Please enjoy an exclusive clip of Episode 205 of Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries which is available to stream Monday, June 28, 2021, on AcornTV.

We acquire a great many prized possessions in life. But of the many trinkets and awards and other various goodies we proudly display or hang on our wall, all of them pale in comparison to what we hold dear the most… our memories. Because those moments in time, are supremely special to us and the handful of people we shared them with and the joy and the sometimes sorrow they bring us, will never come again and we do what we can to hold onto those in our minds because their meaning and power go beyond the mere emotion we felt in the moment. For our memories also helped to shape who we are today since they taught us important and formational lessons, the kind that we take with us for the rest of our days. 
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In fact, our memories are so important to the person we become, that we sometimes fear what kind of a person we would be without them. Because to not have the knowledge we currently enjoy, would create an incredible paradigm shift in our hearts and minds and this is such a powerful notion that it is explored in popular media often. Which has allowed for some fascinating theories to come to life. For instance, the movie, Regarding Henry, poses the theory that a complete loss of our memories would allow for us to become an entirely different person, since we are starting over from scratch. But it isn’t just dramas with Harrison Ford that ponder upon this notion, for even science fiction got into the game by way of the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

For ‘Conundrum’ took the time to look at a different angle in regard to this concept, by posing the question; what would we become… if we only lost part of our memories? A feat that this story accomplished by having that crew of the Enterprise lose all their short-term memories shortly after encountering a strange vessel floating about in the middle of the void and well… what the story explores past that point was quite fascinating to say the least. Because this episode poses the possibility that we likely would be able to explore aspects of our life that we’ve never thought of going after because of prior knowledge, as evidenced by the brief tryst that Ensign Ro Laren and Commander William Riker embark upon since they are no longer shackled by their grating professional relationship.

But while that notion is fascinating for certain and could have been expanded to make this a supremely comedic episode, this story used that particular twist to offer comic relief from a far more powerful scenario relating to this concept. Because the party responsible for this memory wipe, ingratiated itself amongst the crew as an imposter named Commander Kieran MacDuff, and it made itself apparent, to use the crew’s amnesia to force them into a genocide situation where its kind could win a war using the power of the Enterprise. Which means that the story opted to ponder upon if we could commit to dark acts if our short-term memories were gone and thankfully the show theorized that we would likely not. For only losing a touch of our memories shouldn’t remove our deeply rooted moral core, the one that other memories helped to form, and that theory allowed for lives to be saved and for MacDuff to be neutralized.

In the end however, this really is quite the satisfying story. Thanks to the fact that it really does dive into some intriguing concepts and allows for the actors to shake things up by becoming lost and confused for a little while. But in the grand scheme of things, it really is a one-off tale that doesn’t offer much more than that soft rumination on the power of our memories and that’s just fine. Because not every single episode of this series can be an outright masterpiece and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a quick palate cleanser before tackling something far juicer and it would seem, that the series is saving the big stuff for later since we are apparently in a patch of satisfying one-offs. Because the next chapter in this saga, toys with another off-kilter concept… such as how far one might go to escape a sour situation. Until next time.

I now have a habit of watching this show twice before I even attempt to write this blog. So, it’s important that everyone knows my level of Marvel obsession before moving forward. It’s not a problem though, because I can quit whenever I want. I just don’t want to.

Spoiler warning for Episode 3 of Loki—now!

First and foremost I want to talk about the biggest part of this episode and that is Loki being Bisexual. Yes, not only is our God of Mischief Gender Fluid he is also Bisexual, it is now canonically official. Which, from the comics, it’s been official, but to finally have it in the MCU is a huge thing. It’s a great moment for the LGBTQA+ community and even bigger to have actual representation in Marvel. That being said though, we do need more representation. This is a fantastic start, a lovely introduction, and I love the way it was done. I think the reveal was done cleverly low key for a reason and a purpose and I also think that coming out should be treated the same way in all honesty. It shouldn’t have to be this big earth-shattering thing for someone to come out. It should be as simple as a conversation.

Now, I could easily spend all blog talking about how this scene was really just amazing, but I do want to also talk about the rest of the show. First and foremost, Lady Loki, or Variant Loki, is Sylvie, which is really badass. I was wondering if they were going to bring her into play with Thor: Love and Thunder coming up, but seeing her here, like this? Kind of brilliant. Sylvie is technically a creation of Loki’s, but it does make sense that she would give up her name and chose one for herself. Sylvie has clearly been through a lot of things; pretty dark things if it warrants a name change. Sylvie is after the Time Keepers and we have yet to truly figure out why, but she is on a mission. Maybe to murder them? There are a lot of reasons someone would want to off the Time Keepers. Loki just wants their power. It’s something he and Sylvie are kind of disagreeing on.

​Speaking of Loki… he has a bit of a bad habit when it comes to messing things up. Whether he is the superior Loki or not remains to be seen, for now. He does, however, like to mess things up for himself, and Sylvie apparently. Although his attempt at saving her from Rovanna sends them to an Apocalypse they can’t quite escape. The TemPad has a dead battery and the planet they’re on is about to collide with another. All hope is lost, probably. I mean, not really though because we still have like three more episodes of the show. So, we know they’re going to make it off the planet in time. That doesn’t discount this episode nor what we learn from it. It’s a bit exposition heavy but we learn several things about Loki and Sylvie.

Loki doesn’t actually know what he wants. We watch this throughout the series and this episode in particular highlights just how lost Loki really is. Sylvie knows what she wants. Knows what she needs to do to achieve what she wants and is going to find a way to do that, with or without Loki. The truth is, she’s likely using him for the same reason he’s using her. Sylvie learned her magic on her own, and so far, it seems she can only do enchantment. Loki had his mother to show him, so he’s quite powerful at it. Sylvie is the better fighter, physically, and she’s more strategic. We also learned that Sylvie didn’t know her mother, yet she knew she was adopted the whole time. Something Loki seems to be jealous of, even though he knew his mother, and she didn’t.

They’re not the same person. They haven’t experienced the same things and their motivations are completely different. Loki seems to want power while Sylvie seems to be out for revenge. Loki seems to be searching for a way to redeem himself. Sylvie doesn’t need redemption; she has her stuff figured out or so it seems. We do learn that everyone at the TVA is a Variant, and that puts a whole different spin on the entire organization. It turns out that the TVA isn’t quite what they seem. Shocking? Not really. Still, Sylvie and Loki get stranded as the impending doom approaches. I’m sure there is a way for them to get out. Mobius might show up. Or, more likely, Loki lied about the TemPad being broken in the first place. He is a master illusionist after all.

With only 3 episodes left, the countdown begins. Who are the Time Keepers really? Why does Sylvie want them dead? And above all, did Mobius ever get another salad?

Something that is truly fascinating about human beings… is our collective desire to avoid change. Because despite the fact that we know it exists and know that it will alter our lives and careers at any given moment, we do everything we can to reject it and keep it at arm’s length. A strange behavior that is undoubtedly related to the fact that we are creatures that actually enjoy habit and routine over anything else. As evidenced by how so many of us work hard to find careers and activities outside of the day job that provide us with a happy little world where nothing ever changes, until it does, and well… all of this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation has a lot of say about the change and why it is in fact, important to embrace it.

Which is a feat that ‘The Masterpiece Society’ achieves, by dropping quite the surprise in front of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. For while they are tracking a core fragment from a decimated star, they come to discover that there is a hidden human colony nearby. One that is going to be devastated by the gravitational pull of this fragment. Which of course prompts Captain Picard to reach out to this unexpected find in the stars and that’s when the show’s grand exploration on change gets underway. For it turns out that this colony was designed to be a grand experiment on perfection and routine. Because everyone that lives on this world, has been genetically engineered for a specific role in life and for generations now, these people have indeed found harmony. 

But with their lives being threatened, that harmony has to be interrupted if only for a moment and well, that’s precisely when things get interesting. For the crew has to mingle with these ‘natives’ and they have to spend time aboard the 1701-D in order to prepare their world for salvation and well, while they have enjoyed a perfect life free from strife in a beautifully controlled environment where change is nothing more than a word in the dictionary… they quickly come to realize that routine isn’t all it is cracked up to be. For instance, Counselor Troi’s brief and passionate fling with the administrator of this place, a man named Aaron Conor, quickly teaches him that a pre-ordained path for love offers none of the thrill that love and dating can offer, especially that euphoric sense of endless possibilities that it sends our way, and his journey was a mere tip of the iceberg in this tale.

For a scientist named Hannah Bates comes to realize that change could do wonders for her life. For she has a brilliant mind, one that she is able to use to its fullest potential to bring the colony outright salvation, with an assist from Geordi, and seeing her potential on display and feeling the rush of the possibilities that could come about from being able to work on projects and experiments that have yet to be solved… elicits a sense of rebellion in her. One that eventually allows for her to successfully negotiate the transfer of several members of her society to the Enterprise. So they too, can experience the wonder and the chaos of change and all the challenges it has to offer and well, it is inherently clear by the end of this episode, that it has nothing but good things to say about this concept and why we need to embrace it.

Because without change we are in essence, stagnant beings. Ones that become masters of our routine and our domain, sure… but we aren’t challenged in the slightest. Nor do we really understand our potential and what we can truly contribute to the world and well… that’s a wonderfully uplifting message to find within an episode that at first glance appears to be a world of the week tale. But it is there, and it is glorious, and it once again reminds us that TNG was always eager to explore the best parts of the human condition when the story allowed and that’s precisely what this episode does. Since it shows us at our best and shows us our potential when we let the fear of change go and now that this light-hearted adventure has come to a close, it’s time to explore a darker one. Since the next episode dives deep into the dangers that can come about when we don’t know exactly who we are and what we stand for. Until next time.

Whenever a horrible crime has been committed and reaches the airwaves, the general public’s reaction is one of targeted curiosity. Specifically, everyone wants to know, what on earth motivated such a crime so that we as a society can take steps to prevent it from ever happening again and that pushes the media and anyone interested in the case to pour over the life of this newly famous criminal, to understand the genesis of their evil. But while that has led to a bevy of true crime stories and podcasts and books and documentaries about how evil is born in the world, our obsession with the end result really doesn’t change all that much and doesn’t prevent someone that is currently causing harm to be brought to justice.

Which in turn begs an important question… how exactly then do we stop evil in its tracks before its disgusting nature gets out of hand? Well, that is a question that the next episode of The Real Manhunter on AcornTV, takes the time to explore. For ‘The Bus-Stop Killer – Levi Bellfield’ reflects upon one of the worst cases that DCI Colin Sutton ever had the displeasure of investigating. Simply because Levi was stalking young woman in the suburbs of London and causing them great harm of varying levels. Because in some cases, he killed his victims outright, and in others… he hurt them badly with a blow to the head or by running them over with his car, as he did in one instance and well… once Colin and his team dug into this case and began to put the pieces together, what they found was supremely unsettling.

Because it turns out, that Levi was likely doing this for years on end, and it wasn’t until death became involved that the Metropolitan Police poured some serious resources into the matter. The kind that eventually allowed for CCTV evidence and a fleet of officers doing detailed interviews to finally figure out that Levi was their guy and needed to be behind bars and thankfully, he was eventually arrested for a battery of charges involving murder and assault. The kind that had such incredible evidence behind them that he was indeed found guilty of the charges in question and sent to jail for multiple life terms. But while that is a happy ending of sorts, his being found guilty of also killing a thirteen-year-old girl named Milly Dowler, years into his sentence… is what brings about the exploration of the question this episode poses.

For it also turns out that the Surrey division, had a chance to bring him down after that murder happened. Since he was clearly present in the area the day Milly went missing and had they dedicated the resources and time to solving her disappearance, Levi would have been caught and likely would have been behind bars, allowing for so many not suffer through his crimes. But alas, this episode made it clear that different resources go to different crimes, and the public’s attention only fixates on the worst of the worst and because of that… a perfect storm happened here. One where indifference and a lack of resources allowed for a monster to grow and thrive and well, if by chance we changed how police funding is used and if by chance… we the people viewed all violent crime in the same regard as murder… then perhaps we can stop evil before it grows.

Which might be too deep of a message to take away from this, but that really doesn’t seem like the case. Because there were so many opportunities to bring Levi to justice, and it is frustrating to see how often he talked his way out of trouble and continued along his dark path. But perhaps, that is the point of watching a documentary this honest. So that we do get upset about what we see and enact change. Either way, this really was quite the powerful story when all is said and done, one that really does demonstrate how brilliant a detective Colin truly is. Since he was able to take a mountain of data and details and streamline them into a timeline that brought a viscous killer to justice and now that this chapter has come to a close, it’s time to hit play on another case from his illustrious career, one that revolves around a classic catalyst for crime… money.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Blinded: Those Who Kill’.
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Mistakes tend to get a bad rap and it makes sense as to why. Because when we make one, we feel awful for certain, since we are beings that believe in the power of perfection and not being able to be perfect in that moment, brings a sense of shame and failure. Plus, sometimes, mistakes bring about unfortunate consequences. The kind that can hurt someone’s feelings if we make a silly mistake in a situation that means the world to the person in question, or it can cost us employment and respect if we make a big enough one at work. But while we could go on and on about how mistakes are awful… that’s really not the right way to look at them or discuss them.
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Because in reality, mistakes are actually quite the healthy thing for us. Since they teach us incredible lessons once we’ve made them, and they also sometimes tend to bless us with a revelation or a new path in which to solve our problem. Which makes them invaluable and important in reality and really, the positive power of the mistake is important to our discussion today, simply because this concept was on full display in the next episode of Blinded: Those Who Kill. Because this particular tale saw a mistake that Louise made in the last episode and one that she made here, provide her with some benefits in regard to solving the case, thanks to the fact that she let it slip to Peter, that she was working with the police to solve the murders and that put the fear of God into Peter’s heart.

For he simply had to know if the police had any real dirt on him and Louise’s admission, motivated him to swing by her house and take a good long look at the case evidence she had in her rental. Which in turn helped him to realize that the police were making solid progress on finding him and that he left evidence behind at the marina, a discovery that Louise made as well. Which in turn led to a brief but intense showdown between Peter and Karina at the marina in the middle of the night. One where Peter got the only evidence that could provide the police with his DNA, and that close of a call… also motivated Peter to make a run for it and that’s where the benefits of making mistakes can come into play. Because his mad dash and outright panic to get out of there, led him to finally make the error that the police had been hoping he would make.

Because he left something important out shortly after coming to discover his wife was back in town to talk about the future and while he dealt with that, Louise was working the case and trying to narrow down suspects by way of the professor that got away and well… that conversation brought everything home. For Peter revealed earlier in this tale to Louise that he once shifted gears career wise and abandoned a field in molecular biology and well… when she realized that Martin taught this subject she quickly put two and two together and was able to get Martin to admit that Peter was a student of his and well, had it not been for her impulsive mistake to spend the night with him and admit her role in the case… she might never have learned the details that narrowed down the fact, that he was the man they’d been looking for. Nor would the police have discovered his collection of trophies from the victims. 

Which is a super simple way of expressing the benefits of mistakes, but sometimes the simplest path is the best way to go and have no fear, there will be complexities to be found with what happened here. Since Louise will have to reconcile the emotional blow back of becoming intimate with a man that has killed so many. But while we wait to see what kind of fallout comes from that, we can bask in a supremely satisfying tale. Because at long last, the police know who their killer is, and they have all the evidence they need to bring him in and put him away for a long time, and his desire to run off and see his wife for either positive or negative reasons, has set the stage for a powerful season finale. One that will see the police work hard to capture and bring down a monster that has terrorized the good people of Funen, for far too long. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series one finale of ‘Whitstable Pearl’.
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As we grow older and begin to experience all the good and bad that life has to offer, we begin to hear a recurring theme from friends and family and sometimes seasoned strangers that are eager to offer up advice. In that, the emotional baggage we carry with us through life, doesn’t have to stay with us, provided of course we take the time to reflect upon the past and resolve what put said baggage into our hearts in the first place. Which is sound advice for certain, the kind that we know deep down will indeed solve a great many problems for us, but it is also easier said than done. For digging up yesterday brings forth old wounds and sorrow, and we might not be ready yet to properly settle in to reflect and resolve the past and the damage it caused us. But sometimes, the universe gives us no choice in the matter and it forces us to face days gone by and that puts us at quite the crossroads.

One where we have to decide to either ignore this opportunity at resolution and chug along or face tough truths head on and well, all of this is relevant to our discussion today… due to the fact that the past looms large over the series one finale of Whitstable Pearl on AcornTV. For ‘The Man on the Blue Plaque’ sees the remains of a human body be discovered on the shores of Whistable and well, it doesn’t take long for the police to realize that this is what is left of Flash, Pearl’s father, and this discovery, allows for the past to come bubbling to the surface of the Nolan household and this proud town in both a positive and negative manner. After all, everyone that knew him, never got to say goodbye, so this news made old memories become fresh again. But the strange circumstances surrounding his end also come back to the forefront of everyone’s mind and to complicate matters further… the fact that there is a bullet hole in Flash’s skull, prompted Mike and Nikki to open an investigation into Flash’s death.

The kind that forced Pearl into that aforementioned crossroads. Because she had the option to either walk away and let Mike handle this or face the truth about her father and his past head on and thankfully… Pearl chose the latter option. Because this was a solid opportunity to learn everything she can about her family's past, and darkness within it or not, since allegations of infidelity and abuse came up during the investigation; getting the truth would finally give Pearl a sense of completeness that she has never known and well, what she and Mike uncovered was quite powerful to say the least. For it turns out, that while her father was indeed a beloved member of this town, he harbored something of dark side. One that related to a temper that caused great harm now and again, such as the night where he struck Dolly to the point where the police got involved and well… it was his temper that brought about his end.

Because Flash never wanted his daughter to see this side of him, nor did he want her to experience his temper firsthand and that motivated him to take his own life at sea… after swearing Dolly and Vinnie to secrecy about this decision. So that his daughter could grow up and know only the good parts of him. A truth that left Pearl in quite the stunned place, since it gave her a sobering view of the burden her mother has carried throughout the years and how much Dolly loved dearest dad and it also put Pearl in quite the odd place mentally and understandably so. Because she now had to reconcile a truth she never knew existed and really ponder upon her feelings about the matter and that motivated her… to isolate from Mike and perhaps the world for a bit. All so that she can process the past and figure out how to move forward with it and that is one powerful way to bring Pearl’s adventures to a close for this series.

Simply because most crime dramas see their season end with the hero detective wrapping up an epic case involving an epic villain. But instead, this one opted to go an intimate route and have Pearl solve a case that wore on her emotionally and the show deserves a massive and deafening round of applause for going this route. Because this was unconventional and powerful, and it brought forth serious growth for Pearl. The kind that should steel her for any new challenges that come her way down the line… since facing the darkest parts of our past makes us strong and savvy going forward and well, hopefully we get a series two announcement and soon. Because this really has been a refreshing and original crime drama, one filled to the brim with heart and relatable moments and beautiful and dynamic storytelling, and it deserves a long and fruitful run. So, we can see Pearl Nolan continue to evolve before our eyes and become an iconic gumshoe, one that can use everything she learned in year one… to make the world a better and safer place. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries’.
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One particular truth that no one ever likes to face, is the sheer fact that crime is a random force of nature. One that can strike and upend a life at any time, and it makes sense as to why we despise thinking about that. Simply because we are beings that search for meaning and purpose in everything we do. So, the thought that an average human being could just snap and rob a bank, or worse, take the life of another human being… is genuinely unsettling and that is why crime fiction remains so popular. For it is a place where creative minds can put order to chaos and potentially find some meaning behind the randomness of the universe, giving us some semblance of peace. 
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But alas, deep down, we know that the chaos will continue to permeate and that the meaning we find in a fictional story may mean nothing in the everyday world and that should leave us quivering in fear. But thankfully, we don’t. Largely because we know there are people out there trying hard to keep us from harm and their efforts do indeed prevent some from trying to commit to the darkness and well, that creates a precious and fragile balance that we can all live with for certain. If anything, that delicate dance between order and chaos is relevant to our discussion today, because it serves as the focus of the next episode of the AcornTV series, Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries.

For ‘A Killer Unleashed’ sees crime take place in the most unlikely of places… a dog show. For right in the middle of competition, a well-known trainer named Lavinia drops dead. Seemingly because her prized border collie, named M’Lady, snapped and attacked her. But it doesn’t take long for Peregrine to realize that this gorgeous pup is about as gentle as they come, which leads her and James to come to the conclusion that foul play is afoot… but the grand question is why? Because it doesn’t make sense that someone would take the time to hurt another human being at a dog show, nor is there any rhyme or reason to commit to murder over an event where cute dogs prance about and do amazing tricks. 

But alas, someone made that decision and as Peregrine and James dug deeper, the chaos and randomness and pettiness of murder came into focus. For as it turns out, the local veterinarian at this show, Dr. Clifford Gill, was the man responsible for this heinous crime. All because he opted to enter into an affair with Lavinia, one that she was eager to take part in so she could use his services for stature. Because she was able to woo him into quietly spaying M’Lady, all so she would forever win shows and no one would be the wiser that the rules about such a move had been broken... since he would certify M’Lady as ready for competition. But once Lavinia was done with him and the risk to his career and reputation were exposed, he chose violence and murder and well… that is about as chaotic and as petty as murder gets.
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Because his career could have survived elsewhere since he was obviously a capable and talented veterinarian. But instead, ego and the heat of the moment motivated him to go another path in life and take several in the process and that really is a supremely raw look at murder. One that hammers home the message of this particular tale and really, this show deserves a serious round of applause for going that route commentary wise. Because you just don’t see crime shows, especially cozier ones such as this, take the time to offer up such a frank and honest message about the world. But this one pulled it off no problem and did so in an entertaining and palatable manner and it just goes to show, that Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries is a genuinely unique crime series… one that can deliver on heavier concepts without leaving us in silence when the story ends. 

But while that message alone could have carried this tale, this episode also had some other important moments to offer the audience. Since it was revealed that Birdie is back in the spy business and scaring dear Samuel in doing so and of course… it was a huge deal that Peregrine and James, more or less resolved their awkwardness for the time being. For they really are a dynamic duo when on the case and hopefully finding a touch of peace here, will allow for them to eventually reconcile their feelings for one another. Since they are clearly, madly in love with each other, and the only way to figure that out is to talk about their feels. In the end, however, this was simply another incredible episode from this series, one that offered up a great mystery and a powerful message that was balanced out nicely by quality comedy, and it also had dogs. Which is always wonderful because dogs are pure, and you can never go wrong with a show that spotlights puppies and now that this case is closed, it’s time to sit and wait for next Monday’s caper… one that might involve a crooked cop. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains discussions revolving around consent and sexual assault, which might be triggering for some individuals.

It is definitely safe to say, that sometimes… rewatching our favorite shows from when we were younger, can provide us with some incredible surprises. Simply because, a lot of the shows we love from our youth, especially science fiction related entertainment… held some deeper meaning within the framework of the story. The kind that quite frankly, shot right over our heads since we were more interested in the adventure and didn’t have a clue what the story was trying to get at. But that all changes when we settle in for round two and that message settles into our minds, giving certain episodes that we enjoyed casually back in the day, a vastly deeper meaning for us now that we understand what the writers’ room was trying to accomplish and this is relevant to our discussion today… because this surprise applies to the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Because when ‘Violations’ originally aired back in 1992, it appeared to be nothing more than a run of the mill, alien of the week episode. One where a telepathic being decided to weaponize memories to harm the innocent and exert power over them and that really did make this story, forgettable to any preteen or teenager. Simply because there is no meaning to be found for someone of that age in regard to those actions. But now, watching it again years later, this episode definitely hits a little harder once the now older viewer, comes to realize that this particular tale features some powerful underlying messages. The kind that revolve around the importance of consent in all things and the emotional and mental impact that sexual assault has upon an individual, and that elevates this story for certain. For now, it is supremely relevant, since the #MeToo Movement raised awareness in regard to those two topics. 

Which makes this episode uncomfortable to watch at times, simply because the main villain in this story, an Ullian named Tarmin is about as scuzzy as it gets. Because this man really has no regard for consent or the impact his mind violations cause others. He simply enjoys the power that his genetic makeup has provided him with, and he will exert it as he sees fit to get his fix and well… that’s about as relevant as it gets. Since this man is the epitome of the movement and what it stands for in 2021 and his desire to disregard the sanctity of someone’s personal memories, is a powerful way to teach the viewer about the importance of consent and the sheer horror that the viewer feels when watching Troi and the others have their memories violated… is clearly designed to hammer home the gravity and disgusting nature of assault in a manner that all can relate to.

Speaking of the assault aspect of this story, that is an area where this episode was in fact, ahead of its time. Because something that is becoming an important standard and norm in regard to assault cases, is believing what the victim has to say, unconditionally, and that’s exactly what happens here. Because Troi’s expression of the assault she endures is never once laughed off by Captain Picard as nothing more than fantasy, nor does anyone aboard the ship treat Troi in a different light or mock her in the slightest. They instead treat her in the manner that we are supposed to treat assault victims, with honesty and care and a shared desire to reveal the truth. And all of these elements help the viewer to realize that this episode really did want to address an important topic that was and somewhat remains taboo and well, it definitely deserves credit for handling a look at assault in a frank and powerful manner.

If anything, this episode just goes to show, once again, that TNG really did want to be ahead of the curve and challenge its viewers in the boldest manner possible and well, it definitely succeeded at that, in this instance. Because this really is a powerful topic that didn’t see the light of day until recently and it really is a shame that this particular tale didn’t start that conversation sooner. Since this really is something that stayed in the shadows far too long and should have been addressed ages ago. But at least we can take some comfort in the fact that this show wanted to shed light on this topic decades ago and truly offered up some powerful observations on the nature and power and importance of consent, alongside some equally as important observations on how to respect victims of assault. And now that this stunning story has come to its close, it will be interesting to see if there are any other bold and taboo topics that this series is going to tackle in such a bold and dynamic manner. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Blindspotting’.
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When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating new STARZ series, Blindspotting, we talked at length about how the series premiere did a phenomenal job of creating a Blindspotting universe. One where this new show tied beautifully into the powerful journey that Colin and Miles went upon, and we also discussed the raw humanity present within said premiere. Since Ashley’s journey is about as relatable as it gets since, we’ve all found ourselves willing to stand by people that stumble and fall, and we’ve all been in a position where we seemingly must hit the reset button in life. If anything, the only real complaint that one could levy against this opening chapter, was that it was devoid of the powerful commentary that permeated the fabric of the original motion picture.
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But even that is forgivable, since it was imperative to establish the journey that we are going to be accompanying Ashley on in the weeks to come and deep down, it is safe to say we all knew that eventually that social commentary was going to find its way to the forefront of this story. For the show and movie’s co-creators/writers, Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, clearly had more to say about life in Oakland and the world in general and well, it should come as no surprise that it didn’t take all that long for those two gentlemen to inject some thoughtful and poignant commentary into this series. For ‘Smashley Rose’ took the time to examine the class divide that is growing in America and how it impacts lower income Americans and BIPOC individuals from a justice standpoint and that made for one poignant and powerful tale.

Which is a feat that this particular episode accomplished, by immediately giving Ashely and the audience some bad news about Miles. Because it turns out that despite being honest with the court by pleading guilty and despite dealing with his first drug charges in general, the judge basically threw the book at him and sentenced him to five years in prison because of his social standing. Which is a statement that some will immediately disagree with while reading this and well, they’re wrong. Because this is what is happening around the nation on a daily basis, since BIPOC and folks that come from a ‘tougher’ a.k.a. ‘poorer’ background are incorrectly stereotyped as troublemakers and every other negative connotation one can associate with someone that breaks the law and they’re given the toughest sentences possible to ‘send a message’ to others that would violate laws, while well-to-do Caucasian folks walk free, out of the worry that their lives will be negatively impacted by jail time.

Speaking of impact, it is important to note that this episode also took the time to examine the fallout that a family has to deal with when a family member is sent off to prison. Which is something that is rarely being explored in popular culture right now and taking the time to dive into that that made for some powerful sequences. The kind that saw everyone in this family trying to cope with this tough news in their own special way. Which involved outright tears in the case of Trish since she thought Miles would be coming home, whereas Rainey and Ashley simply did their best to forge ahead and try to keep some sense of normalcy going and well, those are some honest and earnest responses to such a life-changing event and the show once again deserves credit for showing us the human side of moments we don’t normally think about. Yet while that alone could have hammered home the jarring impact of this kind of unfortunate surprise, this was also an opportunity to showcase to the world how often this happens and how numb we’ve become to this.
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Since the scene where Rainey goes to the bookstore to potentially find some literary guidance on how to tell Sean about this dark day, revealed that there are entire sections of books about such a topic and that’s something that definitely gives the viewer pause. Because there shouldn’t be a ‘dad goes to jail’ section in the bookstore. But there is. Because this is an unfortunate new normal, and that is a powerful and subtle way to help the viewer to understand how big a problem this is and it does leave one to wonder, how many parents have had to make use of some of the actual books featured in this episode. If anything, all of these elements made for one powerful tale when all is said and done, one that truly did an incredible job of helping the audience to understand the epidemic of injustice that is happening on a daily basis and hopefully what this story showcased will get some real discussions going in regard to this important topic.

However, while all of that definitely stays with the viewer long after this episode has come to an end, in true Blindspotting fashion, this story also took the time to give the viewer a touch of catharsis. Because the sequence where Ashley enacts a little payback on the privileged couple that makes her life hell at the hotel, is about as satisfying as it gets, and it also just goes to show that this series understands how to perfectly blend comedy into heavy subject matter so the audience can better process the powerful lessons present in this utterly brilliant series. One that covered more ground on modern America in thirty minutes than some documentaries cover in a couple of hours and well, now that this stunning chapter in Ashley’s compelling journey has come to a close, we are definitely left wondering what other powerful topics this series is going to tackle in the weeks to come. As Ashley works to navigate a new normal where her partner has become a victim of the system. Until next time.