It is always interesting when a television series takes the time to go on a thematic kick storytelling wise. Because it likely means that one of the episodes you recently enjoyed, had to eject certain notions and concepts for the sake of time constraints, allowing for the writers’ room to expand upon those ideas further in later episodes. Something that always benefits the audience since it means more meaningful and powerful stories await as the season rolls on and it just so happens that we are entering that particular phase in season one of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Because the prior episode, and its examination of how far a collective species will go to save their own kind opened up all kinds of possibilities storytelling wise, to the point where someone thought it would be fascinating to explore a darker side to going the extra mile.

Something that remains hidden in ‘Too Short a Season’ since it features some basic plotting early on. For this particular tale immediately introduces us to a Starfleet Admiral named Mark Jameson, whose claim to fame is the sheer fact that he is a skilled negotiator, and his services are needed once again on a planet where lawlessness has led to hostages being taken. Which prompts Jameson, to quickly come aboard the Enterprise and work with the crew to get every bit of information about the current situation and to properly strategize. Because the person they are going to be dealing with is a hostile governor, named Karnas, who Jameson worked with forty years ago, to successfully secure the release of forty-five hostages. But while it seems as though this is going to be a game of chess between Jameson and an old foe, it is the secret that the admiral is hiding from Picard and his crew that starts to move this episode into some bleak and fascinating territory.

Because when Jameson negotiated with Governor Karnas back in the day, Jameson crossed the line. For he gave Karnas exactly what he wanted, weapons and lots of, while at the same time arming his enemies. An act that led to decades of civil war on this particular planet, the kind that cost countless lives and it is clearly a decision that has haunted Jameson throughout his entire Starfleet career. But now, he has the chance to set things right, and do things differently and that motivates him to do something incredibly bold and downright dumb, by injecting his body with a youth serum from a distant world. So that he can leave his eighty-four-year-old body behind and lead an armed away team as a young man in order to rescue the hostages before Karnas can harm them and this was… quite the unexpected plot twist to inject into this particular tale.

For it adds a tinge of regret to the story, since Jameson clearly cannot forgive himself for his poor negotiating choices back in the day. But what matters more about this secret and his decision, is that they lead us right into the show’s exploration of how there can be a dark side to going the extra mile. Because Jameson will do whatever it takes to quiet the demons in his soul. To the point where the admiral risks his relationship with his wife, and his health in order to teach Karnas a lesson about the value of life and that makes this episode quite cerebral to say the least. And it makes that final showdown with Karnas quite powerful and heartbreaking for certain, since Admiral Mark Jameson dies without ever taking the time to make peace with the one person who could have healed his ailing soul, himself.

If anything, this turned out to be one incredible episode. In part because of powerful thematic elements present within the script, because they are indeed thought-provoking. But the special effects and the acting also make this episode worth one’s while. Because none of this works without a talented actor, and guest star Clayton Rohner absolutely kills it in in this episode. Because he does a phenomenal job of playing an octogenarian turned middle-aged man and the makeup just aids in that wonderful transformation. In the end however, this is another one of those early episodes that shows us what this series is going to be capable of. Simply because this dives into notions and concepts that TNG thrived within since it features questions of morality and the past and it was quite nice to experience that again in season one and hopefully we will be able to revisit more gems of this nature as year one rolls along, because this was a true delight through and through. Until next time.  

It is a foregone conclusion, that humans will do whatever it takes to protect their loved ones, simply because they mean the world to us. After all, they complete a part of us we didn’t know needed to be filled in the first place and since they are such an important part of our lives and ongoing development, going the extra mile to keep them safe… seems like a no brainer. But while this is a supremely human condition for certain, it does leave one wondering, if by chance we ran into beings from another world, would they have the same kind of loyalty to their own kind? Or is it truly something that only we can experience? And it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation dives into those questions full bore, in fascinating fashion. 
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Which is funny, because at first glance ‘11001001’ seems as though it is going to be quite the routine story. For early on, we are whisked away to Starbase 74 with the crew, wherein the Enterprise is going to undergo some critical maintenance to the Holodeck and all of its systems. Making it seem as though this particular tale is going focus heavily on the crew and their downtime. Because everyone that doesn’t head to the Starbase, finds something to do to pass the quiet time, such as how Data begins to explore the wonder of art, or how Riker discovers a newfound love of the Holodeck, thanks to its fancy new upgrades. And Riker’s joy and said improvements, come courtesy of the ship’s brilliant technicians, a species known as the Bynars, and they’re of note simply because they are a race of beings who in essence have digital brains. For they have used technology to make their minds more efficient, and that makes them the perfect people to promptly upgrade a Galaxy Class starship’s systems.

Yet while these quirky aliens seem harmless enough and well, ultra-quirky since they speak in a language akin to a modem and work with incredible and quick efficiency, Wesley is oddly suspicious of them. For something about these aliens simply seems off and he has good reason to be suspicious. For when the opportunity arises, they do something quite sneaky, and make it seem as though the 1701-D is experiencing anti-matter containment failure. Which of course, forces Data to order the crew to abandon ship since Picard and Riker aren’t answering their hails and well, it turns out that this was nothing more than a plan on the Bynars part, to steal the ship. But the reasons as to why remain unclear, to everyone, including Jean-Luc and Will when they learn of the ship’s situation after being trapped inside the Holodeck for an extended period of time.

Which of course motivates the two of them to figure out the truth, and quickly. Because a Galaxy Class ship in the hands of the Federation’s enemies could prove costly for certain, and that forces Picard to do something drastic and arm the Self Destruct sequence as an insurance policy. But the discovery of dying technicians on the bridge, as the Enterprise arrives at the home world of the Bynars, prompts the captain to think a little differently about what’s going on. And as it turns out, taking the time to think, instead of using brute force, proves to be worthwhile. For the crew comes to learn that the Bynars’ home planet was being threatened by the shockwaves of a supernova, one that they missed in their calculations and the resulting blast would disable the computers that keep life going on this world. Meaning they needed the ship to store their planet’s entire data sequence and they needed Picard and Riker to send that precious information back to their world or risk the end of their entire species.

Something that is quite frankly, a brilliant plot twist. Because it speaks to the notion that perhaps going above and beyond to save one’s own is something that could extend beyond humanity, giving rise to the possibility that the universe could be a kinder and more beautiful place than some science fiction stories give it credit and that is supremely in line with the core values of the franchise. For Trek was always about exploring a better tomorrow, where harmony and kindness took precedence, which is also why it is wonderful that this tale sees Captain Picard immediately forgive the Bynars for their actions since the theft of the Enterprise has nothing to do with malice. If anything, all of these elements made for one entertaining and engrossing tale, one that keeps you guessing, and it is one that lifts your spirits with messages of unity and cooperation, and you can never go wrong when TNG features all of that. Until next time.

Something that is truly unsettling in our modern world, is the sheer fact that some people in positions of power and notoriety, refuse to take responsibility, or own up the consequences of their actions when they do something wrong. Instead, these men deflect or place blame, or outright play the victim and cite conspiracies surrounding them. Which is infuriating to anyone who hears their story. Because it’s obvious they did whatever they did and seeing them fight their guilt at every single turn is pathetic to say the least, and it draws out something painful and ugly, leaving one to wonder exactly when there will finally be accountability for their actions. If anything, this is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because this kind of childish crap is something that is featured in the season one finale of The Morning Show.
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Because while Bradley and Chip and Cory work hard to finalize their plans to bring Mitch Kessler into the studio for one important interview in ‘The Interview’, Mitch continues to exhibit a nonchalant attitude about what he’s done. Something that leaves the audience wondering whether or not Mitch will ever understand the gravity and the lasting impact of his actions. Something that is reinforced by the fact that he’s happy to verbally spar with anyone who challenges him at this point in the story and that he seems a little too eager to get back on the air. Because the energy and focus he exhibits in these meetings, is something we’ve only seen when he’s on television. Which leads Cory to correctly believe that Mitch is seeing this as an audition and a power play, and that motivates him to remind Mitch in private, to not do whatever sneaky thing he is planning to, in order make himself look good, if he ever wants to be on the air again.

If anything, Mitch’s behavior and the plan that was being assembled behind the scenes to bring him into the studio, lead one to believe that perhaps this season finale will finally see Mitch offer up a mea culpa and genuinely try and make things right for a change. Which is a surprising idea to put into the minds of the audience. Because that’s a conventional ending for a show that’s anything but, and it just so happens that the episode didn’t divert from the theme it introduced in the slightest. In fact, it found a way to hammer home the need for people to understand the consequences of their actions and be held accountable for them in the most powerful and heartbreaking way imaginable, by way of Hannah’s journey in this particular tale. For she had to corroborate Mitch’s story, a duty that fell to Bradley to accomplish and this was a tough task for her to handle and for the audience to bear witness to. Because it opened up old wounds for Hannah and left her in a broken place. 

Something that made Bradley wonder if by chance they needed to delay the interview in question or figure out another way to bring UBA’s transgressions to light. For she truly was concerned that this might send Hannah down an even darker road. But circumstances at the network ended that debate before it could even begin. Because shortly after Maggie made it clear that the Times had something juicy on UBA, Fred accelerated his timetable on the internal report that would make Chip look quite bad, and of course, that resulted in Chip’s firing. Which meant Bradley’s squad had to act now in order to get the ahead of the headlines the report would create and that’s when this story took its heartbreaking turn. For as everyone assembled and prepared to let Mitch tell his side of the story and bus roll the network in the process, Claire made a horrifying discovery, one that confirmed Bradley’s concerns about Hannah since she was found dead in her apartment.
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News that of course motivated Bradley to call off the interview and prepare her exit from the show. For this was her fault in her mind, and the sour nature of the network and the game playing she faced on a daily basis, were solid enough reasons to walk away from TMS. But some kind and honest words from Cory, and an open-air conversation with Alex motivated her to stay and it is a wonderful thing that she did. Because news of Hannah’s death and the reality of why it happened, inspired Alex to change her stance on well, everything, and she just let loose on the air alongside her co-anchor. Wherein they exposed the truth to millions upon millions of people, putting UBA’s and Mitch’s transgressions out into the open at last, and thanks to the team’s help, they were mostly successful and well, that’s an incredible way to end the first season of this poignant and powerful series.

Because bad people were finally held accountable for their actions, and nothing they can say or do will stop them from getting what’s coming to them. And more importantly, finally, Mitch Kessler is aware of the fact that all of his hubris and arrogance has caused great harm. For the hurt he inflicted drove someone to end their life and seeing his bruised and beaten face realize that in the closing seconds of this tale, is a satisfying shot indeed. For now, he has to live with all of that, and while it doesn’t bring Hannah back, his suffering is a form of justice for everything she went through. As to where we go from here however, is anyone’s guess. But there will be fallout from what happened here, big fallout for certain and that will likely be the focus of season two when it arrives. But while we wait for that, we can reflect upon a brave and bold first season of this show, one that didn’t shy away from powerful topics and left us with some new perspective on the real impact, of Me Too. Until next season.  

When a television series features an engrossing plot thread, one that permeates the course of a season and is revisited on a weekly basis, said show often provides the audience with a little gift in the middle of the season to break up the routine. In that, they tend to feature an episode that more or less just lets loose and has fun with the story for a change, something that really does serve as a welcome respite from all the details that the audience has been keeping a close eye upon. But while this is a nice little treat to experience from time to time, the structure and genre of some shows, make this kind of move an outright impossibility. Because comedy shows already let loose week in and week out, so taking the time to alter course and have more fun just seems like a silly notion.
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But some comedy shows, are supremely unique in nature, since they offer carefully curated laughs that are designed to go with an engrossing plot. Which means it is quite feasible for them to find a way to step away from said plot and have fun, and it just so happens that one particular comedy series out there, meets this description to a tee. For the Apple TV+ series Central Park, has done a phenomenal job of providing the audience with a juicy plot and some hearty laughs and well, after six episodes of exploring how exactly Bitsy Brandenham is going to get her grubby little hands on the park at the heart of Manhattan, the folks behind the scenes decided it was high time to do the impossible; and let loose and have a little fun with the story for a change.

A feat that was accomplished in ‘Squirrel, Interrupted’ by spending part of the episode in the park with the Tillerman family as they enjoyed all that it had to offer. Take Molly and Paige for instance, who decided that perhaps the time had come for Molly to explore her chess playing horizons since she was starting to wipe the floor with her mom at the game, and getting a new opponent in front of her would give her a better idea of where her skill set was currently at. As it turns out, this little experiment helped to prove that she is really darn good at the game, and it was just a true delight to see a proud momma cheer her daughter on in a hilariously bloodthirsty fashion, and watch Molly quietly learn more about a game that she’s clearly skilled at and loves and nice little moments such as these didn’t end with board games. 

Because Owen and Cole were all-in on a special event happening within the entirety of the park. For Cole’s favorite author was hosting a special Scavenger Hunt for fans of his Squirrel themed booked series, and this allowed for father and son to bond as they found squirrel-ly themed treasures throughout the park. Or rather, mostly bond. Okay, not bond at all. Because Owen didn’t understand the plot of the books and got a little technical with his son on the matter, motivating Cole to finish the hunt with a friend of his. But since Owen is a great father, he took the time to learn the plot of these books so that he could help Cole win the grand prize; one on one time with his favorite author. Which made this part of the story supremely sweet and touching since it was just amazing to watch Owen go the extra mile for his son.
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Yet what was truly surprising about this particular tale, is that it also allowed for Bitsy Brandenham to let loose with her family as well. Which was quite the treat since we hadn’t a clue that there was anyone else in the Brandenham line outside of dear Bitsy. But as it turns out, she actually has quite the large family, one that meets up yearly for a little Brandenham soiree at her brother’s estate, and while it seemed as though this event would show a gentler side to Bitsy, that simply wasn’t the case. Because she came to this event to brag about her plans, and to antagonize her brother. Because they have clearly been embroiled in a sibling rivalry for years on end, to the point where she’s willing to deprive him of his meat smoothie just because she can. If anything, this segment definitely provided the audience with a great deal of laughs because the interactions here, and a surprise nut shot, were off the wall hilarious.

Plus, it also revealed that dear Brendan, whom Molly hasn’t obsessed over in a hot minute, is a Brandenham, and still thinks of Molly often. Something that will likely be important down the line, since he is the only one who showed some genuine concern over Bitsy’s plans to take over the park. But in the here and the now, it’s best we celebrate what an outright treat this episode turned out to be. Because it really did accomplish the impossible, and allowed for us to just get lost in some daily adventures with dynamic and fun characters, and you can never go wrong with getting to know the incredible people that populate a universe you love and once again, this just goes to demonstrate the sheer brilliance of this series. Because it really is an animated show unlike any other, and it should be interesting to see what other kinds of surprises await us down the line storytelling wise, as we close in on the season one finale. Until next time.

The further we get into season one of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the more it becomes apparent that everyone involved in this series, really wanted to accomplish wonders storytelling wise in year one. Which ended up being quite the double-edged sword when all is said and done. Because while some episodes have turned out to be quite brilliant and make the franchise proud, with their concepts and commentary, a great many other tales have simply tried to do too much. A decision that quite frankly ruins some stories, since attention is diverted away from plot points that need as much attention as possible, and unfortunately, that ‘pack it in’ mentality is one of the contributing factors that spoils the great idea featured in the next episode of this storied saga. 

For ‘Angel One’ sees the crew of the Enterprise arrive at a planet that shares the namesake of the episode, simply because this out of the way world might be harboring survivors of a doomed freighter known as the Odin. But in order to find out for sure if that’s the case, some unique protocol will have to come into play. For this planet is ruled by women, which means Counselor Troi will need to take point on this mission and navigate this unique matriarchy carefully, since the Federation and Angel One are on peaceful but not friendly terms and well, this is where the genius comes into play. Because the concept of a female leader, running an entire planet was quite the progressive idea in 1988, as was having her subordinates be men, and the potential for this to explore notions of equality seemed limitless, early on in this tale.

But it doesn’t take long for explorations of equality to be quickly sidelined by a silly subplot involving a virus aboard the ship. One that doesn’t kill but puts the patient down the for the count. Which means we spend a lot of time aboard the 1701-D to see how Dr. Crusher is handling this mess and uh, this simply isn’t interesting or pertinent. But it’s a huge focus for this episode, and to complicate matters further, there’s also a situation brewing with the Romulans at the Neutral Zone. Which forces the Doctor to work overtime to find a cure, and it also motivates the away team to work harder and this sense of urgency and well, the amount of screen time that’s dedicated to these problems, is what robs us of a great exploration of what our world would look like if women were in charge for a change. 

Yet while one can perhaps use the old ‘first year jitters’ line of reasoning to explain why this episode decided to jam in plot thread after plot thread, what truly makes this episode so disappointing, is the sheer fact that it outright bungles its brief attempts to examine the importance of equality. For Mistress Beata exhibits every female cliché and trope that you can think of, to the point where you can almost predict what she’s going to say or do next and that’s just a shame. Because they really did have a grand opportunity here to dive into how the sexes are equal and how that kind of understanding would do wonders for our modern world. But instead, Beata and her peers are reduced to unfortunate stereotypes that bore the audience as much as the goofy subplots.

If anything, it is another fine example of how sometimes the franchise would get cold feet when attempting to do something bold. Because it’s obvious that someone really wanted to bring forth a powerful episode that featured something worth the audience’s while. But somewhere along the line, someone poured cold water on it, and excessive rewrites and idea injections brought about a chaotic mess that is quite frankly quite sexist and confusing and silly. Which means that once again, the series has to clean up an embarrassing mess and hopefully this is the last time we settle in to discuss a story that misses the mark on societal issues because TNG and the franchise as a whole, are better than this. Until next time.

It is quite amazing how quickly things can change in our life. Because often times, we really are just cooking along and doing our thing, and just like that, our world is turned upside down and we are scrambling to find some semblance of normalcy. But while it seems as though such matters are often out of our control, what’s truly fascinating about this particular quirk of the universe, is that more often than not, the chaos we tend to experience… is self-inflicted. For the decisions that we make, especially the bold ones that rub people the wrong way, can immediately alter the course of our lives in ways we never expected, and it just so happens that a bold decision changes everything for everyone in the next episode of The Morning Show.
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Because ‘Play the Queen’ sees Bradley Jackson bring chaos to the life she’s been enjoying for some time, but for all the right reasons. For the time has come to sit down with Mitch Kessler and conduct the biggest interview of her young career. But before she can make that happen, she needed to extend a little courtesy and let Alex know what she had planned and well, that went about as well as one might expect. Actually, it went far worse. Because Alex simply wasn’t having it and she was quick to blow a gasket and berate Bradley for even thinking this was a good idea since it would likely destroy the network and everyone’s careers, and well, this particular admission outright detonated any of the goodwill that Alex and Bradley were beginning to share with one another and it also gives life to the chaos in question.

For shortly after letting Alex know what was coming, whether she liked it or not, Ms. Levy made quite the power play. Because she placed a call to Fred and decided it was high time to sit down and talk about the future of the show and what came out of that meeting was quite unsettling. For the two of them put together an intricate plan, one that would see Bradley begin to be phased out of the show in a slow and methodical fashion, and sadly, it would also see Charlie Black take the fall for Mitch’s ridiculous transgressions. Because Fred finally confirmed what all of us were thinking, in that, UBA needed some kind of a fall guy, and who better than an Executive Producer that ‘allowed’ for this kind of behavior to happen on his watch. A move that Alex is hesitant to even consider at first, but she eventually agrees to meet the new EP candidate, simply because she knows this is likely her best chance to take complete control of TMS.

But while it seemed as though Alex was one step ahead of Bradley and ready to shift momentum in her favor, Bradley was setting her own counter-offensive in motion behind the scenes. Something that involved an off the books meeting with Cory, so that she could explain the importance and the gravity of this interview and thankfully he agreed with her and opted to bring Chip in on the matter as well, in the hopes of having the three of them work together on their master plan. Which involved vetting Mitch’s source, and bringing him to the studio in secrecy so that Bradley could interview Mister Kessler without Alex being aware of it. A solid plan that Chip was quite frankly unsure about at first, since he and Alex go way back and share quite the bond. One that was quickly severed when Cory made it clear that she was meeting with the new EP.
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Yet while this cat and mouse game between two powerhouse anchors was indeed quite entertaining to watch, Bradley’s plans wouldn’t matter if Mitch couldn’t back up his respective source and well, that led to one of the most powerful moments present in this tale. Because he did pose to Hannah his plan and what he needed from her, something that she didn’t have to go along with in the slightest. But wouldn’t you know it? After pondering upon it at great length, and with a little liquid courage, she finally decided that backing Mitch up would be the right thing to do, provided of course she was cited as an anonymous source. Yet what truly made this sequence so powerful and so compelling, is the sheer fact that she was able to unload her feelings on Mitch, and call him out for his behavior, and it was quite incredible to see him squirm in discomfort over finally hearing some truth.

But alas, he still thinks he’s in the right, and he still thinks he can talk his way out of this and he will definitely be getting his chance to do so, since the stars have now aligned and well, when all is said and done, this was simply one incredible episode. One that exposed quite the divide at UBA between the old guard and the new guard and it should be interesting to see which one wins when this battle of attrition comes to a head in the next episode. As for the brilliance, well much of that is attributed to the performances here since everyone brought their A-game in this tale, to the point where every scene was electric. But most importantly of all, this particular tale set the stage for a powerhouse finale, one where it seems that Fred is going to be exposed at last and one that will change the landscape of The Morning Show and UBA for years to come and well, the time has come to bid you farewell, so that this reviewer can see how this incredible season, comes to a close. Until next time.

Something that is quite fascinating about the final season of a television series, is that the writers’ room has complete and unfettered freedom with the storytelling with the end in sight. And they are now able try new things as the season rolls along and we’ve seen the fruits of unrestrained labor several times now in the seventh and final season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. since we’ve been privy to unique stories that have brought joy into our hearts. But while it is fun to see a Marvel series let loose and experiment in its farewell year, there is an inherent dark side to this kind of freedom as well. Because it also means that anything goes storytelling wise, and the characters can suffer in ways they never have before and unfortunately for our intrepid agents, that darker side to farewell storytelling took the center stage in last night’s episode of the show.
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Because ‘Adapt or Die’ saw the team be pushed to their limits in 1976, thanks to a concerted effort from the Chronicoms to beat the Agents while they were down and that resulted in some bleak storytelling for certain, the kind that saw Daisy be put out of commission. For she was forced to endure some twisted experiments from Nathaniel Malick, all in the hopes of having her powers transferred into his body. And while Malick’s attempts to obtain Inhuman abilities failed miserably, the damage he did to Daisy’s body and mind are clearly going to be lasting. For she simply wasn’t herself by the end of this tale, since her injuries left her weak and barely conscious and truly, thank heavens that Sousa was at her side. Because he did his best to keep her focused on something other than the pain, something that likely kept her going long enough to make it back to the Zephyr for much needed medical treatment.

But the ugly didn’t end with Daisy’s injuries, for this is an episode that also toyed with the fate of another character. Something that came about by way of Coulson and May’s journey in this tale. For they had to work overtime in getting General Stoner to believe that the base was being infiltrated by the Chronicoms and sadly, it took nearly having his memory and face stolen to bring Stoner around to the right side of thinking. But shortly after his life was saved by this dynamic duo, Coulson decided the time had come to take the fight to the enemy and he boarded the Chronicom vessel and chatted with Sibyl in the virtual environment in order to distract her. That way she wouldn’t notice the explosives that he brought aboard the ship, and he absolutely caught her and the Chronicoms off guard when he detonated the devices. Which means that once again, Phil Coulson has disappeared into the great beyond and while Phil Coulson dying has become a tad cliché, something the character even acknowledged himself, his end is still devastating, since his knowledge offers so much to the team.

Yet while those two storylines should have been enough to leave the fans in a stunned place, since two of the team’s finest agents are now out of commission, the hits simply kept on coming in this particular tale. And really the most heartbreaking disaster of the night involved Mack. Because despite the fact that he risked life and limb to save his parents from the Lighthouse, his efforts were all for naught. For the Chronicoms got to his mom and dad well before he pulled them from their cell, and he was forced to put these doppelgängers down and knowing that he couldn’t save them in time left Mack in quite the ugly place. One that motivated him to step outside the Zephyr once they jumped and that turned out to be a costly decision as well. For shortly after he found solace, and shortly after Deke went out there to console him, something wild happened with the timestream and the Zephyr jumped away. Leaving this duo stranded in an unknown time in an unknown place.

Which is quite the bold way to end this tale. For now, the team is without their strongest fighters, and without a leader and Deke and Mack are stuck trying to figure out their next move and what their future is going to look like, and really in the end, all of these storytelling decisions make this episode downright brilliant to say the least. Because these are the kind of risks that straight up move the audience and keep them guessing, since no one has a clue where the story is going to go from here and what’s truly amazing, is that we are only at the halfway point. Which means things might get even wilder before we’ve reached the all-important series finale and the endless possibilities that await us now, both good and bad, are going to make the wait for next Wednesday’s episode, quite difficult for certain. Until next time.

Something that people hold near and dear to their hearts on a consistent basis, are thoughts of their family and understandably so. Because family is indeed important and the people that raise us do help to form the person we are today, by way of moments that should leave us smiling when we ponder upon them. But while rosy memories of our families are supposed to be the status quo, there are others out there who quite frankly, dread thinking about the people they grew up with. Because some people, didn’t grow up in a stable home with stable family members, or their family features a proverbial ‘black sheep’ that always causes trouble, and the trauma their flesh and blood creates or created, stays with them to the point where they make great efforts to avoid their family, so that no more heartache or trouble will come into their lives. 
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If anything, that darker aspect to family life is something that isn’t discussed in fiction or reality enough, since there is a concerted effort to truly treasure the brighter side of family life in modern society. Which is why it is so supremely refreshing to find stories that don’t shy away from the harsh reality that family can be a rotten thing to deal with from time to time, and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, takes the time to address that fact in a fascinating manner. Which makes ‘Datalore’ quite the surprising tale, since you really don’t think you’re going to find a storytelling element such as that in a show as uplifting as this one. But believe it or not, it is present within the framework of this story, and it is all brought to life by way of a return to the planet where Lieutenant Commander Data was discovered, twenty-six years ago.

For the Enterprise just so happens to be in the vicinity of Omicron Theta when we catch up with the crew in this tale, and that motivates the captain to swing by the planet and give it a closer look as a courtesy to Data, who seemingly hasn’t been home since the day he was picked up by Starfleet. Which leads to a fascinating away mission, wherein we see that his home world was left devastated by forces unknown and where his father, Dr. Noonien Soong, left behind quite the surprise. For hidden away in his lab is a perfect replica of Data, one that piques the curiosity of the entire ship. Because if this second android can be assembled properly aboard the 1701-D, then Data will no longer be alone in the universe and Starfleet may gain another fine and brilliant officer as well. And thanks to Data’s willingness to help the reassembly process along, he is eventually gifted with an actual brother, one who identifies himself as Lore.

But while this seems like cause for celebration and all kinds of unity, Lore is not what he seems. In fact, he is one jerk of an android, one who is a little too human since he is programmed with emotions that are jaded against humanity. And that leads to a twisted cat and mouse between artificial brothers as Lore works to replace Data so that he can he take over the ship and feed the crew to the alien entity that destroyed Omicron Theta, and the only person who seemingly has a clue that something is amiss with Lore (outside of Data) is young Wesley Crusher. Who eventually convinces his mother to follow his instincts and thank the stars that she does. Because she’s able to reactivate Data and since he can match his brother’s prowess both physically and mentally, he is able to conquer his twisted sibling and send him off into the depths of space. Saving the crew from one horrible fate.

But what matters more about this particular tale, is its significance for future episodes of The Next Generation. For the Crystalline Entity would show its sparkling face again down the line, and of course, the name Noonien Soong would come into play once again and most important of all, Lore would be quite the staple in future seasons and share in some significant and powerful storylines. But while it is wonderful to know this episode is foundational in nature, it has more to offer than excitement for tomorrow. Because it really is quite delightful to learn more about Data’s past, and you can never go wrong with having Brent Spiner do his thing acting wise, since he absolutely sells the evil within the character, especially in the final act when Lore just tears into Wesley. If anything, it is just nice to be treated to another quality episode, one filled to the brim with a juicy plot and important moments and a fine reminder that while family is indeed important, no one should ever put up with family members that mean to cause you harm. Until next time.  

Something that is explored often in storytelling, is what exactly makes good human beings turn evil. Because there is something supremely fascinating about seeing an everyday person, suddenly see the world in a manner that motivates them to harm others and that’s led to some intriguing stories that truly dive deep into the darkness that mankind is capable of. But while these tales have helped us to understand what drives people to end the lives of their fellow man, or turn their backs on society as a whole, they tend to shy away from the everyday evil that populates our world. Which is unfortunate, because there really are some genuine monsters out there causing harm to innocent people in ways that need to be discussed more often. Which is why The Morning Show deserves some serious credit in regard to its next episode.
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For ‘Lonely at the Top’ takes the time to put Mitch Kessler, a sexual predator, at the center of the story. But not to help the audience ‘see’ his side of the story, nor to create sympathy for a man who has been trying to engender it since the beginning of this harrowing saga. No instead, this particular tale puts Mitch in its crosshairs simply to help us understand what it is that makes men like him seek out women as objective conquests and going that route made this one powerful tale. One that leaves the viewer in quite the uncomfortable spot thanks to a no holds barred approach storytelling wise, and one that travels to the past to help us understand Kessler’s broken mind. For this story ventures back to 2017 where we find Mitch at quite the crossroads, mentally.

For when we catch up with him here, he’s about to turn fifty and that is weighing heavily upon him. Not because the number is bothering him or that his body is starting to show more signs of wear and tear. But because he’s starting to panic in regard to his legacy. For despite the fact that he’s spent decades in the news business and accomplished wonders by being on a series as prestigious as The Morning Show, he simply feels as though he’s accomplished nothing as a journalist. Because while puff pieces on fashion have brought him ratings and recognition, there’s little memory for that kind of work, despite the fact that his friends tell him otherwise. But while that seemingly humanizes Mitch, his desire to continue to enjoy the fruits of his labors and relish in how people admire him, speaks volumes to the fact that he has simply lost touch with the world and what it stands for, something that lays the groundwork as to why Mitch does what he does.

​Something that is also hammered home by TMS’ coverage of the Las Vegas shootings. Because venturing out there and seeing the carnage and the pain firsthand simply doesn’t affect Mitch in the slightest. Instead he is quick to point out how being able to report upon the moment and see it through a camera lens is an outright privilege and this kind of detachment from reality makes absolute sense. After all, the man makes $20 million a year at this point in the story, and he’s afforded every luxury that comes with that kind of financial prestige, including unlimited respect and adoration since people trust him and believe in him, and that perfect delusional storm is what motivates Mitch to abuse women in the manner that he does. Because they too are a luxury, something to possess, and they offer him adoration and awe and that gives him leverage. Which means that everything he does boils down to a chance to exert power over women and fill that void in his sour soul temporarily, something that all comes together by way of how he treats Hannah. 
 
Because she finds herself shattered by the carnage and pain she witnesses in Vegas, and Mitch is quick to swoop in and play the hero and the sage mentor, in order to gain that trust, and to relish in the admiration and respect that she offers him, and of course… to exert that power that makes him feel whole. Which leads to a powerful and horrifying sequence of events where he crosses the line with Hannah and where she feels helpless to stop a man of his ‘stature’ and that sobering moment, not only helps us to understand the heinous actions of men like Mitch Kessler, but also how they are allowed to continue to operate. Because upon her return to New York, she’s ignored by Mitch since he got exactly what he wanted and needed, which prompts her to march up to Fred’s office and lodge a complaint, an act that ends with quite the surprise, instead.
 
For rather than address the issue at hand, and the abuse she’s suffered, Fred instead gives her a promotion. In essence, buying her silence so that The Morning Show is forever protected and that is quite the powerful way to end this tale. For it finally reveals how Fred is complicit in these matters and how he helped this kind of culture to grow and well, now that the answers as to what brought us to this point in the story are in hand, a couple of episodes before the season finale, one can only wonder what other storytelling surprises will await us down the line. But in the here and the now we are left with one powerful tale, one that serves to remind us that creeps like Mitch Kessler and his real-world counterparts are nothing more than hollow cowards who will hurt others to feel alive, rather than address what’s really eating at them, and that makes them sad and pathetic human beings indeed. Ones that deserve everything they’ve got coming. Until next time.

There was a time, when someone’s meteoric rise to fame was accompanied by quite the powerful story. One involving a lot of practice and hard work to become incredibly good at their respective talent, before bursting onto the scene as the next hot thing, thanks to their well-honed craft and desire to be the best at what they do. But what matters most about these stories, is that these particular people were often humbled and honored by their standing within the world, and their gratitude and desire to pay it forward made them pillars of inspiration, since their actions would genuinely drive others to dig in and work hard to earn and be someone similar. But the times, they are definitely changing, since people can now find their way into the spotlight in a vastly different manner.

For these days, the right moment on the right social media platform, can catapult someone right into fame and fortune. To the point where they’re a household name overnight, one that advertisers and networks chase because they know people will tune in or buy their products with a visible name attached. But while it is quite incredible to know that one can go from anonymity to popping up as a guest reporter on ESPN, on a moment’s notice, becoming an overnight sensation isn’t always the wondrous event that it is made out to be. A harsh lesson that is featured in the next episode of The Twilight Zone, which makes ‘Ovation’ quite the bleak and powerful tale. Since it features a woman named Jasmine, who experiences a viral rise and shocking fall after getting her hands on a medallion that makes her dream of becoming a famous singer, come true.

But while that makes it seem as though this is a tale grounded in the fantastical, Jasmine’s wild ride and what this story has to say about fame is what makes it so incredibly worth our while. For in many ways, this particular tale is an outright scathing examination of how we view fame in the modern world, and how we no longer value the hard work that goes into rising to the top. Something that is made evident by how quickly Jasmine embraces her fame, regardless of any pratfalls or she runs into along the way, or any flaws in her work. And her aloof nature in regard to the work and her ability to bury herself in the adoration of the fans surrounding her, speaks volumes to the fame seekers in our modern world. For she is no different than the folks who toil endlessly to go viral and offer little substance once they have a following. 

Yet what is equally impressive is that the story takes the time to dig even deeper on matters of fame by examining how the human ego can suffer when someone who is obsessed with adoration is robbed of it. For when Jasmine is forced to step away from the business because of the dangers the medallion represents, she cannot handle being out of the spotlight. In fact, the lack of attention outright drives her mad, to the point where she does something horrific at the end of this tale. Something that is oddly akin to what we see viral stars do in real life when their stars are fading or the narrative is moving toward someone else, and the bleak nature of that ending and its message, stay with the audience for some time since it all serves to remind us of the root cause of this strange collective push toward stardom.

For in essence, our need to celebrate celebrity and to collect likes and views, has sent the wrong message to the masses. For so many believe that the spotlight and outright popularity, now matter more than anything else in life, which has in turn led to less than ideal entertainment at times since these creators are only concerned with metrics and mentions. Which is quite the timely message to inject into this particular tale, and it is one that is definitely worth examining in an era where people can reach millions in a matter of seconds. If anything, it is nice to see the series tackle a modern topic once again and one has to wonder if there’s more social commentary awaiting us as season two rolls along. But in there and the now, this was quite the poignant tale, one that definitely gives you pause and hopefully this story will make some re-evaluate exactly why they are chasing a particular dream that features fame and fortune. Until next time.