Taystee does make a comment to Poussey that Poussey used to deal weed, later in the season. Not necessarily stated whether THAT'S why she's there or if that's just one criminal thing she did, though.

And they similarly subverted the scissoring scene! I was rolling my eyes during that scene, but then they said "yeah, just like I thought. Scissoring just doesn't work", and all was well.

He comes close, though.

I'm guessing #1 is "Basic Instinct".

Yes, God forbid someone tarnish your memories of 21 Jump Street. Is nothing sacred any more????

Hannibal Lester.

Add me to the list. That theme song they were playing is so familiar to me now too, I just "knew" Malvo was gonna pop up when it got to the crescendo. Phew.

God I hope you're right, and that that hand is still attached to Gus by season's end.

To me it definitely looked like he intentionally pulled her shirt up. Her belt became unbuckled, too.

I agree that it's silly, but at that point in the novel the whole time travel and JFK plot has become secondary to the interpersonal stories. The amount of pages being spent on it is minimal compared to the story of Jake and Sadie's relationship - and the conclusion to that is the real ending to the book.

"See also: The Lion King if Scar won."

But I don't see where 11.22.63 "increases" or veers off in terms of magic. The premise is there in the first few pages: there is a portal to a specific day in the past. What you change when you go in resonates in the future. But the past will attempt to stay on course and fight the change.

Well, "veered"…the magical portal to the past in the burger joint is revealed in the first 10 pages or so, though. I don't think I ever thought we'd get any sort of reasonable explanation for the time travel. It was always just a magical portal.

If it's a King book, don't forget to include Old Mrs. Magical Negro!

Agree on NT. I'd also recommend Desperation as good, pulpy fun. Bag of Bones is also great, although the ending is a little cheap. And The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a quick, atmospheric read.

Wow, you didn't like the ending to 11.22.63? I thought it was pretty unanimous that that was a rare King book that finally had a great, emotionally resonant and satisfying ending (immensely helped by his son's assistance, no doubt).

"an Internet-savvy black teenager who for some reason loves to speak in a “yas massa” Southern slave patois"…hoooooo boy. That sounds like some sort of Robot Chicken-esque combination of all of King's worst writing traits.

I.e. "check your privilege"?

"Those sewer-dwelling foreigners aren't being correctly introduced to my precious issues of sexual identity! Boo! Hiss!"

Holy SHIT I would watch that. (And I like that you specified "HUMAN laughter" - no cheating with hyenas!)