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“Little Fires Everywhere”: Episodes 1-3 Recap

BY KIMBERLY JONES

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Little Fires Everywhere is based on a novel written by Celeste Ng that follows the lives of residents in the suburbs of Shaker Heights, Ohio in the 90s. Bill and Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon and Joshua Jackson) are longtime residents of the community and are the parents of 4 teenagers who are all on the path to self-discovery. The Richardson’s have a tight family unit and are doing their best to raise healthy, ambitious, generous and well-rounded children. Elena is having a hard time with her younger daughter Izzy (Megan Stott) who is clearly going through a rebellious stage so the two of them are in constant disagreement.

Elena is a suburban upper-class mom who is pretty uptight and wants control of her family and her image. She seems to have the Richardson kids’ lives already planned out for their successful future. Elena is a perfectionist, a quality that doesn’t really work in her favor with her kids because she’s judgmental and intimidating. The family inherited a rental property and that is when she meets single mother Mia Warren (Kerry Washington) and her intelligent teenage daughter Pearl Warren (Lexi Underwood). Mia a traveling artist and her daughter have been living in their car and responded to an ad for Elena’s rental. Upon their first meeting, Mia has her guard up with Elena and there is tension between the two. Mia is put off by Elena’s invasive and privileged tone during their first conversation.

Little Fires Everywhere — “Seeds and All” – Episode 102 – (Photo by: Erin Simkin/Hulu)

Elena seems totally unaware of how uncomfortable and unwelcome this makes Mia. Despite their
bumpy start the Warren’s move into the rental property. Pearl immediately adapts to her new environment after she meets Moody, one of Richardson’s sons (Gavin Lewis). The two teenagers are attracted to each other and start spending a lot of time together. Hanging out with the Richardsons somewhat opens Pearl’s eyes to a whole new world. Although there are racial and economic differences between their two worlds, the teenagers still develop a friendship. Pearl also learns that she and Elena have a common interest – writing and journalism. Mia doesn’t approve of Pearl’s friendly relationships with the Richardsons but doesn’t express this to her daughter immediately.

The series takes a deep dive into classism and racism. For instance, Pearl, after spending more time with the Richardsons, realizes just how underprivileged her life has been. She has had to constantly move around. Because of her mother, she has never really had a nice stable place to live, she has never met her father and her school counselor won’t consider placing her in the correct math class at her new school because of her race. Instead of taking her mother Mia’s advice on standing up to her counselor, Pearl asks Elena for help to get enrolled in the correct math class. After a quick conversation with the counselor, Elena (much thanks to her race and status) easily gets Pearl in. When Mia starts working for the Richardsons as their “house manager”, Pearl seems to be surprised, ashamed and uncomfortable that her black mom is now working for this white family that she is trying to build new relationships with. This only further magnifies the differences between the two families. After Mia becomes Elena’s house manager, the two of them get to know each other a little better. Mia, however, is still very guarded with the new family and keeps her distance.

Little Fires Everywhere (Photo by: Hulu)

At the end of the three-episode premiere, Mia remains a mystery. Even in her relationship with her daughter Pearl, she is keeping a secret. Pearl has never met her father and her mother refuses to identify him. This is extremely frustrating for Pearl and leaves audiences wondering what exactly is Mia hiding?

Mia is not the only one with secrets. Each character is hiding something and those secrets have yet to come to light. The suspense of how the stories unfold makes the audience crave more. Little Fires Everywhere is a captivating, stimulating drama with an amazing cast that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. New episodes are available every Wednesday on Hulu.

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The Girlfriends Reunite for Tracee Ellis Ross’s Pattern Beauty Campaign

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Girlfriends

Tracee Ellis Ross reunited with her Girlfriends cast members Jill Marie Jones, Golden Brooks, and Persia White for the first commercial from her Pattern Beauty hair and body care line, available Friday, June 27, 2025. So this campaign, which champions black hair and immortal friendship, has fans of the cult 00s show absolutely giddy.

Tracee Ellis Ross-founded brand made when it came out with its first commercial to celebrate six years in the haircare space and the 25th anniversary of Girlfriends (2000–2008). The ad, which features the fan-favorite cast—Tracee Ellis Ross (Joan), Jill Marie Jones (Toni), Golden Brooks (Maya), and Persia White (Lynn)—is a colorful love-fest for Black hair care and sisterly love. In a stylish setting of a “Pattern Lounge,” the ad displays the winning chemistry of the cast as they slip into their iconic characters, raving about Pattern’s curl-centric products.
The campaign is centered on elite “hair cocktailing,” a term used in the Black community to describe the layering of things like gels, creams, or oils to create bespoke haircare regimens. Ross plays the “Chief Curltender,” guiding her co-stars to their product matches made in heaven for their specific curl types, from flake-free definition to touchable hold and shine.

Girlfriends, which ran on UPN and, later, the CW from 2000 to 2008, followed four Black women in love, career, and friendship. A pioneering series created by Mara Brock Akil, it was revolutionary in the honest way it depicted Black sisterhood, far removed from contemporaries like Sex and the City. “Sex and the City was about dating with a friend group, but Girlfriends was about the ‘chosen family of sisterhood,’” Akil said, adding that Joan and Toni’s relationship was “the emotional core.” The series has stood the test of time, remaining a cultural obsession available to stream on Netflix even though die-hard fans are still mourning a cancellation that didn’t even get them a proper farewell.


The initiative sees the cast of Girlfriends reunite on screen for the first time since the stars appeared on Black-ish in 2019, which also starred Ross. The commercial cashes in on the series’ continued relevance and features the cast’s infectious camaraderie that you missed – and Maya’s melodrama, Toni’s shade, and Lynn’s ditsy sweetness!
The campaign also aligns with Pattern Beauty’s commitment to championing and empowering curly, coily, and tightly textured hair. So Ross, who spent her Girlfriends days shopping in the kids’ section for haircare products, created Pattern to fill that void. The ad showcases the brand’s diverse product collection, which includes shampoos, conditioners, stylers, hot tools, and tools specifically designed for individuals with type 3B to 4C curl patterns.

Ross, the CEO and founder of Pattern Beauty, has been on the ground floor with the brand since its inception. The concept for Pattern was nurtured during her Girlfriends days, when she noticed the dearth of products suited for Black hair.

Launching in 2019 after 10 years of pitching and developing, Pattern was born, and Ross worked with chemists to develop formulas that actually worked. The spot takes place in a colorful production setting and features the cast’s natural chemistry but not Ross, who teased the reunion on Instagram: “Back together like we never left.” The result is a love letter to friends and fans, where laughs, heart, and hair care come together.

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Ryan Coogler Confirms Denzel Washington Will Star in ‘Black Panther 3’

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Black Panther 3

Ryan Coogler, the acclaimed director of Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has confirmed that Hollywood legend Denzel Washington will join the cast of Black Panther 3. This announcement came during Coogler’s appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony podcast, where he revealed that he has written a role specifically for the two-time Oscar winner, whom he regards as “the greatest living actor.”

Washington first hinted at his involvement in the Marvel project during a November 2024 interview on the Today show in Australia, generating excitement among fans. Coogler, who has long admired Washington, expressed his enthusiasm about their upcoming collaboration, noting their close relationship and Washington’s cultural significance. “Denzel is family at this point,” he said in the interview.

Black Panther
Ryan Coogler and Chadwick Boseman/ Black Panther

Although Marvel Studios has not officially announced Black Panther 3, the franchise’s success, having grossed over $2 billion globally from its first two films, makes a third installment a logical step. The film is still in early development, and while there is no confirmed release date, Coogler hinted that it’s “not long” away, potentially targeting a 2028 release following Avengers: Secret Wars.

Speculation about Washington’s role is abundant, with fans suggesting he could portray a new Wakandan character, a historical figure like Bashenga, or even a multiverse variant of T’Challa or T’Chaka. The emotional connection to the late Chadwick Boseman, who credited Washington’s mentorship for his career, adds significant weight to this casting choice.

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Here Is Why Halle Berry Declined Van Hunt’s Proposal After 5 Years Of Dating

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Halle Berry

Halle Berry and Van Hunt went public with their relationship in September 2020. After five years of dating, Hunt, a Grammy-winning musician, proposed to the Oscar-winning actress, but Berry has not yet accepted.

Berry’s decision to decline Hunt’s proposal, at least for now, stems primarily from her history with marriage. The actress has been married three times previously—to former MLB player David Justice (1993–1997), singer Eric Benét (2001–2005), and actor Olivier Martinez (2013–2016). She also shares a daughter, Nahla, 17, with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, and a son, Maceo, 11, with Martinez. Hunt has been married once and has a teenage son, Drake.

Halle Berry and Van Hunt
Halle Berry and Van Hunt at 2023 Oscars

During the Today interview, Berry explained, “Well, I’ve been married three times. Van has been married once, and so no, we don’t feel like we have to get married to validate our love in any way. We don’t.”

While Berry has not accepted Hunt’s proposal, she has not ruled out marriage entirely. In the same interview, she expressed that she believes Hunt is the right partner for her, stating, “I think we will get married just because, out of the people I’ve been married to, this is the person I should have married.” She added that any future marriage would be a choice made out of desire for expression, not obligation, and hinted at a potential wedding “soon.”

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