The true beauty of the crime drama is that at some point down the line, all will be revealed in regard to whatever crime our heroes are investigating. Because one cannot deny the audience answers and what separates the best crime stories out there from the everyday ones is how that reveal takes place. For if it is handled in a lazy fashion, then the reveal is a throwaway moment. But if one can do it in a surprising manner, the kind that takes the audience off guard, well then the story has accomplished something quite special, and to get an idea of how this is done in a masterful fashion, then look no further than last night’s episode of Line of Duty. Since it revealed all the answers we’ve been looking for, after lulling us into a false sense of security, by making it seem as though this case was going to continue to drag along.
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A feat that was accomplished by having DCC Dryden drop by AC-12 to do a formal interview with the branch, one that was supposed to shed some light on his relationship with Denton and how the pickup was leaked. But instead, it ended up becoming nothing more than a cheeky and sarcastic affair. One that made Arnott and Fleming’s work look like an outright joke, something that clearly embarrassed Hastings, despite the fact that he called it a fine interview. But without any information from this top cop, there was really little else for the team to go upon, and that prompted them to keep pouring over a case that was yielding nothing but dead ends at every single turn, and that’s precisely when the surprises started to come into play.

For Akers’ husband was picked up by AC-12’s rivals regarding some suspicious evidence involving a payoff and when confronted with the discovery, he finally admitted that his wife was on the take after all, and that he turned a blind eye to it and also that… Jayne had some flash drives hidden away. Which were filled to the brim with information in case something bad happened and those revealed some pertinent information in regard to the motive of Tommy’s death. For it would seem that his deal with the police was falling to pieces after some ugly statements from Dryden, and he was ready to sing about everyone, including Dot, and that prompted the division to dive a little deeper on Dryden and his dealings and that’s when things got real ugly, thanks to some additional investigation on Kate’s part.

Because Carly Kirk’s name came up in her examination of Dryden’s citation and a quick check on that particular case, revealed a network of crooked cops, and all of them were tied to the DCC in some form or fashion and it was quite horrifying to learn that such a prestigious and decorated officer is directing a group of peace officers to conduct illegal acts all over the city. Even going so far as to kill with impunity. For Carly Kirk was at the fundraiser that seemingly started this mess and there was also a tracking device on Akers’ car on that fateful night, and it was an officer tied to this network that brutally murdered DC Trotman and to make matters worse, it also means that AC-12 put the wrong officer away after all. Since Denton is clearly the patsy in this matter and to top it all off, her life is now in serious danger as well.

For a visit to her ailing and sickly mother, ended with her transport vehicle being damaged by Dryden’s lackeys and it didn’t take long for them to toss her in the truck of a car, and it really doesn’t get more dire than that and that is one hell of a way to end this particular tale. Because in essence, the stakes are now at their highest, since the very soul of the department is now on the line. Plus, it was nice that this episode took to reveal everything to us in rapid fire fashion and while this might be a download story, it’s a damn quality one for certain. Because every single reveal was powerful and stunning and horrifying and by laying it all on the table now, the story can now focus on the hunt for these rotten cops and it is going to be quite incredible and satisfying to see AC-12 bring these crooks down. Until next time.

There are a great many elements that go into making a memorable and revered story. Obviously, it needs to provide the audience with an engrossing and juicy plot, the kind that grabs hold of you and never lets go. Plus, it needs to feature some compelling characters, the kind that are relatable in some way and have some purpose to the plot outside of just chewing up the scenery. But above all else, a fantastic story needs to have a fantastic ending. It doesn’t have to be happy or flawless, it just needs to fit perfectly, otherwise any great storytelling that came before the finale, is ruined and the audience is left filled with disappointment, and thankfully these criteria are exactly why Defending Jacob is going to be remembered as a magnificent tale.
 
For the series finale of this harrowing journey, ‘After’, did an outright incredible job of wrapping everything up in a powerful and stunning manner. In large part thanks to the fact that it revisited two key themes introduced earlier in the season. Such as returning to the all-important question, how far would one go to save one’s family? Which is a query that is answered here in unfortunate fashion. Because shortly after Jacob found himself acquitted of all charges, thanks to a confession from the newly departed Leonard Patz, some odd inconsistencies about the case piqued Andrew’s curiosity. And the further he dug on the matter, the more he found himself concerned with Leonard’s confession and that brought him back to his father.
 
Who more or less confessed to ordering his lackey to force a confession from Patz, and kill him, in order to let his grandson walk free and this was, devastating to say the least. Because it put a cloud over the verdict, and it put a little bit of doubt into Andrew’s heart. But more importantly, this more or less offered up the darkest possible resolution to that aforementioned question, since no one expected Billy Barber to straight up have a man murdered in order to save his family and oddly enough, Andy didn’t exactly do the ugly side of this notion any favors either. Because he did make a point of keeping this a secret until the little incident in Mexico, and that is what brought forth another lesson from earlier this season, specifically how tragedy can rattle people like never before.

​Because despite the fact that Jacob didn’t do a thing to harm Hope in Mexico, the fact that Billy’s actions cast doubt upon the verdict, haunted Laurie upon the family’s return to Massachusetts. To the point where she was despondent and detached from her family in every way imaginable. Because all she saw when she looked at her son was a guilty young man, one that she now believed killed an innocent human being and those cycling thoughts and the depression that she slipped into motivated her to do something quite horrific. For one fateful day, she decided to press her son on whether or not he actually murdered Ben Rifkin whilst on the road, and in her panic, she prepared to handle the bad news she never received, by accelerating the car to an excessive speed and well, that decision ended with broken bodies and a broken family.
 
For this story ends with Jacob and Laurie in the hospital, with the former in a coma, and it’s up to Andy now to pick up the pieces and what makes this ending so powerful, is that this story becomes nothing more than a grand tragedy. One that reminds us of how quickly our lives can change in the blink of eye and how quickly things can fall apart, as evidenced by Laurie’s meltdown, despite her son being vindicated time and time again. But what is truly the most sorrowful portion of this ending, is how it all wraps up for Andy. Because when we see him sitting in the dark, wondering what went wrong, it becomes inherently obvious that all Andy ever wanted in life, was to have a family and a stable family life and that dream has now been lost to him forever.
 
Because Laurie’s actions have left this family in tatters, as did Andy’s desire to project the image that they had a perfect life and what makes the silence of those closing moments so heartbreaking, is that deep down you know that Andy will likely do whatever it takes to keep any hope for that dream alive, despite what’s happened. Which is a woefully bleak way to end this series, but it is the right one. Because it makes sense, and it has gravity and it also serves to remind us that sometimes, stories don’t end happy, they simply end and now that we’ve reached the end of this journey, it is best we offer everyone involved in this series our thanks. For these creative minds took us on one moving and unsettling ride, one that never let up in its intensity and this is definitely a tale that will haunt this reviewer and the audience for some time, thanks to its raw presentation of murder and how it can impact our lives.  

When we often take the time to think about a utopian future, we imagine a world where all of our problems are solved. A place with no hunger, no sorrow or war, just peace and tranquility and that’s why Star Trek resonates so well with its audience. Because it features just that, and it is quite wonderful to see a future for mankind where we live in peace and harmony and explore the stars as well. But while that vision is indeed refreshing and hopeful in its own right, the franchise also deserves serious credit for taking the time to remind us that despite the progress that was made in creating this better world, progress takes a lot of time, and there is always more work to do.

Something that later iterations of the series examine in great detail by way of war and poor decisions from Starfleet. But oddly enough, The Original Series did have a few moments here and there where it took the time to explore those particular points as well. And it just so happens that the next episode of this storied series, is one that dives deep into the fact that there are corners of the Federation in the 23rd Century, where some of the problems that plagued mankind in past years, still exist and still need to be dealt with. Which makes ‘Whom Gods Destroy’ quite the brilliant tale. Because it tackles and examines something that is as taboo now in popular media, as it was back in 1969; mental illness.

Which is indeed something that one would think would be eliminated in 2268, but alas, this particular tale sees Kirk and Spock visiting an asylum for the criminally insane, and what makes this part of the story hopeful and inspiring, is the sheer fact that Starfleet and the Federation are trying their best to solve this age old problem. For the mission here is to deliver a revolutionary drug that should heal these broken minds and well, it doesn’t take long for this story to take quite the turn when Kirk and Spock come to learn that an ultra-famous patient here has taken control of the asylum, forcing Kirk to have to try and outright outwit a former hero of the Federation.

Which makes for some incredible storytelling. Because this tale quickly goes from showing us that there are still modern problems in the 23rd Century, to becoming a poignant parable on the power of mental illness and how it can impact anyone at any time since Fleet Captain Garth, who was once a brilliant tactician, is a shell of his former self because of his mental state. But what matters the most about how mental illness is portrayed in this tale is that it is presented without opinion or judgment. We just know that Garth is isn’t well, and that he needs help and it is quite refreshing to see Captain Kirk try and aid his hero and not insult or tear down a man who is clearly incapable of understanding the situation, because of his brain chemistry.

If anything, the only complaint one can offer up in regard to this episode, is that it clearly holds back in its exploration of this topic. But alas, this was the only way to present it without making this episode hyper controversial. Because America simply wasn’t ready to have that discussion just yet, in fact, we’re just barely getting around to properly acknowledging mental illness and removing the taboo surrounding it. Which makes this episode ahead of its time for certain and powerful as well and this is another tale that speaks to what wonders this series could have accomplished with a few more years on the air. But rather than lament the show’s end, it’s best we just take a moment celebrate this brilliant and pioneering tale. One that spotlighted something that honestly needs to be discussed more often in fiction. Until next time.

What truly makes Amazon’s Homecoming such a fascinating television series, is the sheer fact that it is so unconventional in how it tells its story. Because normally TV shows stick to a theme or a concept in order to help their story unfold and to help their characters learn and grow. But this series, well it simply thrives within the wonder of chaos. For the story can and will go in any direction at any given time in order to keep things as interesting as possible and for proof of how dedicated the series is to this particular format, then look no further than the next chapter of this fascinating saga.
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For ‘Giant’ is filled to the brim with rich mystery, and unexpected world building and of course, big-time surprises and it manages to provide the audience with all of those elements in a seamless and organic fashion, and well, the best place to start in breaking down this glorious episode, is to talk about that mystery. Because that is indeed what draws us into this tale, since Jackie works hard in this story to uncover more information about the mysterious man named Alex. Who as it turns out, left his car at the motel, allowing for Jackie to figure out where the man lives and that prompts her to check out his place and she runs into quite the surprise upon her arrival.

Because Audrey Temple, the woman who took over for Colin at the end of season one, was waiting inside Alex’s home, and frantically calling him to see if some ominous job was complete. One that no doubt involved harming Jackie and well, upon hearing Audrey’s desperate pleas to Alex, it dawned on Jackie to try something daring in order to get some answers. Which prompted her to follow Audrey to Geist headquarters and that’s when the world building came into play. Because while poor Jackie was stuck sniffing citrus aromas in a testing group after ‘sneaking’ into Geist, Audrey made the time to talk with Leonard Geist, wherein the audience came to learn that things had gone badly for this conglomerate following the Homecoming Initiative incident.

In fact, another company was stepping in to handle the business, something that clearly pissed off Geist to no end and it motivated him to deliver an embarrassing speech at a ceremony designed to welcome Geist’s new overlords, in the hopes of stopping that transition, to no avail. And it was just fascinating to learn that consequences did indeed come out of season one’s mess, and that subtle world building is what led to the surprise in question. Because eventually Audrey and Jackie came face to face with one another during the ceremony, which should have meant trouble for Jackie. But instead, she was greeted with a passionate kiss, and expressions of worry and Audrey even referred to Jackie, as Alex, which brings up all kinds of questions when all is said and done.

Because it heavily implies that Jackie/Alex was the aggressor in this incident by the lake, and that the man on the shores was in fact, Walter Cruz, the man that Heidi Bergman gave a second chance to, by giving him a massive dose of the Geist drug. Something we were able to infer when Audrey inquired about his fate as well. Which means there is a strong chance that our protagonist is an agent for Geist, one that was tasked with making sure that Walter wouldn’t cause them any trouble going forward, and that is one hell of a twist. Either way, this was quite the fascinating tale, because it really did take us on a roller-coaster ride and it definitely leaves you hungry for more, since you’re dying to learn exactly what the heck is going on, and it should be fascinating to see what kinds of additional twists and turns this story is going to provide us with as season two rolls along. Until next time.    

We’ve talked a lot about the various components that make Star Trek such a wonderful series as of late, and there is good reason for that. Because while season three hasn’t exactly been the strongest year of storytelling, the elements that we love the most in regard to this franchise, have suddenly been on display for the most part, and that’s definitely been worth celebrating and discussing. For these are the elements that allow for this series to endure. If anything, this is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because the next episode in this storied saga is another entry in the five-year mission that offers up something that fans love to see in this franchise, specifically; some eerie parallels to the modern world.  
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Something that of course doesn’t seem to be within the framework of ‘Elaan of Troyius’ at first glance. Since this is a story that revolves around a diplomatic mission for the Enterprise. One where they need to transport a powerful and feared princess to a nearby world, where she is to be married off in order to bring peace between two peoples. And this is a job for James T. Kirk and his intrepid crew, simply because the Klingons are lurking near this star system and hoping for failure so they can step in and take over. Because that’s how they do and that setup, along with Kirk’s unexpected romance with the princess, and other various shenanigans, make it seem as though this is going to be your everyday episode that features one grandiose adventure and a battle with the Klingons.

But while it is delightful to see the NCC-1701 go toe to toe with a D-7 Klingon Battlecruiser, and hilarious to see Captain Kirk play space Casanova once again, it is the parallels to our world that we need to focus upon today and what makes this episode’s pondering so worth our while in this tale, is the subtlety with which they are presented. Take for example the conflict between the Federation and the Klingon Empire here. Because you don’t think twice about these ships slugging it out, since these two factions have fought for ages on end, but when one takes a moment to think about it; this is a contemporary reflection of the times. For the Cold War was raging on when this episode was released and there were plenty of incidents where Soviet warships tried to goad the United States into a fight like the Klingons did here, giving this battle, and the espionage that happens aboard the ship, a little real-world gravity.

As did the entire mission to bring Elaan to Troyius. Because both the Federation and the Klingons were quietly vying for the favor of these two worlds and toying around with loyalties without the other party’s knowledge, which is another Cold War practice. Because time and time again, the Soviet Union and the United States quietly offered resources to smaller nations and their people, in exchange for loyalty and intelligence, in the hopes of getting the upper hand over one another and oddly enough, this is something we also see happening now. For superpowers still make every effort to support any nation that will help them further their interests, and it was quite fascinating to find these two parallels present within the story.

Which means that in the end, this turned out to be quite the delightful and poignant episode. Simply because it was packed to the brim with something for everyone. If you wanted some action and adventure, that was taken care of via space battle. If you wanted a little romance and/or humor, Kirk has you covered there, and if you wanted a little depth and meaning, well then just take a moment to ponder deeply upon the plot. Which definitely allows for this story to wipe away any bad memories of ‘The Empath’ and it is just wonderful to see season three rebound from an ugly misstep with a quality story that reminds us exactly why this saga has a special place in our hearts. Until next time.   

It is always interesting when a television series takes the time to offer up an episode that is wildly different from its established formula. Because doing so puts the audience in an uncomfortable and slightly confused place, where they wonder if the story, they fell in love with, is going to fundamentally change direction and become something new. Or if this was simply an opportunity to do something special with the story, and it is safe to say that this particular concern was on the mind of every single fan of Avenue 5. Because the decision to offer up commentary in the prior episode was a bold decision for certain, one that would definitely prompt folks to wonder if the show was heading in a new direction. 

But thankfully, the season one finale of this magnificent comedy series, made it clear that such a decision was nothing more than a wonderful opportunity that couldn’t be passed up. For ‘Eight Arms But No Legs’ ended up being a return to form for the series, simply because once again, chaos was everywhere in this tale. Because Matt couldn’t handle the fact that he helped seven people freeze to death in the cold of space, and that motivated him to change the airlock codes and hide within the bowels of the ship as penance, and that posed quite the problem for Captain Clark and his cohorts. For if they didn’t eject the excess weight in one hour, their journey home would stay on the original timeline.

Which prompted Clark to immediately step in and play leader at last and order teams to begin a search for Matt and get those codes before it became too late and well, that’s when the chaos came into play. Because in reality, only Captain Clark and Judd took the time to do their jobs. Because everyone else found ways to goof off and screw around while ‘looking’ for Matt, and to complicate the search further, Rav and the resupply shuttle arrived, and Rav’s desire to gather information on what the hell was actually happening aboard the ship, distracted everyone further. But thankfully, eventually Matt was found lurking near the crew quarters and he was quick to offer up the codes after all. 

But while that problem was solved with minimal fuss, there was still one more issue that this motley crew needed to resolve, specifically, who the heck was going to go home via the resupply shuttle. Because there was only one spare seat available aboard the craft, and that led to the second most hilarious sequence in this tale. For no one could agree upon who should take that final seat, and that brought about a game of musical chair that was full of insults and awkward moments and confusion and in the end, the person selected to head back to Earth was Iris, a decision that was made through pure chaos of course. But while all of this was fun to watch for certain, those left behind still needed to eject the excess weight in order to get back home faster and well, how that wrapped up, turned out to be the highlight of this story. 

Because Karen screwed everything up. For she decided that the two aft airlocks didn’t have enough room to handle the vast number of items being put up for ejection, and that prompted her to use the port side airlocks to toss everything out into space. Which in turn put the ship off course and extended this journey another four and a half years and that’s how season one comes to a close. With the crew and the passengers now facing the prospect of an eight-year voyage, all because Karen thought she knew better and that is… a perfect way to end this season. Because it stays true to what this show stands for and it finally teaches a know-it-all a powerful lesson and it should be interesting to see where this story takes us in season two, especially when the passengers learn that their precious ‘hero of the people’ has marooned them in space for the next eight years. F*cking Karen. Until next season.

​For some time now, geeks and nerds everywhere have been able to bask within the majesty of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ability to provide its fans with seemingly endless entertainment. Because it truly seems as though movies and shows, featuring our favorite comic book characters from this franchise, are going to continue along forever since there are so many ideas to pull from, to the point where even those we have lost along the way, have received their own standalone stories, such as Agent Phil Coulson. For so many fans thought he exited the MCU way too early in The Avengers and the decision to let him have his own series where he could show us what the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division can accomplish, seemed like the right one for certain.
 
Which is why so many of us tuned into Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. when it first premiered. Because it would let us spend time with a genuinely beloved character, and being able to do just that, and hang out with some supremely dynamic characters as they faced incredible odds on a consistent basis, and accomplished wonders along the way, is what kept us coming back time and time again. And it truly seemed as though this series would never end as well. Because there were countless missions and tie-ins waiting for them down the line. But sadly, as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and as the MCU begins to evolve and shift into Phase Four, we are starting to see big time MCU stories come to a close; something that’s forced us to bid farewell to some of our favorite characters and franchises and sadly, that’s something we’re going to have to do in regard to this series as well.
 
For we have reached the end of our journey with Agent Coulson and his intrepid agents, since season seven will provide us with the final mission for this storied franchise and well, it would seem that they are going to go out in epic fashion. For last night’s season seven premiere saw the team arrive in New York City in the 1930s, immediately following the events of season six and well, the stakes simply couldn’t be higher for them. For ‘The New Deal’ reminded us of the fact that the Chronicoms have come to this era in time to destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. before it can be formed, and that prompted the team to pull out all of the stops to prevent such an act from happening. Which led to some supremely unique moments for certain.

​Since their search for answers brought them face to face with Governor Roosevelt, a year before he would become President of the United States and transform America into something special, and it really was quite cool to see Coulson and Daisy get a chance to stand next to, and help, an American icon and quite frankly the grand reveal of what they are going to have to do in order to save S.H.I.E.L.D. was quite powerful as well. Because Hydra will have to survive in order for this magnificent organization to thrive since that’s simply how history plays out, and it is going to be interesting to see how a majority of the team will reconcile that fact. Since they suffered mightily at Hydra’s tentacles during The Winter Solider tie-in, in season one. 
 
But what matters most about this particular tale, is the sheer fact that it serves as a reset in a way. Because this series has made some bold and game-changing decisions over the past couple of years, especially when it comes to killing off Phil Coulson and replacing him with the enigmatic and evil Sarge last season. So, it was quite lovely to spend a little time with a rejuvenated and enhanced Coulson once again and be reminded of why this character resonated with us in the first place, since he’s just a giant nerd that wanted to play hero, like the rest of us. And it was equally as compelling to see the characters take a moment to process and heal from some of the tough experiences they’ve dealt with over the past of couple of years.
 
Because quite frankly, they deserve that, and it will help them focus upon the incredible task in front of them and really in the end, this was quite the delightful season premiere for certain. For in many ways, it recaptured the magic and the wonder of season one by taking us a grand adventure, one where our agents relied on their wits over anything else. Plus, you can never go wrong with a Patton Oswalt cameo since the man is simply a brilliant actor, and it really was wonderful to see a different iteration of the Koenig family pop up on this series before it comes to a close. But what matters most, is that this episode really does set the stage for what should be one epic final season. Because without S.H.I.E.L.D., the MCU we fell in love with simply cannot exist, and saving those memories and those moments is a just cause for certain. Until next time.

For the most part, comedy stories in general, tend to shy away from social commentary. Simply because they really are designed to leave the audience in stitches and brighten their day, so they often just stick to the jokes and leave the heavy lifting to other genres. But as it turns out, some comedic stories out there, find a way to say something about our world and its current state, something that a vast majority of these tales accomplish by way of parody or satire. But the finest comedies out there, well they find a way to say something quite profound about life or our world in general and it just so happens that Avenue 5 found a way to sneak in some painfully accurate commentary about modern America in its next episode.
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Which is quite the feat, since initially it seemed as though ‘This Is Physically Hurting Me’ was going to stay the course (pun intended) in regard to how the show loves to offer up innocent moments that are immediately interrupted by chaos. For this particular tale saw everyone going about some everyday business, since Captain Clark took the time to learn how to land the ship, and Karen worked to get items ready for ejection into deep space so everyone could get home as quickly as possible. And the formula came into play here, by way of a fight between Judd and Clark, one that saw Ryan relieved of his command and replaced by Spike. Leaving one to wonder how long before Ryan would be reinstated, since Spike expected the ship to run like a well-oiled machine. 

But it was Spike’s concerns about the overall functionality of the ship that helped to bring about the commentary in question. Because the bridge crew’s odd behavior, and some of the restlessness of the guests, gave life to a rather dangerous conspiracy theory aboard the ship. In that, somehow this was all part of a reality show, and the Avenue 5 never left the comforts of Earth, and all the passengers had to do to reclaim their lives was step out of the airlock and they would find themselves back in the world and this was… horrifying to watch. Because the growing mob wanted out and that’s oddly what got Clark reinstated as the ship’s captain, since he is damn good at talking people down off of a stupid ledge, but alas, disaster still struck.

Because Matt thought he needed to step in and help, and he gave everyone the airlock code and well, what you think happened, happened. And seven more souls perished in horrifyingly icy fashion by walking out of the damn airlock and the commentary was clear at this point. Because this kind of mob mentality and rule of stupid is something we are seeing play out in everyday life by way of the news, and social media and it just was incredible to see the series call this problem out in such stunning fashion and honestly, it’s a good thing that they did. Because the rule of dumb isn’t helping anyone, and the sooner it disappears from the limelight, the better, since it is hurting people along the way.

However, all commentary aside, this was by far the darkest and most twisted episode of this series to date, and that is a compliment. Because it oddly found a way to make its ugliest moments, funny, and that speaks volumes to the genius writing present on this series and well, in the wake of Matt’s miscalculation it should be interesting to see what life aboard this ship is going to be like going forward. Since a fair chunk of the passengers just watched more of their fellow shipmates freeze and float into the void because of their own narrow-mindedness. Plus, Rav and the shuttle have almost arrived at the ship, meaning that all kinds of surprises and unexpected moments should come together nicely in the season one finale. Until next time.    

There are few things in this world, that we cherish more than our memories. Because those all-important moments that we carry in our mind, more or less help to define precisely who we are. For these snippets of the past, helped to form our ideologies and our moral code, and there are also important moments present in our minds that taught us basic life skills and critical lessons that allow for us to function today. Which is why so many of us, fear the possibility of losing control over our minds, because we haven’t a clue what we would become without all of the formative good and bad memories present within the confines of our brain.

But thankfully, fiction is there to help us explore such terrors and it just so happens that the loss of our memory and all the horrors that can come with that, serve as the focus of the season two premiere of the Amazon Prime series, Homecoming. Because ‘People’ wastes zero time introducing us to a soldier named Jackie who awakens on a boat, in the middle of a lake with no memory of who she is and where she has been recently, and that makes for one fascinating and unsettling story for certain. For this is a tale that is grounded in notions of uncomfortable discovery, something that is quickly established by the fact that neither Jackie, nor the audience have a clue what her name even is. At least not until a nice police officer takes the time to check on our wandering protagonist.

But what makes her journey in this story even more worrisome, is that it quickly becomes obvious that Jackie is embroiled in some kind of trouble, since there are fresh track marks on her arm, the kind that force her to flee the hospital when the doctor goes to inform the friendly officer what he’s found. Plus, it seems that everyone she encounters, remembers her well for causing trouble with an enigmatic man that she briefly saw on the shore of the lake she woke up upon, and this lack of information prompts Jackie to go the extra mile to get some answers. And that’s precisely when this opening chapter surprises all of us. Because a fair chunk of us believed that the Geist Corporation and their sneaky and underhanded plans to wipe memories and reuse soldiers, came to a close at the end of season one when all was revealed.

But a return to a hotel, one that said mystery man was staying at, revealed the fact that Geist’s plans are alive and well. For an empty vial of the memory wiping chemical was discovered in the room, along with a boatload of cash and a haunting photo that implicates her as some kind of a target. Leaving one to believe that Geist is perhaps tying up some loose ends, and this part of the plan may have gone wrong as well, and this is a smooth way to reintroduce us to this universe and the unsettling acts of a corporation run amuck. Because just like that, it feels like old times once again in regard to Geist and since there is little to no resolution at the end of this tale, you’re immediately eager to learn more about Jackie’s situation and that really is a wonderful way to kick off season two.
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Plus, setting the stage for a grand mystery, leaves the viewer hopeful that they are about to embark on a powerful journey, one that makes season one proud. And it would also seem that we are going to be treated to some worldbuilding as well this season, since we finally had the chance to meet the face of this company, and see where this memory fruit is farmed and well, while it would be fun to speculate what kind of twists and turns we might expect from what we’ve seen here… there’s simply no point in doing so. Because Homecoming is a wonderfully crafted series that always knows exactly when to reveal its secrets, so it’s best we just settle in and enjoy the ride and let the surprises wash over us, and on that note, it’s time for this reviewer to hit play on the next episode and see where this journey will take us next. Until next time.    

A vast majority of stories out there, are looking to provide their audience with a message. Because when a story has meaning and when it is able to teach us something, it becomes supremely important to its reader or viewer. For now, there is something more to the tale, something that speaks to the audience on a fundamental level, allowing for that person to genuinely connect with that story and that’s why Star Trek has managed to stay relevant for fifty-plus years. Because it really does offer up some powerful messages to casual and hardcore fans and the longer its various iterations have been on the air, the better the franchise has been about executing and expressing its message. 
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But when The Original Series was on the air, that wasn’t always the case. Because from time to time, new ideas that needed a little bit more fleshing out in the writers room, made their way to the production schedule, and the end result is a story that clearly wanted to say something, but lost its message by way of poor writing or poor direction. Something we have seen more of in season three, likely due to the fact that everyone was under pressure to deliver so that the five-year mission could reach completion on the small screen. But while it is easy to understand that pressure and being the first saga out of the gate to attempt social commentary and an exploration of the human condition, can indeed lead to mistakes, that doesn’t make sitting through those choppy episodes any easier.

Take the next episode of this series for example. For ‘The Empath’ was clearly designed to be a powerful morality tale, one that should have taught the audience the importance of opening ourselves up to what our fellow human beings are feeling. So that we can be there for one another and make the world a better place in the process, one free from the cold cruelty that currently exists. And it was designed to help carry that message by way of a plot that involved twisted experiments, the kind designed to motivate a genuine empath to sacrifice herself to save another life. All in the hopes of proving her kind worthy to her tormentors so that they would save her species from extinction as the star in her system went nova. Which sounds like a delightful episode of Trek, one that should stand out as a perfect representation of everything we’ve just discussed.

But the execution of this story is what led to some serious mistakes, storytelling wise. Because there is no balance to be found in this tale, instead it focuses upon the cruelty and while one can fully understand how that was paramount to creating some gravity for the message, it simply doesn’t play out that way on screen. Because Kirk and Spock and McCoy constantly find themselves under physical torture to motivate Gem to give her all, and this is… just cruel to watch. Because she’s not learning anything from this mess, she’s just watching some nice men that tried to help her escape, hurt and bleed and come to the brink of death, all in the hopes of saving her species from something she isn’t aware of. Which makes this story far darker than necessary and completely unappealing to the audience.

Which is shame because this episode really did have the potential to be a brilliant tale, but its biggest flaw is the fact that Gem’s species is already benevolent and kind. Because she can tell when someone is suffering, and she knows what to do to heal them, meaning that they already understand a better way through evolution, so there’s no point in pushing them. If anything, a better way to handle this plot, would have been to have Kirk and company work to persuade the mighty Vians to save them without testing or experimentation, since that would have provided this story with a powerful lesson on how those who have more can be served well, by helping those who have less. But alas, what’s done is done, and another misfire from this storied series only explains further why cancellation came to fruition. And it really is a shame to see this series miss a grand opportunity to tell a beautiful and powerful tale and all we can hope for now, is a quick return to form as we enter the back half of this final season. Until next time.