Over the course of the past few weeks, the BBC America documentary series, A Wild Year on Earth, has done a phenomenal job of teaching its audience two key lessons about our world. Such as the fact that our perception of the world and how it often operates is narrow and incorrect. Which isn’t meant to be an insult or an insinuation of ignorance, we simply only know our world and our worldview and quite frankly we are blessed to be in that position. Since the world is a chaotic place that is constantly in motion and is full of strife and difficult moments for the animals that aren’t afforded the same wonderful opportunities and structure that mankind enjoys.
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But while that particular lesson has allowed for us to properly understand just how blessed we truly are a species; it is the other truth present in this story that has managed to captivate us in a powerful manner. For as our journey through a year on Earth continues along, this documentary is making it clear that we are far more connected to our planet than we think and that was never more evident than it was during this week’s episode. For ‘A Time of Activation’ took the time to point out that mankind and the animals that surround us, have a deep understanding of the fact that September and October feature great changes to the planet’s climate, and we need to prepare for that. 

Which is why humanity in the northern hemisphere, begins to harvest all the food it can. For not only are the crops ripe and ready to be pulled from the fields, but because deep down, those primordial ties to the Earth reminds people that the cold is coming and now is the time to prepare our food stores, and there are also some visual/physical clues to help remind mankind that the chill of winter is near. Such as the incredible changes we see in the leaves and of course, by way of some of the mass migrations that take place during this time of year, one of which involves the Caribou. For these majestic creatures kick off a three-month push, south, once September arrives, one that is treacherous and exhausting, just to ensure that they have adequate food for all.

But while that was fascinating and compelling in its own right, this particular chapter made a point to reiterate its other lesson, by reminding us of the fact that in the southern hemisphere, there is no chill or harsh winter coming. No instead, the south sees animals begin to awaken during this time of year, and work to expand their families since this is when the Kangaroos of Australia begin their mating season and in other parts of the southern hemisphere, animals also have to contend with heat and harsh conditions. As evidenced by the sorrowful vignette involving a hippo that was desperate to find a place to cool off and relax while the sun’s powerful rays baked the surrounding landscape and truly, this part of the story did a wonderful job of showing us just how dynamic and different life on our world can be.  

If anything, this particular episode just helps us to understand that September and October are critical times for certain, the kind that put the duality of life on display. For whilst the north begins to transition from vibrancy to bleakness, the south embraces the wonder of starting over and that is poetic and beautiful and that brought about one fascinating episode. One that truly put the majestic chaos of the world on display and found a way to leave us a bit melancholy as well. Simply because we are nearing the end of a fascinating journey, since there is only one episode left in this dynamic and detailed documentary and it should be quite interesting to see what wonders and lessons await us, at the end of our journey through a year on Planet Earth. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two premiere of ‘For All Mankind’.
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One particular gambit that is quite risky is storytelling, is the time jump. Because this is a move that can become quite the disaster if the writing doesn’t handle it quite right. After all, the passage of time means that the audience is missing out on pivotal moments of growth for the characters they know and love, and if those moments are glossed over in the slightest, the audience won’t be happy. Plus, this particular move also requires a little world-building, since the time period the characters now live within is vastly different than the one, they left behind, and not being able to understand the changes to their world and their environment can also alienate the audience.
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If anything, all of this is top of mind today, simply because a massive time jump came into play for the second season premiere of For All Mankind, since ‘Every Little Thing’ plunged us into the heart of an alternate 1983. Which is a storytelling move that could have indeed been disastrous, for all of the reasons that we discussed a moment ago. But thankfully, Ronald D. Moore and his writing staff made sure to ease the audience into this bold new world by dedicating this entire episode to world-building and by doing a wonderful job of catching us up on well… everything. Since this particular tale took the time to explore all the alternate historical events that happened in between seasons one and two, before allowing for us to catch up with these titular characters and everything that’s changed in their lives as well.

Such as the fact that Margo is now the director of NASA, which is simply amazing. Because it means she is finally where she belongs and that she has truly come into her own and she’s not the only one to have grown and seen her career advance. For Captain Edward Baldwin is now in charge of all the astronauts and who is assigned to the incredible new fleet that NASA boasts and as an added bonus, he and Karen have done their best to heal from the loss of their son. To the point where they adopted a daughter a named Kelly and to top it off, Karen is now running The Outpost and enjoying life as a small business owner. But while it was nice to see that everyone has found a way forward, the show was also quick to point out that not everyone is enjoying wonderful times after all these years. For Gordo is still haunted by what happened on the moon and he and Tracy are now divorced, and she in turn, has become a celebrity and may or may not be as happy as she appears to be.

But while it was quite delightful to catch up and be gently eased into a new world and all of the incredible changes that come with the passage of time, this is a show that thrives on drama and exploring the dangers that come with space travel and that was present here too. Because a massive solar flare put every astronaut in space in grave danger with the high yield radiation it was sending into the void. Which motivated now Captain Ellen Wilson, the head of an expanded Jamestown base, to scramble her team into the base’s bunker for safety and it also put Molly Cobb at serious risk. Since she was on the exposed surface of the moon and well… her fate in this matter is one of grave concern. Because a fellow astronaut didn’t make it to the lava tube she was planning to shelter in, thanks to an accident with his rover, and that motivated Molly to be the hero and drag him to safety as the invisible solar storm arrived. A move that showered her in dangerous radiation and well… that’s scary for certain.

Because that could mean a slow death and heartbreak for the audience, since she is a beloved character. But alas, we must wait to determine Molly’s fate, and while we do that… we can reflect upon one fine premiere. One that really did a flawless job of guiding the audience into a new era for this show, and it was also quite amazing that this episode took the time to explore some of the accelerated technological advancements that would have come about from a more aggressive space race and also, let’s be honest, learning about the shuttle roster was definitely a grand geek out moment. Because the fact that Enterprise is an active shuttle in the fleet, is just too cool for its own good and well, in the end, all this episode does is leave us hungry for more. Because this one really was a wonderful set up for an engrossing year of storytelling. One that will likely show us, what it is like to live in a world… where space travel has been around for generations. Until next time.

‘For All Mankind’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘WandaVision’.
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One universal truth that we are all aware of in life, is that at some point or another… we are going to face some serious heartbreak and some difficult emotional hardships. The kind that will undoubtedly leave us in a shattered place, to the point where we are despondent and broken and likely listless. And while it is important for us to pick ourselves up and try and move forward so we can live our lives to the fullest, sometimes the pain we experience makes it impossible to stand tall and the only thing that can bring us out of our funk, are our family members or the people we’ve chosen to bring into our lives as extended family.
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Because they know how to reach us, and how to inspire us and sometimes, they’ve shared in the pain we have and know how to overcome it, and really… all of this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because this particular conundrum served as one of the focal points of this week’s episode of WandaVision. Because ‘Breaking the Fourth Wall’ saw Wanda Maximoff in quite the desolate place after last week’s incredible episode. For now, the reality of what she’s done and the trauma that she’s faced was at the forefront of her mind and body and soul, and that left Wanda in quite the ugly place. Simply because she didn’t know how to reconcile so much death and destruction and of course… that little incident where she expanded The Hex, and that left her despondent and lost. 

But thankfully, there were people out there eager to try and help her, such as Monica. Because she knew that Wanda was doing all of this out of the rage and the pain that comes with grief and that she needed someone that knew this pain and knew how to reconcile it to help her overcome it, and that person was Monica. Which motivated her to push back through the membrane surrounding Westview to try and reach her and well… Monica’s fight to save a hero, led to the first real major surprise of the night. In that her voyage back through this strange barrier… completed the mutation in her cellular structure in some incredible ways. Such as the fact that it allowed for her to maintain control of her mind and it also gave birth to a brand-new hero. One that can see electromagnetic fields and manipulate them. Which means that Monica has become the live-action version of Photon and that’s just awesome. 

However, while it was cool to see Monica become a hero, she had a mission to complete and well… that is a mission that ended in failure thanks to another surprise. Because just when it seemed as though Photon was about to shatter the emotional walls that Wanda put up, Agnes just had to step in and pull Wanda away and offer her a moment to breathe within the walls of her neighbor’s humble abode and that’s when the surprise in question came into play. For once Wanda settled in, she couldn’t help but notice that something wasn’t right about this house. Because that fly on the wall was a little too large, and bunnies simply don’t purr, and of course… the twins weren’t around, despite the fact that Agnes picked them up earlier in this tale, in order to give Wanda a little quiet time. Which motivated her to explore the house to find them… and what she found in the basement changed everything.
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Because there were no piles of boxes or unused workout gear in this basement. No instead, there was a massive tunnel leading to who knows where, and candles and symbols and what appeared to be a book of sorcery that Stephen Strange would know more about than Agnes or Wanda, or rather… just Wanda. For once the Scarlet Witch settled in, Agnes was quick to welcome her to her lair and reveal the fact that she is really named Agatha Harkness and that she possesses some incredible power as well. The kind that has allowed for her to manipulate Wanda from day one and mastermind this whole mess and every wild event that’s come Wanda’s way, and that revelation definitely gives one pause, only because it manages to raise more questions.

Simply because, we don’t understand why Agatha would go to such lengths to use and manipulate and hurt Wanda in this manner. But it will likely only be a matter of time before we find that out, since this show has done a phenomenal job of providing us with answers when the time is right, and while we wait to learn exactly what Agatha’s endgame actually is; it’s best we celebrate another game-changing tale. One that forced a hero to deal with her pain, whilst bringing two big old school Marvel characters to life on the small screen since Photon has arrived and Agatha and Wanda go way back in the comics. And it even found a way to offer up some comic relief by way of its fourth wall gags and some incredible banter between Darcy and Vision and well… in the end, this was simply an incredible episode. One that will truly make the wait for next week’s tale a painful one, since we are beyond eager to see where this incredible story is headed. Until then.   

One particular behavior that all of us are guilty of, is taking the time to lose ourselves within the framework of a fantasy, and there is good reason as to why we do that. After all, sometimes the world and everyday life are simply too much to bear and enjoying a fantasy or two helps us to escape and settle our minds. And sometimes… fantasies give us hope, especially when it comes to dating. Because when we meet someone that catches our eye and dream of what could be a fulfilling relationship, our spirits our lifted and we feel good about taking a chance on love once again. But while fantasies do indeed have their merit, they also have their respective dangers.

Because if we spend too much time using them to escape everyday life, we quickly lose sight of what matters and likely shirk our responsibilities in the real world. And of course, if we hold too tight to romantic fantasies, they can poison a relationship or ruin a potential one when the realities that come with a relationship don't match our fantasy's expectations. If anything, all of this is relevant to our discussion today… simply because the problems that accompany fantasies, specifically ones revolving around love, served as the focal theme for the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. For ‘Galaxy’s Child’ saw Dr. Leah Brahms come aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise for an inspection and well, that put Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge over the moon.

For he truly believed that he would be able to connect with Leah on a fundamental level and make the romance that he started with her holo-persona in ‘Booby Trap’ an outright reality and well… that idea went about as well as one might expect. Because the real Dr. Brahms was nothing like her hologram and the friction that she experienced with Geordi burst his bubble quick and left him somewhat despondent. Until of course he came to realize that living in a fantasy world in regard to love was a waste of time and that building a real connection with someone mattered more than anything else. And at the very least, he was able to forge a friendship with Leah and well, that’s all that we really need to discuss when it comes to this episode’s theme. Since its commentary on fantasies was pretty clean cut and dry.

Which is why it is a wonderful thing that this story had more to offer than a straightforward analysis of this concept. Since there was the whole matter involving the ‘Child’ from the episode’s title. For this particular tale took the time to shake things up for the crew by giving them a unique task, one that involved a random encounter with a peanut shaped alien that attacked the Enterprise because it was giving birth. And the unfortunate response from the crew, one involving phasers, killed the mother and motivated the crew to save the baby and well… the baby decided that the 1701-D should be its mother and suckle energy from it. Which led to a frenzied and difficult, and eventually successful push to get it to its own kind and to get it to detach from the ship. Something that was made possible by Geordi and Leah and well, in the end, this was simply a lighthearted and fluffy tale.

One that really did a wonderful job of showing us how much life matters in the 24th Century since Picard was devastated over hurting a life form and risked plenty to save its offspring and it also allowed for Geordi to shine. Because let's be honest, this really was the first true Geordi-centric tale in TNG. Granted we've had quality moments with him before and ‘Booby Trap’ did make him the focus. But this one really let us get to know the man, and come to understand that he's a huge romantic and would do anything to find true love and that he's truly passionate about his work. As evidenced by his defense of the changes he made to Leah's precious engines and well, there's no faults to be found in this tale. It's just a good old fashioned, character-centric Next Gen episode that puts a smile upon your face and you can never go wrong with that. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Clarice’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the Thomas Harris novel, The Silence of the Lambs, was revolutionary in nature. Simply because this particular book held nothing back in its portrayal of how the twisted mind of a serial killer works and its harrowing story and dynamic characters… made it a pop culture icon. Because it managed to spawn a five-picture movie franchise and a hit television series that further explored the fascinating mind of one Dr. Hannibal Lecter, to the point where he is a monster that is as famous and as recognizable as Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees and well… that’s downright incredible since that kind of iconic status isn’t easy in the slightest.

But while we often talk about Hannibal and celebrate his demented legacy, something we don’t discuss/celebrate enough in regard to that particular novel… is Clarice Starling. For she too is/was a dynamic character in that book, one that stood toe to toe with not one, but two outright monsters. And of course, she even managed to take one down by using her keen intellect to assemble the clues before her. But after that story, she basically disappeared into the creative void until Hannibal came about. Leaving all of us to wonder, what happened to Clarice in-between those two stories, and what did her career as an FBI agent look like? Well thankfully, after years of silence on that particular matter, CBS has opted to explore those lost years and give this incredible character her day in the sun by way of the new series, Clarice.

A show that picks up a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs, and when we catch up with now Agent Starling in ‘The Silence Is Over’, she is in quite the unique place. For the PTSD she’s suffering from has left her a shell of the bold agent she once was, to the point where she’s haunted by dreams of that fateful day in Buffalo Bill’s basement, and she’s working hard to stay out of the field while she heals. But her notoriety and ability to capture the most deranged of minds, motivates now Attorney General Ruth Martin to assign Clarice to a special task force designed to fight the kind of violent crime that nearly claimed the life of her baby daughter, Catherine. Which means that like it or not, Special Agent Clarice Starling is going to have to heal on the fly as she faces the cruelty that man is capable of, once again.

Which… is quite the wonderful setup for this series. Since it acknowledges that PTSD is something quite real and quite tangible for someone to experience when they are forced to traverse a house of horrors and kill a serial killer. Plus, such a move should add all kinds of new dimensions and layers to a character that outright intrigues us, and it also leaves one hopeful for a dynamic season of storytelling, one where Clarice will have to earn her status as an FBI agent on a more intimate level. But alas, the pilot episode of this series only toys with those wonderful concepts, and never once dives into them in a proper manner and that’s an outright shame. Because this really is the kind of groundwork that says to an audience to buckle up and prepare for a powerful and emotional ride, the kind that will inspire and move a viewer as Clarice fights to shed her demons and her pain so that she can become an incredibly strong hero.

But instead, this pilot episode opts to rush through a case that could have added some fine commentary on the modern world and it barely deals with Clarice’s pain by rushing her healing process as well, and that is frustrating to say the least, especially when one considers why. Because rather than making this decision to get the story moving toward something bigger or juicier, the episode pushes all of these important moments aside to focus heavily on some serious Silence fan service. The kind that features far too many flashbacks to Buffalo Bill’s menagerie of terror, and it even shoehorns in a throwaway conversation between Catherine Martin and Clarice. All to further hammer home that this is a sequel and that really does do the story disservice and it detracts from Clarice’s journey to establish herself as an independent agent that is eager to make waves for the right reasons. Now, that’s not to say that the series should ignore what happened in Silence of the Lambs in the slightest. Since Clarice wouldn’t be here without that tense showdown with Buffalo Bill.

But it needed to make the echoes of the past more organic in nature, and gradually ease us into her attempts to face it and recover from it. Which would give those flashbacks impact as she learns to live with those memories and make peace with them and it also would give a conversation with Catherine Martin more gravity, since it would signal that Clarice was ready to face her and make amends for ignoring her. But while this pilot struggles to find its voice, all is not lost. For this was but a single episode, and we have a season ahead for this show to course correct and hopefully it does. Because the casting is top notch since Rebecca Breeds is phenomenal as Clarice Starling and she is balanced out nicely by Michael Cudlitz’s portrayal of Paul Krendler and the groundwork is there for some powerful storytelling to take place. Which means all we can do at this point is sit and wait and see, if Clarice embraces its potential in the weeks to come. Until next time.

One grand question that all of us have pondered upon at some point or another in our lives… is what would happen if aliens were to visit planet Earth. Because that would be a game-changer for certain. Since it would force humanity to rethink a great many things and it would change our society… likely overnight. Now as to whether or not that would be a good or bad change is of course something that is up for great debate. But we like to think that the change would be good, to the point where fiction often explores such a surprise, transforming our world for the better. As evidenced by how First Contact went in the Star Trek Universe.
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But while that particular vision of a future, where mankind puts its petty differences aside and forges a planet of peace and becomes force for good, is lovely and worth striving for, there’s a caveat to it. In that, the people of Earth in 2063, will be desperate for a better way forward after suffering through nuclear war. And the realization that we are not alone combined with the echoes of war, help to motivate everyone to forge ahead as one. But in the here and the now, we are a divided culture. One that digs in deep when it comes to our religious and political beliefs. And we still struggle with treating one another with kindness and offering equality to all, despite the fact that we are one species. Which refines the question down further to ask… what would happen if aliens were to visit planet Earth, right now? And thankfully, the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation takes the time to ponder upon that.

For ‘First Contact’ sees the crew of the Enterprise arrive at Malcor III to take part in the act that shares the namesake of this tale. For the Malcorians are preparing their own warp drive, meaning the time has come to reach out to them and show them what awaits them when they begin to traverse the stars. An act that leads to some beautiful moments for certain, as some of the leaders of this world come to realize that there are wonders untold and new horizons waiting for them in the heavens. But it also leads to some sour moments. Because unfortunately Commander Riker is wounded whilst posing as a Malcorian, in order to better understand their world, and the fear that comes from that, brings about conflict and strife… to the point where the planet’s leader decides that perhaps now is not the time to join the galactic family that awaits this culture. Instead, more time is needed to heal Malcor III’s societal divides and well… the commentary present in this plot, is quite striking.  

Because it outright points out, that if aliens dropped by Earth in this moment, we would likely act as the Malcorians do in this tale. For we believe we are the center of the universe, just like this species, and that particular brand of arrogance that we have to shed… would definitely bring about some conflict with our visitors. Plus, since we believe in stature based upon possessions, there’s a fair chance nations will grapple over who gets to benefit the most from this discovery, based on those notions. Which means that we need to be less like the Malcorians, and more like the humans of this fictional future if we expect an encounter with extra-terrestrials to go better than this one did and well, this episode deserves some serious credit for taking the time to call out our more unsavory behavior and for asking us to shed the silly stuff so we can be a better species, period.

Because sometimes… that’s the kind of stuff that people need to hear in order to change things up and it is always lovely to know that Star Trek has no problem doing that. But while that makes it seem as though this episode was focused on scolding us, we would be remiss to not point out… that it also takes us inside a proud Federation/Starfleet tradition. Because this is indeed an up close and personal look at First Contact, and the care and humility that goes into it, really is quite inspiring. Simply because Captain Picard makes it clear that this species is about to embark on an incredible journey, one that will change their people for the better and that hope for tomorrow is what we love about this franchise. And the fact that the leader of this slightly lost world is willing to push for a better future in a slow manner, does end this tale on a satisfying note. One that leaves the viewer hopeful that perhaps the STU will revisit the fate of this world in future shows and if we’re lucky, they’ll be members of the Federation at last. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘Big Sky’.
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Something that is truly fascinating about crime fiction, is that regardless of how epic or outlandish the crime is in a particular story, eventually it crashes back down to reality and begins to follow some of the rules of the road. A fascinating twist that is likely related to the fact, that our brains need a taste of reality in order for us to relate to or properly enjoy the story and well, this is something that hasn’t happened yet on the ABC series, Big Sky. Because this one has gone big from the get-go and it’s featured all kinds of wild twists and turns that defy reality at times. But after weeks of dropping our jaws on a consistent basis… last night’s episode of the show finally opened the door for this story to play out in a more natural and realistic manner.
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A feat that ‘Let It Be Him’ accomplished, by finally having someone ID Ronald Pergman. Because let’s be honest, there was no way he could continue to fly under the radar and hide out in his house forever with a hostage and two dead bodies in his basement. Someone had to spot him at some point, and it turns out that said someone… was Cassie. Because everyone in law enforcement in Helena was going door to door, asking if anyone had seen poor Erik and she’s the one that drew the straw to ask that very question at the Pergman estate. And the odd behavior that Ronald exhibited, along with his inflection and motions, immediately reminded Cassie of the fact that she’d met him before, at Merrilee’s shop when she went looking for Rick Legarski and well, that definitely felt organic and natural. Because in the real world, it is always only a matter of time before someone spots a criminal that is being hunted and it was nice to see that play out here.

Plus, it was equally as satisfying to see waves of police cars surround the Pergman estate. Because obviously, being spotted by Cassie meant that law enforcement would be on its way and holy cow did they arrive in force and understandably so. After all, Ronald is nuts and unpredictable and having as many officers as possible around to take him in, was the logical course of action and that setup led to one tense sequence. One where officers were wounded by boobytraps and where Jenny was racing against time to save an unconscious Erik from the basement of the home… since Ronald rigged the place the blow and well, this part of the story was one of only two segments that worked to shock the audience. Since it turns out that Erik, was actually the corpse of Ronald’s mother, and he set up such a ruse to try and trap and kill as many officers as possible, whilst he and Erik used Father Maynard’s Tesla to get away. 

Which in turn led to a traditional chase scene, one where police took to the air and every road imaginable to try and find Ronald before he escaped the country or the state. But thankfully, Cassie and Jenny figured out he’d be using the scenic interstate routes to try and make his escape, and that allowed for them to catch up with his stolen ride and eventually save Erik and make a harrowing discovery. In that, somewhere along the way, Ronald used Maynard’s corpse to engage auto-drive on the Tesla. Meaning that he managed to evade capture after all and that would definitely be another realistic moment in this particular tale. In that, sometimes the bad guys get away in life and with Ronald back out on the road and off to who knows where… it would seem that we’ve reached the closing chapter in his story.

Speaking of closure, well the end of another storyline is what brought about the second big shocker of the night. Because while everyone was dealing with the hunt for Erik and Ronald, Merrilee was continuing to struggle with the whole mess involving her husband. Because some of his nighttime behavior, made her believe that his memory was starting to bubble back to the surface of his mind. Which motivated her to push him and try and bring his memories out so she could finally get some answers and some resolution to this waking nightmare. But the basic stuff didn’t work and that pushed her to ponder harder in regard to her husband’s quirks and behaviors to try and figure out a way into his mind, and that sadly helped her to realize that Rick was ready to kill her on that fateful night. And coming to that particular epiphany and settling into the knowledge that he would likely escape justice by playing the long con, motivated her to try one last time to get him to remember and if she was successful… she’d know for certain that her husband was a monster, and she could deal with it accordingly and well... her plan worked.

For Rick did indeed remember after all, and that prompted her to handle this revelation in the most shocking way imaginable… by beating her husband to death with the very hammer he planned to end her life with. Bringing an end to Rick’s journey in a harrowing and epic manner and what a powerful and bittersweet way to close the book on this unsettling and disturbing case. If anything, this series deserves some serious kudos for doing something this bold in the middle of a season, since this is the kind of stuff that you only see within the framework of a season finale. But it just goes to show that Big Sky will always find a way to surprise us, even when the story is grounded in reality and it will be interesting to see where this show takes us next, when it returns to the airwaves on April 13, 2021, now that its primary storyline has come to a close. Until next time.

The phrase, ‘curiosity killed the cat’, is one that continues to resonate in modern society; simply because searching for the truth can in fact… bring forth all kinds of trouble. For sometimes, the facts we seek are unfortunate and hurtful in nature and uncovering them will break us for certain. But we simply don’t stop in our quest, largely due to the fact that the human mind simply must know the facts when we believe that someone is hiding them from us, and that will likely allow for that phrase to continue to hold great weight in society, until the end of time. And it just so happens that our quest for it and the trouble that comes with it, is relevant to our discussion today; because it served as the focal point of the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

For ‘Clues’ saw the crew of the Enterprise interrupt some much needed downtime so the crew could investigate quite the mystery. One involving an M-Class planet forming in the heart of a nebula. A place where no life sustaining planet should be. But a quick encounter with a surprise wormhole, knocked the crew out for thirty seconds whilst moving the ship away from the planet and for a time, this seemed to be nothing more than a minor inconvenience for the crew. One that they would quickly put out of mind as they moseyed along toward their next destination. But some odd occurrences and changes to the crew’s health began to arise suspicion that perhaps the crew was unconscious for far longer than thirty seconds, a notion that was given credence by Lieutenant Commander Data’s equally as odd behavior.

Because it was clear to everyone that he knew more than he was leading on, since he was unaffected by the power of the wormhole and well… that revelation brought about quite the investigation, one that eventually brought the ship back to its starting point, where it was revealed that Data was keeping secrets to save lives. For this world was occupied by a hostile and xenophobic race. One that was ready to kill to keep their existence a secret, and thanks to Picard’s quick acting… the crew was saved from trouble during their initial encounter; by scrubbing the ship’s logs and having their memories erased, so it seemed as though they were only out for thirty seconds. A lie that Data hammered home under orders. But alas, some sloppy cleanup left clues behind, the kind that forced curiosity to get the better of the crew, and thanks to Picard’s promises and a more thorough cleanup, the crew went through this wild process once more and went on their merry way, none the wiser.

But while that plot does hammer home the dangers of curiosity, all while offering up a juicy mystery… there are some issues to be had with that intricate plot. For example, we know the Enterprise was heading to their next mission when this hiccup arrived, and we know they lead busy lives and they undoubtedly lost several days dealing with this little mess, and still believe they only lost thirty seconds and that will bring about some problems with keeping this alien society a secret. Because eventually, something due on a Wednesday to Starfleet Command, will be late… prompting questions. Plus, an eventual refit or upgrade will catch the chronometer issues, forcing more questions to come into play, and likely… the eventual reveal of the Paxans. If anything, those cold facts make the ending of this episode feel hollow, despite the wondrous stuff that preceded it, and that’s unfortunate since this had the potential to be a supremely strong tale.

After all, it features some fine performances and the mystery really does suck you in. But alas, that glaring plot hole is there, and little can be done about it outside of perhaps a little off-screen resolution. Wherein Data eventually told Picard the truth, as hopefully ordered, so that Starfleet would tighten hazard measures in the area. But outside of that particular complaint, this really is a solid episode. One that is tightly woven and leaves you uncomfortable at the prospect that Lieutenant Commander Data is up to something nefarious and eventually relieved, the instant you realize that he was just acting in the best interests of the crew and it also does a fine job of reminding us of how world class this crew really is. Because they didn’t miss a single clue left behind, and now that this mystery has come to a close, it’s time to move onto the next mission. One that involves a grand exploration of a proud tradition in Starfleet. Until next time.  

It wasn’t that long ago, that we took a moment to discuss exactly what goes into a hero’s journey in storytelling. Because the men and women that we root for on either the small or silver screen, truly have to earn their status as a champion of the people and really, their journey all boils down to three key steps. The first, is that they have find a cause to fight for. The second, involves them becoming larger than life, if you will. By doing something incredibly heroic and brave so that others look up to them and admire them. And finally, they have to face their demons or their past so that they will never know fear again.
 
Now this is a journey that can happen at just about any pace. Since the structure of the story will dictate how and when our hero crosses those proverbial thresholds, and in the case of Almost Paradise, thus far the show is moving Alex Walker’s journey toward heroism at a fairly brisk pace. After all, ‘Reef Eel Soup for the Soul’ allowed for step one to take place since Alex came out of that episode, fully embracing the need to use his skill set to be a hybrid vigilante for the good people of Cebu. Since he can cross lines that the police can’t, in order to bring the bad guys to justice. And after having a little fun with Jerry Westwood, the story opted to return to this all-important journey and have Alex take part in the next step. Which gives ‘Unbecalming’ new gravity and depth.
 
Because initially, this reviewer praised this particular episode for being an action-packed rollercoaster ride. One that not only showed off Alex’s skill set as a soldier, but also took the time to pay homage to movies like Die Hard, since Alex’s journey in this story somewhat mirrored that of John McClane. But now that we know where the overall story is headed, you begin to see that next step in Alex's journey is hidden beneath the action and adventure and laughs and really… what allows for this second step to take place, is a supremely brave decision on Alex’s part. For he knows full well that El Diablo will do horrible things to his friends and the innocent people still in the station, unless someone provides a distraction and that seemingly simple choice on his part, leads to so much more.
 
For Alex truly becomes a beacon of hope in this particular part of the story. For his friends don't have a lot of hope that they will escape this harrowing situation in the slightest. But the instant they know Alex is working to fight El Diablo and his men, and save them, their attitude immediately changes. Because they know Alex will do whatever it takes to bring the bad guy to justice, and that allows for Kai and everyone else to trust him and follow his lead when it comes defeating El Diablo, and that’s just awesome when all is said and done. Simply because that is the second step to heroism to a tee, and Alex embraces it in a smooth and organic manner, and what’s equally as amazing, is that Alex also becomes something of a legend in his tale.
 
Because undoubtedly, word of his deeds would start to spread after saving an entire police station from a well-connected and high-powered and super rich thug. Which means that the people of Cebu now know that a genuine badass is in their midst, one that will run toward the danger in a fearless and fierce manner to protect the innocent from great harm… and that’s just too cool. Because it makes Alex a sort of island Batman. The Island Knight, if you will, and that really does make this one uplifting tale for certain. Because that’s the kind of stuff that just sends your spirits soaring, and it will be wonderful to see how this second step toward heroism helps Alex Walker to grow in the weeks to come… as he inches closer to becoming a genuine hero. Until next time.  

​‘Almost Paradise’ is available to stream for free (with ads), right now, on IMDbTV.

One particularly fascinating belief about our modern world, is that humanity has managed to move beyond its silly fears and superstitions by way of technology, and it is understandable as to why so many hold to that notion. After all, we literally have the compendium of human knowledge at our fingertips, twenty-four-seven. So, if someone has a concern about a strange noise they heard in the middle of night or are trepidatious about visiting a certain place because of a perceived sketchy reputation… they can straight up google the facts about those matters and put their minds to ease. But sadly, while that is a comforting belief for certain, since so many of us have taken part in a quick knowledge download on the web to assuage a concern… it is in fact, completely and utterly wrong.

Because if the last few months/years in America have taught us anything, it would have to be that people are quick to indulge in their fears more often than not and will not listen to reason or facts in the slightest when those fears take hold. No instead, they are content in their worldview and will defend it to no end, for reasons that few of us will ever understand. And to complicate matters further, these folks are now eager to reinforce their lies and fears by banding together with others that share their skewed views online. Which has brought about all kinds of misinformation in a time when facts need to win the day and really, all of this relevant to our discussion today… simply because this particular conundrum, and the trouble it can cause, was put on full display, in the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

For ‘Devil’s Due’ saw the crew of the Enterprise arrive at a world known as Ventax II where quite the problem was brewing. For this humble planet, one that had made its own technological advances and was aware of the fact that their people weren’t alone in the universe, was paralyzed with fear. For some odd tremors and unique visions made it ‘clear’ that a thousand-year-old prophecy involving a deal with their equivalent of the devil (named Ardra) was about to come to fruition. And the fact that a woman, who claimed to be Ardra, appeared out of thin air to complete said deal, only added to the terror and panic that was already paralyzing this planet, to the point where they were ready to hand this world over to Ardra. All of which, Captain Jean-Luc Picard believed was unnecessary, for there had to be a logical explanation to this whole matter.

Which of course, led him to dive deep into Ardra’s claims, and that eventually led to the discovery that she was in fact a charlatan who used this legend to gain control of an entire planet. But while that allows for a happy and satisfying ending to take place, what this episode has to say about our fears and how powerful they are, is striking to say the least. Because it simply teaches us that when the right person stands up and knows exactly how to stoke them, that people will be quick to indulge them and believe whatever they are told in order to quiet those fears. Which in many ways, makes this episode eerily prophetic in nature, since the United States just spent the last four years watching half the country be duped by the charms of its own Ardra, by way Donald J. Trump. 

If anything, surprise parallels just go to show that in order to overcome such matters and keep future men and women like Trump and Ardra from taking control of our most primal worries… that logic must prevail above all else. For had the Ventaxians done just that, they would have realized that their ancient scrolls invented Ardra, to help people gain focus, and of course, had America realized that Donny boy was selling lies and putting on theatrics, maybe the last four years would have been less stressful. But all snark aside, this really was quite the powerful tale when all is said and done. One that really does do a fine job of pointing out how emotion can overpower logic on a moment’s notice and how important it is to take a moment and ponder upon any odd situation that stokes our fears in an objective manner. Because to do so will allow for us to see the truth and the facts and save us a great deal of heartbreak and worry in the long run. Until next time.