There are a great many aspects of family life that modern society cherishes and rightfully so. After all, family is special and having a healthy relationship with our parents and our siblings, is critical to our growth and formation as an adult and that is why so many preach the importance of a healthy family unit. So that impressionable children can grow into productive and wonderful members of society. But what’s fascinating about our obsession with family life… is that our belief of what it should look like, does not reflect reality. Since there are so many families out there that shatter because mom and dad cannot come to amicable terms and refuse to work on their problems, and there are plenty of parents that abuse or neglect their children and sometimes… even the perfect family unit is hollow in nature.

Because a father or a mother is detached or missing and therefore are unable to function with their family unit, creating a gap in their child’s growth, forcing them to either seek out the lesson they missed or stumble upon it later in life and we continue to let it happen, since there is little support for these issues. But while there are no easy fixes for these issues… it is important to recognize the plight of people that came from those various environments, so they don’t feel alone in the world and understand that it is never too late to feel complete as a person and believe it or not, the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation explored just that in its next episode. A feat that ‘Birthright, Part I’ accomplishes by having the Enterprise swing by Deep Space Nine for an important meeting with the Bajorans and while they are there, Doctor Julian Bashir and Lieutenant Commander Data cross paths and decide to work on an experiment together.

One that involves toying with a device discovered in the Gamma Quadrant and while they are in the midst of unlocking its secrets, Data is hit with an energy discharge and slips into a strange place where he seemingly has a vision of sorts. Which features a brief hello from Dr. Noonian Soong before Data is returned to the land of the conscious and this has a profound impact upon him. Because while his systems were indeed offline, his neural network was working in some fashion and that motivates Data to understand this vision and explore it. To the point where he creates artwork regarding this vision and is even compelled to outright recreate it. Which is a move that allows for him to reunite with his father in this strange space between spaces and learn, that this is actually a dream. Something his father had always hoped he would achieve in his quest to become more human.

Which made for a beautiful storyline for certain, one that saw Data grow in a unique manner, to the point where he planned to dream more often. But how this relates to the theme is what matters more. For Data here, is in essence the young man that never knew his father growing up, never learned the important lessons he should have from dear old dad and having him go on this journey of self-discovery and learn to dream really does offer some powerful commentary. The kind that informs us that a person that missed out on such lessons isn't incomplete or different, just without that particular knowledge and they should do whatever it takes to seek it out and expand their mind and soul, and this story also goes places that science fiction and storytelling in general rarely does... and this episode deserves our awe for that. Because this is brave storytelling through and through, the kind that explores an aspect of family we shun because it doesn’t fit the mold.

But what truly makes this episode stand out, is that Data's journey isn’t the end of this exploration. For Worf’s initial arrival on Deep Space Nine leads to an important conversation with a merchant that reveals that Worf’s father, Mogh, might have survived Khitomer and his quest to find resolution regarding his own father, sets the stage for a Part II. But before we dive into that, we simply must offer praise to this brilliant tale for going places that most stories avoid like the plague, and for even tossing in a little fan service along the way. Since James Cromwell, who guest starred multiple times on the show and played Zefram Cochrane in First Contact, shows up as the merchant here and… Alexander Siddig (as Siddig El Fadil) pops up as Dr. Julian Bashir, giving us a DS9/TNG crossover event and that was just amazing. If anything, this is just another episode that was ahead of its time since no one in the 1990s was looking at the family unit and the relationship between fathers and sons in this light and it is wonderful to know that TNG told it like it is in this instance and had more to say about it and its further ruminations, are where we will pick up, next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Conviction: The Case of Stephen Lawrence’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the powerful Acorn TV series, Conviction: The Case of Stephen Lawrence, the Lawrence family and DCI Clive Driscoll were facing quite the grim surprise regarding their case. In that, details on the case were leaked to the press. A move that all but shattered the fragile trust and hope that Clive instilled in Doreen and Neville Lawrence and of course, this was something that could easily derail the case. Since it could create undue pressure upon the Metropolitan Police to get something going, allowing for mistakes to take place, or it could in fact, lead to more critical leaks and well, when we catch up with Clive and his intrepid officers in the next episode of this series, they’re moving quickly to contain the leaks and get the case back on track, and one of those goals they were able to accomplish easily.

Because Clive did eventually tell the papers that any further leaks would lead to outright shaming of the reporter that published that kind of story, and once that turned off the leaks… he could turn his attention to the new problems he faced getting this case rolling again. For it turned out the evidence, they discovered just wasn’t concrete enough, forcing the Forensics lab to really dive in and find something that a prosecutor could sink their teeth into and of course, they also needed a solid witness and that, was quite the difficult task. Because everyone involved with the case from back in the day, had little interest in testifying or offering statements, largely because of the mistakes the police had made so far and, in some cases, because of the fear of reprisal and that really did make it appear as though… this case was going to go off the rails and quickly. Because there were just no breaks coming Clive’s way and he was genuinely beside himself and frustrated over the reality that the promise he made to this ailing family, might go unfulfilled.

But just like that, a surprise came into play. A good one for that matter. Because the forensic team found a droplet of blood on one of the suspect’s coats. The kind that likely landed there during the assault and that immediately made it appear as though… something concrete had come forth at last and maybe they could press charges and take this to trial. Provided of course, some key facts were confirmed. For instance, there had to be absolute proof that the blood didn’t get there via mishandling and that the forensic tests didn’t create this through cross contamination and believe it or not… they were able to prove just that. For the chain of custody never once allowed for the evidence to be jumbled together and the blood was indeed not contaminated in the slightest. It was Stephen’s, and it arrived on that jacket when the knife was pulled out of him and that allowed for the most powerful moment in this episode to take place.

Wherein Clive called the Lawrence family and their council to the Met to inform them that after years of waiting and heartbreak and strife… charges were going to brought against two of the suspects involved and that this was indeed going to trial, and the power of that moment was simply stunning. Because this is of course, a dramatic re-telling of this case, and this scene allowed for one to imagine the bevy of emotions that the family went through right then and there. Since there would have been joy, relief, sorrow, and anguish. Because this is a moment the Lawrence family thought would never come and it was incredible to see this moment arrive. But what also made this sequence so impressive, is that it stayed grounded in realism. Since Doreen was quick to point out that only two of the five involved were being charged, reminding us of the fact that the Met has more work ahead of them regarding this case.

But before we get to that, we can bask in the majesty of one engaging and satisfying tale. Because of that aforementioned big moment and also because, this was an incredible re-telling of the incredible difficulties and odds that Clive overcame to bring that moment to fruition. Because good heavens, there were so many gaps in this case and the chain of custody because of the time that had passed between prior investigations. But his team filled them all and assembled the facts in a careful and professional manner and this really does set the stage for a powerful finale. One that will undoubtedly be filled with more emotional moments as testimony comes to light, since Clive did convince some to come forward and speak, and potential heartbreak if not everyone is brought to justice, and it will be quite fascinating to see… how this real-life case came to a close after decades of struggle and strife. Until next time.

It is definitely safe to say, that the crime drama is a dominant genre in television themed storytelling, and it makes sense as to why. After all, these shows not only provide the viewer with a sense of justice in a world full of chaos, since the good guys always win, but they genuinely provide the viewer with an incredible escape. For crime dramas these days are set in dystopia worlds where intelligent evil reigns supreme and being plunged into a world that wild and that dark, really does allow for a comfortable return to our own flawed one and that is why network after network keeps churning out these uniquely bleak shows… to give the audience what they want and tell some wild stories in the process.

But what is amazing, is that the demand for these stories is so high and the world has become so frustrating, that going darker isn’t quite the answer anymore to pleasing an audience and that’s led to quite the shift in the industry. For now, cozy mysteries are on the rise and are being embraced by fans of crime dramas everywhere and even the shows that feature a touch of grit and realism are shifting in tone as well, and it just so happens that Acorn TV is about to debut a revolutionary crime drama entitled, The Chelsea Detective. Which is a series that shakes up the formula even further to provide its viewers with something that is not only engaging and relatable, but offers up a different kind of escape, and we here at Nerds That Geek have seen the series in advance and would like to take a moment today to preview its wonder in a spoiler-free manner of course.

Because spoiling the exact details would be rude but there is plenty that we can celebrate without doing that. Such as the fact that this series presents the world in a vastly more relatable light than most crime dramas out there. Which means that the harsh blue filters and intense musical stings and elaborate crime scenes aren’t present here. There’s just our world in all its flawed glory and the crimes here aren’t related to elaborate schemes, they’re just the ones you read about on the web or see on the news, and they are solved by everyday people that are struggling with their own problems and issues and are just doing their best to get by like the rest of us. Which makes this series, something of a throwback to 1970s and 1980s crime dramas. Where the characters were supremely human in nature and their good nature allowed for the escape in question. 

But at the same time, this is a series that doesn’t go too far in its homage and makes sure it grounds itself in the real world and it accomplishes that, by offering up incredible diversity through representation. Which is how our world looks now and representation matters and that gives this story a rich tapestry of characters that everyone can latch onto and relate to, and it also doesn’t hurt, that this show deals with some supremely realistic and relatable themes and concepts as well. Which help to remind us that we are a part of a greater whole and we are never alone in this world, and that oddly provides the viewer with a sense of comfort, one that is further enhanced by the quest for justice in this tale. Since our intrepid detectives, Detective Inspector Max Arnold and Detective Sergeant Priya Shamsie, do what they do not out of broken psyches, but a genuine sense of right and wrong, which is refreshing.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Max and Priya are played by two stunningly talented actors, Adrian Scarborough and Sonita Henry respectively, and that is of note because the two of them… really sell every single moment in this series. For their performances are earnest and genuine and outright brilliant and the vulnerability they offer regarding their characters is another reason why you immediately find yourself lost in their world and eager to see them succeed, and their chemistry is top notch, and the best news of all, is that we don’t have to wait all that much longer for the arrival of this unique show. For The Chelsea Detective makes its debut on Acorn TV on March 7, 2022, and we here at Nerds That Geek hope you check out this refreshing new show come next week and that you check back with us for more coverage of this series. Since we have interviews with Adrian and Sonita to share with all of you before this dynamic new crime drama hits the airwaves.

As an added bonus, here is the trailer for the show and a first-look clip!