Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Leverage: Redemption’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that we live in some frustrating times. For every time we turn on the television or swing by social media, we read about injustices that continue to pile up. The kind where the insanely rich, use their wealth and influence to exert more power over the little guy and it simply seems as though no one is listening, and no one cares and that divide between the haves and the have nots is only going to grow. Which is why so many of us are eager to slip into fictional worlds to escape the frustrations of the modern world and enjoy stories where heroes reign supreme and watch out for the little guy and well, our demand for such stories is so strong… that one Hollywood icon understood the time was right to resurrect and continue an iconic series that relates to our frustrations.
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Which is why Leverage: Redemption is now gracing the digital airwaves, since it gives Dean Devlin and the talented cast of the original Leverage… a chance to build upon what they started all those years ago. For a series that inadvertently seized upon the zeitgeist of the times courtesy of the Great Recession, can now thrive in the midst of a time where we worry about class warfare and well, the good news is that this sequel and its commentary are as spot on as it gets. Because ‘The Too Many Rembrandts Job’ really does reflect a world where the rich are spoiled and powerful and could care less about everyday people because that doesn’t translate to dollar signs or margin or profit and it accomplishes that feat by introducing the Leverage team to a pharmaceutical super jerk named, Fletcher Maxwell.

A guy so greasy and so repulsive that he actually takes pleasure in breaking deals with the people he’s hurt. Which is why his longtime lawyer with a heart of gold, Harry Wilson, decides that the time to bring him down has arrived and that of course, brings him together with the Leverage team and well, this goes exactly as one might expect, since they (mostly) take down Maxwell in a beautifully embarrassing (for him) and satisfying manner. But really, while getting back in the groove with the team is worthwhile indeed, it really is the commentary that allows for this episode to shine. Because it truly spotlights the divide between the wealthy and the average and how out of touch the proverbial Daddy Warbuckses of the world have become since they insulate themselves with things and money and have outright forgotten the importance of people and empathy.

But what’s amazing is that the series doesn’t just take the time to remind us of that particular problem with the filthy rich, it also takes the time to showcase the struggle that is coming about from wealth inequality since we briefly see first-hand how scared and broken some of the folks out there suffering really are and how indifferent the world has become to their plight. Simply because people tend to believe that bad situations somehow right themselves with time and that’s why the crew has more gravity and depth here than ever before. Because now they are the champions that the world is screaming for and watching them in action in this era of American history really does provide a sense of catharsis. For they are us, the everyday folks that have had enough and, in many ways, their actions now reflect those little victories that are slowly taking place in the real world… where people are indeed banding together to stick it to the fat cats.

Yet while the commentary is timely and this show is relevant and satisfying, its return/continuation would mean nothing without quality performances, and we need to recognize the fact that we get that here in spades. For Gina Bellman and Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge are simply electric and it’s wonderful to see them not miss a beat and Gina deserves a shout out for adding a little sorrow to Sophie since it adds new depth to a strong character and of course Christian Kane steals every scene he’s in because that’s what he does, and Noah Wyle is a welcome addition to the team and deserves a shout out as well for giving Harry Wilson a special vulnerability and well, in the end, this is a wonderful start to the next chapter in this saga. For it is filled with depth and wonder and laughs through and through and we here at Nerds That Geek cannot wait to dive into the rest of these episodes and break them down with all of you in the weeks to come, because this series really does deserve to be fawned over and dissected since it is poignant and powerful and fun. Until next time.

The first half of season one of ‘Leverage: Redemption’ is streaming now on IMDBtv.

It has often been said that we will never properly understand a person until we’ve walked a mile in their shoes and there is a lot of truth to that particular statement. Because we only understand the environment that we grow up and reside within and that definitely narrows our world view to the experiences around us. But the plus side of living in our modern world, is that we can in fact, travel and work to experience how others live and function around the globe and of course, stories are there to help us walk a mile in a different set of shoes as well. Since voices in print or on the screen can help to educate us on experiences we will never know and that’s another reason why Star Trek: The Next Generation is such an iconic and important series… since it often offered up stories that tried to help us to understand the diversity of the world, as evidenced by its next episode.
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For ‘The Perfect Mate’ is a story that sees the crew of the Enterprise preparing to take part in peace negotiations between two warring worlds, Krios and Valt Minor. And while those preparations are taking place, an unfortunate run in with two awful Ferengi, reveals to the crew that the Kriosian gift to the Valtese, is that of a woman named Kamala. Who was genetically crafted to be the perfect mate and her arranged marriage to the Valtese delegation is what will bring about peace since she is the perfect bridge to two warring worlds, and well… while her side love affair with Captain Picard is of note and powerful, since it shows us Jean-Luc’s softer side and reminds us of his sense to duty, it is what Kamala represents and what she goes through in this tale that has relevance and gravity in regard to how other people live. 

Because her journey serves as a fine reminder of the fact that women are treated in quite the unique manner in other parts around the globe. For some cultures still hold tight to the notion that arranged marriages are the appropriate way to handle love and that women are property over anything else and while that is appalling to some and weird, that is simply the way of things in their culture. And they are clearly not ready to change that just yet and seeing that on display here, regardless of how uncomfortable it might make the viewer, is a strong and silent way to point out the differences in our cultures and how lowering our guard and our offense to such surprises helps us to understand the world a little better and can also serve as a catalyst for change. Because when we approach someone’s way of life with respect, they too will lower their guard and learn from us, as we learn from them and enact change when trust comes into play.

But while that message alone could have carried this episode through and through, ironically, this episode also found a way to explore how toxic male behavior is unacceptable and needs to be called out on a more consistent basis. A feat that this story accomplished by way of just putting that crap on display. Since Kamala consistently has to deal with men lusting after her in an inappropriate manner when she heads out about the ship, and the Ferengi ironically lead the pack in regard to that. But at every turn, the crew are eager to point out the stupidity and uncomfortable nature of this behavior and they demand that it stops and that’s definitely a solid lesson to see on display on TNG, one that absolutely resonates in modern times since this topic has popped up often these days, making this story surprisingly ahead of its time.

Which is ironic since initially, it was viewed in quite the negative light. For Kamala’s journey was originally seen as anti-woman since it put her in a position that America worked to leave behind ages ago. But with time it is obvious now that this episode is quite in the spirit of Star Trek, since it speaks to respecting and understanding other cultures and using education to enact change and it doesn’t hurt that it points out that men should respect women at all times and to top it all off, it features some quality performances. For Famke Janssen is simply incredible as Kamala and puts forth a moving performance here, and she plays well off of a supremely vulnerable performance from Patrick Stewart. Who really does show us a side of Captain Picard that we’ve never seen before and well, now that this fascinating mission has come to an end, it is time to turn our attention to tale that revolves around the power of imagination. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Central Park’.
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Thus far, our journey through season two of the AppleTV+ series, Central Park, has been an interesting one. Simply because this already unconventional series, found a way to become even more unconventional in its sophomore year. A feat that this show has accomplished by offering up a collection of stories that have been outright devoid of a greater reaching arc. For there is no showdown brewing behind the scenes or a grand problem for the Tillermans to overcome. Instead, these episodes have focused heavily on relatable moments and themes and commentary that leaves the viewer thinking and while that has indeed been about as refreshing as it gets, it does leave one to wonder if this series is going to focus on anything greater as season two continues along.
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Well as it turns out… it would seem that there might be some kind of greater conflict present within the framework of this series as year two chugs along… as evidenced by the next episode in this saga. For ‘Down to the Underwire’ saw quite the surprise take place at Paige’s newspaper. For while she was working on her day off to help the paper prepare for a big anniversary, the owner of the paper swung by with a guest and that got everyone’s attention in the bullpen. Because Roberta rarely dropped by the office, and the fact that she was accompanied by Bitsy Brandenham put up all kinds of red flags in Paige’s mind. After all, she and Bitsy have a past now, thanks to Paige’s quality exposé writing and it left her wondering if Bitsy was preparing to buy the paper so she could shut it down.

Which was a correct suspicion for certain. Because Bitsy did indeed make a juicy offer for the paper behind closed doors in the hopes of putting an end to the paper that put an end to her business dreams. But alas, buying the paper was no easy task. For Roberta had long standing beef with Bitsy, the kind that stemmed from a painful childhood memory involving a race that Bitsy forced her to lose and well… that gave Roberta quite the idea. In that, she and Bitsy could race once again, fairly of course, and if Roberta won… she would get the 8th place ribbon that Bitsy robbed her of and she’d keep the paper and thankfully, she defeated Bitsy and reclaimed her prized ribbon. An act that once again forced Bitsy to enjoy a slice of humble pie.

But the fact that Bitsy tried to buy the paper, cannot be ignored. For that speaks volumes to a villain that is at a crossroads this season. For at times, Bitsy has seemed a touch more human than she was last year and introspective, yet at the same time… she is clearly eager for dominance and revenge and affixing her visage as the rightful heir to all things Manhattan. Which means the grand conflict this season, might be which path Bitsy decides to choose, and that could make for more interesting storytelling. Because a conflicted villain is always an intriguing watch and it will be quite fascinating to see if Bitsy decides that her forthcoming legacy should be one forged in fury for those who did her wrong, or if she finally sees a better way forward with her wealth. 
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Yet while Bitsy’s unique journey was enough to carry this episode, it also took the time to offer up some of that real-world commentary that’s been permeating the fabric of this season. A feat this story accomplished by having Cole accompany Molly on a rite of passage adventure, wherein he helped her pick out a bra and well, what makes this so significant is that this is something we just don’t see on television all that often. In fact, normally a father handling any duties relating to his daughter growing up on television, are used for comic relief as the dad struggles to figure out how to shop for said daughter. But here, the laughs were generated by way of musical numbers and the ridiculous nature of the options available for undergarments, and that allowed for the rest of this segment to make it clear that there’s nothing awkward or embarrassing about this process, it’s a part of life and it is okay for dads to take part in it and that should be celebrated.

If anything, this really was quite the unique episode when all is said and done, since it offered up an equal mix of relatable moments alongside hints of the future and what matters most, is that it managed do so in a supremely engrossing fashion. Since Bitsy’s journey really does seem to be building to something far bigger and these relatable vignettes continue to impress and well, perhaps the most exciting part about the ending of this episode… is that the audience hasn’t a clue where we are headed next and that’s really special. Because in an era where juicy arcs and big hooks rule the day, it is kind of nice to expect the unexpected for a change and that will make next week’s toe-tapping entry in this series… a welcome and pleasant surprise. Until next time.   

These days, television shows receive incredible care in the writer’s room. Because episode orders are at their shortest length in the history of the format, and that allows for writers to carefully craft the arc for the season and every emotional beat the characters are going to experience and that’s led to some phenomenal television in recent years. The kind that genuinely takes us on a wild and engrossing and moving ride and that definitely makes fans happy, especially the ones that grew up in the era of T.V. when this kind of care… didn’t always exist. For it wasn’t that long ago that T.V. shows had double the episodes and that led to some troublesome storytelling. The kind that allowed for some sub-par stories to be woven into the fabric of the finest of franchises, such as Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Because the next episode in this series, ‘Cost of Living’, is a story that is… lost at best and that’s really due to the fact that this script was clearly rushed into production. As evidenced by the three separate competing plotlines present within this story. For there’s a plot involving parasitic microbes that are eager to feed upon an alloy present in the Enterprise’s systems and there’s the return of Lwaxana Troi and her struggles in trying to figure out whether or not she should marry an uppity prude dude and there’s also a story revolving around some struggles for Worf and Alexander, since they’re still trying to figure out how to become a family. And the first real problem that accompanies having this many plotlines in a single episode, is that the story moves around a lot, making for a confusing watch for certain. But having to shift gears pales in comparison to the real crime that this script commits.

Because it turns out… that each of these plot threads are nothing more than wasted potential. After all, the introduction of a brand-new species is a wonderful chance to tell a fascinating story of discovery. Plus, Lwaxana’s plight and struggles with responsibility are a grand opportunity to see this quirky character grow before our eyes and of course… Alexander and Worf’s experiences are timeless and could be paralleled to modern times, so that it resonates with viewers struggling with a similar situation in real time and well… the reason the word wasted was used to introduce these storylines, is because none of them are realized to their full potential. Because a rushed script equates to rushed storytelling and that means the aliens are dealt with quickly and without meaning and Alexander and Worf really don’t come to any common ground and Lwaxana’s powerful plot about growing old alone is glossed over.

If anything, it speaks volumes to the fact that each of these plot lines should have received their own episode order. Because giving those little buggers a chance to really get their tiny microbe paws into the systems could have led to a tense and powerful episode, one where it became a thrilling race against time to save them and the ship. And had Alexander and Worf’s plot thread been fleshed out into an hour-long tale, we would have been treated to a sweeping and moving story about family and how we reach common ground with blood relatives that we don’t know all that well. Plus, Lwaxana’s journey could have done a wonderful job of treating us to some thoughtful and poignant moments regarding love and what it means to find it at a later stage in our life, something that is a topic that few shows ever explore in the slightest.

But alas, that apparently wasn’t meant to be and what we get in the end is a confusing mess. One that serves to remind us just how lucky we are now from a television standpoint. But despite its flaws, there are some bright spots to be found in this tale. Such as the fact that Majel Barrett-Roddenberry turns in a powerful performance as Lwaxana, one that does allow for some loneliness and worry to shine through and the jokes in this story work to a tee and there is some measure of tension in the finale when Data is pressed into service as the sole officer aboard. But outside of those beacons of light, this is definitely a forgettable episode but thankfully… not a harmful one and now that this blasé journey has come to its close, the time has come to turn our attention to the next mission for this intrepid crew. One that challenges the nature of love in a supremely unique manner. Until next time.

Okay, listen. We have one episode left. Am I okay? No. 100% maybe, though. I didn’t expect this episode to make me cry, but it did, so here we are. 
 
Spoilers ahead! You have been warned.
 
Alright, so there is a lot to unpack with everything this episode threw at us. First and foremost, I genuinely hate Rovanna… for now. I’m not saying she’s innocent, but she’s definitely not one of the good guys. As for Sylvie, she is my absolute second favorite character in the MCU now. I like her a lot. She’s gorgeous, confident, competent, and the only woman in the MCU to actually pull her hair back during a fight. Seriously, guys, whoever is consulting on these movies and shows, really needs to add that in there! Okay, Hope did it too and I really am not trying to discount her at all. I am just saying, Sylvie deserves some props for that. Also, watching her kick Rovanna’s ass was beyond well earned. Rovanna had it coming after how she’s treated Sylvie. 
 
Good news, though, because all Variants and Timelines get thrown into a void, the end of time, as it were, our Loki ends up there and is met with a whole bunch of other Loki’s. I was wrong in my last blog; I did say that the big Loki with a hammer was a Thor and I stand corrected. We don’t like him anyway because he does betray everyone relatively quickly. This episode also answered the most important question of the entire show; was that an Alligator Loki or a Crocodile Loki… and he is indeed an Alligator. Is he my most favorite thing ever? Also, yes. Alligator Loki not only communicated well, but he also took the hand of President Loki when he showed up with his Army of Loki’s to fight the other Loki’s and take over the hide out. 

​That is… a lot of Loki-on-Loki violence. Classic Loki said it best, however, that’s all Loki’s do. Plot and deceive and betray. Realistically, this episode showed us just how much our Loki really has changed. He is loyal. We knew that from the end of Thor: Ragnarok, when Loki chose Thor over anything else… well… Thor and the Tesseract, which did get him killed. Classic Loki gave us a glimpse into what else Loki could be like. He faked his own death with Thanos so well that nobody noticed when he just left and retired on a deserted planet. He only got popped by the TVA because he wanted to see Thor again. Kid Loki actually succeeded in killing Thor… which…. wow. Alligator Loki… well, he’s just an Alligator, so obviously he is the superior Loki. All jokes aside, our Loki never wanted Glorious Purpose and to Rule. Deep down, he just wanted to be loved.
 
And that brings me to my next point. This show is about self-love. Alright, we may be getting some Loki/Sylvie action, but also, learning to love yourself is extremely important. It’s hard to accept all the flaws and past things that we’ve done or had done to us. Yet, those things also make us who we are. Nobody is perfect, and it stands to reason that true love is loving oneself truly. Sylvie is of course betrayed by Rovanna, and ends up zapping herself, not knowing where she’ll go or if she’ll live. All in the hopes of finding out who’s really behind the curtain and also finding Loki. She does find Mobius, and really that’s the next best thing.
 
I’ll say this until I’m blue in the face, the casting for this show is so perfect it hurts. Mobius is probably my third favorite character within the MCU. He literally is just amazing. He’s easily swayed to Sylvie and Loki’s cause, to the point that Classic Loki asks him why he’s turning on the TVA. Mobius’ answer is perfectly spot on. It’s never too late to do the right thing. I live by that motto now. The big fight of this episode is fighting the energy cloud monster of doom, and really… yeah, that seems about right. Sylvie can enchant it, right? She almost isn’t able to. Loki helps her, because they are stronger than they think. Sadly, watching Classic Loki sacrifice himself to help them broke me. It’s okay though, because Alligator Loki is okay. That is the most important part. Sylvie and Loki do enchant the beast and end up going past the end of time.
 
What lays beyond? Just a place that looks a lot like the Quantum Realm. There was no post credit, and we don’t know if Mobius stuck to his word about bringing down the TVA from the inside. We do know that Sylvie and Loki are a lot closer to finding out who created the TVA and the Time Keepers than Rovanna is. I suppose we only have one episode left… I’m not ready.

We like to believe that a person’s moral core, is forged by good parenting. The kind where moms and dads take the time on a regular basis to teach their kids the gravity of questionable moments so that their children quickly learn the importance of right and wrong and how to use that knowledge to create a morally sound life and well… it turns out that guidance is only part of the equation. For the world is a grey space, one where moral ambiguity reigns supreme and it will tempt even the finest person to dabble in the darkness to see what it is like and where it can take them. Which leaves one to wonder what exactly does move a person to hold to a high moral standard over anything else, and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation explores that particular process to a tee.

For ‘The First Duty’ sees the U.S.S. Enterprise return to Earth so that Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher and anyone willing to join them, can watch Cadet Wesley Crusher and the infamous Nova Squadron, perform some amazing maneuvers off the rings of Saturn for Starfleet Academy’s graduation ceremonies. Only to learn that Wesley was involved in a fatal accident during a training run over the planet, giving Picard and Crusher good reason to stick around and support him through the forthcoming investigation that was going to accompany this unfortunate turn of events and well, it is a good thing that they do. Because the inquiry in question has a strange air surrounding it, as though someone is not telling the entire truth about what led to the untimely death of a talented cadet and that kind of suspicion immediately motivates the captain to dig deeper.

To the point where he enlists the help of Geordi and Data to examine the evidence and well, what they and the Academy’s forensic scientists uncover is quite unsettling. In that, the accident wasn’t caused by the off-the-wall claims of Wesley’s teammates, instead it was prompted because the leader of Nova Squadron, a cadet named Nicholas Locarno, saw an opportunity to do something amazing for graduation. In that, the squadron could potentially pull off a dangerous aerial stunt not seen for decades and well… his poor choice led to disaster, and it motivated him to push Wesley and the others to keep the truth a secret, out of some strange sense of honor and teamwork. Something that Wesley bought into because those are honest and just elements that his former shipmates stood for, but it was the wrong line of thinking and Picard made it clear what needed to happen next.

In that, Wesley had a choice to make. He could either trust his moral center, the one his mother and Jean-Luc helped to forge and see through the lies and manipulation that Locarno was sending his way… and do the right thing or bury himself in the grey area and let the captain bring the truth to the light. Which would lead to far worse trouble and thankfully, Wesley chose the right path and took his lumps for doing so and that in turn, brought forth the answer to our burning question about what forges a good person. As it turns out, it involves a choice. For one must choose to be bigger and better, regardless of the cost that decision might bring forth in a situation such as Wesley’s and that really was quite the poignant message to inject into what turned out to be one incredibly engrossing and downright powerful story.

Because this one really did a wonderful job of explaining how hard it can be to take the high road and the importance of honesty in all things and that makes this an episode grounded in the fundamentals of the franchise, one that is so thorough in its exploration of the power of the truth, that it truly stays with you for quite some time after it has ended. But what’s amazing, is that the wonder of this tale doesn’t end with its commentary on our morality. For this is also a keystone episode of sorts since it features actors that would go on to play important parts in the future of the franchise. Since Ray Walston would reprise his role as Boothby twice more in Star Trek: Voyager and of course, Robert Duncan McNeil (Locarno) would go on to play Lieutenant Tom Paris in that series as well. If anything, this is just a stellar episode when all is said and done, one that hopefully won’t be overshadowed by the goofy mess that follows it since the next story, is another low point in season five. Until next time.

The majority of famous franchises out there, tend to be known for a specific hook for their respective and prospective audiences. For instance, anyone that is tuning into Doctor Who knows that they are going to be treated to a wild adventure through time and space and if you’re settling in for a Star Wars feature or series, you’re likely going to enjoy some kind of epic battle or action sequence. But one franchise that tends to defy this logic is Star Trek, simply because it has a great deal of concepts present to excite audiences that tune in. For it features a wonderful future for mankind and it also offers up thoughtful adventures throughout the stars and something that is sometimes lamented but featured prominently in this saga… is time travel as well.

In fact, some of the franchise’s most iconic and famous stories revolve around that concept and it is of note today, simply because Star Trek: The Next Generation finally took a solid crack at a concept that the crew of The Original Series thrived within and well… putting time travel into TNG actually turned out to be a wonderful decision. Mainly because ‘Cause and Effect’ offers up a different kind of time travel story, one that outright take the audience by surprise. Because after watching the 1701-D blow up in the cold teaser, it appears as though everything is just fine since the episode opens with everyone going about their daily business without a care in the world. But it doesn’t take long for the story to reveal the fact that the crew is trapped within their own temporal causality loop, and the destruction of the Enterprise produces enough energy to reset the event over and over again and that really is quite the cool twist.

Because up until this point in the franchise, time travel was all about setting things right timeline wise or saving the future from cataclysm by say… recusing two incredibly cute humpback whales. So, to see the crew forget what’s happening or deal with Déjà vu on a consistent basis really is a neat way to build up to a plan to save themselves from forever being stuck in a time loop of terror and the solution to get out of that problem, is equally as engrossing. Because it really is a refreshing idea to use Lieutenant Commander Data’s positronic network to receive a message from the future since this writer is hard pressed to think of any other science fiction story that used that kind of delivery system to solve the problem and well, that makes this a refreshing and original time travel story for certain, one that definitely raised the bar for the franchise. 

Plus, we would be remiss to not talk about the fact that this episode features quite the epic cameo as well. Because despite spotting his name in the opening credits, actually seeing Kelsey Grammer pop up as Captain Morgan Bateson was quite the incredible surprise. After all, he was still on Cheers at this point in time, playing Dr. Frasier Crane, and that show was a juggernaut back in the 1980s and 1990s and well, having someone of his stature swing by… really was a big deal for the franchise. Because it made it a touch more mainstream and respectable and Grammer is super impactful during his short time on screen and he’s not the only actor that sells this particular tale through and through. Because the cast is simply electric in this tale and that is likely thanks in large part to the fact that Jonathan ‘Two Takes’ Frakes directed this particular entry and he knows how to get the best out of the actors he works with.

If anything, this is just a supremely satisfying episode through and through. One that engrosses you from beginning to end with a juicy plot that really does shake the time travel trope right up and most important of all, this is an episode that wipes away the bad taste of its predecessor. All by getting back to the basics of what makes Trek so great. Because this is a story where people from all walks of life come together to solve a horrible problem and they do it in an open and diverse manner that works and well, that’s what you love to see from this series and the good news, is that now that this adventure has come to a satisfying close, the next chapter in this saga has another powerful concept waiting in the wings for us by way of a morality tale. One that challenges young Wesley Crusher, to do the right thing. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 4 of ‘The Real Manhunter’.

When we think of a manhunt in the United States of America, some intense concepts come to mind. Such as a powerhouse car chase through the streets of our cities, and armed officers storming into places where the criminal they’re looking for is hiding and well, those images pop into our heads simply because we’ve seen those kinds of acts take place time and time again when the police are chasing a wanted criminal. But while that’s how we handle our affairs in the good ol’ U.S. of A., it does lead one to wonder exactly how the global community handles a manhunt… since this is all we know and thankfully, the next episode of The Real Manhunter on Acorn TV takes the time to show us how dangerous criminals are hunted in the United Kingdom.

For ‘The Murder of Krystal Hart’ showcases an intense case from Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton’s past, one that came about shortly after Levi Bellfield was put behind bars and well, this particular chase for a dangerous monster… was born out of some sorrowful circumstances. For Krystal Hart, the victim in question, was living her happy life near a neighbor named Angela Brewer, who felt the need to stick her nose in everyone’s business. And to complicate matters further, Angela was friends with a man named Thomas Hughes and that’s important because Thomas was the kind of person who liked to flex up on others and show the world just how hardcore he was and well, another set of disagreements between Krystal and Angela… gave him the chance to really showcase how tough he thought he was. 

Because he saw this spat as an opportunity to solve Angela’s problems once and for all and one fine morning, he stormed toward Krystal’s door with a gun in hand and when she opened said door… he fired twice, killing Krystal and her unborn baby before quickly making a run for it and well, that’s where we came to learn what a manhunt looks like in England. Because once it was established that Thomas was indeed the man that committed this murder through video evidence and testimony, the police had to figure out his whereabouts and bring him in and as it turns out… hunting a dangerous criminal in England is handled by way of a lot of stealth. Because the last thing the police want to do, is elicit panic or give their suspect a chance to cause more harm and that led to a grand search using cell phone pinging to hunt Thomas down.

Which only took the police so far, since they were sadly, a few minutes behind each ping and when the signal went cold and when the last known whereabouts of the signal was thoroughly searched, Colin elicited the help of the general public and that oddly enough, allowed for an armed response team to help bring Thomas in when he made himself known and that in turn, led to his incarceration. Which is another sentence that should have honestly been longer since he took two lives in one fell swoop, but the plus side is… he is rotting in a cell and now the audience knows that manhunts in the United Kingdom… look vastly different than how we handle things stateside. Since they feature a low-key, low risk approach and what’s truly amazing is that they are shockingly effective since Thomas was eventually arrested and charged. 

But what matters most, is that this series continues to find new ways to explore Colin’s illustrious career and that’s a wonderful thing. Because adding angles such as this allows for us to learn as we watch and gain a better understanding of what goes into police work in countries other than our own and that really does make this quite the unique series when all is said and done. Since it refuses to simply be a download and what’s equally as impressive, is that despite lacking a thrilling chase or a dangerous stand-off… this episode still puts the viewer on the edge of their seat. Because Hughes really was a loose and dangerous individual and there was a grave risk that he might escalate the situation further and now that this case has come to an end, it will be quite interesting to see what other unique lessons and cases await us as this season rolls along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 206 of ‘Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries’.

It is definitely safe to say that Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries is proving itself to be quite the unique crime series. For this Acorn TV original really is doing a phenomenal job of exploring the more unconventional reasons as to why people commit crimes and murders since we’ve been treated to stories that explore the genesis of crimes of desperation and pettiness and passion, lending a fascinating sense of realism and relevance to a story that is set in 1964 and it would seem that this show is showing no signs of slowing down in regard to this. Because as it turns out, the next episode in this delightfully charming serial, takes the time to once again examine a unique reason for people to cross the ultimate line.
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For ‘Coop de Grace’ is a story that pondered upon the fact, that some people will harm others in the hopes of keeping a grand secret buried for all times and it accomplished this particular examination… by offering up one of Peregrine’s most unique investigations to date. For this time around, murder most foul occurred at a bird club. Wherein the club president, named Virgil, was found tarred and feathered and stuffed with bird seed and well… that led to a variety of possible suspects for Peregrine and James to investigate. For one of the club members, Melvin, spent time in jail for committing a tar and feathering act back in the day and had beef with Virgil and the birdseed in question was forged by the club president’s own sister, Thelma, who wasn't fond of her brother in the slightest. But despite investigating those leads, James and Peregrine were stumped as to who might have crossed the biggest line imaginable since there was nothing solid to tie their suspects to this crime.

But as the case continued along, it quickly became apparently that someone was trying their best to keep our dynamic duo away from the truth and could have eventually succeeded in pinning this crime on someone else, had they not pushed so hard to be unseen by the police and our favorite private detective. For Samuel uncovered the fact that a man named Nick, who just so happened to be Virgil’s right hand man at the club, tampered with evidence designed to clear his name and once Peregrine and James swung by to have a little chat about the matter, they came to learn why. For it turns out that Nick was a former Nazi soldier and was working hard to keep that a secret and knew that scrutiny would reveal this awful truth and unfortunately for Virgil… he came to learn of this secret and died because of it. And that is a wonderful and direct way to point out to the audience that when someone has a horrible secret to keep… the kind that could cost them everything, they’ll do whatever it takes to keep it buried. 

However, what was truly impressive about this week’s mystery, is that it also managed to offer up some answers in regard to what exactly Birdie has been up to behind the scenes when it comes to her side spy gig and as it turns out… she’s been handling unfinished business. For she and her beau, Aleks, used to hunt Nazis back during the war and a chance to bring down one that got away was too juicy an opportunity to pass up. But sadly, her journey was the saddest one present in this tale. Because despite taking a Nazi officer into custody, the fight to capture him, cost Aleks his life. Leaving dear Birdie beside herself and her sorrow oddly enough, motivated her to have a serious heart to heart with Peregrine about her and James’ standing as a couple and rightfully so. 

For this episode made it clear that the song and dance they’ve been playing around one another, where they appear to be professionals over anything else, won’t last and that at some point they need to address their feelings for one another and what happened between them. Because this episode saw their love for one another bubble to the surface on a consistent basis, and the comfort they felt toward experiencing those emotions once again, spoke volumes to the fact that they are a tortured pair emotionally and while Peregrine is now ready to take that next step and be open and honest with the man that sends her heart a flutter… such an act will be easier thought than done. For Sally has made her mark on her relationship with James, and Peregrine is all about keeping the highest integrity in such matters and it will be quite interesting to see what she does now that she is ready to tell James he is her everything.

But while we wait to see what will become of James and Peregrine, we can bask in the wonder of one quality tale. Because not only did this one offer us a quality examination on why people take lives, it was also filled to the brim with solid humor and quirky moments that only this series can pull off, and it even featured a little action and adventure and some emotional gravity as well. Because Birdie’s response to her beloved’s death made for some powerful moments for certain and well, this episode just goes to show that this series is one of the most versatile crime dramas around. For this writer is hard pressed to think of any other series in this vein that can pack in that many storylines and themes and blend them together in such a seamless manner and well, it will be quite interesting to see what other bold storytelling akin to this, awaits us as we barrel toward the series two finale. Until next time.

It’s been a long time since these Retro Recaps have had anything incredibly critical to say about Star Trek: The Next Generation and there is good reason for that. Because once we got past the utter disaster that was ‘Shades of Grey’, the series turned everything around in the writers’ room, and delivered powerhouse tale after powerhouse tale. To the point where it appeared for a while there, that this series could do no wrong. As though the writing staff had figured out the formula and knew how to tell nothing but stories that resonated and made us think, but alas, that was a false sense of security for certain. Because the next episode in this series made it clear that mistakes were still going to happen in this saga, especially when the story in question… played it safe. 
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Which is precisely what ‘The Outcast’ does and that’s shocking to say the least since its subject matter initially makes it seem as though it is going to be a brave tale. For it saw Commander William T. Riker fall head over heels in love with an alien named Soren that hailed from a race of non-binary beings known as the J’naii and well, that alone makes it sound like Trek was about to tackle some serious topics head on. Because having a non-binary individual on screen in such a major franchise would have been and should have been groundbreaking in every way imaginable. Since that is something that no science fiction series or story in general was tackling in the early 1990s. But alas, it doesn’t take long for this particular tale to make it clear that it is going to bungle everything it is going to attempt to say about equal rights.

For this particular tale shows us a Federation and members of Starfleet that are straight up close minded to this species. Since Worf says some downright awful and out of character things about non-binary individuals and an organization as progressive as the Federation, sees its members struggle with the concept of non-binary individuals, to the point where they have to ask about what it is like to be in a genderless species and speak to how ‘strange’ that is for them and that’s just awful to see play out on screen. Because this is 2368, when man has moved past that kind of closed-minded thinking, and it has no place here. Plus, to complicate matters further, the story eventually reveals that sometimes a member of the J’naii will ‘choose’ a gender, allowing for that heteronormal relationship between Soren and Riker to take place.

Which is perhaps the greatest insult this episode puts forth since it more or less paints the LGBTQ+ community as one that is striving for heteronormalcy and well, that’s a shame when all is said and done. Because this is a second swing and a miss for TNG when it comes to addressing equal rights and representation and what’s worse is that it was so close to being something so brilliant. In fact, just by having members of the Federation or Starfleet pay no mind to a person’s gender would have made this story insanely progressive. And if the story also had the crew of the Enterprise step in and perhaps save the J’naii from persecution and still have Riker fall in love with Soren, well then, this episode would have been downright iconic. But alas, it was afraid to push the envelope and will forever be remembered as a bit of an embarrassment and a lost opportunity storytelling wise.

But it is important to note that eventually the franchise would make up for its mistakes here. Since Deep Space Nine would handle gender fluidity better by way of Jadzia and Ezri Dax and Discovery would of course introduce non-binary characters into canon and treat them with the respect and the proper pronouns that were missing here. It is frustrating though that TNG never quite led the way in such matters however, considering how many thoughtful and forward-thinking episodes it featured over the course of its seven-year run. But sadly, behind the scenes politics and concerns that a mainstream audience wouldn’t be able to handle something this progressive, marred this series from becoming one of the most progressive of its time and that’s genuinely unfortunate for certain and all we can hope for at this point, is that we don’t run into any more episodes during this re-watch, that shy away from what’s right in such a cowardly manner. Until next time.