For the most part, television episodes like to operate within the framework of a theme, and understandably so. Because doing so gives the audience something to chew upon while they watch and something to discuss after said episode has come to an end, and it also benefits the characters as well. For it aids in their growth and development since it gives them something specific to deal with and work toward as the episode rolls along. But some shows, well they don’t follow this rule in the slightest and that’s not a bad thing by any means. For if the series is designed to embrace the wonder of chaos, then it can pull off tales filled with disarray no problem, and it just happens that Avenue 5 is a show that meets that criteria.
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Because nothing ever quite goes right on this show and there’s good reason for that. Because outside of the engineering staff, everyone aboard this vessel is a mess in every way imaginable. To the point where an innocent everyday man almost found himself tossed out of an airlock during the last episode. But while that would normally serve as a wake-up call that things need to get better and everyone needs to come together, there was simply more chaos to be found in the next episode of this magnificent series. For ‘Was It Your Ears?’ focused upon an identity crisis for Judd, one that came to fruition for all the wrong reasons, while a potentially fatal problem began to manifest itself aboard the ship and that led to more hilariously frustrating moments. 

For the identity crisis in question, wasn’t generated out of Judd’s outlandish actions at the party. He didn’t care about that. Instead, it was all about the fact that his ship was host to the first baby born in space and he really couldn’t handle how much the passengers admired the baby, over him. Yes. You read that right, Judd was jealous of a baby and that prompted him to try and create a new look and a new attitude, one that would resonate with the people of the ship so they would finally love him. Plus, he also figured that a gimmick might help move that along, which prompted him to prepare a laser light show that would brighten up the poo ring around the vessel and once people knew he was behind this gift of beauty, they would speak and think quite highly of him.

Which most certainly made for some delightfully comical moments, since Judd cannot be anyone other than Judd, despite Matt’s best efforts to shape him into a new man. And while he tried to reinvent himself, an unexpectedly haunting symphony garnered attention aboard the ship. For a strange beeping noise was going off constantly in the background, the kind akin to a fire detector with a dying battery and it produced a similar result, since people could no longer sleep with this hideous thing going off. But what made this surprise so chaotic and unsettling, is the sheer fact that it looked as though it was informing the crew of a massive oxygen leak, one that prompted everyone to limit their motions and their speech in a desperate gambit to preserve precious air.

Something that led to more tension and fights, before it was thankfully revealed that the beep was nothing more than a reminder to recalibrate the ship with a new passenger on board. Once again demonstrating that the people aboard this vessel are quick to react to just about everything in a panicked manner and while this behavior leaves you shaking your head, it also leaves you wiping tears from your eyes. Because everything that happened here was just a hilarious treat to experience, the kind that definitely keeps you coming back for more. Since you’re dying to know what other silly decisions the people aboard this ship are going to make, and one has to wonder if they are ever going to care about or pay attention to the fact that Rav got the White House to approve their rescue. Until next time.

It really is quite the time to be alive if you’re a fan of television. For this era of peak T.V., has provided Telephiles everywhere with a massive database of shows to binge and sift through. But while that alone is truly amazing, what’s equally as incredible is that new shows continue to pop up left and right, courtesy of a mountain of streaming services. Which provides anyone with a few minutes to spare with what seems to be an endless supply of entertainment, one that may never be exhausted. 
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But there is a slight downside in regard to this revolution in that, in order to capture an audience, networks and streaming services are assembling shows that are designed to suck you in and keep your attention because they want you to see the wondrous world they’ve created. Which doesn’t sound like a bad thing necessarily and in many ways, it isn’t. Because you really cannot go wrong with investing yourself in a well-crafted tale. Instead, the only drawback to this style of storytelling is the sheer fact that sometimes you’re not in the mood to bury yourself in a juicy plot, you simply want to be entertained by something fun and lighthearted.

Enter Apple TV+. For as they continue to diversify their already impressive lineup, they’re adding shows that fit that particular mold, and next Friday will see the premiere of Central Park, a series that definitely allows for the viewer to kick back and smile. Now this particular show, one forged from the mind of Loren Bouchard (Bob’s Burgers), is an animated series that introduces us to the Tillerman family. Who live inside the park itself since the patriarch of the family, Owen, is the park manager for this iconic place and we get to join them on their adventures as they try to keep a hotel magnate named Bitsy Brandenham, from transforming the park into a money-making nightmare. 

But that’s all we are going to discuss in regard to the plot today. Because it’s better that we talk about what exactly makes this series such a delightful treat, such as the fact that the setting and the story of this series are quite unique and original. For there really aren’t any shows out there, animated or live action, that are set in this part of Manhattan. If anything, this park is often used solely as a set piece or a plot device in storytelling, so to see Central Park become a focal point is something that definitely piques your interest. As for the story, well you’ll find that it offers up some new ideas and unique challenges for our characters to face, but again, we need to keep the details of that under wraps, so that you can experience the wonder of the narrative on your own.
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Yet while those two elements make this show worth your while, there are other components in this series that add to its charming nature. For example, Central Park is also a musical. The kind where the characters sing from the heart as they process their thoughts and that oddly enough, keeps your attention because you’re curious to see how the writers created a song out of the mundane. But while that is a treat in its own right, it is the humor that truly allows for this series to shine. Because the jokes simply work, to the point where you’re consistently laughing out loud and you’ll also find yourself pausing the show to catch your breath, when the comedy starts to arrive in rapid-fire fashion.

In the end, this really is quite the magnificent series, one that is definitely worth a watch. Simply because it really is a wonderful way to escape the world for half an hour since it offers up a fun experience, one filled with relatable stories and moments and this is a show that that also features a stellar cast. Since Leslie Odom Jr., Stanley Tucci, Josh Gad and Kristen Bell lend their vocal talents to this world and hopefully, you’ll give this delightful story a look when it premieres on Apple TV+, on Friday, May 29, 2020.

In the back of our minds, each and every one of us have a list of celebrities that we would simply love to meet. Because there are famous folks out there that we genuinely admire. Largely due to the fact that their work has managed to influence our lives and lift us up. Which is why so many of us go to conventions, simply because that is the easiest way to get a little face time with the stars that we look up to, so we can thank them for the joy they bring into our lives and the lives of others. But while that is quite the treat, a genuine dream for all of us, would be getting the opportunity to just hang out with our heroes, so that we can learn exactly what makes them tick and how they honed their craft.
 
But alas, the chances of that happening are far and few between because these folks have plenty to do. Which is why fiction is such a wonderful way to explore what so many of us consider to be the impossible, and it just so happens that last night’s episode of Almost Paradise took the time to examine the fan’s ultimate dream, by having Alex hang out with someone famous that he admired. For ‘Lone Wolf’ saw his favorite country music star arrive in Cebu for a big-time concert and well, the local police were a tad concerned for August Crowe’s safety. Because there was a kidnapping ring snatching up celebrities in the Philippines for ransom and Chief Ocampo did not want that happening on his watch, and had Kai and Ernesto employ Alex as Mister Crowe’s temporary bodyguard while he was on the island and well, this led to some powerful and beautiful moments.
 
Because once the wonder of standing toe to toe with his musical hero wore off, Alex came to discover that August Crowe was in quite the miserable place. Simply because life wasn’t going the way that he expected and that motivated August to turn to the bottle and every painkiller he could get hands on, in order to cope with the pain in his heart and this made for some difficult scenes to watch. For it outright broke Alex’s heart to see his hero suffering like this, and while he went the extra mile to keep Crowe out of trouble, it became obvious that this episode wanted to get an important message across when it comes to celebrities. In that, they’re human beings too, and they have problems like the rest of us and sometimes what helps them lose their way, is being insulated and protected in the name of the craft and that revelation is what led to the beauty in question.
 
For Alex took the time to treat August like a person and be honest with him about where his life was heading if he kept on this destructive path. Which once again made Alex the mentor in this tale, since he had meaningful advice to offer to a lost soul and it was just wonderful to see him open up like this again and give someone direction and hope. But what truly made August’s salvation at Alex’s hands (in both the literal and figurative sense) so supremely worth our while, is the sheer fact that this mentor role is genuinely helping Alex heal as well. Because it’s been obvious for some time now that Alex firmly believes he did nothing meaningful as a DEA Agent, since all he saw was revolving door justice. But being able to impact the lives of others in a positive fashion, is giving him purpose at last, and seeing him put the pieces of his soul back together as this journey continues along is quite inspirational.
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If anything, this is just another magnificent episode from a series that quite frankly has been flawless from the start. Because once again, we were treated to all the hallmarks of a quality story since this one featured flawless performances, action and adventure, plenty of laughs and quality character growth. Plus, you simply cannot go wrong with having Christian Kane belt out a little tune while playing the guitar, since it only helps to further demonstrate just how talented the man really is. Either way, this was just a lovely little tale, one that was supremely human and honest and raw, and it really just goes to show that this series is accomplishing some storytelling wonders. The kind that leave you hungry for more, and once again all we can do at this point is bask in the magic of another stellar episode and count down the minutes until Alex’s next adventure. Until next time.  

When we are young, the night life is everything to us. Because there is something quite powerful about being able to venture out into the world while the rest of it goes to sleep and make wonderful memories while you drink or smoke the night away. And it truly seems in that moment, that this is what life should feel like and you genuinely hope that these good times will never end. But one day, the bars just don’t quite appeal to us like they used to, and twenty beers become one light one and an early bedtime is super enticing and that is quite the jarring transition. But it is one that is a necessary part of growing up in general. Because there simply comes a point in life, where we realize that there is more to life than partying until dawn and hollow pursuits.
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If anything, this is relevant to today’s discussion, because that all-important moment when someone comes to the point where they realize enough is enough with the nightlife and the B.S. that our peers exhibit found its way into the storytelling fabric of last night’s episode of Vida. For three main characters came to understand that the path they were currently on was no longer sustainable and the time had come for a change. Mari for instance, came to understand that life is short and fleeting and that if someone wants to make an impact in this world, they cannot waste their time discussing what should be done, they should act and act quickly. And that’s why she finally stood up to Yoli and the rest of Los Vigilantes and called them out for their cowardice and that’s also why she made the bold decision to walk away, so that she can enact some real change in a world that needs it.

But while Mari’s journey in this story was far larger in scope, since she was looking at the world, Lyn’s voyage in this tale was far more intimate and truly in line with some of what we discussed earlier. Because the birthday party she hosted for Marcos at the bar, was just too much for her, for several reasons. The biggest one being that she’s spent the past three years on this series trying to grow and be more, and she hasn’t taken the time to acknowledge that she’s been successful in her endeavors. Because she’s now running a bar that gets buzz from her ideas, and she has confronted a dark chapter in her family’s history by visiting her father and trying to get to know him. And to top it all off, she even rebuffed Juniper’s silly and immature overtures to bring her back into a life of luxury because she earned all of this. She did it herself, without anyone’s help and the rush that comes from that supersedes any party or drug and those elements, combined with seeing what the party lifestyle looks like from the sober side, made her realize that kind of life isn’t for her anymore. But the one that she’s forged for herself, sounds quite enticing.

Yet as this series is wont to do, it also threw the audience quite the curveball in regard to this exploration by way of Emma. Because once again in this tale she was a tad morose and lost, despite getting answers that satisfied her concern about ownership of the bar. And well, her aloof nature and desire to escape with Marcos and his friends in this tale, came from one hell of a wakeup call. For Emma revealed she is likely pregnant in this tale, and well, that discovery clearly led to her own unique epiphany. For while Emma is indeed the straight arrow on this series, full of logic and decisiveness, she has assembled her own perfect little world in a bubble. One where she doesn’t make mistakes and doesn’t connect with people all that often unless there’s good reason to let them in. So, discovering that she is going to be a mother, helped her to realize that she is fully capable of making big mistakes, the kind that change a life, and also that the world doesn’t operate like a business plan and that she needs to start being open to meaningful connections since parenthood requires bonds.

In the end, this was simply a supremely complex and powerful and relatable chapter in this story. Because all of us have experienced something similar to what Mari, Lyn and Emma went through in this tale, and if by chance that reckoning hasn’t occurred yet, well it’s only a matter of time before one’s eyes are opened to the world. Which makes this episode quite special. Because it is rare when a television show can truly pull from our memories and take us back to a formative moment in our lives. But this one accomplished it no problem, and it will be interesting to see where this trio goes from here now that they’re seeing the world in a different light. Because once you’ve said ‘enough’, you demand better and more, and you won’t settle until you have it and these revelations and discoveries will likely help to make the series finale of this story quite powerful, now that our trio are facing some big life decisions in regard to what comes next for all of them. Until next time.   

Normally in spy dramas, the lovely little game of cat and mouse that spy and villain play, seemingly goes on forever. For they continuously tease and poke and prod one another, in order to test one another’s limits and see who by chance, will finally crack first. Which definitely makes for an entertaining if not equally unrealistic ride. Because in reality, we only put up with that kind of silly game for so long before we finally cut to the chase and that’s another reason why Killing Eve is such a brilliant spy drama. Because last night’s episode of the series injected a little realism into this particular genre, by having just about every character in this tale say, ‘enough’.
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Because ‘End of Game’ saw everyone reach their boiling point with the little games that everyone has been taking part in over the past three seasons and in doing so, they were able to accomplish some outright wonders in their personal and professional lives. Take for example Eve’s journey in this tale. Because she didn’t buy for a second that Villanelle was responsible for harming Nico, and in order to properly give him closure and the ability to emotionally heal, since it turns out he survived Dasha’s stunning attack; she decided it was high time to stand up to the Twelve in bold fashion and quit doofing around with observation and procedure. Which led her to a face to face meeting with Dasha, one where she made it clear that she was done with their games and done with them thinking they can do whatever they want and well, this was just wonderful to see. Because it speaks to Eve’s growth, and how much of a threat she can be when she’s focused and it will be quite interesting to see if this epic moment will shake the proverbial tree, and potentially allow for Nico to forgive her. 

But there was mention of everyone in this tale taking the time to stand up and say enough and that was no exaggeration. For Carolyn was also at a point where she was done with the stupid games in this business, something that came about because her boss was lying to her. For he never once gave her the call logs from Kenny’s phone. In fact, she had to get them from someone else and that motivated her to confront her boss about his behavior and question his loyalty and well, why stop there? Which means that she took the time to hammer Konstantin about his constant hovering in regard to her daughter and why Kenny called him the night before he died. And while she didn’t get any specific answers that would help solve the mystery of his death, it was just nice to see Carolyn quit playing games and cut to the chase for a change. Simply because it brought about results and much needed honesty, and it may even repair her strained relationship with her daughter. 

Speaking of Konstantin, well he is perhaps the only character that seemingly continued to play the game in this tale, but there was good reason for him to stay in the shadows and get along to get along. Because it turns out that he is the man responsible for swiping all that money after all, and a low profile was a necessity in order to see tomorrow. But why he stole the money, is why he qualifies to be a part of a list of characters that stood tall in this tale, because he too wanted out of the Twelve, so that he could finally have a normal life with his daughter. And while his journey toward independence and early retirement was perhaps the most straightforward in this tale, it was also powerfully poignant since it did reveal that Carolyn’s boss is indeed a member of the Twelve and hopefully Konstantin can escape their clutches quickly and quietly. Especially when one considers that his darling daughter outright murdered her stepfather in cold blood at the suggestion of someone who was hoping to join them immediately on their journey to Cuba.
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For Villanelle also had her fill of this lifestyle, which is a huge deal. And much of her motivation to get out of the game, came from the fact that killing her mother brought her no peace, and the constant killing in general was starting to wear upon her. But the nail in the coffin in regard to her career with The Twelve, came from the fact that they lied. They didn’t make her a keeper, they just gave her more money and more amenities to enjoy a fancy lifestyle, when all she wants is peace and quiet. And the jarring nature of discovering that she is only good for one thing to this organization made her sloppy in her most recent kill and irreconcilable when Dasha tried to ease her physical and emotional pain and  truly it was quite incredible to see Villanelle in such a vulnerable and desolate place, especially when one considers that not that long ago she was all about her life as an assassin.

But clearly even professional murderers tire of the games and the fantasy and it won’t be long now before her desire to step away from this world will be fulfilled since Villanelle always gets what she wants, and, in the end, this was quite the incredible episode. Because this is universal growth for our characters, and it was wonderful to see each of them finally have their fill of the silly stuff and expect results and this really does make Killing Eve one of the most dynamic and intelligent shows out there. Because it refuses to give into gimmicks, and it demands more of its characters and it should be interesting to see where all this growth and rebellion takes us in the weeks to come. For none of us saw this coming and it is always a wonderful thing when a show can utterly surprise you by way of a bold new direction, three years into its run. Until next time.

Often times, television shows tend to go pretty low key when it comes to season premieres. Simply because they serve as a wonderful opportunity to reset the story and set up the events of the season to follow. Plus, taking a relaxed approach in telling the story, really does allow for the audience to ease their way back into this universe and prepare their minds for a fascinating journey. But some shows, well they simply love to go big when it comes to their season premieres, and they provide the audience with a tour de force storytelling wise. One that puts the audience on the edge of their seat and blows their minds before taking the time to slow things down and that’s precisely what Line of Duty has done thus far in its second season.
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Because the premiere wasted no time in plunging us into the investigation of an unsettling crime, one that appeared to involve an officer of the law named Lindsay Denton, before stunning us with an epic finale where a new character lost their life, largely due to Denton’s actions. Which is the kind of opening chapter that takes an audience off guard and leaves them wondering as to what the next episode of the story is going to provide them with, and as mentioned a moment ago, ‘Episode 2’ was the one that made a great effort to slow things down. In order to give the audience time to process everything they just learned and to allow our heroes to lick their wounds and grieve and this was a genius decision storytelling wise. Because it gave DC Trotman’s death meaning and gravity, since both Hastings and Arnott were visibly shaken by her loss, despite the fact that they knew they had a duty to attend to.  

But they tried their best to get back on track, since bringing Trotman’s murderer to death would provide them with closure. And while Hastings was able to accomplish such a feat quickly, Steve still struggled to make peace with it all and found himself in a vulnerable place. One that allowed for him to become intimate with the nurse that allowed for the assassin to kill the witness, simply because it was obvious to the both of them that a romantic distraction would help more than hinder. As for Kate, well she knew she had to get something out of Denton and went above and beyond in getting close to her, basically using the playbook she saw success with, in the Gates case, with mixed results. Because Denton did everything and anything to keep Kate at bay, even going so far as to straight up, beat the tar out of DC Fleming when given the opportunity, simply because Kate and all of AC-12 underestimated this officer.

Because dear Denton was handling her own side investigation while she worked the missing person’s case, one that took a good long look at Kate, Steve and Hastings and their lives. For Denton knew that the walls were closing in upon her, and if she didn’t have something to fight back with quickly, this would end badly for her. Which brought forth quite the stunning moment when AC-12 called her back in for interrogation, since she straight up embarrassed our trio of heroes by airing their dirty laundry out, on the record. All in an effort to demonstrate that no one was above her, and of course to get them in trouble as well, and this was simply an incredible sequence to watch unfold. Because it really speaks to how much Denton believes people underestimate her and how ready she is to show the world to never do so and what’s fascinating about this sequence; is that it may be grounded in vengeance and hubris over a desperate attempt to prove one’s innocence.

Because Lindsay may in fact be innocent after all. For despite being arrested and put behind bars for the events of that evening, there is new evidence that dropped into AC-12’s lap. For the Witness Protection information was brought to the office mere moments before she was dragged away and Steve’s reaction to learning the witness’ true identity leaves the audience wondering why he was so rattled and frustrated at putting DI Denton behind bars, since he is as honest as they come. But that will have to wait for next week’s episode since this one ends before we can dive into such matters and while we wait, we can bask in the wonder of one quality tale. For this one really did a fine job of exploring our characters like never before and our potential villain for that matter as well and that’s always wonderful to see in a crime drama. Plus, despite slowing everything down, it still kept us on the edge of our seats and well, things are likely going to get more intense from here, now that AC-12 has an idea of what exactly they are up against. Until next time.    

Hope is quite the powerful emotion for certain. Because it truly lifts our spirts up and gives us direction in life when we are at our lowest, and when we let it infect every aspect of our soul, it motivates us to accomplish wonders so that we can enjoy a content and fulfilling life since we made our hopes and dreams become a reality. But while it is wonderful to experience hope and everything it offers us; it can also be a dangerous emotion. Because at times it is indeed fleeting and to make matters worse, we can be robbed of it on a moment’s notice, leaving us right back where we started, and it just so happens that the highs and the lows that come with the power of hope served as the focal point of this week’s episode of Defending Jacob.
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For the Barber family is riding high in ‘Wishful Thinking’ and with good reason. After all, Ben’s phone is finally in the hands of the authorities and at long last, its secrets will reveal the kinds of facts that will either allow for the charges to be dropped against Jacob, or at least delay the trail. But sadly, once Andy and Joanna get into the phone and see its actual contents, hope begins to wane. For there’s nothing incriminating present on the device, just a collection of moments of a life cut short and that made what should have been a fairly innocent sequence quite powerful for certain. Because there were so many memories present within those text messages, and moments that would never come to fruition and it was quite brilliant on the show’s part to harken back to the raw nature of the first couple of episodes and remind us that a life had been taken. 

But while that was quite the powerful sequence in its own right, this particular tale wasn’t quite done with notions of fleeting hope. Because shortly after this particular trail went cold, Andy received an important phone call from Matt, one that let him know that this mysterious and troubled kid was ready to talk and just like that, it seemed like hope was bubbling to the surface once again. For Matt offered up a scathing indictment of Leonard Patz, one that more or less pinned the crime on him after all. But even then, finding hope in something such as this was difficult for both the audience and the Barber family, since a search warrant revealed nothing in Patz’s apartment. And the frustration from a lack of progress definitely sent Andy to his boiling point since he took the time to bumper kiss Leonard’s car to get a little face to face yelling time with him.

Yet while those elements were more than enough to sufficiently rob the audience and this family of any semblance of hope, as this series tends to remind us; when it rains it pours. Because the closing segment of this tale saw Laurie’s worst fears come to fruition. For her son and husband both tested positive for the elusive ‘murder’ gene and there were plenty of concerning words and phrases in the notes of Jacob’s evaluation, prompting Laurie to press the good doctor for an answer as to whether or not her son did it. Which is understandable because she’s been struggling to process all of this for some time. But alas, she would not receive that wish, and despite her and Andy’s best efforts to keep this from their boy, it’s only a matter of time before this reaches the public eye like so much did in this tale. For the trial has finally arrived and more tough moments await this broken family. 

If anything, this was quite the intense tale when all is said and done. Because the hits really did keep on coming in this story, and that left an anxious air hanging over this story, one that was enhanced by the arrival of this mysterious observer that keeps following the family around and really in the end, all of these elements made for one stellar episode. Because you truly felt for the Barbers in this one, because all they wanted was a simple break and they couldn’t find one, regardless of their best efforts. Plus, this episode gets some serious props for taking the time to push the Barber family over the edge. Because people can only handle so much pressure for so long, so to see Laurie and Andy let loose a bit in this tale was a nice and realistic touch and sadly, we are likely going to see more erratic moments from this family in the weeks to come. Because the trial is going to push them, like never before. Until next time.    

We face a great many difficult moments in our lives, and one of the toughest, is when we lose a loved one. Because they mean the world to us and knowing that the rest of our days won’t feature their smiling faces is a tough prospect to deal with. But tough or no, death is a constant in life. For our time on this world is limited. But what is truly fascinating about death, is that we outright forget that we are going to face our own departure from this world at some point down the line. And it is something we don’t want to ponder upon because not only is it unpleasant, but we haven’t a clue how to handle those final days and that’s why television and books and movies take the time to examine this important topic, often.
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Because perhaps fiction can give us a bit of a blueprint as to what we should do when we face the end, and oddly enough, this topic is so important to us, that it even finds its way into stories that are often designed to be uplifting and hopeful. Which oddly enough, includes Star Trek. Because despite the medical advances present in the 23rd Century, death still finds the good people of the Federation and the end is something that an important crew member aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise was forced to face unexpectedly in the next episode of this brilliant series. For Doctor Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy came to discover that he had a supremely rare and fatal disease in ‘For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky’ and that forced him to decide how best to live his final days in a fulfilling manner.

Which at first, involved him taking the time to go about his day as though nothing had changed in regard to his health. For when the crew of the NCC-1701 encounters a rogue asteroid that somehow manages to fire ballistic missiles at the ship, he is right there on the transporter pad, ready to beam down and investigate with Kirk and Spock, despite the captain’s misgivings. But this speaks volumes to McCoy’s pride and how his view of meeting the end involves facing it in the bravest and boldest of fashion until his body would no longer allow him to do so. Which is a lovely message to find in the framework of a story that should in turn be bleak, and the uplifting nature of McCoy’s bravery led to more bittersweet and beautiful moments as the episode rolled along.

Because once they were aboard the asteroid, they came to discover a living and thriving society beneath its surface, one that was put there by a dying society in the hopes that their beliefs and people would live on. And while Kirk and Spock figured out a way to save this species, since they were on a collision course with another world, McCoy found another way to face his final days in peace. All by letting the leader of these people into his heart and really, it was just wonderful to see the Doctor savor the moment, knowing full well it would never come again. But while all of these tender moments were lovely in their own right, eventually the plot and his illness had to be resolved. Because this is Sci-Fi. Where anything can happen and of course, we know McCoy lives, and eventually everything ended happy and a cured McCoy resumed his duties aboard the Enterprise, and sadly the ending of this tale leaves one feeling hollow.

Not because McCoy survived. But more so due to the fact that this episode didn’t do enough in its exploration of mortality. For this was a prime opportunity to really reflect upon a life well led, and McCoy’s regrets over what he may not have accomplished just yet, and sadly, most of that is pushed aside for exposition and special effects, wasting a great opportunity. Which is a shame because it could have led to one powerful story, one that rivaled some of the show’s best. But with season three being a shaky venture already, and the series staring down the cancellation barrel, taking a soft approach makes sense. Because it makes such dark matters fluffy and digestible to an audience, but at the same time, it also makes the episode mediocre at best. But all flaws aside, it was nice to see a McCoy-centric episode so that the ultra-talented DeForest Kelley can do his thing acting wise, and one has to wonder if more side character themed stories are going to pop up as we close in on the end of this storied series. Until next time.

When it comes to stories that feature great chaos and disaster and overall incompetence, from the people who should be saving others from such problems, they often tend to feature an important turning point. A moment where someone in charge finally realizes that the current path is no longer sustainable, and someone needs to step up to the plate and make things right. Because audiences and readers are all about a happy ending, one that sees order to chaos and one that shows us that perhaps humans aren’t always a disaster, and for a time it seemed as though Avenue 5 was going to take us down that particular storytelling path.
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After all, the prior episode saw Captain Clark doing everything we just discussed. He started to step up as a leader aboard the ship, he found a way to make a problem passenger an ally and even figured out how to make the ship function like a normal vessel despite the shortcomings of his bridge crew. And it just so happens that the feel-good nature of those elements didn’t end with Episode Four’s cliffhanger. Because ‘He’s Only There to Keep His Skeleton from Falling Over’ saw Captain Clark and Billie, do the impossible and save the day. Because their combined efforts kept the poo shield mostly intact and that kind of heroism really made it seem as though hope was going to spread through the ship and that better days were ahead.

But let’s be honest, this just isn’t that kind of show. Because any story where corpses orbit a ship amidst a lovely ring of human fecal matter, is just itching to find a way to go dark and it most certainly found a way to make that happen in both epic and subtle fashion. The subtle side, well that came from the fact that not a single person bothered to acknowledge Billie’s help in saving the ship outside of Clark. Instead people gravitated toward Spike Martin as a hero and while that may not be the most chaotic and cruelest thing to ever happen, it’s just a jerk thing for people to do and the jerkiness present in this tale didn’t end with how Billie was treated. Because everyone suddenly believed that Frank’s pressing of the do-nothing button caused their latest problems and they were giving him grief, and really, all of this was designed to build us up to something big.

Because the problem with people acting like asshats, is that eventually that kind of sour nature spreads, to the point where everyone just suddenly feels the need to be an assbag and the culmination of these sour vibes came to fruition during the ‘Halfway Home Party’. Because Jordan Hatwel, the ship’s comic, couldn’t lighten the mood since he was being micromanaged live by Iris and Matt, and a disastrous set and a drunken Judd, helped to bring an already rowdy and surly crowd to a boil. And they quickly turned on Frank and with more egging on from Judd, they were ready to toss him out of an airlock and had it not been for Captain Clark’s quick intervention they likely would have killed a doofy and innocent man and this was just, a heck of way to end this episode.

Simply because, it goes to show just how precarious things are aboard the ship right now, and that one bad day could turn everything into disaster and while that seems a little too dark and too real for a series grounded in comedy, that’s simply not the case. Because sometimes comedy dives into the realm of commentary as well, and everything it had to say about mob mentality and how we sometimes let the dumb overtake us was spot on and painfully relevant here. And the fact that the series pulled this off in hilarious fashion, because the laughs worked here and they came forth in rapid fire fashion, speaks to the genius of this particular tale. But all cerebral stuff aside, this is an important episode for certain since it really does give us a solid idea of how precarious the situation in space truly is right now and it should be interesting to see what happens next since clearly, chaos is the name of the game when it comes to everyday life aboard the Avenue 5. Until next time.

When we last settled in to discuss the wonder of Lodge 49, we talked a lot about how this series was moving into some supremely uplifting territory. Because ‘Zugzwang’ is a story that outright unleashed a positivity flood gate by allowing for our intrepid Lynx to realize that the time had come to live life to the fullest and do whatever it takes to become happy. Which is a far cry from where this particular story started a year ago. But that speaks volumes to how far these characters and the audience have come on this journey and having that episode show us that our fellow Lynx are in a wonderful place mentally, allows for the next story in this magnificent saga to explore another incredibly positive and important lesson in regard to life and the healing process.
 
For in essence, ‘Le Reve Impossible’ is designed to remind us to chase our dreams. Which seems like a cheesy and simplistic lesson to inject into such a deep show, but there is a lot of merit in bringing that particular lesson to the forefront of this story. Because when we are younger, we all have some serious dreams floating through our mind, the kind that push us toward potentially becoming an astronaut, or the next great sports star. But as we grow older and come to find that we aren’t all that athletic, or that great with math; those dreams give way to new ones. Now suddenly we want to become the finest teacher out there, or perhaps a great parent and even then, the quest to attain those new dreams poses its own unique challenges, the kind that prompt some to just settle for something decent or they outright let their dreams fall to the wayside.
 
But this particular episode flat out wastes no time in telling us that letting go of a particular dream is outright unacceptable. In fact, going after it as you emerge from the fog of recovery might be the perfect time to chase it like never before. Because this is the second chance that so few get and while one may not reach the finish line right away, chasing that dream will indeed bring forth all kinds of positivity. Because just like that, you’re on a special journey that is unique to your life and doing something that personal and that exceptional, gives you limitless energy, as evidenced by how peppy every single character was in this tale, and it also engenders happiness. Something we also saw plenty of in this story since everyone had a smile plastered onto their faces, thanks to the fact they were chasing something powerful.

​Plus, chasing one’s dream, allows for an individual to truly appreciate what they have in their lives. Because as you lay in pursuit of what will make you happy, you’re only focused on joy, and that allows for the ills of the world to melt away and all that remains are the other things in life that lift you up; like the people that matter the most to you. Because when you’re on the hunt, they are by your side, cheering you on every single step of the way and suddenly you feel closer to them and we saw that on display in this tale as well. For differences and concerns were put aside, peace was made and that allowed for beautiful unity to take place as everyone supported one another and helped each other to collectively push toward an ultimate goal and that was quite the sight to behold. Because it was relatable, since we’ve all taken part in those moments where it is just us and our friends against the world and when we are unified in a cause, nothing can stop us, and nothing can bring our spirits down.
 
But while all of those points were valid and important for certain, they paled in comparison to the greatest lesson of all in this tale, in that; if we take the time to chase our dreams… they could outright come true. Because Dud was finally able to see his poolside dream happen right in front of him, and of course… this south of the border excursion finally allowed for the biggest dream of all to come true for this troupe; since they finally got their hands on The Scrolls. And there really is something inspiring and powerful about seeing everyone celebrate the fact that they were able to see a long-standing dream finally come to fruition, and that they were able to touch an actual legend. But while seeing a long quest come to a close in the happiest of fashion was magnificent to experience, this joyous moment also offered up its own special lesson.
 
In that, it will take incredible perseverance on our part to see our dreams through to the finish line. Because life will indeed make us want to walk away from it, by making us think said dream is impossible or foolish. But when we truly feel it’s calling in our soul, sticking with it and always believing will allow for us to hold it in our hot little hands and in the end, it does not get more inspirational than that. And despite the fact that we are one episode away from ending this second journey through the Lodge, the wonder this episode generates, stays with you long after this one comes to an end. Because it really does inspire you to go out there and do the damn thing and this episode leads us to one final notion in regard to the road to recovery. In that, once we have healed our minds and our souls, and have our dreams in hand, we have to ponder upon a particularly important question; what comes next? And our exploration of that important query is where we will pick up, one last time. Until then.