I am always appreciative of when a television series, or any creative medium for that matter, takes the time to frame something we romanticize and celebrate in storytelling, in a far more realistic light than we are used to. Because let’s be honest, some of the stuff we hoot and holler about on the small and silver screen are serious matters that the story in question, doesn’t really take all that seriously. Which, I get it, it’s entertainment, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded that some of the tough stuff in our world has some real consequences, and I think that is why I enjoyed the next episode of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance so much.
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Because ‘By Gelfing Hand…’ served to remind us of the fact that resistance and rebellion are messy ordeals, the kind that really shouldn’t be romanticized in the slightest since they engender loss for certain and they also generate fear in the hearts of so many because of the uncertainty that comes with battling those who have kept you safe. But above all else, one must remember that these kinds of fights are supremely dangerous and Rian’s attempt to stop the Skeksis cold, so that his friends and Lore could rescue Brea and Deet and Hup was the perfect way to prove that point, since we didn’t quite know what would happen to him or his new allies and really, that unsettling sequence of events set the tone for this tale and sadly, more sacrifices were to be made in this story. For Rian’s story began to spread far and wide, to the point where the Guards of the Castle of the Crystal felt the need to rebel and sadly some of them lost their lives in the process, since the Skeksis swiftly harvested some of their essence after quelling this insurrection.

But while danger and a loss of life are important parts to explore when it comes to a rebellion, this episode also took the time to conduct a deep dive into how fear and a brave fight for justice can divide people like no other, and all of that was handled by way of what happened in Ha’rar in this tale. For Seladon made her power play and expected everyone to go along with it. But two of the Gelfling clans felt as though fighting back was more important than ceremony and that Seladon might not be the right leader for the battle ahead. Which led to challenges and infighting, and this was just another perfect parallel to our modern world since we often see people battling back and forth about what should come next for America, with deep divides present on both sides. But modern commentary aside, the bigger point here is that sometimes, people are just fine with the status quo and when that balance is upset in the slightest, they too will go to war to keep things as they are.

Yet while all of this was fascinating and dark in its own right, the episode didn’t totally devolve into an angry mess. For there were some genuine moments of beauty to be found in this one as well. After all, seeing the Stone-in-the-Wood Gelflings give the Chamberlain the business was just a true delight. And the ceremony that everyone held in the desert for their loved ones was a genuinely nice and endearing touch and the mystery that awaits our heroes in the desert is equally quite as intriguing. Because the Circle of Suns seems like quite the important place, and a story doesn’t build up that kind of destination without having some kind of major payoff for the audience, and it should be interesting to see what wonders our heroes find there, or weapons for that matter as well since the war with the Skeksis grows closer and closer and one does have to fear for the Gelflings that live in Stone-in-the-Wood since the wily Skeksis seem hell bent on using its people to fuel their mad notions of immortality.

In the end however, this was quite the brilliant episode. Because I really didn’t expect to see a show that leans toward a younger audience offer up this level of depth and intelligence when it comes to notions of war, and rebellion and I was truly enthralled by everything I saw on the screen. For this one featured some thoughtful and tragic moments, especially when it comes to Seladon. Because she truly seems lost and desperate at this point, and sadly her continued push to fulfill her selfish needs may cost lives as the war with the Skeksis begins to unfold and hopefully she can see the light before it is too late. But, that’s me getting ahead of myself, for in the here and the now, there’s a mystery waiting for our heroes in the Crystal Desert, and a battle brewing for the future and that means it is time I bid you farewell so I can enjoy the next chapter in this powerful and tragic tale. Until next time.  

When one thinks of social commentary in this day and age, one’s mind immediately turns to the horror genre. Because scary stories often manage to provide their audience with thoughtful tales that have plenty to say about our world and the human condition, and we flock to them for that reason. But this is a Retro Recap of Star Trek, a saga that has little to do with ghosties and ghoulies and things that go bump in the night, so why mention horror in the same breath as the Enterprise? Simply because this is a series that was a pioneer in its own right when it comes to social commentary since this saga found ways to examine our world as well, and oddly enough, the next episode in this storied saga, has plenty to say about something that is still relevant in this day and age; war.
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For America is at war now, and has been for roughly twenty years and it was at war when ‘A Taste of Armageddon’ premiered in 1967 since Vietnam was raging on and it becomes quickly apparent in this episode that the series wanted to question not only the danger and complacency that can come with prolonged war, but also our inability to understand and comprehend the horrors of it. Now the commentary on complacency was easy to spot, since the people of Eminiar VII made it clear that they adapted to 500 years of war by allowing computers to take over the dirty details of the conflict and it was quite fascinating to also see how attacks from their enemy were just commonplace to their people, something as routine as having breakfast, really.

But the secondary message present here took a little more time to dive into, and it is honestly what fascinates me the most. Because by having computers handle the conflict, and in turn using the data from the attacks to select people to die as ‘casualties of war’, the people of this planet have in essence stepped away from a fundamental fact about war in that; it’s a horrible and messy business. And while that seems like a fairly pedestrian and soft message to inject in here, the detachment and indifference present from the people here, strikes a chord with how we view war now. For in many ways, we see conflict from afar, through the lens of a news network’s camera and on Twitter and that allows for us to feel a safety net and disregard the danger that people are in when they pick up their weapons and I suppose what’s eerie is that this really hasn’t changed much in 53 years, since the Vietnam War was also televised and told from afar.

However, while all of that is fascinating in its own right and relevant in so many ways, what matters more here is that Jim Kirk is the voice of reason in this tale, and he simply isn’t good in the slightest with people treating conflict as no big deal. He expects and demands that they understand what is at stake here and it is quite wonderful to see him go the extra mile to put an end to this conflict, not only to save his crew, but millions of lives in the future. And while his methods are questionable from a Starfleet Regulation standpoint (more on that in a moment), the ends do indeed justify the means since he is able to accomplish the impossible and bring generations of enemies to the bargaining table and well, the best part about Jim’s journey in this tale is that the message his efforts broadcast out is simple, in that, we need to value human life and find better ways to handle our differences.

Yet, I made mention of the fact that Kirk’s bold act does indeed raise some eyebrows when it comes to this story and well, I say that simply because he kind of, sort of, breaks the Prime Directive in this story by getting directly involved in the natural path of these two worlds. But at the same time, the preservation of life does take precedence over anything else, and with his crew threatened and people dying in a fairly unnatural manner, one can kind of look away when it comes to this fundamental rule of Starfleet. But all nerdy complaints aside, let’s be honest, this was a magnificent episode through and through, one that truly gives the audience a lot to chew upon, and one that gives you pause long after its come to an end when you think about what it would take for an entire society to be good with using euthanasia as a means to end war. If anything, it was just great to see a Sci-Fi story that wasn’t focused on a dirty or dystopian future or action and adventure over depth and I do hope that someone else views this story down the line and opts to put together a Sci-Fi in this intelligent vein, just so that horror doesn’t get to hog all of the social commentary. Until next time. 

I have to admit, that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the slow buildup that The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has been working toward when it comes to the rebellion that is brewing on Thra. Because taking the time to explore the character’s motivations and assemble an unjust world adds depth and meaning to the audience’s experience with this story. But even then, this series is going above and beyond when it comes to telling its tale, since it is truly pouring over every single detail when it comes to how a rebellion is built and energized and the next episode of the series continued that deep dive by exploring exactly what a resistance needs to truly get going, but not before it took the time to follow up on a supremely important cliffhanger from the last episode.
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Because ‘She Knows All the Secrets’ picks up a short while after we watched Rian be snatched away by The Hunter and as expected, his life was in grave danger. For The Hunter was ready to claim his physical prize and there was no way that Rian would be able to overpower him, making it seem as though this tale was going to open up in brutal fashion, that is, until the Chamberlain showed up to rescue this brave Gelfing. But such an act did not come about by way of nobility or heroism, oh no, as always, the Chamberlain had an agenda of his own, one that involved presenting Rian to the Emperor so that our hero could recant the ‘lies’ he had been telling about the Skeksis and it was just impressive to see this monster continue its powerful manipulations and nearly seal Rian’s fate. But thankfully, his friends came to his aid, putting him on the road and the offensive once again.

Which is a good thing indeed, for the Skeksis were putting together a grandiose plan to collect Gelfings for their Essence Machine. Which meant that something had to change when it comes to those who wish to fight and well, the chaos present here as Deet and Hup made it to Ha’rar while others moved about the countryside in confused fashion spoke volumes to the fact that it’s not enough to want to fight, there needs to be leadership and a plan of attack to make a resistance worthwhile and that came to fruition by way of Aughra. For this powerful being finally figured out how to communicate with Thra once again, and in doing so she found a way to dive into the dreamfast of our principal heroes and while in that void, she was able to give them the plan and direction they need to bring the fight to the Skeksis at last.

But alas, while seeing anyone rise up against injustice is always a wonderful thing, this story was quick to remind us that not everyone will go along with the plan in question. For Seladon learned of the plan as well, and her loyalty to the Skeksis and her desperation to be something more in this world, prompted her to side with the enemy, and she quickly told the Skeksis about her mother’s plans while they were still within the palace. And unfortunately for the All-Maudra, her daughter’s dedication to the status quo ended in disaster when the Skeksis punished the wise and wonderful leader of Ha’rar with a deadly blow, and to compound matters further, Deet and Hup and Brea were branded as traitors and dragged away as Seladon assumed the throne and once again, we are left with an ending that is filled with heartbreak and uncertainty.

However, while that ending was tough to watch and tough to swallow, this was a quality and powerful story when all is said and done. For this one really moved the plot forward when it comes to the insurrection that’s been building over the past few episodes, and everything that happened here felt natural and logical and that speaks volumes to the quality writing present in this tale. Yet what truly impressed me about this story, were all of the surprising twists and turns present here, especially when it comes to Seladon’s decision to betray her mother. Because I really didn’t see that coming, nor did I fully understand how much she believes the lies the Skeksis feed her, but while it would be easy to engender anger and hate her way, she simply doesn’t understand, and her ignorance will likely come back to haunt her. My only hope for her at this point, is that she finds some form of redemption by way of the forthcoming rebellion, for this really is quite the tragic turn of events and it should be interesting to see how Hup and Deet and Brea get out of this mess, so they can fulfill their roles in the fight ahead. Until next time. 

​I think it is safe to assume that rebellion is a notion that fascinates a great deal of us, and there’s good reason for that. Because our only understanding of a fight for freedom from an oppressive government comes from history books and fictional stories, and when we see the real deal happening live on the news we are captivated by what we see and we find ourselves curious as to what would motivate people to risk everything to rise up against those who would ‘protect’ them. But as time goes on, and our freedoms in America are seemingly threatened at every single turn, this curiosity appears to moving to an all-time high, to the point where fiction is beginning to explore the genesis and reasoning behind rebellion in the most unique ways imaginable and for proof, look no further than the next episode of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
 
For ‘The First Thing I Remember Is Fire’, spends a lot of time looking at the origins of rebellion and it would seem that one important element that goes into motivating a society to fight back against their institutions, involves understanding the truth. Because no one likes to be lied to, and when one’s entire existence or state of being is predicated on lies and deception, a pair of key things can happen. First and foremost, we will dive deeper into what we’ve discovered and try to uncover all of the facts, which is what Brea did in this tale. For she spent a great amount of time searching for the truth, especially after becoming aware that her mother was keeping great secrets from her and the people of Ha’rar, and while this segment of the story didn’t quite give us every answer we wanted to know about the mysterious hidden chamber, Brea’s search for knowledge matters more and I’m sure the series will answer all of our questions regarding this sequence of events down the line.
 
However, I made mention of people taking part in two key acts when they discover they’re being lied to, and the other one is to rally people to their cause and spread the unsettling truth that they’ve uncovered and that was handled in harrowing fashion in this tale, by way of Rian’s journey. For he found himself under fire from other Gelflings as they all wanted to turn him into the Skeksis for varying reasons. But rather than let infighting and prejudices come into play, Rian stood fast to the truth and was able to finally convince others to dreamfast with him, so that they could see exactly what evil their lords are capable of, and wouldn’t you know it? His gambit and bravery paid off since his father learned the truth as well and now there are others ready to share the truth and spread it far and wide. But as it turns out, this was a dangerous act, one that would prove to be quite costly.
 
Because the Skeksis showed off more of their ruthlessness in this tale, and much of that was generated by ego. For the General made a power play in this story, one that made the Chamberlain look weak, and for his troubles he was granted a spot at the Emperor’s side, something he quickly abused since he disobeyed orders and made use of the Essence Machine to aid in interrogations. But the real problem that came about from this power struggle is that he deeply offended and angered the Chamberlain, and that little snake was more than happy to pull out all the stops in order to prove to the Emperor he made a mistake in stepping him down and he summoned a terrifying being known as The Hunter and that monster chased Rian and his father down. Which led to quite the ugly fight in the forest, one that ended with Rian’s father sacrificing himself in order to save his son and even then, the hits kept coming since the Hunter escaped his fate and took Rian with him.
 
If anything, I have to admit that this ended up being quite the dark episode when all is said and done. For so many characters were struggling in this one, and I honestly didn’t think we’d see a death that brutal this early on in the season. But here we are, and all ugly aside, I really did love this episode. After all, it really did do a fine job of exploring what ignites a rebellion, and it also showed us just how difficult the fight for freedom is going to be for the Gelflings. Plus, this is another episode that allowed for us to geek out and have a good time as well. Because seeing the Mystics once again was a true treat and let’s be honest, Hup is the man, and seeing him not take anybody’s crap was just a joy to watch and well, I honestly need to know what happens to Rian right away. So, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to hop off of here, and make a quick trip back to Thra. Until next time.  

As time goes on and I consume more and more television shows in this magnificent era of peak television, I’m starting to notice that some shows are missing an important mark when it comes to something that is supremely paramount to storytelling as a whole; in that, they’re just not connecting with their audiences on an emotional level. Which is understandable because so many shows want to rise above and be seen, and gimmicks and big names make that happen. But what these shows often forget, is that the ones that are beloved and talked about and remembered in timeless fashion are the ones that resonate with us on a fundamental level and in essence, speak to our souls, and that’s precisely why I’m such a fan of AMC’s Lodge 49.
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Because this is a series that understands the importance of connecting with its audience and it has accomplished this particular feat by holding nothing back when it comes to its examination of the human condition. For the best and worst parts of life are on display in this tale and our character’s responses to the trauma and triumph of life is what makes this series so compelling and so powerful because they handle it in flawed fashion, like the rest of us. But what also allows for this series to stand out above the rest, is that it consistently focuses on finding the good in the world, something that it inadvertently asks the audience to seek out as well, and it just so happens that last night’s episode of the series took this examination to a whole new level by offering up a unique and bittersweet tale that hammered home some powerful messages.

But before we dive too deeply into all of that, let’s celebrate the fact that ‘Circles’ took the time to confirm something important when it comes to the mythos surrounding this series in that, the Scrolls are real and Jackie Loomis was the one responsible for retrieving them from London all those years ago and that’s quite cool to know. But that’s really the only plot point we need to cover in great detail in this recap, because we need to celebrate what this story accomplished when it comes to Jackie’s journey, and Liz’s for that matter as well. Because these two ladies kicked off a grand and beautiful exploration when it comes to the messages I made mention of a moment ago, and the first big one that it dove into, is one that has permeated the fabric of this series from the get-go, in that, it’s damn important that we have something to believe in. 

Because both Jackie and Liz were lost at various points within this story. For Jackie was trapped in a world where her genius and tenacity were constantly overshadowed by the fragile ego of men and Liz has been searching for something more for as long as we’ve known her on this show and seeing them both find something inspirational to latch onto in their lives was magnificent for certain. For believing in the Scrolls and the possibility that they might provide Jackie and Larry with a better life unlocked her potential like never before and brought out the best in her and Liz’s discovery at Orbis allowed for her to realize that there’s true magic and beauty in this world and that gave her clarity and focus and it was lovely to see her start a journey of discovery and it was equally as wonderful that we were able to share in Jackie’s strength, and I also enjoyed how the message present here was handled in subtle and smooth fashion.
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Which is quite important since the second message in this story wasn’t subtle in the slightest. In fact, it was a little tough to swallow since this episode took the time to remind us in blunt fashion that the world is sometimes a rough place, one that takes us down paths we don’t always want to go. And that people are the key to surviving this difficult part of the journey that is life, because our family and our friends and the friends we call family are there to prop us up and keep us going when life is rough and we saw that everywhere in this tale. For Larry kept Jackie going and everyone at the lodge kept Dud rolling and Liz’s restaurant buds propped her up time and time again in this story, and even Scott tried to make it clear how much Connie makes his life better by putting on a one man show for her. If anything, this was just a wonderful reminder to cherish the people we have in our lives and this particular message made the closing moments of this tale all the more relevant and powerful.

If anything, this might be my favorite episode of the series to date. Because you just don’t see television shows work this hard to remind us of the beauty of the world that’s right in front of us and offer up ways for us to find a little direction when things are going rough and I won’t lie, the beauty and the power of this tale definitely brought some tears to my eyes. Which means that kudos have to go out to writer Peter Ocko for putting together this layered and brilliant screenplay, and director Althea Jones for masterfully bringing it to life, all while helping the actors to refine their incredible performances since Sonya Cassidy and Cara Mantella put on an acting clinic in this one, and I simply cannot praise this episode enough. Because it is just rare to enjoy a story this intelligent and relatable, but this one pulled such a feat off with minimal effort and I really cannot wait until next Monday, so I can lose myself in this powerful series once again. 

​There are a great many elements that go into making a quality television series. For starters, it needs to feature a unique premise, and it also needs a quality cast that we love to watch and above all else, it needs to feature some magnificent writing, the kind that blows us away with some compelling storytelling, and that’s precisely why I’ve been such a fan of AMC’s Preacher. Because over the course of its four-year run, its accomplished those respective goals week in and week out, and as an added bonus, it’s also found way to put things on the screen that I, quite frankly, never thought I would see in my lifetime, much less on a television series and I guess it should come as no surprise that stunning and unexpected moments are going to become a staple for the series in its final episodes. Because the time has indeed come for the series, to ‘go for broke’ and wow us with as many memorable moments as possible and for proof, look no further than last night’s episode.
 
For ‘Fear of the Lord’ saw Herr Starr and the Grail at their absolute lowest points. Because a group of cannibals that lived in the Outback, found Starr and ‘nursed’ him back to health by replacing his proverbial plumbing with literal plumbing, and they even fed him his own damn leg in a fine stew, and all of this outright shattered the Allfather. To complicate matters further, upon his return to Grail HQ (thanks to an assist from Featherstone), Humperdoo’s absence prompted both Hitler and Jesus Christ to present their own replacement plan when it comes to the presentation to the Messiah and this brought forth one of the wild moments in question. Because at no point in my life did I ever think I would see a creative iteration of Jesus Christ, straight up breakdance to Run DMC’s ‘It’s Tricky’, but here we are, and it was hilarious and out there and the wild moments didn’t end with this dance number.
 
For while Starr worked to get his bearings and figure how out to reclaim his beauty and his leg, Cass and Tulip were working on a three-month long plan to draw out God, so he could bear witness to the end of Humperdoo and well, this plan was a straight up failure through and through. Because at no point did the Lord bother to swing by and speak to them, and it would seem that’s because He outright knew that they were incapable of hurting the Messiah, a point hammered home when the Grail came knocking. For when Tulip was given the chance to quite literally send Humperdoo to the Moon with a metric ton of high explosives, she didn’t take it in the slightest, and that left her and Cass in a tough place since they  would have to head back to Masada to rescue the little guy. That is, after they cleaned off all the vomit they were covered in and after Tulip removed the axe she plunged into Cass’ chest during her moment of murderous weakness.
 
But while all of this was fascinating to watch in its own right, the centerpiece storyline of the night once again belonged to Jesse Custer. For we finally came to learn exactly why he was cast down into Hell and it turns out that the Padre was right all along in regard to this being a test from the Lord Almighty, and after enduring some horrific physical and mental trials in the depths of Hell, he was finally granted the second chance he so craved and returned to Earth resurrected and wiser. But a meeting with God removed any joy from this moment. Because the Lord made it clear that there was no way that Jesse was ever going to prove himself worthy or potentially save humanity through sacrifice, since God, more or less believes that we are incapable of doing anything good, and that we’ve also ‘had a good run’. And He hammered home His resolve to end us by teaching Jesse quite the lesson in respect, by sucking his damn eyeball out before informing him that he still had a role to play in the End Times and to bring his friends to the show. And while it’s great that the trio is reunited, one has to wonder what horrors await them now that we know that the Apocalypse is barreling toward its completion.
 
However, all bleakness aside, this really was quite the brilliant episode through and through. Because this one kept my attention from the get-go and I won’t lie, when Jesus hit the cardboard, I lost it and laughed so damn hard that I had to pause the episode after that sequence came to a close just to wipe the tears from my eyes and to catch my breath. That’s simply how epic this episode turned out to be, and the title of this one is about as spot on as it gets since there is definite reason to fear the Lord at this point since He is clearly ready to wreak havoc on a whim and well, at this point one has to wonder exactly how Jesse can save the world from a being that can do anything it wants. And it should be interesting to see what Jesse does next, now that he is armed with the knowledge that he and his friends have been pawns in God’s plans, all along. Until next time.  

Over the course of its illustrious run, the Star Trek franchise as a whole has offered up some wonderful contributions to the creative world for certain. For this series truly took science fiction out of the dark ages that it was stuck in, back in the 50s and early 60s, and offered up a relatable story that anyone can enjoy. But while I could go on and on about every last creative endeavor this show pioneered back in the day, there’s only one on my mind today, and that would be the colorful and rich villains that this franchise continues to create on the small and silver screen.
 
Because it’s very easy for television shows to bring forth one dimensional baddies that come and go week in and week out, and that happens often in just about every genre, anymore. But this series, it made sure that everyone who did nefarious deeds in the galaxy, had depth and a backstory and reasons as to why they did what they did. It’s why the Klingons and Romulans and every villain in-between are so celebrated when it comes to this saga since they offer the audience so much. But of the many villains that made a guest spot on this series, only one truly stands out as the definitive nemesis for Captain James Tiberius Kirk and that man would be… Khan Noonien Singh.
 
For everyone knows of the havoc that Khan wreaked upon the crew of the Enterprise and our hearts in 1982’s The Wrath of Khan. But his origin story and first encounter with Kirk and company is something that’s long buried in our memories since I think it is safe to say we revisit that movie more than we revisit the old show. In fact, my first encounter with the character was the movie first and the show far later. Which means that it’s been years since I settled in to watch ‘Space Seed’ and thanks to this delightful re-watch, the time has come to finally re-visit this all important first counter between Captain Kirk and the toughest enemy he’s ever faced and honestly, this is still a great episode through and through, one that has held up well over the years. 

​That’s due in large part to the fact that Khan is just a delight to see on screen, courtesy of the late Ricardo Montalban’s electric performance, and what he brings to the role and the character makes him a frightening villain indeed. After all, we are able to bear witness to his cunning intellect at a point where he is still not blinded by the prospect of revenge, and to see him work and scheme with a clearer mind is frightening to the say the least. Since he’s willing to hurt and harm in order to get his way and well, seeing the entire picture now after all these years, almost makes this story darker than I remember it. Because now we know this is the opening chapter to a grand tragedy, one that sees Khan lose his life to revenge, and one that breaks that audience’s heart as well.
 
After all, the final moments in this episode, wherein Spock discusses his curiosity as to what the captain’s decision will look like in a hundred years is heartbreaking and ominous. And it’s equally as harrowing in this tale to see a Starfleet officer turn her back on her ship and the delta by assisting Khan, regardless of whether or not she snaps out of it by the end of the episode. But what matters most, are the more metaphorical messages present in this tale. For this is really the classic struggle between tyranny and good men, and I won’t lie, this is another story that oddly has relevance to present day since Khan stands in for so many relevant pieces in our current culture and that alone made this episode brilliant in its own right.
 
But all analysis aside, the hardcore geek in me could not help but smile with wonder over the fact that this was it, the grand setup to one of Trek’s most powerful stories, and seeing this one again, adds gravity and depth to the powerful sequel since the somberness of TWOK suddenly makes sense. Plus, kudos William Shatner for also turning in a powerhouse performance in this tale, and DeForest Kelley gets the honorable mention with his sublime handling of Khan’s savagery and well, this one really is a true classic for the series. One that truly gifted us with a great story when all is said and done and honestly, I think I’m ready to take a quick break to watch Star Trek II before resuming this journey, just to see the story as a whole while this one is still fresh in my mind. Until next time. 

Whether we like it or not, at some point or another in our lives we are going to make some serious mistakes. The kind that fill us with regret and make us feel sheepish and small and quite frankly, dumb. But mistakes are simply a part of life and when we make one, we are in essence presented with two choices. Either we own up to our silly goof and learn from it and live with it, or we let it consume us and fill us with fear and utter regret and it just so happens that how we handle mistakes, is something that served as the focus of last night’s episode of Lodge 49, since a glaring mistake hung heavy over this particular tale.
 
After all, ‘Estrella y Mar’ took place shortly after Dud and Beth’s impromptu nuptials and it didn’t take long for the audience and the newlyweds to realize that tying the knot, because you once had a thing for one another in high school, is a terrible idea. But rather than dive into notions of regret and see Beth and Dud succumb to negativity, something that just doesn’t happen on this series, the story instead opted to offer up a unique exploration on how we deal with mistakes. For sometimes, when we make a gross misstep, we don’t fall into despair, we instead double down and try to make this work for us and that’s precisely what Dud and Beth did in this story. Because clearly, they both realized they acted on pure impulse, and Dud thought that perhaps their rekindled desire for one another would grow into something more.
 
If anything, it was just so sweet to see Dud try and make this work, when it was quickly becoming apparent that these two had nothing in common, especially when one considers the fact that Beth is a type-A personality and Dud is about as chill as they come. But as for Beth, well she was clearly upset with herself for making this decision and realized that she had caused hurt and harm to Tim and her family by making this wild choice. But rather than back away and admit failure, she also stuck to it and also tried to make it work despite her growing frustration, that is until Blaise’s temper tantrum put a nail in her hand, since that helped her to realize that maybe Tim deserved another shot. But what matters more here is that a television series about the ups and downs of life found a way to look at a potentially dark situation and turn it into something palatable and positive and that’s just brilliant when all is said and done 

But I made mention of the fact that some people outright embrace and learn from their missteps, and that’s something that was explored by way of Liz’s journey in this tale. For this episode saw her and Lenore’s relationship reach its breaking point, shortly after Lenore admitted to lying and hustling her way into Liz’s life in a desperate attempt to reminisce over old times, and this nasty little moment, that occurred at the track, was something that Liz needed. Because this taught her a great lesson about the past and about trauma, since she came to realize that one cannot bury their emotions. One needs to feel them and acknowledge them and quite frankly, embrace them and in doing so, one can start to make peace with their past and their pain, and move forward. Otherwise, she runs the risk of becoming a burn out, old biddy just like Lenore.
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Yet while all of this was fascinating to watch in its own right, this episode also took the time to address and progress some lingering plot lines that have been steadily brewing in the background of this season, such as Connie’s push to find physical and mental peace. And it was wonderful to learn that she’s growing as well since she took the time to address her love of both Scott and Ernie in this tale and demand better of both of them and herself and it should be interesting to see where this quest takes her and her loves in the weeks to come since both Ernie and Scott were transformed in a good way by her return. Plus, the whole piece with Blaise and his quest to finish the Magnum Opus out of fear was just fascinating to watch since he’s truly buried himself in a notion to find some reason to go on as his life collapses around him and I am dying to know as to whether or not he completed the Opus as Dud suggested he did, or if he found a new place to hide from the sense of failure that seems to hang over his head.
 
In the end however, this really was a beautiful tale about growth. Because every single character in this particular tale had to take the time to reflect upon what’s brought them to this current moment in their life and what it will take to move them forward, and while the growth in question wasn’t massive in its own right, baby steps did happen, as is the case in real life. For change takes time and trial and error and it’s always lovely to see these gentle lessons about our world and our experiences play out in this series. But outside of that, I also have to admit that I am quite excited to see what comes next for Dud. Because it cannot be coincidence that the author he went to meet is the man we saw in the Flash Forward in the season premiere and hey, he might find love after all since Emily from the library is clearly interested in him and thinking about him and well, I do hope all these little moments and steps toward growth give Dud the happiness and peace he so desperately craves. Until next time.    

If there’s one phrase that rings true more often than it should in life, it’s that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Because time and time again, the smallest decision or the life changing one reinforces the sheer power of this particular phrase and it’s one that also works well within the framework of television and film and the written word, since stories are a perfect place to explore this reality in the most unique ways imaginable. And it just so happens that this is on my mind today, simply due to the fact that Preacher went full bore into this notion during last night’s episode, since God’s plan to take Jesse Custer out the equation, engendered quite the reaction from his friends.
 
For ‘Messiahs’ saw Tulip and Cassidy do anything but fold over losing Jesse. Instead, they were outright furious over what just happened and decided that they needed to make things right and when you’re that angry and that broken, the only way to feel a sense of justice is to elicit a little revenge and the need to get back at God brought the duo to the Big Apple. Wherein Tulip pulled off a big-time job for Dany in order get exactly what she wanted; Humperdoo, who Jesse had entrusted to his old crime boss for safekeeping. But when Dany denied her the Messiah, Tulip pushed harder than ever before, beating the tar out of her old boss, forcing her to give her the son of Christ. But kidnapping doesn’t exactly elicit a sense of retribution or justice now does it? Which is why Cass was quick to inform Humperdoo’s guardians that the plan is to kill the Messiah to teach the Lord quite the lesson.
 
Yet while all of this was intense and dark and powerful in its own right, the story had more to explore than notions of vengeance. For this particular tale confirmed the fact that Jesse Custer indeed died because of the fall that he endured at the end of last week’s episode, and that meant the series finally had to inform us as to where his soul had gone and well, kudos to the story for handling that in masterful fashion to say the least. Because at first glance it seemed as though the deal with Gran’Ma meant nothing with the Devil now six billion feet under, since Jesse was greeted in the Afterlife by Fiore and given quite the option when it comes to his time in eternity. For with God gone and a war brewing between good and evil, Jesse was offered the Lord’s throne, where he could command the armies of Heaven to victory in the coming apocalypse.
 
But this was something that Jesse simply did not want, for to do so would be an epic sin in its own right and that’s when we came to learn that this little offer from Heaven came forth in order to get him out of his real destination; Hell itself. And it’s a deal that Jesse may still take up, now that he knows exactly what God’s grand design is about now. For Fiore revealed that shortly after Genesis was turned loose upon the universe, the Almighty seemingly had a breakdown, since that’s when He flew His heavenly coop and partied hearty on Earth in epic fashion and during his travels, the grand design came together. And it would seem that the Lord has decided that He’s just straight up bored with humanity and our world as it stands, and He’s ready to put a new species on the planet and see how it thrives and the only person that might be able to stop it is Jesse, provided of course he’s ready to sit atop that throne.
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If anything, I have to admit that I loved that particular twist for several reasons. First and foremost, because it’s so simple in its own right, since one would think that God has bigger designs than creating a human/dinosaur/bird hybrid thingy, but this being’s potential has definitely caught the Lord’s fancy. But I think I loved this reveal more so because it was just so very Preacher. For only this show would feature a story wherein a powerful deity would be prepared to end billions of lives to satiate curiosity. But outside of that lovely surprise, this really was an engaging episode, one that kept you guessing, one that kept you entertained and one that featured everything we love about the series. And now that we know what the grand design is, it should be interesting to see what steps Jesse takes to save his friends and all of mankind because I just don’t see him turning his back on the world in its hour of need. Because he really is a good man deep down and this final challenge, may serve as his redemption. Until next time. 

If there’s one genuine benefit when it comes to having an epic motion picture arrive upon the small screen in either prequel or sequel form, it’s the sheer fact that everyone involved with this extension of the original story are able to explore this world like never before. The cast and crew get to answer every single burning question on their minds about this universe, and in turn their work allows for the audience to explore everything the movie glossed over due to time constraints. And I think that’s really why I’m enjoying The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance so much, simply due to the fact that we’re going to every single corner of Thra, and learning all that we can about this rich world and the next episode of this series is no exception to that rule.
 
For ‘What was Sundered and Undone’ took us far away from the Castle of the Crystal, for the most part, in order to allow for us to see exactly what life is like for the common Podling and Gelfing in this world and as it turns out, it’s not all that different from our own. Because there are clans and societies that wish to keep to themselves and sadly, turn their back on those that are different as was evidenced by everything we witnessed with the Stonewood Gelflings since they were horrendously rude toward Deet, and were quick to lock up Hup, who we are also learning is not a man to be messed with. But I digress, because this really was a fascinating segment to watch since it really gave us an understanding of how divided this world really is and how much work toward unity everyone will need to accomplish when they decide to fight against the Skeksis.
 
That’s a point that was compounded further by Rian’s journey in this tale. Since we came to learn that his father made it to the Maudra first and that led to utter disaster for our intrepid and broken hero. For he was forced to face accusations of murder and madness from his own flesh and blood and it was just heartbreaking to watch him realize that he is truly alone at this point and the Stonewood Gelfing’s push to immediately trust the Skeksis’ lies over anything else is what truly reinforced the point that I made mention of. If anything, I have to admit that I was quite impressed to find such powerful drama present in a tale filled to the brim with carefully crafted puppets, but that storyline and Brea’s speak volumes to the quality writing present within this story.
 
Speaking of Brea’s journey, hers was perhaps the most ‘human’, since she struggled with her new assignments and her inability to continue her quest for knowledge, and that prompted her to rebel further and toss off the shackles of her new assignment, and do her own thing to get some answers. And it was just magnificent to watch this young Gelfing come into her own in this story and refuse to let the truth be buried and it would seem her bravery is going to pay off in spades come the next episode of this beautiful saga. For her time with Onica finally led to the discovery of a secret chamber buried within her mother’s throne room and I cannot wait to see what knowledge awaits her beneath this beautiful chamber, and what really what made this segment so human, was her unending quest to uncover the truth. Since in the here and the now, people are fighting with all of their respective might, to keep facts relevant in a world where others try to bury them.
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But all of that aside, we need to take a moment and also discuss Aughra’s return to the Castle of the Crystal. Wherein she came to learn that the Skeksis have done the Crystal great harm and it was just fascinating to see the Skeksis regard the powerful Aughra as nothing more than an nuisance after all this time, and it should be interesting to see what her next move is, now that she is in essence, powerless. In the end however, this was just a magnificent episode through and through, one that demonstrated the fact that story is going to matter above anything else in this series, and we are definitely going to be treated to a rich one for certain and truly, I am beyond excited to see how everything starts to come together as our heroes begin to expose the Skeksis for the liars and cheaters and monsters, that they truly are. Until next time.