Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom’.
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Over the course of the past couple of weeks, the BBC America series, China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom; has provided us with some fascinating ideas as to how we can possibly preserve the sanctity of nature and live alongside it in peace and harmony. Such as how our efforts should start with a grand push to create safe spaces for nature to thrive, the kind that are free of mankind’s influence and footprint. Plus, in areas where that isn’t possible, this series has been able to show us that there are people ready to lead the charge toward harmony and when empowered to do so, they will indeed accomplish wonders to ensure that nature understands that humanity is its friend, not its predator, so that it can thrive in peace and safety.

But while that has indeed made for some beautiful and serene moments in this documentary series, we’ve yet to see a true real-world application. For the people that went above and beyond for the animals in the Western part of China in the series premiere, lived in far less populated areas, where that kind of balance is a touch easier to achieve. And of course, the sanctuaries in the Central part of the nation, are already in an easy place to purge mankind since those areas aren’t exactly easily accessible. Which genuinely leaves one to wonder how balance would work when cities are near and people can easily head out into the world without giving it a second thought and well, that particular question was answered during last night’s series finale.

For ‘East: The Last Refuge’ made it inherently clear that finding that same balance as those in the West… is no easy task. Because the national park that was designed to keep the Siberian Tiger safe, is a part of the world where people have hunted the animals that live there, for generation upon generation, and new rules or not… those folks aren’t stopping now. Which means that precious food for these fragile animals is in short supply at times and the troubles with perfect coexistence don’t end there. For the beaches down south in China are often crowded and those coastal cities are growing, bringing forth problems for the coral reefs in the parks nearby since our footprint reaches far and wide. And of course, the need for industry also creates some complications, since rubber trees keep some species of monkeys from exploring the rest of their natural habitat.

But despite the seemingly dire nature of that picture, coexistence and harmony are indeed possible, provided the right efforts are put into place. For those very same tigers have silent defenders roaming the woods to remove those very traps so they have plenty of food to eat. Plus, there are scores of volunteers and scientists and environmentalists, working to replant the reef in a unique manner and rope bridges are starting to help those monkeys find new friends and mates so they can start new families. Which means that time is part of the equation, as is education, so old thinking fades and leading by example in this manner and educating people and looking to those who truly have found the balance… is paramount to enacting change. And that latter concept is of note since there is a place in the East where industry and humanity and nature actually do live in perfect harmony and their slow way of life might be the key to the future.

In the end however, this really was quite the fascinating documentary series. Simply because it was full of bold ideas, the kind that might have their drawbacks and might encounter hiccups along the way, but that’s not a bad thing in the slightest. Because what the natural world needs right now, is bold thinking from humanity and if more nations can follow this lead and swing for the fences in honor of mother nature, then perhaps more people will join in the cause and genuine change can finally come about. But while we wait for that all-important day, we can at least sleep better knowing, that some people are genuinely ready to enact change in our world and the bare beginnings to finally treat planet Earth as an equal and not something to be conquered… are underway.  

One important lesson that each and every one of us learn growing up… is to be objective when we look at situations that are emotionally upsetting. Because it is very easy to become caught up in the moment and when that happens, dumb decisions can be made on our part, the kind that can motivate us to harm someone in a fit of anger or hang onto the negative feelings that come forth from something that was quite frankly out of our control. But when we take a moment to step back and take a deep breath and process what’s happening, we see the situation and the potential consequences of our actions with clarity and that allows for us to avoid any kind of trouble. And while this lesson isn’t always easy to abide by since emotion is a powerful thing, more often than not we hold to it, and it helps us greatly in life as we head out into the world on our own.
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But sadly, while the majority of us do indeed take a moment when something is troubling us, there are some folks in this world who never learned this lesson or choose to ignore it and their lives tend to be in a rough place because of that. To the point where they are either haunted and/or enraged by a particular moment that didn’t go their way or they are quick to indulge in the emotions of the moment and really, this is relevant to our discussion today, because of the fact that this notion serves as the focal point of the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. For ‘Silicon Avatar’ is that a story that dives deep into how holding onto a moment can do a person great disservice mentally and emotionally, and it accomplished this particular feat… by bringing an old villain back into the mix, since this story features the return of the Crystalline Entity. 

In fact, that fierce creation nearly robs the Enterprise of four key crew members since Commander Riker, Lieutenant Commander Data, Lieutenant Worf and Commander Crusher are planet side when it attacks. But thanks to Data’s quick thinking, they and a handful of colonists manage to survive the attack, and, in the wake of its attack, Captain Picard decides the time has come to go after this aggressive creature and learn more about it and he calls in some scientific help to make that happen. Which brings a Doctor Kila Marr aboard, who just so happens to be a specialist in the Entity and well… that’s when our thematic exploration gets underway. Because it doesn’t take long for us to learn that the good Doctor’s interest in the creature isn’t scientific in nature, but emotional. For long ago her son was on a world where the Entity attacked, and of course… he died in the ensuing chaos that the creature created, and well, when she reveals to the captain her plans for modifying the photon torpedoes to destroy the Crystalline Entity… it becomes clear that revenge is her true intention for chasing the creature about the galaxy.

An act that Captain Picard wasted no time in quashing, by pointing out that revenge was not and would not be a viable option. And that, perhaps if the crew could communicate with the Entity, perhaps an understanding could come to fruition, and he ordered her to work with Data to figure out a way to speak to the creature. But alas, being this close to enacting her vendetta for her baby boy and being able to hear his voice through Data’s databanks… was more than she could bear and eventually she killed the Crystalline Entity and ruined her career in the process and therein lie the lesson. In that, by not taking a moment to step away and understand that the creature was in fact, a wild space animal that fed as it saw fit, and only agreed to work with Lore because he could provide for it akin to a pet… Doctor Marr in essence ruined her life and her career by dedicating herself to revenge and the darkness of the moment.

Making this a grand tragedy in the end and a story that clearly offers up a heavy-handed warning to the viewer, and that makes this a fairly satisfying episode when all is said and done. For its message is indeed timeless. But all of that aside, it was nice to see the series revisit a villain we haven’t seen since ‘Datalore’ and resolve its plotline at last since it really did just disappear after Lore was sent into the depths of space and oddly enough… its end here is rather bittersweet. Mainly because there was a chance that this being could have found some measure of redemption since it spoke to the crew through that unique line of communication, and who knows what would have come about had this creature been able to finally communicate with man and make peace with it. But alas we will never know and in the spirit of this story, it’s best we simply process that tragedy… and move forward with the crew to their next mission. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘The Mosquito Coast’.
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The vast majority of us out there, understand precisely why it is a bad thing to lie. Simply because we’ve faced the consequences that come with dishonesty, and that put us on the right path… real quick. But sadly, there are plenty of other people out there, who disregard this lesson and lie with impunity because they firmly believe that somehow, someway, their lies will eventually pay off in dividends and/or become a reality and well… it’s best to call those people, downright delusional. Because lies always catch up with us and the harm they cause, always brings about an appropriate backlash and really, this is relevant to our discussion today, because this rough lesson is put on full display in the next episode of The Mosquito Coast on AppleTV+.
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For ‘Calaca’ sees all the lies that Allie Fox has told over the years, come back to haunt him. For while he and Margot were moved to a secure location by the mysterious kidnappers that snatched them up last week, his ‘daughter’ Dina, continued to dig into the big lies that he’s told. In fact, she was even motivated to contact Estelle and Don, the intrepid NSA agents that have been hot on the Fox family’s trail… in order to finally uncover the truth and well, according to Estelle, Dina was indeed ‘adopted’ by force, as was her brother and that awful revelation motivated her to ask these agents for help, an act that was going to bring about all kinds of trouble for Allie. Provided of course he managed to survive his encounter with the man that shares the namesake of this episode.

Because Calaca also wanted some answers and after Allie spent a better part of the day strapped down to a chair lying once again… this mysterious man was forced to resort to horrifying measures to finally get some kind of truth out of Allie. That kind that saw Margot be held at gunpoint and eventually fired upon… with blanks of course. Simply because Calaca believed that a man that was willing to stick to his answer under extreme duress, had to be telling the truth and now we know that it takes the potential death of a loved one to finally get it out of Allie, and his reward for being honest… was safe passage to Guatemala, but at what cost? For Margot had enough of these kinds of shenanigans and is clearly in a detached place in their relationship and there is a chance that the family might not even make it to their final destination.

After all, the NSA was waiting for Allie when he and Margot returned to the hotel, and Bill and his merry band of children spies knew where the family was hiding out as well. Leaving Allie in a stunned place as he watched the fruits of his lies come to fruition. For he lost the trust of his wife and daughter and now there was a chance that his family would die because of his desire to dabble into a world he didn’t understand and for lying to his family that they would be safe and that everything would be okay. But fate apparently shined down upon Allie and his family on this day, and perhaps gave him one final chance to set things right. Since William and the NSA agents duked it out in the hostel of the lobby with their guns, giving the family time to escape into the night in a stolen car.

In the end however, this was an oddly satisfying episode for certain. Simply because, at long last, Allie Fox (or Alec Finn) finally faced a reckoning for his lies and hopefully the horrors he faced here will finally motivate him to tell the truth going forward but even then… such a lesson might be too little, too late. For Margot is clearly done with being his pawn and his fixer and Dina is disillusioned because of the truth. Which means that everything might well fall apart for Allie’s big plans during next week’s season finale and well, everything that happened here should leave us counting down the minutes until said finale. Since the future of this family now stands on the brink of disaster in every way imaginable… all thanks to Allie’s ego and desire for deception. Until next time.      
 
‘The Mosquito Coast’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

Truly, one of the most rewarding moments of rewatching one’s favorite television shows… is being able to revisit keystone episodes that have a great impact on the story going forward, or a franchise if applicable. Because it truly gives the viewer a newfound appreciation of the care that went into telling the story in question and of course, it helps one to realize that you were watching the birth of something important when you originally settled in to enjoy that particular tale and well, this is relevant to our discussion today… simply because the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation features another one of those all-important keystone moments. One that would be important to both TNG and the Star Trek franchise as a whole.

For ‘Ensign Ro’ is a story that quite frankly, set up a tragic arc for the widely popular character introduced in this tale. Since Ensign Ro Laren would find herself making an important decision about her future in Starfleet in season seven, based upon the foundation laid down here. But also, her arrival here and the plot in general, would have quite the incredible impact upon a future series. For the introduction of the Cardassian/Bajoran conflict here… would serve as the groundwork for the creation of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. A series that would use the concept of military occupations and the horrors that come with them to bring about some fascinating and powerful and relevant stories for a world that was beginning to change with the Soviet Union in dissolution and the wonder and majesty of this, didn’t end with the creation of a forthcoming new series.

Because the actions of Admiral Kennelly here would kick off a fascinating exploration in the framework of the franchise that still continues in 2021. In that, this is when the franchise began to ponder upon whether or not Starfleet and the Federation always had the best intentions in mind and whether or not it was in fact, corruptible based upon the situation surrounding it. Notions that of course brought about controversy when the series introduced it here and is still a hot topic now, since those two entities are viewed as untouchable and infallible, when that simply isn’t the case. Since fear is something that may never leave the human condition and causes trouble at the highest levels when it takes root and that’s why it is so refreshing to see Picard stand up for the right values here. For that serves to remind us that having good people stand tall is how we continue to defeat it and that is a message that is painfully relevant and important in 2021 for certain.

But all commentary and world-building aside, make no mistake about it, this is a solid story. One that really did explore what the fringe of the Federation looks like in a post Cardassian-war era and how grey areas and dark times do exist outside of the Federation. Making it clear that the galaxy is a diverse and chaotic place, something that we didn’t see all that often on TNG, since it tended to celebrate the American-zeigest of the era. Plus, it also deserves serious credit for having Ensign Ro’s arc focus heavily on the nature of revenge and whether or not it applies to duty and the power of the second chance. Since her actions here do indeed redeem her broken career and give her a chance to serve aboard the flagship and under the finest captain in Starfleet and well, in the end, all of these elements really do make this quite the brilliant tale.

Because it takes a lot of work to put together a story this layered and this critical to the future of Star Trek, but Rick Berman and Michael Piller really did a wonderful job of assembling a script that put together all of these concepts in a seamless and powerful manner. To the point where this one stands on its own as a powerful parable, if you don’t think about the long-term applications, since it is at its core; a tale of redemption and a warning in regard to what happens when we ignore the ideals we swear to uphold. If anything, this episode genuinely reflects the best parts of the franchise, since striving for our ideals and never losing sight of why, has always been paramount to the success of Gene Roddenberry’s vision, and that definitely makes this particular rewatch a satisfying one for certain, since it gives you pause and leaves the viewer eager to see what other keystone moments await us as season five rolls along. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the second episode of ‘The Me You Can’t See’.

​The prevailing belief when it comes to tough times for a person, is that they are in essence on their own when it comes to their struggle. Because we live in a world where everyone is raised to be strong, and expected to forge ahead and solve their problems in a brave and dynamic manner. But while that is a wonderful thought in theory, it is one that we are beginning to learn is incorrect and foolish… especially when it comes to struggles involving mental health. Because sometimes we need more help than we know in order to overcome what’s eating at us and what’s leaving us in such a dark place and how exactly we get that help is explored in great detail in the next episode of The Me You Can’t See on AppleTV+. For ‘Asking for Help’ once again uses its title to relay the answer as to how we get the assistance we need because speaking up and letting others know we need it, is the only way to make it happen and that allowed for this episode to explore this important step toward healing in an incredibly dynamic manner.

For this one took the time to not only explore the benefits of opening up and saying ‘help’, but it made sure to help the viewer understand the pain that comes out of not asking for it and how difficult it can  be to ask for that help… as evidenced by the vignette involving Oprah and Alex, the woman that Oprah took under her wing on live television a long time ago. For Alex as it turns out has a lot of unresolved traumas in her heart and mind and for the longest time, she felt going the traditional route and forging ahead was the best way to solve that. But that didn’t work in the slightest and it led to tough times, but she still kept pushing because it was far more difficult to say outright that help was needed. And while she eventually has received the proper care she needs and did open up, this vignette really did make it clear that asking for it is easier said than done and well… if we choose not to, that’s when heartbreak can occur.

Which is a darker aspect of this journey that was explored by way of a man who saw his father struggle with his mental health issues his whole life. For Zak Williams watched his father Robin, battle his mental demons on a daily basis, to the point where Robin self-medicated and did whatever he needed to in order to avoid genuine therapy or acknowledge that there was a problem. In part to keep his career going, but also because he too held to the stigma revolving around mental health. Which in turn led to several tragedies. In that, young Zak began to follow in his father’s footsteps when his problems arose because… that was deemed acceptable. And his dad, well eventually he took his own life when a depressive state overtook him after he received news of his Parkinson’s diagnosis. An act that speaks volumes to the message in question. But rather than threaten or warn with that story ending there, Zak’s story instead took quite the powerful turn. One where he learned that opening up and asking for help might not be a bad thing in the slightest and in doing so, he was able to change his fortunes and his path and find some of the peace that he never knew in his youth, and he wasn’t the only one in this tale to find that.

For Ginny, the boxer we met in the series premiere that was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, also found herself in a tough place where asking for help seemed impossible. But when she did during her darkest hour… a great deal changed. For not only did she get the help and treatment she so desperately sought, but she came to learn that there were people ready and willing and able to support her and help her through what was going to be a tough time. For her parents didn’t turn their back on her in the slightest, they instead embraced their daughter and worked to learn how to help her at every turn. Plus, she even has constant support from her best friend and her story also echoed some of what Crystal went through when she finally opened up about her struggles with depression and for that matter, there was similar positivity to be found when Prince Harry opened up about Meghan Markle’s battle with depression as well, allowing for this episode to end on a supremely high note because of what asking for help does for us when we’re struggling.

In that, it will rally the people that matter most to our cause and our fight. Allowing for us to not feel as though we are stuck handling this alone and that’s huge. Because sometimes we will need that support and that love as we navigate uncharted waters and darkness untold and hopefully this series will explore that in greater detail down the line since we don’t talk enough about the importance of a support network in regard to mental health and recovery. But what matters more, is that this particular tale also makes it inherently clear, that none of that support and or the treatment we likely need will ever come about if we stay silent. For silence is nothing more than an enabler of the problem and it will feed it and encourage it to grow and well, once again, this series deserves a round of applause for presenting such matters in a raw and honest fashion, and it will be quite interesting and powerful to see what other steps toward healing The Me You Can’t See is going to examine in its trademark candid manner, in future episodes. Until next time.

‘The Me You Can’t See’ is streaming now, exclusively on AppleTV+.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 407 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’.

​Normally in storytelling, when a character that has been through utter hell, escapes the person or place that was the source of their torment… the story quickly comes to an end. For they have conquered their worst nightmare and they are in for better days filled with happiness and fulfillment… so the time has come to wrap this up. But while that does indeed make for a happy ending, one that leaves a viewer or reader quite satisfied, it is perhaps the true pinnacle of the escapism that storytelling provides. Because it genuinely hides away the true reality of what comes next for someone that has escaped a traumatic experience. In that… they have a long road of recovery ahead of them, one where they must resolve the horrors, they worked so hard to leave behind.
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Which why you genuinely have to respect stories that opt to not hold back in exploring such matters, since they provide their audience with a gritty and realistic story that reminds us that a happy ending is work instead of a hollow pursuit or a gift, and that’s precisely why the next episode of The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu is of note. For ‘Home’ is a story that explores that long road ahead in great detail, shortly after giving the viewer a moment to celebrate the fact that June did indeed escape Gilead at long last by letting us witness her request to seek asylum in Canada. Which was quite the satisfying moment indeed, one that the audience has been hoping and waiting for since we started this harrowing journey. But once June and her motorcade of friends and family and government officials arrived at their destination, that joy quickly wore off and the reality of what comes next settled in.

For June was… out of sorts and understandably so. Because she’d just spent seven years undergoing torture and was consistently under the watchful eye of others in regard to her every move and action. So being able to use the restroom on her own and enjoy a shower or simply sleep with both eyes closed… was a new experience for her for certain. One that left her feeling akin to an outsider, despite the fact that she was surrounded by familiar faces and love and support. Which made for some powerful moments for certain since this sequence really did speak to the power of trauma and how tight a grip it can have upon us and kudos to the show for not letting up in showing us its lasting impact upon a person. In fact, it is safe to say that the supermarket scene will go down as of the more accurate portrayals of how hard it is for a person to shake the trauma they have experienced in life since it served to teach us and remind others how it can find you on a moment’s notice long after it has ended.

But rather than punish the audience and June for the entire hour with traumatic flashbacks of the nightmare left behind, the show was also keen to explore how we conquer said trauma or at the very least… how we start to and one such way to handle it… is to acknowledge that it happened. A feat that this story accomplished by having June’s close-knit group of friends settle in for drinks and company. Wherein Rita and Emily and Moira and June could acknowledge the wonder of their freedom and of course, reminiscence on what they escaped and that allowed for the acknowledgement in question to take place. Since each of them took a moment to reflect upon their harrowing journey, providing some measure of needed catharsis for all of them and it inspired June to take park in something that most therapists wouldn’t recommend for trauma survivors, until they are further along in their recovery. 
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In that, she opted to outright confront her trauma head on and try to reconcile it, in perhaps the most unique way imaginable. All by going to the prison to confront Serena Joy at last, an act that was indeed filled with some unsettling yet equally satisfying moments. Because once she was face to face with her tormentor, June held nothing back and she let seven years of rage and pain and trauma come bubbling to the surface to give Serena the piece of her mind that she’s been meaning to since she first stepped through the threshold of the Waterford home, and this was definitely the most powerful moment of the night. One that finally saw Serena Joy be put in her place as she came to fully understand the impact of her actions since she helped create the horror that is Gilead, and right or wrong be damned, this was something we all needed to see. Because Serena Joy Waterford has been long overdue for her respective comeuppance.

But all fan satisfaction aside, that really was quite the important moment for June as well. For it more or less saw her seize control of her pain and refuse to be controlled by it and that is an important lesson for certain… one that speaks volumes to how we emerge from the funk and really in the end, this was quite the satisfying episode when all is said and done. Because at long last, we weren’t subjected to the horrors of Gilead and we got to watch June work to recover and put the pieces back together and of course, her decision to see Serena… speaks volumes of what we can expect from this story next. For June is indeed a star witness in Canada and has inside information on Gilead’s inner workings and she can do some great damage from afar and hopefully we won’t have to wait long to see her do so. Because it is time for the ugly deeds of Fred and Serena Waterford and Gilead in general to come to light… so that the world can finally turn their back on this joke of a nation, which should in turn allow for it to starve… and collapse. Until next time.

During our time on this beautiful and wondrous planet, we’ve made some incredible strides. Such as leaving the caves and the plains of the world, to organize and socialize in cities. Plus, we’ve figured out how to soar like the birds, to the point where we have an established base in space, and we’ve cured countless diseases with science and now… we can communicate with another human being, anywhere on Earth, on a moment’s notice. But while we have indeed accomplished wonders, there is still one accolade that eludes in this age of majesty, despite having searched for it for ages. In that, we still have yet to find unity between the various cultures that populate the globe.

In fact, we still fight over which religion is the right one and who has the superior color of skin or gender (spoiler alert: no one does) and we still cannot understand or respect some of the simplest traditions that other cultures observe. Which means that sadly, we have a long way to go when it comes to finding true unity to our species. So much in fact, that creative minds have pondered upon what might finally be the catalyst for that for years on end. Which is why we’ve seen stories that feature incredible events that unite us and even that, is a bit of a stretch, since we couldn’t even handle something as simple as putting on a mask for the sake of others this past year. But some science fiction stories, have offered up some solid ideas now and again as to how to potentially unify our world and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation offers up quite the simple one.

Which is a fascinating and welcome surprise in ‘Darmok’, since initially… this episode feels akin to nothing more than a wild first contact episode. For it brings the crew of the Enterprise face to face with a mysterious race known as The Children of Tama, who have baffled Federation diplomats for ages on end. Because they speak in a strange manner that no one has been able to decipher and while there has been peace, no one has learned about this race because of the communication barrier. A problem that Captain Jean-Luc Picard runs into as well when he speaks to their captain, Dathon, via the viewscreen, and this problem is exacerbated further when Dathon kidnaps Picard to the surface of the planet for reasons unknown. Leaving Riker and the senior staff to postulate that perhaps a contest of strength is about to take place, one that will end well for the Federation if the captain is victorious. 

But that is where this episode takes quite the philosophical and powerful turn, when we come to realize that Captain Dathon isn’t trying to get Captain Picard to take part in some kind of physical contest. He’s trying to get Jean-Luc to understand him, so these two species can finally communicate and he’s willing to risk his life to do so and well, everything that happens here is simply incredible to watch. For it takes the time to teach us that patience and understanding and communication are likely the keys to creating unity on our world. For if we can truly take the time to understand what is meaningful to people from other cultures and how said cultures operate, we can not only learn a great deal about our world but learn how much we share in, and how we aren’t different in the slightest, and once we truly see one another as equals … things will change at last.

Which makes this perhaps, one of the finest episodes to grace this series and the franchise in general. Because it truly encapsulates everything that Star Trek stands for and it says its message in such a graceful and simple way that you really are silent when this one comes to a close. Since it leaves one wondering how on earth we haven’t progressed further if the solution is so damn simple. But while the message is nice and painfully relevant in 2021, there’s plenty more to celebrate in regard to this episode as well. Because it also features some top notch acting from Patrick Stewart and Trek veteran Paul Winfield (Captain Dathon) since they masterfully sell the communication process in a wonderful manner and well, this one really is something special in the end and absolutely worth revisiting, since it ages like a fine bottle of Château Picard. Thanks to its timeless message to be kind and open to one another. Until next time.  

For the most part, Star Trek: The Next Generation was a series that worked to separate itself from its predecessor after its inaugural season. For Gene Roddenberry and his merry band of writers came to realize that Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D populated a different era of mankind’s future, one where beating the odds and saving the galaxy on a consistent basis didn’t have to happen because of the geopolitical makeup of the 24th Century. Which in turn allowed for grand explorations of the human condition and modern world to become the norm for this series… and that gave life to powerful storytelling, the kind that truly genuinely gave the audience pause back then and still does now, thanks its forward-thinking themes and concepts.

But you will note that the phrase ‘for the most part’ was featured in that summation of the franchise. Because every once in a while, the series would in fact… step away from those more cerebral themes and notions and return to the franchise’s pioneering and heroic roots and it just so happens, that the season five premiere of this storied series, took the time to do just that. For ‘Redemption II’ put the United Federation of Planets in quite the difficult place. For Klingon Civil War was going poorly for Chancellor Gowron because somehow, he was losing at every turn, despite the strength of his forces and that brought Captain Jean-Luc Picard to the conclusion that the Duras family was getting assistance from the Romulan Star Empire and that incredible measures needed to be put into place to stop the Romulans from de-stabilizing the peace between the Klingons and the Federation and well… that allowed for the Captain to receive some special privileges.

Specifically, he was given his own fleet to command. One that would be used to set up a detection net along the Klingon/Romulan border so the Federation could catch the Romulans in the act of interfering in galactic affairs and well, that led to all kinds of epic moments for certain. Because it finally brought Commander Sela and Captain Picard together, wherein both Patrick Stewart and Denise Crosby were able to flex their acting chops by giving us an intense moment where the twisted offspring of the late Lieutenant Tasha Yar challenged a man that her mother revered. Plus, this sequence also allowed for Lieutenant Commander Data to shine as the acting captain of the U.S.S. Sutherland, since it was his quick thinking that allowed for the fleet to detect the Romulans after all, effectively bringing an end to the war and saving the galaxy since Gowron was able to handle his business back home.

But while all of those elements were epic in their own right, and a perfect throwback to those heroic adventures that Captain Kirk and his intrepid crew undertook on a regular basis, this particular premiere also made a point of hammering home themes that were native to TNG, specifically how we can be better and how one man can influence that kind societal improvement, and that was handled by way of Lieutenant Worf. Since he consistently took the high road in this story and demanded better of his brother and his fellow warriors, to the point where he even spared Toral from a cowardly death in the hopes of showing the Empire that constant infighting and bravado brought forth a civil war in the first place and that perhaps trying a different way might help. And it was quite nice to see Worf work to inject this into the structure of the Empire before returning to duty aboard the 1701-D.

If anything, this was simply a satisfying premiere through and through. Simply because you cannot go wrong with a good old fashioned, Star Trek epic, where the fate of the galaxy and our heroes is on the line and boy did this episode deliver that to a tee. For there was tension and high stakes in this particular tale and grand and heroic moments and that really was quite the magnificent way to open up season five of this series. Since it signals the fact that year five is likely going to be quite the versatile year for storytelling. One that will pay homage to the franchise’s roots while pushing the envelope in a brave new manner and well, that definitely motivates this reviewer to continue the journey post haste. In order to enjoy all the classic and wondrous moments that this year’s adventures are going to provide us with. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Blinded: Those Who Kill’.
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Thus far, our journey through the AcornTV series, Blinded: Those Who Kill, has been an intense one for certain. Since we’ve been privy to a fascinating look at how serial killers operate and think and that has led to some incredible scenes, the kind that have put us on the edge of our seat while we watch Peter indulge in the darkness that he carries inside his soul. But while that has made for some compelling television for certain, there has been a slight drawback to going that route storytelling wise. In that, we really haven’t had a chance to get to know the protagonists all that much, nor have we really been able to process the emotional impact of Peter’s actions and those are, thankfully, issues that the next episode in this powerful series… felt the need to address.

Because with William missing and with zero leads to his whereabouts, everyone was able to take a moment and process their journey thus far and that led to some powerfully emotional scenes. The kind that allowed for us to come to understand how the crimes of a serial killer utterly damage a family. For William’s father was beside himself in this tale, to the point where he actually lulled himself into a sense of delusion regarding his son and his health. Since he suddenly believed that William was alive and being held hostage and that a ransom would solve his problems and bring his baby boy home, and this was heartbreaking to say the least. Since Louise and the audience were fully aware of the fact that William wouldn’t be coming home. But what matters more, is that this segment of the story really did do a fine job of showing us how serial killers and their twisted actions can cause great emotional damage, since it brought a strong willed and powerful man to his knees.

Yet while that alone could have carried this tale, there was mention of the fact that we were able to get to know our protagonists as well, a feat that this story accomplished by giving them some downtime in the case and that allowed for us to learn that Karina is something of a family lady since it turns out she has a couple of kids and a loving husband that are eager to support her after a long day of work. And we also came to learn exactly what drives Louise to search after monsters, and it turns out… that she is eager to understand our darkest behaviors… because she has been subjected to them. For her father was an abuser for certain and growing up around one, has her eager to understand and catch them so that no one else, will ever experience what she did in her youth.

However, despite the refreshing nature of these plot threads and the sheer fascination the second one elicits, since it does leave one eager to learn everything we can, about our intrepid investigators, this series would have done us all a great disservice by not moving the plot forward and thankfully… it did that as well. Because Peter’s son began suspect that his father is hiding something thanks to some odd actions on Peter’s part… and that is a huge deal since kids will stop at nothing to learn the truth and that will prove to be a problem for our killer in the days to come. As will the discovery at the end of this tale, since Louise figured out that part of the reason, he’s choosing his victims is to send a message in regard to inequality and that led her and Karina to find William’s body at his family’s farm and well, it will be dear old dad that brings about the trouble in question since he rolled up just as the body was being discovered.

For he will demand justice for his boy and the pressure will be on to find Peter. But while we wait to watch a renewed hunt for a murderer to unfold, we can bask in the wonder of a palate cleansing tale. One that really did allow for the viewer to regroup and relax after two intense chapters, and it really is a wonderful thing that the series opted to do this. Because now we have a solid understanding of Louise’s motivations and how that will drive her to no end to stop Peter and of course… trouble is finally surrounding him, and the lies are catching up. Which means that now that the break is over, the tension will only get thicker as the case continues along and that definitely compels one to continue this journey, to see whether or not Peter will be able to escape the watchful eye of his son or the magnificent mind of a profiler that knows monsters all too well. Until next time.

‘Blinded: Those Who Kill’ is available to stream now on AcornTV.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Bäckström’.
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Something that each and every one of us out there would prefer to avoid during our travels in life, is being forced out of our dream job. Because having that happen, would devastate us, and leave us listless and understandably so. After all, we worked our tails off to achieve our dream gig and being removed from it forcefully… leaves us believing that we are nothing more than a grand failure and that really is hard to reconcile, and it is a terrifying prospect for certain. Since it also denotes the need to start over and find a new path in life. But in reality, such a surprise is more often than not… a wakeup call. One that speaks to the fact that we became complacent in our dream job and let our drive for it slip away and well, perhaps losing it all means that the time is right to fight for what we’ve earned like never before.

If anything, this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because that latter epiphany is one that came to Evert Bäckström in the next episode of Bäckström. For our intrepid detective came to realize that what he enjoys the most about being an investigator is helping people and giving them closure, and it was the rescue of Edvin that helped him to understand that… and motivate him to fight hard to get back in the game and reclaim his title as the finest investigator in Sweden so he could continue to help people. A feat that he laid the groundwork for by laying it on the line with Hwass and coming to a common ground where she and he could respect one another and work together, and that honesty brought forth a mutual agreement between them. One where Bäckström would be able to work on the case at his own pace without reprisal and receive and give updates on anything new that popped up from either side of the investigation.

Which in turn allowed for him to follow up on the photographs that Edvin managed to get backup pictures of, before losing his backpack, by going right after Haqvin and confronting him about his involvement in this matter and how exactly he knew Jaidee. And while he didn’t have much to offer in the moment, since Bäckström did use his lack of official standing to have a little fun with him, confronting him did bring about quite the unexpected reveal. In that Haqvin was thick as thieves with Daniel and Tomas Eriksson when they were kids, a reality that suddenly made Hwass rethink all of her steps to this point. For Bäckström proved himself to be genuine and dedicated to justice and he was indeed fighting hard to prove that to her and the department and well, that left her wondering why Eriksson would see and paint Evert as a crook, and after a little digging and a quiet reveal to the audience, it became clear that Eriksson has some kind of involvement in this matter and that might explain why he’s come so hard after Bäckström… so that he can cover his tracks.

However, before Hwass and Bäckström could dig deeper into this surprise… the Russians made things far more difficult for our intrepid detective. For they believed that Bäckström was the one responsible for the push to expose Boris’ involvement in the robbery and that in order to go about their business without any further problems… they needed to add Sweden’s finest to their payroll and the best way to make that happen, was within the confines of Bäckström’s apartment and in order to access that fortress, they needed an in. Which meant the Russians paid off Tina to give them access, a revelation that shattered Bäckström’s heart and to make matters worse, his sanctuary was violated with violence… since Evert was forced to fight them off with every bullet in his gun and well, all this will do is delay the case and potentially leave Bäckström in a funk, because heartbreak and betrayal are always difficult to deal with.

But while we wait to see how quickly he recovers from his hurt and how exactly Eriksson is involved in the death of Jaidee, we can bask in one surprisingly inspirational tale. Because watching Bäckström stand tall with his career on the line was quite uplifting and it definitely served to remind us to never give up in the face of adversity and fight for what’s ours when a maelstrom of drama jeopardizes our future and that, combined with the fact that this episode was filled to the brim with epic revelations about Jaidee’s murder… made this one engrossing and fulfilling tale. One that really did a wonderful job of setting the stage for this case to come to a head and it will be quite interesting to see how exactly Evert Bäckström is going to solve the toughest case of his career when we dive into the season one finale of this phenomenal new show. Until next time.

‘Bäckström’ is available to stream now on AcornTV.  ​