MLB’s Little League Classic on August 19.

—

Turning to the Eagles, who made a number of moves yesterday:

IN: T Victor Salako, CB De’Vante Bausby (a former Kansas City Chief), K Jake Elliott OUT: CB C.J. Smith, WR Greg Ward IR: K Caleb Sturgis

With Sturgis on injured reserve, that means he’ll have to miss at least the next eight games, and he may have lost his job if Elliott can perform well in his absence. If not, he can be activated from IR after eight games and will be the first of the team’s two players they can take off of IR.

How did the local and national media react to the season opening win?

Kevin detailed the Eagles and their use of the “bubble screen.”

http://pic.twitter.com/hlTtUpULlR

— Chris Jastrzembski (@CFJastrzembski) September 10, 2017

Jim Schwartz isn’t trying to overthrow Doug Pederson’s reign as head coach.

It’s never too early to preview Big Red’s Kansas City Chiefs.

Also, former Eagles Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, Ricky Watters, Terrell Owens, Eric Allen, Brian Dawkins, and former head coach Dick Vermeil were named nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018.

—

Sixers head coach Brett Brown thinks the next step in Joel Embiid’s development is his consistency to play top-tier basketball in the NBA.

Small forward Robert Covington was 55th in ESPN’s top 100 player rankings.

Stats & Info: You can make a case that no truly impact player flies under the radar more than Covington. Though he was named on just nine of 99 media ballot for All-Defense consideration, Covington led all non-bigs in Defensive Real Plus-Minus last season and, according to RPM’s wins metric, ranked among the 35 most valuable players in the league. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz and even JJ Redick will likely get more attention, but Covington is just as important to Philadelphia’s mission of making the playoffs in 2017-18.

Covington joins JJ Redick (87), Markelle Fultz (86) and Ben Simmons (84) on the list. The top 50 isn’t out yet, so hence no Embiid.

—

Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth is a new father.

Meanwhile, the Flyers have their rookie game tonight against the Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center.

One of those guys that’ll make an appearance is goaltender Alex Lyon, who is looking to take advantage of Anthony Stolarz’s injury and become the top netminder in Lehigh Valley.

Speaking of the Flyers, we have a new Flyers reporter:

Very excited to announce that Anthony SanFilippo @AntSanPhilly will be covering the Flyers for us this year.

— Kyle Scott (@CrossingBroad) September 12, 2017

—

Villanova announced their complete 2017-18 schedule, with all but one of their home games being held at the Wells Fargo Center. Josh Hart already has his season prediction:

Taking bets now‼️ #BigEastChamps #5inARow #NovaNation http://pic.twitter.com/UCZ2BCIin0

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) September 12, 2017

Philadelphia is getting an indoor lacrosse team once again.

—

In other sports news, Charles Oakley still hates James Dolan.

The Cleveland Indians won their 20th straight game, tying an American League record.

Kobe Bryant will have both of his Lakers numbers retired later in December against the Warriors.

ESPN is having a great week so far!

ESPN Statement on Jemele Hill: http://pic.twitter.com/3kfexjx9zQ

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 12, 2017

Hill tweeted that President Donald Trump was a white supremacist. Think before you tweet.

Kyle: ESPN has no idea what they’re doing. First they give people platforms ostensibly to share their views – which in this case might not be all that far from the truth – and then they disavow that view if it doesn’t poll well with their Middle America audience that they’ve already pissed off by putting that person on-air in the first place. Just own what you do and stop trying to toe the line.

Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017

40-year-old Stephon Marbury hopes to make an NBA comeback later this season after wrapping up his Chinese Basketball Association season. He last played in the NBA back in 2009.

It's time to combine. My next move is the best move. Working on the come back to the #nba http://pic.twitter.com/TaWjqwwekF

— I AM PEACE STAR (@StarburyMarbury) September 12, 2017

Jon Jones’ B-sample has turned positive after failing his drug test while fighting Daniel Cormier at UFC 214.

Even though Sergio Dipp dominated Twitter Monday night and Tuesday morning, you probably missed out on Jim Mora:

Jim Mora Da Gawd http://pic.twitter.com/v0BAGgDl3i

— Andrew (@bamamerl) September 12, 2017

From reader Alex, Andy Reid went back to the pickle juice last Thursday:

@CrossingBroad how about Big Red going with the pickle juice again on Thursday night? From MMQB… http://pic.twitter.com/O2zhqSPanZ

— Alex Mercer (@amercer002) September 11, 2017

—

In the news, Apple has unveiled many of their new products in time for the holidays, especially the new iPhones.

Alligators are probably on the loose in Florida.

Interesting…

Coming soon. Follow us here and on instagram at @ScaramucciPost. http://pic.twitter.com/4eNXUPbk9N

— ScaramucciPost (@ScaramucciPost) September 13, 2017

  Your Wednesday Morning Roundup published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

[televinita]

empress-of-snark replied to your post “Zoo 3.07”

Mitch and Jamie deserve a loong vacation after this. Here's to hoping both of them are alive/together at the end of the season so they can take a few months off and rent a little beach house somewhere away from all the Drama™                    

Yesss. Oh, that sounds like a nice happy place. In fact, that's it, that’s my reset button this year. If (haha “if”) canon goes to hell at any point between now and the finale, I'm cutting out at the last good moment and stitching this coda on as a place to retreat to in dreams.

[televinita]

Zoo, 3.03 (super late)

Once upon a time I posted one short Feeling Explosion in the middle of this episode, then forced myself to stop and deal with a work-nado, and before I could claw my way back I heard "Welcome to the O.C., bitch," and that's the last thing I remember before waking up from my coma 6 weeks later. That's my story and I’m sticking to it. Claims that I may have woken up briefly to comment on bits of episodes 4 and 8 are unsubstantiated because officially, until last night I had not yet finished episode 3. (and that is the actual truth. I technically got to the end and a bit beyond, but only because I tore both apart for Mitch/Jamie content just like I feared I would and left the rest to spoil. Guilt may have played a part in my inability to come out of the coma.)

As I am Very Stubborn about not watching the next episode of anything until I have thoroughly spun the last one around in my head, dissected my feelings about it and processed them into text product, and I struggled with what to say, I got stuck in Zoo purgatory. But after an hour of freewriting, I think I have enough babble to feel content. This is mostly for me, but perhaps you’ll enjoy following my journey.

Originally Planned Opening Statement: Hey, remember when this show was was about weird mutant animals and not bizarre government conspiracies to abduct and experiment on children? Because I do. This is not the show I signed up for and it makes my soul feel gross.

(more evidence for the “why I had trouble moving forward” file, I think) Television Parents Council So we're three episodes in and I am really feeling like dramatic anguish is not Alyssa Diaz's strong suit in the acting department. It all feels kind of strained and forced? But hang on, I gotta go be way more outraged about her character's choices, as seen in this live reaction note: "WHAT IN THE FRICKITING FRACK DARIELA WTF. Is this* why you got divorced last time, 'cause I'm gonna have to assume it is seeing's as we literally never got any other reasoning for that random-ass info drop last year and I keep waiting for an explanation." *cheating on her husband

(and oh man, for the first time I am so glad it's these two who got the kid and not Mitch and Jamie, because can you imagine if I had to hear Jamie had cheated on Mitch with Logan and wrecked their relationship that bad? I would perform brain surgery on everyone with a power drill.) (nobody talk at me about the almost as distasteful thing that happened with them)

To be fair to Dariela, she and Abe mostly bonded over having a kid right after they met; I can't really say it feels like she betrayed an epic soulmate bond. I can muster up some sympathy for her feeling lonely and abandoned.)

Except that's not even her last horrible reveal of the episode*. What are you trying to do, run this character I miraculously chose to accept into the ground??

*possibly selling out Clementine to rescue her own kid from a sketchy situation. I will make a lot of allowances for putting yourself and your family's comfort and safety over the needs of strangers, but this does not fall under that header.

But, um, other than that, Papa Lion Abe is intense and amazing and I thought the whole desperate chase-after-the-military-convoy aspect was really well done.

----

Television Parents Council Pt. II Live Reaction Note: "Mitch is a testy bitch in this episode and I love him." (I remember this being debated, but part of the reason I love his Testy Bitch self is what you see at the end of the episode. If he doesn't wrap himself in defensive anger, cling to it like a buoy, the pain of confronting everything he lost and missed will win.) I really love Mitch's two seconds of happiness when he thinks Jamie raised Clem in her fancy penthouse and they ended up thick as thieves. I am less fond of the reality that Max took her away when she turned 14, so the only solace I can take away, before I spiral into that "who TF invited Logan to this party" post we started with is "SWEET HALLELUJAH AT LEAST JAMIE GOT OVER THREE YEARS TO BOND WITH HER." Also, Jamie is so the adult who gives the kids beer to supervise them. I still think it's hilarious that Mitch assumed any adult gave her a beer at 14, because don't most teenagers just have friends who come up with it? I mean, I couldn't even find alcohol on my college campus so I am not the authority on this by any means, but that is the impression I get from books. My point being, I like to think that even in the happy world where 2x12 is the series finale and they had a life together after, this would still have happened and he and Jamie would have had more than one clash regarding her blurring the line between parental authority and friend, and it would have sounded exactly like this, so...thanks Zoo, for accidentally fulfilling my Domestic AU interests in the weirdest possible way! Awww @ Mitch's impatient little "hey" when Clem casts doubt on Jamie's ability to perform brain surgery with a power drill, and then uses that particular tone of voice to tell her it's going to be fine. Awww @ Clem sticking up for Jamie's parenting skills. You know what, just assume that I loved any and everything else that happened when these three were on screen. And I maintain that Jamie, while willing to stop him if he gets too far out of line, also remembers very well what it's like to wake up with missing time where everything's changed and gone wrong, and that means he gets the time and space he needs, within reason, to lash out and come to terms with it while she waits for the worst of the storm to pass. She does point out when Clem's upset, and she checks him with "she turned out okay," but never once do I get the sense that she takes any criticism he lobs at her personally.

(I might have said this before. I tagged wrong and can’t find it.)

--------------------

JKras and Emily Blunt's Alt Reality Doppelgangers (shhh just go with it)

Guess what I started shipping exactly two seconds before we went with the "slapping men across the face isn't domestic violence" trope on top of the "this one piece of information that is not about how you assaulted or killed someone in cold blood invalidates absolutely everything I love about you" trope. It's a two-fer of ship torpedoing. (How do you say no to that face! Look how tragic and sad it is on top of its normal rugged handsomeness and love for helping people! Also, guess who is probably gonna quit shippin' it and throw the lady right back out the door if/when she returns and eliminates Jackson's need to talk to the people I care about. That's just how I unfairly do. The Chloe-shaped hole in my heart won't heal, it's weird.) --------------- I LOVE YOU, MAN

And then this episode ends with Jackson's face lighting up at the sight of Alive!Mitch and glomping on him in a bear hug, and everything is right with the world now that my two faves are together again. ---------------

Yet More Thoughts

-Live reaction note: “I am glad to see that Mitch has shaved the beard and subsequently restored his powers of snark to full glory. They must have been suffocating under that thing.” -I loved Clem's montage of practicing how to tell her dad she's pregnant. These are useful sound bites for alternate takes.

-”Everything went wrong. The world went wrong.” This is somehow the most poetic thing I have ever heard on Zoo? Between the writing and her specific cadence, it sounds like something you'd hear in an award-winning speech, dressed up in voiceovers for trailers; IDK, I just really love it.

-Who even are you Abigail; your name and your hair make me want to get to know you but everything else (including my fandom girl-bros reacting to you with all the love they had for Logan last year and essentially forming a rousing chorus of "Don't need another You Part 2"), very much makes me want to not. -LOOK AT THESE GIANT UGLY WORM TUNNELING DINO-VULTURES, I LOVE THEM. -Mitch's JAMIE WHAT THE FUCK reaction to her stabbing her prisoner through the hand was pretty amazing. -In case you were wondering how appropriate for polite company my reaction to Jackson hotly threatening "I am gonna find you, and I am gonna stop you" is, the answer is "not very." -Quick question: how did Mitch's sacrifice save the world, exactly? I'm fuzzy on this. I wasn't tracking plot very well after Mitch "died" last year, but I thought it was a very personal sacrifice meant to save Clem alone.

-Well. That ending sounds like a fun little sophie's choice of "death vs. memory loss." Looking forward to seeing what episode 12 or 13 does with that. (If you kill him again, all the protection of "reality" in the world won't save you from the worm dino vulture pack I will summon to come after you.)

[televinita]

Zoo 3x07

It's Labor Day. I have labored. On the things that matter, like doing my damnedest at catching up on this show.

Hark! I did not realize how much I missed this show being about zany animal chases out in the field until we were finally blessed with just such an adventure, starring our favorite partnership -- plus a special guest. I think we all know which Hated Dad, in a showdown between Srs. Oz and Morgan, is my favorite. Let's all give a big round of applause to our top Mitch/Jamie shipper, Max ("I take it you're back together with my son?" I am impressed he managed to hold that in all the way to nightfall, honestly)

I'm gonna assume, based on their easy banter here, that he and Jamie stayed on good speaking terms and he had a valid reason for snaking (pun intended) custody. Though I am gonna need to know a) why he uses the phrase 'back' together, because I have a lot of witnesses to attest to the fact that they have no concrete evidence of a relationship on the books prior to this year, and b) again, why they could not legit have been together in S2.

Just assume I loved every second of Mitch complaining at Max, and Max being entirely "lol this is great, what a fun time with my son, listen to my boy snark" in response.

MITCH SNARKING ABOUT THE V. ROMANTIC PLACES JAMIE HAS TAKEN HIM SO FAR. (now stop me before I spiral into my QuickSad place with all the headcanon I came up with in 2015 about where I saw them going on vacation)

Anyway, speaking of zany animal chases, the giant invisible snake is my new favorite hybrid. (I don't know what to do with Jamie's Dragonslayer move of stabbing herself out of it after being swallowed. I've called this show insane so many times it has lost all meaning.)

"Jamie is the person I trust most” asdkl;fajsdl;afjsdklfjasd. I mean, he says this and kinda fails at showing it, but I like hearing it out loud as confirmation of his thoughts. [edit: and actually, I guess fear of losing that person would be a big motivator in not wanting to risk the possibility yet. Peace with ending, made.]

I'm not sure how to feel about the last scene given that Mitch didn't get a word in edgewise and all of his faces were Sad Regretful Puppy faces, but I think how Jamie handled it, finding the perfect blend of confrontation, sympathy and consequences, might be my favorite thing she's done all season.

I spoiled myself on ahead of time on him injecting her with the amnesia tranq, and honestly all I feel is sympathy that all of this is so far beyond Mitch's control* and he's backed into a corner scrambling to contain the situation on his own, maybe do less damage if has at least an idea of a solution before he presents the problem. I'm assuming it's not going to go well for him, but I can appreciate why he tries.

**poor Mitch. All he wants to do is just hole up somewhere in peace and quiet with his girlfriend for a while and the world is like, "Don't you dream impossible things!" And yes I just worked a Taylor Swift lyric in there, minus a question mark to completely alter its context.

Other Stuff

I think we all know, at this point, who I am rooting for in a knock-down fistfight between Abigail and Clementine. In related news, I better not hear a peep from the latter against the former doing what any mother would do to rescue her (creepy, horrifying nightmare) baby.

I did enjoy all of Mitch's wonderful, irrational "no tank! tank bad!" responses to the proposed treatment for Clem's baby. I told you being unbearably emotional about his daughter was his best attribute. And his general expression watching her go into the tank is a lot of what I was missing last episod4.

Also awww @ giving her that last tiny reassuring smile as the last thing she sees before the tank does its job.

Jackson taking up the Big Bro / Uncle reins around Clementine is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Helping fix stuff at which he is woefully under-qualified and taking her sass! Opening up about heartbreak! Tracking down baby daddies! THIS IS THE BEST. Can this show just be all Mitch and Jamie doing Action/Adventure Stuff while Jackson and Clementine hold down the fort, provide backup and bond.

So is Sam really the father or not? Because I gotta tell ya, I was not whelmed by his short-lived face, and as much as I would love very much for Clem's baby to be raised with the help of the village for lack of a life partner, I would also secretly like to be dazzled by the Knight Of Magic Spermatozoa. Also, if Clem really did sneak off in the middle of the night, I have another demerit waiting for her steadily worsening permanent record.

Worst part of episode: I officially have zero patience left for the Kenyatta Family Drama Hour. Dismissed.

P.S. GOOD NEWS: I went to bed frustrated and puzzling over the fact that I still couldn't understand the season 3 plot or how it connected to season 2, but my subconscious must have worked on it all night because I literally woke up this morning and went, in awe, "I Understand." I mean, not entirely or enough to be brave enough to say it out loud, even for the purpose of having people check my work, but enough to not feel rage at how boring the show is anymore. Whereas last year the episodes would fly by, this is the first episode since, like, 3x02 that didn't feel like it took 900 years to finish.

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Zoo 3.06

Never have I ever been so disappointed by this show's breakneck plot pacing than when it makes them waste a literal "tied up in the back of a van" kidnapping plot on Clementine with barely two seconds to spare on Mitch freaking out. Being unbearably emotional about his daughter is Mitch's best attribute. Why would u rob me of this just because your plot demands that he magically know everything he needs to know about where she is and how to get her out in two shakes of a hybrid lamb's tail with no apparent assistance from anyone else. (is this explained later? is it Duncan related? this all just seemed very weirdly calm and easily resolved for, again, A LITERAL KIDNAP PLOT WHERE SHE ALMOST GOT TORTURED WITH JUMPER CABLES AND SOLD) I had to go rewatch the entire 2-part Castle episode with this plot and remix it in my head before I could calm down. It's not even that I can't reason to myself that Mitch can't afford to lose focus by being upset when her life is on the line and he just needs to Get Shit Done, I'm just mad the plot pacing required it in the first place. I AM 100% on board with Mitch pouring his Earnest Dad Heart out on the way home ("you and this baby are all that I have" !!! tho...that would been even more poignant before anything had happened with Jamie). Not so on board with Clem spouting off self-righteous BS about being a parent and showing up Mitch in the process. I know he's only been a dad for five minutes of the time she remembers, but that's at least 4.5 minutes longer than she has been a mom. He was yelling at Dariela and it was glorious catharsis; why would you stop that?? What is this weirdo "I would have done the same thing, no biggie" response? I know I am not great at understanding the maternal bond, but I ran it through my "how would you feel if it was your dog” translator, and it still sounds like a horrible thing to admit. Would you also personally murder a baby to save your kid? Let Dariela go feel shame. /Sue Sylvester voice. Now, because it's been 25 minutes and I still can't articulate why this irritates me so much, I'm going to leave it at "Clem is officially demoted to below-Logan status who will require the company of either Mitch, Jamie or Jackson in order to earn screen time with me." ------------------ Other Mitch Stuff 1. I know it's so cheap and easy it's almost too pat to include, but I am still happy Jamie got her "grandpa" crack in ASAP.  (also, awww at her casually being there waiting for him to wake up. I choose to believe she's been there the whole time. Also, has anyone / would anyone like to fill in the canon gap of how Jamie found out Clem was pregnant? I feel like that's worth seeing.) 2. HIS FACE when the picture unscrambles. This would be more poignant if I knew he was going to handle this appropriately; say, with an immediate confession. (all right fine I have resumed my bad habits of pre-screening some of the Mitch/Jamie in the next installment between the time I finish watching an episode and the time I write words about it) Beta Ship Well slap my hand and call me Skippy, if those aren't some ship tinglies I feel just before Tessa strolls out again! Jackson is still doing all the heavy lifting by himself, but I have a mile-long record of dudes convincing me to love the person they love with their Stupid Smitten Face.

Also, yeah, Jackson does seem kinda cursed. And by “kinda” I mean “has he ever perchance gone poking around an ancient Egyptian tomb?”

The Horrible Doctor of Oz Yeah so of all the annoying TV parents I've been forced to continue to suffer despite them being canonically dead, Dr. Oz is the worst. On the other hand, Abigail? Especially Sweet Lil' Science Nerd Abigail? I just keep liking her more. I feel sorry for her. It's not her fault she has a borderline sociopath for a dad, she just wanted to make him proud! No fair that he made her dark and twisty and fratricidal when she clearly could have made an awesome sibling team with Jackson, if Senior hadn't been such a human garbage can. That's it, time to make up a new AU -- or rather, my new hobby, which is writing synopses for realistic contemporary novels based on TV characters that I pretend could exist in a world where the TV show doesn't.

One where Jackson and Jamie are actually half-siblings through his mom, and Dr. Oz was never presumed dead but merely took off, so when he actually dies Abigail resurfaces out of the clear blue with nothing but a claim to half his estate. Despite that potential friction, she and Jackson bond immediately, while little-sibling Jamie is irrationally jealous and feels like she's being replaced (ooh, even better, she's even more irritated when Abigail and Mitch bond over SCIENCE!, and the plot of this novel juuust might be Jamie deciding there is something fishy about this heretofore unknown sibling, and putting her investigative journalism skills to work. As to whether there is anything to find? idk, choose your own adventure).

P.S. I watched the entire season-3 voiceover AND the "previously on" segment, and I still don't understand the current plot or how those flashbacks to season 2 tied into it. I give up on tracking plot forever. I am now here solely to dream of sibling bonds and ship people with nice faces. P.P.S. WAUGHASDKFJASDFJ ABENDEGOS IS EVEN FRICKIN' CREEPIER AS AN INFANT.

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Zoo 3.10

I was a terrible person who accidentally ruined the shock ending for myself while tearing the ep apart in search of Mitch/Jamie after someone (YouTube) made an irresponsibly irresistible thumbnail for a certain sneak peek and someone else (me) didn't have the sense to stay off YouTube while signed in. Hopefully this is the last chance I have to ruin things for myself, though!

FIRST OF ALL: this is my new favorite kiss scene of the season, between his shaky "Are we alive?" and her sweet reassurances and the perfect length of the second one with both of his hands on her face, again. How many times have I watched it? 87? That feels like a conservative estimate.

Second of all, I am having a lot of feelings about this:

"It's happened before. We fight, we put our lives on the line, and then we show mercy. And it bites us in the ass every single time. Jackson's a great guy. He has a huge heart. But it's putting us all at risk."

On the one hand, I love this speech being juxtaposed with an illustration of Jackson doing exactly that even as she speaks.

But also, Zoo, why you gotta constantly pit my babies against each other this way. I hate it. I can't believe I am siding with Darkside Jamie over Jackson "Big Ass Heart" Oz, because I so love his refusal to stop believing in the good, but I just cannot justify it any longer, and I wish it did not have to be an all or nothing situation between them. WORK TOGETHER GDI. I am two steps away from signing off on Mitch's death warrant if it would somehow push them together;please do not test my insane claims

.Team Terminator, Continued

-"Was it part of your plan to make this not look like blatant murder?"

That is some Mitch-quality snark you've got there, Mr. Duncan. Didn't know you had it in you. ...oh god, Self, now why would you take it to a kinkmeme place off the faintest idea that Duncan is not entirely like robot AI + Jamie carrying an all-controlling clicker. You stop that right now. Go feel shame.

-Round 2 of my OTP beating each other up, still oddly satisfying. (and I really cannot even imagine what Max thinks he is looking at re: Mitch and Jamie rolling around on the floor, although their identical expressions when they freeze in place at being interrupted are hysterical)

I feel like I should have more feelings/opinions on this plot, but I'm tired, so suffice to say it was exciting to watch and I especially liked Duncan's Absolutely Not Playing Around threat to kill Mitch to get Jamie in line, exploiting the flaws of a too-human heart.

Bits & Bobs

The doggy has a starring role looking extra adorable while being petted by Isaac in this episode. I think some plot stuff was happening with Dariela during this time, but that is sure not the part I focused on.

Spoiler alert: Dariela does not make the IADG any more interesting. But the egg nests do make Logan's plot more gross.

I love everyone's "STOP BEING FASCINATED BY STUFF, MAX" exasperation.

Basically, Max is the best all the time and always. 4th favorite living character right now.

"10 seconds ago you told me that you left me a treat, do you remember what you were talking about?" / "...does that sound like something I would ever say?" I'm glad the little personality clicker is destroyed (I sure HOPE that means Duncan is gone for good), but I will kind of miss the Mitch-snapping-back-to-consciousness moments.

Poor baby ghost snake getting cut in half just because it's too young to know what food is. :(

Ah yes, the magically accelerated pregnancy. Another fine hallmark of sci-fi, especially the limited episode run kind.

AU Doomsday, or: An Ending

You believe what you see All the things that you know But oh, you don't know The depth of my soul

Beyond its immediate WTFPOLARBEAR!! effect on people like me and my mom, who have been in the dark world without either promotional stills or "next time on Zoo" previews, this final montage is such an amazing piece of filmwork. I love her dreamy, unfocused stare into the distance as she stumbles her way out of the plane, leaving a trail of carnage in her wake.

The music reminds me so much of something they'd play over the unsettling teaser of a crime show I did at least three minutes of actual research to determine it is Depth of my Soul by Theivery Corporation ft. Shana Halligan. All of its lyrics are so eerie I had trouble choosing my fave; the entire song could describe Abigail's character motivations. High fifty, show!

I'm also pretty sure we just saw how Zoo ends in The Darkest Timeline (secretly, I love when shows give me footage like that -- grimdark stuff I love to explore in fanfic where it’s safe, but if you can have your cake and eat it too by actually seeing and then undoing it, so much the better).

Reality Filter: I'm unclear why Abigail shoots them all in the stomach instead of the head, or even the heart, if she wants them properly dispatched. Does she just relish the thought of them all dying slowly, or is she specifically not trying to kill them, or is she so focused on getting where she's going that she's merely trying to clear obstacles in her path? I'd pick the latter except that she seemed pretty specific about looking for Mitch/Duncan.

It makes for a really cool dramatic effect to watch them all collapse in the same way, one after another like falling geese in an Oregon Trail hunting game*, but I'm having such a hard time matching the placement of the wounds to their immediate effect that for a while I had a theory that she'd shot them not with bullets, but some kind of pellets incubating hybrid seed/eggs/spores that would later burst forth from their bodies. At least match a crime drama's level of realism.

* I absolutely dared myself to write that in and keep going with a perfectly straight face, just to see if I could get anyone else to read it the same way or if you would all crack up at its ludicrous visuals.

Up next: I FINALLY GET WITH THE TIMES???

But alas, not for 24 hours at the earliest.

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ALL RIGHT.

I CAN DO THIS.

I can rip my head out of the bright and sunny world of southern California.

I can fling myself back into the grimpocalypse.

I can re-calibrate my shipping radar from inexperienced passion/drama-fueled teenagers all the way back to middle-aged parents.

I...totally...can...

*digs laboriously down through 30 Notepad files of more recent typing to find last Zoo notes*

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empress-of-snark replied to your post “Zoo, 3.03 (super late)”

His life sacrifice didn't so much immediately save the world as it immediately saved the Team who could then go on to save the world (and Clem)                    

replied to your post “Zoo, 3.03 (super late)”

 I definitely think the amnesia vs death dilemma will come back into play at some point, and I'm betting they go with amnesia, if anything, seeing as how they already killed him last year. Bad news, he's essentially useless to the team since they need him for his brain, and all the meaningful relationships in his life are back to square one. Good news, amnesia tropes are fun and we (hopefully) get to see him fall in love with a Jamie all over again.           

------------

kateschechterxthorwasmyfirstotp said: He saved Clem, Jamie and Jackson, he already saved the world by fixing the Noah Project cure.  He worked the cure for Clem, hid the monitors, and sent Jackson and Jamie ahead while he got the electric fences back up so the plane could take off.

kateschechterxthorwasmyfirstotp said: Because this is Zoo I don't think I am going to get it, but an argument between them referencing how each got to think the other was dead, and you're not dying without me, before they decide to send perennial 5th crew member Logan to do the stupid dangerous thing would be most welcome...    

kateschechterxthorwasmyfirstotp said: And yes, that beer thing was so true to the AU where Jamie and Mitch raised her together, it was nice.  I always got the impression from Jamie that any real guidance or active parenting she got ended at 11 when her Mom died, and she kind of raised herself after that.  But if anyone wanted to write the AU Mitch/Jamie learn saving the world is way easier than raising a teenager together fic, I would be so happy to read that.      

Replies below! They turned out way shorter than the original content. But I waste way too much time formatting stuff already.

a/c) I don't know if I forgot or just completely missed the part about him fixing the Noah Project Cure, but okay, that's a pretty big one. I was thinking that the Ghost Gene was only an issue when the gas was supposed to kill the animals, and that when it turned out to cause sterility instead of being lethal to animals, it rendered that point moot.

b) Why would you curse us this way. Zoofolk have spy ears everywhere! I can already hear them plotting how to make Mitch give Jackson a run for his money in the game of Worst Life Ever... albeit somewhat intrigued by how they might pull off an amnesia thing. (and now I have cursed us)

d) NEW DREAMS.

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Zoo 3.09

Quick (for me) hits 'cause this one's heavy on the exposition and plot advancement, and neither Logan nor the IADG has gotten any more interesting. .

First of all let me just go curl up over here and weep for joy at how the first word out of Jamie's mouth upon waking up is "Mitch," followed two seconds later by the horrified memory, "I hurt him." Also, HER FACE at Mitch being gone and possibly dead or at least lost to them for real this time? That's it, that's the Jamie I need. And praise this episode for showing me exactly how she went nuts the first time, but this time giving me the ability to fully understand it. Her primal rage while taking a knife to a Shepherd's throat made a lot more sense than when she was stabbing Mansfield in the hand. The laser focus on finding him fueled by open grief and rage like there must have been in the early days, before she learned how to harness and control it...yeah, season 3 is going to be much easier to rewatch now with this in mind. Sexy!Evil!Terminator!Mitch is still enjoyable in context and I love everything about Max and Jackson being all WTFJAMIE as she walks out to face him, her hella brave confidence in counting 17 rounds (and/or her hella sweetly stupid belief that he wouldn't pull the trigger even if she miscounted), and her kung fu knockout skills (will next episode be the one where she stops kicking his ass? who knows).  I have spoiled myself a tad on episode 10 so I know why she doesn't switch him back, but as much as I wish we had gotten a waking-up scene here, I still think it's interesting for the storyline. See also, "This Sarah Walker version of Jamie works for me now.” &Other Hearts * Max + Taking Care Of Jamie = Aces * Re: advising Abraham about leaving messages: I see Max's Love Doctor skills are not limited to Mitch and Jamie anymore... Nice. * Jackson's face lighting up when he sees (assumed to be) Mitch. And STILL trying to reach him through talk therapy. I'm uh...I'm gonna go over here and think about this in an Animorphs context, because this is some real Yeerk behavior and it would just be even more wrenching if Mitch's consciousness were not disconnected, merely disabled. * Him finally getting one over on Abigail and genuinely throwing her off her game was great. I guess Abby's got abandonment issues to match his survivor's-guilt ones. I love these poor screwed up children so much. (though the whole managing-to-make-Jackson-blame-himself-for-unintentionally-creating-an-orphan-while-TRYING-TO-ESCAPE-PEOPLE-WHO-TRIED-TO-HAVE-HIM-EATEN keeps my sympathy firmly suppressed, even before she tries to strangle him to death) * The joy of everyone (finally) coming to Jackson's rescue, and him doing the most believable job of sounding like someone who's actually been conked on the head, knowing he has important stuff to say but it all coming out kind of dazed and confused. * So this the real Sam Parker! I am more whelmed by his face than the other guy's (p.s. who the hell was he and why did Abigail kill him?), but not all the way there yet. Though I do feel sorry for him being raised and brainwashed by the antithesis of Jamie.  More thoughts on him later, since I've cheated a lil' bit to hear about his future role and I might be mixing things up with episode 10/11. (I had to skip most of the plane scenes with him because needles in the inner arm are my deepest body horror, but I hope he changed his mistrustful tune immediately upon meeting Abraham, because I don't know how anyone could spend two minutes with that man and not be immediately calmed and reassured by his soothing voice.) And a question, or five: HOLD UP how is Abigail a hybrid? Hybrid WHAT? Hybrid created HOW and WHY? (and DIDN'T I SAY at the beginning of the season that I felt strongly that part-human hybrids would come into play?? Whatever, this counts.)

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kateschechterxthorwasmyfirstotp said:                                                                        In all fairness, they are certainly the coolest, most badass middle age parents I have ever seen, and communicate as badly as teenagers in a CW show so…        

ho snaps new tagline

ZOO ON CBS: the coolest, most badass middle age parents you have ever seen -- with a CW teenager twist!

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Pair of literal porcupines omg. #Accurate. Have you considered running a blog titled The Big Book Of Zoo Terms where you just caption random screen shots from this show, because I really enjoy your identifiers.

And aww, I like that analysis of what Mitch is trying to do. And the phrasing of Jamie’s relationship to the cause. Much better than just Super Jamie.

Finally, I tend to be very tunnel-visiony in my Jamie-and-Jackson obsession, so I'm glad to hear other reactions to them, and specifically that I am not the only one to whom their extra feuding seems unnecessary.

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empress-of-snark replied to your post “Zoo 3.04”

I too have been thus far very disappointed with the utter lack of Jamie/Jackson friendship this season. It's criminal.                      And I agree, I think the execution of the Mitch/Jamie hookup was a little awkward, since it was in the middle of the episode/day and felt kinda casual, but I think they're making up for it with little moments in the following episodes that give them more of an actual 'relationship-y' vibe                    

So nothing to look forward to re: Jamie/Jackson, but stuff for Mitch/Jamie? You know, I believe that's a 40/60 split on my desires in my favor. I'll take it. Motivation to continue: increased!