There are times, where each and every one of us wish that we could abandon our emotions. Because they can be overwhelming, and they most certainly can interfere with our daily duties and those complications lead us to believe that life would be so much easier without them. But alas, we are stuck with them, and it is up to us to figure out how to live with them and how to manage them when they do overwhelm us. But of course, that doesn’t stop our minds from envisioning what life might be like if we could in fact, turn off or be rid of our emotions and it just so happens that the writers’ room of Star Trek: The Next Generation took the time to envision that reality in its next episode, ‘Man of the People’.

Now in this particular tale, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise picks up a diplomat named Ves Alkar who found his ship under fire on his way to a peace conference. Which of course, motivates Starfleet to order Picard to escort the man to said conference since no ship in this area can stand against the Big E and well, it doesn’t take long for Ves to connect with Counselor Deanna Troi. For they have chemistry through and through and despite some odd run ins with Ves’ mother, they continue to find ways to talk and build that chemistry. A bond that reaches its apex when Ves’ mother passes unexpectedly to the great beyond, since Ves asks Troi to help him with a funeral ceremony, one that results in some odd changes for the counselor shortly after the ceremony concludes.

Because just like that, the Counselor’s libido goes into overdrive and she is suddenly violently protective of Ves, like his mother was, and to make matters worse; she’s aging rapidly. Motivating Doctor Crusher to beg Captain Picard to cross some lines while the peace negotiations get underway, to perform a forbidden autopsy on dear old mom to figure out why she’s finding parallels between the deceased and Troi. An act that Picard sanctions because this seemingly goes beyond coincidence and what Crusher uncovers is stunning for certain. In that, Ves has figured out how to purge his emotions and cast them onto others and he’s undoubtedly done this multiple times to multiple women and if they cannot break the link, Troi will die. But of course, they figure out a way to… by killing Troi for a moment, which in turn allows for the procedure to backfire on Ves’ new mark and kill him in the process while Troi heals. 

Which of course, makes it clear that purging our emotions would lead to utter disaster in many ways. Since our feelings would indeed have to go somewhere and also because… it would turn us into something unrecognizable. Since Ves has no empathy or care without his emotions being present in his heart and his soul, making him nothing short of a logical monster that believes his ends justify the means. However, while that does indeed make for a fascinating plot, one grounded in solid commentary on the human condition, it is also a problematic plot as well. Because of quite frankly, how it portrays women. Because it inadvertently pushes every stereotype regarding women and their emotions, since everyone immediately has concerns over Troi showing intense emotions and believe that a surge in feelings makes her incompetent at her job. 

Plus, the story presents female sexuality in a negative light. Since Troi’s desire to be desired is handled in a manner that makes it appear as though having a sexual appetite is inappropriate or wrong for a woman to have, when it is not, and those elements definitely make this episode a difficult watch at times. Which is a shame, because it had the potential to offer up a powerful story about the power that men abuse all while providing us with some stellar commentary on emotions. But instead, we are left with an inconsistent and at times… offensive mess and really, the only bright spot in this particular tale, is Marina Sirtis. Because she does turn in an incredible performance, one that sells every moment, ridiculous or not. But on the plus side, we don’t have to dwell on the sour nature of this episode for too long. Because what awaits us, is another masterpiece episode, one that features the return of an Original Series legend and it is best we dive into that one as quickly as possible, to wipe away the blasé nature of this mess. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Heels’.
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One particular rule of fiction that fans and participants alike have to abide by in order to keep their sanity; is to learn to separate reality from fiction. Because stories are easy to get lost within and when that happens… disaster strikes. Because stories operate under different rules than the everyday world and abiding by fake rules in reality creates all kinds of conflicts, and that is precisely why we hear about how actors and writers do their best to clear their heads when their day of work is done… so they stay grounded in reality and the world they truly reside in, and this is also why we hear horror stories about fans who lose themselves within the stories they adore; to keep temptation at bay. But despite there being knowledge of this rule and despite knowing that blurring the lines between fantasy and reality is bad for us… people still do it regardless.

Simply because, fiction has a strong draw and it can remove us from the harsh realities of the world and give us a sense of solace we never knew was possible and really, this particular aspect of the human condition is of note today, because it served as the focal theme of last night’s episode of Heels. For ‘Swerve’ saw several characters blur the line between fiction and reality and pay a hefty price for it and what brought this exploration about… was quite the unexpected yet welcome twist within the story. For while the group was preparing for a big-time cage match between Ace Space and Bobby Pin, a supremely important phone call arrived. One from the Georgia State Fair and they were calling because they’d heard about the Duffy Wrestling League and were interesting in learning more about it in the hopes of potentially signing them up for said fair.

Which of course, was a huge break. Because that would put the DWL on a massive stage, one that would introduce them to a bevy of new fans and give them incredible recognition and press and well, that motivated Jack to pull out all the stops to woo them. Even going so far as to bribe Thomas with a pet gerbil, against Staci’s wishes, to keep him eager to speak about the league at an important dinner with the State Fair Board… all because Staci was working and well… that plan worked. For Thomas offered up a wonderfully honest and earnest assessment of how wrestling works and how it enchants an audience and well, the board was so impressed… that they decided they needed to really experience this kind of show firsthand. Which in turn, motivated Jack to pep talk the team to putting on one hell of a show to impress these folks and land the contract of a lifetime.

But alas, while Jack was assembling ideas and wooing big wigs and planning for the future, the lines between fantasy and reality were beginning to blur behind the scenes. Because Ace was still reeling over the fact that Bobby and Crystal had become close friends, the kind that could be mistaken for lovers and since he couldn’t reconcile that… he decided that he couldn’t work with Crystal anymore because of the pain it would bring him and that motivated him to bring in a new valet, under the guise that it would be better for the story and help grow his image as a Heel. A possibility that enticed Jack through and through, to the point where he supported a storyline where infidelity was revealed between Bobby Pin and Crystal and that in turn would allow for one engrossing storyline to take place. Only… all this decision did was create more pain and strife and it set the stage for some ugly moments.

Because Crystal was in fact, devastated to see Tricia suddenly take her place as Ace’s valet and of course, this move likely meant the end of her time in the Duffy Wrestling League, despite finally proving to Jack that she could memorize lines and act with the best of them. And that left her vulnerable enough for Will Bill Hancock to swoop in and use her concerns as an opportunity to spice up the show and really give it some surprise gravitas. Which is why he encouraged Crystal to seize the moment and go off script and really give the fans one hell of a show. Which is advice that Crystal took to heart and that’s when the story truly showed us the problems that come about when you merge fantasy and reality. For when showtime came… she took that pain and that anguish and turned it into a performance for the ages.
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One where Ace got to hear her genuine thoughts on being cast aside for Tricia and where she pressed every single button that Ace had in order to really sell the moment, and this blurred line between fantasy and reality did lead to outright disaster. In part, because Jack let loose on Crystal when he had the chance, but also because… it motivated Ace to forget that he was putting on a show. Which is why he beat the ever living hell out of Bobby Pin, out of the belief that everything Crystal said was true and that she and Bobby did indeed have an affair, and he was so eager to sell the Heel side of it and exact revenge, that he outright snapped Bobby’s leg in the ring and to complicate matters further, the shock of that moment motivated Wild Bill to do something bold and foolish as well. Wherein he greeted the crowd and took the mike and challenged Jack and Ace for the belt, all in the hopes of getting back in the spotlight. 

But what matters the most here, is that Ace and Crystal’s inability to put aside personal feelings and separate themselves from their characters, brought about serious and lasting damage. For now, the DWL is down a wrestler and worse yet… there are no guarantees that Bobby Pin will ever wrestle again, considering how bad that break was. Plus, to top it off… they scared the hell out of Thomas who is now struggling with the claims that wrestling is all for show and he is worried about the stability of his family since he did catch Jack teaching Ace a physical lesson at the hospital. However, there was some light to be found in this dark turn of events. In that, the folks from the Georgia State Fair, loved everything they saw at the show… and they want to book the Duffy Wrestling League for the big event, giving Jack his dream at last.

Which in turn, serves as a fine reminder that sometimes, dreams come to life in the strangest manner imaginable and sometimes arrive without an ounce of pomp and circumstance. But they do indeed come true none the less and now it will be up to Jack to put the pieces of this league back together, all because two of his employees couldn’t handle themselves, to prepare it for its biggest moment, and all of these elements made… for one brilliant and powerful tale. One that really did a fine job of hammering its point home in a compelling and powerful manner, since everything that happened here was downright riveting and engaging and well, now that this incredible chapter has come to a close, it is safe to say that we are all dying to see what comes next. Because at long last, the league is going to get the recognition it deserves, provided of course… everyone can figure out the fact that it’s a show and not real life and that might be easier said than done… since this means the world to everyone involved. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Eight of ‘Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that good cliffhangers are nothing short of a miracle. Because they outright require perfection through and through, for if there is a flaw in the setup, or a failure to bring the story around full circle… then audiences are left disappointed and time and time again, we hear more about failed cliffhangers than we do the good ones, because of how difficult it is to stick the landing. But believe it or not, there is one television show out there that has actually managed to produce one quality cliffhanger after another, and that series is… Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty. For this is a show that understands how the setup works to a tee, and how giving the audience what they want is what makes for a satisfying end. Granted, a little bit of luck might have gone into this, but the cliffhangers here are perfect none the less and for proof… look no further than last night’s tale.

Because ‘Episode 8: Coming of Age’, wasted zero time in drawing us back into the ugly setup that came about last week. For we were all left desperately wondering as to what Sencha’s true intentions were by returning to the Hakuna Matata Clan. Was she friend? Was she family again? Was she an outright foe that was going to exact revenge upon Flint? Well, as it turns out… Sencha’s motivations were noble in the end. Because with so many of the family pushed into exile, Flint needed the help and bad, which motivated her to welcome little Sencha back into the clan with open and furry arms and with her return, the pups that Flint had weeks ago, were able to get proper care from the confines of the burrow. Giving every viewer out there a satisfying sense of relief and a wonderful end to the cliffhanger and well, once we found that peace… the show opted to move onto the next juicy storyline.

One that related to the title of this tale. Because each of these cute little meerkats are aging right before our eyes and with age comes different needs and desires, such as say… starting a family. Which is why young Belfagor decided that perhaps the time had come to set out on his own and explore the world and see if he could find a potential mate to start his own meerkat clan and of course, his desire to do so… put him front and center with young Wren over with the Ubuntu clan. And for a moment, it seemed as though love was indeed in the air. Because so many of the clan’s males were on wide patrol, keeping watch to see if by chance a rover was going to sneak through or if Flint and her family were going to make an attempt to retake the territory, giving him a shot at potentially courting young Wren. But alas, eventually he was spotted and unable to woo her, but clearly… it won’t be long before he starts his own family.

But he wasn’t the only one feeling the call of independence and the draw of family life in this tale. For Epsilon over in the Whiskers family revealed quite the surprise, in that… she’s pregnant and she is not the only one. For Swift is with child once more and that’s actually a bad thing for Epsilon. Because matriarchs don't do well with having a family member go through pregnancy simultaneously, and Epsilon ran the risk of being ejected from the clan if Swift figured out that was the case. Which in turn, motivated her and Bones and Crimson to be proactive and do something quite bold, and during the midst of a nasty dust storm, they snuck away from their family and went off to try and build their own burrow and start their own clan. Not out of spite, but because they were coming of age and ready to try their luck as independents and it will be quite interesting to see what comes of this twist in the days and weeks to come.

If anything, this really was quite the incredible episode when all is said and done. In large part because once again… it delivered on a cliffhanger, since none of us wanted to see an evil and vengeful Sencha. We wanted her home and we got that wish. But also, because we really are getting some phenomenal education regarding how meerkats thrive. Because we are literally watching the life cycle of a meerkat play out before our eyes, and it is just fascinating to see how quickly they decide it is time to lay down some roots and once that starts to happen en masse on this show… well, then perhaps this series needs to move to an hour-long format. To properly chronicle the adventures of so many families, or rather, dynasties. Either way, this show continues to impress and continues to captivate us to the point, where we will be counting down the minutes until next Saturday’s tale. So, we can once again see what incredible adventures these cute little critters are going to partake in. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘See’.

​It is definitely safe to say that the beginning of season two of See on Apple TV, has been quite the intense affair. After all, we’ve seen Baba Voss be captured by a brother that has nothing but disdain in his heart for him and we’ve also watched Edo Voss’ forces do their worst in regard to controlling Baba and Haniwa. To the point where it took one of Edo’s one top lieutenants to save them both through an errand of mercy and the intensity hasn't ended there. Since the fallout of Queen Kane’s actions have followed her to her new kingdom, forcing her madness and her fury to be put on full display once again. But rather than continue to assault our senses week in and week out, it just so happens that this series decided that now was a good time to take a little break from the intensity and offer up some of the show’s trademark character development and world-building and that made ‘The Compass’ quite the engaging and somewhat relaxing tale.

For this episode took the time to reveal to us, that Queen Kane isn’t the only person that knows how to play manipulative games, the kind that outright help to shape the future. For Lord Harlan used the truth about what happened at the Dam, to gently nudge the queen into letting him marry Maghra, in the hopes of obtaining a great deal of power. An act that immediately led to fascinating machinations from Princess Maghra as well. Since she saw Harlan’s overtures as a grand opportunity outmaneuver her sister. For if she agreed to this engagement, she could in fact… use the joy in her sister’s heart to manipulate the queen into a more noble stance. One where she would find a new palace and grant Harlan great power and riches untold. But more importantly, going this route would buy her time until her family was returned to her. As to whether or not her will plan will work, well that has yet to be seen, especially since her darling sister more or less laid down a wedding date, but it was nice to see someone work to play the queen’s game for a change. 

However, those wasn’t the only slow and intimate moments present within this particular tale. For once Baba and Haniwa and Tamacti Jun survived a harrowing encounter with some unsavory folks, they came into the company of a secret troupe known as The Compass, which brought about a reunion with Paris and the world-building in question. Since we came to learn that The Compass was formed to protect those with sight, allowing for us to understand how much Haniwa means to the world in a positive and negative manner. Since there are so many that believe those with sight will lead the populace of Earth to a better tomorrow and how so many others fear them and want to control them or eliminate them. Which in turn, brought about some powerful commentary on how prejudice works in our world and how it finds new ways to persist regardless of the standing of the world, simply because humanity wishes to let it persist, leaving all of us to wonder… what it would take to properly eliminate it.

A question that even the show is unable to answer since no one is certain how to bring it to an end, but it is nice to have this series, ponder upon the problem and at least get a conversation going about it. But while those two elements did indeed slow things down and help the audience catch their breath for a moment, make no mistake about it… the tension that this show is known for was still present in this tale. Since Kofun had to deal with prejudice firsthand and barely made it out of that encounter alive and of course… Edo Voss is angry about what happened in Trivantes. Because no one escapes the commander general, and that motivated him to get word to all of his forces to be vigilant and search for Baba and his traveling troupe and of course, to enact a little revenge and power grab. One that involved making a visit to the House of Enlightenment to speak with Jerlamarel, out of the belief that one of his sighted children helped Baba and Haniwa to escape and well… when he didn’t get what he wanted… he had no qualms with killing Jerlamarel and taking control of this all-important place.

As to whether or not this power grab will be successful enough to the point that he will once again have his brother and his niece in his clutches and have his honor and trust restored with the Trivantian Council, will have to be resolved another time, for it is still early in the season and there is still quite the journey ahead. One that will hopefully have Baba Voss and Haniwa reunited with Kofun and Maghra, since Pennsa is their destination and one that should also bring the conflict with the queen to a head. But before we get to those points, we can revel in the wonder of one quality tale. Since this episode really did a fine job of helping us to get to know these incredible characters further and understand how broken this world truly is and well, in the end, once again we are left counting down the minutes until next week’s tale as we eagerly await to see where this wild and fascinating story is going to take us next. Until then.

It has often been said that it is imperative that we face our fears, and it makes sense as to why that saying is such an important part of our vernacular. Because time and time again, people on planet Earth have come to learn that our fears eventually control us and sometimes paralyze us if we do not face them and deal with them. But despite knowing that standing tall in front of what scares us is a necessary evil, that doesn’t make the actual act easy in the slightest. Because what we fear is there, in the raw and overcoming it will indeed take guts and resolve that we aren’t sure we have in that moment and really, the struggle that comes about when we face our fears is top of mind today, simply because it serves as the focal theme of the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

A feat that ‘Realm of Fear’ accomplishes by way of a critical retrieval mission. For shortly after the U.S.S. Enterprise arrives to check in upon the U.S.S. Yosemite, they come to realize that tragedy has befallen the crew and all hands appear to be lost and therein lies the retrieval part of this tale. Wherein an away team will beam over to gather data and clues as to what happened to report back to Starfleet and well, Lieutenant Reginald Barclay is selected to be part of that away team and that terrifies him to no end. Because it turns out, he cannot stand the transporter, and this mission requires that he use it and that outright puts him into a panicked state. One that is so strong that Counselor Troi has to calm him down and pump him up to do the mission.

Which he manages to do, much to the delight of Riker and Geordi. But it doesn’t take long for Reg’s fears to take on a whole new life in this tale. Because on the return trip to the 1701-D, Barclay sees a worm-like being with a wide mouth that is eager to snack upon him in the matter stream, and well… that makes him believe that his worst fears have come true. In that, the transporter has scrambled his mind and his psyche and now he is going to fall to pieces mentally in the days to come, unless of course… he can prove otherwise. Which in turn motivates him to begin to really inspect the transporter in an up close and somewhat unhealthy manner, to see if by chance there was something else with him in the matter stream and wouldn’t you know it? His efforts to understand that which he fears, actually makes him a hero in the end.

Simply because, there is quite a lot in the matter stream. Such as beings that are alive and eager to thrive and thanks to his bravery and desire to stand in the transporter and let his friends and shipmates clean him of microscopic organisms… he receives the inspiration to closer examine those worm lookin’ things as well and in doing so… rescues some of the crew of the Yosemite. For they too decided to use the transporter to clean themselves of the microorganisms that thrive in this part of space and once their patterns degraded too low, they became something unrecognizable and likely would have perished without the help the crew. But what matters more here is that Barclay faced his fears and didn’t let them overwhelm him, even when it seemed as though they would, and that makes this a genuinely inspiring and inclusive tale when all is said and done.

However, it is the inclusive stuff that is really of note here, simply because it was quite amazing to see the crew not call Barclay ‘crazy’ or make fun of him for being afraid. Instead, they were accepting of his fears and did everything to help him, overcome them, and that’s some pretty bold stuff to find in a story that was filmed in 1992, since those kinds of attitudes toward mental health were unheard of then and are still unheard of now to a certain extent. Which makes this story quite progressive and quite powerful for certain and the show deserves a round of applause for addressing mental health issues in such a wonderful manner and well, now that this mission has come to a close, it does leave one wondering what other positive tales await us in season six and really… the only way to find out, is to continue the journey post haste. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’.
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Guys, this show is literally amazing. I’m not going to lie; I had a pretty rough day yesterday and just needed a great way to unwind and reset my mood. Thankfully John reminded me that Thursday was Lower Decks Day and my whole world got a million times better. I’m a bit sad this show isn’t an hour long because wow, it’s so good I never want it to end. This week's episode featured Dooplers! Or I guess a Doopler? Doopli? A Doop. We’ll stick with that. Captain Freeman is literally having the embodiment of my past few days, to be honest. The whole bridge crew seems exhausted. Dooplers apparently just duplicate themselves when they’re emotionally stressed out. Like one thing goes wrong and suddenly there’s just a perfect clone of the Doopler. That Doopler can also duplicate and then suddenly there’s billions of them. John called them ‘Emotional Tribbles’ and he’s not wrong. Although, if I suddenly just had a clone of myself anytime I was upset, I would also be constantly anxious. Which, realistically, I already am, so I guess I’m even more glad to be a human. For now.

Well, Carol can only hold it together for so long before she lets it slip about how annoyingly high maintenance their guest has been. Unfortunately, said guest overhears her say it… and then he duplicates… and then they all start to duplicate. It very quickly gets out of hand with no seeming end in sight. I felt for Carol, I really did. Shaxs clears out the bar to contain some of the Dooplers which is where we meet Rutherford and Tendi, who’re trying to put together a tiny functioning model of the Cerritos. Of course, their plans get interrupted by the Dooplers and Rutherford makes it worse with the best line of this episode. One of the Dooplers says that Rutherford is leaving because of him, and Rutherford replies with “Yeah it’s pretty clear.” And…. ya know, I felt that. I’m not saying I’m that blunt of a person sometimes… but, legit, every character on this show is so relatable, I can’t get enough. Tendi and Rutherford do end up in a near death situation where the only escape would be to go into the vents, except that’s welded shut. Rutherford finally breaks down and admits to Tendi that he feels like he’s competing with who he was before he lost his memories and who he is now. Tendi, being the good bro that she is, reminds Rutherford that he’s still the same person as he was before, memories or not, and they find a way to escape.

What are Mariner and Boimler up to during the great Doopler invasion? They’re off to a super secret Starfleet Party on an old Base of course! The thing is, the Cerritos is a California class ship and most definitely did not get an invite to said party, however bigger ships did. Like, say, the Titan. Which Boimler definitely abandoned Mariner to go join until his transporter clone happened. Thankfully the Titan is otherwise busy, and William won’t be able to make that party, giving Brad the perfect opportunity to go under his name with Becket as his plus one. The only real problem here is Mariner used to live on this Starbase and she 100% might have abandoned someone on a planet before leaving there.

That totally bites her in the ass when they arrive and he immediately double crosses her, tries to get her arrested by security and that would make them miss the party. One wild car chase through the mall and a few near fatalities for some bystanders later, and they’re at the entrance to the party. Boimler gets in no problem, but Mariner, not so much. We did learn that she was on the Voyager-D, which might be real or not and at this point, what ship has Mariner not been on or what hasn’t she done? Either way, Mariner finally tells Boimler how mad she is at him for abandoning her for the Titan. Boimler is obviously also upset because Mariner does have a habit of abandoning people and he would know, she’s stranded him before too. Eventually they both end up at a bar near the party and Boimler confesses that he didn’t want Mariner to talk him out of going so he just left. Mariner admits she doesn’t like sharing her feelings with anyone, (same girl, same), but he’s the exception to that. In the end, the bar turns out to be way cooler than anyone expected. Mariner and Boimler weren’t the only ones to be kicked out of that party. It just so happens that once upon a time, Kirk and Spock had been kicked out too, and they carved their names into the bar.

As for Carol? She learned that if you yell at a Doopler and make him angry, he un-duplicates? Reabsorbs? I’m not entirely sure what the best way to describe that is, really. Carol is determined to also just not take any more sh*t from the Dooplers and once she figures out how to undo a Dooplers…. duplication, she tells the whole ship. The day is saved when it’s just one Doopler and man does the crew really need to tie one on. Captain Carol Freeman takes her bridge crew with all the confidence of any Starfleet Captain down to the party, and she marches up to the Bouncer and promptly gets denied entry. The crew ends up in front of the bar Boimler and Mariner are in, and Mariner does the right thing and invites her mom in for a drink. The whole thing is so wholesome and great, especially the part where Boimler and Mariner carve their names next to Kirk and Spock’s.

The real question, though, who really is who’s Number 1?

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 208 of ‘Ted Lasso’.
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We are beings that love stability and security. So much, in fact, that we've built our entire society around structure and routine all so we can enjoy what we think we crave the most. And while all of that provides us with the stability and security that we need, it also comes with quite the drawback— it doesn't take long for that type of life to outright bore us because what we don't acknowledge is that we also desire to learn and grow. And the only way to properly learn and grow in life is to take chances and do things that bring about change. However, the norm of stability is such a standard that attempting to break free and become more than the routine can be downright terrifying. That is, until we take that all-important chance and go for it to see what happens— and the importance of taking chances is relevant to our discussion today because it serves as the focal theme of this week's episode of Ted Lasso.

The vast majority of stories in ‘Man City’ revolved around what happens when take those kinds of chances, and a majority of the folks that "went for it" enjoyed some pretty positive results. Rebecca and Sam finally found out that they shared a connection once they met up for dinner, and rather than let the awkwardness of that moment push them back into their usual routine, they took a chance on love and enjoyed some outright wonder in doing so. They came to realize that their spark is real and that something special can grow between them. It's going to be wonderful to see where Rebecca and Sam's story goes in the weeks to come, and the wonder of taking a chance didn't end there.

Dr. Sharon Fieldstone received some fine advice to indulge in a little risk by opening up to Ted to see whether he would return the favor. So, after Ted picked Sharon up from the hospital after she was involved in an accident, she took a chance and opened up and shared with him. Sharon's reward, as it turns out, was well worth the risk because taking the time to offer up some genuine honesty about her feelings in a way that wasn't formal or professional inspired Ted to also break out of his own routine and express his own emotions for a change. Ted got that opportunity before a big match between AFC Richmond and Manchester City, and the end result was quite positive. Ted's openness inspired others around him to also open up, which allowed for honest discourse and dialogue to happen between Leslie and the coaching staff.
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All of these wonderful results from taking chances made it seem like this episode might be mired in incredible positivity because there were no downsides shown after taking big chances. However, because this series is about as brave as it gets, it did take the time to point out that sometimes the chances that we take have some sour results… which was exemplified by the match between AFC Richmond and Manchester City and the events that took place after.

Going after Manchester City with gusto was one of the biggest risks that this team has ever taken, and sadly, their gambit failed miserably. AFC Richmond was beyond embarrassed on the field by their opponent, and well, that definitely served to remind us that we will sometimes fail when we take risks and that we will fail hard. And sometimes, the universe might kick a little sand in our faces when we're down— as evidenced by the surprise that happened in the locker room after the game. Despite being kind enough to get his rotten dad some tickets to this all-important matchup, the senior Tartt decided to embarrass his son in front of his teammates and push Jamie to the edge— to the point where Jamie actually popped his old man in the jaw before breaking down in pain over years of abuse and bullying from his father. And what's scary about this is that the fallout from this match might not be over. Coach Beard was livid about how the match went down, he barely spoke to Ted after it was over, and he walked home— indicating a little dissension in the ranks.

But while all of that seems to reinforce our perception that taking chances is a horrible idea and will do nothing but bring strife and chaos into our lives, it's the subtle and powerful moments that took place that speak otherwise. Taking this chance against Manchester informed the team that they have work to do, that they must work harder to be better, and that everyone needs to expect better of themselves on the field. Plus, Jamie finally stood up to his father rather than be pushed around by him. But most important of all, Sharon's risk with her emotions brought forth breakthrough with Ted: Shortly after father and son went to blows, Ted excused himself to call his therapist and reveal the source of his pain and how it related to the Tartt family. As it turns out, Ted Lasso's father committed suicide when he was sixteen, and judging from Ted's tears, it's obvious now that this event had a profound impact upon Ted and on his life.

This tragic event is also undoubtedly what motivates Ted to be so gentle and so kind to others— so no one ever feels as alone as his father did all those years ago. And clearly, seeing a father and son fight with each other brings up all the unresolved emotions and pain that Ted buried regarding his own father, and well… that made for a powerful tear-jerking moment that brought the theme of this episode home in a stunning manner.
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Ted's admission, and everything else that happened in this episode, reminds us that risk will sometimes be rosy, but more often than not it will be messy and scary— and totally worthwhile. Taking chances is how we grow as people and find new direction in life, and this series once again deserves our awe and respect for putting together another bold episode that tackles an uncomfortable topic and sets the stage for so much more. We haven't a clue what's going to come from all the difficult change that took place this week, which means we're counting down the minutes to next Friday's tale. We can't wait to see where this stunning season takes us next and to indulge in the amazing lessons that it will undoubtedly offer us. Until next time.

Please enjoy this sneak peek of tomorrow’s brand new episode of See, streaming exclusively on AppleTV+!

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Kin’.
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Something that we don’t talk about enough in everyday life, is the power of the moment and that is unfortunate. Because the fact of the matter is, a single moment can change the course of our lives in ways we never thought possible, and if we took the time to ponder upon the power of said moment and talked about such matters openly with those, we love, our lives would likely be in a wondrous place. For we would take time to think about what comes next in regard to every decision we make and that would allow for us to indulge in them without worry or concern or strife. But while some would correctly argue that there is no way to know the outcome of any particular moment, there are definitely some, that we would have control over, and taking charge of those, would give us great peace.

If anything, this concept is of concern today, largely because it serves as the focal theme of the first episode of the new AMC+ series, Kin. For the series premiere of this dynamic new show, introduces us to a family that has mastered the art of examining the moment and with good reason. For the Kinsella clan, while well to do and seemingly peaceful, make their fortune through drug dealing for the powerful kingpin Eamon Cunningham. Which makes pondering upon every moment and every choice, imperative. For one wrong step and they could cross their boss and endure suffering untold. But if they make the right choices, and properly understand the moment... which they have on a consistent basis, they can enjoy peace and joy and when we catch up with them here, they’re enjoying just that… despite dealing with some strife with the boss in regard to a plucky and troublesome new dealer named Caolan Moore.

In fact, their restraint is nothing short of stunning. Since Moore has harmed their people and cost them out of pocket with damages. But they genuinely look ahead when it comes to this scenario and weigh the gravity of every single moment to understand what would happen if other paths were chosen, which makes it seem as though… this is nothing more than a cautionary crime drama. One where we finally meet some decent criminals for a change that aren’t power hungry and eager to conquer the world. A notion that is further reinforced by the arrival of Michael at the Kinsella homestead. Since Mike has seen some rough times and just got out of prison and he seems hell bent on keeping his nose clean so that he can reconcile with his daughter and potentially live a normal life. To the point where he is willing to wash cars at the family’s car dealership to prove to the courts, he is a good man. 

But while it is indeed wonderful to dive into a story that explores the positive possibilities that can come about from taking a moment to pause and think about the moment before we act upon it, this is a crime drama of course, and not every member of the Kinsella clan are willing to stop and think before they act. Which allows for some troublesome and heartbreaking moments to take place in this tale, the kind that remind us, that anger and fury and living in the darkness of any particular moment can bring about great suffering and strife, as evidenced by Viking Kinsella’s journey in this tale. Since his desire to act upon notions of honor and power, lead to all kinds of disaster, to the point where the Kinsella family will never be the same and well, in the end… this is one powerful way to kick off this fascinating new series.

Because crime dramas simply don’t offer up this kind of examination of the human condition in the slightest since they are often eager to focus on the violence and the darkness that we harbor within. So, to find humanity in this tale is downright refreshing, as is its lesson on acting on impulse and not taking a moment to ponder upon our consequences. Since that adds incredible gravity to a story that is clearly going to become quite grave and unsettling in the weeks to come, largely because the course of this family has now been altered by a single moment and a poor decision on Viking’s part and well, that definitely leaves one eager to continue the journey. So that we can see what the fallout will be from that harrowing ending and if this family can maintain its integrity in the face of incredible adversity. Until next time.

Please enjoy a sneak peek of tomorrow’s brand-new episode of Ted Lasso, streaming exclusively on AppleTV+.