Over the course of its forty-two year run, the Star Wars franchise has accomplished a great many things on both the silver and small screen. But of the many wonderful things it has brought to the world of science fiction, one of its greatest feats in my humble opinion, is how well this series has woven together the galaxy that it inhabits. Because every corner of this galaxy, far, far away is thriving in some form or fashion, to the point where it is supremely difficult for anyone to hide. And while Luke Skywalker almost pulled it off, he too was still re-discovered when someone sought him out, and this is an interesting twist that was reinforced during this week’s episode of The Mandalorian.
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Because ‘Chapter 4: Sanctuary’ saw Mando and his new baby on the run and in desperate need of shelter, so that they could catch their breath and let his magnificent mind work out their next steps and that brought them to an out of the way planet known as Sorgan and this place seemed like it would need their needs perfectly. After all, there were no major settlements present on the planet, and no connections to the bigger hubs, so it really did seem like Mando could finally be free of trouble for quite some time, an idea that carried more weight after we met Cara Dune, a former warrior who made this planet her new home now that the New Republic had taken hold.

But as if often the case, not all is well in paradise. For the natives of this world, were under constant siege from brutal scavengers known as Klatoonians and well, who better to help them out than the Mandalorian? Of course, he was hesitant to accept their offer at first. But he quickly came to realize that putting a stop to these raids would guarantee him and the little one safety and security and anonymity and that prompted him to say yes and bring Cara into the fold and it was quite nice to see our intrepid bounty hunter and his new friend, work to train these people to fight for their world and their well-being and to see him and Cara be successful in their endeavor to bring peace to this unsettled corner of the galaxy.

However, I made mention of the fact that this is an episode that reminded us of how one cannot quite hide in this galaxy and that was hammered home by a sobering moment, wherein another bounty hunter found their way to Sorgan to deal with the youngling and had Cara not intervened, it would have ended in disaster. If anything, this was a solid wake up call for Mando in that, he’s either going to have to keep on the run or figure out a way to confront his enemy and it should be interesting to see which path he decides in the weeks to come, but for now, it’s back on the proverbial road again as he does he best to keep this cute little creature as safe as can be.

In the end however, this really was another delightful episode, one that continued to remind us of the good that is within Mando’s soul, and it was equally as nice to see Mando open up around others and almost take advantage of the offer of a new life, simply because it adds depth and humanity to the character when all is said and done. Either way, this series continues to impress, for week in and week out we are treated to a bevy of awesome and cute moments in this series and once again I’ll just be sitting here, waiting for further adventures involving that tiny baby Yoda and an anti-hero who is slowly transitioning to a full on hero instead. Until next time.  

When we last assembled to discuss the wonder of The Man in the High Castle, I made mention of the fact that the series has avoided really diving into the nature of what brings a rebellion to life, up until this final season. Which may have been intentional in its own right since the folks behind the scenes wanted to save the best for last, so to speak. But in examining that particular aspect of this series, I did fail to neglect mentioning another problem that the show has created for itself in that, we really haven’t seen an outright resistance to the JPS and the GNR just yet. I mean yes, there’s been loss and bravery and combat, but a genuinely successful fight to put an end to this madness has eluded us.
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But once again, this season keeps finding new ways to address long standing questions and lingering notions since ‘The Box’ in essence, gave us exactly what we wanted. Because this is the episode that finally allowed for the BCR and the Resistance to hit the JPS and hit them hard and well, I have to take a moment and give the story serious credit when it comes to building tension here. Because the entire setup leading up to the assault at the auction was incredible to say the least, to the point where I know my heart was thumping and well, it was equally as brutal since we saw losses on both sides. But the assault was a success and it looks like the BCR and the Resistance may have a new ally in always fickle Robert Childan.

However, while it was nice to see the good guys stick it to the jerks for a change, this episode also deserves praise for taking the time to restore the fire and drive within some of its characters. Because let’s be honest, Helen Smith had a tough season three, and she more or less crumbled under the weight of what the Reich and her marriage had become. So, it was quite wonderful to see her make the brave decision to return to New York, to be with her family and guide her daughters in their time of need and also, to surprisingly offer support to her husband. Because it would seem that she is aware of the nefarious forces and threats surrounding him and would like to protect him from them so that he can see his remaining children grow, and it should be interesting to learn what Helen has clued into, that her husband has not.

Yet while all of these elements were quite incredible and enthralling in their own right, none of them compare to Juliana’s journey in this tale. Because she too felt the need to handle unfinished business and spent a better part of this tale trying to figure out what the message was that Tagomi’s ‘spirit’ was trying to get to her. And what she discovered was that she was running from the fight, but not because she was a coward by any means, but because she was afraid. For she genuinely didn’t have a clue how to beat John Smith, and that led her to try and learn about her enemy by way of the good version of him and while that was a productive and wholesome conversation… it ended in tragedy. For a Nazi spy from her home realm attacked her and in turn, the good John when he came to defend her, ending a decent man’s life and leaving Juliana on the run, once again.

If anything, I really am digging how the character development is at its absolute finest this season. Because every single character out there is learning from their mistakes and working to forge ahead in their tough lives and that is just satisfying when all is said and done. But truly the most joyous portion of this tale was watching the bad guys get what they deserved. Because it is about damn time that we saw these evil empires suffer for a change and it should be fascinating to learn how the Japanese Pacific States handle this stunning attack and whether or not Childan will finally choose a side in this fight since he constantly waffles. Either way, this really was a great episode, one that makes it clear that the final season of this series is going to hold nothing back. Until next time. 

​When I was young, I remember it was quite the popular thing for television shows and movies to put the main characters on vacation, only to have them deal with their respective vocation whilst they enjoyed a little time away from home. Granted these tended to be throw away stories in their own right since nothing major happened outside of the norm in a different location, but I ate these stories up. I just thought it was cool to see characters I loved, doing what they do best in every phase and moment of their lives. And this is on my mind today, simply because the next episode of CHiPs turned out to be a story in this vein.
 
For ‘Off Road’ saw Ponch and Jon get a few days off, and what better way for a couple of tough motorcycle officers to enjoy their down time, than by participating in an off-road competition? So, our intrepid heroes headed off to the Mojave Desert to get a little fun time in and that’s where things quickly got interesting. For unbeknownst to our dynamic duo, foul things were afoot. Because a couple of gangsters, from a shady entity known as the Syndicate, were also entering this race in order to get their hands on something that belonged to their boss; gold coins. Which seems like an out of place thing to find in a story like this, but the magnificent script to this episode, found a way to make this work in seamless and wonderful fashion.
 
That was handled by the details. Such as the fact that one of our Creeps of the Week was a pilot, who flew these coins up from down south, and ran into a little trouble on the way back. Which means he crashed his plane and left the gold behind and even faked his own death in the process so he wouldn’t have to face the consequences of losing the treasure. But now was his big chance to strike it rich and help out a buddy in the biz and they tried their best to lay low during the race. Unfortunately for them however, an off-roading superstar got wind of the plot and joined up in this race for a chance to beat some thugs at their own game and get his hands on the gold as the ultimate prize as well, and as you can see, this episode is quite unique in its own right since it is perhaps one of the most complex stories CHiPs has ever assembled.
 
But aside from a grand mystery for Ponch and Jon to unravel, which they eventually did as the clues began to piece themselves together, at first glance it seems as though this story is one that is supremely out of place when it comes to the show’s style and direction. But in all honesty, everything here, actually works. In large part because there is a lot of racing and action to be found in this one, and of course it gives the audience what they want since the COTW’s eventually get their just desserts. But the fact that the story finds a way to switch between a juicy heist story and action-packed fiesta on a moment’s notice makes it a genuine treat through and through, one that sucked me in from the get-go and never let me go.
 
However, what truly makes this episode worth your while, is the sheer fact that it is just a lot of fun. Because we get to see Ponch and Jon away from the hustle and bustle of Central Division and they get to just let loose and have a good time for a change and there’s something quite welcoming about that. Plus, I really did dig the overall mystery and how our intrepid heroes solved it since it did take a little detective work and determination to make that happen. And to enhance this story further, we also get some colorful support characters as well and really in the end, this episode was just a delight to watch. Because it reminds one of everything they love about this series and I dunno, I suppose this one was just a good fashioned palate cleanser for a supremely cerebral season. Until next time.   

​Over the course of its four-year run, The Man in the High Castle has provided us with some important and thoughtful moments. For we’ve seen how easily fascism takes hold in a world where the ruling class demands for it to be the status quo. Plus, we’ve also seen how costly the fight against tyranny can be since so many characters in this story, have lost great personal and emotional gains in this ugly push and pull between the Japanese Pacific States and the Greater Nazi Reich. But of the many incredible moments we’ve been privy to over the years, there’s still one big question that this series always hinted it would answer, but has yet to bother to address; what is it that sparks the fire of a resistance?
 
As it turns out, it would seem that season four is going to try its best to answer that question at last since ‘Every Door Out…’ explored the genesis of what motivated some of these everyday people to join the fight. Which is why we were privy to seeing the birth of the Black Communist Rebellion, and that was quite the fascinating moment since it would seem that excessive oppression and loss is enough to motivate a group of people to stand up and put their lives on the line to ensure that others don’t have to suffer such losses. And what’s truly incredible about the BCR, is how far they’re willing to go to send a message, since this story also featured the genesis of a grandiose plan to assassinate several high-ranking officials of the Empire, an opportunity that Wyatt definitely wants in on.
 
Yet while seeing all of that come together was fascinating in its own right, the story still had more to explore when it comes to what helps bring a resistance to life and oddly enough, one aspect of this was explored by way of John Smith’s family. Because young Jennifer felt out of place in returning to the Reich, to the point where she quickly felt the need to begin to share with others some of the wonderful things she discovered in the Neutral Zone. Which of course, did not sit well with her father, but the message inherent here was clear. In that, sometimes the truth is what helps people to resist, since they realize they’ve been lied to and cannot stand the thought of living that lie and that’s basically where Jennifer is at right now.
 
But while all of this was incredible to watch, the story didn’t solely focus on this thematic concept, it also did a little more work in setting up the grand finale to come. And much of that was handled by way of Juliana and the multiverse. For in this particular tale, we came to learn that the Reich has figured out the finer points of dimensional travel, and they’re now sending spies and saboteurs out into the multiverse to secure the Reich’s future abroad and Juliana’s involvement in the matter, is that she’s well aware that the Nazis are traveling to her new Earth to cause trouble and keep an eye upon her. Which means, she is soon going to have to make a choice, either continue to hide and potentially see the Reich conquer another world, or return to the fight and try to end this madness once and for all…
 
If anything, I have to admit that I’m quite impressed with what this series is doing a mere two episodes into this fourth and final season. Because it just keeps finding new ways to raise the stakes and return us to a sense of danger and it is succeeding at every turn. After all, who isn’t worried about Jennifer’s safety in the Reich, regardless of her father’s standing, since the Reich is suddenly a place where fear Is growing. But what matters most, is the sheer fact that this series is working hard and fast toward an epic finale, one that will bring everything together in potentially heartbreaking and devastating fashion and it should be interesting to see if the carefully laid plans put forth in this episode are successful or not and really, the only way to find out… is to dive back in. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to my Amazon Prime app. Until next time. 

​I think it is safe to say that kids make some supremely poor decisions from time to time. Which isn’t a knock upon kids in the slightest, after all, they are our future. But their lack of knowledge and experience and their desire to be free of the shackles of their parents, prompts them to do some dumb stuff here and there, and I can think of several personal examples where if I was a little older, I sure as heck would not have done that silly thing in the first place. But while usually parents can course correct and teach the kid who made the mistake, the necessary knowledge to never let that happen again, sometimes in the moment, a goof gets a child in quite a bit of trouble. Something that the next episode of CHiPs, ‘Kidnap’, took the time to explore.
 
Now, in this particular tale, Ponch and Jon were assigned to babysitter duty, wherein they were getting face time on the news with a pair of kids named Pete and Raymond, who won an essay contest about the highways and were about to learn a great deal about how the public servant system works as part of their prize, starting with a tour of the Los Angeles County Courthouse. But being kids, these two didn’t take this honor seriously in the slightest and took every opportunity to goof around and do their own thing, even going so far as to play on Ponch and Jon’s bikes and hide in the backseat of a fancy Rolls Royce in order to enjoy a little freedom from the adults telling them what to do and therein, lies the big mistake in question.
 
For while they were goofing around, a pair of sleazy criminals named Dale and Lloyd knocked out the officer who was supposed to bring them to their arraignment and quickly high tailed it out of there, in the Rolls Royce containing Pete and Ray and just like that, these scummy dudes were now kidnappers and car thieves and that instantly transformed this episode into the quite the tense affair. Because the entire CHP Central Division was dedicated to catching these guys and laid just about every trap and roadblock that you could think of, in order to bring these kids to safety. But despite their best efforts to make this happen in smooth and simple fashion, all kinds of complications came about.
 
Because traffic blocked Ponch and Jon’s view at one point, allowing for the Creeps of the Week to pull off the highway in order to get some gas, and it took some creative thinking at the gas station in question to find out where the kids were going and to put together a new plan to save them. But even then, their efforts were quickly in vain. For our baddies were able to listen to police band radio and hear what the CHP was up to. Which of course led to panic and more mayhem when these guys beat up an old man and stuffed him in the trunk of the Rolls, so they could steal his car instead, and even some good Samaritans slowed down the pursuit as well. And in the end, it took Ponch, and a beat-up muscle car that blasted ‘La Cucaracha’ from its horn, to run these guys off the road and save these kids from any further strife.
 
In the end, I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. And I know I sound like a broken record praising episode after episode this season, but man, the show just keeps on delivering one unique story after another and this is no exception to that unspoken rule. But what I loved about this one the most, was the tension that I made mention of. Because you really never quite knew how far our COTW’s were going to take their crimes and that really added a genuine sense of danger to the story and some authentic relief when Ponch finally stopped these guys. If anything, this one helps to remind us of how versatile this series can be since this back half of season three keeps providing us with new and exciting situations for our dynamic duo to deal with and dang it, I really do want more. So, if you’ll excuse me, my DVD player and the California highways are calling me. Until next time. 

It seems that over the last year or so, we’ve said farewell to quite a few of our favorite television shows. Sadly, some are fading away simply because the network that once hosted them no longer sees the value in keeping them on the air, while others, are getting the opportunity to walk away from the creative world on their own terms. Which is always a wonderful thing since it means we are treated to a proper finale and goodbye, but that doesn’t make said goodbye, any easier since it involves a story that we genuinely love and sadly, the time has come to once again begin the farewell tour for another incredible television series.
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Because the final season for The Man in the High Castle is upon us on at last and I am truly going to miss this series. For it has been bold and timely and uncomfortable with its presentation of an alternate world ruled by Nazis, thanks to the Allied Forces losing the Second World War, but I also applaud it for wrapping everything up in four seasons. Because it means that the audience is going to be treated to some powerful storytelling, the kind that is as risky and as brave as its overall premise and for proof, look no further than the season four premiere. For ‘Hexagram 64’ wasted no time in shocking all of us by shooting us into the future a year after Juliana escaped to what seems to be our Earth and it was quite stunning to see how much the world she left behind has changed for the worst.

After all, the Greater Nazi Reich has finally had enough when it comes to dealing with the films and the resistance that Wyatt was left in charge of with Juliana now gone, and that’s prompted them to make bold incursions into territory they’ve never touched before, even going so far as to seize Denver from the rebels, a move that leaves the Japanese Pacific States and the Empire as a whole quite nervous. But they too are facing new challenges in this tale, since a new resistance group, the Black Communist Rebellion, or BCR for short, are coming after high ranking officials in bold fashion. In fact, they even made an attempt on the Imperial Princess’ life, and killed Trade Minister Tagomi’s in the process, and to make matters worse; newfound fighting in China has the Empire spread thin and vulnerable.

Yet, while all of this is phenomenal world building, the kind that draws you in and leaves you wondering as to whether or not we will see the Empire and the Reich fall by series’ end, what’s truly impressive about this premiere is that it doesn’t lose sight of what matters most; the characters. For we get to see that Juliana is forging a new life and finding peace in our world, and that Wyatt firmly believes that anything short of a solid victory over the GNR is an outright failure, one that would leave him in disgrace. And of course, we get to learn a little more about our villains in this tale as well since we came to learn that Kido is all about baseball and properly raising his son and that John Smith hasn’t done well with having his family separated since he went the extra mile to bring his girls home from the Neutral Zone in this tale, Helen be damned.

If anything, this is a season premiere that really does a phenomenal job of setting the stage for this grand finale. Because I get the feeling that every single moment, we spent with the characters here, will carry weight and gravity as season four rolls on and I love the fact that the writer’s room still puts their journeys ahead of everything else. For that speaks volumes to the fact that we are going to be treated to a proper goodbye, one that will find a way to bring every storyline to a logical conclusion and that’s quite the relief. Because some shows rush to the finish line and hope to wow the audience in the process and it is just comforting to know that this one is going to do things the right way and I really cannot wait to see how this story grows and how this saga comes to an end, which means… it’s time for me to hop off of here and return to this disturbing world. Until next time.

Our modern society forces us to look at things a little differently in life. In fact, it forces us to compartmentalize and separate much of what we deal with and observe. Because it’s just a little easier for our minds to see a task or a problem in smaller doses so that we can deal with it properly. But there is a downside to that, in that we tend to apply such thinking to everything and that separates us from the bigger picture. For everything in our lives and our world is tied together and stepping back and looking at the whole helps to remind us of that, and this is a concept that is also applicable to nature. Because we sometimes forget that our world is a living and breathing eco-system, one where every creature and plant has a role to play and that’s why it is always wonderful when a documentary takes the time to remind us of the fact that everything in this world is connected.

Which is why I so thoroughly enjoyed last night’s episode of Blue Planet Now. Because ‘Wonders of the Reef’ was all about connecting the dots when it comes to marine wildlife, and it made a big point to remind of us of the fact that our oceans are all connected and the animals that live beneath the blue waves often find their way to different parts of the world by way of the water and for proof, look no further than the plight of the Loggerhead Turtle. For this gentle creature will travel from the reefs of Australia to the shores of South America as part of its lifecycle and really the reason that this turtle and whales and sharks and everything in between make such epic journeys around the globe, is because they have found something useful in just about every corner of our world and often times, they’ve discovered places that can help them propagate their species.

Which is why manta rays and sharks make their way to the Bahamas, since the warm and nutrient rich waters provide them with a bevy of meals in relative safety. Which is critical to having healthy pups and the heat of these waters is what also aids them since it promotes growth for their young. Yet what truly made this segment so impressive, was that it explored in great detail how places in this vein can mean so much more to some animals. Because their design and their temperature and everything in between can make them the perfect place for these creatures to grow and thrive, and for proof, the show offered us an inside look at the Lemon Shark nursery present within the Mangrove trees in the Bahamas. For this secure place keeps most predators out, allowing for these sharks to grow and learn to hunt in relative safety and it is just fascinating to know that sharks and other marine wildlife have figured out perfect places to birth and nurture their young.

If anything, this is a lot of information to process, which is why we need to take a moment and recognize the incredible research that went into bringing this documentary to life. Which may sound silly to write since all documentaries require research, but Blue Planet Now has done a phenomenal job of getting us into the trenches with the people who love and adore the ocean and will go the extra mile to keep it safe. And that matters, because it oddly gives one comfort and hope, since there are people working tirelessly to ensure that the oceans are safe for future generations of both man and animal and it’s inspiring to see people be this passionate about our world. So, my thanks go out to the series for taking the time to show us how the vast amounts of data these researchers collect, is assembled, and for also giving us some incredible feel-good stories along the way.

Because you really cannot go wrong with seeing green sea turtles be nursed back to health before returning to the ocean and it’s equally as magical to see people doing wellness checks on Manta Rays that are pregnant. If anything, this was just another magnificent episode of a show that really is taking a unique approach to how it teaches its audience about the oceans and I love how it consistently reminds us that we can make an incredible difference in life when we are armed with knowledge and heart, and that if we all work together and make some important changes, our oceans will indeed thrive for generations to come. Yet while this was indeed a powerful and moving episode to enjoy, it was also bittersweet in its own right. For this means that there is only one episode left in this magnificent series and it’s a shame that the journey is nearing its end, but I have no doubt that Blue Planet Now is saving its best moments, for last. Until next time. 

Normally, it takes fans a little while to be emotionally invested in a new television series. Because we need time to get to know the characters and learn what makes them tick, and once they are family in our minds, then we can worry about what happens to them and bite our nails when they are in trouble. But The Mandalorian is no ordinary show, and wonder of the Baby Yoda has warmed all of our hearts to this supremely cute little force sensitive alien, to the point where fans of this series are already vested in its health and its future, and that made settling in to watch the latest episode of this magnificent new show, an unnerving affair.
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Because ‘Chapter 3: The Sin’, wasted no time in showing us what Mando was going to do with the youngling and sadly, he made the wrong choice. For he quickly turned the little cutie over the Imperial Remnant and collected his precious prize, but there was a hint of regret on his part, since he did inquire as to what was going to happen to the sweet little baby. But a reminder of his code and the fact that he had enough Beskar Steel to soup up his armor like never before, quieted down any concerns he seemed to have, which was… infuriating. And I know I’m not the only one who swore at their television when this happened because we all expected Mando to be better than this, and it was heartbreaking to watch the little one worry and whine over its fate.

However, that didn’t stop Mando from doing his best to move on, and his return to the Mandalorian camp in this armpit of a town, allowed for him to find solace in that new armor, which is slick by the way. Plus, it also allowed for the audience to get a little lesson on Mandalorian culture, and we quickly came to learn that honor is a huge deal in their society, a fact that was hammered home by an ugly battle between Mando and one of his own kind. Because that much larger bounty hunter wasn’t happy with Mando using steel that was stolen by the Empire ages ago. But despite their brief differences we also came to learn that Mandalorians stick together, and believe in unity and their way of life and staying true to that, allowed for the little tiff to be diffused.

But while all of that was cool in its own right, there was still one big issue hanging over this episode in that, would Mando do the right thing when it comes to that cute little Baby Yoda? And thankfully, he did. Because something about this whole situation just didn’t sit right with him and that finally prompted him to take action, and in a stunning sequence of events, our now intrepid hero burst into that secret facility and rescued that sweet little baby. Yet while his initial steps seemed like a milk run in their own right, clearly the Remnant has a hold on this town since every bounty hunter and Greef did their best to stop him from taking the child. But Mando and his people were able to fight as one and get the child to safety and where we go from here, is anyone’s guess.

If anything, this episode turned out to be quite the emotional roller coaster when all is said and done. Because all you wanted was to see Mando do the right thing and time and time again he kept screwing it up or hesitating. But that did make the moment when he made the decision to save the little one quite satisfying for certain, and I’m so glad he made the right choice in the end. But as if often the case with this series, there are still plenty of questions hanging over this story. Because I think we are all quite curious as to why an entire town was ready to die to keep this little sweetie in nefarious hands and of course, we still don’t have a clue what the Remnant wants with the youngling. But I am sure it is only a matter of time before we find out the answers to those questions. Until next time.   

​The more I dive into season three of CHiPs, the more impressed I am with this particular police serial. Because this back half of the season has offered up some fascinating stories, the kind that are outright fresh and original, and they have also managed to challenge our intrepid heroes like never before. All while offering up everything that we know and love about this series and I am proud to report that the next episode in this wondrous season of storytelling, is another one that meets these particular criteria. And it accomplished such a feat, all by having Ponch and Jon add a new wrinkle to their already long list of qualifications as California Highway Patrolmen.
 
For ‘E.M.T.’ saw the dynamic duo take advantage of a unique opportunity, wherein they could save more lives by training to be Emergency Medical Technicians at a special course at U.C.L.A., since they’re often the first on the scene and helpless to do anything until the paramedics arrive. Plus, you can’t go wrong with a little break from the everyday grind and at first glance this seemed like it was going to be a smooth run for our dynamic duo, that is until they met their instructor. For Michael Adams was a certified E.M.T. that Ponch and Jon pulled over for some reckless moments on the road, and he was quick to ride them and push them in negative fashion, but for reasons outside of a mere vendetta.
 
Because Michael was a bitter man at this point in his life, for a few years ago his son was involved in a car wreck that badly damaged his legs, legs that could have been saved had someone known an ounce of Mister Allen’s skill set. Which prompted Michael to take his job extremely seriously, to the point where he was spending less time at home in order to teach others, creating a rift within his family and his belief that no one cared enough, combined with Ponch and Jon’s overall confidence and bravado is what drove him to such fury and anger and overall need to be proven right. But as is often the case in the universe, when someone gets that sour in their soul, karma finds a way to teach them a valuable lesson.
 
That came about by way of a subplot that was building to a dangerous crescendo throughout the episode, one that featured a pair of kids who built their clubhouse in a tiny cave beneath the overpass and day by day, the stability of that hideout became quite questionable, and it took a nasty accident to bring the worst case scenario to fruition, trapping the kids in a scary situation. Thankfully of course, Ponch and Jon and Michael were on the scene, and they worked hard to free the kids. But another shift in the dirt hurt Michael badly, to the point where he was just ready to surrender. But Ponch knew what buttons to press to get him to snap him out of his funk, and it worked, and he made peace with his emotional pain and our dynamic duo, and of course… those kids were saved as well.
 
If anything, it was quite cool to see Ponch and Jon take the time to learn some new skills that would help them in the long run, and it was also wonderful to see them help out someone in emotional need. But while this episode was pretty darn awesome in its own right, there is one glaring issue that I have with it; the whole parasail rescue scene. It was just too perfect and too over the top to not roll your eyes at, and while I know what it was designed to do for the plot, silly is silly. However, it’s something that one can overlook because everything else this story featured was moving and strong and I’m not going to let a single wild moment ruin what is quickly becoming an incredible hot streak of storytelling for this series. Until next time. 

​It’s quite fascinating how sometimes a single word carries with it a powerful negative connotation, such as; secret. Because that word immediately makes us think of deception and malice and there’s definitely good reason as to why we hold that word in such ugly regard, since secrets often do cause great damage to our personal relationships. But they do have their merits as well. For if one is to keep quiet about a surprise birthday party, genuine joy can come from holding that secret and sometimes, secrets can in fact save lives, especially in regard to police work, and for proof, well look no further than the next episode of CHiPs.
 
For ‘Jailbirds’ was all about a powerful secret that Ponch and Jon needed to carry, the name of an informant, all so they could keep him safe. For this man knew that if his name was to get out into the open in regard to a case that our dynamic duo was working, he’d likely end up dead. Especially when one considers that his information paid off in spades since it helped to bring down this story’s Creep of the Week, a guy named Nick Ferris. But Nick had a scuzzy lawyer defending him when it comes to his trial, one that thought he found himself a tasty loophole when it comes to the California Evidence Code, one that would require Ponch and Jon to give up their informant, something this scumbag knew they would refuse to do which would keep his client on the streets and well, he was right.
 
Because neither Ponch, nor Jon would reveal this all-important secret and that eventually put both of them in contempt of court, which required them to serve a little time for a change and this was quite the unexpected twist. I mean come on, this is Ponch and Jon we are talking about here, they’re straight arrows and them being behind bars should be an impossibility. But the judge in this case was no-nonsense and to the letter, which means we did indeed see our heroes in prison blues, working to keep their identities a secret since they were in the thick of it with general population and it was just fascinating to see a pair of boy scouts be forced to live that prison life with no hope of escape since the Judge was ready to send them back in the instant the Attorney General lifted the citation.
 
Which meant that it was going to require some clever thinking to save them from this never-ending cycle of release and re-entry and Sergeant Getrear led the charge in this matter. Because he came to realize that there had to be something else that tied Ferris to the case and his first thought, was traffic tickets. Because while Ferris claimed he was just visiting the chop-shop the CHP brought down the day he was arrested, if there were traffic tickets attached to his license plate issued in close proximity of the warehouse in question, it would blow the defense’s case right up. And thankfully, there were plenty of parking violations present in the record books that showed just that and that helped to keep Ponch and Jon out of jail after all, allowing for them to finally bring Ferris to justice since he went on the run as soon as possible.
 
If anything, this really was quite the unique episode when all is said and done. For in many ways, this particular tale felt like a traditional police serial, one where Ponch and Jon were everyday detectives and while that shouldn’t work in the slightest here, it just does. Because you honestly believe in these two working a case like this. Plus, it was equally as unique to see them behind bars without giving it a second thought since they understood the dangers of revealing the identity of their informant and well, I just loved this one through and through. Because it really was refreshing and fun and you can never go wrong with a story that’s does a phenomenal job of reminding us of how good our heroes really are and how far they’ll go to do the right thing. Until next time.