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Reviews
Star Trek: Picard: Fly Me to the Moon (2022)
The plot literally thickens!
Even if Matalas and company were just "doing the Voyage Home", and it was derivative and redundant but well done and "tried and true", I might have still been onboard. But the season is proving to be so much more. All of the added mysteries are compelling and inspired. So far, this season is just incredibly focused and sure footed. Unlike recent Disco, season 2 of Picard has been pitch perfect.
I also find the constant complaining about pacing a little puzzling. All great shows in recent years, The Wire, breaking Bad, GoT etc etc, all knew how to let their story "breathe". There were plenty of character moments that were even "frivolous" or inconsequential. Some of the best moments of Berman era Trek are episodes like Data's Day; or O'Brien and Bashir bumming around or the Doctor's exploits on Voyager. Compared to TNG era Trek, Picard is like watching a mission impossible movie. So the constant refrain of "pacing issues" feels a little laughable but to each their own.
Anyway, Frakes' direction was excellent, DeLancie was excellent, the unfolding mystery is excellent and they even found a way to make Spiner's return relevant and not shameless. It's good to see Isa Briones back too, although the jury is still out on that storyline...
Anyway, loving the season.
Star Trek: Discovery: Species Ten-C (2022)
Excellent but too late.
I hate agreeing with the absolutely ridiculous vitriolic DISCO haters that post on this site. But frankly, this show has been faltering severely in seasons 3 & 4.
Even though this season hasn't done anything terribly offensive, it's just been barely serviceable. But this episode was GOOD. I mean--is this a spoiler?--this episode is basically Close Encounters of the Third Kind but considerably more sophisticated and science based. As the episode played out I was thinking two things:
1. This is it. THIS is what I've been waiting for all season.
2. It's too late in the day. You can't save all your good stuff for the last episode or two. It's not enough to save a season that barely had a pulse.
I'm rooting for you DISCO. I'm cheering you on and hoping like crazy you get back to the quality of the first two seasons.
Star Trek: Discovery: Rubicon (2022)
Solid entry
I have been disappointed by this season (and last) but I think it's finally gaining momentum.
The Michael/Booker conflict that has played out over the last three episodes really came to a head in a dramatic way. And the action was quite exciting. This episode was FOCUSED. I agree with a lot of the haters and complainers that Disco is too fond of characters talking about their feelings. STORY should inform character, not characters "explaining" how they are feeling constantly. But this episode had very little of that. It was a tense, action thriller with high stakes.
I just hope like hell they stick the landing. The Burn was a fantastic mystery with a super lame conclusion. The DMA is a generic, uninspired mystery that seems no different than any "anomaly of the week", only spread out over an entire season. But if they bring it home I'm a satisfying way, it will have justified much of the season.
I'm rooting for you, Disco. PLEASE pull it off!!
Star Trek: Discovery: Kobayashi Maru (2021)
Solid Start to the Season
After an absolutely stellar second season, I was quite disappointed in Season 3. I have been eagerly awaiting this latest season hoping that it would be a return to form. I think this episode was a Very promising start.
The cold open was a rousing, fun adventure that was Star Trek to the core. It was really fun seeing Burnham in her element and in command (and having a good time)!
I thought the rest of the episode (without spoiling anything) sets up the season long mystery very intriguingly, does some pretty good world building, throws in the some interesting new elements: most notably: what's with Madame Presidente???, and ends with a real punch to the gut. I'm genuinely excited to see what come next. That being said, I absolutely LOVED the season 3 premier as well but I felt that season went off the rails a bit. So, hopefully season 4 will remain sure footed.
Finally: I just can't believe the haters that post on this site. Art is subjective and this episode wasn't perfect but the folks who give the episode a 1 and a 2 are just on hater auto pilot. They're not reviewing the episode itself. They just can't wait to tear it down. I remember people constantly complaining about how much people cry in this show, (which might be a fair point), but today I noticed people complaining about how much the characters were smiling in this episode!!! Hilarious. Do we want these guys to just stand at their stations stone faced? If you hate the show so much, why are you watching??? But moreover, some of us might have constructive criticism but it gets drowned out by the haters who just shower these sites with a tsunami of negativity. If I were a writer/producer on this show and I read some of the things that are written by viewers I would probably throw the baby out with the bath water as well.
Boston Legal: Death Be Not Proud (2005)
Spader out does himself.
Alan Shore travels to Texas with an associate (Kerry Washington) in an attempt to save the life of a young man on death row. James Spader's performance in this episode most certainly won him this particular Emmy Award. Thanks to his monumental performance and a courageous teleplay, this is one of the finest hours of television I have seen. David E. Kelly should certainly be credited for modernizing television in the 90's. However, in the year 2006 his particular brand of television has felt somewhat antiquated to me. The new milenium has belonged to new titans such as Aaron Sorkin, JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof and Ronald Moore. However, to this day, there is one thing that NO ONE has been able to take away from Kelly: he writes INCREDIBLE material for his actors. More actors have won Emmy Awards speaking words written by David Kelly than perhaps anyone else working in television today. The work WILLIAM SHATNER and JAMES SPADER do on this show week in and week out is extraordinary. If BOSTON LEGAL did more episodes like this it would most certainly put Kelly back on top.
Stingray: Anytime, Anywhere (1987)
Ray is temporarily blinded and must learn to fight his enemies with a handicap.
This is a fine hour of television. It's one of those special episodes that we're occasionally allotted on an episodic series where we get to see a complete departure from the normal realm of the show. Much like it's De facto predecessor, THE A-TEAM, STINGRAY thrives on the formula of watching this capable and intelligent hero out-smart his opponents week after week. However, in this episode we see RAY completely vulnerable when he is blinded in an explosion, having to learn how to trust his other senses and fight without the use of his eyes. NICK MANCUSO is wonderful in this episode which is sensitively written and skillfully brought to life. This is, perhaps the best episode of this prematurely terminated series.