Stranger Things (Season 2, Netflix 2017)

I just finished season 2 of Stranger Things. I feel that season 1 is still my favorite but that does not mean I did not enjoy the second. It's just in season 1 I felt it was more of an adventure like being taken on a ride. But just like the young actors of the show are growing up, so did the story. Season 2 becomes more serious, gritty and more of the horror genre. In this season since the rip between dimensions had not been sealed, the Upside Down is encroaching on our world and trying to over run it. We find out where Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) has been. She goes on a journey to discover her roots and her own story. She becomes a real bad ass. The stand out though this season was definitely Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo). He really takes the lead this go around. As in the premier season this season gives you some references to 80s movies. There's a great tribute to Ghostbusters. I saw a scene that made me think of Stand By Me with a deep discussion going on between Dustin and Steve (Joe Keery) walking along train tracks.  But I feel they referenced a 70s movie- The Exorcist with Will (Noah Schnapp). Some characters were added. There is Dr. Owens (Paul Reiser), Bob (Sean Astin), Max (Sadie Sink), and Billy (Dacre Montgomery). Not all these new characters make it to the finish line. I have read that season 3 is in the works with the Duffer Brothers starting to write it. So stay tuned fellow Eggo Waffle lovers!

Liar (TV Series, Sundance 2017)

Liar is a dark story. Nothing lighthearted here. It starts out innocent enough. A teacher who has recently broken up with her husband goes out on a date with the father of one of her students who is also a well respected surgeon. But the day after the date the allegation of rape is made. Laura (Joanne Froggatt) goes to her sister's house. Her sister who is an anesthesiologist that works with the surgeon is surprised to hear that her co-worker Andrew could do this. Her sister never the less supports her and takes her to the police to report the crime. Things are a bit hazy for Laura who believes she had been drugged. Since she had invited him in to her home when his phone had died and there is no evidence of violence, the police are trying to find evidence. This story is relevant in so many ways to the times we live in right now. We have the whole Harvey Weinstein story in the headlines with rape and sexual harassment. And another situation in the story so far brings into question about how we use social media. When Laura feels that she is not being believed by the police she posts her story online which brings out all the opinions of either he is scum or she is a whore. She then regrets that decision. And at the beginning we are not sure who to believe because we hear how she might have been unstable at one point in her life and there are questions over Andrew's (Ioan Gruffudd) wife's suicide 11 years ago. A very tense and serious story that is well acted by Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) and Ioan Gruffudd (Forever, Fantastic Four).

Shania Twain Now (Album 2017)

Shania Twain has finally given her fans new music after 15 years with Now. Shania has always been about the now. She has never been old country. Born in Canada, she always brought a new spin to the genre which is why it was easy for her to be a crossover artist. But her own life at times has been reminiscent of an old school crying in my beer country song. Her parents were killed in a vehicle accident when she was 21 which left her caring for her 3 younger siblings. In 2010 she divorced from her husband of 17 years, Mutt Lange who left her for her best friend. Shania remarried in 2011 to that same best friend's husband. Ya confusing I know. And, she lost her singing voice for several years due to Lyme Disease and has struggled to get it back. Which makes all this new music a triumph. These days her voice is a little more constrained but it doesn't diminish the music. It looks like most agree on that because the album has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Albums chart. I'll highlight my favorite tracks. Poor Me highlights her strong ability with irony on words. ~Poor me this, poor me that/ Why do I keep looking back? Poor me this, poor me that/ It's not white, it's not black/ Grey's the color that I see/ Still can't believe he'd leave me/ To love her/ Pour me another~ The romantic Light Of My Life has a 60s vibe in the chorus. We Got Something They Don't is a smoking hot little number. You Can't Buy Love is perky and fun. Life's About To Get Good is pure Shania and sure to put you in a good mood. Swinging With My Eyes Closed which is about confidence and faith will get you going. She's swinging with her eyes closed but once again she hits it out of the park. She will be touring in 2018 to promote Now and this fan already has her ticket.