Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Harry Wild’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are ups and downs that accompany extreme popularity for any particular genre. On the plus side, the genre in question is now everywhere and longtime fans of it can now relish in the reality that what they love is now loved by others, and they can discuss it with newcomers to this particular world. Plus, with popularity comes demand. Which means that new stories within the genre quickly pop up in every medium, including television and film and that too has its merits. Since popularity attracts big names, adding a new level of gravity to the genre in question. But there was mention of drawbacks that come with this surge, and really… the biggest one of note is that cliché quickly comes into play.

For those who dive into this world, research it, and stick with what works and that means a glut of stories following familiar concepts, flood the market. Take crime dramas for instance, since they are hotter than ever and because of that, we’ve seen a bevy of mysteries that feature traditional crimes involving say… passion or money… to the point where such matters have little impact with us anymore. But there are some crime dramas out there, that are eager to keep classic concepts alive by offering up a new twist regarding them. In the hopes of showing others that they don’t have to follow things by the book and can take risks with classic ideas, to keep this genre fresh and fun, and one such show doing just that, is Harry Wild on Acorn TV.

Because the next episode of this wonderful show, ‘The Mystery of Granny Susan’s Fun Time Wig’, managed to make a mystery revolving around matters of the heart and a love of money, feel fresh and original and it accomplished that particular feat… in quite the unique way. In part, by offering up a wild mystery for certain. One that involved a rich matriarch named Susan, who died on her birthday by being strangled in front of her family during a Zoom call. Which is a manner of death that provided the newly formed Wild/Reid Detective Agency… with little clues. For the killer was of course, wearing a hood and the virtual world usually offers little to gumshoes, and that pushed this dynamic duo to dig super deep to try and figure out who murdered Susan. 

But even then, the truth proved elusive, especially when their primary suspect, an annoying nurse that constantly bragged about his forthcoming inheritance… turned up dead. But courtesy of some clever, out of the box thinking, it became apparent to Harry that they were indeed dealing with an age-old problem here. In that, someone wanted a piece of the family fortune and went to great lengths to get it and that perhaps they missed something within the video chat. And after a good long look at the evidence there, combined with a subtle trail of clues left behind by Susan… Harry figured out, that one of her children and his niece by adoption… were in love with each other and used video and façades in a hotel room, to pull off the murder to quickly get their hands on their inheritance. A truth that was reinforced when the step-niece, panicked and broke the illusion, mere moments before the police broke in to arrest them. 

Which is… an inventive way to refresh two age old concepts. Because it modernized both and made them icky at the same time since a love affair involving stepfamily members, is gross. But all dry heaving aside, going this route worked like a charm and kept us guessing and never once allowed for these age-old mystery concepts to feel tired or cliché. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that such concepts were surrounded by a quality mystery, so that they never overpowered the story or seemed obvious in the slightest. Which makes this, another quality episode from a supremely refreshing series, one that continues to reinvent and challenge the genre, and the audience as well, and really… the only complaint one can have about this episode… is that it brings us all that much closer to the end of season one. Because let’s be honest… we simply want more, and that means we will have to savor the finale through and through when we settle in to analyze it. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 603 of ‘Better Call Saul’. To revisit the previous two episodes, click here.
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One thing that fans of the Breaking Bad Universe can agree upon, is that all the shows within this harrowing world… feature some specific constants. For instance, there are always quality performances to be found in these stories since every series features top notch actors that bring their A-game to every single second of every single episode they are in. Plus, these shows always feature incredible stories, the kind that engage us through and through and captivate us and tug on our heartstrings emotionally. But above all else, this is a universe, that is mired and darkness and death. For Walter White and Saul Goodman operate in an underbelly where danger is everywhere, but what’s wild… is that death has managed to take a backseat in one particular show in this universe, Better Call Saul.
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Granted, it’s been there. After all, the death of Charles McGill was a big and powerful moment, one that helped to begin the formation of Saul Goodman. But outside of Charles, major character deaths and sorrow and suffering from it… has been elusive in this tale. But alas, as we inch toward the inevitable union between Saul Goodman and Heisenberg, and all the chaos and suffering that would come about from that… death is beginning to make its way into this show, as evidenced by last night’s tale. For ‘Rock and Hard Place’ featured the exit of a major character from this particular series, in a manner that was both stunning and heartbreaking, and all of this came about… courtesy of a painful realization for one Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Varga.

For when we catch up with him in this tale, he’s managed to evade the Twins and is on the run in a truck that can barely hold up and when given the perfect opportunity to hide from them and live another day, he most certainly takes it and eventually finds safety within the confines of an out of the way car repair shop. A move that made it appear as though Nacho was finally going to get back to the States and deal with Gus and the double cross pulled upon him. But a quick conversation with his father, one that helped him to understand how lost he was at this point in this life and how bad his situation currently was, and how badly he wanted out of the life… motivated Nacho to do something quite bold, and call Mike and Gus to make quite the fascinating deal.

In that, he would return Stateside and ‘turn himself over’ to the Fring Empire to make it appear as though Gus and his boys managed to capture him, wherein they would hand him over to the Salamancas and find a way to stealthily fake his death and allow for him to live a life away from the game at last. Which was a bold decision on Nacho’s part, since it came with great risk. But this plan offered him assurances that his father would remain safe in the end, and that made it worth his while since that was all he wanted for his pops and well… at first it appeared as though this wild plan was going to go off without a hitch. After all, Mike tuned him up well enough to make it look as though he’d put up a fight during his ‘capture’ and the right words were installed in his mind. 

Not to mention, the hand off happened as planned and the exact questions that they practiced for were asked. But in that moment, something changed for Nacho. In that, he came to realize that Gus was going to double cross him in this moment… which put him in the midst of a no-win scenario. One that came about at the price of keeping his family safe and well, that motivated Nacho… to go for broke and make his death worthwhile. Which is why he egged Hector on and let years of frustration out vocally. To cleanse his soul and his conscience before doing the unthinkable and turning a stolen gun upon himself. Putting an end to the story of Nacho Varga in a stunning and heartbreaking manner since he was so close to redemption. But that is the tragic way of this universe and speaking of tragedy… we’d be foolish to not discuss Jimmy and Kim’s journey in this tale. 
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Because they are obviously barreling toward it by immersing themselves within the framework of revenge and they hatched the beginning of the next wave of their plan in this tale… by going the extra mile to get something quite important… a key to Howard Hamlin’s car. And with a little help from Huell… and one master key-maker, they were able to get a carbon copy of Howard’s key, complete with a janky wireless key fob. A move that will undoubtedly bring about something dastardly for their plans and they also had to deal with quite the legal surprise in this tale as well. Since the D.A. figured out that Jimmy’s seven-million-dollar bail client, was in fact Lalo Salamanca and she expressed hope that maybe… Jimmy would talk to her about his dealings with Lalo and perhaps enjoy his own get out of jail card in doing so.

Which are of course, moments that speak more to the future since that’s setup stuff through and through and not really mired in tragedy. But there was a moment that related to that theme present in this segment, one that took place between Huell and Jimmy. For shortly after the key was delivered unto Jimmy… Huell wanted to know why he was doing this kind of stuff when he and Kim made good money and were clearly talented lawyers. A question that Jimmy struggled to answer of course, simply because he couldn’t express aloud what we already knew… that he chose to do this. That he desired to get back at a system and people that had marginalized him and hurt him deeply, and knowing that Jimmy was actively making such decisions and that they were getting easier… was ominous for certain. Since it served to remind us… how we are barreling toward the finish line. Where Saul Goodman will take over completely and bad choices are all that Jimmy will know.
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But while that was a wonderful and subtle way to express and remind the audience of where Jimmy is headed and how close he is to ‘breaking bad’ if you will, make no mistake about it… it is Nacho’s tragic story that dominated this episode. For his swan song and farewell were about as epic and as powerful as it gets and well… this writer can only offer up a round of applause to Michael Mando for giving us one hell of a goodbye. One that will be remembered and fawned over for some time and what’s wild… is that his exit only accelerates what this show is ultimately trying to accomplish. For every closed chapter involving the cartel and Gus… focuses the story harder on the metaphysical death Jimmy McGill and the harrowing birth of Saul Goodman. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘61st Street’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Often, television shows that feature some powerful subject matter and are intense in nature… tend to tone the storytelling down after a couple of episodes of raw intensity, and understandably so. After all, the human mind sometimes struggles with being forced to process ugly moments for an extended period of time, so it really is the right decision to break that up and let the audience process what they’ve been through before plunging them back into the darkness. But while it is nice to know that producers and writers know that audiences deserve a mini mental vacation from time to time… some shows cannot let up when it comes to their subject matter in the slightest.
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Because what they are exploring, is so powerful and often so poignant that toning down the tough stuff, would do the story and the message a great disservice. Which means they must forge ahead and keep assaulting our senses, so we truly understand what the story is trying to get across. Which is a move that can come with its own risks, because if it really is too much, it will drive viewers away. Which means the creative minds behind the show, must figure out how to offer a different way to provide the audience with catharsis, and well… all of this is top of mind today, simply because it applies to this week’s episode of 61st Street on AMC and ALLBLK. Because for two weeks now, we’ve been plunged into the horrors of how African Americans are treated by corrupt and racist police officers and breaking away from that story with an outright respite would indeed do this story a grave injustice.

Which is why ‘Barefoot and Dangerous’ is a story that used anger to provide us with the break we need. For this is tale that saw Moses Johnson in police custody and of course… he was badgered and manipulated every step of the way by the always sleazy Lieutenant Brannigan. To the point where Brannigan basically pulled a false confession out of Moses, under the guise of ‘helping him out’, when in fact… he doomed Moses to a powerful fate and well… seeing that play out, was infuriating to say the least. Because Moses was scared and unsure of how to proceed since he’s never been in this situation before and Brannigan used that to his advantage and giving us a villain of sorts to turn our ire toward over this kind of treatment, really did offer the relief we needed and it engaged us further since now we too want to see justice for Moses, and redemption for Franklin Roberts.

Because he made quite the bold decision in this tale, in that… when presented with the reality that he wasn’t going to be Moses’ public defender, he quit his job right there on the spot. Because he viewed Moses as family, and family is not something you abandon in a time of need and quitting that job, would allow for him to defend Moses himself and potentially find the redemption he seeks so badly. And that, and the revelation that Detective Logan was starting to harbor questions about the force and the investigation that his late partner was taking part in… offered up a different kind of catharsis. One grounded in hope. Because seeing someone from the inside fight corruption and racism is a huge deal and if Logan is up to the task, that would make for some incredibly uplifting and satisfying moments, since we would finally see someone stand up to the worst parts of the system.

But more importantly, the gravity with which Franklin is treating this case and the sacrifices he’s clearly going to make health wise to defend Moses, speak volumes to the reality that Moses has a fighting chance in court. But while we wait to see what comes of all that hope, we can bask in the majesty of another brilliant chapter in this powerful tale. One that really did find a way to bring forth catharsis in a unique manner while keeping us firmly in the midst of poignant and bleak storytelling. Because it was just awful to watch Brannigan do the things he did in this tale and know in the back of our minds that this is happening out there, right now. But that’s the beauty of this story, in that, it has us thinking about injustices in the world and how perhaps we can influence change, so they don’t continue to happen and hopefully this episode, and the lessons in the ones to follow, do just that. Since this show continues to make it clear, that injustice is indeed running rampant in a nation where that should never be the case, and that it is up to the people to put an end to it all. Until next time.  

It is definitely safe to say, that we are living in the midst of a revolutionary time period when it comes to television. For the days of a handful of networks being in command of our programming has gone the way of the Dodo Bird, replaced instead by streaming services that are eager to draw people to their content and in order to do so… they’re taking risks like never before. Such as making bold and progressive casting decisions, alongside offering up big budget productions that at times rival that of movie studios. But above all else, what is truly impressive about this revolution, is what it is doing for storytelling.
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Because for the first time ever, the incredible demand for fresh stories that will captivate an audience, is motivating producers and executives to take chances with shows and greenlight stories that normally would either be rewritten or denied production because they tackle topics that are uncomfortable and taboo in nature. And one such network/streamer that is leading in the way in producing content that shatters norms and forces audiences to ponder and converse more often about taboo topics in our world is Apple TV+, as evidenced by their latest offering, Shining Girls. Which is a show that is based upon the novel, The Shining Girls, by Lauren Beukes… and much like the novel, it tackles some incredible topics. 

Such as… the nature of trauma and how it stays with us for far longer than we would like, and it accomplishes that feat by taking us back to 1992, wherein we meet a woman named Kirby who survived a vicious attempt on her life years ago, and she is still struggling with that moment and rightfully so. For it was visceral and terrifying and life changing and well, her journey leads to some powerful moments for certain. The kind that put trauma on display in a manner it’s never been portrayed on television before and of course, it also examines at length, the nature of this kind of crime and the horrible motivations that go into it and that is… a necessary evil to bring about a story that challenges the viewer like never before.

Because it tasks us to open our eyes to the realities of the world and of the pain we carry, and to truly ponder upon our world view of such matters and how perhaps we should not be so quick to dismiss the power of trauma and the impact it has upon people and that alone, makes this a stunning show. One that pushes the envelope and truly offers up a raw and fierce story unlike any other on television right now, courtesy of its poignant and powerful story. But what’s amazing, is that it has so much more to offer than tough moments and stunning commentary. It also features a powerful journey for Kirby, one that immediately has you in her corner and rooting for her to come back from her pain. 

Thanks in large part as well, to the fact that Elisabeth Moss, who plays Kirby, turns in a powerhouse performance here. One that sells every moment and every emotion that Kirby experiences, and she’s wonderfully counterbalanced here by Jamie Bell and Wagner Moura, who bring their own special gravity to the story in ways we won’t discuss today. Which yes, is vague, in fact… most of what we’ve discussed here is generalized and vague and with good reason. Because it would be a crime to spoil the wonder and the majesty of this poignant and powerful series. One that you need to see and experience firsthand, and the good news is… you won’t have to wait much longer to. For Shining Girls makes its debut on Apple TV+ this Friday, April 29, 2022, with a three-episode premiere, and we certainly hope you check it out and swing back here, not only for our recaps of the series premiere and every episode that follows, but for the other pre-release coverage we have waiting for you. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Harry Wild’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is always a wonderful thing when a television show works to surprise and challenge its audience with dynamic stories that captivate and engage. Because it means that the people behind the scenes, know they have something special on their hands, and if they really go all out in providing the viewers with quality stories that push the envelope in the right way, and pour every ounce of care they can into them… they’ll create something that truly stands out from the pack and is recognized for its originality and its boldness and once such show that meets this criteria, is Harry Wild on Acorn TV. Because every single episode of this show's inaugural season has been nothing short of refreshing, and original and unique.

Courtesy of its stellar cast and acting and the stories it tells. Since it has broached some tough subjects and offered up mysteries that both titillate and terrify, and leave us thinking as well, and thankfully, this show is showing no signs of slowing down when it comes to this unspoken edict to just… go for it, as evidenced by the next chapter in this journey. For ‘Best Laid Schemes’ is another unique story that one again changed things up and actually managed to scale down Harry’s world and provide us with a down-home classic mystery. One complete with a captive audience and misdirection and an ending that was difficult to pin down and it accomplished this feat… by putting Harry, and Fergus and Lola in a unique situation.

For when we catch up with them, here, they are just enjoying a quiet evening at Harry’s local watering hole and debating whether or not they should head home for the night with a nasty storm brewing outside… and it is that storm that creates captivity. For it suddenly surges and isolates everyone within the pub from the world, since cell towers get knocked out and it isn’t safe to travel. Making it appear as though a cold drink and a warm fire and good conversation are in store for everyone. That is until a surprise in the parking lot changes everything. Since the trio and Glen, discover that the trunk of one particular car, is making noises. All because a man is trapped within its confines and once, they get him inside, Harry makes the call to investigate everyone in the bar, since the kidnapper is likely trapped with them.

Which is what leads to the fascinating mystery at hand, since Harry and Fergus, and Glen to an extent… have to quietly interrogate everyone within the bar to figure out who hurt this man and well… that goes nowhere fast. Because no one seems to have a motive and because Harry gets distracted by a disastrous errand of mercy. Wherein a kind doctor who notices she’s up to something, confesses he’s here to exchange cash to bring that kidnapped man home. An exchange that of course, leads to disaster when the kidnapper becomes a killer, and takes out the poor soul the team rescued. But of course, eventually… the killer exposes themselves to be the doctor in question and thanks to Harry’s quick thinking, and Lola’s bravery, since she heads to the police station to get help… the man is brought to justice and put behind bars. 

But what made this sequence so wonderful and so bold, and refreshing is that… Fergus and Harry had little to work with clue wise. For the good doctor did a fine job of keeping his cover, and that meant Harry had to get creative and really dig deep for clues and well… you just don’t see that in crime stories these days. So, it was supremely refreshing to see this episode offer up an old-school murder mystery, one that kept the audience guessing alongside Harry, since there was plenty of suspicion to go around, and well… this outright confirms, that Harry Wild is an incredibly refreshing crime series. One that keeps pushing the envelope and offering up surprises at every turn and really in the end, as we prepare to enjoy the final two episodes of the season, it is best we adopt one particular mantra when it comes to this series. In that, we should expect the unexpected, because that’s where this series thrives. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘The Outlaws’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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For the most part, television shows that examine the human condition or offer commentary on certain aspects of our world… tend to say their piece on a specific topic, and move on, and there is good reason as to why. For in essence, the topic has been addressed and examined and revisiting it on a consistent basis, would be overkill and perhaps bore the audience. In fact, the only time these shows really tend to slip back into a particular topic/examination, is if it ties into something greater later on in the season. But while that allows for shows in this vein to tackle multiple topics and entertain along the way, there are some topics that shouldn’t be glossed over in the slightest.
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Simply because they are that important and that poignant and by visiting them once more within the framework of the story, the audience will learn a great deal more about what the show is trying to say and this is top of mind today, largely because the next episode of The Outlaws on Prime Video… takes the time to circle back on a topic that it explored a couple of episodes ago. Specifically, how a lack of proper support and guidance, combined with the stigma of being a criminal, can in fact… lead people back into a life of crime. Since the ease of getting back into it, and the potential for some quick fixes, would prove too tempting to resist and well… that’s precisely what we saw several of the characters do in this tale, for various reasons. 

John for instance, embodied the stigma aspect of this exploration. Because for some time now, he’s done everything he can to save face and provide everyone with the façade that he is still an everyman that didn’t make a grand mistake. All so that he won’t be viewed as a ‘lowly criminal’, and sadly… his fear of having that label attached to him by his family and most certainly his father… pushed him to dig deeper into crime in this tale. By going along with a grand plan to launder the money he found with Frank and Myrna, and this journey really did do a phenomenal job of exploring how much the stigma of being a criminal can impact a person, since it motivated John to continue to do the wrong thing… when he clearly wants to do the right.

But in quite the surprise turn, this episode also took the time to explore stigma further by way of Christian and his sister, since their journey more or less spoke to how our standing in society and how that is viewed by the masses, can motivate us to lose hope and believe that we are stuck where we are. As evidenced by how Esme came to believe for a time that this was all she could ever be, since she skipped the test and went back to old haunts, and when presented with true hopelessness and fear, she resorted to violence and shot Spider. Not to mention, Christian kept making mistake after mistake in this tale, out of the belief that chaos and strife and struggle were his life, so he might as well live the part, and this was a stunning sequence for certain. One that made its point, crystal clear.
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As for how this episode explored in detail how a lack of a support network and guidance can motivate people to return to crime, well that was handled through Greg’s journey. Because let’s not mince words, he has no support network right now. Sure, he’s making friends, but it’s work and isolation for Greg most days, and having no one to turn to and no one to speak to, combined with his own spotty past, made him the perfect candidate to once again step into the grey and do things he simply shouldn’t. Which in this instance, involved using Gabby’s corporate account at the firm, and some forged signatures, to launder the money that Frank uncovered so that everyone could enjoy a clean payout and well… this was perhaps the most straightforward plot in this tale, and it does leave one to wonder… what Greg would have done with a support network around him.

In the end however, what truly makes this episode so special and so important, is the ‘why’ behind the decision to dig into a topic that the show touched upon before, and the reason for such a move is simple… to help the audience truly understand. For so many of us, haven’t a clue what life is like when one really breaks the law, and we too… support stigma and shunning those who’ve committed a crime because that’s the norm. But this, this is the kind of episode that circles us back around to the core theme of the show. In that, criminals are people and that the vast majority of them aren’t monsters that did something beyond reproach. They screwed up, they did their time, and they need to know that when their penance is complete, they can rejoin the world and go about their lives. And this show deserves a round of applause for hammering that message home and for delivering a story that still leaves us eager to continue the journey, to see if this motley crew can indeed find redemption. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘Fast Foodies’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One thing that television fans can agree upon, is that season finales are as epic as they come these days. Because every show out there now knows it needs to impress its viewers and what better way to do that than by letting loose and offering up a wild story that takes the audience’s breath away. But what’s amazing, is that this particular edict, really doesn’t extend to the realm of reality television or competition style shows. Simply because it doesn’t seem as though the finale of a show in that vein, can be epic in nature. Especially when one considers that the shows in question are either crowning a champion to end their year or simply preparing for another cycle of their subject.
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But as this era of peak television continues along, it would seem that some competitive reality-based shows are wondering if by chance… they can make epic happen in their finales and shake things up in a manner that blows people away and one such show pondering upon this, is Fast Foodies on truTV. For the season two finale of this series, ‘The Finale: Guess Who’s Back?’ opted to try something wild to see how it would play out. By having Joel McHale return to ask the chefs to do the seemingly impossible. In that, he wanted them to take a fine dining dish and see if by chance, such an elegant meal could be transformed into something that you’d find at a fast-food restaurant. Which was quite the twist for certain, one that the fast foodies were eager to try and conquer and that allowed for this ‘alteration round’ to bring about some incredible results in the kitchen.

Because each of them was asked to make a specific style of carbonara fast food and boy did they deliver some unique and mouth-watering dishes. Justin for instance, was tasked with creating the Spaghetti Carbonara Hot Dog, which shockingly… impressed with flavor thanks to how many ingredients from the traditional dish Justin injected into this particularly unique dog, and Kristen… well it was her job to make the Carbonara Burger, which also incorporated a great deal of traditional ingredients but offered some lovely twists that made it a true messy treat. And as for Jeremy, well he put together a Carbonara Empanada. One that not only hit all the right notes, but actually managed to capture that flair of carbonara and well… the chefs did such an incredible job of bringing together fast food and fine dining here, that Joel struggled to declare a winner.

But he did choose Kristen in the end and once the winner was settled, and the chefs realized that this was pretty much an anything goes remix round, they once again let loose and impressed with some stunning dishes to evoke memories of carbonara. Jeremy for instance, presented a Uni, Caviar and Soft Egg Toast dish to the group, which blew Joel away with its rich flavors and texture and Justin… well he too leaned into caviar with his Mentaiko Pasta with Quail Egg and Caviar dish. Which exploded with flavor and also left Josh beside himself and Kristen, well she definitely took the remix to a whole new level here… by bringing forth a delicious dessert. For she served up an Orange Sherbet, White Chocolate, Mango and Yuzu dish. Which was so refreshing that Joel just wolfed it down and once again, this put him in a tough place.

Because how does one choose a winner with dishes of this caliber? And well, in the end… Joel decided that no one should lose this match by putting this much heart and soul into a meal… so everyone was the Chompion this week and sadly, that also meant they all had to face punishment. Which was a spaghetti cannon to the face. Yes, that’s right. A spaghetti cannon. To the face. But what matters more, is that this finale is proof positive that reality shows and competition shows, can in fact… go hard and offer up an epic finale. Because none of us saw any of these twists and turns coming, nor did we expect the chefs to go this hard and well… the only real downside to this flawless finale, is that it means that season two is done! Which means we have to impatiently await and hope for a season three renewal, so we can enjoy more amazing and delicious adventures with three incredibly talented chefs.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 208 of ‘Star Trek: Picard’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that season two of Star Trek: Picard on Paramount+ has been quite the bold and daring affair. For this time travel themed journey through the stars, has done a lot of things that some might consider to be forbidden in storytelling. After all, it has more or less pushed the greater storyline aside to become a powerful character study. One that has taken the time to address some heavy and taboo topics in the name of character growth and commentary and that has indeed led to some powerful moments on this show. The kind that has stayed true to Star Trek’s edict of examining the human condition and its adventure, so we have a fictional guiding light regarding the bigger problems that surround us.
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However, while that has made for one powerful and intimate adventure with these characters, at some point… this show has to move the plot forward and begin to resolve the problem at hand. Which is saving the galaxy from a human-supremacist led genocide and well… as it turns out, last night’s episode of the series served as the perfect moment to begin that resolution. After all, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard had indeed finally faced his demons and found some semblance of peace and a way forward and now all he needed to do to properly face off against his old nemesis Q and save tomorrow in the process, was get out of a hell of a jam involving the FBI.

In fact, when we catch up with the admiral and Guinan in ‘Mercy’, they’re in a basement room and their new ‘friend’ Wells… is making some incredible demands of them. Such as asking them to expose their real identities and potentially shatter the timeline in the process. An act neither of them agree to of course, but that doesn’t stop Wells from separating the two shortly after exposing the reality that Picard has to be from outer space in some capacity. For Rios’ words came to light during the interrogation and well… with an assist from Guinan’s power in the other room (more on that in a moment), Picard finally came to realize that there had to be a different way to reach a man that was clearly haunted by notions of extraterrestrial life.

Which as it turned out, involved a touch of honesty from both sides, and that decision paid off in spades. Since Wells revealed that when he was a boy, he had his own first contact experience with a Vulcan science survey team, one that didn’t end with him having those memories removed from a mind-meld, and that allowed for that encounter to haunt him for his entire life, since he firmly believed he survived a lethal attack on that fateful night. But kind words from Picard and teaching and an admission of truth, gave Wells peace and motivated him to do the right thing in this instance, and let them go do what they needed to, in order to save the future and once they were free… the stage was set for an epic battle to save the Federation and humanity from a horrific fate. Which is a quest… we also learned, is grounded in desperation. 

For while Picard was teaching a broken man about the wonder of the galaxy, Guinan was talking with Q. Who finally found her and revealed why he’s done all this and why he is so desperate and angry to have Jean-Luc do his bidding the right way… and that is because, Q is dying. Yes, you read that right, this omnipotent trickster, who has seen it all and done it all and nudged humanity in the right direction through wild means, is finally facing his end. And in order to find meaning in this existence, he thought perhaps one last hurrah… wherein he motivated humanity to be more one last time… would provide him with that very meaning. But while that is a noble and wild admission brought forth in the worst manner possible… it is fascinating and sorrowful to know that this is where Q’s mind and body went while facing the end, and that his actions have set the stage for an incredible showdown to save the future.
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Because while Jean-Luc and Guinan were dealing with this, Rios, and Seven and Raffi… were doing their best to find Agnes and the Borg Queen post haste. Simply because they needed to know how close she was to being able to assimilate others and create a Borg Collective and well… that hunt went pretty poorly. Since their sole encounter with Jurati/her highness ended in violence and a last second save from Agnes. Giving rise to the hope that perhaps she can be saved, while at the same time making it clear… that it will take quite the miracle to bring her back from the brink and even then… the ending of this story made it clear that salvation might not be possible at this point. 

For Adam Soong also had quite the important storyline in this tale. One that saw him admit to Kore freely, her origins, before watching her walk off into the distance, courtesy of Q’s miracle cocktail and well, while he was drowning his sorrows in booze… the Queen found him. Only because he had everything she needed for assimilation and she was able to appeal to his robust ego to get him to hand over the means to a new collective, and in exchange, she granted him the chance to violently end the Europa Mission and instead be the savior of humanity. Which would of course lead to the future we all fear, provided that the new drones the Queen created, don’t destroy it first.

Which is… the perfect way to set the stage for the final two episodes of season two. For now, the stakes are at their highest and our heroes are facing some incredible challenges. For not only do they have to square off against a maniacal Soong that needs his ego fed, but the Borg have arrived on 21st Century Earth for a second time… and the one man that could possibly nudge and help, is powerless and patiently waiting to die. Not to mention, the ship is a mess, complicating the voyage home and well… all this jam-packed and intense episode does, is compel us to continue the journey. To see how Admiral Jean-Luc Picard is going to handle his biggest challenge in years, with minimal resources at hand. Until next time.

Please enjoy this exclusive clip from the season two finale of Fast Foodies, which will air on truTV today, 4/21/22 at 10 p.m. EST! 

Please enjoy this sneak peek of the season two finale of Fast Foodies, which will air on truTV later tonight!