Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 106 of ‘Ted Lasso’.
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If there is one supremely important lesson about life that we quickly learn in our youth, it would have to be that there are consequences for our actions. Because at some point doing our more foolish years, something we chose to do caused some kind of harm to others, or we ended up looking like quite the fool for our actions and that allowed for this lesson to stick with us for the rest of our days. To the point where we now carefully ponder upon other big decisions and potential changes to our lives, to ensure minimal fallout and hassle on our end. But while caution is never a bad thing, what’s truly fascinating about this particular life lesson, is that is comes with so many negative connotations in our minds.
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Something that is obviously attributed to the fact that we tend to learn it through sour resolution. But  we shouldn’t constantly look at the consequences of our actions as a bad thing. Because sometimes our actions are designed to bring about the kinds of changes we need in order to find happiness or fulfillment in life and oddly enough, the positive consequences that can come about from bold decisions on our part, just so happened to be the central theme of this week’s episode of Ted Lasso. Since ‘Two Aces’ took place shortly after Ted benched Jamie and bid his wife farewell and the decision to pick the story up shortly after those big decisions, allowed for the show to deceive the audience in the best possible manner. 

Because early on in this particular tale, it seemed as though Ted’s decisions were going to have all kinds of negative consequences on his life and his career. Because he really wasn’t doing all that well in regard to sending Michelle back home a single lady and of course, Jamie was being Jamie and refusing to do anything that might help the team out, which truly made it seem as though disaster was on the horizon. But a stunning moment of soccer related fury from Coach Lasso, one directed at Jamie for his lies and his laziness, brought about the genesis of the positive consequences in question. Because the team started to realize that Jamie had quit on his team and treated him accordingly for that and by not having any personal distractions surrounding him, coach was able to focus on the team and nothing more and that allowed for him to come up with some crafty plans to bring everyone together.

Most of which revolved around the resurgence of a young player named Dani Rojas, who hurt his knee shortly before Ted’s arrival with the team. And it was Dani’s passion for the sport, and his outright skill that allowed for Ted to concoct the magnificent plans in question. Because he used Dani’s love of soccer and his competitive spirit to try and get Jamie to question why he was so jaded against the sport and the notion of teamwork, and he also used Dani’s injury to put together an intricate scheme to motivate everyone to open up to one another. In order to help them understand that they were all in this together and that wonders that could be accomplished if everyone lowered their proverbial walls, and as it turns out, these were solid plans for certain and they came to fruition in a beautiful manner.
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Because Jamie was finally motivated to seek out advice from Keeley about his sour attitude and that forced him to dig deep and find his humility and his passion for the sport. Which in turn, motivated him to become an actual member of the team. And of course, Ted got the team to open up and unify and well, those are some fine consequences to come about from playing hardball with a superstar and by stepping away from the one thing that Ted thought completed him. But while it was wonderful to see coach bring together a squad that was in dire need of unity, sadly not everyone shared his vision. Because Rebecca still wants AFC Richmond to fail so she can sell it to the highest bidder and exact some sense of revenge against her ex-husband and that prompted her to do something quite incredible and underhanded; and send Jamie back to Man City. 

A move that once again brought out some fire and fury from Coach Lasso. Leaving a little bit of tension hanging over this tale since one does have to wonder as to whether or not Ted and Rebecca will ever get on the same page or if her revenge will continue to guide her. But all tension aside, what matters more, is that this really was one incredibly uplifting episode. One that really did do a phenomenal job of looking at the bright side of consequences and the fact that we need to embrace the possibility that good things can come from tough decisions, and that particular twist reinforces the reality that this is hands down, one of the most positive and uplifting shows on television right now. Which gives us hope that the tension present at the end of this tale will eventually be resolved in the best way possible; with Ted finally reaching Rebecca and with AFC Richmond finally enjoying the success it has so longed for. Until next time.

For the most part, Star Trek: The Next Generation is a series that provided its fans with some phenomenal season finales. All thanks to the use of cliffhangers and epic moments, the kind that left the audience in awe and hungry for more since we simply had to know the fate of the Federation and Captain Picard at the end of ‘The Best of the Both Worlds’ or if the Klingon Empire would ever be the same after the events of ‘Redemption, Part I’. But while the series more or less set the tone for the modern season finale on television in its later years, its earlier years were plagued with underwhelming finales. For while ‘The Neutral Zone’ laid the foundation for future events, it initially arrived to little fanfare. 
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But of all the season finales that this incredible series sent our way, there is but one that truly lives in infamy in the minds of the fanbase. Because the season two finale of this series, ‘Shades of Grey’, is a downright terrible closing chapter to year two’s adventures and that’s a crying shame since it actually had the potential to be something quite special. For in this particular tale, Commander William T. Riker finds himself poisoned by nasty little microbes that attack his nervous system. Which means that it is up to Doctor Pulaski to take some extreme measures to try and save his life. Specifically, she is forced to stimulate bad memories in order to fight back the microbes. And while that sounds like a solid plot, one that could lead to some supremely powerful moments; some dubious choices storytelling wise, mess this whole thing up.

Such as the fact that this ends up being a clip episode. And for those unfamiliar with what that means since they aren’t commonplace anymore, in essence, shows in the 1980s loved to have filler tales where clips from prior seasons were used to ‘tell a story’. When in reality, this decision is about as lame as it gets since it rehashes stuff you’ve already seen, and having Riker re-live moments that we’ve already experienced alongside him, makes for an emotionless viewing experience when we are supposed to be feeling what he is feeling as the Doctor fights for his life. Which is a cop-out writing wise and it makes this episode irritating to watch. Because you’re anxiously waiting for the clips to end so something new will happen. But rather than spend our entire time bashing this tale in an angry fanboy manner, let’s take a moment instead and look at how this episode could have been vastly improved. 

Because if they had taken the time to film something new for moments inside Will’s mind, we could have learned a lot about Will Riker and what he actually fears in life. Which in turn could have forced him to face those fears and conquer them in his mind and his subconscious as he in turn conquered the microbes. Or, this would have been a great opportunity to bring back his father and let him deal with some of those emotional issues in his mind, while he battled his unwanted invader and going down either one of those routes would have made for a far more fulfilling episode. Plus, the series could have also gone the route of having him enjoy a lurid dream where his closest friends and ship mates were not what they seemed, forcing Riker to fight his ‘friends’ in order to get back to reality, and that particular plot line would have allowed for the actors to play some devious versions of themselves and have fun with it.

But instead, we got the easy way out and that stinks. Because upon a second viewing, you can see the potential oozing from this story. But the important thing is, that Will survived after all, and Deanna’s refusal to leave his side speaks volumes to their love and eventual marriage and that is nice for certain. But what matters the most, is that this episode has come to its merciful end and we never have to revisit it again. In fact, the best part about reaching the end of this particular tale, is the sheer fact that wonders await us from here on out. For season three and beyond put this franchise on the map by way of powerful and bold storytelling, and what a genuine delight it is going to be to revisit and dissect the golden years of one of science fiction’s greatest franchises. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 105 of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, the CBS All Access series, Star Trek: Lower Decks, has done a phenomenal job of dissecting what makes the Star Trek Universe so great. Because it truly celebrates the best parts of the franchise at every single turn and it’s done a phenomenal job of exploring why Starfleet is such an important and magnificent organization and best of all, the show makes us laugh on a consistent basis as well. But while it is quite lovely to examine what makes this franchise so great on a regular basis, the show also clearly understands that a Trek themed comedy needs to just let loose and tell an every day story from time to time, as evidenced by this week’s episode.

Because ‘Cupid’s Errant Arrow’ was an episode that was devoid of any deeper STU analysis. Instead this particular tale was keen to just allow for us to tag along on a joint venture mission between the U.S.S. Cerritos and the U.S.S. Vancouver, as they worked together to demolish a moon that was threatening an entire world. Which makes it sound as though this particular tale didn't have room in the slightest for some every day moments. But with the two bridge crews working on solving bigger problems, that allowed for our favorite ensigns to venture off and do their own thing. Which in turn allowed for us to learn more about what makes them tick and what we learned about them was quite delightful, especially since we came to understand just how loyal these four are to duty and one another. 

Take Tendi and Rutherford for instance, since their journey helped us to learn just how much these two absolutely adore being a part of Starfleet and how much they love being aboard the Cerritos. Because they went the extra mile in this story to get their busted-up California class ship the latest and greatest technology. By working overtime on the Vancouver, and when given the opportunity to transfer there, they absolutely refused. Because they were loyal to Captain Freeman and the ship that started their careers, and there was no way they would turn their back on that, all for a chance to serve aboard a bigger and cooler ship that was filled to the brim with the most wonderful toys. Especially since they stole most of those toys to accomplish their goal, and this unexpected exploration on loyalty didn’t end with a liberation of T88’s.

For Mariner and Boimler’s adventures in this tale helped us to understand how much Mariner cares for dear Bradward (yes, that is his full first name). Because she would not leave his side in this tale, for she was convinced that Boimler’s honey aboard the Vancouver, a Lieutenant Barbara Brinson, was some kind of shape shifting alien. The kind that would either implant something horrible in Bradward’s chest or potentially just suck the life out of him as some aliens are wont to do. And her pursuit of the truth led to some of the most hilarious moments in this tale, since mistakes were made by Boimler and Mariner at every single turn. But in the end, the true surprise in regard to this plot thread, is that Boimler was the one harboring an alien life form after all. The kind that used pheromones to attract dear Barbara.

But what matters more is that Mariner really is a wonderful friend to Brad, and she genuinely will go the extra mile to ensure that he is always safe, and that’s just awesome and uplifting and really in the end, this was quite the wonderful tale. Because the jokes came at us at warp speed in this particular story, and it was also packed with a ridiculous amount of Easter Eggs as well. Because Mariner’s quest to uncover Barbara’s true identity made reference to so many moments from the franchise’s illustrious past and there were one-liners that added to that magic as well and you really cannot go wrong with a story like this. Because this one was just a blast and it just goes to show that Lower Decks can be quite the versatile comedy, and now that we know it can shift gears in this clever manner, it should be interesting to see what kind of episode we get from this series, come next week. Until then.      

One particular element in the Star Trek Universe that always offers the audience a wonderful sense of security, is the sheer fact that every crew we spend time with, are quite skilled when it comes to interstellar combat. Because these intrepid officers are able to accomplish the impossible time and time again when Red Alert is ordered and the photon torpedoes fly and really, one has to wonder what kind of training regimen these officers go through, in order to become that good. Because outside of the Kobayashi Maru Test, we simply don’t have a clue as to what that training looks like. But thankfully, the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, takes the time to give us an idea of how these skills are honed and that reveal led to one delightful episode.
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Simply because ‘Peak Performance’ takes us through the entire process, and it turns out that Starfleet is big on war games and combat simulation in order to bring their officers up to speed. And when we catch up with the crew of the Enterprise here, they’re preparing to undergo a special combat training exercise. One where Commander Riker and a crew of forty, will take command and control of the beat up and ancient, U.S.S. Hathaway. All in the hopes of getting an idea as to how the Federation can employ new tactics to properly battle superior opponents. A notion that is now on Captain Picard’s mind, after the crew’s horrifying first encounter with The Borg and this led to some incredibly fun and wonderful character moments. Since everyone that ventured with Riker to the Hathaway had to improvise and think outside of the box to prepare the old girl for combat.

But while it was fascinating to see Riker put together a combat dream team, it was way more fun to watch Riker and Picard duke it out. Because Will exceeded expectations and gave the Big-E the business and that made for one tense and fun sequence, one that allowed for so many crew members to shine. Since Worf showed off his skills as a tactician and it also helped to remind us of Geordi and Wesley's engineering brilliance, and this sequence was further enhanced by the arrival of the Ferengi. Because their desire to uncover the secrets of this entire simulation, forced the crew to put their skills to the test and work together as a seamless unit to figure out a way to fool and scare off the Ferengi, and any time that happens on Star Trek, true wonders occur. And this sequence was no exception to that rule, since the Ferengi were sent running once the big plan was executed, ensuring that no harm came to anyone, including the galaxy's most infamous schemers.

However, while it was a blast to finally see an actual combat training exercise, we would be foolish to not discuss the powerful examination of the human condition present within this tale. Because Lieutenant Commander Data’s journey in this story, turned out to be a powerful look at failure and how it can strengthen us. An exploration that came about, shortly after Data lost to the Zakdorn advisor at a game that he should have excelled at. Because that motivated him to outright hide from the crew and his duty, since he believed that he was faulty and a liability. That is until the captain poignantly pointed out that failure happens to everyone, regardless of how skilled or intelligent we are, and that when it occurs; we can either learn from it or let it consume us. And thankfully, Data took the more positive side of that advice to heart, and this unexpected surprise only added to the depth and the wonder of this tale since it helped Data to grow in a subtle and beautiful manner.

If anything, this really was quite the impressive tale. For not only did it offer up everything that we love about the franchise in regard to unity and teamwork, it really did provide us with some unique moments, by way of the combat simulation. Plus, it was lighthearted and fun, and it had deeper meaning present as well, and one satisfying ending for certain. Since Data figures out the right way to handle someone that consistently flaunts their mental prowess and well, it is a shame that this didn’t serve as the season finale. Because this would have been a great way to end year two, with this crew finally jelling together as a team. But alas, that just wasn’t meant to be. Instead the real ending to season two awaits us, and it is a mess. But once we get through it, we are in for some magnificent storytelling. So, it is best we just rip the proverbial band-aid right off and dig right into one bad finale, come next time. Until then.

If there is one universal truth about mankind, it would have to be that love transcends all things. Because when we find someone that truly makes our heart soar and soul sing, there is little that will stop us from being with that person and that is perhaps why we are eager to explore stories that feature love. Simply because there is something quite beautiful about seeing people from different walks of life or social standings, find the connection that we all seek and oddly enough, it is something that the Star Trek Universe takes the time to explore now and again as well. Simply because love is something that shouldn’t be limited to only humanity, and it just so happens that what love looks like for other cultures was explored in the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

For ‘The Emissary’ sees a special envoy come aboard the Enterprise in a daring and unique manner and once K’Ehleyr is safely within the confines of the ship, we quickly come to learn that she and Lieutenant Worf had a thing back in the day and clearly… they still have feelings for one another. Something that complicates a mission to find a lost Klingon ship from seventy-five years ago, since these two struggle to put their feelings aside and this makes for one fascinating tale. Which shouldn’t be possible since a genuine love story in TNG should bore the crap out of the audience, since we are all here for the adventure, not to watch Klingons make googly eyes at one another. But it really does work here, and its success is largely due to the fact that K’Ehleyr is steadfast on shedding the icy cold traditions of Klingon courtship. 

Instead, she makes it clear that she desires a wild love affair with Worf, one that allows for them to be free with their emotions and find joy in their courtship and that is oddly enough, quite relevant to modern times. Because we are indeed stooped in tradition and we try to put labels and structure into our relationships. To the point where we believe that there is a timeframe on getting married or when exactly we should text or call, and this episode serves to poke holes in all of that and that’s a wonderful thing. Because K’Ehleyr’s views on love are quite correct since it should be a celebration over anything else and it was quite lovely to find this more lighthearted message within the framework of the story and of course, to see Worf eventually agree with her and open his heart to her by the end of this tale.

But while it was cool to enjoy an intergalactic love story for a change, we would be foolish to not discuss the sub plot involving the missing Klingons. Because the idea of running into people from an era where the Federation and Klingon Empire were hostile toward one another is a fascinating one for certain and it played out here in a magical fashion. Because the Klingons in question, who were in cryostasis, awoke from said stasis early and that meant the crew was faced with quite the tough decision. In that, they could either wipe these Klingons out, since they were determined to wage war since they had no knowledge of current events, or find some way to diffuse this situation peacefully and thankfully, Worf had quite the wonderful idea to make the latter happen. And by posing as the captain of the Enterprise, he was able to soften the shock of living in the 24th Century for these unfortunate souls and avoid bloodshed, which is quite the wonderful way to wrap up this tale.

If anything, this really was quite the delightful story when all is said and done. Simply because we’ve been in need of a Worf-themed episode and getting one here, taught us a great deal about this noble warrior. Because now we know that starting a family was something of importance to Worf and that he is quite the old-school romantic as well, since he really did go above and beyond to woo K’Ehleyr in the Klingon way as often as possible. And in the end, it was wonderful to see Worf do more than just growl on a consistent basis and it was always a joy when the series took the time to really get to know the characters and what drives them and this is a story that really does help you to appreciate Worf a great deal more. But what’s really awesome about this particular tale, is that it also sets the stage for the family that Worf seeks, a tidbit we will revisit, come season four. Until next time.

When we last settled in to discuss season two of Star Trek: The Next Generation, we unfortunately had to break down quite the sour episode. Because ‘Up the Long Ladder’ was another stereotype laden episode that offered up more embarrassment than anything else. And while normally, that kind of story would and should make a fan trepidatious to continue the journey because more awful episodes might lie ahead, the good news when it comes to TNG; is that it always knew how to rebound from a rough story. And in this particular instance, the show rebounded from this particularly ugly faux pas by injecting a boatload of humor into the next episode of this storied franchise.
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Because ‘Manhunt’ saw the return of Lwaxana Troi, seemingly for diplomatic reasons. For she was expected to represent Betazed at an upcoming conference that the Enterprise was transporting delegates to. But it didn’t take long for Jean-Luc and the entire crew to realize that the senior Troi was here for far more personal reasons. Because Lwaxana was undergoing the Betazoid equivalent of menopause and thanks to that, she was looking for a future husband on her way to the conference, and she settled upon Captain Jean-Luc Picard as the prime candidate to become the future Mr. Troi. An honor that the captain clearly did not want and on that he did everything to avoid, which led to the humor in question. 

Because he even went so far as to indulge Commander Data’s proclivity to discuss all technical things in the universe, simply to cool the mood down when Lwaxana invited Picard to dinner and put the moves on him and this was… an utter delight to watch. Simply because we came to learn that Data is the greatest cooler ever since he perfectly spoiled the dinner for all the right reasons, and while it was hilarious to watch this play out, it was only the beginning when it comes to the fun. Because Lwaxana was undeterred by Data’s attempts to slow things down and she continued making advances against the captain. To the point where he decided the only way to avoid this mess, was to hide, and he opted to immerse himself within a Dixon Hill holo novel in order to steer clear of Ms. Troi, and for a time that worked. 

But eventually, she sniffed him out and came to realize that no one on this ship was going to be her husband. Not even Commander Riker, despite her best efforts to steal away her daughter’s Imzadi. But while it seems as though this entire episode was designed to make Lwaxana the butt of all of the jokes, she did in fact, serve quite the important purpose in this tale. Because once the Antedians (the other delegates aboard the 1701-D) get close to Ms. Troi, she’s able to detect their thoughts and uncovers a plot to blow up the entire conference for reasons that are not revealed. But they don’t need to be, because she saves the day and no one is harmed in the end, allowing for this particular tale wrap up in a neat and happy fashion, since the conference goes on as planned, and no one gets trapped in a marriage they want no part of.

In the end however, this really was quite the pleasant palate cleanser when all is said and done. Because every ugly trace of that other episode is forgotten the instant, we learn of Lwaxana’s intentions and the comedy here really is something quite special, because this episode just features laugh after laugh. Heck, even the side characters get in on the comedy since Mr. Homn’s love of alcohol and synthehol leads to some quirky moments as well. If anything, this is what season two has definitely needed a little more of and it is nice to find some joy and fun at the end of year two and hopefully, what comes next continues to work to make the audience happy. Because we are going to need all the joy we can find, in order to mentally survive the painfully weak season two finale.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for ‘Planet Earth: A Celebration’.
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When times are tough, and stress is mounting all around us, we tend to lose sight of the fact that we are special and a part of something bigger and that’s unfortunate. Because that knowledge helps us to cope with rough times for certain and well, sometimes the best anthesis to being buried by the woes of the world, is to find a way to surround one’s self with positivity and wonder. Which at times, is no easy task, especially when things are constantly weighing upon you. But thankfully, we have television and film and other forms of media out there to help us escape the troubles of the world and in some cases, lift our spirits up with storytelling that gives us exactly what we need emotionally. And it just so happens that BBC America took the time last night, to provide the audience with just that.
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Because Planet Earth: A Celebration was just what the doctor ordered in this moment, since this beautiful and sweeping documentary took the time to deliver a celebration as advertised and remind us of the fact that our world is a wonderful place. One where every creature that calls it home, finds a way to thrive and survive despite the odds surrounding them, which allowed for us to be privy to some fascinating storytelling, wherein creatures in land and on sea found a way to see another day. Take for example the octopus that we watched go above and beyond to avoid predators. Because it was simply incredible to see that little octopus jam tentacles into a shark’s gills in order to not be turned into lunch or to make use of shells to hide in plain sight, to confuse and escape its predator, and that kind of determination to survive didn’t end with that vignette. 

For we also came to learn that life thrives in impossible places, such as the Namib desert where there is virtually no water or to be found. But there are lions in that part of the world that have thrived there for generations. And while they might not eat as well as their counterparts in more habitable zones, they simply find a way to make it to tomorrow. Plus, there was also the incredible story involving the snow leopards that live in the Himalayan mountain range, another inhospitable place where no animal should be able to survive. Yet these cool cats do just fine in a place where isolation is the key to their survival and it was supremely fascinating to learn about how they live and how they interact with one another and how quickly they are forced to turn to loneliness in order to properly survive, since that cub’s mother did not hesitate to leave her baby behind when the time was right.

But while those stories made it seem as though that only tough times were present for every animal out there, there were moments of beauty to celebrate as well. After all, there really was something quite powerful about seeing dolphins surfing the waves, since you really don’t expect to see animals using the waves in that manner to just outright have fun. But they did and it was glorious and beautiful to watch, and it was equally as lovely to see the flamingos in the Andes also take the time to enjoy their day once the sun warms up their icy bed. Since they felt the need to prance about the water in their own majestic parade and really, when all is said and done, all of these magical moments, both good and bad were designed to remind the viewer that there is indeed still great beauty to be found in our world, if we take a moment to just pause from our troubles and look up to find it.

However, what truly made this celebration worth our while, is the sheer fact that it was quite inspirational. Because if everyday animals can figure out a way to celebrate life and survive impossible odds, well so can we. For we are part of this crazy ride and we are able to achieve wonders when we put our minds to it and that’s a wonderful message to find in this tale, and thanks are in order to BBC America for taking the time to assemble this wonderful slice of life in the midst of some sour times. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Hans Zimmer and Dave’s beautiful music only added to the uplifting nature of this particular documentary and hopefully, everyone out there is feeling a little better after watching this. For it really was something special and hopefully BBC America will offer up more specials in this manner, down the line. Because you simply cannot go wrong with a little escape from everyday life from time to time and nature documentaries do a wonderful job of allowing for that to happen.