Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Clarice’.
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One particular aspect of life that no one enjoys dealing with, are consequences. Simply because they can genuinely be quite the nuisance, especially when we are forging ahead toward a particular goal that we know is just and true. For they slow down our quest and our progress and irritate along the way, and of course give us great pause when we realize the impact of our actions upon others. But while we lament them for certain, consequences actually have some measure of merit. For it we take a moment and reflect upon them objectively, we can learn a great deal from them and use that lesson in our quest and our growth and really, all of this is top of mind today, simply because their importance and their power were on full display during last week’s episode of Clarice.

For ‘You Can’t Rule Me’ was quick to explore the fallout and consequences that came about from Wellig’s death in ‘Are You Alright?’ and well, the price for having a protected federal suspect, die in the middle of an FBI building turned out to be a high one for certain. Because a rival of Paul Krendler’s was quick to swoop in, and attempt to bring ViCAP down for being too brash and too swift in its quest to accomplish the Attorney General’s goals and well, that left the team out of sorts. Because they were now unable to do anything outside of answer phones and wait to see how the investigation would go and that is what brought about an exploration of how consequences can in fact, bring about positive growth. 

Because the horrendous fallout of their attempts to crack this case, allowed for the team to realize that, they weren’t working as a team, and if they didn’t bother to come together and try to work as a unit, then ViCAP would perish for certain and well, that particular lesson did indeed allow for wonders to take place. Because just like that, everyone was working toward clearing Krendler’s name and to keeping ViCAP alive and that made for some satisfying moments for certain. The kind that really did show us that Krendler assembled quite the elite group of investigators since they made progress on the conspiracy case, to the point where they finally had person of interest in their sights, the doctor who oversaw the trials in question.   

But while that definitely made for some wonderful moments, and hammered home how to turn a negative into a positive, there was still one member of the squad, struggling with notions of teamwork: Clarice. For she was still eager to do things her way and push and chase her hunches over anything else and well, that finally brought about a reckoning from both Krendler and Ardelia. For they were both quick to point out that while her hunches pay off often, hunches don’t hold up in a court of law and her desire to prove them on her own, could also lead to danger. Since there may come a day when she might find herself in a sticky situation, without backup or help. But despite the lessons learned here, Clarice still felt that sense of invincibility and still believed she could crack cases on her own and that brought about some negative consequences for her.

For it turns out that Krendler and Ardelia’s words came back to haunt her after all. For after ViCAP was cleared of any wrongdoing, a quick follow up on the bad doctor’s whereabouts, led to her being injected with a sedative by the doctor in disguise. Which is perhaps the ugliest possible way to learn the importance of teamwork, but this is how it is indeed going down for Clarice and well, this was unnerving in a lot of ways. Because while we know that she will be just fine in the end, because she makes it to the next chapter in this story, whatever is about to happen to her... will likely set her back on her road to recovery. Because being held captive, is undoubtedly one of her worst fears, one that will be compounded by her flashbacks of Buffalo Bill's basement of horrors. But at the same time, while this particular twist offers up a harsh lesson for Clarice, it also offers hope. 

Hope that she will fight off the resulting trauma to and learn the lesson in question, so she can stand with her teammates and work with them as an asset in bringing this conspiracy down. Since it now has its fingers in ViCAP's machinations in every way imaginable. But while we wait for Clarice's redemption from this mistake, we can bask in one fascinating tale. One that allowed for us to learn a little more about Paul Krendler and one that helped to remind us that a hot shot or superstar status can only take you so far and in the end, all this episode does is leave us incredibly eager to continue this fascinating journey. So we can see how exactly Clarice is going to escape the clutches of one desperate and dangerous doctor. Until next time. 

There are a great many things we fear in life, and one of them… is losing control of the darkness that each and every one of us harbors within. Because we know what that darkness is capable of, and the harm that it can cause, and the terror of letting that loose and having to live with ourselves for doing so, is one big reason that we keep it in check. If anything, this is one of those rare fears that never quite fades from our mind, despite how skilled we become at keeping it suppressed… to the point where it haunts our dreams and it even finds its way into our stories. So that we always have that welcome reminder to do what we must to control it… so we don't face serious consequences for our furious actions, and this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because this fear was put on full display in the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

For ‘The Mind’s Eye’ saw one of the kindest and gentlest people on this series, indulge in his dark side… but not by force. No instead, Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge found himself face to face with a Romulan Warbird in Federation space on his way to Risa for a conference and well, while he was aboard their ship… horrible images were sent his way. Not out of spite, but to bring out his worst instincts so that Geordi could help the Romulans and their shadowy commander, put an end to the Klingon/Federation alliance by having him assassinate someone of power in the Empire. Something that LaForge didn't think he was capable of, but thanks to some fine work by the Romulan doctors, that all changed and they were equally as thorough in keeping this newfound ability from Geordi. In fact, he was so oblivious to his conditioning that his return to the Enterprise made it seem as though nothing had changed.

To the point where Geordi was able to handle his role in an investigation, that revolved around the Federation potentially supplying rebels with weapons to be free of the Empire’s grip, without breaking a sweat. And thanks to his fine, scientific work, that accusation was easily debunked. But regardless of LaForge’s efforts to save the day, someone aboard the ship had a special communicator with which to control Geordi, and minute by minute… he indulged in that darker side, without a memory of his actions and that of course led to more trouble and tension in this story and one powerhouse finale. Wherein Data had to race against time to stop Geordi from fulfilling his bloody destiny and thankfully at the lost possible second, disaster was averted, and the treaty was saved, but at quite the cost. For a Klingon Ambassador was revealed to be in on this mess and of course, Mister LaForge was looking at lengthy therapy to put the darkness back into its cage.

Which makes this particular tale, quite the fascinating experiment in fear and little else. For there is no deeper exploration of modern society or the human condition here. Just a fine reminder that there is ugly within and it is a wonderful thing that we keep it in check, since it can cause all kinds of trouble and really, all this episode does is remind us of the fact that sometimes… TNG and the STU in general enjoyed breaking from the norm to toy with stories that compelled and entertained and to top it off, this works thanks to the performances in this tale. Because LeVar Burton simply puts on an acting clinic in this episode and is able to shift from the love-able LaForge to a ruthless saboteur and killer in a matter of seconds and his acting and plight really does draw you into a story that manages to leave you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. 

Yet while that alone makes for a meaty episode and visceral viewing experience. We would be foolish to not point out the fact that this particular story is a harbinger of the future as well. Since the shadowy figure present in this tale, would play an important role in the ‘Redemption’ story arc and Spock’s arrival on the series as well. And they would also play a big role in the STU’s novel storytelling and Star Trek Online, making this quite the important keystone episode in many ways, one that is quite compelling when all is said and done and one that reminds us of the show’s versatility. However, if there is one complaint to log when it comes to this particular tale, it would have to be that the impact these events had upon Geordi aren't revisited. Which is a shame, since the show did a wonderful job of exploring the emotional fallout of Picard’s time with the Borg. But that’s really the only flaw in this tale and now that this mission has come to a close, it is on to another charming episode, one that explores the wonder and frustration that accompanies dating. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Losing Alice’.
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When we last settled in to discuss the AppleTV+ series, Losing Alice, we talked at length about the nature of obsession and how this particular series was likely going to be a grand exploration of it and how it begins and likely ends. And we only discussed those particular topics, simply because the series premiere did not really show us what brings forth the true genesis of obsession. No instead, ‘The Encounter’ worked hard to point out some of its foundational points, such as how being lost in life can motivate us to latch onto something obsessively, but the true genesis of it wasn’t explored in the slightest and now we understand why.
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Because the next episode in this fascinating series was designed to provide us with the true birth of obsession and that made ‘The Visit’ another compelling and powerful tale. One that saw Alice and her husband David at a crossroads in regard to their careers. Simply because Sophie’s script was basically on the skids with the director now missing and well, with bad reviews coming in for David’s latest movie and Alice unable to write… they truly were nervous and curious as to what comes next for them. And oddly enough, that is what allowed for the true formation of obsession to come into play, by way of the visit that is mentioned in the title of this particular tale. 

For Sophie stopped by to be the one to deliver all the bad news and well, while getting a ride back to the train station from Alice, a mention of Sophie’s desire to have her hero direct this project… changed everything. For not only did Alice agree, but it electrified her soul in a manner we’ve not yet seen from her. As though getting to feed off the energy of someone who writes in a style akin to her own could heal her own blockage and that alone seemingly left her curious about Sophie and what makes her tick. Since it would help her to properly understand what brought Sophie to write such a visceral and twisted story about innocence lost to lust. Which is in essence, a very simplistic way to look at obsession, since it is grounded in pure curiosity and a desire to use the energy of others to our own benefit.

But as this series is wont to do, it simply refused to take the easy way out in its exploration of what gives life to this notion, by pointing out that sometimes… obsession stems from the fact that we truly want to explore a darker side of the human condition and keeping someone around that can do that for us and allow for us to return to our lives in a safe manner, can absolutely make us obsessed with them. A point that the series put forth by revealing the fact that Sophie leads an interesting double life, one that is clearly secretive and sultry and everything that Alice knows nothing of, and that curiosity, of what that life is like and how it works is clearly beginning to infect to Alice’s mind. Which allowed for obsession to be born here, one that might be far more costly and dangerous than we initially thought.

For it really does seem as though Sophie is harboring some dark, dark secrets. The kind that might involve the death of the original director of Room 209 and it will be quite interesting to learn if she indeed involved in that, as part of her obsession with Alice and David, and what other odd secrets she is harboring about her life. But while we wait for those revelations to come into play, we can celebrate another fascinating tale. One that taught us that obsession really does take root in the simplest way imaginable, since all it took here was a mere suggestion to get it going and well, this show deserves serious credit for giving it life in such a fascinating manner, all while finding new ways to draw us further into what is clearly going to be a dark and twisted story. Until next time.  

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

​It is definitely safe to say, that sometimes life can be unbearable. Simply because our troubles can overwhelm us, to the point where we feel isolated and anxious and eager to outright escape what’s going on so we can have a minute to breathe. But a great deal of us understands the fact, that escape just isn’t possible. Since our problems are always waiting for us and have to be faced and resolved if we truly want them to go away and that’s why we all take a moment to collect ourselves, before facing our problems head on in an incredibly bold and dynamic manner, or with a little help from our lovely friends if need be.
 
But sadly, that isn’t the case for everyone. Because some people don’t have a support network to lift them up in times of trouble, nor do they believe they can conquer their problems in the slightest. And these are the folks that we run into from time to time, that we worry about after meeting them, since we know deep down, they need a helping hand or just some kind words. But folks often hesitate to do that, in an effort to not offend or overstep bounds. But the fact of the matter is, sometimes a little kindness goes a long way, and if we feel someone is in need of it, we should supply them with it. Since we never know what it will do for someone in need, and really, this is top of mind today, simply because this magnificent concept is at the core of the next episode of Almost Paradise.
 
Which is fascinating to say the least, since at first glance this is a story that appears to be grounded in the fact that our heroes and celebrities are everyday people at their core, and deal with tough stuff like we do. Since ‘Lone Wolf’ really does put some common woes and fears on display, in regard to Alex Walker’s country music hero, August Crowe. But when you settle in to watch this episode a second time, it becomes inherently clear that August really is a man in crisis and the stuff that he does in this story is horrendously self-destructive and scary to say the least. Which speaks to the fact that he is hurting badly and has zero direction in life or anyone to rely upon or guide him through his worries and his pain, and that’s what makes Alex’s actions in this tale so incredibly uplifting.
 
Because rather than judge or lament the fact that his hero is not at all what he expected him to be, Alex instead opens his heart to August and is there for him in a serious time of need. And he doesn’t expect anything in return, nor does he do this for his ego… he simply does it because it is the right thing to do and watching August open up and grow because someone is finally listening and offering a helping hand, hammers home the message present in this particular tale. In that, we are all in this this together and our experiences sometimes aren’t as different as we think they are. And if we take a little time to reach out to someone in need and let them know they aren’t alone in their plight, then we might give them everything they need to suddenly find their way into the light.
 
Which is a supremely powerful message to find within the framework of a crime drama, but it is there, and it really does give the viewer pause. Because it really teaches the viewer that we can all make a difference in this world by way of a little kindness, and that if perhaps we all made an effort to do this collectively, that perhaps our world would change and well, that makes this a special episode for certain. One that speaks to the fact that this series has some incredible depth to it, and it was just a delight to enjoy that wonderful message during this particular rewatch and it just goes to show that this series really is in a class of its own. And now that this wonderfully insightful journey has come to a close, the good news is we have another magnificent tale waiting in the wings for us to revisit. One that just so happens to explore the power of unity. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 308 of ‘American Gods’.
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Something that is truly fascinating about mankind, is the sheer fact that there are two sides to us. One side, is inherently good and motivates us to do wondrous things that benefits our fellow man in a positive emotional or physical manner and of course, there is a real sour side to us as well. One that sees us harness incredible anger and outright darkness, to the point where we lash out and harm our brethren in a negative emotional or physical manner and well, what makes this so fascinating… is that we are able to switch between these two sides seamlessly.
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If anything, this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because the duality of man served as the focus of the next episode of American Gods. Because a bevy of characters in this fascinating universe, were placed in some incredibly compromising situations that allowed for them to demonstrate exactly what duality looks like and how it works, and that made ‘The Rapture of Burning’ quite the fascinating episode when all is said and done. One that not only put this concept on display in a frank and intriguing manner, but it also outright took the time to examine perhaps the most fascinating aspect of duality. Specifically, our proclivity to indulge in the darker stuff when we know it isn't healthy for us in the slightest.

Something that came about by way of Laura Moon’s journey in this tale. Since she was fully aware of the fact that she was pursuing the most bitter parts of her soul and that there was a chance that exacting revenge would bring her no peace. But that didn't stop her from indulging in the belief that taking out her fury on Wednesday was the only way to heal and move forward in her re-energized life and that motivated her to make quite the deal with a leprechaun named Liam Doyle so that she could get her hands on the spear. But the apparent failure of that deal, finally motivated Laura to examine her life choices for a time and deal with some of her trauma accordingly and ponder upon a better path. That is until Liam returned and gave her what she wanted after all, allowing for her to embrace the darkness once again and well... her journey just helped to remind us of how strong the pull of darkness can be and how easy it is to embrace that, over anything else.

But while Laura dealt with the struggle of being pulled back and forth emotionally, Tyr finally exposed himself to be a villain. One that was eager to use Shadow as bait to bring Odin to a place known as the Wolf Den Cavern and well, once dear old dad arrived, duality was once again on full display. Because for the first time ever, Odin was willing to do right by his son and put his own soul and future on the line, in place of Shadow’s. Something that stunned Shadow, since he’d never seen his dad be so selfless. But of course, this was all part of a ruse, one where Wednesday embraced the good in order to indulge the bad and defeat Tyr. Reminding Shadow once again that his father is seemingly incapable of picking one side to follow, since flipping back and forth seems to serve him so well.
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But this entire episode wasn’t completely mired in a back and forth between our worst traits and our better angels. For Sailm’s journey in this tale served to remind us that while we will indeed indulge in the darkness out of fear and worry and awful habits… the good tends to win in the end. Because spending time at the Peacock Hotel with wonderful people that encouraged him to embrace the good allowed for Salim to find happiness and peace once again. And it really was quite beautiful and inspiring to see Salim shake off the pain that the Jinn caused him and to finally embrace his sexuality and his personal identity, and his journey really was the most beautiful and uplifting one of the night and wedging that within the darker stuff simply hammered home the fact that we are woefully complex beings.

The kind that has a long way to go when it comes to growth and consistency. But there is hope and beauty within all of us and the more we embrace that and celebrate it, the sooner we will achieve the balance and peace we seek. But while we wait for that proud day to happen, we can sit back and bask in the wonder of one fascinating episode. One that genuinely explored a complicated and intricate aspect of the human condition in a frank and non-judgmental manner and now that this exploration has come to a close, it will be quite interesting to see if next week's tale is going to continue this show's deep dive into the human condition, or if it will finally focus upon the plot over anything else. Because while it is lovely to learn more about who we are and what makes us tick, there are some juicy plot lines hanging heavy over this tale, the kind that need to be resolved. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season five premiere of ‘Ride with Norman Reedus’.

One would think that television shows about road trips, wouldn’t be popular in the slightest. Because anyone who has taken a road trip and enjoyed all of their benefits knows… that there is nothing like the first-hand experience. But these particular shows continue to gain in popularity, for several reasons. Such as the fact that they allow for folks to live vicariously through their host and see places that they might not ever make it to and more often than not… they tend to allow for us to get to know a big-time celebrity on a more intimate level. So, we can get a solid idea of what kind of person they are and what makes them tick and those reasons are precisely why Ride with Norman Reedus is such a beloved series.

Because this particular road trip show, really does allow for us to get to see Norman Reedus the man and the good and gentle person that he truly is. And of course, he definitely takes us to some unique and magnificent locations around the world and makes a point of teaching us about his destination so that the series has more to it than mere bike rides and pretty shots and for the start of his fifth season on the road, Norman took us to a part of the globe that few us of know anything about, New Zealand. Or to be more specific, its northern island. And well, what we were able to learn about this magical and beautiful place during ‘The North Island of New Zealand with Josh Brolin’, made for one satisfying and fascinating and downright fun, season premiere.

For it took the time to show us just how much New Zealanders love their sports, to the point where a drifting contest attracts crowds as big as football does in the United States and of course, coming to a drift contest when you’re the host and guest of a road trip television show, means you need to get in on the action. Which led to some hilarious moments as Norman and Josh were able to experience the fun of drifting first-hand, and they also visited some unique places around the island. Such as the caves where bioluminescent worms live and thrive, and they even had the opportunity to visit Hobbiton. Which is a place that was initially built as a set for the popular Lord of the Rings films, but eventually turned into a tourist attraction for LOTR fans from around the globe.

But there was mention of lessons to be found within the framework of this show, and that came about by way of more intimate moments. For Josh and Norman also spent a lot of time in this particular tale, getting to know the people of New Zealand. Which allowed for us to learn exactly how tight knit and downright friendly this community truly is. Since everyone here was open and warm to Norman and Josh and that allowed for these gents to really just hang out and get to know people in supremely relaxed manner and it also helped for them to garner all kinds of knowledge about the local culture of this island. Because they were also able to spend time in small villages populated by indigenous New Zealanders and learn about the many rich customs and traditions that are still adhered to in present day, and that really did make for some fascinating and beautiful moments for certain, since you can never go wrong with learning as much as possible about the history of other cultures.

Plus, it was also nice to see that Josh and Norman became fast friends, the kind that knew how to play off of one another’s humor to the point where they were eager to take part in silly shenanigans everywhere they went, with Hobbiton producing the most laughs of course. But what matters most, is that we got to get to know Josh Brolin a little better and see that he’s quite the relaxed and chill guy  and of course, Norman was his gracious self once again, since he was happy to take a little time out of his day to make fans of The Walking Dead smile and well, it’s just a real treat to have this show back on the air. Because not only is it a wonderful way to enjoy a beautiful road trip from a distance, but it is also a wonderful escape for this last leg of quarantine and well, now that this opening journey has come to a close, it should be interesting to see what other unique and beautiful places Norman is going to introduce us to, in the weeks to come. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary special, ‘Snow Animals’.
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Winter is a sacred time for human beings. Because the loss of color and life from the world that surrounds us, motivates us to take inventory on our own personal journey through the year. Something that we share in with others, by way of grand celebration with friends and family, one that involves bountiful meals and gift giving. But while it is indeed a supremely inflective time of year, it is also a bit of an inconvenient time for us as well. For the air is cold and bitter, and that prompts us to bundle up and move about the world with care, thanks to the snow and ice that is sometimes on the ground. But while that occasionally prevents us from taking part in our personal rituals in a prompt and comfortable manner, the important thing is… we get through winter just fine.

Because we live supremely privileged lives, the kind where we have safe transportation and clothing and homes that can keep us warm when the temperature dips to below freezing temperatures. Plus, we always have an abundance of food at our fingertips and that truly gives us the opportunity to be inflective and reflective when the cold arrives because we don’t have to deal with the elements and a lack of or search for sustenance, unlike wild animals. Which begs an important question. In that, if we are able to survive the winter with ease, how does nature handle it? Well as it turns out, a special documentary that aired on BBC America last night, opted to answer that question, and that made Snow Animals quite the fascinating affair.

For it showed us in great detail how nature prepares for and survives the harsh winters that take place around the globe, and for a good deal of animals, preparation and hibernation is essential to dealing with the cold. Which is why so many animals eat hearty in the fall and collect food stores, so that they can either wake up briefly and nibble upon the food lying around, or so they can sleep through the winter and in the event that’s simply not feasible, then nature adapts. Take for example the snowshoe hare, a species of rabbit that outright transforms its fur from brown and black to ghostly white when winter arrives, so it can blend in once the snow falls around it and they are not the only ones that learn how to adapt to the winter. For the sika deer of Japan will turn to eating tree bark in order to survive the barren season and a vast majority of other animals will simply huddle for warmth in order to see another day.

But while all of that made for some supremely fascinating moments for certain, what was truly stunning to learn in this particular documentary, is that there is a great deal of animals that have simply evolved to thrive in the winter. Take the bobcat for instance. For this particular cat not only boasts a fluffy coat that keeps it warm, but it has finely tuned ears that are designed to hear sounds in the dead of winter and it even boasts perfectly padded feet that help it move around in silence. And of course, there’s the polar bear. A species of bear that lives off of fat stores the rest of the year while it patiently waits for the cold to return, so it can thrive and feast and of course… work to raise a family and really, seeing little polar bear cubs pop up at the end of this tale, brings the question we posed earlier, around full circle.

For that visual helped to teach us that nature always finds a way, regardless of the conditions or the temperature. Because the animals that populate our world, have a powerful desire to see another day and all of these lessons really made for one beautiful documentary when all is said and done. One that genuinely reminds us of the fact that our world is constantly in motion and thriving and that we are a part of something quite special. Because all of these majestic and powerful moments are happening around us while we search for the perfect gift or think about dessert or what we are going to accomplish in the new year and hopefully this documentary will motivate us to perhaps soften our stance the next time we find ourselves frustrated over the fact that a bunch of snow is headed our way. Since our rough day won't compare in the slightest to the struggle that's happening beyond our warm and cozy walls. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘For All Mankind’.
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It has often been said that time heals all wounds, and it is understandable as to why we believe that saying. Because the pain that comes about from a particularly trying moment in life, really does begin to fade as the time continues to remove us from it and that does give us comfort that eventually, what broke us will forever disappear. But sadly, that particular phrase is wrought with problems. Because in reality, all those words do is give us an easy way out in dealing with trauma, since time is helping us to bury it and not resolve it and that is why we outright struggle when a singular moment suddenly brings waves of emotions and memories to the forefront of our minds and our souls. 
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The kind that once again overwhelm us and begrudgingly teach us that we have to deal with the pain in question if we ever want to be free of it and really, this particular problem is relevant to our discussion today, simply because it served as the focal theme of this week’s episode of For All Mankind. For ‘Rules of Engagement’ saw the past come back to haunt just about every single one of the wonderful characters that populate this universe. Something that was made possible from a rough revelation on the moon. In that, the time had come to put weapons on Luna because the Russians were getting aggressive in regard to mining sites, an act that came about from the fact that they managed to bug Jamestown and learn what NASA was up to on a regular basis.

Something that actually happened ten years ago. For if you recall, while Ed was off to the save the day, the cosmonaut he left behind, was left unattended outside of Jamestown and clearly made it a point to place a microphone inside the main living pod. But while the bug was removed, allowing for United States operations to continue unfettered, the memory of that dark part of the past washed over Ed and eventually his family as well. Because Kelly decided the Navy life was for her and told her parents that, and the fear over losing her like they lost Shane, and all the unresolved grief that they let time ‘heal’ over his passing… brought about all kinds of emotional and powerful moments. The kind that did indeed allow for Ed and Karen Baldwin to finally begin to deal with the death of their boy. 

But while that made for some compelling television for certain, they weren’t the only ones to deal with issues from yesterday. Because Tracy continued to rely upon Gordo as a stand in for when times are tough, prompting Gordo to finally point out the fact that their relationship was over and that she needed to treat him in a more respectful manner than a mere fixer/emotional rock when she opted to do something stupid. Plus, Margo also visited a blast from her past as well. Since she came to learn that young Aleida Rosales had grown up and fallen upon hard times, to the point where she was about to be deported and that motivated Margo to visit her and apologize to her for not taking her in all those years ago and in an effort to help her… she offered Aleidia a job at NASA. Something that Ms. Rosales reluctantly accepted, simply because she swore to herself that she would never deal with Margo ever again for what she did… but her alternate option was far less desirable.

If anything, this episode deserves serious credit, for outright surprising the audience. Because early on it truly seems as though this particular tale is going to focus heavily on the problem brewing on the moon and that we are going to bear witness to the militarization of NASA. But instead, this turned out to be a moving and powerful character study. One that genuinely helped some characters grow, whilst setting the stage for juicier plot points. Such as the fact that Margo and Aleida might clash at NASA and that Gordo has other trauma to resolve and really, this kind of quality character-centric storytelling, really does compel one to continue the journey. So that we can see these good people find the peace they are so desperately searching for, before things begin to escalate on Luna. Until next time.

‘For All Mankind’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of ‘WandaVision’.
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Over the course of the past nine weeks, the Disney+ series, WandaVision, has managed to provide its loyal fans with a supremely unique superhero story. One that has dug deep into the power of and nature of trauma and loss and grief, and how those elements can consume a person in a negative manner, and it is also a story that features a fallen superhero. For in this particular tale, Wanda ‘The Scarlet Witch’ Maximoff is the one responsible for all of the ‘problems’ in Westview, New Jersey and that makes her the heavy as well, and that particularly unfortunate fact has left all of us wondering, as to whether or not Wanda can find redemption.
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Which really is the quandary that was hanging over ‘The Series Finale’ of this tale, because Wanda really did have quite the choice to make. In that, she could either continue to let this grand lie persist and do her best to keep control over innocent people, or finally face her pain and her fears and do the right thing. But alas, before she could make that difficult decision, she had some new problems to deal with in this story. For Agatha Harkness revealed that she had played along with Wanda’s charade in order to steal her powers and use them for her own gain, and the newly created White Vision had arrived in Westview to neutralize this fallen hero and well, all of that led to an MCU staple… one grand showdown. 

One where imaginary Vision and the reformed real thing squared off at last in an incredibly fascinating manner. Because rather than continually try to offer up a powerhouse show of force, the OG Vision opted to use reason and memory to teach his new self where exactly he’d come from and what kind of man he truly is, all so that he could be free of the evil that S.W.O.R.D. embedded into his programming. And while Vision dealt with that, dear Wanda had her hands full for certain. Because not only did she have to fight Agatha, but Agents of S.W.O.R.D., since they came rushing into town during a moment of weakness. But thankfully, family and friends were able to stabilize the situation so that Wanda could deal with Agatha and finally decide what path she was going to take.

Which is something that Agatha actually managed to help her with. Because she spent this entire tale brow beating Wanda by informing her that she was too weak and too meek to handle this kind of power and that if she didn’t surrender it, that she would destroy the entire world by wielding it and hearing those words and seeing how she was viewed by the people of Westview, gave Wanda pause. Which allowed for her to realize that she wasn’t a villain or a lost cause, just a shattered soul that let grief take hold and that the time had come for her to stop projecting her pain onto others and own up to the reality of the situation. And that motivated her to embrace her powers at last and use them for good, which brought defeat and punishment to Agatha… and the end of the Hex over Westview. 
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But before the Hex dissolved, Wanda was able to properly process her grief and her loss by bidding farewell to her imaginary family, who simply could not exist without the magic of the Hex and that led to some beautiful and emotional moments. Wherein Wanda was finally able to properly say goodbye to her love and give Vision the dignity in death that he was initially denied and doing that, finally gave Wanda the peace she needed and the realization that the time had come for her to do a little soul searching and proper healing and well… that’s where this beautiful and powerful and sweeping story ends. With Wanda ‘The Scarlet Witch’ Maximoff, heading out into the world to find herself and to complete the healing process that she’s finally begun, and that made this finale, a supremely satisfying one when all is said and done.

Because at long last, Wanda overcame her pain and in doing so, found newfound strength and power and well… it would be foolish to not point out that such a twist was likely directed at certain members of the audience. Specifically, the ones that might be struggling with grief and loss and trauma themselves. An act that gives this story depth and meaning and hope for those that need it, and also engenders excitement for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because clearly, it is now evolving and growing into something more and if this series is any indicator of what Phase Four is going to look like, then we are in for some powerful storytelling. The kind that we will be able to relate to on some level, and the kind that will grow these heroes in a manner that the genre has never tried before.     

Thus far our journey through season four of Star Trek: The Next Generation has been quite satisfying to say the least. Because day after day, we’ve reflected upon episodes that feature some powerful storytelling. The kind that has examined a great deal when it comes to the human condition, to the point where we have been able to ponder upon the importance of family, the nature of our current world and so on. But what matters more, is that each and every one of these episodes have been dynamic and compelling, to the point where there hasn’t been a boring or bad episode in the bunch. But alas, while that made it seem as though season four was going to be perfect through and through, the next episode in this storied franchise… finally broke the combo, by offering up a messy and embarrassing tale.

For ‘The Host’ is a story that saw Dr. Beverly Crusher fall madly in love with a Trill Ambassador named Odan and well, things get complicated when Odan's body is injured en route to peace negotiations. Because in order to keep Odan alive and to ensure that peace is made between two warring moons… the Odan symbiont is implanted into Commander Riker and eventually into a female Trill host once Riker/Odan saves the day and that’s really all we are going to talk about when it comes to the plot. Because we really need to just dive in and discuss what made this episode so messy, and how the show could have improved upon its mistakes, so this isn’t an endless bitch session and really… the first issue we need to discuss, is the decision to have the symbiont implanted into Commander William T. Riker.

Because that made for a lot of awkward moments, the kind that quite frankly, make one cringe over the fact that Riker is lusting after Beverly and begging for her physical company. Largely because they’ve been shipmates and colleagues for three years aboard the Enterprise. To the point where they are basically brother and sister. So, seeing Riker try and kiss her is just gross and weird, as is having the two of them cross the line and get physically intimate. Granted, it totally makes sense what the episode was trying to accomplish, in that, love is love and knows no boundaries. But there are definitely better ways to handle such matters and really the best way to have done that here, was to have Beverly interact with a female Odan, far sooner in the story.

For that really would have hammered home the point in a far more digestible manner since it would have forced Beverly to look beyond societal norms and embrace the feelings that she feels for Odan, allowing for a powerful story to take place. One that could have been wonderfully bookended by an external force having issues with their love, making this story timely and relevant as well. But alas, the solution to the episode’s woes ends up being its Achilles heel. For in reality, Beverly’s actual meeting with a female Odan, is super homophobic in nature. Something that is of course hidden under the guise of Beverly not being able to reconcile the fact that the Trill jump from host to host, but the homophobia is there none the less and it is glaringly painful to watch play out and downright embarrassing.

Simply because this is Star Trek, a progressive franchise that rarely shied away from challenging stories in this vein, and it really is a shame this particular story wasn’t handled in a braver manner. But it wasn’t a total loss, thankfully. For the acting in this one is indeed top notch. Since Gates McFadden shines by properly expressing Beverly’s confusion and angst over this whole mess. Plus, Jonathan Frakes does a wonderful job of becoming Odan and playing this hybrid being physically different in order to express the change and well, in the end this episode simply is what it is and there is sadly no going back and changing its mistakes. But thankfully, future Trek recognized the mistakes made here and corrected them, since Deep Space Nine and Discovery have handled gender fluidity and LGBTQ+ relationships in a far more noble and bolder manner. Until next time.