You know, the more time I’ve had to ponder upon the two-part series twelve premiere of Doctor Who, the more I find myself quite curious about where this year’s episodes are headed thematically. Because ‘Spyfall’ was quite the bold venture, one filled with surprises and revelations that will hang heavily over the Doctor for quite some time, and I suppose what’s really had me curious about what those episodes had to offer, was whether or not the fate of Gallifrey and the lie involving the Time Child would take the center stage immediately, or if the series would give us a little bit of a break from such matters. And thankfully, the next episode of this storied franchise was kind enough to give us a fine idea of what this year’s stories are going to offer, in unique and fascinating fashion, of course.
 
Because at first glance it seemed as though ‘Orphan 55’ was going to take the storytelling into a vastly different direction since this episode started off in super lighthearted fashion. After all, we were privy to a little gag involving tentacled creatures in the midst of their mating season, and you can never go wrong with Graham being overjoyed at the prospect of getting in a little rest and relaxation time. And that infectious joy is what brought Team TARDIS to their seemingly pleasant destination this week; an intergalactic health spa that offered them an all-inclusive stay. Which made it seem as though everyone was going to go off and have a good time, except the Doctor, whom I honestly thought was going to get some alone time to ponder on the fate of her world.
 
But it didn’t take long for this story to suddenly shift gears and become something more. For the discovery of a funky and wormy virus in the infrastructure of this resort, prompted the Doctor to investigate why such a being would be present in a place that should be clean and free of any problems and that’s where things took quite the interesting turn. For while the Doctor dug into this mystery, a group of hideous creatures known as Dregs, launched an assault on the complex and just like that, our joyous episode turned into an action-packed nightmare. One filled to the brim with quick cuts and shadows moving in the corner and honestly, I have to admit, I was quite impressed with the fact that once again this series took the time to fuse genres as it only it can.
 
The bonus for me personally, is the sheer fact that this story chose to pepper in a little bit of the horror genre into this tale, since the Dregs were quite frankly terrifying in their appearance and their actions. Since these creatures wasted no time in killing the fine folks who came here for a little rest and relaxation and it was eerie to see human lives slowly fade from existence by way of a tracker in central control. But rather than completely devolve into a genuine horror story, the Doctor’s quick thinking helped to secure the resort from any further harm and that’s when her curiosity shifted. Because this perfect planet, with its endlessly wonderful views and peaceful nature, should have been devoid of deadly threats and that’s when a little surprise came into play. 

For as it turns out, this lovely little spa was nothing more than a well-manufactured lie. One placed on a desolate world that was abandoned by its previous inhabitants due to its sheer toxicity. Which left it for the Dregs to inherit and they were clearly not good with sharing their claimed planet with others. Yet while everyone was happy and eager to leave this world behind, there was one slight complication in making that happen quickly. Because a kind and older gent named Benni was kidnapped by the creatures and was alive and mostly well in the environment beyond the resort’s perimeter. And that prompted the Doctor to put together a rescue party in order to bring dear Benni back to safety, and this bold decision led to one more surprise.
 
Because the Dregs were more than mindless and bloodthirsty killers, they were intelligent and cunning and were actually able to set up a trap for the rescue party, and shortly after they escaped said trap, the Doctor was able to figure out the history of this unfortunate and abandoned world while they were on the run, once she realized they were actually standing in an old subway station in Siberia. Which means this disgusting wasteland was Earth, and the Dregs were in essence, the future of humanity, thanks to the fallout of the current climate crisis, which led to war and devastation. And while the episode eventually ended in happy-ish fashion with Team TARDIS and some of the good folks of this resort escaping with their lives, the commentary here hung heavy.
 
For it was quite jarring to see our home as a complete and utter wasteland, one populated with mutations. And I appreciated the fact that the series tried to make climate change palatable in this manner and it really did do a fine job of reminding us, that it is up to us to band together and demand more of ourselves and those who can influence change, so that we can hopefully avoid outright catastrophe. If anything, it was just refreshing to see a modern science fiction story have something to say about this important matter and pull it off in bold and direct fashion. And I was also impressed with the fact that the story had a little more commentary to offer on the nature of the corporate world in 2020 and how it really doesn’t care about anything outside of profits.
 
But while commentary in this manner is nothing new to Doctor Who, since series eleven was filled with it, what matters more here is the structure of this episode, since it helped us to understand how series twelve is going to go. Because if the first three episodes are any indicator, we can now expect a far faster paced series. One that works to pack in as many big moments as possible, all while staying true to what makes this series so great and I’m honestly okay with all of this. Because that should make this season as fun as it can be and more importantly, these one-off tales should help build anticipation for the overall juicer plot. Because, one way or another, the mystery of the Time Child will find its way to the forefront of the story. But before that happens, we can take comfort in the fact that the series will work to entertain us in intelligent and intense fashion. Until next time. 

​If there is one thing that television shows love to do from time to time; it’s experiment with the types of stories they tell. Which is, something that offers up mixed results when all is said and done. Because sometimes these test stories are weird in nature and make no sense, while other times they provide the audience with something downright special. But what’s truly fascinating about this particular style of storytelling, is that it often happens in the first season of a new series. Because that’s the best time to try and see if something different may or may not stick as the show finds its voice and its overall direction. But now and again, you see it happen down the line as a series rolls on and I’m suddenly noticing its presence in season two of Star Trek.
 
Because year two of the five-year mission has definitely offered up some unique tales as its continued along, the kind that have at times left us scratching our heads, while others have left us in awe and while its bold and fun to see unfold in real time all over again, I have to admit that I’m quite surprised that the show actively worked to see what might stick in year two since it really did find its true north right out of the gate this year. But considering the fact that there was nothing like this on television in the sixties, ‘boldly going’ makes sense since the opportunity was there to do something special, and it just so happens that the next episode in this series once again worked to play in the proverbial sandbox with another vastly different type of tale, with supremely strange results when all is said and done.
 
For it was clear that ‘The Gamesters of Triskelion’ wanted to do something bold by exploring the nature of slavery in an era where peace and prosperity was the norm, and what might drive sentient and technologically advanced beings to do such a thing and had it stuck to that particular idea, this episode would have been brilliant. But somewhere along the way, things went off the proverbial rails since the commentary and the notion were abandoned for excessive violence since Kirk and Uhura and Chekov were forced to fight for the amusement of three disembodied and evolved brains and well, all the ass kicking and over the top musical queues just got boring as time went on and the ending really didn’t make a hell of a whole lot of sense either since Kirk outright risks the lives of his entire crew in order to get away from this crazy world and that’s just reckless.
 
Yet the weird present in this episode doesn’t end with Kirk’s storyline on the planet, there are plenty of strange moments to be found aboard the Enterprise as well since everyone on the ship is outright out of character when all is said and done. For Spock doesn’t trust Scotty’s work in the slightest, which makes no sense since it’s well established now that he’s the finest engineer in the fleet and well, Scotty and oddly Dr. McCoy offer the same stupidity in kind. Because as Spock conducts the search for his missing shipmates and friends, that duo question him every single step of the way and that’s out of place simply because Spock has proven time and time again that he knows what he is doing and that is his logic is sound and all of that, combined with the outright insubordination present on the bridge, just makes this sequence of the story awkward and out of place.
 
If anything, all of this really begs the question, is this episode worth your time and the answer to that question is a resounding… no. Because this one is just all over the place and it makes some weird choices storytelling wise. I mean, I just don’t understand why Kirk was shirtless for most of this one, why there were excessive moments of violence against women and also why, evolved beings of pure thought and in turn logic, are down to play Battle Chess with living and breathing beings. In the end, I really just hope that writer’s room stops with the outlandish storytelling experiments soon and gets back to telling stories that challenge the audience and the characters in intelligent fashion. Because this has been a weird run storytelling wise and the sooner this attempt to push the envelope ends, the better. Until next time. 

It’s funny how iconic episodes from a particular series have a special air about them when you take the time to re-watch them. In fact, it is almost as though you’re expecting it to blow you away if it’s been ages since you’ve seen it, or that you’re going to discover some powerful revelation you missed the first time around. But in reality, unless there was some powerful meaning present within the framework of the story, there’s nothing new to discover here. They’re just a trip down memory lane and this odd duality of expectation versus reality is on my mind today, simply because an iconic episode of Star Trek awaited me in my Netflix queue.
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For the time has come to revisit a true favorite of the series, ‘The Trouble with Tribbles’ and honestly, I expected this episode to just drop my jaw after all these years since I remember it being an incredible delight when I first watched it years ago. But what’s funny, is that this episode really doesn’t offer anything all that different from any other episode in the series. After all, this story features an out of the way place that we’ve never visited before. It brings the Klingons back into the fold and we even get a wonderful mystery involving futuristic wheat and of course, the true highlight of this tale are the ever-cute tribbles, because who doesn’t want a non-pregnant tribble to call their own?

If anything, I was just taken aback by the fact that this episode doesn’t immediately smack you in the face with Trek themed lore like I expected it to. But as the hour rolled along, it became clear exactly why this particular tale is so iconic and why it remains a fan favorite, and that’s related to the fact that this episode simply embodies one of the best parts of Star Trek; the fun. Because let’s be honest, The Original Series cast is known for bringing joy to their tales, and some of our finest memories of them involve smiles and they generate plenty of those, here. Case and point, the barfight scene. Because how that unfolds is just hilarious in its own right and the best part about this episode is the fun doesn’t end with Scotty knocking a Klingon on his butt while Cyrano Jones grabs free drinks.

Because this episode really does a fine job of letting the characters just be themselves. Take for example Scotty once again, since we see his love of engineering on display in this tale, and his fierce loyalty to the Enterprise, which are staples of the man. Plus, we saw Chekov’s undying loyalty to his captain, the joy that McCoy finds in uncovering medical facts and we were also privy to the power and synergy of Kirk and Spock’s biffleship since they work together in seamless fashion in his one. And the comfortable nature of those elements, along with how the episode comes to an end just makes this one a true delight through and through, to the point where you simply get lost in the story and every wonderful moment it has to offer.

In the end however it is inherently clear that this is the moment when the cast truly jelled together on screen since everything here feels seamless and perhaps that’s really the power of this episode. For this could be the exact moment that the series found its chemistry and its direction when it comes to the cast. But what matters more, is that this story is just a blast and everything works in this tale from beginning to end and it also reminded me, that I really need a tribble in my house, which means I need to hop onto Amazon and order one to coo at my desk. But before I do that, I may watch this one again, just to bask in the wonder of a fun and dynamic episode, one that truly latched onto our hearts and set the tone for the franchise for years to come. Until next time. 

Sometimes, television shows tend to slide into a particular pattern as a respective season rolls along. That’s not a bad thing by any means, because even storytellers enjoy a sense of comfort when they can. But it is always fascinating to spot these patterns when they occur, and it just so happens that I’ve spotted one when it comes to season two of Star Trek. Because the show is clearly working to tell better stories in year two, but someone, somewhere along the line decided that once in a while the more intelligent stories needed to be broken up with something unique and different. And unfortunately for the series, those particular breaks are well… awful in nature, because the stories that are being told in this vein are just outlandish and not worth the audience’s time and for proof, well look no further than the next tale in this storied series.
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Because ‘Wolf in the Fold’ is an episode that clearly wanted to give us a break from more cerebral concepts by offering up a wild murder mystery on the pleasure planet of Argelius II. And while there is nothing wrong with indulging in a little genre crossover from time to time, the execution of said mashup is key to the story’s success. Which means that a couple of important things had to happen in this tale in order to make it worth our while, such as the fact that everything here needed to feel natural and organic, so that you’re invested in the story and nothing feels out of place or silly, and that includes having the characters stay true to themselves. Because having them react to the unique events surrounding them in natural fashion lends credence to the story in question and it helps the audience enjoy familiarity and sadly, this episode fails when it comes to both of those elements.

Take for example the character aspect we just discussed. For Scotty is simply not himself in this tale, and he’s a bumbling buffoon who cannot remember a single thing, nor can he put any logic into how he’s always present when someone is murdered on this planet and that’s just dumb. Because Montgomery Scott is one of the finest and smartest engineers in the fleet, and nothing misses his attention in the slightest, and the excuse that he’s suffering from the side effects of a concussion don’t fly either since we know that Federation technology can heal that kind of injury post haste. So already, this element pulls you out of the story since it doesn’t work in the slightest and sadly, it only gets worse from here since the story portion of what we just discussed fails the viewer as well.

I mean, come on, an evil entity that feeds off of fear and was responsible for Jack the Ripper is behind all of this? That just seems outlandish and silly in a series that has outright featured powerful beings that can bend time and space to their will with a mere gesture, and I think what makes this so goofy, is the sheer fact that this creature, which has been established as a being that only operates within the confines of a humanoid; is able to take over the Enterprise computer system. So, yeah. That’s how this story goes and if that isn’t strange or off-putting enough for you, have no fear, there are other problems present within this tale as well. Such as the fact that it features a lot of violence toward women, which is quite uncomfortable to watch within the framework of a show about unity and peace and honestly, the story would have been fine without that particular plot point.

Plus, there’s the whole matter of the Psycho-Tricorder. A device that can somehow re-assemble memories, which is a huge deal since that offers the Federation some serious power, and the issue with this device, is that it is a waste of the audience’s time. Because there’s a giant buildup to its use, but it never gets used and it is never mentioned again in the history of the franchise. If anything, this is just a bad episode, and the irony is that this is another one written by Robert Bloch and well, this just goes to show that Mister Bloch was not a fit for Star Trek in the slightest and that’s okay, because this is his last credited episode on the series. Which means these strange mashups that he loved to do are over and that’s great, because this was a weird episode, one that I simply do not care to revisit ever again. And thankfully, I’ll be able to wipe this wild tale from my memory post haste, since the next voyage in the five-year mission is an outright classic, one involving… the tribble. Until next time.  

​There seems to be a prevailing belief in modern society, that time truly does heal all wounds, including some of the more traumatic moments from our past and there is… some truth to that. For time does indeed help to remove the raw emotions we felt on that fateful day, and as we learn and grow over the years, we do indeed come to understand more about what happened to us and what it really meant for our lives. But the only problem with this particular line of thinking, is that it leaves out one important element when it comes to healing in that, at some point or another down the line, we have to confront and properly process our pain and our trauma, or it will continue to haunt us and surprise us when we least expect it.
 
Which is a notion that quite frankly, I did not expect to see in Star Trek. But it just so happens that the next episode of this series, ‘Obsession’, took the time to dive into that concept in unique fashion since Captain James T. Kirk ran into quite the surprise from his younger years. In fact, we came to learn in this tale that early on during his career aboard the U.S.S. Farragut, Kirk and the crew encountered a strange cloud-like entity that sucked every red corpuscle out of the humans it came in contact with and since a cloud is in essence unstoppable, it took 200 lives including the ship’s captain, a man named Garrovick. Now that’s a backstory that matters, simply because whilst on a survey mission in modern day, Kirk and some of his redshirts from the Enterprise just so happened to encounter this creature once again and that put Kirk in one unique place mentally.
 
For he firmly believed that this creature survived that initial encounter with the Farragut because he hesitated in firing phasers, which meant that Kirk felt it was high time to settle the score with this being, and he immediately put every resource toward fighting it, and that brought about a touch of conflict. Because the ship was supposed to rendezvous with the U.S.S. Yorktown to transport some critical and perishable medicine, and delaying that pickup, did not sit well with McCoy or Spock. But what matters more about this part of the story, is that the captain’s desire to defeat this creature at all costs is what brought forth the grand exploration into how the past can haunt us at inopportune times. Because Kirk’s inability to properly deal with what happened on that fateful day, allowed for notions of revenge to consume him, to the point where he even projected his pain and belief in failure upon the son of Captain Garrovick in the hopes of finding that all-important peace his soul required.
 
Which quite frankly, was a fascinating and unique place for Kirk to go. Because one would assume that a man as bright and as forward thinking as he is, would have taken the time to address this trauma in order to progress as a man and as a captain. But alas, Jim did no such thing and forged ahead in bullheaded style like so many of us would and I appreciate the fact that a hero like Kirk made moves and decisions that are supremely relatable, and while the story did finally force him to handle this matter after all these years, it did so in slightly disappointing fashion. Simply because he confronted it in the most machismo way imaginable, by killing this creature with impunity with Garrovick’s son at his side and while this works and makes for a cool image in the closing minutes of this tale, it does feel like a wasted opportunity.
 
For once again, the series could have dug deep into the human psyche and really explored the power of trauma in epic and powerful fashion. But it chose the easy way out and handling this kind of stuff in a topical manner on T.V., was a product of the zeitgeist of the times, since American men didn’t bother to work out their emotional problems in the slightest in that era. They instead fought it internally, or confronted it if that option was available, never once dealing with the root cause and while its disappointing we didn’t get more powerful and insightful moments with Captain James T. Kirk, the fact that this episode made a bold attempt to do so, makes it worthwhile in my book. If anything, this just speaks to the fact that this series was indeed well ahead of its time since science fiction wouldn’t start digging into these types of more powerful concepts for decades and it really is nice to see a more modern story in a show from the 1960s. Until next time.       

You know a television show has done something quite special when a particular episode leaves you talking and chatting with your friends about it for days on end, and you’re constantly wondering what comes next for the characters and I think it is safe to say that the Series 12 Premiere of Doctor Who accomplished those particular goals. Because ‘Spyfall – Part One’ dropped our jaws with a fascinating conspiracy involving a powerful tech conglomerate and the toughest villain the Doctor has ever faced, and the reveal of the return of the Master is what I would venture to say had us really talking, since no one expected to see him again. And of course, the fact that Team TARDIS was split apart and put in grave danger at the end of that tale, only added to our anxiety.
 
But thankfully, ‘Spyfall – Part Two’ wasted zero time in resolving this latest mess the Doctor was facing in thrilling and fascinating fashion. But what matters more, is that this particular tale set the stage for a grand mystery, one that will likely permeate the entire fabric of the season. But before we dive into that, let’s discuss how the Doctor saved the day. Because she slowly found her way back to our dimension and 2020 by enlisting a little help from a pair of important ladies from history, a spy named Noor Khan and the ever-important Ada Lovelace, who influenced computer technology. And their appearance in this episode was pretty awesome in its own right. For they helped to give the audience a phenomenal history lesson on a pair of women who did wonderful things and it really is quite awesome to see a show about a time-traveling alien take the time to educate the audience in this manner.
 
However, while that was lovely in its own right, there was still an evil plan to foil and it took a showdown atop the Eiffel Tower to finally garner an understanding of the deal that the Master made with the mysterious Kasaavin, and that tense back and forth between two old frenemies reinforced the fact that the Master was a tad more unhinged than usual. But also, more on that in a minute. Because what matters more here, is that eventually the Doctor was able to best her old buddy and get him into trouble with the Nazis, he aligned himself with, all so that she could steal his TARDIS and start working through history to foil this nasty plan to have the Kasaavin take over mankind’s bodies. And of course, with a little work here and a little work there, the Doctor was able to do just that and save her mates and right the timeline, meaning that this episode should have ended in lovely fashion, only… it did not.
 
Which brings us back to the fact that the Master was a little more insane than usual, and that’s saying something. Because while we have seen him and his female regeneration pull off some wild chaos over the years, there always seemed to be a method to their respective levels of madness, and sheer joy to be found in their machinations. But the Master here, was composed of pure fury, and he was quick to harm anyone that even remotely annoyed him, and that was unsettling to say the least. Because it would have to take something horrendously traumatic to bring him to this particular point and honestly, my first guess was that this somehow related to his last encounter with the Doctor, since turning to the proverbial light side, only to be murdered by one’s self would be solid cause for anyone to go mad. But as it turns out, what put him over the edge was far darker a twist than anyone expected. 

​Because the Master kept asking Thirteen about Gallifrey constantly over the course of this tale, and whether or not she had bothered to visit home as of late, and it seemed odd that he kept pushing the matter in that manner, as though he had something pressing to tell her and unfortunately, he most certainly did. For he informed her that their home planet was left devastated in space, and that all of their kind were slaughtered and well, I know I’m not alone in saying that I was skeptical over this. Because as my best friend Shae pointed out, you simply cannot trust the Master since he loves to lie. But his conviction in what he claimed and his consistent pressing for her to return home, prompted the Doctor to do just that, after she locked the Master up in Kasaavin space and well, what she found upon her arrival was horrifying and game changing to say the least.
 
For the ride home revealed that the Master wasn’t lying in the slightest, and we were all privy to the chilling sight of Gallifrey in ruins, with its gorgeous and glowing domes shattered and its glistening buildings burning in the distance and the shock of this, left the Doctor and in turn the audience speechless. Because this truly makes her the last of the Time Lords, and the rich legacy of her world will now be lost to time itself and well, I’m honestly not sure at this point what this will do to the Doctor psychologically, down the line. Because this Doctor has been filled with hope at every turn, and she hasn’t carried the pain that Nine, Ten and Eleven did over the possibility that their home was destroyed and well, I truly worry that the Doctor is going to be fundamentally changed from this painful and shattering discovery, especially after she learned how Gallifrey met its respective end.
 
Because this once wondrous world didn’t fall to the Daleks, or the Cybermen or any of the Doctor’s more colorful enemies. Instead, Gallifrey burned because of one of their own. For the Master did reveal later on via message, that he was the one who committed this heinous act of genocide, all because of a discovery involving a lie. For it would seem that the legend of the Timeless Child is not what it seems, and uncovering the truth about it drove the Master mad and it would also seem that this grand mystery will now permeate the fabric of Series 12, and that poses some incredible challenges for the Doctor going forward. After all, there is fair chance that the Master destroyed any clues regarding this being during his vengeful razing of Gallifrey. Which means the Doctor is starting cold when it comes to investigating this lie, and it should be interesting to see what she learns about this Child as this series continues along, all while she deals with the pain of losing her own kind.
 
But in the end, this was just an incredible Part Two for certain. Because not only did it find new ways to thrill us with a lovely race against time to save all of humanity, it upped the stakes like never before. Because I never thought I would see the day when the Master finally lost his marbles and committed himself to wonton death and destruction. But here we are, and he’s done a horrible crime, and nothing will ever be the same, because the end of Gallifrey is huge and it is a move that will have lasting implications on the future of the franchise. Either way, I really loved this episode and I am genuinely impressed with how this one wrapped up since it didn’t fall into the usual trap that second halves usually do, since so many provide their audience with a so-so finale and when all is said and done, Series 12 really is shaping up to be something special and already, I am eager for more and that is going to make the wait until next Sunday, a painful one to say the least. Until next time. 

​When we think about old age, we think about living a full and wonderful life. Because in doing so, we can spend those golden years reflecting upon all of our accomplishments and the lives we impacted along the way so that when the time comes to bid farewell to this world, we can embrace the end without an ounce of regret. Which is of course, the perfect scenario for life and well, I think we all know that sometimes; the chaos of the universe doesn’t quite cooperate with our notions of grandeur. For sometimes the universe takes people at a young age, or extenuating circumstances delay some of our life goals, leading us to wonder what could have been. Or, the universe throws us the ultimate curveball and we learn that illness is going to cut our journey in this life short, forcing us to get our affairs in order, quickly.
 
If anything, this is on my mind today, simply because the notion of having to face the end well before the ‘proper’ time has come about, served as the focal point of the next episode of Star Trek, and it honestly made ‘The Deadly Years’, quite the unique story. Because several members of the crew of the Enterprise suddenly found their youth robbed from them, thanks to a strange radiation that accelerated the aging process and well, how the afflicted crew members of the Enterprise dealt with the possibility of an early exit from the universe is what made this episode so different in its own right. Take for example Dr. McCoy, who suddenly found himself in a strange place, since he was unable to find the answers or offer any hope to his fellow shipmates, and it was just incredible to see a helpless McCoy meandering about without any direction for a change since he’s always found a way to solve the medical problem before him.
 
Yet while seeing the crew confused and struggling with their affliction would have been enough to entertain us for an entire hour, the show decided to take this struggle a few steps further by way of Spock and Captain’s Kirk’s response to this illness. For Spock truly worked to find peace with his situation, with mixed results, since Leonard Nimoy’s performance here showed subtle frustration with the situation at hand, something that only grew when he was put in a precarious place with his Captain. Because Kirk was the only one afflicted by this illness that refused to give into its symptoms, and he pushed himself harder than usual and suffered for it since his memory loss and cantankerous attitude put him in a tough spot with the crew. Which prompted Spock and the new Commodore of Starbase 10 to make the medical decision to remove Kirk from duty, a move that put the crew at grave risk.
 
For with Spock in declining health as well, Commodore Stocker assumed command of the Enterprise and his lack of experience at the conn, brought the ship to the brink of disaster. Because Stocker thought he could make it to his new assignment quicker by slicing through a section of the Romulan Neutral Zone and uh… yeah, that is as bad as an idea as it sounds, and it nearly cost everyone on the ship their lives. But a last-minute discovery as to how to beat this strange advanced aging process allowed for Kirk to recover and pull off one creative ‘Hail Mary’, one that saved the ship and well, I have to admit… this really was quite the fascinating tale. Because this one genuinely flirted with darker themes since Kirk and company were outright facing the end and while that makes it sound as though I’m about to praise the hell out of this episode, I’m not quite ready to declare it as one of the show’s best.
 
That’s simply due to the fact that this one held back when all is said and done. For this was a grand opportunity to go to some supremely deep places philosophically, since Kirk and his fellow aging crew members really could have dug deep into the gift that is life, and what it means to enjoy every moment that comes our way. But instead, it barely touched the surface of that topic and I fully understand why. For audiences really weren’t ready to see that level of darkness and depth from a Science Fiction T.V. show in the late 1960s, and while that doesn’t make me dislike the episode, I am curious as to how much better it could have been had it let loose. But don’t get me wrong, this one is really is intriguing and entertaining, and the acting in this one is top notch as we watch Kirk and his shipmates slip into senility and I get the feeling this was cutting edge back in the day, which makes this episode fit the mold for season two and it does get serious props for trying something new, which leaves me to wonder… what other experimental stories await us as the season rolls along? Well, there’s only way to find out. Until next time. 

Over the course of its three-season run, Star Trek accomplished a great deal storytelling wise. For not only did it offer up cerebral stories on a consistent basis, the kind that challenged our world and how we handle socio-political situations, it also broke barriers when it comes to diversity and the racial norms of the time, making it one of the most revolutionary science fiction tales to come out of the twentieth century. But while we all look upon these stories with fond memories and speak highly of them, I think we sometimes forget the fact that this series also knew how to just, let loose from time to time and indulge itself in humorous fashion or dive into action and adventure, the latter of which just so happened to be the focal point of its next episode.
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For ‘Friday’s Child’ saw the crew of the Enterprise beaming down to Capella IV to try and negotiate some mining rights with the native Capellans who were, savage even by today’s modern standards. Because this race believed in war and conflict, and the notion that only the strong survive served as their culture’s mantra and that, along with the surprise arrival of a Klingon, made the negotiations quite difficult for Kirk and his away team. Because while the Capellans liked some of what the Federation had to offer, the warlike stance of the Klingons also appealed to them and that split led to bedlam in this tale. Wherein Kirk and his friends found themselves on the run with the pregnant wife of a now fallen leader after revolution struck and this led to some wild and angry sequences.

Because the wife in question, Eleen, wanted nothing to do with help for her or her baby and while McCoy was quick to try and change that line of thinking, it became clear that this species felt that common sense was a waste of time. They simply craved conflict and that was just fascinating to see since there is normally some semblance of logic from the aliens the crew encounter. But this embracing of chaos led to some big time action for this show, and more violence than we are used to and I suppose while one can chalk it up to survive or perish, it was slightly jarring and unexpected to see, and this change was also extended to the sky above. For the Enterprise had to deal with a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the Klingons, since their sworn enemies were using fake distress signals to draw the ship away and it took Scotty’s cunning nature to keep the Klingons at bay.

Yet while this episode seemed like pure high octane with the amount of action present, it did find a way to try and inject more intelligent storytelling into the mix, and much of that came about during the finale of this tale. Because McCoy really did go the extra mile to show Eleen the value of life and the importance of being a good mother to her son, and it also explored the nature of trust. Because the Klingon in question, a warrior named Kras, was all about that treachery. For he swiped a phaser from one of the Capellans when given the opportunity and used it to take control when the time was right and truly, Kras was the embodiment of the age-old notion of ‘it’s too good to be true’. Since his promises of indulging the war-like tendencies of this species were designed to suck them in so the Empire could conquer this world.

In the end however, I really have to give this episode some serious credit. Because it set out to tell a tense tale filled with explosions and action and it accomplished those goals with minimal effort. Because the battles in this one are relentless and the explosions are pretty epic when they do happen and honestly, I have to admit that I really enjoyed this particular tale. For it really is just a good old time, one that you don’t have to think too deeply about and I suppose the only real complaint I have with this story is that it didn’t take the time to show the Enterprise getting a few shots in on the Klingon cruiser it tangled with, because you can never go wrong with a quality space battle. If anything, this story just adds diversity to season two, since thus far it has been about the hardcore science fiction and well, with this one in the books I simply cannot wait for another one-off tale that serves as the anthesis to this one and has some genuine fun. Until next time. 

We live in quite the incredible era when it comes to television right now. Because every idea and every concept we could ever ask for, is available to us on the small screen, and the vast majority of production companies out there are upping their game when it comes to the overall quality of T.V. shows and that has… raised our expectations to the nth degree for television shows as a whole. But while we expect and demand better of T.V. based entertainment, we do at times, need to cut these shows some slack. Because every writer and every saga need a little bit of time to find their groove and their proper direction and oddly enough this is a courtesy that should have been extended to series 11 of Doctor Who.
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Because some fans were quite harsh in regard to Chris Chibnall’s first outing with the TARDIS, despite the fact that his first year at the helm featured stories that quite frankly captured the essence of the Doctor and the good that she engenders across every single corner of the universe. But at the same time, I understand some of the logical criticism that was directed at the series since the Doctor’s morality became a focal point over anything else, and the adventure and thrilling stakes that often permeate this series took a back seat in Thirteen’s first year. Which brings me back to my point about patience with new writers. Because it was only a matter of time before Chibnall and company figured out the right balance for the new Doctor and for proof, well look no further than the Series 12 premiere, since ‘Spyfall – Part One’ was an absolute tour de force of storytelling, one that genuinely took the time to entertain and outright stun us with quality tension and a big surprise.

The tension was accomplished by giving us quite the grand mystery. For in the opening moments of this tale, we quickly came to learn that spies around the world were under siege from an unsettling species of aliens that seemingly appeared out of thin air and things only got worse from there. Because those agents were having their DNA rewritten for reasons unknown and that of course meant that MI6 needed the Doctor’s help to uncover what species of alien was behind this twisted attack and how exactly they might be stopped, and also how they were related to an internet mogul named Daniel Barton, the head of a company named VOR. And well, this opening sequence wasted no time in setting the mood since the attacks on the agents were damn eerie for certain and we were even treated to a thrilling car chase scene that saw Team TARDIS in quite the precarious situation.

But the best part about this grandiose and epic setup, was that the tension only grew from there. For the team was forced to split up to continue their investigation, with the Doctor and Graham heading off to the Australian outback to meet with the only former MI6 agent who might know more about this attack while Ryan and Yaz headed off to San Francisco to investigate Barton and, the search for information at VOR HQ proved to be about as dangerous as one might expect. Mainly because, Yaz and Ryan came to learn that Daniel Barton is only 93% human and he is definitely in league with these monsters since he gave them orders when they had concerns about ‘obstacles’ and to make matters worse, one of these creatures briefly captured Yaz in a genuinely alien place that was devoid of life or beauty.  

Yet, the series was still willing to raise the stakes beyond that particular reveal and it accomplished that by way of the Doctor and Graham’s visit with the agent known as O. And this quirky young man believed that he might have the answers to this terrifying mystery hidden in his vast amounts of alien intelligence. But before they could dive in and piece it together, these beings came calling. Thankfully though, O’s defenses around the house allowed for the Doctor to capture one of these aliens and interrogate them, and its disdain for our species was chilling, as was its claim that it was ready to invade our universe. But alas, that’s as far as the Doctor was able to get with this being since it switched places with Yaz and in the wake of this harrowing attack, the Doctor felt it was best to go right to the potential source of this mess by visiting Barton in person. 
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Which led to something that the series is known for, outright fun, since this is where a James Bond parody came into play. For everyone took the time to put on their 007-best tuxedo wise, before infiltrating Barton’s casino themed birthday party and the fun had here was simply top notch and you can never go wrong with a little homage to fiction’s greatest spy. But it didn’t take long for the tension to return since the Doctor’s confrontation with Barton went poorly, and that led to another car chase scene and an intense attempt to board Daniel’s private plane and well, this is where the series premiere found a way to completely and utterly drop our jaws by way of an incredible twist ending. Because their arrival on the plane, led to the discovery of the fact that Barton had already escaped, which meant he had help from someone in making that happen.

Granted the logical choice in this instance would be the mysterious aliens poking around in our world. But as it turns out, the real culprit here was O, because he was happy to reveal quite a few things. Such as the fact that he controls the aliens, and in turn he controls Barton because he is the mastermind of this whole mess, with an emphasis on the word… Master. Because O is in fact, The Master, and this reveal was simply stunning to say the least since I don’t think any of us ever expected to see the character again after how things went for Missy at the end of Series 10. But here we are, and the Doctor’s greatest nemesis is as mad as ever and is out to execute some kind of incredible plot to bring down the universe he so despises and that led to one incredible cliffhanger, wherein the Doctor is lost and unsure of what to do, and she’s also separated from her mates, and this was one heck of a way to kick off the new season.

Because it simply got right down to business and it shed all of the deeper meaning present in Series 11. Which honestly, I’m fine with. Because this premiere was all about having fun and getting back to that sense of adventure that permeates the fabric of this series, all while giving the Doctor an incredible task to overcome and it definitely succeeded in its endeavors. For the stakes are always high when the Master is involved and already, I’m eager to learn more about his return and whether or not this is an offshoot timeline Master or Missy’s evolution since death really does mean nothing to this villain. But more importantly, I’m more curious as to how the Doctor is going to get the universe out of this mess because these aliens truly seem unstoppable and the Master has the upper head and really in the end, this was just a stellar episode. One that let us know that Series 12 is going to be vastly different in tone and design and I am here for it and I am already counting down to the minutes to Sunday when this epic two-parter will come to a close. Until next time.