​If there’s one thing I’ve come to learn about television shows, it’s that season three is usually when everything truly comes together for the series in question. Because by now, the characters are properly established when it comes to their personalities and quirks and proclivities, and the format of the series is finally apparent to everyone within the writer’s room. Which means that fans everywhere are treated to one slick season of storytelling, the kind that features brisk and magnificent storylines that feature everything you love and for proof, well look no further than the season three premiere of my favorite police serial, CHiPs.
 
Because ‘Roller Disco: Part 1’ felt comfortable and smooth from the get-go, and the lighthearted nature that made this series famous in the first place was everywhere to be found in this story. I mean come on, it’s entitled ‘Roller Disco’, and the constant cutaways to folks having a good time on skates, and the fact that the cast seem to be enjoying themselves on screen just speaks to the joy present in this tale. Plus, this premiere also made it clear just how popular the series was when season three hit the airwaves because the guest stars present in this premiere are some big names to say the least. I mean Ed McMahon was at the top of the world in 1979 and you can’t go wrong with cameos from football legends Jim Brown and Fred Williamson and teen heart throb Leif Garrett.
 
In fact, Leif’s appearance in this story led to a fascinating subplot that worked to remove the mystique surrounding celebrities. For Garrett’s character, Jimmy Tyler, is a celebrity suffering from exhaustion and is desperate for a break from the on-the-go lifestyle he’s been immersed within for some time, and it was quite fascinating to see the show take the time to point out that those in the limelight need a break like the rest of us. But while this is, of course, all designed to get Jimmy to work with Ponch on the celebrity ‘Skate With the Starts’ event that the CHP is putting on soon, it’s still quality and unique storytelling and it serves as a fine reminder of how good this series was at injecting humanity into its weekly adventures on the road.
 
But of course, what would CHiPs be without the all-important Creeps of the Week? And this episode has plenty to spare. For we are introduced to a salty and sour motorist named Carlin, who thinks the world owes him something, and his idea of justice is to blind people with a unique addition to his car that causes sparks to shower the windshield of anyone that tailgates him and there’s also Lita’s gang for our boys in tan to contend with. For this mastermind has enlisted some muscle to help her steal what isn’t nailed down on the boardwalk, and to keep their exploits unique, they make use of roller skates as part of their getaway plan and that’s honestly something I cannot say I’ve ever seen replicated on a cop show and oddly, it works. However, if this seems like a lot of plot to process over the course of a single hour, you’d be absolutely right.
 
Which is why this bad boy is the first half of a two-parter, something that also happens to be a first for this series and I have to be honest, they did a magnificent job of setting up the second half of this epic story. But all juicy plot points aside, what matters the most, is that this story is just plain fun. For there is plenty of action and adventure to be found in this one, and the plot just chugs along and well, it is just a delight to be back in the world of CHiPs, and it was also quite cool to see Officer Bonnie Clark’s brief first appearance on the series as well. But when all is said and done, I truly cannot wait to see how this particular two-parter and all of its plot threads wrap up, and if this is what we’re getting from the first episode of a new season, then I am in for the quite the treat in the days and weeks to come. Until next time.   

​If there’s one unique element that tends to permeate the fabric of older television shows, it’s that sometimes the writer’s room of a particular series latched onto a particular idea and ran with it for weeks at a time. For example, if a particular character goes through a trying time in their fictional lives, someone clearly wonders what would happen if they are pushed a little harder by the universe and just like that we get an impromptu story arc where this poor man or woman are at their wits end as their world comes crashing down around them. And oddly enough, Star Trek was not immune to this style of storytelling, since the season one finale of the series saw Captain James T. Kirk dealing with more heartbreak and sorrow.
 
Which quite frankly, took me by surprise since the man was in essence crushed by having to let Edith Keeler die in ‘The City on the Edge of Forever’, and that seemed like enough suffering for the captain to go through. But in the opening minutes of ‘Operation – Annihilate!’ Kirk is worried sick about his brother and his brother’s family since the colony they live upon has gone dark and it only gets worse from there. For eventually we come to learn that Sam Kirk has passed on and soon after that Sam’s wife also succumbs to the strange illness infecting her world, and it also seems like Jim’s nephew might perish as well. And if that’s not enough for the captain to go through, the story just keeps pouring it on by putting his best friend’s life in danger when Spock is violently attacked by the flying jellyfish that now live on the planet’s surface.
 
If anything, I have to say I was quite amazed with the fact that the writer’s room felt the need to enact the old adage of ‘when it rains, it pours’ for the captain since he keeps getting kicked while he’s down in this story, but there is a rhyme and a reason for making the man go through hell. Because it tests him like never before, and despite the losses and the pain, he still has to command the Enterprise and it is quite fascinating to watch Jim work to balance his grief with his duties as a Starfleet Captain and that honestly provides us with another quality performance from William Shatner as he carefully balances anguish and honor on screen. And kudos also need to go to Leonard Nimoy as well for his performance, since he does an incredible job of working to keep Spock stable through the physical pain he’s experiencing.
 
Yet while it seems as though this particular story is filed with low and sorrowful moments, that’s simply not the case. In fact, there’s a lot to root for in the story, since it actually brings out the best in Kirk and Spock once they recognize the powerful challenge that lies before them. For the jellyfish that lurk planet side have plans to conquer all of the galaxy, adding a sense of urgency to the story and it really is quite impressive to watch these men put their problems aside and work together and accomplish wonders in order to save countless lives. And the fact that they do, makes this an inspiring yet pyrrhic victory to say the least, because while the galaxy is indeed saved from this menace, lives were lost, and a lifeform was wiped out.
 
In the end however, I have to admit that this was a proper way to wrap up the first season of this iconic series. Because in many ways, the challenges that Kirk and his crew face in this episode, speak to the best parts of the franchise. For the need to rise above and find a solution in the face of extreme odds is a common theme present in Trek, as is the great debate of saving life versus taking it and that’s why I loved this episode. For it was moving, and thoughtful and powerful and considering how shaky the first year of this series was, this is the kind of growth one needs to see, storytelling wise, to feel confident that great stories await the audience down the line and I am truly looking forward to diving into season two and enjoying every single second of year two of the five-year mission. Until next time.   

​Over the past nine weeks, Lodge 49 has more or less put on a masterclass in storytelling. For week in and week out, we’ve been privy to magnificently bittersweet tales that examine some of the toughest parts of the human condition, and the end result of this incredible journey through mankind’s soul has left us moved and inspired. Yet, while it is important to explore what makes us tick and what drives us ahead when times are tough, this show would be remiss if it didn’t take the time to reflect upon the other side of the coin. For there are also wonderfully joyful moments that we experience on a regular basis and thankfully, the brilliant writer’s room of this series was fully aware of the fact that the story needed to dive into that at some point down the line, and it just so happens that last night’s episode of the series, served as the perfect opportunity to examine the more joyous aspects of life.
 
Because ‘Le Reve Impossible’ was a decidedly lighthearted episode through and through. One that definitely brought a giant smile to my face with all of the hilarious and fun filled moments that played out over the course of the hour and really, it would seem that all the happiness present here was a direct result of the fact that everyone was in essence, free from the daily trappings that sometimes bring about a sense of routine in our daily lives, by traveling to Mexico. But while it was nice to see everyone let loose and have a little fun for a change, I have to admit that I was quite impressed with the fact that this particular tale found a way to follow-up on an important moment from not that long ago, since Dud finally saw one of his life-long dreams come to fruition in Guadalajara.
 
For if you recall, he made mention of the fact that he wanted nothing more than for his future to be filled with moments of unity with his friends/extended family, and that it would just be awesome to have everyone hanging out and enjoying themselves by the pool, and it was wonderful and touching to see that happen before his eyes, and the peace that it brought him was just beautiful and kudos to the show for bringing a seemingly innocuous moment to life. Yet, I made mention of a lot of fun moments happening over the course of the episode and a fair chunk of that happened by just allowing the characters to do their thing and soak up the moment and perhaps the best example of this was the dinner scene at the Chinese restaurant since everyone just let loose, and let’s be honest, that eating contest was downright amazing. 

​However, while I could have honestly watched all of that play out for an entire hour and not have given it a second thought, it’s important to note that everyone was assembled in a single place for one reason and one reason alone; the Scrolls. Because Daphne let everyone know of the hot tip that El Confidente gave her, in that, an upcoming auction at the hotel was going to feature Larry’s bowling bag, and Ernie was quick to point out that the Scrolls were likely inside that bag and when the moment finally arrived to bid upon said bag, the audience was treated to an outright legendary moment. In part because Janet tried to buy the bag out from under everyone since she was in quite the desperate place in this story, but also because the group eventually got their hands upon it, in bold and wild fashion.
 
For Metz’s muse was able to distract everyone with a beautiful song and an impromptu fire, and that inspired Ernie to just grab the bag and haul it out of there and in a rip-roaringly hilarious and beautiful sequence of events, everyone did their best to get Ernie to safety, wherein the group was able to get their hands on the Scrolls and keep them, since the auctioneer (played brilliantly by Paul F. Tompkins) only wanted the bag. Which meant it was time to go home and decode these mysterious documents and that brought us back to the fascinating moment we saw in the season premiere, wherein Ernie and Dud were forced to skydive thanks to Metz’s overzealousness when it comes to flight and well, now we know that they landed safely with the Scrolls tucked away with the toilet paper, and now that their mission is accomplished, it’s clear the show can get back to an important question that has permeated the fabric of this entire season, specifically… what comes next?
 
Because this is a show about life and all the ups and downs that come with it, and if there’s another hard lesson we all have to learn along the way, it’s that even when we achieve our goals or do something wondrous, the world just keeps on turning. And I sincerely doubt the mystery of the Scrolls will be solved in quick fashion, meaning the group will likely have time next week to reflect upon their lives and what their current path means to them, now that they’ve accomplished something incredible and I have a feeling that will make next week’s season two finale a beautiful blend of everything that this show does well since magic and reality are about to collide. If anything, this was just a blast of an episode, one that kept me in stitches and one that was bittersweet in its own right. Because this penultimate tale serves as a reminder that next week, our second trip through the Lodge comes to a close and while I don’t really want season two to wrap up this soon, I’ll still be on my couch come next Monday, with a squire’s chalice in hand to see how this magnificent season, comes to a close. Until next time.  

I think what I’ve always loved about science fiction in general, is the genre’s ability to challenge its audience and its characters in ways we never thought were possible. And often times, said challenge comes forth by sending dynamic and thoughtful questions our way, the kind that truly leave you wondering how you would handle a specific situation, and if there’s one series/franchise that accomplished this feat on a consistent basis, it would have to be Star Trek. And for proof of this, well look no further than the iconic next episode of this magnificent show, since it went places that few sci-fi stories will go.
 
For ‘The City on the Edge of Forever’ plays the ultimate game of what if, by putting Captain James T. Kirk into the no-win scenario that he so dreads and well, this is hands down one of my favorite Original Series episodes. Simply because it perfectly embodies everything that the franchise stands for and it tells one finely woven tale that challenges Kirk like never before. In fact, this story features one of the most complex moral challenges I’ve ever seen on television since so much depth goes into what Kirk is faced with and despite having seen this episode a few times now, the choice he faces, haunts me for hours on end, every single time I indulge in this story and this time around was no different.
 
I mean, just look at the problem the man has to face. Because if he indulges his heart and stays with Edith in 1930s Earth, he can watch her accomplish wonders before the Third Reich takes over the planet, killing millions in the process and ruining the beautiful future that awaits mankind. Or, he can let her die and preserve a beautiful future but carry with him the knowledge that he let a good soul perish when he could have prevented her end. Which is something that goes against everything that Jim stands for and watching him agonize over this decision is what makes this episode so worthwhile since you can see Jim trying his best to work out every alternative before coming to the same one in every single scenario in that; Edith has to die.

It seems as though, there is an unspoken rule in the world of science fiction, one that basically requires a story compilation or a movie or a series in that vein; to just let loose and be weird from time to time, and I honestly don’t know why this ‘rule’ exists. Because throwing caution to the wind in this fashion confuses the heck out of the audience and in all honesty; it’s kind of annoying when this happens within the confines of an established franchise. Because you know what to expect when you settle in to enjoy a particular saga and it’s just off-putting when the show or story, decides to go rogue and tries to outthink its audience.
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If anything, this is on my mind today simply due to the fact that Star Trek felt the need to go down a weird path in its next episode, ‘The Alternative Factor’, and well, a day after watching this one, I’m still not quite sure what I witnessed. Because this is a story that constantly shifted gears between outright hardcore science fiction, and a bad acid trip, making this story a bit of a waste when all is said and done because it really did have some serious potential. For the opening segment of this tale, wherein the entire galaxy is threatened by an unseen force really does a fine job of drawing the audience in, because this is a threat we’ve never seen on the series before. But it doesn’t take long for this story to slip into weird mode once we get onto the planet below.

For once the crew meets a mysterious man named Lazarus, the story takes a turn for the wild with his stories about an evil beast that he’s hunting, and once he begins to ‘shift’, for lack of a better word, things get quite confusing. Because these shifts and the physical fight that ensues within the confines of some strange otherworldly environment is jarring to say the least because the story really doesn’t explain what is happening in the slightest and that’s quite frankly the big problem with this episode. It simply takes too long to get to the point, and by the time the grand reveal arrives you’re lost and confused, and this is why I call this story a wasted opportunity, because the grand reveal of who Lazarus is fighting is actually fascinating.

Because it turns out that Lazarus is duking it out with an alternate version of himself from an alternate universe and well, this would signal the first time that the franchise played with such notions and it really is a shame they didn’t spend more time on this. Because I was quite curious to learn more about the two versions of this gentleman, and why they were locked in mortal combat throughout the cosmos. But instead, we get a rushed ending where we come to learn that Kirk has to stop the Lazarus that entered the prime universe and quickly, for if he does not, it is the end of all things. Which prompts Kirk to smack the dude around and banish him to the void forever, and later exhibit regret toward his actions since he damned the man to an eternity of anguish without fully understanding the situation.

Yet, despite doing my best to work this episode out on paper, I still don’t have a damn clue what the hell happened in this one and it is the lack of answers that we get in this story that truly does it a disservice. Because had someone taken the time to properly explain the stakes and this age-old fight, rather than rush to save the galaxy, this might have been an amazing tale that focused on the duality of man or served as a wonderful introduction to the Mirror Universe. But instead we are left with a convoluted, trippy tale, that relies too heavily on goofy special effects and while I want to be genuinely upset with this episode, there’s really no reason to be. Because what’s done is done and one can chalk it up to more first-season blues for this show, and I’m also good with this, simply because what awaits me next in this series, is one of its finest episodes. So, it’s best I just forget about this one, and dive into the utter brilliance of ‘The City on the Edge of Forever’. Until next time.

I think that sometimes in television, the storytellers behind the scenes lose their way. Because time and time again, I’ve seen lighthearted dramas attempt to keep their audience’s attention by doing something bold and brazen with their characters, and the idea behind such a move, is that it will get people talking about the show and get more viewers to tune in. But often times, this kind of decision is nothing more than a gimmick, one that turns the audience off in fact, and a common trick that shows use to make that happen, is to have a particular character fall from grace so to speak. Which means they go through some intense strife and some ridiculously difficult challenges when it comes to their respective journey, and we see them at their lowest point and that doesn’t work for the fans because; we know they are better than this.
 
If anything, this is another reason in a long list of reasons as to why I’m such a fan of AMC’s Lodge 49. Because this is a series that avoids gimmicks and presents tough journeys in realistic fashion, and it has no problem acknowledging the fact that people often stumble and fall, and that when we do, it’s not always some self-destructive venture that has us hurting people and tearing down our lives. Sometimes we just straight up lose our faith in ourselves and our beliefs and we do our best to get by in a world that suddenly feels hollow and that’s really where last night’s episode of the series spent a lot of its time. For ‘Zugzwang’ focused heavily on so many lost characters. Such as Blaise, who had lost his faith in just about everything. Because the search for the Scrolls left him feeling as though he was a fool and that there was no meaning left for him at the moment and he wasn’t the only person who lost their faith in this tale.
 
For even Scott found himself in a tough place when he came to the realization that no one at the Lodge took him seriously as Sovereign Protector, and knowing that his attempts to unify the Lodge and lift it up from the doldrums were going unnoticed, along with the fact that no one really viewed him as a leader, broke him. Which prompted him to just go on a booze fueled journey around town to find himself and as the episode rolled on, it became clear this kind of despair was simply in the air for just about everyone. Heck even the omnipotent Janet was losing her faith in just about everything since she revealed to Liz that Omni was falling apart at the seams and bleeding money to the point where it was barreling toward insolvency and it was just incredible to see so many characters struggling in this manner since you really don’t see characters take the time to express their pain in this manner on television.

​Yet while all of that was fascinating in its own right, the true centerpiece of this unique brand of suffering came by way of an unexpected new friend for Dud and Ernie. For they finally were able to meet and hang with L. Marvin Metz, the writer of their favorite novels and well, Mister Metz turned out to be the personification of how most people handle a loss of faith in everyone and everything, since he simply acted like nothing was wrong. In fact, Metz took it one step further, by showcasing himself as a suave and magnificent writer who had everything figured out in life. But by the end of his arc in this tale, he finally opened up to reveal that his career as a writer was falling to pieces and that he felt trapped in his life and that there was no escaping the prison he had created for himself and his journey was simply powerful to watch, since it served as a fine reminder that we are taught to put on a happy face and pretend that nothing is wrong when the going gets tough.
 
However, while it seems as though these various vignettes reflect a darker episode, one indicative of the gimmicks I made mention of earlier, that’s simply not the case. Because everyone that was suffering in this tale was propped up by someone and the story also took the time to explain why losing our faith is actually a good thing. Because doing so, outright frees us. For now, we are no longer locked within a particular path that we might not be happy with and we are free to either try new things or attack what we were chasing in the first place from a new angle. In essence, we no longer have anything to lose and Ernie is the one who helped express this wondrous notion since he finally realized that that while it is never a bad thing to have a plan, sometimes you just need to live a little and go for broke and see what happens, and the best way to accomplish that in the here and the now, is to rally the troops and to take a trip to Mexico, and finally find the Scrolls.
 
So, just like that, the Scrolls are back in the mix, and I love the fact that everyone is joining Dud on this quest to find them. Because this search will unify everyone at last, and likely help them discover some important things about themselves and their relationships with one another, all while growing the mythos of the series, and just… wow what an episode this turned out to be. If anything, I truly applaud writer Micah Cratty for crafting a refreshing screenplay that celebrated this plight for a change. And also, kudos to Paul Giamatti, who played Metz, for turning in a powerhouse performance since he brought incredible life to the role and quite frankly, stole every single scene he was in. But all of that aside, I won’t lie, I’m quite giddy to see what everyone finds in Mexico and I’ll once again be counting down the minutes until next Monday, to see where this magical journey takes us next. Until then.