​Over the course of the past couple of months, the WGN America series Almost Paradise, has been able to establish itself as one of the most diverse crime dramas on television. Because week in and week out, we’ve been treated to stories that not only offer an intimate look at the fascinating characters that populate the island of Cebu; but also provide the audience with more than just action and adventure and bleak crimes that leave fans unsettled. There’s genuine meaning and depth to the stories here, and the crimes that our heroes need to solve are unique and intricate and that’s just unheard of when it comes to modern crime dramas.
 
But while this series has proven time and time again that it can do anything it wants storytelling wise and be successful in doing so, once in a while it’s never a bad thing to return to your roots and that’s what made last night’s episode of the series so incredibly fun. Because ‘A Wedding to Die For’ turned out to be a traditional crime story, one that saw the entirety of the Triad Crime Syndicate arrive on the island for the wedding of their supreme leader, a Mister Thomas Chow, who was affectionately known as ‘The Scorpion’ amongst his peers. And what made this episode a more classic crime story, is the sheer fact that this one played out like a good old-fashioned ‘who done it?’ Thanks in large part to the fact that there was a murder at this joyous occasion.
 
Because someone killed The Scorpion on his wedding day, and with every rival Triad family in attendance, it appeared as though someone within this crime syndicate was making a power play. Which means an undercover Alex had to keep the blushing bride safe from harm while an undercover Kai pieced together the clues in order to figure out the true identity of the murderer, all while gathering evidence to stick it to organized crime, and this was quite the treat. In part because it showed us just how much this team has grown over the course of season one, since they knew how to motivate one another and work together in seamless fashion. But while it was quite awesome to enjoy a traditional murder mystery in this tale, it still found a way to keep things fresh and original, courtesy of Kai’s detective skills. 
 
For she was the one who cracked the case, and it was quite wonderful to see her use her vast stores of knowledge to put together the fact that an internal power struggle amongst the Triads didn’t quite make sense. And once she eliminated the impossible, she quickly came to realize that the Scorpion’s bride, Amber, was the guilty party, and it just so happens that our ‘poor’ widow was another element in this story that was downright refreshing. Because normally in stories such as these, someone that goes after a crime boss has a score to settle with them. But not Amber. For she was nothing more than a black widow/serial killer who decided to go big with her next score and thanks to Kai’s fine detective work and skills with her fists, she was able to bring Amber to justice and save Alex from certain doom. 
 
But while it seems as though Alex was sidelined in this tale, that’s simply not the case. Because in many ways his role here was that of a lead detective, one who used his experience to help set the groundwork for the investigation and he was a critical player in the undercover portion of this investigation, which was also a delight. Because anytime he dons a disguise, he loses himself in the role, which leads to plenty of laughs, and that happened here as well when he transformed himself into Amber’s personal beauty concierge. In the end however, this was just another wonderful episode from one incredibly dynamic series. Because this one was just plain fun, and it was quite lovely to be immersed within a traditional murder mystery, and it really is a shame that there is only one episode left to enjoy in season one, because this show is such a blast to watch. But at least we can take comfort in the fact that next week’s season finale, is going to be one epic tale, since it would seem that Alex is going to square off with the man that motivated his early retirement. Until next time.

Over the course of the past three seasons, the STARZ series Vida, has done a phenomenal job of exploring the power of loss of trauma and the long road to recovery that comes with that, in a frank and powerful fashion. Because at every single turn, this series has held nothing back in regard to the struggles and the roadblocks that come with reaching our ultimate goal of peace and contentment. For we’ve seen the Hernandez sisters face challenge after challenge, the kind that has forced them to rise to the occasion and see their lives in new light. Which truly has made it seem as though they’re finally ready to step into the next chapter of their lives.
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But while stories in this vein often show the characters going full bore toward a glistening dawn and a new day, this particular series believes firmly in keeping it real and reminding us at every turn, that such an ending is difficult to achieve, as evidenced by last night’s powerful episode. For this particular tale took the time to remind us, that while we are on the road to recovery, we have to work hard every single day toward becoming a better person and transforming our lives. Or else complacency settles in, or worse, bad habits that that we thought we left behind will return to our everyday lives, an unfortunate lesson that both of the Hernandez sisters helped us to learn this in this penultimate episode.

Because despite realizing that a carefree lifestyle wasn’t for her anymore, and that she wants to be a respected business owner with a stable relationship; Liz hasn’t taken the time to deal with the more unsavory aspects of her soul. Instead, she has pivoted to different pursuits, in the hope that they will heal her. Which means she hasn’t figured out how to make herself happy since she’s still working to please others, as evidenced by her attempts to please Rudy’s mom. Plus, her deep-rooted desire to present a perfect image served as the motivation for her to avoid ‘Drag King Night’ at the bar so she didn’t have to be associated with something that wasn’t part of her vision for Vida. And to top it all off, spending the day with Rudy and Victor, speaks volumes to how she expects success without hard work, since she figured Emma could handle everything without an ounce of support.

But there was mention of both sisters struggling with old and unhealthy habits and Emma’s return to form came about by way of the reintroduction of some key elements in life that she simply cannot handle; bad news and excessive stress. Because Nico was in a tough place mentally, since she was struggling to reconcile a romantic encounter with Emma, she should have put a stop to, and she was also struggling with her life and where it was in general, which prompted her to turn in her two weeks’ notice. And having someone she cares about leave her life again, combined with being abandoned by her sister when she needed her help badly, since she was feeling ill from taking an abortion pill, and running into her father when he dropped off Lyn; put Emma in that sour place where she wants nothing to do with anyone because they clearly want nothing to do with her. 
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Which makes it seem as though we are right back where we started three years ago, and that perhaps these characters have learned nothing over the course of their journey. But that’s not what this surprise stood for in the slightest. Instead, this speaks volumes to how we stumble, how we fall and how hard it is to change and shake the bad habits that we are comfortable with. If anything, it makes Emma and Lyn the most relatable characters on television right now because we’ve all been in their shoes and allowed for the person, we thought we left behind to take control once again. But what makes this ‘regression’ so relevant and so stunning, is that it sets the stage for one powerful series finale, one where Emma and Lyn are going to have to do something they’ve never done before; and figure out their lives and what they want out of them.

Because the paths they are both on are clearly unsustainable, which means these strong women are going to have to dig deep and face their demons, their past and everything in between in order to figure everything out. Which means that the series finale of this beautiful and moving story, may not be all rosy and cuddly. Instead, it will likely be filled with tough and tender moments, and decisions that may not settle well with the audience or our characters. But that’s life, and it doesn’t always end in with a musical sting and smiles at sunset. It is rough, it is raw and it is messy, and whatever the Hernandez sisters decide will fundamentally change them forever and it should be interesting and moving to see if this familia finds a way forward, or if they decide to make drastic changes to their lives, in order to find the peace they’ve been searching for. Until next time.  

When we take the time to stand up for ourselves and our virtues, we do it because we are in desperate need of a change. We need the status quo to end before it suffocates us and often times, standing tall does produce wonderful benefits for us. Because it gives us strength and confidence and of course, it does engineer change in our lives. But while it is important to rise up from time to time and shatter the status quo, we do need to be prepared for potential blow back. Because some people, really don’t care for change, and rattling their world to alter ours can bring about ugly consequences, as evidenced by last night’s episode of Killing Eve.
 
Because ‘Beautiful Monster’ saw all kinds of fallout come forth for the bravery that so many of the characters exhibited during last week’s tale and that made for some ugly and unfortunate moments. Take Carolyn’s journey for instance. Because taking the time to stand up to Paul, emboldened her further when it comes to her suspicions of him, and that prompted her to put Mo on the trail to find something concrete about Paul’s ties to the Twelve. And sadly, the consequence of pushing hard against an agent of the Twelve, is seeing more innocent lives lost. For Mo didn’t survive an encounter with the Twelve’s newest assassin, after accomplishing his mission, something that once again rattled Carolyn’s psyche because the losses keep mounting for her.
 
While Carolyn worked to reconcile more death in her life, Konstantin dealt with the fallout of his manic push to escape the Twelve by racing to Cuba. For his daughter’s newfound bloodlust put her in a detention center, one that there was seemingly no escape from. Prompting him to head to London to check in and plan the next steps for his 'retirement'. But unfortunately for Konstantin, the stress surrounding him in both his professional and personal life, brought about the worst possible consequence imaginable, failing health. Because during an attempt to head for the money with Villanelle, he suffered a massive heart attack. And while he made it to a hospital in time, the fact that he’s stuck in a room with Dasha and on the Twelve’s bad side, doesn’t exactly engender much hope for a long-term recovery.

​Speaking of Dasha, her time in the hospital is also related to the power of consequences. Because her belief that she is the finest assassin to ever work for the Twelve, combined with her sour attitude and constant abuse of Villanelle, finally drove our favorite assassin to offer up a little payback. The kind where she straight up cold cocked Dasha upside the head with a golf club during a mission in Scotland. Which didn’t exactly have the intended effect that Villanelle was looking for, but it was enough to set up her getaway and hopeful escape from the Twelve, since she seemingly has all the information regarding Konstantin’s vast stores of money, making this part of the story a bit of a win for this emotionally rattled assassin and oddly enough, the good-ish vibes didn’t end with her.
 
Because the only person who didn’t suffer any consequences in this tale was Eve and that’s honestly a good thing. For this intrepid and brilliant spy has been through enough this season, and it is high time that she celebrates a little joy and a little hopefulness toward something bigger and she did indeed enjoy a taste of that in this tale. Which stemmed from her belief, that the time was right to contact Villanelle and recruit her into the cause since it was obvious that the Twelve were trying to use her as pawn, and thanks to Bear and Jamie, she was able to track her down quickly. But getting close to Villanelle up north offered an unexpected bonus for Eve, since it allowed for her to enact a little payback on Dasha when she stumbled upon her wounded body, since the elder assassin admitted to going after Nico. But what matters most is that Eve finally got the attention of her obsession, and they’re talking at this point and that could be a dangerous combination for the Twelve. Because if Eve can indeed enlist Villanelle’s help in going after this organization, MI6 might finally have a chance at bringing these jerks down. 
 
If anything, this is an episode that more or less featured organized chaos. Since there were uplifting and dark moments abound in this tale and that is a stroke of genius storytelling wise. Because it provides the audience with a genuine sense of danger and confusion, since the Twelve are clearly done with playing games and it feels as though no one is safe. Which means there are no guarantees that everyone will make it out of next week’s season three finale alive. And that is going to make the wait for said finale an unnerving one for certain. Because this season has already been a costly and painful one, and more loss would be tough to stomach. But sadly that is the nature of the spy business, one that the audience is now heavily vested in and a stunning ending is the only way to remind of the fact that this battle was always going to get worse before it gets better, and it should be interesting to see how the season three finale will up the ante and rattle us like never before.  Until next time.

There is a good reason as to why the phrase ‘it’s a small world’ pops into our heads from time to time, simply because it is painfully true. For we can all call upon countless examples, where we run into someone from out past, that we thought we would never see again. Which can be a good thing, if it is an awesome friend that we somehow lost touch with, or someone that we never got to explore our feelings for. But a crossing of paths once again, can also be a sour experience. Since that strange twist of fate allows for us to run into people that we simply didn’t care for and were just fine with never seeing again. But one way or another, this just happens in life, and it happens enough that it motivates writers to plop it into fiction. Because it just works in storytelling in a seamless and organic fashion, and for proof, look no further than last night’s episode of Line of Duty.
 
For this particular chapter in the Denton disaster saw the witness protection specialist arrive in AC-12 and wouldn’t you know it, it was Detective Inspector Matthew ‘Dot’ Cotton. Who if you recall, is a dirty, dirty cop. Because he’s the guy that played nice with AC-12 in order to help Tommy escape prosecution and jail time at the end of the last season and the whole point of having him here, was so he could orchestrate a grand cross departmental cooperative. One that would help the department get to the bottom of what happened on that fateful night, and it should be noted that his arrival in AC-12, helped to reveal the true identity of the now deceased witness to the viewer. And as it turns out, the departed was Tommy all along. But while it was nice to get some answers and wild to see Dot flex up on Arnott and Fleming, thanks to their sorted past, there was still a case to solve and what the investigation uncovered in this episode, was downright fascinating.
 
Because the further that AC-12 dug into this mess, the more it became clear that this whole case was tied to something larger. Something that was reinforced by Lindsay’s time in jail. Because she was having quite the difficult time behind bars, and that wasn’t related to the harsh reality that her career in law enforcement was likely over and that she might spend the rest of her life in a tiny twelve by twelve cell. No instead, her troubles stemmed from the fact that people had it in for her. For there was some gross stuff showing up in her food, and a barrage of insults and harassment being hurled her way, day and night. And while she was able to handle that, and some tough visits from Kate from time to time; what truly opened the flood gates in this investigation, is what happened after a little fight in the weight room. For the guards that rescued her from grave harm, took the time to badly hurt her with some scalding water, in order to make her understand that she shouldn’t be talking to AC-12.
 
Which truly made Lindsay wonder if she was being set up. But by whom was the true mystery. Thankfully though, some prodding and some digging from Kate, revealed something significant. In that, Lindsay was once romantically involved with an officer early on in her career, one that rose through the ranks to become quite powerful and that same officer turned boss made some odd manipulations to the schedule, the night of this disaster. Because Lindsay should have been home that evening. But instead that fateful operation fell to her, and she was unable to reach anyone but Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden to receive approval for the op. And it just so happens, that he is the officer in question that she used to be close to, and he was the one that made that schedule change. Which makes it seem as though the DCC is one the behind this mess, but proving that, will be quite the task. But the good news, is that Steve now believes Lindsay, and his change in tune makes a lot of sense, when one takes a moment to ponder upon Dryden and his actions thus far. 
 
Because he’s been oddly brash about getting this case solved, and it’s equally as strange that he wants something as simple as a traffic violation out of the limelight, as though he wants zero scrutiny upon him. And to make matters worse, he’s leaking information to the press to keep a media circus rolling, and really all of these actions leave one to wonder what exactly he’s hiding and what he’s up to. Of course, those truths will have to wait for another time. But in the here and the now, this was quite the impressive episode. One that did a phenomenal job of bringing elements from season one back into the mix and one that quite frankly blows your mind. Because the possibility that corruption and illegal acts have been orchestrated by a top cop is stunning for certain, and it really will be interesting to see what will be revealed about DCC Dryden in the weeks it come. Until next time.

It really is quite fascinating how quickly things can go south in our lives. Because truly, just like that, all the good will and effort we put into something supremely important just disappears right before our eyes, and we are left in utter shock as we try to figure out how to move forward, and really that is the most important part of this particular twist in life. Because we can either hold our heads high and forge ahead as we make every effort to put the pieces back together again, or we can let the frustration of failure consume us in a negative manner, and this is sadly, a choice that Andy and Laurie Barber were forced to make in the next episode of Defending Jacob.
 
For ‘Job’ saw the trial of their lives get underway and what made this episode so incredibly fascinating, is the sheer fact that at first glance, it seemed as though Andy and Laurie weren’t going to have to face that frustrating choice. Because right out of the gate, things were going their way in court. For the prosecution wasn’t going to be allowed to use the murder gene angle in the case, forcing them to rely upon the circumstantial evidence they assembled for the trial and that gave Jacob’s team the upper hand. Because all of that evidence was sloppy for certain, to the point where the jury began to have obvious doubts about what Neal and his team were presenting to them.
 
But that sure didn’t stop Neal from trying to pull out all of the stops, even going so far as to try and sneak the whole murder gene defense into an examination, something that straight up prompted the judge to warn Neal that any further mention on such matters would result in a mistrial. If anything, it really did seem for a moment there, that the defense was going to soundly win this case and they weren’t the only ones who realized this. Because Ben Rifkin’s father was visibly distraught one day at the trial, as he pondered aloud upon Neal’s incompetence and the very real possibility that Jacob was going to walk free and well, that’s when the wonderful feel-good vibes in this tale disappeared.

​Because just like that, a stunning surprise on the prosecution’s part changed everything in this case. For when Derek took the stand to speak of the unsettling relationship that Jacob and Ben shared, he dropped quite the bombshell. Specifically, that Jacob liked to hop on a violence fantasy website and write twisted stories about people under the pen name ‘Job’ and he just so happened to write a story about Ben’s death three days after the body was found, and well, what he put to digital paper was quite devastating. For every detail present in this grisly and disturbing tale, made it seem as though Jacob knew far more about the murder than he was letting on, despite pleading otherwise. In fact, it more or less read like a confession. Which of course, shifted momentum to the prosecution.
 
But what matters more, is that this discovery is what forced the Andy and Laurie to face the choice that we discussed a little bit ago and unfortunately, Laurie decided to go with the more negative option. Which brought every doubt she’s had about her son bubbling to the surface, and for the first time ever; she admitted out loud that she questioned Jacob’s claims of innocence because she was genuinely starting to believe that he committed this heinous crime. An admission that rattled Andy, who stood by Jacob and simply believed a new strategy would win them this case. But that kind of honestly simply speaks to the fact that Laurie has lost all faith in well, everything at this point, and there may be no coming back from her words or her doubts and that puts the family in a supremely precarious place, since they have clearly reached their breaking point.
 
Which truly made it seem as though all hope was lost at this point. But as this series is wont to do, it offered up quite the stunning surprise in its closing moments, one that could change everything for the case going forward. But while we wait to see how that plays out, in the meantime, it is best we simply we simply take a moment to celebrate one moving and powerful tale. Because this one really did take us on quite the emotional rollercoaster ride since there was joy and hope robbed from us in an instant and it also featured powerful performances to add gravity to the twist and turns. And truly, the wait for next week’s finale is going to be a difficult one. For we are all desperate to know how this harrowing story is going to come to an end, especially after that incredible surprise. Until next time.   

It’s always fascinating to learn what exactly allowed for a particular fan to fall in love with Star Trek. For some, it’s all about that hopeful vision of the future, because the thought of mankind overcoming its issues and traveling the stars is quite the draw. For others, it’s the wonderful sense of adventure that this series exhibits, since this intrepid crew uncovered wonders during their voyage through the galaxy and there are some that simply love the intelligence of the series, since its quality writing allowed for some beautiful stories to come to fruition. But one element that people don’t talk about enough when it comes to the magic of this series, is the sheer fact that it offers up some supremely diverse storytelling.
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Because this series really did find a way to do it all. Since it offered up horror stories, dramatic and comedic moments and just about everything in between. Case and point, the next episode of this storied series. Because ‘Wink of an Eye’ is a tale that takes a big risk storytelling wise. For there is no deeper meaning present within the framework of this tale, nor is there anything complex to it. It is simply a story grounded in fear. For it features a species on the brink of extinction and while that sounds like something that could go sideways real quick, this story actually works on screen due to the fact that it offers up some compelling and curious moments, all courtesy of a grand mystery that unfolds in real time, all thanks to a distress call from a planet known as Scalos.

For when the away team from the Enterprise beams down to this world, they outright find nothing. Not a trace of plant life, or insect life or humanoid life, leaving Kirk and company to wonder how on earth a distress call was even broadcast in the first place. But it doesn’t take long for this story to take a dangerous turn when a red shirt disappears on the planet below, prompting Kirk to order everyone back up to the ship and that’s when the mystery gets underway. For the away team brought the Scalosians back with them and didn’t have a clue about these stowaways. Simply because this species, one that destroyed their world through careless science, are able to move faster than anyone else on the ship. Prompting them to begin a grand and mysterious takeover of the NCC-1701, one that forces the crew to work overtime to figure out what is happening to the ship and well, when they discover what these beings are up to, the story does delve into some dark territory.

Because as it turns out, the Scalosians ultimate goal, is to put the crew in suspended animation and use them for breeding vessels to propagate their species. Something that just goes to show how desperate the Scalosians are and how far they’ve lost their way. In fact, having Kirk become part of their hyper fast world and spend time with them is really what makes this story so worth your while. Because these beings personify panic in the raw, for they are so near the end that all logic and understanding of science has left their minds. All that remains is a narrow-minded quest to keep the species going and that leads to some tense drama and a lovely game of deception that Kirk has to play in order to re-take the ship and save his crew.

If anything, this really was quite the compelling episode. Because it focused squarely on the power of fear, and what it can do to people when it controls them completely and that just sucks you into the story. Yet while this episode was unique and compelling for certain, what also makes it work so well, is the sheer fact that it still found a way to stay true to the franchise while diving into some bleak elements. Because the crew work together to find the solution to their problems, and they support one another every step of the way, and it doesn’t get more Trek than that, and one has to wonder if there will be more episodes that just let loose in this manner as season three continues along. Because stories in this vein help to clear your mental palate, so that you’re ready to consume something supremely cerebral when it comes along. Until next time.

​When a massive crisis arrives in our lives, the kind that seems to go on ad nauseam, there’s one thing that all of us seek out in order to be free of its trappings; a distraction. Because unfortunately, a crisis related routine tends to give us time to overthink, or it makes us feel as though we are in a rut. But a distraction, of any kind, well it can engender hope where there is none and provide us with a wonderful escape from our worries and our troubles and it just so happens, that distraction served as the focal point of the next episode of Avenue 5. Which is a good thing, since tensions aboard the ship are at an all-time high and thankfully, the distraction in question… just so happened to be as funny as possible.
 
Because Frank and Spike and Doug were just admiring the poo ring surrounding the ship one fine evening and came to realize that they probably saw a face within the mess, that looked a lot like Pope John Paul. And once word got out to the rest of the ship that a holy man’s face might be embedded in human fecal matter, well there was no stopping crowds from gathering and paying tribute to his holy poopness. Which was a damn funny distraction to inject into this tale, because it is one that you really didn’t see coming in the slightest and of course, something as simple and as goofy as this, found a way to create all kinds of problems for Mister Judd.
 
For this shrine to stink was on the First Class Deck and a paying customer named Harrison Ames, who just so happened to be a trillionaire, wasn’t cool with having ‘riff-raff’ hang out near his massive suite. Which prompted him to threaten a massive lawsuit against Judd if they didn’t vacate ASAP and his decision to come after Judd, led to some incredibly hilarious moments. Because Ames is Judd’s nemesis, one that knows how to get the best of him, and it was quite incredible to see someone on this ship put Judd in his place on a consistent basis and leave him speechless in the process, despite Matt’s best attempts to teach him some snarky comebacks. 
 
But while Judd’s serving of humble pie was quite delightful to watch in its own right, what truly makes this episode stand out, is that it found a way to explore how distraction can actually be quite helpful. Because Billie was in need of one as well, after discovering the rescue plan was going to be difficult to pull off with a captain that’s never docked a ship, and spending a little time with Jordan and his humor allowed for an epiphany to arrive. One that made her realize there was a good chance she could use good old physics to get the ship back to Earth far quicker than expected and that really was quite the lovely surprise, one that comes with its own inherent risks.
 
Because Captain Clark has far less time now to learn how to dock the ship, meaning it is going to take some hardcore work to get the captain ready for this task and it should be interesting to see what other chaotic complications prevent that from happening. Because this is the Avenue 5 we are talking about here, where nothing goes right. But before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s best we take a moment to celebrate one hilarious episode, one that finally saw Judd be put in his place and one that offered hope to the passengers and crew, if only for a little while. But most importantly, this is an episode that also taught us a supremely important lesson in that, don’t stare a glowing ring of poop for too long when you’re under distress, or you might see some weird s#it. Until next time.

Growing up, we all wanted nothing more, than to be seen and respected by adults. So badly in fact, that a great many of us out there, pondered upon what it might be like if we were able to control people with our minds. Because that would make the adults listen and understand us, and that particular daydream is one that infected our minds whenever there was an argument with our parents. But those kinds of silly dreams mostly leave our heads as we grow up and venture out into the world. Because there are bigger things for us to worry about than whether or not we can make someone like us. But fiction is always there to explore those dreams to the fullest and the next episode of Star Trek brought this particular dream to life.
 
For ‘Plato’s Stepchildren’ saw the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise rush to a planet to answer a distress call and well, what the away team discovered when it beamed down was quite incredible. For they were standing upon a world where Ancient Greece lived on, and with a little pressing from the ‘Greek’ natives, they came to learn that this species of seemingly immortal beings admired that part of human history from afar and decided that Plato’s teachings would serve them well going forward. Which is why they modeled their world after Greece and why they called themselves Platonians and that’s also why they needed help from Starfleet. Because there was no modern medicine on this hidden world, and one of the Platonians, named Parmen, was badly injured and in need of treatment before an infection took his life.
 
Of course, Kirk and McCoy were happy to offer assistance, because that’s the right thing to do. But it didn’t take long for the away team to realize that the Platonians were not as docile as they initially appeared to be, and that’s when the dream in question, came to life. For these being were omnipotent and able to control minds with minimal effort, and of course they expected McCoy to stay there forever in order to keep them healthy and when he refused, well things got ugly. Because Parmen was determined to have his way and that motivated him to use his powers to control Kirk and Spock for his own amusement and to encourage McCoy to join their cause, and it took some creative thinking on Bones’ part to figure out a way to counterattack these mysterious aliens so that everyone could escape the planet safely.
 
But what matters more here, is what this story had to say about power and control. Because this episode made it clear that people simply don’t like to be controlled in the first place, and no amount of exertion will ever bend them to someone’s will because the human spirit is simply too strong. Plus, this story was quick to point out that power can be a dangerous thing without accountability in place. Because Parmen was in essence unchecked in his abilities, and that definitely corrupted him over time and these were some solid lessons for certain, and it was just wonderful to see the show find a way to sneak commentary into a tale that didn’t require it. But all subtext aside, we cannot talk about this particular tale, without taking the time to discuss the supremely important moment that occurs in the third act. 
 
Because this story is well known for featuring the first on-screen interracial kiss, since Parmen forces Kirk and Uhura to lock lips during one of his mind control tirades. Which is still powerful to watch in 2020. Mainly because, the power and the gravity of that moment hasn’t faded in the slightest, simply because while we’ve made progress in such matters, we do still have a long way to go. In the end, however, this is a solid episode for certain, but not a stellar one unfortunately. Because at times, it goes pretty over the top with the mind control sequences, and this is the umpteenth time the crew has encountered omnipotent beings. But thankfully the depth present here, and the fact that it makes it history, overshadows any issues and keeps one’s goodwill in place as you move along to the next mission in the five-year mission. Until next time.   

Over the course of the past couple of months, our rewatch of Lodge 49 has allowed for us to revisit some genuinely powerful moments. The kind that remind all of us, how much it hurts to lose someone we dearly love, and how their exit can bring us to our knees and rattle our souls in ways we never thought possible. But this journey back through the Lodge has also helped to remind us, how strong we are and that the darkness surrounding us doesn’t last forever, and that there are steps that we can take to reclaim the joy in our hearts that we believed was lost forever. Which has made this rewatch a powerful experience since it has reinforced the sheer brilliance of this series and the fact that we may never see anything like Lodge 49 on the air, ever again.
 
But while that seems like the perfect opportunity to go on a rant regarding the early end of this series, there’s no point in doing that. What’s done is done, and the work stands on its own, and what’s truly amazing about ‘The Door’, is that its inadvertent conversion into a series finale, actually helps the story examine an important question that we discussed at the beginning of this particular journey. For this series was always designed to ask and answer a particular question that all of us ponder upon on the days and weeks after we’ve lost a loved one, specifically; what comes next? Because our lives have been upended at that point, and we are without direction or understanding, making that question paramount to the healing process. 
 
Because without those three little words, we have no idea what to look for, or what to work toward and after spending two seasons examining the healing process and pondering upon that question, this story finally lets us know what comes next for us after we’ve healed from a traumatic life experience. But what makes the answer so special in this particular episode, is that it really isn’t all that epic, and that should honestly come as no surprise. Because emotional healing doesn’t have discharge paperwork akin to a hospital visit, where you spent a little time mending a broken leg. Nor is there a finish line that says you’ve made it through hell and you’re all better now, and you definitely won’t receive a certificate in the mail that you can frame, broadcasting the fact that you’re finally healed.

No instead, what actually happens, is that the days suddenly become tolerable again. In fact, you wake up feeling refreshed and calm inside, and the air tastes better and the sun is a little brighter and your cup of coffee goes down smooth because you’re looking forward to the day and you cannot wait to see what it brings, and that is quite the change. One that you oddly barely notice, because you don’t miss the sadness or the isolation, and shaking that off motivates you to go out into the world and make memories with your friends and family. If anything, it simply means that what comes next for us when we’ve recovered from trauma and loss, is more life. We get to live it, we get to enjoy it and we get to cherish every single second of it and while that sounds storybook in its own right and overly simplistic, that’s really all there is to it, and for proof, look at all the journeys in this finale.
 
Because everyone in this story is feeling exactly, what we just discussed, and that’s a wonderful way to wrap up this series. Because it gives these characters the second chance, they’ve craved, and it was also quite lovely for this finale, to remind us to pay the kindness that we received when we were down and out, forward. Because you never know if a gentle gesture on your part, is exactly what someone needs in that moment, or if that’s the final piece they need to complete their own complex healing puzzle. Yet, what is truly phenomenal about this finale, is that it doesn’t promise you endless happiness when you’ve found your way back. Because Dud’s monologue above, reminds us that losing someone we love dearly will always hurt, and it sucks that they can’t be there to make new memories with us and when that reality crosses our mind, or something reminds of us them, sadness will return and it will give us pause for certain. But we are better prepared to handle those moments in this next phase of our lives and we honor them and make them proud by continuing to stay strong when those moments pass, and by living our life to the fullest and enjoying every single moment that comes our way.
 
If anything, this is a brilliant albeit unexpected way to end a series, since it reminds us to ignore tomorrow and live for today. Because heaven knows we cannot control the future and well, those are really the last words to write about this magnificent series. Because that’s it, we’ve reached the end, and there’s little else to analyze. Which means the time has come to close the doors to the Lodge and move onto the next story, but this is most certainly not, a permanent goodbye. Because stories like these, the kind that capture the best parts of the human condition, always find a way to resonate with us and inspire us when we absolutely need it. Which means that if we’re feeling lost as we are wont to do from time to time, we can reopen the doors and invite our fellow Lynx back in. For this story is a safe place, a place for healing. Because as Ernie and Dud once said, ‘in here… it’s different’.

There are people in our lives that we hold in high regard in our minds, and with good reason. Because these are the folks who inspire us to be better people with their actions and their words, and these magnificent mentors are people that we would do anything for, because they are genuinely good human beings who want to make the world a better place. If anything, our only real struggle when it comes to people like this, is how we honor their teachings and the good vibes they engender and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek, took the time to explore how we pay tribute to these individuals in fascinating fashion.
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For ‘The Tholian Web’ saw the intrepid crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise run into quite the surprise. For the U.S.S. Defiant was adrift in space and phasing in and out of our universe. Which put the away team on urgent notice to get off of that ship before it went to a destination unknown, and unfortunately since Kirk loves to command every single away mission, he disappeared with this mysterious vessel when this strange interphasing messed up the transporter. And while that is quite the devastating problem for the crew to deal with, there were plenty more waiting for them in this tale. For Mister Spock was certain he could rescue the captain easily, by patiently waiting for the Defiant to reappear. But the arrival of the Tholians and a quick weapons exchange with them, ended any hopes of that.

Because the fight with the Tholians not only motivated them to build their web, but it left the NCC-1701 badly damaged and without her captain. For the crew was unable to rescue him thanks to the battle and that forced Spock to declare his captain, his mentor and his friend as dead. And to make matters worse, some members of the crew were starting to lose their minds thanks to this odd area of space and well, with a ship in tatters and without a clear leader aboard, Spock and Bones were at one another’s throats and were unsure of how to proceed. Which brings us to the lesson of this tale, since Spock and McCoy came to realize that their infighting wasn’t the best way to honor Jim, and with a few final recorded words from their captain, they finally figured out a way forward and how to pay tribute to the man that taught them so much.

As it turns out, the best way to do that was through their actions, and to embody everything that Jim taught them, and that motivated Commander Spock to become an impactful and inspiring leader, something that brought out the best in the crew. And McCoy took a step back from his aggressive stance and quickly became the emotional guiding hand that the ship needed and used his vast stores of medical knowledge to cure the mental health problem plaguing the crew. Plus, we also came to learn that the captain wasn’t lost to the multiverse after all and with everyone working together under the strength of the right leaders, they were able to rescue Kirk and get him back in the big chair, where he belongs, meaning that this episode ends in a delightfully uplifting fashion.

If anything, this is once again, the Trek we’ve been waiting for. Because it focused heavily on a wonderful lesson in regard to the human condition and it also took the time to flesh out more of the dynamic between Kirk and Spock and Bones, something that every fan out there loves and honestly, there are no complaints when it comes to this tale. Because it really did offer up a perfect story, one filled with action and adventure and emotion and that’s really all you can ask for from this series and it is wonderful to see that this hot streak of wonderful episodes is continuing along in season three, and that definitely gets one excited to settle in and enjoy another adventure in the five-year mission. Until next time.