We here at Nerds That Geek are always on the lookout for awesome new television shows to watch and we have to admit, our curiosity has been piqued when it comes to Freeform's upcoming new series, Beyond, for several reasons. For starters, Freeform is distributing this show in unique fashion, with the pilot episode airing on the network before the rest of season one appears on the Freeform App for all of us to binge, and also because the story, which revolves around a young man named Holden emerging from a 12 year coma with unique powers...looks downright intriguing.  

So in order to learn more about this show, we went right to the source and had the distinct honor of sitting down with up and coming actor Burkely Duffield, who plays Holden on the show to discuss Beyond.

NTG: What got you into acting?
Burkely: I would say that I was always drawn to the dramatic aspect of the job. As a kid, I loved playing with toys and acting out with them and having that play out like a movie, and I did drama growing up. So I really stumbled into the industry when I was eleven and I didn’t really see it as a career path at first and one day I thought ‘wow, this is something I love doing and I really enjoy it and this could be what I do as a career’ and I stuck with it, put my best foot forward ever since and it’s been very cool to see it now as a career and see it blossom over the last couple of years.
 
NTG: What was it about 'Beyond' that appealed to you as an actor?
Burkely: A lot of things. It’s written so well. It’s so awesome to get a script full of sci-fi moments that I love with action and everything like that, but I also like that it has some really genuine characters that are grounded and that it features fluid dialogue and it really is a good story that we're telling and I think that’s really a merit to our creator Adam who wrote the pilot, and the show has managed to surprise me at every turn. I’ve been able to do everything I want to do as an actor, we’ve shot some cool moments, built some great relationships on screen and it’s a project that I’ve loved being a part of.  
 
NTG: What is it you love about your character, Holden?
Burkely: I like how grounded he is. I think one of the cool parts of the story is that it’s not just someone who is dishonorable and is bestowed these powers and sets out to rule the world, he’s just this regular kid who unfortunately falls into this coma that sort of messes his whole perspective up and then on top of that he’s given these abnormal abilities. So I think what makes it a lot of fun to play him on screen, is him just sort of struggling with just his normal life and getting himself back on his feet as well and sort of struggling with the rights and wrongs and how to use these abilities and just sort of getting through life and it was just a fun, grounded story to be able to act in.
 
NTG: What separates Holden from any other character you’ve played so far in your career?
Burkely: Hey, he’s got superpowers…kind of! He can move things with his mind, so that’s unusual. But while it was really cool to do all of that and some of the action stuff that I’ve dabbled in I really enjoyed being the protagonist in the story, you really get to dive deep and figure out what makes Holden tick and what he’s thinking and how he’s going to handle the circumstances and situations he’s thrown into, so it was just really cool to be able to dive in and explore a character.

NTG: What makes 'Beyond' such a unique television show?
Burkely: I think how we’re showing it is really cool. I think we’re trying to push some boundaries. Freeform is really trying to branch out and reach a new audience that is ready for something different. One that wants more action and grit and deep and rich relationships with its characters and I think we are trying to reach out and tap into something more than what you usually get on TV. I think it’s going to be pretty cool. I’d watch it! But I think I’m a little biased.
 
NTG: Are there any particular roles or characters that you’re hoping to play as your career progresses?
Burkely: You know, it’s fun in my job to be able to just take characters and form them and the places they go in your mind from project to project, and I don’t really think I have a specific character in mind that I’d like to embody. I think one of the fun parts of this job is being able to find projects that I’m interested in with characters that I’m drawn to and then really build that person, so for me I’m just taking it one step at a time and I’ll see where my path takes me.
 
NTG: What’s coming up next for you?
Burkely: Well, hopefully, ten more seasons! We’ll see! As I said before, I think it’s a fun journey to see where these projects take you and after that being able to interact with the fans of the show because we’ve spent the last year working on it, and it’s fun once it's released to take some time and go to these viewings and meet with the fans and talk with them. I mean if a project comes up and I love it, that sounds great. But for now I’m happy to interact with people, and see how this project grows because the fun part is getting to see how something you’ve poured your heart and soul into turns out in everyone’s eyes.
 
NTG: Anything else you’d like to share with people that are curious about the show?
Burkely: We’re got our two hour premiere on January 2nd on Freeform, and we’re giving people the opportunity to binge the rest of it right after that. So if you like the pilot, I think you should give us a chance, because I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised and hopefully you’re going to end up bingeing a bit more of it.

You can also follow Burkely on his Twitter and Instagram accounts and make sure to tune into Freeform on January 2, 2017 to catch the pilot episode of 'Beyond' and download the Freeform app to enjoy the rest of the show!  

Thus far, The Man in the High Castle is a television show that has yet to rely upon storytelling devices to advance the plot or character development, simply because of the fact that its rich and unique setting has never required it to. Being set in an alternate universe has its privileges and the brutal nature of this world and the challenges every character faces when it comes to survival alone is fascinating enough to keep our attention.
 
But now that this universe is thoroughly established and we’ve explored a good chunk of life in the Japanese Pacific States and the Greater Nazi Reich, the time has come at last for the series to inject a touch of traditional storytelling into the mix and as it turns out, the notion of second chances was introduced in the third episode of season two and heavily expanded upon in the fourth episode, and I say that, because every single character was more or less handed the opportunity to start over fresh in ‘Travelers’…while ‘Escalation’ explored exactly what they decided to do with said opportunity. 
 
As it turns out, save for one, every single character embraced their shot at a new life with gusto, especially Frank. Because shortly after having the opportunity to fight with the Resistance, he quickly discovered that it gave him quite the high and minute by minute, he found himself more focused on fighting the Japanese above all else, going so far as to help the Resistance get their hands on some explosive material and while it’s quite amazing to see life in Frank’s eyes for the first time, his newfound path is not without its consequences since both Ed and Childan have concerns about the fact he’s more focused on the fight than paying back the Yakuza.

​On the New York side of things, Juliana discovered her new identity and newfound sense of anonymity could work to her advantage, allowing for her to blend in seamlessly when it came to her continued hunt for George Dixon. But alas, a few members of the Resistance discovered she's in town, making for one interesting day as she worked to escape them. While she dealt with that mess, it’s clear now that John Smith’s views of the Reich have changed completely since he appears to be disjointed and uninterested in his day to day work, and judging from his conversation/confession to his wife about why he put down the doctor, his family and their safety is clearly the only concern on his mind and he will focus on that above anything else.
 
However I did make mention of the fact that someone was displeased with their second lease on life and that honor fell to Joe Blake, who spent most of the episode filled with fury and disdain for his father, Martin. Despite the fact that Martin attempted to extend an olive branch to his son, providing Joe with a heartfelt apology, Joe was having none of it. It really seemed as though there was no way to reason with the young man, at least not until the beautiful Nicole asked him to listen to dear old dad and perhaps give the Reich and his father a second chance, and seeing as to how Joe can never say no to a pretty girl, he seems to heed her advice. 
 
Yet while all those characters dealt with their new leases on life, a few other plot lines were slowly taking shape as well. Trade Minister Tagomi has figured out how to move between realities and Kido is up to something as well and while these last two episodes were slow burners compared to the season premiere they were still fascinating and important. This story served as the set up for something far greater, especially when you consider the fact that Juliana has finally made contact with George Dixon. She will obviously be faced with an incredible choice soon, to try and use peace to change the future and reason with an old family friend…or murder him in cold blood to ensure that millions of lives are saved…

Truth be told, I have simply been left in awe when it comes to the third season of The Librarians because I cannot remember the last time I saw a television show throw caution to the wind in this manner and try so many different things storytelling wise. Every single week, this series is pushing the envelope in new and exciting ways and the end result of this little shake up/experiment has been nothing short of fantastic since we have been treated to incredibly engrossing, character driven stories that leave you thinking.
 
This week’s episode, ‘And the Trial of the Triangle’ was no exception to that rule as we saw the return of Flynn Carsen, and while it's nothing new on this show to see Flynn come and go, normally when he makes his way back to the Library…it means he either has a brand new plan in mind or a shiny artifact to save the day. But this time around...things were incredibly different, and downright scary. Because last night, Flynn was simply not himself. He was shaken to his core, angry and afraid and outright broken and unfortunately for Flynn, he picked a bad time to come back because he wasn't the only one experiencing some level of frustration...his friends and fellow Librarians are more less done with his disappearing act and pensive attitude and they held his feet to the fire over it. 

Flynn was subjected to a 'Friendship Intervention' if you will where Eve and everyone else aired their grievances to the man and their emotions and their pleas more or less fell on deaf ears. Because at this point in time, Flynn only wants to put an end to Apep and his plans for the planet and well, his quest to defeat this ancient being is starting to take its toll. He's seen the unthinkable and witnessed ugly acts, all in the name of Apep and in order to end this ultimate battle, Flynn has set his sights on the only artifact that can bring down this powerful Egyptian God...The Eye of Ra. But in order to find it, he had to travel with the team into the Bermuda Triangle, but this is a mission that Flynn felt only he could accomplish and well...his voyage into the beyond is where the episode really got interesting. 

Because within the void of the Triangle, for the first time ever on the show, Flynn was forced to face himself and he did not like what he was forced to see. Sure he's done some heroic things. Sure he's saved the day countless times. But until this trip into the Triangle, Flynn has never been held accountable for his attitude or his actions and in several stunning moments he finally let down his guard, admitted his fears and his flaws and by finally being honest with himself...he was able to obtain the Eye of Ra...and learn of its price. While this weapon will indeed save the world from evil, it will also require a blood sacrifice and it would seem that when the moment arrives, Flynn Carsen is ready to give up his own life to save the entire planet. 

But, aside from that ominous revelation, which we will discuss in a second, holy cow what an episode! This was truly Flynn as we've never seen him before and you have to feel for the guy. He truly has the weight of the world upon his shoulders and will do anything and everything to keep people safe, despite the demeanor he displayed for a bit this episode and truly all of that is forgivable because we've all been there...putting on that air of confidence in order to push forward in times of trouble. What matters is that he grew, he was able to put his pride and fear aside and mend his friendships...but I hope he's not thinking of offering up his life to save the day. It's noble sure, and I get that he's seeing this as an opportunity to pay penance for his proverbial sins...but there has to be a better way, I only hope he finds an alternative solution in time for the final battle...otherwise this year's season finale is going to be grim. Until next time.

However, that's really all the time we are going to spend discussing the plot because as I made mention of before, this was an episode that celebrated the best parts of us, and it featured two key thematic concepts that stuck with me; the first one being that...we should live with and celebrate the mistakes we make in life. After all, by not communicating properly with young Grant, the Doctor inadvertently created a new kind of being, one who had to learn that all the wonders he read about in comic books have some real world consequences. But rather than simply 'move on' and try to forget about his mistake, the Doctor came to visit Grant from time to time, owning his gaffe and reminding Grant that he mattered and well...it helped build a foundation for Grant to become a good man and in turn...his goof...ended up saving the world and it was simply magnificent to see a character like the Doctor not brood or regret on what he had done. Instead, he embraced his error and made the most of it.

Yet perhaps the biggest surprise of this episode, is how sentimental it turned out to be since it had a strong focus on love, life and even death. Because this episode filled us in on what happened to the Doctor after that tender moment with River Song in last year's Christmas Special and it turns out they spent twenty four years together celebrating a love they never knew could exist before River's untimely exit with Ten in the library and well...while it's nothing new to see the Doctor broken for losing someone he loves...it's not often we see him try and teach someone else to be honest about their emotions so that they don't miss out on something special...in order to help himself heal. That's precisely what he did with the situation between Grant and Lucy and it allowed for a subtle message to pop up as well, that sometimes the only way to truly honor those we have loved and lost...is to do amazing things and live an amazing life.

All of these elements made for quite the Christmas Special since it not only gave us everything we love about Doctor Who, but it also did a phenomenal job in paying tribute to the world of comic books as well and credit is due to Steven Moffat for mixing the best parts of the genre into this particular tale. Either way, it was absolutely wonderful to have the Doctor back after all this time and as and added gift, I am ecstatic over the fact that the teaser trailer for Series Ten let all of us know that the Doctor is back come this spring. But until then, this lovely story may need a few repeat viewings, to see what superhero easter eggs I missed and to revel in an uplifting and brilliant story that reminded me precisely why I fell in love with Doctor Who in the first place. Until next time.

One of the more fascinating aspects of The Man in the High Castle is the incredible amount of world building that goes into this show. It's what made season one so appealing to watch, because every single episode gave us incredible insight into the inner workings of the Pacific States and the Greater Nazi Reich, and often times those little tidbits about this disturbing alternate reality served as a lovely escape from the overall dark and powerful story as we pieced together the events that led to the downfall of the United States of America. 

But thus far, season two has managed to shy away from a lot of that alternate historical storytelling and with good reason...there's been some bigger fish to fry. However, clearly the series decided it was high time to return to its roots so to speak, because not only did 'Travelers' slow down the pace storytelling wise...it took us back into the inner workings of the Reich, courtesy of Juliana and Joe's stories respectively with Joe headed to Berlin and Juliana finally arriving in New York City and well...what I personally found fascinating about both of these stories is the strange parallel between the Greater Nazi Reich and the United States of America we know and love because as it turns out...the GNR is also viewed as a beacon, shining bright, where people can find a better way of life.

Case in point, Juliana's encounter with a South American immigrant in NYC. This man spoke of horrors in his home country, the lack of safety within its borders as well and how he and his family were hoping to use some Aryan genealogy in his wife's bloodline to find sanctuary in the GNR and that was just the beginning of the show's attempt to try and paint for us a Norman Rockwell-esque, Americana view of the Greater Nazi Reich, since after John Smith approved her asylum (with plans in mind to get more information out of her about the Man in the High Castle of course), she was handed a new identity for her own safety, shown a sliver of NYC to help her understand how clean and safe the city is under Nazi rule before being handed a brand new apartment to live in.  It was simply stunning to see Juliana enjoy some peace and quiet for a change, and while she tried her best to adjust to it, her story was just the beginning in this strange attempt to show us how wonderful life is under Hitler's rule.

Because on the other side of the world in Berlin, Joe Blake finally came face to face with his estranged father and well...he was quite the interesting man to meet. He was more or less an aristocrat, one who was proud of the Reich and its forthcoming accomplishments, going so far as to show his son an ambitious project that was going to feed starving people in Africa. However, such deeds did not impress Joe so dear old dad went one step further, inviting his son to his posh estate to hob nob with the Reich's elite and once again demonstrate what a wonderful world the Reich is building. Of course, Joe bought into zero of this, but as this episode continued along...part of me began to wonder why this particular tale was trying so hard to make us love the Reich and respect it.  

But the fact of the matter is...it wasn't. This story was a sound reminder that the Reich is evil and that by plunging us into the conspiracy plot at the end of last year where we in essence rooted for John Smith (and in turn the Reich) to save lives by getting the warmonger Heydrich behind bars...we lost sight of that for a moment and our icy refresher of their evil came by way of Smith's journey this episode where the Doctor who sat on Thomas Smith's diagnosis made a house call to let John know to end his son's life or he would have to file an official report on the matter. That revelation led to some of the most heartbreaking storytelling of the night where we learned exactly what kind of man John Smith truly is as he wrestled with the decision to murder his son for the glory of the Reich and well...it turns out he's a good man after all. He simply couldn't do it and to protect his son and his family and their future...he put down the good doctor instead.

It's a decision that is stunning to say the least because in that moment, John Smith, the man who has always been proud to wear the Swastika on his arm and salute the GNR flag and the Führer and preach to the wonder of the Reich and what it has done for mankind...turned his back on its ideals and its machinations and who knows what consequences and changes in John's attitude will come from this. Either way, this was an outright wonderful episode, one that grew many of the characters in subtle or direct fashion and one that served as a fine reminder that it won't be enough to simply save San Francisco from destruction, that all of mankind still has a greater threat to deal with...the Nazi regime and their fairy tale perspective of the world. Either way, we can only hope that Smith's insurrection in this story leads to bigger and better things for those in need as season two rolls on. Until next time.

As the second season of The Man in the High Castle continues along, it's clear now that there's a different vibe surrounding this show. While season one served as a year filled with discovery and horrific wonder at a world where America was ruled by two alternate superpowers, the second season has become a beacon for desperation. There's a grave new threat growing behind the scenes minute by minute and that is beginning to hang over this series in a good way because it made 'The Road Less Traveled' an absolutely intense story that saw one character after another make powerful discoveries and bold decisions. 

Case in point, let's start with Frank. It's safe to assume that all of us were wondering exactly what would come from his admission to the lawyer that the jewelry purchased from Childan was an absolute fake and well...this was apparently all part of one wild and master plan in Frank's mind to free Ed. By admitting said jewelry was a fake, he was able to garner the attention of the Yakuza, who now see the potential to make some serious money by working with Frank and by offering up his forgery services...the Yakuza were able to call in that favor the Kempaitai owed them regarding the information they provided to Kido that led to the discovery of the real assassin late last season and well...Frank's daring and foolish gambit paid off in spades because Ed was released, and while it was wonderful to see Ed not suffer a horrible fate, there's a fair chance that Frank more or less made a deal with the devil that will come back to haunt him.

Speaking of dangerous deals, what this season is doing thus far with John Smith and Joe Blake is a stroke of genius since well...it seems that in many ways both men are finding themselves a touch disillusioned with the Reich. Joe's disdain for the great empire is far more obvious since he is doing anything and everything he can to avoid working for the Nazis, going as far as to return to his everyman job in construction before spending his evenings working to build an 'Americana' life by coming home to Rita and Buddy every night and while he spent this episode trying to find some semblance of normalcy, John Smith was reeling from his trip to Berlin, and the fact that there was no hero's welcome for his efforts to save the Reich. Just a request from the Führer to find the Man in the High Castle post haste. The lack of appreciation clearly rattled him, but Smith believes he serves a higher cause, that he is meant for something more and he's working to give that same sense of purpose to Joe by sending him to Berlin to meet his father at last...

But while all these moments were fascinating to watch, the centerpiece of the story revolved around Juliana and the discovery she made...the true identity of the mystery man from the films. The face that she could barely remember, belongs to a man named George Dixon and he has some incredible ties to her family. For starters he was her father's best friend back in the day and after her dad died...George provided comfort and intimacy to Juliana's mom, making him Trudy's real father. But more importantly, Juliana was able to discover that he lived in New York City; Brooklyn to be exact which means in order to save the city and millions of people, she would need to make her way to the Big Apple, and with the Resistance still hot on her tail and without any allies left in the city, Juliana made one bold move and surrendered herself at the Nazi Embassy in San Francisco, claiming that she worked with Joe Blake and that she was seeking asylum...

The more time I've had to process this episode, the more I find myself appreciating it for one simple reason...this was in many ways a filler episode, designed to flesh out the all important plot points introduced in the season premiere. Which means that when you look at it all, despite the fact that we learned about George and that Juliana made a bold move to request asylum...the plot really didn't advance a heck of a whole lot...but it certainly didn't feel that way. By tossing in some awesome action and adventure and putting the threat of nuclear war over our heads...this story suddenly came to life and left me dying to know what happens next. Because it's clear now that Juliana is hell bent on finding Dixon and it's almost a foregone conclusion that by dropping Joe's name into the mix she will no doubt find her way to New York and do whatever it takes to save the day. Until next time.

When we last left the world of The Man in the High Castle, the situation was grim. War was brewing between Japan and Germany courtesy of Trade Minister Tagomi's gambit to sneak secret plans for an atom bomb into the Japanese goverment. Juliana Crane had just let double agent Joe Blake walk away with the latest film from the titular man that shares his name with the title of the show and Obergruppenführer John Smith had uncovered a massive plot/conspiracy to overthrow Führer Adolf Hitler and return the Reich to its warmongering ways.  

Yes, all of that is how season one wrapped up for this thrilling saga and it made for an excruciating wait to find out what came next for these passionate characters and their plight to make the world a better place. But thankfully that wait is over and season two is streaming on Amazon Video and well, the second season premiere, 'The Tiger's Cave', certainly does not disappoint since it picks up right where we left off and it manages to advance the plot leaps and bounds by giving us some critical answers and this story introduces us to quite the important character. 

But before we get to that, let's take a moment and talk about Frank's journey this go round because this poor man, who has often been left holding the bag when it comes to Juliana and her quest to get in with the Resistance almost went off the deep end this episode. Faced with the fact that Juliana is more less missing in action and that his closest friend took the fall for the attempted assassination of the Crown Prince, Frank simply began to crumble, trashing his apartment and lashing out at Juliana's step dad Arnold in an attempt to find peace, that is until Arnold plants a notion in Frank's mind...that it might be possible to save his friend if he can find the right person with the right connections. It leads him back to Robert Childan in the hopes of making use of his client list and the only person on that list that can give Frank any shot at saving Ed's life...is the one man that Robert and Frank swindled with fake jewelry.

However, despite the fact that Frank is able to convince Childan to help him in his quest to save Ed and meet with Robert's client, the 'nothing to lose' attitude Frank continues to exhibit leads to a stunning moment wherein Frank spills the beans as to how he and Childan ripped the man off and well...at this point who knows what kind of trouble Frank just created for himself, and it's simply incredible to see the man fall to pieces in this manner. But he's not the only one crumbling under the pressure. Following his escape from San Francisco, Joe Blake found himself in a little trouble on the boat he boarded when the crew discovered he was a Nazi and they prepared to murder him and take the film leading Joe to negotiate his release with a ton of money and while he seemed pleased with paying off the crew and escaping back to the Reich, the fact that the crew was double crossed and violently murdered by the Nazi's didn't settle well with him.

In fact he outright asked John Smith to leave his duties as a spy, something John refused to allow him to do and Joe's delivery of the film is what led to the most fascinating elements of this episode because this is when world's collided. As John prepared to fly to Berlin and deliver the film by hand to the Führer himself, Juliana Crane found herself under fire from the Resistance for letting Joe escape and demanded to see the Man in the High Castle...and she got her wish. Yes, we finally met the mystery man that loomed large over the entire first season and in the process...learned much about what the man, whose real name is Hawthorne Abendsen, is trying to accomplish. It turns out that he can see into alternate realities, and he is trying to save this one from inevitable destruction. Because there is one common thread between these alternate realities...San Francisco is always destroyed in the worlds where the Japanese occupy it...save for one where a mysterious man is killed in an alleyway. It's a man that Hawthorne hopes Juliana has seen before and while he does seem familiar, if she cannot figure out exactly who he is...this world may face similar destruction...

Either way, there you have it. Tagomi's 'vision' of a free America was no vision at all. He crossed a dimensional rift and stepped into another world and well...the fact that the show is toying with the Multiverse Theory is absolutely awesome and I love the fact that the entire season and the secret to possibly saving this world was set up in the first episode. It adds a sense of urgency to this year's story and now that Juliana is starting to piece together where she has seen the mystery man from the film, a race against time to save the planet from a Third World War is about to begin and I cannot wait to sit down and watch the next episode to find out who this man really is and how exactly his death is going to save all of mankind from nuclear armageddon. Until next time.

​Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, there is a darkside to being a geek...the fact that our favorite stories eventually have to come to an end. For the most part fans handle these kinds of moments in stride, simply because we understand that nothing lasts forever, but some stories...well they find a special place in your heart to the point where that eventual ending ends up hitting you harder than expected because you and that story connected on a level that you simply didn't think was possible. 
 
We've all been there at some point or another. I can distinctly recall droves of Harry Potter fans telling me how the final book more or less broke their heart when it came to the ending and the Battle of Hogwarts. I know fans that broke down and cried hard last year when that big moment arrived in The Force Awakens and for me...one of those more sorrowful days as a geek arrived today with the sad news that Starz will not be renewing Blunt Talk for a third season and the season two finale will now serve as a series finale and well...this is a tough one to swallow...because I absolutely adored this show. 
 
When I first heard from my close friend and fellow NTG writer Scotty that Patrick Stewart was going to be starring in a comedy on Starz, my curiosity was piqued simply because while the talented Mister Stewart has done comedic roles before, the thought of him being the lead in a sitcom sounded too good to be true and well, from the moment I tuned into this show, I was hooked for several reasons. For starters, the pilot episode was downright hilarious but there was something more to it, an intelligence that I had rarely seen when it comes to sitcoms and as I continued to watch season one and eventually season two, I truly appreciated the fact that this was a sitcom that appealed to essentially everyone. If you wanted a hearty laugh, you'd find that no problem, but there was subtext and social commentary to be found here as well, alongside relatable characters that were so endearing and genuine on screen they found their way into your heart.

It was that more cerebral side to the show that instantly appealed to me because that's such a rarity in sitcoms and I truly appreciated the gentle life lessons it sent our way around love and relationships, life in general and perhaps the greatest message of all...that it's never too late to change in life and be the things we dream of being and well...it was simply refreshing to settle in and watch a series that set out to accomplish one thing...bring the audience joy and hope, and the more I think about it, the more I realize that Blunt Talk is simply a series that was ahead of its time, a revolutionary sitcom by design and while it is indeed disappointing that the show will not continue on for a third season, there's a lot to celebrate about this series when all is said and done. 
 
Take for example the fact that this is one of the few shows out there that actually had a chance to tell a complete story and inadvertently give us a proper ending, since everything in the season two/series finale was wrapped up in a neat little bow and Walter's journey came to a lovely, perfect and complete conclusion. That's something you don't often see when a show is cancelled and it's yet another item that the show can add to its impressive resumé. Plus one has to look on the bright side, while we may not be joining Walter and his friends on any new wacky adventures, the DVDs will always be there to allow us to reminisce and smile and laugh heartily whenever we need a pick me up. 
 
But make no mistake about it. I am sad to see this series go off the air, but I am thankful I had the opportunity to be drawn in by such compelling characters and stories and my thanks once again go out to Jonathan Ames for helping bring it to life and for crafting (and helping craft) such incredible stories and to Patrick Stewart, Adrian Scarborough, Timm Sharp, Dolly Wells, Jacki Weaver, Mary Holland, Karan Soni, Romany Malco and the countless guest stars and supporting cast members that found their way onto this show. Without their genuine and powerful performances none of this would have worked quite right and of course, Starz deserves my thanks as well. They took a chance on this show and helped us all to experience something incredibly beautiful. This really was one hell of a ride, and it is a shame I won't be spending a half hour of my Sunday night laughing to the point where my sides ache while enjoying a story that celebrates the best parts of the human condition...so with that in mind it's time to bid farewell to the Major and say goodbye to the wonder that was Blunt Talk...

As much as we would like it to not be part of our lives, emotional pain is a necessary experience. We need those moments of heartbreak and the tears that come with it because without those experiences we learn little about who we are or what we are made of and more importantly, without heartache, we will never grow as a person and find ways to move forward in life. 

But while so many of us use those moments in positive fashion and look back upon what that specific moment in time taught us about life, there are those who simply cannot handle that level of pain. It consumes them, haunts them and drives them to set that moment right and surprisingly that is the kind of storytelling territory that The Librarians delved into last night, giving us a villain that discovered that magic could indeed perhaps heal all of his emotional wounds and finally give him the happiness the rest of the world denied him and it made 'And the Tears of a Clown' one of the finest episodes the show has ever put together.

Because up until this point, the villains of this show have truly been attached to magic in some form or fashion, making it a touch easier to figure out how to defeat them week in and week out, and while that's something we all clearly love because we keep tuning in, it was quite refreshing to see the series introduce a new kind of bad guy and a new problem for them to deal with since this episode introduced us to Kirby Goulding, a man who in 1996 saw a golden opportunity at romance blow up in his face when the girl of his dreams, Charlotte; left him holding the bag at a local carnival to flirt with another magician. That moment of utter heartbreak sent Kirby down a dark path, one where he spent years trying his hand (unsuccessfully) at becoming a world famous magician...until he discovered the power of real magic.

This discovery allowed for Kirby to find ways to control people to do his bidding, and recreate the carnival where his heart was broken...all in the hopes of finding Charlotte once again, in order to win her heart and give her the magical life he believed she sought and one day later, this whole episode continues to fascinate me. To see a villain that is human for a change is already a new and exciting venture, but to see one be able to create a modern artifact for their own gain...well that's a game changer for this show. Because now opportunists with darkness in their heart can find ways to make their wildest dreams come true and the Librarians will have their hands full as more people discover what magic can do for them.

If anything this is also the first episode of the series where the Librarians more or less took a backseat to the villain and well...I'm glad it worked out that way. Kirby was simply a stunning character to watch on screen and credit is due when it comes to guest starts Sean Astin and Felicia Day for their performances this week because they brought to life a pair of flawed characters, ones that had both seen their share of heartbreak, but walked two different paths because of it since clearly Charlotte learned how to deal with the hands she had been dealt, whereas Kirby was forever trapped within his pain and it was his undoing. Either way, this episode was simply stunning to say the least and went to new places storytelling wise and this kind of unique tale is something that I hope the series revisits from time to time in future episodes because this one allowed for magic to take on new life and it took the series to new heights and it's always wonderful to see stories like this and it's clear this show is just now starting to discover it's true potential and it makes me extremely excited to see what other treats season three has in store for us. Until next time.

It's always nice when you discover a new television show that immediately establishes the fact that you're going to be treated to quality storytelling week in and week out, and Designated Survivor meets that criteria. After all, every episode is compelling, the characters are downright fascinating and any mistakes that the show has managed to make are easily forgivable due to the fact that the series has been working toward something incredibly important, specifically the big reveal as to who was behind the Capitol bombing that put Kirkman in office in the first place.

But perhaps what the series should be proud of most, is the fact that it reaches its audience by allowing for anybody watching to experience some powerful emotions over the course of an hour, and last night's episode, 'The Oath', resurrected an emotion that the audience hasn't experienced since the series premiere...fear. Because this particular episode, was more or less a race against time, for several characters. For Hannah, it was all about exposing MacLeish before a quick surprise changed her mission and her goals and for President Kirkman, it was all about finding the traitor that leaked the file that eventually led to the Capitol building's destruction in what turned out to be quite the thrilling mid season finale. 

In fact this episode wasted no time in getting down to business, picking up right where we left off last week, with Hannah's life in grave danger. Because the accident that everyone thought was too perfect to be a coincidence was correct. It was an assassination attempt and while Hannah was able to escape her attacker, the evidence she had on MacLeish was gone...leaving her with no choisce but to visit her favorite technician to recover and try to start over in the case. Granted there wasn't much to work with, so Hannah chased down the last good lead she had left, the mysterious phone calls she's been receiving, and the person making said calls. The trail eventually led her to discover that President Richmond's former Chief of Staff, Charles Langdon, was alive and on the run from the same group trying to kill Hannah and this discovery eventually led to the biggest moment of the night.

Because everything was connected this episode and while Hannah worked to find some kind of solid evidence about this whole conspiracy, President Kirkman was racing against time to uncover who leaked the file, going so far as to bring in the man who wrote it, and he informed Tom that only a handful of people were able to see this file, including General Cochrane, who was promptly summoned to the White House. But unfortunately, the General had little information to offer up to the President, outside of the fact that the file was recalled before he could read it leading Kirkman to get Emily involved on this and find out who made the phone call to have that file pulled from the General's email and oddly enough, Charles Langdon's name surfaced once again. But alas, this was about as far as Kirkman could get in his investigation, because it was time to swear in his new Vice President and that's when everything came together in terrifying fashion.

It turns out, that MacLeish's confirmation and ascension to the Vice Presidency was all part of a master plan to install him as President of the United States, which meant that Kirkman needed to be removed from office and it would seem the only person in his corner to try and save his life was Hannah. Because she was able to discover that the people on her trail had access to a building with a clear line of sight to the ceremony and it was up to her to stop an assassin from killing the President, and although she did arrive in time, her actions on this day put her on law enforcement's radar, which means she was spotted on her way to save the day and while she was able to squeeze off one shot...so was Catalan, the assassin in question and well...at this point we have no clue who was hit by the bullet. The only knowledge we came away with in those final moments, is that Aaron appears to be the traitor in question since Emily received a last minute phone call letting her know that Aaron is the one who recalled the secret file and well, when all is said and done...this was a phenomenal episode and an effective use of a cliffhanger. Because now we have to wait until March to have all these incredible plot lines advanced or resolved...and while the wait is going to be utterly excruciating, at least we know deep down it will be worth it, because Designated Survivor always delivers and this midseason finale is more proof of that. Until next time.