It is definitely safe to say, that the hit AMC series, Breaking Bad, was one of the most revolutionary crime dramas to ever hit the airwaves. For this is a show that took all the grandiose tropes that surround stories involving drug dealers, and completely threw them out of the window, all so that it could provide audiences everywhere with a vastly original and realistic story. One that served as a grand tragedy for an everyman that seized the opportunity when the system outright failed him and really… it is the realism present in this story that truly makes it so iconic and revolutionary. Because everything here feels as though it could actually happen somewhere in America and it was in fact, so detailed in its examination of how Walter White falls from grace, that the series even went so far as to show us some of the consequences that would/could come about from deciding to become a drug kingpin. 

Such as how the secrets one would need to keep, and the hardships that a family would go through, could in fact… create a rift between loved ones. Which are elements that were explored in the next episode in this storied saga. Since ‘Down’ sees Walter in quite the unique place after surviving his encounter with Tuco. For his wife still doesn’t trust him in the slightest because of the second phone incident and the continued dodging that Walter continues to take part in, in regard to that, and his son is struggling to process his father’s condition and that puts Walter on quite the uncomfortable island. One where Skyler is ready to offer up the silent treatment in response to the lying and where Walt Jr. does whatever he can to stay away from the tension that comes from that, and well, that motivates Walter to try and go above and beyond to make peace with them. Something that he fails at miserably.

Because they don't want overtures, they just want him to be honest and open with them and he simply cannot. Because he knows that doing so will bring about all kinds of problems for his future plans to make gobs of money as a drug lord and this led to some genuinely heartbreaking moments. The kind that saw Skyler express pure anger over being lied to when Walter tried and failed to bridge the gap between them, and he even struggled to reach his son and it was quite powerful to see Walter suffer greatly for his lies when he was so desperate for redemption and really, the point of all of this… is to set the stage for the tragedy in question. Because this episode informs us of the fact that we are going to watch the complete and utter dismantling of Walter’s life as he continues to dive deeper into the drug underworld of New Mexico, and while this alone would have carried this tale, it’s exploration of consequences, didn’t end with Walter’s tough times at home.

Because Jesse was also having to deal with some fallout from his attempts to stay out of jail. For his mother went over to check out the house shortly after Hank came calling, and she saw the ‘Kitchen’ in the basement and that motivated mom and dad to basically evict their son, in the hopes of giving him the wakeup call they believe he needs. Which in turn led to some harrowing moments for Jesse, the kind that basically saw him hit rock bottom since he had nothing to his name and that motivated him to steal his own RV back and see Walter for a tense and angry meeting. One that ended with an airing of grievances and charity, since Walter took the time to give Jesse some of his cash haul and well, that’s where this particular tale ends. With the both of them realizing that their actions have consequences and that they have a long and tough road ahead and well, all of these elements made this quite the brilliant episode when all is said and done.

One that not only did a phenomenal job of setting up the future and expressing its message, but it also managed to give the audience a moment to breathe. For we were free of the chaos of the last three episodes, and it was nice to not see everyone under physical duress or be caught up in a horrifying situation. Plus, this episode also deserves serious credit for not having Jesse and Walt get right back to cooking. Since their decision to wait and try and mend fences speaks volumes to the fact that the good people, we met in season one, are still around and still hoping for some kind of normal life. Which too, also adds to the tragedy of this series since we know things are all downhill from here. Meaning this is one to cherish since it might be one of the last times, we ever see Jesse Pinkman and Walter White, make a concerted effort to hold onto what they once had. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Losing Alice’.
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When we finally purge a toxic person from our lives, one that permeated every fiber of our being with obsession, we tend to ponder upon what went wrong and how we could have avoided the heartache they sent our way. A line of thinking that allows for us, to see all the warning signs that were there, the kind that genuinely informed us just how awful this person truly was. But thanks to the connection we shared with them and what they awakened in us… we didn’t pay attention to those red flags in the slightest. Which in turn brings about some measure of guilt in regard to the power they had over us, the kind that stays with us for quite some time after the dust has settled. Because we should have known better, we should have stopped this before it got out of control.

But the fact of the matter is… there comes a point of no return, in regard to obsession. Where this person simply infects our minds and can do no wrong in our eyes and well, that’s a scary moment indeed. One that just so happened to be featured in the next episode of Losing Alice. For ‘The Obsession’ saw Alice working to fill out the cast of Room 209, sadly without Sophie’s help. Because she was supremely late to the casting meeting of a young and talented actress named Daniella. Who seemed to be the perfect person to fill the role of Eleanor, and there was also radio silence in regard to the audition tape and well, this seemingly innocuous series of moments had some serious meaning to them. Mainly because Alice incessantly checked her phone to get an update from her protégé, signaling the fact that obsession had taken root and that foundation is what allowed for us to watch helplessly as Alice ignored some big warning signs about Sophie.

Because Daniella’s second audition, one where Sophie was present... was outright terrible. To the point where it seemed as though, perhaps Alice didn’t have the right choice in front of her after all. But a requested meeting between Daniella and Alice revealed why the young actress was so scattered in her audition and that brought forth the warning signs in question. For it turns out that Sophie went to visit Daniella at the club where she tended bar, and rather than introduce herself in a professional manner, she posed as an everyday customer. One that was eager to seduce Daniella and was successful in doing so, and in an effort to consummate their newfound connection, she brought Daniella back to a flat in the heart of downtown, wherein nothing but creepy and traumatic moments took place for Daniella… all at Sophie’s direction and desire.

A revelation that should have brought about all kinds of discipline for Sophie, in fact, Alice was even told to straighten her out post haste. But instead of truly laying down the law and stepping away from this toxic situation or firing Sophie for such atrocious behavior… Alice did nothing more than give her a brief and ineffective talking to, before pondering upon something quite wild. Such as having Sophie take the role of Eleanor herself. All because the appeal of Sophie and the mystery that comes behind her life, truly has captivated Alice like never before and well, opting to not hold her accountable and even remotely thinking about giving her the opportunity to live out her script, was truly Alice’s point of no return. Because now, Sophie has hold of her completely and there is no going back when that line is crossed and that likely means we are headed into some dark and dreary territory for certain. 

For now, Sophie is in control and Alice is simply along for the ride, and continuing to indulge the strange feeling that Sophie elicits within her will undoubtedly end in an ugly and costly manner. But while we wait to see the fallout of Alice’s decision to turn the other cheek in regard to some supremely toxic behavior, we can bask in the terror of one fascinating and disturbing tale. Because not only did this episode capture that moment when we choose obsession over logic, in a flawless and realistic manner, but it finally gave us an idea of what Sophie is all about. For she really is a twisted individual that enjoys manipulating others and what’s truly scary about her, is that this was likely only a taste of what she is capable of and now that Alice is in her back pocket, it won’t be long before she puts the true horror, she is capable of, on full display. Until next time.

‘Losing Alice’ is available to stream now, on AppleTV+.

​It is definitely safe to say, that our rewatch of the hit television series, Almost Paradise, has been quite the fulfilling and wondrous experience. Simply because we’ve been able to rediscover the majesty and joy that this Christian Kane led series put into our hearts when it first aired in 2020 and as added bonus… we’ve found some incredible meaning within each and every episode. For it turns out that Dean Devlin and Gary Rosen wanted to explore some deeper themes and concepts as Alex Walker settled into his new life on the island of Cebu and discovering what they wanted to examine… has allowed for this series to take on a new life. Since we now know that it is one of the smartest crime dramas around, one that also serves as a grand origin story for a hero, since we watch Alex go from broken man to outright champion for good by the end of season.
 
But alas, it is that ending that looms large over this particular rewatch, to the point where today’s discussion is bittersweet in nature. For we have reached the end of this second journey through Alex’s world and while we have much to celebrate in regard to that, it is heartbreaking to know that we once again won’t be talking about his and Kai and Ernesto’s adventures on a weekly basis, after today. But rather than lament or fuss over that… it really is best we talk about how ‘Something Walker This Way Comes’ does a phenomenal job of completing Alex’s inspiring journey and it does that; by prompting Alex to deal with the third and final storytelling step that goes into becoming a hero. For Alex has already found a cause to fight for, since he stands up for the little guy and of course… his fight with El Diablo made him a legend on the island, since he defied the odds to keep people safe.
 
Which meant that the only roadblock keeping him from his destiny as a hero, was his past. For he had yet to deal with any element of it and overcoming it would free his soul at last and allow him to move forward as the island’s true protector and thankfully, the arrival of his daughter and his arch nemesis on the island allowed for that to happen in the most realistic way imaginable. Because at first, Alex struggled mightily with seeing his angry daughter, Evelyn, and the man that broke him, Todd Carpenter, and initially… he folded in dealing with either of them. Which is something that let’s be honest, all of us would do. Because having to make peace with people we’ve hurt and the ones that have hurt us is no easy task, since it means we have to face that pain all over again and well… Todd’s desire to put Evelyn in harm’s way, allowed for Alex to realize the grand opportunity in front of him.

Because now he could genuinely prove to Evelyn that she was indeed a priority in his life and mattered the world to him, and that he could in fact… avenge the humiliation and heal the damage that Todd put him through by putting him away, and that potential allowed for Alex to steel his nerves and accomplish wonders. Because he did it. He showed Evelyn that he cared and that he would do anything to keep her safe and he beat the ever-living hell out of Todd and eventually put him behind bars and that did so much for Alex. Because by the end of this story, he is confident and secure and calm at last, and he’s finally looking toward a better tomorrow because he has his fresh start at last and most important of all… he’s a true hero when we leave him in this tale. Because there are no more demons to slay, just innocent people to keep safe and he’s ready and willing to do that no problem and that is one satisfying ending for certain, one from an episode that offered so much more to the audience.
 
Because this is a story that once again allows for Christian Kane to shine as an actor. For he exhibits incredible range in this finale, to the point where we believe the fear that Alex is exhibiting and the strength that he later finds and that really does sell this episode through and through. Plus, it features so many beautiful moments between Alex and his daughter and his new extended family, since Kai and Ernesto are there for him every step of the way and speak to what he’s accomplished during his time on the island and really in the end, all of these elements make this a perfect finale. Because it really does close out an important chapter in Alex Walker’s sorted life in a magnificent and moving manner. 
 
Which is why, it is imperative that we get more seasons of this series. So that fans everywhere can see how Alex grows further as a person, and what kinds of new challenges he will face and overcome as a hero and of course, so he can finally find that internal mabuhay that he’s craved since he arrived on Cebu. So, please, if anyone from IMDb TV is reading this; renew Almost Paradise as soon as you can… so this journey can eventually come to its proper conclusion. But while we wait for that particular announcement, we can bask in one incredible finale. One that truly put a smile on our faces and this rewatch isn't enough, well we can relive Alex’s incredible journey as many times as we like, since streaming truly is a godsend. But alas, that’s all there is to say about the inaugural season of this incredible crime drama, and I do hope you enjoyed going back through year one as much as I did, and hopefully we can all reunite here soon; to talk about future adventures with a trio of incredible human beings that believe in good above all else.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Bloodlands’.
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We are taught from an extremely early age, that the truth is something noble and wonderful and that we should spend a great deal of our lives expressing it and searching for it. But as we grow older and head out into the world, we come to learn that the truth is not always what we were taught it would be. Because sometimes, the truth involves having our feelings hurt or our lives upended when we come to learn it and we also come to discover that sometimes… the truth about a particular situation is dark and dreary and downright unsettling. Leaving us to wonder exactly why we didn’t learn the truth about the truth when we were young, so that we were prepared for the harm it can cause and well… the convoluted nature of the truth is relevant to our discussion today, simply because DCI Tom Brannick struggled with it as well during this week’s episode of Bloodlands.

Because his search for it in this particular tale, brought about a lot of strife, thanks to the fact that the truth about well… everything from the past twenty years is sorted and ugly and unpleasant to say the least. So much in fact, that it drove Tom to a stunning breaking point in this particular tale and really, all of his hardships in regard to the truth… started with his efforts to figure out exactly who kidnapped Pat Keenan. Because Mister Keenan was unwilling to help the police in the slightest, and to complicate the investigation further, he appeared to know his kidnapper and well… that led Tom to quickly understand that there was the potential that this was nothing more than a giant ruse. One designed to get re-open the case about the Goliath assassinations, an act that was seemingly orchestrated by the most innocent of individuals… Adam Corry.

For shortly after it was revealed to Adam that his brother was one of the three individuals buried in a shallow grave on that lonesome island, Tom came to discover that Adam was quietly working the Goliath angle. For there were clues all over his home that spoke to the fact that he was eager to uncover the true identity of his brother’s killer and well… rather than continue to waste his time on a dead-end case with Keenan, he opted instead to turn his attention to Corry. Simply because working Adam's forced involvement in the case, might finally reveal Goliath's true identity and bring about some justice, and help Tom get some closure and some truth in regard to his wife. Because it turns out that the body wearing the pendant in the grave… was Adam’s brother and that means that Emma gave it to him and might have been having an affair and that hard truth, along with the revelation that Tom’s boss might be Goliath, brought about a shocking ending for certain.

For Adam’s only request in his rough conversations with Tom, was to see the final resting place of his brother, so he could properly pay his respects after mourning his loss for decades on end. An act that Tom was willing to grant in the hopes of uncovering more truth, specifically… who Adam was talking to about Goliath and why. But Adam didn’t hold up his end of the bargain, and instead demanded to know if by chance DCI Brannick was so actively chasing names… because he was in fact Goliath and eager to cover his tracks. A shocking accusation that Tom… might have backed up by doing the impossible. For in the closing moments of this tale, a rattled and angry and outright broken Brannick, pointed his gun at Adam’s head and pulled the trigger. Leaving all of us to wonder if Adam was right and our hero is in fact, quite the villain or if he is simply a man that is compromised and unable to handle the pressure that is accompanying a case, that will also offer up some painful truths about his relationship with his beloved wife.

Which are questions of course, that we will have to wait to discover and while we wait for more uncomfortable truth to bubble to the surface, we can revel in one stunning tale. One that really did hammer home how our quest for facts and authentic knowledge can be a harrowing journey at times, the kind that really does uncover some ugly realities we don’t want to face, and it is just a shame that poor Tom had to be the one to deal with the weight of everything we learned here. Because Goliath or not, the pressure that came with certainty has driven him to an incredibly dark place, one from which he may never recover, and it will truly be interesting to see where that shocking moment takes us in the weeks to come. Since now Tom has to clean up after himself and still try to forge ahead and the power of this tale and all of its potential consequences is going to make the wait for next week’s episode a difficult one for certain. As we wait to uncover more of the ugly truth surrounding a case that is as messy as they come. Until next time.

‘Bloodlands’ is available to stream on AcornTV, right now.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season three finale of ‘American Gods’.
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One particular concept that has come up time and time again over the course of season three of American Gods, is that of destiny. For Shadow Moon has spent a great deal of this season, pondering upon its nature and what it can do for him and understandably so. After all, for as long as we've known him, he’s been a man without a path or direction, and coming to discover that he might have the powers of a God and could potentially do wonders for mankind with those powers… has given him hope that he might find the purpose and direction that he’s so desperately craved. And well, it was only a matter of time before he decided to try and walk the path that he believed awaited him and it just so happens… that said decision came about during the season three finale of this fantastical series.

For ‘Tears of the Wrath-Bearing Tree’ is a story that saw Mister Moon, finally opt to embrace the potential of his pre-ordained future, especially now that his father was dead. But before he could do that, there were some important matters to tend to at the very center of America. Such as reclaiming his father’s lifeless body and handling some unfinished business with the always snarky and suspicious Mister World. Such as hearing his request to come to a truce with the New Gods in order to avoid more bloodshed. Something that was quite ironic to hear from Mister World, since he orchestrated this whole mess, and his lack of shame in this matter, knew no bounds. To the point where he was ready turn Laura Moon over to Shadow, so that he could exact revenge for his father’s death, upon her. An act that Shadow of course refused to go through with.

Instead, once the burial details were arranged and completed, Shadow instead opted to hold vigil for his father. A dangerous ritual that involved him being attached to the World Tree for nine days, an act that would kill a mortal man, but Shadow expected this to go quite differently for himself. After all, his visions and their ability to guide him, along with the fact that the blood of the Gods ran through his veins, meant that he should survive the nine days, no problem. And he wanted to take part in this risky ritual, so that he could fulfill his destiny at last and usher in a new era for the Gods and humanity… one full of peace and leadership. But alas, things went terribly wrong when the ceremony began. For it was revealed in a realm of the Afterlife that resembled Shadow's first encounter with his dad, that Wednesday knew his own path would end in death, and that in order to survive and find a new way to thrive in this maddening world… he would require a blood sacrifice… his son.

A revelation that left Shadow angry and afraid and unprepared for an end that came regardless of his concerns and well, that’s where Shadow Moon’s story ends, for now. With humiliation and death and a lesson for all of us. In that, our destiny isn’t something that can be foretold to us or hinted at in the slightest. It is something we figure out on our own, by trusting our gut and by listening to the right individuals. But while Shadow learned that lesson far too late, there is a chance he can return to the land of the living in order to set things right. For we have seen Laura Moon emerge from the depths of the Afterlife to try and forge a new path on Earth… with mixed results of course and well, hopefully Shadow won’t wait too long to make his triumphant return. Since this tale also featured some ominous hints at an ugly future for the world.

Because now that Odin is restored to his full strength and eager to serve himself and his ego, there’s a fair chance that he will indulge himself in an orgy of conflict and strife, since that is what a God of War feeds upon. Plus, Mister World also hinted at the fact that he might be helping out in such matters as well. Since he told Technical Boy that all of his suffering was designed out of control and trickery, since World thrives on trickery through and through… something that should have rung a bell in the audience’s mind. Since that hints greatly at the possibility that World isn’t some unifying God after all, and that he is instead the Trickster God, Loki, and that everything that happened here was part of a master plan to feed the chaos he thrives upon.

But alas, we will have to wait for a season four to learn that particular truth and to see what will become of Shadow Moon and the world for that matter as well, and hopefully STARZ greenlights a season four for this series, soon. So that this talented cast and crew and the writers’ room can get to work on assembling the endgame for this series. Because clearly, this finale serves as the setup to something huge, something that is undoubtedly designed to bring about a final confrontation between Shadow Moon and the Gods that walk amongst us, and it would be a shame to not see this sweeping adaptation come its logical solution. But while we wait for that news, we can bask in one quality finale. One brought everything together in a seamless and harrowing manner and one that also upped the stakes like never before, since the Gods played Shadow like a fiddle and the consequences of giving into their wishes, have to be dire indeed. Until next year.  ​

The general belief when it comes to road trips, is that they are nothing more an opportunity to see another part of the world and gain a little insight into the local culture there, whether it is in your backyard or halfway across the world. And while all of that is true, since you do indeed immerse yourself within your destination, and learn a great deal about it, what we don’t talk about enough… is the sheer fact that road trips represent and provide us with so much more. Because not only do you get to see a place you’ve never seen before, but you also get to forge memories and bonds on your adventure, the kind that will last a lifetime. Plus, sometimes getting away from it all helps you find perspective on life or a tough situation that you’re dealing with, making the road trip a supremely powerful and special experience.

If anything, all of this is relevant to our discussion today… simply because all of these aspects of the road trip were featured in this week’s episode of Ride with Norman Reedus. For ‘Journey Down Norman’s Memory Lane’ was a different kind of adventure with Mister Reedus, one that lives up to the episode’s namesake. Because it was revealed in the early moments of this episode, that shortly after Norman completed his ride around New Zealand, that the pandemic took hold around the world. Forcing the show to quit filming for a little while and well, that more or less brought about the perfect opportunity for Norman to reflect upon this incredible journey, with the loyal fans that have followed it for so long, and it must have been quite difficult for him to select some ‘top’ moments from prior seasons.

After all, Norman has been able to ride with some incredible individuals, the kind that passionately love bikes in the same manner that he does, and that’s allowed for him to connect with some of his guests and some of the groups they’ve encountered on a fundamental level. Something that you just don’t see happen on road trip shows all that often, since so many focus upon the journey and the location, and not the people. Plus, we were able to look back at many of the big-name celebrities that Norman has hit the road with, such as his own cast-mates from The Walking Dead, which has allowed for viewers to come to understand that the cast isn’t joking when they talk about the bond, they share from filming TWD. Since it was obvious during these segments that they really do treat one another as family… to the point where Norman considers Michael Rooker to be his brother from another mother.

In fact, his time with Michael is worth nothing, simply because it helped to explore the perspective theme present in this episode. Since we were able to revisit the fact that their trip took them to Mister Rooker’s hometown, where he was able to reflect upon his own journey from everyday kid to a star of the small and silver screen before the duo arrived back in Atlanta, where they met on the set of TWD. And really, how that explores perspective is simple. Because it’s just you and your companion and the pavement and the world when you take a road trip and being surrounded by the enormity of the road, and someone that means the world to you, really does humble a person and help them to understand where they’ve been and where they are going in life.

But most important of all, Michael’s time with Norman truly hammered home the fact that hitting the road with those we care about and love, really does strengthen bonds. Because it really does afford the time for you to live in the moment with your travel companion and share what’s on your mind and what you’re feeling and of course, you get to take part in things you both enjoy and sharing in happiness like that is paramount to strengthening a bond and well, all of these elements made this quite the uplifting episode when all is said and done. One that reminded us that Norman’s decision to let us into his world and venture alongside him, really is special, since it is rare for a celebrity to give people that kind of access into their lives, and hopefully Norman can once again hit the highways, soon. So, we can all enjoy in the wonder and the majesty and the healing power of the open road. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the ‘Doctor Who’ animated special; ‘Fury from the Deep’.

It is definitely safe to say, that Doctor Who is a series that has produced a prolific number of episodes. Because its ability to keep the character going via regeneration over the past fifty-plus years, has allowed for countless and powerful stories to take place. So many in fact, that some of them have been lost throughout the years. For syndication and streaming and home video simply were not available in the early days of this series, and that sadly allowed for the master tapes of some of these stories to be purged in order to make room in the BBC’s various storage facilities. But thankfully, technology and ingenuity are helping to bring those ‘lost episodes’ back to life, as evidenced by last night’s special broadcast of the long-lost tale, ‘Fury From the Deep’.

​For the audio of this six-part serial survived the original broadcast, but the video did not, motivating the network to restore it via animation, just as they did with their two-part presentation of ‘The Faceless Ones’ and well… it’s a wonderful thing they brought this story back to life, since it is quite the quality adventure. For this story, saw the Second Doctor and Jamie and Victoria arrive in ‘modern-day’ England to investigate some strange goings on at the ESGO gas complex. Because the pressure at all the nearby rigs and in the tubes was dropping and the odd sound of a heartbeat from within those very tubes, motivated the Doctor to learn more about this place, and what he learned was stunning to say the least.

Because it turned out that a strange and sentient seaweed near the complex, believed its time had come to rule the world. And to top it off, it figured out how to take control of men’s minds and of course, it was up to the Doctor and his friends to stop this seaweed before it conquered all of mankind and well… there are several reasons as to why this particular tale was so worth the audience’s while. First and foremost, because of the fact that it actually sees the Doctor struggle for a change. For more often than not, he or she always has a fast solution up their sleeve, one that allows for them to be victorious in a prompt and decisive manner. But here, Doctor Number Two is at a loss for a better part of this tale, to the point where it seems as though the situation is going to end badly for planet Earth. 

Something that is made possible by way of some quality writing. Because the mystery of the seaweed creatures is revealed in a slow-burning fashion. Allowing for these creatures to take the Doctor and everyone at the ESGO facility by surprise and as an added bonus, the mystique surrounding these creatures also adds incredible tension to this tale. Because we simply don’t know who is under the seaweed’s control until late in the story, adding a real sense of worry and concern that this sea bound creature might strike and take out the Doctor at any moment and that is brilliant, quite frankly. For it helps to up the stakes by creating a genuine sense of hopelessness in this tale, and that is also a rarity to find in this particular franchise and it truly invests the viewer in this story.
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But while The Doctor is of course victorious in saving planet Earth from a great evil once again, the heavy nature of this tale doesn’t end once the monsters are sent into defeat. Because this is a story that also features the exit of Victoria from the series. Something that she opts to do after taking a little time to realize just how dangerous traveling with a Time Lord can be and really, what makes this so powerful and so poignant, is that it is always difficult to see a companion exit the series. Because the Doctor only selects the finest people to travel with him or her and anyone who ventures aboard the TARDIS is akin to family. Plus, it doesn’t help that Whovians everywhere are still trying to reconcile the fact that Ryan and Graham bid their goodbyes to the TARDIS and the Thirteenth Doctor, earlier this year.

But all current mourning aside, this really was quite the satisfying special when all is said and done. One that was wrought with quality drama and tension and a wonderful mystery to boot and well, now that this restored entry in the Second Doctor’s adventures has come to a close, one does have to wonder how long it will be before we get to enjoy another lost journey from this storied franchise. Because these revamped stories really are quite engrossing to say the least, and they serve as the perfect snack, in between new adventures and that means we will all be keeping an eye on social media in the weeks and months to come, to see when BBC America will alert us to another animated journey through time and space, aboard the TARDIS. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘For All Mankind’.
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If there is one universal life lesson that all of us come to understand at some point during our travels, it would have to be that chasing your dreams is quite the difficult affair. For going after what makes you genuinely happy, requires a great deal of sacrifice and effort and failure quite frankly. But all of that is of course, worth our while. For when we obtain said dream, we are happy and content and at peace and that is why so many stories show us the chase and its spoils, so we too are motivated to go out there and get what we want. But while that does indeed make for some quality storytelling, the kind that lifts our spirts up and leaves us ready to take on the world, there is one particular aspect about chasing our dreams that we don’t talk about enough.
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In that, once we grab hold of our dream, life isn’t quite easy as we think it will be. Because our dream requires work to maintain, especially if it relates to a competitive career field, one that could bump us out if we grow complacent. Which means that our dreams will always be a hustle, one that will have its highs and its lows like anything else in life, but even then, the constant work to maintain them is worthwhile. Since the fight reminds us daily that we got this, and we are the expert, and we can handle any challenge to our standing, no problem. If anything, this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because the grind that comes with maintaining one’s dream served as the focal point of the next episode of For All Mankind. Since ‘The Weight’ saw Tracy and Gordo Stevens, fighting hard to keep the wonder of their dream jobs as astronauts, alive.

Because Gordo was still having some serious panic attacks every single time he put on that helmet, and that motivated him to do anything and everything, to confront his fears about space travel. To the point where he threw on his own helmet and hid in his closet to try and simulate what that will be like in space, and he even hung out at the bottom of his pool to try and shake this… and sadly he believed he was making minimal progress in reclaiming his mojo. But what Gordo failed to notice, is that this push to shake his fear, was actually allowing for some healthy things to take place. Such as the fact that he lost all that excess beer weight, he quit drinking and he even started to deal with this sorted past with Tracy, and by handling his other baggage; it is only a matter of time before he deals with the fear. All because he opted to dig deep and fight for what he knew was his, making this quite the positive thread in regard to the episode’s overall theme.

As for Tracy, well her journey was a touch more bitter. Since her arrival on the Moon and her superstar status on Earth, made it inherently clear to her that she had grown quite complacent as an astronaut, and let fame and glory become her focus in life. Which in turn brought about some serious struggles at Jamestown, to the point where she finally needed a talking to from her boss to understand that these missions aren’t a vacation or a getaway, they are real work, the kind being done by dedicated astronauts that would kill to have her history. And eventually, those words and the realization that she could be drummed out of the program and lose her dream, by letting her ego get in the way, motivated her to buckle down and fight for what she wanted as well and that made this segment of the story quite satisfying for certain, since Tracy now seems quite focused and hungry to reclaim her status as one of NASAs finest.

In fact, it really is best to just call this episode satisfying in general. Because it was quite lovely to see two fractured characters start to put their heads down and work to grow and reclaim their fire, and it is equally as magnificent to see them come to understand what exactly goes into maintaining one’s dreams and to top it all off, this episode also had more to offer than a mere character study. Since this particular tale also saw the arrival of Marines on the moon, complete with weapons and rules of engagement in reclaiming the lost mining site. And it should be quite interesting to not only see what this particular move will do for American/Russian relations in the weeks to come, but to also discover how our favorite characters will continue to grow, as this incredible series continues to explore a brave new world where mankind has established colonies on the surface of the moon. Until next time.  
‘For All Mankind’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’.
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Is it just me or did the wait for the show feel much longer than the wait for WandaVision? It could easily be me, because I have been dying for this show to come out. Now, if only I could get Hawkeye, I’d be a very happy nerd. Long awaited and well worth the wait, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier wastes no time in building all kinds of new excitement for the next chapter in the MCU by answering the question, what happened after Endgame? Did life just go back to normal?

So, last warning. Get ready for some spoilers, kiddies, I’m not holding back.

The show starts with Sam in post-Blip-Modern-Day, partnering with the Air Force to save a hijacked plan and kidnapped Captain. The action sequence is beautifully shot and really entertaining, delivering the Avengers style action we all know and love. This show throws you right in and makes no apologies for it. Of course, Sam saves the day, because why wouldn’t he, and we find that, well, there are no Avengers anymore. Yes, there are still heroes, maybe, but there isn’t some secrete elite team of justice fighters. So, Sam has been contracting with the government to help. Not exactly what we were expecting, not with the ending of Endgame and Steve giving Sam, the Shield. Speaking of, did Sam really give the Shield up?
 
Well, apparently Sam gave it the Captain America Exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum and that is just... not what any of us were expecting. That whole opening wasn’t what we were expecting. The trailers lead us to believe that we would immediately be at Steve’s funeral, and I half expected to be writing a much different review than I am now. Although, I was a bit disappointed by that, I am also okay with it. Granted my anti-Steve Roger’s rants have to wait for another blog, but I’m happy with the direction they took us in with in this premiere. Because after Sam gives up the Shield, he gives a great speech on what Steve stood for and how the Shield will always be a symbol of that, a beacon of light, you might say.

Surprise cameo, Rhodey attended said speech and even asks Sam why he doesn’t take up the mantle, a question we’re all asking. Realistically, Sam is the perfect choice to be the next Captain America and yet, he refuses the title and basically alludes to it needing to stay as a symbol rather than a physical idea. The world has changed, post Blip, and well, Sam is also just trying to get his life back. The duality of all of this was interesting. Here, we have Rhodey who clearly was alive during the Blip and even helped to reverse it, and then there’s Sam who came back to basically finish the fight and has five years of catchup to do. How does one rebuild their life when everyone has already moved on?

For Sam, it’s visiting his family and trying to help his sister with a failing family business, only to find that he can’t even get a loan! Silly little additive right? Let’s be honest, the loan scene is a great commentary on current the socio-economical situations many currently face, but to illustrate even further how the Blip changed everything. A former Avenger, someone who helped defeat Thanos can’t even get something as simple as a loan to help his sister. The reality of this world is a lot different than the one we saw in Spider-Man: Far from Home.

​Meanwhile Bucky is having nightmares and struggling through therapy of all things. Which, really, I suppose the former Winter Soldier of all people needs a little therapy. The cards are really stacked against Bucky, though, post Blip and he’s still having to deal with everything Hydra put him through... like killing innocent people who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. I really wondered how they were going to show Bucky’s character in this show, considering how Marvel handles trauma. This seems like the most realistic portrayal in handling it. Not to mention, seeing Bucky in a therapy session is kind of entertaining on a level that I can’t quite explain. Still, he is trying to do better and make amends, and if that means helping former Hydra plants and agents get arrested, well, that’s what he’s going to do. In the very beginning of Bucky’s story, we do get a flashback in the form of a dream where he does murder an innocent man, who just happened to accidentally be at the hotel. This does come in to play for the rest of his story as he’s actually befriended the dead man’s father.

This is probably the first friend Bucky has really made on his own since no longer being the Winter Soldier or fighting. We can see that he’s trying to work up the courage to tell the man what happened to his son during the whole interaction, only he never does. He even admits in therapy that all he wants is peace and the only time he had any was in Wakanda. Truth be told it is a lot to process, and while he isn’t under Hydra control anymore, he does still have all the memories of everything he did. On a happy note, Bucky does go on a date, which he abandons, but it’s still progress. We also learn that Bucky is ignoring all of Sam’s texts and attempts of contact.

So, the Winter Soldier is no longer, and the Falcon is trying to sort out family things, when do they come together? Not in this episode, not yet anyway. Sam is seen working with an informant when there’s a robbery by a super-human and said informant nearly dies. Will this bring Sam and Bucky together? Undoubtedly. In the meantime, we end with the government announcing a new Captain America, complete with Shield and all, and with the ending we’re left with I do want to talk about one thing that genuinely bugs me, and I believe it’s done on purpose, but still, the audacity. Sam gives the Shield up ultimately because he doesn’t feel worthy enough to carry the Shield, the legacy. Which is absolutely not true. Sam is more than qualified and should take up the mantle.
 
Instead of retiring the Shield, as we’re led to believe, they instead announce a new Captain America. A New White Captain America. Now, call me crazy, but the silent commentary on race did not go unnoticed. The idea that they saw Sam as unqualified because of what color his skin was? Deplorable. And while this is unsaid, it sure seems like that is the direction they’re going in. Juxtaposed to the bank scene, it seems like they’re making commentary on race issues without actually openly commenting on it. But for now, we sadly have to wait until next Friday for the next episode to see how Marvel is going to comment on this and to hopefully see Bucky and Sam reunite. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to go re-watch this episode just a few thousand more times though.

At some point or another, each and every one of us, will be faced with quite an important and potentially difficult decision. One that requires us to look at a current situation or particular path in our lives and ponder upon whether or not we should step away from said situation or walk another path. Because what we are dealing with now, has us concerned about our future or whether or not we can continue to dedicate the energy to the issue at hand and this is a big decision for one reason and one reason alone. Because we know that we if stay in that situation or on that path, that we are about to cross a point of no return, and whatever happens past that point, happens, and we must deal with all the consequences… both good and bad, that will stem from our final call.

If anything, this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because this is precisely where Walter ‘Heisenberg’ White was mentally in the next episode of Breaking Bad. For ‘Bit by a Dead Bee’ picked up shortly after the harrowing events of ‘Grilled’, wherein Walter came to realize that Hank was undoubtedly going to zero in on Jesse, now that his car was discovered in close proximity to the now deceased Tuco Salamanca and of course, they were free from that madman's clutches. Which meant that Walter needed to explain to his family his whereabouts over the past few days and well, that motivated him to come up with quite the plan to exonerate both he and Jesse of any wrongdoing. The kind that quite frankly, made it seem as though Walt had thought long and hard about his situation and opted to step away from the drug business after all.

Now Jesse’s part of the plan was to move the meth cooking gear into the RV and have that bad boy towed away. So, that he could park himself in a hotel room and pretend as though he’d been there for days. All to throw the DEA off and make it appear as though he was just getting high and getting some while things went down with Tuco. And Walter, well he stripped down and made it seem as though he lost his memory for the past couple of days, allowing for him to escape any scrutiny on his whereabouts and well, their plan worked to a tee. Because Walter was put under observation for a bit and was genuinely seen as a guy who perhaps had collapsed mentally due to all the stress in his life, and eventually… Jesse beat the case that Hank tried to bring against him. Making it genuinely seem as though, life was about to change direction for both men and their meth days would be behind them since they were now free and clear to hit the reset button.

But that’s when this episode took quite the shocking turn. Because just when it seemed as though Hank was going to confess what he’d done to his hospital appointed therapist, an act that would have purged his guilt and helped to bring closure to this weird chapter in this life… he instead fired off a brash lie about needing to escape his family’s smothering ways and that he disappeared for a few days to make that happen. And he offered up that lie for one reason and one reason alone. So that he could in fact, continue to cook and make all kinds of money. Which means that in the end, Walter saw the death of Tuco as a second chance to do the drug trade right and make money with a dealer/distributor that wouldn’t try and kill he and Jesse at the drop of a hat and that makes this quite the stunning and pivotal episode when all is said and done. Since this was the moment that an innocent high school teacher, in a precarious state of health, chose to live out his final years as drug kingpin known only as Heisenberg. 

But what truly makes this episode so powerful and so worth the audience’s while, is that this moment didn’t come about from giant score or epic showdown with a stronger dealer. Walt just used a little quiet time to weight the pros and the cons of his current situation and eventually and saw more pros with Tuco out of the way, and that allowed for him to lock into this path and concoct one hell of a scheme to take control of his financial and professional future. And to top it all off, this is a damn good episode to boot. Because the tension is thick in this one, and it, along with some top-tier performances help to suck you into this compelling tale and well, just like that… we’re now in the midst of a grand American tragedy, one that is going to see a good man indulge the darkest parts of the human soul… all to enjoy a taste of empowerment. Until next time.