Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 102 of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’.
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If there is one particular constant that tends to permeate the Star Trek franchise, it would have to be that we spend a lot of time with seasoned and intelligent Starfleet officers over the course of any given series. Which makes sense, since the crews we hang out with are the best of the best and are ready to handle anything that comes their way. But in order for Picard to become Picard, and so on, these legendary officers had to start somewhere, and were once people and/or aliens that made mistakes and learned from them in order to become the hero we know now and that’s why the CBS All Access series Star Trek: Lower Decks is such a refreshing tale through and through. 
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For in essence, this series is providing the audience with those bumbling and awkward first days for Starfleet officers. Where they are unsure of whether or not this is actually the life for them and how on Earth they’re going to cut it in such an elite organization, and it just so happens that this week’s episode of the series dove deep into those particular worries and concerns, and outright mistakes that young officers make as they begin their careers in Starfleet. Alongside some thoughts on what exactly it will take to make them the legends they will someday become, all in a hilarious and fun manner of course. And that made ‘Envoys’ quite the wonderful tale, one that also narrowed its focus in regard to this exploration to two key characters; Ensigns Boimler and Rutherford.

Simply because they are perhaps the greenest two officers of our cadre of heroes in this show, especially Rutherford. Because when we catch up with him in this tale, he’s doing this thing as a hardcore engineer and loving the wonder of fixing the ship. But he quickly comes to realize that his position requires a lot of personal sacrifice, leaving him to wonder if by chance he should look at another division on the Cerritos so that he can enjoy a social life. An exploration that of course ends with him back in the ship’s tubes after he hilariously discovers that none of the other divisions are for him in the slightest. But that is a key element to building a great officer in Starfleet, in that, everyone has to find their passion in order to be the absolute best at what they do. And it was quite wonderful to see Rutherford explore his options aboard the ship and eventually find his path and be encouraged by every senior officer along the way.

As for Ensign Boimler, well his journey in this tale handled the fact that officers are going to make mistakes along the way, and how that can indeed rattle a rookie. Especially when uh, the Klingon Ambassador you’re escorting, steals your shuttlecraft when he’s on a Bloodwine bender, on your watch. Which was a hilarious setup to explore the nature of mistakes, since it led to a great many more mistakes for Ensign Boimler. Because he followed everything by the book in this tale in the hopes of finding the ambassador and that allowed for him to quickly learn that sometimes book smarts and regulations aren’t the key to solving big problems. Sometimes you need outright experience in order to accomplish your mission, which is why it is a wonderful thing that Mariner joined him on this wild expedition, since she had real-world insight to offer him and she was able to teach him that not everything is going to go to plan, along with the most important lesson of all.
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In that; sometimes you need someone to have your back and lift you up when the going gets tough in order to find success in Starfleet. Because this really was a difficult mission for Boimler, to the point where he began to wonder if this was really for him or not. But Mariner refused to let him quit, and even set up a win for him so that he could feel as though he did something right on a tough day and for her efforts, she saw a rejuvenated and confident Boimler at the helm of the recovered shuttle and well, that was quite the lovely way to end this episode. Because her kindness and knowledge allowed for Boilmer to recover from his mistakes and have faith in himself once again and that’s exactly what great mentors do, and that gives this particular episode a lot of heart and a lot of meaning when all is said and done.

Because it reinforces the fact that Starfleet is about family in a way, and we are starting to see the lower decks side of the Cerritos come together in that manner and that’s just wonderful. But what matters the most about this tale, is that we were able to see two young officers grow and learn right before our eyes and start to realize their potential as Starfleet officers and people and that’s something that is a staple of this franchise and it is delightful to know this series is going to have depth to go along with the laughs. Of which there were plenty by the way. Because every mistake that Boimler and Rutherford made in this tale definitely brought about some serious chuckles for certain and well, this really is shaping up to be quite the special series and it should be interesting to see what other important lessons in regard to life aboard a starship, or life in general, this series is going to send our way in the weeks to come. Until next time.  

If there is one thing that we can all agree upon, it would have to be that science has been a blessing upon the whole of mankind. For it has allowed for us to beat back horrible illnesses that once ravaged our species, and it’s made the world a tighter knit place by way of technology. Something that has allowed for people in different parts of the planet to communicate with each other on a moment’s notice. And of course, it’s taken us to the heavens above, inspiring so many to reach for the impossible since it can be achieved. But what matters most about all of these feats, is that they came about by way of honest work. For there were no shortcuts taken when the scientific community worked to create these wonders, there was just dedication and care to get it done the right way so that mankind could reap the benefits. 

In fact, the integrity that science exhibits as a whole is what makes it so incredibly special. Because few ever deviate from its standards and that’s a wonderful thing. Because in the wrong hands or arrogant ones for that matter, bad things could come about, a truth that is often explored heavily in fiction. For that is a safe place to explore the dangers that could come forth from cutting corners in regard to the scientific method, and it just so happens that this particular exploration took place in the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. For ‘Unnatural Selection’ saw an experiment involving the human genome backfire horribly thanks to arrogance and the drive for fast results from a group of scientists, something that forced the crew of the Enterprise to think on their feet to find a cure for what carelessness bought about, and that made for one compelling episode.

One that oddly enough, finally allowed for Doctor Katherine Pulaski to really contribute to the story. Because up until now, she’s been nothing more than either background scenery or a voice in the room designed to push the plot along. But here, she finally got to really show us how dedicated she is as a physician since a medical experiment gone awry is right in her wheelhouse, and once the Enterprise was able to trace the genesis of a pathogen that aged humans rapidly to a nearby research facility, the Doctor was finally able to shine. Because she was determined to no end to figure out the finer details of this virus, so that a cure or a treatment could be found, and if that meant putting herself in harm’s way, then so be it. Which spoke volumes to how dedicated she is to saving lives and it was just wonderful to finally see her in action and of course to see the crew back her up when things went horribly wrong. 

Because she did contract the virus after all, and with no cure in sight it seemed as though there was no hope for the good doctor. But that certainly didn’t stop Captain Picard from demanding the best from his crew and putting every option on the table. Including the supremely unique idea of using the transporter to restore the doctor’s DNA to her previous state. Which was a risky gamble for certain since its failure would mean the end of Doctor Pulaski, but it was one that Picard was willing to take, especially if it saved her life and countless others, and wouldn’t you know it? The plan actually worked, and Doctor Pulaski was restored to her former and younger self, allowing for an immediate cure to be found and for research on how to fix this mess to continue.

If anything, this was simply a by the numbers, engrossing tale and it is great. For it features a mystery for the crew for the solve, some light commentary on genetic engineering and of course everyone working together to solve the problem. Which is a formula that always works on this series. But more importantly, what makes this story truly stand out, is the sheer fact that it finally allows for Doctor Pulaski to take the center stage. And it was just a delight to see her and Captain Picard finally shed their animosity and work together in proper fashion and see her be an actual part of this crew. Which just goes to show, that had she received proper development and care, she would have been a valued addition to this series. But what is done is done, and while the good doctor may not have received the same care she gave to others, at least we have this gem of a story to showcase her potential. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
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When one thinks of the end of a superhero or comic book themed tale, the word that immediately comes to mind is, bittersweet. After all, usually the ending of these types of stories are rough in nature, wherein the hero or heroes are facing insurmountable odds in order to save mankind and when their backs are against the wall and the villain has the upper hand, sad moments come to fruition. The kind where some type of sacrifice is made for the greater good. A move that leaves the audience in tears as they either bid farewell to a beloved character or watch a character go through utter hell on the road to victory and well, let’s be honest… this is the kind of ending we’ve all been prepping for when it comes to the series finale of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
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Simply because last week’s episode, set the stage for this kind of farewell. For all of S.H.I.E.L.D. was left in ruin in 1983, and without an ounce of backup or hope, the team was facing insurmountable odds in regard to saving the day and restoring the timeline. But that’s really about as close as we were ever going to get to a traditional ending for this particular series. For ‘The End is at Hand’ and ‘What We’re Fighting For’ bucked comic book and superhero norms for the MCU by giving us a vastly different and beautiful ending to this storied saga, something we should have seen coming early on, since our heroes relied on supremely unique tactics in the first hour of this tale to save their friends and the world from another Chronicom invasion. 

For rather than rely on brute force and sacrifice, this team decided to trust in the plan and believe in good above all else in order to get things done. Which some might find to be a cheesy or unfulfilling way to handle odds that great, but that would be an incorrect view for certain. Because that particular line of thinking worked in every way imaginable. Because it allowed for Coulson and Yo-Yo and May to convert John Garrett into an ally during the Lighthouse’s darkest hour when Malick turned his back on his lieutenant and of course, staying the course paid off in spades in space as well. For Sibyl was hoping Mack’s rescue squad would hold true to their ideals in order to give her the location of Fitz. An element that backfired when Malick interfered but keeping to their good nature got the team out of space and back on Earth safely, wherein a decimated S.H.I.E.L.D. remnant helped to bring about an important moment; the return of Fitz.

Something that brought joy to the story, if only for a little while. Because his return signaled the final part of a grandiose plan to bring down the Chronicoms, one that he and Jemma and Enoch concocted over the course of several years and that meant a difficult decision had to be made. Because in order to finally end this madness, they had to return home and face the Chronicoms in the prime timeline and that meant someone had to stay behind and that someone was Deke. A decision that benefitted him in the end, since it meant a promotion to Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the resurrection of the Deke Squad and well, his decision signaled the beginning of something quite wonderful. For eventually the rest of the team was able to defeat the Chronicoms and Sibyl and bring an end to Malick’s desire to rule everything with an iron fist. Which means that this grandiose story provided the audience and its heroes with an outright happy ending.
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Something that tends to be unheard of in this genre and it was handled in the most satisfying and fulfilling way imaginable. For not only did the fans get a proper goodbye by way of that final meeting scene, we also got closure in that moment, by being able to learn exactly what became of our favorite agents after this final mission came to a close. As it turns out, Fitz and Simmons, finally got to enjoy a little peace and quiet for a change by retiring from S.H.I.E.L.D, which allowed for them to properly raise their daughter. Whereas Yo-Yo and Mack stuck with it and continued their roles as agent and Director, respectively, and surprisingly everyone else was still with the organization in some capacity as well. For May took a teaching gig at the Coulson Academy and Daisy was off exploring the galaxy with Sousa and her reformed sister and Phil, well he was finally being allowed to do the impossible and discover himself and what he needed out of life and well, you really cannot ask for a more fulfilling ending than that. 

For this finale finally allowed for these agents to grow into the people we always wanted them to be, and it was clear that they were happy and satisfied with their respective paths and kudos to the writing team for taking a comic book themed story into joyous and happy territory for a change, rather than subjecting us to a heartbreaking blood bath and well, now that we’ve wrapped up our discussion of the story, the time has come to say thank you. First to the cast and crew of this series for giving us their best, year in and year out, and to ABC as well for sticking with this series for the past seven years and for giving it a proper finale and well, that’s it my fellow nerds and geeks. There’s nothing more to say about this series and its intrepid heroes because we have in fact, reached the end of this story. And it is quite wonderful to know that there are no questions left hanging at the end of this tale, just joy and satisfaction over being able to experience a complete and satisfying journey with some downright incredible and inspiring heroes.

If there is one constant in our vast and fascinating universe, it would have to be that everything has its end. For eventually a star will burn out, and the life on the planets surrounding said star, will fade away with the dying light and on our world, endings happen often as well. For the people we love eventually expire and our time to perish will come as well. And while this is a constant that all of us know is a harsh and unfortunate reality, some of us struggle with accepting it, for various reasons. For some, it is related to the fact that there is so much beauty and wonder to see in life, that leaving it all behind seems like a grave injustice. For others, it relates more to the fact that the prospect of what comes next when we die is quite terrifying for certain and well, these concerns have led to some interesting behavior from humanity. 

Because some of the people who have concerns and reservations about the end, will go the extra mile to try and cheat death. Which is why we see fads such as cryonics pop up or see these types of people working hard to make use of every miracle cure and solution out there. But despite their best efforts, eventually the end will come their way whether they like it or not and really, their journey merits greater examination. Because truly, one has to wonder just how far someone would go to cheat our biological purpose in life and thankfully, we have fiction to dive into such matters. For stories allow for any idea to become a reality and it just so happens, that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, takes the time to explore this conundrum in a fascinating and unique manner. 

For ‘The Schizoid Man’ features a brilliant scientist named Ira Graves, who is able to cheat death by downloading his consciousness into Data’s mind. Which brings about some incredible moments for certain, since the audience watches Commander Data transform into something quite unique before their very eyes, since Ira’s personality takes over every facet of our favorite android. Which means there are sour emotions present with Ira realizes that transferring bodies doesn’t guarantee he is going to get what he wants going forward. And while this part of the story does a fine job of hammering home that we cannot escape the inevitable and that trying to cheat death will cause more harm than good, what this part of the story inadvertently dives into in regard to death and why people fear it in the first place, is what makes this episode so worth the audiences’ while. 

Because we quickly come to learn that Ira feared death not only because it meant he would no longer be able to conduct his incredible research and contribute to the well-being of mankind. But also, because, the man never once took the time to truly live. For his decision to dedicate all of his time to science and nothing more, robbed him of love and moments that fulfill us, which in turn speaks to the fact that people like Ira, who wish to escape death and fear it, do so because they realize they have unfinished business in this life. Which more or less speaks to the fact that we need to live every day to its fullest and experience every opportunity that comes our way, regardless of the final outcome. Because to do otherwise creates an unfortunate panic when our time in this universe comes to a close, and one has to wonder how Dr. Graves would have handled his unfortunate diagnosis, if he had taken the time to open himself up to love and everything else, he craved.

In the end however, this really was quite the incredible episode. Because it really did cover all the bases, since we get a wonderful in-depth look at how cheating death wouldn’t give us quite what we want, since the life we lead and enjoy is supremely special and unique and can never be replicated. Plus, you simply cannot go wrong with a story that reminds the audience to live a little and indulge themselves in things that bring us joy and wonder. And of course, this is a story that once again lets Brent Spiner just put on acting clinic since he does a wonderful job of just ‘becoming’ Ira Graves and this just another fine example, of how close this show is to realizing its potential. Because this is some wonderful stuff to dive into, and it really explores parts of the human condition we don’t think about enough because of how busy our lives can be and well, this one deserves some serious credit for offering up an engrossing story. One that definitely stays with you long after it has come to an end, since it leaves you pondering on the nature of life and if you’re truly getting what you need, out of it. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of 'For all Mankind'.
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When we first started our journey through season one of the AppleTV+ series, For All Mankind, we talked a lot about the glory days of the space program and how the United States of America truly shined during that era. For that really was one of America’s finest hours, since there was unity and drive present in our nation, to get a man on the moon and maintain a presence among the stars, and as an added bonus, a gritty attitude to never fail in space bound endeavors; allowed for the crew of Apollo 13 to return home safely when their ship met with disaster in space. Which is relevant to today’s discussion simply because, those are elements that have been missing in this series, for logical reasons. For the USA in this alternate timeline has been playing catchup from day one and hasn’t really faced any major challenges until these past few episodes.   

But thankfully the season one finale of this series, served as the perfect time to finally allow for NASA and its cadre of intrepid astronauts to rise to the occasion and shine, a feat that ‘A City Upon A Hill’ accomplished by way of pushing everyone in this story to the limit. Take for example, the crew of Apollo 24. Who we learned in this tale was mostly in one piece and didn’t respond to their extended burn toward deep space because Ellen and Deke were in compromised positions. For Ellen was unconscious and Deke was hanging on for dear life and they weren’t able to do anything until the burn ended anyways and when it did, Ellen opted to try something bold and use all the craft’s remaining fuel to slow their push toward the moon. A move that had mixed results. For while this duo was able to slow their approach, they still needed to figure out how on earth they were going to insert themselves into a lunar orbit without fuel. And to complicate matters further, Deke was badly injured internally and needed proper attention, making their plight, a race against time to figure how to land on the moon and hopefully get Deke to Jamestown in time for appropriate care. 

A task that quite frankly fell to Captain Ed Baldwin. Because there was fuel in the LEM, fuel that he could needed to transfer to a wounded Apollo 24 so that they could safely land on the moon. But there was just one problem in executing this plan, in that, Ed was kind of preoccupied. After all, he had a prisoner at Jamestown Base; the Soviet Cosmonaut that desperately needed help because Ed sabotaged the man’s rover and well, this ended up being quite the powerful plot line when all is said and done. Simply because, eventually the frosty response between these two men thawed into a tenuous friendship. One that was forged by way of the fact that these two men came to realize that they were in fact, just men. Men that were tasked with a job and weren’t truly tied to the notions of the Cold War in the depths of space and it is a wonderful thing that they came to that realization. Because once Ed did communicate with Apollo 24, he came to learn he would need fuel from Apollo 15’s LEM as well to give them every chance they needed to survive and that would require help from his Soviet friend. 

Which means that in the void of space on a tiny little moon floating around a blue rock, men from two different countries that hated one another, came together to save two lives and that was quite the beautiful plot twist since it spoke to the true power of space travel and helped to focus the show’s message. But before we could dive deep into that particular part of the plot, there was still a rescue mission to finish and that is where the ‘finest hour’ came into play. Because once again, complications arose in the plan to get 24 on the moon and thanks to some incredible bravery from Ellen and fast thinking on Ed’s part they eventually got the lander on the moon, a victory that came with great sacrifice. For Deke didn’t complete the journey because of his injuries and thanks to Ellen and Ed, he found his final resting place amongst the stars. But what made this ending so powerful, is what Ellen had to say about space travel and how it was supremely important to mankind regardless of the risk. For she was quick to point out that the stars are where we belong and that we need to press forward in exploring space, because such a quest would usher in a noble new era in our history. 

Words that quite frankly, made it clear that this series really does intend to look at the power and the wonder of space travel and how it inspires us to be better. Provided of course we figure out how to shed our prejudices and politics and that will be no easy task of course, as evidenced by the launch of the massive and nuclear Jamestown expansion at the end of this tale. Leaving one to wonder how season two of this tale will focus upon those respective messages. But in the here and the now we can celebrate one stunning and epic inaugural season. One that really did captivate its audience with an incredible look at ‘what if’, and truly the majesty and the gravity of the story told here will make the wait for a second season quite difficult. Simply because, we’re all dying to know what comes next in a world where space travel is an everyday thing. Until next year.  

There are a great many things in this world that make mankind incredibly unique, and one of them is our ability to communicate with one another. Because we are the only species on this world that is able to outright explain how we feel and what we think, and being able to do all of that, has helped us to come together in an incredible manner and perform incredible actions during our short time on this world. But while it seems as though our great cities and great accomplishments as a collective society should reflect how we use communication to its maximum potential; we aren’t quite there just yet. For people who struggle with communication are often viewed in a different light by our modern society. 

Which is unfortunate, because those who have issues communicating in the exact same manner as we do, can in fact express everything they need to, just in a different way. But sadly, they tend to be left to their own devices and paths whilst the world rolls along. Something that serves as a fine reminder that we still have some room for improvement when it comes to celebrating flawless communication between one another, and it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation took the time to explore this issue in an inspiring manner in its next episode. Since ‘Loud as a Whisper’ examines in great detail, how those who communicate differently, have important and eloquent things to say, provided we take the time to listen to them.

A feat that was accomplished by introducing the audience and the crew of the Enterprise to a man named Riva. Who boasts quite the resume as a negotiator, since he helped to foster some of the treaties between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. But what truly makes him of note, is the sheer fact that he also happens to be deaf. Which means that in order to properly communicate with delegates and representatives, he makes use of empathic surrogates, who express his thoughts and feelings in relative harmony. A twist that makes it seem as though there isn't going to be any commentary or examination on unity and finding new ways to communicate flawlessly as a people. But the death of his translators during high risk negotiations, brought about that particular storytelling opportunity.

For Riva found himself devastated by this loss and was suddenly unwilling to take part in these negotiations and that’s when the crew rallied around him in an inspiring manner. Because rather than let him fall or see him slip into frustration over not being able to speak and communicate in a manner concurrent with the rest of the universe, Deanna and Data took the time to really attend to his thoughts and find new ways to communicate with him. And by being attentive to his frustrations and concerns, they were able to point out the fact that he could use sign language and patience to communicate with the warring species he wished to bring peace to. Which gave Riva hope at last that he could accomplish something special in these delicate talks, and that motivated him to stay on the planet and teach these aliens how to sign so that they could find common ground and a lasting peace after decades of conflict and that really was quite the beautiful way to end this tale. 

Because in many ways, it made a differently abled individual the hero of the story, something that was quite unheard-of back in the 80s and is still unheard of now. And making him a hero is about as Star Trek as it gets since this franchise was always about showcasing the human condition and our ability to rise up over any obstacle and Riva does just that. But what matters more, is that this particular tale points out the fact that differently abled individuals have value and shouldn’t be seen as different in the slightest. Instead, we should be taking the time to learn how to better communicate with unique individuals in our society, so that our communication does in fact become seamless and inclusive and that really is quite the wonderful lesson in inject into this particular tale, and really, this is just TNG at its finest right here. And you simply cannot go wrong with a story that asks us to be better to our fellow man, regardless of their circumstances. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 109 of ‘For All Mankind’.
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If there is one unfortunate constant in the universe, it would have to be that bad things come in bunches. Because it always seems as though, just when we’re starting to find our footing after having disaster come our way, that the universe is quick to kick us in the ribs and send another complex nightmare for us to handle and well, that’s a concept that translates to television quite smoothly. Because trouble can be produced easily on the small screen and when you take a moment and think about it, this storm of discomfort and disaster is precisely where the story is residing at the tail end of season one of For All Mankind. Because the destruction of Apollo 23 simply kicked off a sour streak in this series, one that has seen the characters go through utter hell and sadly, the hits just keep on coming in the next episode.
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For ‘Bent Bird’ finally sees Apollo 24 make it into space, only to have its engines fail before its insertion burn. Meaning that the rescue mission is now in need of rescue, which is embarrassing for NASA to say the least. Because they simply cannot catch a break when it comes to getting Ed off the moon, but thankfully, Tracy and Molly have a quick response plan to fix the problem aboard 24, one that should allow for the ship to get to Jamestown post haste. Which makes it seem as though disaster is no longer in the cards since there are heroes on the way. But a malfunction in the on-board computer after repairs are complete, kills Astronaut Liu and sends Apollo 24 careening into space. And to complicate matters further, 25 is left damaged and one of their own is floating in the void, forcing Gordo and Tracy to think fast in order to save the day.

But while there is some semblance of hope at the end of this segment of the story, since 25’s crew is headed back to Earth, the fate of Deke and Ellen is left hanging and this is perhaps NASA’s greatest challenge and disaster to date since there is a solid chance that what’s left of that crew might float off into deep space. But what’s truly impressive about this episode, is that it didn’t totally hammer the audience with an endless stream of darkness. For this particular tale also took the time to follow up with Karen and how she is holding up after losing her son and thankfully it seems as though she is starting to look at life differently after this tragedy, to the point where she began to wonder if the life she’s leading is genuinely fulfilling or not. And it was nice to see her try and make some sense of the chaos of the universe and do right by her son by trying to chart a course forward that honors him in the right way. Since there is no greater way to honor those we’ve lost, than by living life to the fullest.
   
Plus, this episode also took the time to finally address something that’s been brewing upon the moon. Because with Ed and the Russians both toying around with spying upon one another, it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths and had some of kind of interaction or confrontation, and that is precisely what happened in this tale. For Ed discovered that the Russians were using his lift to go down into the crater and after a brief but tense standoff on the surface of the moon, where it briefly seemed as though Ed might be harmed, he let the Cosmonaut seemingly go about his business without a care in the universe. Which was nothing more than a ruse. For Ed saw an opportunity to finally get the upper hand here and possibly get some answers, and as it turns out, Captain Baldwin sabotaged the Soviet Rover whilst the Cosmonaut was inside the crater. Forcing this rival to swing by Jamestown base to ask for immediate help, wherein Ed was able to knock him out by manipulating the oxygen, thereby giving him quite the prize; a Soviet prisoner. 

Which is quite the powerful way to end this tale, since Ed’s bold decision and the fate of Apollo 24 set the stage for a tense season finale. One that could continue to take us to some dark places if the Cosmonaut’s friends come looking for him, or if we come to learn that Deke and Ellen are dead or in rough shape. Plus, if nothing can be done about their current trajectory, they are indeed going where no one has gone before and well, this really was quite the wild episode when all is said and done. Because it simply featured one intense and harrowing moment after another. Leaving one to wonder if the series is going to end its first season on a sour note, one that hammers home the dangers of space travel, or if we are about to see America finally have its finest hour in the depths of space and the only way to know, is to bid farewell for now and dive right into the season one finale. Until next time.    

What’s truly fascinating about the Star Trek universe as a whole, is how it often challenges its audience by offering up stories that compel and inspire us to be better than we are now. A feat that it often accomplishes by having the crews of a respective series, encounter characters and a world that feature human behaviors that in a way, hold us back from genuine progress. Which is why we see stories that tackle racism and inequality and everything in between, so that we can reflect upon our lives and our world and genuinely ponder upon what kind of changes can be made to ensure that such issues are removed from the face of our planet. Which is one of the many reasons as to why this franchise is so uplifting.

But from time to time, the writers’ room gets a little ambitious with its storytelling and loses sight of the message. Which results in an uneven tale that quite frankly, is a bit messy for certain and sadly, this is a problem that tends to plague early seasons of Star Trek shows. But while these formative years are all about finding a show’s voice and direction, the end result of these mistakes tend to be quite laughable and cringe-worthy in nature and sadly, a well-intentioned misstep is precisely what the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation features. For ‘The Outrageous Okona’ was clearly designed to be a tale about how we need to shed our selfish and narcissistic ways as a society in order to grow, something that the brash Okona personifies when he comes aboard the Enterprise, while his ship undergoes repairs.

But the opportunity to express that fascinating message is utterly wasted once the plot gets underway. For in the end, this episode turns out to be nothing more than a grandiose soap opera. One that paints Okona as a playboy that is eager to make sweet love to any woman he comes in contact with, when in reality, he is nothing more than a good man with great intentions that just loves sex and well, none of this works on screen in the slightest. Because not only does it cheapen the message that the episode hoped to express, the star-crossed lovers/soap opera segment of the story, is just silly and annoying and honestly has no gravity or place in TNG. Because there’s no stakes here, and nothing remotely important about what’s happening, making a majority of this episode a grand hunk of filler since it goes nowhere and does nothing for the characters.

Which is an unfortunate turn that is extended to the only plot thread worth a damn in this tale, which involves Data’s exploration of the nature and the power of humor. Which is a shame because when Data tries to understand humanity, usually powerful moments come out of that exploration. But here, the only focus is trying to get Data to tell a funny joke, and that really serves no purpose or growth for Data. But this particular part of the story isn’t a total loss. After all, it lets Spiner show off his comedic chops once again and having Joe Piscopo guest star as ‘The Comic’ is a real treat since he does his thing here in unrestrained and dynamic fashion. But really, in the end, all of these elements and their empty paths storytelling wise, really just raise a big question in the audience’s mind, in that… what was the point of all of this?

Because TNG was always about taking the story somewhere special. But this. This is just a bunch of stuff that happens to fill a forty-five-minute block and that’s just unfortunate. Because had the story taken the time to really have Okona deal with his desire for isolation, instead of playing up his libido for laughs, something special could have happened with that particular plot thread. And if Data’s storyline featured some depth as well and something more worthwhile in exploring human emotions, well then, this episode would have been a brilliant exploration of the human condition. Specifically, what it means to bring joy into one another’s life and what it means to let down walls and be a part of something bigger. But instead, this is nothing more than a puff piece, one that passes the time and well, what’s done is done and this once again serves as a reminder that we do still have a little way to go before this series really hits the mark. And now that this particularly disappointing adventure has come to a close, it is on to the next one and hopefully ‘Loud as a Whisper’ has something more to offer the audience. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 108 of ‘For All Mankind’.
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For the most part, we tend to romanticize space travel in storytelling and understandably so. Because it really is a noble quest, one that puts the best parts of humanity on display, since only the finest of people would agree to traverse the universe and brave the challenges that come with such a dangerous mission. Yet while it is nice to indulge in stories that celebrate voyages through the cosmos and how they inspire humanity, the wonder and awe in these stories is simply not sustainable when set in modern times. Because right now, the world is a chaotic place, one where bad things still happen on a regular basis and it just so happens that the Apple TV+ series, For All Mankind, is making a point to highlight the difficulties that would come with rushed space travel in an era of chaos. 
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After all, the last episode showed us how long-term travel and an extended stay on a foreign world might impact the human mind in a negative manner and that oddly enough, helped to serve as setup/preparation for a brutal chapter in this story. For ‘Rupture’ takes the time to explore in great detail, what might happen if tragedy befell the family of an astronaut and how those left behind would have to deal with and process such a disaster, along with an exploration on the finer points of how that kind of news would remotely be broken to an astronaut; and those elements made for one powerful and devastating tale. And sadly, in order to explore these elements, Karen Baldwin had to be placed in one supremely difficult place. Because young Shane sustained some serious brain injuries in the accident that closed out the prior tale, leaving him outright brain dead. 

Which meant that NASA had to make an incredibly tough call, in that, do they bother to tell Ed that his son is in a vegetative state while he’s in total isolation on the moon, or do they try and keep his routine normal? In the hopes of sparing him incredible pain. Which led to quite the debate over mental health and a sense of duty and honor, and the final decision on that matter, fell to Karen. Because no one knew Ed better than Karen and her call was a simple one. Which was, to let it be for now and let Ed go about his duties without a care a world, a decision that while right in Karen’s eyes; led to all kinds of stress and worry in her mind. For she was truly concerned as to whether or not she was betraying the man she dearly loved, and this decision and this burden, put her in quite the dark place mentally. 

In fact, her only shred of hope was NASA’s neurologist, since he would provide everyone with the final word on what was to be done with Shane since ‘brain death’ was a new concept in 1974. But alas, eventually that hope was drained from her soul when the doc revealed that Shane was in fact, gone, and that led to the powerful moments in question. Because that revelation forced Karen to share the news and well, since neither Ed nor Karen could properly grieve together, not with 239,000 miles separating them; watching them try to process the hard reality that their son was dead, was heartbreaking for certain. For Ed and Karen never got the chance to properly say goodbye to their baby boy and their final interactions with him were negative in nature and that’s the kind of stuff that haunts a person through and through and who knows what kind of impact this will have on both of them in the days to come.

But in the here and the now, this really was quite the engrossing and incredible tale. Because it really did offer up some powerful ‘what ifs’ for folks that want to travel in space. Because without some kind of high-speed drive available, they will have to receive rough news in this manner and process it in the void and that is one hell of a burden to reconcile. Either way, this has to be the most unique episode of the series to date, and it is quite fascinating to see the show shift gears in this manner. Because clearly, it is working toward something message wise, outside of the usual ‘space will make us better’ and truly, it is going to be fascinating to learn what that message is. But before we get to that point, undoubtedly the next tale is going to focus heavily on the fallout of Shane’s death, which means we should definitely brace ourselves for more powerful storytelling from a series that has uncovered a way to be completely unconventional in telling a tale about space travel. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the second episode of ‘Earthflight’.
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If there is one harsh reality about our world, that always seems to take us off guard when we are confronted with it, it would have to be the fact that life faces great and harrowing challenges in the wild. And this surprises us, simply because we have it easy in our world. So, to see animals doing whatever it takes to see another day, immediately opens our eyes and reminds us of the fragility of life and the difficulties that come with surviving on this beautiful but harsh world, that we all call home. Yet what’s truly fascinating about this lesson, is that is still tends to evoke familiar images in our minds, of places that are exotic, where animals that we expect to be fierce and wild compete with one another for food and water.
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But even birds, a species that we consider to be docile and simple deal with this kind of fight for survival as well, and for proof, well then look no further than last night’s episode of Earthflight. For a voyage to ‘Africa’ allowed for us to learn exactly what kinds of challenges birds face in this beautiful place and some fine examples of this, came about by way of the time we spent with the flamingos in this part of the world. For these beautifully feathered creatures live to feast off of algae in lakes, and well, getting the food they need is no easy task. Because sometimes the lake they flock to, simply isn’t rich in the algae they so crave, which means they can find themselves starving as they move from lake to lake to find the right food. And to complicate matters further, since they are a weaker bird, they tend to be seen as prey, making them easy targets when they settle in to rest and feed. 

Yet while it was fascinating to see how a bird as beautiful as the flamingo struggles in the wild on a consistent basis, to find a meal or escape being one, the show also made sure to show us how life can be equally as difficult for predator birds in this part of the world as well. Because vultures and eagles and the like, have to make use of patience and the sights before them in order to find food, since they tend to follow apex predators on the ground. All in the hopes of getting their beaks on what those predators leave behind when they’ve had their fill, and even then, that’s no easy task. For some of the predators on land don’t wish to relinquish their meals, forcing these birds to get creative. But while it isn’t always easy, usually other beasts of prey offer up some kind of assist, allowing for these birds to enjoy a grand feast.

Speaking of assists, that actually had to be the most surprising aspect of this particular tale. Specifically, the fact that so many birds on this continent use teamwork and synergy and the environment in order to survive. Because it was just fascinating to also see gannets work with dolphins to bring fish to the surface by way of dive bombs and patience and it was equally as incredible to see how birds from all over this continent use wind to help guide them in flight. For storks and eagles and every bird in between are all about using thermals to help propel them to new heights, giving them a chance to see a meal from afar, and these thermals also help them to reach new destinations. For birds use these blasts of air to also help them migrate. Something that will apparently become quite important come next week, since this episode had one last surprise in store for us… a cliffhanger. 

Which is a brilliant thing to find in a documentary, since most tales in this vein rarely find a way to tie these vignettes together. But the fact that so many birds from Africa, head north to Europe to breed, allows for the perfect segue to take place and truly, it leaves the audience excited to see what wonders await us when we arrive in Europe. But in the here and the now, this really was quite the powerful chapter in this tale about birds. Because it really did provide us with some unique insight on how difficult it is for feathered creatures to thrive in harsh environments. But as is often the case, life always figures out a way to survive, even when the odds are seemingly against it and that made for one incredible tale. One that definitely did a phenomenal job of educating its audience and well, now that we are done with the wonder of Africa, it should be fascinating to see what trials and tribulations await the birds leaving this continent, as they make their way to Europe. Until next time.