Music has been a constant thread in the fabric of film and television. A good score or soundtrack can bring a story to life. Lemonade has taken this to a whole new level.

Lemonade is not just a project that crosses genres but mediums as well. It’s as much a film as it is music. Beyoncé effortlessly blends each song and video together to tell a story of heartbreak and reconciliation that many are familiar with. But more than that, it’s an anthem, a Black girl anthem.

Black women stay getting the shaft in television and film. Whether it’s Candice Patton receiving flack for taking on the role of Iris West or Nicole Baharie getting sidelined on Sleepy Hollow. But in Lemonade, not only are Black women present, they are front and center. They are appreciated.

We see Black Girl Magic, both present and future. We see Zendaya, Amandla Steinberg, and Quvenzhané Wallis. Beyoncé even brought in Serena Williams. So much Black Girl Magic my mind almost exploded.

In a medium where Black women are put down, it’s good for them to have something where they shine. Something they can say is theirs. Lemonade is theirs.

Lemonade is available for purchase on iTunes.

The post Not Your Grandma’s ‘Lemonade’ But Still As Good appeared first on Films of Color.

Most of us were drawn into Sleepy Hollow with its quirky premise and undeniable chemistry between the two main characters, Ichabod Crane and Abigail “Abbie” Mills. The first season took us on an adventure as they tried to navigate their shared destiny.

It didn’t matter that Ichabod was married to the witch, Katrina. We were told by AppleCare that Katrina wouldn’t be a main focus. She would be more of a supporting character. But that was a lie.

Katrina’s and Henry Noble’s storylines were elevated while Abbie’s, Jenny’s, and Captain Irving’s were drastically reduced. Katrina was supposed to be so powerful but was always in peril. Abbie once had to cast a spell that this so called powerful witch couldn’t cast. The only magic Katrina was able to cast was dying her hair an unnatural color in colonial times. Yet, it was Abbie who was sidelined.

And now Abbie is gone. Her send off was a hot mess. It was anticlimactic. They teased the relationship of Abbie and Ichabod all season long with no payoff. There was no declaration of love. And Abbie is content to give up her life for the advancement Ichabod, even though it was supposed to be their shared destiny. No fight or nothing.

We should’ve known something was up when Abbie got a promotion to the FBI. It was too good to be true. Speaking of the FBI, what’s going to happen to Danny? Jenny? Will they get phased out? Abbie was the glue that held all the characters together. With the exception of Betsy Ross, Abbie was the center of their little web. She was the heart of show, the reason a lot of us stuck around.

When they didn’t ask Orlando Jones back, we should’ve known it was the beginning of the end. And now Nicole Baharie is ready to move on. How bad were things on set that the lead is fine with leaving after only three years?

Nicole Baharie will be fine. She is a talented actor and has her whole career ahead of her. I can’t wait to see what she does next, but my soul is ready. Sleepy Hollow on the other hand won’t be fine. At this point, they’ll be lucky to match their Season Two ratings.

Will you be giving Season Four a shot if it gets renewed? What’s your favorite Abbie moment?

The post Abbie Mills Does Indeed Deserve Better appeared first on Films of Color.

Another week means another edition of Hit, Miss, or Let. Let’s get right to it.

Hits

Minority Report – 1×07 – “Honor Among Thieves”

This episode was much better than the last. It put the focus back on the core team, with Dash going on his first solo mission. So of course things were bound to go awry. It was okay because it gave a chance for Vega and Arthur to partner up and they actually have a nice synergy.

Being Mary Jane – 3×04 – “Being Kara”

I don’t think there’s any show that explores the Black experience quite like Being Mary Jane. In the follow up of the suicide episode, this episode seems to be more about dealing with pain and stress. Mary Jane has her Cutty Buddy. Kara is still trying to figure that out, although she’s yelling for now. This episode does give us a glimpse into Kara’s life and lets us see why she is the way she is. Her kids are giving her the blues. And Loretta Devine is acting her butt off in this Hotep deviation from her normal characters.

Sleepy Hollow – 3×06 – “This Red Lady from Caribee”

Three major things worked for this episode. No father drama. Whatever Pandora’s planning has come to a head. And Jenny is still headlining her own storyline and being a boss.

How to Get Away with Murder – 2×07 – “I Want You to Die”

I don’t know how How to Get Away with Murder manages to sustain such a high level of quality, but it seems to get better each week. Annalise is losing it, but her shade game remains strong. Bonnie is turning into a serial killer (and not a very good one).  They even managed to get Oliver involved and kidnapped. If HTGAWM had Scandal’s time slot, it would be perfect.

Misses

Rosewood – 1×06 – “Policies and Ponies”

Rosewood was missing that spark this week. Rosie and Villa’s relationship was front and center, and I could’ve done without it. The case of the week focused on the captain, but we haven’t been given many reasons to care about him. The only highlight was Rosie’s father popping up which sets up for the next episode.

Empire – 2×06 – “A High Hope for a Low Heaven”

All I’m going to say about Empire is Hakeem was kidnapped and released before the first commercial break. It went downhill from there.

Scandal – 5×07 – “Even the Devil Deserves a Second Chance”

We keep going in circles and landing back where we started. Even Jake is getting tired of it. Olivia is about to take the power of the presidential office for herself, but it seems a couple of seasons too late. And there was no Mellie.

Make sure to let us know what your hits and misses are.

The post Hit, Miss, or Let – Week of 11/02/2015 appeared first on Films of Color.

Halloween was this weekend, and some of our favorite shows celebrated the holiday. And other shows like Rosewood and Empire had a bye week due to the World Series (congrats to the Royals). It may have been a holiday, but the show must go on. We have a new edition of Hit, Miss, or Let.

Hits

Being Mary Jane – 3×03 – “Sparrow”

Being Mary Jane pulled out all the stops this episode. It explores suicide and how we deal with it in the Black Community. It also explores how sometimes our friendships devolve and fall apart. And Mary Jane goes on a reading spree, with David and Lisa’s father being casualties.

Black-ish – 2×06 – “Jacked O’ Lantern”

It may have been a Halloween episode, but the theme of this episode is that family is always there for you. Dre’s cousin bullies him, but it comes from a place of love as he secretly protects him. And then that is mirrored with the Johnson children who are bullied and protected by their cousins. Rainbow learns that Halloween is not as safe as she once thought. And of course Ruby hands out salvation to trick or treaters.

Sleepy Hollow – 3×05 – “Dead Men Tell No Tales”

Sleepy Hollow did a crossover with Bones and it was actually well done. Despite Sleepy Hollow being science fiction/fantasy and Bones not, they managed to keep the integrity of both shows and both episodes even had a unifying storyline. Abbie and Ichabod have an interesting chemistry with Bones and Booth. I could see them double dating and it being hilariously awkward. I was skeptical about the crossover, but I wouldn’t mind another one.

How to Get Away with Murder – 2×06 – “Two Birds, One Milestone”

How to Get Away with Murder continues to come for our throats. We are getting closer to the shooting of Annalise and we basically still know nothing but are hooked nonetheless. And the case of the week delicately weaves in transgender issues and domestic violence.

Miss

Scandal – 5×06 – “Get Out of Jail, Free”

It’s the same old same old with Scandal. Are we even in a new season? Any progress is followed by regress. Everything’s back to the status quo. The impeachment is off. Papa Pope is out of jail. Jake is single again. Scandal just refuses to move forward.

Let

Minority Report – 1×06 – “Fiddler’s Neck”

This episode of Minority Report was meh to me. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t compelling, either. Agatha is the main focus of the episode, and I just haven’t been able to connect with her. Maybe it’s because her interactions with the other main characters are limited. She just seems more like a plot device. She’s just not worthy of being a major focus of an episode.

What are your hits and misses of the week?

The post Hit, Miss, or Let – Week of 10/26/2015 appeared first on Films of Color.

Another week has come and gone, and that means a new edition of Hit, Miss, or Let. There was a little switching around, so check out our review to see where everything fell.

Hits

Minority Report – 1×05 – “The Present”

The season (but hopefully not series) is half over, but it has really found its stride. Now that the characters and world has been established, more time is dedicated to the storytelling. They’ve managed to craft a nice balance between the crime of the week and and furthering the serial arc. And this time the crime of the week pulls double duty by giving us insight into main character Lara Vega. In investigating her father’s killer, we get to see what shaped her personality and what pushed her to join the police department. Vega gets closure, and Minorty Report gets better.

Black-ish – 2×05 – “Churched”

Really all I have to say is Black church vs white church. And of course Junior would fit right in at the white church. Also, one of the best decisions they’ve made was adding Jenifer Lewis as a regular.

Sleepy Hollow – 3×04 – “The Sisters Mills”

After a mess of second season, Sleepy Hollow seems to have found a formula that is working for them. This time the monster of the week is the tooth fairy, and it’s not Dwayne Johnson. This was a tooth fairy who fed on the life essence of children and is invisible to adults. The monster of week schtick has worked so far, but it’s time for us to get a better look at the big picture, what this second tribulation is supposed to be. And it’s time for the storyline revolving around Abbie and Jenny’s dad to come to a head. I don’t expect any leeway this week, since it’s a crossover episode with Bones. So maybe the week after? Oh, and shout out to Lance Gross for finally making the opening credits.

How to Get Away with Murder – 2×05 – “Meet Bonnie”

One of the marks of a great TV show is making you feel the full spectrum of emotions and not just frustration. And that’s exactly what How to Get Away with Murder does. I’m frustrated with Asher. For once, I feel sorry for Bonnie. I’m wary of Wes and Levi. I can’t make up my mind about Connor. And I’m enamored with Annalise. It’s almost too much to handle. I briefly died when Annalise took Michaela’s phone, and as we get close to the shooting of Annalise, we’re realizing that it really could be anyone.

Misses

Empire – 2×05 – “Be True”

Empire keeps doing what it does best: disappointing us. The stuff that happens is ludicrous. One of the characters gets robbed at razor blade point. Bipolar people are getting portrayed as murderous. Ne-Yo is giving relationship advice. And Hakeem, who is supposed to be famous and what not, gets kidnapped in public in broad daylight, and no one bats an eye. It’s a good thing Andre is finding Jesus because that’s what this show needs.

Scandal – 5×05 – “You Got Served”

We have spent far too long with this whole Olitz storyline. They stayed in limbo for most of the episode, like most episodes, only for Cyrus to bail them out at the end, falling for the lovey-dovey words from Fitz that he should’ve known better than to fall for. The only redeeming part of this episode is Eddison reading Olivia.

Let

Rosewood – 1×05 – “Necrosis and New Beginnings”

I had mixed feelings about this episode. Mama Rosewood was on point as usual, even stealing the episode with her conversation with her future daughter-in-law about what parental love is. But I can’t get over them pushing Rosie toward Villa. I said earlier that Rosewood needed to set itself apart from other shows of its ilk, and this is definitely not the way. If Rosie and Villa end up together, Rosewood will just be a gender-swapped Bones. Plus Nicole Ari Parker has been a pleasant surprise, and I would like her to stick around.

Let us know what were your Hits, Misses, and Lets. Do you have any suggestions on what to review? It might get added to the list.

The post Hit, Miss, or Let – Week of 10/19/2015 appeared first on Films of Color.

Another week and another edition of Hit, Miss, or Let. Check out to see where this week’s shows landed and let us know where you would place them.

Hits

Minority Report – 1×04 – “Fredi”

Minority Report continues to move in the right direction, even if that road leads to cancellation. With the team fully formed and Dash situated in the department, it was time to put him under cover. He learns the pain of heartbreak and the relationship between him and Vega strengthens, even if he’s given reasons to not trust her. I don’t know if this upward trend will be enough to save the show, though

Rosewood – 1×04 – “Vitamins and Vandals”

Having Lorraine Toussaint be such a focus in this episode automatically makes it a hit. But Rosewood finally meets his match, a fellow doctor, and has to almost die to get the better of him. This episode changed it up a little bit. Instead of trying to find the killer, they already know and is trying to find evidence. It worked. Sometimes it’s not the who that’s important to the storyline. The potential son storyline seems almost pointless, but it drives home the point that Rosewood is living on borrowed time.

Black-ish – 2×04 – “Daddy’s Day”

I always considered Zoey as the weak link on Black-ish, but she proves me wrong this episode. The way she handles Dre is inspired. The look she gives Dre as she passes him driving is fire. Plus Zendaya! And now we’re pretty sure that Ruby will have Dre kill someone (probably Pops) for her one day, if she hasn’t already.

Scandal – 5×04 – “Dog-Whistle Politics”

It was tough to gauge the last episode of Scandal. The plot was thin, but the political message made up for it. Scandal tackled microaggressions Black people face head on like few shows would dare. Plus the process to get Fitz impeached is about to start. And Marcus finally made his first appearance of the season. We’ll see if Scandal can ride this high.

Sleepy Hollow – 3×03 – “Blood and Fear”

The reset button on Sleepy Hollow has been working so far. I’m a mythology junkie, so this exploration into various mythologies is scratching an itch for me. They had a cool take on Jack the Ripper. With each episode, Abbie and Ichabod are finding their way back to each other. And thank goodness Jenny has her own storyline.

How to Get Away with Murder – 2×04 – “Skanks Get Shanked”

How to Get Away with Murder is what Scandal could be if Scandal had a decent plot. There’s so much duplicity and backstabbing, you don’t know who to trust. And the case they had this week was one of the craziest yet, one even Annalise couldn’t get out of. It was reeking of Affluenza. And shout out to Annalise for putting Connor in his place. She runs things around here. At least until she gets shot.

Miss

Empire – 2×04 – “Poor Yorick”

Once again Empire finds itself on the “Miss” list. The plot was forgettable. The weight of the show has fallen squarely on Cookie’s shoulder, but she is getting no help from the writing. How old is Hakeem? He acts like a teenager. Jamal is just as annoying. Andre continues to find God, but he needs to find a therapist. And if I never hear Marisa Tomei attempt to speak in AAVE again, it will be too soon. But at least they finally dealt with Vernon.

The post Hit, Miss, or Let – Week of 10/12/2015 appeared first on Films of Color.

We’re in the third week of the fall television season, and things seem to have stabilized. There’s been no real surprises, not even from Scandal. Check out our review of the past week’s episodes with this edition of Hit, Miss, or Let.

Hits

Minority Report – 1×03 – “Hawk-Eye”

Minority Report is on the up and up. It’s a shame that its season is getting cut short. Its combination of world building and character development isn’t one you see too much. Now that Akeela’s in on the secret, we have a real team. The case of the week has been the most interesting yet, with cool future technology being the center of it.

Rosewood – 1×03 – “Have-Nots and Hematomas”

I was skeptical at first about Rosewood, but it has won me over. The cases of the week have improved over the first week, but it’s what happens outside of work that is pushing Rosewood ahead. We’re getting to see how Dr. Rosewood’s illness is progressing and how it’s going to affect his life. This was the premise of the series, and as long as it remains a big focus, then the series will be fine. Plus, I have a weakness for fast cars.

Black-ish – 2×03 – “Dr. Hell No”

Black-ish just hit all the marks this week. All the storylines were funny. Pops’s clogged artery getting blown out of proportion. Rainbow lying about the success rate of the procedure. Ruby spoiling the kids and acting like they don’t have school.

Sleepy Hollow – 3×02 – “Whispers in the Dark”

Sleepy Hollow has been so much better without Katrina. Without her taking up so much screen time, there is more focus on the characters that made Season One great. The mythology this episode was fascinating, although it reminded me of Rumplestiltskin. And now Lance Gross has made his debut, and the chemistry between his character and Abbie is great, as is the tension between him and Ichabod.

How to Get Away with Murder – 2×03 – “It’s Called the Octopus”

How to Get Away with Murder just won’t have a letdown. Sex was the theme of the week, and boy did it deliver. Highlights include Michaela never having an orgasm, a kinky sex club and a murder surrounding it, and Annalise almost getting Nate back in her bed only for Nate to play her.

Misses

Empire – 2×03 – “Fires of Heaven”

Empire continues to be a mess. Between the misrepresentation of mental illness and the whole Empire vs Lyon Dynasty drama, it’s just a no. And wasn’t Malik Yoba’s character murdered? Why hasn’t that been brought up?

Scandal – 5×03 – “Paris Is Burning”

People were excited about this episode of Scandal after the whole “Yes” fiasco, but I knew better. But like the last episode, this one spent most of its time in limbo before it reverted back to the status quo. It had to dredge up B613 drama to keep things interesting.

So what were your thoughts on this past week’s shows? Who succeeded and who missed the mark?

The post Hit, Miss, or Let – Week of 10/05/2015 appeared first on Films of Color.

After a week of big premieres, it was time to see how second episodes would hold up. Some managed to maintain the high level of the premiere, some buckled, one even improved. Check out our thoughts with this week’s Hit, Miss, or Let. Now would be a good chance to mention that a show can’t be on the Let list two weeks in a row.

Hits

Minority Report – 1×02 – “Mr. Nice Guy”

With the Minority Report pilot taking a beating among critics, there was a lot of pressure put on the second episode. Where as the pilot put us in the middle of the action and premise, the second episode took a step back and put a focus on character relationships and world building, both of which will be key to the show’s success. The killer in this week’s would be murder was predictable, but sometimes it’s about the how and not the who. One of the highlights of the series so far is how they treat today’s technology and cultural trends as antiquated and obsolete.

Black-ish – 2×02 – “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Gun”

With what seemed to be impeccable timing, last week’s episode of Black-ish dealt with guns. Black-ish took a sensitive topic and handled it with finesse. There were no surprises on who in the Johnson family would fall on which side of gun control, but the kids’ opinions and actions were a nice source of comedy. Junior even put some bass in his voice a la Wes Gibbins. And Ruby’s presence was felt even if she wasn’t there.

Rosewood – 1×02 – “Fireflies and Fidelity”

I’ll admit I was skeptical about Rosewood, but it’s making strides in finding its own. As we got a look into Rosewood’s personal life and relationships, it’s clear that this is the way to go. Seeing how Rosewood’s medical issues affects his romantic life and the tension between him and his mom balances the seemingly omniscient persona we see at his office and crime scenes. Plus, the murder of the week had a nice twist.

Sleepy Hollow – 3×01 – “I, Witness”

Sleepy Hollow returned last week and it had a pretty solid premiere. With the death of Katrina and Henry, Sleepy Hollow was able to get back to its roots and be the show we all know and love. Abbie and Ichabod are rediscovering the teamwork that allowed them to save the world a few times over. And now that Hawley is gone, Jenny now is getting the chance to shine again. Frank Irving is missed, but you can’t win them all.

How to Get Away with Murder – 2×02 – “She’s Dying”

How to Get Away with Murder started off with such a bang, it was hard to see how it could maintain that level. Yet, somehow it did. Annalise had her lovers doing her dirty work, but her lovers turned the tables on her. Wes has maintained the bass in his voice. The law kids are showing growth. Viola Davis continues to prove why she won the Emmy. And there’s another murder mystery.

Misses

Empire – 2×02 – “Without a Country”

Empire is falling apart at the seams. The number of guest stars is disorienting. The plot doesn’t make sense. Lucious recorded a track in jail in one take and released it on the radio before Hakeem could get his album out. And the characters have done a 180. Jamal has become insufferable. Cookie is making stupid decisions. Lucious doesn’t know which son he loves. And Anita is just there. Empire is imploding, and like with most major disasters we can’t look away.

Scandal – 5×02 – “Yes”

The season premiere set up what was to be a promising second episode, with the Olitz affair being exposed. But instead of tackling that head on, Scandal ran away from it. Literally. Olivia spent the entire episode running away from it. And when Fitz finally goes back to Mellie (like he always does), Olivia then decides to confirm the affair. Just another salvo to try salvage another lacking episode. Olivia has long lost her killer instinct and, like the show itself, is a shadow of her former self.

What shows do you think were hits, misses, and lets? Is there a show you think should be covered?

The post Hit, Miss, or Let – Week of 09/28/2015 appeared first on Films of Color.

It may be a week behind everything else, but Sleepy Hollow is back. Season Two saw some tense moments for Abbie and Ichabod. Season Two went bigger. Sometimes it succeeded and sometimes not so much. But just in case you need a refresher course, we got you covered. Then tune in and see what adventures Abbie, Ichabod, and Jenny are up to next.

• Abbie and Jenny are some badasses and come from a long line of badass women.
• Ichabod almost let his marriage get in the way of saving the world.
• Henry went off the book and forgot all about Moloch, after killing him.
• The headless horseman was in love with Katrina.
• Katrina was a pretty useless witch.
• Abbie did a spell and was a better witch than Katrina.
• The angel Orion came down and stirred the pot.
• Orion might’ve wanted to holla at Abbie.
• Abbie sang karaoke and it was awesome.
• Hawley was a thing, and it was unfortunate.
• Hawley took on the job that Jenny normally performs, when Jenny really would’ve done.
• Hawley left, and it was good.
• Frank accidentally sold his soul to Henry.
• Frank died, but came back.
• Abbie killed Henry.
• Ichabod finally realized his marriage wasn’t worth it.
• Katrina went back in time to wreck some sh*t, but Katrina being Katrina messed it up.
• Abbie’s ancestor was someone you did not want to mess with.
• Ichabod killed Katrina.
• The witch is dead.

Sleepy Hollow airs Thursdays at 9/8c on FOX.

The post ‘Sleepy Hollow’ Season Two Recap appeared first on Films of Color.

Abbie Mills (Sleepy Hollow)

Bonnie Bennett (The Vampire Diaries)

Cam Calloway (Survivor’s Remorse)

Hakeem Lyon (Empire)

Iris West (The Flash)

James St. Patrick (Power)

John Diggle (Arrow)

Olivia Pope (Scandal)

Papa Pope (Scandal)

Rainbow Johnson (black-ish)

Straight Outta Compton will be released in theaters August 14, 2015. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Straight Outta’: TV Edition appeared first on Films of Color.