When tragedy or a crisis arrives in our lives, the kind that interrupts our daily routine and leaves us rattled emotionally, we are taught to do one thing in order to get by and that is to put on a happy face. Because somehow, burying ourselves behind the façade that everything is just fine makes everything better, if only for a little while. Because when we put on our smiling mask, we are numb to what’s happening around us and there is peace and quiet upstairs and that allows for us to function and accomplish some necessities. But what do we do, when the crisis in question, outright changes our lives for the worse? How does one put on a smile and function knowing full well that nothing will ever be the same in one’s household? Thankfully we have stories to help us explore such unsettling possibilities and both of those questions were examined in unique fashion in the next episode of Defending Jacob.
 
For ‘Poker Faces’ saw the Barber family work to adjust to a new normal, with mixed results. Because this case was going to be high profile and in front of people in every single way imaginable and their first real lesson on how much their lives were going to change, came about at Jacob’s arraignment. For both Andy and Laurie had to learn how to be emotionless as the press and the world watched their every last move and it was quite fascinating to see how much Laurie struggled with turning off empathy or concern and once the trial was over, there were still tough lessons for all of them to learn about this next phase of their lives. Because Laurie came to learn that optics are important for businesses, since the board of directors at her job put her on indefinite leave since they were concerned with how the public would view the center, if they allowed the mother of an accused murderer to be near other children.
 
Yet while those elements alone would have been enough exploration wise, there was still plenty more for this story to examine, in regard to how life changes when something as dark as a murder accusation comes into a family’s home. Because we also saw friends abandon the family since Toby offered up a pity meal as her farewell since her husband no longer wanted her anywhere near the family. Plus, the Barber’s found themselves struggling with the fact that television and social media and gaming needed to exit their lives. For people could potentially misconstrue anything said on the latter two platforms as admissions of guilt or find a quote to put into the limelight, and it was quite fascinating to see them work to shun a part of the world that each and every one of us find value and necessity in. And believe it or not, there was still one more powerful aspect of this new life to explore as well, one that relates to the aforementioned scrutiny.

​Because being in the public eye and the 24/7 news cycle, means that every single detail of a person’s private life is going to be poured over by the press and the public, and that prompted Andy to get ahead of a dark secret that was soon going to be public knowledge. For it turns out that Andy’s father didn’t abandon him and his mother when he was an infant, he murdered a woman, and has been in prison ever since. A fact that Andy hid from the world out of shame and disgust for a man that he didn’t ever want to associate with and what was truly shocking, is that his honesty rattled his wife like never before. Because Laurie suddenly began to wonder if violence was something that ran in the family, to the point where the family’s defense attorney, Joanna Klein, set up a meeting with a behavior specialist in this field so they could debunk that possibility. And it really was quite powerful to see a mother ponder upon the possibility that her son might be a monster, and it just speaks volumes to how much this whole mess is shattering her psyche and understandably so.
 
But while this study into the chaos that comes with a horrific, life changing event was fascinating and compelling to watch, this is still a murder mystery and there is still a case to explore and Andy handled a vast majority of that in this tale. Because he really did believe that the state didn’t do enough to investigate Leonard Patz, and he took matters into his own hands in bold fashion. For he swung by Detective Duffy’s place to beg her for Patz’s file, something she surprisingly complied with, giving Andy something to dive into during all this downtime before his son goes to trial, and it should be quite interesting to see what he uncovers in regard to Patz in the days to come. Plus, this episode did a fine job of setting up more mystery surrounding Jacob’s involvement in the matter, since Sarah took the time to call Detective Duffy, which is huge to say the least. Because it’s been obvious for some time now that she knows something about Ben’s murder, and her words are either going to reinforce Jacob’s innocence, or blow this case wide open.    
 
In the end however, this was quite the powerful episode when all is said and done. Simply because this story did a phenomenal job of exploring the aftermath of this kind of event, since we were privy to all the fear and uncertainty that would undoubtedly come with having a family member accused of a violent crime, and this story gets serious credit for leaving no stone unturned. Because it truly did explore just about every aspect imaginable of the fallout of such a life-changing event, and it did a phenomenal job of informing the audience that there is no playbook for something such as this, and no right way to handle it. You simply take it moment by moment and hope in the long term that your loved one is found innocent. Either way, all of this just goes to show that this limited series really is something special, and that it is going to take us on quite the emotional and intimate ride and that’s both exciting and terrifying all at once. Because it could provide us with a powerful tale about healing if Jacob is indeed innocent, or his admission of a heinous crime, is going to devastate a mother and a father that are barely holding on right now. Until next time.

​Over the course of its first couple of episodes, the HBO series Avenue 5 has done a phenomenal job of exploring the nature of a disaster and how important it is to have competent leadership at the helm when a crisis strikes. Because things have been messy thus far on this series, thanks to the fact that senior leadership aboard this vessel is as clueless as they come. And that’s led to some wildly hilarious and quirky moments as everyone tries and fails to keep things orderly on this semi-doomed stellar pleasure cruise. But now that the dust is starting to settle, and everyone is starting to hunker down for the long haul, the next episode in this series felt it was high time to allow for the audience to get to know some of the characters aboard this vessel.
 
Which is a brilliant idea. Simply because, it’s going to be a long journey back to Earth for both the audience and the folks aboard this ship, so why not take a little time to get to know everyone, and what we learned about the captain specifically in this tale was fascinating to say the least. For we came to discover that Captain Ryan Clark is a family man. Since he just so happens to have a husband and a wife back home, both of whom believe the time has come for Ryan to stop galivanting about the galaxy and settle down for a change. Something that just may happen after this particular cruise comes to an end since it’s already been brutal. Plus, we also came to learn in this tale that while Clark may not be a skilled captain in the slightest, he’s damn good at reading a room and people for that matter as well and using what he learns to his benefit.
 
Because he finally came to the conclusion that perhaps the time had come to stop keeping Karen at a distance and make her an ally. After all, she is quite adept at and getting people to agree with whatever is at the top of her mind and giving her a sense of power and belonging could go a long way. Especially after Ryan discovers that the Cyrus’ data is all wrong and the voyage home will take even longer than originally anticipated. And all of these things motivate Captain Clark to butter Karen up to take a new liaison officer position, wherein she can enjoy the finest amenities that the ship has to offer, and feel as though she’s in charge, all while doing the captain’s bidding and this was quite the savvy idea. Because it worked, and she went along with every single second of It and thank the stars that she did.
 
For there were more unpleasant discoveries to be made in this tale. Such as the fact that there are far less leaders aboard this ship than originally thought. Because once Ryan realized that he could actually make a difference and lead people after all, he felt the need to try and inspire his intrepid bridge crew and well, that’s going to be easier said than done. Because every manned station on the bridge, is automated, and every single person at their station, is there to look pretty and pretend they actually know what the hell they’re doing. Which is terrifying for certain because it seems as though the only people really in charge of the ship are the small staff of engineers below deck, and thus far, they haven’t shown they want to do much more but stay in the shadows. 
 
Which has merit. Because that way they can do their work without any interruption or wild orders from Judd. But knowing this series, there is a solid chance they are going to be thrust into the spotlight sooner rather than later. Because Captain Clark simply cannot keep a secret, and he’s desperate to find a way home quickly, and it should be interesting to see what comes next for the engineering crew, since they are clearly this ship’s last hope. All (possible) future plot points aside however, this really was quite the delightful episode when all is said and done. Because the jokes were still on point, and the dark humor brought forth more uncomfortable laughs and, in the end, this show just continues to impress. Because every single episode straight up understands how to offer the perfect balance of storytelling and comedy. Until next time.

When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating new AppleTV+ series, Defending Jacob, the situation looked pretty darn grim for the Barber family. After all, there were some ugly accusations being thrown Jacob’s way online, and poor Andy had to reconcile the fact that a knife was within the walls of his idyllic home and those discoveries left all of us wondering how Andy was going to handle this surprise and the possibility that his son might potentially be involved in something sinister. But thankfully, rather than draw everything out to build suspense, the next episode of his enthralling new show wasted zero time in exploring the fallout of what Andy uncovered, and the next steps in the investigation of this horrendous crime, and what came about from all of these elements led to one stunning episode for certain.
 
But what makes ‘Everything is Cool’ so worth our while, is the sheer fact that at first glance, it doesn’t seem like anything all that shocking is really going to happen. For Jacob is quick to protest his dad’s discoveries and speak to his innocence in regard to the whole mess. Which is enough to leave the matter settled for time being and that whole confrontation also prompts Andy to remove the knife from the house by throwing it in the trash, and this sense of normalcy continues along by way of the investigation. Since nothing really comes out Leonard Patz’s questioning. Because he has nothing to say and the detectives on the case don’t really see any indications that he’s hiding something. Which in turn leads the audience to believe that this is case is going to be a slow burning one, the kind that won’t start to blow us away until late in the season, and that lovely sense of security is what allows for what comes next to shock us in every way imaginable.
 
Because just like that, a breakthrough in the case comes through, one that upends Andy’s world in a matter of minutes. For it is revealed that the police have discovered Jacob’s fingerprints on Ben Rifkin’s body and now, Andy Barber is a victim, and in a matter of seconds he has to hear from his current boss that he’s off the case and suspended and that there is an arrest warrant out for his son. Which are stunning words for a parent to hear and the powerful acting present here and the breakneck pace at which these surprises arrive with, offers a visceral and powerful experience for the audience. One where you feel Andy’s emotions and panic through and through, and you most certainly feel pity as well, because you’re fully aware of the fact that everything that follows these revelations is going to be supremely difficult for Andy and his family to process.
 
But the episode doesn’t shy away from exploring that in the slightest. For we are privy to watching the police search the Barber home, and poor Andy has to explain to his innocent wife what is going on and it’s heartbreaking and frustrating to watch them try and get ahold of Jacob, who is nowhere to be found and well, while that alone would have been enough to carry this episode and leave us with a cliffhanger and plenty to chew upon, there’s still more for us to process in this tale. Because eventually, Jacob is picked up by the police and he admits to the fact that he found Ben’s body, and didn’t want to tell anyone because he genuinely thought someone would try and pin the murder on him and just like that, he is now the prime suspect, and a family stands shattered and what’s truly shocking about this story, is that the police might have the wrong person in custody.
 
For in the closing moments of this story, Patz reveals only to the audience, that he has a lot of pictures of Ben on his phone, and he is quick to delete them and well, when all is said and done… this was one incredible episode. Because not only does it end in jaw-dropping fashion, since it leads one to believe that perhaps Patz did indeed harm Ben, everything that precedes that important moment, simply leaves you speechless. Because watching a man’s life fall to pieces in real time made for a powerful and unsettling experience and where we go from here is anyone’s guess. If anything, all of these surprises, speak volumes to the fact that this is going to be one incredible ride in the days and weeks and to come, one that will undoubtedly leave us breathless as more stunning revelations about this murder come to light. Until next time.

​If there is one important lesson that the Writer’s Room of Star Trek should have learned from season two of this series, it would have to be to not mix horror and Trek together. Because there were several episodes during year two of the five-year mission, that tried to inject elements of the supernatural into a story that is grounded in science and logic and the end result was pretty darn messy for certain. But despite those dubious results, no heed was paid to this lesson, since the next episode of this storied franchise reintroduces a horror and science fiction mix, with slightly better results than what we saw in those prior tales.
 
Because while those episodes were an utter disaster, ‘And the Children Shall Lead’ is an inconsistent tale at best. One that initially toys with a poignant idea in regard to death. For a trip to a doomed colony reveals that only the children survived an odd slaughter and there really was a grandiose chance here to dive deep, into how humans who face death on a daily basis would process it alongside everyday people. But instead… all of that took a backseat to a sub plot involving some kind of omnipotent and evil being that wants to rule the galaxy and it is unfortunate that the show once again tried to fuse these two genres together because the first storytelling element we just discussed, would have made for one incredible tale.
 
But instead, we get a Sci-Fi prequel to Children of the Corn. Because the kids that the crew of the Enterprise rescue are somehow best friends with an evil being known as the Gorgan, and it doesn’t take long for them to use mind control powers that he’s taught them, to take over the ship and use fear to keep their agenda going and well, this is where things get messy. Because the fears that are put on display in this tale, aren’t deep rooted or powerful, they’re dumb. They’re everyday fleeting thoughts that somehow manage to paralyze the crew. And to complicate the goofiness of this plot further, these fears are beatable, which means Kirk and Spock should have been able to phaser every last one of these rotten little kids and re-take control of the ship without issue.
 
Yet while there is plenty to nitpick about the plot and the acting, what really hurts this story is that there is nothing dangerous or scary about what happens aboard the ship in the slightest. It’s just a collection of moments that don’t work because spooky stuff doesn’t work on Star Trek. Case and point, having the Gorgan try to be some kind of Biblical or supernatural interpretation of good versus evil. Because we already know deep down, he’s some kind of powerful being grounded in science, so his theatrics fall flat here. And when one realizes that the kids really are never going to up the ante in this tale, and that the Gorgan is basically going to kick back and quarterback this thing from the spiritual sidelines, you more or less tune out of this one and patiently wait for it reach its anticlimactic ending, and that makes this episode slightly frustrating as well.
 
Because thus far season three has been a hodge podge of unique concepts that are poorly executed, and this is another one in that vein. Because adding some proper depth to the Gorgan and giving it a genuine purpose outside of popping up from time to time to spew evil scripture, could have added depth to this character and made him genuinely creepy. Plus, giving the kids some genuinely horrific abilities could have made for some intriguing moments as well. But in the end, this is what we get, and really thus far, with only one real solid story in the stable; it’s obvious the show is just treading water in season three. Which means all we can hope for are some genuine gems as year three rolls along, so that this final season has more to offer than inconsistent storytelling. Until next time.

Bittersweet is perhaps the best word to use in relation to this leg of our journey back through the wonder of Lodge 49. Simply because we are nearing the end of our time with this series once again, and that definitely evokes a sense of sadness for certain. Because this is a series that left the airwaves well before its time and knowing that we are once again going to discuss an ending that offered more unknowns than answers will be frustrating for certain. But at the same time there is cause for celebration as well. Because this segment of the series is staying within some supremely positive territory, since it is offering tips on what to look for to recognize recovery and what one can do to stay on track when you’re making progress in healing your soul.
 
Which is quite the amazing storytelling feat for certain, since few shows out there offer up actual tips to their audience, and it just so happens that the next episode in this magnificent saga has a few more helpful tidbits for us to chew upon as well. But at first glance, it sure doesn’t seem as though that’s what ‘Zugzwang’ is going to be about. Because there’s a lot of mundane present in this tale, and strife. Since everyone seems to be pushing for some kind of stability, which really makes it seem as though this story is going to revolve around finding balance and preparing for a stable future, and therein lies the trick. Because the actions of the characters slowly reveal that this tale is about something far more complex, specifically… how a sense of comfort while we recover can make us complacent.
 
Because at our lowest points, where it seems as though everything is falling to pieces and there’s no hope for tomorrow, we slip into full survival mode. And we do everything we can to keep going, all in the hopes of finding balance and peace. But when we find those things and the storm surrounding us starts to end, that’s when survival mode plays a dirty trick on us. For it recognizes the fact that we are in a safe and stable place at last, and since this is all it thinks we want and need, it demands that we stay there and truth be told, we listen. But while there is merit to be found in playing it safe and enjoying some chill moments, let’s be honest, that’s not us. We have dreams and goals and things that we were chasing before life got difficult and that setup allows for the big lesson to come into play.

For in essence, this is a story that is designed to remind us, that when we find ourselves in that safe and dull space; we need to mix things up and take some risks. Because that’s the kind of bold action that helps us to feel alive once again, and it helps us to realize that we are still the same dynamic and bold individual that we thought we left behind when crisis struck and as an added bonus; we’re even stronger than we were before. Because we’ve been to hell and back and rolling that proverbial hard six and just going for it, means that we will likely achieve wonders and make some big things happen and we see that unfold by way of the journeys present in this particular tale.
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After all, Liz embraces this notion and doesn’t put up with any crap in regard to Janet. And because she is bold and unrelenting for the first time in who knows how long, she gets to learn the truth about Omni and nets a free trip to Mexico aboard a private jet. Plus, a similar result happens for Ernie and Dud. Because we see them embracing the mundane in this particular tale, despite running into their writing hero, and once they come to realize that they need to do something in bold in life, because they have nothing to lose and everything to gain, they light up with excitement. The kind that spreads to everyone as they assemble to head down to Mexico as well, and it is just wonderful and inspiring to see the characters teach us this lesson through their actions.
 
If anything, it really is wonderful to walk away from this one feeling inspired to go out into the world and take your own brave and bold risk. Because this tale really does help to remind us, that we’ve got nothing to lose by taking a chance and trying something bold, and as the next episode proves, who knows… going for broke might pay off in spades. But before we jump ahead, it’s best we truly celebrate one uplifting and hilarious tale. Because we also cannot forget that Paul Giamatti steals the show comedy wise as L. Marvin Metz in this one and well, it really was a true delight to go back through this joyous story one more time and now that it is behind us, it’s time to explore an important life lesson that we often lose sight of, and that is where we will pick up, next time. Until then.  

If there is one thing that we can all agree upon, it would have to be that life can get pretty darn overwhelming at times. And when it does, we want nothing more, then to be able to just get away from it all and clear our heads. Which is something a lot of us do by either indulging in a hobby, or just hopping into the car for a quiet drive around town, the kind that allows for us to forget about our other problems. But some folks, aren’t quite in that position. For they have a stressful job that requires every ounce of their attention day and night and these are the folks who would love nothing more than to find a way to escape their current career situation and genuinely disappear into the world to be free of the stresses that surround them.

Oddly enough, the next episode of Star Trek takes the time to inform the audience that starship captain is a job that meets that unfortunate requirement and when we catch up with James T. Kirk in ‘The Paradise Syndrome’ he too is wondering what life would be like if he was able to escape the big chair and enjoy a little bit of life without the day to day pressure of running the U.S.S. Enterprise. Thoughts that are further indulged after he and his away team beam down to a beautiful, earth-like planet in peril. For a giant asteroid is on its way to colliding with this world and the crew of the NCC-1701 has dropped by to see what kind of beings they are going to save from such a celestial problem and who they find is what motivates Kirk’s longing.

For this world is inhabited by Native Americans from Earth. Who have thrived in simplicity after all these years and well, their idyllic lifestyle appeals to the captain greatly and it isn’t long before this story becomes a unique examination of the age old notion, be careful what you wish for. Because Kirk eventually loses his memory when he accidentally enters a strange obelisk on the planet and since it is a race against time to save this planet, Spock and McCoy are forced to return to the ship, leaving Kirk on his own to navigate a world he doesn’t know or understand anything about. And while he finds release and joy and happiness, and a wife for that matter as well, it doesn’t take long for him to realize that something is missing from his life.

Which is of course, his command, and this epiphany speaks volumes to how sometimes in life, what we think overwhelms us, actually fuels us. And when it becomes a chore, a little mental self-care should provide us with renewed vigor. Which makes it seems as though Jim’s realization that he is meant to be a leader, will lead this story to quite the happy ending. But sadly, this one ends in dark fashion since Jim doesn’t regain his memory until after the ship returns to this world, two months later. Because Spock went all in on trying to destroy that asteroid and damaged the Enterprise in the process, which means he has to work with Kirk on a lightning fast response to fire up that obelisk, since it is a giant deflector array and if that seems like a lot to jam into this episode and this ending, well guess what? We’re not even done yet.

Because to complicate matters further, the village that once revered Kirk as a God, now sees him as a monster and they stone him and his pregnant wife. An act that eventually ends her life and well, wow… that’s a bleak way to end an episode that was moving toward some inspirational territory and in the end, that just goes to show that this episode tried to do way too much storytelling wise. Because we just discussed an overwhelming number of concepts and plotlines and sadly, this jam-packed tale rushes all of those elements, and that means the death of Kirk’s wife doesn’t have the impact that it should. Nor does Kirk’s rediscovery of his love of the captaincy or Spock’s bold gambit and in the end, it’s best to just declare this episode as messy. Because its heart is in all the right places, but the execution is sorely lacking and that’s a shame. For his one could have been brilliant with just a little more focus. Until next time.  

​For the most part, our experiences with violent crime are limited to what we see on the evening news. Which makes sense, simply because the horrible things that happen in the world, rarely impact us directly, and not being at the epicenter of such matters, allows for us to be silent observers, the kind that only have to endure a taste of the horror of such events. Which gives us a supreme sense of safety and satisfaction when the case finally comes to a close. But what we often forget about, because of our distance to the crime in question, is that violent acts rattle communities and shatter lives and truly, the lasting impact of said acts is something that is rarely covered in detail since the news cycle just rolls along. 
 
Which is why it is important to take the time to hear the stories of those impacted, so that we can properly understand the gravity of what occurred and in lieu of that, any fictional story that is brave and bold enough to show the human side of crime in an unfettered fashion, can definitely help us to understand such matters as well. And it just so happens that the brand new AppleTV+ series, Defending Jacob accomplishes this particular feat in incredible fashion. Because this show really does offer up a raw and visceral presentation of how these crimes cause outright devastation and the series premiere of this particular tale accomplishes that by plunging us into the heart of a small community; Newton, Massachusetts to be specific, where the unthinkable has happened.
 
For a young man named Ben Rifkin is found brutally murdered in the park and it doesn’t take long to experience the impact of his untimely passing upon this idyllic community. Because the instant his body is discovered, a powerful sense of foreboding danger hangs over the story. For this is suburbia, where these kinds of acts shouldn’t happen. But someone has now crossed that ultimate line and since there are no clues or any indications as to who might have done this, this cozy community no longer feels safe to the viewer, and that is quite the accomplishment, one that is further enhanced by showing us the direct impact of Ben’s death. Because we are able to meet his family and see how hard it is for them to cope with his passing and that makes for some powerful and poignant moments for certain.

​But while that is some powerful stuff to bear witness to, it means nothing without well-developed and dynamic characters to carry the story and thankfully this opening chapter features plenty of those as well, and the one that stands out the most, is our protagonist; Assistant District Attorney Andrew Barber. Because we spend a lot of time with Andy in this tale and doing so allows for us learn what kind of man he is, and what he believes in, and his gentle and understanding nature is downright refreshing to see in this tale, since so many crime shows provide us with a protagonist that is grizzled and ready to crack the case at any cost. But while it is lovely to spend time with a good man that believes in justice above all else, what’s heartbreaking about Andy’s journey in this story, is that the finale of this tale informs us; that his wonderful beliefs are going to be challenged like never before.
 
Because in the closing moments of this story, it is revealed that Jacob Barber may have more involvement in Ben’s death than his father ever expected, since his classmates seem to believe he’s committed the act, and Andy is able to discover a knife that looks to be the murder weapon and that is what will bring about the challenge in question. Because if Jacob is involved, how does a father, one who also puts away criminals, reconcile the fact that his son might be the anthesis of everything he stands for? And if by chance the crime does indeed point toward Jacob, that will also add a layer of realism to this story as well, since we often forget that those who commit these crimes are also sons and daughters and outright human beings who have made a powerful decision to take a life.
 
If anything, this is just a phenomenal setup to a powerful story. One that will most certainly tug at our emotions as we continue to spend time in a community torn apart by a killer. Plus, this pilot also features solid acting all around, with special attention to the show’s lead Chris Evans, who turns in a wonderfully dynamic performance as Andy Barber since he is able to sell every moment in appropriate and believable fashion. And it should be interesting to see where the second episode takes us now that Andy has discovered his son’s knife and seen some harsh words from his classmates. Because that is some damning evidence for certain, the kind you hope is wrong. Because if Jacob did indeed commit this heinous crime, then nothing will ever be the same for the Barber family. Until next time.   

The last time we settled in to discuss the wonder that is Star Trek, this reviewer had some harsh words for the show, and with good reason. Because the season three premiere of this storied series, simply didn’t live up to expectations. Its plot was a mess, it was way too campy and it should not have been selected as the opening episode to the show’s final season, and for proof, well look no further than its next episode. For ‘The Enterprise Incident’ was an outright tour de force storytelling wise. One that quite frankly, should have served as the lead off episode to season three, simply because what it offered to the audience was downright fascinating and outright delightful. 
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For in this particular tale, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, find themselves entering Romulan space on orders from a jittery and erratic Captain Kirk. And after breaking the treaty, they come face to face with the Romulans and their brand new, fool-proof cloaking device. Meaning that this is a tale grounded in espionage, since Kirk is here under orders from the Federation to steal that new technology, so that Starfleet will have a tactical advantage and well, it’s the details present within the framework of this story that make it so worth our while. Because D.C. Fontana’s script is beautifully woven and able to the fool the audience at every single turn. But what truly allows for this episode to stick with you, are Kirk’s ominous orders.

After all, the United Federation of Planets is supposed to be a utopia that is protected by a fleet of explorers, the kind who only fight when necessary. So, to see them order the Enterprise to pull off a feat that could potentially start a war, is just stunning. Because that seems so unlike the Federation. But when one thinks of the tough and questionable decisions that the Federation and Starfleet have made over the course of the entire franchise, this oddly seems fitting here. And it serves as a fine reminder that both organizations are fallible and prone to fear for the future of the Federation’s existence and well, their gambit certainly pays off with Kirk in charge of this mission. But while it is wonderful to see a story that likely influenced generations of writers to play ‘what if?’ with the Federation, what this episode does with character development for the Romulans is what truly allows for it to shine.

Because up until now, all we’ve seen in regard to this mysterious race is their intelligence in combat, and how much they respect a worthy foe. But here, we get to know them in an intimate manner and that comes courtesy of the dynamic commander aboard this vessel. For she goes the extra mile in trying to seduce Spock as both a mate and a defector and it simply fascinating to see her teach him, and in turn the audience, about Romulan culture and what they stand for and believe in. And what really makes this so special, is the sheer fact that this is another one of those ‘first’ moments in Star Trek, which is always exciting. Because this really does serve as the ‘birth’ of Romulan culture in this franchise and its quite thrilling to know that this sets the stage for decades of storytelling, the kind that even found its way into Star Trek: Picard.

In the end, this really was quite the wonderful tale. Because it offered something for everyone. After all, there was a grand mystery in this tale, one revolving around Captain Kirk’s sanity. Plus, you had action and adventure by way of the hunt for this new cloaking device and it was also filled with some top-notch performances as well. With a special shout out to Leonard Nimoy and guest star Joanne Linville, who plays the Romulan Commander. Because their little cat and mouse game made for some powerful moments, the kind that definitely speak to Spock’s mental prowess since he played her like a Vulcan Lute and the sublime manner with which the commander schemes and deflects and instills terror speaks to Joanne’s skill set as an actor as well. Either way, this is the kind of quality tale that season three should be bringing to the table since the show is established now, and hopefully this signals the beginning of a hot streak for the series, one that really does give us a solid understanding of what this show could have accomplished if the five-year mission was allowed to continue. Until next time.

If there is one storytelling element that a vast majority of television shows struggle with, it would have to be finding a way to balance screen time for all of the characters present within its story. Which is, an understandable struggle. After all, every show has its lead, often played by a big-time star, and drawing attention away from the top dog could be disastrous for the ratings since hey, everyone’s here to see them do their thing. But while it is indeed important to focus upon the lead, the best shows out there understand that the main character is nothing without the support of the secondary characters and taking the time to explore what makes them tick only adds to the wonder of the story. Which is yet another reason that Almost Paradise continues to deserve our praise, since last night’s episode of the series embraced this particular lesson.
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For ‘Rise of the Kalangay’ focused its attention on Detective Kai Mendoza and what makes her tick and well, what we learned about her was quite fascinating for certain. Mainly because we came to discover that she was quite the troublemaker in her youth, one that was constantly in trouble with the law and constantly rebelling against the old ways that her community embraced. But the death of her mother, by way of murder, motivated her to play it straight for a change and obviously, that decision paid off in spades, since she eventually became the tough-as-nails police officer we’ve come to know. But while it was awesome to learn about her past and understand what drives her to chase bad guys and exhibit good above all else, this story went above and beyond in exploring the nature of Kai by providing her with one heck of a challenge. 

Because her mentor returned to the island to say hello and unfortunately for Kai, he was harboring all kinds of dark secrets. For a professor that came to the island to study the old ways, stumbled upon the truth about how Kai’s mother really died, before facing his own unfortunate end, and it turns out that the intrepid Detective Rabara was the real man responsible for her death. Because she had come to discover that his rise through the ranks was predicated on lies and really, what matters about this revelation is that the truth about her past and her mentor forced Kai to face quite the conundrum. Because in many ways, her path in life was predicated on lies. Something that can badly rattle a human being since it makes a person feel betrayed and confused, as if everything they’ve done and everything that defines them are also lies and when faced with that mental mess, she had to make quite the call; kill her mentor and get revenge for the pain he put her through, or do the right thing and stay on the path she’s been on for ages.

Thankfully she chose the latter, simply because Alex was able to remind her that giving into the darkness accomplishes nothing and it leaves one a shell of their former self. But what mattered more about this powerful decision, is that she also came to realize that it isn’t our past that defines us, but the choices we make. Granted, the past can factor into said decision. But in the end, we make the call to either give into our anger or to rise to the occasion, and it was wonderful to see Kai realize that it wasn’t her mother’s death that served as her sole motivation to become a better person, ultimately she is the one that chose to be more. She simply wanted more out of life, and that choice brought her great success and joy and that made for a lovely lesson for the audience to chew upon, and a happy ending as well since the scuzzy Rabara was finally put behind bars for his crooked ways. 

Yet while this episode was filled to the brim with wonderful moments involving Kai, we would be remiss to not point out that this episode also showed some character growth for Alex as well. Because he was able to demonstrate just how much he respects Kai, and how much he wants her to succeed in ways that he did not. Which is a fine indicator that he is opening up to people once again and believing in friendship and seeing him take on a mentor role was just delightful for certain and in the end, this was just a magnificent episode. For not only did it feature an intriguing murder mystery and some wonderfully philosophical concepts, it was full of fun and it really did let Kai shine and once again, this episode serves as proof that Almost Paradise is one of the finest shows out there right now. Until next time.

​It’s always a strange feeling when you settle in to watch the final season of a television series. Because you’re always hoping for the best storytelling wise, so that the series goes out with a bang and is fondly remembered by everyone that was able to bear witness to moving and thoughtful tales. Plus, it’s equally strange to know that the show you love, is going to disappear from the airwaves, and to complicate matters further, your constant discussion of it with friends, and your own personal speculations as to what might come next for the characters, is also going to come to an end, because this is it. This is the final ride and soon we have to say farewell to characters we consider to be family.
 
If anything, all of those thoughts are relevant to today’s discussion, simply because that’s where we are in regard to Star Trek. For these Retro Recaps have arrived at the third and final season of this dynamic series and well, at this point, we are all hoping for wonderful quality from these final, small screen voyages of the NCC-1701, so that we can sit back in disbelief over how NBC let this magnificent series leave the airwaves. Which means that the third season premiere of this series had high expectations hanging over it, because the premiere should set the tone for a new season and impress the audience. But sadly, rather than wow us, ‘Spock’s Brain’ does an excellent job of reminding us why network executives made the call to bid farewell to this voyage through the stars.
 
Because this episode is plain goofy through and through, simply because the plot is off the wall and that leads to some equally dubious moments as the hour rolls on and well, that’s a shame. Because this episode actually does feature an important element that fans can definitely appreciate, but it is grossly overshadowed by a story that revolves around an alien that steals Spock’s brain in order to run the computer system of her species’ colony, and that just leads to some silly moments for certain. Such as having Spock’s body walk around the world where his brain is stored by way of remote control. Because it is just ridiculous to see Leonard Nimoy do a slow interpretation of the Robot and its equally as strange to see Spock sit there stoically while his friends fight for his brain’s life and the problems with this episode don’t end there.
 
Because the whole reason why these aliens steal Spock’s brain in the first place just doesn’t work plot wise. For these beings have unlimited knowledge at their fingertips by way of a device that teaches these people whatever they want to know, and it just seems impossible that the entire species of this planet would ignore the wonder of this device since curiosity is a universal trait in this series. Of course, the possibility of the leader or anyone, using this device to create a better life for their brethren is all waved away by giving the knowledge they receive a time limit before it fades. But repeated use should allow for the knowledge to eventually stick, making the need to steal a brain unnecessary. But while there are clearly a lot of problems with the plot, there was mention of a highlight and that relates to Kirk, Spock and Bones.
 
For they are the best of friends, ones that will do anything for one another. And the bond that they share, and their dedication to each other, are big reasons as to why we fell in love with this series since that is so relatable. So, to see Kirk go the extra mile to save Spock, and risk it all to get his brain back in his body, is quite wonderful, and it’s equally as delightful to see McCoy step up to the plate in this one too. Because he also risks a lot to help the Vulcan he loves to spar with. But while it’s nice to see something worthwhile in this story, it’s all quickly forgotten thanks to the silly surrounding it. Because the bad acting and Robo-Spock really take you out of this one, and in the end, this is quite the dubious start for season three of this storied series. One that makes you realize that despite fan support, this show was running out of steam, and it should be interesting to see if season three rights the ship or goes down in flames and the only way to find out, is to forge ahead at warp speed and see where this final ride takes us. Until next time.