​There is an age-old question that each and every one of us ask ourselves in life, in that, we all wonder exactly how far we would go to keep our family safe. Because we only get one of them, and they do mean the world to us, and the answer to that query is a simple one for certain. But while there is a firm belief in our soul that we will do whatever it takes to keep them secure, deep down we also hope that it never comes to that. Because if we’ve come to that point in life, something terrible has happened and going above and beyond likely means we are making great efforts to try and assuage some serious emotional trauma. If anything, this is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because Andy and Laurie Barber were forced to face and answer that question in the next episode of Defending Jacob.
 
For ‘Visitors’ saw Andy go the extra mile for his son by facing his greatest demon in life, his father. And that little visit went about as well as one might expect. Because Billy Barber was all about toying with his son, so that he could line up plenty of future visits, using Jacob and the case as leverage and that was something that didn’t sit well with Andy, to the point where he walked away and he was fully prepared to abandon this aspect of the case if it meant facing more of that kind of darkness. Which in a way makes it seem as though he didn’t do much to help Jacob, but facing a man that has haunted every second of his life is about as bold and as brave as it gets, and there was another way for him to prove just how far he would go to help Jacob’s cause.   
 
Because it was revealed to Andy that Derek was questioned by the police, and that might lead him somewhere since Derek seemed oddly interested in the case and was the first person to accuse Jacob of this heinous crime. Which prompted Andy to have a little face to face talk with Derek, and while he didn’t offer all that much in regard to the case, his demeanor when questioned led Andy to believe there was more to this part of his investigation than he initially understood. Which in turn brought him to Sarah. After all, she was the one that hesitated to speak up to Andy at the school, and he put two and two together and figured out that she was the one who put in the anonymous tip, so perhaps she might have something to offer, and thankfully, she sure did. 

​In fact, she was more than happy to tell Andy about how Derek and Ben had a sour relationship to begin with, one that went further south after Ben asked poor Sarah for some embarrassing selfies. And in an attempt to restore her honor, Derek stole Ben’s phone before he was killed. But what matters more however, is that this was a huge twist in the case, especially since no one was aware of any bad blood between Derek and Ben and this is something that could help Jacob in the long run once Joanna can examine the phone in question. But while this was cause for celebration, Jacob’s odd behavior toward Sarah, after learning that she took an inappropriate selfie was a tad disturbing, and one has to wonder as to its significance since he was so genuinely bothered by this.  
 
But while that behavior was a tad on the bleak side, it was grossly overshadowed by something sorely lacking on this series, specifically; bright moments. Because there has been little to celebrate in this tale, and few beautiful moments for the Barber family, but that all changed in this episode. For father and son were able to share some quality moments by the lake when Andy decided it was time to get away and to top it off, the defense finally got their hands on that phone and all of its secrets. But truly, the most beautiful moment of this story, was generated by Laurie. For after weeks of doubt and broken moments, she too decided to go the extra mile for her son by visiting Andy’s father, wherein she was able to get him to agree to taking the DNA test without conditions.  
 
In the end, it was just nice to end an episode on a high note for a change, one that was further enhanced by the fact that Matt seems to be ready to talk and well, for the first time in the show’s brief history, it really does seem as though there is hope for Jacob after all. Because there really is more to this case than anyone previously knew, thanks to what we learned about both Ben and Derek, and it will be supremely interesting to see what other surprises await us, once Joanna and Andy get into that phone. Either way, this was a solid episode, one that definitely rewarded the audience for sticking with the darkness. But alas, this might be the last time we enjoy any bright spots in this tale. For there are only three episodes left in this limited series and with ugly truths on the way, this idyllic town will only be rattled further. Until next time. 

Something that is truly amazing about the original iteration of Star Trek, is the sheer fact that when the writer’s room found a juicy topic to dive into in regard to the human condition, they would often go full bore upon it. Which meant that several episodes in a row would take the time to explore the matter in question and for proof, well look no further than the stretch of stories we are currently exploring once again. Because suddenly, this series is laser focused upon mankind’s potential when it chooses the high road, and while ‘Spectre of the Gun’ explored this notion in beautiful fashion, the next episode of the series decided to up the ante by showing us how difficult that particular path is to follow, when age old prejudices get in the way.
 
Something that can only be accomplished, by bringing mankind’s greatest enemy in the 23rd Century into the mix. Which means that ‘Day of the Dove’ saw the return of the Klingon Empire, and well, how they interacted with the crew of the Enterprise in order to hammer home that commentary was quite special indeed. Because at first, their role in the story is nonexistent, since Kirk and his crew are busy trying to figure out what happened to a colony since there are no traces of the people that settled this world. But before they can uncover the truth to that mystery, the Klingons arrive, demanding to claim the Enterprise as their own ship because they believed that a surprise attack from Starfleet, one that has badly damaged their vessel, entitles them to it, and thankfully, Kirk uses the confusion of the moment to buy himself some time.
 
For he is able to capture the Klingons instead, allowing for him to start an investigation into their claims of a sneak attack and that’s when our exploration begins. Because the crew begins to exhibit oddly violent behavior toward the Klingons, the kind that is filled to the brim with prejudice and hatred toward their race, and this is a bit unsettling to watch. Because you just expect better of this crew, so to see them spewing borderline racist slurs is quite shocking for certain, as is seeing an outright bloodlust from so many of the crew, the kind where they want to see the Klingons die violently and really, this just stands as an allegory for how we still have to go, even in 2020. For despite the fact we’ve made progress, people are still quick to revert to such behaviors and habits and its jarring in any era because it should all be gone by now.
 
But while the commentary here is powerful in its own right, what matters more is how we overcome that level of ugly and thankfully the series does take the time to show mankind at its best. For this entire mess is the cause of an alien that loves to feed on negative emotions, and it firmly believes that turning two age-old enemies against one another will sustain it for eons. Which means that it is up to Kirk to inspire his crew and his enemy to put their differences aside if only for a moment and that’s a task that is easier said than done. For the hate these two enemies share for one another is strong, but Kirk eventually figures out how to appeal to everyone’s better side and that’s when wonders are accomplished. Because eventually, both Klingon and Starfleet alike, unify to chase that alien out and that really is quite the lovely way to end this episode.
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Because it really does remind us that we can find peace if we work toward it, especially if we take the time to put aside our differences and realize that, at least on Earth, we’re all human and we share the same blood. Which makes this story quite inspirational and uplifting for certain, and it is also one that challenges the audience. Because if James T. Kirk can put aside his deep disdain for the Klingons, if only for a moment, why can’t we do that for our fellow man, and this is everything you want and more from a Star Trek episode. For this one really does speak to how we can we better and why we should be better, and it is just so wonderful to see the series finally reach its potential and it would be lovely to see this hot streak continue, so we can enjoy as many wonderful episodes as possible before we bid farewell to The Original Series. Until next time.

​It’s always a wonderful thing when a television series finds a way to surprise the audience in the sneakiest of fashion. Because that means the writer’s room had something quite special planned all along and was able to fool us every single step of the way and truly, that’s something that applies to the HBO series Avenue 5. Because this hilarious comedy quickly established itself as a story that was going to chronicle a disaster in space in lighthearted yet bleak fashion. The kind that would subject the audience to a cavalcade of failures caused by disorganized chaos, that would eventually lead to some kind of happy-ish ending. But as it turns out, the next episode of this series just so happened to take the story in a fascinating new direction.
 
Because ‘Wait a Minute, Then Who Was That on the Ladder?’ took the time to reveal to the audience that this is going to potentially be a redemption tale of sorts, one that sees Captain Ryan Clark shed his standing as a loveable lush and faux captain, by becoming an honest-to-god leader of the Avenue 5. One that actually knows how to inspire people and outright lead a team and one that can make the tough decisions along the way. But it sure didn’t seem like that was going to be the case at first. Because there was a lot of business as usual in this tale, such as couples’ troubles, Karen’s lust to be in the spotlight and Judd taking the time to hob-knob with the passengers in a desperate and hilarious effort to appear normal for a change.
 
But in between all of that, Captain Clark was starting to surprise us. For he suddenly showed interest in his own ship and actually took the time to learn the basics of the space travel and how exactly the ship works and that was quite the unexpected twist. Because up to this point, he’s been all about hiding behind the bottle and using others to handle his business, and this positive change in behavior didn’t end with his desire to learn more about the Avenue 5. Because he also took the time to go below decks and actually spend time with the engineers, which allowed for him to get to know them properly and see them as people instead of indentured servants and this was just brilliant and heartwarming to see and that act is what lead to his first real moment of leadership.
 
Because Clark made it clear that the passengers of this ship needed to believe that there was some semblance of control and stability happening behind the scenes. And sadly, the harsh reality that the bridge was filled to the brim with actors that don’t know how to do crap, would eventually come to light and create chaos. Unless of course, the engineering division could help them look legit on a regular basis and they absolutely went along with this idea, and it was quite lovely to see Ryan bring a team together and act like a captain and see his plans work. But while it was wonderful to see Captain Clark change in this manner, what would this series be without a little hilarious chaos thrown into the mix?
 
Something that came about in the end of this tale, when it was revealed that the poo shield was venting into space. Which means that someone has to step up and save the waste so the passengers can remain radiation free, and who better to rescue all these brave souls than the man who saved the Avenue 3? And it should be interesting to see how the captain handles his first space walk in the next episode. But in the here and the now, it is best we celebrate one wonderful tale, one that finally saw Ryan earn his bars as skipper of this vessel. Because it means that at long last, a leader has emerged aboard this ship, and there is hope at last for real leadership and guidance. Provided of course the Avenue 5 survives this crisis and whatever other nightmares await the ship and its crew in the depths of space. Until next time.

When crisis arrives in our lives, we tend to rely on routine to keep our sanity going. Because we need some sense of normalcy to hold onto while our world burns brightly and sticking to those everyday habits seems to help greatly with that. But while going about one’s day as though nothing has really changed works for a vast majority of us when the going gets tough, for some folks, finding a routine is seemingly impossible. Because their world has become so broken that even regular tasks remind them that their lives are forever changed and it just so happens that the next episode of Defending Jacob, takes the time to explore this notion in fascinating fashion.  
 
Because ‘Damage Control’ sees the Barber family working to find a routine that allows for them to find some sense and semblance of normalcy once again, with mixed results of course. For there really isn’t any way for them to find those things. After all, they’re still in the national spotlight, and anywhere they go, they’ll be instantly recognized and judged by the public, which forces them to alter their lives in dramatic fashion. Such as having to shop this side shy of daybreak in order to get the groceries, in essence making them shadows and afterthoughts and it was fascinating to see the series explore this particular struggle since few shows in this vein ever do. But while watching the family struggle with this ‘new normal’ was bleak in its own right, since it hammered home how tough this segment of their lives would be, there was some cause for celebration in this particular tale.
 
For Jacob at least found a silver lining by way of Sarah, since she took the time to visit him often and make him feel as though he was a fourteen-year old kid once again. Plus, Andy was able to work the case in his spare time and that allowed for him to learn a great deal about Leonard Patz. Such as where he works and what his daily routine looks like, and he even stumbled on a potential clue. For there was a young man named Matt who saw his assault complaint against Leonard Patz disappear and Andy wanted to know why, simply because something about the whole mess seemed suspicious and his concerns were reinforced by way of a conversation with the kid. Because Matt made it obvious, he is apparently hiding something about Patz and hopefully at some point he finally opens up about it.

​But while it was nice to see the men in the Barber family find purpose and direction during this trying time, Laurie was not so fortunate. In fact, she felt completely isolated as the days went along and that impacted her mental health. To the point where she began with withdraw from her family and that led to an unfortunate moment that will likely backfire down the line. For an attempt to just ‘get away from it all’ by dropping by a diner for a quiet dinner, led to an encounter with a kind stranger. Which in turn led to an open and honest conversation about her situation since she had no one to talk to. But unfortunately, that stranger turned out to be a reporter for The Boston Globe and every word that Laurie said will likely be used to embarrass her and her struggles with isolation didn’t end there.
 
Because Laurie was also having grave concerns about Jacob’s behavior as a child. In fact, a particular memory where he appeared to want to violently harm a friend of his at a bowling party, kept playing in her head over and over again, leaving her to ponder more upon the possibility that her son was carrying the ‘murder gene’. Which is something she expressed aloud to their new behavior psychologist and that’s a huge deal. Because it is an expectation in society for parents to always back their kids regardless of the odds or the circumstance, so to see Laurie having doubts here is quite different and painfully realistic. Because who wouldn’t want definitive proof that their kid isn’t a murderer? And it would seem at this point the only way her doubts will be quelled completely is by way of a break in the case that points toward Jacob’s innocence, or if Andy is willing to do something that may seem impossible.
 
For in the closing moments of this tale, it is revealed that the doctors need one more DNA sample to properly understand what the family’s genetic sequence looks like. Which means they need a sample from Andy’s father Billy, and unfortunately, he’s not inclined to offer that up, until his son comes to visit him in prison and that’s quite the tall order. Because Andy has made it clear that he has zero desire to speak to him, leaving the audience to wonder if he will truly go the extra mile to exonerate his son. Time will in regard to that of course, so in the meantime, it’s best we take a moment to celebrate another solid episode in this harrowing story. Because it was downright brilliant to show us how folks in this situation suffer and struggle to find a sense of balance and that led to some powerful and poignant moments. The kind that motivate us to press on to see if this family can weather the storm and it should be interesting to see where this story takes us next, now that another incredible challenge awaits the Barber family. Until next time.

If there is one particular storytelling element, that allowed for Star Trek to rise above other science fiction stories, it would have to be that this series truly showed us our potential for growth, by plunging us into a world where mankind had grown beyond its petty and angry nature. Because that really did allow for audiences to latch onto a universe where hope for the future was abundant and it was always incredible to see Captain Kirk and the captains that followed him, use their minds over brawn at every turn and show every species out there that mankind truly did come in peace and wanted nothing more than to learn and grow and explore the galaxy. 

If anything, that particularly wondrous concept is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because it served as the focal theme for the next episode in this storied series. For ‘Specter of the Gun’ saw the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise venture to a part of space that hosted the home of a reclusive species known as the Melkotians. And the ship was there, simply because there was a prevailing belief that both sides could learn much from one another, but sadly, cooperation from the Melkotian side was fleeting at best. Because these beings wanted no one near their home world, and threatened action if Kirk and the crew pressed any harder. Which of course they did since James T. Kirk always finishes the mission and that’s what led to this exploration of an evolved humanity.

Because the Melkotians were upset with the fact that the Federation continued to make great efforts to communicate, despite being warned to go away. And they saw these repeated attempts as nothing more than acts of aggression, the kind that could be solved by teaching the aggressor a violent lesson, and the best way for humanity to be taught to not mess with species that prefer isolation, was to end lives through a violent act from mankind’s history. Which brought Kirk and his landing party to 1881, wherein they assumed the roles of the Clanton family mere hours before the gunfight at the O.K. Corral and well, despite their best efforts to be peaceful about this and avoid a bloody fight, the simulation surrounding them made sure to keep them on a path toward violence.

In fact, at times said simulation even went so far as to try to push them into becoming an aggressor, since Chekov was gunned down by one of the Earp brothers in the hopes of motivating a fight. But still, they refused to resort to violence, and even assembled a plan that should allow for this waking nightmare to end in peace. But a quick test showed that the plan would fail, because that’s what the simulation wanted, and that’s when Spock realized, there was a peaceful way out of this after all. For this faux reality could be controlled with an iron will. Which prompted him to mind meld with everyone left standing, so that they would ignore the bullets flying their way and by standing tall and never once resorting to violence in the slightest, the away team survived and the Federation made a new ally, since the Melkotians allowed for them to visit their world, but the message present here is what matters more.

For in essence, this was a story that served to remind us in somewhat blunt fashion… that violence is a conscious choice for modern man. One that we do not have to make if we take the time to truly look at and work toward other forms of resolution and well, that’s a beautiful message to embed in a series airing in 1968. Because it offered hope to a nation and a world that was mired in war and strife, and really, it doesn’t get any better than that when it comes to this series. Because this is Trek at its finest since it gives us both the fantastical and the philosophical. Which makes this episode quite special for certain, because it really tapped into the show’s potential and showed everyone what it could have done with a little more time on the air. But alas, we know how this story ends, which means it is best we simply bask in one brilliant tale, one that showed us our potential and one that truly embodied the spirit of a franchise that still inspires so many to choose a better way after all these years. Until next time.

If there is one thing that we can all agree upon, when it comes to life in general, it would have to be that family is something that is supremely important to all of us. For family helps to build the foundation for the person that we are today, since they help us to understand the ideologies of the world, and their support and guidance help us to handle just about anything that life throws our way. But while we often ponder upon family and everything that it stands for with rose colored glasses since our experiences with it are often positive in nature, not everyone has wonderful memories of the folks they grew up with. Because sadly, some people have poor experiences with their family, the kind that produce trauma and lasting psychological damage and that prompts those same people to keep those family members away as they get older.
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But while that is healthy in its own right, and downright smart, one way or another; those family members will find a way to sneak back into our lives. Because family is forever, and the universe has a way of forcing us to face our past and it just so happens that last night’s episode of Almost Paradise took the time to explore these matters. For ‘Uncle Danny’ saw that very relative with the same name arrive on Cebu to see his nephew Alex, and to get into all kinds of illegal shenanigans, of course. But while the plot was engrossing and entertaining in its own right. Because watching Alex do his best to keep Danny out of trouble was quite the delight, the fact of the matter is, what this episode had to say about family, and what it taught us about Alex made for some powerful moments and those are really what we need to focus on today.

Because in many ways, this was Alex’s origin story episode. For we came to learn that he had quite the troubled childhood, one that saw his parents more or less ignore him growing up and that’s where Uncle Danny came into play. For he took Alex in and unfortunately, taught our hero everything he knows about running a hustle. But while that is a tragic backstory, how Alex handled it, is also oddly inspiring. Because eventually, Alex came to realize that this is not how someone should live their life, and he turned these twisted teachings into something productive, since we know now that much of what he learned from Danny, he uses on a regular basis to catch criminals. And this just serves as a powerful lesson in that, we don’t necessarily have to be a product of our environment or our past, we can choose to learn from it all and find a way to apply it in a positive manner and it was just wonderful to see that lesson present within the framework of this story.

But there was mention of how this episode also has some commentary to add in regard to family and its views upon that were equally as uplifting. Because often times stories that feature the return of a toxic or abusive relative, end with a powerhouse confrontation, the kind where the main character closes a painful chapter in their life in epic and fiery fashion. But here, this story presented Alex and the audience with a different way, one that involved understanding and kindness in order to change that toxic person’s behaviors. Because Alex did everything within his power to show Danny that his way was the wrong way, even going so far as to putting his freedom and health on the line to hammer home that point and that was just beautiful to see, and it speaks volumes to what Alex stands for and it also helps to teach the audience that perhaps we too need to approach things differently in regard to how we handle family members that we outright avoid on a regular basis.

If anything, all of these elements made for one incredibly intimate episode. Because we were really able to see Alex in the raw here and understand his pain and how hard he’s worked to be free of it. Plus, his actions here also helped us to understand just how good of a person he really is, and how much he longs for a stable family life and hopefully someday he can have that with his daughter. In the end however, this is just another wonderful episode from this series, one filled to the brim with magnificent performances since Christian Kane stuck all the emotional landings here and Richard Kind (Uncle Danny) was just phenomenal as a busted uncle trying desperately to find his way in the world and really, this once again proves that there is nothing that this series cannot do storytelling wise. Because it added beautiful moments into a crime drama, which is no easy task. But this show pulled it off with ease, and once again, this reviewer and every fan out there will be counting down the minutes until next week’s episode. So, that we can once again be treated to a delightful story, one that will undoubtedly surprise us and move us. Until then.

At this point in our journey through season three of Star Trek, it is outright safe to say that year three of the five-year mission has been woefully inconsistent. Because we’ve been settling in to watch one conflicted story after another, the kind that are trying desperately to accomplish way too much storytelling wise. Which is a shame since some quality plot threads are being overshadowed by some oddly goofy ones. But thankfully it would seem that the Writer’s Room of this storied series came to a similar realization after the first four episodes left for production. Because the next episode of this series, takes the time to resurrect two key storytelling elements that helped us to fall in love with this franchise in the first place.
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Because Trek is always at its best when it shows us strange new worlds and explores the human condition along the way and that’s really all you find in ‘Is There in Truth No Beauty?’ For in this tale, the crew of the Starship Enterprise is on a mission to reunite a unique ambassador with his people and said diplomat is where the strange part comes into play. For Ambassador Kollos is a Medusan, a species of aliens so outlandish in their physical form, that the mere sight of them can drive a man to madness and aboard the Enterprise, the only people that can interact with him ‘face to face’ are Commander Spock and a brilliant telepath named Miranda Jones and well, the introduction of this being is just a true treat. For he really is something alien and wonderful and it feels right to see that back on the show.

As for an exploration of the human condition, well that is handled by the aforementioned Doctor Jones. Because she is an ambitious telepath, one that will stop at nothing to accomplish as many firsts as possible. And while that makes it seem as though we are going to explore how ambition can be a negative behavior since it can cause more harm than good, what truly allows for Miranda’s journey to shine is the sheer fact that she is actually blind, and her ‘ambition’ is related to something far deeper. For she serves as an allegory as to how differently abled individuals are often viewed as less capable in our modern world, and there is something quite inspiring about seeing her rise to the occasion despite her affliction and it is also quite wonderful to see the ship’s crew treat her as an equal, often.

But, what would an episode of Star Trek be without a little conflict to drive the story and that’s present here as well. For an associate of Doctor Jones is also aboard for this journey, and it just so happens that Mister Lawrence Marvick is in love with Miranda and since she is only dedicated to the Ambassador, he feels the need to harm this alien and in doing so… sees Kollos’ true form. Which drives him mad and motivates him to push the Enterprise toward Warp 10, which strands the ship well outside of the galaxy. And in order to get home, Spock has to risk his life by merging minds with the Ambassador and while it works, it brings Spock within an inch of his death since he too sees Kollos and that gives Miranda a chance to do a wonderful deed by saving Spock’s life. Which of course she does and of course, the crew completes their mission.

If anything, this is just a return to form for the series. Because everything here feels right and it works, and you’re enthralled with every single second that unfolds on the screen and that is supremely refreshing for certain. Because this is the type of polished episode that everyone expected season three to feature on a regular basis. Plus, as an added treat, this episode features another appearance by Diana Muldaur, and she does another incredible job as a guest star here, since her portrayal of Miranda Jones is sublime for certain and without her gravitas some of these scenes likely would not have worked. Either way, it was just delightful to watch a pure episode of this series once again and hopefully this is the beginning of a hot streak of quality episodes at last, so that the series closes out with a bang and not a whimper. Until next time.

Over the course of the past three seasons, the STARZ series Vida has worked hard to explore what comes next in life after we experience severe loss and trauma and thus far, what it has brought to the table has been nothing short of spectacular. For we have come to learn that the road to recovery is wrought with complications and challenges, the kind that can set us back if we let them. But while we’ve experienced some wonderful lessons on staying strong and staying the course, the series has yet to truly answer that all-important question… what comes next? But as we inch toward the series finale of this magnificent story, it’s clear that the Writer’s Room is preparing to answer that question in bold and philosophical fashion, as evidenced by last night’s episode.
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For this particular tale saw several characters decide that something they definitely want in the next phase of their lives, is to live without fear. Because shedding that from their psyche, will allow for each and every person in this tale, to be bold and grab hold of what makes them happy. Plus, it will also allow for them to handle every tough situation that comes their way in a calm and logical manner, one that will help them process the situation and move along with confidence, and several characters in this story came to this conclusion in a manner that only they could understand. Take Eddy for instance, who found herself filled to the brim with fear when she ran into her attacker at the store. And rather than continue to let fear and worry control her life and keep her in the shadows as it has for some time now, she felt the need to confront it by returning home and that bold decision paid off in spades.

Because she was welcomed home with open arms and made a member of the team again, and just like that she’s happy and safe because she confronted her fears. But there was mention that several characters took the time to be bold in this tale and that includes Mari. Because she was witness to a horrifying moment, one that saw a man be ripped from his car by ICE without due process, and when she brought this to the attention of Los Vigilantes, the urgency of the matter and the chance to truly make a meaningful statement was ignored by the group and that brings us to Mari’s big moment. Because she quickly came to realize that the group was afraid to stand up and take actual action on something that truly matters in the community and it was quite wonderful to see this grieving young woman point out to everyone that they should be fearless in their message and be bold in how they get it out and it took guts on her part to step away from the group when they refused to stand tall.

As for Emma, well her particular journey toward internal peace revolved around the fact that she was afraid of constantly being hurt and possibly ending up alone. Which is why she took a little time to venture off and be wild in order to discover what it is exactly she wants in life relationship wise, and she also approached the situation with Nico in a supremely mature manner. For there was no fighting or name calling, just understanding because she really did want to see if by a chance a gentle approach would yield an honest conversation and some positive results. But alas, in the end Emma came to learn that Nico still can’t let Zoe go. But rather than be fearful that Nico was her last good chance at love, or any kind of stability, she took comfort in the fact that relationships fail, and humans falter and that it would only be a matter of time before someone came along that would treat her right. And it was quite lovely to see Emma embrace that message and keep fear out of her soul.
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But truly, the most incredible storyline of the night, belonged to Lyn. Because she finally came to learn the most important lesson of all in regard to what comes next in that, life is short and fleeting. And if we don’t take the big chances when we can, we will miss out on amazing opportunities. Which is a lovely lesson to learn, one that comes with a big caveat in that, in order to truly seize the day, we have to be fearless and bold, and she was both of those things since she decided to meet her father. And for her brave efforts, she was treated to some truth and some genuine peace. For Victor was gentle and apologetic with his daughter and he also made it clear that he wanted a relationship with Lyn and Emma, if she’s willing to let that happen, and this was just incredible to watch unfold. Because this is about as brave and as fearless as it gets, and it was just wonderful to see Lyn take charge of her future in this manner.

If anything, this was just another incredible episode from an already magnificent series. Because it was all about the victories in this tale, and you can never go wrong with seeing your favorite characters work to lift themselves up when tough times push them down. But while it was great to see everyone face adversity in this tale and take control in fearless fashion, this episode also deserves some serious props for tackling a contemporary topic as well. Because there are some real problems in America right now when it comes to immigration and how immigrants are being treated. And this story made it clear that illegal actions against immigrants is something we need to be discussing and highlighting more often, rather than turning our backs upon this problem the way that Los Vigilantes did in this tale, and it would be wonderful to see this be revisited in depth down the line. Either way, this really was one brilliant tale, one that reinforces the fact that every single second of this final season is going to be powerful and moving and poignant and that is a wonderful way to say farewell. Until next time.

The last time we settled in to discuss the wondrous series that is Killing Eve, we briefly talked about a fascinating storytelling decision involving Konstantin and Villanelle. Because for the first time ever, we saw their human side, since we saw Konstantin work to have a normal relationship with his daughter, while Eve worked a little overtime in order to finally discover where her family was currently living. Which are a pair of plot threads that quite frankly change the dynamic for the audience when it comes to these two characters. Because suddenly, there is newfound depth to both of them, and we are instantly curious to learn more about their past and their present and their overall relationship with their families.
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Because being able to learn those elements, allows for us to better understand a pair of human beings that have in fact, each made a decision to go down quite a dark road. For then we would understand why they turned their back on societal norms and whether or not they are redeemable, and it would seem that introducing those gentle and surprising moments into last week’s tale was all part of a master plan. For the next episode of this fantastic show took the time to follow up with Villanelle and her voyage home, and that made ‘Are You From Pinner?’ one of the finest stories that this series has ever offered up. Simply because it dug into some powerful concepts and added a new level of depth to Oksana. Which is no easy feat, since she is a complex and dynamic character as is.

But this particular tale managed to strip away the mystique surrounding Oksana like never before. Because her voyage home was grounded in goals that we can all relate to. For when we return home after avoiding it for years on end, we’re doing so because we are in need of closure or answers or escape and Villanelle was trying to accomplish all those things and that oddly led to some outright beautiful moments in a season that has been mired in death and tragedy. Something that was accomplished by the fact that Oksana wanted to fit in and feel normal for a change, and that motivated her to make nice with her brother and have fun for a change and enjoy a taste of the simple lifestyle of the farm town her family was living in, and it really was magical to see her try and shed the darkness she surrounds herself with.

Yet while it was amazing to enjoy a few laughs with Oksana and her family (because who didn’t love watching her ‘dance’ and sing along to Elton John’s ‘Crocodile Rock’), there are other goals that we discussed and she did make a point to address every last one of those. Because Oksana wanted to know why her mother abandoned her at the orphanage all those years ago, all in the hopes of finding closure to a painful and defining moment in her life, so that she could finally move on from it and perhaps enjoy a healthy relationship with her mom. But despite her best efforts to make that happen, her mother rebuffed her at every turn, despite the fact that Oksana tried to be a good daughter and that led to one hell of a confrontation.
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Because one way or another, she was going to have her closure and unfortunately for Villanelle, her push to get some answers, ended in disaster. For while her mother was quick to offer honest answers as to why she abandoned her daughter, she was also quick to make it clear that there would be no reconciliation or relationship going forward. Because she wanted nothing to do with a daughter that she believed was evil from the start and also robbed her of admiration from her late husband. And learning that jealousy and bitterness motivated dear old mom to toss her daughter aside, allowed for Villanelle to realize that she and her mother were quite alike and that perhaps she could find closure after all by killing the woman that haunted her, and she did just that before disappearing into the night.

If anything, every single moment in this tale was stunning to say the least, since in many ways it appeared that Villanelle was hoping to find redemption and peace in this idyllic town. But as the closing moments of this story revealed, she found no peace, just more pain and demons swirling around her soul and that may mean that more ugly moments await us down the line as Villanelle’s refueled fury is unleashed upon the world. But in the here and the now, this simply was one incredible episode, one that featured plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments and Jodie Comer’s finest performance to date on the series since she was able to bring every emotion imaginable to life. But what matters more, is that this was a bold and unique venture storytelling wise, since this kind of stuff is so rarely explored in the spy genre and it should be interesting to see what other kind of brave storytelling decisions this incredible series is going to make in the weeks to come. Until next time.

​There are a great many elements about the human condition that outright pique our curiosity. But of the many that populate our minds, one that stands out above all else is an age-old question, in that, what is it that drives good people to do such horrible things to one another? Because we are a species that has demonstrated great beauty, yet we are capable of such cruel acts and truly, the best place to explore what motivates us to turn our backs on our brethren is fiction. Because within the framework of a story, we can carefully dive into the steps that bring someone to acts of evil and one show that excels at this particular exploration is the AMC/BBC America series, Line of Duty.
 
For this particular series takes the time to examine what turns some police officers into criminals, which is a fascinating concept to say the least, since law enforcement officers should represent the best of us. But they are human beings as well, and they too falter and thus far, the series has taken the time to explore how ego can aid in a good man’s downfall, since DCI Tony Gates’ tragic story arc saw him fall from grace simply because he believed his standing as the force’s finest officer made him invincible and powerful. But with his story now in the books, the time has come for season two to find new ways to examine how good peace officers manage to let darkness in, and the season two premiere wasted no time in exploring such matters in explosive fashion. 
 
Because the opening moments of this new tale, sees DI Lindsay Denton come under fire for botching a critical rescue operation. One that should have brought an important witness on an equally important case to safety, but instead, the whole thing ended in the death of three police officers and a badly wounded witness and well, at first glance it doesn’t seem as though DI Denton is going to be the focus of this show’s exploration on how officers stumble and fall. Because she is instead, a victim in many ways. For she’s fallen on hard times, finds herself persecuted by her coworkers for her mistakes and lives a lonely life with nothing to look forward to outside of work. Facts that prompt DS Arnott and his new partner DC Georgia Trotman, to look elsewhere in regard to how this operation was leaked to the wrong people.
 
But as it turns out, there is more to Denton than meets the eye. For the sorrow she’s currently experiencing in life is slowly turning her soul into something sour, and minute by minute, she’s beginning to abuse her power as an officer in order to purge her fury. And to make matters worse, it would seem that she was indeed involved in the sabotage of this ruined rescue operation after all. For once DC Fleming gets involved in the case, she discovers that Denton has called the hospital and that means trouble for the witness. Which led to the most stunning sequence of this particular tale. Because once Arnott and Trotman arrive to check on the witness, they discover an assassin that is working hard to kill the witness. And after knocking Steve out and tossing Georgia out of a window, he’s successful in his endeavor and all this death is a direct result of the fact that Denton is keeping some ugly secrets.
 
What those are exactly, will likely be revealed at a later time. For this series does an amazing job of providing its audience with answers, so there’s no need to speculate at the moment. Instead, it is best we celebrate one phenomenal season premiere. Because this one did a fine job of setting up this season’s mystery in an organic and natural fashion. For it really did feel like a logical extension to last season, and it is nice to see that both Arnott and Kate have settled into their roles in AC-12 and are as human as ever, since Steve actually explored romance in this tale while Kate explored infidelity. In the end however, it’s just wonderful that AMC wasted no time in airing the second season of this dynamic series, so that we can once again enjoy a powerful crime drama that offers so much more. And it is going to be quite a treat to see what Steve and Kate uncover about another crooked cop since this mystery, looks to be more complex than the mess that Tony Gates made for himself. Until next time.