Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Blinded: Those Who Kill’.
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It wasn’t that long ago, that we discussed at length how the AcornTV series, Blinded: Those Who Kill, was eager to shatter the tropes surrounding the serial killer and well… it has definitely been successful at accomplishing that. For Peter, the titular killer in this tale, is not suave and smooth and full of kitschy one-liners to fire off when he murders someone in a stylish manner like his more famous fictional counterparts. No instead, he is cold and calculated and evil and tormented and twisted and that’s made him quite the chilling villain for certain. One that has stopped at nothing to satisfy his unfortunate bloodlust, and his actions have helped to remind us that these kinds of men are nothing more than utter abominations, and what’s truly amazing, is that the series isn’t quite done yet with shattering the clichés that we commonly associate with serial killers these days, as evidenced by its next episode.

For this particular tale opted to go right after a supremely odd notion that sometimes surrounds serial killers in popular culture, in that… they still have good buried within their souls and that they are in fact redeemable. And it shattered that particular cliché by outright reminding us of the fact that Peter is a great big baby, one that is upset that life hasn’t gone his way and that he cannot handle strife in the slightest and it accomplished that particular task, by giving Peter some good days for a change. For he finally reached some common ground with his son, and he’s finally appreciated at work and apparently happy because of that and well, that definitely hammers home how weak he is and how little effort he puts into his interpersonal relationships and his life. Because all it would have taken to avoid problems with Johannes, was to talk to him directly instead of trying to exert power over him and if he bothered to not be filled with self-loathing and blame, he might see that he has accomplished a few things in life.

But instead, he stews, he fusses and then he kills because he believes that's the only way he can have power in life, and it is only a matter of time before he does that again since we’ve seen how bad days go for him and there are definitely some ugly ones on the horizon. Because while Peter was lost in a moment reverie, Louise was starting to find her way back from the darkness that surrounded her in the last episode. Because in talking with Alice’s family and Karina, she started to realize that something was amiss when it came to Alice’s passing. For giving up that easily and opting to end her own life, really wasn’t in her personality traits, despite having a terminal diagnosis and that allowed for Louise to dive deep into the case once again and begin to dig into what really happened that fateful night and it is a wonderful thing that she did that, because she and her intrepid team of investigators were able to accomplish wonders. 

For they came to learn that Peter really does enjoy the cover of night and that he will go to great lengths to keep his identity a secret. Even going so far as to use a long approach to attacking his prey. Which is why he stole a kayak the night he went after Alice, so that he could arrive from the waterfront and avoid the main cameras on her street and truly make it seem as though a suicide had taken place. But at the same time, this was the mistake that Louise and Karina have been waiting for. Since he left the USB drive behind and he was sloppy in hiding the evidence of the vase that he broke on his way up to Alice’s room. But the police found that evidence, making it clear that Alice didn’t die at her own hands and well… just like that, there’s a renewed interest in bringing Peter to justice and that is not a good thing for him in the slightest.

Because now that this is personal, Louise is going to stop at nothing to find him and of course, since the police want a win, they’ll throw what they can at this case and that is both thrilling and unsettling. Because Peter won’t respond to this well and he may well hurt a great deal more people before his reign comes to an end. But while we wait to see what comes next, we can celebrate one brilliant tale. One that really did hammer home the fact that Peter is a small and petty man that has no redeemable value whatsoever since he expects the world to create his happiness and well, that definitely makes him worse somehow and his attitude here and the events of this tale definitely adds a sense of urgency to this tale for the audience as well. Because now we are beyond eager to see this sniveling creep be put behind bars for his horrible crimes. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Whitstable Pearl’.
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It is definitely safe to say that the holidays are a beloved time for a vast majority of people around the globe and understandably so. After all, this is a time of reflection. One where we are able to ponder upon our journey around the sun and everything we accomplished throughout the year, and we are also able to revel in the fact that we are quite lucky. For we have friends and family surrounding us, and we are able to express our gratitude for their existence by way of breaking bread and giving gifts and that really does make this a magical time of year. But there was mention of the fact that only a majority of people enjoy this season, not all of us, and it is in fact, important to recognize that for some individuals the holiday season is quite the sour time… for various reasons.

Because some people, had a tough year. The kind where nothing went their way and they might not have friends and family surrounding them during this special season. In fact, they might be missing those very people from their lives since they might have passed away. And what makes it so important to recognize their struggle during the holiday season… is because this is indeed a season of unity and giving and kindness and well, it would likely behoove us to pay attention when others are hurting during the season (and beyond) and perhaps step in and do some good to ease their pain and really, this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because that level of kindness was on full display in the next episode of Whitstable Pearl on AcornTV. For ‘Disappearance at Oare’ saw a creepy and cryptic note be dropped through the mailbox of a woman named Christina during the holiday season… one that opened up some old wounds.

For it informed her that her late husband Robert, didn’t commit suicide as believed and that immediately motivated her to call Pearl and have her investigate the matter and well, with it being the holidays alongside Pearl's inability to say no to an impossible case, she took on Christina’s unsolvable cold case and uncovered some interesting facts about Robert’s past. In that, there was someone he loved before Christina, someone that also disappeared around the same time he ‘committed suicide’ and that led Pearl to believe that foul play was involved in his end, and after some digging, she came to realize that she was right to assume to worst. For it turns out that Robert’s dad and his staunch Christian views led to an act of violence, one witnessed by Robert’s beloved Alice and that in turn, led to Robert's death and it was Pearl’s digging and promise to help that brought Alice out of hiding and brought the truth to fruition. Making justice and resolution the gifts that she provided to Christina and Alice for the holiday season. 

But while that was something of an expected and fitting plot line for the greater theme of this episode, it had more to offer in regard to how we can help those hurting during this time of year by showing us that DCI Mike McGuire was struggling. Because this was a fine reminder that his beloved was gone and that this holiday season was going to be spent with memories of their love affair hanging over his head and that made him despondent, to the point where he was avoiding everyone and everything. But thankfully, Pearl was there for him, and she didn’t offer to fix him or pour out advice, she simply supported him and let him now that he had someone to talk to if he needed to and that he didn’t have to be alone this holiday season, and that did wonders for him. Because it did ease the pain and it did get him out of the house and that hammered home the theme of the episode through and through and truly did a fine job of reminding us how much an act of kindness can help those in need.

If anything, this really was quite the powerful episode when all is said and done. Simply because you don’t see crime dramas really dive into the lasting impact of death in this manner nor do they offer up such a heartwarming and uplifting message. But this episode had no qualms with going this route storytelling wise and that made for some genuinely moving moments for certain. The kind that undoubtedly brought tears to the audience’s eyes, over the raw pain and beautiful kindness that was on display on this tale and really, this might be finest episode this series has offered to date in its inaugural run and that really is a wonderful thing. Because if this is what this show is bringing to the table four episodes in, imagine what kind of incredible tales await us as we close in one the season one finale. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘Gangs of London’.

Over the course of its inaugural season, the AMC series, Gangs of London, has done a phenomenal job of plunging us into a world we simply do not understand. For the crime world is nothing short of the opposite of our own since it features little safety for those who choose it since it thrives upon chaos and strife. But while it has been quite fascinating to learn a great deal about how this strange society operates, this particular series had another surprise waiting up its sleeve for its fans in regard to the functionality of the underworld. For the next episode in this harrowing journey was keen to inform us that, when necessary, this world can in fact, borrow from our own when the moment is right.
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For the penultimate episode of season one saw the investor group finally flex its muscles and it make it clear that it expects everyone under its thumb to step in line and behave and well, what made this seem so familiar in nature, is that such acts happen often in our workplaces. Wherein the bosses tighten up the rules and make it clear that goofing around or doing our own thing simply isn’t welcome in the slightest. The only difference being is that in this instance, hungry assassins are the ones that enforce the rules in this world, by way of the death penalty. Which is something they tried to bring about for Sean and his family by storming every stronghold the Wallaces once called a safe space. Only to find that the family was one step ahead of the crackdown and found their way into hiding and well, all lessons aside… their desire to hide allowed for Elliot to step up and try to use the current situation to save a life and potentially bring Sean in at last.

Which is a decision that ended in disaster unfortunately. For he was too late in trying to get his fellow officer to safety since Mariann’s thugs were torturing him with impunity and sadly, he lost his life during the rescue attempt, and the chaos that was surrounding Elliot in that moment, really didn’t give him a solid opportunity to inch Sean toward prison. In fact, the former leader of this incredible empire, was so stunned by everything that happened, that he more or less pushed everyone out of his inner circle, to give himself some time to think about his life and its direction and what should come next and well… that turned out to be quite the dangerous thing for everyone involved in this story. For Sean came to realize that he was nothing more than a pawn and that his legacy was one of embarrassment and the fury that came out of that sour epiphany… motivated Sean to do something quite drastic.

In that, he worked hand in hand with Lale to prepare a special gift for the investors, one that would be placed deep within the garage of the building that he and his family and friends worked so hard to raise toward the sky. And of course, that gift would be explosive in nature, so that he could send a powerful message to the investor group and his enemies that there would be no crackdown, no enforcing of the rules for the Wallace family. No instead, there would only be chaos and strife for those who hurt Sean Wallace and well… it turns out that Sean was successful in this plan. For in the closing moments of this tale his special brand of fury and madness came to fruition and that building came crashing down, signaling a dangerous new chapter in Sean’s reign and this move also set the stage for a powerful and tense season finale.

One where the investor group will undoubtedly have to scramble like never before to bring order to chaos, now that Sean Wallace is ready and willing to wage war upon them and what is truly terrifying, is that Sean might be willing to harm a great deal of innocent lives to enact his own special brand of revenge. But while we wait to see how far he will go to make them pay, we can revel in one incredible tale, one that continued to see everything fall to pieces. Which served to remind us that the chaos that reigns supreme in this world and that it is not for the faint of heart and that perhaps our world is likely a far better place to reside. And it will be quite interesting to see what comes next for this story and this twisted world when the dust settles from the explosion and two power hungry forces engage in one final battle for control of their slice of the city of London. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two premiere of ‘Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries’.
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It is definitely safe to say that modern society views mediocrity as a terrible thing, when in fact… it is not, especially in regard to television. For when mediocrity settles into the T.V. landscape, brave souls that are eager to leave their mark upon the pop-culture world, seize the opportunity and put forth a series that shakes things up and wows audiences everywhere and for proof… look no further than the crime drama. For these days, this genre features nothing but whip smart detectives and gritty and bleak storylines on just about every network out there and being mired in that has indeed brought forth innovation, and in the case of Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, a chance to return to the genre’s roots and what makes it so great.

For this AcornTV series, one that follows the personal and professional life of Private Detective Peregrine Fisher, is set in the 1960s. A time where the world was eager to embrace free love and hope and wild times in both storytelling and everyday life and setting this series in the 60s, removes the technology and the present-day angst that has sanitized and darkened the genre and allows for us to celebrate the best parts of the crime drama. For now, Peregrine and her beau Detective James Steed, must rely upon ingenuity and an attention to detail and good old-fashioned hunches and interrogations to solve their cases. Which made season one of this series downright refreshing and it would seem that the series is going to seize upon that further in its second year.

Because all of those elements were on full display in ‘Death by Design’ and ‘Come Die With Me’ and that made for a pair of supremely engrossing tales. Because offering up a pair of stories that focused on old school detective work leaves one guessing as to who exactly committed the two atrocious crimes present in this two-hour premiere, and as an added bonus, the exotic nature of said crimes truly sucks one into the story. Since the death of architect and a flight attendant aren’t crimes that you see all that often and the wonder of these two tales doesn’t end there. Because this is a cozy crime drama at heart, one filled with lighthearted and comedic moments to keep the story out of the darkness and truth be told, some of those comical moments genuinely leave you laughing out loud because they’re just that darn good. 

But while that alone could carry this series and make it enjoyable through and through, what truly makes this premiere worth one’s while, is the sheer fact that it has some unique depth to it. For these stories are in fact, quite prophetic and reflective in nature. Because all of the crimes featured in this premiere are committed by women. Which is not a gimmick of a vilification of women by any means. No instead, their actions come about out of marginalization and repression, speaking volumes to how badly women in the 1960s, wanted to be free of the stereotypes and stigmas and societal norms that were demanded of them and imposed upon them, to the point in this instance where murder was the only way to escape that particular oppression and that really is powerful and poignant. And a sobering reminder that the women’s liberation movement was inching toward the mainstream and what’s truly amazing, is that the series finds a way to take this powerful observation and make it relevant to women’s struggles today.
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Because Peregine is at her core, a woman ahead of her time. One that believed the gender gap and patriarchy was outdated in the 1960s and she is often eager to shatter the glass ceiling at every turn and show to the world how old-fashioned its views toward women really are and sadly, her actions and the moments she encounters, feel a little too familiar at times. Which in essence means that this series is indeed holding up a mirror toward the modern world and how women are treated in 2021 and seeing and hearing actions from men that delegitimatize the skill set of a woman or pigeonhole them into a stereotype in a manner that echoes what we read and hear and see everyday, really does give the viewer pause. And it reminds us that we have to be better in such matters and work harder to ensure that women are finally recognized as the equals that they are, and that makes this premiere brilliant when all is said and done.

Simply because you just don’t see crime dramas take the time to offer up a history lesson, much less commentary on the world outside of the impact and the power of murder. But all of that is present here and that really is a wonderful thing, since it truly allows for this series to stand out and stand tall for that matter as well. Plus, we’d be foolish to not point out that both of these episodes are filled to the brim with simply incredible performances, since the supporting cast is the one that tends to offer up that flawless comic relief and of course, Geraldine Hakewill and Joel Jackson absolutely steal the show as Peregrine and James respectively, and their fascinating love affair, one filled with surprises in this premiere, really is quite captivating. If anything, this is simply a perfect way to kick off a new year of mysteries for Detective Fisher and it will be quite interesting to see what kinds of wild and unique cases and colorful commentary awaits us and Ms. Fisher as season two rolls along. Until next time.

The first two episodes of ‘Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries’ are streaming now on AcornTV, and to learn more about the show and its star, check out our interview with Geraldine Hakewill, right here.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty’.
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It is definitely safe to say that the Meerkat Manor saga is nothing short of a global phenomenon. For when this series hit the airwaves in 2004, it simply took the world by storm and people from all walks of life were eager to tune in to learn more about these gentle and cute creatures and share in their adventures. In fact, the series was so downright captivating, that it actually created an international superstar in Flower. Who enthralled audiences everywhere with her dynamic leadership and wonderful mothering skills. But sadly, she passed away whilst defending her family, and her death was so powerful and surprising that even the New York Times took the time to cover the end of her life and in a way, her passing seemed to prepare the world for the end of this franchise since it faded from the airwaves after the fourth series.

But we live in an era where people thoroughly enjoy sequels that offer a quality follow up after time has passed and after twelve long years away from the Whiskers family of the Kalahari, BBC America and Oxford Scientific Films decided now was the time to team up to continue the story of these little cuties by way of the new series, Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty. A show that is generational in nature since it follows Flower’s descendants and well, when we return to the Kalahari in, ‘Episode 1: New Beginnings’, what we come to discover about her legacy is quite surprising and heartwarming. For two of her descendants, great-granddaughter Swift and great, great-granddaughter Flint… have become matriarchs of their own respective clans. For Swift continues to lead the Whiskers Family and Flint handles the Hakuna Matata Clan and this opening chapter to a new era of storytelling takes the time to inform us, that these two clans are on fascinating paths. 

Because it turns out that Swift not only led the Whiskers Clan back from the brink of a potential end during hard times, but she’s settled them into a wonderful part of the Kalahari where they can thrive. For there is plenty of food to be found in their respective territory and plenty of quality shelter as well and that has also allowed for Swift… to give birth to a great many pups and get the clan’s numbers moving in the right direction again and it was simply wonderful to see that Flower’s leadership skills and tenacity are still on display in this clan, honoring her memory for certain, and speaking of honoring the past… that is something that Flint is doing as well since she too exhibits those traits. But her journey won’t quite be as easy as Swift’s… since the settlement for the Hakuna Matata Clan isn’t quite as luxurious. 

In fact, theirs is quite harsh. For the food isn’t exactly plentiful here and the clan must work hard to find it on a consistent basis, and while their shelter is adequate, raising pups in this particular setup isn’t exactly easy either. For there are a great deal of males in Flint’s clan, and while they do indeed do their best to watch over the young ones of this family, boys will be boys, leaving an extra workload on the remaining ladies at Flint’s side. Which means that poor Flint must work twice if not thrice as hard to keep her hearty clan going… but she really is making it happen. Because she simply won’t give up or back down when it comes to the challenges that head her family’s way and that made for a satisfying storyline, since one cannot help but feeling anything but pride over the fact that another descendant of Flower is able to make wonders happen with minimal resources surrounding her.

But truly, what makes this series premiere so worth our while, is the sheer fact that it has plenty to teach us about the Meerkat. For we get to learn a lot about how they rear their young in this tale, and it was simply incredible to learn that all the females in a clan can produce milk for the pups, and it was also quite amazing to learn a little more about the mating habits of the Meerkat and how ‘Roving Romeos’ are a big key to getting another generation of these sweet little babies to be born. But most important of all when it comes to this premiere, is that it feels like we never left the Kalahari, since we are immediately sucked back into the wonder of this world in a matter of seconds. Which means that Oxford Scientific Films and producers/writers Caroline Hawkins and Hayley Smith deserve a round of applause for recapturing the magic of what makes this series so great and truly, this reviewer is looking forward to seeing what incredible adventures and challenges await a new generation of Meerkats in the weeks to come. Until next time.

To learn more about the making of ‘Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty’, check out our interview with Series Producer Hayley Smith, right here.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘The Mosquito Coast’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that human beings believe that they are invincible to a certain degree. After all, we push ourselves and others to incredible heights in order to accomplish incredible goals and the fact that we have indeed accomplished wonders by holding to that mantra, only engrains it further into modern society’s collective mind. But while many will claim that holding to that notion makes us better since it makes it strive for more, the fact of the matter is… this is a horrible belief through and through. For we are creatures that require rest, and our mental health requires a break and nurturing from time to time as well and if we don’t provide either aspect of our humanity with that… bad things can and will happen… as evidenced by the season one finale of The Mosquito Coast.

For ‘The Glass Sandwich’ finally saw the Fox family reach its breaking point and understandably so. Because for the past few weeks, they’ve endured horrific and painful revelations, and their lives have been in danger on a consistent basis, all because Allie and Margot have shady, shady pasts and are eager to defy convention and push their family to escape those pasts and well… Dina finally had enough of her father’s shenanigans in this tale. To the point where she actually spoke up and lashed out with sour and bitter words, the kind that wounded Allie in a manner he’s never experienced before and hearing her daughter speak such truth… inspired Margot to do something quite drastic and make plans to bring Dina and Charlie back to the United States, without Allie.

A move that was both satisfying and bold, since Allie has indeed put them through the wringer and well, going this route would have taken the story in an incredible new direction filled with wild possibilities since it would put Allie at a crossroads. One where he would need to decide to either go after his own family and demand their company or let them go and try to start anew with more gullible people. But before we could see where such a move would take us, disaster struck. In that, Charlie ran into one of the assassins that was searching for him and the family, and his newfound desire for violence motivated him to put a bullet in the man. Which in turn, got him arrested and well, that put the family at a different crossroads. For now, they had to decide whether to leave him behind and move on, their least favorite option… or if they should call the authorities and use America’s power to free him, or band together and save the young man themselves.

As it turns out, door number three was the choice that Allie once again made for everyone since the thought of dealing with the NSA was quite unappealing and that led to one incredible sequence of events. One where the family pulled together in a beautiful manner and executed a dastardly plan, that was designed to catch the cops off guard and set them up for an escape by water and the only complication that came about while executing this plan… was Bill. Because he and his boys arrived to handle their business and that meant that Charlie and Allie had to resort to some wild tactics and guile to evade his bullets and believe it or not, they did, and they were able to reunite with Dina and Margot and head off on the boat to safety. But while that sounds like a happy ending, one that resolved bad blood because family unity should trump all things… that simply was not the case. 

Because clearly, Margot and Dina are in a bitter, bitter place mentally. Nor are they happy that they are even further away from the United States and stuck with a man that they no longer care about and well, that is honestly quite the brilliant way to end the fascinating first season of this unique series. For it more or less establishes Allie Fox as the true villain of this tale, one that genuinely wants to do good things, but treats people like garbage to get there and to complicate his goals further… two people very close to him no longer have any faith in him and are likely looking for a way out of this madness so they can find a happiness they’ve never known. And that really does do a wonderful job of setting the recently announced second season, since all of those all of those elements will undoubtedly come into play when the Fox family finally arrives at their final destination, and it will be quite interesting to see what Allie becomes when he is free of the worries of the world he left behind and if he can redeem himself because of that freedom, when season two gets underway. Until next time.

Season one of ‘The Mosquito Coast’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

One particular plot line that has become quite the cliché in storytelling… is the ‘body snatching’ plot. Wherein some kind of external force is able to take over a beloved character or characters and make them do their bidding for a time until someone else rescues the hero (or heroes) from a horrific fate and well, it’s cliché simply because… stories that make use of it do nothing to update it. For that description really is how these stories go time and time again, and you know exactly how it is going to end and you’re often bored because of that. But once in a while you run into a book or movie or show that tries to do something slightly new with this concept, and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was able to spice this particular cliché up quite nicely.

Which is a wonderful thing since the overall plot of ‘The Game’ resembles more of the same. Since a compromised Commander Riker brings a mysterious, mind controlling game aboard to brainwash and control the crew for an alien entity, and of course… the senior staff and Picard turn evil and work hard to make preparations to infect the rest of Federation with this game for reasons unknown. And of course, it is up to a pair of unlikely heroes in Cadet Wesley Crusher (who swung by for a quick hello) and Ensign Robin Lefler (played by Ashley Judd) to save the ship from a horrific fate, which they do and of course all is well once the effects of the game are neutralized by Data. But what makes this by the numbers plot actually work and suck you in are a couple of key elements that really were lovely twists to inject into this type of story.

Such as the fact that Lieutenant Commander Data is sidelined early on when the trouble begins and more or less becomes an afterthought until the end of the story. And that matters because he is the only person aboard that would be immune to the effects of a game that manipulates the human brain and by having him go down, not only is the most likely hero of the story eliminated from the equation… but the tension is brought to a whole new level. Because by the end of this tale, when Wesley and Robin are the only crew members left of sound mind and body, there’s a real sense of danger and dread surrounding them. One that is exacerbated by the fact that Robin and Wesley are eventually ‘assimilated’ by the game and everything horrible thing it stands for. Which really does make it seem for a moment as though the bad guys are going to win and that’s just something you don’t see in the STU or stories in this vein all that often and that really was a refreshing turn for this story to take.

Plus, the fact that Commander Riker appears unaffected by this game when he returns to the Enterprise, really leads one to believe that perhaps something else is going to happen in this story. And it isn’t until he tries to get Geordi to play the game that you worry about him and the fate of the ship. Also, the acting is top notch in this tale as well… and that is important because the only way to sell the tension is by having the actors bring their A game and it really is quite impressive to watch the cast transform from the fun-loving crew we know through and through into mindless and determined zombies that want nothing more than to please their evil alien overlord. And that really just speaks to how well this cast worked together back in the day and how talented each and every one of them are. But make no mistake about it, while there are some bright spots to be found in this episode, it is still at its heart… a run of the mill body invasion story.

One that doesn’t break any new ground in the trope, outside of using a game to control minds instead of some kind of parasite, alongside a touch of misdirection. Which makes this one an enjoyable if not somewhat forgettable tale, thanks to the fact that season five is rife with top notch, fan favorite episodes. But having Wesley Crusher back aboard the Enterprise and having his surrogate and real family become something evil and sinister, does suck you in and does leave you eager to see how they’re going to out of this mess and well… it’s not a bad thing at all that this kind of fluffy episode hit at this point in the season. So that our minds are clear and ready to handle the incredible awesomeness that is about to be sent our way, since the next set of episodes… features the arrival/return of a franchise legend. Until next time. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 408 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’.
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It is definitely safe to say that anyone that has been truly wronged in this world, yearns for justice. Which is why they are willing to put their mental health and standing on the line by testifying in court, if possible, in the hopes that a jury will understand their plight and find the person that hurt them as guilty as can be, so that justice is indeed finally served. But while that tends to satisfy the majority of those wronged, sometimes when a particular crime is supremely vile and unsettling, court just isn’t enough to properly serve up justice in the minds of the wronged. Which means to those that hold to that mindset, finding a way to inflict pain beyond a trial is only way to enjoy a true sense of justice and it just so happens that this particularly sour concept served as the focus of the next episode of The Handmaid’s Tale.

For ‘Testimony’ saw June Osborne finally take the stand in front of the International Criminal Court, to tell a panel of judges what kinds of horrors she experienced in the Republic of Gilead and that of course… led to some beautiful slaps in the face for Fred and Serena Waterford. Because June stood tall during her testimony and was calm and cool and collected as she recounted the horrific acts they inflicted upon her, ensuring that they had no power over her and that they looked like the disgusting fools that they are. And it was equally as wonderful to see her approach and confront Fred over his lies and remind him that he had no power in this place and that the ICC would be deciding his fate instead of a council of Commanders. But while that was lovely and satisfying to watch and should have signaled a turning point for June and her road to recovery, since facing such monsters should have brought about healing, this act provided June with no sense of justice and understandably so.

After all, this was merely a hearing to determine if Fred Waterford should stand trial for crimes against humanity and as June herself said, so many more of her peers were still in Gilead, suffering. Which left a burning ember smoldering inside of her and that motivated her to look toward other avenues to bring forth justice. And one such way was to antagonize a specific refugee from Gilead. For a strange woman kept trying to talk to Emily during their group therapy sessions, and that woman turned out to be… a former Aunt. The same one who actually ratted out Emily for the love affair that cost her so much both physically and emotionally, and she was trying desperately to contact Emily in the hopes of having absolution for her crimes and well… this was indeed an opportunity to get that darker sense of justice, by way of humiliation and reflection.

Which is why June marched that former Aunt right into the group and made her inform Emily of her sins in front of everyone. So that she could have watchful eyes upon her and feel the fury and hate from everyone in that group and to see if Emily would succumb to her personal instincts on justice as well and in her own special way, Emily did. For she offered no absolution and that was more than the former Aunt could bear and she took her own life and the sight of that… actually brought Emily joy, and a sense of justice at last. Which is a dark, yet understandable path for this story to take, one that is up to the viewer to decide as to whether or not taking pleasure in the death of others is right or wrong. But for these broken women, little else will satisfy at this point and regardless of whether the audience likes this or not… these ladies had their taste of justice at last and perhaps it was helpful, since it did finally motivate June to open up to Luke about Hannah’s fate. 

Yet while all of this would have carried this episode with minimal fuss, there was an important secondary story to be found in this tale, one that took place in Gilead. For this was another opportunity to see how Lydia and Lawrence were getting along in their revamped roles and well, things weren’t’ going well for Lydia. For she was viewed in a different light by her peers, and that infuriated her and motivated her to take that fury out on Handmaid and peer alike and well… that in turn motivated Lawrence to give her quite the opportunity at closure. For an escaped Handmaid had been captured in the fallout of the Chicago bombing and her fate would be up to Aunt Lydia in effort to heal her angry soul, and as it turns out… that Handmaid was Janine. Who knew she was in a bad place and actually asked for death over reinstatement, an admission that shocked Lydia and softened her stance and while this did little to advance the plot or answer where Lydia’s loyalties lie these days, what matters more is that Janine is alive after all, but sadly is facing an unknown fate.

In the end however, this really was a surprisingly harrowing and bittersweet tale. In large part because of the fact that it put the pain and rage and fury that June and her friends have buried deep down into their souls… on full display and really… that’s not a bad thing. Because they need to feel their feels and address their pain if they ever hope to move forward and dark journey toward that or not… they did indeed do just that here and that is satisfying in its own twisted way, as was discovering that Janine is okay and so was June’s testimony. Because watching Fred and Serena squirm, was just the stuff of dreams. For they truly deserve everything negative that is coming their way but sadly, their journey was the bittersweet part of this episode. Simply because that closing shot of them being cheered on by supporters in Canada, serves to remind us that the fight to topple Gilead is going to be long and brutal… for idiots like Fred and Serena and their deep-rooted and twisted beliefs are hard to quash and it will take a monumental effort to do so and that means June and the world have their work cut out for them. Until next time.  

Normally when trouble strikes aboard a starship in the Star Trek Universe, there are safety nets to keep the crew safe. For the intelligent engineers of the Federation, installed all kinds of redundancy systems in the event of a crisis… that way the intrepid crews of these ships could easily take control of a bad situation and keep everyone on board safe and secure. Which has allowed for all kinds of horrible and stressful situations to come to a satisfying conclusion, the kind that have left us in awe of what science and engineering could potentially accomplish in the far future and hey, it also makes for some fine drama. But it does leave one to wonder, as to what would happen if by chance, those redundancy systems managed to fail.

Because if that was the case, any semblance of safety would completely disappear, and it could lead to some scary moments for certain and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation decided to explore what that worst-case scenario might look like. For ‘Disaster’ sees the U.S.S. Enterprise strike what is known as a quantum filament and well… that brings about all kinds of trouble. Because not only does it knock main power offline, but it also wreaks havoc upon every system aboard the ship. To the point where communications are offline and turbolifts aren’t working and to top it all off, there’s severe structural damage to the ship and no one has a clue who is alive or dead or the status of the warp core and well, that immediately made for a fascinating and engrossing tale.

Because this was indeed the worst-case scenario for the crew of the 1701-d, since they only had their instincts to rely upon. But rather than drag the audience through a supremely dark tale where the crew struggled, the story instead opted to have them shine as this crisis played out. Because each and every one of them went above and beyond in their situation, and that led to some fascinating vignettes. One of which focused on survival and safety, since Captain Picard was forced to work with three young children to escape an ailing turbolift with a broken ankle holding him back, and it was quite lovely to see him inspire those children to be brave since he’s not exactly a whiz with the kids. Plus, we were also privy to seeing Worf playing nurse in Ten Forward, which brought about some fine levity when Keiko had her baby and Crusher and LaForge brought forth a lovely story of ingenuity and bravery when they were forced to put out a fire using the void of space.

But while all of that did a fine job of reminding us how brave this crew is and how smart they are, their stories paled in comparison to the challenge that Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi faced in this tale. Because she was the only ranking officer on the bridge when this mess came to fruition and that put her in an incredibly difficult position. For eventually, Chief O’Brien and Ensign Ro, who joined her on the bridge… came to discover the warp core was indeed in peril, meaning that the Counselor turned Captain either had to go with the call to abandon the star drive section and leave lives behind to save others… or enact a difficult gambit to try and offer help to those left in Engineering. And while she chose the latter, and of course saved the ship in doing so… the impact of this sequence is not lost upon the audience. For it serves to remind us that sitting in the big chair is a difficult task for certain, one that means life and death when disaster strikes, and it was quite amazing to finally see Deanna be placed in a role of leadership on this series and make those tough calls in a dynamic and thoughtful manner.

In the end however, this was simply nothing more than an intense ride through and through. One that really did put the crew in grave danger since just about every safeguard imaginable was whisked away by the filament, and this is a story that deserves some serious credit for its originality and push for character growth. Because we’ve never seen a ship in such dire straits in the history of the franchise before and it was quite fascinating to see the crew rise to the occasion in the midst of a crisis this big and truly, some of the characters made leaps and bounds in their arcs. For Deanna Troi transformed from simple ship’s counselor to a seasoned and bold leader and of course, Captain Picard finally figured out how to deal with kids and this really is a great episode for certain. Because it caught all of us by surprise with its depth and quality tension and it really does serve as a fine reminder that space travel is no walk in the park and someday, it will indeed require the finest of officers to take part in it, so that every crew that heads out into the void… returns home. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Blinded: Those Who Kill’.
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We live in a world where we outright celebrate and encourage pressure. Because our fast-paced society believes that pressure brings out the best in us and there is some merit to that line of thinking. After all, we have seen people on countless occasions, use pressure as fuel to drive them forward and accomplish wonders along the way. But while there is indeed something to be said about harnessing the power of pressure in an hour of need, what we don’t talk about enough… are the many problems that heavy pressure can create. For it can motivate people to make rash and desperate decisions to accomplish their goals and that in turn, can lead to disaster when said decision is poorly executed and poorly thought out.

If anything, this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because that uglier side to pressure played out in the next episode of Blinded: Those Who Kill on AcornTV. For the next episode in this harrowing tale saw everyone under incredible pressure following the discovery of William’s body and rightfully so. Because the public was scared and pressure was now mounting on Louise and her team to do something to move the case along and well, that allowed for a bold idea to come up during their discussions. In that, perhaps the time had come to reach out to the public to see if tips would indeed help with closing this case and bringing the killer to justice and sadly… the team was so focused on how to do this properly, that Louise didn’t notice the trouble brewing at home.

Because being immersed in this kind of chaos again and being in a poor mental state because of her tumor… put Alice under a great deal of undue pressure. The kind that made her realize that her son’s killer would likely be brought to justice after her passing and that he’d likely kill a great deal more people before the cuffs went on his wrists and that motivated her to pull off a desperate gambit. One that involved her stealing photographs from Louise’s case files so that she could go onto Facebook and use them as props while making her own plea to the public for help in bringing the killer to justice. Which featured an offer for a massive reward and insults for Peter and well, that is what brought about the story’s exploration of the dark side of pressure. Because just like that… the police were inundated with calls and ‘tips’ and of course… Louise had to move out to keep any further leaks from happening.

But worst of all… Peter eventually saw that video and it managed to elicit some serious fury in his soul. Because he could not stand the thought of being insulted by the mother of someone he played God with. And well, that kind of indignity called for retribution at the highest level and that brought Peter to Alice’s doorstep. Wherein he revealed that he tapes the murder of his victims to relive the pleasure of that moment, by setting up playback of Markus’ final moments for her to ‘enjoy’ and of course… when the moment was right, he stormed into the house and dealt with Alice the only way he knew how… with swift and blinding violence. But this time around, rather than leave any clues behind as to his presence there, he made it look like a suicide, and Alice's poor state of mind prior to her passing, will make that quite believable for certain.

If anything, this is quite the chilling development on Peter’s part. Since it indicates he is giving into his bloodlust more often and feels empowered by his anonymity and really, all we can hope for at this point is that his bravado will be his downfall. But while wait to see if that’s the case, we can bask in one chilling and uncomfortable tale. One that really did a fine job of reminding us of how pressure can in fact, bring about disaster, especially when it rains down upon someone with nothing to lose and this episode also deserves serious credit for setting the stage for far darker storytelling. For Louise is in undoubtedly in a tough place now that she’s lost Alice and her love and Peter is likely near his boiling point again and will need to satisfy his awful cravings soon and that means that this exhausted team of investigators are about to be put to the test and it will be quite interesting to see how they respond to the elevated pressure that will soon be surrounding them. Until next time.

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