Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘Long Way Up’.
​
When one thinks of the road trip, certain images come to mind. Specifically, the open highway in front of us, with beautiful scenery to boot as we ride along in our car or on our bikes. Because using some kind of car or motorcycle to travel the roads has become synonymous with the road trip. But the fact of the matter is, sometimes a good old-fashioned journey on the road… doesn’t involve those particular modes of transportation. Because now and again you’re stuck with what the locals have to use, or traveling by wheel simply isn’t possible and this particular quirk to the road trip is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because this is precisely the kind of twist that Ewan and Charley run into in the next episode of Long Way Up.

For ‘Colombia, Panama & Costa Rica’ made it clear early on, that traveling by road and on the bikes just wasn’t feasible for the next leg of their journey. In fact, to get where they needed to go, they had to travel by boat and that led to one fascinating and peaceful segment. Where we were able to get to know a crew that loves working on the sea and visit villages that are only accessible via water, and it was quite fascinating to enter a part of the world that is thriving and humming, despite being disconnected from traditional travel means. Plus, it was equally as lovely to enjoy a peaceful leg of the journey. For everyone aboard the boat was able to just kick back and enjoy the calm and tranquil waters surrounding them, and some delightful food and good company aboard the boat, before more unique travel took place.

Because once they arrived in Panama, there was going to be a split up. Because Harley Davidson set up shop in Costa Rica to repair Ewan’s bike and that meant he was going to let Charley explore Panama on his own while he flew and rode to Costa Rica for the repair. And while he made his way north as a crew member on a flight and as an outright passenger, we got to learn a lot about Ewan, and how much this journey has meant to him over the years. For not only has it allowed for him to see the world with his absolute best friend, it’s also helped to expand his family. For Jamyan, the young girl that he met in Long Way Round, eventually became his daughter and really hearing Ewan speak about the journey and how it has changed his life and even the lives of his family members, really was quite beautiful and heartwarming for certain.

But while Ewan took the time to reminisce before getting down to work on his bike, Charley was enjoying all the wonder that Panama had to offer. For he was able to see first-hand, just how much of an impact people can make when they work together. Since District-13 in Medellín has been transformed from a dangerous place to a warm and welcome environment for all, because that’s what the people wanted when a second chance arrived for this part of the city. Plus, he got to visit with a hard-core Harley fan and even visit the majesty of the Panama Canal. Wherein he was able to pay tribute to his father by re-creating a scene from one of dear old dad’s films from back in the day and it was nice that the show still found a way to explore the places that Ewan and Charley were visiting, despite the odd circumstances surrounding this leg of the journey.

In the end however, this really was quite the engrossing episode. Mainly because it really did offer up quite the unique journey. Since we really weren’t expecting any part of this documentary to feature some plane and boat rides and long car rides. But hey, sometimes you gotta do, what you gotta do and thankfully there were plenty of unique moments to keep this part of the trip as interesting as possible. Plus, it was also quite amazing to see Ewan and Charley open up in the manner that they each did. Since that really isn’t something, we’ve seen a lot of on this series and it looks like we are about to enjoy a little more of that openness. Because it would appear as though, we are going to be treated to a little family time with Ewan and his daughter, Jamyan, in the next episode and it will be quite lovely to share in that moment and more; now that our dynamic duo are reunited and ready to hit the road north, once again. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two premiere of ‘The Mandalorian’.
​
At this point in time, it is outright safe to say that The Mandalorian is a series that took the world by storm. Thanks to the fact that it offered up quite the unique Star Wars experience in its inaugural season. A feat that it accomplished, by showing us a side of the galaxy that we never got to explore in the Skywalker Saga, along with providing the audience with some quality and gritty storytelling and some wonderfully dynamic characters that were new to this universe and of course… it gave us The Child. Which is perhaps one of the cutest creatures to ever grace the Star Wars Universe and really in the end, the wonder of this series drew all of us in and left us hungry for more when season one came to a close, simply because we needed more of Din Djarin’s wild adventures through the outer rim.

But thankfully our long and painful wait for new episodes from this show, has finally come to an end. For yesterday saw the season two premiere of this dynamic series drop on Disney+ and thankfully, ‘Chapter 9: The Marshal’ wasted no time in picking up exactly where we left off in ‘Chapter 8’, by plunging us right back in the middle of Din’s search for The Child’s home planet and its people. And in order to accomplish that… he needed to find more Mandalorians, so they could hopefully teach him about the mysterious Jedi and how they relate to that sweet little baby, and that quest for knowledge put him and the Child in some precarious situations, the kind that eventually brought them to Tattooine. For a Mandalorian was apparently roaming the remote segments of the desert and that eventually led Din to an out of the way place known as Mos Pelgo. 

Wherein he came face to face with a man wearing some oddly familiar Mandalorian armor, Boba Fett’s in fact. But alas, this was not the legendary Fett. Just a man named Cobb Vanth who used the wonder of Beskar Steel to keep the people of Mos Pelgo safe. But once Din learned that Vanth was not a Mandalorian, he was politely asked to relinquish the armor since it didn’t belong to him. Something he was willing to do, provided of course Din helped him out with a little conundrum. For a Krayt Dragon was terrorizing this small town, and some Tusken Raiders, and if Mando helped everyone rid their land of this hungry scourge, he could have the amor back, and well… that led to one action packed sequence for certain. One that rivaled any sequence on the silver screen in scope and in the end, Mando was successful in helping these people, and he of course got that iconic armor back before returning to the mission at hand.

But while that plot was quite delightful and engaging, we would be foolish to not talk about the surprising amount of world building that went into this episode. After all, Cobb Vanth was kind enough to inform us as to how the fall of the Galactic Empire caused some serious chaos in the galaxy. Since Mos Pelgo was immediately under siege a few hours after the Rebel Alliance claimed victory at the Battle of Endor and this was just awesome to see. Because we really don’t get enough moments like this from the SWU and it is wonderful to know this series is willing to explore moments like that. Plus, it was also nice to discover that this episode harbored some epic Easter Eggs. Because it was quite delightful to learn that Boba Fett’s jet pack still has that the same flaw in it that Luke Skywalker exploited back in the day, and speaking of the Fett, how incredible was it to see him roaming the Dune Sea?

If anything, that is likely the biggest cameo we’ve seen on this series to date, and hopefully he and Din cross paths down the line and we can learn exactly why he was willing to take off his mask and walk away from everything. In the end however, this was just a delightful and fun and outright epic premiere. One that offered up everything we know and love about this show in the first place, all while taking the time to up the ante since that battle with the dragon was just outright incredible. Which leaves one to wonder what kind of other giant moments, and unexpected cameos, await us in the remainder of season two, and sadly, we will have to wait to find out. Which means that once again, we’re back in that tough place, where we are eagerly counting down the minutes until the next episode, and that’s good thing. Because when a show makes its audience this hungry for more, it’s doing something right. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘Tehran’.
​
​Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about how the AppleTV+ series, Tehran; has done a phenomenal job of shattering the tropes of the spy genre. For time and time again, this series has offered up a fresh take on a genre that lives within formula, and that’s allowed for some powerful storytelling to take place. The kind that has surprised and enthralled us at every turn. But while it is fun to turn a genre on its head, there are some tropes and clichés that cannot be avoided and must be indulged in order to tell a proper spy story, and that’s something that this series is fully aware of. Since it went a more traditional route with its story in the season one finale of this phenomenal series.

For ‘Five Hours Until the Bombing Run’ offered up a bevy of intense moments and traditional cat and mouse games and some outright surprises as well. And thankfully, it handled all of these familiar moments in a quality manner since it did a wonderful of building tension and by dropping said surprises at just the right time. Take for example how this episode opened up. Since we came to learn that the Mossad had a mole in their ranks, after the ground assault on the Anti-Aircraft devices ended in disaster, since someone targeted and destroyed the ground team in a precise manner. And rather than do a long, drawn out reveal of who betrayed the Mossad, the show wasted no time in showing us that Yael Kadosh was the mole, and that she has been working with IRGC head Mohammadi to undermine the mission at every turn. Which explains why he was quick to not sound the alarms about a Mossad agent working within the borders of Iran, because he’s had quite the plan all along.

One that basically involved assembling a grand trap for Israeli forces, so that Iran could make it clear to their enemies that they are not to be trifled with, and the final aspect of that plan, involved Tamar. For now, there was no choice but to send her into the Air Defense building to ‘sabotage’ the radar systems, and that involved getting Milad’s help to circumvent security, and assembling what they needed to override the system, is what led to all that tension. Because it became obvious that they were walking into a trap, one that could have been sprung upon them at any moment, leaving the viewer worried for Tamar and Milad’s safety. And that tension was further enhanced by the fact that Faraz was back in town and working with his lackey to hunt Tamar down and put an end to this, once and for all. In part to save his wife, but also to restore his honor. But thankfully, Milad or Tamar made it out of this segment of the story unharmed, and what matters most, is that all the tension that bubbled and simmered during this part of the story, came to an outright boil in the ending.

Because Tamar had her suspicions about the mission and the ease of it this time around. Which prompted her to setup some failsafe devices, the kind that allowed for her to see the truth about what Yael was up to, and that allowed for her to save some lives and foil the IRGC’s plan, with a shocking assist from Faraz. For his assault on the safe house bought Tamar the time she needed, and it finally brought them face to face if only for a moment. Since Tamar was quick to leave him behind after their brief encounter, one where Faraz begged for his wife’s safety and life, after taking a bullet from his foe and well… that’s where we leave Tamar in this tale. On the run with a military disaster in the hands of both agencies and well, this ended up being on brilliant and delightful finale when all is said and done. Simply because it was high octane from beginning to end and the non-stop tension here left us on the edge of our seats.

But while a majority of this episode took the time to toss a lot of familiar moments our way, we would be remiss to not talk about the fact that it still found a way to break from the norms of the spy genre. For the fact that a stalemate exists between Iran and Israel is a huge deal, since that is rarely the case in these tales. Plus, the fact that Tamar let Faraz live is huge, since usually the hero puts down the villain. And it is also equally as unique that she is trapped behind enemy lines still, with no ties to the Mossad or hope of escape, since the hero usually returns home when the mission ends. All of which are lovely plot threads to be resolved in season two and hopefully we get word that another year of storytelling is headed our way soon. Because this first season was downright refreshing and delightful and we definitely need more, so we can see how this epic and sweeping story, ends. Until next year.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 303 of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’.

If there is one particular storytelling element that the Star Trek Universe has always excelled at, it would have to be social commentary. For this franchise has always done a phenomenal job of exploring hot topics happening in our modern world, or issues that have plagued mankind for ages. And being able to dive into such matters has led to some powerful episodes throughout the years, the kind that have given us great pause as we ponder upon the topic at hand… and how we as a modern society can fix it. Yet while we expect this to be a staple of the franchise at every turn, a couple of Trek shows have managed to steer clear of it.
​
Which is a sensible decision for Lower Decks, since it is a celebration of the franchise in and of itself. But it does seem odd that Star Trek: Discovery spent its first two years, avoiding real-world topics that fans could pour over. Especially when its plots provided plenty of opportunities to do so. After all, season one could have spoken volumes to the nature of endless war and season two could have explored the dangers of relying upon unregulated technology, in great depth. Two elements that would have reflected our current world for certain. But instead, the folks in the writers’ room had a masterful plan in mind. One that was designed to use the first two seasons of this series, to establish the good nature of this crew before plunging them into a tough future, the kind that would finally allow for said commentary to take place. As evidenced by this week’s episode.

For ‘People of Earth’ is a story that took the time to point out some glaring issues in modern America. But before it dove into its commentary, this episode was quick to wrap up some loose ends and offer up a little exposition as well. Such as, filling us in upon the fact that The Burn was a horrific event, one that cost millions their lives and its cause remains unsolved to this day. Plus, this tale also resolved an important issue plaguing the U.S.S. Discovery. In that, this ship has been without a permanent captain for some time now. But thanks to some quick thinking and humility on Michael’s part, Saru was able to assume command of this vessel, permanently, and this was a treat to watch happen and truly, he is the most qualified man for the job. 

But once those particularly important plot points were poured over and resolved, the time had come for the crew of this intrepid vessel to investigate a strange message that Burnham found from twelve years ago. One sent from an Admiral named Senna Tal, who reached out into the void, asking believers in the Federation to join him in rebuilding it. And of course, the best place to search for a Starfleet Admiral would be at Starfleet HQ and that brought the crew to Earth where things… took a weird turn. Because rather than receive a warm reception from Starfleet, the crew was surrounded by an entity known as the United Earth Defense Force. A group of humans that protected a world that was no longer part of the Federation, which was quite the shock to hear, and they were eager to defend the cradle of mankind simply because there were nefarious forces in the galaxy that were hungry to raid the planet’s supplies. 

In fact, the crew got to meet some of those raiders and quickly found themselves embroiled in quite the ugly standoff, one that revealed quite the surprise and brought about the commentary in question. For it turns out that humans from Titan were fighting humans from Earth for supplies, and this was simply heartbreaking to learn. Because it meant that fear had gripped both colonies and allowed for man to revert to its baser instincts and clearly, seeing two worlds that should be on the same side, battling for resources and hurting one another… speaks volumes to the state of our world right now. Where people are constantly digging in over party and ideologies instead of working together to make things better and make things right. And it was quite powerful to find that message embedded within this story and it was nice to see this series try and remind us that we are all in this together and that unity and understanding is always the way to go, since that’s something we all need to hear right now.

But aside from some quality commentary on the state of a divided America, this episode also did a phenomenal job of setting up the rest of the season. For we came to learn that Admiral Tal is alive and well inside the new character, Adira, since the admiral is a Trill symbiote. And we also now know that the Federation and Starfleet, still exist and are operating out of a secret location, as part of a plan to keep Earth safe and to quietly rebuild the fleet. Plus, it was also nice to see that Earth is still a paradise in the 32nd century, courtesy of a visit to the surface from Tilly and a small contingent of the crew and really, in the end, this was just a phenomenal episode. Because it truly embodied the best parts of Star Trek and it set the stage for a frenzied push to restore the Federation and the fundamentals it stands for, and that is going to make for one noble quest. One that we all hope, is successful. Until next time.   

We live in quite the unique era when it comes to television right now. Because T.V. is quite literally everywhere at the moment, and we are able to consume it instantly, thanks to the wonder of smartphones and other portable devices. And that ability to dive into a world whenever we so choose has changed how networks and streaming services treat their shows. Because the ones that are being downloaded and/or watched on devices constantly, are getting renewed in the traditional manner. Which usually entails a green light for one more additional season, while the ones that are just doing okay or are going unnoticed, quickly disappear in a prompt and heartbreaking manner in some cases.

Because some of the shows that are receiving cancellation notices, are actually quite good and they simply are a casualty of peak television and a crowded marketplace. Which is why it is supremely important that we watch and cherish the special ones that are receiving all kinds of accolades and buzz. Because most likely, they are something special and are offering up some incredible storytelling. And when we take the time to do so, their parent network takes notice and offers said show all the care and wonder that it deserves and for proof… well then look no further than AppleTV’s wondrous announcement today regarding the dynamic series; Ted Lasso.

For this quirky, fish out of water story, quickly revealed itself to be a powerfully philosophical affair. One that not only offered up all kinds of hilarious moments; but took the time to teach us quite a few things about life and how to overcome some of the difficult moments we encounter as we grow. The kind that most television shows don’t bother to talk about in the slightest. And being bold and brave in that manner, allowed for this show to resonate with audiences everywhere and well, after receiving an early season two renewal based upon the initial response from fans, the sustained outpouring of love for this series motivated the big announcement in question. 

Which means that Ted Lasso is getting a third season renewal, before a single episode of season two has been filmed or even aired. Because that’s the kind of faith AppleTV has in this show and that’s what the fans have made happen by constantly voicing their opinion and praising this series on a consistent basis. Praise that we here at Nerds That Geek share in, and well, the only thing to do at this point, is offer our congratulations to stars; Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster and Nick Mohammed. And the behind the scenes team, consisting of Bill Lawrence, Jeff Ingold and Joe Kelly and Brendan Hunt deserve a round of applause as well.
 
Because this is simply a rare and huge accolade, and these dynamic individuals all worked hard to make this series such a wonderful and heartfelt experience. And it will be quite amazing to see what kinds of incredible and moving stories the writers’ room and the cast and crew will be able to assemble, now that they have two seasons to work with.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Soulmates’.
​
It is definitely safe to say that love is something that is quite healthy for each and every one of us. For when we meet someone that we genuinely love and adore, some positive behaviors emerge. Because suddenly, we push ourselves to be a better person, so that we are reflect how our lover sees us, and we also work harder to secure a better life for ourselves and our newfound love because we want to take care of them and provide for them. Plus, we suddenly become quite the positive person as well, the kind that works to support our partner in every endeavor and decision they make because we want them to feel supported and secure at every single turn.
​
But while it is lovely to know that certain positive traits emerge when our hearts beat for that special someone, there are some who try to get in on this transformation, for all the wrong reasons. Because some people, are in a rough place emotionally and mentally, and they hope that the positive behaviors that they see others exhibit when they’re in love, will somehow transform them into a better person overall. So, they chase relationship after relationship in the hopes of curing their ails, instead of working on what they actually need to in life. And oddly enough, this particularly unhealthy aspect of how love transforms us, found its way into the next episode of Soulmates, and that made ‘Layover’ quite the powerful and introspective tale.

For this story features those exact, negative behaviors and they are exhibited by a man named Mateo. Who is on his way to Columbia to meet his soul mate, Miguel, after taking the test. But a stopover on his way down south brings about some complications. For Mateo meets a man named Jonah that he outright connects with, prompting him to have a little pre-soulmate union fling and well… that turns out to be quite the unfortunate choice. Because Jonah is a thief, and he seduces strangers in the hopes of robbing them, and if Mateo wants to meet his future love and start his life over anew, he’s going to have to make nice with Jonah and go on one wild adventure to his get his passport back. The kind that will in fact, change his outlook on love and life and everything in between. 

So, the first thing that this episode deserves serious credit for, is for offering up a supremely up close and personal look at a busted man, that is outright desperate to find love in order to heal his emotional aches. Because Mateo really is a mess in just about every way imaginable, and the only thing that seems to motivate him to be more or do more in life, is Miguel and the life that he can offer him. Which makes Mateo quite the realistic for character for certain, since we’ve dealt with someone like him at some point in our lives. Or we’ve been him since we all go through that phase where we think a relationship will fix all of our problems. But what makes this particular study of a broken man so worth our while, is that it oddly offers up a genuine solution/fix for people who are in the same mental state as Mateo.

For as we get to know him better, we come to learn he’s not a terrible person, he’s just lost his way and somewhere along the line, he stopped forgiving himself for the mistakes he's made in life. To the point where he can no longer stand the face that he sees in the mirror. Plus, we also come to learn that he’s scared. Scared of what the future holds, scared of whether or not it will work with Miguel and he's scared to outright live. Because he’s simply not happy with who he is and he is slightly aware of that. But once we see him be open and honest about that fact, and once he starts to explore who he really is as a person, he starts to warm up to the idea of embracing the unknown and chasing love and all the terror that it sends our way and that makes for one powerful ending for certain.

Because in essence, the show teaches us, that the only way we can become the perfect model of love that we talked about at the beginning of this recap… is to be happy with ourselves. For we cannot offer support and guidance and nurturing, when we aren’t content with who we are as a person and that’s a stunning message to send to the audience, but it is present here and it definitely gives the viewer pause. Since it forces you to reflect upon your own journey and where you are with self-love, if only for a moment. Which oddly makes this, the most positive episode of Soulmates to date, and it doesn’t hurt that it features a damn good story and some fine acting as well. Because Bill Skarsgård is phenomenal as Mateo and some of the shenanigans he and Jonah get into over the course of this tale, leave you in stitches for certain. In the end however, this episode just goes to show how versatile this series can be, and it does leave one curious, as to whether or not any more helpful life lessons in regard to love, are going to pop up in the remaining episodes of season one. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 2902 of ‘Top Gear’.
​
It wasn’t all that long ago, that we spent a little time discussing how Top Gear really does do an excellent job of celebrating the wonder of the car. Because this series really does keep finding new ways to remind us that automobiles are exciting and awesome and this concept is outright relevant to our discussion today, and worth revisiting, simply because it is obvious that the series is going to make that celebration a huge focus of show's newly revamped format. And for proof positive that this is going to be the case in season 29, then look no further than last night’s episode.

Because every single segment in this edition of Top Gear was focused around how cars are just freakin’ awesome and fun. Which in turn led to some jaw-dropping moments, some of which came about during the first segment of this episode. For a grand celebration of the first supercars to go to 200 m.p.h. led to quite the unexpected faux pas on Paddy’s part. Because he managed to straight up total a Lamborghini Diablo. Which was heartbreaking to say the least, since that was a gorgeous ride that didn’t deserve to go out in such a simplistic manner, but it did, and the stunning moments didn’t end there. Because taking these ridiculously fast cars out to an airfield, motivated Freddie to see if his Jaguar XJ200 could still hit 200 m.p.h., a feat that Chris didn’t even want to try with his Ferrari F40, due to the age of these cars. But Freddie simply had to know and in a thrilling manner, he made it happen and it was downright incredible to watch an ancient ride come close to its top speed once again.

But while it was wild to see Paddy destroy a classic supercar and see Freddie coax a little life out of his, that part of the show paled in comparison to the celebratory fun that came about in the next segment. Because the producers and the lads decided to explore if it was possible for anyone to find an incredible ride, that has been written off by an insurance company. And well, what the lads got into during this challenge, led to some wild and hilarious moments. Not because of the cars they chose, no those were pretty in line with how the series goes. Instead what made this so great, are the challenges that these cars participated in. Such as a game of musical parking spaces, since it allowed for everyone to play a game of bumper cars as they jockeyed for an available parking spot and that led to some fierce competition. The kind that saw Freddie take his already busted Maserati and smash it up further in order to get the win. 

However, while we could have watched that contest go on for hours on end, since it did also feature the Stig’s feisty teenage cousins, there was still one incredible challenge left for these recycled cars to go through, one that we’ve never on the series before: the wall of death. Yes, you read that right, the final competition to determine which of these rides would win the write off challenge, would involve the lads driving their repaired cars up the side of a massive circular wall (pictured above), while flooring it to fifty miles an hour to hold their ride in that position, and this was just… pure adrenaline filled madness. Because you didn’t have a clue as to whether or not the lads would be safe in pulling off this wild stunt. But they all did it, and for the most part, the cars stayed intact, and this was about the coolest and boldest way to get the point across that cars are just plain fun. Because everything about this segment was just a blast to watch. 

In the end, this was just the biggest and baddest and most adventurous episode of the Flintoff-McGuinness-Harris era of the show to date. Because while they’ve done some wild stunts over the past few years and been to some incredible places by way of some epic road trips, they’ve never let loose and had fun in this manner, and boy did taking the show in that particular direction, pay off in spades. Because we were left in stitches thanks to some of the more hilarious and memorable moments in these adventures, and we definitely needed a moment to catch our collective breath after this week’s competition and that is just amazing when all is said and done. 

Because a show about cars shouldn’t evoke the emotional response that this one did, but it happened, and that is wonderful. For it just goes to show that our hosts and the concept of this series can accomplish wonders when both are allowed to just let loose, and everything that happened in this episode, leaves one eager to see what awaits us around the bend. Because clearly Top Gear is eager to genuinely celebrate every ounce of joy that comes from getting behind the wheel of an incredible ride and it will be amazing to see what kind of epic and wild moments and big time laughs we are going to share in, as this re-energized season, continues along. Until next time. ​

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the eighth episode of ‘Long Way Up’.
​
Thus far, our discussions revolving around the AppleTV+ series, Long Way Up, have focused heavily on the ups and the downs that come with taking a road trip, and understandably so. For Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s long journey north, has featured both wonderful and frustrating moments. The kind that have seen them deal with bumps and bruises and disappointment when things go off the rails, in between great moments of beauty and joy. But what’s truly made this voyage so fascinating is that for the most part, this series has really only featured the good or the bad at any given time. Something that helps to remind us of the fact that when the universe sends rough or joyous stuff our way, it does it in spades. But all of that changed during this week’s episode. For ‘Ecuador’ is a story that took the time to explore how sometimes in life, good moments and bad moments can simply trade places on a moment’s notice, and how we respond to that is paramount.

But before we talk about some of the sour stuff, let’s celebrate the more wondrous moments that took place in this tale, such as how Ewan’s celebrity standing led to some big-time moments for fans of his work. Because a great many people recognized him in this particular leg of the journey, which prompted Ewan to offer nothing but kindness and gratitude to his fans since he took plenty of time to provide them with selfies and a smile and well, while this might not exactly relate to the wonder of the road trip; this is the kind of thing that informs of you Ewan McGregor’s character. Because he had every opportunity to be dismissive or curt, in order to keep the timetable. But instead, he took hours out of his day to make fans happy and that’s just cool, and it was equally as incredible to see Ewan take a moment and reflect upon that kind of experience, since we rarely get any insight as to what celebrities think about moments such as that.

However, while it was quite awesome to see how gracious Ewan is with his fanbase, there were also some incredible sights to be seen in Ecuador. For the landscape out here was simply gorgeous and lush and beautiful and in order to keep it that way, we came to learn that there are people who are going the extra mile to preserve the jungles in this majestic part of the world. For Ewan and Charley spent a little time with a unique man named Jerry. Who left big city living in NYC to do something a little more fulfilling, and he moved down to Ecuador and started a commune/organization to replant trees in parts of the forest that have been torn down and this was just amazing. Because you don’t often hear stories like this, where someone gave up a simpler life in order to give back to the planet and communities, they don’t know that well. But Jerry is doing just that and making progress since the trees he and his team are planting, are growing and thriving. 

But sadly, that’s where the truly joyous moments in this tale came to a close. For as Ewan and Charley prepared to make their way to an airport that would transport the bikes and some of the crew out of a dangerous stretch of land, the problems in question, befell the journey. Because a glitchy software update rendered Ewan’s bike useless, since it wouldn’t allow for him to start the thing up. Which meant his trusty ride had to be put on the back of a truck until they reached their next destination, so the folks at Harley Davidson could repair it, and to complicate matters further, getting to their next destination ended up being quite the challenge. Because fog delayed their plane and concerns from the pilots left everything askew and when we leave our dynamic duo in this tale, they’re unsure if they’re going to make it to the boat that will heft them and their gear north, on time. 

If anything, this episode really is that perfect exploration of how life can quickly change our fortunes on a moment’s notice. Because the team really was cooking along in this tale, to the point where we even got to see the producers enjoy the majesty of Ecuador. But while it stinks that Ewan and Charley are once again dealing with strife, it’s important to note, that they handle it in stride here. Because they know they’re eventually going to overcome these problems and continue along north and that’s inspiring to say the least. Since following in their footsteps could do all of us some wonders, the next time life throws a monkey wrench in our daily plans and well, in the end, this was just another incredible episode. One that once again showed us wonders untold, and where to get a seriously stylish handmade hat, and now that this leg of the journey has come to a close, it’s back to playing the waiting game with this series once again, as we count down the minutes until next week’s adventure. Until then.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Tehran’.
​
Truly, there is no greater moment in a spy story, then when our hero or our villain engage in some mind games. Because once we’ve reached the point in the story, where good and evil are willing to manipulate people into doing their bidding; we’ve hit the point of no return. For now these two forces are making a final and determined push toward their goals before they inevitably collide in an epic and stunning manner, and this is precisely the moment that took place in the next episode of Tehran. For both Faraz and Tamar finally reached a point in their respective journeys, where they were ready to go the extra mile and do what must be done, in order to get what they want and need, and that led to some stunning moments for certain.

But as this series is wont to do, it sure didn’t seem like that was going to be the case early on. For ‘Tamar’s Father’ saw Tamar struggle mightily with what happened at the commune. Because she was responsible for the death of a desperate man, one that was just trying to keep his friends and family safe. Plus, she hurt the man she has feelings for by putting him in harm’s way and that left her in a despondent place, one where it seemed as though she was content with hiding until the time came to do her thing. But a visit from the IRGC to the electric company to speak with Farham, is what moved Tamar into a darker direction. Because he was spooked and he called off the repair, and with a little prompting from Kadosh (who was also revealed to be a spy here), Tamar dug deep and did what a spy does best, in order to get the mission back on track.

Which was… tough to watch, since Milad is genuinely a good guy after all, one that just wants to see his country change for the better and be more inclusive. But none the less, he was a pawn here, one that Tamar manipulated masterfully. And eventually, he acquiesced to her wishes and talked Farham back into putting in the service call, which truly made it seem as though Tamar was going to complete her mission at last. But therein lie the twist in this particular tale. For this is where the bad guys tipped their hand in order to achieve their goals. And it turns out that Faraz’s lackey was waiting at the power station all along, since he knew what Farham had done, and was able to lay a trap once the call from Milad came through. One that sadly, he was unable to spring. Because at the last second, Tamar was unwilling to continue on the mission; thanks to Faraz’s power play regarding her father. 

For while she was indulging her dark side and working toward her goals, Faraz and the Mossad were playing a little cat and mouse game of their own, one that was deigned to keep Tamar’s father alive, in order to capture Faraz. But the back and forth here, kept this little game at a stalemate for a better part of the episode, which is what prompted Faraz to send a picture of Mordechai in distress, to his daughter. And while that didn’t get his wife released as he had hoped, this particular act sent this entire mess into overdrive. For now, the Mossad are done with games, and are ready to strike with or without Tamar’s help, and Faraz is on the run after escaping his would-be captors. Because they eventually found his location and thankfully rescued Mordechai whilst on the hunt, and that makes this episode downright brilliant when all is said and done. Because this one felt like pure chaos and that’s a welcome change to the spy drama. For often times this part of the story is a carefully crafted segment, one that manipulates us to a perfect ending.

Instead, we are headed for an imperfect and likely messy ending, and that’s just magnificent. For it means we are going to be surprised and shocked as the final act plays out. But before we get ahead of ourselves, there is still more to celebrate here. Because truly, there were some masterful performances to be found in this tale, the kind that sold every moment and engendered worry in all of us when it seemed as though things were going to go south and that’s just a testament to the overall quality of this series and everything its accomplished storytelling wise and well, now that we’ve come to the end of this one, the time has come to brace for the powerhouse finale. Because this is it, the bombers are on their way and the Mossad and the IRGC are on a seemingly unstoppable collision course, one that could plunge two nations into a bloody and devastating conflict. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 302 of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’.
​
At this point in time, it is outright safe to declare, the season three premiere of Star Trek: Discovery as downright brilliant. Because not only did this particular premiere catapult us into an era of the future that the Star Trek Universe has never explored before, it also set up some juicy mysteries for the season ahead. For at this point, we simply don’t know what is left of the once powerful United Federation of Planets and its exploration/defense arm; Starfleet. Plus, we also haven’t a clue what caused the mysterious ‘Burn’ that destroyed so many ships when their dilithium stores detonated in the void of space. Nor did we gain an understanding, as to the fate of the intrepid U.S.S. Discovery, since Commander Michael Burnham was the only member of that ship’s crew to make it through the Temporal Rift. 
​
Well as it turns out, the next episode in this dynamic new season, was eager to resolve at least one of those mysteries, the easiest one to handle, in fact. For ‘Far From Home’ wasted no time in informing us as to the fate of the crew of the Discovery, and for the most part, this brave and bold crew made it through the rift in one piece. But it didn’t take long for trouble to find them, because their ship was still badly damaged from the battle with Control and it was careening toward an icy world and thanks to the efforts of everyone, the ship was able to crash land on this void of a rock. Which gave the crew a few moments to breathe and heal their wounds, something that was outright necessary for so many of them, and it also allowed for them to assess the damage to the ship and that led to quite the conundrum for the crew.

Because in order to properly repair internal communications, supplies from the planet were needed, and that motivated Saru and Tilly to head out into the landscape to not only get what they need, but to get an idea of what the future looked like. And after finding a nearby settlement that had the necessary supplies, they quickly came to learn that the future was quite grim. For the Cordians that lived in this remote outpost, were without hope and filled with fear. Because they were being terrorized by a ruthless courier named Zareh who didn’t give a damn about anything but himself and his haul, and they were eager to see Saru and Tilly leave so that trouble didn’t come their way. But one particular Cordian, named Kal, was eager to have this tiny away team in his presence. For while he and his friends and family were aware of the fact that the people standing before them were Starfleet, only Kal was aware of what that truly meant: help. For this remote outpost needed dilithium, in order to be free from Zareh’s madness and that was something that Saru was willing to offer in exchange for the supplies.

But while it seemed for a brief moment that this exchange of favors was going to be nothing more than a quick learning experience for Saru and Tilly, it grew into so much more. For it turned out to be a learning experience on what Starfleet stands for and what the future is in need of, thanks to the arrival of Zareh. For he knew that getting his hands on a disabled Starfleet vessel would offer him riches untold and much needed dilithium, and since he was well aware of the fact that the crew was on their own, there was no need to fear Saru and Tilly, or their shipmates and that motivated him to bring out his cruelty and fury in order to engender fear and control. But what he didn’t count on in regard to his plan to rob the Discovery of its precious resources, was Emperor Georgiou. Since she was quick to arrive and beat the holy hell out of him and his lieutenants and her arrival, and outright bloodlust; is what led to the lessons in question.

For Georgiou saw their current situation as a grand opportunity to do whatever was necessary to survive and thrive, and if that meant violating protocol and outright decency, she was fine with it. But Saru was quick to remind her, broken future or not, she was still Starfleet and still a member of the Federation and those ideals still took precedence regardless of the situation. And eventually she acquiesced to his teachings and that in turn, inspired the Cordians to the do same and believe in something more and that really was quite wonderful to say the least. But before we reflect a little further on the overall meaning of this moment, we need to discuss the ending of this tale. Because thankfully, the crew was able to escape their icy calamity with the help of an old friend, Commander Michael Burnham. Who revealed to her friends that she waited a year for their arrival and now that they are reunited; the importance of those lessons came to light. 

Because it is clear now that the 32nd Century is a time in the galaxy, without hope or direction. Where the various species of the galaxy are just eager to eat another meal and survive to see another day; a far cry from the era that Burnham and the crew left behind. But what Saru did in this episode, was outright inspire hope that the galaxy can be a better place. And if the crew can unite the remnant of the Federation and remind those who still fly starships of that fact, then perhaps it won’t be long before aliens and humans are once again looking at the stars and pondering upon the possibilities of what is out there and when considers the fact that next week’s episode appears to be a return to Earth, this storytelling possibility isn’t out of reach. Either way, it will be quite interesting to see what the crew of the Discovery will find when they return home and just how many people on Earth still believe in something more, and are willing to fight for it. Until next time.