Over the course of five episodes, ​American Gods has explored some fascinating elements of the human condition. It's looked at the need to have purpose and belief in life and it's done a wonderful job exploring our fear of death and the need to be wanted and loved in life by way of the colorful characters that populate this majestic landscape. 

Yet despite how wonderful it has been to see this show dig into such powerful ideas, it seemed for a moment there that the show was shifting gears, since last week's episode went lighter on the philosophy and heavier on the action as Wednesday and his nemesis, Mr. World met face to face at last. But as it turns out, that change in design was but a quick break from our weekly philosophy lesson since 'A Murder of Gods' went to some deeply philosophical territory, focusing on how some folks are unable to let go of the past, while at the same time digging deep on the notion of faith; specifically what it means to some and the dangers that can come with it.

The whole matter of hanging on to the past was explored, for the most part, by way of Laura Moon, who finds herself alone and without a ride since she misses reuniting with Shadow and Wednesday by literal seconds at the hotel. Granted, Wednesday had a hand in making sure she's left behind, but that little slight quickly became immaterial to the plot since a quick reunion with Sweeney and an introduction of these two characters to Salim helps put together a plan for Sweeney, wherein he will take her to Kentucky to meet one of the many Jesus Christs that Wednesday made mention of ages ago in order to give Laura resurrection and get Sweeney his coin back. But alas, Laura makes sure that the gang make a quick detour to Indiana where she once more immerses herself in the life she left behind. It's something that Sweeney is quick to chide her for, letting her know that Shadow and everything she's reminiscing over is from a life that is irretrievable, but that doesn't stop Laura from taking in the sights of familiar haunts one more time, and getting one last look at her family before leaving for Kentucky; and while it seems as though she's clear and free of that former life, it's clearly still on her mind as they hit the road again.

As for the other character who helped explore the allure of the past, well that honor fell to Shadow. Who found himself confused over the whole matter of his wife's resurrection to the point where Wednesday called him out on it to try and get him to focus on the task at hand, because there truly were more pressing matters before them which made Shadow's exploration of this matter, brief and broken and that was what I truly appreciated about this entire plot thread, the fact that this episode offered no easy answers on the whole matter. It never let us know if holding on to the past is good or bad, just that it happens and that it can hold us back and I appreciate the fact that it didn't decide to spoon feed us an answer on the matter. Besides, this episode did have bigger fish to fry, since as I mentioned before, faith was another focus of this episode and this story offered us quite the commentary on that.

All of that came by way of a place known as Vulcan, Virginia, where we met the God of the Volcano who had discovered a way to adapt to the changes coming to his world...by integrating himself into it, in genius fashion. Vulcan as it turns out, put the power of fire and forge into bullets so that mankind could harness and use his power and well...it was fascinating to see some damning commentary on faith as a whole come out of this storyline. This little vignette spoke to how some put all their faith into just about anything that can bring them comfort, bullets in this case, before moving on to how those who provide that comfort are given undying love and support; followed by the most important lesson of all, that sometimes faith can make people feel invincible. Because Vulcan truly believed he could do anything and be anything and never face the consequences for his arrogant actions. 

But alas, all good things must come to an end and after Vulcan forges a fine weapon for Wednesday, and admits to the fact that he sold the Elder God out, he finally faces the consequences for his arrogance when Wednesday beheads him and well...wow, what a way to wrap up this tale. Up until now we've seen a pretty low key and chill attitude emanating from Wednesday and just like that, he shows his strength and his fury and it's almost as if he knew Vulcan would betray him and this act was necessary but painful for Wednesday since he said goodbye to an old friend, but created a rallying cry for the other Gods when they meet in Wisconsin. Either way, this was truly a brilliant episode and I have to say, I am quite impressed with the fact it was bold enough to fire shots across the bow of religion and faith and even the gun rights debate in America for that matter. But all commentary aside, World and his cronies are still on the hunt for Wednesday and Shadow and that means the tension should be ramping up as we close in on the season one finale. Until next time.

There are plenty of reasons to love Doctor Who, but if there's one that truly stands out above the rest; it's the fact that this show is always willing to change things up storytelling wise and find new ways to challenge the Doctor. For example, despite how often he manages to save the day, once in a great while, this series is willing to let the bad guy win, allowing us to see what exactly the Doctor will do in that situation and that's precisely where the story took us in last night's episode.

Because 'The Lie of the Land' dropped us into the middle of the Doctor's worst nightmare, a world where he was in essence forgotten as its savior, replaced instead by the 'benevolent' and disgusting Monks and the utopia they promised us in the last episode, shortly before Bill gave in to their demands to save the Doctor and restore his sight...turned out to be one big fat lie. The Monks idea of Utopia was a police state, one where they injected themselves into human history so that we truly accept them to keep us in line and in order for the Doctor to blend in and stay off of their radar, he made the choice to help them out, offering up positive broadcasts of these oppressors while secretly hoping that someone in particular would find the strength to seek him out and help him rise up against these monsters. Thankfully, Bill was able to fulfill his request, and while the story ended happy and the Monks were sent packing from planet Earth, what continues to amaze me about this episode, is that it managed to become quite the character study for both the Doctor and Bill.

In Bill's case, this episode more or less allowed for her to become a bonafide hero, which is something that is often quite rare for companions on this show. They usually serve at the mercy of the plot, stepping into heroic moments only if the story requires them to, or to save their beloved Doctor and while Bill has done some of that this season, if it wasn't for her...the Monks would never have left our planet. But while it was cool to see the safe space in her mind finally bring down these oppressive creatures, what truly impressed this reviewer was Bill's big and heroic moment. Because it was made inherently clear, that the only way these creatures would leave the planet was for the person who brought them to this world to sever their psychic link with them...likely through death, and after seeing the Doctor fail and suffer for trying to sever the link his own way, Bill made the choice to cut said link, on her own. She knew the risk involved. She knew there was a chance this would be the last act she would ever perform, and she was fearless and willing to sacrifice herself if it meant mankind would be safe and well, such an act continues to solidify her status as the finest companion of the modern era. 

As for the Doctor, well this episode signaled the return of the Doctor of old. The fear and uncertainty we saw in his mind was gone in this episode, replaced instead by the manic joy he finds in saving the world...with a twist. Whereas the Doctor usually prefers to figure things out on his own and rely upon his many years of experience, this go round we saw him seek out counsel from the most unlikely of characters...Missy. It was Missy that knew about the link between the Monks and the person who let them take over the world, and it was simply stunning to see the Doctor request help from his greatest foe. It just goes to show that he finally realizes that sometimes, he cannot put everything upon his own shoulders and he needs to utilize every tool at his disposal, and oddly enough, this story found a way to give Michelle Gomez's magnificent return as Missy gravity as well.

Because this episode also revealed exactly why the Doctor didn't put her down when he had the chance, and why he put her in the vault as well. His decision had nothing to do with simply keeping her out of the universe's way, thus preventing her from causing more trouble, the Doctor's intention here is to in essence, cure Missy of evil. He wants her to spend her thousand years in the box reflecting upon her actions and realize that helping people is a better way of doing things and well...this twist deserves some serious credit. After all for fifty plus years we've watched these two dance a dangerous waltz with lives and entire worlds in the balance before parting ways with zero resolution when it comes to Missy's evil ways, so to know that the Doctor is trying to save his childhood friend and has sacrificed plenty, including his own mental health and stability in order to do so, is downright beautiful. But more importantly...it seems as though his plan is working because that final scene, where Missy spoke to the fact that she's starting to remember the faces of those she's killed was powerful to say the least. Her actions are finally starting to sink in and maybe, just maybe...there's hope for Missy after all.

In the end however, this was an incredible episode. What had the potential of becoming an action packed, fluff filled story to bring down the Monks ended up being quite the intimate little affair, and this go round one actor stole the show...Pearl Mackie. Her turn this week as a tortured and troubled albeit eventually heroic Bill was simply magnificent and to see her hold her own acting wise against the wonder that is Peter Capaldi, who was also amazing, speaks volumes to her talent. If anything, this story demonstrates that Doctor Who can achieve storytelling wonders if the powers that be take a little time and ponder on how they can enhance familiar territory for the show and it also reinforces the fact that Capaldi's final season as the Twelfth Doctor will go down in Who-history as his finest and now that the Monks are defeated and now that the Doctor has his groove back, I cannot wait to see what other incredible adventures await us as we barrel toward the series ten finale...and the fall of the Twelfth Doctor. Until next time.

When it comes to season finales, the best ones out there are the ones that manage to haunt us, by leaving us worried about the characters and what might happen to them when the next season arrives and one such show that seemingly always found a way to make this happen with their finales was Battlestar Galactica. After all we were all left wondering what would become of then Commander Adama after Boomer put two rounds in his chest at the end of season one and the season two finale left us with the horrifying image of the Cylons marching through New Caprica.

Which meant the season three premiere was going to be downright intense since we knew we would find out whether or not the Cylons would make good on their promise of peace and 'Occupation' wasted no time in answering that question...with a resounding no. Four months after their arrival and after the fleet jumped away, life on New Caprica is downright awful. People continue to disappear, and many are tortured in the Cylon's newly erected jail and when all is said and done, the mood of this season premiere was beyond grim, it was completely and utterly hopeless. With the Galactica and ​Pegasus away from the planet, there was no help coming, and that helplessness is exactly what this episode seized upon, exploring two powerful concepts over the course of the hour; how far one is willing to go when it comes to trying to defeat your enemy, and what happens when a soldier has no cause to fight for.

Let's look at the last concept, first, because that was explored in brilliant fashion by way of Lee and William Adama. As it turns out, a soldier without a cause is a sorrowful creature indeed because not having a cause appears to polarize men like Lee and the Admiral. In Lee's case, it makes him soft, and that's not a joke about his weight, even though that matter certainly came up on several occasions, but Lee truly no longer has any fight in him. He wants to do everything the easy way and that clashed in ugly fashion with the Admiral since the elder Adama...found new life in this whole situation. There was a powerful energy radiating from him in this episode, to the point where he pushed his crew to the limit, since it's clear the old man has a plan to put into motion and really, the moral of the story here is that without a war to fight, a soldier can potentially become nothing in life. Because despite the fire burning in Adama's heart, let's not forget that before the Cylons reappeared he seemed ready to simply disappear into oblivion and his son certainly became a shell of his former self.  

Back on New Caprica however, the whole notion of how far one will go was explored by way of Colonel Tigh, and the answer to that question...is that a man in his situation will go as far as he needs to. Because this poor man received some horrible treatment from the Cylons; he was incarcerated and brutally tortured to the point where his right eye was gouged out and well...he came out of prison a man transformed. Suddenly, the idea of taking the Resistance that was growing on this planet to new heights greatly appealed to him, to the point where Tigh had no qualms with taking volunteers to become suicide bombers. It was a notion that Anders and Tyrol questioned but Tigh went on with his plan regardless of their objections and in the stunning final moments of this particular tale, we watched a man give his life to strike fear into the hearts of the Cylons and it's an image that I remember left me in silence when I first watched this episode, and that same silence was waiting for me again when I re-watched this one.  

However, there was some joy to be found in this episode. Because now we know that Lt. Gaeta is working with the Resistance and he helped humanity get its biggest break in four months by giving Tyrol the Cylon jamming codes, and since the Galactica has had a raptor hiding in the nebula ever since she left, the colony and the Old Man are once again able to communicate and there's no doubt in my mind that because of this, the Admiral will now make a greater push to save those he left behind. Either way, what a powerful and incredible way to start season three. To rob us of hope, and to put the characters through the wringer is simply bold storytelling and I distinctly recall the opening four episodes of this season being some of my all time favorites when it comes to this series, which means I'm beyond excited to hit play for the next episode, because there is a particular moment coming up that I cannot wait to write about. So if you'll excuse me, it's time to head back to New Caprica for a little bit...until next time...

When we last left the disturbing world that The Handmaid’s Tale happens to inhabit, we were left with quite the bittersweet moment. Luke, June’s husband from another and better life was alive and well and living in Canada and at long last he received word that his beloved was alive and as well as can be, and while that seems like it falls on the happy side of the spectrum, instead of bittersweet, one cannot forget that the conclusion of that episode meant one thing…we were headed back to the horrors of Gilead, which would wipe away any joy found in this particular tale.
 
As it turns out, ‘Jezebels’ lived up to that expectation because once again it was indeed back to this twisted and disturbed vision of an America transformed, but thankfully…the audience was once again spared pure horror since this episode instead opted to take us to a side of Gilead we’ve not seen before, one that managed to infuriate this reviewer with the sheer hypocrisy it managed to put on display. But before we get too deep into that particular mess, we do need to take a moment and talk about the other interesting part of this episode first, the fact that the series finally gave us some insight into the show’s new impromptu ‘Romeo’, Nick.
 
By way of flashbacks, we came to learn that Nick, a good man who did his best to care for an ailing member of his family, was pretty lost in the time before Gilead, and with money running low and his job prospects disappearing an act of aggressive desperation found him joining the Sons of Jacob (giving us a name to the group that brought down the U.S.A. at last), and while joining them gave Nick some needed financial stability, there was an added perk to joining this group…a taste of power as well. Because it doesn’t take long for Nick to rise through the ranks and join the Eyes, and his ability to blend in tends to allow for him to uncover pertinent information, since we were also witness to him bringing down a Commander for his immoral acts and all of this was extremely pertinent…because of Waterford’s actions in present day. 

Because good ‘ol Fred decided it was high time to have a little fun with June while his wife was out for the evening visiting her mother and he made sure to 'pretty her up' with makeup and a sequin dress before dragging her into Boston to a secret speakeasy for a night of drinks and whatever else the Commander had in mind and wouldn’t you know it, Moira turned out to be working in this place as well, leading to an impromptu reunion for her and June, but more on that in a minute because well…this place was yet another example of how disgusting Gilead truly is. It’s disturbing to know that women who cannot assimilate into this society are given a choice of death or servitude in a place like this, and the continued hypocrisy of Gilead’s leadership continues to be exposed thanks to these kinds of locations since it’s clear these men love to live the high life of the old world at night, and preach the gospel during the day and creating brothels and bars such as this, under the guise of providing an outlet for human nature only speaks volumes to how pathetic and egotistical the Commanders truly are.
 
However, this uncomfortable moment was only the beginning and as the show is wont to do, it was time to rob us of hope once again. Because we also learned in this episode that as Nick mentioned weeks ago, everybody breaks in this world and that was never more evident than during June’s reunion with Moira…since Moira seems to have accepted her fate and is oddly at peace with it and the bleakness of that moment, only grew from there since it would seem Nick is having a crisis of conscience over Waterford’s actions, and his own for that matter since he tries to end his affair with June on moral grounds and that’s dangerous talk from a member of the Eyes. Because if he’s already dropped one Commander for immoral acts, he may cause trouble for another...and June, especially considering what he knows about her and Waterford’s night on the town and, that’s how the episode ends, in bleak and unsettling fashion with June once again trying to find the strength, to fight…
 
However, not all hope was lost in this episode. Because at one point, the Commander that recruited Nick into the fold made mention of cleaning up Gilead and Waterford even referenced unrest in other districts. Meaning that the cracks in Gilead’s foundation are starting to grow, and while the fight for freedom may be underway far from Waterford...that doesn’t mean it isn’t headed his way. So maybe, just maybe, the battle to destroy Gilead that we are all hoping for is on its way, and perhaps June’s hope and strength will be rewarded after all. Until next time.