When we think of someone reaching their breaking point, we think of a person or persons who are good at their core and have simply been facing insurmountable odds at this point in their life. How and why exactly, isn’t necessarily important, because that particular phrase means they’re ready to snap and go to extremes to claim their lives back and that particular moment has been the focal point of a great many stories about good people who lose their way. But what we often forget, is that bad people have their breaking points too, wherein they finally have enough of not seeing their twisted plans come to fruition, which motivates them to go all out to get what they want and unfortunately for Agent Phil Coulson and his extended family, the darker side of the breaking point was explored in last night’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
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Which made for one fascinating tale, simply because ‘A Trout in the Milk’ made it seem as though we were in for more of what this final season has been offering up. For this particular tale opened up in lighthearted fashion, complete with some fish out of water jokes for Agent Sousa as he tried to adjust to 1973. But as the team ventured to both the Lighthouse and the Speakeasy in this particular moment in time in order to get the lay of the land and uncover what the Chronicoms were up to in the groovy 1970s, things started to take a turn for the worse. For Mack and Yo-Yo were able to discover that the supposedly decommissioned Lighthouse was still in service and to complicate matters further, Wilfred Malick was alive and well in 1973, something that went against the history books, and well, that’s when the team discovered that the Chronicoms had reached their respective breaking point.

Because a nasty encounter between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Chronicoms revealed the fact that they were done playing around and they were going to have their way after all, timeline be damned, and to hammer home exactly how dirty they were willing to play to win the day, Coulson and the team were catapulted another three years into the future. Wherein they were forced to face the early, early launch of Project Insight. Which is a name that should sound quite familiar to all MCU fans, because this was indeed the same program that Hydra tried to engage in The Winter Solider in order to conquer the world. And the point of kicking it off forty years early in this particular tale, was to eliminate any future threats to the Chronicoms and that left our team scrambling. Because they had a limited window to stop the launch and unfortunately for the team, their efforts to save the future ended in disaster.

For the Chronicoms were quick to look ahead and see what our intrepid heroes were going to do, which means they were one step ahead of them at every single turn. Something that allowed for Daisy and Sousa to be captured by Nathaniel Malick since he knew exactly where to find them, and heaven only knows what he has planned for Daisy since he is quite curious about her unique abilities. Plus, May and Coulson are now in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody since they didn’t escape the Lighthouse in time and to top it all off, Zephyr-1 was forced to compromise its position. Because Mack’s parents were inside the Lighthouse, courtesy of Project Insight, forcing Mack to alter the plan so that he could continue to exist and well, that’s where we leave our intrepid heroes in this particular tale, lost to the wind and vulnerable. 

Yet what’s equally impressive about this tale, is the sheer fact that it also offered up some unsolved mysteries as well. For we haven’t a clue what the message was that the Chronicoms wanted to deliver to Deke and Yo-Yo, since Deke shot Freddie before he could finish his thoughts and of course, Simmons is suddenly struggling mentally as her voyage through time continues and well, in the end, this is by far the darkest episode that season seven has offered to date. Because up until now it’s been win after win for the team, and plenty of fun and lighthearted moments. But clearly, the good times are over, and the stakes are higher than ever, and it should be interesting to see where this bold story is headed next. For the timeline has already been compromised and the Chronicoms aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, now that they’ve been pushed beyond their breaking point and that is going to make victory for S.H.I.E.L.D. a difficult task indeed. Until next time.

If there is one unfortunate lesson that all of us have to learn at some point in our lives, it would be that we need to look before we leap. Because more often than not, just diving headfirst into something new tends to bring us more trouble than expected, the kind that could have been avoided if we just took a moment to think about what we were about to get into and whether or not it was actually worth our time and effort. And oddly enough, this is apparently a lesson that still applies centuries from now. Because the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, puts this particular lesson on full display when the crew of the Enterprise makes a leap of faith that quickly turns sour.
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However, it is quite understandable why the crew makes said leap in ‘Justice’. Because when we catch up with them here, they’re exhausted. For they just helped to settle an entire colony, something out of the norm for a Galaxy Class vessel and when they discover what appears to be an outright paradise nearby, one that is populated and open to a first contact event, well they’re quick to advantage of it. If anything, it really does appear as though this place is its own special Eden, tucked away in the galaxy and well, an unfortunate moment that no one took into account before beaming down, is what allows for this wondrous vacation to turn into something quite unfortunate.

Because the Edo, the native species on this world, have a pretty intense law. One that if broken, requires immediate capital punishment and it just so happens that Wesley breaks that one law. Which means the crew is now embroiled in a tricky prime directive situation, one where Captain Picard must figure out a way to free young Wesley from an actual fate of death. Something that proves to be a difficult task. For not only does Picard have to deal with a people who firmly believe their law must be never broken, regardless of whether or not a person has knowledge of it, there’s also a spaceship in orbit, one that is keeping a close eye on the planet and the ship. And of course, eventually the intrepid Jean-Luc finds a way to keep all parties happy and safe, because this here is TNG.

But while alls well that ends well in this tale, and while it offers some fascinating ideas, this is another episode that quite frankly tries to do too much. Because there are a lot of competing plot lines in this one and throwing in the Edo God more or less ruins what would have been a powerful exploration on the death penalty and the nature of how justice plays out. Instead this episode becomes a pseudo remake of The Original Series episode, ‘The Apple’ by focusing its attention upon the Edo and their relationship with an alien God and to complicate matters further, the whole story is supremely predictable as well. Which means there’s no sense of danger or worry for Wesley since you know he will be just fine, making the finale a tad boring for certain.

In the end, this is just another mediocre episode of The Next Generation. One that has its heart in the right place, but clearly a need to please the audience and get people watching took precedence over anything else and when that becomes the focus, this is what you get. But this episode wasn’t a total loss. Because the fact that the series is trying to take on bigger ideas just goes to show that the writers’ room and the producers were working toward more in season one. They were simply a little timid in letting loose. Which means eventually we are going to discuss powerful stories that still leave us in awe today, and that means it is time to push harder through these early seasons so we can get to the good stuff as soon as possible. Until next time.  

If there is one universal truth about truth, it would have to be that it will always come out in the end. Because no matter how hard someone works to cover up the facts or keep the truth in the dark, once a sliver of it finds the light, it slowly seeps out and makes itself apparent and it is quickly becoming clear that this particular fact is going to play a part in The Morning Show as season one continues along. For the Mitch Kessler investigation has already started to expose that his transgressions were grounded in a toxic culture that encouraged and nurtured this kind of inappropriate behavior and it just so happens that the next episode in this powerful series, saw more truth begin to seep out, despite UBA’s best efforts to keep it in the shadows. 
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Something that came about in ‘No One’s Gonna Harm You, Not While I’m Around’ by way of the fact that The New York Times was preparing an exposé piece on the whole Kessler mess. Something that Mitch himself got wind of, which motivated him to drop by UBA and the TMS studios in the hopes of buttering up his old team in person so that someone would stand up for him in the article, giving him some sense of vindication since his plans heretofore to clear his name had gone down in flames. But instead his plea fell upon deaf ears, simply because everyone at the studio knew such a move would be a poor choice on their part, since Mitch was outright radioactive thanks to his transgressions and standing up for a guilty party is always a bad idea, and he left the network with his tail between his legs and little to say to Bradley when she pressed him on who else knew about his actions. 

But while Mitch’s desperate visit went nowhere and fast, there was mention of the fact that UBA was all about keeping the truth hidden from the masses and Mitch’s surprise appearance put the network into overdrive on making that happen. Because Fred and Cory and everyone in legal were on the phone with the Times almost immediately after he left, in the hopes of coming to understand just how damning this report was going to be, and whether or not they could potentially minimize the damage and well, this was just stunning to watch. Because Fred was pushing for a little quid pro quo, the kind where the network would provide the Times a juicy nugget in exchange for keeping the most damning truth out of the article. Something that the paper wasn’t inclined to go with and what made this so powerful, is the sheer fact that it really hammers home how corporate interests will take priority over morality and the gravity of this moment was extended far beyond this conference call.

Because someone was left out in regard to this call and that someone was Chip. Something that made him realize that he was likely going to take the fall in this particular instance so the network could come out smelling like a rose after offering up a sacrificial lamb and he was having none of that, and he quickly reached out to some old friends at the Times so he too understand exactly how devastating this report was going to be. And his meeting with the editor confirmed his worst fears and brought about a measure of begging from Chip, all in the hopes of keeping the job he loves and to make sure that the finger was pointed at the proper culprits, and that move, along with a salty conversation with Fred over his lack of inclusion upon the call and the obvious plan to make Chip the patsy, did wonders for Mister Black’s career. For Fred finally called the Times and offered up Mitch’s little visit on a silver platter, deflecting the story back upon Mister Kessler.
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Which made it seem as though this whole matter was going to be buried in sweet and simple fashion, meaning that life would soon return to normal at the network. But that simply isn’t going to be the case at all. Because as mentioned before, the truth always finds a way to the surface, and when one considers that Bradley’s night out with the girls revealed some serious tensions over this whole mess, the kind that prompted Mia to back away from commenting on it further in a moment that made it seem as though she had a lot more to say about her time with Mitch, and that Mister Kessler is furious over what the Times printed; it’s only going to be a matter of time before confessions and admissions pour out for the public eye to see. And hopefully UBA and the executives who let this happen, pay the piper at last when that happens.

If anything, all of these elements made for one supremely unique episode. Because you just don’t see shows in this vein, taking the time to show the cutthroat nature of network T.V. or how far corrupt executives are willing to go to cover their butts when the going gets tough. But this story did not shy away from that in the slightest, and it also found a way to add a little character development into the mix as well by allowing for us to spend time with Bradley and Alex after hours, and see a little more of what makes them tick in a looser setting and it should be interesting to see where their relationship goes now that Alex feels attacked by Bradley’s questioning of her involvement in this mess, and also how Ms. Jackson handles the return of her father into life. In the end, it’s just inherently clear that this episode was designed to set the stage for some seriously big moments down the line and it will be amazing to see all of this come together as we enter the second half of this show’s inaugural season. Until next time.

For the most part, science fiction as a whole is often human centric. In that, the genre often features stories about mankind and how we’ve grown, and if by chance something alien shows up, it too feels human and familiar. Something that is likely attributed to the fact that not only do stories about our future sell far better, but also because our minds aren’t really ready to ponder upon something that is truly alien. For we’ve yet to meet one and haven’t a clue what a creature that evolved on another world might look like. So, we stick to what we know. But once in a great while, a sci-fi story comes along that offers up something that is truly alien, and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation tries to pull off this feat in somewhat disappointing fashion. 
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Which is fascinating, because at first glance ‘Lonely Among Us’ seems as though it is going to offer up the usual stuff. Since the crew of the Enterprise pick up a pair of diplomatic delegations from a pair of warring worlds that want in on the Federation lifestyle. But as the ship heads toward a neutral site to begin the negotiations to potentially bring these two worlds into the Federation family, they not only have to deal with shenanigans from the delegates as they try to see what they can get away with, they also encounter something that is quite incredible. For as the ship passes by an odd galactic phenomenon, a charge of electricity hits the ship, and injures Lieutenant Worf shortly after making physical contact with the hull, and well, things get quite strange aboard the ship from there.

For it turns out that this discharge of energy is actually sentient, and those who come in contact with it seem lost and disoriented after it takes over their minds briefly, and any station or system that it ‘inhabits’, malfunctions as well and while this seems harmless enough, at one point contact costs the Assistant Chief Engineer his life. But what is amazing, is that why this intelligent burst of energy is aboard the ship, and what it wants, really isn’t explored in the slightest, even after it finds a solid home within the confines of Captain Picard. Because all the creature says it wants, is to have Picard’s body join its kind and after a little back and forth with the alien and some patience, the crew is able to save the captain and get back on course, leaving these mysterious creatures behind.

So, that’s as far as we get in regard to exploring a genuinely alien life form and that’s what brings about the disappointment, we made mention of earlier. Because that’s a waste storytelling wise. One that can clearly be attributed to the fact that the core ideas that this story wanted to accomplish got lost in the assembly process, since there are so many competing storylines in this tale. Because you have inconvenience of the warring factions fighting aboard the ship, to the point where they nearly capture Commander Riker during their ‘hunger games’, and you have the crew’s unique attempts to figure out how this alien is messing with the ship and of course there’s the whole mutiny thread when Picard is taken over by the entity and that just makes for one messy tale that doesn’t quite satisfy.

But this episode isn’t a total loss in the end. Because this is another one that allows for Brent Spiner to shine since he embraces the wonder of Sherlock Holmes in this tale. Which is handled in hilarious and quirky fashion and of course, that storytelling decision plants the seeds for future adventures with Sherlock and Holmes in the holodeck. Plus, Patrick Steward does show off his acting prowess as well since he does his thing once the alien takes over his mind and this episode also does an amazing job of showing off Michael Westmore’s skills as a special effects’ guru since the Anticans and Selay look phenomenal on screen. But outside of that, this is just an average tale of The Next Generation. One that simply exists, and one that wasted a grand opportunity and it just serves to remind us that this first season is going to be a rough ride, as the show continues to work to find its voice. Until next time.  

It really is quite the accomplishment when a television show finds a way to genuinely surprise us in this day and age. Because peak television has allowed for shows to explore every single trope and every single concept out there in storytelling, making every fan of the format a seasoned and savvy viewer, one that knows what to expect at any given time. But surprises are indeed quite possible in this incredible television climate, provided of course that great writing comes into play. If anything, this is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because The Morning Show found a way to surprise the audience by taking the narrative in a bold new direction, one that makes it clear what this season is going to stand for.
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Something that ‘That Woman’ accomplished by making it seem as though life was moving along at TMS. Because this episode features the big day, the one where Bradley Jackson was taking the helm, allowing for everyone to forget about Mitch Kessler and his disturbing transgressions. Which made it seem as though this episode was going to focus heavily on Bradley’s growth as she settled into the role of morning anchor, something that the story reinforced by a moment that caught everyone off guard. For when Bradley was given the opportunity to help the audience get to know her on air, she simply let loose about her life and her experiences and revealed the fact that she had an abortion as a teenager. Something that of course didn’t sit well with Fred/the network since this was a ‘family friendly’ show.  

If anything, that made it seem as though week one was going to be a rough one for Bradley, the kind that would see her fired. But Cory and Alex stood by her and offered sage advice and well, that led to a solid week after all. One where the audience responded to her ratings wise, day after day, and despite offending the usual conservative bunch out there because of her admission, she also managed to inspire others as well. For there were students who walked out in solidarity with Bradley when important officials spoke badly of her, and plenty of folks praised her for putting a woman’s choice in the spotlight. Meaning that Bradley was finally making a difference in the news, something she’s always wanted to accomplish, and her trial by fire experience on the air, and her newfound confidence, laid the foundation for the twist in question. 

For while Bradley settled in and prepared for a big interview on Friday, the one with Ashley, a grand investigation was happening at the office. One where an independent contractor was talking to the staff about how Mitch was able to pull off the horrible acts that he did without anyone noticing, and to uncover if by chance there was a culture present in the building, that would cause further incidents going forward. Something that was revealed to be a move made by Fred, so that no one would learn of the fact that the network was fully aware of Mitch’s transgressions, and initially, it appeared as though UBA was in the clear, since everyone was quick to move on from the awkward nature of these interviews. But Bradley’s killer instincts, and some pondering from Cory, left her wondering if by chance there was more than meets the eye here. Something that seemingly went the wayside when she was told to stick to her strong script for the interview. 
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But the day of the big interview, the fact that Ashley was clearly holding back, prompted Bradley to do her thing. And her powerful questions revealed that the network certainly had an inkling of what happened and that the overall culture at UBA encouraged this and this particular twist was powerful for certain. Because not only was this scene poignant and tense and moving, it truly changed the narrative for the overall season. For now, it is becoming clear that the Me Too moment that brought this story to life is going to be explored to the fullest, and the show is clearly going to dive deep on how these unfortunate and tragic moments have come about by way of enablers. Specifically, people in a position of power, who let this kind of crap continue along in order to keep the ad money and the ratings rolling in and it is going to be quite fascinating to watch Bradley go after this as only she can. 

But in the here and the now, this really was the show’s finest episode to date. Because it was bold and brave in every sense of those words and truly, Ashley’s interview is what allows for this story to stand out. For we simply don’t see shows tackling this kind of subject matter in an earnest fashion. Instead they gloss over it and make it a story of the week. Which is why Ashley’s story here is so powerful, since it explores the confusion and the pain that comes from what people like Mitch have done. So, kudos to the show for holding nothing back here and for really taking the time to help the audience understand the gravity of this movement. And now that the narrative has changed, it should be interesting to see what other secrets about UBA will come to light, now that Bradley Jackson is covering the story. Until next time.

Thus far, our journey through season one of Star Trek: The Next Generation has featured a lot of discussions on nostalgia and understandably so. Because the first year of this dynamic series, truly was standing in the shadows of an iconic predecessor, to the point where it drew the ire of the fans as a knockoff since it really didn’t have its own voice. Because so many concepts from The Original Series were present within the framework of this titular first year and that led to a lot of familiar storytelling and impromptu remakes of classic tales. But once in a while, something quite special would come along. The kind of story that gave us a little bit of insight as to what was coming down the line, as was the case with the next episode in this magnificent series. 
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For ‘Where No One Has Gone Before’ took the time to really explore what this crew is capable of when presented with a genuine crisis. A feat that was accomplished by having a scientist named Kominski and his assistant come aboard the Enterprise to try out a little warp related experiment. For Kominski thought he had discovered a way to coax more speed out of warp drives and the chance to break new speed records with a Galaxy class starship, was a scientific opportunity he simply could not pass up. But something about his work didn’t quite sit right with Riker and the ship’s chief engineer, leaving them quite skeptical of these experiments. However, despite their doubts, something wonderful happened once the work got underway. For the 1701-D was propelled faster than anyone has ever gone before and that brought the crew to wonders untold.

Because once the ship slowed down, the crew found themselves in the heart of the universe itself, some 2.7 million light years away from the Milky Way Galaxy, putting them just this side shy of Galaxy M-33. And while this was cause for serious celebration, since Starfleet would be able to explore every corner of the universe in a matter of hours, the return trip home proved to be quite problematic. Because it turns out that Kominski’s theories were a joke, and that his assistant, a being known as the Traveler, was responsible for this speed all along, and as he continued to manipulate the warp drive, he pushed the crew deeper into the universe. To a place where thought becomes reality, forcing the crew to work together to figure out a way home safely, all while keeping the Traveler healthy enough for one last ride and this is really where the episode shines. 

For rather than chide this curious being for wanting to learn more about mankind and the Federation, Captain Picard embraces this alien and all of his incredible talents. And he opens his mind to the Traveler’s line of thinking, and doing so, allows for some wonderful things to happen. First and foremost, it motivates Picard to get the crew to focus on the task at hand, so that their wild thoughts don’t take control and he also used his wonderful ability with words to unite the crew toward a common cause. Since everyone was able to focus upon home and the health of the Traveler, which helped in getting the crew back to where their journey started, and it was just phenomenal to see Picard begin to come into his own here and gain the trust of the crew and help them to deliver their absolute best at the same time. 

Plus, this is also the episode where Wesley Crusher was more than just a wunderkind that was shoehorned into the plot. He was made a member of the crew here and had his suggestions welcomed in the end and while a great many fans didn’t care for Wesley, he was always someone quite important to this reviewer and other young fans out there as well. For he was a hero to every young kid that wanted to live out the dream of spending time on the bridge of the Enterprise and it’s lovely to see him properly begin his journey here. If anything, this was just a delightful story through and through. One that captures the awe and wonder of space travel nicely and it is really the first episode that feels like The Next Generation since everything is comfortable here. If anything, it’s just nice to get a taste of things to come, because it will make sitting through the rockiest part of this show’s journey well worth our time. Until next time.

Something that can be extremely difficult for a television series to accomplish as it grows and finds its voice, is balance. Especially if the series in question features an ensemble cast of characters. Because the writers’ room and the powers that be, have to figure out how to give everyone that is a part of this show, proper screen time and proper storylines that allow them to grow and that can be quite the dauting task, especially when juicy plotting is involved. But the best shows out there, are the ones that figure out a way to give every character the screen time and development time they so deserve and it just so happens that the AppleTV+ series, Central Park, is figuring out a way to give every delightful character in this tale, their day in the sun.
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For ‘Dog Spray Afternoon’ took the time to mostly pull the focus away from Owen and Bitsy so that others could take the center stage. Which allowed for us to spend time with Paige as she began a grand investigation of the Mayor’s ties to Bitsy, and well, thanks to her fine investigative work and an assist from Birdie; she was able to discover some shady things about Ms. Brandenham. For it turns out that she owns a shell corporation that has been quickly buying up awful real estate owned by the Mayor, giving her all the leverage, she needs. And it really was quite awesome to see Paige dive in and dedicate herself to a story, since it really gives us an idea of her skill set as a reporter and how much she believes in the truth and bringing it to light and oddly enough, what truly made this episode so impressive is that it gave some quality screen time to Helen. Someone that has mostly served as a background character and comic relief.

But this particular tale pulled her out of the shadows and helped us to really understand how dedicated she is to her job and why she thinks she deserves a cut of the Brandenham empire. For she really has gone the extra mile for Bitsy and has never once received an ounce of recognition for putting up with the wackiness of this real estate magnate and her frustration led to the most epic musical number of the night. One that allowed for her to vent her frustrations over the fact that Shampagne was likely going to inherit everything and those same vexations made her wonder if the time had to come to put this little dog out of the picture so she could reap the benefits. Which is a surprisingly dark plot line to inject into a musical comedy. But it was necessary to pop in there so we could properly understand her mental state and to learn exactly how good of a person she actually is. For when the opportunity arrived to do hurt that little pup, Cole’s kindness and willingness to shield the dog from pain, motivated Helen to save them both from harm.

But while it was quite lovely to learn more about the inner workings of both Helen and Paige, it would be foolish to not discuss the primary plot of this tale. For this is what brought about balance since it involved the next stage of Bitsy’s dastardly plan to make Central Park her own. For she opted to hire a talented tagger to mark up the park in ways that no one would else would dare, and that motivated Owen and Molly to investigate his patterns and figure out a way to stop him before completing what appeared to be his magnum opus. And thanks to Molly’s quick thinking and observational skills, she and her family were able to catch the tagger in the act and chase him off, once again saving the park and putting an end to Bitsy’s plan and it was quite lovely to see Molly use her mental prowess to uncover the pattern in question and see Owen continue to put himself in situations that make him uncomfortable, to ensure that the park stays safe from whatever machinations Bitsy sends his way. 

If anything, this really was quite the magnificent episode when all is said and done. For it truly was a fascinating character study, one that offered up quality growth for everyone in this tale which is something that you just don’t see in an animates series. But this one is quite special for certain, and it is great to see it continue to buck the norms and now that this particular problem is out of the way, one has to wonder what awaits us next in this story. After all, the secret is out in regard to Bitsy, and Paige’s fine work and the family’s inadvertent new relationship with Helen, by way of Cole’s dog walking responsibilities, could make things quite difficult for Bitsy down the line. Plus, Birdie is clearly in hot water for breaking the narrator rules with Paige and well, all this does is make us hungry for more, to the point where we will all be counting down the minutes until next Friday’s new episode. Until then.

The last time we settled in to discuss the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, this reviewer was admittedly quite harsh in regard to what the last episode presented to the audience and understandably so. Because ‘Code of Honor’ crossed some lines that this franchise should never come near in the first place. Something that resulted in an outright offensive episode that was uncomfortable to watch. But there was also mention in that Retro Recap that the show would eventually set things right, by being inclusive and respective and diverse in future tales and by offering better storytelling in general. The latter of which is present in the next episode of this series, in a classic fashion no less.
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Because exploration and discovery are what Star Trek is grounded within and ‘The Last Outpost’ features plenty of that. For this particular tale sees the crew of the NCC-1701-D investigate the mysterious Ferengi, in the hopes of retrieving a stolen Federation device. And well, that makes this episode pretty exciting and historic in its own right. Since this is the first physical appearance of a species that was first mentioned in ‘Encounter at Farpoint’, and we’ll spend more time on them a little later. For we do need to take a moment and talk about the grand mystery that the crew faces in this tale. Because once the Enterprise and the Ferengi vessel come face-to-face over a remote planet, something strange begins to occur.

For the ship begins to deal with a power drain, one that is seemingly accelerating as the hours go along, prompting Picard and the crew to believe that perhaps the Ferengi have better weapons than anticipated and this is them posturing and preparing to bring down the Federation’s flagship. But a little scientific curiosity reveals that the power drain is coming from the planet below, prompting Picard to offer a truce and some unity in the hopes of solving what turns out to be a mutual problem. But the truce doesn’t last for long, simply because the Ferengi are opportunists and untrusting of the Federation and oddly enough, it takes the intervention of the planet’s holographic guardian, and a little bravery from Riker to save both ships. 

But what’s truly fascinating about this episode, is that it’s by-the-numbers plot when it comes to space exploration, oddly finds a way to suck you in and elicit a sense of wonder. Something that quite frankly is related to the fact that we get to venture to a strange new world. But while the exploration of the Tkon Empire is quite cool in its own right, and while its guardian is entertaining and eccentric, let’s be honest. It is the Ferengi that really sell this story. Because meeting new species is another big reason that Star Trek is such an alluring series and their introduction here is handled in epic and dynamic fashion since they are so supremely alien and unique. But also, their arrival is significant for one other important reason. 

For one of the Ferengi is played by actor Armin Shimerman, whose name should sound familiar. For he portrayed Quark in Deep Space Nine and it is quite incredible to hear his familiar voice and see him in the makeup for the first time ever and one has to wonder if cutting his teeth here as a random Ferengi, helped him to develop Quark and all of his unique proclivities. But all of that aside, this really was quite the entertaining tale, one that definitely gets the series back to basics and that’s a wonderful thing. Because we simply don’t need any more episodes like the last one, and while season one does have its ups and downs, it is nice to know that the folks behind the scenes worked quickly to get the series back to basics, so that everyone can move on from an embarrassing moment. Until next time.   

We often believe that the most important moments in our lives, are accompanied by some serious pomp and circumstance. The kind where someone important, provides us with some inspirational words about how our lives are about to change for the better. Something that is immediately followed by awe and wonder and tears as we share the great news with our friends and family, shortly before we embrace our new role with a sense of confidence and satisfaction, because we did it. We made it. But the harsh reality of the matter is, most moments in that vein, are nothing like that. They’re instead shocking, or sometimes surprisingly mundane and realizing that our lives are about to change quickly, often results in some serious nervousness. Because no one wants to screw up the opportunity of a lifetime.

Which is why the next episode of The Morning Show is so supremely fascinating. Because ‘Chaos Is the New Cocaine’ explores the harsh reality of how a life-changing moment can be uncomfortable and chaotic, something that is handled by way of Bradley Jackson’s journey in this tale. For when we catch up with her here, mere moments after Alex Levy has announced her as the new co-host on TMS, she’s in quite the difficult place. Because in no way does Bradley believe that she deserves this particular opportunity. After all she’s ‘Two-F*cks’ Jackson, and she knows full well that she has a tendency to let loose on producers and general managers that try and steer her narrative into fluffy pieces and that leaves her pondering as to whether or not she should even take this opportunity.
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But it doesn’t take long for her realize that this is indeed the chance of a lifetime, and to pass it up would be foolish. A decision that made it seem as though this exploration of the chaos that follows the arrival of a life-changing career moment was going to come to a brief close. But thankfully that was not the case. Because there was a great deal of work that had to go into getting Bradley ready for her first show on Monday morning, and that led to a bevy of important scenes. The kind that did indeed demonstrate just how much Bradley wants this and how important her arrival on the national stage could be for television in general and really, it was just wonderful to have this episode take the time to remove the stigma of fame and remind everyone that making it big doesn’t necessarily mean that life gets any easier. 

Yet while it was quite fascinating to see Bradley transition from an everyday reporter to the co-host of the biggest breakfast show in the nation, there were some other important storylines that needed attention as well. Such as the fact that there was indeed fallout for Alex’s decision to make this all happen on her own. Because the network heads were furious, she pulled a stunt like this, but what matters more is that the talking to that Alex received, allowed for her to realize an important fact. In that, the network needs her more than she needs them right now, and that’s giving her a sense of unprecedented freedom in regard to her job, and it was downright wonderful to see her stand up to the network and take charge in every way imaginable in regard to this revamping of the show, and also show humility when needed. Especially after it was brought to her attention that being the one to interview Ashley would be a poor choice in every way imaginable.
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Speaking of Ashley and the whole Mitch Kessler problem in general, we would be remiss to not follow up on his journey in this tale. Because ol’ Mitch is still convinced that how the world views him is a problem, and that motivated hm to reach out to Dick Lundry, a film director in the same boat as Mitch. And this meeting came together, because Mitch has decided that the men who have been accused of misconduct in the Me Too movement, should have their side of story told to the masses, and a documentary will help facilitate that, and this was another unsettling sequence to watch. Because there is no story for these men to tell, they did wrong and they’re now paying the price. But Mitch’s ego simply cannot understand his role in any wrongdoing and he’s now surrounding himself with people that will only exacerbate the situation and isolate him from the world further. Because Dick is an outright monster, something that Mitch is fully aware of, and no good can come from partnering with a guy as scummy as this.

In the end however, this was just another compelling tale from a series that simply knows how to captivate its audience and it is accomplishing this feat by offering up some insightful real-world concepts and some stellar performances. Because the cast just sucks you in, plain and simple, since they’re able to give new life to conversations and moments that would be viewed as boring or trite with another cast. But all of that aside, what matters more is that the big moment has arrived for Bradley. For she is mere moments away from making her debut on The Morning Show and it should be interesting to see how day one goes for her, and how the staff handles this incredible shakeup since there are some who are hoping to see Bradley fail. Leaving one to wonder, if some cutthroat tactics will come into play down the line, in order to make that happen. Until next time.

For the most part, television shows tend to play it safe storytelling wise and understandably so. Because once they’ve established a formula and have a following, keeping the audience and the hardcore fan base happy, is paramount to maintaining the status quo. Which is why the final season of a television series can be quite fascinating for certain. Because some shows understand the opportunity that is being afforded to them in their final year, in that, they can now go for broke and take some chances storytelling wise, and try some things that the show never would have in years’ past and for proof that this is a creative reality, then look no further than last night’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
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Because ‘Out of the Past’ truly bucked the norm for this particular series. For rather than stick with the usual high-stakes, serialized style of storytelling, the writers’ room saw a grand opportunity to do something special and unique within the framework of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; by resurrecting the wonder of 1950s noir. Something that was accomplished by focusing the story through the eyes of a slightly damaged Phil Coulson. For his scrambled circuits allowed for us to enjoy a story grounded in black and white, wherein Coulson took the time to offer up some classic noir narration, the kind that helped to set the stage for a tough mission and a moral dilemma, one that involved the fate of Agent Daniel Sousa.

For the particular day where this particular tale is set, just so happened to be the day that Sousa died according to the history books, once again leaving the team with the prospect of having to watch history unfold in what could be considered to be an unjust and cruel fashion. Because while Sousa’s passing would inspire generations of agents since they would look fondly upon his bravery and his sacrifice, how his death came to be is what didn’t settle well. Because the team came to learn that Daniel discovered the truth about S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra’s entanglement and was going to expose it all. Which means it was Wilfred Malick and his boys that put Daniel down and well, that’s what brought about the moral dilemma in question. Because there was real concern that letting such a good man die on their watch would haunt them forever, which motivated them to do something quite sneaky.

In that, they let the mission play as out needed. Which means that an item that Sousa was to deliver to Stark arrived exactly as it was supposed to, and the police found the body of Agent Sousa later that evening. Or at least, they thought they did. Because Mack and the team figured out a way to save Sousa, by having Coulson take his place as the victim, preserving the timeline and saving a life and that is quite the brilliant way to handle an incredibly complex historical problem. But while it would seem that all is well and that Daniel will get a chance to do great things in the future, there are still problems brewing for the team behind the scenes. For Wilfred Malick received a visit from the Chronicoms in this tale, and they warned him of a future where Hydra was no more, and that such a disappointment could be avoided if Malick listened closely to their instructions.

But what matters more here, is that this episode turned out to be a lot of fun. Because this really did feel like an old school Mickey Spillane story with a Marvel twist. Since it was filled to the brim with intrigue and danger and double crosses left and right. And it was also quite cool to see Deke and Malick come face to face once again simply because that’s a wonderful way to bookend the moral dilemma that Deke faced a couple of weeks ago. But all of that aside, it’s just nice to see a Marvel series truly let loose for a change and try new things that aren’t beholden to the norms and to see a greater strategy coming together for this final season since the Chronicoms are getting ready to play dirty. And now that the team has a new member and a new time zone to work with, it should be interesting to see what surprises await us next week when these intrepid agents set foot in the groovy 1970s. Until next time.