​After enjoying a pair of lovely episodes that quite frankly, broke the mold when it comes to the police serial CHiPs, I have to admit that I was quite curious as to what wonders I would find as I settled in to watch the next episode of the series, ‘Career Day’. Because at this point, the saga could go in any direction it wanted to. It could provide me with more powerful human moments akin to when Jon was forced to deliver bad news during an accident call. Or it could have continued to let loose and have some fun such as when Ponch and Jon inadvertently adopted a dog. I was honestly fine with any of the above, but what surprised me in this tale, is the sheer fact that this episode instead went right back to the by-the-numbers format that we know and love when it comes to this series.
 
That’s not a bad thing by any means, I just expected the show to toy with different concepts for a little longer since the first season had so many episodes to work with. But the back to basics approach worked here, and by turning back to what flows best for this series, we were introduced to one fascinating Creep of the Week, or Creeps of the Week rather, since a duo made up of a man and woman pulled off a pretty bold and intelligent string of crimes. In essence, the lady in question would scout neighborhoods near the highway to see which houses were vacant via vacation and once she found the right type of house, she’d radio her counterpart who would in turn, park his van behind the house, make it look as though the Highway Patrol had tagged it for removal before breaking into and cleaning out the targeted home, allowing for him to leave without anyone being the wiser.
 
In fact, their plan was so ingenious that Ponch and Jon actually managed to drive by the van at least once, but eventually, once the CHP was onto this scheme, Ponch was able to spot the couple doing their thing while on helicopter patrol and that led to some good old fashioned action and adventure as Ponch and Jon worked to bring these thieves down, and of course, they did, because I’m not sure this duo ever let the bad guys get away, but I digress. Because what matters here is that once again, the baddies were just thieving forces of nature, and their eventual capture was a lot of fun to watch, specifically the chase sequence that brought them down since it was taken to a whole new level by having Ponch up above in the chopper while Jon followed down below.
 
Yet, this episode had plenty more to offer outside of some good old-fashioned machismo car chases, for it also took the time to explore quite a bit about Ponch’s past. For a citation led to a reunion between Ponch and his old principal from Poly Tech High and I really didn’t have a clue that Francis Llewelyn Ponchellero came from a checkered past until this tale, since Principal Singleton was happy to inform us that Ponch was quite the troublemaker back in the day and well, it is quite cool to see that his character pulled himself out of the trouble he was always in to make something of himself when all is said and done. Plus, this exploration of Frank’s past, also led to some wonderfully lighthearted moments as well, especially at the Career Day Frank was invited to attend at his old high school, when his ego took control of the wheel. 
 
If anything, I suppose my only complaint when it comes to this tale is that it did slip into that uncomfortable 70s mode if only for a moment when Ponch and Jon were called out to loosen up a traffic jam that came into existence from a bikini photoshoot on the highway. And my goodness, this was just ridiculously over the top since every dude on the road, Ponch included, just had to get a look at or get near the bikini models and well, product of the time or no, it really didn’t advance the story in the slightest and didn’t need to be there. But, outside of that, this was still a fun tale, and you can never go wrong with seeing a COTW get their just desserts and well, I’m a sucker for character growth in any show. Either way, it’s clear now that season one of this series is either going to go with the formula or drop a surprise, and I cannot wait to see which one awaits me in the next episode. Until next time. 

I have to admit, that I have one chief complaint when it comes to modern police serials in that, they often forget about the importance of putting the human side of things into their stories. I mean, don’t get me wrong, they’re entertaining and gritty and exciting, but they often feel hollow, because of the fact that the officers working the case seem to have their emotions turned off for whatever reason and it’s always kept me from truly falling in love with most cop shows on television. But it would seem, there was a time where the humanity of every single character was important to shows that feature the men and women behind the badge and my disdain for the ultra-dark nature of police shows today has been strengthened by the last episode of CHiPs that I watched, ‘Moving Violation’.
 
For this particular tale found a way to steer the series clear of the traditional Creep of the Week that has always been essential to its format, allowing for the audience to truly enjoy a day in the life with Jon and Ponch, so that we can see what kind of general troubles they face on a regular basis, and well, this episode packed in all kinds of adventures and relatable challenges for them. For example, Ponch had to deal with the fact that the Sarge came down on him hard for not getting enough done on the job, to the point where he needed Jon’s help for a win when it came to a bus that kept going missing, and that kept happening due to the fact that there was a group of senior citizens who desperately wanted the picnic they were promised, so they took matters into their own hands and this turned out to be a case that was surprisingly dangerous when all is said and done.
 
Plus, the episode also found a way to go to darker places for a change, but for all the right reasons, since Jon was asked by Sergeant Getrear to travel to a woman’s home to deliver the bad news that her husband passed away in a violent car crash and this, this was some surprisingly powerful stuff. In part due to the fact that most police shows tend to shy away from moments such as these, opting instead to integrate them into the case, but also because this moment was presented to us in believable fashion, since the poor woman in question began to break down upon hearing the news, and both she and Jon were faced with the harsh reality that the son the father left behind was about to receive some devastating news that would change his life forever and really, credit is due to Larry Wilcox, who plays Jon, for giving us a magnificent performance that sold this heavy moment.
 
However, while all of this was fascinating to watch in its own right, this is a series grounded in fun and the story made sure to deliver on that as well, since a plot thread involving Ponch getting a ticket brought about some lovely laughs and awkward moments, and this little problem for Frank, also managed to tie into a seemingly unassociated, yet equally as awesome moment. Because truly, the hilarious highlight of this particular tale, was the traffic stop involving a giant man in a tiny car, who was so upset with his jalopy, that he tore it shreds with his bare hands in front of Ponch and Jon and it just so happens, that eventually, that man sat next to Ponch in traffic school and that’s just a magnificent way to tie those threads together.
 
But what matters most, is that I’m hard pressed to find anything wrong with this episode. In fact, the brief plot thread involving Ponch’s attempt to impress a female pilot who was forced to land on the highway ended up being handled in proper fashion, making this another episode free of the strangeness of the 1970s and well, I simply had a blast watching this one. Because it brought so much to the table storytelling wise, and it was a lovely break from a world of crooks and creeps and I love that I’m being surprised with so many different types of stories this early into the show’s initial run and well, I’m definitely ready for more. So, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to make a return to beautiful L.A. and see what other adventures away me in CHiP land. Until next time.

It’s always a wonderful moment, when a new television show completely catches you off guard and instantly sucks you in to the point where you simply crave it, and for me, American Gods is a series that managed to accomplish that particular feat a couple of years ago. Because this dynamic and beautiful adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name, not only blew me away with its incredible visuals and layered characters, but what made me addicted to this series, is how it managed to raise some serious questions about the nature of faith and what it can do for people, and everything this series had to offer had me talking about it for days on end with friends and colleagues, such as NTG’s very own Scott Murray.
 
But alas, 2018 was a tough time for this series, and its fans. Because shortly after its powerhouse season one finale there was some upheaval behind the scenes, the kind that saw a juggling of showrunners and cast members exiting the series, along with budget and script issues that flat out delayed any further enjoyment of this series for the time being. But eventually, the dust settled, the scripts were written, and this show’s long hiatus came to an end last night with the second season premiere, ‘House on the Rock’. But I’d be lying if I told you I was ready and raring to go with a smile upon my face once the premiere rolled around. Because there was worry on my mind that this kind of turmoil might harm this delicately woven story and thankfully, my worries were quelled a few minutes in since this episode turned out to be nothing short of fantastic.
 
Because this particular tale didn’t miss a beat when it comes to the tone and design established in season one, in fact…it seems to have improved upon those elements. For the visuals in this tale were breathtaking to say the least and the story, well it captivated me from the get-go. For I’ve heard a great deal about how the House on the Rock segment serves as an important transition point in the novel (which I am slowly getting through now, thanks to Scott once again), and everything this place had to offer was a true feast for the eyes and the stunning visuals present here, were balanced out nicely by some quality character moments, wherein everyone was forced to take inventory after the confrontation in Kentucky, allowing for many key plot points and moments from season one to jell together in this iconic place. 

​Yet, while I would have been satisfied with those elements alone since this series has always been a slow burning type of tale, there were more surprises waiting for me as the story chugged along since that fascinating commentary on faith I’ve come to know and love was instead replaced by an examination of modern life in America when it comes to the generational clash that’s currently taking place. For the Old Gods in a way represent the parts of our nation that simply do not want to change, that want everything to continue to be the status quo as its always been, while the New Gods/New Generation desire a new path, one that embraces change every single step of the way, and it was just fascinating to see this parallel on display in this series.
 
However, a good premiere does more than offer us incredible visuals and thoughtful moments, it also has to set up the plot for the forthcoming season and advance it as best it can, and this premiere pulled that off as well. Sadly though, it would seem, that the overreaching arc for this year’s tale is going to be war, and the horrors that come with it since the celebratory dinner ended with treachery and death since Bilquis revealed the location of the big meeting to Mister World, and his savage pre-emptive strike cost Zorya her life and it all ended with the capture of Shadow and well, that’s a pretty solid way to set up the rest of the year, because who knows what kind of wrath will come down from the God of War over such treachery and more importantly, I think we’re all wondering at this point, if Shadow is okay…
 
In the end however, I have to declare this particular premiere to be a rousing success through and through. For not only did it do a fine job of reminding all of us why we fell in love with the show in the first place, it found a way to expand this fascinating universe by introducing us to so many new Gods, and it allowed for us to learn more about some of the others we met in passing last year, all while providing the audience with a rich and beautiful story and well…I’m hungry for more. I need to know what comes next in this incredible story, which means I’ll be on my couch and ready to go come every single Sunday. For American Gods is back, and it is better than ever, and I simply couldn’t be happier. Until next time. 

In my humble opinion, Star Trek: Discovery has done a great many things right this year. It’s been adventurous, it’s been fun, and it’s offered up some wonderful character growth along the way, all while working to integrate more classic elements of Trek into the mix. But of the many elements that this series has successfully executed in season two, the one that I’ve truly enjoyed the most, has been the grand mystery Discovery has built up surrounding the Red Angel. For we’ve only received just enough information when it comes to this mysterious being, which means that the show has been steadily ramping up toward some kind of juicy reveal about its intentions and why it continues to present itself to Spock. 
 
As it turns out, the time has finally arrived to provide us with some solid answers regarding the Angel and what it stands for, since last night’s episode of the show, ‘If Memory Serves’, gave us all kinds of juicy tidbits about its history with Spock and what exactly it showed him. But, before we dive too deeply into that, we do need to take a moment today and flat out let the inner geek flag fly, because this particular tale also provided us with some magnificent fan service when all is said and done and all of that was accomplished by way of the saga’s return to the iconic world of Talos IV, since that particular setting conjured up all kinds of wonderful memories regarding The Original Series.
 
In fact, the series was kind enough to refresh everyone in regard to what happened when Pike and his crew first encountered the Talosians a few years prior to this episode, and it was nice to walk down memory lane and re-live a few key moments from ‘The Cage’/’The Menagerie’ and thankfully the episode had more to offer hardcore fans of the franchise than just a few flashback clips, since the singing plants of Talos IV were present here as well, adding a lovely atmosphere to the story shortly after Burnham and Spock touched down on the planet, and as an added surprise, Vina returned to this saga as well, since she served as liaison for the Talosians once again, and she worked to ease Burnham’s concerns and fears so that the big-brained species of this world could heal her brother. 

​Which brings us back around to the plot and all that it had to reveal to the audience. For a voyage through Spock’s mind helped us to learn that the Angel revealed a dire future to Spock, one that saw a powerful enemy destroy the core worlds of the Federation and it is this twisted future that has Section 31 hungry to get Spock in their clutches, to properly prepare for what seems to be the end of multiple civilizations and this vision is also what corrupted Spock’s mind since his sense of time was thrown out of whack. But what matters more about these revelations, is that we also came to discover that the Red Angel is a human in that space suit, one that is apparently using Spock to guide the future to a better place. 
 
In fact, the Angel has shown its particular off brand of kindness to Spock before, since we also learned that his first ‘vision’ of this being, is what led to Michael’s safe return home when she ran away on Vulcan all those years ago. And, as an added bonus, this episode took the time to finally show us the moment where Burnham created quite the divide between her and her brother, and sadly, youth and frustration allowed for cruel words to come out of her mouth, and she basically rejected the notion that Spock was family to her, or that he would ever be anything more than an aberration, and while they didn’t exactly make up in this tale and put years of pain behind them, it was nice to see Michael make the effort and at least start the healing process.
 
If anything, this particular tale was quite the download, but that’s something that flat out needed to happen. The audience needed some answers when it comes to the Red Angel, so it was nice to finally get those, and see that the crew of the Discovery is dedicated to solving this mystery with Spock at their side, and while we still have more answers waiting on the horizon, the information we received in this episode, was pretty satisfying to say the least. Also, we do need to take a moment and throw a quick shout out to Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp for their fine performances in this one. They truly sold what appears to be quite the storyline setup for Dr. Culber, and I’m quite curious to see what the future holds for Hugh now that he’s trying to truly start over. In the end however, it looks like Pike and the crew are focused heavily on the hunt for the Red Angel from here on out, and it should be interesting to learn more about this individual, including their true identity, in the weeks to come. Until next time.

I think it is safe to declare the last two episodes of The Orville as some of the finest that the series has ever put forth. For ‘Identity, Parts 1 and 2’ challenged the crew like never before, and pushed them to their absolute limits, and I suppose, if there is any ‘complaint’ to file over these action packed and breathtaking stories, it’s that the entire conflict with the Kaylon was devoid of the powerhouse commentary we’ve come to know and love from this show. It’s not a bad thing by any means, because let’s be honest, it’s tough to find a parallel to our world when the story involves three fleets of starships, blasting each other out of the sky, but when something is part of the connective tissue of a series, one definitely notices its absence.
 
However, it would seem that this oversight was all part of the plan when all is said and done. Because last night’s episode of the series, ‘Blood of Patriots’, had plenty to say about our world and the Battle of Earth and the Kaylon threat served as the springboard point to outright examine the nature of war and conflict, and the impact it sometimes has on people when conflict drags on too long and this sobering exploration was made possible by way of a surprise message from Admiralty. Because as it turns out, the Krill were ready to end hostilities with the Union and discuss a peace treaty, potentially ending decades of bloodshed and conflict and it was going to be up to Ed and his crew to secure signatures on the Lak’Vai Pact, a document that would signal good faith on both sides.
 
But of course, there was a slight complication in regard to the peace process, because shortly before the talks got underway, a shuttle carrying a pair of humans escaped the Krill delegation’s ship, and they immediately requested and were granted asylum, much to the dismay of the Krill. For they believed the man aboard that shuttle, a Union officer named Orrin Channing, was responsible for the destruction of four Krill ships, and they wanted Orrin back aboard their vessel immediately for interrogation and if Captain Mercer was unwilling to return him to the Krill vessel, then peace would be an impossible goal, and they gave Ed twelve hours to make a decision, putting him in quite the bind.

For Orrin is a man who had seen some incredibly ugly things over the past twenty years. He lost his wife during a Krill attack, and he spent those last two decades in a Krill prison camp with his daughter Leyna, who escaped with him and well…it was hard to see how exactly Orrin could have caused trouble by just flying around in a shuttle with only his wits and his baby girl at his side. But some of the crew felt there was something amiss about him and it seemed for a while there, that this story was going to explore how and fear and paranoia can drive mankind to do questionable things since the Union was ready to hand Orrin over the Krill, provided Ed could find definitive proof of his crimes, because they were eager (and borderline desperate) to get a treaty completed with the Krill in order enjoy peace with an old enemy and also to bolster the Union’s military position against the Kaylon.
 
But in reality, this story was about the horrors of war and how it changes a man. Because eventually it was revealed that Orrin’s wife and daughter died twenty years ago in the attack that robbed Orrin of his freedom and the ‘daughter’ he was traveling with was actually a member of a unique race of aliens whose blood is explosive in nitrogen rich air, and they worked together to exact a little payback on the Krill, forcing Gordon to choose between his loyalty to an old friend or the uniform and his crew and thankfully he chose the latter. But despite his best efforts to stop Orrin from continuing his grand and sweeping vendetta, he lost his friend in a blaze of tragic glory and lesson here is that war can in fact, break a man and help to consume his soul in the fires of revenge and well, that’s quite the sobering message to say the least, when one applies it to our world and our lives.
 
For there are generations now being born in a world where conflict and war are commonplace, and they’re being taught that their enemy will forever be their enemy, and that’s dangerous and scary because that kind of lesson can create more men like Orrin, the kind who think that there can be no peace and if anything, this ended up being quite the bittersweet tale when all is said and done. For while Orrin may be gone, and peace negotiations between the Union and the Krill are underway, one has to wonder, just how many more ‘Patriots’ like Orrin are on both sides, wondering if peace is even achievable between these two species. Either way, this was, another brilliant episode, one that definitely gave me pause with its surprising message and one that once again proves that this show, is hands down the smartest science fiction series on television right now. Until next time. 

​I find it funny how sometimes, we settle in to watch a particular show or movie with the expectation that it is going to provide us with a specific plot point or thematic concept to mull over, only to see that story take us in a wildly different direction. It’s a pleasant surprise to say the least, since it demonstrates the versatility of the story in question and it’s oddly enough something that happened to me when I settled in to watch the next episode of CHiPs. Because I was flat out expecting to see more of that perfect encapsulation of the 70s that the first two episodes have offered up thus far, but instead, I was treated to quite the lighthearted tale.
 
For ‘Dog Gone’, ended up being a fine reminder of how in many ways this series was viewed as family show through and through and that was reinforced in this tale by way of the introduction of a cute but mischievous puppy that was later dubbed Fido, who came into Ponch and Jon’s life shortly after causing a few accidents while running around on the freeway and well, this dog allowed for all kinds of hilarious moments to come forth. For both officers quickly fell in love with the little pooch, and seeing Jon do his best to hide him at his apartment, before dumping him off on his partner left me in stitches to be honest, since the comedy here was handled in smooth and natural fashion, and this is precisely what made this show a family favorite since this is the kind of warm and silly entertainment that anyone can enjoy.
 
Plus, having both of these guys care for the dog gives us insight early on in the series as to what kind of people they are and it’s good to know that neither Ponch or Jon are good with just leaving a dog at a shelter. But, while this part of the story was fun in its own right, this is of course a police serial, and what would it be without a Creep of the Week to cause trouble and well, the series introduced a different one of those for this episode as well. For while the past two episodes featured conniving and greasy thieves on the highway, this one featured a revenge plot involving a tough guy with an easily bruised ego named Boots, who couldn’t stand the fact that Ponch stood up to him and put him in his place.
 
That motivated him and his buddies to keep an eye on Ponch in order to figure out where he lives, so they could exact a little payback upon him, and unfortunately for Jon, a moment of distraction, put him in the sights of these egotistical bros who took the time to loosen a bolt on the front of his bike, setting the stage for some serious danger. For, at any moment, that bolt could fly off and take Jon out, and thankfully, a guilty conscience from one of the bros, prompted him to alert Sergeant Getraer as to what Boots and his boys had done, and thanks to that alert and Jon’s quick thinking, no one was harmed, the bros got a one way ticket to jail and Fido was reunited with his beloved owners.
 
So, yeah, this one wraps up pretty nicely and when all is said and done, I have to admit, I was quite impressed with the script for this one. Simply because, every plot thread in this episode was tied together seamlessly, and I really love how a simple moment on the freeway blossomed into so much more. But what I loved the most about this episode, is the sheer fact that it really allowed for us to get to know the characters a little better, especially the Sarge, since we were able to see him spring into action to keep Ponch and Jon safe, and that moment really allowed for us to see how much he cares about his officers. Plus, as an added bonus for me, this turned out to be an episode I’d actually never seen before, which made this lighthearted romp quite the treat, and I’m looking forward to seeing what other fun adventures await me as I continue through season one. Until next time.  

​It’s always supremely enjoyable, when I’m able to feel old memories wash over me when I settle in to revisit a classic movie or show from my youth. Because you simply cannot go wrong with enjoying the wonder of yesteryear, if only for a moment, and as I settled in to experience the next chapter in the buddy cop series, CHiPs, I found myself immediately transported back to the various summers I spent watching this show. For I used to eat breakfast while sitting through reruns of this series on TNT, and the morning that I watched this episode, I had my eggs and coffee ready to go as I hit play on my Blu Ray player, except this time around, things were slightly different.
 
Obviously, there’s more grey hair on my head now, and rather than watching the series as a fan while I shoveled cereal into my mouth, I was looking for fascinating tidbits to chew upon as a writer and thankfully, ‘Undertow’, certainly did not disappoint when it comes to that. Because there were some fascinating plot points to analyze when all is said and done, but before we dig too deeply into that, the fan in me has to take a moment and discuss the sheer fun that this episode brought to the table, by making Ponch as high as a kite. For his direct exposure to Nitrous Oxide allowed for the character to let loose in ways I don’t recall seeing all often on the series since Ponch’s behavior was similar to that of a five-year-old on a sugar bender and this plot twist offered up some fine comedy for certain.
 
However, while that was entertaining and fun in its own right, we do need to discuss the intriguing plot points that I made mention of and well, what took me off guard when it comes to this episode, was the sheer fact that it was far more machismo than I expected it to be. There’s a lot of tough guy moments in this tale, including one where Jon smacks a dude around for refusing to stop sitting on his car and an entire sub-thread revolving around Ponch being the only one whose sporting skills can save the day and while it sounds as though I’m about to tear the series down for featuring this, fear not. It was just a little rattling to see, since a lot of that tends to be more toned down in this day and age, making those moments a true product of their unique era and fun to watch in their own right.
 
But truly, the centerpiece of this episode, is the plot involving the ‘Creep of the Week’ as I will dub the bad guy going forward, because these are the dudes and ladies that keep Ponch and Job busy and this week’s COTW was a tow truck driver that robbed women whose cars were broken down on the side of the road and well, this guy really was an old-fashioned piece of crap. There was no depth to this villain, no motivation outside of being an opportunist and it was refreshing to see a bad guy that’s just plain bad for a change since these days, we wish to understand every last ounce of their motivations and history, but here, he was nothing more than a force of angry nature and he definitely added to the machismo vibe of this particular tale.
 
Yet, while this was quite the adventurous episode, it definitely felt dated when it came to its portrayal of women in this story. For none of the women who were robbed fought back in the slightest, and were helpless in every sense of the word, and while there is credence to just letting a thief take what he wants to ensure one’s safety, it would have been cool to see one of these ladies bust out some pepper spray, or smack him around. But alas, it’s simply how women were portrayed in 70s television and cinema, and it was a tad jarring to see that once again. But, all negatives aside, this episode delivered pure popcorn entertainment, and I ate it up regardless, and I cannot wait to see what other action-packed and anachronistic moments await me down the line. Until next time. 

​Normally when it comes to a quality mystery story, everyone is outright excited to reach the end of the tale. For the finale, means that any lingering questions are answered about the case in question, and the bad guy or gal is brought to justice at last and a genuine happy ending ensues. But when it comes to I Am the Night, I have to fully admit that my excitement was mixed with trepidation, because there was a fair chance that this story wasn’t going to go by the numbers and provide us with everything I just made mention of, especially when one considers how the last episode came to a close, with Jay in jail and Fauna exposed to the world.
 
As it turns out, my concerns were definitely justified at first, since ‘Queen’s Gambit, Accepted’, went to some bleak territory when it comes to our intrepid heroes since Jay saw the situation go from bad to worse in jail, since he was consistently beaten and abused by Billis and Fauna, well…she actually managed to be in the worst place of all in this tale since a visit to Corinna ended with a little surprise sedative in her drink, and when she came to, she was in the company of George Hodel at his home and well, this is when the episode went from unsettling to downright creepy and terrifying because we quickly came to understand exactly how much he loves control since he was quick to exert a disturbing authority over Fauna, who had no choice but to comply for the moment since she was his prisoner.
 
Meanwhile, Jay was quietly working out a plan to earn his freedom, and after failing to get Billis to listen to reason he pulled out his proverbial ‘Hail Mary’ and offered to take the fall for the Brewster case, provided of course that he get a few hours on the street to deal with George on his own terms before disappearing into the chaos of the Watts Riots and surprisingly, the crooked cop agreed to the deal and thankfully, Jay got out of jail at just the right time because thing were deteriorating quickly at George’s house. For as Jay made his way toward the Hodel estate, we finally were able to see George’s madness and bloodlust on display since he tried to poison Fauna at dinner. But thankfully, she was too smart to fall for his gambit, but that didn’t dissuade him from his final goals in the slightest and in a harrowing sequence of events, he beat Fauna and demanded she pose for his art, and it became clear that once the painting was done, Fauna’s life would come to an end.
 
But George was ill prepared for the fact that he had met his match in Fauna, for when the right opportunity arrived, she gave George a taste of his own medicine and beat him into submission and exposed his cowardice, and it was so supremely satisfying to see this twisted and disgusting little man shiver in fear over the fact that a lady was able to put him in his place. But what matters more when it comes to this part of the story, is that Fauna had a perfect opportunity to put George down, but didn’t, an act that quite frankly, was powerful in its own right. Because she refused to give into the darkness and came to realize that letting a monster like George live in fear, was a far greater penalty than pulling that trigger and it would seem, her decision was worthwhile. For we learned that eventually George fled the country, and his scars both emotional and physical were constantly with him and sadly Jay was forced to flee the United States as well, since he was now wanted for murder and this is where the episode managed to surprise me through and through. For in the end it featured a bittersweet finale, one that provided the audience with all kinds of important lessons.
 
One of them being, that sometimes, things don’t end as happy as we would like, and justice isn’t always served the way we want it to be, but that sadly…is part of life. And, the show was also quick to point out, that sometimes it’s best to just walk away and start over fresh in order to heal one’s soul. But the finest lesson of all, came out of Fauna’s decision to spare George’s life, since she taught us, that we have to take the high road in order to keep our souls pure, and that we have to make peace with the bad things that happen to us, because the sun is going to rise tomorrow and we still have a life to live and well, what a beautiful and inspirational way to end this series. Because if a sixteen-year-old girl named Fauna Hodel can figure out those kinds of life lessons from a series of events this dark, there’s no reason we cannot find strength and direction when it comes to our own problems and in the end, what a magnificent and satisfying series this turned out to be. For it gave us new insight on one of America’s oldest cases, incredible performances and a gripping story and most importantly, it worked to help us find the good in tragedy and well, you can’t ask for much more from a story and I am sad to see this one, come to a close…  

​It was the summer of 1990, and my favorite hobby of sleeping in during my summer vacation from school, was rudely interrupted by the gentle symphony of lawnmowers on one fine morning, and being pulled from one’s slumber by such a ruckus could only mean one thing; it was time to start my day with a giant bowl of cereal and some mindless television. But on this particular day, my attempt to just watch TV and slurp through a bowl of Fruity Pebbles ended in the most fascinating of fashion. For I stumbled on a police themed serial that completely and utterly sucked me in, to the point where I got up early for the rest of that summer to enjoy the wonder…of CHiPs.
 
Of course, I’m fairly certain a few of you rolled your eyes at the mere mention of that show, since this late 70s and early 80s delight is oft regarded as quite the cheeseball series, but it’s one that I utterly loved when I first saw it and I still love it to this day. In fact, I was able to get my hands on the entire series on Home Video, and the 1999 made-for-TV movie, and I have zero regrets. But I will say, that as I started to pour through some of my favorite episodes for the first time in years, I couldn’t help but notice the uniqueness that comes with watching this series in 2019. For some parts of this show hold up extremely well and are incredibly entertaining after all these years. But other parts of the show are supremely outdated and cringy as best.
 
Which in all honestly, motivated me to start this series over from the beginning to Retro Recap every single moment with Ponch and Jon, in part to enjoy the series once again, but also because…what a great opportunity to break down how this show simply wouldn’t fly in this day and age, and to reflect upon the strange time that was the 1970s and the 1980s. Yet, I have to admit, that the start of my journey didn’t yield the awkwardness that I quite expected, since the ‘Pilot’ episode actually managed to provide the audience with quite the entertaining ride, one that outright managed to captivate me from beginning to end.
 
That’s largely due to the fact that this opening episode didn’t feature the growing pains that most pilots suffer from. For there was genuine chemistry amongst the cast members and it really did seem as though Ponch and Jon were partners for some time before we catch up with them and perhaps the best part of the beginning of this duo’s journey together, is the sheer fact that the action and plot here, do a fine job of setting the tone for the next six years. Because the action is big and bold for the era, and the caper presented here is intriguing enough to keep your attention and I suppose if there’s any complaint nagging at me when it comes to this story, it’s how Ponch is portrayed here.
 
Because in episodes to come, Ponch is a calculated but bold officer, one that is blunt but knows when not to cross the line, but here…he’s kind of a doof. I mean come on, he gets stuck in glue, he keeps wrecking his bikes and butting heads with the Sarge and that is a tad cliché when all is said and done. But I can definitely forgive that, since this is the Pilot we are talking about here, and it won’t be long before Ponch becomes the officer we know and love and well, I have to admit, it is already a blast to watch this series once again. It’s just plain good old fun, and I really am looking forward to seeing episodes that I barely recall or outright missed in syndication, and hopefully, these highway adventures will yield some poignant moments to mull over as well and most importantly, I’m looking forward to geeking out about one of my favorite shows/guilty pleasures with all of you. Until next time.  

If there’s one thing I’ve always enjoyed when it comes to the Star Trek franchise as a whole, it’s crossover episodes/storylines that feature cast members or characters from other entries in this storied saga. Because having those iconic people pop up in other parts of the story, only strengthens the connective tissue of this already rich franchise and that’s precisely why I was super excited to watch this season of Star Trek: Discovery, because of the fact that this year’s adventures were going to feature the legendary Spock, a good ten years before he was Kirk’s right hand man in The Original Series.
 
Which quite frankly, is a fascinating prospect to say the least, for we know little of this iconic character outside of his career as First Officer/Captain of the Enterprise, and the Ambassdor-ship he took part in after he left Starfleet. So, if anything, I’ve been dying to see Ethan Peck’s interpretation of the character arrive on the series, but alas, the search for Spock has been an elusive ride on this show, that is until last night. For ‘Light and Shadows’ finally brought this legend into the forefront of the story in fascinating fashion, but before we can dive too deeply into Spock’s return, we do need to take a moment and talk about the interesting twists and turns that happened over Kaminar while Burnham continued the search for her brother.
 
For the Discovery was asked to stay in orbit of the planet and study the tachyon emissions that the Red Angel left behind and well, this simple survey mission did not go as planned, in the slightest. Because a surprise anomaly did everything within its power to keep the crew from learning its secrets, to the point where the ship had to keep its distance to remain safe from its volatile effects, prompting Captain Pike and Tyler to take a shuttle out to launch a probe, and even that plan went to some wild places. For the shuttle was eventually sucked into the anomaly, wherein Tyler and Pike had a strange encounter with a souped up version of their own probe, and it quickly tried to download any and all data from the Discovery, further complicating their mission. But thanks to Stamets’ quick thinking, he was able to save the shuttle from further peril and on the surface, it seems all is well, save for the fact that the probe seemingly transferred its consciousness into Airiam…

​However, while the crew dealt with that wild little mess, Burnham arrived on Vulcan in order to see if her mother had uncovered any clues regarding her brother’s whereabouts and wouldn’t you know it? It turns out that Amanda was able to locate her son with ease and he just so happened to be on Vulcan, allowing for the family reunion we’ve been waiting for to finally happen, but it definitely didn’t turn out as we expected. Because when Burnham finally came face to face with Spock once again, there was no meaningful conversation or tearful forgiveness to be found, just ramblings and distress from the Lieutenant and thankfully, both Michael and Sarek agreed that Spock needed immediate medical attention, but where he ended up for treatment is what made this part of the story so incredibly fascinating.
 
For Burnham brought her brother to Section 31, so that Leland and his team could heal his mind with their secretive state of the art technology. But just when it seemed as though all would be well and Spock would fine in a bit, a surprise admission from Captain Georgiou, in that Leland’s methods and goals were unsavory and harmful toward Spock, changed Burnham’s outlook on having him be helped by Section 31, and with an assist from the former Emperor, Michael was able to escape with her brother, unharmed. And now that she and Spock were free of any interference from Starfleet, the opportunity arose to start her own investigation on how to help Spock, and she was able to decipher that some of his ramblings, were actually coordinates, prompting her to load them into the computer and set a course for the legendary Talos IV…
 
So, I won’t lie, I pretty much freaked out over the fact that Talos IV is popping up once again in the Star Trek universe, because that means we are going to see the Talosians well before Pike and Kirk ever run into them and who knows what shenanigans Burnham and Spock will get into when they visit this mysterious planet and in continuing in this thread of honesty, I basically geeked out this entire episode because…Spock. For at long last, this icon has returned to the universe he helped establish, and it was just so cool to see him back on the small screen. But all nerdy moments aside, with Spock now entering the fold, I would imagine the Red Angel plot line is only going to accelerate since Talos IV is clearly the key to some important plot points and I simply cannot wait to see what we will find on this legendary planet come next week. Until then.