Venice: Episode 212 - December 29, 2010 (Season Finale)

It's the season finale. This makes me sad

Sami is trying to call Owen but he's not picking up. He is however about to have sex with a girl he's got laying over a table. Unless he's filming something, but I doubt it. Sami leaves a message telling Owen that she diesn't know what is going on with him but that she wants to and to call her. I actually feel for and like Sami here. I don't trust her yet, but I do feel for her. She picks up the Hippo that Owen gave her as tears roll down her face. :(

The Colonel is working on his hand exercises. Gina tells The Colonel that he can have a cheeseburger as a treat after he finished his exercises. He pulls the letter she wrote to Ani out of her bag and takes it with him on his exercises. Seriously a huge step for him. You could see his internal struggle last season hurting over the fact that he couldn't accept Gina being gay. Now he's had so much time with her in a setting where she isn't his adversary on personal issues, but on health issues and with all of the pretense gone he can see her again like he used to before Katie died. He accepts now that Gina isn't some thing that he has to control or command, that she's her own person and a really great one at that. He is her dad and he doesn't like seeing her hurting so much. I've always loved Jordan, and he's amazing in this role.

Ani is sitting up in bed either reading or thinking, I can't actually see if she's got a book in her lap or not, when Lara wakes up. Probably thinking. If she does have a book she's not focused on it. Lara is facing away from her and starts talking, "Hey." Ah, Ani picked at invisible lint on her pajama pants. So, no book. I wonder how long she's been up because she's been doing some serious heavy thinking. Lara, "I don't know what to say...about last night. I know that I was out of control, and uh. I know that 'I'm sorry' is not enough." Ani is listening but doesn't say anything. Lara continues, "...and please know that I would never intentionally hurt you, okay. Please know..." Ani says, "I don't know anything anymore." and gets out of bed., This scene is brilliant because they never look at each other. Even though Lara turns her head in an attempt to pick up on some reaction from Ani, she doesn't turn enough to see her. Ani doesn't even glance her way. Lara is ashamed of her behavior, but I'm not sure that she fully understands the consequences of her actions or can truly be sorry for them and not just the situation in which she's found herself. She turns enough to see that Ani has gone then faces forward again and cries in self pity not because of the hurt she's caused Ani.

Van tells Sami that Owen got fired weeks ago from the film. Now see if he was working last night and not just engaging in some comfort sex from a random woman then Van has just made things soooo much worse. Yep, he's not a cool guy. :(


Gina has finished cooking the cheeseburger but can't find her dad. She can't even see him from the front door. Maybe he's behind one of the big trucks that the neighbors don't like. ;P

Michelle gets a call from Alan who has gotten the sketches. I don't know what he says, but Michelle says "Shit."

Sami catches up with Owen on the beach. She asks him where he's been and he says that he saw her kissing Van. She confronts him about the movie. She figures out that Van told her. Sami tells him that Van was kissing her and that she pulled away but that she doesn't know what she's feeling now. Owen apologizes, but Sami says, "Thank you for thinking the worst of me" and that they need a break and walks off.

Van is smuggly drinking on a patio somewhere. I think he's at Guya's.

Wow! Ani hit that wall a lot harder last night than it looks. She's looking at her bruised face in the bathroom mirror when Lara comes up behind her teary eyed and apologetic. She wraps her arms around Ani from behind and Ani doesn't resist, but she doesn't lean into her either. They have the conversation through the mirror. Ani says, "I know you didn't mean for this to happen, but it did." Lara says that she's sorry. Ani replies, "I love you. I do, but you need help." She's watching Lara in the mirror and when Lara's voice break on "I promise" you can see the struggle in Ani's eyes for a split second. She doesn't like seeing Lara hurt, but she can't let her off the hook and wrap her arms around her and tell that it's going to be okay. It still seems to me that Lara is more sorry and scared of Ani leaving than she is of what she did to Ani. Ani allows herself to lean into Lara and a single tear rolls down her cheek. Seriously Jessica!

The Colonel is walking to the neighborhood mailboxes. That's why Gina couldn't see him from the porch. He mails her letter to Ani, "Okay young girl. Okay." It's like he's saying, if this is what my baby wants then I'm okay with that. Aaawwwww!

Ooooo Amber is back at Guya's and she is not happy. She keeps screaming "You owe me!" Guya says that she's given her her money back and Amber says that Guya was supposed to be her best friend for life. Guya looks down and sees little flowers painted on Amber's finger nails and says, "Katie" Amber screams "Why did you do this to me?"

Yep. That's the end of the season folks. Sooooo is Guya seeing Katie in Amber or is Amber a manifestation of Guya's guilt? Hopefully we'll find out more in season three. No word on filming dates yet.

Venice: Episode 211 - December 22, 2010

Ani is waiting for Lara to get up. Lara says that it was a nice party. Ani says that it was until the end. She says that she's not a jealous girlfriend or anything but that it's not okay to see her all over Jess at the end of the night. Lara doesn't know what Ani's talking about. Ani asks her if she even remembers the end of the night because she was "a little drunk" Oh, Ani sweetie. She couldn't stand up on her own, that's more than "a little drunk". Lara says that she remembers everything. Ani calls her on it saying that she and Gina "had to haul your ass home because you were completely out of it." Ani brings up that she knows that Lara's under pressure. Lara slams her hands on the table and yells that she doesn't need more from Ani. Ani immediately goes into herself and gets this detached far-away look like she's watching what's going on between them but she's not a part of it. I am very familiar with that look. Ani has been in this situation before. She's got some back story I'd love to see explored! It's emotionally abusive even if indirectly. And then she says it. She's getting more and more freaked out and doesn't know if she can do it. Lara calls to Ani not to leave, but Ani keeps going out the door. She's right to do it. If she stays she'll get emotionally manipulated or she'll say something that she'll regret later. She needs to process away form the situation. Nadia and Jessica both do an excellent job here.

Owen is at Guya's and when she asks him about work he tells her that the director's nephew took his role. Yay to Owen for opening up to family. :) Owen tells Guya that he wants to have a future with Sami but that he can't let her be friends with Van. Guya tells Owen to not let Van get in his way. That is Sami loves Owen then she will forgive him for lying about work.

Gina covers a sleeping Colonel then reads a letter that she wrote to Ani telling her that she's ready now to love her but that she knows that she's happy with Lara. It's a long beautiful letter and Gina's crying by the end. She says in the letter that she'll probably never send it, but she puts it in an envelope and seals it with a kiss. Unbeknownst to her, The Colonel is awake and was listening to her read the letter. This stroke has allowed him to sit back and observe and forced him to not be in control. It's changed him for the better.

Van kisses Sami and she pushes him aware. Owen sees the kiss, but not the rebuff.

Lara is at High Bar drowning her publishing deal loss in bloody marys.

Ani and Gina are on the beach. Ani notices when Gina refers to The Colonel as her dad. It's sweet. :) Ani tells Gina that she and Lara fought. That maybe she's being gun shy after her relationship with.... Gina says, "With me." and assures her that it's okay. She asks Ani what she wants to to. Ani wants her to be okay and Gina tells her that it will be tough but that she'll need to stick by Lara if she wants to help her.

Jamie called a car for Lara and helps her to it to get her home.

Guya is upset and Brandon comes up to comfort her. She had a nightmare last night and started crying when he tried to wake her. I'm glad that he's there to be attentive and help her. He's just what she didn't realize that she needed.

Gina tells The Colonel that "his friend's death was an accident" that it was an aneurysm and she thought he'd like to know. He thanks her. Sweet!

Ani goes to Lara's and finds her lying on the couch drinking. Lara says that she's all talked out and Ani tells her that she knows about the missed deadlines. Lara is upset that Ani read her e-mails. Ani says that she understands the pressure that she was under now. Lara is melting down and Ani is right there for her. Lara says that she expects perfection. Ani says that she knows that but that she thought Lara wanted 'them' too. Ani hugs Lara then Lara freaks and pushes Ani who hits a wall head first. Ani slides tot he floor crying but not injured and Lara is in shock and starts apologizing and crying and leans into Ani. Ani seems to make a decision before putting her hand on Lara's head to calm her.
Ani is going to kill me having to watch her try and be there for Lara.


Another powerful episode with phenomenal performances!

Venice: Episode 202 - October 20, 2010

Owen and Sami wake up in their South African Village. I have Owen's sleeping bag!!! :) They are cute. Owen tells Sami that they built a cell tower last night in the village. So he now gets all of the messages that Gina left for him telling him about The Colonel's stroke.

Ani shows up at Lara's with soy latte and tells her that she has to go meet Gina because of The Colonel's stroke. Jamie called her to let her know, she hasn't talked to Gina yet. Ani is looking beautiful. Okay, Jessica looks beautiful always and by default Ani is also breathtaking. Ani asks Lara if she's okay with Ani visiting Gina. Lara says that Gina is Ani's past, and that she herself is Ani's "here and now".

Owen and Sami and Gina are talking about The Colonel's stroke. Owen tries to figure out why Gina was there when it happened. She's evasive for obvious reasons and Owen finally backs off when Sami steps in. Sami suggests a round-the-clock nurse so that neither Gina nor Owen has to stay with him and he doesn't have to go to a rehab facility. Sami leaves and is being watched/followed by someone in grey shorts.

Guya tells Gina that Van is coming home and looking to work things out with Owen. When she hangs up with Gina she turns around and sees the mystery woman from the previous night. She asks if she's there for an appointment and turns around to check her schedule. When she turns back around the mystery woman has disappeared without ever having said a word.

Katherine is at High Bar and sees a young woman there. She starts talking to herself and practicing many different pick-up scenarios. She's not doing well working up to asking the woman out, but Alan walks up to her and distracts her. Apparently Alan calls her Elizabeth and is the only one to do so.

Gina and Jamie are walking on the beach debriefing each other about the event of the last night. Jamie tells Gina that the dead hooker wasn't from a service but someone that The Colonel was seeing exclusively (although the same wasn't true for her). Jamie also tells Gina that the woman's alias was Candy Cane. They share a laugh before Gina takes comfort in a hug from Jamie. It's been a long few hours. .

Sami is approached my Van on the beach and they share stories of world travel she tells him that she volunteers at a soup kitchen and suggests that he try it too. She makes sure to let him know that she has a boyfriend.

Gina is sitting on the beach and Ani walks up and sits next to her. Gina is surprised and comforted and grateful that Ani is there. Ani says that "Of course I am (here)." and takes Gina's hand in both of hers. They are both killing this little scene without doing much of anything because Jessica and Crystal can rock the unspoken conveyances.

Venice: Episode 201 - September 29, 2010

I could have sworn that I had already written a review of the first episode of the season, but if I did I have no idea where it went so......


The episode opens with a recap "Previously on Venice" for which I am grateful. Not that I haven't watched the season one episodes recently, but it's a great way to introduce new viewers to the second season.

Gina and The Colonel are arguing over the dead body that he's just shown her. He's telling her that she's going to help him and she says that she's not. That he's only thinking of himself and not about her career or life. Personally I was surprised that she even showed up when he called at the end of last season, but I know that I would do the same thing in her situation. Just as GIna is going to open the door and leave, The Colonel collspes and GIna calls 911. She then calls someone to help her. Her voice is calm and measured so you know she's calling for help with the dead body.

Lara is annoyed with her editor and is not in a good mood then turns around to find Ani making her a nice snack . Lara has given her a key to use anytime she wants. Lara is ranting about her editor and gets up to take a shot of something harder than wine, then comes back to pick up her glass. Ani is watching with concern and a bit of shock. When Lara sits back down Ani moves in behind her to massages her shoulders and relax her. Lara asks about Ani's work and while Ani is having problems with jobs being postponed and rescheduled she's not nearly as angry about them as Lara and kind of brushes them off. She tells Lara that she Googles the New York TImes bestseller list every morning and sees the picture of Lara and says, "That's my girlfriend!" Lara says that Ani is adorable and who can argue with that, because in fact Jessica is playing her so very very well. They get up to dance and kiss. The look in Ani's eyes seems to say that she's trying to distract Lara from her bad mood. She seems to get the drinking issue and is instead offering herself as a substitute. While sweet, that tactic doesn't work well in the long run and can end up being just as detrimental to Ani, causing her to lose herself.

Guya sees a woman outside and is stunned but turns away for a moment and when she looks back the woman (Liz Keifer) is gone. Guya gets a phone call presumabley to tell her about The Colonel collapsing.

Owen has created a little African Village for Sami where there is no cell service, but there is a picnic. They make love on the sleeping bag he's set out in the living room.

Jess (Venice fan "bidforvenice" on Twiter, Anita) is filling in for Tracy and meeting with Michelle. We learn from this conversation that Gina and Tracy are over and that Tracy has thrown herself into her work.

Jamie is 'The Cleaner' and is taking care of things at The Colonel's house. He wonders what he's gotten himself into, and we wonder the same thing. Poor Jamie.

Gina is looking through a box of photos and comes across one that has to have been her mother and father and herself when she was an infant. Then she comes across one of her and Ani (one of the photos of Crystal and Jessica at Crystal's CCnFriends fan luncheon in October of 2009) and breaks down into sobs. Poor Gina.

Hugs to Jamie and Gina!
Crystal, Jessica, Jordan, Harrison and Nadia really turned in great performances for this opening episode. That's not to says that anyone else sucked mind you, just that those five characters had much more layered scenes emotionally in this episode.

Venice: Episode 6 - Jan 22, 2010

I just finished watching the episode and am writing this after only one viewing. We'll see how it goes. :)
First I want to say, "Wow! Really pretty eyes!" The lighting was great and with no glare the close-up shots really showed off Galen's and Gina's eyes. Absolutely beautiful, both of them.
Okay, moving on. That looked to be a very nice little blind date. Sami is quite the catch, isn't she? Owen sure seemed impressed. I do think it's kind of funny though, when Gina asks him later how 'Birkenstock Girl' was, that he didn't mention the Peace Corps.
I can't believe Owen threw the beer can in the hedges! Dude, that's not right. :) Poor Gina, you could feel her nervousness about going in. I almost thought for a minute there that the bottle she had was for her own use, but no. She's trying so hard for The Colonel to accept something about her that she brings a gift to the family dinner. It's not like bringing a bottle of wine to share over dinner. I want to give Gina a hug all through the 'pleasantries' between The Colonel and Gina and Owen. She just looks so scared of what's coming, and she has a right to be it turns out. Kudos to her for standing up to him, and for jumping in to defend her brother.
I'm curious about the lipstick tube that The Colonel put in his pocket. (even if it was back sitting on top of the sideboard when he turned around with the drinks) Is it his late wife's and he's keeping it close to him because, like Guya said, they were doing the family thing because Katie would want it, so he's using it to keep him focused, calm, intent on trying to be accepting? If so it didn't work. (But it wasn't actually in his pocket, so maybe it would have had it been with him)
When Owen turned around and double flipped off the front of the house as they were leaving, the Grim Reaper/Skeleton in the yard next door kind of looked like he was giving an eerie approval, and the cross/headstone yard decoration just made the yard feel as judgmental as the living room did. They did an excellent job of making that room feel small and oppressive when it needed to be and opening and welcoming when Owen and Gina first walked in. When they arrived the only tension/disapproval seemed to feel like it was coming from The Colonel (excellent job Jordan btw), but as the scene progressed it felt like it was coming from all sides. Great use of space and camera angles in this episode!

Guiding Light airdate September 1, 2009

Shivaree! Oh, my goodness! They are just pulling out all of the old traditions with Billy and Vanessa aren't they.
Lizzie is right, it's a bad idea and one that had me dreading a wedding when I was a kid. (One too many viewings of 'Oklahoma!') Aaaww, Lizzie is so cute wanting her parents together. 'Cause they do belong together.

James and the cereal! He loves his cereal doesn't he?

Aw, Beth's face when she thinks Lillian is cheating on Buzz. Aaawww, so cute!!!! Love Tina and Beth in scenes together!

Alex! Heehee, she cleaned out the box of Apple Jacks! Marj is awesome and she and Grant are great together.

Reva and Vanessa and Reva realizing that Vanessa really does want her to be the Maid of Honor. Tears of joy and talk of the past. Deeply touching scene from Kim and Maeve!

Bizzie! Bill's all about telling peeps he and Lizzie are actively trying to have a baby. lol

Billy called Alan an old sourpuss! Ha!

Phillip and James. Wow, Phillip is trying so hard. He needs hugs!

Lizzie and Reva joking about matching, it's funny because they have the same hair color too, just that Reva's is shorter! Heeheehee.

Horseshoes! Whoa! That was an awesome shot, tossing them straight toward the camera! Excellent!

Lillian and Alan ... guh! subtle and emotional... wow Ron and Tina!

Alex is great today. I wonder if James spiked the cereal with something that gave her the munchies. :) James and Alex are going to play frisbee.

Beth is so speaking about Phillip and Olivia both. And she's right given what she knows, or doesn't know in this case.

Aw, more Lewis family together time. My friend has those wine glasses (also the matching shot glasses) I love Lizzie saying that she's always been a little scared of Vanessa and everyone agreed. Vanessa is such a proper person I can see where Reva and the Lewis' would feel a little intimidated. So much fun, this scene! I saw a younger 12 year old Bill at that table toasting his parents. Beautifully written, shot and acted scene all around.
Gosh! That had to have been emotionally hard to film considering that the end is getting closer.

Holy cow! Phillip and Alan .... ::tears:: Well done.

Lillian begging Ed to do something to save Phillip. It's so sweet and tragic and soapy and awesome.


I am going to miss this show so very very much!

Guiding Light airdate August 28, 2009

When Frank had everyone gathered at Company, Lillian asked if Buzz was alright, Christina asked if Remy was with him, those are logical questions since Buzz went to find Remy and Cyrus, but Frank said that he didn't know if Remy was with Buzz and then Marina asked if, "they found Cyrus." Um, Marina, I'm pretty sure that Remy knew where Cyrus was, since he flew down there with him. This kind of deductive reasoning explains the file cabinet evidence locker at the SFPD. :)
Ha! Frank is telling someone to be supportive of Buzz's adventures! That's a twist. :)
I get Natalia's reaction to Rafe's news. My mom did the same thing when she found out that I hadn't canceled my flight to NYC after 9-11. (I told her I was going on 9-10 and the flight was 9-28, when she found out that I was still planning on going she freaked out and called the airline to see if they'd allow a cancellation, after I told her I was still going, and I was in my 20s) On a lighter note the quart of milk on the table (Horizon organic whole milk, my favorite) is the same brand/size maybe even the same carton, that she's drinking out of later at the Minimart. Can I just say how much I really enjoy Jessica's acting.

Nice little jab at the network from the Guiding Light writers here.
Vanessa: "Television's not the game it once was."
Josh: "Yeah, I know. You can't really count on anything these days can you."
Maeve Kinkead so much rocks. I loooove Vanessa's voice cracking with she says, "... that I love him."

Blake grabbing the phone from Frank and him giving her a 'WTH?' look. Too too funny. lol

Olivia: "Yay! Oh, I'm glad I ran into you..." Too cute! Okay, I really just absolutely loved everything about Olivia's scenes with Josh. Love the 'yay'. Crystal Chappell is amazing and Robert Newman awesome, carry on.

Another shout out to Jessica's acting. When Natalia feels like she can't control a situation and she doesn't have a plan she clenches her fist. She did it after the FoD when Frank was following her down the stairs, she did it at the GoL when Olivia was trying to get her to go back to the wedding, she did it when Olivia walked away from her at the park, and she's doing it again in this scene where she tries to get Frank to change Rafe's mind about enlisting. Also the constant tiny shaking of the head when she's not liking or agreeing with what she's hearing. Major props to Jessica Leccia! I can't wait to see her on another show or movie. (Yes I'm looking forward to Venice, but I really want to see her land a great paying job too.)

Why does Company keep the highchairs outside?

Loooove that you can tell that Vanessa sees the ring and doesn't have to almost drink it and that she says, 'Yes' without even pulling it out. She doesn't need to really see the ring, she just needed to know that Billy still wanted it. Guh! Love this show, am gonna miss it so much! Billy getting choked up and teary eyed!!!!!! OMG! OMG! OMG! Just beautiful! Olivia and Josh, so cute!

Flashlight! I haven't heard that song (on the show) in so long! It's so good to hear it again. :)

Oh, and yes, Daisy is drinking wine. Remember it is okay for underage people to drink as long as it's a cop that gives them the alcohol. :D Or maybe they've decided to let her be her actual age of 26 since Rafe did not have alcohol.

Okay, Olivia and Natalia outside of Olivia's room. Holy cow! That's all I've got. Script, brilliant, acting phenomenal, subtle, layered, evocative. You can see so clearly that Olivia wants more than anything to be able to be what Natalia needs her to be, but she's been there before and got burned by Natalia once already. Natalia really needs Olivia, but now she's starting to understand, really see, that Olivia isn't just being stubborn, she's deeply wounded. Wow, just wow!

Josh and Olivia again. Aaawwww!
Natalia's prayer for Rafe, 'to watch over him and protect him' I expected, but 'teach him what I haven't' for some reason that just about killed me. I think it was that she played it so humbly. Just honest and fully admitting that she can't do anymore so she's handing the care of Rafe over to God. She needed to be able to do this, she's been taking on so much guilt over Rafe's actions for too long now.

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.