When we think of America and the American Dream, a fair number of people immediately let their minds turn to the iconic image that Norman Rockwell painted for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, wherein dear ol’ dad is slicing that turkey at a family dinner. Because this nation and said dream are synonymous with that slice of Americana, where everyone lives in a suburban paradise with a lovely house surrounded by a white picket fence, and where 2.5 kids enjoy an idyllic lifestyle free from worry or concern or strife. If anything, those are wonderful images, ones that persist simply because they truly do evoke thoughts of a wonderful future and a comfortable life.
 
But the fact of the matter is, that particular line of thinking and dreaming is outdated when it comes to our country and the American Dream. Because the state of the country has changed since the 1950s and its grand dream of Americana. For so many more immigrants have come here to forge a better life and unfortunately, the cultural divide present in the United States is forcing them to work harder for their dreams of freedom and prosperity and thankfully, there are storytellers out there, working to bring their plight to the masses and Apple TV+ is one of the networks supporting that. For their series, Little America, takes the time to chronicle what the American Dream really looks like in modern times and that particular edict makes the series premiere of this show, ‘The Manager’, a poignant and powerful tale.
 
Now in this particular story, we are introduced to an Indian family that runs a hotel in the state of Utah and they are elated to be in the United States carving out their own path by way of a small business, and while it may not be a 5-star hotel catering to the nation’s elite, they are proud of what they have because it belongs to them and they control its destiny and its fate. And the freedom they enjoy by being small business owners brings them joy and it allows for Sarita and Krishan to raise their son with a sense of pride since he can now understand the value of a hard day’s work and what it means to dedicate one’s self to a cause, which are lessons that will come in handy in young Kabir’s life when his family is put to the test.

Because when Kabir turns twelve, his parents run into quite the problem with their immigration paperwork, to the point where they are sent home to India, leaving him with a caretaker and a seemingly impossible task ahead of him. For the family’s dream was to keep this hotel going and it will be up to Kabir to make that happen, and this part of the story is downright inspirational. Because this boy goes to great lengths to keep the hotel running, all while working behind the scenes to see if he can convince someone in the Federal Government to bring his family home and well, what made this entire story so powerful and so outright moving, is how oddly relatable it turned out to be when all is said and done.  
 
After all, strife and challenge are part of the modern American Dream. Because in the past twenty years families in this nation have endured incredible hardships and that’s forced children to step up when parents are ill or out of work and these tough times have shown us what we are truly made of and what we are genuinely dedicated to. Which makes this story, a wonderful tale in the ongoing chronicles of the American Dream. For this is another story of Americans just trying to get by and survive in times in strife and seeing Kabir rise to the occasion is powerful and humbling for certain and it sends out a subtle reminder that we are all in this together. 
 
In the end, this really was quite the incredible series premiere for certain. One that was surprisingly based upon a true story from the early 2000s, a time where immigrants from that region of the world were viewed in poor light. And knowing that this story and the ones to follow are based off of a series of stories published in Epic Magazine makes this series more poignant than ever. Because that means it is going to offer up an honest slice of American life in the 21st Century, and it is going to remind us that those who come to this nation in search of a better life, are no different than the ones who grew up here. Because we are all Americans in the end, and we are all searching for our own version of the American Dream where there’s peace and happiness, and knowing that this series is going to focus upon that, will make the forthcoming journey worthwhile and it should be interesting to see what beautiful and inspiring stories await us in episodes to come. Until next time. 

​The truth is definitely something that people should offer up as often as possible. Because being honest with everyone makes you trustworthy and it informs people that you are someone of the highest integrity and most importantly, it allows for you go about your day with a clean conscience and mind. But alas, for some folks out there, the truth is their enemy, and there’s a grand thrill to be found in telling lies and seeing how often they can get away with deceit. And for those folks, life can be quite difficult since it’s tough for them to keep their story straight and connect with people since everything they say is fiction and it just so happens that the importance of the truth and the power of the lie, served as focal points in the next episode of CHiPs, ‘Anything but the Truth’.
 
Now in this particular tale we are introduced to a pathological liar named Marcie Pendelton and well, her life is an outright mess. Because she’s been fired from job after job thanks to her inability to stick to the truth and to make matters worse, her dedication to deception is also putting her life in danger. For Marcie is a big fan of hitching a ride, and she secures them by offering up a sob story to anyone that will listen, and it doesn’t take long for that tactic to backfire when she hops into the car of an outright maniac named Wally Bartel. Because dear Wally is out to strike it rich by robbing innocent motorists. A feat he accomplishes by ramming into the back of cars, so that he can assault the driver and take their money when both parties have stopped on the side of the road and thankfully, Marcie is able to escape his grasp and get back to her everyday life after watching him conduct such a heinous act.
 
Yet while that harrowing opening should be enough to convince people to not hitchhike or lie, the story had more explore in regard to deception. Something that was handled by way of her budding relationship with Jon Baker. Because a hitchhiking citation and a surprise encounter at a self-defense class, allowed for Jon to learn that perhaps this relationship was not what he expected it to be, since Marcie’s lies were quickly put on display. But despite seeing some red flags, Jon pressed ahead with the romance since they had such incredible chemistry. But what truly put this duo to the test, was the sheer fact that Marcie wanted to help in the investigation involving Wally and sadly, her continued lying, forced Jon to question the future of this relationship and it made her an unreliable witness.
 
But what’s worse, is that the dismissal of her testimony, allowed for Wally to walk free shortly after Jon and Steve arrested him. Which meant that it was up to Jon to try and get the truth out of her and it took every ounce of effort on her part to finally come clean about her encounter with Wally and thanks to her testimony and Jon and Steve’s dangerous pursuit of him a second time around, this Creep of the Week finally went to jail. But sadly, despite this happy ending, Marcie’s lies did irreparable damage when it comes to her relationship with Jon and seeing this tale end with the two them going their separate ways was quite powerful, since it was clear that Jon really cared for Marcie and had she stuck to the truth, who knows where this relationship could have gone.
 
If anything, this was actually quite the wonderful episode since it told a far more intimate tale than anyone expected and it featured one terrifying Creep of the Week since Wally was a loose cannon for certain, one that oddly had a Ted Bundy vibe about him, something that was reinforced by his murderous tendencies since he tried to kill Steve and Jon. But what’s truly impressive about this tale, is that it was actually watchable without Ponch in the mix, and that’s quite a feat for certain and hopefully these other McLeish themed episodes can maintain this level of quality since this one really did suck you in with a quality story. But truth be told, its best we don’t hold our breath going forward, since season five has already been filled with ups and down and we are only six episodes in. So, it’s best we just enjoy the ride and celebrate the wins until this season stabilizes. Until next time.

Over the course of the past few weeks, AMC’s new series Dispatches from Elsewhere, has done a phenomenal job of establishing itself as the most creative and unique series of 2020. Because this is a show that defies convention at every single turn. Because there is no hook or gimmick when it comes to this story, just an unconventional plot structure that gives the audience just enough in regard to the mystery involving the Jejune Institute and the mysterious game and really, keeping the plot at bay, should send everyone to another network to watch another show. Yet, this one continues to entrance its audience and the true secret to its success; is its dynamic and powerful characters.
 
Because week in and week out, we have been treated to some incredible character studies, the kind that have taught us a great deal about the people that populate this colorful world and ourselves for that matter as well. For we tend to share in some of their traits. After all, there are plenty of us who shy away from the world and work hard to just get by like Peter, and there are those of us who are desperate to make a connection like Simone or we’re eager to make peace with the chaos of life, such as  Janice, and being able to relate to these characters and feel their plight is what draws us into this series. And thankfully, last night’s episode of this magnificent story took the time to continue this proud tradition by allowing for us to get to know Fredwynn in an intimate fashion. 
 
Which is a wonderful thing since Fredwynn has been something of an enigma on this series thus far. For he’s kept to himself for the most part, choosing instead to focus upon the vast conspiracy that seems to be brewing behind the scenes by way of the game and the Jejune Institute. So, getting to spend a little time with him was delightful since we were able to learn a great deal about this mystery man, such as… he’s about as smart as they come. For he was able to rattle off a litany of achievements early on in this tale, the kind that were impressive for certain and well, it didn’t take long for the story to make it clear that Fredwynn’s biggest asset, is also his greatest enemy. Because that juicy brain of his, is constantly on overdrive, and his overachieving ways pushes the others away, and oddly enough, how he interacts with other people is what became relevant to the study of Fredwynn.

​Because in essence, Fredwynn struggles to make human connections, simply because he wants everyone to be on his level. And he’s so eager to get everyone on the same page, that whatever anyone else feels or thinks on any particular matter is in essence irrelevant. Because he knows he has everything figured out in his mind and the sooner he cuts through the small talk and the boring stuff, the sooner he gets to confirm his theories and show others the way. But thankfully, this episode made a point to teach Fredwynn that people don’t operate in binary. People need to understand you, and they need to trust you, and compassion is the key to making that happen and Janice was the person to properly teach him this lesson and that allowed for Fredwynn to achieve quite the wonder in this tale.
 
But before we get to that, we need to take a moment and discuss exactly what message this episode was trying to convey to the audience by way of Fredwynn’s journey. And in this particular tale, the message inherent here is that our journey through life is better and more fulfilling when we bring friends along, and that in order to make that happen; we have to be compassionate and open to those around us and that’s something we can all relate to as well. Because there are times in our lives where we close off to the world and the people that want to know more about us, for various reasons that are unique to the individual. But the longer the we do this, the more we miss out upon memory wise and it was lovely to see Fredwynn learn this all-important lesson and open up to his friends so that they could indeed share in a powerful moment.
 
Because it turns out that Janice had the key to finding Clara within her mind all along, and once Fredwynn was able to engender trust in her and teach her some of his skillset, the entire group was able to find Clara’s home and well, what awaits them beyond those double doors will have to wait for another time. But in the here and the now, we can bask in another beautiful tale about life and the roadblocks we throw up to keep us from living it to the fullest and oddly enough, one has to wonder if Fredwynn’s journey is going to signal a shift storytelling wise in this series, now that we’ve explored all of the major players. But that is perhaps the true beauty of this show, in that, it keeps us guessing and curious as to what will happen next and that will make the wait for next week’s journey an excruciating one for certain, since the mystery of Clara is about to be solved. Until then.

At our core, we are passionate beings. Especially when it comes to causes that we believe in. For when we deem a particular cause to be just and true in our minds, we will stop at nothing to educate others about it and/or do whatever it takes to see it succeed simply because deep down we know this one is worth our while and that can be both a good, and bad thing. For sometimes, a cause is simply lost from the get-go and our dedication to it will do nothing but prolong the inevitable and other times, our involvement in such matters is less than noble and we back a particular horse in passionate fashion in the hopes of exacting a little revenge or causing a little harm. And it just so happens, that the sour side of dedication, served as the focus of last night’s episode of Better Call Saul.
 
Because ‘Dedicado a Max’ allowed for us to see just how far Kim Wexler is willing to go to find some semblance of justice in this world and well… it turns out that she will go to incredible lengths to see that happen. For in this particular tale she let Saul Goodman run wild in helping Everett Acker keep his property, to the point where she turned a blind eye to everything that Saul was doing to delay the eviction and well… that led to some incredibly hilarious moments for certain. After all, when Saul is in his element, the end result is downright spectacular and that was the case here. Because his shenanigans were as wild as they come and they worked at every single turn and for a brief moment there, it seemed as though Kim was going to be successful in getting Kevin and Mesa Verde to turn their attention to the new site.
 
But alas, hell hath no fury like a Kevin scorned and this good ol’ boy saw Acker and Saul’s attempts as nothing more than an attempt to pick a fight, and he demanded that Schweikart and Cokely continue to grapple with Acker and Goodman until the former finally yielded his property and well, that’s when the sour side came into play. Because in reality, Kim lost. There was no breaking Kevin and defeating Mesa Verde, a fact that Jimmy made clear to her. But the chance to stick to it to the man, to make a guy like Kevin pay for putting money over humanity allowed for Kim to indulge her darker side and encourage Jimmy to go the extra mile in bringing Kevin down. And that led to some shady backroom dealings in the nail salon, the kind that seemingly provided Kim with everything she could possibly need to embarrass Kevin and win one for the little guy.

If anything, it was quite incredible to see Kim return to that darker place that she flirts with from time to time and be so comfortable with Jimmy’s dubious methods. But as is often the case in this universe, there is a price one pays when they dabble in the darkness and Kim is definitely playing with fire in regard to this dangerous game she’s playing. For her boss, Rich, is fully aware of what she is doing behind the scenes and he respect Kim enough that he even took the time to offer her a way out of something that could eventually become quite troublesome for her and really at this point, the ball is in her court since Rich in essence left the outcome up to her. And it should be interesting to see if Kim is going to see this whole mess through to completion or reel it in before things get genuinely ugly.
 
However, while it was fascinating to watch Kim indulge her darker side once again and see how sometimes chasing a lost cause can cause more harm than good, we would be remiss to not discuss Mike’s journey in this episode. Because this particular tale took the time to inform us exactly where he went after suffering his nasty knife injury in that impromptu fight last week and as it turns out, he was tucked away in Mexico thanks to Gus and while he was frustrated at first to be far away from home, Gus actually did him a solid by taking him away from the world. For this little sanctuary, one dedicated to the other hermano in Los Pollos Hermanos, allowed for him to clear his head and eventually have a decent chat with Mister Fring, one where Gus revealed that Mike could in fact take his anger toward what happened and use it in a purposeful manner… by exacting revenge upon the Salamancas.
 
Which quite frankly, made for one poignant moment. Because there is a sense of irony to be found in seeing a criminal drug lord offer kindness and peace in order to stoke the fires of revenge and really, everything present in this episode, made for one phenomenal tale. For this series always shines when it forces its characters to walk the morality line and outside of Jimmy; who was in his element here, that was definitely the case for everyone else. After all, Mike was so close to finding a little slice of peace once again before Gus poked the bear and it really was incredible to see Kim enjoy the thrill of playing both sides and where this story goes with Kim matters more. Simply because, this is new territory for her, and her conscience may complicate things when Jimmy pushes this to the limit, like we know he is going to do and that could lead to some tough times ahead Ms. Wexler and Mr. McGill. Until next time.

​For the most part, these Retro Recaps of CHiPs have managed to surprise, simply because they are light on the retro. Because this series has held up incredibly well over time, thanks to some brilliant and thoughtful writing. But while it is nice to enjoy a police serial that features themes that are still relevant in modern times, make no mistake about it; at times it definitely shows its age. For sequences that involve disco, or roller skating rinks remind us of the fact that this series ran from 1977-1983 and it just so happens that the next episode of this series is perhaps its most ‘dated’ episode yet since it features a drug war over a drug that is viewed in far different light in modern times.
 
Which makes ‘Weed Wars’ quite the interesting story for certain. Because it presents us with a world where Marijuana leads to danger and mayhem, all courtesy of a group of good ol’ boys who want to make some fast cash. Because they’ve come to discover that weed grows well in the hills surrounding Los Angeles, and they’re not the only ones who seek to profit from this fact. For a bigger dealer wants in on the action and he’s got some muscle that is happy to intimidate the lesser dealers by trying to run them off the road and that leads to the danger in question. Because these on the road battles are causing ugly accidents, the kind that might cost someone their life and that’s what brings the Ponch and Jon and the rest of the CHP into the area, so they can put an end to this madness post hate.
 
But while there are plenty of thrilling chase scenes and some of the usual wild moments that one can only find in this series, what truly makes this episode fascinating in its own right, is the time capsule that it presents to the audience. Because in 2020, marijuana is viewed quite differently, to the point where it is legal in multiple states and even the NFL is backing off on it being an issue for its players. Which makes it wild to see the CHP treat this whole matter as if they’re dealing with drug kingpins a la Scarface. But while it is weird to be reminded of the fact that not that long ago weed was a taboo subject, the plot does work here and it is engrossing and intense at times since the action is up to snuff for the series and you do get to see all the bad guys get their just desserts.
 
If anything, the only real complaint when it comes to this story is the B plot, one involving an outcast kid named Tyler that Ponch and Jon speak to often since he’s seen all the accidents in detail. And while normally a kid on this show is no big deal, Tyler is worth discussing because of his desire to dabble in the dark arts and his decision to hex Ponch is a weird plot choice for certain. Especially when one considers that the series tries to mess with the audience and make us wonder if this hex is for real or not. It just seems supremely out of place really, and it doesn’t work all that well within the framework of a drug themed episode. But alas, this is what the writer’s room chose to roll with, and there is no going back and changing this particular plot line now.
 
But what matters most, is that this episode gets the band back together. Because Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox have phenomenal on-screen chemistry, and seeing them back on the highways together creates a lovely sense of comfortability in this tale and that too allows one to forgive the show for some sub-par writing and well in the end, it’s best to just declare this episode as decent. Because it really didn’t do anything revolutionary story wise and that’s not a bad thing by any means. After all, fans flocked to this show to see wild moments play out on the highways and watch Ponch and Jon bring bad guys to justice and you get just that in this particular tale, and it was nice to forget about the contract feud, if only for a moment. Until next time.

When one thinks back upon the 1980s iteration of Amazing Stories, joyous memories flood into one’s mind. Because the tales that this series brought into our living rooms on Sunday night, were lighthearted in nature, filled with wonderful and magical moments that instantly put a smile on people’s faces. But from time to time, the series would get serious and put some genuine drama on the screen and that particular approach is what the newest iteration of the series used for its series premiere, likely to ease everyone back into this universe and everything that it has offer. But while ‘The Cellar’ was a delightful episode through and through, it did leave the audience with a few burning questions.

Because in no way did that particular tale inform the audience what the 2020 version of this series is going to stand for. For the familiar feel of said premiere left one wondering if this saga was going to tread in comfortable territory, or if this series was going to take full advantage of being on a brand-new streaming service and let loose in its storytelling and provide us with tales that truly are amazing in nature. Well as luck would have it, the latest episode in this fascinating series offered us the answers to those all-important questions and as it turns out, the show is indeed going to venture into far bolder territory when all is said and done. But it sure didn’t seem that way at first glance.

For early on in ‘The Heat’, we are led to believe that our urban setting and our contemporary characters are going to provide us with nothing more than a grand reimagining of Ghost. After all, we see the life of our main character, a talented track star named Tuka, come to an unfortunate end at the hands of a criminal, and she’s now seemingly destined to walk the Earth until she can check off a couple of key goals. Specifically, she needs to help her best friend Sterling achieve greatness as a track star, and of course, she needs to solve her own murder. But that’s where the familiar tropes with traditional ghost stories end. Because not only does Tuka fail miserably in all of her endeavors in getting to the afterlife, this story also takes the time to explore some supremely powerful concepts revolving around the majesty of being alive.

Because Tuka has a lot of down time in between the moments where she is helping Sterling try and achieve outright greatness, and thanks to that quiet time she is able to reflect upon her short life on this planet and how much she will miss out upon by leaving it at such an early age and that leads to some poignant moments. Wherein Tuka comes to realize that she could have done more for others on a regular basis and that she also could have enjoyed the moment far more often, and most importantly; she should have opened her eyes to the joy that was at her side every single day by way of Sterling. If anything, it was quite the treat to see this story become so philosophical in nature and it was also quite nice to see a surprise love story come into play, and it was equally as wonderful to see Tuka be given a second chance at life, thanks to her many epiphanies.

If anything, this particular tale deserves some serious credit for going to such bold places storytelling wise. Because this story was emotional and powerful and downright thought provoking. And as an added bonus, it offered up visuals and locations that we honestly don’t see enough of in television these days, much less in a story this fantastical and that made this tale refreshing and progressive in nature and oddly realistic as well. Because there are indeed women like Tuka and Sterling out there, who are working to forge a better path ahead for themselves and are hoping to love freely in this world without judgment. In the end, this magnificent story just goes to show that Amazing Stories has grown up at last and left the fluffy stuff behind and that’s a win for audiences everywhere, since we are clearly going to be treated to some incredible and thoughtful storytelling in the weeks to come. Until next time.

Over the course of its first seven episodes, Star Trek: Picard has focused heavily on the power of the past and rightfully so. For this is indeed Jean-Luc Picard's story, and dealing with the losses he's suffered through the years, and confronting some of his more dubious decisions is paramount to seeing him grow and find peace in his twilight years. But what’s really made this series so impressive is that he is not alone in this particular endeavor. For his new crew is carrying as he put it, ‘baggage’, and they too are trying desperately to find some level of inner peace.

But  their problems and their issues have remained in the background of the story so that the retired Admiral can get his house in order, first. But after a wonderful visit with some close friends and confidants in last week’s episode, wherein Picard seemingly made peace with a great many things while visiting the home of Will Riker and Deanna Troi on Nepenthe, the time has finally arrived for the other characters to have their own reckoning when it comes to the past. And that made the next episode in this series, a unique affair. Because ‘Broken Pieces’ took the time to slow things down (for the most part) by giving the characters and the audience time to breathe and time to reflect on a great many things.

For this particular tale saw the La Sirena making its way toward Deep Space 12 in order to meet with a newly commissioned Starfleet task force, one that was going to help Picard and company out, now that Admiral Clancy believed in Jean-Luc’s endeavors. And while they coasted through the stars, old memories came to the surface and that allowed for us to finally learn every single detail about Captain Rios’ checkered past and why he was so angry to meet Soji at first glance. But before we dive too deeply into that, let’s take a quick moment and recognize Santiago Cabrera’s amazing performance in this particular tale. Because not only did he move us with his ‘confession’, he managed to play five different variations of himself in holographic form and it takes a special actor to be able to pull off that particular feat, and he did that here with seemingly minimal effort.

But truly the moment he shared with Raffi in his quarters was the most moving moment of the episode, thanks in large part to him putting on an acting clinic in this part of the story as well. For in that short but powerful sequence, we came to learn that nine years ago, the crew of the U.S.S. ibn Majid encountered a pair of unique individuals in the Vayt Sector and they were welcomed aboard the ship with open arms, and it just so happens that one of these individuals, looked exactly like Soji. But after Captain Vandermeer informed Starfleet of this incredible encounter, the situation aboard the ship took quite the grim turn. For the Captain quickly murdered their guests under an order from Commodore Oh and after completing this cold-blooded deed, he turned the phaser on himself. Which left Rios with no choice but to clean up the mess Vandermeer made months before Starfleet cast him out.

Yet while it was refreshing to get some answers from Rios as to why he has been in such a dark place for so long, he wasn’t the only one in this tale to confront their checkered past. For Soji now had to reconcile the fact that hers was a complete and utter lie and that her mind was filled to the brim with all kinds of knowledge and memories that she would need time to sort out. But thankfully, she had Picard at her side to help her do so and that led to some tender moments for certain, the kind that continued to bring peace to the Admiral’s aching heart. Plus, Dr. Jurati also had to face a reckoning for her actions, and she handled her transgressions and lies in noble fashion since she agreed to turn herself into Starfleet security at DS12 and she also informed the Admiral of everything she learned from the Commodore. But while feel good moments were abound here, Raffi couldn’t help but notice all the common threads that were suddenly appearing as everyone opened up, the kind that were connecting the dots to something bigger happening behind the scenes and that led to the most revelatory moment of the hour.

For eventually, this motley crew sat down and put the pieces together in regard to everything that’s happened over the past fourteen years, and they came to realize that the Zhat Vash’s mission to destroy synthetic life stemmed from a warning left behind by an ancient and powerful species. And said warning motivated Commodore Oh and Narissa and Ramdah to orchestrate the attack on Mars and the subsequent synthetic ban. To complicate matters further, the ibn Majid’s encounter with androids from Soji’s home world; is what accelerated Oh’s hunt for this mysterious planet so that the Zhat Vash could complete their ancient work. Which means that a visit to Deep Space 12 will have to wait. Because it is only a matter of time before the Romulan fleet arrives at the android planet, and it is best that the La Sirena gets there first, since Soji likely knows exactly how to save the day.

Yet while this episode was filled to the brim with powerful character moments and juicy plot points, there were still some loose ends on the Borg Cube that needed to be dealt with. For Elnor was alone and outnumbered and thankfully, the distress beacon he hit at the end of last week’s tale, brought Seven of Nine to his rescue. But she is but one Ranger and in order to properly put an end to the madness on the cube, she was forced to do the unthinkable and become an impromptu queen for this cube in order to use the drones to fight off the Romulan forces aboard it. But alas, her efforts to create a tiny collective came too late since Narissa was quick to jettison countless drones, ending more lives before she escaped and well, not all was lost when it comes to this ugly showdown. For there are still xB’s alive on this ship. Allowing for Hugh’s legacy to live on and the allure of the Collective didn’t trap Seven once again, and hopefully she and Elnor can join the fight to come, since Picard and company will need every ounce of help in saving this strange new world.

If anything, this is an episode that may not be received all that well. Because it really was a download story, one that put the pieces together for the audience in slow and methodical fashion. But with so much going on this season story wise, assembling everything in a single tale was a necessity. And while it may have spoon fed us some facts and elements that some folks have already figured out, it was nice to have some theories confirmed and truly the performances here also make this story worthwhile. Because there was good acting to be found all around and as an added bonus, this episode really did do a fine job of setting the stage for the two-part, season one finale. For now, we are headed for the android home world to learn of its secrets before a grand battle determines the fate of synthetic life in the galaxy and the anticipation now building for those elements, is going to make the wait for said finale, a difficult one indeed. Until next time.  

The beginning of the end. That’s an ominous phrase that’s been thrown around these Retro Recaps for a little while now, simply because it’s something that all of us have been dreading when it comes to this glorious six-season journey through the wonderful world of CHiPs. Because it was only a matter of time before season five unleashed the behind the scenes drama by introducing a new cast member into the mix while Erik Estrada and his representatives made their stand, and that change in the cast is one that this reviewer has theorized would signal a decline for this proud series and it as it turns out, there is indeed truth to that particular line of thinking. 
​
For ‘The Killer Indy’ is the first episode to introduce Officer Steve McLeish and well, having him take Ponch’s place on the highways made for one vastly different episode, one that tries to hold true to the standard set forth by seasons of quality storytelling, but falls short in the end. Which is a shame because the plot is indeed in line with a lot of what the series stands for. After all, in this particular tale we’re introduced to a roving gang of underground street racers who don’t care about safety, just thrills, and that puts them in a direct battle with law enforcement on a consistent basis. Plus, it puts McLeish in a tough spot since one of the racers wants nothing more than to get a piece of Steve’s older brother on the road, since Toro McLeish is the reigning underground street racing champ. 

But that’s about as status quo as the series gets in regard to this particular tale because it takes on a whole new vibe as the episode rolls along. For example, there’s a real 1950s feel to this particular tale, since the whole racer theme feels like an old school story involving Greasers from broken homes who race for pride and glory in a world that seems to reject them and honestly, that’s so out of place here it hurts. Because this series was always about contemporary criminals and contemporary problems and shifting storytelling styles in this manner is just awkward for certain and it wears on the audience at times with it’s over the top nature and sadly, the issues with this story don’t end there.

Because a fair chunk of the characters are simply not themselves in this tale. After all, Jon Baker suddenly transforms into an undercover cop, and it is weird and out of place to see him trying to play hardball with criminals. Not because he isn’t capable of doing so, but because it is forced here, and his actions are straight up out of character. Plus, even the Sarge acts strangely in this story since Getraer is inconsistent in his decision making. Since once minute he’s the ‘by the rules’ guy we know and love and the next… he’s telling Jon to handle this case off the books, and to make matters worse, at times he straight up doesn’t seem to give a damn about his officers since he more or less trash talks Steve behind his back and that’s just not Joe and it is an unpleasant twist.

If anything, this is just a strange episode. One that tries to experiment with the formula and quite frankly fails in doing so. Because CHiPs was never designed to be a gritty cop show. It was always designed to be a lighthearted and fun affair, one that only dabbled in darkness from time to time and one that always had its characters use their collective minds to solve crimes, not brute force and well, this experiment is unsettling for certain. For there’s a fair chance we might see more episodes that go into strange territory as Steve’s tenure on the series continues and well, make no mistake about it. This really is the pinpointed moment when things change for the worse in regard to this series. Because once you toy with the formula in this manner, there is no going back, and who knows what kinds of strange and awkward stories are going to await us as season five continues along. Until next time.      

Over the course of the past nine episodes of Lodge 49, we’ve dug into some deep philosophical concepts revolving around loss and trauma and life in general. Which has made for some powerful stories and some powerful lessons for the audience. But while it has been wonderful to ponder upon how life is chaotic and how we should deal with that, amongst other things, the show has yet to answer one important and critical question for the audience; what does it take for us to start healing in regard to the experiences that nearly broke us? Which is an important question to ask, simply because a series that offers us such poignant lessons, surely has to have a lesson ready for the very issue that brought us into Dud and Liz’s chaotic lives.
 
Thankfully, the show most certainly had one prepared, one that it saved for the season one finale and that made ‘Full Fathom Five’ quite the poignant and magnificent tale. Because this story, brought together every single lesson that we’ve learned in year one, in order to show us some potential steps for healing our broken hearts and really the first thing that this episode teaches us, is that eventually we have to face our pain and acknowledge it, if we ever want to return from the darkness swirling within. Which is why it was important to see Liz and Dud and Ernie try to do some of the things they’ve done this season, to make it clear that those are temporary fixes and eventually the joy and calm they bring us wear off, and that’s when we must face the facts and face the raw power of our pain and that can in fact lead us down an even darker path, albeit briefly.
 
Because what we carry in our hearts is heavy and tough to deal with. But when we hit that proverbial rock bottom with it, the healing can truly begin. Because at that particular point, we realize how much this pain has consumed us and our lives and we either do something or remain miserable and that’s really the biggest lesson that this episode teaches us in that; the road back begins with us and we have to decide that we want to heal. And once we do that, we can achieve magnificent wonders and for proof, well look no further than the Dudley twins. Because both of them found their rock bottom in this tale and made some conscious and powerful decisions because of it, and what they accomplished for standing up and saying enough was quite impressive to say the least.

​Take Liz for example. Because once she was shut out of Omni and Shamroxx, she really didn’t know what she was going to do. She only knew that her self-destructive tendencies and fury over pain and loss had brought her to a sorrowful place, one filled with silence and no future, and that was the last straw for her. She knew she could no longer continue on this path and that something had to change and quick and that prompted her to do something outright incredible and truly the scene where she makes a settlement offer with the bank is just legendary and hilarious. But the act itself stands for so much more. Because in many ways, her father’s debts were an unhealthy tie to dear old dad and being rid of it, frees her from her pain and while her decision was extreme in nature, the lesson within it is clear in that; sometimes we need to make drastic changes in our lives to find peace and happiness once again.
 
But truly the centerpiece of this particular tale is Dud’s journey. For he is the character who needed to make the most progress out of anyone. Because there is no one else in this story who refused to heal more than he did, and he genuinely buried himself in every possible distraction to not deal with the reality that his father was gone. But the harsh reality that the Lodge might be closing, alongside the fact that his hollow pursuits yielded nothing, finally opened his eyes to the reality that he was searching for a quick fix to his problems, something that would never come. And that epiphany prompted him to finally face his pain and accept his father’s loss and take control of his life and truly, it doesn’t get more inspirational or beautiful than that. But truly the best lesson to come out of this part of the story, is that it outright encourages us to make mistakes. Because that’s really the only way we learn what we need in life and oddly enough this lesson yielded another important one as well.
 
Because this particular tale made it clear that the true magic of the Lodge was never that it existed, but that it served as a place for good people to come together and share in beautiful moments and that leads to another other key component to healing, which is to surround one’s self with good people and family. Because great human beings and blood, understand that we are going to stumble and fall, and they won’t judge us. They will only encourage us to succeed and reinforce the wonder of our good decisions and that’s a message that this show has hammered home from day one and it was wonderful to see it come around full circle here. Because now that the Lodge is saved, and Dud and Liz are ready to move forward, they’re not alone in their journey back and in reality, they were never alone, they just needed to open their hearts to the support already surrounding them. And now that this leg of their journey has come to completion, the time has come to explore another important question in regard to the road back, specifically; what comes next when we’ve started the healing process?   

The age-old phrase ‘time flies’ holds a lot of gravity in modern times, simply because there is so much truth to it. Because just like that, we look up and realize how much time has passed us by. It could be related to some kind of anniversary or life milestone, or a birthday of someone close to us, but one way or another that realization comes, and we are flooded with warm memories of yesteryear. Yet while these moments are a big deal to us and something we discuss often with family and friends; it is something that isn’t explored in storytelling all that often for reasons unknown. It could be related to the fact that most of these milestones are supremely personal in nature and it’s hard to properly examine them on the silver or small screen in relatable fashion. But here and there, it does pop up in popular media.
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In fact, the next episode of CHiPs tackled that part of our lives head on, by celebrating the fact that Ponch and Jon have been partners for four years. But it sure didn’t seem like that was going to be the case early on in ‘Moonlight’. Because our dynamic duo really didn’t think too much of it, they just went about their day and even Sergeant Getraer told the staff to just let it be since there were other things to worry about right now. But a series as endearing as this one wouldn’t let that kind of milestone be glossed over in the slightest, so it found a way to celebrate it in a more cerebral manner, by injecting a little blast from the past into this particular tale. Because once again, Robbie and her father Charley, the two key figureheads with Davis Trucking; found their way into the story.

Because Ponch and Jon came to discover that someone was using big rigs to dump toxic chemicals in the hills, and who better to help them find the culprit than the truckers that know everybody? But unfortunately, the person that Ponch and Jon were looking for was supremely close to Robbie and Charley. In fact, our Creep of the Week was a man named Gil, who was Robbie’s husband and soon-to-be father of their child and he did this heinous act to pay off some gambling debts. But despite his best efforts to keep this a secret, the investigation slowly unraveled his web of lies and the outright discovery of this shady deal forced Charley to help out on one last dangerous run, in the hopes of saving the company from going under. But as is often the case on this show, the plan went to hell and thankfully Ponch and Jon were there to save the day and dispense a little justice.

But while at first glance that plot doesn’t exactly engender celebratory thoughts, it is relevant to their four years of riding together in a deeper fashion. Because the return of the Davis clan serves to remind us that these two have touched a lot of lives and done a lot of good in their community and in regard to Robbie and Charley, their business might not have made it this far without Ponch and Jon’s help, and that’s a cool way to look at their time together on the road and of course, we did get the true celebration at the end of the episode. Because Ponch and Jon both made some nice sacrifices to make the day special and they had some wonderful things to say about one another and while this should have been joyous in nature, it came off as supremely bittersweet.

Because in many ways, this particular tale closes the chapter on everything that’s come before it. For this is the season when change comes to this fictional universe and once Steve McLeish appears on screen, that’s when the decline of this series begins. So perhaps it is fitting that these two characters celebrate what this series has accomplished now, since there may not be an opportunity to do so later. But all dark clouds aside, this still was quite the quality episode. Because you can’t go wrong with a celebration of friendship, and it was quite wonderful to see the Davis family return and see them survive another roadblock on the highway of life. But either way, the clock is now ticking in regard to the future of this series. Which means we should bask in the wonder of this celebration for as long as possible, because it won’t be long before things start to change at CHP Central. Until next time.