praise the lourd.

Ooooh, I can't say I've seen 30 Rock although I do love the cast. As for selling you on Grey's Anatomy, if you love your medical and interpersonal drama tied up in a neat little bow it might be your show. Also, hot people in scrubs and lab coats.

private: alright in british speak is more positive than you'd think. so yes, i'm well. and sorry to hear that you aren't. you know what i have to say about that whole situation, love, it's just begging to breed trouble. you two broke up for a reason, listen to your gut and just steer clear. what did she have to say, anyway?

Private: I'm not not well, I'm just... flustered, I guess, and I needed someone empathetic. I needed you. Steering clear is easier said than done when she's the one that approached me. I mean, I think she was just trying to keep things amicable and I got ugly and snapped at her. She said I was stuck in my anger, that I should know better, and – I don't know, something about feeling the need to apologize constantly around me. Like I'm the problem. Maybe the problem is that she brings out the worst in me.

private: okay, no pleasing you with whatever way this conversation was going to go. got it. great reminder for me to stay away.

Private: Have a nice life, Elizabeth.

private: everything happened years ago, billie. i think we're both doing a disservice to ourselves by being hung up on it. you can't be stuck on stage two and be stuck in your anger, you of all people should be fully aware of that. i'm just trying to be cordial, if that's not your gig, that's not your gig. i apologize for blindsiding you, wasn't my intention. i also apologize for still feeling the need to apologize after every move i make around you, force of habit.

Private: Cordial, and yet cutting. Got it.

Listen, Derek Shepherd is worth the tears, I fully support that emotional breakdown. Am I safe to assume that it was his death that hit you the hardest? He and Mark Sloan had my heart, and it was ripped out with their ending. Oh I totally agree, it'd be a sad day in my life if I had more sad things than happy things. That makes sense, right? Yes, that's absolutely it! There's a happy middle there that I can appreciate. Being "on" all the time is just a little too much. It is! I've recently just started watching it and it's just so... crazy, but so good.

His was probably the hardest, I was a true Merder shipper, but honestly most of the deaths and other exits on that show cut pretty deep... which I probably should blame myself for, having watched a hospital show for however many years. I'm glad to meet someone who understands my Grey's angst! Definitely #winning life if you have more good things than bad on your agenda. If I had to be on all the time I think I'd just pass straight out after a while, it's a lot. Crazy sums up Shameless pretty well! That show makes me feel all the emotions.

private: i didn't mean rescuing from you, i meant from me implying my attraction to angela bassett - which, you know, we should maybe just quit while we're ahead on that front. i think you have to be a little more dire in your phrasing for google to recommend anything more serious, i was just grateful to find a new wine to get me through what feels like a long 2024. that felt...like a pointed compliment, so i'm gonna just not dwell on that too much. talking about hard things isn't really in our wheelhouse, come to think of it, so let's just...not and say we did. do you want me to be more outwardly resentful to match you? would that make you feel better? i don't really have it in me to try to pick a fight with you the way you seem to be baiting me for, so i'm not gonna be much help there.

Private: I'm not picking... okay, maybe I am picking a fight, a little bit or even a lot, and maybe I'm trying to bait you into something you're not going for (congratulations, again, on the self-restraint) because anger is easier than any other emotion in the incredible range I have going for me right now. I was just surprised as hell that you were here and talking to me at all, Elizabeth, and I got my hackles up faster than was fair to you. So I'll calm the hell down, leave you to your wine and 9-1-1 and Angela Bassett and you don't have to worry about me coming for you again. No more attempting to talk about hard things on my part, at the very least.

Happiness is seriously the key to life! 84 times, huh? That's impressive. I bet you know all the dialogue word for word by this point. Something that makes me happy is getting to be back on set.

Something like that. I mean, I don't think 84 rewatches of a twenty-season show is physically possible but the gist of it is there. I do pretty much know all of the dialogue, which is either impressive like you said or sad. Back to set, huh?! That's incredible. So happy for you.

totally agree! ted lasso just radiates positivity—it’s infectious. and i’m with you on the star wars love; there’s something magical about diving back into that universe, whether it’s through the main saga or the spin-off series. obi-wan kenobi is such an iconic character, and i can’t wait to see ewan mcgregor reprise the role in the upcoming series. and yeah, revisiting the oc sounds like a fun trip down memory lane! it’s always interesting to see how those shows hold up over time. let me know if you end up binge-watching it—i might just have to join you for a nostalgia fest.

Infectious, yes! And the world needs more positivity in it, not just on TV, either. I’m pleased to meet another Star Wars admirer! I’ll always go back to the original trilogy for obvious reasons but I really am fond of the prequels, sequels and spin-offs, too. Oh, I would watch Ewan McGregor do just about anything, he’s sensational in the role no matter the era of the character. It’s been forever since I watched it and now I’m super curious, but even more curious to know whether we should watch over text together or have an in-person The OC watch party? ‘cause I’m down for either. 

it's good, i really like it. angela bassett can come to my rescue any day...in particular, right now, because i don't know why i just said that to you. the cast on that show's pretty consistent, thankfully. i started drinking valpolicella solely because i googled 'what kind of wine to drink when you're sad' and that was the first result to pop up. i recommend you trying that google search yourself, it actually came up with some good options. i didn't have one in particular in mind. i'm torn between trying to keep this going and trying to end the conversation, former's winning out right now.

Private: You need to be rescued already? That bodes well for the rest of the conversation. Well, you never know when TV’s going to devastate you, I wouldn't count on anything. Thanks for the heads up on the wine recommendation, though, I would have thought that an “are you okay?” message would have come up with that search instead, but I guess even the most resilient person has their sad wine moments. That’s really up to you. I hadn’t planned on going anywhere, awkward as fuck as this is, contrary to any assumptions you wanna make about people leaving that I can just guess are on the tip of your tongue.

private: love and miss you more, i'm doing alright these days. nothing insanely new to report, but...ugh. you mean to say she's back back or just...mulling about back? i hope you aren't humoring her.

Private: Just alright? I'm not humoring anyone. I have no idea what her plans are. We've barely even spoken, she's being... nice, of course, because she's always nice. But it makes my stomach hurt.

private: hi, darling, why the stressed out look?

Private: Let me start by asking how you're doing. And telling you I love and miss you. And then informing you that Liz is back.

yeah, the longevity of some shows can be a bit mind-boggling, but hey, as long as they keep bringing joy to people, i guess it’s a win. ted lasso is an absolute gem, isn’t it? jason sudeikis really nails that character, and the whole vibe of the show just lifts your spirits. and don’t even get me started on the mandalorian—pedro pascal and grogu are an unbeatable duo! it’s like a perfect blend of action, heart, and a healthy dose of star wars nostalgia. what more could you ask for in a show, right? but you know what i really miss? shows like the oc, one tree hill and shit like that, good times.

Oh, for sure, I’m fine with it as long as the audiences are happy with it and they’re giving the people what they want. It’s hard not to love Ted Lasso, I feel like you’d need to be lacking a soul not to like what they’re putting out there, I badly want to shake his hand and thank him for bringing such a sweet man to life. I’m all about Star Wars nostalgia, obviously, and I love all of the series that have been an extension of the main ‘verse! I think Obi-Wan Kenobi might be my favorite of them but I so love Mando. Wow, I haven’t thought about the OC in a long time and now I feel like I need to revisit it!

i wouldn't say exactly the same every season, the little of it that i tuned into in the early days seemed different. there's just been so much of it now that they can cherry pick and go back to things under the guise of easter eggs. i'm more of a 9-1-1 fan myself these days, so...yeah, it's pretty...good. the wine, i mean. not the me being a better judge of myself bit. i was planning on ignoring that and moving on to a different topic.

Can't say I've seen 9-1-1, but I'll add it to my long and slightly excessive to-watch list when I'm ready for something other than my favorite characters dying or divorcing, for sure. Are you going to at least recommend the brand to me, or is it super secret Lizzie wine? I wouldn't judge you if you wanted to keep it to yourself ...what topic would you rather talk about, then? I'm all ears.

did you start all the way from the beginning? at this rate, the whole show is a big loop of itself and i wouldn't be surprised if you picked a random, like, season 3 episode and could find a similar plot in season...what, 20, now? what makes me happy...i found a new brand of wine that i'm particularly fond of. was that a good answer or bad?

It's pretty much the same plot recycled every season, yeah, but that's comforting to some people, I guess. I usually start at one and stop around twelve, for various reasons I won't bother you about now. 20 sounds accurate to me. Who doesn't love wine? I could use a drink right about now. I think you're a better judge of yourself than I am.