If there is one important lesson that all of us should take from the concept of war, it would be that the damage it creates, doesn’t end with ceasefires and treaties. Because once the battle has come to a close, both sides have to go home and face their families and themselves in regard to what they’ve done and that leaves a lasting impact for certain. Since we’ve come to learn that soldiers aren’t quite right when they come home from combat and post-war troubles don’t end there. Because there is rebuilding to be done and bad feelings toward one another that slowly have to be healed and it can take decades before things seemingly go back to normal for both of the nations that once called the other their enemy. 
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But what’s truly amazing about war, is that even when the healing is concluded; there are still echoes of the conflict that stick around for a good long time. Because sometimes weapons that were never used are left sitting around in a vacant place, forgotten by time and the soldiers that abandoned them and they can in turn cause harm to those who stumble upon them years later, an unfortunate fact that we’ve seen pop up in the news time and time again when an old minefield from a forgotten war is discovered by sheer accident. Which leaves one to wonder, when exactly the world will properly heal from our many conflicts and well, we may never know the answer to that question. Because war is something that is engrained in mankind’s soul at this point in time. If anything, this is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because the lasting impact of war and its weapons both served as focal points for a fascinating episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Because ‘Booby Trap’ sees the crew of the Enterprise arrive at the site of an incredible final conflict between two civilizations that are now long gone, as a result of a long-lasting war. And all that remains of these two worlds is a graveyard of debris and ghosts in the stellar wind, some of which the crew were actually able to speak with. For they found a derelict vessel in the midst of this stellar tomb and were able to learn that the long-gone crew of this starship spent their final days in sorrow and agony. Because their vessel was in essence, stuck in galactic quicksand, since this graveyard was designed to be a giant trap. One that used a device known as an Aceton Assimilator to drain energy and feed radiation into ships that it snagged within its snare and unfortunately for Captain Picard and his intrepid and brave crew, they too were now stuck in this quagmire. 

For nothing they did would remove the invisible grip of these devices and at times, their efforts only made matters worse and left the crew facing certain doom. That is until Geordi and a touch of philosophy on his part… stepped in. Because he spent most of his time in this tale, in the holodeck, working with a representation of the woman that helped to design the Galaxy Class, a Dr. Leah Brahms. And after spending hours consulting and to a lesser extent, flirting with her avatar, Commander LaForge came up with quite the idea. In that, perhaps the best course of action, was to do nothing. For if they shut the ship down after making one large push with the engines, they could likely escape with their lives and the ship intact and wouldn’t you know it? Geordi’s idea worked like a charm and the U.S.S. Enterprise gently snuck its way out of a death trap.

As for the aforementioned philosophy, well Geordi’s actions make it plain to see that he’s referring to peace as a means to solve a conflict. But while it was nice to find that message embedded within the framework of the story, clearly this one made it crystal clear that war is hell. And the wrong kind of epic conflict, one waged with horrific weapons, will impact generations upon generations. Which was timely to inject in here since Nuclear War was still a primary concern in America in 1989 and well, in the end, this was nothing more than a quality episode through and through. Because it had something to say, it was compelling and tense since the clock was ticking on the fate of the Enterprise and her crew and it ends in a satisfying fashion and let’s be honest, that’s a great way to handle a TNG tale and now that this self-contained and brilliant story has come to a close, it’s onto the next one. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Tehran’.
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When we last settled in to talk about the phenomenal new AppleTV+ series, Tehran, our discussion ended in quite the uncomfortable place. After all, the IRGC was alerted to the presence of a spy within Iranian borders and to make matters worse, the spy in question was staring down all kinds of trouble. For Tamar was forced to brutally deal with a disgusting pig who felt the need to impose his will upon women, and after cracking open his skull in self-defense; it seemed as though the jig was up for Tamar. Because someone was lurking around the corner and in no way could that bode well for her. But thankfully, the next episode of this fantastic new series offered up quite the surprise.   
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For ‘Blood on Her Hands’ opens up immediately after ‘Emergency Landing in Tehran’ and in those opening seconds we come to discover that our mysterious voyeur is actually a friend in disguise. For Tabrizi (also known as ‘The Eagle’) is a local agent in this part of the world, and he is quick to offer his help in hiding any evidence of what happened in the alley. Which makes it seem as though things are going to be okay, and that Tamar will be able to complete her mission with minimal fuss. But in keeping with the tradition that the series premiere brought to fruition, chaos quickly ensues. Because while Tamar is working to upload the codes necessary to bring down the nuclear facility’s defenses, trash men stumble upon the body of Zhila’s boss and that in turn, forces her to abandon her mission, and she finds herself trapped as well.

Because the police arrive quickly and demand answers from all of the employees and well, this leads to some supremely intense moments. For there is no way out for Tamar in this instance, since the police are everywhere, and she is on a floor high enough, where any attempt at a quick escape would result in physical harm or worse. And to complicate matters further, Zhila’s former coworker is all about that drama, and despite Tamar’s best efforts to get her to keep quiet about what she knows… she quickly spills the beans about the affair to the police. Making life difficult for Tamar and well, at this point in the story; it truly seems as though bad things are about to happen to Tamar. Because with this much scrutiny surrounding her, it only seems like a matter of time before she’s placed in front of Faraz; who will undoubtedly get her to reveal her true identity and purpose in Tehran.

But wouldn’t you know it? The Eagle finds a way to come through and get Tamar out of that sticky situation, in the ugliest manner possible. Because in the middle of the night, he goes to Zhila’s home and murders her husband, and promptly plants a suicide note after the deed is done to make it seem as though he committed this crime out of heartbreak and anguish. And the discovery of his body, prompts the police to bring Tamar ‘home’ to deal with this horrific reality. Which means she should be getting out of there promptly and scot free since The Eagle is nearby. But the sheer brutality of this act, motivates Tamar to leave her help behind and try to figure a way out on her own, and that is quite the harrowing way to end this particular tale for certain. For now, Tamar is without any support or any path to escape.

Plus, she’s got Faraz and the might of the IRGC on her tail as well, and that’s going to be quite the problem. Because Faraz is the absolute best at what he does and everyone in his organization knows that Tamar is walking the streets and it is likely only a matter of time before these two cross paths once again. If anything, this was simply a phenomenal episode, one that truly puts the viewer on the edge of their seat. Because there is danger and tension to be found in every facet of this episode and that really does make this setory quite the treat. Since you haven’t a clue where it is going to take you, and the dangerous air hanging over this tale is only amplified by its ending. Wherein Tamar turns to her Aunt for help since we don’t know if she will be accepting or helpful toward her niece, and all of this genuinely leaves one eager to see, where this wild and dynamic story is going to take us next.  

What’s truly fascinating about re-watching classic episodes from the Star Trek Universe, is how they have a vastly different impact upon us at different stages in our lives. Because sometimes, we come to realize that that the episodes that wowed us with special effects when we were kids, have nothing else to offer outside of explosions and big moments when we sit through them again as adults. And on the flip side of that, the stories that seemed boring back in the day; turn out to be supremely powerful and moving when we revisit them years later and for proof, well then look no further than the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. For ‘The Bonding’ is a story, that was likely viewed in a different light when fans of this series originally watched it.

Because a great deal of us were kids or teenagers when this story hit the airwaves back in 1989. So, all that we took away from this tale, originally, was that it was nothing more than an alien of the week story. One where a poor kid became an orphan after his mom died during an away mission, and subsequently was viewed as prey by a powerful alien that could transform thoughts into reality. But upon a second viewing, this story truly does take on a whole new life, simply because it actually deals with some heavy, heavy concepts. Most of which revolve around the nature of death and how it impacts us and that was quite surprising to find this time around, since it is a topic that the Star Trek Universe is rarely willing to tackle, outside of when a major cast member departs and even then, that’s pretty rare.

But here, the gravity and power of death are put on full display, complete with discussions from the crew in regard to how it impacts us differently when we lose someone close to us as opposed to someone we casually know. A point that quite frankly, has some serious relevance since we really do treat death differently in that particular manner, and that interesting point serves as the gateway to a deeper exploration. Because it isn’t long before this episode digs into the emotions that we experience when faced with loss. Since Lieutenant Worf feels a measure of anger and guilt over having a crew member die on his watch and seeing him try to make sense of it and try to make peace over the fact that it wasn’t his fault makes for some fascinating television for certain. 

Yet while that alone could have carried this particular tale for the entire hour, this episode still had more to say about the power of loss, specifically… how we come back from it. Something that the story explores in its finale by pointing out that Worf's approach to loss is the incorrect one, and that we should instead embrace our feelings and let them out and be honest about how much it hurts that someone we love dearly is gone. All so that we can eventually come to the point where we accept what has happened and celebrate the life that has departed this earth, before figuring out how to move forward without them, and this segment truly makes for some poignant and progressive storytelling for certain. Because even in 2020, showing emotion while we grieve, is still considered taboo, unfortunately.

For we believe that strength and resolve somehow matter above all else. When in fact, TNG offers up the right advice and well, in the end, that makes this story stunningly powerful and moving for certain. Simply because it dives deep into something that makes all of us uncomfortable in some capacity and it deserves a round of applause for handling this exploration of death in such a classy and refined manner. If anything, this particular tale serves as a hint of things to come from writer Ronald D. Moore, who penned this episode. Because he would become a legend within this franchise and science fiction in general, thanks to his innate ability to blend the human condition with the genre so well and in the end, this episode once again reinforces the wonder of season three, and it definitely leaves this reviewer curious as to what other storytelling surprises await us down the line. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for some of the shows highlighted here.
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As if binging television wasn’t somewhat routine before the pandemic, we’ve all become experts now… LOL. Pouring over our fandoms with a Gollum-like enthusiasm – am I right? Heck, TV is my escape! And if you’re anything like me, a good TV show can do wonders for your psyche. Whether it’s a new deep dive or a re-watch playing in the background, I’ve compiled a small list that will help you step away from 2020 without draining your schedule or your brain by trying to complete a long and winding saga.  
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The requirements for this list, you ask?

Well… because there are just so many choices out there, I’ve limited the options to those with three seasons or less so finishing them is completely doable even as the world starts fully spinning again. Additionally, I only chose from the three largest streaming platforms containing the healthiest combinations of television series in their entirety; Amazon Prime, Hulu and Netflix. And… in January, I presented the article Must-See TV of 2019 and therefore, will not be discussing any of the shows from that list in detail, here. But do know, some shows in said article meet the criteria I’ve laid out and that makes The Tick (Amazon Prime), Legion (FXX; Hulu) and Watchmen (HBO only), worth checking out for sure!!

Finally, this list is a hodgepodge of Science Fiction, Horror, Historical Adaptations and Comedy all designed to give one a break from today’s world by dropping you into a whole new one. Arranged by platform, as you peruse each list, keep in mind this isn’t a ranking of worst to best, but rather from the most to least content for each platform. So, before you can grab the remote, let’s dive in…

​The early rumblings of Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie on an amazingly witty BBC Radio Series morphed into a TV show (HBO) and follows the trials and tribulations of two New Zealand band mates as they navigate their lives in New York City. Mixing music, satire and dry humor, the show does an excellent job of giving the viewer something to ponder, comedic or otherwise, in every episode. Adding other talents like Rhys Darby (Murray Hewitt) and Kristen Schaal (Mel) from time to time, increases the dynamic and leaves you wanting more even if you’re not sure why. Accompanied by their own self-titled Grammy winning music, never really knowing when the guys are going to break into song adds to the overall magic of the show. Not to mention the band’s own true success in real life, both musically and in television and film. Fortunately, I had the pleasure of seeing them live at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado in the summer of 2016. I own the series as well as several of their music CDs hence making this all too short, two season series, high on my list of must see shows, quarantine or otherwise.

​This HBO original historical drama follows the lives of various characters. Some fictional, such as the main protagonist Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and his counterpart Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson). As well as others, like Gaius Julius Caesar (Ciarán Hinds) and Mark Antony (James Purefoy), who’ve definitely made their mark on history. All included seem to collide at various stages throughout the series weaving a fantastically gritty, dirty and bloody, yet sexy and forthright tale. Rome veers off the history path somewhat, but who cares. Virtually all historical dramas do this and some with much less finesse! The action is fantastic, and the acting is on point to say the least. Plus, what really does it for me, are the set and costume designs as well as the cinematography. Besides, who doesn’t love sex and violence set to a pre-Christianity political background held together by the intricacies of the day to day lives of various cogs in the wheel of the Roman Empire? I know I sure do! From the very poor to the very rich, Rome delivers and then some.

The shortest run time of any of my choices, many will take a peek at Jean Claude Van Johnson and wonder if its mere 6 episode run is worth a true look. However, I found it fun and silly as it follows the actual person Jean-Claude Van Damme whose acting career turns out to be a cover for his true job; a professional spy. Yep, it’s literally that direct… LOL!! It’s a unique story that goes out of its way to make fun of not only Hollywood excessiveness, but Van Damme himself. Not to mention, seeing Jean-Claude in such a multifaceted character role is totally worth it. Beyond the traditionally expected Van Damme fight choreography, the viewer gets to see his comedic side in a Police Squad (ABC; 1982) like series that actually made me chuckle and wish that Amazon wouldn’t have ended this one so soon.
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Amazon Prime Honorable Mentions: 1. Deadwood series and TV Movie (HBO; 2004-2006 and 2019): Exceeding my requirements when adding in the film is what excludes this gritty historical drama from my list. However, because the film, made well over ten years after the three-season series ended gives closure, I decided to mention both here. 2. Todd McFarlane’s Spawn animated series (HBO; 1997-1999): This a great way for anyone interested to introduce themselves to the comic book legend with greater detail than the 1997 film (New Line Cinema) of the same name. As well as before the new film (Blumhouse Productions), starring Jamie Foxx as the titular character, seemly in production, is released.

​A Hulu original brought to you by top executive producers Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg, Future Man is a hilariously weird tale about a lowly video game turned real life. Full of great actors and just downright awesome comedic parallels to other time traveling and dystopian icons. Like Back to the Future (Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment; 1985-1990) and The Hunger Games (Lionsgate; 2012-2015) film franchises, this series never takes itself seriously. It doesn’t need to!! Josh as Future Man (Josh Hutcherson) and his newfound allies Tiger (Eliza Coupe) and Wolf (Derek Wilson) have amazing chemistry portraying extremely flawed characters surrounded by a world of even more flawed characters, in every time… LOL!! Trying to save the future, past, present, or whatever, has never been so defective and it’s wonderful!! Plus, the pop culture references are off the charts while the multiple roles by the four main characters throughout showcase this talent filled homage.

​The only fully British television series to make my list, Spaced (UK; Channel 4) follows a pair of new acquaintances, Tim Bisley (Simon Pegg) and Daisy Steiner (Jessica Hynes), as they pretend to be a couple to secure a flat in north London. A very simple premise made hilarious by the supporting stories and cast, especially Mark Heap as Brian Topp and of course, Simon’s lifelong friend, Nick Frost as Mike Watt. Taking place at the turn of the century and written by Pegg and Stevenson, we get an early look at a Shaun of the Dead (Universal Pictures; 2004) like style of filming with quick internal subconscious scenes and in your face slapstick sequences. Often times, these scenes need a rewind to let your brain catch up with the genius you just witnessed… LOL!! Additionally, the beauty and heart of the show, beyond the great acting and filming, is the fact that it surrounds a group of British actors giving us comedy using tons of American culture. With its absolutely amazing sci-fi, comic book and action film references, it’s unique and fantastic. So much so that I decided to give this one a re-watch while preparing for this article. And yep… it’s still brilliant!!

Adding in the TV movie, Afro Samurai (Fuji Television) has the second shortest run time of all my choices and is the only animated pick beyond Todd McFarlane’s Spawn (in the honorable mentions). I chose this one because of its interesting journey along with the excellent clash of ancient and modern cultures – Samurai and Hip Hop respectively. Banned in China in 2015 by their Ministry of Culture, we follow the lead as he navigates the world from a young child orphaned by his father’s murder through his youth and lifelong fight to avenge his father’s death. Mixing past with present, this tale is both deep yet surprisingly simplistic. Even further, the movie (Fuji Television), which isn’t totally necessary to appreciate the series, brings back the same magic while we watch Afro defend the title obtained in the series. The award-winning animation itself is unique and exaggerated in all the right places. Not to mention the fight scenes are definitely on point. Plus, the overall dark scenes are enhanced by splashes of color, including blood or even something bright and beautiful like fireworks or cherry blossoms. It’s well written, mysterious, and filled with action led by excellent voice actors for the English dub. Afro as an adult, as well as his imaginary subconscious friend Ninja Ninja, in both the series and TV movie, is portrayed by the unique voice of Samuel L Jackson. And seriously, if that’s not enough of a reason to watch, I don’t know what is… LOL!! 
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Hulu Honorable Mentions: 1. Firefly series and film (Fox; 2002-2003 and 2005): Unfortunately, only the series is available on Hulu but, interestingly it’s the full 14 episodes in the correct chronological order. Fox only aired 11 episodes and somewhat out of order. The film, Serenity, which actually allowed creator Joss Whedon to round out the all too short series, isn’t available across any of the three platforms at this time without an extra fee. Of course, you can certainly enjoy the one season, but to truly get closure, the film is a must. 2. Dollhouse (Fox; 2009-2010): Another Whedon project cut short, this show does complete itself in 27 episodes. However, it’s painfully obvious that the originally intended five seasons, feels rushed by the end of its two season run. Additionally, the show struggles with misogynistic undertones that even in the pre-Me Too era, are quite noticeable. Regardless, for me, Eliza Dushku as the main character Echo and my personal favorite Alan Tudyk as Alpha, are what make the show worth it overall.

​Following a werewolf named Peter Rumancek (Landon Liboiron) and giving you basically all the requirements of a supernatural drama, Hemlock Grove (Netflix) is filled with sex, lies and mysterious story plots everywhere. Though it does suffer from tripping over itself from time to time, its unapologetically vague character development is still compelling enough to pay attention. Virtually all of the key players, despite their odd story lines, are sexy and intriguing. Particularly, the deeply flawed train wreck that is Olivia Godfrey (Famke Janssen) and her emotionally charged son Roman Godfrey (Bill Skarsgård). There’s also Roman’s deformed sister Shelley Godfrey (Madeleine Martin) who for me, becomes one of the shining stars of the entire cast. Waxing and waning throughout, overall, this show is worth the effort. And for some damn reason, despite all the deceit, lust and just plain, “what the &%$@ were you thinking moments,” you still somehow just have to know what happens!

​Following the lead character Sunny (Daniel Wu) 500 years in a future dystopian-like society where technology and guns no longer exist, Into the Badlands (AMC), offers something different than the norm. Though it originally received mixed reviews, it’s hard to deny the pull of the characters even if the story seems a bit staggered. Additionally, by mingling bright colors with dreary settings, the cinematography throughout the series is some of the best I’ve ever seen on television. And using a Samurai style for its glorious fight scenes, of which, there are many, gives this Americanized tale quite the twist. Everyone, and I mean everyone who’s anyone in this series, can fight. And fight they do!! The choreography is something spectacular to behold and actually caries the series in some of the more faith based far-fetched story lines. By the end, you may have mixed reviews yourself, but the comedy, cinematography and choreography will stay with you – guaranteed!

This crazy little Starz Original is the biggest Horror title on any of the three lists, but even more than that, it’s likely one of the most gratuitously blood-filled gore fest out there to date! In this next entry in The Evil Dead (1981) franchise, Ash (Bruce Campbell) and company fight demons with a gush of blood and a crazy comedic nature that makes you cringe and shiver, while laughing, and even gagging, at the same time… LOL! And with the original creator Sam Raimi on board, the audience gets a unique sort of horror that brings the average B level of storytelling to A level status. Besides… having Ray Santiago (Pablo Simon Bolivar) as Ash’s sidekick adds a fun dynamic not seen in the films. Rounding out the ensemble, Kelly Maxwell (Dana DeLorenzo) adds a refreshing strong female character who scoffs at Ash’s classic misogynistic comedy. And finally, played by Campbell’s Xena: Warrior Princess (NBC; 1995-2001) alum, Lucy Lawless as Ruby adds some extra supernatural spice! All rolled together, you’ll not soon forget this wacky and evil tale,
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Netflix Honorable Mention: Star Trek (The Original Series): Though it suffers from the typical 1960s culture failures, like misogyny and shag carpet (LOL), this is one show that I would truly say, “it was the times man (all hippie-like),” and mean it! Simply because it really was. In general, and especially on TV, Things for women were still just a bit… well… one dimensional. Let’s just say, they were either the housewife or the Playmate (insert eye roll here!!) with little substance for either. Blacks and other minorities were generally reduced to stereotypical representations as well. And the fashion overall was tight and bright to say the least… LOL. However, one cannot mention all this without discussing the flip side that is the groundbreaking television of Trek. Interracial relationships, both professional and romantic were on full display while some women were shown in powerful roles beyond the dipoles mentioned above. Adding in thought provoking storylines testing the boundaries of television, the series gave minorities and women of all colors representation not typically seen. Finally, campy special effects with serious science fiction action rounds out this epic tale with gusto! The only reason it didn’t make my list is because the series is quite long. Boasting a full 82 episodes (including the pilots) at a minimum of 45 minutes each pushes it beyond where no man has gone before in the realm of 3 seasons or less. *Wink*

Well, there you have it. A fine list of distraction! All representing grand escapism in three seasons or less. Tell me, have you seen any of these shows? Which are your favorites? Reach out in the comments below or @obi_juanita on Twitter and let me know. I mean. Pandemic or not, there has to be at least one or two that catches your eye – am I right? So… get out there – or rather, stay in – and check ‘em out!

Until next time… happy viewing!

We live in quite the incredible time when you take a moment to think about it. After all, we can cure diseases and fend-off common ailments with a shot here and there. We can traverse the skies and be on the other side of the world in a matter of hours if we so choose and we’ve even made space travel a comfortable thing, since there is an active space station in orbit around our world. Plus, we can speak to any person on the planet in an instant by way of smartphones that also happen to have access to the compendium of human knowledge. But while this is all commonplace and normal to us, one has to wonder what our world would look like to a person from say… the 19th Century. Because it would be downright incredible to see someone who knows nothing of technology, try to understand the nature of an iPhone and that is where fiction comes into play.
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Because where else would such a wild idea come to fruition? And it just so happens that the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation took the time to explore this concept in a deep and meaningful manner and that makes ‘Who Watches the Watchers’ a surprisingly poignant tale, one that has incredible ties to our modern world. But before we dive too deeply into that, let’s talk about this outright genius plot. For in this particular tale, we see the crew of the Enterprise arrive at Mintaka III to aid an observation team that is studying a group of proto-Vulcans, and help is needed, because the team in question is in distress. Because their batteries are failing and they are about to be exposed to a species that doesn’t know a thing about warp travel and how the universe is assembled in the 24th Century and well, despite the crew’s best efforts to keep their existence a secret; they fail miserably and bring forth all kinds of trouble.

For it isn’t long before the people of this world begin to worship Captain Picard as an outright God after one of their citizens reports back about his experiences in the Enterprise’s sickbay and well, that brings about the wondrous exploration of all the elements we’ve discussed thus far. Because it turns out that someone who knows nothing of powerful technology and notions of societal advancement, would freak out when presented with all of it. For every single character from Mintaka has no idea how to process this knowledge at first, outside of viewing it as witchcraft or the will of some kind of powerful deity that hails from France. And it is simply incredible and fascinating to see people who are ‘out of time’ respond to the ‘modern world’ with confusion and fear and everything in between, and such a response outright makes sense; since we tend to accept the environment and timeframe we live within and nothing more.

But truly, it is the commentary in this tale that makes it utterly worth the audience’s while. Since this particular story is more or less an observation on the power of fear and how it can cause harm for any species, regardless of how well developed they are mentally and culturally. For the possibility that a ‘God’ may exist, prompts a handful of these good people to give into fear, the kind that motivates them to shed logic and instead believe they must please the Picard in order to find some semblance of happiness or prosperity in their lives, and they go to any length to achieve that goal. Even going so far as to cause harm to others and that feels painfully familiar. For time and time again in our modern world, we’ve seen similar fears, the kind that give into outlandish notions over facts and reality, cause great harm to a great many people and the only redeeming aspect of this particular exploration; is that it works to remind us to always take a moment and examine the facts before we draw any conclusions and that’s definitely relevant advice in 2020.

In the end however, this really is quite the magnificent episode. Because not only does it offer some wonderful commentary and some powerful moments, it is also a grand exploration of the Federation and Starfleet’s highest order, and how difficult it is to enforce the Prime Directive at times. For clearly just being a decent human being can lead to its violation and what really makes this part of the story so satisfying, is that it ends happily for a change. Because time and time again in the Star Trek Universe; violating the Prime Directive ends in disaster. But here, it actually motivates the Mintakans to become more and that is quite the lovely way to end this tale. In part because the crew dodges a proverbial bullet, but more so because this incident taught Picard to be a tad more vigilant and direct in matters such as this. Something that is reinforced by the fact that the Mintakan Tapestry that he is gifted in this tale, would be near him, often, for the rest of his career. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 2804 of ‘Top Gear’.
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If there is one thing that truly makes Top Gear worth watching year in and year out, it would have to be the sheer grit that our trio of hosts exhibit. Because every season, they are faced with some insurmountable and incredible challenges, the kind that would motivate a great deal of people to just throw up their hands and say ‘enough’, but that never happens on this show. For regardless of the odds, or the problems that present themselves to the lads, these guys simply don’t give up and for proof, then look no further than what’s happened this season. Because Season 28 has been filled to the brim with difficult road trips, the kind where cars have outright died whilst en route to their epic destination. But that doesn’t stop these guys from reaching the finish line, because they don’t believe that failure is an option.
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But alas, one simply cannot win all the time and after watching these guys accomplish wonders on a weekly basis, they finally tasted a measure of failure in this week’s episode. Because the producers went all in on Freddie’s idea to have, he and Chris Harris take part in the Baja 1000. A race that involves nothing but off-road territory over the course of twenty-four hours and well, the information that Chris and Freddie received from their seasoned guide/coach about the nature of this race should have been a clue as to how rough things were going to go. Because we came to learn that at least one person dies during this race every year and that it outright punishes the cars that enter it. But that ‘can-do’ attitude kept this dynamic duo focused on the task at hand, and they formulated a two-man relay plan to ensure they would finish this race with a solid time under their belt.

But it didn’t take long for trouble to find the team. For right out of the gate, their car simply gave out for a brief moment and after a jump-start, more troubles plagued this off-road vehicle. Because the GPS lost its signal, which made navigation quite problematic on the initial leg of the race. But truly, what made this journey so harrowing, is that the car started breaking down, less than an hour on the road. For the tough terrain caused damage to the gear box. Prompting a lengthy repair, one that required wires to be borrowed from elsewhere in the car and just when it seemed as though the car was finally and properly underway, things went from bad to worse for ‘Team Top Gear’. Because the power steering gave out as well, and once the time it would take to fix all of these issues was properly calculated, the impossible came to fruition. In that, the producers pulled the plug on the race, forcing the lads to return home in defeat.

However, not all was lost. For the plan is to return to the team to the Baja 1000 at a later date and hopefully the next time around will go a little smoother. But it was downright incredible to not see these guys complete their mission, and while it seems as though this episode ends on a sour note, the show found a way to offer up some fun. Because there was still Chris’ Supercar Spotlight waiting in the wings and this week, he made it quite special. For Chris put the Supercar to the side this week, so that he could check out a feisty little Hot Hatch; the Renault Mégane RS Trophy R. A fun and compact ride that is lightweight and versatile, to the point where it was able to outclass a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder in a unique lap challenge and it was quite nice to see the lads having fun with this competition since it helped us to forget about that ugly defeat in the desert.

As did this week’s celebrity segment for that matter as well. Since Emilia and Laurence Fox played the average person during this week’s show. Because they were both quite nervous whilst they were behind the wheel on the track and during the speed challenge, and they of course offered up some delightful anecdotes about their experiences on the road. If anything, this was just a magnificent episode when all is said and done. Because seeing the lads lose just adds a sense of humility to this show, and it serves to remind us that sometimes in life, failure is inevitable. Regardless of how well we prepare or how much we know about a particular topic or process and it was nice to see Freddie and Chris handle this with grace and now that this messy end to the Baja 1000 is in the books; we can look ahead to more amazing moments from a series that always finds a way to put a smile on our faces. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Tehran’.
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If there is one genre out there that has managed to mold itself into a model of cliché and efficiency, it would have to be the spy genre. Because this particular type of story does a phenomenal job of offering up the audience a suave and dangerous hero. One that always knows how to handle any situation and is rarely caught when it comes to their observational endeavors, and in the event, something does go wrong in their travels around the globe; they are able to immediately course correct so that they can complete their mission and save the day. Which is a formula that we see in these stories time and time again, simply because it is a crowd pleaser and allows room for all kinds of action and adventure to take place. 

But as time goes on, it is becoming clear that audiences are beginning to demand more from spy themed stories. Because this is an era where people expect some level of realism to be injected into their storytelling and that is allowing for more realistic and gritty spy dramas to arrive on the market and it just so happens that Apple TV+ is getting into that game as well. Since Friday saw a brand new spy drama, one that meets the aforementioned criteria, arrive on the network by way of Tehran. A story that at first glance, seems like a formulaic spy story through and through. For ‘Emergency Landing in Tehran’ introduces us to Mossad Agent Tamar Rabinayan, who has snuck into Tehran and switched places with a local woman there, named Zhila, in the hopes of completing one incredible mission.

One that involves using her newfound status as someone else to infiltrate a key building, which will in turn, grant her access to the Iranian defense network; so that she can scramble radar and anti-air assets near a critical nuclear facility. All so that the Israeli Air Force can bomb it back to the stone age. Which seems like quite the straightforward mission, the kind that should go off without a hitch. But thankfully this story finds a way to point out that the spy business is a most dangerous game. One where anything that can go wrong, will go wrong and the first real issue that Tamar runs into, is the sheer fact an Iranian official is alerted to her presence in the country. Because the emergency landing that brought her to Tehran, was also host to two Israelis, one of whom worked at the same military base as Tamar and unfortunately… she spotted her old coworker and spoke of it in a monitored room after being detained.

But while that revelation brings forth concern from the Head of Investigations of The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a man named Faraz Kamali, his worry is ignored by the higher ups and for a brief moment it seems as though this danger will pass, and Tamar will complete her mission without any issue. However, there are other complications that await her in this tale. Such as the fact that Zhila is quite popular with her coworkers and her neighbors, and that makes a smooth entry into the target building, near impossible. Plus, it turns out that Zhila was having an uncomfortable and forced affair with her boss and once word gets out that ‘Zhila’ has come to work, things get ugly. Because Tamar finds herself pursued by the man, an act that forces her to abandon her mission and fight for her safety and unfortunately, that leads to the death of one disgusting boss; in plain sight of a bystander, no less.

If anything, that’s quite the stunning manner in which to end the opening chapter of this tale. Since it leaves the mission hanging on by a thread, and it leaves Tamar vulnerable to questioning and heaven knows where this disastrous twist will take us. But in the here and the now, it’s best we celebrate one stellar premiere. Because not only did this particular story offer up a gritty and realistic mission for Tamar to embark upon, the instant this story opens up; we are surrounded by danger and intrigue at every single turn. The kind that quite frankly elicits anxiety, since you simply don’t know who Tamar can trust and that sucks you into this story. Because now you’re eager to learn what comes next and whether or not the mission will actually be accomplished and well, that seems as good a time as any to sign off and return to this tense and dynamic world. In order to see what other realistic surprises await us in Tamar’s journey. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Long Way Up’.
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When we last settled in to discuss the wonder of the new AppleTV+ series, Long Way Up, we spent a lot of time discussing the grand difficulties that Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman encountered on the first leg of their epic journey north toward the United States of America. For a massive road trip on electric bikes is something that has never been attempted before, and that required quite the learning curve on their part, as they worked to figure out how to effectively charge their bikes to accomplish their daily travel goals. And that left the audience wondering one particular thing at the end of that epic, three-episode premiere. In that, would this be a continuing problem as their voyage continued along?

Because this had the potential of becoming nothing more than a difficult and harrowing journey, one where Ewan and Charley had to dig deep on a daily basis. But thankfully, the next episode in this magnificent documentary makes it clear that there will be some outright delightful moments to enjoy during this incredible adventure. Because ‘The Andes’ brought about some beautiful and wonderful moments, and some smooth sailing for a change as well. For this leg of the trip, saw our dynamic duo hit a little warmer weather once they got past the snowy portion of the Andes, and that allowed for the bikes to perform at a supremely high level. Because now the batteries were holding a charge just fine and working exactly as Charley and Ewan envisioned and that led to some serious accomplishments.

For now, the lads were able to traverse great distances on these bikes. In fact, at one point they managed to rack up two-hundred miles on the bikes, while only needing to stop once for a support charge and that is just amazing. Plus, by being able to hit the road with minimal fuss this time around, we were treated to some breathtaking views. Which once again allowed for the audience to live vicariously through Ewan and Charley. But while it was quite nice to just soak up the beauty of nature this time around, what truly allowed for this episode to stand out, is that it also allowed for Ewan and Charley to really explore the countryside and meet interesting people and learn their stories. Such as the couple they met at a campsite, who informed our dynamic duo; that they basically abandoned their everyday lives in order to experience romance in the raw as they traveled the world.

Plus, it was quite amazing to see Ewan and Charley take the time to visit the Mapuche people. Since that allowed for them (and in turn, us) to learn more about a culture that they knew nothing about. And it was just fascinating to meet these fine folks and see how they live, and it was equally as smart for this documentary to show us some of the struggles that people face in South America. Such as the fuel shortages that plague some areas of this beautiful land, since we came to learn that gasoline is not as plentiful for some down south as it is for us up here. Something that definitely motivates you to take a moment and appreciate what you have. But while all of this was fascinating to learn and experience, this particular tale also made a point to bring fun to the forefront of this episode as often as possible.

Which made for quite the treat when Ewan and Charley opted to throw back and enjoy a little dancing and drinking at a festival, and you simply cannot go wrong with what happened when our new friends were invited into someone’s home to have a little lunch while their bikes charged. For the father of this family, quickly came to realize just who was sitting on his dinner table, and the look on his face as reality sank in is something that neither the audience or Ewan will ever forget and that lighthearted moment simply puts a smile on your face and perhaps sums up the magic of this episode. Because this particular tale was simply a treat through and through. One that managed to help us get lost in a grand adventure and well, now that the major troubles seem to be behind Ewan and Charley; we can likely just kick back and continue to the enjoy the majesty of this wonderful journey north. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 109 of ‘Ted Lasso’.
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Over the course of its inaugural first season, the Apple TV+ series, Ted Lasso, has accomplished some outright wonders storytelling wise. Because not only has this series provided its fans with deeply fleshed out characters, something that you rarely see in year one, it’s also done a phenomenal job of exploring parts of the human condition that other television shows won’t touch with a ten-foot pole. And it has accomplished that particular feat by looking at the bright side of everything tough that we encounter in life. Making this series one of the most inspirational and uplifting shows on the air right now and it just so happens that this week’s episode of this phenomenal series, found a way to uphold that magnificent standard, despite the difficult topic that it chose to examine.
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Because ‘All Apologies’ had the potential to go to some dark and unfortunate places. For this is a story that decided to explore the power of the truth and well, let’s be honest, this is something that tends to go sideways often in life. For people tend to struggle with honesty, despite our desire to receive it from our friends and family. And the fact that Rebecca was being pressed to finally open up to Ted about what she’s done since he arrived, is what made this story seem so ominous early on. Because there was the strong possibility that Ted would handle such a reveal in a sour manner and understandably so, since he was in fact, a fall guy for Rebecca. One that was brought here to tank the team as part of a grandiose revenge plot against Rupert. 

But when the big moment came, and Rebecca finally came clean to Ted about everything she’s done to this point, the story wasted in no time in looking at the positive impact that can come about from being honest with the people around us. Because rather than chide Rebecca for her poor choices and make her feel like a piece of trash and earn his own measure of revenge, Ted simply took her apology to heart and saw the upside to her confession. In that, now they could finally be open with one another and forge ahead and leave the past in the past. And just like that, he forgave her and moved on and that allowed for Rebecca to further set things right in her life by paying a visit to Higgins to offer up an apology to him as well, and this lovely exploration of the truth didn’t end with this delightful segment.

Because while Rebecca was setting everything right, Ted had quite the conundrum on his hands. For Roy Kent was beginning to slack on the field, to the point where he accidentally scored a goal on his own team in their last matchup. Which of course, cost them the game, and that put a little bit of pressure on Ted. Because Coach Beard and Nate made it clear that perhaps the time had come to bench Roy and give someone else a shot at guiding this team to victory. A notion that Ted was quite hesitant upon at first, despite the fact that Nate and Beard were giving him the cold shoulder for delaying this decision and well… that prompted Ted to find a unique way in which to open Roy’s eyes to the fact, that he was a player in decline.
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So, rather than just outright bench him, he instead implied the possibility of that happening, during a casual chat with his team captain. All so that Roy could lose his temper at the mere thought of riding the pine, and the point of doing that, was to allow for Roy’s frustrations to burn out so he could see things in an objective light and after talking with Keeley and his niece, he came to realize that perhaps his time in the spotlight was indeed coming to an end and that he had quite the choice in front of him. In that, he could either let his anger continue to guide him and make life difficult for Coach Lasso and the team, or he could be the team player and mentor that Ted believed him to be and do his best to help guide this team toward a win. And of course, with Roy being the classy guy that he is, he chose the latter option.

If anything, this exploration of the truth was far more subtle in nature. Simply because it takes a little time to get to the message embedded in Roy’s journey. But eventually, one comes to realize that the point of his strife here, is to remind all of us that sometimes, you can’t bombard someone with the truth. Especially when they aren’t ready to hear it or accept it. Because folks in that mindset, already know what’s up, they just need time to process it and a gentle nudge will bring about a positive outcome. In the end, this was just another wonderful episode when all is said and done. One that really did a fine job of reminding us to be honest in everything we do, since that pays off in spades more often than not and now that everything is out in the open and Rebecca is finally on Team Ted and ready to be a proper owner of the club she inherited, one has to wonder if this is it. If this is when this team turns it around since they are unified at last, and well… we will have to wait just a little longer to find that out, and that is going to make the wait for next week’s season one finale a painful one indeed. Since we are dying to know if Ted Lasso can finally lead this team to the glory, he knows they’re capable of. Until next time.

While some fans out there, genuinely lament sequels and follow ups to classic stories, sometimes they truly do have their merits. Because sequels are able to correct the mistakes of stories that came before them and make great ideas that landed with a thud, far more palatable and realistic and worthwhile for the audience and one such franchise where this applies, is the Star Trek Universe. For the original Star Trek, and its love of powerful beings that could accomplish wonders with the flick of their wrist ended up being quite the hollow endeavor. Because while those beings were quite cool to meet and provided the audience with solid entertainment, their depth character wise was quite lacking. Something that Star Trek: The Next Generation took the time correct as its storied run continued along. 

Because eventually, Q was given so much more to do than just antagonize Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise. Since we learned more about what made him tick as an individual and in a way, exploring the wonder of this particular character made him more friend than foe by the time the series came to a close. But what was truly impressive about Q’s arc, is the sheer fact that there were consequences for his omnipotent powers and that’s really how he learned to be a better Q and it just so happens that the next episode in this storied franchise is where this exploration started in regard to how powers that can achieve anything, come with quite the cost. And that made ‘The Survivors’ one powerful and fascinating tale when all is said done. 

One that was oddly enough, shrouded in a grand and wonderful mystery. For in this particular tale, the crew of the Enterprise is shocked to learn that only two inhabitants of the colony Rana IV, managed to survive a devastating attack on this world. And to complicate this matter further, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge are healthy and alert, and they seem to be quite happy with their situation, something that the crew finds quite odd. But before Picard and his intrepid bridge crew can get the answers they seek; they find themselves consistently under fire from a massive vessel. One that is erratic in its tactics and one that only seems to appear after the captain visits with the happy couple in the hopes of convincing them to leave this world and start life anew on another colony in the Federation. Which makes Picard quite suspicious, and that motivates him to test a hunch swirling around in his mind

Wherein he tells Kevin and Rishon that the only way the Enterprise is leaving this system is by way of their deaths, and just like that; the mystery ship appears once again and destroys the Uxbridge home at last. Or so it seems at first. Because eventually Picard’s hunch plays true and the crew sees the house and the Uxbridge’s life signs, reappear. And with a little pressing, Picard is able to get Kevin to reveal that he is an omnipotent being. One that fell in love with Rishon and lost her in the battle on this world and in retaliation for losing his love, he used his powers to wipe out the attacking species from existence, before creating this fictional plot of land to live out his days with a recreation of his wife. Which motivates Jean-Luc to simply let him be. For the guilt surging through Kevin’s immortal veins is punishment enough for his heinous and stunning crimes and that is quite the powerful way to end this episode.

Because it is quite sobering and powerful to know that Kevin is going to spend an eternity paying for his sin in isolation and sorrow, but how else does one hold an omnipotent being accountable? If anything, this was quite the refreshing episode, simply because it was so nice to not see Kevin’s parents, or some variant of guardianship just swoop in to save the day and undo every horrible act he committed. No instead, he had to learn what it actually means to value life and what it means to be the bigger being and well, that makes this episode another incredible entry in this franchise. Because morality tales are something that TNG excelled at and this is proof of that, and one has to wonder if the STU will ever follow up again with dear Kevin. Or if he will indeed be forever alone on Rana IV. Where he will spend the rest of eternity, pondering upon the gravity, of one bad day. Until next time.