If there is one thing so many of us strive for in life, it’s closure. Because no one likes the prospect of having unfinished business lingering about, and that’s why we are more than happy to confront those who have done us wrong when the opportunity arises, or why we are eager to properly say good bye to someone important to us, since either one of those options will give us the closure we so seek. And this particular concept is on my mind, simply due to the fact that it was quite the focus of last night’s episode of Star Trek: Discovery. For ‘Perpetual Infinity’ finally put Commander Michael Burnham face to face with her long missing mother, giving her the opportunity at last to enjoy a little closure when it comes to one of the darkest chapters in her life.
 
But, getting to that point was no easy task. For the Commander needed to heal, and her mother only wanted to speak with Captain Pike and her little chat with Pike was one filled to the brim with vitriol, and rightfully so. For over the course of the hour, we learned that the elder Burnham has been through utter hell, since she escaped in the suit mere moments before the Klingons could harm her all those years ago, and it took her 920 years into the future, well after Control wiped the galaxy of all biological life, save for the colony that the crew stumbled upon earlier this season. And we also learned that she’s been fighting the good fight against Control for quite some time now, and she’s the one that was responsible for the crew’s encounter with the Sphere since that omnipotent creature holds the key to Control’s evolution and it was her hope that its data would be safe aboard Discovery.
 
Which is why she made the suggestion to the crew that they outright destroy the data so it cannot fall into Control’s digital hands, and that was sound advice that both Burnham and Pike could get behind. But the data refused to disappear willingly and while the crew worked to figure out how to purge it, Burnham finally got the reunion she’s waited twenty years for and well, that did not go quite the way she wanted it to. For dear mother seemingly wanted nothing to do with her daughter, citing how she’d watched Michael die countless times as a fine reason to let go of her family life and focus only upon saving the galaxy and well, this cold attitude was something that Michael refused to believe was genuine. But before she could bring her mother’s guard down and uncover her true feelings, a devastating problem arose aboard the Section 31 ship that changed the course of this tale.

​For last week, a strange moment wherein Captain Leland was seemingly attacked by his own ship led to our worst fears being realized. Because it turns out that Control had indeed infiltrated the computer systems of his Section 31 ship and it had plans to make use of Leland to get exactly what it wants and in a strange, Borg-like sequence of events, Control downloaded itself into Captain Leland’s body. And it started its quest toward self-awareness by ordering Lieutenant Tyler to head over to the Discovery and steal the data outright, something that Ash didn’t quite feel right about, and he followed his gut feeling that something was wrong about all of this and refused Leland/Control’s order, prompting the cybernetic being to move on and use Georgiou as its next agent to foil Discovery’s bold new plan to defeat their digital nemesis.
 
For the crew came up with the idea that if they downloaded the Sphere’s data into Doctor Burnham’s suit, they could send the suit into the timestream for all eternity where Control would never be able get its hands upon it, and in the process, they would be able to rescue Dr. Burnham from a time jump as well, and the execution of this plan, allowed for all kinds of chaos to break loose. For as the good Doctor and Philippa chatted for a brief moment, the former Emperor came to realize that Leland had been compromised by Control and in a violent sequence of events, Lieutenant Tyler was injured when he discovered the truth about Leland, and crew members of the Discovery lost their lives in a firefight with this hybrid being and worst of all, the crew was forced to send the suit and the Doctor back to the future to keep Control from getting anywhere near the Sphere’s data.
 
Yet, while this stalemate seems ugly in its own right since Control did get fifty-four percent of the Sphere’s data, it was not a total loss. For now, the crew knows exactly what their enemy wants, and are actively working to formulate a plan to fight Control and keep it clear of the knowledge it so desperately seeks, and Commander Burnham…finally got the closure she has been searching for. Because shortly before the portal pulled her mother away, the good doctor finally lowered her guard and let her daughter know just how important she is to her, and how much she loves her and that she has spent ages fighting to keep Michael alive and it was wonderful to see Burnham get exactly what she needs and I’ve no doubt that defeating Control now has a little more meaning to Michael since its end…may bring about a reunion at last. Either way, this was an intense episode when all is said and done, and the endgame between Discovery and Control is staring to build and it would seem that we are headed for an explosive season finale when all is said and done. Until next time. 

​Normally when one gets to the halfway point of the first season of a new television series, things start to settle. The plots become familiar, the performances are more consistent and there’s really a sense of comfort permeating over the show because everyone and everything present in the series is finally finding their respective groove, which means surprises are far and few between at this point. Unless of course the show in question is CHiPs. For as we enter the middle of season one of these Retro Recaps, I couldn’t help but notice that the series is finding new ways to surprise and enthrall me, and all it took to make that happen, was for ‘Hustle’ to flip the script on a series staple that’s been hanging around since day one. 
 
The staple in question? The Machismo that this series loves to embrace, and it was present here by way of an upcoming bowling tournament that Ponch was convinced he could win. Which meant there was plenty of bragging and boasting on his part, especially when he came to learn that Jon was a former bowling instructor. But this particular storyline ended up providing Ponch with a big ol’ serving of Humble Pie because we quickly learned that Ponch can’t bowl for crap, and eventually, an injury kept Jon out of the tournament and really, it was just nice to see the series inadvertently, or intentionally acknowledge, the show’s excess of bravado and put Ponch down a peg or two and that really did catch me off guard since I never thought I’d see the show do such a thing.
 
But, while that was refreshing in its own right, there was still plenty of the usual stuff for us to enjoy, such as the Creeps of the Week and this go round, Ponch and Jon squared off against a couple of bold thieves who made a nasty habit of marching into the counting rooms of grocery stores, wherein they promised harm to whomever was present there before swiping all of the cash present in the safe and their bold nature didn’t end there. For these thieves also made life difficult for the pursuing officers since they took any route available to them, damaging cars in the process and that kind of risky pursuit is precisely what Ponch and Jon took part in when they finally received an opportunity to bring these guys down and while they were successful in arresting these thieves at the Griffith Park Observatory, this high speed chase is where Jon injured his hand. 
 
As an added bonus, this episode also offered up what I enjoy the most about this series, a peek into Jon and Ponch’s daily lives as officers and what came about here was pretty darn entertaining in its own right. After all, we were able to witness Ponch and Jon play the heroes as they risked life and limb to keep a mother and her baby from being electrocuted thanks to an accident that helped create a downed power line, and there was plenty of levity that came about from a man named Mister Englehart, who was displeased that Ponch gave him a citation, to the point where he followed the duo around in the hopes of proving that Frank got it wrong with his citation and was an incompetent officer and course, that dude lost in court in embarrassing fashion.
 
Plus, it was equally as entertaining to watch Ponch and Jon get star struck during a traffic stop involving a former television star who was ironically on a series about highway patrolmen and really, when all is said and done, this was just a satisfying episode through and through. It offered up plenty of thrills and genuinely feel good, heroic moments, and I really do love that our dynamic duo go the extra mile to do the right thing whenever possible, and of course, it was pretty awesome to see the series inadvertently deflate the bravado and machismo it embraces on a regular basis because in a way, the bowling debacle made Poncherollo a little more relatable and human and once again, I’m ready for more when it comes to this magnificent series, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to enjoy the next chapter in Ponch and Jon’s adventures. Until next time. 

I have to admit, that I am supremely impressed with evolution of STARZ’s American Gods. Because a series that focused heavily on mythos and the notion of faith in its freshman season has outright shifted gears in its second season. For the story no longer focuses on the genesis of the various Gods that live amongst us in this universe, nor does it examine that fascinating notion in the slightest. Instead, this series has seized upon a grand opportunity to explore the human condition like never before, and last night’s episode of the series, ‘Muninn’, is a prime example of this.
 
For this particular tale dove right into some fascinating parts of what makes mankind tick, and what truly made this story so compelling, is the sheer fact that it went to places that few shows and stories ever choose to go. Because this episode took the time to examine the darker side of humanity, specifically the cruelty that we sometimes impose upon others in the hopes of teaching someone a lesson, alongside a grand exploration of our selfishness and the first element I just made mention of, was explored by way of Shadow. For he found himself alone and injured following the train crash at the end of last week’s episode and rather than scoop him up and take him someplace safe, Mr. Wednesday let Shadow fend for himself.
 
Which quite frankly, was no easy task since hey, Shadow just survived a freakin’ train crash. But after taking a bit to heal up to the best of his abilities, he hit the road and moved toward a destination named Cairo that Wednesday’s crow suggested he make as his next stop and really, all of this was done on Wednesday’s part to try and strengthen Shadow’s resolve and push him to see if he will complete an injured voyage ‘home’ in the hopes of getting answers and this was relatable simply due to the fact that we’ve seen this happen in life. We’ve watched people push others to see what they’re made of, to see if they get the point that someone is trying to hammer home and seeing such an act put on display here, is definitely something that gives the audience pause. 

​However, it wasn’t a total beatdown for Shadow. For he did meet an intriguing person known as Sam Black Crow, and she definitely inspired Shadow to quit moping around behind the scenes and stand up for himself and eventually he did just that at the end of the episode. Yet, while Mister Moon was dealing with this journey, Wednesday and Laura went on a special mission of their own, and this is where the selfishness I made mention of earlier came into play. But before we get into that, we need to talk about what made this particular part of the episode an outright delight to watch, which was the banter on display between Laura and Wednesday. For it became apparent that these two are outright equals since Laura was able to point out Wednesday’s flaws and vice versa and well, that matters because while it was fun to watch them go back and forth, there was a point to Wednesday’s madness.
 
For their mission involved the assassination of the God known as Argus, a powerful deity that can see all. And the purpose of putting him down, related to the fact that he was playing both sides and well, so much selfishness was on display during this segment of the story. For not only did we see Laura put down Argus without giving it much thought, all with the intent of healing her body so she could attempt to woo Shadow back; the newly introduced New Media made a power play of her own, since she attempted to forge an alliance with Argus in order to make herself one of the most powerful Gods to ever walk the planet. If anything, this was just downright fascinating to see in this story, since this presentation of selfishness didn’t offer any answers on how to overcome it, it just reminded us that sometimes, we enter a situation with the best of intentions in our heart, only to take full advantage of said situation when a grand benefit to our own lives presents itself.
 
In fact, that’s really been the most enjoyable aspect of this new direction for the series, in that, it’s not offering a single solution to any part of the human condition that it presents, it’s merely putting what makes our species both good and bad on full display, and while that seems to have no rhyme or reason at this point, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before it makes sense. For American Gods is a beautifully layered story, one that has not wasted anything it’s introduced to us over the course of its short run. So, if anything, I’m looking forward to seeing where this examination of our flaws is going to take us, because when everything comes together, I expect the end result to be nothing short of fantastic. Until next time.  

When it comes to revealing the answers to all of our burning questions on a particular television series, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. The wrong way happens when the series takes the time to build up all kinds of incredible mysteries throughout the season, only to reveal and solve everything when the season finale arrives, wrapping everything up in hurried and unsatisfying fashion. But the right way, is to take one’s time, and to properly address every issue that’s been introduced in order to give the audience a complete story, one that satisfies the fans through and through and leaves nothing on the table and thankfully, Star Trek: Discovery is making every effort to wrap up its vast amounts of mysteries in proper fashion.
 
Because over the past few weeks, the story has continually answered the various questions surrounding Spock, The Red Angel, and what might bring about the end of the galaxy as seen within Spock’s respective visions, and it’s been downright refreshing to enjoy that kind of care and resolution when it comes to this well woven story. But if there’s one element that the show has yet to address, it is true identity of The Red Angel itself, since the identity of the person wearing this time traveling suit has remained a mystery, until last night’s episode that is. For a tale that shared the namesake of this mysterious character finally revealed exactly who is behind the mask, in fascinating fashion of course.
 
In fact, the show made a point to throw a little misdirection our way when it comes to the true identity of this mysterious being, by having Ensign Tilly ‘reveal’ right out of the gate that data downloaded from the late Lieutenant Commander Airiam, featured a bio-neural scan of the Angel that matched Michael’s bio-neural signature. Which meant everyone immediately went along with the notion that the Angel has been Michael all along, and now that the crew knew that they were dealing with a future iteration of the Commander, it was decided that the time had come to confront Future Michael and work with her on figuring out a path to defeating Control and its plans to wipe out all life in the galaxy and that meant, a little teamwork between Starfleet and Section 31 was in order. 

​Which actually brought about some solid character development. Because by working side by side, certain truths came to light, such as the fact that Burnham’s parents actually worked for Section 31, and Michael’s mother was the one responsible for designing the Angel’s suit and Section 31’s quest to master time travel, eventually led to the tragedy that Burnham experienced as a child, and discovering this, led to a quick but savage beatdown for Leland. But while Michael smacking Leland around doesn’t quite seem like growth, well that just served as the gateway to it. For while she stewed over this revelation, Spock took the time to visit her and console her and forgive her for her transgressions and this all-important moment between brother and sister, allowed for Michael to accept the fact that she’s not always at fault for everything bad that happens around her and that gave her a newfound confidence, which could not have come at a better time.
 
Because shortly after she and Spock made peace, they both came to realize that there was a solid way to capture the Angel after all. For this future Burnham appeared whenever there was potential danger surrounding Michael, which meant that if she put herself at risk, the chances were high that the Angel would appear. But it took far more risk to her person than Michael expected in order to draw the Angel out of temporal hiding, in fact, it took her death to finally get this mysterious creature to find her and save her and that’s when the misdirection in regard to the Angel finally came to an end. For in the closing moments of this episode, shortly after Section 31 and Stamets closed the resulting temporal rift and captured the Angel respectively, it was revealed that Michael Burnham’s mother, is the real Red Angel.
 
Which, of course is ironic in its own right because the grand reveal of this mysterious character brings about more questions when all is said and done. But that’s all right. Because I am fairly certain the series will address everything we’re now wondering about Michael’s mother, and if anything, one couldn’t ask for a more fitting character to be in the suit. After all, it makes total sense that a mother would transcend time and space to make sure that her daughter is protected from trouble and I’m looking forward to learning more about the suit and mother’s plight. But in the here and the now, this was a fascinating episode to say the least. One that saw Burnham finally embrace her flaws in order to move forward and one that saw Doctor Culber begin a long road back to humanity since he took steps to make peace with his re-birth in this story, and most importantly, more questions were answered and I am counting down the minutes to next week’s tale, where we will undoubtedly learn more about Burnham’s mother. Until then.

If there’s one thing that fans of science fiction are trained to do in this day and age, it’s recognize what the genre is trying to accomplish in any given story since sci-fi is an established forum that provides us with so much familiarity. After all, we know we’re going to be treated to stunning visuals, wondrous technology that leaves us in awe and a tale that somehow examines our world by placing characters who are often ahead of us emotionally and socially into a conundrum similar to the ones we face, in order to see how their evolved sensibilities solve the problem. Which isn’t a bad thing by any means, because this go-to formula has brought us some wonderful stories through the years. 
 
But once in a great while, there are science fiction stories that challenge the norm, that demand the genre do more and be more and dive into parts of the human condition that fantastic tales in this vein normally won’t go near and that’s why I’m such a fan of The Orville. Because this series does just that, it dives into every single aspect of our humanity, and last night’s episode of the series, ‘Lasting Impressions’, is no exception to that rule. For this particular tale explored a few different elements of the human condition in bittersweet and magnificent fashion, all by bringing an unexpected surprise aboard the ship, a time capsule from 2015.
 
For within this capsule were all kinds of incredible artifacts from our modern world, including a cell phone that once belonged to a girl named Laura Huggins. And well, Laura, and everything she stood for outright fascinated Lieutenant Malloy, to the point where he poured over everything present in the phone and well, in order to properly know more about the person that left an entire life behind in a tiny little device, Gordon went above and beyond and created a simulation that allowed for him to interact with Laura and it didn’t take long for him to fall for this holographic recreation of a woman long gone from this universe and what came about from this part of the story was downright fascinating to say the least.

​Because this entire segment taught us a great deal about Gordon, in that…he’s a true romantic through and through, and he’s tender and gentle and loyal when it comes to someone that catches his eye since he worked hard to make this digital projection of Laura happy and while those are great qualities for someone to exhibit in a relationship, in this instance, they weren’t helpful in the slightest. For this entire pursuit became a borderline obsession for Gordon, and it quickly informed us just how much Gordon wants to find an equal in this universe and experience the wonder that comes with that and that blinded him to the obvious fact that this would always end in tragedy. For buried in Laura’s text messages was the fact that she would eventually reconcile with her ex, and despite Gordon’s attempts to alter that and make this work to his liking, there was no rewriting history and eventually, Gordon let Laura go.
 
Yet, what stays with you long after this episode has come to its end, is not the romance in question, but what this love affair stood for. Because it really did remind all of us of the importance, we put upon finding someone to love, and with good reason, since the feelings that come with caring for someone special truly sends our spirits soaring, and this plot thread also reminded us that we should take what we learn from each relationship we are involved in to heart, since they help us learn and grow. But what truly fascinated me about this episode, was what it had to say about celebrating mankind. Because Laura implied, in subtle fashion, that she wasn’t anything special, but that clearly was not the case and the awe that came from Gordon was genuine because she did have plenty to offer this world, and the future and perhaps, seeing other people’s gifts and talents with the same admiration that Gordon exhibited in this tale, could do wonders for someone who is pondering upon whether or not they have value in this world…
 
Yet, while all of that was fascinating in its own right, there was some fine comedy to be found in this tale as well, and all of that was supplied by Bortus and Klyden, who discovered the wonder of cigarettes in this tale, and well…who knew Flavor Country could produce those kinds of laughs? Plus, I also need to take a minute and tip my cap toward Scott Grimes since his performance in this episode was utterly phenomenal. But in the end, this was simply a beautiful episode. One that really didn’t feel like a traditional science fiction tale in the slightest and I’m just fine with that. Because this tale reminded us once again that characters are king, and given the opportunity, sci-fi can explore more than just our problems, it really can celebrate the best parts of us, and considering how groundbreaking this show continues to be week in and week out, I do hope it starts to influence the genre as a whole, and we see more stories in this vein from other science fiction sagas down the line. Until next time.

​I think it is safe to assume, that every single one of us out there, have had those days where it seems as though we simply cannot get a break at our job. The tasks just keep coming, and no matter how hard we work, the list of things we have to get done never seems to shrink, and that particular kind of day is on my mind, because the next episode of CHiPs, ‘Green Thumb Burglar’, is that exact day, in television form. For in this particular tale, Ponch and Jon simply could not get a break in the slightest since traffic, crime and Creeps of the Week were everywhere in this tale and I have to admit, I was quite impressed with how much stuff they packed into this one.
 
I mean come on, within the first five minutes, we were treated a massive problem on the highway since a couple of drunk dudes were playing bumper cars with one another and the madness didn’t end there. Because over the course of the hour Ponch and Jon dealt with a surprise traffic stop involving another 70s TV icon, H.R. Pufnstuf, since those kinds of cameos were a big deal back in the day, and they even found themselves embroiled in a high speed attempt to save a truck driver’s life when her gasoline filled rig inadvertently caught on fire and well, this was just exhausting to watch. You just so rarely see this much action and adventure packed into an hour-long story, and what’s amazing is that this tale had so much more to offer.
 
Because believe it or not, this episode allowed for us to learn more about a particular character, and there was outright fun to be found in this one as well, and the fun, well that came via Poncherello since a routine stop involving a pair of psychic twins led to a nasty line of predictions for Ponch’s day, the kind he tried to avoid unsuccessfully. But I made mention of the fact that we learned more about a specific character in this story and that just so happened to be the Sarge. For in this tale, we came to learn that Sergeant Getraer has quite the green thumb, and caring for the plants at HQ is a big deal for him, as is caring for plants everywhere and this matters because this is the softest side of Joe we’ve seen on the series to date and well, our Creeps of the Week helped us to understand that one does not mess with the Sarge and his love of plants, or you will pay the price.
 
In fact, these guys quickly became public enemy number one to the Sarge, due to the fact that they were stealing plants on the highway in order to earn a quick buck and their plan, was fairly ingenious. For these crooks managed to get their hands on a few CalTrans uniforms and a truck that matched that company as well, leaving no one the wiser when it comes to their plan, because to the average driver and officer, it would seem as though they were changing out old plants for new ones. But our dynamic duo’s keen eye led to a high-speed pursuit of these tree thieves, one so epic that the Sarge joined in on the chase and that of course led to one satisfying finale, wherein the Green Thumb Burglars bought themselves a ticket to the Grey Bar Hotel.
 
So, yeah, if it seems like we’ve covered a metric ton of plot lines when it comes to this episode, we most certainly have. This story just went a mile a minute and I won’t lie it was thrilling and compelling and this really is CHiPs at its finest. Because this episode featured everything we love about this series since there was plenty of action and adventure and laughs and everything in between and if anything, this one felt important when all is said and done. Because the first season of any series is an experimental phase, wherein the Writer’s Room tries all kinds of new things to help the show find its voice and its structure and this one felt as though the series was starting to discover just that since everything felt so natural and familiar. Which means, there’s a fair chance what comes next will be as good as this particular tale, which means, it’s high time I dive back in and enjoy another day of fun in the sun on the California highways. Until next time. 

​It’s always nice to see a television show redeem itself when it does something incredibly awkward and I was hoping that redemption was going to be in the cards when it comes to my favorite police serial, CHiPs, since the last chapter in this saga, left a little bit to be desired. Granted, there was no public outcry when it comes to all the goofy and misogynistic antics that were present in the last episode since hey, season one was filmed in 1977, but seeing as to how the next episode in this series, ‘Taking Its Toll’, outright abandoned all that weird stuff to resurrect the always reliable Creep of the Week and deliver unto us some general Ponch and Jon shenanigans, I’m going to straight up pretend that this reverted approach was all part of the plan to apologize for the weird and make up for it by giving us more of what we love about this series.
 
Because there was plenty to enjoy in this tale, such as the fact that Jon decided that his tenure as Ponch’s probationary supervisor, offered up enough incredible moments that perhaps it was time for him to put those adventures on paper by way of a novel, and watching Jon try and write this book on the fly and try to keep it a secret, made for some serious entertainment. Because it was obvious from the get-go that Jon was assembling a story and despite the clues being right in front of Frank’s face, he never quite put two and two together until he saw Jon’s notecards. But what enhanced this plot thread further, was that Ponch actually loved the idea once he realized he was going to be the hero of the story. And watching him soak up Jon’s words and fully believe that he was a ‘roman solider’ firing up his steed to go into battle was classic Poncherello to say the least.
 
But alas, red tape and procedure prompted Jon to abandon his magnum opus, much to the chagrin of his partner. But this episode offered more than Jon’s desire to become a famous author, it also featured the trademark comedy we come to know and love thanks to some tear jerking shenanigans involving onions on the road, and we were even treated to the return of the absent minded Mrs. Downey, the elderly driver who believes she can do no wrong behind the wheel, and there was even some tense action to be found since our dynamic duo were forced to call out the bomb squad when an explosive device was discovered in a car shortly after a collision, prompting Ponch to stay with an accident victim in the hopes of keeping him calm while the experts diffused the bomb in question.
 
However, while all of this was entertaining in its own right, the true centerpiece of this episode was our nasty Creep(s) of the Week. Since this tale featured a pair of bold and aggressive thieves who followed every single move when it comes to their selected targets before surprising them and robbing them at a toll booth while they were distracted and well, I was quite impressed with the ferocity of these two bad dudes. Because up until now, the bad guys haven’t really invoked violence to get what they want, and seeing that on this family friendly show was a tad jarring, as was seeing them escape the ever vigilant Jon Baker, if only for a little while since eventually, they found themselves under arrest from Seven-Mary-Three and Four.
 
If anything, this was just a refreshing episode to say the least, one that really got back to basics in every sense of the phrase, and it was nice to not have to ponder upon and write about a weird 70s cliché, and I really did like that the villains in this one upped their game. Because it was nice to feel a little danger on a series where you know deep down the heroes are always going to be safe. Either way, this really was a fun episode when all is said and done, and I have to admit, I’m a little miffed that Jon didn’t keep up with the novel. It would have been cool to see him finish it and attempt to sell it as the series went on, but I also understand that this is the kind of weekly show that introduces and resolves new plot threads week in and week out, and with Jon’s flirtation with becoming a novelist now firmly in our rear view mirror, it’s on to a new adventure. Until next time. 

Ah well, I suppose it was only a matter of time before an episode of CHiPs left me in a divided and slightly uncomfortable place, but alas here we are. For ‘Baby Food’ is an episode of the series that fell short of its serious potential. After all, there was some solid humor to be found in this one, and a compelling plot involving a race against time to save a young child from poisoned baby food. But, all of those elements were greatly overshadowed by the fact that this particular tale went about as full 1970s as it gets, since it also made Ponch’s proclivity to be a Ladies Man, an important part of the story as well.
 
Which quite frankly, was a tad cringe-y to say the least, simply due to the fact that Ponch was pulling stuff that simply wouldn’t fly in this day and age. Case and point, the moment when Ponch basically cornered the Sarge’s secretary in the hallway in an attempt to secure a date and holy cow…I did not see that kind of aggressive act coming, and well, kudos to the young lady for not putting up with Frank’s crap and shutting him down quickly. But sadly, the weird 70s obsession with pretty ladies being objects of desire didn’t end there, since Ponch and Jon spent a good chunk of the hour ogling over Ponch’s new neighbor and really, when all is said and done, this was just plain awkward to say the least and it really did put a damper on the rest of tale.
 
Which is a shame since there were some genuinely hilarious moments to be found in this one, because when Ponch and Jon weren’t obsessing about a cute neighbor’s legs or feet (I don’t get the foot thing, folks, I really don’t), they were bouncing around the city while they waited for a court call, and Frank’s filthy trailer helped lead to some quality comedy from the Sarge. Because in order to properly get an APB out on that poisoned baby food, Getrear needed to talk to Ponch and Jon, and with the phone off the hook at Frank’s place, the Sarge was forced to question why he’s such the nice guy to just about everyone, and well, Robert Pine’s delivery here, and his perfect timing made this part of the show just a delight to watch, to the point where I found myself laughing pretty heartily.
 
Speaking of that baby food, I made mention of that being part of a compelling plot and well, what made that particular plot thread so worthwhile, is the sheer fact that there was a genuine sense of danger surrounding it. For minute by minute, we saw a hungry baby named Henry come closer and closer to getting a bite to eat from the botulism plagued baby food his scavenger parents picked up on the highway and the story found a way to ramp up that tension. Because the little guy did eat just a little bit, and in order to save him, our heroic duo had to race up and down a mountain on their bikes to get to him and get him out of there and thankfully, Ponch and Jon were able to save Henry and get him into the waiting arms of paramedics.
 
But, while those other two elements we just discussed were magnificent and entertaining in their own right, this episode really didn’t settle well with me, thanks to that weird 70s vibe. It just seemed out of place to see our heroes acting like a pair of teenagers who just discovered the other sex, and it was equally as awkward to see them continually fawn over the ladies in this tale in creeper fashion, and well, while I remember this stuff does permeate the show from time to time, I do hope there’s far less of it as the series rolls on just because, the series really does have so much to offer. But alas, this is what it is, and all I can do is move forward at this point and hope for better. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to see what awaits Ponch and Jon next, and hopefully they took a cold shower before this next episode kicks off. Until next time. 

Over the course of its short, but effective run, American Gods has accomplished a great many things storytelling wise. For at times, it’s been a powerhouse drama, one that has pulled at our heartstrings as we learned about the tough times and places that both Shadow and Laura Moon have been to mentally and physically through the years. At other times, it’s been a phenomenal fantasy, providing us with magnificent visuals and imaginative moments. But if there’s one element the series has mostly steered clear of during its time on the air, it’s truly examining the human condition, since the show tends to just skim the surface when it comes to that, but all of that changed during last night’s episode.
 
For ‘The Beguiling Man’ ended up being a tour de force that took the time to explore everything that makes us, us, and the decision to go this route was quite frankly, a brilliant one to say the least. Because this choice, allowed for incredible depth to come to the surface for the characters present in this story, and that’s something that I was outright not prepared for. Especially when one considers that this also applies to the Gods that we’ve come to know and love in this tale since they are, for the most part, contained in their own little special world within our world. But here, their emotions and their fears were on full display, and well…this made them incredibly human when all is said and done.
 
Which oddly enough, shouldn’t be all that surprising. After all, mankind created them, in our image no less, so our flaws should be their own. Yet, despite knowing that in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorrow and a little empathy for these powerful deities. For they are now entering undiscovered country, where they don’t know if they can be resurrected in these uncertain times, or what the future will hold for them after the war and it was just fascinating to watch so many of them worry, and feel their fear and their concern ooze through the television screen thanks to the incredible performances on display here. 

​Yet, the series had more to offer than the Gods quaking in their boots. For this episode also took the time to examine the elements that give us strength in the darkest of times, and how we use that strength, and our memories in general to forge a path forward in life, and all of that was explored by way of Shadow Moon. Who, we discovered was the prisoner of another lackey from Mr. World’s growing cadre, named Mr. Town, and he wanted to know what Shadow knows. And rather than break and spill the beans, he focused instead on the memory of the first summer he spent in America, for that was a life changing experience for Shadow, one that made him the man he is today.
 
For during that fateful summer, Shadow came to learn about some of America’s darker aspects, like how racism runs rampant here in unexpected ways, and how class matters here, and that jealousy and envy are part of the American way as well. Plus, this is also the summer that Shadow lost his mother and found himself on his own, and well, it became clear that what he learned about America, is what prompted Shadow to have little faith in certain parts of the system. But the loss of his mother is what makes him strong since he learned that if he could survive that ordeal, he can survive anything, and it was just magnificent to learn these things about Shadow and be reminded about how loss and trauma can change us for better and for worse. 
 
But what matters most about this tale, is the sheer fact that it didn’t offer any answers when it comes to these matters. It simply presented all of these elements in the raw, leaving it up to the audience to interpret their exact meaning and solution, since I’m fairly certain each of us took something special away from this tale and well, this really was a brilliant episode when all is said and done. For its rare to see a show really take the time to provide the audience with a story that features an honest portrayal of fear and the past and everything in between and well, that’s quite the evolution to find in a series as fantastical as this. Until next time.

If there’s one particular truth that I’ve learned when it comes to television shows, it’s that once the season’s secrets/answers begin to be revealed to the audience, there’s no going back. One reveal leads to plenty more until everything we’ve had a question or concern about is presented to us or outright resolved and this is a truth that most certainly applies to Star Trek: Discovery as well. For last week’s journey to Talos IV, wherein we learned plenty about the Red Angel and the visions it provided Spock with was the proverbial opening of the flood gates, meaning that I fully expected the next episode in this series, ‘Project Daedalus’, to provide us with more answers and well…it definitely did just that.
 
But, if you noticed a sense of hesitation or surprise in those words, there’s good reason for that. Because while this tale did provide us with more knowledge in regard to what’s going in the galaxy, it did so at a great cost. For the answers that came forth in this particular tale were downright uncomfortable and devastating, since this episode revealed exactly what was going to be responsible for the destruction of all life in the galaxy, and it just so happened that this being, was already in existence, and this creature was responsible for all kinds of trouble this season and all of this and more came to light by way of a trip to Section 31’s headquarters.
 
For in this place, we came to learn that Spock was indeed one-hundred percent innocent, and that over the past few weeks, Admiralty had gone silent in general, prompting Admiral Cornwell to join the Discovery on this voyage and well, the dangerous monster in question, turned out to be Section 31’s supercomputer known as Control. For the other Admirals that relied upon its knowledge in essence gave it free reign when it comes to Starfleet’s decision making, and by having that kind of freedom, this creature began to crave power and felt responsible in making the right calls for humanity, to the point where those that opposed it, paid the price since Burnham and her away team came to discover that Control wiped out every Admiral that granted it such power

But the true stunner of the night, involved Lieutenant Commander Airiam, who informed us that Control wanted to know anything and everything there was to know about Artificial Intelligence, and that it used her to access all the data present from the Sphere in the hopes of gaining sentience, which would ultimately end with the annihilation of every biological species, fulfilling Spock’s vision. But unfortunately, this is where the great cost I made mention of came forth, because this grand reveal arrived in the middle of a moment of crisis, where Airiam informed Burnham and the crew of these facts in the brief moment she was free from Control’s cyber grip, and sadly, Airiam came to realize that the only way she could save the crew, and potentially prevent this A.I. from bringing the vision to life, was to beg for Burnham to sacrifice her by blasting her out into space, an act the Commander was incapable of, but one that Nhan was able to go through with and just like that, we said farewell to Airiam.
 
Which quite frankly, was quite the stunner to say the least, simply because character deaths in the Star Trek universe are rare, but a big deal when they occur and this one was no exception to that, and her farewell was given beautiful emotional depth by way of Airiam’s memories, and her shipmates desperate attempts to help ground her mind. If anything, her passing raises the stakes when it comes to Discovery’s mission because now we know that Control will stop at nothing to get the data stored in the ship’s memory banks, making the Discovery its top priority, and putting the crew in incredible danger and where we go from here, I haven’t the faintest because with Admiralty crippled, and Control in command, it’s hard to say who Pike and Cornwell can trust, and for that matter…how they will stop Control from ending all life in the galaxy.
 
Either way, this was a heavy episode, one that also added some fiery depth to Spock’s past as well since he embraced his pain in this tale and unleashed that anguish on Burnham and really, when all is said and done, bravo to everyone involved in his tale. For this was a bold, and angry and terrifying story, one filled with twists and turns that don’t comfort the audience in the slightest and kudos to Director Jonathan Frakes for piecing together a tight-knit episode that left me on the edge of my seat and really, when all is said and done, I have to admit I’m discombobulated after this episode simply because of the bleakness present here. For now, Control hangs heavy over this story, and it should be interesting to see how this intrepid crew is going to defeat an enemy that is seemingly aware of their next moves. Until next time.