Perhaps the true beauty of The American Dream, is how it caters to the individual. Because when we seek out to obtain it and everything it has to offer, it takes on new life for us by becoming something supremely personal, to the point where it creates specific goals for us, the kind that will satisfy our soul as we work to achieve it. For some, those goals are grandiose in nature, such as becoming the most famous person in their field, so they are forever remembered as the greatest of all time. But sometimes, those goals are smaller and humbler in nature and that more intimate quest in regard to The American Dream, just so happened to serve as the focal point for the next episode of Little America.
 
For ‘The Jaguar’ introduces us to the Rosado family, a trio of undocumented immigrants who came here to find a better life. But young Marisol is starting to wonder why they bothered to come to America in the first place. Because she and her family are consistently mocked for their social standing and the opportunities, she thought the family would find here are outright nonexistent. For her mother works menial cleaning jobs and her brother takes whatever construction work he can find, just so they can keep the roof of the garage they live in, over their heads. And that lack of results, has sucked all the motivation out of Marisol at school and also prompted her to lash out at others because she feels so lost and so angry at her family being rejected by the country that supposedly would embrace her.
 
If anything, her iteration of The Dream is to have her family be seen and respected for the hard work they put in and oddly enough, she gets her wish in the most unique way imaginable. Because a chance encounter with an enigmatic squash coach, who sees some fire and potential in her, motivates her to give the sport a shot and it just so happens that she is a natural. And finding out that she is good at something special, motivates her like never before and suddenly she’s ready to dedicate herself to the cause and sacrifice everything to be the best. Because when she’s on the court, she’s the Jaguar and she’s respected by her peers and she is now someone that stands out above the rest, allowing for her version of The Dream to come to fruition.
 
However, while seeing her find what she so desperately craves is satisfying for certain, what this episode has to say about The American Dream in general is what makes this story so powerful. Because Marisol stumbling upon squash and discovering that it is her calling, speaks volumes to the fact that opportunity is everywhere in America, you simply have to take a moment and look for it when you think there’s no opportunities present for you and more importantly, her plight also serves to remind us that while The Dream is indeed quite personal, certain parts of it never quite change. Because in order to become the best at what she does, she still has to work at it ad nauseum, to the point where simple mistakes are not allowed and seeing those classic elements of The Dream on display is wonderful because it means that its overall spirit is still alive in America in the 21st Century, despite the disillusionment we sometimes see revolving around it.
 
But what matters the most about this particular tale, is that it preaches tolerance above anything else. Because seeing Marisol’s family take a lot of heat for being immigrants and poor ones at that, is infuriating for certain and it prompts the audience to root for her at every turn and that’s just beautiful when all is said and done. For it reminds us to lift one another up and celebrate in the success of others and that is a message we definitely need to hear in America in this day and age. In the end however, this really was another brilliant chapter in this already incredible series. Because it really does provide the viewer with an incredible story, one that once again demonstrates that citizens and immigrants really aren’t that different after all. Because truly, working hard to rise through the ranks in order to reach the top, is about as American as it gets. Until next time.

​What’s fascinating about modern society, is how much stock we put into structuring our lives to a tee. For it really is an outstanding expectation that we go to college and find a career and stick with it, so that we enjoy stability and security for the rest of our lives. Which isn’t a knock upon said structure by any means. Because a steady paycheck does indeed afford us a great many benefits. After all, it puts food on the table, it allows for us to fund our pursuits and see the world if we so choose. But while those are wonderful benefits to following that particular structure in life, the fact of the matter is; it isn’t for everyone.
 
For there are plenty of people out there who are bored by the norms, and the struggle with fitting into a particular mold or trying to follow the path of so many, is quite the difficult venture for them. And oddly enough, there are also plenty of folks who follow the standard path, that come to realize that it dips them into the mundane, to the point where life becomes stifling and stagnant. But while those issues make it seem as though life is rough for a great deal of human beings, since so many of us struggle with routine and finding our path from time to time. What matters more; is that at no point are we truly trapped within the framework that the world prefers to operate within. There are ways to expand our minds and explore endless possibilities and it just so happens that breaking free of the mold and finding one’s way served as the central themes to last night’s episode of Dispatches from Elsewhere.
 
For ‘Clara’ took the time to explore the life and times of the character that everyone in the Elsewhere Society has been desperately seeking and what we learned early on, is that Clara is someone who most certainly doesn’t fit the everyday mold. For she is/was a dreamer, and she was terrified of the world she saw in front of her. One where everyone stuck to the plan and went about their days in miserable fashion because of it. Which prompted her to try and inject a little magic into the world, and with the help of her friends; they were able to create incredible beauty in Fishtown. And for her efforts, joy came to this place and suddenly people were open to new possibilities in life and they were eager to look beyond the concrete jungle surrounding them and see the beauty of the world and well, her story turned out to be quite infectious.

Because everything she had to say resonated with Peter and Eve, since they are the two in the group that are most in need of guidance and direction from the universe. And her words helped them to understand that they aren’t trapped in their current lives and that they can be and do whatever they want in life and that prompted Peter to ‘quit’ his job after he took the time to spice things up for the users of his company’s software, and he was quite excited at the endless possibilities that now lay ahead of him. As for Eve, well she took those words to heart by being more open about how she feels lost in life and doing that and receiving some encouragement from her former professor allowed for her to realize that being honest with herself and trying new things in life, might help her find her way at last and really, this segment of the story was downright magical for so many reasons.
 
For starters, Peter and Eve finally found some direction and they’re actually excited to see what the future holds for them and you can never go wrong with enjoying quality character growth. But more importantly, their journey was in essence, a message to the audience. One that reminded us to be more like these characters and embrace the wonder of life and take risks and break free of molds when we feel trapped. Because such boldness frees the mind and the soul and that was a wonderful message to find present within the framework of a tale that ended in ominous fashion. Because this story also took the time to enhance the plot like never before, since we came to learn that Clara is/was real and Jejune may indeed have her, and that changes everything.
 
In the end however, this really was quite the incredible tale. Because this one was supremely complex in nature as it shifted between Clara’s backstory and the everyday lives of our intrepid characters. But it sure didn’t seem all that complex and that’s thanks in large part to the work of Director Althea Jones. Because her guiding hand allowed for everything to work seamlessly in this episode, and truly Althea is one of the most dynamic directors in the business right now. Because every time she steps behind the camera she creates something genuinely magnificent and she absolutely deserves recognition for her work in this tale. For her keen eye also allowed for some incredible visuals to come to life, making this episode its own work of art. But all beauty and wonder aside, what also makes this episode so fascinating, is the sheer fact that the plot is truly thickening, and the game has in a way come to an end. Because now our dear friends genuinely need to get to the bottom of what happened to Clara and no good ever comes from digging for the truth, when suspicious circumstances are involved. Until next time.

The point of no return. Now there’s a phrase that’s about as ominous as they come because those words are often synonymous with a negative act. That kind that involves someone we care about as they find themselves ready to step over a proverbial red line, one where they completely alter the landscape of their lives and change for the worse. But what matters more when it comes to this unfortunate process, is that often times, loved ones immediately swoop in to save the person who is ready to submit to the darkness and their efforts offer up some mixed results. For while some are saved with love and care, others are so close to the abyss that any positive actions will have zero impact and what’s worse, they may drag their supposed savior into the void with them.
 
If anything, all of this is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because last night’s episode of Better Call Saul saw Jimmy McGill inch closer to the point of no return when it comes to his alter ego Saul Goodman. And what’s worse, Kim Wexler may be ready to shatter her own life in her efforts to save him from himself and that made ‘Wexler v. Goodman’ one powerful and moving tale. But before we dive too deeply into what the heck happened between these two damaged lovebirds, we need to take a moment and catch up with Mike Ehrmantraut in this tale, since it would seem he’s made a full recovery mentally. For he was at Gus’ side in this tale and after learning a little bit from Nacho as to what Lalo is up to, he was ready to teach the Salamanca family quite the valuable lesson in that, two can play the game.
 
But rather than pussyfoot around, like Lalo, and do a slow takedown, Mike felt the need to go right for the throat and bring some high heat down upon Lalo for a change, and he accomplished that feat by opening up some old wounds. Because there were victims when it comes to that little incident at the check cashing place and Mike sought out one of the survivors and gently nudged her into turning information over to the police. And to truly get Albuquerque PD interested in Lalo’s involvement in that fateful day, he pretended to be a police officer in order to drop off pertinent evidence at APD HQ and he even went so far as to have Nacho tail Lalo, so that he could report his position to dispatch and well… his plans worked and now the newest Salamanca crime boss has important questions to answer.

​Yet while it was incredible to watch Mike do his thing once again, it is time we dive into the whole mess concerning Kim and Jimmy/Saul. Because in this particular tale, Kim’s conscience did indeed get the better of her and she quietly asked Jimmy to stand down and negotiate the right buyout price for Mister Acker, a request he seemed happy to oblige at first. But another win in court, and the orchestration of an embarrassing moment for Howard, reminded Jimmy of the wonders he can accomplish when he slips into Saul’s persona and well… that prompted him to go the extra mile to win this case. So, he finished the smear ads that Kim told him not to, and he even went so far as to file an injunction on Mesa Verde’s logo since he found the original artist and promised her royalties. And the whole point of these manic and stunning set of actions; was to strike a deal with Kevin face to face and of course, to vindicate Kim.
 
At least, that was his claim, one that only came out when Kim was angry with him and rightfully so. Because she was right, he once again made her the focal point of a scam, and deep-down Kim knew he enjoyed every single second of it, because Saul feeds him in a way no one can understand. But what matters more, is that his actions were in essence another step closer to the point of no return. Because that level of chicanery toward someone he loves speaks volumes to how close he is to shedding anything good left within his soul and that’s when a shocking surprise came into play. For Kim is fully aware of where Jimmy is at right now, and how little he’s beginning to care about others. But her love for him does run deep, and that prompted her to back away from ending the relationship and make the one desperate offer, that so many lovers believe will fix their significant others as they stand at the precipice, by asking for his hand in marriage.
 
Which is really not where any of us expected to this go. Because Saul was a jerk to Kim through and through and no amount of backpedaling or spin service can fix that kind of cruelty. But clearly, she wants to save him and believes this is the only way and well, it’s obvious that there is no way in hell that such a union can work. Because eventually, Saul is going to be on his own, and filled with a bitterness that might be explained by this fateful day. For there is a good chance he will drag Kim down with him as Saul continues to take over and that will in fact, drive Kim away. And losing the love of his life after the rest of his family would definitely be enough to cement Saul as the dominant personality and it should be supremely fascinating to see where this little twist takes us in the week to come, as we inch closer and closer to Saul Goodman’s reign and the genesis of Heisenberg. Until next time.

​We like to think that television shows as a whole, are well-oiled machines. The kind that are able to react to just about any internal crisis that comes their way, so that great storytelling and solid entertainment value can be maintained. But the fact of the matter is, everyone involved behind the scenes is human, and when trouble arises, the response is human. Mistakes are made, scripts are shaky and even the talent struggles with unexpected changes. Which is why season five of CHiPs has seen its ups and downs, because of the unfortunate drama behind the scenes. But those issues would not last forever, and eventually Erik Estrada would make peace with the producers and it would seem that the next episode of this series, serves at the beginning of that healing process.
 
Because ‘Fast Money’ is a tale that has that classic CHiPs feel to it. Plus, it features actual interaction with Steve and Ponch and Jon, something that seemed impossible since Caitlyn Jenner (who then identified as Bruce) was clearly being set up to be Ponch’s replacement if the contract issues went south. But here they were in this tale, hanging out as if they were old friends and Steve even went so far as to help Ponch out around his apartment since the landlord was selling the place to another property manager and it was just wonderful to see this happen and it was equally as impressive to see all these smaller moments connect to something bigger. Case and point, Jon’s new sweetheart, who was a bonded courier who saw her industry under fire thanks to some creative Creeps of the Week.
 
For a pair of dudes named Rado and Gillis had worked out the perfect crime with an inside man at a local Los Angeles bank. And in essence, their contact, a one George Selkirk, would call this duo when a courier would pick up a large sum of cash and they would go to work in smooth and magnificent fashion. Because they had a tricked-out van, one that could clamp down on the courier’s car so Rado could bully the courier into giving him the cash, and this is a plan that worked like a charm. But Rado saw an opportunity to be more efficient, and that motivated him to modify the van to the point where he was actually able to lift cars off the road. Which made escape impossible and it made the capture of our villains impossible since they would just dump the car and escape, leaving the poor courier to likely crash. Something that would in turn motivate CHP units to respond to the accident first, over giving chase to the van.
 
But once CHP Central had an idea how these guys were operating, they hatched an incredibly resourceful sting operation to bring them down, one that involved Harlan’s big brain. Because he was able to design a car that could spring a magnificent trap on these guys. Because this car was lined with a ridiculous amount of lead so that it would instead lift the van when the bad guys deployed their little toy. Plus, it also featured a freakin’ grappling hook so the van couldn’t veer off and escape and wouldn’t you know it? When the time finally came to spring the trap, this enhanced car actually worked and it only took a matter of minutes for these crooks to give up and try to escape on foot. But they didn’t get far because everyone was on their tails and just like that, they were behind bars.
 
If anything, this is a flawless episode of CHiPs, through and through. Because once again, the villains had depth, and it takes the collective minds of Central to bring them to justice. Plus, there’s thrilling stunts and epic chase scenes and most importantly, everyone has everyone’s back in some form or fashion. Because it really is a huge treat to see Steve McLeish trying to help out Frank Poncherello at every turn. And it is equally as wonderful to see everyone come together in this tale to help Ponch keep his apartment and well, one can only hope that this return to form continues along. Because more of the same will help everyone forget about that silly behind the scenes dispute for the time being, so we can all enjoy some quality adventures on the highway. Until next time.

​Life is something that is always changing as we grow, and that tends to present us with new challenges as the years roll along. For instance, as we grow into adults, we see some of our friends disappear as we all come to learn what we like and dislike in life and that’s hard to navigate since our little world seems like it will never change when we are young. But the challenges don’t end there. For as we get older, we notice that our bodies begin to heal a little slower, and we can no longer keep up the pace that we used to and that presents new mental struggles for us as well and all of this, is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because the latest episode of Amazing Stories found a way to explore these concepts in a beautiful and thoughtful manner.
 
Because ‘Dynoman and the Volt’ took us inside the home of the Harris family, where grandfather Joe was struggling with some changes in his life. For he recently underwent major knee surgery, and the fact that he was in need of repair for his aging body, didn’t sit well with him. Because it meant he could no longer do the things he loved to do, and this injury would likely prevent him from working and that prospect terrified him to no end. Yet while Joe dealt with his fears, his grandson Dylan was handling his own struggles. For his best friend was growing up and discovering girls, and Dylan’s hardcore love of comics and cosplay and everything nerdy was beginning to alienate him from the other kids and well, this part of the story gets some serious credit for being so incredibly relatable. Because we’ve been in Dylan’s shoes before, and we’ve all noticed from time to time that a solid injury in adulthood, takes a little time to bounce back from and that’s frustrating for certain.
 
But while it seems as though this story was going to offer up grand commentary on the changes we struggle with in life, and how they bind us, since Joe and Dylan quickly bonded over their outcast-like nature, this episode offered up some vastly different concepts to explore. And that was accomplished by an unexpected delivery. For a ring from a Dynoman comic that Joe sent away for when he was a boy, turned out to possess the powers of his childhood hero and Joe was able to use that ring to inspire his grandson to believe in the impossible and it allowed for him to return to work and blow everyone away with his new skill set. But it didn’t take long for Joe to disappoint his family by prioritizing his work over anything else and the pain that brought forth, led to an epic finale, wherein two generations of the Harris boys had to work together in order to save Dylan from danger and that magical ending is what brings together the beautiful messages present in this tale.
 
For in essence, this is a story about the importance of family and how we need to embrace it because we only get one and when we do, a great peace washes over us since we come to learn that we truly belong in a family and that we often share in the same interests, as evidenced by Joe and Dylan’s love of comics and storytelling. But more importantly, this is a story that takes the time to remind us that while our bodies will indeed age as time rolls along, staying young at heart by embracing the things that bring us joy is what will make those physically tougher days a little easier to endure, and of course, this tale also serves to remind us to stay true to ourselves at any age. Because it really doesn’t matter what people think about us, and it is okay when people leave our lives. For the great ones, such as our family and the family we choose, will accept us for who we are, and they will always be at our side.
 
If anything, this is the first episode of the Amazing Stories reboot that truly feels like the original series, since it is full of feel-good moments and uplifting themes and it is handled in such smooth and magnificent fashion here that every single second of this story puts a smile on your face. Because it also knows exactly how to bring out the kid in us and send us back to those days where we saw our parents and/or our grandparents as superheroes in their own right and really, this is the finest episode of this young series to date. Because it is just a lot of fun, and it sucks you in with its lovely story and it also features some incredible performances, with a special shout out to the late and great Robert Forster. Because he is simply electric on screen as Joe Harris and honestly, there’s a fair chance this story would not have worked without him in that role and well, it is best we wish the next story in this saga a lot of luck. Because it is truly difficult to follow a story that is in essence, perfect. Until next time.   

​One of the many reasons that audiences fell in love with CHiPs back in the day, is the sheer fact that Ponch and Jon (and to a lesser extent, Steve and Bobby, I suppose) were able to handle anything that this wild universe sent their way. It didn’t matter how cunning the villain, or how monumental the task, they always rose to the occasion in noble and efficient fashion to bring down the bad guys. But even fictional characters have their limits, which is why most episodes of this series really didn’t go all-out and have them face an excessive amount of Creeps of the Week, or have them deal with seemingly impossible odds, that is… not until season five came along. Because year five is and was a weird time for this series, for reasons we won’t re-hash here.
 
But what matters more in today’s Retro Recap of the show, is the sheer fact that for the first time ever, our intrepid heroes were given an excessive number of baddies to deal with, and they faced some tough odds in bringing them down and this made ‘Finders Keepers’, one manic yet entertaining episode, one that thankfully found a way to add some lightheartedness into the mix. That was handled by way of a sub plot for Jon Baker, who had a run in with a cute country singer and arranged few dates with her since they hit it off. And the running gag here is that poor Jon never got the chance to properly spend time with her or hear her sing since he was so busy with the Creeps of the Week and honestly, that gag worked, and it definitely provided a welcome break from the more intense stuff.
 
Such as the good ol’ boy bounty hunter that made life hell for Jon and Steve. Because he didn’t believe in following the law in regard to bringing his bounties in, nor did he believe that humane treatment of criminals was a thing, and that led to all kinds of problems and awkward encounters with the CHP. In fact, Jon’s first dealing with the man is what established his view on how criminals should be treated. Since his mark was tied up and gagged in the trunk of his car, and his seizure of said criminal was handled without a warrant from a judge. And to complicate matters further, when the time finally came to bring his bounty to justice, the right way, he actually managed to break the law whilst pursuing his target. Because he kept CHP officers from doing their job and he caused an accident along the way, putting him and his bounty behind bars.
 
Yet we discussed our heroes dealing with an unwholesome amount of COTWs and the rest of them were introduced in between that bounty hunter plot line and well, the other villains in this tale were quite the doozy as well. Because Jon and Steve were forced to deal with an elaborate and intricate plot involving a scuzzy dude who was doing his best to keep out jail, and he used his vast funds to try and bribe a judge and keep that a secret. But thanks to his bumbling thug, the money and a tape that incriminated him were stolen by a pair of joyriders, and in order to get it all back they put the heat on Steve since he was the one who first came anywhere near this case. Which means that he and Jon had to figure out a way to keep those joyriders safe and bring everyone to justice, an act that they eventually pulled off in sneaky and cool fashion.
 
If anything, this episode was downright exhausting to watch. Because it was just one plot point after another and there really weren’t any breaks outside of the country singer plot line and even that was manic and quick, and our intrepid bounty hunter even found a way to inject himself into it. But all intensity aside, this was a damn entertaining episode, and what was truly impressive about this tale; is that they found a way to sneak Ponch, into a Steve McLeish episode. Granted, they never once cross paths, but that just goes to show how much was going on in this story. But the big question hanging over this one, is whether or not it’s a decent episode in a season filled with up and down moments and the answer to that question, is yes. Because everything that makes the series great is present here, and while it may not be the deepest story, it keeps your attention and it entertains and there’s nothing wrong with that. Until next time.  

For the most part, season one of Star Trek: Picard has been quite reflective in nature and rightfully so. For Admiral Jean-Luc Picard is a man haunted by the past in this particular tale, thanks in large part to his own misgivings and the various traumas he experienced late in his Starfleet career. So, it makes perfect sense that the series would dedicate a fair chunk of time to having him face said past, and try to resolve the ache in his heart and that has made for some powerful moments for certain, the kind that have allowed the audience to be treated to some genuinely moving stories as we explore a vastly different galaxy with Jean-Luc and his new motley crew. 
 
But while it has been fascinating to see the Admiral reflect upon yesterday and work to make peace with his mistakes, thus far, the Admiral has not found that sense of closure that he is so desperately looking for. Because as of yet, there has been no redeeming act to provide him with a sense of internal peace, just a grand mystery to solve. But it would seem that at long last, we have arrived at Jean-Luc Picard’s possible redemption point, since this week’s episode of the series brought him face to face with his greatest challenge to date in his quest to save Soji and his soul. But it sure didn’t seem like that was going to be the case at first glance. Because the first half of ‘Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1’, felt like a grandiose old school Star Trek episode, one filled to the brim with action and adventure.
 
After all, there was a grand shootout with Narek high above Soji’s home world, shortly after the crew of the La Sirena emerged from the transwarp conduit, and we were even treated to the awe-inspiring visual of the Borg Cube emerging from the same conduit, which was quite the epic way to kick off this penultimate tale and the grandiose nature of these opening moments didn’t end there. For it wasn’t long before giant orchids appeared out of nowhere, and these space bound flowers were quick to latch onto every vessel in orbit, in order to drag them down to the surface to a fate unknown. But thankfully, everyone made it through the descent okay, and after catching their breath and learning about Picard’s condition; the crew of the La Sirena set out to explore this strange new world and that’s where the adventure portion of the tale came into play.
 
Because Picard and his friends were eager to uncover the mystery of the nearby settlement, a place that Soji identified as Coppelius Station. But before they arrived there, they made a quick pit stop at the badly damaged Borg Cube, allowing for a wonderful reunion to occur with Elnor and Seven and the various xBs who survived the crash. If anything, this is the only part of the story that really didn’t serve any major purpose, but it was nice to see Jeri Ryan in action once again. But shortly after bidding farewell to the cube, we finally arrived at the settlement and what we discovered there was incredible to say the least, since this was indeed a small city filled to the brim with androids, ones eager to meet these strangers from another world and welcome them into their peaceful home.

​Yet what truly made this segment of the episode stand out above all else was the return of actor Brent Spiner, who just so happened to play another member of the Soong family; Dr. Altan Inigo Soong. And it was just an absolute delight to see another Soong living on this world, surrounded by another generation of androids based upon his late father’s work. Plus, the wonder of this world and the purity of this colony of synthetics made it seem as though Picard’s redemption was going to involve saving every last one of these unique beings from a horrible fate at Romulan hands and that they would rally behind the Admiral and his efforts. But the introduction of another android that resembled Soji, changed everything in dangerous fashion.
 
For Sutra wanted to know everything there was to know about the current situation and why the Romulans hated her kind. So, she used the Vulcan Mind Meld to dive into Dr. Jurati’s mind and what she uncovered there was stunning to say the least. Because she came to learn that the Admonition was not a warning of a forthcoming Armageddon, but a promise from a race of synthetic beings that were keeping an eye upon our galaxy in their endless search for artificial life. And that promise was simple in nature, in that, the instant synthetic lives were threatened, all the androids under siege needed to do was reach out and ask for help and these powerful beings would reign down vengeance upon their aggressors. A promise that would indeed bring about the end of all organic life in the Milky Way Galaxy and well, this discovery led to all kinds of problems for Picard and his crew.
 
Because Sutra firmly believed that invoking the help of these mysterious beings was paramount at this point, and that regardless of the kindness that Picard showed them, other beings would care little about the well-being of this colony of androids. Which brings us to the grand setup for Picard’s redemption. Because he will now have to figure out how to reach Soji and her people and get them stand down and get the Romulans to stand down as well. For if he doesn’t, the end will come and Soji will indeed be the Destroyer and his task will be monumental in nature. For the synthetics on this world don’t trust him, nor do they trust the Romulans, which means it will take every ounce of what makes him great to broker peace between organic and artificial life and truly, saving the galaxy and a race of budding beings is the perfect way to give a man that has spent the last fourteen years in isolation; the peace he so desperately needs.
 
If anything, this was quite the epic way to set up the season one finale of this magnificent series. For once again, Jean-Luc Picard is facing impossible odds, with little resources at his fingertips and you really cannot ask for much more than that from a penultimate episode. But while the setup alone was incredible in its own right, this was also an episode filled to the brim with top notch acting. For Isa Briones did a phenomenal job as both Soji and Sutra, since both characters were distinct in their own right and Brent Spiner deserves some serious credit as well for once again creating a Soong character that is vastly different from both Arik and Noonian. But all acting aside, this really was quite the cliffhanger, one filled with all kinds of surprises and suspense and it’s going to be a long and difficult wait for next Thursday’s finale. Wherein we will finally come to discover; whether or not Jean-Luc Picard will be able to find the greatness he once possessed, in order to save the galaxy one more time.

​Truth be told, our lives are pretty darn good when you think about it. For a great many of us are in good health, our family units are stable and outside of the occasional pandemic, we receive a steady paycheck at a job that puts food on the table and a roof over our heads. Granted, we all have our issues and problems, but for the most part, life is good and that’s why it’s always so surprising and humbling when we meet someone who is struggling to get by. Because it serves as a fine reminder of how lucky we are and hopefully seeing their plight, motivates us to do something; that helps those that are less fortunate than we are.
 
If anything, that particular ponderance is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because it served as one of the focal points of the next episode of CHiPs. For ‘Diamond in the Rough’ saw Sergeant Joseph Getraer and his family be presented with that very conundrum. For his son Timmy had a friend named Pat who hit quite the rough patch in life. Because Pat and his mother were involved in a nasty hit and run crash, and with his father living in Las Vegas, and his mother laid-up in the hospital; there was no one that Pat could turn to for help or care. But thankfully Betty Getraer brought up the possibly of inviting this young man into their home in the hopes of doing something good and that’s where this episode went far deeper in its exploration of paying it forward.
 
Because Joe and Betty came to learn that Pat was dealing with quite the difficult home situation. For his mother was working her tail off to make ends meet, and his dad really didn’t want anything to do with him and the anger and uncertainty that comes with those kinds of problems, prompted Pat to act out often and put on the tough guy role. Which led Joe to realize that someone needed to be a father figure to this kid and that he needed a stable family environment to grow up in, and with a little care and some help from the folks at Central, Pat was eventually able to reunite with his father and learn from the Getraer family that his negative behavior accomplishes nothing in life. And it was just wonderful to see Pat grow under Joe’s tutelage and realize that there are people in this world, who genuinely care about him.
 
But while this segment of the story was delightful, since it was full of feel-good moments and allowed for us to see a more tender side of Joe, there is still the matter of who injured Pat’s mom in the first place and the investigation surrounding that, is what introduced us to our Creeps of the Week. As it turns out, the person at fault in the crash, was a criminal mastermind named Dutton. And he was fresh out of jail and assembling a powerhouse crew once again in order to rob a nearby diamond store in a clever and intricate scheme. But thanks to the superior detective skills of everyone at Central, and some mistakes made by Dutton’s crew, eventually Jon and Steve were able to bring him and his crew to justice and save the day. 
 
If anything, this was a lovely rebound episode when compared to the prior episode. Because this one stayed true to the formula. For it gave us some well-rounded COTWs, the CHP went all out to capture them, and it offered up some lovely insight in regard to Joe Getraer and this is the stuff we’re here for. Plus, this one also featured actor Marc Alaimo, who would go on to star in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and really, if there’s anything to complain about in regard to this tale, it would have to be, what’s the point of even having Steve McLeish fill in for Ponch at this point? Because uh, he really isn’t doing all that much at the moment outside of fleshing out a scene or two and that just seems like a waste. But outside of that, this really was a great episode and hopefully, the writers’ room has found the balance at last since this felt familiar and comfortable and more of this, would definitely be welcome. Until next time.  

If there’s one particular constant in stories that feature the road back from loss and grief, it would have to be that when our main character begins their road to recovery, their journey is filled to the brim with nothing but joyous moments and a newfound appreciation for life. Because this part of the story is designed to inspire the reader or the audience to start the healing process, and give them hope that happiness will surge through their veins when they are finally ready to step back into the light, and well, it is not a bad thing by any means to put all of that into a story. After all, healing is healthy, and popular media is a wonderful way to celebrate and encourage it.
 
But the harsh reality is, the road back can be filled with both joy and terror. Because once we’ve decided we are ready to heal, we have to ask ourselves quite the important and stressful question; what comes next? And that question is a loaded one for certain, because it forces us to once again take inventory of our situation and our lives so that we can assess how we move forward, and it just so happens that this is precisely what the season two premiere of Lodge 49 explores in raw and honest fashion. Because in ‘All Circles Vanish’, Liz and Dud and Ernie are ready to start over and see where life takes them next and how this trio handles that all-important question, is what allows for us to explore the joy and the terror that comes with starting over.
 
Now the joy, well that is handled in this particular tale by way of Dud’s journey. Because his close encounter with a shark, and the subsequent quiet time he spends in the hospital, allows for him to appreciate the second chance that he’s been given in life and he instantly embraces a chance to start over. To the point where he is positive with everyone around him and he even goes the extra mile to lift up his friends and his family. For he truly comes to understand that life and the moments we experience are a gift and it really is quite wonderful to see him in such wonderful spirits in this story and believe that the world is his for the taking once again. Because this is what we’ve always wanted for Dud and it also reminds us that sometimes starting over is indeed quite the thrill since the possibilities are endless.

As for the terror however, well that was explored by way of both Liz and Ernie in this tale, and since they’re both at different points in their life, that allowed for the story to explore two unique perspectives on how starting over can terrify us. Liz for example, offered up the more direct approach in that… once we make the decision to heal, and we take inventory on our life as it currently stands, we’re fearful of starting over simply because the darkness is all we’ve known, and we become quite comfortable with the strife and that makes starting over a scary prospect. Because then we wonder, what will we become without our pain, or if we’re even worthy of this opportunity and it was quite powerful to see Liz express those worries aloud at Temp Joy. But what matters more is that this too is relatable, because we’ve all been afraid of the unknown at some point or another in our lives.
 
As for Ernie, well his journey in this tale explored a supremely unique aspect of the terror in that, sometimes we’re afraid to start upon the road back, simply because the prospect of starting over sounds downright exhausting. Because we’ve put in so much time and so much effort in getting to a particular point in life, that when it blows up, why bother starting over? Which makes the prospect of finding a simple status quo, one that keeps us in boring territory where are free from frustration or pain, quite enticing and that’s basically where we find Ernie in this tale, and that’s another element that the audience can relate to. Because we’ve been Ernie in situations similar to this before and it really is hard to snap out of that funk and realize that sometimes starting over is supremely worth our while.
 
Which is what makes Dud’s actions in this tale so supremely important. Because his going the extra mile for his sister and his best friend serves to remind us, that we aren’t alone in tough times. That there are people that genuinely care about us and our well-being and want to see us succeed in everything that we do. And it was so lovely to see that underlying theme to this series begin to have a larger presence in this overall story, and it was equally as wonderful to see Dud be this champion for change and encourage the people he loves to take that all-important first step toward healing. Either way, this really was a thoughtful and important chapter in the Lodge 49 saga, one that truly sets the stage for a season full of healing and discovery. Until next time.

Over the course of several and recent Retro Recaps of CHiPs, we’ve definitely spent some healthy time discussing what the beginning of the end of a popular television series looks like. Because this really is a wonderful opportunity to see it unfold since this series went from top dog to the skids in fascinating fashion and much of our focus, has been upon pinpointing that exact moment when things go awry. But as our journey through season five rolls along, it is becoming evident that it is more than one key moment that brings a television show its knees, as evidenced by the next episode in this storied police serial.

For ‘Bomb Run’ hammered home the fact that season five is pulling the series away from a true fundamental that made the series successful. Because this is, at its core, a story about two highway patrolmen, who solve crimes on the highways, and in between all of that; the audience is treated to incredible insight on the character’s everyday lives and the trials and tribulations of being a cop. And season five is featuring less and less of that. Because thus far, we’ve spent a lot of time in the hills surrounding Los Angeles with Ponch and Jon, or the stories have been designed to feel more akin to grittier police serials and this particular tale… took this shift to the extreme by setting this story at a nearby airfield.

Because this was a weekend where the CHP was going to hang out an air show and get some new recruits and have a good time. But there was a problem brewing in regard to that. For an old flame of Barry’s, named Terri, was planning to rob the place so that she and her hubby and her pops could retire and of course, some suspicious and awkward moments got Jon wondering what Barry’s old lover was up to. Which in turn led to a grand investigation and chase scene when the caper went down. One that saw Ponch and Jon take to the skies to capture part of the heist team and to save Terri and her dad since he had a heart attack mid-air. Which does sound like a pretty epic plot in its own right, one that shouldn’t be cause for concern.

But the fact of the matter is, there’s a lot that doesn’t work in this episode. Take Barry’s subplot for example. Because that whole plot thread is woefully rushed and honestly, this deserved more screen time. For having Baricza deal with the fact that the love of his life had become a thief, would have made for some phenomenal storytelling. But it’s set aside for more comedic elements that don’t always work, and to top it off, the characters are once again out of sorts in this tale. After all, Bonnie is quick to flip the switch on her temper for no real good reason, which is out of character for her and Ponch and Jon are oddly hostile toward one another in this tale and that also adds to the uncomfortable nature of this story.

If anything, it’s clear that trying to shift the series away from the highways caused some serious issues in season five. Because it put the writers’ room in an awkward spot, one where they tried to make do with unfamiliar territory. But the fact of the matter is, everything about this episode felt off, and this season feels off too, as though the show is trying to be something that it is not and that’s a shame. Because the formula was truly the key to this show’s success back in the day and at this point, it is quite weird to see these experiments start to make the series less enjoyable to watch and here’s to hoping that the show course corrects quick, so this journey through season five doesn’t becomes a nightmarish slog. Until next time.