Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 305 of ‘American Gods’.

As time goes on, it is becoming inherently clear that season three of American Gods is working hard to examine the sheer power and wonder of the human condition, with a twist of course. For the stories that we’ve enjoyed this year, have seen the Gods that populate Neil Gaiman’s rich universe… go through a lot of the experiences that we do, and learn a great deal of the same lessons that we do, as we make our way through this wild journey known as life. And that’s allowed for the show to not only examine some of the more unsavory traits and behaviors that humans exhibit, but also the great beauty that we are capable of… as evidenced by last night’s episode.
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Because ‘Sister Rising’ is a story that opted to ponder upon how Gods and humans alike are able to  figure out how to move forward in life, in order to pursue and capture what will truly make them happy, when the odds appear to be against us. And it explored this particular concept by offering up some subtle advice that all of us need to be reminded of from time to time. In that, in order to properly move forward in life and get exactly what we want… we need to acknowledge and face precisely what is holding us back, emotionally or mentally. Otherwise we will forever be stuck, and it brought about that particular reminder by way of several key storylines. One of which… involved resolving the whole matter with Bilquis.

For the longer she stayed in that awful cell, the more time she had to spend with the Gods she used to know, and they were quick to inform her of some harsh truth. In that, she was so desperate to be loved and worshipped, that she turned to whatever humanity was willing to give her and that allowed for unhappiness to settle into her soul. But thankfully, rather than punish herself for making that decision, she instead accepted that unfortunate truth, and being one with her past mistakes allowed for her to see a new path forward. One that would nourish her powerful soul in a more natural manner, and would no longer require dating apps and that epiphany gave her the strength to set herself free and return to the world refreshed and determined to surround herself with that which will bring her happiness and peace. 

Yet while that was quite the fulfilling conclusion to Bilquis’ harrowing journey of self-discovery, the story opted to outright take this exploration to a whole new level by way of Salim and Laura’s journey. Because Salim’s lovelorn lamenting and Laura’s newfound knowledge of the afterlife, allowed for the story to remind us that sometimes… self-awareness in these matters isn’t possible, especially when emotions come into play. And that it helps to have someone around us that has clarity and objectivity, so that they can help us to face what we need to, so we can move forward in life. As evidenced by how Laura used her knowledge of the afterlife to teach Salim that pining over a lost love, we cannot recover, does us no good. So, it is best to acknowledge the pain and live life to the fullest, since one never knows what joyous surprises the universe will send our way.

If anything, it was quite incredible to experience a proverbial kick in the butt from a series where Gods roam the Earth. But it happened and it worked because only a series this unique, could get away with that particular surprise and what it accomplished with Shadow and Cordelia’s storyline. Because Mister Moon was eventually talked into helping his father free Demeter, and that allowed for a sendup of Ocean’s Eleven to take place, with just two people. Since Shadow and Cordelia were able to pull off one hell of a heist on that crooked lawyer and gain leverage upon him and while at first glance this sequence seems slightly out of place, by the time this episode ends, it becomes inherently clear that this little offshoot story was designed to break things up, to ensure the heavier stuff wouldn’t overwhelm us.

In the end however, this really was quite the delightful tale. Because not only did it do a wonderful job of exploring some uplifting concepts in a frank and dynamic manner, but it also challenged the audience as well. By asking us to dig deep and ponder upon whether or not we’re doing enough to break free of our own personal quicksand in a brave manner akin to what Salim and Bilquis accomplished here. But while it was wonderful to enjoy a motivational and lighthearted tale, one cannot help but wonder, exactly what this is series is up to at the moment. For all of these explorations have to be leading toward something, since this is a series with an endgame in mind and it should be interesting to see what all of these lessons are building toward as the back half of season three, gets underway. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘The Watch’.
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Something that storytelling has helped audiences everywhere come to understand… is what creates evil in our modern world. For stories have taken the time to explore how bad childhoods, or incredible societal pressure, religion and even marginalization and hopelessness, can motivate people to turn their backs on their fellow man and harm them with impunity. But while these particular explorations have made for fascinating and poignant stories throughout the years, they have overshadowed another element about the human condition that we don’t explore enough. Specifically, what generates the good deeds that people do on a regular basis.
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Because that too requires some semblance of motivation and learning, since good and evil aren’t practiced immediately by people overnight. Which means that there has to be some kind of process that motivates Good Samaritans to choose to put themselves in harm’s way, in order to ensure the safety and well-being of others. And thankfully, as the days get tougher and the world seemingly gets more bitter, some storytellers out there are working to explore what creates good people in order to brighten our days and give us some semblance of hope, and one such story that is making that effort, is The Watch. For this quirky new series has been a hero’s journey from the get-go, one that has been slowly building to the all-important moment when the officers of the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork… transform into heroes at last.

A moment that just so happened to take place during the season one finale and that made ‘Better to Light a Candle’, quite the satisfying tale. Because it really did do a fine job of examining everything we just discussed, in a manner that suited the quirkiness that show has come to be known for. Which means that there was no traditional grand showdown to bring forth our understanding of what drives good to conquer evil, and no beautiful and inspirational speeches. No instead, there were unexpected twists and turns and outright confusion. For the City Watch’s attempt to stop Carcer from summoning the dragon, ended badly, when that great beastie decided it didn’t want to be controlled in the slightest and opted to wound Carcer and kidnap Cheery before starting a grand and fiery rampage. Leaving our heroes directionless and confused since they couldn’t see a path where they were able to save the city… and that’s when something quite wonderful happened.

Because rather than give up and let the end wash over them, Cheery’s return and epiphany that the monster was in fact, angry and lonely, motivated the City Watch to bring The What back for an encore performance. One that would play the song of the dragon so they could draw it near Good Boy and give this incredible monster the friend and peace it so desperately sought, and wouldn’t you know it? Their plan absolutely worked, and the city was saved and from the ashes of this dark day, came about the inspiration that was prophesied. To the point where making crime a big business in Ankh-Morpork was no longer going to be a priority. Because the City Watch showed everyone that there is a better way than the status quo. But what matters most is that every action that brought forth this bold new beginning for the city, is what revealed how good people and heroes are born.
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Which all boils down to a few simple things. In that, people who embrace good, have a strong moral center and understand that there are people out there who aren’t capable of defending themselves and that it is up to someone to step in and help them. Plus, the City Watch's actions also made it clear that kind folks and heroes alike, are willing to do whatever it takes to find solutions to horrible situations. But most important of all, this story made it clear that good people choose to follow this path and hold to it regardless of the danger ahead and well, that’s a simple but impactful way to explore the nature of heroism in a story where dragons fly through the sky and goblins wish to unionize and vampires host virgin support groups. And while some might find such matters to be cheesy for certain, that’s okay. Because at least this show is trying to explore something different and positive in an era where dark and gritty rules the day. 

But while it was wonderful to see Vimes and Lady Ramkin and Carrot and Cheery and Angua become outright heroes before our eyes, we would be remiss to not talk about that ending. Since Carcer Dun’s defeat gave rise to the era of Wonce, and now that she has been burned by fate and destiny, she’s clearly eager to cause some major trouble in the multiverse and it will be interesting to see what her special brand of revenge is going to bring to the table in season two. And hopefully we get a brisk announcement from the BBC and BBC America that The Watch is indeed coming back for a second year. Because this show really is something quite unique and special and it would be wonderful to spend another year, exploring the wonder of the human condition with these magnificent misfits… turned heroes. Until next year.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘A Wild Year on Earth’.
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Summer is a time of year where humanity is eager to relax and understandably so. After all, the heat is simply unbearable in July and August, and that is definitely one solid reason to take it easy, since it ensures one doesn’t spend too much energy in the sweltering heat. But another big reason why we love to relax during this time of year, is because the weather is gorgeous and the outdoors calls to us and that’s why we take the time to hop on a plane to our favorite beach or lake, so that we can kick back and enjoy everything mother nature has to offer and forget about our everyday troubles in the process.

But while we are lounging about and enjoying an iced tea without a care in the world, the natural world is in motion during this time of year, something that last night’s episode of A Wild Year on Earth, explored in great detail. For ‘A Time of Migration’ took the time to show us exactly how summertime is host to some important moments on planet Earth, the kind that trigger animals to begin to move about the globe and one catalyst for this shift, is the melting of ice. Because the heat bearing down in July and August melts away plenty of polar ice, which enriches the water with precious nutrients and that is what motivates Auks to make their way to their breeding grounds in the Svalbard archipelago so they can use that rich water to aid in raising their young.

In fact, they’ve been coming to this part of the world for so long, that it has become tradition for them to use the cliffs they make nests within, to teach their children how to fly. Which allowed for us to watch some touching moments, as the chicks took to the sky with a parent behind them, to ensure they would safely reach the sea. But while it was nice to enjoy some gentle moments, there were more migrations triggered by summer for us to explore. For the changes in arctic temperatures also motivates the salmon of Alaska to head upstream and spawn, which in turn feeds a great many bears since they too have come here, armed with the knowledge that the water will be flooded with fresh fish to help them fatten up for the winter. And we were also privy to a fascinating yearly migration that takes place in the waters near Tasmania. Wherein a massive number of spider crabs congregate to molt since they too are aware of the fact that the perfect time of year has arrived to make this happen.

But what was truly fascinating about this particular chapter, is that it once again took the time to remind the viewer just how interconnected mankind is with the natural world. Because there are genuine migrations that human beings take part in as well. Since so many of the Muslim faith, make their way to Mecca in summer to take part in the Hajj, an act that includes walking around the Kaaba seven times to purge one's self of all sin. And in the heart of Asia, there are nomads that follow the changing of the seasons to guide them to prosperity, and they have no problem setting up shop wherever the land is most plentiful for the animals that they depend upon for resources. If anything, it was quite fascinating to learn that in the 21st Century, living off the land and following the seasons is still something that mankind is still eager to take part in.

But it does just go to show, that regardless of how we live our lives now, we are still deeply connected to a world that nourished us through our societal infancy. To the point where we too feel the need to migrate in some manner and really, this serves as a fine reminder that we need to do whatever it takes to preserve our precious planet. For this episode also took the time to point out, that climate change is starting to disrupt some of the migrations around the world or stunt them altogether. Giving us grand incentive to make some changes now, so that future generations can still enjoy the always toasty summertime in a comfortable and relaxed manner and so that nature can go about its yearly business in a seamless and healthy one. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘WandaVision’.
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Thus far, the Disney+ series, WandaVision, has done a phenomenal job of providing its audience with a unique viewing experience. Something that it has accomplished by thumbing its nose at just about every superhero and television trope in existence. For not only has the plot has moved at a leisurely place in a storytelling world where wowing us is the norm, but it has also done little to address what’s really happening in Westview, New Jersey. Which should of course bore us and motivate us to tune out. But the strange clues present in this story, combined with some incredibly stunning moments, have kept us coming back for more, so that we can enjoy what will likely be a grand payoff for our patience. 
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But despite the fact that this series has provided us with one of the most original superhero stories to hit the market in years, there comes a point where certain tropes from the genre and television in general are unavoidable. Such as big moments where the stakes are raised and of course… everyone loves an incredible cliffhanger and oddly enough, that’s precisely what this week’s episode sent our way. But before we break down how ‘All-New Halloween Spooktacular!’ accomplished these particular feats, we do need to take a moment and acknowledge the fact that this episode did a wonderful job of lightening the mood before the serious stuff came into play. Because all the comedy here really did leave us chuckling quite hard, and a fair majority of it came courtesy of Quicksilver and his mischievous ways.  

However, while it was a delight to have a little fun for a change, the heavier stuff is what will keep us talking for days about this particular tale and what brought those moments forth… was curiosity. Because both Wanda and Vision found themselves wondering more about what was going on Westview and what created this strange environment and that allowed for Wanda to drop the first real bombshell of the night. In that, she’s nothing more than a pawn after all. Because she reinforced the fact, during an honest and frank conversation with her brother, that she hasn’t a clue how she is doing this or how she got here and that double confirmation, means that someone else is indeed pulling the strings and using her power for some other purpose that still remains a secret and the wonder of curiosity, didn’t end there.

Because Vision’s journey of discovery in this tale, took him to the outskirts of the Hex. Wherein he came to learn that Wanda’s power was struggling to keep hold and leaving the city’s citizens in a broken place mentally, to the point where even Agnes found herself fighting for freedom. But more importantly, being at the edge prompted Vision to breach the barrier and see what lie beyond and that brought about the raised stakes in question. Because once Vision broke through, he was immediately under duress. For the power this place has over him is strong and not being attached to it, began to rip his body to shreds and rather than help… S.W.O.R.D. simply looked on. And once Wanda came to realize that her love was in danger once again, she dug deep into her powers and extended the Hex, allowing for it to consume everyone and everything but Monica and Jimmy Woo. If anything, it is obvious that this particular tale was designed to set the stage for what should be a powerhouse finale and well… it is mission accomplished when it comes to that.

Because now we know that someone quite powerful is behind all of this and they’ve opted to use a hero to cover their tracks and take the fall for some reason. And of course, thanks to Hayward’s outright incompetence and secret machinations… he’s made it damn near impossible to reach Wanda and potentially get her to stand down. Since she will clearly go to incredible lengths to protect her family if she remotely feels as though they are in danger and she certainly feels that now, and well, this really was another incredible episode when all is said and done. One that really did put us on the edge of our seats by way of some big moments and one epic cliffhanger. The kind that will undoubtedly have all of us counting down the minutes until next week’s new tale.   

When we think of the horrors of war, some fairly common images come to mind. The kind that brings sorrow to our heart since they remind us of the physical toll that war creates on the innocent, since we think of their suffering and of devastated cities that are still smoking from the weapons that leveled once proud skylines. If anything, these images do a fine job of reminding us that war is absolute hell and that there is no good reason for it to exist. But while those images definitely rattle and unsettle us, they are sadly the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the horrors of war. And we likely avoid pondering upon the more horrible aspects of it, so that we can preserve our sanity and keep it together emotionally, since such thoughts would likely break us.

But in order to rid our world of this madness, we need to acknowledge every awful nuance that accompanies war and that includes its long-term psychological effects on the men and women and transgendered individuals that opt to serve their country. For they see horrible things in combat and that haunts them for years on end, to the point that they require proper care when they return home from war. Otherwise their transition back to civilian life will be difficult and painful and really, all of this is relevant today, simply because the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation opted to explore this unfortunate reality in a dynamic manner. By taking the time to not only examine the lasting psychological impact of war, but by also pondering upon what could happen, if a solider without proper care… returned to service and faced his enemy once again.

Which made ‘The Wounded’ quite the powerful and heartbreaking tale, one that saw a Starfleet captain named Benjamin Maxwell, abandon his oath to Starfleet and the Federation… in order to use his vessel to wage a one ship war against the Cardassians. A fight that was motivated by some serious trauma from the Cardiassian/Federation war. For we came to learn, by way of Miles O’Brien, that Maxwell lost his family to the Cardassians and rather than seek treatment for such a loss or perhaps take a little time away from the frontlines… he simply returned to the chair and funneled his pain into the fight. But with the war over, that fury boiled over and broke him. Prompting him to make the call to stop the Cardassians from re-arming and that put Picard in quite the difficult place.

Because now it was up to him to figure out how to get Maxwell to stop his quest for vengeance without setting him off, and failure in this instance would likely lead to war and sadly… despite Picard’s best efforts to accomplish this in a peaceful and simple manner, Captain Maxwell couldn’t let his vendetta go and he brought these two factions back to the brink. But Mister O'Brien was able to offer up a unique solution to this mess, one that involved him beaming aboard the U.S.S. Phoenix to try and talk a little sense into the captain he once served with. And seeing a familiar face and being able to be open and honest with Miles about his pain, allowed for Benjamin to finally stand down and understand the error of his ways and return to Federation territory, where he could finally get the help he so desperately needed. 

In the end however, this really was quite the dark and powerful tale. One that held nothing back in its exploration of a solider that lost his way and refused to give up on war in the hopes that an eye for an eye would finally heal his emotional wounds, and it deserves some serious props for addressing an issue that wouldn’t be talked about in great detail until now really, and also for providing us with more important milestones in Star Trek lore. For this episode also features the first on-screen appearance of the Cardassians, a villain that would be integral to the events of Deep Space Nine and it also features another actor that would go on to star in that show as well. Since Marc Alaimo, who plays Gul Macet, would go on to take on the role of Gul Dukat… a character that would forever be a thorn in Benjamin Sisko’s side. But all geeking out aside, make no mistake about it, this really is one impressive tale. One that really does give you pause after it has come to an end, courtesy of its powerhouse portrayal of a broken solider, that found himself consumed by the spoils of war. Until next time.  

There are a great many reasons as to why Trekkies (or Trekkers if you prefer) adore the Star Trek Universe and everything it stands for. In fact, the reasons are so vast, that even attempting to outline them here would be foolish at best, since the list would stretch out for light years if properly assembled. No instead, rather than attempt that daunting task, it is best we focus on one of the biggest reasons that we love this franchise so. In that, it has a tendency to pique our curiosity and ignite our imaginations, when it comes to what life in the future might look like.

Simply because we know it wouldn’t resemble our current world in the slightest since the 23rd Century and beyond, at least… up to The Burn, is devoid of hunger and worry and a lot of the issues we currently deal with. Which also leads us to narrow our focus down further and wonder, what day to day life looks like in the Federation. Because the people of this time aren’t rushing to a job they cannot stand or dealing with traffic, they’re enjoying a life we’ve never understood and thankfully once in a while, the franchise would take the time to explore those types of curiosities. As evidenced by the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

For ‘Data’s Day’ allows for us to hang out with Lieutenant Commander Data for the day so we can finally enjoy that 'day in the life' snapshot we've been eager to see and well, as Data navigates his schedule and prepares for the wedding of Miles and the soon to be Keiko O’Brien, we are indeed treated to some fascinating insight. Such as how the crew communicates between shifts, and how everyone treats drama as something temporary that will pass when tempers cool. Plus, they work toward community and bettering one another through friendship and sharing and this was just… an incredibly uplifting look at life in the 24th Century. One that truly reinforces the fact that life has changed for the better during this time period in a manner that we should strive for. 

But while it is wonderful to spend a little time observing an idyllic life that we simply do not understand, this episode was also quick to remind us that the future isn’t 100% perfect. For the Federation and its way of life aren’t appreciated by all and because of that, there are tests out there in the stars, the kind that will push mankind's better angels and that exploration was accomplished by way of a mission involving a mysterious Ambassador from Vulcan who was eager to open negotiations with the Romulans… simply because she was a Romulan spy. One that played the Federation like a fiddle and almost brought both governments to war over the crafty way she returned to the Romulan Star Empire and that definitely hammers home the flaws of the future. But oddly enough, this particular twist also harbors some serious depth, since it also offers up quite the inspiring message.

Because a great deal of us want to see a better future for mankind and leave behind a better world for our children and that plot twist serves to remind us to keep pushing for that, regardless of the roadblocks that get in our way. Because eventually, we will get around them and get what we want and that makes this a genuinely delightful episode when all is said and done. One that keeps your attention from beginning to end, despite its simplistic nature. Simply because it really does offer the viewer the insight, they’ve sought for ages on end in regard to life in the 24th Century, with an inspirational kicker. And hopefully we get to enjoy more episodes in this vein as we continue this grand rewatch, because this really was an uplifting treat. Until next time.  

Over the course of the past couple of weeks, our rewatch of the phenomenal television series, Almost Paradise, has opened our eyes to some fascinating new aspects of this saga that we definitely missed the first time around. For now, it is becoming clear that this titular first season of this series was designed to serve as more than a mere story of redemption for a broken man, since there are now elements present to indicate that this is an outright origin story for a hero. Since Alex Walker is growing into one right before our eyes. But while it has been fascinating to see that particular twist come to light the second time around, the next episode of this show… takes the time to surprise us in a completely different manner.
 
Because upon a second viewing, it’s obvious that ‘Pistol Whip’ is devoid of any deeper meaning or carefully designed plot points to continue Alex Walker's journey toward becoming a noble hero. No instead, it turns out that this particular tale is nothing more than a grand homage to the crime shows of yesterday and that’s honestly wonderful, for several reasons. In part because, it’s just a classy move on Dean Devlin and Gary Rosen’s part. Since it speaks volumes to the fact that they understand the roots of this genre and how past crime shows helped to lay the foundation down for this one. But it is also wonderful, because it also allows for the cast and crew to let loose and have a little fun with the story since lighthearted affairs like this one, embrace and encourage comedy.
 
But before we get to the comedic aspects of this tale, let’s talk about the homage angle. Because in many ways this particular episode feels as though it is paying tribute to Magnum P.I. with just a hint of CHiPs thrown in for good measure. A feat that the story accomplished in both sneaky and direct fashion. The direct stuff, well that related to ol’ Magnum, since Alex’s wardrobe and private investigator demeanor in this tale directly reflected Tom Selleck in that iconic role. Whereas the more subtle CHiPs stuff, came about by way of Alex hanging out and eventually working with his television hero. Since Ponch and Jon ran into incidents like that during their later years on the highways and it was just nice to enjoy some throwbacks to the classics since it all evoked a sense of nostalgia and of course, led into the comedy that was mentioned a moment ago.
 
Which is something we get in spades in this particular tale. Since a fair chunk of the scenes between Alex Winter and Jerry Westwood just leave you in stitches and these segments really do hammer home how talented a comedian Christian Kane is. Since his timing is flawless in these sequences, to the point where he is able to transform what should be a tense finale, into a segment of the story that leaves you gasping for air. And even Samantha Richelle and Arthur Acuña get in on the action as well, since they too take part in some humorous and relaxed moments in this tale. But while it is wonderful to enjoy all kinds of laughs in this story, we would be remiss to not point out that this episode does a phenomenal job of keeping everything grounded by way of the gritty investigation that Kai takes part in.
 
Which is something that is still refreshing in all the right ways since other shows in this genre, still haven’t bothered to explore the lasting impact of major crimes on the loved ones that are left behind. Plus, Kai’s desire to take the notion of public service to new heights by helping Julio process his pain still makes for some powerful television for certain and really, in the end, all of these elements make this one dynamic tale. One that reinforces the fact that this series can do it all since it shifted gears here and became a mostly lighthearted affair that also took the time to pay proper respect to its elders and well, this really was quite the delightful palate cleanser for certain. For what comes next, is a bit of a darker tale, one that features another important waypoint on Alex’s journey toward becoming a genuine hero. Until next time.

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

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Eight of ‘Big Sky’.
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When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating new ABC series, Big Sky, the situation was finally improving. For disgraced Montana State Trooper Rick Legarski was finally in custody and awake and was forced to face his past transgressions and dear Grace was doing a fine job of assembling a case against him. Since she was able to help the police find the fisherman that Rick murdered in cold blood and of course, she took the time to identify Rick as her attacker and one of her captors. Plus, it seemed as though Cassie and Jenny were about to put creepy ol’ Ronald Pergman behind bars since they were at the Legarski home to discuss Ronald’s sketch with Merrilee, whilst Ronald was upstairs trying to steal any evidence that could tie him to these incredible crimes.

But alas, as ‘The End Is Near’ was quick to inform us, that a happy ending isn’t in sight just yet, nor is justice for that matter as well. Because Ronald heard Cassie and Jenny coming and was quick to escape into the night and retreat to his creepy sanctuary on the outskirts of town. Which of course motivated the police and Dewell and Hoyt Private Investigations to press harder on the search for their missing man, and it also motivated them to turn up the heat on The Big Rick. Because as his mental faculties began to slowly reassemble, the prevailing belief was that at long last, he’d start to remember something about his involvement in this whole mess and that would help lead them to Ronald.
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However, despite everyone's best efforts to get him to recall his actions and ID his partner, he simply couldn’t remember a single thing. Which was unfortunate for certain, since it likely meant he wouldn’t face a trial in the slightest, since he wasn’t competent to take the stand. Which prompted Cassie and Jenny to bust into his room at the hospital in both a stealthy and direct manner, respectively. All in the hopes that their faces or their emotions would finally get him to snap out of his fog and prove to the world that the past was still embedded somewhere within his damaged brain. But nothing worked, making it seem as though Rick would indeed evade the long-standing sentence that he deserved and sadly the sour nature of that, was only amplified further by Ronald’s journey in this tale.

Because not being able to capture him at the Legarski home led to outright disaster. For Ronald now felt empowered and invincible, and since he no longer had to worry about Rick coming down on him or his mother lecturing him… he basically felt as though he could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and that led to the kidnapping of the local paperboy when the young man (named Erik) realized that Ronald’s face matched the sketch in the paper. And in true Ronald fashion, he was quick to lock Erik up in a specially designed cage in the basement, all so that he could enjoy raw and unrestrained power over someone else once again and what that alone is pretty darn awful and disastrous, this particular act only empowered Ronald further and motivated him to take his fury to the Nth degree when another opportunity to exert power presented itself.
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For the local priest in Helena was toyed with, when he stopped by to check in on the Pergman family and he was eventually murdered, when he discovered the house of horrors in the Pergman basement and well, at this point… Ronald has transformed into quite the monster. Because he’s got quite the taste for murder now, and he’s reveling in the raw power that it gives him. And he’s also enjoying the fear that he’s generating from Erik and it’s inherently obvious now, that young Erik is in serious danger. Because this time round, there’s no way in hell that Ronald is going to exercise caution in this matter, nor will he be methodical in the slightest, and that brings forth a new race against time, to save another innocent life.

In the end, this was quite the intense and frustrating tale and that is a compliment for certain. For we really did think that swift justice was coming, but instead we are left with more chaos and more incredible twists and turns, and this episode deserves serious credit for taking the plot in this wild and unsettling direction after joy and resolution started to settle in. But what matters more, is that the ending of this story did a wonderful job of setting up a bold new segment. One where our heroes are going to have to work fast and hard to save to a life, and where it seems that old Rick Legarski might be hiding in the recesses of a twisted brain after all, as evidenced by the return of an old habit and it should be quite interesting to see where these new plot twists are going to take us, in the weeks to come. Until next time.

Each and every one of us, harbor some kind of unique talent or gift. The kind that really does separate us from the pack and when we are able to use it for its intended purpose, we find ourselves riding a wave of euphoria. Because being able to use our talent, gives us purpose and direction and a strange sense of security that we never want to let go of. In fact, it is such an important part of our lives, that we simply cannot comprehend what our lives would be like without it and that is such an unsettling thought, we do our best to keep it out of mind. But storytellers, well they are compelled to investigate the impossible and the uncomfortable when given the opportunity and well, when you’re a writer on a science fiction series where the impossible can become quite possible, you take a notion such as this one and bring it to life.

Which is why this particular fear is on full display in the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Simply because the writers’ room couldn't help but wonder, what exactly would happen if a talented crew member aboard the Enterprise was stripped of their gifts during a time of crisis and was forced to figure out how to function without it, and that made ‘The Loss’ an interesting episode for certain. Mainly because it did a phenomenal job of answering that unsettling question, by putting the crew in quite the dire situation. For out of the blue the 1701-D was caught in a powerful eddy, one that it seemed there was no escape from and being trapped in this quagmire, somehow allowed for Counselor Deanna Troi to lose her empathic abilities.

Something that she thought she could handle early on, since her skill set as a counselor extends beyond feeling the emotions of her shipmates and beings beyond the hull. But once the pressure began to build, since the Enterprise was eventually in danger, Deanna immediately gave into doubt and fear and believed that she was worthless to the crew. To the point where she straight up stepped away from her role as Counselor. And had it not been for a bevy of her shipmates and a patient, pointing out how much she accomplished without her empathic abilities, she might have walked away for good and suffered an awful fate alongside her surrogate family. But thankfully her understanding of psychology saved the day, and as an added bonus, getting the ship away from this strange eddy, allowed for her talent to return. 

Which might not be the strongest plot line that season four of this series has offered up to date since it’s a tad overblown in nature. But that’s okay, because what it had to say about losing our gifts and facing a future without them, is what made this particular tale worth our while. Since it plainly points out that while we do indeed have a special talent that makes us unique and awesome, our actions in the everyday world and how we treat others and how we let our moral core guide us, will also help to define us and our legacy. But even then, that message is obviously a tough one to swallow, since there is a strong chance that our gifts will never leave us. Which in essence just makes this particular episode nothing more than a grand ‘what if?’ tale, one that might be a little out there in nature, but it definitely has some merit for certain.

After all, this is one of those rare episodes that takes the time to put Deanna Troi in the spotlight. Which is nice since this experience really helps us to learn how proud she is of her talents and what she’s accomplished in life and in Starfleet. Plus, by putting her in the spotlight, we also get to see just how talented an actor Marina Sirtis truly is. Since she is able to sell every ounce of fear and worry that Deanna goes through in an earnest fashion and well, in the end, while this episode might not be as epic as ‘The Best of Both Worlds, Part II’ or be as intimate and powerful as ‘Family’, it’s still an enlightening and engrossing tale. One that does indeed let your mind wander in regard to how you would handle a similar situation and you really can’t go wrong with a sci-fi story that plays the game of ‘what if?’, since that’s precisely what the entire genre was founded upon. Until next time.

It is definitely safe to say, that season one of the highly regarded television series, Almost Paradise, more or less serves as a hero’s origin story. For we get to watch Alex Walker go from a broken man and disgraced DEA Agent, to an outright champion of Cebu. One that is willing to put himself in harm’s way often, in order to put the worst of the worst behind bars and that made for one fulfilling year of storytelling. Because you can never go wrong with watching a broken man find his way out of the darkness and become a beacon of hope for those around him. But of course, in order to become a true hero, a character has to earn that status by way of a calculated journey that teaches him what it means to be a selfless champion.
 
Which is a journey that thankfully begins, in the next episode of this storied saga. For ‘Reef Eel Soup for the Soul’ actually takes the time to examine three keys steps that go into creating a hero. Such as giving the future hero a cause to fight for. Because when we catch up with Alex here, he’s just doing his thing and enjoying the fact that he can help out the police from time to time to satisfy his desire to do some good in the world. But once that nasty thug chokes Mr. Bayani behind his restaurant, Alex begins to understand that his skill set can really do a lot for the everyday guys and gals of the world. The ones who feel as though they’re going to slip through the cracks or fear contacting the police will cause more harm than good, and that particular step leads into the next hero-building exercise for Mister Walker. 
 
Because the best heroes out there, know how to handle their business in a balanced manner. Because calm and resolve are far more terrifying than pure anger and that particular lesson came about during the interrogation of the aforementioned thug. For Alex let his fury over the Bayani incident come out way too early, doing little for the case until Ernesto calmly and swiftly taught him the importance of playing it cool. And once Ernesto demonstrated this lesson first hand, he and Alex finally made some progress with the case and oddly enough… Ernesto's masterclass in restraint, allowed for the third and final lesson to make itself apparent to Alex. In that, there's nothing wrong with feeling angry over the injustices of the world, provided of course, one takes that anger and does something worthwhile, with it.
 
Which allowed for him to harness his fury and use it to scheme against his opponent, to the point where he went behind the baddie’s back to prepare the governor for a grandiose entrapment plan. One where he used his fury and disdain for Mister Montrose’s machinations to lull the man into a false sense of security, all so that he would expose himself to be a monster after all, and in the end, all of these lessons led to one engrossing tale. One that really did see Alex take solid steps toward becoming the well-rounded hero we are proud of in the finale. Plus, this shift toward being a hero, also allows for him to forge a tighter bond with Sam and Ernesto, something that will be critical to his success as a champion of Cebu as well. 
 
But while it is delightful to see the foundation for the rest of the season be laid down here, we would be foolish to not reflect upon how much fun this episode is as well. Because watching Alex become a wily Spaniard and play Montrose like a fiddle, really is quite the delight for certain, and the entire plot thread involving Montrose and whether or not the governor is involved in his schemes is equally as amazing. Simply because it keeps you on your toes and really in the end, everything present in this tale just goes to show how intelligent this series truly is. And it is going to be quite the treat to see what other formational moments take place for Alex as our second journey through this dynamic series, continues along. Until next time.

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