Review: 'The Last of Us' Season 2

 Oh, man. So, I just finished the second season of The Last of Us, and my brain is completely melted. It’s like, you think you’ve seen it all, you know? You've seen the dragons, the spaceships, the superheroes... but then a show comes along and just absolutely lays you out. This season, brother, it’s not just television; it's an emotional demolition derby. And I loved every single, heartbreaking second of it.

You know that thing where you get so invested in characters that you start to feel their pain? This season is a masterclass in that. After the first season, you're all cozy and comfortable with Joel and Ellie. You're like, "They're a team! They're gonna go on more adventures and kill more zombies!" And then the show's like, "Nope! Not on our watch!" They take everything you think you know and just… smash it. It’s a bold, ballsy move that I completely respect, because it’s not for the sake of shock value. It’s for the sake of the story. It's the kind of storytelling that makes you lean forward and scream at the screen.

And Ellie's journey this season... holy smokes. Ashley Johnson and Bella Ramsey both played this character, and they’re both incredible. You watch her transformation from this snarky, kind of guarded kid into this absolutely rage-filled, grief-stricken adult, and you feel every single moment of it. It’s a performance that should be studied in acting classes, man. It’s that good. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion—it’s awful, it’s beautiful, and you just can’t look away.

The show, once again, doesn't pull any punches. The violence is brutal and unflinching, but it’s always in service of the theme. It’s about the cycle of violence, about how hate consumes you, and how trying to get revenge just turns you into the very thing you hate. It's heavy stuff, man, but it's handled with such grace and humanity that it feels important. It feels like they're telling you something real about the world, even though it's all fake zombies and fungus.

So, yeah, if you’re a fan of the first season, buckle up. This isn't just a sequel; it’s a necessary, powerful expansion of the story that will leave you thinking about it for days. It's a testament to what television can be when it trusts its audience and commits to telling a difficult, complicated story. Absolutely loved it. Go watch it. Just have a box of tissues ready. And maybe a therapist on speed dial.

Book Report: 'How to Win Friends and Influence People'

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an essential read that works as as tool to refine your skills of persuasion, manners, message delivery, and far most importantly, manipulation.

The last part may seem like a cynical take, but it's tough to deny that the book preaches that getting your way is paramount, and the means to an end, no matter how seemingly virtuous are nothing more than your "Art of War"-like stratagems.

Most of the advice centers around detachment and empathy. By separating yourself from the task at hand and seeing things from your adversary's perspective, you can design gambits that get them to drop their inhibitions and shift to your manner of thinking.

The examples given of the success of such tactics often seem exaggerated, but there's little debate that in most cases, underplaying your hand works far better than intensity and pressure.

Recommendations include softening bad news or criticism with compliments, ignoring the objective of your conversation in order to forge a connection that will make the person you're speaking to more agreeable.

Timeless, reliable and still ahead of its time decades after publication, Dale Carnegie's book provides crucial words to live by. I recommend it to all, as well as to myself to reinforce the stark, beneficial truths within.

View all my reviews

 

Arizona Theatre Company Review: ''Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - Apt. 2B'

Offering a fresh, feminist twist on the Arthur Conan Doyle dynamic, "Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - Apt. 2B" is a breezy, crowd-pleasing production filled with mystery, humor and pizzazz.

The four-member cast bursts with energetic aplomb, delivering rapid-fire dialogue packed with pop culture references, broad physical gags and displaying ample chemistry.

Kelen Coleman, as Sherlock Holmes, is the focal point and undisputed star of the production. A veteran of TV series "How to Get Away with Murder," "The Mindy Project," "The Office" and "The Newsroom," she thrives on dry, pompous mystery explanations. Her counterpart, Regina Fernandez, plays befuddled roommate Joan Watson, thriving on zealous reactions and excelling as the constant butt of jokes.

Aaron Cammack thrives as Inspector Lestrade, a prim, by-the-book detective who scrambles to keep up with Holmes, and wildcard Michelle Duffy, as notorious escort Irene Adler, offers off-kilter momentum shifts, forging a rift in the Holmes-Watson friendship with her shameless flirtation.

The cast makes up for the often uneven writing, willing jokes into laughter with grand flourishes and subtle touches. Interacting like clockwork, the performers sell a series of vignettes with self-aware panache, letting the audience in on the fun as the ludicrously complicated mysteries unravel with improbable twists.

Well worth a look for fans of the Sherlock Holmes oeuvre, "Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson" doles out whimsical delights. The decision of whether or not to spend a night with the two sleuths should be elementary.

"Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - Apt. 2B' plays at The Temple of Music and Art trough June 7 and in Phoenix June 14-29. Buy tickets here.

Broadway in Tucson Review: 'Mamma Mia!'

Judging from the sunny dispositions and raucous enthusiasm of the cast, "Mamma Mia!" must be just as much to perform as it is to watch. The combination of the feel-good song and dance numbers, upbeat story and head-bopping, toe-tapping rhythms make the musical feel like an interactive wedding dance in which everyone on the floor has had just the right amount to drink.

The 1999 jukebox musical, which embraces ABBA music via" Catherine Johnson's book, doesn't so much tour the nation as it does bounce from city to city, bringing its sense of unbridled joy intertwined with its cultural touchstone numbers. The iconic songs in the film have managed to touch several generations, granting each a sense of giddy nostalgia. 

The show would be insanely fun even if this were a community theater production, but the considerable talent in the cast manages to make it more than even the impressive sum of its parts. The show's shining star is Christina Merrill as Donna, the mother of a bride-to-be looking to discover the identity of her father. A veteran of the long-running Las Vegas residency of the show, she belts out tunes with the operatic gusto of a diva, captivating the audience with wildly confident, iron-lunged flourishes that leave no question as to the depths of her talents.

Amy Weaver lends a bouncy enthusiasm to Sophie, Donna's daughter, who's set herself on the quixotic quest. Blake Price, Jim Newman and Victor Wallace contribute impressive turns as Donna's three former flings, all whom Sophie believes could be her father. A game ensemble cast executes energetic, athletic choreography, which prioritizes explosive outbursts of enthusiasm over lockstep precision.

"Mamma Mia!" flies by like a summer breeze, with a continuous succession of ABBA bangers that hardly lets you pause for breath, much less gather yourself to grant each its proper applause. Working in front of spare sets, the magnetism of the actors brings the characters to vivid prominence in ways the film adaptation couldn't quite execute. Live theater, ideally with a top-flight cast such as this, surrounded by fans appreciating the spectacle like a raucous rock concert crowd, is the only way to truly feel this show's groove. 

From the rafters, this show screams "take a chance on me!" And it would be foolish to disobey. "Mamma Mia!" is too much fun to pass up.

"Mamma Mia plays" at Centennial Hall through May 25. Buy tickets here.

Early Game Review: 'Deliver at All Costs'

Filled with wild action, ceaseless momentum and ample whimsy, "Deliver at All Costs," due out Thursday, is a rambunctious and often hilarious thrill ride.

Swedish developer Far Out Games Studio, working under publisher Konami, captures the spirit of "Crazy Taxi" with a heavy dash of "Grand Theft Auto," tinted with 1950s tropes.

As delivery driver Winston Green, you're tasked with taking on payloads that are often absurd, dangerous and wacky. You find yourself sinking deeper into a tapestry of mysteries, dodging explosions and taking on all manner of obstacles and enemies.

A smile was plastered on my face throughout my time with "Deliver at All Costs." There is plenty of replayability, with a progression system that incentivizes refining your techniques and incrementally improving your adaptability.

While "Deliver at All Costs" may not rake in universal praise, it's enough of a crowd-pleaser to maintain a place on the home screen of gamers of all stripes. Sprinting a mile in Winston Green's shoes is a breathless, grin-inducing rush. 

Publisher provided review code.

Box Break: 2025 Topps Heritage Hobby Box #2

A Corbin Carroll relic is within.

Box Break: 2025 Bowman Value Box

 

Deal Alert: How to Get a Free iPhone 16 Pro on T-Mobile

Those looking to snag a free iPhone 16 without having to cough up a device for trade-in should consider taking advantage of a new offer by T-Mobile.

The unprecedented offer comes with the carrier's new Experience Beyond plan, which comes with several add-in offers, such as free Apple TV+, Hulu, Netflix and season-long subscriptions to MLS Season Pass and MLB.TV. There's also a five-year price lock guarantee. For more T-Mobile iPhone deals, click here. 

Information from T-Mobile news release. This is not a paid post.

Box Break: 2025 Topps Heritage Hobby Box

 See which relic I pulled.

Book Report: 'Prep, Push, Pivot'

 

Prep, Push, Pivot: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women by Octavia Goredema
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Octavia Goredema's career coaching book is filled with crucial advice for those at any career stage looking to get ahead or change course. It's geared toward women of color, but the advice isn't specific to any gender or ethnic group.

Her advice consists of pragmatic approaches to asking for raises and promotions, positioning yourself for higher-paying, more prestigious career paths, making yourself more visible in the corporate culture and seeking a mentor while becoming one to others.

At times, Goredema's advice is tainted by mild naivete, and she is prone to overpromoting her own business and workshops, but that doesn't taint the rock-solid advice within. This book would make a great college graduation gift, but should also be required reading for anyone unhappy with their career path.

View all my reviews

Review: 'Last Week Tonight'

 

When Last Week Tonight first premiered, the prospect of a show dedicated to deep-diving into a single, often obscure, news topic for half an hour seemed like a gamble. In a media environment that prizes brevity and hot takes, John Oliver’s approach was a defiant anachronism. 

Yet, in its time on the air, the show has evolved into a television essential, not merely a comedy program but a vital form of broadcast journalism and public service. It is a testament to the idea that a compelling, well-researched argument is more powerful than a soundbite. The show's structure is its greatest strength. It’s a beautifully simple formula: a brief, punchy monologue on the week’s headlines, followed by a sprawling, meticulously researched segment on one topic. 

Oliver’s genius lies in his ability to make dense, bureaucratic subjects—from net neutrality to gerrymandering—not just understandable but genuinely entertaining. He uses humor not as a distraction, but as a vehicle for information. 

The jokes are there, but they are a way into the topic, a spoonful of sugar that helps a very large, often bitter, pill go down. It's a style that manages to be simultaneously furious and funny, a tricky balance that Oliver and his writing staff have perfected. 

 Beyond the comedy, the show's value is in its thoroughness. In a world where most of us only skim headlines, Oliver’s team dedicates an extraordinary amount of time to explaining a subject from all angles, providing historical context, and highlighting the real-world consequences. It's a reminder of what long-form journalism can accomplish, and it is a stark contrast to the fleeting, often superficial coverage that dominates cable news. 

The show treats its audience with respect, assuming they are intelligent and capable of following a complex argument, so long as it is presented with clarity and wit. Ultimately, Last Week Tonight has carved out a unique space in the cultural landscape. It’s a show that informs as much as it entertains, a program that holds institutions accountable with a laugh, and a necessary voice in a noisy world. 

It demonstrates that a single, intelligent perspective, armed with facts and a microphone, can still make a difference. It’s more than just a late-night show; it’s a public service, and a brilliant one at that.

Box Break: 2020 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Hobby Box

This was a dud.

T-Mobile Mother's Day Deals

Sam Looney curated some T-Mobile tech deals geared toward Mother's Day. Here are some highlights: 

Phone offers include a free iPhone 16 Pro with eligible trade-in on Go5G Next or Experience Beyond, a free Google Pixel 9a with an eligible trade-in or when adding a line on most plans.

You can also grab a free 40mm Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen or 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 when adding a watch line. There's also a 50% off offer on an iPad A16 when adding a new tablet line.

For the full slate of picks from Looney, read more here.

This information originated with a T-Mobile news release. This post was not sponsored.

Box Break: 2023 Panini Contenders Football Hobby Box

 See which autograph and relics I pull.

Box Break: 2021 Topps Debut Baseball

 See which three autographs I pulled.