​When it comes to these Retro Recaps of Star Trek, I’ve said it before and I will say it again, there really is nothing quite as incredible as being able to go back and watch the origin story of a particular species or a particular character. Because seeing their arrival long after they’re established in the franchise is just a glorious experience since you can see what elements went into making them so unique and so special. And this is on my mind today, simply because the next episode of this storied saga features the introduction of a species that would go on to become a quintessential villain (and later friend) in the franchise; the warrior race known as the Klingons.
 
For ‘Errand of Mercy’ finally saw their arrival on the show and when it comes to introducing major factions in the Beta Quadrant that the Federation aren’t friends with; well they truly saved the best for last in season one. Because their introduction came about in terrifying fashion since the opening moments of this episode in essence find the United Federation of Planets at war with this mysterious species and that’s just, an incredible way to open up a tale. Because up until now, the idea that the Federation could go to war with anyone seemed impossible, especially when one considers how hard Kirk and company work to avoid it. But war was on the agenda and starting off the episode in this fashion definitely grabs your attention, and the wonder of this tale didn’t end with its powerful opening.
 
Because once the Klingons arrive on Organia alongside Kirk and Spock we are treated to something supremely special, the introduction of the legendary Commander Kor. A character that would appear in multiple iterations of the saga, even going so far as to show up on Deep Space Nine and well, the significance of this character, and actor John Colicos’ portrayal of him was not lost upon me. In fact, it’s John’s work here that matters the most since he more or less establishes the depth and cunning nature that we would come to expect from all Klingon Commanders as the series rolled on. And I love how well he and Kirk play off of one another and the sheer ruthlessness that he exhibits, and the cat and mouse game he engages in with the captain, allows for the lessons present in the episode’s finale to work in seamless fashion.
 
For the unraveling of the situation serves to remind us of how quickly things can spiral out of control when it comes to situations such as these since we’ve seen that happen on the news before. And it also serves to remind us how diplomacy and understanding can go right out the door when our way of life is threatened since Kirk gives into his fury, despite knowing full well that war would be devastating between these two civilizations. If anything, the Organians decision to step in and end this conflict before it can escalate any further is equally as brilliant, since they are in essence the adult in the room and their actions serve as a fine lesson as well, in that, perhaps sometimes the only way to properly avoid conflict is to bring a voice of reason into the mix.
 
If anything, I always enjoy it when we encounter a species that is the complete opposite of the Federation, since it challenges the characters and the audience in new ways, and this episode is definitely no exception to that unspoken rule. Because having Kirk indulge his fury in this situation, helps to reinforce the message that we always have to strive to be better and that we should never give in to anger. In the end however, this really was a true treat to watch. For the Klingons are amazing in this particular tale and it is just so cool to see their genesis on the series and it’s also quite amazing how fleshed out they were in their first appearance, and this was just another stunning episode, and I love how the quality continues to ramp up as the season comes to a close. Until next time.   

I think it is safe to say that fans of AMC’s Preacher, had one particular question on their minds when they settled in to watch last night’s series finale of the show, specifically; how is it going to end? Which is quite frankly, a solid question to ask. Because how does one wrap up a story that has taken us to every corner of the afterlife, and allowed for us to hang out with vampires and undying assassins and a group of religious zealots who worship a wildly manipulated version of Jesus Christ, and for that matter, has also taken the time to show us the flaws and of the Almighty and his foil, Beelzebub? Well as it turns out, the best way to end a series this off the wall, is to give it the most logical and traditional conclusion imaginable and for proof, just take a look at how things turned out at Masada.
 
For the final battle at Grail HQ in ‘End of the World’, did everything by the book and that’s a wonderful thing. Because it meant that a great many plot threads were brought to a close in quick and logical and fashion, since this grand melee saw Adolf Hitler finally die, at the hands of Jesus Christ no less, and it saw Featherstone pay the price for her faith after making nice with Tulip. Plus, we also saw our favorite angel and demon parents sacrifice everything for their darling baby Genesis and by bidding farewell to these characters; the story was free to finally allow for Tulip and Cass to bury the hatchet and stand tall with an equally triumphant Jesse, and for their troubles and their trials, they were finally able to save the world from a fiery nuclear end and go on with their lives.
 
Yet while those events would have made for a satisfying ending, the series still had more traditional plot elements to introduce into this saga, since eventually, Jesse was able to come face to face with the Lord and ask all the important questions that have been haunting him, and smack the Lord around in the process. And while one might think that tossing God around the Alamo and denying Him the one thing He craved, is more in line with the show than anything else, Jesse’s journey here is about as traditional as it gets. Because by confronting the Lord, Jesse in turn confronted his past and his internal demons and releasing Genesis is part of his growth process as well since that serves as a grandiose metaphor for releasing his pain. If anything, it was just nice to see Jesse Custer finally grow beyond the pain he carries in his heart, and find peace in doing so, and he wasn’t the only one to accomplish this particular feat. 

For at this point, you’ve probably noticed that we’ve glossed over what happened to the Saint of Killers at the Battle of Masada and that’s because now is the right time to talk about it. Because his death at Jesse’s hands wasn’t designed to be some quick throwaway moment, oh no, it was about William finding peace with his past as well. Because Jesse helped him to realize that God would probably go back on the deal they made and make him suffer again, so by confessing his sins to the Padre and dying honorably, he could return to Heaven and finally confront God for His actions and this led to a stunning moment, wherein the Saint put down the Almighty and that was perhaps the most heroic act yet in this finale. Because by finally finding peace through revenge, the Saint of Killers saved all of mankind.
 
Because now there was zero chance that God would bring forth the apocalypse, He so desired and life, could finally just go on. Which is why it was so satisfying to learn that Eugene got his rock star wishes, and that Jesus finally found a sense of normalcy to enjoy and heck, even Herr Starr finally found a little slice of peace and quiet since he managed to evade prosecution for his role in the attempted apocalypse. But more importantly, Jesse and Tulip were finally able to lead normal lives and have a daughter who would grow up to look just like her mom and have a family of her own and that made the final moments of this tale quite bittersweet. For the discovery that both of his friends were gone drove Cassidy to a new place mentally, one where he realized that always running and hiding from things and people that meant something to him was a mistake, and after having a lovely chat with his mates’ daughter he finally freed himself from his vampiric bonds and that’s oddly satisfying in a strange way.
 
For one cannot help but wonder if Cass let his own life go in the hopes of seeing his friends in the afterlife, so he could properly spend time with them for all eternity and I suppose the lesson inherent here is to cherish every moment that we can with those we care about and love, because they’ll never come again and well, that’s the perfect way to close out this fantastical saga. Because in essence, everyone got their ‘happy ending’ and found peace and some semblance of joy and you really cannot ask for much more than that and well, when all is said and done, I am going to miss the hell out of this series. Because this one was always a breath of fresh air since it held nothing back and was always willing to go to wild places and you just don’t see that on television anymore. So, from the bottom of my heart, my thanks go out to the cast and crew of this unique saga for being pioneers and taking us on one amazing ride, one that I’m not sure any of us will ever forget.

​While humanity has accomplished some absolute wonders in its short time on this magnificent planet, we still have a long way to go when it comes to treating one another and our planet with complete and utter respect. For there are segments of humanity that still deem other races and creeds to be inferior and we still exhibit a sense of arrogance and dominance when it comes to nature. Because we truly believe that we are the masters of this planet and that every species of animal is beneath us intelligence wise and cannot feel what we do and that prompts us to sometimes treat wildlife differently and coldly, and it just so happens that the folly of this line of thinking served as a fascinating focal point for the next episode of Star Trek.
 
For ‘The Devil in the Dark’ brought Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise to a mining colony on Janus VI where miners were being attacked and killed in savage fashion by an unseen creature and really, before we dive too deep in to the story’s commentary on how we interact with nature, let’s take a moment and celebrate the sheer brilliance of this particular tale when it comes to the mystery it builds. Because we truly haven’t a clue what the monster is, in the opening part of this tale and it’s quite cool to see the crew work to try and discover what kind of predator can in essence melt a man into nothing but steam, and it is this mystery that instantly draws you into the story. Because you are compelled to learn about this potential new form of life and why it kills with wanton abandon and that is what helps to explore the message in question.
 
Because it doesn’t take long for us to be introduced to the iconic Horta and learn that this being is merely trying to defend itself and its young and that’s when the episode takes a more philosophical turn. For it quickly helps the audience to realize that there is no such thing as a truly wild animal, they attack and they feed for varying reasons, and sometimes they do so because we are the ones causing harm to them as we encroach upon their natural habitat. And while that is a heavy handed message in its own right, there’s really no other way to get the point across that we sometimes let progress take precedence over compassion, and I love the fact that this particular tale offers up a simple solution to this problem in that; we need to slow things down and understand and care about nature before we choose to tear through it.
 
Yet while that was all wonderful in its own right, what I truly appreciated about this episode was the on-screen growth present from Captain Kirk. For early on in this tale he’s gung-ho about killing the Horta, and he even works to put a little fear and question into Spock’s mind in regard to the danger it represents. But the instant he stands face to face with the creature and sees it working out the situation, he quickly comes to realize the Horta is more than a mindless predator and he instantly shifts gears and works to save its life instead, and that is just phenomenal. Because it demonstrates the fact that Kirk has an open mind and is willing to change his stance based upon the facts and that’s a wonderful thing to see from a leader, and that’s oddly satirical of modern times since the planet is missing leaders who seem capable of that kind of thinking.
 
Yet the environmental message is what really holds all the weight in this story and it too is relevant to modern times since we are still having a debate fifty-some odd years later about our role in nature and how we should treat it. If anything, all of these elements make for one entertaining and powerful episode, one that definitely gives you pause after it has come to an end since it has so much to say and this is really Star Trek at its finest. Because this is the kind of commentary and thoughtfulness that we expect from this series and when one considers how smooth everything was handled in this story, it’s obvious that the tail end of season one is when everything came together for this show and I really enjoyed the heck out of this one and I do hope there’s more thoughtful storytelling waiting for me as I close in on the season one finale. Until next time. 

It is quite rare in this era of peak television to settle in and enjoy a truly flawless season finale. Because with so many shows out there competing for our attention, one is often treated to quite the wild variety of finales when all is said and done. For some finales are all using about gimmicks and odd surprises in order to catch our eye, while some worry more about setting up their next season, all in the hopes of keeping us hooked upon their story. But the shows that know what they’re doing and know how to properly tell a story are the ones that provide us with the perfect balance of story and surprise and resolution when the season comes to a close, and it just so happens that the season one finale of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance executed those particular elements in flawless fashion.  
 
For ‘A Single Piece Was Lost’ delivered everything the audience has been waiting for and more. Because this particular tale managed to provide its fans with one thrilling and exciting fight between the Gelflings and the Skeksis, something that’s been brewing and building for quite some now, and watching Rian lead his people into battle was simply magnificent and satisfying. Because seeing the Skeksis be put in their place was long overdue, as was seeing the clans unite and put their prejudice behind one another and I know I’m not the only one who shouted with glee at the screen when the rest of the clans arrived to support Rian and the cause. But while the fight was epic in its own right, what truly made it so powerful and so memorable, is the sheer fact that it pulled at our heartstrings since it was a costly battle for certain.
 
Because heroes died in this tale, honorably of course, but that didn’t make the departure of Maudra Fara any less moving since her sacrifice in combat demonstrated how much she believed in the cause for freedom and we also saw a brave Mystic say farewell in this tale as well. For the Archer came to realize that the only way to save Rian from the Hunter, was to sacrifice himself since the two halves could not survive without the other present somewhere on Thra and ironically, we felt other emotions outside of sadness, when it comes to some of the characters that passed on in this tale. Because there’s always a sense of satisfaction present when the bad guys get their just desserts and watching the General be dispatched in this story alongside the Hunter and the Collector somehow felt right, since the Skeksis finally got what was coming to them, and now all of Thra knows that the Crystal Lords can perish.
 
Yet while the fight was the focal point of this finale, and offered up resolution and surprise, the setup for the future is something that I also found equally as intriguing in this tale. Because a lot of important moments in regard to the movie were featured in this story since we saw our first glimpse of the missing shard that will eventually make the Crystal whole again, and the birth of the Garthim came to fruition here as well, in the most tragic way imaginable. But what matters a little more in this story, is that it worked hard to set the stage for a second season. For Deet is now in a strange place with the power of the Darkening surging through her veins and her path remains unknown at this point, and there is a genuine danger surrounding the Gelflings now that the Skeksis have their super soldier and well, perhaps the greatest wonder when it comes to this finale, is that it leaves you hungry for more.
 
Because you’re dying to know if Hup will be quickly reunited with his friends, and how Deet is going to handle this change to her life and her future and of course, you also cannot help but wonder how ugly things are going to get for the newly hopeful Gelflings, since we know their story ends in tragedy. Which means at this point, all we can do is wait and hope for a second season announcement from Netflix and I really hope they grant this saga another year or two. Because this is just a magnificent prequel, one that is truly fleshing out the fascinating world that The Dark Crystal introduced to us so long ago, and it is also a technical marvel that will hopefully revitalize stories that feature puppetry since that is in fact, a lost art. But more importantly, this is a powerful story that genuinely needs to reach its logical conclusion, so that we can properly appreciate the tragedy and the wonder of this powerful saga. Until next time.

I think we can all agree upon the fact that sometimes, life is a pain to deal with. Because sometimes the bills just keep piling up, or those that we love get on our last good nerve, or work is insufferable to the point where you’re already dreaming of your next vacation. Or the news reminds of the fact that the world is a chaotic and sometimes cruel place and when these things pile up in our minds, we simply want nothing more than to escape it all. For the thought of finding a paradise where we are free of the world’s ails puts a smile on our faces, because it would be wonderful and magnificent to find a place where we know nothing but peace and tranquility. But deep down we know such a place doesn’t actually exist and that’s why we use the thought of it to regroup and focus before dealing with our problems once again.
 
But what if we could find a place where our lives were free from stress and the problems we face on a daily basis? Would we find true serenity by not having a care in the world or would the constant peace and quiet drive us to boredom and/or madness? Well it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek felt the need to dive into this particular notion in fascinating fashion since ‘This Side of Paradise’ saw the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise stumble upon a world where there was no pain, no suffering, nor was there any conflict on this world for that matter. There was just joy and beautiful skies and well, this turned out to be a brilliant episode for so many reasons. Starting with the fact that this one does a fine job of challenging the audience from the get-go.
 
After all, when Kirk and company first arrive on Omicron Ceta III, they’re expecting to find a mountain of corpses thanks to an interstellar radiation bombardment. But instead they find healthy and happy people and how they’ve survived all of this time creates a grandiose mystery, the kind that instantly draws you in and keeps you guessing. Because your mind races at the possibilities, since their health and immortality could be courtesy of another omnipotent being, or it could be related to some kind of scientific mutation that has allowed for these people to evolve. But in the end it’s all related to plants that love the kind of radiation present in this planet’s atmosphere, and they’re happy to keep humanity alive and free from pain of any kind in exchange for a chance to thrive and bask in normally lethal radiation and that’s quite the awesome twist when all is said and done.
 
Because that’s just nature being nature, doing what it needs to in order to survive, but what truly makes that little twist worth our while is that this entire process of discovery, is what brings about the thematic analysis in question. For these people really do get their perfect paradise, but at quite the cost. For the people of this world, and shortly thereafter the crew of the Enterprise, step into a life that is devoid of challenges or strife, they simply move about their day without a care in the world. And while one might see the benefit of that, Kirk is the one to bring the audience and the characters back to down to earth, when he points out the fact that these colonists are living a lie and a life free from conflict and growth and challenges and the lesson here is clear in that; paradise is what we make it. Because the world is a flawed place that will never bend to our whims or provide us with perfect peace, so it is up to us to find the balance and the joy we so desperately seek.
 
If anything, this was perhaps a far more pedestrian episode of the series than we are used to, since its commentary is simplistic in nature. But hey, at least it has something to say, and it does explore a fascinating notion and the acting is what really sells this particular tale. Because seeing Leonard Nimoy give us an insubordinate and romantic Spock is a true treat to watch. As is seeing DeForest Kelley transform McCoy into a good ol’ southern boy that loves a Mint Julip and those performances and the mystery at hand make this one quite the entertaining ride, one that definitely kept my attention and really, you cannot go wrong with a science fiction story that offers thoughtful concepts and fun. And now that this interesting adventure is in the books it’s on to the next one and looking at the episode listings online, our next journey with the crew of the Enterprise features another iconic outing. 

​I have to admit that sometimes, when I’m watching a television series that is filled to the brim with juicy and epic plotlines, that I get a little nervous as we close in on the season finale. Because I’ve seen shows that quite frankly, don’t get to the point and let those epic plotlines drag along and that’s unfortunate because the final episodes of a season should captivate and enthrall the audience when all is said and done. Yet, as I settled in to watch the penultimate episode of season one of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a series that features some grandiose and sweeping storylines, that nervousness was absent from my system. For this is a series that is always working toward something and I had a feeling that that the next episode in this tale was going to up the ante and wow its fans like never before.
 
As it turns out, that gut feeling was correct, because ‘The Crystal Calls’ turned out to be a tour de force episode, one that moved several plotlines that have been lingering, forward, in incredible fashion. All while setting the stage for a powerful season finale and really what set the tone for this tale was its opening moments. Because I have to admit that I was supremely impressed with the fact that one half of the Dual Glaive was right in front of Deet and Rian all along since the Maudra had it hidden within her staff and that reveal and the handing over of this important weapon allowed for the story to quickly move onto other storylines that needed resolution/progress, such as what would become of the Gelfing that were trapped in the Castle of the Crystal.
 
After all, the situation was grim in this place since the Skeksis were in panic mode over the possibility of losing one of their own, which meant a great many Gelfling were going to die in order to keep the Hunter alive. But a surprise move on Aughra’s part, wherein she offered her life in exchange for the Gelfling’s freedom, led to some genuinely surprising moments. Because I really didn’t expect to see Aughra sacrifice herself when one considers that she’s a huge part of the movie, nor did I expect to see an important character such as Tavra lose her life. But here we are, and I suppose the only real redeeming aspect to Tavra’s sudden and unexpected exit, is that her passing finally opened Seladon’s eyes to the horrors of the Skeksis and she finally seems to be on the right side of history when it comes to this particular fight.
 
But the genuine payoff when it comes to this particular tale, is the sheer fact that it sets the stage for the incredible battle we’ve been waiting for. For putting the Glaive back together allowed for Rian to finally speak to every last clan out there and rally his kind to war and it was wonderful to see Rian step into the hero’s role at last and truly strike fear in the hearts of the Skeksis. If anything, I really appreciated the straightforward nature of this particular tale. For a lot of the deeper meaning found in this story in earlier episodes from was removed from this story, all in an effort to get the plot moving forward and it truly succeeds in its mission. Because this one is fast paced and lovely and honestly, while the call to arms was awesome in its own right, what truly keeps sticking out in my mind when it comes to this brisk tale, are the Skeksis.
 
Because we’ve never seen them genuinely afraid before in this series, and they are in true panic mode right now and that is utterly delightful. For they are finally facing their mortality and the possibility that the Gelfling might give them a tougher fight than they expected and there is just something so supremely satisfying about seeing these twisted monsters squirm in their fancy robes. Plus, it was also quite awesome to see more hints of things to come in the movie by way of Aughra’s comment to the Emperor about how he dies and well, when all is said and done, this episode definitely left me quite excited for the season one finale. Because this is it, the fight we’ve all been waiting for is finally coming to fruition, and Thra will never be the same and at this point, it’s best I bid you farewell so that I can rush back to my TV and fire up the finale and see how season one of this incredible series comes to a close. Until next time. 

Often times when we are presented with stories where the character or characters have experienced great loss or trauma, we are privy to a specific set of moments in their recovery. We are there to see the moment when their hurt begins, we watch as they mourn and ache and we see them stumble on the road to recovery and more than often than not, our story ends as their second chapter begins because there’s more drama to be found in the struggle than there is in starting over. But that’s what makes Lodge 49 such a refreshing show in its own right, because it has immersed itself in the age-old question of ‘what comes next?’ after people have suffered earth shattered trauma and loss, and for proof, look no further than last night’s episode.
 
For ‘Exile’ focused heavily on where people go once they’ve faced their pain and the moment that broke them and it posed some interesting ideas on how people handle their exit from the darkness. Some for instance, come to realize that they’ve let negativity put them into a carefully crafted shell, one that keeps them inoculated from their fears and their pain, and once they release themselves from that proverbial cocoon they are ready to work at moving forward and enjoy everything that life has to offer. And that was explored by way of Connie’s journey in this tale since she felt it was high time to get back out into the world and live her life and that meant letting go of Scott and the security he provides and Connie’s journey allowed for some supremely inspiring and beautiful moments to come forth since she exhibited a newfound strength in this tale, and it was wonderful to see her reach this epiphany and grow right before our very eyes.
 
Yet as this series wont to do, it also took the time to examine the flip side of coming to terms with one’s fears and that was handled by way of Blaise’s journey. For this in this tale we found him at his lowest point since he hadn’t sleep in forever and more or less refused to do so, all in the hopes of finding the secret to immortality and gold by way of the diary. And really, what this heartbreaking segment of the story accomplished, was to remind us that sometimes when we acknowledge the toughness of the world and embrace the fact that bad things can happen to us, we panic in a way and let the fear wash over us and that’s really where Blaise was in this tale, filled with fear, and kudos to him for eventually figuring this out and seeking help since that really is the right thing to do.
 
However, while I think we all could have watched an entire episode of the show involving those two segments alone, the story still had more to explore about what comes next for us when we finally confront the trauma in our lives and sometimes, our struggle to keep our heads above water, makes us a hero to others, as is the case with Liz. Because Jeremy and Champ and Gerson all made it clear that she inspires them to be more, something compounded by the fact that she fought for all of them to get paid since Janet and Omni screwed that up and really, it was wonderful to see Liz embrace her role as a champion in this tale and go the extra mile to ensure that everyone gets their money, and it was equally as satisfying to see her slug Janet right in the kisser. If anything, this all goes to show just how far Liz has come in her journey and it will be interesting to see what comes next for her now that Janet has offered her quite the position. 

​But truly, the emotional centerpiece of this particular tale involved Ernie. Because his journey reminded us of the fact that sometimes we bury our trauma down deep in order to survive and that isn’t always the healthy thing to do, since it eventually comes back to haunt us and past trauma is precisely what has put Ernie in such an odd place this season. For we came to learn in this tale that Ernie and Trish once had a daughter, one that passed away and that has haunted him for decades and her passing is back on his mind because he had a dream about his baby girl in Mexico. And well, the lesson present here, is that at some point, when we are ready, we have to release this pain so that it doesn’t control us and eat at us any longer. And in beautiful fashion, Ernie did just that in this tale, shortly after Dud explained what he did for Ernie and how much the man has meant to him over the past year and it was just beautiful to see Ernie open up in this manner and even go so far as to finally speak his daughter’s name and release the pain that had in essence been consuming him. 
 
If anything, this was just a supremely beautiful episode, one that truly celebrated the wonder of our humanity and the lovely moments present here brought tears to my eyes once again. In part because of the incredible performances from Linda Emond, Eric Allan Kramer, David Pasquesi, Sonya Cassidy, Brett Jennings and Wyatt Russell since they were each on point in their respective segments and handled their characters’ powerful journeys in earnest fashion, but also because of what this episode had to say about loss and trauma and how we heal. Because this particular tale made it clear that it is okay to hurt and heal at your own pace, something we all need to hear in popular media, a medium that has embraced the notion of people ‘sucking it up’ and moving forward as quickly as possible.
 
But I also love how this episode reminded us that while trauma and loss and the fear of what else could slip through our fingers can indeed rip us to pieces, it’s the people in our lives, be them family or friends or the friends we make family, that matter the most when we are going through tough times. Because they hold the pieces together and they give us hope and a reason to go on until everything upstairs is working again and that’s just a magnificent message to find in a television series and it is more proof that Lodge 49 is one of the finest television shows out there, and I am quite curious to see what comes next for our magnificent characters now that so many are working to heal and move forward in life. Until next time.  

Over the course of its first seven episodes, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has wowed us in so many ways. Because not only has this series done a phenomenal job of resurrecting and expanding upon a world we were first introduced to thirty-seven years ago, it has found ways to stand out on its own by providing its audience with powerful and quality storytelling, the kind that sucks us in and takes us on quite the safe emotional ride. And I use the word ‘safe’, simply because this saga has made an active choice to only flirt with darker storytelling elements. But I think we all knew when we started this journey, that it was only going to be a matter of time before this saga let darker elements consume this story and it just so happens that that ugly moment arrived in the next episode of this magnificent series.
 
For ‘Prophets Don’t Know Everything’ saw our characters put to the test like never before as the Skeksis continued their desperate power play to conquer the Gelfling and perhaps the best place to start when it comes to breaking down just how quickly this series is taking a downward spiral in the right way, is to explore Seladon’s story in this tale. Because she made a journey to the Castle of the Crystal in order to broker a peace deal and prove to her fellow Gelfling that she was indeed the all-powerful, All-Maudra she claimed to be, only to find herself blindsided by her lords. For the Skeksis were completely transparent with her about the rumors surrounding their actions and they were quick to capture her without giving it a second thought, and while I can find no pity for Seladon, since she didn’t quite get it even after hearing the truth from the Emperor’s mouth, what makes this segment of the story so dark and so powerful, is the sheer fact that the Skeksis are no longer hiding in the shadows. If anything, they’re embracing their special brand of evil and are happy to instill fear in their subjects and that was a chilling revelation to say the least.
 
Yet, the show wasn’t quite done with stunning us with unsettling moments, and the rest of them came about by way of Rian and Deet’s journey. For they made their way to the Caves of Grot to find the Glaive and instead stumbled upon chaos and sorrow there. Because the Arathim arrived in Grot, first, and they wasted no time in forcing the Grottans to submit to the Ascendancy in order to reclaim their original homeland and this was just… intense. For it was horrifying to see Deet’s friends and family succumb to mind control and watching these innocents be dragged away kicking and screaming to join the collective was equally as harrowing, and you couldn’t help but feel for Deet when she saw her brother in a zombified state and it really seemed for a moment there, that there was no hope for either of them since the odds were against them and the Arathim were everywhere. But Rian and Deet’s quick thinking and dedication to the preservation of life allowed for this episode to take quite the interesting turn.
 
Because the Asendancy spared them assimilation, and instead asked for their help in fighting the Nurloc, now that they were committed to the Darkening and attacking the Arathim at every turn. And getting an opportunity to stand before a former sworn enemy of the Skeksis and come to the conclusion that these caves were dangerous, allowed for Rian to help these unfortunate creatures realize that they were being double crossed. Which meant that a new alliance was formed, and that required a quick exit from the caves so that everyone could regroup and prepare for an offensive against the Skeksis. But their only way out was through the Sanctuary Tree, and their escape route was compromised by the Darkening. Because it had reached the Sanctuary Tree, prompting Deet to beg the tree for some sort of solution in regard to curing this affliction and well, Deet was granted her wish in unique fashion. For the Tree gave her its power and the ability to rip the Darkening away from infected beings, along with a quick glimpse at a terrifying future, wherein she herself might be consumed by this evil. 
 
If anything, I was ill prepared for how dark this episode turned out to be and I think that was the point. Because this was powerful and poignant, and everything that happened here, helped to add to the tension that’s been building for ages now and hopefully this newfound alliance and Deet’s new gifts do wonders for the fight ahead. Either way, this was a true treat, one that definitely sets the stage nicely for the final battle to come, and the finale of the saga in general since Deet had a quick flash forward of a familiar Gelfling named Jen, and it was nice to see that shout out to the movie. But I digress, because in the here and the now, the battle draws near and it’s best I bid you all farewell to see what other surprises await me in this magical series. Until next time.  

​The final season of a television show is a bittersweet experience to say the least. Because while we get to enjoy wonderful moments with our favorite characters one last time, every single episode we take part in, brings us all that much closer to the outright end. But there is also an unexpected benefit that comes with getting closer to the series finale, in that, the show will go for broke and take more chances with its story, the kind that drop our jaws for certain. And it just so happens that Preacher is following that particular edict to an absolute tee. For last night’s penultimate episode was a tour de force story, one that upped the ante like never before, and one that quite frankly left me stunned with the various revelations and twists and turns that were presented to us over the course of the hour. 
 
But before we dive too deeply into the stunning stuff that ‘Overture’ had to offer, let’s take a moment and highlight all the wild moments present in this episode, another trademark of this magnificent series. Because seeing Jesus try desperately to impress his father with his breakdancing was downright hilarious. As was seeing Flufferman and Starr apparently give into the long-term sexual tension that none of us knew was building between them, and there was definitely some morbid hilarity to be found within God’s decision to smash anyone who remotely harmed Humperdoo into a wall, because it was just so supremely out there. Yet while those moments made for some fine laughs, once our heroes arrived back at Grail HQ, the story took quite the turn.
 
For the countdown to the Apocalypse was underway, and God wasn’t good with the Custer Gang being present to potentially put a stop to it and well, that prompted the Lord to take some drastic measures. In fact, he pulled out a page from the playbook of the fallen angel he once cast out from Heaven and used temptation to handle his foes, and he struck at the most vulnerable parts of Cass and Tulip’s souls in doing so. Because what he had to offer, broke Cass emotionally, and drew out the darkest parts of Tulip’s deep-rooted fury, and all of this was incredibly tough to watch since these characters have come so far this season. But despite God’s best efforts, it seemed as though he was unsuccessful in temping this duo, meaning that it was time for the Lord and Jesse to square off once again. And oddly enough, it seemed as though this time around Jesse would have the advantage in this showdown, since his voyage through Heaven and Hell has transformed his mind and his soul for the better.
 
But rather than provide us with a traditional standoff, how these two found themselves face to face once again came about in heartbreaking fashion. For it was revealed that Cass did indeed give into what God was selling, and he delayed Jesse long enough for the Lord to drag our favorite Padre into the temple at Masada, wherein the Almighty revealed why He has let Jesse come this far in the first place; Genesis. For it became clear that the Lord wanted it, at any cost, but He simply could not take it, despite His power. Which gave Jesse hope, because he was in possession of the one thing that the most powerful being in the universe feared. But alas, in the closing seconds of this story, when the Saint of Killers arrived to ‘settle the score’, we came to learn that God planned for everything and made a deal with the Saint a long time ago. And the deal was for the Saint to reclaim Genesis, in exchange for peace at last and now, the situation is more dire than ever; for Tulip is face to face with her nemesis, Cass has turned his back on his friends and Jesse has no way out.
 
If anything, that’s one hell of a way to set the stage for the series finale, and when you throw in the fact that Starr’s orders to soften the forthcoming nuclear exchange died with Hoover Two, the stakes have never been higher and well, I loved this episode. Because it was intense, with a no-holds barred approach to the story and it was just frightening to see God go full Old Testament at every turn and where we go from here, I haven’t a clue. Because everything is falling apart minute by minute, and Jesse refuses to use Genesis against God so that he can maintain his moral code, meaning that it is going to take an outright miracle to end to the Apocalypse before it starts. And despite the bittersweet nature of this tale, since only one episode remains after this one, I am still hungry for more and I will definitely be counting down the minutes until next week’s epic final episode. Until then.  

​I honestly don’t know what it is, but anytime a television series, or a book, or a movie reveals all kinds of important truths to the audience, I admire it a little more. Because it just seems as though when a story takes the time to answer your questions and provide you quality knowledge about the world you’re taking the time to immerse yourself within, that the folks behind the scenes genuinely care about you and want you to have a rich and fulfilling experience when it comes to the story in question. And I think that’s another reason that I am such a fan of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, because it really does take the time to tell a rich and satisfying story, one that just so happened to answer a great deal of questions about the world of Thra and our mysterious villains in its next episode.
 
Oddly enough, that made watching ‘Time to Make… My Move’ an oddly surreal experience. Because those of us who grew up on the movie, know how this story ends and know the true identity of the Skeksis and the Mystics. But there are a great many viewers who are just now being introduced to this universe for the first time ever. Which is why it’s a good thing that the series took the time to introduce the Heretic and the Wanderer to the audience so that they could inform all of those new to the saga that originally the Skeksis and Mystics were once a single species known as the urSkeks, and that their experiments with the Crystal led to its split and their own for that matter as well. And the only new and fascinating folds that I personally found when it came to this backstory, was that there were a pair of Mystics and Skeksis that actually believed in reunification, and that, they had the solution to their problems all wrong.
 
For this duo firmly believed that the Dual Glaive, a weapon they created, would help the Gelfings, push the Skeksis into submission so that the two split species could join together once again. But old-school fans know that such an act isn’t the answer in question, yet, I still found this little twist to be incredibly intriguing. Because it, and Aughra’s moment of frustration with the Stonewood Gelflings, goes to show that no one really knows the exact way forward and this forthcoming fight will likely reveal the truth and it’s just cool that this series is finding new ways to flesh out the story and get to the true ending in an organic and unique manner. Might I also add, this entire backstory sequence was a true delight through and through thanks to the magnificent contrast of the Wanderer and the Heretic and my thanks to Bill Hader and Andy Samberg for making these characters a true treat to watch.
 
However, while this segment alone could have carried the episode no problem, there is still a war brewing, and unfortunately for the Gelfings of Stone-in-the-Wood, the Skeksis were one step ahead in this tale. For they conspired behind the scenes with their enemies and put together a powerful plan to bring down these warriors without firing a single shot so to speak, and sadly, their plan worked in terrifying fashion. For the Ascendancy gave the Skeksis a tiny, spider-like being that can control minds, and they quickly latched onto the warriors of Stonewood and brought them into compliance and now it would seem they are going to march to their own deaths in the essence machine in the days to come, unless of course, our heroes can get their hands on the Dual Glaive and free them from their prison beneath the Castle of the Crystal.
 
In the end however, this was really just a fun episode. For it was lovely to be refreshed on the backstory of the urSkeks, and I really did it fascinating to find a pair of these beings actually wish to be reunited since I am hard pressed to think of a moment in the movie where the Skeksis paid their other half any mind. But all backstory aside, kudos to this episode for also keeping the plot moving along at a brisk pace and I was quite taken aback by how ruthless the Skeksis really are and how low they’re willing to sink for a win. If anything, I’m quite impressed with the dark and unsettling ending that this story provided us with, because it takes guts to write a story where you watch heroes lose and lose big since those brave Gelflings lost Stonewood and their minds in one fell swoop. It simply raises the stakes when all is said and done and now is the perfect time to make that happen since the season finale is drawing near and this episode definitely helps set the stage for a grand fight between good and evil. Until next time.