For the most part, television shows work hard to keep things consistent from season to season and understandably so. Because too many changes will likely turn off the core audience, to the point where they stop tuning in. Which is why it is always a big deal when cast changes occur, because they change the dynamic of the series. But sometimes big changes to a show are downright necessary when it is still trying to find its voice and direction and it just so happens that a great deal of changes took place between seasons one and two of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Some of which were downright brilliant and paid off in spades. Such as the addition of Ten Forward and the enigmatic Guinan.

For the introduction of her and her domain in ‘The Child’ quickly reminds us that this massive and beautiful lounge will serve as a place for the characters to let their guard down and be themselves. Wherein the audience will be able to properly get to know them for who they are and see them as the human beings (and Klingons and Androids) that they are instead of the icons that time made them to be. And having Whoopi Goldberg play the titular bartender in this Synthehol joint only adds to the wonder of this decision since she is able to give the character the right level of kindness and understanding. To the point where she can bring out the best in anyone who needs her ear and it’s wonderful to see this place come to life at last in the series and be armed in the knowledge that some important moments will take place here down the line.

But alas, while that particular change turned out to be a wonderful decision for the series, the other big shake up in this story serves as the outright foil to that. Because this episode also reveals to the audience that Commander Beverly Crusher, M.D., has left the U.S.S. Enterprise to take a position at Starfleet Medical on Earth and well, her replacement, just doesn’t cut it on this series. Which is a shame because Diana Muldaur is a wonderful actor and she did a phenomenal job on The Original Series when she guested on that series from time to time. But it’s obvious here early on, that she doesn’t have the same synergy with the cast that Gates McFadden has and that leads to awkward interactions that were clearly written for someone else in mind and that’s a shame because it made her character a single season throwaway before Doctor Crusher returned to the 1701-D in season three. 

However, while those structural changes were designed to shake things up and inject a little life into the ship and the crew, there is still a story to be told in this tale. Because this premiere features a juicy plot involving an alien that wants to understand humanity. And the best way to make that happen is by impregnating Counselor Troi and the show deserves serious credit for introducing all of those elements while still providing focus on this particular plot thread. One complete with some powerful social commentary that still resonates to this day. Because the scene where the men debate the fate of Counselor Troi’s baby feels ripped from everyday headlines and it is quite wonderful that the story ultimately leaves the decision up to Deanna. Since it speaks to how such decisions are indeed up to the mother, keeping in line with the show's proclivity to be forward thinking and this storytelling decision also foreshadows Deanna's future in Star Trek: Picard as well. 

Yet while we’ve talked a great deal about all the changes present here, we’ve not yet addressed one important question. Specifically; is this premiere any good? And the answer to that question is a baseline, yes. Because outside of Beverly's decision to leave the ship, it really doesn’t do anything outlandish or jaw dropping. It just tells a simple story, one that keeps your attention while easing us back into the 24th Century and there’s nothing wrong that. Because even so-so episodes of TNG still offer more than the average show and deep down we all know that good things are on the horizon, since this season dives deep into the human condition and life in the 24 Century, whilst peppering in discussions of basics human rights. Plus, this is the season that also features the introduction of The Borg. Which means, the time has come to close hailing frequencies for the moment, so this reviewer can dive right into all the wonders that await us, at maximum warp. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 710 of ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
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More often than not, whenever a television series explores a particular concept involving the human condition in great detail, a show rarely revisits it. Simply because, it’s a good old-fashioned case of been there, done that and it is best that said series move onto other aspects of everyday life in order to keep things interesting for the audience. But when a television series is coming to its end, all bets are off, and if by chance the writers’ room feels the need to revisit concepts they’ve explored, one more time, they absolutely will take that opportunity because what do they have to lose? After all, it’s not like the show can be cancelled again, so why not go for it and dig deeper? And it just so happens that this particular line of thinking came into play when the writers’ room of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. started to craft last night’s episode.

For ‘Stolen’ is an episode that wasted no time in diving back into the notion of facing one’s past and why this made a return to the series makes sense for certain. Because there are a great many characters on this show that have some serious skeletons in their respective closets. So, having them face down their pain is a healthy thing, since it can bring them the peace they so desperately seek before the saga comes to a close. And well, our first clue that this was coming, came about when the decision was made to bring Jiaying to the Lighthouse, in the hopes of keeping her safe. Because there was no way that Daisy wouldn’t take the opportunity to confront someone that had such a profound impact upon her life and despite her best efforts early on in this tale, to not mess with the timeline, with a little prodding and help from Sousa, she finally decided it was high time to confront her mother.

A move that had mixed results for certain. For while Daisy was able to keep her identity a secret (initially), all while saying what she needed to say about the pain that her mother caused her in life, the revelation that she had a sister she knew nothing about, complicated her attempts to properly close the door on yesterday. But while she didn’t get flawless closure in that moment, it was quite powerful and beautiful to see Daisy be brave in this manner and make an attempt to heal, something that did pay off in the end in heartbreaking fashion. Something that came about by way of the other blast from the past in this particular tale; a mister John Garrett. Yes, that’s right, the cocky and powerhouse agent that we met so long ago, and saw come to an end at the hands of Phil Coulson when S.H.I.E.L.D. collapsed, found his way into the story as well. 

Because Malick thought it was best to make use of Garrett’s confidence and ego to execute the next part of Sibyl’s plan to rule the Earth. Which meant that Garrett needed to be gifted with Inhuman powers, a move that cost Gordo his life and led to some delightfully twisted interactions with Phil Coulson as well, the kind that does leave you hoping that these two foes will square off once again before the show comes to a close. But all that aside, since Garrett was gifted Gordo’s powers, at long last Malick was able to infiltrate the Lighthouse, wherein he took the time to reveal the truth about Daisy to Jiaying before brutally killing her. Which will definitely have a great impact on Daisy going forward, in so many ways. Because while she did get some measure of closure, she’s full of fury and out for revenge and that will not bode well for Malick. But in the here and the now, that surprise end for Jiaying did reveal the fact that Gordo was Malick’s Inhuman target all along, all so that Nathaniel could get his hands, on Jemma Simmons. 

Because every single projection that Sibyl laid out in regard to the success of their plans, saw failure at the hands of Leo Fitz. Which means that Jemma is the key to stopping the Chronicoms, and it should be interesting to see how she is going to hold onto the secret of Fitz’s location with only her grandson as her ally and well, when all is said and done, this really was another spectacular episode. In large part because it was refreshing to see Daisy finally get some kind of closure in regard to her painful past. But also, because, it moved at a breakneck speed and offered up some genuinely delightful and fun moments, especially the ones involving John Garrett. Something that was further enhanced by the wonderful decision to cast the late Bill Paxton's son, James Paxton, to play the part. A move that provided some genuine respect to what Bill did for the role, and James did a phenomenal job of carrying on his father's legacy. But now that this one is in the books, the time has come to turn our attention to a seriously important episode. For not only will next week's tale feature a grand fight to keep Fitz safe from the Chronicoms, but it is also the penultimate episode for the series. Meaning that it will also set the stage for the series finale of a story that has meant so much, to so many of us. Until next time.  

Caution: This Article contains spoilers for Episode 105 of ‘For All Mankind’.
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If there is one thing that everyone can agree upon in life, it would have to be that second chances are a rare thing indeed. Because moments truly are fleeting and once they are gone, they are gone, leaving us with a tinge of regret if we didn’t take full advantage of an important one. Which makes the moment when the second chance arrives supremely critical for us. Because this is it, this is our chance to right a wrong or to grab hold of something that will make us incredibly happy and it just so happens that the wonder of the second chance, served as the one of the focal points of the next episode of For All Mankind.

For if you recall, Commander Ed Baldwin missed out on an opportunity to become the first person to ever set foot upon the moon, by not going for it whilst he was the skipper of Apollo 10. An act that he regretted to no end, to the point where he nearly walked away from his career as an astronaut over the anguish it caused him. But his second chance to do something outright historic arrived in ‘Into the Abyss’, by way of the data heading back to Earth from Apollo 15’s reconnaissance, since it revealed something quite important. In that, it appeared as though ice was present at the poles of the moon, and if by chance someone could get a sample of that, NASA could very easily get a foothold on Luna by way of a permanent base, and that prompted Ed to face one important decision. 

In that, the crew could either let Apollo 16 handle the search for ice or they could go for it now and potentially come back as heroes and well, thankfully, everyone agreed that going for it was the best way to handle this. Which meant this mission now had extra significance. For not only was the first American woman going to set foot upon the moon, but the discovery of ice would finally put America ahead in the space race at long last. But unfortunately for NASA, the search for ice didn’t quite go as smooth as planned. Because Molly and Ed simply weren’t finding ice at the edge of the crater, which meant they had to dive into the darkness and search for it there since the sun had never kissed the interior of these craters. An act that fell to Molly since she was lighter, and it was also a task that Ed needed to supervise closely. 

After all, one wrong move or too long of a delay on this segment of the mission, and there was a strong chance they would die up there, since they only had so much oxygen. But Ed and Molly showed nothing but guts and resolve in this leg of the mission and for their efforts, they came away with the motherlode. For ice was indeed hiding inside the crater and bringing it back home led to the eventual establishment of Jamestown Base on the lunar surface. But what matters more in this particular tale, is the sheer fact that NASA got its guts back, and that Ed finally got redemption by putting America ahead in the space race and it was also amazing to watch Molly make history as well. Which means this was quite the satisfying tale for certain, one that also offered some serious depth.

Something that came about by way of Wayne Cobb, since he decided to do what was forbidden and talk about his fears and his worries that his wife wouldn’t come back from the depths of outer space. And what makes this so deep and so powerful, is that offers up a genuine sense of humanity in this story, and it dives into something that we don’t hear about enough in regard to space travel and it made for some incredibly powerful moments for certain. In the end however, this was simply a delightful episode through and through, because you really cannot go wrong with an underdog story that is somewhat relatable since we would likely all share in Wayne and Karen’s fears about our loved ones going into space and well, now that America has dealt quite the blow to the Soviet Union, it should be quite interesting to see where this story takes us next, now that a base has been established on the surface of the moon. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 104 of ‘For All Mankind’.
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We are taught at a very young age, to work hard in order to achieve all of our goals, and to be humble when doing so. A lesson that exists, solely to ensure that we stay the course and never let ego get in the way of anything we do. Which is sound advice for certain, since no one enjoys dealing with someone who is full of themselves, regardless of their skill set. But while it is important to be a levelheaded worker and take pride in what you do in a different manner, one should never compromise the gravity of the moment in doing so. Because sometimes, what we do is supremely special and we need to acknowledge that and embrace it, or we run the risk of missing out on the wonder of something important, a lesson that just so happens to serve as the focal point of the next episode of For All Mankind.

Which is a notion that takes the audience off guard, simply because ‘Prime Crew’ appears as though it is going to explore other elements early on in this tale. For this is a story that picks up immediately after ‘Nixon’s Women’, wherein we learn that Patty didn’t survive the crash at the end of that story and her subsequent death has America wondering if women have a place in the stars after all. To the point where legendary astronaut John Glenn takes the time to visit Deke to ask him to dismantle this part of the program, and there’s even excessive pressure from President Nixon to shut this down, in order to save face and keep the ladies safe and well, Deke doesn’t think this is the right course of action at all. Because the other women in this program have dedicated so much to this, and NASA doesn’t back down from missteps, prompting him to do something quite bold and promote all of those left in the class, to active status.

A move that is of course met with ire from the higher ups, but Deke stands by his call and starts to make more bold decisions along the way. Such as pulling Gordo off of Apollo 15, so that Molly Cobb can take his place and while Ed is fine with the call and works to integrate Molly into the synergy of the crew, this change in the lineup doesn’t go as smooth as one might have hoped. Because Molly still has (and understandably so) a chip on her shoulder, and she makes a point to treat like this any other flying gig, one that she will learn along the way and land at some point. And therein begins the exploration of appreciating those special moments. Because Molly is clueless to the gravity of her situation, and that she is about to become the first American woman to venture into space, and land on the moon for that matter as well, and once Margo points this out to a slacking Molly Cobb, everything changes for her. 

For she comes to realize that what she is about to embark upon, is bigger than anything she’s ever known, and what it will mean to America and women everywhere is also beyond comprehension and most important of all, she comes to realize that… she did it. She made it. And there is no more need for the chip on her shoulder, she just needs to put in the work and be the top notch pilot that NASA expects her to be and well, she does just that and prepares herself for the mission like never before and that led to some supremely uplifting moments. The kind where she became the focus of the press and the mission when Ed realized it was best to put her center stage and it was equally as powerful to see women everywhere hold her in the highest regard, to the point where she was able to inspire others and find joy herself, when it finally sunk in, that she was on her way… to the moon.  

If anything, this was just an absolutely wonderful episode. One that really did a fine job of reminding the audience to pick and choose our battles when it comes to humility and keeping our head down, so we don’t overlook the moment, especially when we are faced with a supremely important one. But all uplifting lessons aside, another big reason that this episode works so well and is so satisfying, is Deke. Because it really was wonderful to see him back his new group of astronauts, regardless of the trouble it might get him in and that just speaks volumes to the notion of equality, since he clearly realizes that these intrepid astronauts can do anything asked of them and well, now that this particular tale has come to a close, it is time to start the next episode post haste. Because this is it. Molly Cobb is about to walk on the moon and that is going to be quite the sight to behold. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘Central Park’.
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As season one of Central Park has chugged along, it’s managed to leave its audience guessing as to how exactly its titular first season would come to a close. Because all of the fascinating plot threads that this series has introduced in year one, ran the risk of potentially disappointing the audience. For using those to bring about a big-time showdown between Bitsy and Owen, would have been predictable and comfortable, something that would be counterintuitive to what this show wants to accomplish. Because from day one, this series has established that it wants to provide audiences everywhere with a supremely unique animated series, one that offers the best concepts that television has to offer all while staying original and fresh and thankfully, it turns out that the powers that be decided to forgo anything predictable and give us a finale that stayed true to the show’s unique design.
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Something that was set up in ‘A Fish Called Snakehead’, by way of an unexpected and unwelcome visitor to the park’s ecosystem. For a couple of park visitors spotted the very fish that shares the namesake of this episode, and unfortunately, having one of these little monsters in the park would result in nothing but disaster if it wasn’t caught quickly. Because if left unchecked, it would basically eat every aquatic animal in the park by taking a stroll from pond to pond and that prompted Owen to make its capture his top priority and that’s when things got interesting. Because Paige needed to turn something into her boss since her big Bitsy story was going nowhere at the moment, so she offered up a taste of current events in the park and that got everyone’s attention quickly, including Bitsy’s, unfortunately. 

Because this little crisis served as the perfect moment for her to rebrand herself. Something that she was in desperate need of since the public viewed her as annoying and untrustworthy, and until she gained the public’s trust, there would be no deal to buy out the park and that motivated her to pull out all the stops in making her appear to be a champion of Central Park and its future. Which meant she busted out the checkbook to bring in an acclaimed, big fish game hunter named Dick Flake. Whose sole responsibility was to find that fish in a matter of hours so that he and Bitsy could show up on camera together and speak to how it took outside citizens to properly care for the city’s beloved park. Something that Dick was able to do, making it seem as though Owen had failed in his mission as manager, leaving the fate of his job and the park up in the air. That is… until Paige’s keen eye noticed something odd about the Snakefish that Dick caught. 

Specifically, that it appeared to have been dead for several hours and well… she was right about that, since Dick snuck off and just bought a Snakehead when he had a quick moment to himself. Which meant that the real one was still lurking in the waters and if Owen was able to snag it, he’d be quite the hero and there’d be hell to pay for Bitsy since she set up nothing but lies. And wouldn’t you know it? Owen was able to make that happen and just like that, Bitsy finally had her comeuppance. For Paige’s follow up article made the entire the entire city of New York aware of her little charade and they turned on her quickly, leaving the park in good hands for now and this was just… a delightful way to end season one when all is said and done. Because it wasn’t predictable in the slightest and the show deserves some serious credit for keeping us guessing as to how it was all going to go down.    
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For it really did seem as though the corruption article and the scandal that would follow its release would cripple Bitsy’s plans to buy the park. Or that the logic of a younger family member would help to expose Bitsy to the world. But instead, a different kind of path involving Paige’s reporting skills brought the Brandenham empire to its knees and more importantly, what truly makes this ending so special and so unique, is its simplicity. Because rather than rely on gimmicks or over the top moments, or the obvious in bringing this season and the battle for the park to a close, it went the simple and earnest route, since all it took in the end to embarrass and expose Bitsy, was kindness and dedication and honesty. Which is just refreshing to see on television in this day and age and it really does offer up some incredible growth for the Tillerman family as well.

For their actions here, make them the true guardians of this beautiful park and clearly, they can handle any challenge that comes their way, and that kind of growth could not have come at a better time. Because clearly Bitsy will be making more attempts to make Central Park her own once she recovers from this embarrassment and that revelation, along with the dynamic storytelling that this particular finale sent out way, means that we can expect a wild and wonderful second season of this incredible show and truly, the wait for year two of Central Park is going to a difficult one for certain. Because this really is an animated series unlike any other and its magnificent musical numbers and on point humor and detailed storytelling, provides its fans with a much-needed break from the chaos of the world. Until next year.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for ‘Wild India’.
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When we think of nature in the raw, we instantly picture a magical paradise. One where animals roam free and do their thing while mankind goes about its life far, far away. Which oddly enough is an accurate depiction of how the world was structured for quite some time. Because back in the day, nature had plenty of room to stretch out and thrive. But sadly, that image has changed as time has marched on. Because in present day, mankind the one that needs more room to stretch out on this tiny little blue ball and now, we are seeing nature and mankind live together in big cities that continue to sneak into nature’s domain. But believe it or not, the particular paradise that we just outlined, still exists in this world and last night, BBC America took the time to examine one, by way of the beautiful documentary; Wild India.
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Now in this particular journey, we venture to Karantaka in India, to explore a beautiful oasis for nature. One so unique and so beautiful and so perfectly isolated from man, that the animals that live here, are able to thrive and survive in utter peace. But what makes this area of the world so unique, is the sheer fact that it boasts just about every biosphere known to science and a bevy of species that we are familiar with live side by side in relative harmony. Which made for some incredible sights. Since you don’t expect to see elephants walking about the jungle alongside tigers, but that happens here and it’s wonderful to see. But while it was quite delightful to see so many various species of animals functioning together in a balanced eco-system, what would a documentary be without learning moments?

Which is something this documentary offered up in spades, since we came to learn a lot about the mysterious and majestic King Cobra in this tale. Such as the fact that this particular serpent has no problem with eating other snakes, and it will even feast upon its own kind simply because it can. In fact, they’re so into cannibalism, that they will outright eat their own young if given the chance, making it quite the miracle that this species survives since they’re that competitive and starving. Yet while it was downright incredible to learn that fact, it was equally as amazing to see the mating habits of lizards that can soar from tree or tree, or the peacocks that roam this land and truly, watching those little crabs near the shores work in numbers to feed and keep one another safe was breathtaking for certain since clearly, this part of the world functions like a well-oiled machine. 

An observation that brings us back to the notion of a balanced eco-system we mentioned a moment ago. Because what really allowed for this documentary to shine and demonstrate how this part of the world is a perfect paradise, was its quiet demonstration of how every animal in this place, knows its environment to a tee. Because every species that lives here, knows exactly how the seasons play out, and that allows for them to venture to the right spots for food and water at exactly the right time. Take the elephants for example, who know what path to take in the dry months, in order to find a limitless water supply. Or the smooth coated otter, which knows what ponds to set up in camp in so that their family can feed, and they are so in tune with the limited window that nature presents them with to get what they need, that they will do things they don’t normally do. Since the aforementioned otter will straight up give a tiger the business when it enters their waters to cool off, in order to protect their food supply.

In the end however, this was simply a lovely documentary. Because it did a phenomenal job of taking us upon a diverse journey, one that allowed for us to see every corner of this genuinely beautiful place, all while teaching us some incredible lessons along the way. But what matters most, is that this particular documentary, does a wonderful job of inspiring awe and wonder within its audience. For we really do see some incredible and breathtaking sights, the kind that simply grab hold of you and never let go, and it is just wonderful to escape in this manner and travel to a place of the world that is genuinely natural and free and being able to bear witness to that and immerse one’s self into it, simply brings peace to one’s mind. Which means that credit needs to go to BBC America for once again offering all of us a documentary that accomplishes such a feat and at this point it is safe to say, that we’ll all be waiting with baited breath to see what other incredible stories about our world, BBC America is going to send our way as the summer rolls along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 103 of ‘For All Mankind’.
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One unfortunate fact about space travel, is that the many hard-working women that helped America win the space race back in the day, never received all that much recognition for their incredible efforts. Simply because the era in which the space race took place was a male centric one, one that was guarded so closely by men that we didn’t see the first female American astronaut until the 1980s when Sally Ride stepped aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger and we didn’t learn about Katherine Johnson’s contributions to the Apollo program until recently. An oversight that is a shame because those are facts that should be celebrated often in history classes around the world. Which means that we have to be better and make sure that women have a place in space travel’s history, going forward.

But while we know what we must do for the future, that doesn’t stop some from looking back and pondering upon what might have been if say… women were allowed to be astronauts far earlier in American history, and it just so happens that the next episode of For All Mankind dives deep into this notion in its next episode. For the Soviets’ decision to send a female cosmonaut to the moon in the last episode of this series, motivates the Nixon Administration to explore a response in kind. Which makes ‘Nixon’s Women’ a powerful story to say the least. Because it goes into great detail as to why women weren’t flying sooner. Which is easy to figure out since it was all related to the male ego and a firm belief that women cannot do what men do, and the resistance that comes with that is on full display in this tale when President Nixon starts exploring the possibility of putting an American woman in space. But eventually, Gene and Deke drop their reservations and kick off a new program at NASA, once the President makes it crystal clear, what he wants.

But only one woman will join the ranks of NASA’s astronauts and this led to quite the fascinating sequence of events. One that saw Tracy Stevens, join the program because of her past as a pilot and she quickly became the focus of this tale and for good reason. Because she had the natural skills to fly a plane, but struggled in other areas of the program, leading to an in depth character study for Tracy. Wherein she had to decide if this was something that she really wanted, since the optics and the importance of getting an American woman into space came with a great deal of pressure. The kind that definitely put her to the test and helped her grow in the all right ways. For by the end of this story, she wants nothing more than to venture into space and will give it her all to make that happen. But the wonder of this tale doesn’t end with Tracy’s journey, since this story had more to explore in regard to the wonderful things that could have accompanied putting women in space sooner.

Because these brave and intrepid women also start to inspire countless young women with their actions, a twist that adds a nobility and a wonder to space travel that we haven’t seen in years. Plus, it was wonderful to see this episode point out, that women can indeed do anything that men can. Since these intrepid trainees were able to complete the grueling desert training that is required of all prospective astronauts and that brought about some much-needed respect for these trainees and it also led to some more growth for Tracy. For an opportunity to help a badly injured teammate demonstrated her bravery and her ability to lead since she went the extra mile to get Ellen back to base camp. If anything, all of these elements made this episode quite inspirational and powerful for certain. But while it was nice to celebrate something that should have happened a long time ago in our world, this journey had its own set of risks.

Because space travel is a dangerous game, and the grueling training it requires has brought forth some close calls for some of our world’s most famous space travelers and sadly, we saw some of that play out here as well. For the closing moments of this story saw a training exercise end in flames, with a seasoned pilot involved in the accident, no less. Something that just serves to remind both the characters and the audience that this intensified space race is going to bring about a little more heartache than folks might like. Simply because NASA is acting on instinct at this point and that never goes well for a program that relies on calculations at every turn and hopefully Patty is okay and escaped the cockpit in time. But in the here and the now, this was a bold story for certain, one that truly showed off the potential of what this series can do storytelling wise, and it should be interesting to see who will be selected from the program and will relish in the honor of becoming the first woman from the United States of America, to walk on the surface of the Moon. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 709 of ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
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For the most part, comic book movies and shows tend to steer clear of real-world story concepts and understandably so. After all, we’re here for the action and adventure, and we want to enjoy thrills and chills and laughs along the way, as our favorite heroes accomplish incredible feats. But once in a while, some of these stories do indeed deal with issues that everyday folks face in their lives and oddly enough, real-life concepts are something that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is starting to explore in great detail in its final season. Because last week’s episode took the time to address PTSD and the lasting power of trauma by way of Yo-Yo’s desperate quest to reclaim her powers, and rather than treat that as a one-off, the writers’ room decided it was high time to dive into other real-world fears and concerns.
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Because this week’s episode had some things to say in regard to death, and how we view it and fear it and that made ‘As I Have Always Been’ quite the powerful and poignant tale. One that managed to catch the audience by surprise with its more relatable themes, since early on, this felt like a pretty by the numbers science fiction tale. Because initially, the story was focused upon the problem at hand for the team. Specifically, that they were trapped in a time loop and only Daisy and Coulson were aware of it. A harsh reality that motivated the both of them to work hard to try and break the loop at every turn with minimal success. Mainly because their efforts were complicated by the fact that Enoch was programmed to hurt anyone that went near Jemma’s implant. Something that Coulson and Daisy believed to be the key to breaking the loop.

Which they were right about, and eventually they were able to get the implant out, without Enoch’s interference and come to a heartbreaking solution to their ugly little problem. But what started our voyage into more realistic territory, is the sheer fact that we had to watch the team suffer and die often, and the sheer horror of that, is something that was not lost upon Phil Coulson. Because he’d seen it happen too many times during the loops and it was eating at him every single step of the way, and his monologue on the pain it brought him was incredibly relatable. For Phil basically spoke to our shared fear of death and how much the thought of losing those we love hurts, and while that kind of commentary is simple in nature, it’s bold and daring for a comic book themed show because these kinds of matters are never spoken to in this universe and it served as the setup for the most powerful moment of the night.

Because in order to save Zephyr-1 and everyone aboard, Enoch had to provide the team with the Chronicom equivalent of his heart, which meant the end for this beloved character and well, his farewell scene led to some absolutely powerful and poignant moments. Wherein he and Daisy and Coulson discussed the finer points of one’s final moments, and the fear that one faces in regard to what awaits us beyond the silence of our end, and the pain our passing causes to those we leave behind. And while watching Enoch slip away was heartbreaking for certain, what he had to say about cherishing every moment with those that matter the most to us was beautiful for certain and eased some of the pain of his goodbye. But make no mistake about it, this was a heart wrenching moment, one that once again explored some powerful notions and one that signaled that the series is indeed moving into darker territory for its remaining episodes.

For Enoch did mention that there is going to be more loss along the way and perhaps that was the point of diving into these notions now. So that we can prepare ourselves for the tough moments to come. Because we’ve spent seven years with these heroes, and they’ve found a special place in our hearts and saying farewell to fictional characters is difficult for fans. Which means it is best we cherish these moments now before the story takes us to some rough places and really in the end, this was quite the incredible episode for certain. Because it truly was moving in every sense of the word and credit for that needs to go to first time director Elizabeth Henstridge. Since she brought the best out of her castmates while delivering a powerful performance herself and well, in the end, this is it my fellow nerds and geeks. We’re in the endgame now for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and it only gets tougher from here since there is likely going to be more sacrifice and pain for this team as they give their all to save the world, one last time.  

One thing that is truly fascinating about television shows in general, is how sometimes particular stories that were viewed as average and boring episodes when they originally aired, ended up being supremely important to the future of the franchise. Which is something that only hindsight can reveal, since we don’t think of it until we revisit the episode in question, years later. But doing so is just a sheer delight through and through as you see the pieces of the puzzle come together and it just so happens that the season one finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation fits into that particular mold. Because ‘The Neutral Zone’ is a story that debuted to ho-hum fanfare back in the day, when in fact its decisions to foreshadow and bring an iconic villain back into the fold, helped to set the stage for some important moments in regard to the future of TNG and the Star Trek Universe as a whole.
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But before we dive into all of that, it is best we take a moment and discuss what made this episode so forgettable back in the day, which comes courtesy of the B Plot. For before the good stuff gets underway, Data and Worf retrieve some frozen and unfortunate souls from the 20th Century. Who underwent cryonics in the hopes of being revived in the future in order to have their ailments cured by future medicine. Which of course is something that Doctor Crusher is able to do, which gives this trio of everyday Americans a second lease on life and well, this is a plot line that offers mixed results. Partly because, it’s stuff we’ve seen before, and also because the resurrected characters just aren’t that compelling when all is said and done, making this segment a bit of a waste. 

But once you look past that particularly boring plot line, you’re treated to the good stuff in question. Some of which comes by way of the Enterprise’s investigation of bases that have gone silent along the border of The Neutral Zone, since said investigation reveals some unsettling facts. Specifically, how each of these bases and outposts have in essence disappeared, as though they were scooped up by some great force along the way. Which at the time was nothing more than mere mystery. But now we know, that this was the first ever appearance of the Borg on the series, in a hidden manner of course, since the ‘The Best of Both Worlds, Part I’ reveals that the colony on Jouret IV was scooped up in a similar manner and seeing that here again, with what we know now, adds incredible gravity to this story since it won’t be long before the 1701-D encounters its first Borg Cube. 

Plus, this is also the episode that features the return of the Romulan Empire, which really is quite the treat for certain since we learn that this is the first face to face meeting between the Empire and the Federation in decades. But what matters more here, is how significant this meeting would serve to the future of the franchise as well. For these mysterious aliens would become quite the focus for TNG in the years to follow and of course, they would be intertwined with Jean-Luc’s fate for decades to come since his actions would almost lead to peace with this ancient enemy in the late 24th Century and it is just quite powerful to know that this tense encounter and the productive conversation that followed, would lead to so many important and beautiful moments down the line.

Which makes this episode far better than it was originally given credit and truly, time is the only way that one could appreciate the wonder of this tale. Because it really did feel like a hodge-podge of ideas when it originally aired, and it was a fairly pedestrian season finale as well. Especially when one considers the fact that this series would go on to invent the modern cliffhanger in season three. But seeing as to how this was still year one of the journey, mistakes can certainly be forgiven. For this series really was trying to figure out its future and what it was going to stand for and bumps like this happen. But what matters more, is that we’ve reached the end of that rocky first year, which means that great wonders await us in season two, and after a short little hiatus on this end, we will dive right into everything that year two has to offer. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 102 of ‘For All Mankind’.
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When one thinks of big-time mistakes, the kind that involve public figures whose life in the limelight depends upon solid optics and a steady reputation, one immediately thinks of the fallout to come. Because that kind of person won’t tolerate looking bad in the slightest, and they will go the extra mile to bring those who embarrassed them to ‘justice’, and that always ends in the ugliest of fashion. Because revenge is a messy business, and after losing to the Russians in the Space Race in the opening chapter of For All Mankind, it is safe to say that we all knew President Nixon would want someone to pay for making him look bad in the eyes of the world. 
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Which means that revenge is precisely what ‘He Built the Saturn V’ focuses upon. Because Nixon is indeed hopping mad after Apollo 11 returns to Earth and his desire for ‘accountability’ leads to some tense times at NASA. The kind that see Ed Baldwin continue to take some serious flack for speaking up about how the agency ‘lost its guts’. Because he is still on desk duty when we catch up with him in this tale, and he is struggling as to what his future is going to look like. For he still wants in on Apollo 15, but if he can’t fly then he is fully prepared to go back to the Navy and his frustrations and lost nature in this tale, serves as the catalyst for the Nixon Administration to launch a plan for revenge, one that could likely clear Ed’s name and get him back into the stars where he firmly belongs. 

All he has to do that make that happen, is throw Director von Braun under the bus on Capitol Hill by making him appear to be the reason that NASA didn’t land Apollo 10 when it had the chance. But Ed is a man of integrity and would do no such thing, and instead took the blame and the fall and stepped away from the agency in the process. But Nixon would still have his revenge, and by using Operation: Paperclip as his guide, he had his boys utterly humiliate the director on national television when he swung by D.C. to speak to what happened with Apollo 10. And having his past put on full display in a manipulative light, despite the forgiveness that America offered him for his transgressions in the Second World War, was enough to put an end to his career with the agency. 

But while that makes it seem as though this episode was filled to the brim with nothing but sour and vindictive moments, there were still some bright spots to be found along the way. After all, Ed was eventually reinstated at NASA and was told he should plan to fly with Apollo 15 down the line, giving him the second chance he so desperately craved. Plus, Margo earned quite the incredible honor, in that she was selected by Gene Krantz as the first woman to ever serve in Flight Control. Which is quite the big deal for certain, and despite a few road bumps with her teammates, she quickly found a way to establish herself as a trusted member of flight control, and really, this push toward change at NASA, the kind where fresh eyes find new homes; could not have come at a better moment.

For shortly after Apollo 12 took to the skies, to scout for a future site for a Lunar Military Base since the Cold War is moving to the Moon; the Russians landed another cosmonaut on Luna’s rocky surface. One that just so happens to be a woman, once again forever changing the nature of the space race. For NASA will have to respond in kind and it should be interesting to see if America is indeed planning to send women into space earlier in this alternate timeline, since it wasn’t until 1983 in our world, that America sent its first Female Astronaut into space when Sally Ride served aboard the Challenger. But before we get ahead of ourselves, its best we take a moment and celebrate a fascinating episode. One that properly explored the fallout of such a momentous failure and this show gets serious credit for slowing things down for a moment and giving the characters time to reflect and grow. Especially since it would seem that an intense new chapter in the revitalized space race is about to get underway. Until next time.